Juniors, Taking the ACT or SAT? Practice, practice, practice...

Posted on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 15:14

The winter testing dates for the ACT and SAT are coming up soon:  the SAT will be administered on January 25th and the ACT on February 8th. For many students, practice can improve scores. But if you're listening to your iPod while you're thumbing through the test or not taking a timed practice test, you probably won't experience that improvement. Here's how to practice so you get results:

                Practice under actual test conditions. Both tests require students to perform in a fixed amount of time. Sit down in your kitchen with a test book and your No. 2 pencils and have a family member time you.

University of Arizona joins the Gourmet Guide

Posted on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 14:13

If you're visiting the Tucson campus of the University of Arizona, we've got recommendations for where to find Spanish tapas, a gastropub with artisanal cheeses and salume and "environmentally sound" seafood at an on-campus bistro where you can also order a triple decker grilled cheese and tomato. We've also got best bets for campus staples like pizza, decadent pastries, and the local food with its own fan base -- Eegees, a drink of "brain freezing fruit goodness." Oh, and this is Tucson, so Mexican American food gets a section of its own with three of the best places to find chimichangas, tamale pie and a Sonoran style hot dog. Thank you to University of Arizona's dean of undergraduate admissions Kasey Urquidez and her staffers Rafael Meza and Mary Venezia. Check their recommendations out here. 

How To Show Demonstrated Interest

Posted on Mon, 01/13/2014 - 13:54

Have you heard of "demonstrated interest"? It's one of those phrases that can cause some confusion for students -- and parents  -- as they go through  the college application process. Luckily, educational psychologist Jane McClure returns this month to demystify "demonstrated interest" and provide six action items for students to -- what else? -- demonstrate interest.

By now, your applications have been submitted.  Whew!  What a relief!  So now you just wait, right?  Well, no, not exactly.  There are some actions you can take that will make a difference at many colleges, particularly independent colleges and universities.  It’s called “demonstrated interest.”  Students show demonstrated interest when they take various actions that signal to a school that they are seriously considering it. And it can possibly enhance your chances of admission.

Misty Whelan, Conestoga High School

Posted on Thu, 01/09/2014 - 10:29

Misty Whelan has lived the college admission process from both sides of the desk, so to speak. True, she worked early in her career at Bryn Mawr College. But that's not what we're talking about. Now a counselor at Conestoga High School in Berwyn, Pennsyvania, Whelan has also navigated the college application process as a parent. Her 16-year-old daughter, Sarah, is taking her first steps in the process and her 19-year-old son is now attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The view from the parental side of the process has been invaluable for Whelan.

"It has really, really helped me immensely as a professional in terms of sympathizing and empathizing with families as they go through this process," says Whelan. "And the other thing it validated for me was letting my son do the work and not to do it for him. He did the bulk of the work. I learned a lot about how to center him and not have him panic or get too stressed out. Luckily, he knew what he wanted and did not have too many schools on his list.  I also learned a lot about financial aid and the scholarship process. That was the biggest eye opener for me -- how colleges fund students."

Be yourself! Everybody else is taken...

Posted on Tue, 01/07/2014 - 12:46

High school counselor Barbara Simmons joins us today to examine the meaning of the directive to "Be yourself!" in the college application -- and provides some steps for getting there. Heads up, juniors! The time to start thinking about this is now.

 

With all of the resolutions swirling around in January when everything is fresh and new – I propose a resolution for all students embarking upon their search for those colleges that will become their new educational and social homes in a year and a half.  So, this resolution is for you, the juniors in high school, heading towards your 2nd semester of junior year.

Resolved:  I will continue to “know myself”.

Many of you will think that this aphorism, “know thyself”, has been both overused and around since ancient Greece – at times a proverb used to help those who boasted about themselves, “exceeding what they actually were,” and at times a “warning to pay no attention to the opinion of the multitude." .  How many times have you heard “know who you are?” from a counselor or educator or parent?  How many questionnaires have you answered with this as the guiding theme?

Leigh Weisenburger of Bates College Answers Six Questions

Posted on Mon, 01/06/2014 - 11:47

Bates College was founded in 1855 by abolitionists who believed strongly in freedom, civil rights and the importance of a higher education for all who could benefit from it. Several of the college's earliest students were former slaves. And its religion department was formed when the school merged with the Parsonfield's Cobb Divinity School, whose seminary served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

That mission of inclusivity is carried on today at the Lewiston, Maine, private liberal arts school -- there are no sororities or fraternities on campus, student organizations are open to all, and 95% of students live on campus, with residential life an important part of the academic experience.   

Parents, Try the "College Diet" over the Holiday Break

Posted on Thu, 12/19/2013 - 10:35

Parents, we have some holiday advice for you.  Tread lightly when discussing college in the presence of your juniors and seniors over the winter break. We suggest you adhere to the "college diet" -- a great idea we learned about from psychologist Michael Thompson. It has one simple-to-follow guideline -- the subject of college should not be on the menu more than twice a week.  And run some interference for your son or daughter when relatives and friends get too inquisitive or let themselves indulge in thinly-veiled status competition.  Even well-meaning inquiries can add to the anxiety of the process, especially for seniors. So nix those conversations by changing the subject and support your students in relaxing and enjoying this most wonderful holiday. And on this diet, you can have all the gingerbread and hot cocoa you want! Share that with your son or daughter. 

Our New Guide to the Application Form, Including Changes to the Common App

Posted on Tue, 12/17/2013 - 14:41

It's here -- our completely revised and updated guide, The Application Form, a real-time digital supplement to College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step.

It's a complete guide to filling out the college application, which serves as the cornerstone of a student's admission file, including:

  • A walk through the new Common Application, step by step.
  • An explanation of why colleges want this information and our best advice for how to provide it.
  • Answers to students' questions about extracurricular activities, academics, testing, and essays are addressed.
  • Guidance on fee waivers, deadlines, "fast apps," and resumes.
  • A To Do List for the many moving parts so students can put their best foot forward when completing their applications.

Download your complete free copy here.