Hey Seniors, Don't Lose Steam

 

Don't lose steam just because it is December! If anything, now is the time you need to be working harder than ever - both in class and on the college application process. With Early Action deadlines over (with the exception of a few Sandy extensions), there could be the temptation from some Seniors to take it easy. That would be the wrong move! Why? Consider the following:

If you applied EA or ED you are going to be getting your decisions back about 2-3 weeks from now. If you got into your schools, there is a chance your college application process is over - hurray! But, for many of you that did not do binding Early programs (or for some that did, in the event that you are denied admission or deferred to regular decision) you are going to have additional applications that you need to submit.

Call me crazy, but I think there is a chance that the quality of application you can do now, when you aren't rushed or heart broken, will be higher than the one you squeak out in the last two weeks of 2012. Fight the urge to procrastinate and get those other apps ready to go. 

Even if you don't press submit and pay for them yet (in fact, that is a genius way to save a little money - since if you get in ED you will just have to withdraw the apps later anyway). But getting all the essays written, the supplements checked, and the details organized now will make it so that your only application tasks after December 15 will be clicking the submit button and turning in a transcript request form.

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Happy Thanksgiving from the College Office!
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What To Expect From the College Process - Overview

Thank you to all of the students, parents, and guardians that attended last night's 'What To Expect From the College Process." I appreciate the flexibility everyone had with changing the date and working around the smaller space of room 306 for the first session. Needless to say, I'm glad we broke up into two groups, it was standing room only!

In case you couldn't make it (or even if you did, but your brain is overflowing) here are a few general topics that were discussed:

--- How many applications should a student aim for? I recommend no more than 10.

--- What should students do about testing? Click here to see my MANY posts about this but the short answer is try both the SAT and ACT, then focus on re-taking the one you are naturally better in.

--- How can parents stay informed about the college process? Subscribe to this blog, so posts get sent to your email inbox! Sign up for the PTA mailing list, which emails out the ElRo weekly announcements every week, which is where I list information about college related events.

--- How should students spend their summer? Doing something they care about. There is no one prescription for what that has to be, but you are encouraged to explore your passions (maybe that is sports, or camp, or art, or a science class, or volunteering, or traveling, or ________). This is New York City, take advantage of that. Be cautious of 'pay for play' programs that are on college campuses but are not officially linked to the school - they can be overpriced and not as impressive as they sound. Only do them if you can truly afford them.

--- Where do we start? By 11th grade you really should start getting out there to visit campuses. Use the College Board search function to do some preliminary research to see what types of schools may be a good fit for what your student is looking for. Try and visit a range of places at first to get a feel for what feels best. Consider size, location, majors offered (most important if you want something specific like business, nursing, or engineering) and selectivity. If you have a book about ratings - burn it. We want the school rated #1 for YOU.

--- What is Naviance? Naviance is a tool that our school provides to juniors and their family during the second semester of junior year. Before that time, students and families are welcome to log on as a guest (email me for the password). It allows you to research colleges and scholarships and see a grid of actual ElRo students and their admission decisions at the different colleges.

Overall - the point of this Q&A was to hopefully get some pressing questions answered and send home the message that this process can be complicated but it doesn't have to be stressful. There is a college out there for EVERYONE and you (or your child) will find that place. A balanced list with reach schools, target schools, and likely schools will mean that it is easy to have options if you go forward with the college process in a balanced way.

I encourage everyone to attend next month's FAFSA night to learn more about the federal financial aid application -- that event takes place on Thursday, December 6.

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RPI Architecture Breakfast

Thanks to RPI and their CASE (Center for Architecture Science and Ecology) for hosting a counselor breakfast yesterday morning. We got a chance to hear from the Dean of the Architecture school and look at a few of the projects that CASE is working on. The architecture program at RPI is small, but it is clearly doing some really exciting things. They offer all different types of architecture degrees, but the one most applicable to ElRo students is the 5 year Bachelor of Architecture program that will prepare students to work in the world of architecture after graduation without them needing to go on for a Masters degree right away (the other road to working in the world of architecture is to get a bachelors in any degree you want, then complete a Masters of Architecture for three additional years in order to log the studio time you need). Program highlights include some amazing work in the realm of smart and sustainable design (aka - public spaces with a smart canopy that cools people underneath in the summer and heats people underneath in the winter - coming soon to 9th Ave in NYC!) RPI is known for Engineering, but they have other things too - and the intersection between science and art is really embraced in the architecture school. There is a portfolio required for admission, but no one is expecting you to have taken drafting or submit a portfolio of blueprints. What is being looked for is some semblance of artistic ability, a strong creative voice, and potential. The acoustics department is also fabulous -- putting their work into practice with the beautiful EMPAC building on RPI's campus (pictured above). As the world moves greener and greener and jobs in sustainable energy and design continue to grow, the opportunities at RPI are really exciting.

