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.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Pioneer Valley Colleges: Day 3 Amherst College
The final day of the college tours led me to Amherst College where I would be transitioning over to my role as College Coach at College Summit for the second weekend in a row. We were very lucky that my College Summit schedule meant that we would need to go to the 9 am info session and 10 am tour because it was seriously hot.
My impression of Amherst is first influenced by the campus itself. Despite being just a few blocks from the town, there is a very tranquil feeling with large brick buildings and lots of grass. The mountain views don't hurt either, I can only imagine what it looks like in the Fall with the trees changing color. The details about Amherst are similar to other highly selective small colleges - holistic application review, a variety of very strong liberal arts majors to choose from, and a small residential student body. With less than 2,000 students this is a school that often falls off the list of many ElRo students because of the small size. But I would urge students to really think about how a school of this size may not be as small as they think. Yes, there is only one dining hall, but coming from a high school of 500 may make 1700 feel like just the right size. Amherst has no core curriculum, so students are allowed (and encouraged) to explore whatever they want without feeling obligated to study subjects they are not interested in.
My only complaint? No air conditioning in my dorm room for the College Summit workshop ;) I will say, on the upside, the dorm itself is very well maintained. It was the former gym from the turn of the century and they have framed photographs of the space from that time hanging in the hallways.
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Thursday, July 21, 2011
Pioneer Valley Colleges: Day 2 Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire
The second day of our tours brought us to Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire.
Mt. Holyoke is a women's college but definitely has unique aspects that differentiate it from the other colleges in the area. Specifically in contrast to Smith, Mt. Holyoke has a more flexible housing structure (less of a 'sorting hat' atmosphere than Smith - but still the same AMAZING dorm facilities. See: Walk-in closets.) and it has a more structured curriculum (as opposed to Smith's open curriculum). Locations also differ, despite the proximity. Mt. Holyoke has a much more spread out campus in a smaller town. This contrasts with Smith's cozy feel in walking distance of the bustling Northampton. Something to really take note of is the diversity of perspectives on campus - 1 in 4 students is international and almost 30% of domestic students self identify as students of color. One of the 7 sisters, this SAT optional school was really welcoming and full of traditions. I particularly liked the class colors and mascots assigned to each incoming class, and the superstition about only walking up the library stairs on the side that your class's flag is on. If you visit be sure to check out the beech tree near the library, easily the largest living tree I've ever seen outside of the Pacific Northwest. I'm glad they changed the library expansion plans to save it from being cut down. Speaking of trees, the Mt. Holyoke seal has a palm tree on it. The hope at its founding is that it would be an oasis of knowledge. Mission accomplished.
In the afternoon we visited Hampshire College, the inspiration for the image at the top of this post. I didn't see this exact sign, but one very much like it at the entrance to the dining hall. If it doesn't make you smile then Hampshire probably isn't for you. ;) The best way I can describe Hampshire is to say it is a place for individuals who are passionate. I found the students and staff we met to have a really unique combination of being extremely open and laid back but at the same time very interested in thinking about big ideas in a very cerebral way (and deep seeded passion). Hampshire students are known for taking the most advantage of the 5 College system - the average student has taken 8 courses on another campus. These courses supplement the hands-on discussion-based work they do on campus. There are no textbooks, students only use primary sources. There are no tests, students instead write papers. There are no grades, professors (who are addressed by first name) instead write a narrative to describe the student's achievements, areas to work on, and personalized suggestions of future courses to take. By Division III (aka senior year) the work more closely resembles the creation of a Master's level thesis. Students conduct research, or write a novel, or direct a movie, or make an invention, or found a company - ANYTHING that helps them think critically and create some type of new or original thought. In a way, I would say Hampshire could be described as the hippie* cousin of Beloit - no pretense, no judgement, just intense learning and a celebration of individuality. Don't come to Hampshire looking for quaint buildings, the campus was founded in 1970. But if it is content of knowledge that you seek, Hampshire may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
*Disclaimer: I'm not saying you need to be a hippie to fit in at Hampshire, only that that philosophy of focusing on social justice, a supportive environment and freedom of thought dominates the campus. I got the sense that everyone was welcome on campus.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Pioneer Valley Colleges: Day 1 U Mass Amherst and Smith
Before I start up with round 2 of College Summit on Thursday, I decided to add on tours to the five colleges in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. I am joined by the college counselors from Millennium and the NYC iSchool (so you aren't confused when I keep saying "we"). The 5 College Consortium of U Mass-Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and Amherst College offer something for almost everyone. I'll give you my impressions of the schools I've seen here on the blog.
Our first stop was the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the largest of the 5 schools with about 20,000 undergraduate students. Our fabulous tour guide Colleen did a great job of handling our large tour group---a nice parallel to how U Mass Amherst is able to work with a large number of students and still get the job done well. Highlights of this campus included the Marriott hotel located on campus that offers Hospitality and Tourism students hands on internship experience without leaving the confines of the campus. They also offer an Honors program, eligible candidates typically have an A average and above a 1300 on the first two sections of the SAT. This is just one program of many that is designed to help make this huge campus feel more personal. I was really pleased with what I saw at UMass. This is a great school for a student looking for a flagship public school with tons of different academic disciplines, division I sports, and a location that is very different from New York City but not very far in terms of distance. Plus if a student did start to feel overwhelmed or like they wanted a change of scenery they can register for a class at any of the 4 other campuses (free bus service provided among all 5 locations).
