Spoleto Study Abroad

The Spoleto Study Abroad summer session is an immersion program in the arts and humanities for high school students, ages 15-19, interested in visual arts, photography, creative writing, drama, and vocal music. This program offers students an opportunity to explore the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Italy; to work closely with talented faculty and motivated peers from around the world; and to grow academically, artistically, and personally. Living and studying in an environment alive with history, art, and natural beauty is profoundly transformative for a student of the arts.
Spoleto, Italy, a gorgeous medieval hillside town emblematic of Central, Italy, will be your home throughout the program. Spoleto, the seat of a Lombard Duchy during the High Middle Ages, still preserves a vast array or artistic memories from its historic past. In a captivating atmosphere of history and culture, the students live and work in a beautiful and inspiring setting.
For more information visit: www.spoletostudyabroad.com.

It is the Third Week of Block Two at Colorado College!

Bernis Hall

What is the world does "Third Week of Block Two" mean?  It means Colorado College (CC for short) students are currently engaged in focused classes including: "Women and Madness" which examines the historical concept of madness as a psychological illness from the feminist perspective.  Or, freshmen are in a first year experience course exploring the peoples, cultures, histories and physical settings that have come to define the Southwest region.  The History of Performance class introduces periods of historical significance through the artistic lens of theatre and dance in Western culture.  These classes characterize CC's unique single-class block schedule in which students immerse themselves in the study of one class for 3 1/2 weeks, typically 3 hours per day.  The style isn't for everyone, but the 2,000 undergrads that call CC home can't imagine learning and engaging any other way.

Washburn Field

 CC's unique intellectual adventure is located on a equally unique and awe-inspiring campus in the town of Colorado Springs.  One has to possess an explorer's heart to attend CC and take advantage of the residential environment that draws students from across the country.  DIII athletes (excluding men's hockey and women's soccer which are DI), practice on Washburn Field in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. 

Shove Chapel is located in the center of campus, adjacent to the school's Labyrinth, and was donated to the college with the understanding that it would always serve as a house of spirituality for people of all religions, faiths and beliefs.  The current schedule of varied services certainly confirms its use.

So, if the idea of never cramming for 4 or 5 midterms or finals at one time appeals to you, consider CC.  Also, I can't imagine any student who wouldn't enjoy 4 days of vacation between each block!

North Carolina Outward Bound

Since 1967, North Carolina Outward Bound has delivered challenging wilderness adventures that teach more than outdoor skills. Our courses can help you learn the value of teamwork, discover your leadership abilities, find inspiration and feel a sense of accomplishment. Upholding the same ideals and goals as the first Outward Bound school established in the 1940s in Britain, every North Carolina Outward Bound course is built around a progression that delivers powerful life lessons by allowing participants to step outside their comfort zones and travel in spectacular wilderness areas.
The teen courses take place from June to August in the North Carolina Mountains and Outer Banks.
For more information visit: www.NCOBS.org.

CU Boulder is arguably one of the "Most Beautiful Campuses" Anywhere

The majestic Flatirons of Boulder provide an impressive backdrop to the Univeristy of Colorado, Boulder's Farrand Field and Stadium Building.  Denver, just 30 miles east, offers students all the opportunties of a major city while the serenity and isolation of the Continental Divide is located just 30 miles north.  Exceptional programs include Journalism/Mass Communication, Engineering, Music and the Leeds School of Business. CU Boulder encourages significant study abroad travel and is considering making a global experience a graduation requirement. 

I know I've never seen as many bikes on a college campus before and skate and long boards are also very popular.  Students take advantage of their gorgeous environment, hiking and rock climbing in their backyard or road tripping to the 11 ski resorts within an easy 3 hour drive.   If food is important to you, you'd be hard pressed to find more extensive (and delicious!) dining hall options.  During lunch I sampled fresh rolled sushi, Persian food with incredible Nan, spring rolls and stir fry and Kosher Matzo Ball Soup.

Many of the residence halls feature an academic component which means that required courses are taught by full time faculty in a small classroom within your housing complex, typically capping at 25 students.  Cheyenne Arapaho is home to the new Health Professionals Residential Academic Building which just opened in fall, 2012. 

CU Boulder is known as a "Best Value" college claiming the second highest starting salary potential for undergrads, averaging $48,000.  There are clearly many reasons to take a second look at Boulder and consider becoming a "Buff"!

Our busy day!

It's been a very busy day in the GPS College office...it's Milk & Cookies Day for seniors! That's the day every year that we stop everything we're doing and just spend the day with the girls, reviewing and proofreading applications, resumes, and essays.  And what could be better than to work on your applications with some homemade cookies and a cold glass of milk?  Of course our seniors are always welcome to come by and have us check over their applications, but we - and they - certainly enjoy this special occasion, and believe it or not, a lot of work gets done!  We will have a second special day - Pizza and Proofing day - in November.

Somewhere in the middle of all the madness, an admissions rep from Washington & Lee stopped by to talk to interested juniors and seniors.  The seniors got to ask a chance to ask specific questions related to their applications while the juniors found out more about everything W&L has to offer. 

Today has been a win/win for everyone!

Oxbridge Academic Programs

Discover the world's Greatest Classrooms.
Oxford - Cambridge - Paris - Montpellier - Barcleona
To apply now for this summer visit: www.oxbridgeprograms.com

Vistas in Education

VIE Travel and Family Stay Programs
Since 1976, VIE has organized Travel and Family Stay programs to France for thousands of American students. The year-round office in Paris is unique to the industry and exclusive French connections ensure that your travel program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
With VIE, the Family Stay is a complete and total immersion experience. Students are with their French families 24 hours a day-living, eating, speaking, and breathing French.
Visit the website for more information: www.VistasInEducation.com

Friday Wrap Up

If you're the kind of person who is interested in rankings, you might want to see which colleges and universities are in the top 400 world-wide!  You can check by region or by discipline.

