Yes, sadly the last post has to be followed by this one.
On Friday, one week after I received my Pitt letter, I received a very different kind of letter. It wasn't for a university, just for a major scholarship program. The program was for low income students who have succeeded in their academic endeavors. I was rejected. It sucked.
The program said, "We are sorry to inform you that you are not a finalist. The application pool was very strong this year." At first I was fine with it. Or I at least acted fine with it. I laughed and joked, said I was happy because I wouldn't have to fill out six apps by November 1st, but I knew that wasn't true. I had spent hours on that application. I wrote two 500 word essays and one 800 word essay. Sent each of them through 5 different drafts; all to be rejected.
As I sat staring at email on my phone once I got home, I really just started to feel bad. I mean they said, "For low income students who have succeeded in their academic endeavors." I could help but focus on the second half of that sentence. Does this mean I haven't succeeded in my academic endeavors? Am I a failure? I must have laid in my bed for an hour and a half, headphones in, trying not to tear up as those words burned hotter and hotter in my mind, like a iron brand, labeling me; "Failure".
I had the ACT the next day and really didn't want this on my mind. I sat trying to review the rules of semicolons and commas yet couldn't shake that feeling that it didn't matter. I wasn't good enough for them, wasn't successful enough for them, so why should this ACT matter? Then it hit me all at once, who is this organization to define me as a student? Who is some organization in California to tell me that I'm not successful as a student? I know who I am and what I am capable of. I know I will succeed without this scholarship program, despite the fact that it was a lot of money. I went to bed then, with a feeling of rejuvenated potential. I am my own person and I will not let the college process define me.
The point of this was to let you guys know what it is not fun to get rejected. It makes you feel small and insignificant. The fact of the matter is that you have to get past this. You are your own person, you've made it this far and I promise you will keep going. One rejection letter isn't going to stop us, because we are some of the brightest students in the nation, and I'll be damned if anyone wants to argue otherwise. So keep pushing forward guys, I promise you will all make it.
- Joey
Sunday, October 23, 2011
First Acceptance Letter! Pros and Cons
So, as many of you already know I applied to the University of Pittsburgh and got in. This post is about the pros and cons of getting accepted this early to a school and the feelings that go along with it.
First of let me just say, it is the biggest feeling of relief in existence when you get into your first school. After working all that time on your essays and sending off the app, waiting several weeks, when you find out that you are accepted, you can't help but want to jump for joy. It truly is one of the best feelings one can experience, yet with an acceptance to a school this early, there are several downsides.
Outside of the reassurance that you are, in fact, going to college, a rolling admission school acceptance can bring on some very negative effects. The first of these, and probably the largest, is the amount of senioritis that hits at that very moment. Not only is the sigh(or scream) of relief about the relief of worrying about college, it is also about the relief of amount of work left to do in school. I will not lie I got my acceptance letter and the first thing I thought after, "I'M IN COLLEGE!!" was "I don't have any reason to do school work at all! I'm in college!" This is a bad thing. Just because you think it does not mean you have to act upon it. Even with an early acceptance you should still continue to work on your school work. This is because schools do check Mid-Year reports and often determine financial aid and merit based aid upon these grades. This brings me to my next con, financial aid. Now that you are in the school you feel like you are completely done. Yet, you still have to fill out the CSS and FAFSA. But the CSS isn't available until October and the FAFSA isn't available until February. So you can’t allow yourself to lose sight of the other deadlines that go along with getting into college. These are the two biggest things you need to keep in mind when it comes to early admission to schools.
On the positive side, not only are you in college, but it allows you to think more about your college list. Before Pitt, my list was 11 colleges long. It is now six. I dropped five schools all because I realized that I don't need that many, especially if I am already accepted. Once you are accepted to a school it allows you to realize that you don’t need to apply to 10 other schools, only the few others that you are genuinely interested in.
In closing, I hope all of you get to share this amazing feeling with me come December 15th! To those of you who have already been accepted to schools, congratulations! To those of you who are applying for their EA or ED school as they read this blog, good luck!
-Joey
First of let me just say, it is the biggest feeling of relief in existence when you get into your first school. After working all that time on your essays and sending off the app, waiting several weeks, when you find out that you are accepted, you can't help but want to jump for joy. It truly is one of the best feelings one can experience, yet with an acceptance to a school this early, there are several downsides.
Outside of the reassurance that you are, in fact, going to college, a rolling admission school acceptance can bring on some very negative effects. The first of these, and probably the largest, is the amount of senioritis that hits at that very moment. Not only is the sigh(or scream) of relief about the relief of worrying about college, it is also about the relief of amount of work left to do in school. I will not lie I got my acceptance letter and the first thing I thought after, "I'M IN COLLEGE!!" was "I don't have any reason to do school work at all! I'm in college!" This is a bad thing. Just because you think it does not mean you have to act upon it. Even with an early acceptance you should still continue to work on your school work. This is because schools do check Mid-Year reports and often determine financial aid and merit based aid upon these grades. This brings me to my next con, financial aid. Now that you are in the school you feel like you are completely done. Yet, you still have to fill out the CSS and FAFSA. But the CSS isn't available until October and the FAFSA isn't available until February. So you can’t allow yourself to lose sight of the other deadlines that go along with getting into college. These are the two biggest things you need to keep in mind when it comes to early admission to schools.
