IN THIS ISSUE:
I. Reminder: Miss M Out of Office, 7/4-7/18
II. NEW: College-Bound at STES--the blog!
III. Got questions for Midwest colleges? I'll get some answers!
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I. Reminder: Miss M Out of Office, 7/4-7/18
Just a quick reminder: I'll be out of the office visiting colleges in the midwest for the next two weeks. You can always reach me via email; it may take me a day or so to get back to you, but I'll be in touch while I'm away.
II. NEW: College-Bound at STES--the blog!
In an effort to offer one more way for students and parents to keep abreast of the latest news and information coming from my office, I've created a new webpage that wil contain the weekly counseling news and updates from my travels on behalf of the school (see below). I'll be posting the Weekly Counseling News in this location, too. This site isn't meant to replace the good habit of checking your email---in fact, I hope you're all checking it regularly now!---but it's one more site you can add to your daily internet perusal as you keep on top of your college admissions process this summer.
III. Got questions for Midwest colleges? I'll get some answers!
While I'm away in the Midwest, I'll be blogging about my experiences on the new website. Before I leave, I'll be posting open threads on the blog where students and parents can leave questions that you'd like me to ask admissions representatives at each school. These can be big questions (What does it cost to attend Wheaton? Where the heck is Kalamazoo College?) or more specific queries (what's the pre-med curriculum like at Northwestern? What engineering internships are available to Purdue students?), and I'll be glad to bring them all with me when I visit these campuses. Please feel free to post early and often!
Nota Bene: if you post to this blog, keep the discussion positive and coherent (read: don't write as if you're sending a text message). A good model for what I'm expecting is the MIT Admissions Blog here: http://www.mitadmissions.org/blogs.shtmlContinue Reading...
Showing posts with label weeklycounselingnews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weeklycounselingnews. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Weekly Counseling News, 6/26/08
IN THIS ISSUE:
I. Swarthmore Discovery Weekend: Soliciting Nominations
II. Ohio Wesleyan University Honors Programs: Soliciting Nominiations
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I. Swarthmore Discovery Weekend: Soliciting Nominations
Discovery Weekend is designed to introduce the liberal arts at Swarthmore College (a top-notch liberal arts college in Pennsylvania) to academically talented senior students of color. The weekend includes a series of panels, introducing students to faculty and staff, while providing them with ah first-hand look at Swarthmore. Prospective students attend classes, stay with current students in the dorms, eat in the dining hall, and enjoy a candid view of campus life. To ensure that students from all socio-economic backgrounds are able to attend, the Office of Admissions will provide transportation by plane or train and will cover meals and lodging. This year’s Discovery Weekend is scheduled for September 27-29.
If you are interested in attending this program, please email me ASAP and I’ll be glad to submit your name to Swarthmore. The students I refer will be mailed an application to apply for the program. Please let me know if you have any questions.
II. Ohio Wesleyan University Honors Programs: Soliciting Nominiations
http://honors.owu.edu/
http://admission.owu.edu/meritAid.html
If you’re eligible, Ohio Wesleyan’s Leland F. and Helen Schubert Honors Program gives you the chance to push well beyond your personal boundaries and learn more than you ever thought you could. Ohio Wesleyan University wants to recruit talented high school students to compete for their generous merit-based scholarships. Again, merit-based scholarship are based SOLELY on high school achievements like GPA and standardized test scores, not on parental income status. This is a great small school in the Midwest that’s worth checking out. If you’re interested in learning more about OWU, email me and I’ll submit your name to them so they’ll send you more information.Continue Reading...
I. Swarthmore Discovery Weekend: Soliciting Nominations
II. Ohio Wesleyan University Honors Programs: Soliciting Nominiations
*****************
I. Swarthmore Discovery Weekend: Soliciting Nominations
Discovery Weekend is designed to introduce the liberal arts at Swarthmore College (a top-notch liberal arts college in Pennsylvania) to academically talented senior students of color. The weekend includes a series of panels, introducing students to faculty and staff, while providing them with ah first-hand look at Swarthmore. Prospective students attend classes, stay with current students in the dorms, eat in the dining hall, and enjoy a candid view of campus life. To ensure that students from all socio-economic backgrounds are able to attend, the Office of Admissions will provide transportation by plane or train and will cover meals and lodging. This year’s Discovery Weekend is scheduled for September 27-29.
If you are interested in attending this program, please email me ASAP and I’ll be glad to submit your name to Swarthmore. The students I refer will be mailed an application to apply for the program. Please let me know if you have any questions.
II. Ohio Wesleyan University Honors Programs: Soliciting Nominiations
http://honors.owu.edu/
http://admission.owu.edu/meritAid.html
If you’re eligible, Ohio Wesleyan’s Leland F. and Helen Schubert Honors Program gives you the chance to push well beyond your personal boundaries and learn more than you ever thought you could. Ohio Wesleyan University wants to recruit talented high school students to compete for their generous merit-based scholarships. Again, merit-based scholarship are based SOLELY on high school achievements like GPA and standardized test scores, not on parental income status. This is a great small school in the Midwest that’s worth checking out. If you’re interested in learning more about OWU, email me and I’ll submit your name to them so they’ll send you more information.Continue Reading...