Next we headed over to Smith College, a women's college located in Northampton. I found the buildings on this campus to be absolutely stunning. The school's founder stipulated that all buildings build reflect the time period in which they were constructed so there is a nice array of both historic and more modern LEED certified buildings. The campus itself does have a bit of a condensed feel, but in a homey and welcoming way. The three unique aspects of Smith, as per the information session, are: an open curriculum, the Praxis paid internship program available to all students, and the unique housing system where students find their 'home' on campus with a lot of pride coming along with it. The dorms here more closely resemble actual homes than they do standard collegiate housing (think grand pianos, wallpaper, walk in closets, etc). Smith is very clearly a place full of very confident women. They are multi-talented, articulate, and intelligent. It seems it would be a great fit for a young woman looking to change the world. Generous financial aid, the beautiful campus, and the longstanding traditions make this school a really great opportunity for any woman looking into small liberal arts colleges. Plus the town of Northampton is a short walk away and has more diverse (and delicious) food offerings than I've ever seen in such a small area. Maybe they were inspired by Smith alumna Julia Child? (She's front and center in the picture above, a photo from the Promenade Committee at Smith in 1934).
Next up: Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire
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Saturday, July 16, 2011
College Summit Manhattan College
It is July which means it is time for College Summit! I'm at my first of two workshops for the summer, typing this from my extra long twin bed at Manhattan College. Tonight's banquet was full of some really powerful personal statement 'sneak peeks' and I'm impressed, as always, with the work that the peer leaders have been putting in.
At one point during tonight's event a young woman thanked her college coach for being the first person she can remember to every sit down for an hour and listen to her wants, dreams, and aspirations. These workshops are a reminder for me of the power of resilience. I am humbled, honored, and thrilled to have the opportunity to meet these dynamic, kind, strong young people with powerful stories to tell. I encourage any college graduate reading this to volunteer next year as a writing coach. You don't need to be a writer or a teacher, just have an open mind and heart and you'll be perfect for the job.
Next week I'll have an encore performance as a college coach at College Summit: Amherst Edition!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Summer Updates
Rising Seniors will be happy to know that Naviance has officially been updated to include the current cumulative GPAs and most recent June ACT and SAT scores. If you log in and see that something seems off, please email me and we'll look into it.
We also got back the AP scores and I'm excited to report that the average test scores in almost every course went up from last year - great work everyone! Special shout out to Mr. Jonas and his Stats class, where the report shows not a single score below a 3!
Stay cool out there. . .
Thursday, June 30, 2011
I hope everyone has a fabulous summer. I'm looking forward to possibly the busiest summer that I've ever had, but I'm excited for every minute!
Beyond the jump I've put together a list of tasks that rising Seniors should be thinking about in anticipation of the fall. Stay tuned to the blog over the summer. I'm going to be away at various points, but will continue to post when the spirit moves me. Don't forget to wear sunscreen!
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Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
To Test or Not To Test
A popular question I've been getting lately from Juniors is: should I take the Physics Regents? The short answer is: Yes. The long answer is: Yeeessssssss.
When someone asks that question, my answer mainly comes from a philosophical place. I truly believe that ElRo is one of the best schools in the city. I think we have talented students, strong teachers, and a devoted parent population. If anyone in the city should be taking the Physics Regents, it is us. We want to talk the talk? We have to walk the walk. That means when you take a Regents course and you sit for the Regents exam.
Do I think every ElRo student is expected to get 100? No. One of the best things about our school is that we have every student take three years of lab science: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. But not every one of our students is a scientist, so it is only natural for some people to struggle in these courses and on these Regents. But that only reinforces the idea that we aim to teach our students not because we are chasing perfect numbers on a transcript, but because we think that even the writers and the artists and the historians should be exposed to Newton and Einstein.
Colleges focus on your transcript. Yes, they will see your Regents scores. But the classroom grades carry far more weight. I'd even go so far as to say they carry all of the weight at many private colleges and schools out of state. For those colleges that are more familiar with Regents, the Physics exam is never going to be the most crucial. Basic math and ELA? Yes, for those you really should earn at least an 85. But for 'bonus' tests like Physics, just having done your best and taken the test is going to show the admission office that you are committed to your education.
Lastly, it is only fair to your teachers to sit for the exam so they can have a better grasp of how they did over the course of the last year. If you don't even sit for the test, how will the department know where they have gone wrong and what they have done right? You owe it to them to give up those few hours in order to demonstrate your knowledge.
Embrace the challenge. Push yourself. Eleanor Roosevelt said you should do one thing per day that scares you. I think we've got June 15th covered.
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Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Where will you be on Chancellor's Day?
This Thursday, NYC public high schools are only in session for staff. This leaves a great opportunity for students to make local college visits - a rare chance to see a school on a week day. This means a higher likelihood of talking with professors, seeing students on campus, and visiting a class (even if it is a summer school class).
Not sure where to start? First, visit the website of the school you are interested in and locate the portion of the website that deals with visits and school tours. Most schools will offer both an information session and a student led tour. Pre-register whenever possible, though I've yet to hear of a school that turned away a walk-in. Be sure to sign in once you get there though, in case the college tracks demonstrated interest.
Need help? Here are some local schools that you could easily get to in one day - some just via the MTA!
Brooklyn College - Click Here
Wagner College - Click Here
Purchase College - Click Here
Barnard College - Click Here
Drew University- Click Here
University of Pennsylvania - Click Here
Haverford College - Click Here
The Cooper Union - Click Here
Sarah Lawrence - Click Here
Connecticut College - Click Here
Happy Touring!
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