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According to the Talmud, an ancient central text of Judaism, a parent is obligated to teach his/her child three things. One of those three requirements is fascinating and has been the basis for much discussion over the centuries. The third obligation of parents is to teach their children how to swim. Of all the skills that ancient Rabbis could have required of parents, they specifically selected swimming as an important skill for parents to pass to their children. Though the purpose of this website is not to address religious duties and observances, I find this ancient requirement reminiscent of a recent National Public Radio segment on college graduation requirements.

Last week NPR reported that a handful of colleges require students to complete a swim test prior to graduation. Seniors frantically line up in their last few weeks of school to complete the swim test. No swim test, no diploma.  In my college days I found the three science course requirement challenging; I was, after all, a history and architecture double major. A requirement to pass a swim test would have shocked me to the core. However I can understand the adherence to this requirement. First of all there’s the fundamental safety concern. Swimming is a life skill. Next there’s the sake of tradition. Who can argue with the incredible traditions found on countless college campuses that unite decades, and even centuries, of alumni. Finally there’s the need to create independent, capable alumni. Just like the Talmud urged parents to teach their children how to swim in order to allow for independence, growth and self-reliance, the modern college swim test can do the same.

College requirements vary significantly from campus to campus. In the United States we don’t have a uniform system of higher education standards. While some colleges may require aquatic proficiency, others will require a religion course or a diversity course or even three science courses. We want our graduates to be capable, independent, knowledgable citizens. Perhaps a swim test is one way to enable this goal.

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In the immortal words of Michael Jackson, “This is it.” Seniors, it is April 30, your last day to make that all important decision about where you will be attending college in the fall. Don’t dread this day. You’ve been preparing for this your entire life. You’ve excelled in the classroom, on the sports field, in the theater, and in too many other places to list. You’ve relied on your parents, your teachers, your coaches and your friends to help bring you to this day. But today, you are the one at the helm.  Draw upon your vast knowledge of who you are and who you’d like to become and make this decision. And then, don’t look back. Sure there will be times when you feel doubts. But you are making the best decision you can. Good luck and best wishes and do let me know where you decide to go this fall.

This is it. It’s time to start the next chapter.

Continue reading »]]> This past Sunday afternoon I put on a comfortable pair of shoes, grabbed a small tote bag and notepad and fixed a smile to my face. Before heading out the door with a colleague I reminded my almost eight-year-old that she would have plenty of time to attend these events in the future. My second grader is probably the only second grader who would volunteer to attend a college fair. I guess this is what happens when college talk is as normal to her as any other type of conversation. I reassured her that the excitement could be postponed until next year. Third grade is definitely the right age to start researching colleges. Ha. If you think I’m serious about that, you are so reading the wrong blog.

Entering the Cleveland State University Convocation Center, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I was pretty excited. It has been nearly ten years since I’ve attended a NACAC sponsored National College Fair. As an admission counselor I worked the booth of many a college fair. This time, however, I attended the fair as an independent college counselor. Into the exhibition hall my colleague and I descended. Overwhelmed. That’s the only word I can use to describe the feeling of attending the Cleveland National College Fair. Wait, crowded and jostled would be two other words. Over 190 college representatives lined the room, booth after booth after booth. Considering that I work with scores of students every year and that I have worked in college admissions/counseling for nearly the past decade and a half, one would think that these large scale college fairs wouldn’t faze me. Quite the opposite. Even with the depth of my experience, the sheer scale of this type of college fair, coupled with the high number of schools unknown to me (seriously there were numerous colleges that didn’t ring a bell), created a mind-boggling situation. As I watched families wander from table to table I was struck with the extraordinary need for good old fashioned guidance and counseling. Entering one of these fairs unprepared would lead to a worthless experience at best, and a negative experience at worst.

I often tell my students that college fairs are a great opportunity to get face time with admission representatives. “It’s a terrific chance to indicate your interest and develop a relationship with the admissions staff,” I tell them. Once I get to the point in which I’m having this conversation with my students, we’ve examined their strengths, weaknesses, interests, preferences, etc. We’ve started to develop a list of schools that fit their individual goals and priorities. Armed with a list of potential schools, these students can attend a college fair in an organized and meaningful way. However I would assume that the majority of students attending the fair yesterday hadn’t spent the time self-assessing, prioritizing and researching. For those students the National College Fair would simply serve as an exercise in, well, exercise. We’re talking really big room, people!

