More advice for answering those college questions over the holidays

We've already talked about how tiresome those college questions can be over the holidays.  Most high school seniors are simply tired of talking about it and would like to give the topic a rest.  If you still need some advice on how to handle those well-meaning questions from relatives and friends, check out this blog from the University of Southern California: http://bit.ly/1bWZcht

Scholarships for Students with ADHD

If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, you can compete for one of 51 one-time scholarships of $2,000 and a year of prepaid coaching services from the Edge Foundation.  The deadline to apply is March 19, 2014.  For more details, visit www.ShireADHDscholarship.com.

Ronald McDonal House Charities Scholarships

RMHC scholarships are designed to provide financial assistance to eligible graduating high school seniors and are awarded based on demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, and community involvement activities.  There are four individual scholarships under the RMHC umbrella: RMHC/Asia (Asian students Increasing Achievement), RMHC/African American Future Achievers, RMHC/HACER (Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources, and RMHC Scholars.

To learn more about these scholarships, visit www.rmhchattanooga.com.  The deadline for submission is January 20, 2014.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!

For Parents in the Process

I've been thinking about parents recently.  The college process is hard on them too; I know, I was there once, and the news wasn't always good.  As parents, most likely our first response is to get mad at the admissions office.  After all, don't they know how wonderful, creative, and interesting our children are?  How could they not see it??

This article, written by a parent and regional admission director at Lawrence University, provides a perspective for parents everywhere.  And my advice? Stop obsessing about "name" schools and lucrative majors and early decision and all those other things.  Celebrate your daughter's successes and mourn with her if the mail brings disappointment.  But more important, help her move on from there.  She WILL find a college that is the right place for her, and years from now that disappointment will be a thing of the past.

What really upsets me however, is when parents criticize their daughter for what she didn't do, and yes, every year there are some of those.  She didn't write the perfect essay; she shouldn't have wasted her time in the choir all those years.  Her activities should have been more important!  In reality, what is important is that she chose the activities that were important to her, the ones that gave her fulfillment and joy. Her essay topic was personal and meaningful to her, and trust me, she wrote multiple drafts and conferenced with her English teacher until they were both exhausted!  She has worked incredibly hard for the last six years to get to this point, and it's not her fault that she didn't get in.  It is actually no one's fault.

Colleges are funny, as the article implies, but they also care about your children.  It's just that they have their own institutional goals; they have their own priorities. They need athletes and philosophy or French majors, musicians and perhaps students from Maine or Alaska. They're looking for students that fit the culture of their campus, and in the end, it's a bit of a guessing game. And no matter how hard you try, you cannot predict what they will be looking for the year your daughter applies.

The only answer, I think, is to help your daughter be the best person she can be.  If she loves to dance, then let her dance! If she loves science, then encourage her to participate in every science-related activity she can find. And if she doesn't know what she loves? Then support her while she's trying the myriad of activities we offer at GPS.  She'll land on one eventually, and if she doesn't, that's okay too.  Many of us don't figure out our strengths until much late in life.  And sometimes we develop new ones we never knew we had! That's the beauty of it.

I have a button in my office that says "You are more than a test score."  I would add that you are more than the name of the college you eventually attend. I promise you that in the end, it's all good.  You were right, after all.  Your daughter is wonderful and creative and interesting and many more things.  She will be just fine. It's just the parents I worry about.

A No-Essay Scholarship Contest

Like many random scholarships, this one may be a long shot, but since all you have to do is enter, why not go for it?  No essay or recommendations required!

Summer Opportunity in Journalism/Writing

The New England Center for Investigative Reporting, based at Boston University's College of Communication, is offering a unique Investigative Journalism Workshop this summer.  The three, two-week workshops will begin on June 30.  During each session, students participate in seminars and work alongside BU faculty and award-winning local and national journalists on investigative stories that could be published on the center's website or in regional and national publications.  Students will live on the BU campus and gain hands-on experience in investigative reporting while developing critical thinking and writing skills.

For more information, visit their website:http://necir-bu.org/training/hs-journalism-workshop/ . If you apply before January 31, 2014, will receive a $100 discount on tuition. the program is open to students in grades 9-12.  For more information, we have provided a link to their flyer. 

