Thanks University of Chicago!

Because I apparently am a glutton for punishment, I felt it was a good idea to follow my 18 school Vermont tour, College Night, and ElRo Auction with accepting the invitation from the University of Chicago the same week as the Unique NYC College Fair and Admission Accomplished. Well, good news everyone, I made it back from the trip and it was worth it!

University of Chicago is a highly selective liberal arts university located in a residential neighborhood only a few miles away from downtown Chicago. They have grown in recent years and currently enroll about 5,800 undergraduate students per year (though they are also known for their outstanding graduate programs and more than one student cited access to graduate courses, graduate students, and research opportunities as reasons for picking UChicago). UChicago has made waves recently in the admissions world for simultaneously increasing their applicant pool, drastically decreasing their admit rate (I'm talking 40% to now under 9%), and drastically increasing their yield rate (from about 30% to about 60%). They also stand apart by being one of the few selective schools that still offers the chance at being awarded merit aid.

The University of Chicago has a core curriculum and runs on the quarter system - two big unique factors that set it apart when it comes to academics. By having students take 3-4 students in the fall, winter, and spring quarters, UChicago students get to take more classes in a shorter period of time. If the idea of taking more classes doesn't appeal to you, you probably aren't a good fit for this school because the overarching theme of students who thrive at this school is having a thirst for academic knowledge that cannot be quenched. Unlike a lot of other colleges with strong reputations, UChicago was described as "an elite school that isn't elitist." It was clear that the heartbeat of this school is not generations and generations of prep school graduates, big donors with heavy hitting last names, or a student's pedigree - the heartbeat of the school is intellectual curiosity. Your high school, where your parents went to college, how much money you have is all secondary to how you contribute to the classroom and how passionate you are about seeking knowledge. For all the ivy and neogothic architecture on campus, they seem to be doing a great job of upholding the ideals of a meritocracy.

First year students (what they call freshman) are all assigned both an academic adviser (who has no other job besides advising) and a career adviser from the start. In the past few years, a new initiative has started through career services to found various UCIs, University of Chicago Careers In _____ programs where students can get linked up with coursework, internships, career advising and exploration in the following fields: Business, Entrepreneurship, Public Policy, Journalism, Law, Health Professions, Education, and Science & Technology. This allows for a liberal arts college to provide the same (if not better?) career preparation than a more pre-professionally focused school.

As a University of Chicago student, you have access to internationally the renowned faculty. There are low walls between the majors and because of the core curriculum it is common to explore many different fields and change directions if a new passion is discovered. In the past, UChicago was a self selective pool, but they have since transitioned to being just plain selective. The application famously requires students to answer a supplemental essay that really does show the essence of how the applicant things (example of a past essay prompt: define x.) This is not the kind of school to just mindlessly add to your Common App.

Overall, this was a great visit and I feel like I really got a sense of who would like UChicago. We got a chance to see the new Mansueto Library (see video below - a robot retrieves the books!) and hear a student panel. Don't believe how intellectual the students are? I overhead the students on the panel discussing the equations that happened to be on the white board behind them (unrelated to the panel) before getting settled. That's a first for me.

The reputation of UChicago is that it is 'where fun goes to die.' I think i would adjust that statement to say that students at UChicago think learning is fun, and from what I observed learning is about as far from dead at UChicago as it can be. I hope they stay true to that identity and embrace the fact that they don't need to be a party school to be fun.

Thanks to UChicago for hosting me, it was a great trip!

College Night 2014!

This is a funky week being back in school only one day before our annual College Night! I hope the short week though won't prevent people from attending one of our best nights of the year for helping 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students better understand the college application process.