On the positive side, not only are you in college, but it allows you to think more about your college list. Before Pitt, my list was 11 colleges long. It is now six. I dropped five schools all because I realized that I don't need that many, especially if I am already accepted. Once you are accepted to a school it allows you to realize that you don’t need to apply to 10 other schools, only the few others that you are genuinely interested in.
In closing, I hope all of you get to share this amazing feeling with me come December 15th! To those of you who have already been accepted to schools, congratulations! To those of you who are applying for their EA or ED school as they read this blog, good luck!
-Joey
Brain Storming College Essays
Sorry about the lack of posts lately guys, I've been crazy busy with precisely what this post; college essays. Last post was about how to get those college essays cleaned up perfectly, but some of you wondered how do you get them in the first place? It's not an easy process.
For those seniors who didn't go to Lisa and Celinda's talk at the beginning of the year about college essays, let me say it was fantastic. The tips from that talk are actually the very tips I used to develop my big common app essay, which is also the essay I used for my University of Pittsburgh app. So what exactly are the tips, is what you are wondering now. Well I'll tell you.
The first was to start off with a list of everything that has ever influenced you or still influences you. This is the hardest part. You basically open a word document, or get out a piece of paper and just start writing anything that has held agency in your life. When I did this I got out paper and actually wrote because it allows you to slow down and really think about what you are writing. I started with just bullet points. I got the big ones out of the way, mom, dad, church, then it got hard. What else has influenced me? I wanted to write school, but that was too broad, so I listed teachers. I went all the way back to my 4th grade teacher who pushed me to apply to Uni, and moved forward. I wrote down the teachers from 7th grade that did my letters of rec for Uni, up to the teachers who are doing my letter of rec this year. Then I was done with school, but I knew there were more than just these four things. Then I realized I was holding back for the sake of preserving my own image. And at that moment it hit me that there's nothing to hide, no one is going to read this but me.(except for you guys, now...) Thus, I wrote Juliana cause she has been a major part of my high school experience. I wrote sports because they shaped my work ethic. I put down clothing because the way I present myself is important to me. After I finished the list and looked down and thought to myself, "Wow." as I read over the list. It was interesting to see so many different things that influenced me and see how they can all connect. This took me to the second step.
From here I picked three of the things, got out my computer and wrote for 10 minutes straight on each topic. I did not stop typing for the whole 30 minutes. If I didn't know what to say I typed "ummmmmmmmmmmmmm" or "I don’t know what to say here but I'm going to keep going." remembering in the back of my head that no one is going to read this so it doesn't matter. From here I took the best of the three free writes and highlighted three recurring main topics. I repeated the free write for each of those. At that point I choose the most specific, meaningful free write and that was my topic.
From here the final step is to then relax and think about that topic. Let it develop further in your head. Give it an hour or so and then sit back down at the computer. Go back and rewrite what you have with the information and detail that you have come up with in that hour of relaxation. Once you've done this all that's left to do is take it to the writing workshop for clean up.
During this process make sure you SAVE EVERYTHING. You need to save because those other two specific free writes and the other two general free writes can actually provide perfect launching places for great essays. My final tip is that if you ever, EVER, have an idea for an essay come to mind and you think, "That's perfect!" WRITE IT DOWN! Don't let yourself forget the idea, even if you wake up at 3am, at least write it on a piece of paper so you can read it in the morning.
Using this process I promise you guys that you will get some quality essays down. My big one I used for Pitt actually ended up getting me emailed by the college to say it brought real emotion to the college essay process and they liked that, so don't hold back. If these essays involve your real emotions that's a good thing! That means you actually put effort into your essay. It shows you took the time to care what you presented yourself as. Ultimately following these steps can be one of the most helpful ways to write your college essays.
Best of luck to you all!
-Joey
For those seniors who didn't go to Lisa and Celinda's talk at the beginning of the year about college essays, let me say it was fantastic. The tips from that talk are actually the very tips I used to develop my big common app essay, which is also the essay I used for my University of Pittsburgh app. So what exactly are the tips, is what you are wondering now. Well I'll tell you.