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10th And 11th Grade - Sign up for the Practice ACT

Hey Sophomores and Juniors!

Just like Coke and Pepsi are two different brands of soda, the ACT and the SAT are two different brands of college admission test.  All colleges will accept both the SAT and the ACT so I encourage all students to try both types of test in order to determine the one they are naturally stronger in. Then, you can proceed with things like test prep or flashcards or online practice drills to try and maximize your score.You already took the PSAT last month, so . . . .

ElRo is hosting a practice ACT exam through Kaplan on Saturday, December 8th for any interested 10th or 11th grade student that preregisters at: http://bit.ly/eleanorrooseveltact

Registration for the practice exam will close on Monday, November 26th. 

If this test date is not convenient for you or you prefer to take a practice ACT somewhere else that is FINE. This practice test at ElRo is not required. If you are in 10th grade, we do plan to hold another practice ACT next fall so you'll have the opportunity then. In addition, virtually EVERY test prep company offers free diagnostic exams (for both the SAT and ACT) so just pick one and schedule it if you prefer to go that route. 

Some people will only drink Coke (aka: me) and others prefer Pepsi. Some people can't taste the difference. Give yourself the opportunity to see if one 'brand' is better for you when it comes to college. If both end up being equal, you can pick the one you just plain old liked better.

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Sandy Update

What to do when a major weather emergency falls right as many EA/ED/Priority applications are due?  First off - remember that your family's safety and comfort are always going to be more important that deadlines. So first, take a minute to be glad that you made it through the storm unscathed.

Next, if you have power, you can check with the individual school websites and the Common App website to see if any deadlines have been adjusted for those involved in the storm. Regardless, I always encourage not waiting until the last minute, so even if a school is giving you until Monday to submit, if you have your app completed, go ahead and submit it. Then, on Monday, turn in a transcript request form so I will know what school documents to send. If you need a copy of the transcript request form, it can be printed from the ElRo College Office website 'Senior' tab.

Remember - deadlines are for STUDENTS. Your application should be submitted by the deadline (either original or extended, if applicable). Your teacher letters and school documents will be sent in after so please don't stress if you don't see them listed as 'completed' in Naviance. That is my job to worry about, not yours ;)

If you were supposed to have your Senior meeting with me this week, we will need to reschedule. Be patient and flexible and I promise I'll get to meet with everyone at some point. In the meantime, if you have a deadline, just send me an email letting me know what apps you are submitting before meeting with me. I just want to be in communication with you so nothing is a big surprise.

My thoughts are with everyone that was touched by the storm. Many people are going to have a long road of repair and grief ahead of them. College applications are important, but there is a lot more to life than personal statements and SAT scores.

See you next week.

CORT Tour - Day 3

 

The last day of the CORT tour brought us to University of Rochester. This was probably the school I was most familiar with prior to the tour since six students from ElRo have enrolled there since 2010. Sadly, it was raining all day in Rochester, but as I always say that is actually ideal college viewing weather because if you love a school in the rain, you know you really love it ;). This campus is another with tunnels and we got to see those first hand in order to stay dry today - they sure come in handy! My favorite part of the University of Rochester is that they are willing and able to meet full demonstrated need for admitted students -- translation: generous financial aid for those that can't pay the tuition in full. But the funding isn't the only appeal at this school. With about 5,000 students Rochester is a research university with a smaller college feel. They also offer two unique '5th year' options to allow students to stay tuition free to continue their studies (in something they are not majoring in). Their graduate programs also mean combined admission for highly qualified applicants (aka - being pre-admitted to med school in high school). They strongly encourage interviews and are going test flexible this year. Test flexible means that you can submit your own personalized blend of testing - not just the SAT or ACT, but things like Subject Tests and APs. According to their office of admission, hidden gem majors include: optics, brain and cognitive science, linguistics, and audio music engineering. Our tour guide described the student body on campus as supportive and collaborative, giving the example of a time she was working in a study lounge trying to work out a physics equation on a white board. She left to go downstairs to get a snack and when she came back another student had solved the equation for her anonymously. Wouldn't happen at every school, I can promise you that.