A few words of advice for attending a National College Fair:

1. Arrive prepared. Do your research before the fair. Think about your interests, goals, strengths, weaknesses, etc. Start to put together a list of potential colleges with the help of your parents, high school counselor, Naviance, College Board website or independent counselor.
2. Try to obtain a list of the colleges that will be in attendance. Highlight the schools in which you’d most like to interact.
3. Get there early. I can’t stress this enough. The fair ran from 1:00-4:00pm. I arrived at 1:00 on the dot. By the time I left the fair an hour later, there was a very long line of students and parents waiting to enter. I have no idea how long those families waited. The exhibition hall was filled to capacity and a limited number could enter at a time.
4. Consider participating in the workshops offered by NACAC. There were several interesting workshops occurring during the fair. Suggestion: parents, attend the workshops. Students, attend the fair.
5. One of the most underutilized booths was the Counseling Center. Local high school guidance counselors sat in this booth awaiting the opportunity to assist students and parents with their college search. At the time I passed by the counselors, all of whom looked friendly and approachable, there weren’t any takers for their free advising. Too bad. What a wonderful opportunity to seek some additional insight.

What are your experiences with National Fairs? Students and parents, do you find these fairs useful? High school counselors, how do you counsel your students on attending the fairs? Admission counselors, what do you think about these large scale fairs? Let me know.

Continue reading »]]> The waitlist is like purgatory. Waiting, wondering, not knowing if you’ll ultimately get the call from the bullpen or if you’ll simply be stuck waiting around, never getting the nod. The problem with the waitlist is that the college admission officers really can’t let you know your true chances of being taken off of the waitlist. At this point in the game their guess is as good as yours as to whether or not they’ll need to go to the waitlist come May. The waitlist is like an insurance policy for colleges. Ideally the magic number of admitted students will say yes, the class will be filled and all will be thrilled. Well, all except those on the waitlist. With a month to go until admitted students need to notify colleges of their decision, the waitlist is anyone’s guess.

If you find yourself waitlisted by your first choice school there are some things that you can do to help maximize your odds of coming off of the waitlist. Even if you do everything I suggest understand that you still may not get the nod. Remember it’s a game of statistics and numbers at this point and even though you are amazing and wonderful and have so much to offer Dream U., there just may not be a space for you right now.

Some suggestions:

1. Write a letter. Take pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and write an honest, heartfelt letter about your interest in the college. Explain in detail why you are interested and what you would bring to campus. Don’t be whiny or defensive. Just be candid and forthcoming about your interest in the school.
2. Send updates. The admission committee received your application back in December or January. Maybe you’ve received additional honors or your grades have improved or you finally made varsity. Share this information. In your heartfelt letter include any updates or additional accolades or accomplishments.
3. Counselor call. Ask your high school counselor to call the admission office. Maybe your counselor can glean some additional information that could be useful. Perhaps your counselor will learn that it’s just not going to happen and you can start the process of moving on.
4. Write another letter. In early May. After May 1st the admission offices will have a better sense of their numbers. Remind the admission counselors of your interest in another friendly letter. If anyone is going to come off of the waitlist, it’s going to be the students who have demonstrated consistent interest.
5. Move on. In all likelihood you’ve been admitted to other great schools. Though it may not have worked out with Dream U. you still have a bright future and other fantastic schools hoping you will select their campus. By October you probably won’t even look back and wish you were at another school. But if during your first or second semester you are still yearning to attend Dream U., transferring is always an option.

Continue reading »]]> Spring has arrived! At least in Cleveland, the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming and the students are getting spring fever. There’s a general antsy-ness among students, especially those second semester seniors. Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, listen up: those seniors worked hard for nearly four years and while they can’t  give up completely, they have a little more wiggle room these last few months until graduation. You, my dears, on the other hand, have a lot to focus on this spring. One of the things spring brings is the annual course selection meeting with a guidance counselor or faculty advisor. Though I would defer to your counselors in nearly every instance, there are some general tips for making the course selection process run smoothly.