The first was to start off with a list of everything that has ever influenced you or still influences you. This is the hardest part. You basically open a word document, or get out a piece of paper and just start writing anything that has held agency in your life. When I did this I got out paper and actually wrote because it allows you to slow down and really think about what you are writing. I started with just bullet points. I got the big ones out of the way, mom, dad, church, then it got hard. What else has influenced me? I wanted to write school, but that was too broad, so I listed teachers. I went all the way back to my 4th grade teacher who pushed me to apply to Uni, and moved forward. I wrote down the teachers from 7th grade that did my letters of rec for Uni, up to the teachers who are doing my letter of rec this year. Then I was done with school, but I knew there were more than just these four things. Then I realized I was holding back for the sake of preserving my own image. And at that moment it hit me that there's nothing to hide, no one is going to read this but me.(except for you guys, now...) Thus, I wrote Juliana cause she has been a major part of my high school experience. I wrote sports because they shaped my work ethic. I put down clothing because the way I present myself is important to me. After I finished the list and looked down and thought to myself, "Wow." as I read over the list. It was interesting to see so many different things that influenced me and see how they can all connect. This took me to the second step.
From here I picked three of the things, got out my computer and wrote for 10 minutes straight on each topic. I did not stop typing for the whole 30 minutes. If I didn't know what to say I typed "ummmmmmmmmmmmmm" or "I don’t know what to say here but I'm going to keep going." remembering in the back of my head that no one is going to read this so it doesn't matter. From here I took the best of the three free writes and highlighted three recurring main topics. I repeated the free write for each of those. At that point I choose the most specific, meaningful free write and that was my topic.
From here the final step is to then relax and think about that topic. Let it develop further in your head. Give it an hour or so and then sit back down at the computer. Go back and rewrite what you have with the information and detail that you have come up with in that hour of relaxation. Once you've done this all that's left to do is take it to the writing workshop for clean up.
During this process make sure you SAVE EVERYTHING. You need to save because those other two specific free writes and the other two general free writes can actually provide perfect launching places for great essays. My final tip is that if you ever, EVER, have an idea for an essay come to mind and you think, "That's perfect!" WRITE IT DOWN! Don't let yourself forget the idea, even if you wake up at 3am, at least write it on a piece of paper so you can read it in the morning.
Using this process I promise you guys that you will get some quality essays down. My big one I used for Pitt actually ended up getting me emailed by the college to say it brought real emotion to the college essay process and they liked that, so don't hold back. If these essays involve your real emotions that's a good thing! That means you actually put effort into your essay. It shows you took the time to care what you presented yourself as. Ultimately following these steps can be one of the most helpful ways to write your college essays.
Best of luck to you all!
-Joey
Sunday, September 25, 2011
The Ultimate College Essay Tip
So, I know we all have different opinions on the adoption of the Uni Period schedule as our permanent system, but there is one thing that I believe is under utilized by all the seniors. Despite this thing's outstanding potential to be one of the top college related Uni Period activities. And it's not even run by Lisa, no offense Lisa. If you're wondering what I'm referring to at this point, I'm talking about the English Writing Workshop.
Every Wednesday our English teachers have two representatives sitting down in room 106N who are willing to sit down with you, read your college essays and edit them for clarity, content, and proper grammar. I go down each Wednesday at Uni Period, talk to one of the teachers and give them my essays, then I LEAVE. That's one of the best parts, you don’t have to sit awkwardly while they edit your essay, they actually tell you to leave and come back in about fifteen minutes. So you get to both enjoy your Uni Period time and get your essays done. After you go back in fifteen minutes later the English teachers sit you down and walk you through everything they think you should change and explain why they believe it should be changed. It is a really good way to hammer out the best essays possible for your college apps. I have sent three different essays through the writing workshop, for my Questbridge app. I have even sent my biggest one through four times now. The English teachers want to help, that's why they set up the workshop.
In conclusion, you should go to the English teacher's writing workshop for your college essays. The workshop really helps you to get essays that are concise and grammatically correct. The teachers want to help you but you have to take the first step, go to 106N on Wednesdays during Uni Period.
Every Wednesday our English teachers have two representatives sitting down in room 106N who are willing to sit down with you, read your college essays and edit them for clarity, content, and proper grammar. I go down each Wednesday at Uni Period, talk to one of the teachers and give them my essays, then I LEAVE. That's one of the best parts, you don’t have to sit awkwardly while they edit your essay, they actually tell you to leave and come back in about fifteen minutes. So you get to both enjoy your Uni Period time and get your essays done. After you go back in fifteen minutes later the English teachers sit you down and walk you through everything they think you should change and explain why they believe it should be changed. It is a really good way to hammer out the best essays possible for your college apps. I have sent three different essays through the writing workshop, for my Questbridge app. I have even sent my biggest one through four times now. The English teachers want to help, that's why they set up the workshop.
In conclusion, you should go to the English teacher's writing workshop for your college essays. The workshop really helps you to get essays that are concise and grammatically correct. The teachers want to help you but you have to take the first step, go to 106N on Wednesdays during Uni Period.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
First Post...and Its About Me Messing Up
My phone buzzes. I lazily roll over to swat at it and shut it off. I see who is calling and answer, asking what they need. I'm greeted with a frantic, "Where are you?!?" I ask what they mean and realize that I had a college panel to attend. As I frantically jumped out of bed, putting on my shoes and yelling obscenities as I ran out the door. My parents called me as I sped down Florida to the Hilton Garden Inn, asking where on earth I went. I told them I had a panel to attend at the Hilton with Georgetown, Duke, Penn, Stanford and Harvard; no big deal or anything that I was THIRTY MINUTES LATE. As it turns out my being late wasn't a big deal. I walked in being greeted by the Harvard and Penn reps, apologized for my tardiness, made up and excuse about a violin lesson, cracked a joke and went on in. The point of my telling you this story isn't about that I was late and thus my college apps to some of those schools are now ruined. No, in fact this blog is about time management. So let's rewind to around 4 o'clock yesterday.