After the tour was over, I got a very lucky opportunity to also quickly get a ride over to SUNY Brockport. Prior to visiting, the main thing I knew about Brockport was that they were a SUNY that gave merit aid. But after seeing it in person, I think it can offer a lot more than just that. A campus of about 7,000, Brockport is only about 30 minutes from Rochester. The campus felt really cohesive and probably ties with RIT as the campus with the most students buzzing about, many of whom were sporting Brockport gear. We got to go inside the new Special Event Recreation Center (pictured above) that just opened a few months ago. All I can say is: what economic collapse? Brockport is renovating and expanding, mostly due to a savvy board of directors and administration. Popular programs at Brockport include things like athletic training and education. There is also an active ROTC program on campus. One of my favorite parts is that the town of Brockport butts right up to campus and the quaint main street has a "no chain stores allowed" policy. For someone looking at SUNY colleges that isn't interested in being at a large university center, this one is definitely worth looking at.

It was a great opportunity to see the schools in the Rochester area. New York City students are lucky to have so many amazing choices in their home state. My only regret is that I still only got to see Wegman's through the window of a bus, but maybe next time. 

CORT Tour - Day 1 and 2

Greetings from Rochester! I've seen three schools in the past 36 hours, and boy are my eyes tired! I'm here as part of the CORT (Colleges of Rochester Tour) which gives high school counselors a chance to learn more about four schools in the Rochester Area. I'll cut to the chase and just tell you about the campuses I've seen:

Nazareth College

Our first school on Sunday was Nazareth College, a school that was once Catholic but is no longer affiliated with the church (though people are often mislead by the name). "Naz," as they call it, is a small college that blends both research and the liberal arts without fitting into either the 'liberal arts college' or 'research university' box. There are pre-professional offerings, like Physical Therapy (6 yr DPT program is the most selective program on campus) and Nursing, but the school is also looking to expand their science offerings. This initiative is certainly going to be helped by their brand new math and science building, complete with a fully operational cadaver lab (something very unique for undergraduate students that will also benefit nursing and PT students). Other unique programs include music business and toxicology. Two of my favorite aspects of the school are that it is Testing Optional and relatively affordable for a private school. The average cost of attendance, after financial aid, is about $15,000 for most students after getting both need and merit based aid. Overall, I noticed the entire campus was very well maintained and almost every building we went into felt either new or renovated in the past 10 years. This is also the first campus I've seen to offer students a key fob that acts as an emergency alert system. Students just click two buttons on their fob and the security officers can track them via GPS and come to their aid. Think of it like a blue light phone on steroids. Very cool. The flight to Rochester was SO affordable and easy, if you want a small classroom experience at a private school, this could be your place.

They also have tunnels connecting the buildings - so no need to worry about the cold :)

Alfred University

This morning we took a bit of a drive over to Alfred University. First of all: ooooh my gosh, upstate New York is gorgeous in the fall. The campus is surrounded by mountains covered with trees (are these hills? I'm from Indiana, I can't tell the difference. Just know, it was beautiful) and I really loved our campus tour. Alfred has this amazing combination of offerings in both engineering and the arts (specifically top rated in ceramics, I'm looking at you people in Ceramics and AP Studio Art). There are other programs too in Arts and Sciences and Business, but I felt Engineering and fine arts really stood out. Plus, (and I SWEAR this isn't why I liked those two), many majors in those schools fall under the statutory college rule where, just like Cornell, there are programs with lower cost for NY residents. We talked to some engineers on our tour that were in the middle of working in the lab  making lens for a pair of sunglasses for an assignment. They seriously looked like the happiest engineers I had ever seen. Never thought in high school about being a ceramic engineer? Do you like melting stuff and using your hands? You'll probably like this.

Our tour guide's print on the left

The view from the printing studio

Can you tell I liked the printing studio?

Then we went to the art studios. Again, happiest artists I've ever seen. The ceramics kilns? Out of this world. Like I'm talking a dozen different types of kilns. I didn't even know there types of kilns! See some art pictures above.

Alfred is the second oldest co-ed college in the United States (Oberlin has them beat by a few years). They also (like, I'm finding, many schools in the area) have excellent equine facilities for all of you equestrians out there. Bottom line, I think this school sells itself much better in person than on paper. If you want a smaller school experience at a beautiful campus tucked away amongst a lovely setting, come visit. For most ElRo students, Alfred is probably a target or a likely, and those don't come along all that often when we are talking about places with great facilities, happy people, merit scholarships, and diverse students. (It is also right across from Alfred State, the SUNY school, which we sadly didn't get to see). PS - Big ups to our awesome tour guide, Sam.

