George Mason University

George Mason himself

I discovered another great university last week, and I highly recommend that some GPS students consider George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. 

Home to around 20,000 undergraduate students, GMU is a great place to go if you are interested in foreign policy, language, English, education, public policy, international affairs, or journalism.  They also have an excellent nursing program. And because it's so close to Washington D.C., there are plenty of internship possibilities. There's also a shuttle bus that runs in to D.C. on a regular basis.

George Mason is a public institution in Virginia, and although it is also a research institution, it is also a traditional liberal arts colleges.  Their current student profile is around a 3.3-3.6 with 1120-1250 or 23-28 test scores (this is the middle 50% score range).  It is also test optional, but you would need a 3.5 to be admitted without test scores.

Because George Mason University (they're the Patriots, of course!) is located in the suburbs, the campus is green, leafy, and wooded....very pretty!  What did I like most about George Mason  however? It is a very diverse campus, with friendly, motivated students from all over the world.  And it might be the perfect place for you!

Friday Follow-Up

As mentioned here before, there has been a national conversation about standardized tests to measure what you learn in college.  In this morning's New York Times, David Brooks weighs in with his own opinion.

You can add another school to the list of colleges who are suspending Greek life due to hazing, and there are other colleges who are trying to do something about other less than admirable behaviors.

Here's an interesting article about college admissions - How They Get Really Get In. We all know that colleges consider grades, strength of curriculum, activities, etc. when admitting students, but this survey by a Harvard doctoral candidate finds that there are other factors colleges consider when determining "institutional fit."

And finally, just a short article on how facebook is trying to become an educational networking site as well as a social networking one.

Green Colleges

Students have many different criteria for choosing a college, but for those of you who are interested in a "green" campus, you might want to see the Princeton Review and the U.S. Green Building Council's Center list of 322 green campuses across the country.  You can check out the full list, along with a random sampling from the Princeton Review here.

The Growing Study of Food

In this day and age many people are interested in more than just the nutritional value of food.  They want to know where their food comes from, its impact on the economy and the environment. Rather than just majoring in nutrition, there are more and more colleges where you can study food science. This growing program connects food studies with other disciplines like business, health science, agriculture, the economy, and is "being embraced by students interested in new careers in food safety reform, local-food businesses and anti-obesity, equity and climate efforts, as well as those seeking broader contexts for traditional disciplines like culinary arts and farming."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/education/edlife/truly-food-for-thought.html?ref=edlife

A New Breed of Doctors

A few months ago we posted an article about changes that are coming to the MCAT, the test required to get into medical school. Last Sunday's New York Times had another good article on the coming changes that will affect students who will be entering college this fall.  Students will be required to learn more about behavorial science, ethics, and emotion as well as how people process emotion and stress.  Will it make getting into med school harder? Perhaps.  Will it make for better doctors in the future. Hopefully.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/education/edlife/pre-meds-new-priorities-heart-and-soul-and-social-science.html?ref=edlife

College Hazing

Hazing should not - I repeat, should not - ever be considered just a regular part of college life. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/education/edlife/a-hazing-at-cornell.html?ref=education

Comparing Financial Aid Awards

Are you having problems trying to compare financiail aid awards from multiple colleges?  Here is a preview of an upcoming article in this Sunday's New York Times education life supplement that will address that subject.  Also included in this article is a link to the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Financial Aid Comparison Shopper that will also help students compare awards.

Art Portfolio Prep

The Savannah College of Art and Design is hosting a Portfolio Prep information session on Wednesday, April 25,7pm, at the Hunter Museum of Art.  Students who want to learn more about how to put together a dynamic undergraduate portfolio might be interested in this program that will address visual media and performing arts, writing elements, artistic elements, guidelines for inclusion, presentation quality, and additional aspects of portfolio preparation.

Register to attend at www.scad.edu/yourarea.  You can also schedule an appointment for feedback on your work.