I am excited to remind everyone that tomorrow, Thursday, April 24th from 6:00-8:30 pm we will have a great night of college information to share. The night will be structured the same way that it has in the past -- a panel discussion, two short workshops of your choice, and a mini college fair. Workshop topics include: Financial Aid, The Common Application, Essay Writing, Parent Do's and Don'ts, and the CUNY/SUNY system. Information will not be coming from me, instead it will come straight from the source: Admission professionals from around the country. Representatives will be attending from: Reed College, CUNY, Virginia Commonwealth University, SUNY, and Wesleyan. These were selected intentionally to expose people in attendance to: in state public schools, out of state public schools, private schools, local schools, and schools that are far away. The panel discussion will be held in the auditorium.

Even if you attended last year, I encourage you to come back so that by the time you are a senior you will be an expert on these topics.

I can't wait to see you there!

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CVC Day 6 - I made it!

Earlier today we hit our 18th school! This morning I saw Burlington College to finish out the CVC tour. In a way, Burlington stands alone in more than just the schedule of the tour. Burlington is a small college (only about 225 students) with a non-traditional student body. The school describes itself as having 'zero boxes' meaning that students usually really don't fit the mold. A new 'open spaces' curriculum was instituted this year where students follow a sequence of seminars and courses to try to both prepare them to be able to find work and navigate changes over their lifetime. There is an intentional focus on communications, writing, and critical thinking. Students start their education with an investigation, then move into the community, then a team based project, and then end in a final degree project. It seemed to me that Burlington is really the best fit for a student looking for a more non-traditional experience. For example, there is no dining hall or campus sports. There are many students at Burlington that do not attend right after high school and the experience here would be focused on study and exploration not on the full college experience. I wish our visit would have focused a little more on the woodworking campus that Burlington runs about an hour from the campus we saw. This program is small, but seems to be really unique and interesting for students interested in woodwork.

I'm tired, but this week in Vermont has really been a great experience to show me the truly WIDE range of options in this relatively small state. Thank you to the CVC for having me!

CVC Day 5 - Vermont Keeps Going!

Yesterday (Day 5) started at 6 am and ended at midnight - I'm going to stick with the bullet point summary approach as I'm here in the Burlington Airport. Without further ado, day 5!

Landmark College

• Truly unique campus because they are exclusively for students with learning disabilities/differences. There is also a small program for students on the Autism spectrum
• Last year added a 4-year BA to the already existing Associate's program. 
• The original track for the majority of students is to start at Landmark, allow the student to take ownership of their education and understand truly individualized strageties to be successful in a college classroom, and then have the ability to transfer to a four year school. 
• There are 3 entry points for students. 
• Full Credit-- for the college ready student who just wants to start in a LD friendly environment
• Partial Credit - for students who are close to being college ready but who take only part of their classes for college credit as they build their skills.
• Non-Credit - for students who are not college ready but can eventually stregnthen their skills.

• Because of the individualized program, some students stay for two years, earn and Associate's and transfer. Others earn an Associate's, but at a slower pace, and then transfer.
• They are truly the experts in helping students with learning differences be successful in college. Runs the gamut from assistive technology, to executive functioning support, to counseling. 
• A reality of this all inclusive support is that tuition at Landmark is very expensive. About 60% of students apply for financial aid and of those only 60% are granted some form of financial assistance. The good news is that some states do allow for vocational rehab funding to be applied to tuition. There is also a medical tax deduction that some families might qualify for, which greatly improves the financial impact of paying tuition and fees. 
• The benefits of attending Landmark instead of a more traditional school is that, often for the first time, students can feel understood, welcomed, and empowered in regards to their learning differences. It is a great chance to build self confidence and thrive as students make the college transition.

Marlboro College

• Only about 240 students
• Vibe on campus is deeply intellectual in an individualized and 'out of the box' kind of way
• HUGE emphasis on writing
• Non-traditional curriculum where students create an individualized plan of study culminating in a final 'plan' which is akin to a thesis but can be much more than just a long paper. It can include things like art and performance and it really molded over the time on campus to be a real labor of love. (For more on this and my impressions of Marlboro, read this previous entry) I got to visit the 'Plan Room' in the library to see all the bound copies of all plans that students have done since the beginning of the school.
• Professors and students experience one another as colleagues
• Monthly town meetings involve the entire campus and address all issues relating to the school (from marketing materials to campus events)
• Must be eager to think deeply

Southern Vermont College

• 500 students on a mountaintop with a gorgeous view
• Career focused liberal arts programs, including nursing
• The average admitted student has a 2.8 GPA and 940 SAT on the first two sections
• The President knows students by name and has an open door policy
• The campus has a few different locations, with shuttles between, but all classes take place in a converted historic mansion at the top of the hill. 
• This school seemed to have a more mainstream student body compared to the more environmental, skiier/snowboarder, activist type of students at some of the other schools that we saw.

