Demonstrated Interest: Fact or Fiction?

The “Demonstrated Interest” Phenomenon

What is it?

Demonstrated Interest simply put is the amount and extent of interest that any given student might show to a prospective college prior to and during the application process.  Some colleges value this occurrence, while others claim to not subscribe to it at all.  If done correctly and strategically, it can offer a student an informal “edge” in the application process.  The number of positive “touch points” a student has with a college over a period of time could go into his or her demonstrated interest “account”. This virtual account is a way for colleges to assess the level of interest from any given applicant. 

During the entire college admissions process, it’s important to build allies both internally and externally.  Internal allies might include coaches, admissions reps and professors.  External allies might be friends, neighbors or relatives who are connected to that college in some way, such as being an alum or parents of a current student or alum.  These folks (at the appropriate time) can vouch for your character and allow the admissions committee to better understand the three-dimensional version of you not just the two-dimensional version.

What are some examples of Demonstrated Interest?

• Initial outreach by the student (not the parent) to the college via phone to request application materials and information on visiting the college. Contrary to the traditional notion that getting on a mailing list is a “bad thing”, being on the college’s mailing list allows them to enter you into their system as a potential applicant and allows you to receive updated information from them

• Stopping by the admissions office to introduce yourself even if your visit to the college is an impromptu one, shows initiative. Just make sure that you’re not wearing ripped jeans and sandals.  Who knows, you just might find the admissions director in the office that day- even if it’s a Saturday

• Taking the initiative to call and/or email the admissions representative, who will be assigned to your high school’s upcoming college fair, to simply introduce yourself and express enthusiasm for meeting them, shows a level of seriousness and responsibility

• Mailing and emailing a well-written thank you note within 24 hours of a visit that references specific topics you had discussed during your meeting, shows thoughtfulness. The hand-written note can help students stand out from the pack, because it has long since been replaced by email and considered today by some to be a unique form of communication. Be sure to address the note to “Mr.” or “Ms”- not to their first name and if your handwriting is poor, stick to email only.

• Example:

Dear Ms. Admission Officer,

Many thanks for taking time to speak with me during my visit on May 22^nd to XYZ college. I enjoyed our discussion about the semester abroad program in Kenya and your own personal international travel experiences to Australia and New Zealand (Your personalizing it here).

The newly renovated black box theatre would be an exciting place to showcase my passion for acting and seems to be a major growing in popularity amongst your students.

I look forward to keeping in touch and am excited about the opportunity to apply to XYZ in the near future.

Sincerely,

Susan Smith

How can it help a prospective student’s chances for admission?

Demonstrated Interest is really about developing your own personal brand and every interaction/communication with colleges, be it via phone, email or in-person, will either enhance your own personal brand or detract from it. 

Sending a well-thought out thank you note within 24 hrs of an interview by mail or email can enhance your personal brand while using text or IM to send it could just as easily diminish your personal brand. 

It really is the accumulation of these various communication touch points done strategically that can boost a student’s chances for admission, provided that he or she meets the other criteria for the college.

Often times, the demonstrated interest factor can rear its head if a college is trying to decide between two equally capable students who present quite similar on paper.

Even if you are waitlisted at a school, calling that school and reinforcing your excitement about that college shows them that you are taking the wait-list process seriously. Keep in mind, these types of calls should be done tactfully not annoyingly.

Demonstrated Interest does not mean calling a school twice a week to check on the status of your application or hounding the college about why you were waitlisted.  As in life, the more professional and tactful your approach, the better received it will be and the higher your own personal “stock” will rise in the eyes of those who will ultimately decide your fate at that particular college.

About the Author:

Jay Robie is Director of Student Services at College Planning Strategies and also oversees all business development, partnerships & client relations for the SmartTrack™ Toolkit online products. He has worked in the college admissions consulting space since 2004 and has worked in admissions at the secondary, collegiate and graduate levels. He received his BA degree from St. Lawrence University and MBA from Boston College.

“Party Schools” – Fact or Fiction?

Written by Guest Author Vivian Kerr

Any parent about to send their child off to college worries whether they’ll truly be getting a return on investment. No one wants to fork over $100,000+ on 4 years of undergraduate just so their student can party like a rock star the whole time. But are these so-called “party schools” really deserving of their reputation?

In 2012, the Top 10 party schools are as follows according to Princeton Review:

1. West Virginia University

2. University of Iowa

3. Ohio University

4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

5. University of Georgia

6. University of Florida

7. University of California

8. Florida State University

9. Miami University of Ohio

10. Syracuse University

So where on this list is the notorious Penn State? Proof that schools, unlike leopards, might actually be able to change their spots, Penn State has dropped out of the Top 10 . You may recall Penn State’s wild ways documented on a 2009 episode of This American Life called “#1 Party School.” This year it was re-ranked as #11.

