Something wicked this way comes...
Posted on Thu, 10/31/2013 - 11:04By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes. William Shakespeare
Happy Halloween, y'all!
Juniors: What is Your Learning Style? Another Important Factor When Choosing Colleges
Posted on Wed, 10/30/2013 - 16:38
Remember, the students who get the attention of admission officers are those who know who they are and what they want. So in the last couple of weeks, we've been providing you with some questions so that you can "research yourself" -- the first step in creating a preliminary list of colleges. Most recently, we asked you to think about yourself in the classroom. College is a learning environment, so you need to honestly evaluate yourself as a student in order to figure out what schools are best for you.
This week, we're asking you to examine your learning style, which will influence some of the basic criteria of your college search. For example, if you prefer to enroll in classes where learning takes place in small discussion groups, you will want to pay attention to factors such as class size and method of teaching at the schools in which you're interested.
Here are some more questions to help you evaluate yourself as a student in order to figure out what schools are best for you:
Seniors: An Exercise to Help with Your Essays
Posted on Tue, 10/29/2013 - 11:22
Seniors, how go your essays? If you’re struggling a little, we have an exercise we’ve found to be particularly effective for students whether they’re just starting or working on that fourth or fifth supplement! It’s one of our favorite writing prompts and one we often use when working with students in essay workshops: making a list.
Just sit down at the computer, set a timer for 5 minutes and start writing a list beginning with the prompt:
I'm really good at…
And to give you a better idea of how this works, we’re sharing our own lists with you.
Here is Robin Mamlet's:
I'm really good at:
Envisioning possibility
Words with Friends
Being a mom
Making Panini
Growing tomatoes
Focusing
Drawing out others
Snuggling with my kids on the couch
Learning new things
What's Trust Got To Do With It?
Posted on Mon, 10/28/2013 - 15:33
What place does trust have in the college application process? College advisor Alice Kleeman joins us again this month to talk about trust -- as well as accountability and honesty -- among students, counselors and the colleges. Join her here to learn more about life lessons, integrity, and the meaning of signing on the dotted line.
The hand inevitably shoots up in the back row, just after I’ve explained to a class of juniors or seniors that they will “self-report” their extracurricular activities on their college applications. “But how do they know I’ve really done what I say I’ve done?” The question will be asked. After 19 years of speaking to students about college admission, this is a point of certainty.
Ah, one of my favorite topics: trust. If we stop to think about it, without trust—among applicants and their families, college officials, and counselors—the entire process falls apart like a poorly constructed house of cards. And yet it’s one aspect of college admission that we don’t talk about much, and when we do, cynicism arises on all sides.
Call me Pollyanna (Pollyalice?), but I’m an extremely trusting soul when it comes to the issues that ask for our trust in this process.
Amount Students Pay for College has Barely Changed Over Last Decade
Posted on Fri, 10/25/2013 - 09:36
The amount that students actually pay for college — because of increased discounts, grants and tax benefits — has barely changed over the last decade, according to the latest report from the College Board’s Trends in Higher Education research and analysis series. Trends in College Pricing, a major analysis of college cost and affordability using data from the College Board's Annual Survey of Colleges, reports on the prices charged by colleges and universities in 2013-14, how prices have changed over time, and how they vary within and across types of institutions, states, and regions. It also includes information on the net prices that students and families actually pay after taking financial aid into consideration.
As the report notes, “The story is a complicated one, with different students paying different prices at the same institutions, depending on their financial circumstances; on their academic qualifications, athletic ability, or other characteristics; and on their year or program of study.”
Among the highlights:
Juniors: How do you learn? It's important when considering colleges!
Posted on Thu, 10/24/2013 - 10:45
In the last couple of weeks, we've asked you to "research yourself" as you start to create a preliminary list of colleges.
There's no question the students who do best in the college application process have figured out who they are and what they want. We've asked you to think about your personal preferences and interests like favorite books and television shows and to take advantage of the personality inventories on Naviance and similar platforms. We've even asked you to consider which Star Trek character you may resemble. Hey, we think you can learn something about yourself there!