4pm: As I walk to my car I am pondering what I have to do after school. I could vaguely remember something, but not what that something was. I ran through my head all the things that usually take up my after school activities. It wasn't a volleyball game; that was last night. Basketball open gym wasn't until Thursday. But what was between them? I dismissed it as nothing and drove home, ignoring the feeling of some unknown activity looming in the horizon.
5pm: I had just gotten home, eaten and started homework, only to fall asleep with college essays strewn about my bed. You would think that the college essays would have reminded me, but no, I remained unaware of the meeting. I managed to sleep for 2 and a half hours. Seeing as I have a cold this isn't that surprising. Now we are back to the beginning of this post.
7:30pm: I wake up and sprint out of the house, making it to the college meeting at around 8pm.
So where did I go wrong? Basically I went wrong around a week ago when I RSVPed to the event. Instead of setting an alarm or an event on my calendar, like a responsible student would do. I simply let myself forget about the meeting. The point of all this is to let you guys know, juniors and seniors, that setting events on calendars is always a good thing to do. If you know you are forgetful, like I am, write it down somewhere. Put a calendar up in your room. Set an alarm on your phone. Do anything to remind you that you have something important to go to.
Although this meeting wasn't a huge deal to be late to, when it comes to a college interview, an SAT, and ACT, a application or scholarship deadline, calendars are your friends. Because if you are late on one of these there is no making a joke and simply strolling in. You waste about $50 on an SAT/ACT sitting or you miss a chance at free money (and who doesn't like free money?). So basically my first blog can be summed up by one sentence; get some form of a college calendar and fill it out as you make appointments.
4pm: As I walk to my car I am pondering what I have to do after school. I could vaguely remember something, but not what that something was. I ran through my head all the things that usually take up my after school activities. It wasn't a volleyball game; that was last night. Basketball open gym wasn't until Thursday. But what was between them? I dismissed it as nothing and drove home, ignoring the feeling of some unknown activity looming in the horizon.
5pm: I had just gotten home, eaten and started homework, only to fall asleep with college essays strewn about my bed. You would think that the college essays would have reminded me, but no, I remained unaware of the meeting. I managed to sleep for 2 and a half hours. Seeing as I have a cold this isn't that surprising. Now we are back to the beginning of this post.
7:30pm: I wake up and sprint out of the house, making it to the college meeting at around 8pm.
So where did I go wrong? Basically I went wrong around a week ago when I RSVPed to the event. Instead of setting an alarm or an event on my calendar, like a responsible student would do. I simply let myself forget about the meeting. The point of all this is to let you guys know, juniors and seniors, that setting events on calendars is always a good thing to do. If you know you are forgetful, like I am, write it down somewhere. Put a calendar up in your room. Set an alarm on your phone. Do anything to remind you that you have something important to go to.
Although this meeting wasn't a huge deal to be late to, when it comes to a college interview, an SAT, and ACT, a application or scholarship deadline, calendars are your friends. Because if you are late on one of these there is no making a joke and simply strolling in. You waste about $50 on an SAT/ACT sitting or you miss a chance at free money (and who doesn't like free money?). So basically my first blog can be summed up by one sentence; get some form of a college calendar and fill it out as you make appointments.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
My Final Blog :'[
Over a year ago, I started this blog without a clear picture in mind. Sophomore year I had written a personal blog, and so on a whim I suggested using Blogger for college help. It was a way to provide information to the whole class, WITHOUT the work of talking to the entire class. Thus, College Corner Blog was born.
The best teachers are the ones who continue to learn. Throughout this year, as I provided blog posts, I learned so much about the college process myself. While I learned of recommendations, division sports, applications, and essay writing, I also learned of celebration, stress, rejection, triumph, realism, and perseverance. This college process takes a tremendous amount of work, heart, and patience to make it through. Like life, your plans will change, some dreams will not be realized, and you mature through trials and tribulations. I have to say, where I am now and who I was when I started this process are two completely different Celindas. So, thank you for allowing me to blog. It helped me help you, and it changed me. In about three weeks I am moving into my college dorm, ready to begin a new stage in my life. It's terrifying, and wonderful, and unbelievable all at the same time. This fall, sophomores will become the new juniors, the new audience. Revathi, Stef, Ashley, Katy, Sheela, Will, and I will relinquish our PCC titles to the new PCCs. Chris, Joey, Hannah, Annie, Tahar, Robbie, Joseph, and Elena will carry on the tradition, and I can already tell they will do wonderfully. I have to say, of all the things I did at Uni, being a PCC was one of the very best. If any of you need help this fall, please don't hesitate to message me, or even call me at college. I will be your PCC until the day you send in your enrollment fees :D
I will end as I began, with my final thoughts and tips on the college process:
-Remember to build strong relationships with teachers. Don't be afraid to ask the teachers who know you work hard, despite the grades you might get.