This year Penn State was also ranked as one of the top fifty universities in the world, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities in Shanghai. Its reputation for academics is stellar. Students may like to party there, but it would seem they also like to study. Check out the entire podcast from 2009 from This American Life and judge for yourself!

But what about the new Top Ten? It’s true that these schools have active social organizations, including fraternities and sororities, but keep in mind many of these so-called party school “rankings” are online, vote-based. If enough students decide their school is a big “party school,” it may unjustly get ranked as such. Each of these schools has significant “pros” besides the party school label “con.” Find out more on Princeton Review.

This is all the more reason to take tours of prospective schools with your son or daughter. You’ll want to talk to academic chairs and look at the campus itself, of course, but also consider a drive or walk around on a Friday or Saturday night during the school year. Are there a lot of students out? Drinking in public? But more importantly, does it feel safe? These party schools almost uniformly have local police and campus patrols to keep their undergrads in line. Ultimately, it will be up to your student to strike the balance between work and play.

About the Author:

Vivian Kerr: Vivian Kerr has been teaching and tutoring in the Los Angeles area since 2005. She graduated from the University of Southern California, studied abroad in London, and has worked for several test-prep companies including Grockit & Kaplan for whom she taught ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and did admissions counseling. 

Writing a “Personal” Personal Statement

Written By Guest Author Vivian Kerr

Most personal statements are either boring, cliché, or just downright untruthful. Sounds cynical? It is, but so are many admissions counselors. Imagine reading essay after essay that all sound the same or start with, “Here’s why you should accept me.” It’s not easy to write personal statements OR to read them. Make your essay personal, and more compelling, with these few quick tips.

Tell a story about something that matters to you. You’ve probably heard the phrase “show, don’t tell” a hundred times, but what that means is you want to paint a picture for your reader. It’s easier to engage them if you treat your personal statement like a traditional narrative. Check out the resources on the Writing Narative Texts Learnist board. It will teach you techniques to develop the telling of real experiences or events using selective details and well-ordered event sequences.

Adjust the essay to each school. Unless you’re using your statement for the common application, you’ll need to make adjustments for each prompt. Make sure if you include the name of the school within the body of the essay you change it before submitting it. There’s nothing worse than an application to NYU being sent off with USC mentioned in it!

Don’t repeat information. The application committee will have your transcripts from high school, so don’t repeat facts that can be found elsewhere. The personal statement is a place to address a part of you that can’t be found anywhere else in your package.

Relate your story to the school itself. Reveal part of your personal story that led you to choose this school. Why are you a great fit? Why is now the perfect time for you to go off to college? This is a great way to wind up your story. Tell the story, but then explain why you’ve told it! Don’t be afraid to use the first-person “I” and be emotionally revealing. Aim for depth over breadth. It’s always better to be sincere and honest than pedantic, or overly academic.

Don’t send your first (or second) draft! Accept that you’ll need to revise your essay a lot! The pre-writing will be a big step, and you might need to attempt four or five personal stories before you find one that thematically connects to what you’re trying to say to the admissions committee. Try writing a few different outlines before you begin. Get feedback from your family, friends, teachers, and guidance counselors. Give feedback to your peers so you can start to learn what a good statement “feels” like. Once you’ve finished your essay, go back and read the specific language of each prompt. Make sure your essay is appropriately on-task.

Looking to become an even better personal storyteller? Get inspired with this series of TED talks lectures on writing and the writing process!

About the Author:

Vivian Kerr: Vivian Kerr has been teaching and tutoring in the Los Angeles area since 2005.  She graduated from the University of Southern California, studied abroad in London, and has worked for several test-prep companies including Grockit & Kaplan for whom she taught ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and did admissions counseling.

What if they see that picture on Facebook?

Written By Guest Author Dawn Casey Rowe

When researching or applying to colleges, social media can be extremely helpful. Applicants can investigate majors, student life, follow athletic teams, and network with students. Colleges can engage with applicants and find out whether they might be a good fit for the university.

But social media can have a dark side, too, if improperly used.  Applicants were reporting that some universities were requesting to see into their social media beyond casual interactions, at times even requesting passwords to social media accounts. Legislators have stepped in and ruled on this practice. In states like California, New York, Michigan, Delaware, and Illinois, among others, it is now illegal for colleges to ask for social media passwords or to ask to potential applicants for access to accounts for recruiting purposes.

Many colleges use social media positively to engage with prospective students, and guidance councilors recommend that students “like” or follow colleges, stating that trends show it’s more difficult for students who “apply blind,” that is, without engaging and evidencing their interest in a university on social media. From a college’s perspective, if a student won’t follow them on social media, the applicant doesn’t seem to be a serious contender when compared to students who live and breathe the college online.  It can be perceived as a lack of commitment.

Even though several states have ruled applicants don’t have to hand over Facebook passwords to a recruiter, putting fines in place for violations, it is still a great idea to clean up social media when applying to colleges, fellowships, and jobs.

