Today I was having a meeting with Lisa about essays and the like, when she asked me how my recent college visit went. I told her I loved the college, and listed all the things I did. She then asked me how my interview went. As I began to explain it, she urged me to talk about my own college interview experience and give you pointers for when it is your turn.
University of Chicago:
The day of the interview was nothing short of nuts. See, the interview dude (Sam on the birth certificate) actually had four interviews scheduled that day. I began my day with people telling me we needed to be strategic, planning it so each interview was unique.
...
Let me tell you something. I am a five foot tall, biracial girl. I like the color green, working with kids, giraffes, moose track ice cream, reading, Taylor Swift, tap dance, and I plan to major in History. Tell me, who else fits ALL that? No one? Exactly. We are all unique. No one needs to PLAN how to be unique. You just are unique. Let that lead you.
So, I'm sitting across from him. He is asking me normal questions, such as what school subject am I interested in, when he drops the bomb:
Why do people climb mountains?
People climb mountains? OH RIGHT! Wait, what?
Welcome to the wonderful world of zany questions. These are the questions you can't be prepared for. In fact, he probably won't ask that question next year. He might not even ask it next week. When posed with a question like this, don't just blurt out an answer such as:
They like to...for fun?
Thank god I didn't, but I almost did. What you should do is let them know that it is a very good question and you are going to think for a minute. Then think about an answer for a few moments. You aren't wasting their time, they like when students are thoughtful.
Overall I answered thoughtfully, with the exception of two questions:
1) What obstacles have you had to overcome?
2) What book have you read recently in English that you liked? Why?
For both of them, I didn't give myself the time to think. For 1, I just blabbed out something that is an obstacle, but it isn't all that present in my day to day life. For 2, I blabbed out the first book I could think of, which was Native Son (African American Lit). While I enjoyed the book, I would have preferred to talk about A Lesson Before Dying, which I read last semester.
I walked nervous and jittery out of my first interview, wishing I could reverse time and fix those two questions. Now, I can't tell if it was good or bad, I am not Sam (I am??? :D). I can tell you though that when I went to my second interview, I felt a little more prepared.
Knox College:
This time my interview was part of my whole day at Knox. There were no other Uni kids around to plan an attack on the admissions counselor. Also, I had met the admissions counselor before at a BROWN BAGGER (HINT HINT), so we were already on familiar terms. This interview was better not because the college was better, or because the admissions counselor was better, but because I was better. I was better at interviews.
I walked in, sat down, smiled, and answered her prelim questions:
What is your GPA? What is your ACT composite?
Then I settled down and listened and answered. One question she asked me that before would have slipped me up was:
What three adjectives would your friends use to describe you?
But I had that one. I answered it. Then, she asked me a question that did slip me up:
What kinds of activities do you want to do outside of the classroom if you came to Knox?
Wait...there is a world outside of the classroom? Don't I do homework with that time?
It was then that I realized I wanted to do things outside of the classroom, but I was too preoccupied with the school academically. You LIVE at college; go out and do stuff. I answered I wanted to try radio and return to dancing (I am currently injured).
My favorite part of the interview was getting off topic. We talked about cheesecake. It made me hungry. More though, it brought the human back into applying for college. You juniors are not robots, you are human. Celebrate that, talk about that, wind up off topic.
So, tips for a FUN and GREAT interview:
1) Dress appropriately. You wouldn't hire a person with his pants on the flo. Don't dress like one.
2) Take a moment to think about the curveball questions. Thinking about it will make your answer concise and thoughtful.
3) Laugh and smile. You are not in front of a firing squad.
4) Know that each college interview is different.
5) Don't memorize speeches, but do know the basic information pertaining to you (your GPA, your scores, your name...)
6) Don't worry about other people ESPECIALLY OTHER UNI KIDS
7) Know the basic information about the college (like, if your major is even there)
8) Come with questions of your own! They show interest and curiosity.
9) Turn off your phone, be professional.
10) Remember that you are human, they are human, and that this is a conversation, not an interrogation :]
Ciao,
Celinda
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
National Merit Scholarship debunked
Hey Juniors (and Sophomores)!
GOOD LUCK AT PSAT TOMORROW!
