How Texting Hurts Grammar

For English teachers, this new study probably comes as no surprise.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2012/07/duz_txting_hurt_yr_kidz_gramr_.html

Campus Safety

If you've been on a college tour, you've no doubt seen or heard about the "blue" call boxes. But staying safe on a college campus involves more than just knowing where the boxes are, and some of it is just good common sense.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/education/edlife/students-fear-venturing-out-alone-at-night-on-campus.html?ref=edlife

My College Visits

While I hope my students have been visiting some colleges over the summer, I've also been on the road seeing a few schools AND staying in dorms.

Don't be fooled by the sparsely decorated
dorm room; I didn't have time to decorate.
What you can't see is the beautiful fireplace!

My first stop was Bryn Mawr, an all women's college located outside of Philadelphia. Now I know a women's college is a tough sell for GPS girls, but if you're willing to consider one, this is a good place to start.  Academic programs - both humanities and sciences - are very strong, and the fine arts (theater, dance) are also top notch. If you're feeling like you want a co-ed environment, you can take classes at nearby Haverford, Swarthmore, and the University of Pennsylvania.  It will be a challenging place, but small and stimulating classes will more than prepare you for the future.

While in Philly, I also visited Haverford and Villanova. Similar to Boston College in many ways, Villanova will offer you a more traditional college experience, complete with big-time athletics and Greek life. Home to around 7,000 students, popular majors include engineering, nursing, and business.
Haverford, on the other hand, is a small liberal arts college with around 1200 students. Perhaps because of its Quaker heritage, there is a very strong sense of community and has a very strong honor code. Consequently, students are able to schedule their exams at any time they want (including midnight if that's what you want to do) and take them without a proctor. In the Quaker tradition, the students meet each year to discuss and ratify (or re-ratify) the code. Academic programs are strong and admission is competitive. 

Finally, I spent several wonderful days living at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. Right off the bat I will tell you this school is not for everyone, but it is an outstanding opportunity for a girl who wants to be the architect of her own education.  First of all, there are no majors, rather students choose a concentration and that concentration may not be a discipline that's part of the  curriculum. For example, your concentration might be folklore, but it allows you to tie in literature, history, and anthropology. You will also work very closely with professors, meeting individually with each one on a bi-weekly basis. In addition to coursework, students also develop individual projects for each course like an academic research paper or field work or internships. Creative projects are also possible, and in fact, Sarah Lawrence has an outstanding fine arts program in both the visual and performing arts. Almost all classes are seminar style, although students are required to take a certain number of lecture based courses. Classes at SLC are also very writing intensive, but having sat through a writing class myself while I was there, it was not at all intimidating! There are many more unique things about Sarah Lawrence College, so come see me if you're interested.

A bright spot in paying for college

Despite of the rising cost of a college education (or perhaps because of it), there appears to be a rise in the amount of merit-based aid that is being awarded.  And this type of aid, has nothing to do with need.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/education/edlife/a-rise-in-students-receiving-merit-awards.html?smid=tw-NYTEducation&seid=auto