Bennington College

• A little under 700 students in a nice spread out campus with a variety of architectural influences (everything from barns to modern)
• Dorms are called 'houses' and there is a clear community feel
• Two part education:
• Plan Process
• Explore and discover in your first year by taking any classes you wan
• intentional exploration to discover essential questions
•  In the sophomore year, write a plan paper that describes what your educational goals are
•  Spend the next two years crafting that thesis or senior project
• Fieldwork Term
• Mandatory 6 week internship or field placement each of the four years
• Seeks students with intellectual vitality
• Interview is seen as essential during the interview process because the school is so unique
• Testing Optional
• No core requirements
• All classes have a narrative evaluation but can opt into being issued a traditional grade on a class by class basis for those that feel they want it.
• Seems like a great fit for a student looking for the room to explore within their education journey, especially great for students with niche and interdisciplinary interests

CVC Day 4 - Still in Vermont!

6 am wake up call tomorrow - so sticking with bullet points again!

College of St. Joseph

•  Only 350 students, with plans to expand more resident students
• Dining Services will literally cook you recipes from home if you bring them in.
• New initiative with the Provider Scholarship which will essentially bring the cost of tuition down to $15,500 per year. The scholarship has a different kind of model where they are aiming to have it be an incentive not a reward. Students with As. Bs. and Cs in high school can all be given the award. It will also increase in award over time so by the time the student is a senior the cost will be down to $12,500. 
• To be honest, it was hard for me to get a real good read on the College of St. Joseph. I think it sounds like they have a lot of plans to transition their identity, but there were a lot of mixed messages so it is hard for me to know what things are aspirations and what are actually going to happen. The scholarship above though is exciting and it can be awarded to both international and undocumented students.

Castleton State College

•  Campus has seen a huge transformation since 2001, complete with new buildings and renovations, and it shows. 
• 1,900 students and over 50% are first in their family to go to college. 
• As a small public school, the students here seemed earthy, athletic (in a skiing/skateboarding/boarding way not a popped collar jock way), and grounded. 
• $300 student ski season pass includes nearby Killington. I don't ski and I've heard of Killington so that must be good ;)
• Amtrak Station right near campus means it is extremely accessible to New York City students. 
• Strong support for students with learning disabilities. Frankly, seems like great support for all students. The staff, across all sectors, seemed nurturing - NOT something you find at most public colleges. 
• First campus we've seen with on-campus skateboarding park and snowboarding rails mixed amongst the dorms. 
• Has a "College Support Team" designed like an early intervention team to follow up with students at the first sign of struggling both personally and academically.
• Hidden gem award of the day? Yes!!

Green Mountain College

• About 700 students, with a focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness. 
• Testing Optional
• Priority of the faculty is teaching and interacting with students
• Seemingly fair, if not generous, financial aid. Our tour guide had a 0 EFC and his cost of attendance was only about $10,000. That is RARE. 
• Students are guaranteed to graduate in four years or they don't have to pay for the additional semesters. (Assuming there are some strings attached here with things like being full time)
• Definitely a hippie/environmental leaning student body. There was an 'adventure education symposium' going on in the student center. 
• Farm on campus. Complete with livestock. 
• Satellite campus in Killington for a 3 year Bachelor's degree in resort management. 
• Still taking applications for the fall of 2014.

CVC Day 3 - The Schools Before the Storm

In the interest of being realistic - I'm going to just summarize the schools we visited yesterday in bullet form because I don't know if my brain can handle typing up cohesive paragraphs. I'll try to add pictures later!