I recently signed up for Vizify, which is a great site that pulled together a bunch of information about me from the internet and displayed it quite nicely. After I set up my account, it showed all my residences, the schools I’ve attended, and all my prior jobs. The only thing it didn’t have was my newest address, and that’s only because I had moved the week before—I managed briefly to outwit the Internet.

I showed this to my seniors.

“You’ll notice some of my most common tweets.”  We studied the chart.  Things like “student,” “#satchat,” “#edchat,” “#edchatri,” “school,” “class,” “blog,” and “kids” were on my list of frequently tweeted words.

“Wow,” said one of my Twitter-loving seniors.  “My words would be “#$%,” “*&&*^,” and “@%$%!” She signed up, and sure enough, they were.

Is that the image you want to project of yourself as an applicant to a college, whether it’s legal for a university to spy or not?  Although similar laws apply to potential employers, it’s all too easy to access this information. Most of this type of personal information is readily available online. It’s best to put it in the best possible light just in case someone of future importance to your school and career goals happens across it.  A casual glance can affect an opinion. The old adage is true, “You never get a second chance at a first impression.” 

This is such a serious issue that there is a newly emerging field—“personal branding” to help with just these situations. People actually pay professionals to help them establish and maintain a positive image.

Using social media correctly can be the thing that helps you get into college or to find out about schools you might like—it can make connections for you and send you in the right direction for college and careers.   Using it incorrectly makes you a liability.  As you prepare for college and later for job interviews, take some time to think about how using social media can benefit you, and let it do just that. It can make a world of difference!

About the Author:

Dawn Casey Rowe

I teach Social Studies at the William M. Davies Career & Technical High School in Rhode Island. My passions include research, writing, history, sustainability, fitness and social justice. I'd love to see tech innovations to level the playing field in education. I'm a big fan of our local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and all things natural and tasty. I blog and run in my spare time.

Most Common College Admissions Mistakes & How to Avoid Them (PART II)

A few weeks ago we outlined some of the most common college admissions mistakes and how you can avoid them.  In part II of this series, we will outline a few more mistakes that can be detrimental to your applications.  Remember, if you take your time and do things right, applying to college doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems.  You should begin your applications well before the deadlines and never leave anything to the last minute.

Here are a few additional application and admissions mistakes to avoid:

Asking the Wrong People for Letters of Recommendation:  Colleges typically ask for 1-3 letters of recommendation.  In most cases, they want you to ask your academic teachers.  They want to know about your character and about your performance in the classroom.  The best teachers to ask are those who you’ve had for more than one year and in more than one subject.  It’s also great to ask a teacher who you’ve had in a subject closely related to your intended major (some colleges and/or programs actually will require this).  Do not ask a teacher that you had back in 9^th grade that you haven’t spoken to since, even if you got an A in the class and they loved you back then.  They don’t know you well anymore – they know you as a 9^th grader.  If you know someone famous, say the governor of your state is your uncle’s girlfriend’s brother’s best friend, don’t be tempted to have them write you a letter.  Typically, admissions officers don’t like this.  They really just want someone that truly knows you well, can speak to your character, and that has detailed evidence and personal knowledge of how you work as a student.

Forgetting to Send Test Scores: Don’t forget that sending your test scores to your prospective colleges is your responsibility.  This is done separately from the application.  If you have SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or AP scores to submit, you send your scores through CollegeBoard.org.  If you have ACT scores to submit, you will do this through ACT.org.  This is a very important part of the application process; don’t assume that your guidance counselor or someone else will submit your scores on your behalf.  Look into the testing policies of your potential schools.  Most schools want you to submit all of your test scores and will only take into consideration your highest ones.  Additionally, some schools will require SAT Subject Tests and some won’t.  Make sure you know the exact testing policy of your colleges.

Applying Early Decision When It’s Not The Right Choice:  Be careful, here.  Don’t apply Early Decision only because you think it will be your ticket for admission.  Early Decision is a binding agreement that must be taken seriously.  If you are accepted through an Early Decision agreement, you are legally required to attend the college.  Typically, schools that offer acceptance through Early Decision will not give out generous financial aid packages because they know that you are obligated to attend.  And, you are unable to compare financial aid offers from other schools before making your decision.  Also, many students will change their minds about their college preferences throughout the process as they do more research and go on visits.  For these reasons, we typically do not recommend Early Decision.

Not Proof Reading Application & Essay:  The revision process (of both the application and the essay) is a critical part of the application process.  Spelling and grammar mistakes do not belong anywhere on your application.  It’s a huge pet peeve of admissions reps reading your application.  Steer clear of any text-lingo, too.  It can be habit when you are used to texting, but it has no place on your college applications.  Ask someone with a fresh set of eyes to proof read both your application and your essay before you submit.

