I've read a number of weightier articles about college and the admissions process recently, and the ideas they express have stuck with me. The first "Why Are American Colleges Obsessed with Leadership?" got me thinking about those qualities that are hard to measure - things like leadership and concern for others. I've always disliked having to evaluate a student's sense of humor (although I did just read a junior's questionnaire that had me laughing out loud!).
Is a student a leader simply because she's the president of a club? Does she have good leadership skills because she was elected to the student council? Almost every teacher/club sponsor has worked with a student who, although she holds the top spot in an organization, doesn't do a very good job of leading it, and yet on a college application, she appears to be one of those coveted "leaders." The comments that follow this article also offer some food for thought: how do we judge "meaningful" leadership, or do we often evaluate it in a "by the numbers" sort of way? Is leadership being elected to a post or standing up in front of others and just telling them what to do? Perhaps we should give more consideration to the student who can collaborate and work with others to investigate problems, brainstorm solutions, and find solutions.
The second article - Do Rigid College Admissions Leave Room for Creative Thinkers? - is a complement to the first, I believe, because it allows that some very important qualities may be harder to measure in the traditional sense.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
How to Make a Good First Impression
Since college classes began this quarter, Mrs. Goldbach has been reminding you that we don't want you to be a victim in the college process; in other words, we don't want the process to happen to you. We want you to be proactive and take charge of your own college search.
Part of taking charge means being prepared when speaking to a college admissions rep. You'll want to make a good first impression, and you will want to be prepared and have questions ready. You also need to remember to smile! But what is the #1 tip in the article "10 Proven Ways to Make A Good First Impression?" It's the "Elevator Speech' of course, the first thing we discussed in our first class. Having a prepared introduction will not only make you feel more comfortable, but it can also put the other person at ease.
For some people, tip #4 - Avoid Slang - may be the most difficult, but the speech you use with your friends may not be the best way to speak to an interviewer. (Stop saying "like" so much!)
The best part about this list is that you can apply the tips to more than the college search. Take time to read the attached article and see if you can incorporate some of the ideas into your next conversation.
Note: After I wrote this, I read another article about your "second" first impression, otherwise known as the impression you make on social media sites. This may make more sense when you are applying for a job, but some of the comments can also apply to college admissions. For example, excessive venting about a problem, which let's face it, may not really be that big of a problem after all. Posts that portray you as an immature high school student, excessive whining, or denigrating others can all be red flags to potential colleges and employers.
Part of taking charge means being prepared when speaking to a college admissions rep. You'll want to make a good first impression, and you will want to be prepared and have questions ready. You also need to remember to smile! But what is the #1 tip in the article "10 Proven Ways to Make A Good First Impression?" It's the "Elevator Speech' of course, the first thing we discussed in our first class. Having a prepared introduction will not only make you feel more comfortable, but it can also put the other person at ease.
For some people, tip #4 - Avoid Slang - may be the most difficult, but the speech you use with your friends may not be the best way to speak to an interviewer. (Stop saying "like" so much!)
The best part about this list is that you can apply the tips to more than the college search. Take time to read the attached article and see if you can incorporate some of the ideas into your next conversation.
Note: After I wrote this, I read another article about your "second" first impression, otherwise known as the impression you make on social media sites. This may make more sense when you are applying for a job, but some of the comments can also apply to college admissions. For example, excessive venting about a problem, which let's face it, may not really be that big of a problem after all. Posts that portray you as an immature high school student, excessive whining, or denigrating others can all be red flags to potential colleges and employers.
Friday, January 24, 2014
SCHOLARSHIP: SOUTHERN AUTOMOTIVE WOMEN'S FORUM
Amount of Scholarship: $500- $5,000
Eligibility Requirements:
Amount of Scholarship: $500- $5,000
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrolling in one of the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Minimum GPA of a 2.5
- Pursuing a degree in STEM fields:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Math
For more information please contact the Southern Automotive Women's Forum
Phone: 615-254-3687
Website: www.southernautowomen.org
To view the scholarship application, visit www.southernautowomen.org/scholarship
New Summer Opportunity
Northwestern University National High School Institute (the Cherubs program) - Rising seniors who are interested in a summer theater arts program (acting, design/tech and musical theater) or a film & video program should check out this opportunity at Northwestern University. This is a pretty impressive program, so for more information, visit nhsi.northwestern.edu. Financial aid is available.