University of Vermont

• Flagship land-grant university of Vermont with 10,000 students 
• Focus on experiential learning, a global green consciousness, and has the bonus of having a hospital on campus for nursing, pre-med, and science students
• Walking distance to downtown Burlington (if you need help picturing it, it is like a bigger more developed Ithaca, New York)
• Has an Honors College (admitted students usually have 2190+ on the SAT and 33+ on the ACT) where students get better housing, participate in 4 honors seminars, and write a senior thesis. All applicants are already considered for Honors admission, no separate application is required. 
• Largest classes can be over 200, but most are under 40
• Offers merit scholarships of up to $12,000 

Champlain College

• Unique small college that prides itself on being agile and moving with the market - constantly adding and elimiting programs based on where jobs can be found
• Students are given a three part education: a liberal arts core, LEAD life skills (things like financial literacy, job search skills, and volunteer experience), and their major
• About 2000 students in the fields of business, education, information technology and communications and media
• Known for top game design and cybersecurity/digital forensics programs
• Upside-down curriculum, so students begin taking courses related to their major from the first semester
• 88% of graduates are employed after graduation, 3% go directly to continue their education - putting them with fewer than 10% of students unemployed. 
• Admitted student profile has risen pretty dramatically in recent years, but definitely a school that values potential and effort. I was completely impressed to find this gem. The type of student that would find the best 'fit' here is typically the type who is techie and loves solving puzzles, is eager to learn, and wants to be within walking distance of a fabulous town.
• My absolute favorite quote from this trip so far came from the tour guide at Champlain "it is a cold place with warm people."

St. Michael's College

• Catholic college of the Edmundite order - there are retreats offered for students of all faith traditions and social justice is a pillar of the campus. Religious Studies and Philosophy are required courses for all students.
• Division II athletics with the #1 graduation rate for student athletes in their division
• Many students pursue careers in human services and financial services. 
• Amazing wilderness excursion opportunities for students with multiple weekly trips within a 200 mile radius of campus. All equipment is supplied by the college and trips only cost $5-$10.
• One of only four Catholic colleges in the Northeast to have a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
• The top 10% of the first year class is a part of the Honors program, which gives participants access to an honors seminar, honors housing, and a senior capstone project.
• Testing Optional - yay!
• For students interested in becoming an EMT or Fire Rescue professional, students can be a part of the volunteer Fire & Rescue corps to gain hands on experience while at school. 

New England Culinary Institute

• As is obvious by the name, this is a culinary school but it offers additional degree programs in the business side of food in addition to both Associate's level and Bachelor's level culinary education. 
• More than any school we have seen, the students were truly regionally diverse with MANY coming from outside Vermont. 
• I was lucky enough to sit at dinner with Chef Erika (pictured above!), who I later learned is far too humble given her amazing accomplishments. She is currently working to secure a stage at 11 Madison Park- there is certainly a lot of passion for food at NECI and undoubtedly some rising stars.
• Culinary education is not for everyone. The intensity, hours, physical demands, and skill required mean that many attempt and few complete. But NECI has a focus on farm to table cooking, teaching students about loving the food not just preparing it.

CVC Day 3 -- Climb Every Mountain

Earlier this week, the Passover Seder came and went and I did not get to participate because of the tour (but I am keeping Passover, Dad!). But lest you worry that I didn't get to experience the Exodus, let me tell you, I got it covered. Less than an hour ago, our tour bus got stuck in the snow about a mile and a half from our hotel. We evacuated the bus and started walking. Yes it was still snowing.

In the spirit of Passover, we needed God's help on this journey and lo and behold a member of the hotel staff picked me up and drove us the rest of the way. In what became the next miracle of the night, Lyndon State had given me a t-shirt that happened to be in my bag that I grabbed during the evacuation. So while I don't have my luggage, I do have my computer, a clean t-shirt, and a warm place to be.