1. Colleges care about the courses you take. Absolutely. 100%. No one will argue with me on this one. Carefully consider your course options and take the following tips into consideration as you plan your schedule. But remember, the classes you select to take are as important as the grades you receive.
2. Honors/AP/IB courses are preferable to standard college prep courses. As an admission counselor I was frequently asked, “Is it better to receive an A in a college prep class or a B in an honors class?” Admission counselor humor is to answer that it’s best to get an A in the honors class. In all seriousness it’s best for a student to take the most challenging courses available. This doesn’t mean that a student needs to take every single honors or AP/IB course offered by the high school, but it does mean that a student should challenge him/herself.
3. Colleges look for consistent or increasing academic rigor. Students should plan each successive year of high school to be equally, or better yet more, challenging. Senior courses shouldn’t be a cakewalk.
4. Course selection should match or highlight academic interests. Students interested in a pre-med or engineering curriculum should take math and science every year of high school. Students interested in international business or international relations should take the same foreign language throughout high school. Admission counselors will look to see that students have the proper preparation for their intended fields of study.
5. Different high schools offer different programs of study. Sounds obvious, right? This can be a tremendous source of stress for students and parents because there is a concern that admission counselors will not recognize differences among high schools. Rest assured that at the most selective universities and the liberal arts colleges, students’ transcripts are interpreted within the context of the high school. If AP courses aren’t offered, students aren’t expected to have taken them.
6. Continuity is important. Barring extenuating circumstances, students should show continuity in course selection. For instance if a student has taken Chinese in grades 9-11, it would be expected to see continuation of the language senior year. Yes, there could be reasons why the student would opt to cut this course from his/her schedule, but in general it is best to see continuity.
7. Colleges want to see the five core academic courses. In general a student’s schedule should include: English, math, science, social studies or history, and the same foreign language. Every year. Of course there are exceptions to this rule but a student applying to a selective college with a senior courseload of: study hall, cooking, basketweaving, film studies, study hall, etc. won’t be a competitive applicant.
8. College academic requirements are a minimum. All of the colleges and universities have lists of what courses students must have completed in order to apply. These are the minimum requirements. And who wants to simply meet expectations. Students should strive to exceed expectations.

What are the most interesting courses offered by your high school? What questions do you have about course selection?

Continue reading »]]> In the good old days the college admission offices sent admission decisions via snail mail on or about April 1st. It was a big deal to rush home everyday after school, or to have your parents grab the mail during the day, awaiting the arrival of the fat envelope. Times have changed. Now students have the option to log-in to a website and, poof, the admission decision appears. Admit. Waitlist. Deny. Shortly thereafter a hard copy letter arrives in the mail. And unlike the days of yore admission offices are racing each other to be the first to notify students. That April 1 notification date has crept back earlier and earlier. Most students are likely to receive admission decisions in the next week or so. And then the fun begins.

Decision time.The notifications will arrive and choices will need to be made. So much anxiety pervades this time of year. Questions keep students and parents awake late into the night: What if I don’t get in anywhere? What if I get in everywhere? How much financial assistance will we receive? What if I make the wrong choice?

Some advice from a seasoned veteran:

1. You will make the right decision. Go into this part of the process with this attitude and you can’t go wrong. I know it seems oversimplified to offer this kind of advice but you are a smart, accomplished, capable high school senior (or the parent of one) and you are equipped with the wherewithal to make this decision. Using your research skills, past experiences, future goals, heart and mind, you will pick the school that will be the right place for you.
2. You can transfer. i.e. You can change your mind. Where you begin your studies is not necessarily the school that will become your alma mater. Keep this in mind if you were not admitted to any of your top choice schools or if you are stricken with a full blown panic attack surrounding the need to make a decision. In my experience I’ve worked with students devastated by a denial from their first choice school. Forced to attend another school on their list, they ultimately found complete satisfaction and by the fall of their freshman years they had no interest in attending their former dream college.
3. Pick up the phone and ask questions. Confused about your financial assistance package? Concerned about academic/social/extracurricular opportunities? Wondering how to submit certain forms? I can’t stress enough that you are entitled and encouraged to pick up the phone and ask questions. Call the admission office. Call the financial assistance office. Talk to a dean, an advisor, a coach. The ball is now in your court– you are allowed to ask as many questions as you want.
4. Make your own decision, part I. Once the admission decisions arrive, everyone will come out of the woodwork offering suggestions and advice. That random relative you haven’t heard from in ages will have an opinion. Your mom’s business partner will quote the US News and World Report rankings. Tune out the noise. Turn off the chatter. As mentioned above, you will make the right decision. You don’t need to concern yourself with everyone else’s biases, thoughts, comments, worthless drivel, etc. This is a decision between you and your parents. No one else.
5. Make your own decision, part II. As much as you may be in love with your boyfriend or girlfriend, try to make the decision while separating your emotional connection. Same advice goes for best friends. Relationships end. Don’t have your college decision, probably the biggest decision you’ve ever made, predicated on other people’s choices. Good friends will stay in touch despite the distance. Love affairs can continue at different universities.

