Senior Meetings

Sorry for the blog hiatus, I was off with ElRo Model UN in Beijing, China. We got back last week and I can't believe how quickly summer is coming to an end!

I want to make this post about Senior Meetings because I started them this week in a new initiative to get a head start on this year's historic senior class (140 students!). Many thanks to the students and families that have signed up for these early meetings, I'm so glad that it was something you all were interested in.

What is a Senior Meeting?

Senior Meetings are the second of two meetings that each ElRo student will have with me. The first one, the Junior Meeting, is a time for me to get to know you and a time for us to go over the characteristics you think you want in a school. The Senior Meeting is a time for us to have a much more concrete conversation about the exact list of schools you plan to apply to and for me to give you feedback about your choices. I've always maintained that I'm a guide, not a decision maker. I'll give you advice that you certainly don't have to take. But remember, I'm really trying to give you suggestions that will maximize your success. A list with 8 reaches and one likely may sound like a good idea now but history shows that it isn't such a hot idea when decisions come out. Bottom line: you construct your list, I just give you feedback.

When can I have my senior meeting?

Students and parents were sent out an email earlier this summer with a link to a nifty new Gmail feature that allows you to log in and schedule yourself for a summer meeting. This has worked great so far and I will continue using this method for the fall meetings. I've gone ahead and added a few other afternoon slots and will continue to add more slots around the first day of school. The reason for this is, as always, students can't miss class for their meeting so I want you to know your program before you sign up for a meeting. Everyone will have a meeting, I promise. They will take place during September, October, and November.


Can I start applying to college now?

While it is ok (and probably a good idea) to start applications now, please hold off on actually clicking submit until AFTER your senior meeting. Why? I want to be sure we have touched base about your plan of action. If I discover that you are a little off the mark I want you to have not wasted lots of time and money on applications that won't work for you. As you might imagine, this means that I recommend the September meetings go to people who are seriously considering Early Action or Early Decision, that way we can talk well before your first deadlines. Regular decision applications to private colleges are normally not due until January. As a rule of thumb, I recommend filing public school applications by no later than Thanksgiving (or sometimes earlier at unique places like Maryland with priority deadlines). If you happen to be a person that doesn't get a Senior Meeting slot on the early side, but need to file a couple public school applications please just shoot me an email so we can be on the same page. It is an exception to the policy that I'm happy to make.

What should I bring to my Senior Meeting?

Just you and your parent/guardian if they are able to attend. I also ask that you go into Naviance  beforehand and update your active application list to include the schools you would like to talk about and that you are seriously considering. Other than that just come with an open mind ready to hearing feedback.


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Thanks Penn State!

Creamm, a photo by FontaineRittelmann on Flickr.

Last week (things have been busy, sorry for the delay!) Penn State was kind enough to sponsor a trip to their University Park campus for local guidance counselors - let me start by thanking them for their generosity.

We spent the night at the historic Nittany Lion Inn (a hotel located on campus) and had the opportunity to hear President Graham Spanier speak to us during a dinner reception. The following day we participated in the 'Spend a Summer Day' visit opportunity for prospective students and families. This gave us the chance to go on a tour, attend a student panel, and learn more about the specific programs and offerings. It also gave us numerous opportunities to hear about the infamous Creamery and the delicious ice cream that Penn State has been making for years. We even went so far as to ask every UP native we saw (including the session presenters and alumni volunteering on corners around campus) what their favorite flavors were.

One thing is very clear about Penn State - they do many things very very well. Even up to and including the organization of the event, there were calm and informed staff, volunteers, and students EVERYWHERE on campus. I can only imagine the logistics of coordinating such a day, but Penn State made it look easy. Our tour here was smaller in size than some of the private school tours I went on earlier in the month. There was also a very clear Penn State Pride oozing from everyone. The alumni volunteers I'm talking about are not recent grads, they included men and women in their 80s out on a hot summer day to share their love of Penn State. At the student panel, we asked the students where they would be in school if they hadn't come to Penn State. The first respondent (a mineral and earth science major from New York City) looked bewildered for a second then without skipping a beat said: Penn State, Altoona?

Overall, I would say that if you are looking for a school with lots of opportunities (and lots of students) Penn State should make its way on to your list. Keep in mind though, University Park admission is significantly more selective than the other 20 campuses in the Penn State family and it is very common for students to attend one campus for two years and then transfer with ease for their Junior year. Recruiters know Penn State as a stand up institution full of top graduates. Malcolm Gladwell also makes a pretty strong case for it in his piece 'The Order of Things.'

My only reservation about Penn State is that it (like many out of state public schools) has very little wiggle room for financial aid. Yes, the sticker price is lower than a private school and for some families it is a true bargain. But if merit aid is what you are after, have back ups in case Penn State's price tag is an issue.

If that is a con though, the ice cream really is a pro. I had Keeney Beany and it was an investment I can vouch for.