-Show, don't tell when writing an essay. You can say it made you happy, but it's going to make more of a difference to create a picture for the reader
-Scores matter, but they don't define your college process
-Encourage your passions by volunteering or getting involved with extracurriculars
-In ten years, it won't matter where you went to college, just what you did in those four years. Choose the school that brings you joy.
-Be on top of deadlines, because colleges are less forgiving about being late.
-Be respectful of your peers and their college processes.
-At interviews, ask the standard questions in subjective ways. Instead of "Is there a Greek life?" ask "How involved are students in Greek life? Does it dominate the campus?"
-Don't be afraid of colleges you have never heard of. There are hidden gems everywhere.
-Don't overstress, you will get into college. I promise.
-Try to avoid senioritis as much as you can! Colleges are going to get senior grades!
-Follow your passions, find schools that make you excited for your future, help each other out, and remember there IS an end to the process.
And now, 56 blogs later, I will say my goodbye...
Goodbye Uni, for five intense years. Goodbye Lisa, you are an angel on earth who works tirelessly to ensure that this process is managable. Goodbye Lisa's office, with your chocolate and peace from the crazy first floor hallway. Goodbye all the teachers that provided support and recommendations to the Class of 2011. Goodbye Kathy and Ellen for helping us get those forms completed and out the door. Goodbye Class of 2012, best of luck in senior year and the applications. Goodbye Uni parents for coming to meetings and being the support behind the college process. Goodbye to the many college reps that came to visit during Brown Baggers (sorry I didn't go to as many as I should...). Goodbye all the members of the Class of 2011 who helped with blogs. Goodbye (again!) to all the members of the Class of 2010 who helped with blogs. Goodbye Revathi, Katy, Stef, Ashley, Sheela, and Will, and thank you for being the best PCCs to work alongside. And finally, goodbye College Corner Blog.
All the best in the world to you Class of 2012, and THANK YOU for allowing me the pleasure and honor of being your PCC. Reach for the stars, because you are all amazing,
Celinda Davis <3
The best teachers are the ones who continue to learn. Throughout this year, as I provided blog posts, I learned so much about the college process myself. While I learned of recommendations, division sports, applications, and essay writing, I also learned of celebration, stress, rejection, triumph, realism, and perseverance. This college process takes a tremendous amount of work, heart, and patience to make it through. Like life, your plans will change, some dreams will not be realized, and you mature through trials and tribulations. I have to say, where I am now and who I was when I started this process are two completely different Celindas. So, thank you for allowing me to blog. It helped me help you, and it changed me. In about three weeks I am moving into my college dorm, ready to begin a new stage in my life. It's terrifying, and wonderful, and unbelievable all at the same time. This fall, sophomores will become the new juniors, the new audience. Revathi, Stef, Ashley, Katy, Sheela, Will, and I will relinquish our PCC titles to the new PCCs. Chris, Joey, Hannah, Annie, Tahar, Robbie, Joseph, and Elena will carry on the tradition, and I can already tell they will do wonderfully. I have to say, of all the things I did at Uni, being a PCC was one of the very best. If any of you need help this fall, please don't hesitate to message me, or even call me at college. I will be your PCC until the day you send in your enrollment fees :D
I will end as I began, with my final thoughts and tips on the college process:
-Remember to build strong relationships with teachers. Don't be afraid to ask the teachers who know you work hard, despite the grades you might get.
-Show, don't tell when writing an essay. You can say it made you happy, but it's going to make more of a difference to create a picture for the reader
-Scores matter, but they don't define your college process
-Encourage your passions by volunteering or getting involved with extracurriculars
-In ten years, it won't matter where you went to college, just what you did in those four years. Choose the school that brings you joy.
-Be on top of deadlines, because colleges are less forgiving about being late.
-Be respectful of your peers and their college processes.
-At interviews, ask the standard questions in subjective ways. Instead of "Is there a Greek life?" ask "How involved are students in Greek life? Does it dominate the campus?"
-Don't be afraid of colleges you have never heard of. There are hidden gems everywhere.
-Don't overstress, you will get into college. I promise.
-Try to avoid senioritis as much as you can! Colleges are going to get senior grades!
-Follow your passions, find schools that make you excited for your future, help each other out, and remember there IS an end to the process.
And now, 56 blogs later, I will say my goodbye...