Rochester Institute of Technology

I didn't know what to expect from RIT - it is a technology school with 18,000 students - but I have to say it knocked it out of the park. Similar to how I was pleasantly surprised with Purdue, RIT has this really fabulous blend of school spirit/energy, top notch facilities, friendly students, and not insanely impossible admission stats. If I had to sum up the school in one word, it would be: jobs. The focus is clear: their students are prepared for the workplace and their 97% job placement rate and co-op program in 75% of majors proves it. It now makes so much sense to me that this is the college that sends me the "Job Outlook" poster that I hang behind my door each year that lists all of the careers and their estimated growth/decline for six years from now. The students and the staff made it clear - people come to RIT with a fixation for knowing that they will be employable when they graduate. The school and students struck me as hands on, friendly, and excited about attending their school. They have specialized offerings like game design, pre professional majors like physician's assistant, and almost every type of engineering under the sun. Do you like tinkering with stuff? You'll probably find a major here that you'll like (they also have fine arts, so if you like to tinker with a paintbrush, camera, or pottery wheel, you are covered). Similar to the first two schools, something I really value about RIT is they would be a target or likely for most ElRo students and they give merit aid (the sheet they gave out to the counselors listing scholarship options was double sided. And, in what I can only estimate to be 6 point font). Things to note: they do admit by major so some departments are harder to get in than others. They are also about to transition to the semester system (they currently have quarters, but will be ending that after this year). The campus moved to the current location in 1968, so don't come here looking for Gothic buildings. But I think this school has a lot going for it and is a great option for a student wanting a larger school experience.

Bonus: Maybe the coolest college club I've ever heard of:

Tomorrow we see University of Rochester and I can't wait!

Submitting Applications

With November 1 deadlines around the corner, I wanted to address a few of the basic questions I seem to be getting about applications.

1) Deadlines at 99% of colleges are for STUDENTS. That means that your portion of the application needs to be submitted by the deadline to be considered in that round. The other aspects of the application (like the test scores, teacher letters, guidance letter, and transcript) are certainly encouraged to be there by the deadline too but schools understand and build in time to their reading timeline to accommodate submission of supporting materials. Yes, I say on the transcript request form to give me about 2 weeks lead time if you expect to be able to call a school by a certain date and confirm that all items have been processed. But that is because I don't want (and can't have) 50 requests turned in on October 31 with the assumption that 50 colleges will have marked a file as complete on November 1. It is a good habit to build the pattern of turning in items before deadlines, but your admission decision will not be affected by a transcript being received at a school on November 2. (The 1% of schools that do have firm deadlines are usually pretty clear about it. I'm looking at you UT Austin).

2) You need to have actually pressed submit on your portion of the application before you give me a transcript request form. If you haven't actually applied yet, don't turn in a transcript request form yet.

3) The College Board and ACT have a habit of taking quite a bit of time to get scores out to colleges. Don't wait to send your scores. Send them NOW. I've said this on the first day of school. I've emailed reminders. I've put it in the weekly announcements. I don't know how else to say it: as soon as you have decided to apply to a college, if that college requires testing, order the scores. Even if you haven't seen them, just send them. The computer program that is in charge of computing your high scores won't care if you scored 20 points lower. I pinky swear.

4) There are not trick questions on the Common App. When they ask you your senior year courses, they seriously just want to know what classes you are taking senior year. If something on the Common App is confusing use the advice my 4th grade teacher used to give: "When in doubt, read the directions." If you need information about your high school record the two best places to find that are Naviance (your GPA) and ARIS (your course credit values, previous courses, and grades). If your family doesn't know how to log into ARIS, contact Marty or use the prompts online to retrieve your password.

5) For more information about the transcript request form process, check out my old post about it here.

6) If you didn't schedule a senior meeting yet, seriously, what are you waiting for? Seniors - get on google appointments and pick a time! I want to talk to you before you press submit anywhere. And remember, CUNY and SUNY should be submitted in the next month or so. Out of state public schools, go for the Early Action/Priority round when possible, and next 6 weeks for any regular decision or rolling apps. Private schools, just apply by the stated deadline.

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From the email bag . . .

Have a minute to read about one person's thoughts on writing the personal statement? Check out this article, recommended by an ElRo parent:

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