Must we document everything with a picture (selfie)?

Yes, I know this post from The New York Times has nothing to do with college (except that the author is a professor at MIT), but I was so struck by it, that I wanted to share it anyway.  I cannot help but wonder if my students would agree with any of her ideas.  I know I do, but then again, you could accuse me of being too old school. 

Years ago I remember my sister, a former teacher, telling me how one of her seventh graders said she never talked to her mother in the car.  Her mother was always on the phone talking to someone else.  There was no catching up at the end of a day; no time to share her ups and downs because her mom was busy with someone else.  It's not really any different now.  We're so busy documenting our lives, as the author of the article says, that we're hardly really living it.  Pictures are wonderful, but if you can't actually remember the experience, you don't really have much, do you?

Scholarhip News for Seniors

1.  The Better Business Bureau will award $1,000 scholarships to current seniors based on overall personal integrity and character, personal achievements, contributions to their community and school, and academic accomplishments. 

Students must also submit an essay of approximately 500 words on "The Importance of Ethics in Business in our Community."

See Ms. Carlin for the application.  The deadline is Friday, April 4, 2014.

2.  The Signal Mountain Lions Club announces the continuation of the "Signal Mountain Lions Charity Scholarship."  Two awards in the amount of $800 per year (that's book money!) will be awarded to students based on financial need and academic achievement.  You must live in the 37377 zip code.

Again, see Ms. Carlin for the application.  The deadline is April 15, 2014.

As decisions come in...

I saw a tweet from the Common Application this morning that reminded me once again how difficult and how exciting this time of year can be for some students.  If they applied early decision or early action, the next few days can be very nerve-wracking as they wait for decisions.  So I wanted to remind everyone to give students their space if they need it.  If necessary, read my earlier blog post "Let's Stop Talking About College."

But students, you also need to heed the Common App's advice: "Before you view admissions decisions in public, think about how you'll react if the news you get is not the news you hoped for."  It's tricky though - if the news is good, you'll want to celebrate (and we hope you will!), but at the same time you need to think about your friends who might not be in such a celebratory mood.  It's a hard line to walk.

Good or bad, this is not life or death, and life goes on.  We'll keep saying that until you get it.

The Rise of the Video Essay

As more and more students are applying to multiple colleges and universities (our record is 23), colleges are looking for additional ways to separate the serious applicants from the not-so serious ones, and they're looking for ways to distinguish one student from another.  Enter the video essay.

I'm sure there were others before, but Tufts University is one of the first schools I know of that started offering students the opportunity to submit a video as part of their application.  Perhaps it is the natural extension of the "blank box" topic - that is when colleges give you a blank square box and tell you to do with it what you will.  Sigh...as if there isn't enough pressure on a high school senior.

Face it, how can students really convey who they are and what makes them tick on a paper application?  Girls can briefly describe their extracurricular life, and the essay might offer a brief glimpse into their dreams, values, and abilities, but is it possible for a college admissions rep to really know an applicant this way?  Recommendations will help, but I've often wondered how they do it? How do they tell one aspiring college student from another? 

I'm not convinced a video essay is the answer. Yes, these days just about everyone can make a video, but the wealthier among us can hire an entire production team if they want - complete with special effects, etc.  You might argue that almost everyone these days has access to all those effects, and even a less wealthy student can produce a pretty cool video.  And for some admissions people, perhaps simplicity will be more appealing. But that's the point.  What will appeal to one person reading you're application is no different than one essay being more interesting than another.  At some point, it's always subjective.

The video might have the "cool" factor for today's high school students, but is it any fair? The cynic in me thinks it just makes it more interesting for the person reading hundreds of applications, and if that's all it takes to stand out, than that's not fair.  But then the playing field has never been level, has it?

Great Summer Opportunities

Even though you're not through with the first semester, you might want to be thinking about what you're going to do during the summer.  While I think a real vacation - perhaps some pool time is in order - is essential to your well-being, you also have time to do something more meaningful.  Three ideas recently crossed my desk, and I want to share them with you.

1.  The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University offers a free summer program for rising juniors who have an interest in business.  there are two week-long sessions to choose from : June 8-13, 2014 and June 22-27, 2014.  You are responsible for transportation, but that's the only expense.