Weekly Counseling News, 6/17/08
IN THIS ISSUE:
I. Reminder: Miss M out of office, Wednesday 6/18 through Monday 6/23
II. Websites to know and love: the Common Application and ApplyTexas
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I. Reminder: Miss M out of office, Wednesday 6/18 through Monday 6/23
As I mentioned last week, I’ll be out of the office this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and I’ll also be out next Monday. I will be back at STES on Tuesday. I will have limited availability by email, so if you have an urgent issue that can’t wait until next week, please contact Mrs Pearsall in the front office. She’ll be happy to assist you. Thank you for your understanding!
II. Websites to know and love: the Common Application and ApplyTexas
As you may know, most college applications are submitted online these days, and it’s good to find out early on what they’ll entail. It can be helpful to print out the applications so you can fill out a draft copy; that way, you can take your time gathering the information on paper and input it to the application site all at once.
There are two important application sites you need to know about: ApplyTexas and the Common Application. ApplyTexas is a site that lets you fill out one application that’s accepted by all of the public schools in Texas, including UT, A&M, Tech, and UH. You can create an account and start exploring the site at http://www.applytexas.org. The Common Application is an online application accepted by more than 300 colleges and universities around the country. Many private universities—including the Ivies, Rice, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and many others—use this application in addition to a school-specific supplemental form. Check it out and see what you’ll need to do to submit your application. Explore the site at http://www.commonapp.org.
Some colleges have their own online applications to fill out, too. As you assemble your final list of schools for your application process, check out the format and requirements for each college on your list and get a sense of what you’ll need to submit and the way to use their online application.
As you get started on these applications, be sure to check the web browser requirements for each website you’ll use to submit applications. My experience as a Mac user is that some college-specific online applications will prefer one browser over another (e.g. Internet Explorer over Safari or Firefox); make sure to use an approved browser so your application will be submitted correctly. This is not the case with all sites, but it's worth checking on. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions on this subject—I’ll be glad to help.
Keep in mind that sites like these will require you to create an account. In all cases, you can create an account at no charge. Make sure to write down your login ID and your password when you create these accounts; while it doesn’t cost anything to create a new account if you forget your password, it’s just a hassle to have to re-enter all of your information.Continue Reading...
I. Reminder: Miss M out of office, Wednesday 6/18 through Monday 6/23
II. Websites to know and love: the Common Application and ApplyTexas
*********
I. Reminder: Miss M out of office, Wednesday 6/18 through Monday 6/23
As I mentioned last week, I’ll be out of the office this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and I’ll also be out next Monday. I will be back at STES on Tuesday. I will have limited availability by email, so if you have an urgent issue that can’t wait until next week, please contact Mrs Pearsall in the front office. She’ll be happy to assist you. Thank you for your understanding!
II. Websites to know and love: the Common Application and ApplyTexas
As you may know, most college applications are submitted online these days, and it’s good to find out early on what they’ll entail. It can be helpful to print out the applications so you can fill out a draft copy; that way, you can take your time gathering the information on paper and input it to the application site all at once.
There are two important application sites you need to know about: ApplyTexas and the Common Application. ApplyTexas is a site that lets you fill out one application that’s accepted by all of the public schools in Texas, including UT, A&M, Tech, and UH. You can create an account and start exploring the site at http://www.applytexas.org. The Common Application is an online application accepted by more than 300 colleges and universities around the country. Many private universities—including the Ivies, Rice, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and many others—use this application in addition to a school-specific supplemental form. Check it out and see what you’ll need to do to submit your application. Explore the site at http://www.commonapp.org.
Some colleges have their own online applications to fill out, too. As you assemble your final list of schools for your application process, check out the format and requirements for each college on your list and get a sense of what you’ll need to submit and the way to use their online application.
As you get started on these applications, be sure to check the web browser requirements for each website you’ll use to submit applications. My experience as a Mac user is that some college-specific online applications will prefer one browser over another (e.g. Internet Explorer over Safari or Firefox); make sure to use an approved browser so your application will be submitted correctly. This is not the case with all sites, but it's worth checking on. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions on this subject—I’ll be glad to help.
Keep in mind that sites like these will require you to create an account. In all cases, you can create an account at no charge. Make sure to write down your login ID and your password when you create these accounts; while it doesn’t cost anything to create a new account if you forget your password, it’s just a hassle to have to re-enter all of your information.Continue Reading...
Weekly Counseling News, 6/12/08
IN THIS ISSUE: Things to do with your summer vacation. This is a long email, but it's worth keeping for your reference this summer.
