So you're a high school freshmen...now what?

We've been thinking about high school freshmen a lot lately, as in, how much should we talk to them about college? Freshmen families often hear us talking out of both sides of our mouth:  yes, everything counts now, and no, don't worry about college right now...just enjoy being in the ninth grade.  The problem for me is that both of those things are true, so when I came across this article, I thought it might be a good time to expand on a few things I think are important for high school freshmen (and their parents) to know about the college process.

1.  Yes, your ninth grade grades are important, and they count toward the transcript we will ultimately send to colleges.  But high school is not middle school.  Just because you made A's in the eighth grade does not mean you will make all A's in the ninth grade, and quite honestly, that kind of holds true for the rest of your life.  I've been a college counselor for a long time now, but every year demands that I adjust to new expectations and new challenges.  Learning to accept and meet those challenges will be a life skill you can carry with you forever.

2.  Speaking of academics, you might not know exactly where you want to go to college (and frankly we hope you don't), but you probably have some inkling of the type of school you want to attend.  I like what the article's author says: imagine where you might like to end up and then draw the path that will get you there.

3.  That path should include a few activities that you can focus on throughout the year(s).  There is NOT a magic activity, but if you are considering the most competitive colleges and universities, then you're going to have to do more.  One frustrated counselor recently commented that it seemed like the students who were admitted to "those" schools had already published, invented, researched, or started their own businesses before the age of 18.  Good grades and good test scores are not enough any more if attending one of the most competitive colleges is your goal.

4.  Parents will undoubtedly get anxious about college.  However, we like to say that someone has to keep calm, and that someone will be your college counselor.  Too often I think parents want us to get as frantic and nervous as they are, but that won't do anyone any good.  Don't be upset if your we seem very sanguine about the process, because underneath we're also paddling like crazy!

[So should parents start talking about college?  Well, it's probably inevitable, so yes, it's okay to talk about it.  However, not if you say things like "You have to get into Vanderbilt, or your life will be ruined."  Begin by talking to your daughter in the most general of terms.]

5.  When you are on vacation, by all means stop by a  few colleges.  It doesn't matter whether or not you would actually attend the school, but the more campuses you see, the more you can begin to define what is important to you.  Formal college tours are not necessary however; most colleges are not prepared for fourteen year olds.

6.  Please be open to the possibilities.  The real stress we see is when you or your parents believe that only one school is good enough (see #4).  There are so many amazing colleges and universities in the US, so please be willing to expand your horizons even a little.  You'll never know what's out there unless you are willing to take a look.

We offer a number of programs and resources for students and parents throughout high school, starting with this blog, our twitter account (@gpscollege), and the monthly Cup O' College conversations.  These allow you to keep abreast of admissions trends, scholarship/financial aid information, interesting summer programs, and even career advice.  There will also be other special programs for parents and students throughout the years.  Make every effort to attend those once you receive the calendar, because they are all there to keep you as informed as possible.

The college process is a long journey, but one thing remains pretty constant.  Colleges are always looking for interesting people, and as a high school freshman, you are just getting started.  Perhaps you simply begin by asking yourself this: How will you make the most of the next four years?  Answering that question is a good start on the road to college.

A Summer College Checklist

At the risk of contradicting my last post - 'In Defense of Doing Nothing' - I want to suggest a few things that students can do over the summer in order to be better prepared for the college process, and these things aren't too strenuous or time-consuming.

#1 - Read.  You heard me, read.  You can choose your own books, but reading is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself, and you can do it anywhere...in a hammock, on the beach, curled up in your bed, on a plane...anywhere!  Read a newspaper on a regular basis too, or at least watch the news. You are living in a very flat, global world now, and you cannot afford to not know what's happening around you.  Trust me. It will help you down the road

#2 - Think seriously about your extracurricular activities.  If you're not interested in them any longer, then move on to something that does intrigue you.  You might even think about starting your own club (but check with school officials first).  For the ones you keep, consider the depth of your involvement, and if there are available leadership opportunities, go for them!  Even better, create your own leadership opportunity.  You can do it!

