Do you really need all that stuff for your dorm room?

Apparently many students do, and retailers are making big money off of college students.  Many campuses are now sponsoring a private shopping party at Target (as described in this article) so that students can pick up those last minute items.  Is it a little too much? You'll have to decide for yourself.

Friday Wrap-Up

As I believe we have mentioned before, we are a country obsessed with rankings, and there are enough college rankings for just about everyone.  Here is one we haven't seen before, however. Published by the Washington Monthly, this list focuses on colleges that contribute to the public good in three areas: social mobility, reserach, and service.

This brief story made us a little sad, because it suggests that college students don't spend much time following political news.  Since this is an election year, we wish they paid more attention.

And finally, given the cost of higher education, this study surprised us a bit because it found that less than one third of families are considering the financial realities their children may face after college graduation.

Roommate Issues

Finding a college roommate (or being assigned one) has always been one of the more interesting and sometimes stressful aspects of going to college.  So many colleges use facebook or other forms of social media to help connect students and let them make their own pairings.  But some schools still approach it the old fashioned way, and they think they can do just as good a job.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-08-29/college-roommate-selection/57417968/1

The Importance of Extracurriculars

Frankly, I am tired of the word "passion," as in "your extracurricular activities should reflect your passion(s)." I don't know that many teenagers who necessarily know what their passions are at this point in their lives. However, I do think this brief article has the right idea, and that is that your high school activities should be more than something you simply check off a list.

High school is a good time to explore clubs, sports, and other extracurriculars. You may click with some of them right away, or it may take time to find the ones that spark your interest.  The point - particularly for freshmen - is to try activities on for size, and then once you find a few that you like, commit to them. Get involved on a deeper level. Make a difference.  And who knows? You might just find your passion!

Great Advice for Parents

With all the different forms of electronic communication these days, staying in touch with your college age child has never been easier.  But that doesn't mean parents should still be doing everything for them.  Here's some great advice from two college presidents.

The Future Looks Bright

Despite the gloomy student outlook reported in the news, a recent survey by Gallup, Inc. reports that roughly half of American students are hopeful about their future (meaning that the future will be better than the present.  However, there is some cause for concern as that optimism starts to slide when they get to secondary school.  Still, that hopefulness, well-being, and engagement in learning leads to academic success.

Fudging the Numbers

You may have seen recent reports about Claremont McKenna College and Emory University misreporting test scores. In fact, they are not the only schools that have admitted to the practice, and at least some of the time, is it done to improve a school's ranking in publications like the US News & World Report. 
There is, however, an underlying problem that I think this opinion piece addresses, and that is our over-reliance on rankings in the first place.  The goal should always be finding the college or university that best fits a student, and that school may not be #1 on some arbitrary list.  As the GPS college guidance mission statement says:

     "The mission of the college guidance office is to encourage students to consider appropriate and challenging college options over a broad geographic area. Although the student is ultimately responsible for taking control of the process, we will also assist students through all aspects of the application, scholarship and financial aid process with the ultimate goal of finding a college that best meets their academic, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs."  And that goal will be different for every girl.

Using YouTube in Your College Search

Have you tried using YouTube to research colleges? Some schools have posted video clips on essay writing, campus tours, and even sample classes.  But like everything else, you need to be a good consumer. Similar to viewbooks, the YouTube videos can be another form of marketing.  A personal campus visit is still the best way to really find out what the college is like, and if you go, ask to sit in on a class so that you can get a first-hand experience.  For more information on how some colleges are using YouTube, check out this post in The New York Times education blog, The Choice.

Ethical Decisions You May Have to Make in College

During our junior college classes, we discuss (briefly) some of the challenges and decisions students might have to make when they get to college...things like what will you do if your roommate has an overnight visitor or often stumbles in drunk.  More likely than not you will be faced with some serious ethical decisions you might not even have thought of yet.  Here is a very serious and straightforward look at just some of those issues.

