College and Career Counseling

Carnival of Education

noreply@blogger.com (Dad of Divas) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:58:00 PDT

I was pleased to find that I was featured this week in the Carnival of Education. Along with my submission there were some other great submissions that I would encourage you all to read on many numerous topics.

Sincerely,

Dr. Christopher Lewis

Scholarship Search Should Begin in the Junior Year of High School

noreply@blogger.com (Dad of Divas) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:04:00 PDT

This is the fourth in a series that I have been posting over the last few weeks regarding College Admissions and things to consider as you prepare for College....Enjoy!

“Show Me the Money!”

Though this is a phrase known mostly for its presence in the movie “Jerry Maguire,” this is a consistent sentiment that arises from students as I meet with them daily. As students and parents move closer to the end of their high school career, finances for the future take the forefront, whole other important considerations, at times, get left behind. It would not be the first time a student tells me that their college choice was made because of the school’s supposed affordability. This is the nature of our society today, as a college education gets more expensive, more students are trying to find the best buy for their dollars, and this is not necessarily negative phenomena.

I say this because the nature of higher education today is conducive to working with students, helping them to finance their options. This is especially true with schools that have higher endowments, which many times surround the private institutions. Yes, these schools are also the ones with price tags of more than $20,000 per year, but one must keep in mind that if a student has proven him/herself in high school, the financial rewards will usually be great. This is why I ask students if they are considering out-of-state options because there are many institutions out-of-state that would equally compare financially with an in-state college or university.

Scholarships are the other way students tend to look as they try to pay for their college education. Searching for scholarships should start as early as possible, if not in a student’s junior year, then definitely in the beginning of their senior year. I say this because there are many scholarships available to students, but many, if not most, take time to fill out and complete. Starting in the junior year allows a student to prepare for deadlines that may be early in the senior year, and lessens the time burden in the senior year.

Searching for scholarships is not difficult and either a student or a parent can find many if they can put in the time. Most scholarships are readily accessible to you through the media of the Internet, and there are many free search sites that will allow you to find scholarships that are right for the particular student. If you have access to the Internet you can find most of these scholarship sites. If you do not have access to the Internet, talk to your guidance counselor today to find out how to access scholarship information. For more information on this topic or if you have questions that you would like addressed, do not hesitate to email me at dadofdivas@gmail.com .

Choosing a College That Is Right for You

noreply@blogger.com (Dad of Divas) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:00:00 PDT

This is the third in a series of posts that I plan to roll out over the next week...Enjoy!

When choosing a college there are many factors to consider. Not only is it important to consider financial aspects, it is equally important to explore the full array of opportunities and options that surround a college before settling on the final choice(s). I recommend a few things to consider:

Does the college have programs in my areas of interest?

Is the college in an area where I feel comfortable (urban, suburban, etc.)?

Is the college the right size for me?

Most important is the feeling one gets as they visit the campus. Take the time to visit the campus; to ask questions, visit the residence halls, and meet a professor. The important thing is that you visit. Too many students choose a college, only to find in their first year that the campus is not right for them. Visiting becomes even more important when considering out-of-state colleges.

Once these factors are considered, choices have to be made; where to apply and when. Fall of the senior year is a good time. Where to apply is a personal choice, whether in- or out-of-state, there are many good colleges and universities to select from – more than 3,500 in the United States alone. The formula that usually works well is to choose more than one. Three works well because you can select one college where you k now you will be accepted, one where you think you will be accepted, and one that you question whether you will be accepted.

Your high school guidance counselors are there to help you through these decisions. Usually, guidance offices have a variety of information and resources from many colleges and universities that you can choose from, some of which can be checked out by students. Also, with Internet access and the continual advancement of technology today, you can visit any college at the stroke of a key.

If you have any questions about this or other topics, feel free to contact me at dadofdivas@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer the questions you have.

Campus Visit is best way to learn about a college

noreply@blogger.com (Dad of Divas) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:00:00 PDT

This is post#2 in a series of 5 that I will roll out over the next week...Enjoy!

The campus visit is one of the most important steps you can take to find out what a college is really like. Just as you would not buy a car without a test drive, you need to test out your possible colleges and see what they have to offer. The visit gives you a chance to get the “feel” of the campus and see what your impressions are about the school. These impressions are important, for I have spoken with many students who have visited a campus only to find they feel very uncomfortable on its campus. This is the value f the campus visit—it gives you a chance for a “dry run” at college.