This week, we're going to ask you to think about yourself in the classroom. Because college is a learning environment, you need to honestly evaluate yourself as a student in order to figure out what schools are best for you.
First, consider your academic record. Keep in mind that there are no "right" answers. You're just mining for information. Here are some questions to help you begin:
What is your GPA? What is the highest GPA reported by your school?
Are you challenging yourself in the classroom with advanced classes, such as AP’s?
What is the most intellectually engaging class you have taken in high school? Why? How did it influence you?
What do you choose to learn when you learn on your own? Consider what topics you choose for research papers, lab reports, or independent reading.
What subjects have you excelled in?
What We Talk About When We Talk About College
Posted on Wed, 10/23/2013 - 13:00
Jane Kulow joins us again this month with her heartfelt insights into the college application process as her daughter contemplates the meaning of commitment and applying early decision.
What we talk about when we talk about college: a decision.
"Do we talk about anything other than college these days?"
Our daughter, Julie, asked me that over dinner last weekend, before adding, "It's okay, that's about all I'm thinking about anyway."
Early in the morning, two days before that dinner, Julie and I set out on one more college visit. I cannot say that will be our last campus visit, but it is the last we will undertake before she submits her first application.
Julie revisited this campus with a number of questions in mind:
Seniors: Advice for your Interviews!
Posted on Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:11
Seniors, at this time of year, you will likely be doing interviews at the schools on your list -- either in the admission office or with alumni. Here's our best advice:
Take the time to reflect before you show up for the interview. For example, think about what's important to you, what you're reading, which of your activities means the most to you, what class you most enjoy, what event going on in the world right now has caught your attention and why?
Have a well thought-out answer for a question you are very likely to hear: "Why do you want to attend College X?" Your answer doesn't have to be long or involved but it should honestly reflect your feelings and in-depth knowledge about the school.
Dress appropriately. Admission officers say by far the most frequent interview faux pas are wardrobe malfunctions. Here's a guideline: dress like you're lunching with your grandparents.
Be on time. In fact, be a little early.
Be polite — to everyone: the receptionist, the other students and parents in the waiting room, the interviewer and your parents.
Remember: this is an opportunity to create a lasting first impression. One of the best ways to do that is to start out the interview strong. Make eye contact with and greet the interviewer, offer them a firm handshake, and state your full name clearly before you take your seat for the interview.
How Many Colleges Should Students Apply To?
Posted on Mon, 10/21/2013 - 14:39
Today we kick off a new feature here on the blog: "The Question of the Month." We'll be asking high school college counselors, independent counselors, deans of admission and other experts, such as financial aid officers and psychologists, to respond to our questions about all things college admission. Then we'll bring you their advice on the subject of the moment -- from essays and scholarships to interviews and extracurriculars -- including any words of wisdom on how to handle it all on a day to day basis.
For October, we asked a group of counselors:
"How many colleges should students apply to?"
Mai Lien Nguyen
College and Career Center Coordinator
Mountain View High School
Mountain View, California
People sometimes approach the question of how many colleges they should apply to as if they are preparing for an emergency (e.g. how many extra batteries, water bottles, and matches might I need in case an earthquake hits?!). The ideal number of colleges on a list really depends on each student’s situation, and each person’s balance of “safety/likely, target/match, and reach” will vary. However, here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:
Dr. StrangeCollege Has Help for Common App Woes...
Posted on Mon, 10/21/2013 - 12:09
Dr. StrangeCollege, aka Jane Kulow (one of our favorite guest bloggers), has some straightforward, actionable advice on her blog today for students who are applying early and experiencing struggles with the Common Application -- "Got Common App problems? Here's what we're trying." Her three-point plan includes advice from Virginia counselor Nancy Griesemer, who has been on top of the Common App complications from the beginning, as well as a link to our real-time digital supplement on how the application form works, including the August changes to the Common Application. (Available as a free download here, too.) It also includes our most well-loved advice: Check the website of each college to which you are applying. Many schools are pushing back early deadlines or offering alternatives such as the Universal College Application or paper submissions.