But while we're talking about rankings, here is some very good advice about why you shouldn't go too crazy over them, and as the article states, it is "just as subjective as ranking movies or music." We'll never all agree on our top ten movies, so why do we think there is a definitive list of top ten colleges?  At the bottom of the article, you will also find the methodology many of the so-called experts use.

We still believe it is all about which school fits you best!

Two recent articles in The Huffington Post gave me good reason to stop and think. The first one stems from the affirmative action case currently before the Supreme Court and is an argument in favor of considering diversity in the admissions process.  The second article is a summary of the education opportunities - or lack of opportunties - facing America's schoolchildren.  While the second piece  isn't directly about college admissions, it is an issue that is worth your consideration, and it once again makes me thankful for a school called GPS.

Changes in the Common App For Next Year

The Common Application is a godsend for many of our students, allowing them to complete just one application (plus some supplements) for several colleges.  One of the essay options has always been "a topic of your choice."  Starting in 2013 however, that option will be removed.  Instead there will be four of five topics that may change from year to year (also a change).  Also, the essay word limit will be enforced (250-500 words...no more, no less).

http://nyti.ms/RcrjAs

Parenting in the Digital Age

When I read this article in Newsweek, my first thought, to be honest, was "Whew! I'm glad my own daughter is old enough that I don't have to worry about this."  I love the power of the internet, and I regularly use facebook to connect with colleagues and old friends. But the issues of social media and privacy is something that needs to be discussed on a regular basis.

Yesterday, our seniors heard from the admissions representative from Queens University in Charlotte, who shared her personal experience with a "facebook stalker." She also discussed how some colleges and employers regularly use facebook and Twitter to investigate potential students and employees.  Even some sororities use social media when deciding on potential recruits.  As she said, "the pictures you post and the comments you make can come back to haunt you!  Once you put it out there, you might never be able to un-do the damage."

Are you one of these parents?

Hmmm....I think you will have to decide for yourself. I certainly don't believe any of our parents would resort to death threats, but I do know some parents want to talk about college all the time, and that drives your daughters crazy.  If you'll read through the piece, you'll find some great advice, including two things we've told you before. "We" are not going to college; your daughter is. And two, make sure you have days where you don't mention college at all!  In fact, pick a specific day and time of the week to talk about it. Let's say, Sunday afternoon at 4:00.  Sit down for an hour, discuss her applications, essays, whatever is on your mind, and then let it go until the next Sunday.  It may make you nervous, but ultimately you'll both feel better about it.

Can you take too many AP classes?

Actually, we think the answer is yes.  Everyone needs some balance in their life, and this article makes that argument.  Since AP classes are widely available these days, taking a plethora of them doesn't necessarily set an applicant apart from all the others, but if you're interested in science for example, perhaps your extracurricular activities can make a difference.  You can join the science club, you can participate in Science Olympiad, you can volunteer at a hospital or take care of the GPS garden over the summer, you can take an on-line science course that isn't offered at GPS, you can read science journals and attend lectures at UTC or other places...in other words, you throw yourself into your interest and take advantage of every opportunity that is available to you.  Perhaps you even create your own opportunity.

Then your science teachers rave about your commitment to the subject in their recommendations; they talk about your initiative, your drive, your curiosity. Your counselor compliments you on your willingness to think outside the box or take risks. In addition to your AP classes, you have created a much more interesting person for the admissions office to consider.  It's kind of like the old adage, "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy." Think about that before you overload your class schedule next year.

Can Facebook make a difference?

It may not happen often, but don't say we didn't warn you! 

http://bit.ly/UCLkqG

St. John's College Summer Academy 2013

The Summer Academy at St. John's College offers rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates taking a gap year an experience of a lifetime. Students can choose between two St. John's campuses: one is in the heart of Annapolis, MD and the other is nestled in the mountains of Santa Fe, NM. Students read and discuss a selection of texts from some of the most important books of Western Culture in small classes guided by St. John's faculty known as tutors.

Summer Academy students live in college dormitories alongside undergraduate student mentors, and enjoy off campus expeditions creating immersion of self-discovery , independence, and intellectual growth.

Cost: $990 all-inclusive (per week)
Tuition includes room and board, books, and off-campus cultural excursions.

For more information visit: www.stjohnscollege.edu

Choosing a Career

Is it reasonable to expect a high school senior to know what she (or he) wants to do for the rest of her life? As parents, I know we worry about whether our daughters will be able to financially take care of themselves, but do we sometimes push them to choose a career path too soon?  Since the vast majority of college students change their major at least once, perhaps we need to give them time to figure it out.

http://nyti.ms/PFYH2J

College Rankings

I am not a fan of college rankings, mainly because choosing a college should be about which college fits you best, and that criteria is often difficult to measure. However, because the US News Best Colleges yearly rankings of colleges and universities came out last week, I thought I'd post some rationale (from US News) and debate.  Bottom line: rankings are not going away, but as always, you should be a careful consumer and not pick a school simply based on where it is ranked on any list.

http://bit.ly/V5xwnw (explanation from US News)
http://nyti.ms/PFXf0g  (a different option from the New York Times)
http://nyti.ms/ViBqIr (Room for Debate from the New York Times)

And since I'm on the subject of rankings, here is one from the Princeton Review that lists the top schools for financial aid.