Rely on Rankings in Magazines:  Do not confuse college rankings with quality.  Just because a magazine says that a particular college is number one on their list does not mean that it’s a good fit for you.  You may even find that the college of your dreams is ranked number 1 or number 10 or not at all depending on which list you’re looking at.  Colleges can be ranked very differently on different lists due to the different criteria used, not the actual characteristics of the school itself.  Ultimately, be careful.  College rankings can be a good starting point for researching different colleges and can even help you to discover schools that you haven’t heard of.  However, make sure not to confuse rankings and/or selectivity with quality.  You need to do your research and spend some time on campus to decide if it’s right for you.

Remember, the more you know about the process and the more research you do, the better off you’ll be. Using tools like our Admissions Assistance component or our Student Positioning component can make the process a breeze and really help to eliminate unnecessary stress. Take our advice here and you’ll be well on your way to admission as your top choice college. Until next time, best of success!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Boston College and a Master’s degree and license in School Guidance Counseling.  She also holds a certificate in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

Do We Need College?

Do we need college?

This is a question that many are asking these days. The cost of college has risen over 1200 percent in the past thirty years, bringing it far out of reach for many families.   Often, families without means struggle to send their high-achieving students to the best universities despite the sacrifices they must make, and financial difficulties can often prevent these students from graduating.

As a teacher, I find myself in the midst of the reality of this firestorm.  I firmly believe that a college education can set people apart in their career, when done right, but when students do not consider all the options, they can end up with a lifetime of crippling debt that cannot be forgiven with bankruptcy.  Many experts feel that the student loan bubble will be the next strain on the nation’s economy.

This is why it’s so important for students and families to truly understand the college admissions process. As with any other major life decision or purchase, colleges and universities must justify their value to you.  You must consider the return on investment. 

All too often, students bring me letters that seem like honors and awards, but they are really thinly veiled predatory loans masked in beautiful marketing.  It’s college application season now.  I see people prepared to saddle themselves with fifty to sixty thousand dollars of debt a year if they don’t get aid.  Does that sound like you? That’s the price of a house if you graduate in four years. The trend today is to take five years or more, and while high schools collect statistics about graduation rates, getting penalized if they’re low, colleges do not get punished. In fact, the longer you stay, the more money they make. 

Students are encouraged to study areas of interest, take semesters off, and go where the heart leads them. While this is good advice in the realm of learning, it often leads to heartbreak when choosing an expensive university and a career path that cannot pay back those loans. At graduation time, students find themselves in the position of having to chase the dollars to pay back the bank anyway.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately, as I watch parents and students warm up their pens to sign huge loans that will become their best friends for years to come.  I wrote a post on my blog called “College or a Ferrari?” because I feel it’s critical for students to really analyze their college choices once the aid packages are delivered, and to think about the return on investment for each potential major.  Also, students must commit to maximizing the benefit of college. Sure, you should have fun, but if you’re not ready to hit the books, consider taking classes at a local community college, or enlisting in the military--who, by the way, will pay for your college while you serve your nation. It’s the school of life, and it’s very effective. 

I made a Learnist board dedicated to helping families make these decisions. You cannot make a decision which has the potential to cost $200,000 based on emotion--you must consider the facts… college can be worth the investment, but the decision is no different from buying a house or a car. I've recently done both. There were things I would have loved, but they were just out of reach and not practical for the lifestyle I lead. In the end, I got a practical car that can handle the potholes my area that will never be fixed, and a house where I can live simply and get off the grid, like I've always wanted to do. No mansion. No Ferrari. And I’m just as well off for it. 

If you are going to college next year, do your research, work hard in school, and get your ducks in a row. And when the mailman comes with all your acceptance letters--and hopefully your financial aid, don’t forget to really think of colleges that will serve you for a lifetime, not just four or five years.  

About the Author:

Dawn Casey Rowe

I teach Social Studies at the William M. Davies Career & Technical High School in Rhode Island. My passions include research, writing, history, sustainability, fitness and social justice. I'd love to see tech innovations to level the playing field in education. I'm a big fan of our local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and all things natural and tasty. I blog and run in my spare time.

Common College Admissions Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Applying to college can be a complicated process. But, the reality is, if you take your time and do things right you can get through it. Applications should not be completed overnight and the entire college search and application process should begin well before the fall of your senior year. The keys are planning and organization.

Even if you’re careful though, there are many different mistakes you might make that could ruin your chances of being admitted into your top choice college. We’ve come across a lot working with our students. Here are a few common application and admissions mistakes that we hope you won’t succumb to…

Forgetting Supplements:  Every college has a general admissions application. In addition, some colleges will also ask for a Supplemental Application, or Supplement. On the Supplement, your college may ask additional questions about your family, intended major or even housing preference. They may also ask you to write an additional essay.  Make sure that you do not forget to submit this! Missing a supplement means an incomplete file, and incomplete files have no chance for admission.