You have probably started seeing information about our class related to National Merit and the like. I wanted to share with you 10 facts about it that you might find useful.
1) There are three separate scholarship programs under the umbrella corporation of National Merit: National Merit, National Achievement, and National Hispanic Recognition.
2) For juniors, when you take the test, there is a minimum score to qualify as a SEMIFINALIST* for each program. That minimum score is different for all three programs.
3) The National Achievement Program is for black students. If you are at least a quarter black, you can state that you are black in the correct check box tomorrow on test day.
4) The National Hispanic Recognition Program is for Hispanic students (duh??). If you are at least a quarter Hispanic, you can state that you are Hispanic in the correct check box tomorrow on test day.
5) National Achievement/National Merit may end up giving you money. National Hispanic just recognizes achievement,without money.
6) The test score doesn't mean automatic scholarship money. In fact, it just makes you a semifinalist. Semifinalists, who find out said status fall of their senior year, can then apply to be a finalist. Then, of those finalists, only around half go on to get actual scholarship money (about $2500).
7) You must have taken the SAT or plan on taking it early in the fall of your senior year in order to qualify as a finalist. Further, you must get around the score that was expected based on your PSAT score [just add a zero: 205=2050) (Lisa says you can be up to about 250 points off that target PSAT estimate)
8) Every year, there are 16,000 Merit semifinalists, 1,600 National Achievement semifinalists, ~5,000 National Hispanic recognized students.
9) There are also 34,000 Commended Students, who just get recognition.
10) DON'T STRESS ABOUT THIS. Not all Uni kids get it. Big Deal. You all won't get into the same colleges. There are a billion other scholarships, some with more money, some with less. Just relax :]
GOOD LUCK!!
-Your PCCs
GOOD LUCK AT PSAT TOMORROW!
You have probably started seeing information about our class related to National Merit and the like. I wanted to share with you 10 facts about it that you might find useful.
1) There are three separate scholarship programs under the umbrella corporation of National Merit: National Merit, National Achievement, and National Hispanic Recognition.
2) For juniors, when you take the test, there is a minimum score to qualify as a SEMIFINALIST* for each program. That minimum score is different for all three programs.
3) The National Achievement Program is for black students. If you are at least a quarter black, you can state that you are black in the correct check box tomorrow on test day.
4) The National Hispanic Recognition Program is for Hispanic students (duh??). If you are at least a quarter Hispanic, you can state that you are Hispanic in the correct check box tomorrow on test day.
5) National Achievement/National Merit may end up giving you money. National Hispanic just recognizes achievement,without money.
6) The test score doesn't mean automatic scholarship money. In fact, it just makes you a semifinalist. Semifinalists, who find out said status fall of their senior year, can then apply to be a finalist. Then, of those finalists, only around half go on to get actual scholarship money (about $2500).
7) You must have taken the SAT or plan on taking it early in the fall of your senior year in order to qualify as a finalist. Further, you must get around the score that was expected based on your PSAT score [just add a zero: 205=2050) (Lisa says you can be up to about 250 points off that target PSAT estimate)
8) Every year, there are 16,000 Merit semifinalists, 1,600 National Achievement semifinalists, ~5,000 National Hispanic recognized students.
9) There are also 34,000 Commended Students, who just get recognition.
10) DON'T STRESS ABOUT THIS. Not all Uni kids get it. Big Deal. You all won't get into the same colleges. There are a billion other scholarships, some with more money, some with less. Just relax :]
GOOD LUCK!!
-Your PCCs
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Art of Caring
So...I apologize. I haven't written a blog in twelve days. And here is why:
I stopped caring about everything for a while. I didn't care about ANY of my classes (I apologize Mr. Mitchell through Merf, inclusive). I didn't care about being a PCC, hence no blog. I didn't care about the SSAT Tutoring Program, about my own private tutoring, about college apps, about getting into college, about almost ANYTHING. It was a really painful, almost scary experience not to care about things because if you get to a certain point, maybe you won't come back to caring. Maybe I was just going to give up all together. The only reason I didn't stop caring is because I clung onto how much I care about my friends and family. I tried to imagine what it would be like if they just disappeared, and it was incredibly painful.