I. Ask for letters of recommendation
II. Visit colleges
III. Read books
IV. Brainstorm essays
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I. Ask for letters of recommendation
As I mentioned in my email last week, now is a great time to ask your teachers for letters of recommendation. It’s best to ask for these letters in writing in hard copy—NOT via email. The best way to do this is to contact your teachers via email and get an appropriate mailing address from them. Then send that teacher a written request and a brief resume of your achievements via snail mail. Remember, you’ll probably need two recommendations, and they should come from an academic teacher. Ask me if you have any questions.
II. Visit colleges
The summer is a great time to attend tours and information sessions at colleges around the country. Check out different universities’ admissions websites for information on when such events are scheduled and how you can sign up to attend.
Remember to print out a copy of the College Visit Cheat Sheet I generated for your use. You can find it in the Class of 2009 folding on the college counseling page in Edline.
Although it’s good to check out colleges during the summer, it might be worth visiting schools during the fall when students are back on campus. That way, you’ll have the chance to see what life as a student really looks like. Review the Student-Parent Handbook for our school’s policies on missing class for college visits. (Hint: these are excused absences—just check them out with me and Mr Cusack and we’ll give you the okay.)
III. Read books
There are some great books out there that are great for getting in a positive, productive mindset for the college admissions process. I have two main ones I’d recommend: Colleges That Change Lives, by Loren Pope; and Less Stress, More Success, by Marilee Jones and Kenneth R. Ginsberg. The former is about a group of colleges across the US (including Texas’s own Southwestern University and Austin College) that have extraordinary resources and programs. I recommend the book not to endorse the specific colleges but instead to help you get a sense of what’s out there now in terms of great college programs. It’s a great resource for learning what to look for as a consumer in the college admissions process. The latter book is another great text on a fit-focused college search. Both books are readily available at stores like Barnes and Noble and Borders, and I have a couple of copies in my office in case you’d like to borrow them.
IV. Brainstorm essays
As I’ve mentioned to you before, there are several essay topics that come up again and again on college applications. As you narrow down your list of schools to which you’ll apply, start to keep a good list of the essay topics you’ll be required to address in those schools’ applications. As you know, I’ll be here all summer, and I’ll be glad to help you organize your ideas, brainstorm essay approaches, and plan the writing process.
Depending on how many people are interested, I’d be glad to host some weekly summer workshops on these subjects. Drop me a line and let me know if you’re interested in putting some of these together; I’d be glad to do it.Continue Reading...
I. Ask for letters of recommendation
II. Visit colleges
III. Read books
IV. Brainstorm essays
*************
I. Ask for letters of recommendation
As I mentioned in my email last week, now is a great time to ask your teachers for letters of recommendation. It’s best to ask for these letters in writing in hard copy—NOT via email. The best way to do this is to contact your teachers via email and get an appropriate mailing address from them. Then send that teacher a written request and a brief resume of your achievements via snail mail. Remember, you’ll probably need two recommendations, and they should come from an academic teacher. Ask me if you have any questions.
II. Visit colleges
The summer is a great time to attend tours and information sessions at colleges around the country. Check out different universities’ admissions websites for information on when such events are scheduled and how you can sign up to attend.
Remember to print out a copy of the College Visit Cheat Sheet I generated for your use. You can find it in the Class of 2009 folding on the college counseling page in Edline.
Although it’s good to check out colleges during the summer, it might be worth visiting schools during the fall when students are back on campus. That way, you’ll have the chance to see what life as a student really looks like. Review the Student-Parent Handbook for our school’s policies on missing class for college visits. (Hint: these are excused absences—just check them out with me and Mr Cusack and we’ll give you the okay.)
III. Read books
There are some great books out there that are great for getting in a positive, productive mindset for the college admissions process. I have two main ones I’d recommend: Colleges That Change Lives, by Loren Pope; and Less Stress, More Success, by Marilee Jones and Kenneth R. Ginsberg. The former is about a group of colleges across the US (including Texas’s own Southwestern University and Austin College) that have extraordinary resources and programs. I recommend the book not to endorse the specific colleges but instead to help you get a sense of what’s out there now in terms of great college programs. It’s a great resource for learning what to look for as a consumer in the college admissions process. The latter book is another great text on a fit-focused college search. Both books are readily available at stores like Barnes and Noble and Borders, and I have a couple of copies in my office in case you’d like to borrow them.
IV. Brainstorm essays
As I’ve mentioned to you before, there are several essay topics that come up again and again on college applications. As you narrow down your list of schools to which you’ll apply, start to keep a good list of the essay topics you’ll be required to address in those schools’ applications. As you know, I’ll be here all summer, and I’ll be glad to help you organize your ideas, brainstorm essay approaches, and plan the writing process.
Depending on how many people are interested, I’d be glad to host some weekly summer workshops on these subjects. Drop me a line and let me know if you’re interested in putting some of these together; I’d be glad to do it.Continue Reading...
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