We're back and just in time for the launch of the new Common Application (or CA4) tomorrow, August 1. However, that doesn't mean you have to submit your applications at 12:01am! Don't be in such a rush to get everything done. There is no grand prize for being first to submit an app!
Seniors, the first thing you need to do is schedule a meeting with your counselor to review your list of schools and go over procedures (like how to request transcripts). If you're getting anxious, then schedule that meeting sooner than later (even before school starts!). Although you may have started a rough draft of your essay, you will be writing college essays in English class, and your teacher will provide you with appropriate feedback. Mrs. Goldbach and I also want to proofread your applications (including essays) before they are submitted.
If you're coming to Application Boot Camp next week, we will go over all of this (and more), but if you can't come, don't panic. In one way or another, we'll provide you with everything you need to know.
So take a deep breath! The year will be a busy one, but we'll get you through it.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
The Blog Takes a Vacation
"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the most beautiful words in the English language." - Henry James
I agree with Mr. James 100%, and so the blog is going on summer vacation. But we will be back on July 30, so stay tuned!
I agree with Mr. James 100%, and so the blog is going on summer vacation. But we will be back on July 30, so stay tuned!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Explaining Away Bad Grades
You're pretty proud of your transcript. Your grades have been mostly good ones, perhaps all A's and B's, but there's that one C- you made in Algebra 2. So, should you explain that grade to colleges? That is an excellent question, and the answer can be yes and no.
It really comes down to the reason for the C-. If it is truly because of circumstances beyond your control, like a serious illness or a death in the family, then yes, a brief explanation might be in order. However, if your explanation includes something like "well, he's the hardest teacher in the school," then the answer is no. There's no way you can say that without sounding whiny.
Let's go in a slightly different direction. Let's say in the middle of your senior year, you suddenly decide you don't want to take that semester AP Comparative Government course, but we've already sent your transcript. You need to let them know your schedule has changed, but what reason are you going to give them? Are you dropping it because you just don't want to work that hard your last semester in high school? Are you changing your schedule because you really have developed a love for forensics (or fill in the blank)? Do you see how tricky this can be?
To be honest, students usually want to change their schedule because they really don't want to work that hard anymore. They're tired, and we get that. But it's still going to be almost impossible to explain. Maybe the college won't care; maybe they will. It's ultimately your decision, but you need to think about it very carefully.
It's kind of the same thing with the infamous senior slide. Seniors are well-known for, let's say, not working quite so hard second semester. Read that acceptance letter carefully. Here's an excerpt from one: "We expect you to maintain a continued high level of academic performance for the remainder of your high school career. If there are any significant changes, you should notify us immediately." What are you going to say? "I just stopped working?"
These are but a few of the choices you will have to make. What direction will you choose?
It really comes down to the reason for the C-. If it is truly because of circumstances beyond your control, like a serious illness or a death in the family, then yes, a brief explanation might be in order. However, if your explanation includes something like "well, he's the hardest teacher in the school," then the answer is no. There's no way you can say that without sounding whiny.
Let's go in a slightly different direction. Let's say in the middle of your senior year, you suddenly decide you don't want to take that semester AP Comparative Government course, but we've already sent your transcript. You need to let them know your schedule has changed, but what reason are you going to give them? Are you dropping it because you just don't want to work that hard your last semester in high school? Are you changing your schedule because you really have developed a love for forensics (or fill in the blank)? Do you see how tricky this can be?
To be honest, students usually want to change their schedule because they really don't want to work that hard anymore. They're tired, and we get that. But it's still going to be almost impossible to explain. Maybe the college won't care; maybe they will. It's ultimately your decision, but you need to think about it very carefully.
It's kind of the same thing with the infamous senior slide. Seniors are well-known for, let's say, not working quite so hard second semester. Read that acceptance letter carefully. Here's an excerpt from one: "We expect you to maintain a continued high level of academic performance for the remainder of your high school career. If there are any significant changes, you should notify us immediately." What are you going to say? "I just stopped working?"
These are but a few of the choices you will have to make. What direction will you choose?
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Student Loan News
The news has been abuzz recently with stories about student loan interest rates (and Congress's struggle to deal with the issue), but a tentative agreement was reached late yesterday. Here are several other stories that I think have value.
1. Tips For Minimizing the Pain of Student Loans from the Huffington Post Education section - http://huff.to/15jCQW8
2. Comparing Two Different Ways to Pay Off Your Student Loans from USA Today - http://usat.ly/13QKv1l
3. The ABC's of Federal Student Aid - a glossary of terms from the US Dept. of Education - http://1.usa.gov/13DEHJK
And while I'm thinking about it, here is the list of Best Flagship Universities for the Money from the 2014 Fiske Guide.