So, when you are beginning in this process, find a friend, a significant other, a family member, chocolate, or a passion. Something you care a whole lot about. And hold on, especially when the college process gets rough.
Much love and CARE,
Celinda
I stopped caring about everything for a while. I didn't care about ANY of my classes (I apologize Mr. Mitchell through Merf, inclusive). I didn't care about being a PCC, hence no blog. I didn't care about the SSAT Tutoring Program, about my own private tutoring, about college apps, about getting into college, about almost ANYTHING. It was a really painful, almost scary experience not to care about things because if you get to a certain point, maybe you won't come back to caring. Maybe I was just going to give up all together. The only reason I didn't stop caring is because I clung onto how much I care about my friends and family. I tried to imagine what it would be like if they just disappeared, and it was incredibly painful.
So, when you are beginning in this process, find a friend, a significant other, a family member, chocolate, or a passion. Something you care a whole lot about. And hold on, especially when the college process gets rough.
Much love and CARE,
Celinda
Friday, September 24, 2010
SLEEP???
So...four hours of sleep...you know, sleep is kinda important. Also, eating. Eating is important. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...
Just a quick reminder, if you are interested in working with a PCC, you need to sign the form by October 1! You don't have to (aka, it's optional) but I personally am excited to work with you. I have to admit, my PCC last year wasn't that helpful, so I have had to bumble through this process by myself. Which sucks. A lot. I want you guys to have a more helpful PCC. That's why I signed up.
If anyone has questions pertaining to the Junior meeting, why the sky is blue, college visits, what is love, or anything, feel free to ask (warning: I will probably fail at answering non-college related questions)
Here is how you can contact us:
Facebook (except Ash)
Email (ckdavis2, rmaturi2, huddson2, sgogula2, ssenior2, kmetcal2)
Face to face (WHAT???)
Just a quick reminder, if you are interested in working with a PCC, you need to sign the form by October 1! You don't have to (aka, it's optional) but I personally am excited to work with you. I have to admit, my PCC last year wasn't that helpful, so I have had to bumble through this process by myself. Which sucks. A lot. I want you guys to have a more helpful PCC. That's why I signed up.
If anyone has questions pertaining to the Junior meeting, why the sky is blue, college visits, what is love, or anything, feel free to ask (warning: I will probably fail at answering non-college related questions)
Here is how you can contact us:
Facebook (except Ash)
Email (ckdavis2, rmaturi2, huddson2, sgogula2, ssenior2, kmetcal2)
Face to face (WHAT???)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Celebrate it all!
I just wrote a draft of an essay! WHOOOOOOO CELEBRATE!
Lisa made an important point during the Senior meeting, and I wanted to extend it to you Juniors. Celebrate all the little things that are part of this process. Below, I wrote a few things you guys should celebrate every time you accomplish it.
1. Sign up on ACT.com and Collegeboard.com
2. Register for your first test
3. Begin to answer the question who am I?
4. Raise your hand in class; you're building a relationship with that teacher
5. Getting your first A on ANYTHING second semester
6. Peeked into a Brown Bagger
7. Checked out a college website
8. Found out where College of Wooster/Knox College/Emory University/Reed College is located
9. Stepped foot into the CRC
10. Build an organization system for college mail
Anyway, check back soon. Get ready, the process is beginning :]
(PS, I'd bring chocolate and a friend, it's a wild ride)
-Celinda <3
Lisa made an important point during the Senior meeting, and I wanted to extend it to you Juniors. Celebrate all the little things that are part of this process. Below, I wrote a few things you guys should celebrate every time you accomplish it.
1. Sign up on ACT.com and Collegeboard.com
2. Register for your first test
3. Begin to answer the question who am I?
4. Raise your hand in class; you're building a relationship with that teacher
5. Getting your first A on ANYTHING second semester
6. Peeked into a Brown Bagger
7. Checked out a college website
8. Found out where College of Wooster/Knox College/Emory University/Reed College is located
9. Stepped foot into the CRC
10. Build an organization system for college mail
Anyway, check back soon. Get ready, the process is beginning :]
(PS, I'd bring chocolate and a friend, it's a wild ride)
-Celinda <3
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Where are the Juniors?
One upon a time there were four teens, their beloved dog, and a short obnoxious puppy that hung out with them during specials. They enjoyed solving mysteries that somehow were magically sprung upon them.