In conclusion, a college admissions blessing: May all the admission decisions be in your favor. May you see many congratulatory letters. May financial assistance packages be plentiful. May you see that you have the strength and knowledge and self-awareness to make this decision.

Continue reading »]]> It’s getting to be that time of year when juniors and seniors, and even some very ambitious sophomores start to descend on college campuses. Spring break. College visit season. The pilgrimage begins shortly. Before you even set foot on campus you should do due diligence to prepare for your visit. In a prior post you can read my tips for Planning the Campus Visit, Part I. This post offers further information to help guide you through the visit experience. 

Get ready to have a great time on campus. Take photos. Take notes. Talk to anyone and everyone you can. And then report back and let us know about your visits.

Ask Questions…

Students – It’s okay to walk up to random students and ask them about their experiences. This is the best way to get candid answers to your toughest questions. Don’t you want to know why students chose this school and if they are happy to be there?

Tour Guide – Ask your tour guide questions that are best answered by a current student: What do you do fun? What are classes really like? Why did you choose this school? What would you change, if you could? What are your post-graduation plans? What did you do last Saturday night?

Admissions Office – Ask admission counselors questions about academics, the application process, admission rates, etc. Don’t ask admission counselors any questions to which you can easily find the answer on a website or in printed literature. For instance, don’t ask if the school offers a marine biology major. You should have researched that yourself before you set foot on campus.

Others – While you’re on campus consider meeting with coaches, faculty members, the financial aid office, deans, etc. Depending upon the size of the school and your individual talents, you should try to meet with all the relevant folks. Questions will obviously vary based on who you are able to meet.

Things To Notice On Campus (And Off, Too)

Residence Halls – Where you live is a pretty big part of the college experience. Most schools require freshman to live on campus (unless you’re a commuter) so you should get a good sense of your housing options.

Dining Facilities – Do you have lots of choices where you will eat your meals? How does the meal plan work? If you have dietary restrictions (kosher, vegetarian, vegan, etc.) will you eat well or starve?

Library – Chances are you’re going to need to do some studying while you’re in college, so it’s a good idea to check out the library. Is it state-of-the-art and hightech or is it as ancient and archaic as all those books you’re going to read?

Athletic Center – If you’re an athlete, this is a must. If you work out occasionally or just want to root your team on to victory, you’ll still want to see what the athletic center is like.

Student Center – This can be the main center for student activity on campus. Is it vibrant and full of energy or as quiet as the library? The student center can give you a good sense of campus life.

Quadrangles – Check out the quads or other student hang-out spots. If you don’t know where to find them, ask your tour guide.

Surrounding Area – You will probably spend time off-campus as well, so check out the area around the school. You may ultimately move off campus, so consider those housing options, too. Where do students shop? Eat? Play?

Post-Visit

Journal – Jot down some notes after each college visit. Write down your impression of the school, what you liked/disliked, things that stand out in your mind. After you visit several schools you’ll have trouble keeping all those details straight and the more you can remember about each visit, the better, when it comes time to make a final decision about which school to attend.

Thank You Notes – Take the time to write a personal note to anyone you meet on your visit: admission counselors, professors, students, etc.

HELPFUL WEB SITES

www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/visits.htm

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visits

www.mapquest.com

www.expedia.com