Fun Facts About College
It's Friday, so let's end the week with some fun facts about colleges. For example, did you know that Crest toothpaste was accidently invented by a graduate student at Indiana University? Did you know that the University of Michigan has a squirrel club or that students at the University of Pennsylvania throw toast on the field at football games? To find out the reason for that unusual tradition and other fun college facts, check out this video "33 Fun Facts About Colleges" from Mental_Floss.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The College Research Project
This week in college class, the girls are discussing what they are individually looking for in a college. The answers don't surprise me: study abroad programs, boys (we are a girls' school, after all), specific academic programs, quality of dorm life, location - all things that are usually the first things students consider. But we would also like the girls to dig under the surface and to do that, students need to think of this part of the process as one long research project. So settle in and get comfortable.
For example, many students are looking for a particular major. Okay, so you know they have it. But should't you take the time to actually read about the courses you will have to take? The focus of engineering or art at one school might differ from the direction it takes at another. What do students with that major do after they graduate? If they don't stay in the field, what else do they go on to do? Where do students go to graduate school? What kind of academic advising is there? When does it kick in? If you're looking for research opportunities (and those don't just come in science, you know), are freshmen eligible to participate, or is it more or less limited to seniors or graduate students? If the competition for research spots is so fierce, would you be better off going somewhere else?
Many of our girls are looking for a college that has school spirit, but does that only apply to football? Perhaps you are really looking for a school that is supportive of its students no matter what they do. Do students support the arts? Do they turn out for lectures, concerts, or political events? By the way, I think you have to ask other students about that. I'm not sure an admissions officer is the best person to ask.
It is important to gather many opinions and investigate more than one resource. The Fiske Guide may tell you one thing about the social life, but the next book may offer a different opinion. Your
cousin who also went to that school may have a third opinion, while your neighbor's son may have had an entirely different experience. Of course you have to go visit the college for yourself, but doing your research via a variety of websites, books, personal anecdotes, and visits can help you construct your own opinion of a college or university.
Beware of people who badmouth a college. Yes, sometimes they have legitimate reasons to do so, but some students who have had a bad experience don't want anyone else to have a good one either. It sounds a little crazy, but humans don't always want to admit that they were responsible for their own misery. Years ago a student told me that a friend of hers was unhappy at Emory because there was nothing to do. Now I know for a fact that Emory has plenty of extracurricular and social options for students, but he was also in Atlanta. Atlanta! Of course there are things to do in Atlanta and not all of them cost lots of money. I suggested to her that perhaps her friend wasn't trying very hard. You do have to put yourself out there, join clubs, get involved...there's always something to do but as I tell my students, if you wait for an invitation, you might just be waiting a while.
Not all high school students like research, but if you really want to do a productive college search, it needs to be thoughtful and meaningful, Otherwise you might just end up at a school that doesn't really fit.
Many of our girls are looking for a college that has school spirit, but does that only apply to football? Perhaps you are really looking for a school that is supportive of its students no matter what they do. Do students support the arts? Do they turn out for lectures, concerts, or political events? By the way, I think you have to ask other students about that. I'm not sure an admissions officer is the best person to ask.
It is important to gather many opinions and investigate more than one resource. The Fiske Guide may tell you one thing about the social life, but the next book may offer a different opinion. Your
cousin who also went to that school may have a third opinion, while your neighbor's son may have had an entirely different experience. Of course you have to go visit the college for yourself, but doing your research via a variety of websites, books, personal anecdotes, and visits can help you construct your own opinion of a college or university.