Well, meet your PCCs. They somehow magically match up to the six characters up there. And we have a mystery too: where are all the Juniors??
In the last two weeks, over TEN colleges have visited Uni High one way or another. There have been TWO college panels, a college fair at Parkland, several that have visited Uni at lunch time. Yet, I have rarely seen Juniors there. Let me tell you two things:
1. College Season is NOW for admission counselors. True, some visit in the spring, but most visit in the fall. Now is the time to visit schools at lunch. Now is the time to start building interests.
2. Many Seniors have their lists already (aka, they don't need the Brown Baggers/college panels). This is YOUR time to look!
On Thursday, I went to a college panel. I went because two of the colleges there are on my list. I saw a few juniors, but compared to the number of kids in the junior class, it wasn't much.
I am challenging you, YES YOU juniors, to start going to events. Lisa makes these things happen for you, to help you. You have to help her a little though. It's ONE lunch, every two weeks or so. Not much, when you think about it.
PS. See you tomorrow at the Junior Meeting :]
-Celinda "Scrappy" Davis
Well, meet your PCCs. They somehow magically match up to the six characters up there. And we have a mystery too: where are all the Juniors??
In the last two weeks, over TEN colleges have visited Uni High one way or another. There have been TWO college panels, a college fair at Parkland, several that have visited Uni at lunch time. Yet, I have rarely seen Juniors there. Let me tell you two things:
1. College Season is NOW for admission counselors. True, some visit in the spring, but most visit in the fall. Now is the time to visit schools at lunch. Now is the time to start building interests.
2. Many Seniors have their lists already (aka, they don't need the Brown Baggers/college panels). This is YOUR time to look!
On Thursday, I went to a college panel. I went because two of the colleges there are on my list. I saw a few juniors, but compared to the number of kids in the junior class, it wasn't much.
I am challenging you, YES YOU juniors, to start going to events. Lisa makes these things happen for you, to help you. You have to help her a little though. It's ONE lunch, every two weeks or so. Not much, when you think about it.
PS. See you tomorrow at the Junior Meeting :]
-Celinda "Scrappy" Davis
Monday, September 13, 2010
Imagine if you will a typical Monday lunchtime. You are just waking up and realizing that you have a whole week of school ahead of you. Face it, it sucks. Then, to put salt in the wounds, you're expected to care about the Brown Baggers and attend.
I am now going to tell you to go to them.
You might think I am crazy or sadistic. But truly, one of the things I regret most about junior year was missing out on the Brown Baggers. For example, at least THREE of the colleges on my list came to visit at lunchtime. I wasted time researching colleges because I didn't first go to Brown Baggers. Below, I debunk common myths of them.
1. I'm not going to go to that college, why waste my time?
First off, very few of you know which colleges you AREN'T going to in the Fall of junior year. Even more importantly however, every college has ten colleges that are a lot like it, they just might be in a different part of the country, have different financial options, etc. The point of the Brown Baggers is partially to look into a certain college, but it is also a chance to find out what you even want from a college. For example, you go to the Brown Bagger for Bradley University (a perfectly wonderful institution!), but you don't like it. Well, WHY didn't you like it? What would you want differently? These questions will be very useful to you when you're actually building a college list.
2.Brown Baggers are just for seniors
If you had a preconceived notion, or you have had a senior tell you this is true, let me just squelch that idea now. If a Senior is applying EA/ED, they need a college list RIGHT NOW. If they are applying Regular, they need a college list by NOVEMBER. Brown Baggers last ALL year. So, it is true that seniors are at Brown Baggers, because they are finalizing their lists and double-checking the ones they have. However, these are for juniors as well. These counselors want juniors to come; their whole spiel is to people just beginning their lists. So, being a junior is not an excuse.
3. There is no other students in the room! How embarrassing!
There is a general philosophy around Uni that dances aren't fun, so people don't go. However, if no one goes, OF COURSE IT WON'T BE FUN. If every student walks by the room saying that no one is there and they don't go in, NO ONE WILL GO IN. And, it is more embarrassing to tell Lisa next spring that you are interested in let's say, oh, Illinois Wesleyan, and there was Brown Bagger that you didn't even look into. When you see an admissions counselor in a classroom and you are interested, go in! In fact, if no else comes, think about ALL the questions you get to ask, and all the personalized information you'll get!