Miss Tennessee Teen USA

Information regarding the Miss Tennessee Teen USA Scholarship opportunity is available in the college guidance office.

Student Athletic Training Conference

For those of you who have considered a career in physical therapy, athletic training, or other related sports medicine careers, Vanderbilt Sports Medicine is offering a two day conference for high school students June 2-3.  For more information and on-line registration, visit:  http://www.vanderbilthealth.com/orthopaedics/%2028160

Can you measure what you learn in college?

Students have always been accustomed to taking standardized tests (think the ERB, SAT, ACT, TCAP), but should colleges also administer similar tests in order to find out how their students are doing?  And what should those tests measure? Content? Critical thinking skills?  You may be surprised to discover that some schools already give these exams to a small sample of their students, although they don't all make those scores public.

It might sound like a sensible idea, but there are numerous questions.  Will professors start teaching to the test? What role does the student's own motivation play in their learning? What do you do about the wildly different ability levels of entering students?  Who decides what you should know before you graduate?

Read the comments at the end of the article too.  They make some good points.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/education/trying-to-find-a-measure-for-how-well-colleges-do.html?ref=education

Sometimes it's just a gut feeling.

Choosing where to go to college next year may be one of the most difficult decisions you ever had to make, but sometimes it's a good idea to simply listen to your gut.  Here's one student's explanation of how she made her college decision.

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/the-envelope-please-abigail-hansen-2/?ref=education

The College Adventures of Mrs. Goldbach and Ms. McCarter, Part II

The easiest way to best explain the feel of Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas (30 miles from Little Rock), is to share a quote from a current freshman: "Hendrix has already made me a better person, period. I would have judged and written off a lot of people I now call my friend if I hadn't come here. After years of prep school elitism and homogeny, I am now appreciating the lack of stereotypes and the non-judgmental openness that characterizes the Hendrix community. In high school, I had a lot of restrictions that made me feel I had to act and look a certain way. Hendrix is allowing me to develop into my true self -- and I discover daily who that is!"

Hendrix prides itself on doing things a bit differently, left of center, and seeks students who want to be challenged, academicallly and socially. They accomplish this goal, in large part, through their unique Odyssey Program which distinguishes Hendrix from other selective liberal arts colleges. All 1500 undergrads must participate in this engaged learning program in at least three areas: Artistic Creativity, Global Awareness, Professional and Leadership Development, Service to the World, Undergraduate Research and Special Projects. Students gain disciplinary confidence and identifiable experiences by overseeing and owning their education.

Student organizations are extremely varied and often quirky, including clubs that support sword fighting, bee keeping, and skeptisim, as well as Heifer International, feminism and English tea. If you are looking for a place that is going to push you out of your comfort zone, in an idyllic campus setting, Hendrix is well worth researching. Don't be deterred by its location in Arkansas; the random group of students I talked with were from Denver, Philadelphia, Peachtree City, Ashville and Miami, and they chose Hendrix over Elon, UNC Chapel Hill, Bucknell, Pitzer and Davidson.

How hard is it for girls to get into college?

We don't believe it's quite as bad this article might suggest, but it is becoming a little more difficult for girls in the college admissions process.  As you read this however, please, please remember that the colleges mentioned in this article represent only a very tiny fraction of the schools that are out there.  We don't want you to get hung up on those very selective (Ivy) colleges when there are so many other options. 

What's really important for you to remember - and we say this all the time - is that you should be looking for a college that fits you!  And there are hundreds for you to choose from!!


http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/04/who-got-in-to-the-country-s-top-colleges.html

Getting Off the Wait List

This article from The New York Times backs up what we've been saying about what you should do if you are put on a waiting list at a college you want to attend.  And just like the article suggests, your letter shouldn't be more than one page!

How long will YOU pay for college?

Personally, I don't think it's quite as bad as the title of this article sounds, but it is important to consider how long you will be paying for college should you take out loans.

http://www.nooga.com/154641/some-senior-citizens-still-paying-on-student-loans/