Honestly, I want to try to update the blog about the four schools that we saw today, but I might need a little time to come down from this commotion.

CVC Tour Day 2 - More Vermont!

Today was filled with three more schools, each one still more unique and different from the one before.

Our day began at Norwich University. Norwich is a military college, but unlike the service academies (ie - Westpoint, Naval Academy, etc) where service is required for everyone, not every Norwich student will definitely pursue the military. About 65% of the student body is part of the cadet corps, meaning they are in ROTC and wear uniforms on campus aka - they are the military school students. There are also civilian students who have different rules and function just like any other college student at a non-military school. Of the students that are part of the military side though, there are still some of them that opt not to pursue the military. Some do actively look for (and find) military contracts and ROTC officer scholarships (which do come with a service commitment of usually four years). But others choose to either enlist after graduation, join the military reserves, or leave their military lifestyle behind and get a more traditional job after graduation (my sense is that last category is very rare. Few would choose the military side if they weren't interested in the military because it is such a rigid lifestyle (rules about how to fold your socks, make your rack (bed), no listening to music as a Rook, no cell phones, etc), but the difference is that there is a choice to try it on before making the commitment. Norwich was the first military college to admit African-Americans and the first to admit women. They are not a research institution, instead the faculty are there to teach. There is a focus on leadership and integrity. Admission to Norwich varies based on the program and files are read by academic interest. Popular majors include nursing, criminal justice, engineering and architecture. My tour guides were two of the most endearing students I've met so far this trip. I think Norwich is a really neat option for students who are thinking about military service but might not be ready for a service academy commitment or able to secure a nomination. Norwich students seemed proud of their decision to attend such a truly unique school.

Next, we saw Vermont Technical College. This school was the first place we have seen that offers both Associate's and Bachelor's Degrees. I really value that because it is refreshing to see a 2 year school with housing - especially with a campus located in such a gorgeous location (AMAZING mountains, must be out of control in the fall). As a college with a technical focus, many of the degree programs here are hands on (think mainstream stuff like nursing or veterinary tech and unique stuff like fire science). Many students do admittedly commute from home, but with about 450 beds on campus it isn't out of the question for a student looking to get out of New York state and go to a college with a true campus. The fact is that most SUNY 2 year schools, while I love them, really do have only two or three buildings. This felt much more like a traditional college (and there are plenty of students pursuing 4 year degrees here) and their results are particularly impressive when it comes to job placement. We met a civil engineering professor that literally said he could place three times the number of students with jobs, if only he had them. There is also a unique option for students to complete their senior year of high school on campus through VAST, a residential program that lets students enter college early.

The last stop of the day was Middlebury College. As the only small liberal arts college of the day, Middlebury is also the most selective college on the tour. They admitted about 14% of students that applied this year, but the rate for Early Decision jumps up to over 30% (not uncommon for schools with this profile). Because of recent over-enrollment, Middlebury is actually looking to scale back the size of their class in the next few cycles to return the school to its true capacity. Like many other schools in its peer group, Middlebury caps loans to a maximum of $4,000 per year. But they also only have 44% of their student body on financial aid. More on that later. For the past 40 years, Middlebury has also had the option for students to enroll in February instead of September, allowing for a mini-gap year (or really semester). Usually about 75 students per year opt to be 'Febs' and the admission office says they are usually students with an outgoing personality and a desire to travel, work, or see the world before enrolling in college. I chose to go on tour with a Jamaican-American young man who went to Millennium in New York City since they are a very similar school to ElRo. I asked him about the stereotypes of Middlebury and appreciated his candor. His answer: "Middlebury is stereotypically known for being preppy, white, and affluent. Middlebury is preppy, white, and affluent." Before the Admissions staff freaks out and reprimands this tour guide - let me say - don't reprimand him, promote him for being honest! And keep reading, because he said even though these generalizations are true, he also said Middlebury is open, accepting, and there isn't any other place he would rather be. How do they cap loans at $4,000 a year? Because the student body is affluent. Over half of them pay full price (though, I should note, they are need blind for domestic students). You can't change one without changing the other #realtalk. Unrelated, but important to some, this was also the first campus where I got cell phone service.