Beware of people who badmouth a college. Yes, sometimes they have legitimate reasons to do so, but some students who have had a bad experience don't want anyone else to have a good one either. It sounds a little crazy, but humans don't always want to admit that they were responsible for their own misery. Years ago a student told me that a friend of hers was unhappy at Emory because there was nothing to do. Now I know for a fact that Emory has plenty of extracurricular and social options for students, but he was also in Atlanta. Atlanta! Of course there are things to do in Atlanta and not all of them cost lots of money. I suggested to her that perhaps her friend wasn't trying very hard. You do have to put yourself out there, join clubs, get involved...there's always something to do but as I tell my students, if you wait for an invitation, you might just be waiting a while.
Not all high school students like research, but if you really want to do a productive college search, it needs to be thoughtful and meaningful, Otherwise you might just end up at a school that doesn't really fit.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Should you major in English?
If you listen to the media these days, you would think that the only viable majors are in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). While I would agree that this country needs more students to consider those disciplines, they certainly aren't the only options out there, and quite simply, not everyone wants (or is cut out) to be a computer scientist or an engineer.
Not too long ago we referenced a survey that reported most businesses are looking for potential employees that have what we call "soft skills," things like problem-solving skills, good oral and written communication skills, and the ability to think creatively." Those abilities can be developed in many different ways and through many different college majors.
So even though I agree that having some programming and math skills are important these days, let's look at what a student can do with an English degree. For starters, you could be college counselor! But as you will see in this article, English majors also go on to law school, the financial industry, and an auction house (not just any auction house, but Christie's). And as this author writes, English majors have excellent ideas and can contribute to the economy.
I'm not trying to belabor a point, but I do think students should consider their own strengths and weaknesses and then find a career or lifelong pursuit that means something to them. Or is it just about the money? That's something we'll discuss at a later date.
Not too long ago we referenced a survey that reported most businesses are looking for potential employees that have what we call "soft skills," things like problem-solving skills, good oral and written communication skills, and the ability to think creatively." Those abilities can be developed in many different ways and through many different college majors.
So even though I agree that having some programming and math skills are important these days, let's look at what a student can do with an English degree. For starters, you could be college counselor! But as you will see in this article, English majors also go on to law school, the financial industry, and an auction house (not just any auction house, but Christie's). And as this author writes, English majors have excellent ideas and can contribute to the economy.
I'm not trying to belabor a point, but I do think students should consider their own strengths and weaknesses and then find a career or lifelong pursuit that means something to them. Or is it just about the money? That's something we'll discuss at a later date.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Weekly Wrap-Up
I've come across several miscellaneous articles in the last few weeks that might be of interest to students and parents. They cover a variety of topics that are informative and in one case, a bit amusing.
Labeled the "new elite Ivies," the first article describes some of the schools that have become almost as competitive if not equally as competitive as the traditional Ivy League colleges. And I have to say that based on our experience, we would agree that these colleges are more difficult to get into than they used to be.
College admissions is not the only thing that keep changing. The tests students must take for admission will also be changing over the next few years. To keep up with the latest trends in testing, you might want to read this summary from US News and World Report.
For those of you who might be wondering if college is really worth the debt, this author addresses that question in a recent blog post.
And finally, you've heard of helicopter parents, but have you heard of the snowplow parent? That is a parent who not only hovers but is also determined to remove every obstacle from their child's path. But doesn't that keep your son or daughter from learning to shovel his or her own snow?
Labeled the "new elite Ivies," the first article describes some of the schools that have become almost as competitive if not equally as competitive as the traditional Ivy League colleges. And I have to say that based on our experience, we would agree that these colleges are more difficult to get into than they used to be.
College admissions is not the only thing that keep changing. The tests students must take for admission will also be changing over the next few years. To keep up with the latest trends in testing, you might want to read this summary from US News and World Report.
For those of you who might be wondering if college is really worth the debt, this author addresses that question in a recent blog post.
And finally, you've heard of helicopter parents, but have you heard of the snowplow parent? That is a parent who not only hovers but is also determined to remove every obstacle from their child's path. But doesn't that keep your son or daughter from learning to shovel his or her own snow?
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Large School or Small School?
To quote Hamlet, "That is the question," and it's an idea we've just begun talking about in college class this quarter. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, so students should give every type of school serious consideration.