1. Tips For Minimizing the Pain of Student Loans from the Huffington Post Education section - http://huff.to/15jCQW8
2. Comparing Two Different Ways to Pay Off Your Student Loans from USA Today - http://usat.ly/13QKv1l
3. The ABC's of Federal Student Aid - a glossary of terms from the US Dept. of Education - http://1.usa.gov/13DEHJK
And while I'm thinking about it, here is the list of Best Flagship Universities for the Money from the 2014 Fiske Guide.
Discovering a Career...Now or Later
Here's the reason I love this story: sometimes you never know how the odd or seemingly inconsequential things you loved as a kid (or in this case, the things you are deprived of), have the ability to influence your career choices. And just so you know, those things can make great essay topics too!
I always enjoy looking at the alum news in the GPS magazine. Some of our former students are following life long passions - engineering, medicine, dance, and architecture - while others have discovered new interests like international tourism, the Middle East, and the culinary arts (who knew you could be a food stylist?), careers I don't think they considered while in high school. I didn't know that college counseling existed as a career when I graduated, but I've been fortunate in that two of the things I love to do most - writing and traveling - are things I get to do in this field. Sometimes the things you consider hobbies - like food, reading, travel, television, or the great outdoors - can lead you to the most interesting places.
I believe our students are preparing for careers that do not yet exist, so it is important to stay open to the possibilities. You never know what direction your career might take.
I always enjoy looking at the alum news in the GPS magazine. Some of our former students are following life long passions - engineering, medicine, dance, and architecture - while others have discovered new interests like international tourism, the Middle East, and the culinary arts (who knew you could be a food stylist?), careers I don't think they considered while in high school. I didn't know that college counseling existed as a career when I graduated, but I've been fortunate in that two of the things I love to do most - writing and traveling - are things I get to do in this field. Sometimes the things you consider hobbies - like food, reading, travel, television, or the great outdoors - can lead you to the most interesting places.
I believe our students are preparing for careers that do not yet exist, so it is important to stay open to the possibilities. You never know what direction your career might take.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Testing Your Faith in College
One of the things we often talk about during college classes is how your ideas, beliefs, or code of conduct will be tested or questioned when you get to college. That's not necessarily a bad thing, you know. Some people would even say that it is one of the good things about college life. You will be exposed to a variety of opinions, and those ideas often serve to strengthen your own.
But in case you're a bit insecure about the prospects, this rising college senior offers some ways to cope when you are questioning your own faith.
But in case you're a bit insecure about the prospects, this rising college senior offers some ways to cope when you are questioning your own faith.
What Seniors Should Be Doing This Summer
This is good advice for seniors, but I don't quite agree with all of it. I understand that some girls want to get their applications done as quickly as possible, but sometimes it pays to slow down and be a little more thoughtful. So while I agree that summer is a good time to visits colleges, practice for the SAT or ACT (if you are really going to do that), and talk to your parents about finances, there are drawbacks to finishing the paperwork so fast. It all goes back to allowing for the unexpected or allowing for that eureka moment I talked about in yesterday's post.
GPS seniors will be writing college essays in English class this fall, and although you can brainstorm ideas over the summer - and even start a rough draft - your most compelling topic might come from an experience you're having right now. I think ruminating on your idea for a while - perhaps jotting down some ideas or stories - can be helpful, regardless of whether you are writing about a past event or a current one. But take your time with your essay. This is an important piece of your application, and you don't want to rush through it simply for the sake of getting it out of the way.
Likewise, if you begin your application now (remember, the Common Application doesn't open until August 1), you still might want to think about it for a while. Did you explain your involvement in activities in the best way possible? Have you demonstrated your leadership abilities? Have you allowed someone (preferably your college counselor) to proofread it? The application may seem cut and dry, but there are nuances that you might not be aware of and changes you might want to make.
Your college application is not simply a box you can check off. It should be thoughtfully completed and proofread carefully by multiple sources. Perhaps this quote by Albert Einstein says it all: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." Your college counselor will help guide you through it all.
*Seniors, don't forget we will discuss a lot of this during Application Boot Camp on August 7.
GPS seniors will be writing college essays in English class this fall, and although you can brainstorm ideas over the summer - and even start a rough draft - your most compelling topic might come from an experience you're having right now. I think ruminating on your idea for a while - perhaps jotting down some ideas or stories - can be helpful, regardless of whether you are writing about a past event or a current one. But take your time with your essay. This is an important piece of your application, and you don't want to rush through it simply for the sake of getting it out of the way.
Likewise, if you begin your application now (remember, the Common Application doesn't open until August 1), you still might want to think about it for a while. Did you explain your involvement in activities in the best way possible? Have you demonstrated your leadership abilities? Have you allowed someone (preferably your college counselor) to proofread it? The application may seem cut and dry, but there are nuances that you might not be aware of and changes you might want to make.
Your college application is not simply a box you can check off. It should be thoughtfully completed and proofread carefully by multiple sources. Perhaps this quote by Albert Einstein says it all: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." Your college counselor will help guide you through it all.
*Seniors, don't forget we will discuss a lot of this during Application Boot Camp on August 7.
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