The Beloit College Mindset List

Since 1998, Beloit College, a wonderful liberal arts school in Wisconsin, has published the College Mindset List, "providing cultural touchstones and experiences that have shaped the worldview of students entering college and universities" every fall.  For those of us who are a bit older, it's always an interesting and amusing glance at how times have changed.

Because I work at an all-girls school, some of my favorites this year include:

• Women have always attended the Virginia Military Institute and the Citadel.
• Women have always been dribbling, and occasionally dunking, in the WNBA.
• Female referees have always officiated NBA Games. (Editor's note: This year the San Antonio Spurs even hired a female coach!)

The College Mindset List is always entertaining, so click here to check out the entire list.

Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend everyone!

Scholarship Opportunity

The consulting firm of AES Engineers is offering a $500 scholarship that will be awarded on the basis of character, as determined by evaluating the essays that are submitted.  The question is "When you look back on your life in 30 years, what would it take for you to consider your life successful? What relationships or accomplishments will be important on this journey?"

Further information is available on their web site at http://www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.htm.  The deadline for entry is October 6, 2014.

You are not required to take engineering classes in order to be eligible.

Doctor, Lawyer, or Businesswoman

If you are considering a career in the fields of medicine, law, or business, you might be interested in knowing that there's more than one way to achieve your goal.  The most recent Education Life section of The New York Times explores a number of options like physician's assistant, lawyer's apprentice, osteopathic medicine, and one-year MBA programs. Many med students are attending school outside the United States, and some law schools are now emphasizing business and technology skills in addition to case law.  There is also advice for students contemplating a future in journalism, library science, architecture, and more.

When you have some time to spare, I recommend investigating these and other options that are available to you.  The job market is changing every day, and it is becoming more and more important to stay informed.

Interested in engineering?

The University of Tennessee will hold its annual Engineers Day on Thursday, October 23.  This day long program offers high school students the opportunity to explore and learn about the various aspects of engineering through discussions, project demonstrations and exhibits prepared by UT engineering students clubs and societies.

For more information regarding the program, visit http://www.engr.utk.edu/ed/, and if you are interested in attending this year's event,complete the on-line registration form at http://www.engr.utk.edu/ed/register.html.

Friday's Wrap-Up

Some serious and not so serious ideas for this Friday afternoon...

1.  The college admissions process is full of myths and misunderstandings.  These common misconceptions only scratch the surface, but it's a good place to begin.

2.  I don't know too many students that start with the Career Services office when visiting a college campus, but these days it might not be a bad idea.  Your parents would probably agree!  Check out this article on how to evaluate a career center.

3,  To prove there is a ranking for almost everything, here's a list of the colleges where students order the most late night food  http://huff.to/1kSlWuz and a list of colleges that are considered the most polite. Another option might be to consider how "green" your college is. For more information about colleges with green initiatives, check out this article from The Guardian.  And have you ever considered which football stadiums have the best food?  See for yourself! Everyone has a different opinion about what is important to them in a college, so why not consider all your options?

4.  Perhaps the most fun college news I've seen this week is this: the BBC is reporting that the University of Cambridge is looking for someone who wants to focus on chocolate.  To be clear, the chemical engineering and biotechnology departments will offer the degree, and it will "focus on such issues as preventing melting in warm regions."  Why not?

Have a safe weekend everyone!

Lessons for Freshmen

As the year drew to a close last spring, the class of 2014 sat down to offer some advice for the new freshmen, the Class of 2018.  We posted some of the more useful pearls of wisdom in March, but we think some of their suggestions are so good that we should offer some of them - both the serious and hilarious - once again.  So here are some of our favorites!

• Take it one day at a time. Grades matter but so does your sanity. Competing with other girls about grades is pointless.
• Take advantage of help class. You're teachers really are there to help you. In fact, you are surrounded by people who want to help you.
• Don't waste your study halls. 
• Freshman year is meant to be a transition year - just because you got all A's in middle school doesn't mean that will necessarily happen in ninth grade.  And that's okay.
• Do your homework. No, really. Do your homework.
• You're probably going to lose friends. That's okay; you'll make more.
• Take some classes that you love. Don't let the focus of your high school career be padding your transcript. You will get into college, so breathe.
• Work on making strong friendships that have good foundations. That's what will you get you through the next four years.
• Don't be afraid to try new things! Get out of your comfort zone.
• Remember that everything is going to work out. Maybe not today, but it will! 
• Get involved and then continue to do the things you truly enjoy. Not only will this give you some great essay topics for college applications, but you will have a blast meeting new people and taking a break from school work.
• Do what you do with purpose.
• Don't skip the dances and other social events.
• Being attached to boarders is tough - they aren't always here. Hangout with your friends more and that boy less.
• Girls can be mean sometimes, but one good friend is better than five fake ones.
• Branch out and make friends with some upperclassmen. They aren't as scary as you think.
• Don't keep putting things off - studying, getting involved, etc.
• You probably aren't going to marry that guy that asked you out, so save your "I love you's" until you actually know what it means.
• Take your friend for ice cream if she's sad. If she doesn't like ice cream, do it anyway. Just don't let her sit home alone. Ice cream and Disney movies cure everything.
• Be a friend to the girl who looks lonely.
• Do. Not. Cry. About. Boys. They're not worth it. 
• Realize that the cookies are 150 calories each.
• Embrace your awkwardness - people will appreciate it one day.
• Modest is hottest.
• Make your own story different from others. 
• Talk to your parents; tell them stuff. They are way cooler than you think.
• Don't take a single day for granted because before you know it, you will be graduating. Cherish the days you have at GPS. It is a very special place.

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The Advantages of Greek Life

Since I work in an all-girls' school, it is no surprise that many of my students are interested in joining a sorority when they get to college.  During my own college years however, I simply didn't get what Greek life was all about. To me, sororities seemed, well, pointless. Fast forward many years however, and my own daughter jumped at the chance to participate in the process, and she has been a very (and I mean very) strong advocate of the benefits of belonging to a sorority ever since.  So much so, that for a time she worked at her sorority's national office.

My daughter assures me that sorority life is not all parties and frat boys, and sorority girls are not all like Elle Woods. (Even I knew that!) She regularly extols the benefits of belonging to a sisterhood, and she praises the networking and philanthropy opportunities that sororities provide.  She also credits those years with helping her develop her leadership and organizational skills, and indeed I can see those changes in her.  Being in a sorority has made a tremendous difference in her life.

So if you are considering going through recruitment (as I've learned it is now called),  explore some of the advantages of membership as described in this  USA Today article.  Who knows; had I known all this, I just might have changed my mind.