Goodbye Uni, for five intense years. Goodbye Lisa, you are an angel on earth who works tirelessly to ensure that this process is managable. Goodbye Lisa's office, with your chocolate and peace from the crazy first floor hallway. Goodbye all the teachers that provided support and recommendations to the Class of 2011. Goodbye Kathy and Ellen for helping us get those forms completed and out the door. Goodbye Class of 2012, best of luck in senior year and the applications. Goodbye Uni parents for coming to meetings and being the support behind the college process. Goodbye to the many college reps that came to visit during Brown Baggers (sorry I didn't go to as many as I should...). Goodbye all the members of the Class of 2011 who helped with blogs. Goodbye (again!) to all the members of the Class of 2010 who helped with blogs. Goodbye Revathi, Katy, Stef, Ashley, Sheela, and Will, and thank you for being the best PCCs to work alongside. And finally, goodbye College Corner Blog.
All the best in the world to you Class of 2012, and THANK YOU for allowing me the pleasure and honor of being your PCC. Reach for the stars, because you are all amazing,
Celinda Davis <3
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Art of College Visit
Hey all!
Inspired by one of the juniors texting me frantically at 5 in the morning about a college visit, I decided to do a blog about college visiting. I will give helpful tips on how to ask the right questions, different "optionals" that some might take during a visit (meet with a coach, audition for theater, etc.), and my own thoughts to add to the mix.
1. Best Times for Visits
While some of you won't have as much control over this, what with extracurriculars, school, and money, there are "hotspot" times to visit schools.
-During Uni's spring break, many schools are still in class (they have a different calendar, for example)
-Summer is a good time because you won't miss assignments/games/school days, but the downside is you won't see the school when it's really, well, a school. You also won't get to see a class.
-Days off are excellent, especially if they are days we have off, but the school doesn't (Columbus Day for example, most colleges don't celebrate it!)
-Beginning/Middle of a Uni quarter is usually a great time because there won't be too many assignments you will miss. Avoid visiting schools during crunch time!
2. Scheduling
Many of you have already begun visiting schools, and so know how to schedule. For those who don't, most colleges have an online scheduling system. Unless you are visiting more than one school in a day, I highly recommend scheduling as many activities as you can during the visit. It'll make for a long day, but the experience is invaluable. For most people, that will mean you will have an informational session, a tour, lunch, a class, meeting with a professor, and/or chilling with a current student. Some of you might also use this time to meet with a coach, director, music-y person (lol at my life), or other particular leader, such as a priest or community service director. If the choice of meeting with a particular person is not available on the online scheduling, go ahead and shoot an email to the admissions staff of your school. Don't forget to provide them the particulars of your visit, including day of visit, time of tour/info session, etc. so that they can schedule your meeting with a particular person in a way that doesn't mess up your visit schedule.
3. Dress Code
Here, you want to strike a balance between comfort and dressy. Try to avoid the jerseys, the doorags, the t-shirts with messages on them, drooping pants, midriff-baring, and baseball hats. Jeans are quite okay, and khaki doesn't hurt :]. Shorts are fine too, as long as they aren't too inappropriate in length. Be sure you're comfortable, especially with your shoes--you will be walking a lot!
4. Questions
Okay, here is the crux of my college visit philosophy. There are two kinds of college questions: objective and subjective. While it is important to ask an objective question, many of those can be answered going through their pamphlets/website. To get the most out of your visit, do your research beforehand, and ask the SUBJECTIVE questions. Here is what I mean:
Instead of...
Do you offer (insert major here)?
You ask...
Is (insert major here) a popular major? or What kind of opportunities does this major provide? or On average how many people stick to this major? or What graduate schools/jobs do graduates with this major go to/get?
Instead of...
What club sports do you offer?
You ask...
How many students participate in club sports? or Is it a big part of the social life? or How much flexibility is there in practice/games?
Instead of...
Is there a Pre-Med program?
You ask...
What are popular majors for students in the Pre-Med track? or How does the advising staff work with students on the Pre-Med track?
Pretty much, you are taking objective questions which you probably already know the answers to, and changing them to subjective questions that fit your needs AND help you understand the school on a deeper level.
5. Tours
Well, the tours. Based on the time of your visit and the size of your school, the tour can range in size from just you and your posse, to 20 or so people. Types of people you might run into during your tour:
The Safety Parent: No, they aren't doing the Safety Dance or something like it. They are the parent worried beyond reason about safety. They will ask about cops, escorts, violence, accessibility to campus, accessibility to dorms, parties, drugs, and alcohol. Yes. They will ask about all of it. Their precious child is leaving home, so it is fully understandable. Please bear with it. In fact, tune in to the answers, some of that info is really helpful!
The Parent Full of Questions: 9 times out of 10, their child is the one in the very back, zoning out or texting. The parent is the one actually doing the visit. It is imperative that their child gets into the school. They will ask many questions. They will ask personal or obscure questions ("Johnny doesn't eat olives. How many dishes, on average, do you think serve olives in them?"). A touch of sympathy for these parents is necessary, because they have a kid who is not taking an active role in their college process. Please, seniors, don't be the kid in the back texting. This is YOUR future.