Missing Deadlines:  Whatever you do, do not miss an application deadline. Colleges are not flexible with this. Most applications will become available in August before senior year. If you can, make sure to have everything submitted to your colleges at least two weeks prior to the deadline. This will ensure that the college receives everything in time. Missing deadlines shows that you are irresponsible, not an attractive quality for a prospective freshman student.

Not Managing Social Media Accounts Properly:  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, you name it, social media is everywhere and no one is more adept at it than teenagers. Unfortunately, it is also teenagers who most often mismanage their accounts. Students should not assume that colleges won’t see your Facebook page, Twitter feed, or other accounts. Admissions staff may not have the time to actively seek out all of their applicants to check their Facebook pages.  However, if there’s a red flag on your application or something questionable about you, they’ll check it out for sure.  You should expect that if there’s anything public, it’s possible that admissions may see it and you should do everything you can to clean up your profile before you get into the admissions process. 

One admissions rep at a recent event shared the story about how a student had been admitted to their college and he had posted on his Facebook about how he had gotten in and about all the drugs and alcohol he would engage in over the next four years.  Someone at the school saw it and notified admissions.  They rescinded his application.  Colleges are trying to create safe and supportive residential communities, so anything that would be concerning to the community well-being is a huge issue.

In the end, you should be comfortable letting anyone (your mom, your grandmother, an admissions officer, potential employer) see your page. You don’t want the reason you were denied (or application rescinded) to your number one school to be because of a status you posted or a picture you were tagged in.

Not Applying to Reach or Safety Schools:  Don’t limit yourself unnecessarily by only applying to schools where you are on target with their requirements. Apply to a variety of schools. This means safety schools, target schools, and reach schools. Safety schools are colleges where you have a very good chance of getting in because your academic profile is clearly stronger than most of the applicant pool.  Safety schools make for a good “Plan B” and are likely to award Merit-Based Aid since you will be a sought after applicant. You also shouldn’t limit yourself by not applying to reach schools. Reach schools are schools where your academic record and profile may be weaker than what the college is typically looking for. But, there’s not always a guarantee you won’t get in. Some schools look at special qualities and certain characteristics when admitting students (like a legacy student).  Or, if you are a highly recruited athlete, a first class Cello player, and it just so happens the college needs to fill the spot of lead Cellist, they could come to you. You just never know. Even if your GPA and test scores aren’t as high as they need to be, a spectacular and moving essay could blow the admissions officer away. Astound an admissions officer during an interview, too, and those test scores being low might not matter anymore. Keep your options open.

Using The Wrong College Name in the Application Essay: This one kills me.  If you write an essay for a specific college (usually in the Supplemental Application where you are allowed to name a college by its name) and decide to copy and paste the essay to use for another college (which you shouldn’t in the first place), remember to change the college name!  Unfortunately, many students will just copy and paste the essay and use it for another college and forget to change the name… so the essay with the line, “I can’t wait to join the rest of the freshman class at UMass Amherst in the fall” goes to UNH.  Admissions officers hate this.  It shows that you aren’t truly interested or invested in the college, not enough to write a separate essay for that college and not enough to proof read your application or re-read your essay before submitting.

Admissions applications aren’t always easy, but it doesn’t mean that they have to be difficult. The more you know about the process and the more research you do, the better off you’ll be. Using tools like our Admissions Assistance component or our Student Positioning component can make the process a breeze and really help to eliminate unnecessary stress. Take our advice here and you’ll be well on your way to admission as your top choice college. Until next time, best of success!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Boston College and a Master’s degree and license in School Guidance Counseling.  She also holds a certificate in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

What Looks Better – an A in a Regular College Prep Course or a Lower Grade in an Honors / AP Course?

This is a question we get quite a bit: whether to play it safe and get the A in a regular college prep level course, or to challenge yourself and take the Honors or AP course, but get a lower grade, such as a B or a C. Typically, the most weight given to any high school student's college application is to their high school transcript.  This not only includes their grades, but also the level and rigor of their curriculum.  Colleges want to know that the student is actively pushing himself, taking the most challenging, yet appropriate, courses that he can.  

The answer that most colleges will give you is that, it’s better to get an A in the Honors/AP class.  Well, of course.  And most highly selective colleges will expect that you do.  But in reality, most colleges would rather see a B in an Honors or AP course.  They want to see that you are truly challenging yourself, but that you are still mastering the material.  If you’re getting C’s or D’s in the class, you clearly aren’t mastering the material, and should re-think your placement in the course.

Now if a student has all A’s in his College Prep (CP) level courses, it may look as though he’s smart enough and capable to take a few Honors or AP courses but is playing it safe; he’s not up for the challenge.  Colleges may be put off by this.  This type of student should try to take on just a couple of Honors or AP courses, potentially in the subjects he feels most comfortable in, those where his strengths lie, or those he is most interested in (or potentially may major in).