4. How come it's places like Knox, Michigan Tech, Reed? I want Stanford/Princeton/Yale/UPenn!
Thousands of students want to go to these schools. They are big name, prestigious universities for a reason. Now think, even though Uni is an elite public high school, it's in Urbana. If you were a big name institution, wouldn't it make more sense to go to a metropolitan area like CHICAGO or ST. LOUIS, where people all around can drive and meet in the big city? That's the reason why we don't get these schools. It would be a waste of their time to come. However, we are fortunate because we get plenty of schools all around that are VERY cool and have TONS of scholarships. Another thing: some of the happiest and most successful college grads came from small, lesser known schools that matched who they were, not the other way around.
Anyway, sorry this blog is so long. Speaking of great things to attend that you wouldn't think about, tonight the director of admissions from University of Illinois is coming to DCL, room 1320, from 7-8. I highly recommend it because U of I is NOT a back up school, especially in such subjects as Engineering. Also, it is a great institution, and not a failure to leave CU kind of school.
-Celinda :D
I am now going to tell you to go to them.
You might think I am crazy or sadistic. But truly, one of the things I regret most about junior year was missing out on the Brown Baggers. For example, at least THREE of the colleges on my list came to visit at lunchtime. I wasted time researching colleges because I didn't first go to Brown Baggers. Below, I debunk common myths of them.
1. I'm not going to go to that college, why waste my time?
First off, very few of you know which colleges you AREN'T going to in the Fall of junior year. Even more importantly however, every college has ten colleges that are a lot like it, they just might be in a different part of the country, have different financial options, etc. The point of the Brown Baggers is partially to look into a certain college, but it is also a chance to find out what you even want from a college. For example, you go to the Brown Bagger for Bradley University (a perfectly wonderful institution!), but you don't like it. Well, WHY didn't you like it? What would you want differently? These questions will be very useful to you when you're actually building a college list.
2.Brown Baggers are just for seniors
If you had a preconceived notion, or you have had a senior tell you this is true, let me just squelch that idea now. If a Senior is applying EA/ED, they need a college list RIGHT NOW. If they are applying Regular, they need a college list by NOVEMBER. Brown Baggers last ALL year. So, it is true that seniors are at Brown Baggers, because they are finalizing their lists and double-checking the ones they have. However, these are for juniors as well. These counselors want juniors to come; their whole spiel is to people just beginning their lists. So, being a junior is not an excuse.
3. There is no other students in the room! How embarrassing!
There is a general philosophy around Uni that dances aren't fun, so people don't go. However, if no one goes, OF COURSE IT WON'T BE FUN. If every student walks by the room saying that no one is there and they don't go in, NO ONE WILL GO IN. And, it is more embarrassing to tell Lisa next spring that you are interested in let's say, oh, Illinois Wesleyan, and there was Brown Bagger that you didn't even look into. When you see an admissions counselor in a classroom and you are interested, go in! In fact, if no else comes, think about ALL the questions you get to ask, and all the personalized information you'll get!
4. How come it's places like Knox, Michigan Tech, Reed? I want Stanford/Princeton/Yale/UPenn!
Thousands of students want to go to these schools. They are big name, prestigious universities for a reason. Now think, even though Uni is an elite public high school, it's in Urbana. If you were a big name institution, wouldn't it make more sense to go to a metropolitan area like CHICAGO or ST. LOUIS, where people all around can drive and meet in the big city? That's the reason why we don't get these schools. It would be a waste of their time to come. However, we are fortunate because we get plenty of schools all around that are VERY cool and have TONS of scholarships. Another thing: some of the happiest and most successful college grads came from small, lesser known schools that matched who they were, not the other way around.
Anyway, sorry this blog is so long. Speaking of great things to attend that you wouldn't think about, tonight the director of admissions from University of Illinois is coming to DCL, room 1320, from 7-8. I highly recommend it because U of I is NOT a back up school, especially in such subjects as Engineering. Also, it is a great institution, and not a failure to leave CU kind of school.
-Celinda :D
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