The Stuttery, Nervous Tour Guide: Many tour guides are funny, personable (a few are cute, like the Mario Lopez look-a-like I had one time...I mean what?). But some are nervous, all of them are college students (so they are young and inexperienced), and some just don't remember answers to questions. Some will find themselves repeating the same phrase "This is our new Gym, renovated in 2002, which is really cool. Over there is the main quad, which is really cool." Remember to give them patience, this is a hard job
Old Alums/Weird Parents: Old alums and weird parents have one thing in common. They monopolize. They ask questions, or have anecdotes, or general comments constantly. They will ask about old traditions. If they're youngish, they might ask about professors. They might ask questions that no 20 year old current student would ever know the answer to. Again, patience is necessary. If you have a question, wait for a moment when the parent pauses, then tap the guide on the shoulder and bring the attention to you. Trust me, the guide will be thankful.
A couple more general tips:
-Stay as close to the front as possible, so you can hear the info
-Don't be afraid to ask questions, it might help more than just you
-Avoid texting/phone calls
-Don't ever get caught up with the "Let's see who can care less" game that some fellow visitors might play
6. Meeting with a Professor
This is like a reverse interview. The professor might ask questions like "why are you interested in this major" or your opinions on certain topics relevant to the major. However, you get to ask most of the questions. Ask about classes, projects, internship options, homework load, type of homework (writing vs. reading vs. problems), teaching philosophy, types of books read (especially for humanities/social science classes), why they chose to go into that particular field of study, and expectations. Relax during the conversation! This should be even more natural than the conversation with the admissions counselor because you know going in you at least share one thing in common: interest in the same academic subject! I really enjoyed meeting with the college professor at Knox :D
7. Coach/Audition
If you are meeting with a coach, remember to have your numbers known, or if possible, an official document with your numbers. Ask about the program, expectations, weight lifting/training, practice times and intensity, games, rivalries :], dress code/supplies, level of involvement, and academic requirements (such as minimum GPA in order to be an athlete).
As for an audition, make sure you have the cd, dvd, written monologue, etc. as well as your artistic resume with you before you leave home, and again before you leave the car and/or hotel. Practice a couple of times, but don't over practice. Relax. Get plenty of sleep the night before, because little sleep can make you sluggish, or affect your voice. Be professional and friendly to the people you are auditioning to. Shine, you performer you :D. For particular requirements, be sure to look at your school's requirements.
8. Miscellaneous
-If a Uni alum goes there, don't be afraid to ask about meeting up. I met up with Lizzy Warner during my Knox visit, and it really was helpful.
-If there is something you dislike about the school, record it down before the end of the day, so you remember for your next college visit!
-Ask plenty of questions!
-Be prepared to dislike a school intensely. Conversely, be prepared to fall in love. It happens :]
WHEW. If there is anything I didn't address, but I should have, PLEASE let me know. I want to give as much helpful advice as possible, but this is a two way street.
-Celinda <3
Inspired by one of the juniors texting me frantically at 5 in the morning about a college visit, I decided to do a blog about college visiting. I will give helpful tips on how to ask the right questions, different "optionals" that some might take during a visit (meet with a coach, audition for theater, etc.), and my own thoughts to add to the mix.
1. Best Times for Visits
While some of you won't have as much control over this, what with extracurriculars, school, and money, there are "hotspot" times to visit schools.
-During Uni's spring break, many schools are still in class (they have a different calendar, for example)
-Summer is a good time because you won't miss assignments/games/school days, but the downside is you won't see the school when it's really, well, a school. You also won't get to see a class.
-Days off are excellent, especially if they are days we have off, but the school doesn't (Columbus Day for example, most colleges don't celebrate it!)
-Beginning/Middle of a Uni quarter is usually a great time because there won't be too many assignments you will miss. Avoid visiting schools during crunch time!
2. Scheduling
Many of you have already begun visiting schools, and so know how to schedule. For those who don't, most colleges have an online scheduling system. Unless you are visiting more than one school in a day, I highly recommend scheduling as many activities as you can during the visit. It'll make for a long day, but the experience is invaluable. For most people, that will mean you will have an informational session, a tour, lunch, a class, meeting with a professor, and/or chilling with a current student. Some of you might also use this time to meet with a coach, director, music-y person (lol at my life), or other particular leader, such as a priest or community service director. If the choice of meeting with a particular person is not available on the online scheduling, go ahead and shoot an email to the admissions staff of your school. Don't forget to provide them the particulars of your visit, including day of visit, time of tour/info session, etc. so that they can schedule your meeting with a particular person in a way that doesn't mess up your visit schedule.
3. Dress Code
Here, you want to strike a balance between comfort and dressy. Try to avoid the jerseys, the doorags, the t-shirts with messages on them, drooping pants, midriff-baring, and baseball hats. Jeans are quite okay, and khaki doesn't hurt :]. Shorts are fine too, as long as they aren't too inappropriate in length. Be sure you're comfortable, especially with your shoes--you will be walking a lot!