During a typical campus visit you usually will be able to meet with an admission representative individually or as a group and receive information about admission requirements, procedures, financial aid, residence halls, activities, services and much more. Don’t be shy with the representative. Make sure that all your questions are answered; this may be one of the few times that you have direct access to these answers. Some areas you may wish to address include: the school’s policy on AP credits, what students do in their free time, campus safety and security, when do students hear about financial aid packages, and even if cars can be parked on campus.

After such an interview, usually a campus tour will follow. If this tour is not led by the same admission representative, then it may be led by a student. If this is so, take advantage of this opportunity. I say this because it is these students who are currently living the life of an undergraduate who can tell you what it is truly like to be a student on that specific campus. Also, don’t forget to ask important questions that only students can answer such as, are they getting into the classes that they need? Are their professors available to them? What’s good; what’s bad?

On some campuses there are special programs for visiting a campus. Some campuses have overnight hosting visitations where you will stay overnight with a current student in their residence hall and then go to classes the next day, being picked up that afternoon. These visits usually need to be arranged several weeks (if not longer) in advance. Other campuses will have open houses for specific majors, or for prospective or accepted students.

These days are also valuable as they again give you a great look at the campus, and depending on the focus of the event, a great look at a specific department or career area as well as a more in-depth look at the inner-workings of the university.

There are a few things you must do in preparation for a visit to a college or university. These include:

Telephone the admissions office to schedule your visit. Let the person you talk to know what you want to do while on campus. This could include meeting with a department, a professor, taking a tour, meeting with an admission representative or other campus activities.

Be ready for the visit. Study up on the college by reading the college viewbook, looking at their academic catalog, or visiting their web site.

If you haven’t applied or are getting ready to apply to the school, you may wish to take your completed application with you (if it is during the application period).

Enjoy the experience and make the most out of your visit; it is the one way to truly get to know the campus.

If you have any questions about this or other topics, feel free to contact me at dadofdivas@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer the questions you have.

The College Application Process

noreply@blogger.com (Dad of Divas) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:39:00 PDT

This is the first in a series that I will be posting in the next week regarding College Admissions and things to consider as you prepare for College....Enjoy!

The senior year of high school is a year of wonder and experiences. For many, it is also a year of fear and anticipation, especially in regard to the mystical vale of secrecy behind the college application review process.

Using my previous experience as a Director of Admissions at the University of Wisconsin - Manitowoc and an Admissions Counselor for Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), I will try to demystify this process and give you some helpful hints.

Most application materials for universities include an:

1. Application
2. Application fee
3. Official High School transcript
4. Test Scores (ACT or SAT)
5. List of extracurricular activities
6. Essay (recommended usually, but required for some), and
7. Letters of recommendation (recommended usually, required for some).

When preparing to apply to schools it is a good idea to have these seven organized so that they are easy to retrieve. Doing this will lessen the burden when you do apply.

Most colleges/universities will have deadlines by which materials must be postmarked. Some make decisions on applications between certain dates. Some are “open,” accepting and making decisions on applications year round. Check deadlines with colleges and make sure you meet those deadlines. Only after all materials are received can the admissions review begin.

The review process usually will constitute a thorough read by an admissions officer, many times one who is assigned to your high school or district/regional area. This person will look at everything you send and evaluate you on these materials. Each university/college has their own unique system that they use to evaluate students. Some use a point system where you will receive points for varying criteria such as academic rigor, involvement, GPA, test scores, etc. Many specialty schools (e.g. Kendall College of Art & Design, Center for Creative Studies) expect certain academic criteria, but they base a large part o their admission decision on the talents or abilities that a student brings to that certain area.

On a final note, the review methods used by a college/university many times are veiled in secrecy, where generality is key and little detail surfaces if not inquired about. Also, the review methods today merely scratch the surface of the types of evaluation instruments that colleges/universities use today. Saying this, I advise you all to inquire about the particular review process that you college of choice uses. This will ease confusion and tension and make you the information-savvy customer.

By taking little steps toward understanding and making yourself informed, the admission process at a college/university becomes known, and the mystery within the process begins to wane. Become informed and you will not be sorry.

If you have any questions about this or other topics, feel free to contact me at dadofdivas@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer the questions you have.