The schools we saw today would all be perfect fits for very different students. The beauty of this tour  is we are seeing a truly diverse mix of schools that really fit different niches. Tomorrow there are four schools on the docket. Pray for me.

CVC Tour Day 1 - Vermont!

Today was Day 1 of my week in Vermont for the Consortium of Vermont Colleges tour. From now until Friday I will be visiting 18 campuses all across Vermont. Did you even know there were 18 colleges IN Vermont? Well, FYI there are more colleges per capita in Vermont than any other state.

Today's first school was Lyndon State College. We were welcomed by President Joe Bertolino, a dynamic and personable man who makes it a priority to meet every single perspective student that comes to visit Lyndon's campus. It was also exciting to hear that he came to Lyndon from Queens College - giving hope that New Yorkers really can transition to a rural Vermont school and be happy. Lyndon is a public school with about 1500 students on campus. There was a clear trend among students to be active, specifically through skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking. Admittedly many students leave campus on weekends to go ski, but students report being very open to inviting friends who might not be from Vermont or have their own car. Academically, the learning style that is best served at Lyndon State is experiential. Flagship programs include Atmospheric Science (the Weather Channel was founded by Lyndon alums), electronic journalism and arts, and outdoor education. Most buildings are interconnected -- ideal for Vermont winters -- and that includes a newly constructed building that was really nice (especially for being at public college, which have a reputation for sometimes struggling with maintaining buildings).

Next we made our way to Sterling College. I know we will be seeing quite a few really unique schools this week, but something tells me this one is going to rank up there as most unique schools I've ever visited. Sterling is one of seven work colleges in the country, meaning students both attend classes and run the school - doing everything from custodial tasks, to running the farm and wood shop, to cooking meals. These campus roles help keep tuition low and the buy in from the students was palpable. About 45% of students are Pell eligible and the average debt at graduation is only $20,000. Remember when I said this place was unique? It is a requirement to bring your own axe. Seriously. The focus of the school is on environmental stewardship. Students are passionate about environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, and ecology. Many go on to work on organic farms, be teachers, and get involved with environmental policy. Not surprisingly, Sterling is Testing Optional and the type of student interested in being one of the 120 students on campus (total, not per class) is self selecting. It is common for students at Sterling to start out somewhere else and find their way to Sterling by transferring. The average age of students is a little higher than normal at 21. It is not a competitive type of learning environment, but there is a dual emphasis on being both hands on and intellectual. They also gave us snacks, which were delicious and pretty obviously NOT made by any type of corporation. I asked the student panel what they would do if given a huge monetary donation with no strings attached -- the best thing they could come up with was making tuition free for everyone. I get the sense that most people there are in search of something that money can't buy. From the looks of it, they are well on their way to finding it. (pictures above are from Sterling).

The final stop of the day was Johnson State College. More similar to Lyndon, Johnson State is a public college with about 1200 undergraduate students. The most popular majors are Education, Outdoor Education, Visual Art, and a new major in Wellness and Alternative Medicine. About 70% of students are from Vermont, but my tour guide was from Ohio and was very pleased with her new life in rural Vermont. Johnson is about 45 minutes from Burlington and they run a shuttle three times a day on the weekend taking students there if they want a change of scenery. Two of the things I found most interesting about this school were the fact that they run a transition program for those that might need a little extra support entering a four year college and the fact that they assign a book for the entire freshman class to read that then becomes the theme for the year. This year's book was about Detroit and there have been guest speakers, musical performances, service trips to Detroit, and even the upcoming graduation speech will focus on this theme.

Go Blue!

Thanks University of Michigan for hosting, once again, a fabulous admitted student reception last night. It was a pleasant surprise to get to upgrade my 15 year old Michigan t-shirt from when I went on my college tour of University of Michigan back in the dark ages (see above for the side by side comparison!).