#3 - Keep abreast of college ideas and trends.  In addition to reading this blog, you can follow us on Twitter @gpscollege.  We are constantly posting articles and such relating to college admissions, standardized tests, careers, summer opportunities, college visits, and much, much more.

#4 - No matter what grade you will be in, visit a few colleges, especially if you're driving by a school while on your way to your family vacation.  If you are a freshmen or sophomore, you don't have to do an actual tour, just get out and walk around.  See if you can picture yourself there.

If you're a junior or senior, you might want to make it more official. Make an appointment with the admissions office for the real information session and campus tour.  Not only will you get a better understanding of campus, but you'll be demonstrating interest too.

These are all things you can do relatively easily over the summer, and if you only check a few of them off your list, you will be ahead of the game.  Now start reading!

In defense of doing nothing during the summer

"Isn't this summer the perfect time for your teenager to kick around doing nothing? If not now, when?"

I loved Sunday's New York Times article, "What's Your Teenager Doing This Summer? In Defense of Nothing," written by a former dean of freshmen at Stanford University. Of course my students should have the opportunity to just be teenagers during the summer.  They should have the opportunity to breath, to relax, to just do nothing.  The only problem is if you want to get into Stanford, you can't sit around all summer doing nothing.

Colleges often talk out of both sides of their mouths.  "We read holistically, looking beyond the numbers," say some of them. "Students are over-programmed, and we want them to have a life," say others.  And even though UNC's own research has proved that after five AP classes, students were not any better prepared or more successful once in college, I'm not convinced that they have stopped counting AP's on a transcript once they get to five.

Maybe I'm naive, because I think colleges want to believe what they're saying.  The problem is that it's simply not (always) true.  They are going to consider your test scores, and they are going to evaluate your transcript, in part based on the number of honors and advanced placement courses you take.  And at a competitive institution, they are going to be suspect of the student who sits around all summer doing nothing.

Of course, students and parents can take control.  If you are dying to go to Stanford (or fill in the blank with another highly ultra-selective college or university), then you know what you are getting yourself into.  So don't complain that you have to start your own non-profit or do independent scientific research or invent a new breed of dog (just kidding, of course). But if you believe that you can go to a less selective school and still live a happy, successful life, then you can wrest control of your life from an admissions office.

"To me, a successful young adult is one who has the wherewithal to look after themselves, feel good about themselves, be good citizens and maybe raise a child of their own one day," the author goes on to say.  Isn't that what we really want for our children?  If so, maybe doing nothing during the summer isn't such a bad idea after all.

Studying Abroad

Having just returned from Germany with a few of my students, I've been thinking about the reasons students want to study abroad.  Not all of them do, of course, but for many of my girls, the chance to study in Spain, India, Turkey, or Brazil is an important factor in the college they choose.  But why?

The reasons I've heard on this trip are all good ones.  "You get to learn about other cultures." "You realize that there are other (good) ways of doing things besides how Americans do them."

I hope that the opportunity to study in another country is about more than just hanging out with other Americans while there.  If I've learned anything from this exchange trip to Germany it is that it absolutely important to spend as much time with the German people as possible.  Yes, there are many similarities between our cultures, but there are also differences, and in order to really understand, students must be willing to be a little uncomfortable. Perhaps they will be the only person who doesn't speak the language, so they must at least attempt to learn new words and phrases.  It's amazing how far that will get you!  They must be willing to try the food at least once, which may mean that they order something unintended off the menu.  And although I believe that they should also tour the historical sites, they should get off the beaten path.  That is often where you really get to know people, and this is often where the most honest conversations take place. While on this trip, I have had some of the most fascinating and enlightening discussions with my hosts about education, immigration, religion, and their country's difficult history.  I've learned more about who they are that way than any guidebook could ever tell me.

I hope all of my students will take advantage of college study abroad programs, and wherever my students end up studying, I hope they will dig deep into the culture, language, and lives of the people around them.  You can hang out with other Americans when you get home.

Practice for the new SAT

If you're interested, Khan Academy, who is partnering with the College Board to offer free test prep for the redesigned SAT, is now available on their website .  Remember, the new test will be unveiled in March, 2016.