But will this impact my GPA? At most high schools, Honors and AP courses are weighted differently than CP courses, thus giving “extra credit” to students in the higher level courses for performing well.  Colleges typically know which high schools do not use weighted ranks and take this into consideration while reviewing and comparing students.  Ask your guidance counselor exactly what your grading and weighting system is at your high school.  They should also be able to recommend whether you should move up a level in a particular course.

What if my school doesn’t offer Honors or AP courses?  Colleges will be aware of what your high school offers and will evaluate you in terms of what opportunities you had and what classes were available to you.    You won't be penalized for not taking higher level courses if they aren't offered.  However, if Honors or AP courses aren't offered at your school, see if there are any other opportunities you can engage in, such as taking courses at a local college or community college or through an online program (i.e., Virtual High School).  Colleges will love your initiative.

Ultimately, colleges are looking for students who push themselves, who take the most challenging, yet appropriate, course load that’s available to them and that they can realistically handle and perform well.  Not every student can realistically take on a full course load of honors and AP courses and do well.  Know yourself and ask those around you who know you well, such as your teachers and guidance counselor.

Please share any additional tips you have!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a degree in Human Development from Boston College and recently received her Master’s degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

Tips for Students Headed to Grad School

As a recent Master's Degree graduate, I'd like to share some tips for students headed off to graduate school or even just considering it.

1. Be prepared to not have a free moment. Working and going to graduate school part-time evenings and weekends is nothing like your undergraduate experience. You have to really want this and be truly dedicated. It's incredibly hard to manage your work life, school work, and personal life. Know what you're getting yourself into and make sure that this is 100% what you want to do.

2.  Join professional associations and organizations within your field (student rates are much cheaper!). They will provide you with great resources and professional development opportunities to get involved. In addition, go to professional conferences in your field to learn more and more importantly to network. You WILL graduate before you know it and you need to be active in your field and show your colleagues how good you are at what you do.

3.  Make friends in your program – these are your future colleagues and professionals in the field.  Once you’re employed after you graduate, it’s also great to have someone to bounce ideas off of other than a supervisor or boss – get their contact information and stay connected after graduation.  Also, depending on your field of study, some programs are more project based with more group work than others.  It can be difficult to engage in group work now that you’re probably not living on campus or connected with many other students.

4.  Be involved in class and develop positive relationships with your professors.  Your professors, much like your classmates, are your future colleagues and you’ll probably be asking them for letters of reference upon graduation.  They may also have an in somewhere once you’re looking for jobs.

5.  Complete an internship.  Many Master’s level programs require it.  If they don’t, make sure you are either working in your field already or have some kind of internship experience, whether it’s paid or unpaid (paid is preferred but be prepared for something unpaid, as most are).  You’ll need to get your foot in the door somewhere and have some kind of experience on your resume.

6.  Make sure that this is what you truly want to do.  This is a huge commitment, so make sure you at least work in the field first and understand what being a professional in this specific industry means.  Don’t invest all the time, money, and energy into something unless you really know this is for you.

7.  Choose a college for the quality of the program, not for brand name.  You are most likely paying for this college experience on your own with no help from your parents.  Now is not the time to acquire tens of thousands of dollars of debt.  Even better, try to find a job in your field of study where your employer has tuition reimbursement options available and will help you pay for your schooling.

8.  Understand that it may take more than 1-2 years to complete your program. Some programs will advertise that they are 1 or 2 year programs, but be careful. They are probably assuming you will go full-time (including summers) and are not including any kind of internship or practicum requirements in that time frame. For example, I was told my program was a 2 year program and it ended up taking me 4 years to complete it. If you are working full-time and only taking classes part-time in the evenings and weekends, it will take you longer than someone who can take 3-4 classes at a time because they are only working part-time or are unemployed.

Ultimately, graduate school is a huge investment of time, money, and energy.  Be well informed and do your research!  Please share any additional tips you have!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a degree in Human Development from Boston College and recently received her Master’s degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

Vermont Colleges Trip Part VI

Friday, April 27, 2012

Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT

Middlebury was another one of my favorite schools simply because it was SO beautiful. Middlebury is a very highly selective liberal arts college with an international and global scope.  Middlebury was larger than we’ve seen at a nice size of 2,450 students, although just by walking across the campus you may think that more students attend due to the size of the space that the campus sits on.  The campus is stunning, the buildings are beautiful and the overall space is just very attractive.

