Tell Me About Yourself

It's a question you might encounter on a job interview, but it's also a question you might be asked by an admissions counselor.  As we have said before, girls sometimes have a difficult time talking about themselves.  It somehow seems like bragging, even when it's true! So if you run into that question one day, here's some good basic advice on how to handle it.

Sewanee: The University of the South

Sewanee Summer Music Festival will be held June 22 - July 21, 2013.
New for 2013 is the Sewanee Choral Institute. A brand new, two-week choral study program led by ACDA leader Dr. Bradley Almquist. The program is open to students who are age 14-18. No audition is required, but applicants must provide a letter of recommendation from their choral/vocal instructor.
Each day will include classes in music theory, literacy, and vocal health and technique as well as sectional and full rehearsals for the full choir and smaller ensembles. The repertory for the institute will be of the highest caliber and will include major works such as K220, madrigals, chanson, Renaissance and Baroque motets; Romantic part-songs.
The application can be completed at this link:
www.sewaneemusicfestival.org/summer-study/admissions/choral-application

Now That You're Admitted.....

There are, I think, almost always two sides to everything, so this high school senior's perspective on what it's like to be a second semester senior is interesting to me.  While adults may think students are on that infamous senior slide, perhaps they're approaching the end of their high school year with more maturity than we give them credit for.  Since I'm one of those adults who is always cautioning the girls against senioritis, this young man's take on things at least gives me pause.

The Dangers of Being a Helicopter Parent

All parents want their children to be happy, safe, and successful.  But can you take it too far?  A new study found that being too involved in your childrens' lives can do more harm than good.  There's also a link to an interesting article on "overparenting."

Better Business Bureau Scholarship

The Chattanooga Better Business Bureau is sponsoring a scholarship worth $1,000.  Students must complete a short application and include a resume with examples of your extracurricular activities, including community service.  Students must also write an essay of approximately 500 words (not very long!) on the topic "The importance of ethics in business and our community."  Surely we have some GPS girls who can write a great essay on this topic!!

The entire application must be postmarked by Friday, April 12. We're happy to mail those for you.

See Mrs. Commander for the application form.

Do good grades translate into merit scholarships?

You've studied hard, done well in school, so why wouldn't you think your good grades will earn you a college scholarship?  Not so fast, and here is a good explanation why.  However, I would add that if you're willing to look at some different schools - perhaps out of the southeast or at least not the same ones all your friends are considering - you might be able to find some of those merit scholarships.

Gaining Work Experience While You're in College...the Co-Op Way

One college option that is often overlooked by our students is the Co-Op (or cooperative education) program.  Co-op programs allow students the opportunity to go to school and gain real work experience.  For example, a student would attend classes one semester and work the second semester, gaining academic credit at the same time.  By the time a student graduates (and yes, you can still graduate in four years), she would have quite an impressive work resume and some great contacts as well.  It's not uncommon for a student to be hired full-time by one of the companies she worked for during college.  Given the current economic climate, considering a college that has a co-op program might be a good investment.  The University of Cincinnati, Northeastern University, the University of Louisville, and Drexel University are some of the schools that have long-standing co-op programs.

For a good look at cooperative education and the financial implications, here is an article from Forbes.com.

Need Blind Admissions

Grinnell College recently announced that they would continue to be need-blind in the admissions process, meaning that they will not consider a student's ability to pay when making an admissions decision.  I recall that several years ago Tufts University was need-blind until they got toward the end of their decisions, and then a family's ability to pay was considered.

If you are applying for financial aid, this is a great question to ask of every college you visit: are they need-blind or need-aware?

To End the Week....

We tend not to take ourselves too seriously on Friday afternoons, so take that into considering when contemplating this...

Harvard is considering a nap room for students.  Personally speaking, I thought that was what your dorm room was for.  Have a great weekend everyone!

The Rise of Women

There is a lot to talk about in this article about a new book titled The Rise of Women, which discusses "how and why female students continue to outpace their male counterparts in education (yet still can't seem to earn a comparable paycheck)."  In fact, according to the authors, in 2011 women earned 82% of what men earned, and while that is up 20% from thirty years ago, it's still not enough.

Also mentioned in the article/book, girls tend to "segregate according to major" while in high school, yet girls who attend high schools (like GPS) that emphasize the STEM fields, continue to be interested in those subjects in college. And you probably already know that the number of men completing bachelor's degrees has stayed relatively the same while the number of women earning a degree has grown considerably.  I think I may have to buy the book.

Do face to face conversations still matter?

Personally speaking, I think they do.  I can get so much more out of a face to face chat than I can an emoticon! The point is, however, does our reliance on social media damage our ability to create real relationships? This author thinks so, and I know that in my own life, email has its limitations.

5 Habits of Great Students

The suggestions in this entry from the Washington Post are not really news to me, but it is good to be reminded of how important reading and writing are, even in the STEM related fields.  Perhaps my favorite line in the article is "you can't be stupid and read a lot."

What Not to Major In

Since we have often talked about the value of a college degree, I suppose we should also share what college degrees won't earn you a lot of money (not that money is the sole reason you should choose a major!)

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago's Summer Scholars program is designed for motivated sophomores and juniors who want to get a head start on their college careers. In addition to earning college credit, Summer Scholars become acquainted with college life through study, academic discussion, and social activity.
For more information visit: www.LUC.edu/summerscholars.

St. Albans School

The St. Albans School of Public Service ("SPS") is a unique Washington, D.C. summer program for a select group of 35 rising high school seniors with an interest in government, policy, and public service. The SPS offers students a four-week window in which to explore public policy, politics, and public service.
This years SPS program runs from June 23 - July 20, 2013. The appication is available online, at www.schoolofpublicservice.org, and admission is rolling. SPS offers significant financial aid. Brochures are in the upper school office.