Great Advice for New College Freshmen

Almost every college freshman we know gets homesick at some point during the first few months of school, but there are things you can do to combat those feelings.  Also, here's some good advice from a college junior who has already been through it!

What is the future of higher education?

Most people already know that higher education will have to change the way it does business in the future. Rising costs, technology, and other factors will continue to have an influence on the way colleges do business.  However, one of the comments in this article that stood out to me was the following: "For academia and industry alike, the greatest challenge may actually be in creating lifelong learners out of students and professionals. With a rapidly changing marketplace, "the real need for education in the economy will be re-education." Of course, creating lifelong learners has always been a goal of GPS, and that is only one of the reasons our girls do so well in college and beyond.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/08/16/how-the-future-of-higher-education-affects-businesses

Sacrificing sleep for studying doesn't work!

This story from NPR if for all those students out there who think the best way to study for a test is by staying up late the night before!  I would add that this applies to completing college applications as well.  It's better to pace yourself rather than try to cram it all in at one time.

On Student Debt, Internships, and Drinking

Several studies of interest were recently released at the annual meeting of the Americal Sociological Association, but perhaps none were more distrubing (at least to us) than the study on binge drinking and student happiness. There is also a look at liberal arts colleges that don't want to give academic credit for unpaid interships. The study on the relationship between the tolerance for student debt and gender and class is also worth reading, especially because it seems women have a higher tolerance for debt than men.

Friday Wrap Up

Have you ever wondered which college campuses were considered "the greenest?" The Sierra Club has just released their list, and three southern colleges are in the top ten (Georgia Tech at #2, Duke at #7, and Appalachian State at #10).  While you're there, you can check out some ways to "green" your dorm room no matter where you go to college.

While you're checking out green schools, you might also be interested in seeing which ones made the "colleges with the happiest students" list. Sorry, there are no Southern schools in the top 15.

On an entirely different note, here's an interesting article about the role parents play in helping students choose their colleges as well as their future careers. How much influence do your parents have?

The first three days of school are behind us and so far, so good. Here's to a great year!

Student Loan Management

With all the talk about the amount of debt some students are now carrying, there are organizations that are trying to educate students about finances and help them manage their loans. It is a conversation every family should have before taking on any kind of educational loan.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/48672721

A College Degree Still Matters

Over the last year many people have questioned the value of a college degree.  This study however, finds that a college degree still matters for both men and women.  A degree may not guarantee success, but it is still important...and we would agree.

How much does grammar matter?

Although this article does not directly relate to the college admission process, I think the subject is worth considering.  Is it important to have good grammar? Can poor grammar hurt you when you're hunting for a job? Are facebook and twitter hurting our writing skills?  All good questions to consider.

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/08/13/is-our-children-learning-enough-grammar-to-get-hired/its-not-just-grammar-its-clear-thinking

Letting Go...at least a little

It's not too early to begin thinking about how you are going to handle things when your daughter leaves for college next fall, especially if she is the last child in your family to leave!  This article offers some excellent advice, especially when it comes to the 24 hour rule.  Along with many other parents, I can attest to the fact that it almost always works!

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/college_bound/2012/08/it_used_to_be_that.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

"Like" the Common App

If you have a facebook page you should consider "liking" the Common Application.  They give some great tips on how to navigate the site along with some helpful hints on problems or questions you might have.  For example, yesterday they posted information on how to find a school's CEEB code if you don't know it...a question a student also just asked me yesterday!  They also remind students about the importance of reading - and sometimes re-reading - the directions.  Let's hear it for the Common App!

Common Application

For those of you who want to get a head start on your college applications, the 2012-2013 Common Application is up and running!  You will need to register first (make sure you write down your user name and password in case you forget), but then you can get started.  Also, don't forget that you filled in a draft common application last year in college class; hopefully you still have that in your college folder.

Take your time however! You will not win any sort of prize for finishing your application first.