The Importance of Thank You Notes

When was the last time you wrote a thank you note?  Not an email, but an actual, hand-written thank you note.  They haven't gone out of style, you know, and in fact they can be quite beneficial.  I'm not saying it will get you into the college of your choice, but it can, as this writer suggests, say a lot about you as a person, and you might even learn something about yourself as well.  For those of you who might not know where to start, she even offers some pointers on what to say. 

Perhaps the next time you go on a college visit, a personal thank-you note might be in order.  It certainly can't hurt, and it's a good habit to develop.

I love reading too!

I've always been a reader, so it's hard for me to understand someone who doesn't enjoy reading like I do.  However, here are some good reasons (written by a former non-reader) why it's good for you.  So far this summer, some of my favorites include The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, Eights Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto, and Mary Coin by Marisa Silver. Oh, and I also enjoyed Jon Meacham's Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power.

Things To Do Before You Go To College

From getting organized to cooking for your parents to registering for classes, this author has a list of 50 things to do before you go to college.  Even if you don't accomplish all of them, it's a good place to start.

How do I pay for college?

That is a really good question, and fortunately, there are some good resources out there for you to consider, and they're free.  So rule # 1 is: don't pay for help.  The FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is free; there are several excellent free scholarship searches, college awarded scholarships (grants) are free.  Rule #2: searching and applying for scholarships takes time.  I've seen very few, if any, scholarships that just let you sign up, and you're done.  There might be essays to write, projects to develop, or questions to answer, so you will have to consider the amount of work involved before you begin.  So when you see those people who say they got college paid for by looking for outside scholarships, just know that a lot of hard work went into it, and sometimes they had to apply for LOTS of scholarships to achieve that goal.

By the way, I still think the best place to start is with the college itself, but if you're considering schools that (a) don't give merit awards or (b) everyone else is applying to, you might (will) end up empty-handed.  Be willing to consider a different school - perhaps one where there are few students from Tennessee or one where you will be the cream of the crop.  Talk to your counselor and be open-minded!

And while I'm on the subject of money, this is good advice whether you are headed to college or leaving college for the working world.  Young women need to know how to manage their money!

Long Live the Humanities!

"Without liberal arts to provide a context, young people can not be expected to understand the general nature and structure of our society, the necessity of academic freedom or the importance of values - all their education will have no ethical, moral, or societal context. Freedom will be confused with license."
                                                                        – from Declining by Degrees - Higher Education at Risk

Published several years ago, this report at least partially addressed the importance of the liberal arts in education.  We're still fighting that battle, however, and now a new report is encouraging the importance of the humanities.  It's also the second article I've read that said China is now learning more toward the liberal arts as a "stimulus to innovation."  I still think that balance is the key, at least in high school.

Extracurricular Options in College

Let's face it - college is about more than just going to class. Whether it's study abroad, Greek life or athletics, most of my students are also looking for certain extracurricular opportunities, and there's nothing wrong with that.  Perhaps that's why these two stories caught my eye. 

My daughter is a strong advocate for Greek life, and she regularly champions the opportunities for networking, philanthropy, sisterhood (she did go to an all-girls high school, after all).  But do you have to join a sorority to find those advantages?  This author says no.

Studying abroad is another popular option, but just how far away are students willing to go? There isn't a great deal of research on the topic, but this article suggests that the farther away from home you are willing to go to college, the more comfortable you are studying abroad. 

And finally, how important are residence halls to you?  Are there benefits to living in on-campus housing compared to off-campus apartments? Do you lose some of your connection to the university if you're leaving at the end of the day?  Does that even matter?  These are all questions that I cannot answer; it's up to you.

Do you write like a girl?

"Girls....are expected to be ‘humble’—not try to take the spotlight, emphasize the ways they are just like everyone else, and de-emphasize ways they are special.”

We discuss this issue all the time and are constantly encouraging our girls to be more vocal about their many accomplishments.  I just never thought about how it might be reflected in their resumes as well.  Perhaps it's time to ask yourself "do you write like a girl?"

You can be sure we will discuss this issue during Application Boot Camp for seniors on Wednesday, August 7!!