The admissions process is selective (of course!), and applicants must have a 3.5 GPA.  We can only nominate two students, so if you are considering a business career, this is an outstanding opportunity.  Please see me for more details.

2.  Vanderbilt University's pre-college PAVE program for rising seniors is a great opportunity for students interested in engineering, pre-medical/healthcare, science, or technology. However, this five week program is also a good opportunity for people interested in the humanities as well.  For more information about PAVE, visit their website: http://bit.ly/1bx91Hc.  If you would like us to nominate you (you can still apply on your own), please let us know ASAP (this week).

3.  If you are a little more adventurous and want to get away from home, check out the summer programs at the University of Southern California.  You can find two or four week experiences in architecture, business, global studies, performing arts, writing, pre-law or pre-health, engineering, and journalism.  This program, I believe, is open to all high school students, but you can find more information at http://summer.usc.edu.

We have already posted a few summer possibilities, but there will be more to come!  Whatever you decide to do this summer, take some time to consider your options and plan what makes the most sense for you.

Are you the star of the show?

Happy Monday, everyone!  College classes for juniors will begin when we get back to school in January, and this post by Meredith Lepore at Levo League (one of my favorite sites) emphasizes one of the first lessons we cover.  If you don't promote yourself, take the lead, be the star - who will?

In my experience, girls have a harder time talking about their strengths and talents.  I've often thought it's a southern thing, but I don't think that's all there is to it.  Girls just seem to have more difficulty talking about themselves, especially in a positive light.  We often joke in class that a boy with average athletic skills has no problem telling anyone who will listen how good he is at basketball while a girl who is the star of her team simply says, "Yeah, I play basketball." 

In the college admissions process, students must be able to talk, almost boast, about themselves.  They have to admit that they are a talented writer, an inquisitive scientist, a gifted linguist.  They should be able to acknowledge their athletic and artistic skills.  They should own up to their creativity, their curiosity, their talent.  After all, as Walt Whitman or Bear Bryant or Dizzy Dean once said  (it's been attributed to all of them), "It ain't bragging if you done it."

If it makes you uncomfortable to talk about yourself, try thinking about more palatable ways to discuss your gifts until you get the hang of it.  For example, rather than saying you are the best creative writer at your school, you can say something like "I've been writing my own short stories since the second grade, and last year I started my first novel.  Who knows whether it will published, but I'm excited about the possibilities, and I might even try to self-publish it!  In the meantime, I've found a home in the GPS creative writing club, and I'm even trying my hand at editorial writing through the school newspaper."  That idea works for something like softball too.  You can talk about how long you've played (since you were five?), how many teams you're on (the GPS varsity, a summer team, the region all-star team?), or even how many positions you've played (left field, first base, even pitching).

Do you see what you've done?  By the very fact that you've been doing something since you were a small child, you've implied you're probably pretty good at it by now.  You've also demonstrated your commitment to your work, and best of all, you have most likely started a conversation (with a college admissions representative) and that will give you the opportunity to keep talking about your other interests.

But back to the Levo League article.  To quote the author, "you have to be the star of your own film and step into the spotlight."  You need to tell your own story, and now is as good a time as any to decide what role you want to play.  Are you going to be the star, the leader, the go-getter?  Or are you going to watch from the sidelines?  It's up to you.

On a side note: over the weekend, I came across this article about "selfies."  While I don't agree with her 100%, she does have a point, and I wanted to share it with you.

Let's Stop Talking About College

Just about everyone I know loves the holidays, if for no other reason than we have a nice long break from school.  It's so much fun to catch up with alums who are home on break, and for my current seniors, the application part of the college process is pretty much behind them.  However, there can still be a lot of pressure on students.

Well-meaning relatives and friends love to ask high school seniors questions like "Where have you applied to college?" "Where are you going to college next year?" "What is your major going to be?" "Have you been accepted yet?"  Even those college students are not immune to inquisitive minds.  "Have you found a job yet?" "Do you know where you're going to live?"  Or perhaps even the dreaded "Do you have a special someone in your life yet?" 

This year let's vow to stop the craziness!

The majority of GPS seniors (and other students) do not know where they're going to college right now.  They've just completed their applications and are trying to catch their breath.  They know that somewhere, someone is about to read that application and decide their fate (okay, it's not that drastic, but it can feel like that to the girls).  They've talked about almost nothing else but college for months, they written countless drafts of their essays, and they've had their applications proofed and tweaked and buffed: it would be nice if they could just think about something else - like presents, parties, and some time with their friends.  And they deserve the time off.

College students have their own issues.  If they are nearing the end of their collegiate career, they are most likely trying to decide their next steps.  Graduate school?  A career?  A move to another city?  Even if they are in the middle of their college life, the questions are endless, and chances are they don't need the rest of us to remind them how much there is left to accomplish. 

So, I have an idea.  Why don't we let them be?  Instead of asking them about their plans, why don't we just congratulate them on being where there are.  Perhaps we could tell them how proud we are that they've made it this far, and that we know whatever they decide to do or wherever they decide to go, we believe they will make the most of it.  Just say "Congratulations. You've worked really hard to get to this point, and we can't wait to see what you do next."  Encourage visiting family members to do the same.  Run interference for them at church or other gatherings.  Let them know it's okay to kindly defer the question with a simple "I'm going to wait and review all my options, and then I'll be ready to talk about it." 

Let's stop talking about college for a while.  Enjoy the holidays with your daughter and revel in the time you have left with her at home.  College will be here soon enough.

A December Checklist for Seniors

Although I could have told you all of this myself, I know David Burke, and his December checklist for seniors is as good as anything I would have offered.  So rather than repeat his advice, you should read it for yourself. 

I would however, call special attention to one item: practice celebration etiquette.  It's difficult not to celebrate when you have finished all of your applications but keep in mind that a few of your classmates are still putting the finishing touches on theirs. So, be happy that you're through, but don't forget to cheer your classmates on to the finish line.

Are you thinking about a career in the fine arts?

Music, theater, visual arts, dance - GPS students are incredibly fortunate to have such an outstanding fine arts department.  But there are some challenges for students who are considering majoring in one of these areas once they get to college.

To start with, the application requirements may be very different (auditions, portfolios, etc.) and may be different from college to college.  It's important to make sure you know exactly what is expected of you and when your deadlines are.  Second, students need to decide what type of degree (BA, BFA) or what type of college (conservatories, art schools, "regular" colleges or universities) they are interested in attending.

There are other factors you should also consider, and for an excellent summary of those considerations, you might want to read over this article from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, of which GPS is a member.  And I would add one more thing: just like any other college you are considering, spend some time talking about the future.  What do their graduates go on to do?  What types of jobs do they secure?  You (and your parents) will want to make sure you have options when you graduate.

The College Interview

If you have an upcoming interview scheduled, many of the comments and suggestions in this article, "How to Nail Your College Interview," could help alleviate pre-interview jitters. 

Loving Your College, No Matter Where You Go

By now I hope our college freshmen have settled into their environment, but sometimes it can take at least a full semester or even longer before it begins to feel like home. Perhaps it's not the school you wanted to attend in the first place.  Maybe it seems like your high school friends are having more fun somewhere else.  It might be you just haven't found your niche yet. 

Regardless of the reason, there are a few things you can do to ease the transition.  First, realize that you're not the only student who feels this way.  Even this late in the semester, adjusting to college life can be difficult.  But second, you're going to have to help yourself.  If you're not sure how to do that, this advice is a good place to start.  Make sure you pay attention to #3: coming home every weekend is not the answer and sitting  in your room every weekend isn't going to work either.  You have to give your college a real honest chance, and that means you have to get out and make a life for yourself on campus.  You did it at GPS (you've just forgotten that), and you can do it in college too.

Actually that's a good life skill to have.  After all, you don't know where you will end up after college.  You might find yourself in a new city far from home, and you'll have to start all over again.  You can do it; we know you can.

Update: Since my post was published this morning, I ran across an article that talks about starting over after college.  In it, the author discusses having to start all over again once she moved to Boston and how she used her alumni network to meet new people and get involved.  I have another idea: you can also use your sorority network if you were in one.  These are two easy ways to get involved and start that new life!