4. Questions
Okay, here is the crux of my college visit philosophy. There are two kinds of college questions: objective and subjective. While it is important to ask an objective question, many of those can be answered going through their pamphlets/website. To get the most out of your visit, do your research beforehand, and ask the SUBJECTIVE questions. Here is what I mean:
Instead of...
Do you offer (insert major here)?
You ask...
Is (insert major here) a popular major? or What kind of opportunities does this major provide? or On average how many people stick to this major? or What graduate schools/jobs do graduates with this major go to/get?
Instead of...
What club sports do you offer?
You ask...
How many students participate in club sports? or Is it a big part of the social life? or How much flexibility is there in practice/games?
Instead of...
Is there a Pre-Med program?
You ask...
What are popular majors for students in the Pre-Med track? or How does the advising staff work with students on the Pre-Med track?
Pretty much, you are taking objective questions which you probably already know the answers to, and changing them to subjective questions that fit your needs AND help you understand the school on a deeper level.
5. Tours
Well, the tours. Based on the time of your visit and the size of your school, the tour can range in size from just you and your posse, to 20 or so people. Types of people you might run into during your tour:
The Safety Parent: No, they aren't doing the Safety Dance or something like it. They are the parent worried beyond reason about safety. They will ask about cops, escorts, violence, accessibility to campus, accessibility to dorms, parties, drugs, and alcohol. Yes. They will ask about all of it. Their precious child is leaving home, so it is fully understandable. Please bear with it. In fact, tune in to the answers, some of that info is really helpful!
The Parent Full of Questions: 9 times out of 10, their child is the one in the very back, zoning out or texting. The parent is the one actually doing the visit. It is imperative that their child gets into the school. They will ask many questions. They will ask personal or obscure questions ("Johnny doesn't eat olives. How many dishes, on average, do you think serve olives in them?"). A touch of sympathy for these parents is necessary, because they have a kid who is not taking an active role in their college process. Please, seniors, don't be the kid in the back texting. This is YOUR future.
The Stuttery, Nervous Tour Guide: Many tour guides are funny, personable (a few are cute, like the Mario Lopez look-a-like I had one time...I mean what?). But some are nervous, all of them are college students (so they are young and inexperienced), and some just don't remember answers to questions. Some will find themselves repeating the same phrase "This is our new Gym, renovated in 2002, which is really cool. Over there is the main quad, which is really cool." Remember to give them patience, this is a hard job
Old Alums/Weird Parents: Old alums and weird parents have one thing in common. They monopolize. They ask questions, or have anecdotes, or general comments constantly. They will ask about old traditions. If they're youngish, they might ask about professors. They might ask questions that no 20 year old current student would ever know the answer to. Again, patience is necessary. If you have a question, wait for a moment when the parent pauses, then tap the guide on the shoulder and bring the attention to you. Trust me, the guide will be thankful.
A couple more general tips:
-Stay as close to the front as possible, so you can hear the info
-Don't be afraid to ask questions, it might help more than just you
-Avoid texting/phone calls
-Don't ever get caught up with the "Let's see who can care less" game that some fellow visitors might play
6. Meeting with a Professor
This is like a reverse interview. The professor might ask questions like "why are you interested in this major" or your opinions on certain topics relevant to the major. However, you get to ask most of the questions. Ask about classes, projects, internship options, homework load, type of homework (writing vs. reading vs. problems), teaching philosophy, types of books read (especially for humanities/social science classes), why they chose to go into that particular field of study, and expectations. Relax during the conversation! This should be even more natural than the conversation with the admissions counselor because you know going in you at least share one thing in common: interest in the same academic subject! I really enjoyed meeting with the college professor at Knox :D
7. Coach/Audition
If you are meeting with a coach, remember to have your numbers known, or if possible, an official document with your numbers. Ask about the program, expectations, weight lifting/training, practice times and intensity, games, rivalries :], dress code/supplies, level of involvement, and academic requirements (such as minimum GPA in order to be an athlete).
As for an audition, make sure you have the cd, dvd, written monologue, etc. as well as your artistic resume with you before you leave home, and again before you leave the car and/or hotel. Practice a couple of times, but don't over practice. Relax. Get plenty of sleep the night before, because little sleep can make you sluggish, or affect your voice. Be professional and friendly to the people you are auditioning to. Shine, you performer you :D. For particular requirements, be sure to look at your school's requirements.
8. Miscellaneous
-If a Uni alum goes there, don't be afraid to ask about meeting up. I met up with Lizzy Warner during my Knox visit, and it really was helpful.
-If there is something you dislike about the school, record it down before the end of the day, so you remember for your next college visit!
-Ask plenty of questions!
-Be prepared to dislike a school intensely. Conversely, be prepared to fall in love. It happens :]
WHEW. If there is anything I didn't address, but I should have, PLEASE let me know. I want to give as much helpful advice as possible, but this is a two way street.
-Celinda <3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)