Middlebury is renowned for its leadership in language instruction and international studies and is also nationally known for its programs in environmental studies.  As I mentioned, Middlebury is very selective.  Out of 8,533 applications that were received in the 2010-2011 year, only 1,500 were admitted for September and another 156 for February.  Students who are admitted to Middlebury are usually in the top 5-10% of their class with straight A’s in high level rigorous courses.  Even so, Middlebury simply only has so much space and will still reject some top students.  So, what do you need to get in (besides high GPA, SAT/ACT, etc)?  They said that they are impressed by candidates that show “passionate engagement” – not students who are involved in 15 different clubs and organizations, but are involved in a few things and are truly engaged and show leadership in those.  A remarkable essay can certainly help and they look for students who distinguish themselves by thinking outside the box and showing entrepreneurial thinking and leadership skills.

Middlebury actually encourages students to do a half year or full year off between high school and college to do some type of gap year program and they have recently begun a new initiative to encourage transfers from community colleges.  They accept students into both the traditional fall term, and also into the college at the start of their February term.  They believe that students who take the half year off and enroll in February typically bring more to their college experience and, as a result, derive more from it.  These students also hold a higher number of leadership positions on campus and, on average, perform better academically.  Middlebury believes that students benefit greatly from the opportunity to travel, work, or pursue other interests, and all of those options can help contribute to an even more enriching college experience.  Students who enter their freshman year in February are called “Febs.”  While Middlebury encourages this gap period, they do also recommend that students go through the college admissions process during the normal time their senior year and once admitted, then consider gap year options that are available.

www.middlebury.edu

University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

UVM was by far the largest school we saw at about 10,000 undergraduates.  At over 100 majors, they have a wide variety of programs to choose from.  They are split into 7 different colleges – Arts & Sciences, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Engineering and Math, Education and Social Services, Business Administration, Nursing and Health Sciences, Environment and Natural Resources.  Like many colleges we visited, they have a hands-on, experiential learning style and are committed to the environment and social justice.  They were actually one of the first colleges to ban plastic water bottles on campus! 

Because UVM is the largest school we saw, naturally class size is going to be larger – at about 31 and student/faculty ratio a little higher, at 17:1.  The most popular programs are business administration, biology/biological sciences, psychology, English, nursing, animal science, political science, environmental sciences, history, and mechanical engineering. 

A great part of UVM is that it offers undergraduate research opportunities for students.  Students assist faculty in research in a wide range of fields.  Several programs even provide research grants for undergrads.  UVM was one of the few colleges we saw that had Greek life – there are 16 fraternities/sororities (about 8% of students are involved).  Also maybe the only school to have Division I sports – 18 of them.  Housing is available at UVM all four years and about a little over half of students are residential. 

Because UVM is located in Burlington, students have the opportunity to be in a city-like atmosphere, with options for shopping, dining, museums, outdoor activities, etc.  While some of these other campuses are located in such rural areas, it is difficult to get that same college town feel that Burlington gives.

http://www.uvm.edu/

Overall Impressions

While Vermont has the highest number of colleges and universities per capita in the US, there is very little competition among the schools.  The admissions staff of the colleges works more on a collegial basis, making sure that each student has a good fit with the college.  For example, if a student applies to one college and the admissions counselor realizes it’s just not a good fit, he may call up an admissions rep at another college in VT and speak to why this particular student might be a great fit for another college.

Overall, Vermont is a gorgeous area.  There is a beautiful view from almost anywhere you are in the state.  At almost every college the landscape was just stunning.  It’s a completely different feel than being in a major city.  Most of the colleges, with the exception of UVM are small – fewer than 3,000 students and most are very small – under 1,000 students.  If you are looking for a small college where there is a small average class size, small student/faculty ratio and where professors know your name, provide support, and are accessible, Vermont may be perfect for you.  Many students at various schools told us that they “didn’t want to be just a number” and got the personal attention they needed and didn’t feel lost in the crowd.  Another thing I picked up was that almost every school had a very hands-on, experiential style of learning – the students learn most by doing and there was an emphasis on internships, community service, social justice, and an active student body.

There’s a different culture in Vermont.  People seem to be more laid back and friendly.  At many of the schools we saw students were just walking around campus barefoot – it is just a way of being that embodies many of the schools.  Because it’s Vermont and Vermont lacks diversity in general, many of these schools lack diversity, although they all seem to be trying very hard.  So, if you are looking for diversity among the student population, make sure you know what you are getting at the schools you choose to apply.

There is a huge outdoor culture in Vermont.  If you don’t like the outdoors, snow, and being active outside… you should probably re-think Vermont.  There is a huge ski / snowboard culture and many of the colleges give discounted rates and passes to the local mountains – of which there are many – Sugarbush, Stowe, Bolton Valley, Smugglers’ Notch, Jay Peak, Killington, Mount Snow, Stratton… etc.

http://vtcolleges.org/why-vermont/ski-areas.htm

You’ve really got to love the outdoors if you decide to go to Vermont.  There are so many different activities that you can be involved in and many students are – hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, bicycling, climbing, whitewater boating, snow shoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing, fly-fishing, canoeing, camping, swimming….