Over the years I have found that our students often assume they want a large university like Tennessee, Georgia, or Virginia, because they have been in a small school environment and believe they want something at the opposite end of the spectrum. Twenty, thirty, forty thousand or more students sounds exciting, but it's also easy to get lost in a crowd that large, so you really need to assess your own strengths and weaknesses before you decide if that is the right size school for you. Conversely, some students enjoy the personal attention they have received in high school and are looking for a similar experience in college, perhaps at colleges like Rhodes, Denison, or Dickinson. More often than not however, our students are looking for medium size schools, and those can be harder to find. A few examples would be TCU, SMU, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Tulane, and Villanova.
The point is that when you are just beginning the college search process, you shouldn't assume that only one size college is right for you. You and your parents should visit a variety of colleges and universities: large state schools as well as small, liberal arts colleges, schools in an urban setting along with those in a more suburban or rural area. You should also be willing to branch out a little, perhaps traveling to colleges that are a little farther away from home. You need to give each one of them a fair chance. Eventually you'll figure it out, but until then, don't assume that one size is a better fit for you than another.
For more information about the benefits of large and small colleges, check out this article from the National Association of College Admission Counseling, an organization that GPS has been a member of for quite some time. The NACAC website is also a good resource for you and your family during your college search.
Over the years I have found that our students often assume they want a large university like Tennessee, Georgia, or Virginia, because they have been in a small school environment and believe they want something at the opposite end of the spectrum. Twenty, thirty, forty thousand or more students sounds exciting, but it's also easy to get lost in a crowd that large, so you really need to assess your own strengths and weaknesses before you decide if that is the right size school for you. Conversely, some students enjoy the personal attention they have received in high school and are looking for a similar experience in college, perhaps at colleges like Rhodes, Denison, or Dickinson. More often than not however, our students are looking for medium size schools, and those can be harder to find. A few examples would be TCU, SMU, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Tulane, and Villanova.
The point is that when you are just beginning the college search process, you shouldn't assume that only one size college is right for you. You and your parents should visit a variety of colleges and universities: large state schools as well as small, liberal arts colleges, schools in an urban setting along with those in a more suburban or rural area. You should also be willing to branch out a little, perhaps traveling to colleges that are a little farther away from home. You need to give each one of them a fair chance. Eventually you'll figure it out, but until then, don't assume that one size is a better fit for you than another.
For more information about the benefits of large and small colleges, check out this article from the National Association of College Admission Counseling, an organization that GPS has been a member of for quite some time. The NACAC website is also a good resource for you and your family during your college search.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Your Last Semester of High School
Right before the holidays, two seniors were in my office, exasperated and ready for the year to be over. "I'm so ready to go to college," one exclaimed, echoing a very common feeling among seniors. And I think that's good. They are supposed to be ready to move on, and I'd be a little concerned about them if they weren't.
However, they've still got four and a half months left (my girls could probably tell you the exact number of days), and I hope they will take advantage of the opportunities they have left. Perhaps even more important, I hope they will remember that school is not over, and they need to keep studying!
So if you need a few reasons to get excited about this last semester of senior year, read "5 Reasons to Get Psyched for the Last Semester of High School." Take some time to think about the great experiences you have had and the people you have had the opportunity to meet. Stop every once in a while to soak it all in; after all, there are still memories to be made!
However, they've still got four and a half months left (my girls could probably tell you the exact number of days), and I hope they will take advantage of the opportunities they have left. Perhaps even more important, I hope they will remember that school is not over, and they need to keep studying!
So if you need a few reasons to get excited about this last semester of senior year, read "5 Reasons to Get Psyched for the Last Semester of High School." Take some time to think about the great experiences you have had and the people you have had the opportunity to meet. Stop every once in a while to soak it all in; after all, there are still memories to be made!
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Looking for scholarships?
Now that your applications are finished (hopefully), you might want to start looking for some independent scholarships. We will continue to post what comes through our office, but you can also do some research on your own. One good place to begin is www.fastweb.com but another one is www.scholarshipsonline.org. You can research by categories like journalism, culinary arts, minorities, and women only. Yes, it will take you some time, but if you need extra money for college, the rewards might be worth your efforts.
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