Required: A College Degree

Considering recent conversations about the value of a college degree, I found this story very interesting.  Apparently even some of the lowest level jobs - those that wouldn't normally require a degree - now make a bachelor's degree a necessity.  As the article asks, "is a college degree now the equivalent of a high school diploma?"

Are On-Line Classes Worth it?

Over the last year much has been made about the explosion of on-line college classes.  Although you cannot currently earn a degree by taking these classes (you can sometimes receive a certificate), several high-profile colleges and universities have joined together to offer courses to millions all over the world.  The system is not without its problems however, and yesterday's New York Times offered a look at what some of those problems are.  

New Common App Essay Topic Ideas

Since the Common Application has changed the essay topics for next year, I thought there was some good advice about the possibilities in this article. Just because they have dropped the "write about anything you choose" idea, the new topics still leave you with plenty of room for creativity and individuality.  If you're a junior, you might even want to start thinking about your college essay now.

College Confidential

Since we've been talking about this website and the use of social media in college admissions, this is very good advice.

Handling Stress

Have you ever wondered why your friend doesn't stress out about tests like you do, or why some people do better on tests when they are under a little stress?  This article - "Why Some Kids Handle Pressure While Others Fall Apart" - offers a scientific and psychological perspective on those issues.

A New Way to Educate Lawyers?

This last year we read about changes in the MCATs; now there is a spirited discussion over the way lawyers are educated and trained. Due to a drop in law school applications and too many under-employed (and seriuosly in-debt) graduates, some are arguing that changes must be made. 

Florida Southern College



View of Lake Hollingsworth
from a freshmen dorm

Warm weather? Check. Beautiful campus? Check. Strong majors in nursing, education, the sciences? Check, check, check.  Florida Southern College, located in Lakeland, Florida, a city of 98,000 and 38 lakes, might be an excellent option for you if you're looking for all those things are more.  Designed by the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the campus sits on Lake Hollingsworth and offers spectacular views from some of the freshmen dorms and the fitness center.

Academically you will find plenty of hands-on, experiential learning opportunities, and they're looking for students who want to be active participants both in and out of the classroom. 

The low esplanades keep out the
rain and the hot Florida sun.

Last year's average GPA for accepted students was a 3.4 and test scores ranged from 1010-1160 or 21-26 (middle 50%).  In addition to the majors mentioned above, new majors include marine science and musical theater.  Interested students are guaranteed a travel study experience (at home or abroad) at no aditional cost, an internship at some point during their college career, and an on-time graduation in four years.

Florida Southern College is an impressive place and worth a second look!

Just Relax!

Perhaps you could substitute the word "school" for "work," and this article would make just as much sense.  Yes, I know that college admissions seems to be telling you the opposite (you have to have more extracurriculars, more AP's, etc.), but I actually agree with the author's opinion.   At least with our new schedule and breaks every couple of hours, GPS is on the right track.

Affirming the Good in the Process, and Me? Attend a Women's College?

I've been away for a few days visiting colleges, but I've been doing some reading while I was gone.
Although one commentator describes this article as "overly-dramatic," I think it offers a healthy perspective on not only the scholarship hunt but the overall college admissions process as well.  This may be my favorite line in the entire article:  "College isn't about chastising yourself for failing to meet arbitrary standards, it's about affirming what is strong and good within you and working to nurture and guide what is not." Amen.
And on an entirely different subject, after attending an all-girls high school, I understand why you might not want to look at a women's college.  However, here is a great piece about the value of women's colleges, and there are some other good links at the bottom as well.  For example, you might want to check out the 10 best paying college majors for women.

Stay tuned for some thoughts about Florida Southern College, the school I visited over the weekend.

New Common Application Essays Topics

The Common Application has unveiled the new essay prompts for next year.  So, if you are a junior and want to start thinking about your college essay now, take a look.

Something for Everyone

This week's Education Life section of The New York Times offers several interesting articles on things like tips for the ACT and SAT and what colleges are doing about those so-called suitcase colleges.  Perhaps even more interesting is a piece on how some schools are using their study abroad program to offer students work experience (internships).  This can be particularly valuable because many companies are looking for employees with international experience. 

On another note, the February college checklist offers some good advice for seniors, especially the part about saying "thank-you."

Cheaper Degrees?

Although I think most of my students still want a traditional college experience, this op-ed piece offers a different path to a degree.  Sometimes it's better to let you, the reader, decide for yourself what you think.

The 2012 American Freshman Survey

Each year the UCLA's Cooperative Institutional Research Program publishes an annual report of the attitudes of the first-time, full-time college students across the country. Always interesting, this year's survey found, among other things, the following:

• More students believe the current economic situtation has affected their college choice (probably no surprise!)
• 81% of incoming students reported that their reason for attending college was to be "well-off" financially
• The percentage of students saying they were overwhelmed by all they had to do during their senior year was up, while - and this is important for our students - 40.5 percent of women said they were often overwhelmed compared to just 18.6 percent of men.
• The majority of incoming freshmen believe that they will graduate in four years, yet this will likely only come true for approximately half of them.
• The largest block of incoming first-year students intend to major in business, followed by the health professions and biological sciences.

And here are two other interesting side notes.  Studies indicate that changes in a student's political orientation once they get to college is predominantly influenced by their peers rather than their professors (that's often not what the news wants us to believe), and students with stronger backgrounds in math have a better chance of earning a bachelor's degree in any field.  (That's great news for our students...we know they have a strong math background by the time they graduate!)