Ultimately, YOU NEED TO VISIT (and spend the night if you can) to really understand what these colleges and communities are all about.  I had an idea of what I thought a few of these colleges were about, and you just can’t get a good picture from reading the website and brochure.  Even the virtual tours, while they do provide a good place to start, you need to actually step foot on campus and talk to real students to see what the college is all about.  This was such a fantastic experience, I am so grateful for everything I learned and all the wonderful people I met!

Any additional information to share about these colleges?  Leave your comments!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from Boston College and a Master’s Degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

Vermont Colleges Trip Part V

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT

Green Mountain College is a small (750 students) environmentally based college with a strong focus on affordability.  In terms of the actual campus, there is a nice balance between the typical esthetically pleasing college buildings and the farm.  Green Mountain also has a satellite campus in Killington, VT for a 3-year Resort and Hospitality Management program where students work at the resort as part of their program (very cool!). 

At the heart of Green Mountain College’s environmental mission is a 37-credit Environmental Liberal Arts General Education Program, which all students complete.  The program combines the skills and content of a strong liberal arts course of study with a focus on the environment.  Like most other colleges, experiential learning is also central to education at GMC.  Students are encouraged to gain hands-on experiences through internships, service-learning opportunities and study abroad programs.

The college participates in NCAA Division III sports with 6 men’s and 6 women’s teams, including basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.

A very cool thing about Green Mountain was their Green Mountain College Adventure Programming or GreenMAP.  GreenMAP provides low cost equipment rentals, recreational and instructional adventure programs, and the Wilderness Challenge, GMC’s wilderness orientation program for new students.  Within GreenMAP is the Trip Leader program, a leadership commitment combining structured experience development, activity specific training, wilderness medicine, mentoring, reflection, and evaluation.

Green Mountain College sits on a 123-acre campus on the Poultney River – divided into 3 regions – 39 acres of natural areas including the Poultney River buffer zone, 40 acres on Cerridwen Farm, and 44 acres of designed buildings, landscapes, and athletic fields.  This green space on the campus provides ecosystem services and is vital to education, research, and recreation.  The campus lands are essentially outdoor classrooms and field sites for projects for students and faculty.  They are used in practical application of skills learned in courses, and provide a healthy and attractive living area for the community.

http://www.greenmtn.edu

  

College of St. Joseph, Rutland, VT

St. Joseph’s is a small (400 students) Catholic career-focused liberal arts college located in the Green Mountains.  The college offers 30 career oriented majors, with most popular majors being Psychology & Human Services, Business, and Criminal Justice.  There is a focus on programs that yield licensure as well as a focus on internship and hands-on learning programs.  Their goal is for students to get the field experience they need to land a great job post-graduation.

While we were there, they highlighted the STEPS program (Students Taking an Effective Path to Success), which is a program for Vermont youth transitioning out of foster care.  The program runs through a partnership between the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation and the Vermont Department of Children and Families.  The college provides a supportive campus environment for these students so that they are able to earn a college degree, develop work skills, experience counseling and guidance, and become effective members of society.  Students accepted into the STEPS program will be provided with important services such as year-round housing and meal service as well as access to career and personal counseling.  These students must meet the usual academic requirements, including the submission of SAT or ACT scores.  STEPS students’ tuition and fees are covered by federal and state financial aid packages so the financial aid office works very closely with these students to make sure that college remains affordable.

http://www.csj.edu/

Castleton State College, Castleton, VT

Castleton State reminded me more of a typical college campus.  It’s a bit larger than what we’ve seen, at 1,900 undergraduates and houses 30 academic programs and majors, 20 intercollegiate sports (Div III) and many different clubs and activities.  The nursing program at Castleton is more selective and requires an additional review.  While the average GPA of admitted students is a 3.0, it is the minimum required to be considered for the nursing program (the only program with additional standards).  Castleton is also a leader in teacher education, where students become involved in fieldwork during their very first year.

In addition to nursing, some special programs Castleton offers are a 4+2 Occupational Therapy program and a 4+3 Physical Therapy program, in which students typically major in Health Science and then go on to a Doctoral Program.  Castleton also has a Communication program with focuses in Digital Media, Journalism, Mass Media, and Public Relations and has a pretty cool TV studio that we saw.

Like some of the other colleges have a focus on green energy and sustainability, Castleton State also has a Green Campus Initiative to improve the environment and work toward a sustainable future.  Initiatives include using “green” construction in new buildings, purchasing hybrid vehicles for the college fleet, reducing electric use by installing energy-efficient lights, and making recycling a way of life.

http://www.castleton.edu

Stay tuned for the FINAL leg of the trip!!

Coming up next... Middlebury College & University of Vermont and then an overview of the entire trip...

Any additional information to share about these colleges?  Leave your comments!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from Boston College and recently received her Master's Degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege