2010.03.05 01:55:40

Patrick OConnor

Choosing a College is More Than Smoke and Mirrors

Today’s column begins with another college quiz.  Ready?

2.      What person was recently quoted as saying “I’m not very pretty”?

Frequent readers have the first answer tattooed on their arm, next to the Web address for Colleges That Change Lives.  The purpose of college is to give you the opportunity to continue to live the wonderful life you already have, and to understand more about yourself, the world, and your relationship to the world.

I’m pointing this out again because this is the time of year when all kinds of people forget that.  As seniors and their families wait for the March Madness of college decisions, and as juniors get back their tentative class schedules for next year and decide if it’s “college-worthy”, it’s easy to think school is more about thick envelopes and “getting in” than personal growth.  

That’s not to say high school should be a breeze, or that diligence and achievement shouldn’t be recognized. But what does it say about college choice if you get into a name college you’d hate going to, or if you get a 7  AP class senior-year schedule with so much homework you can’t even remember your name? There’s a fine difference between self-growth and self-destruction, and if you’re not careful, this approach to college can spill over into other areas of your life, like dating, career exploration, or self-identity…

…which leads us to Question 2.  The person who thinks they aren’t pretty is Anne Hathaway.  Right—not the Anne Hathaway who works at the corner deli, but the Anne Hathaway.  It’s nice to hear a little humility coming from Hollywood, and  I certainly don’t want to diss the reigning queen of Genovia, but either a new mirror or a new perspective is in order— and such is the case when the dream of being admitted to college is more important than the reality of going there.  The first ground rule is keeping grounded.

This same topic is addressed in a must-see movie. “Race to Nowhere” documents the lives of students who discover that more really can be less, and some of these lessons are hard ones.  The trailer’s at www.racetonowhere.com  Take a peek before you decide if a fourth community service project is really all that important— and either way, do your community a service by asking your counselor to set up a screening of this film for your school.

“But dude”, says you, “aren’t you the guy who tells us colleges want us to do all this crazy stuff?  Isn’t it your job to tell us to dance a little faster in order to win the game?”

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever called college choice a game—if I did, I was wrong.  Classes, extra-curriculars and community service aren’t the elements of a game—they are ingredients in the recipe of your life, and my job is to give you cooking lessons.  The recipe for life—and for college success-- is only complete with healthy doses of perspective and self-knowledge.  Without them, you might end up like this guy, who didn’t think he was good enough to be a professional singer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA 

And just how did Paul Potts decide to audition for Britain’s Got Talent, which led to performing before Queen Elizabeth and selling over 4 million albums?

He flipped a coin.

choosing a college | applying to college | college counseling | college entrance

2010.02.26 22:14:31

Patrick OConnor

College Admissions: It's Not A Safety School if It's Not You

To Sheila, it seemed like the perfect safety school.  It had the program she wanted, she was well above the college’s average GPA and test scores, and she liked the college’s reputation for an above average social life.

Even though she was admitted to one of her first choice colleges, the Plan B school hit the A list when she was offered a large merit scholarship and an invitation to join the school’s Honors College.  The promise of small classes and the sense of adventure called to her, and she answered—she sent her deposit in and left her hometown in the dust.

The romance lasted one year.  Halfway into the second semester, she realized she was already taking junior-level classes in the university’s Honors College, and some of them didn’t ask very much from her.  She sat back and did the math— since she was on track to complete senior-level classes as a sophomore, what would she study for the last two years of college?

Around the same time, she realized there was only so much partying she needed in her life, which was much less than her fellow students needed.  She had a thoughtful conversation with her parents, finished the semester, and transferred to the first choice college she’d been admitted to the year before.

What lessons did Sheila learn that could help you?  Simple:

There’s no such thing as a Plan B school.  Sheila didn’t give a single thought to the social lives of the other colleges she applied to, but it was one of the main reasons she applied to the college she attended—and that change should have been the wake-up call that this wasn’t the college for her. You definitely need to apply to at least one college where your chances of admission are strong, but that doesn’t mean you’re looking for a different kind of college. Keep the same criteria, and make them all first choice colleges.

Look past the labels.  Honors colleges, residential programs, and learning-living communities offer smaller classes, which are generally a plus—but they also offer fewer classes, which can be a minus. If AP credits or placement exams take half the limited choices off the table, that makes college less of a learning experience, and more of a hep community with lots of people your age that’s interrupted by the need to go to class once in a while.  College is about living AND learning—make sure you’ll get the chance to do both.

Turn off the disco ball in your head.  Merit scholarships and junior-level placements can be real ego boosters (and can sure help cash-strapped parents), but if the college just isn’t you, it’s like paying half-price for a pair of jeans you’ll never wear.  If April finds you thinking about a school you didn’t pay much attention to six months ago, you MUST visit the campus again. Pull out the list of what you wanted in a school, and view the campus clearly; it’s cool if your priorities have changed in a school because you’re a different person now, but it’s not cool if you need to change the person you are because of the priorities of the school. Look.

Listen to your counselor.  No disrespect to Sheila, but I told her family to do these things, and they blew me off.  We may be older, we may drive ugly cars, and our hair isn’t what it used to be, but our job is to guide you around the landmines of college selection—and we are very good at it.  Let us help you.

college entrance | college counseling | college admissions | safety school | safety schools | choosing a college

2010.02.19 21:51:38

Patrick OConnor

Summer Classes-- A Real Education

There you were, waiting in the counseling office to review your schedule for next year, when you came across the Summer Enrichment brochure your school district just published this week.  As you scanned down the list, there, nicely nestled between “Adventures with Water Colors” and “Anyone Can do Figure Drawing”, you saw it—“Algebra 2, Tuesday Wednesday Thursday mornings, starts in June, ends July 20.”

Do your eyes deceive you?  Could it be the year-long class that is causing so many other problems with your schedule can be easily set aside by giving up 18 hours this summer?

Sure—just like you’d be rich if everyone mailed you a dollar.

Don’t get me wrong—summer classes can be great, and many students have taken them to “double up” in Math, Science, or English—but they sure didn’t do it in 18 hours, and neither will you.  If summer classes are on your mind, keep this in mind, and you won’t lose your mind:

What’s your goal?  Begin your search for summer classes by looking within—why do you want to take a class?  If it’s a love for the subject, remember that most students taking local summer classes are there for Round 2—their grade in the class wasn’t all that great the first time they took it, and they want to improve it (or have to improve it) before fall. 

It’s great they’re doing that, but if you’re taking Creative Writing to discuss ideas and themes, and most everyone else is taking it for credit recovery, this might not be the best match. Try  http://www.petersons.com/summerop/code/ssector.aspm for a list of summer programs attended by students who can’t get enough of learning.  Many of these programs are taught on college campuses, and while they often cost more than local summer school, many offer scholarships.  Ask and see.

What’s their goal?  It’s also important to know what’s going to be taught in a class.  The Algebra 2 class may only meet for 18 hours, but it’s most likely designed to be a review for students who’ve already had the class once.  If Math isn’t your thing, and especially if you plan on taking Pre-Calc, this micro-math class is not the thing to do.  Ask for a syllabus ahead of time—better yet, talk to the teacher.

Got free time?  Unless the class is PE (which is a great class to take in the summer—dude, you’re outside!), class time will require study time, which impacts summer afternoons, summer nights, and summer weekends.  If the class means something to you, make sure you can give it your all, both in terms of time and attention.  You won’t get much out of studying on a July night if your head is in the book but your heart is at the beach.

Dare to dream.  Summer classes are also the best time to try something new, with little or no risk attached.  Sure, it’s a great time to knock off a required Health class—but what about a class in a department of the school you’ve never set foot in?  You future architects and engineers should know that the best designers have a background in the fine arts—so the Water Color and Figure Drawing classes I mentioned earlier might not be a bad idea after all (busted!). 

School is about credits, but education is about learning— spend the summer with your eye on the big picture, and you may go back to school in the fall with something more than just a change in your credit count.

Meanwhile, send those dollars to collegeisyours@....

College advising | college counseling | summer classes

2010.02.10 19:49:36

Patrick OConnor

Give Semester Advice the Old College Tri

Last week’s column on scheduling brought a response from a family where the high school is on trimesters, so classes (and grades) switch in November, March, and June, not at all like the January-June semester schedule.  Their two main points were:

-Telling us to mail first semester grades in January doesn’t help, since we already sent first trimester grades in early December.

-Ditto for schedule changes.  Since trimesters started in December, it is what it is—and since trimesters are harder to schedule, juniors have already scheduled their classes for next year.

Trimesterites, lest you think the last two columns are merely kindling to fan the flames of your cozy Valentines Day fire, uncrumple those two fine tomes, and go with the flow as follows:

If a college has deferred you, students on trimesters sent updated grades in early December, long before most colleges decided on their Early applicants.  Even if you sent a note and your grades were en el fuego back then, it will be 3 or 4 months between the time you last contacted the deferring college that said “tell us more”(which really means “show us how much this means to you”) and the time they review your file again.  Tell me—does this time warp translate as showing genuine interest?

The solution here is simple, Danny Zuko—tell them more, one more time!  If your high school sends home mid-trimester grades, passing those good grades along to colleges will show that not only were you good in December, but you’re still good now, and their college is where you still want to be.  Some high schools may even finish the second trimester in mid-March, which could be enough time to send some colleges the good word just as they’re reviewing their deferred applicants. 

Either way, mid-trimester grades can go out now.  Use the occasion to write another very brief note about what’s new in your life and your genuine interest in the school, and they’ll have the latest news—and a refreshed perception—about where you are, and what matters to you.

In terms of schedules, I’m sticking to my guns. Whether you’re a senior starting second semester or third trimester, the chance will come—either right now or in a month-- to ratchet your schedule down a notch. If your grades were strong last report card, there’s no reason to do this—just say no. This may be even harder for trimester students, since the start of your last term is that much closer to the finish line; practice in the mirror if you need to, but a little nyet, nein, non, and “as if” now goes a long way later.

Juniors, if your school really has asked for your schedule for next year, don’t worry—Like Arnold, they’ll be back.  Low enrollment, computer glitches, and last minute layoffs will give you at least three opportunities to pick up “AP Ultimate Frisbee” and drop “Jane Adams and Jane Addams: Common Souls Separated by an Uncommon Spelling”. 

The goal is to make the most out of the learning experiences you have in high school, and I have a hunch your house has 4 Dyn-O-Glos hanging around, but nary a copy of Twenty Years at Hull House. Keep the challenge high—colleges will notice, and more important, so will you.

GPA | college entrance | college admission | college counseling

2010.02.06 18:07:30

Patrick OConnor

Applying to College? Schedule Wisely

We’re a week away from President’s Day, which means there’s only one thing on the minds of college-bound students—schedules.  By this, I don’t mean “My homework is really cutting into my social schedule” or “Dude!  Three girls asked me to the Sadie Hawkins Dance—do you think I can make that work?”  Rather, I mean your school schedule—of classes—for school?

Wow, it’s clearly time for winter break.

I know you’re storing up on wings and dip for tomorrow, so I’ll make this quick:

Seniors, even though this is the last semester of your high school career, you still need a strong schedule.  Even as we speak, colleges are reviewing your applications, and one of their big questions is if you have the ability *and* the desire to really tear up college classes.  Your grades from past semesters may say “You bet”, but if this semester has six sections of The Anthropology of Texting, chances are you’ll hit campus with a rusty brain and an inability to write words with vowels in them.  Bottom line?  Keep the neurons firing by taking classes that make you think.

“But hombre” say you, “I’m smart enough to make this work.  I’m entitled to some time off.” 

OK—consider this.  If your college application says you’re taking a challenging load of academics, and you change your schedule to swap out AP English for “American Idol:  Boon or Boondoggle?”, you have to contact the college immediately to tell them your schedule has changed..  No matter how smooth you think you are, do you really think there’s any way a college will see this change as good news?  Sure, it’s tough now, but Tom Hanks was right—it’s supposed to be hard, or everyone could do it.  Your teachers will cut you some slack come May and June—meanwhile, jump into the work you told colleges you love, and see what’s there to get juiced about.

Juniors, you don’t need a pep talk to take tough classes now, since sixth semester is Show and Tell time. However, your counselors will be coming around in three weeks to sign you up for senior year classes—and that’s when the temptation to board the Blow-it-off bullet train will be strong.

Here’s my encore:  The primary factor used by nearly every college in reading an application is if the student has challenged him/herself by taking the most demanding classes available.  If you’re getting As in French 3, and there’s a French 4, it goes on the schedule; ditto for Calculus and Shakespeare.  If your school offers a course called Expository Writing, it’s on the list; college students tell me this is THE course that helped them see how to write great papers in classes other than English.  Be advised--  “Expository” comes from the Latin expos, which means “to write so many papers you’ll wear out a pencil a week.” Tough?  Yes.  Beyond you?  Please!

You’ve probably heard that the number of high school graduates will go down next year, and that leads you to believe you won’t have to work as hard to get admitted to college.  The first part is right, but the second part isn’t; even with the bad economy, more students are going to college than ever before, so colleges are likely to pick and choose the top students for at least the next few years.  Make their work easy for them—gird yourself, smoke the tough classes, and give yourself a reason to be proud when the thick envelope arrives from your college.  That’s the recipe for a super touchdown.

college counseling | schedules | college entrance | college admission

2010.01.28 22:05:28

Patrick OConnor

College Applications-- The Early Returns, and What They Mean to You

Since President Obama failed to mention it last night, the state of college admissions is strong—in fact, maybe a little too strong!  Many colleges are reporting record application years again, and some will be accepting applications for two more months.  This makes sense, since this is the largest high school class in history (next year’s class will be smaller, by the way)—it seems the bad economy is having very little impact on applications.

While applications are up, the number of admitted students is mixed.  Some schools have already admitted more students than last year, but it seems a number of colleges with Early Action (EA) programs are taking more of a wait-and-see approach; students are reporting an increase in the number of deferrals from EA, where colleges ask students for grades from their current classes, and compare these deferred students to those who applied to the college on a later deadline,

The larger number of “tell us more” responses isn’t too much of a surprise; with more high school seniors wanting to hear sooner from colleges, and since EA programs don’t require an early commitment from the student, colleges want to make sure there’s plenty of room for good students who apply later on.  Still, it’s understandable why students with above-average records could see a deferral as a defeat, rather than a delayed possibility for achievement.  It takes a great deal of thought and planning to submit early applications, and when a letter comes back with an answer of maybe, it’s hard not to take it personally.

What does this news all mean to seniors?  It depends on where you are in the application process:

-- If you haven’t applied to any colleges just yet, two words—“now” and “more”.  Most colleges have received at least 80% of all the applications they’ll be getting, which usually means they will evaluate any new applications more closely.  Make sure your applications are neat, thorough, and sent in by Ground Hog Day, and if you were going to apply to 4 colleges, make it 8—the volume of traffic is very heavy, so everyone can be more choosy.

--If you have applied and don’t have a firm acceptance yet, it’s time to break out the college guides one last time.  More EA applications usually means more regular applications—and that will lead to more deferrals and rejections this spring.  Don’t play the April fool; there are great colleges with deadlines of February 15 and March 1 that will give you a decision 2 or 3 weeks after you apply.  Find one that will work for you, and let that be your winter blanket.

--If you’ve been deferred, be sure you’re in touch with the college now.  Most students who are deferred will obediently submit their current grades, keep their head down, and hope for the best—but colleges will not be admitting most of their deferred students.  A three-paragraph note that updates what you’ve been doing, what you plan on doing, and why State U is still of interest will separate you from the crowd, and create room for dialogue with the college.  If you haven’t done so, this too is a must this week—and if you have no acceptances, see the point above, and find a school that will say yes in February.

--If you’re in at the college of your choice and feeling good about things, well done.  Get back to the business of high school-- spring will soon be here with senior mayhem—and lend a kind word to seniors who haven’t heard.

applying to college | early action | college admission | college selection | college counseling

2010.01.23 01:25:50

Patrick OConnor

Financial Aid and Final Exams-- Waiting? Wondering? Why?

You’re probably studying for finals for your seventh semester—the grades colleges just love to see—or you’ve completed them, and are waiting for the grades to come in. Either way, you’re convinced the best thing you can do is stand in front of a mirror and see how quickly you can say “Do you want fries with that?”, just in case this college thing doesn’t work out.

The rock of your support, your parents, aren’t much help either.  If they are working on financial aid forms at a normal clip, they’re shocked at all the paperwork they need to complete the FAFSA.  If they filed on January 2nd, they may have heard back from the Federal government already, and all they can seem to say is “Congress really thinks I can pay this much for college?”

With Conan on his way out, and a Republican senator from Massachusetts on his way in, there seems to be no relief to the madness— just what can you do?

Friends, I am a professional—please attempt to do this at home:

• Help your parents calm down. The FAFSA asks for material most families need to fill out tax forms—they just need the information sooner.  Tell your parents to “think taxes,” and be amazed by how happy that idea makes them.  If the forms aren’t around, they can use last year’s tax information as an estimate, and update with the actual numbers later.

• Get them to phase two.  A large number of families don’t get grants from FAFSA, but you have to apply anyway before a college will give you need-based aid.  Once you’re done with FAFSA, get your parents to fill out the forms the college needs completed—Profile, their own form, whatever—so you can be considered for institutional-based aid.  If you don’t know what they need, call and ask; in this case, the only stupid question really IS the one that doesn’t get asked.

• Hit the Web yourself.  With college essays and final exams as warm-ups, your writing skills are at their peek—hit www.finaid.org or other scholarship search sites to find cash you could earn with an essay everyone else is too tired to write.  I once won a trophy in a 10K race for my age group, and I run about as well as an 8-track player.  What did I do to earn the gold?  I was the only one in my age group to finish.  Get it?

• Man up and move on.  You may think you have nothing better to do but freak while you wait on your grades, but the world begs to differ--good students don’t wait for anything.  Now is the time to DO—focus on your studies, because colleges have many more qualified applicants than seats.  If your last semester in high school is a let-down, it won’t take much for the college of your dreams to change their mind, and you want to avoid that nightmare.  Also, go teach something to someone. The best college students know what it means to learn AND to teach, and with college applications done, you have some free time.  Go coach a basketball clinic at the Y, tutor at the library, show your mom how to Skype— believe me, you’ll want her to have that skill in a couple of months.

college applications | college counseling | paying for college | scholarships | financial aid

2009.12.28 18:41:47

Patrick OConnor

As Application Deadlines Loom, Make a Plan

I’d like to think you’re reading this just to check in and wish me a Happy New Year, but I know better—you’re here because your college apps need to get out now, and you need some help.  Here goes:

Double check the deadlines.  A number of colleges changed their deadline from January 1 to January 4, so go to the Web site of each college you’re applying to and make sure you have the right date.

Complete your application online.  If you really are working with a January 1^st deadline, applying online allows you to hit submit at 11:45 pm on New Year’s Night; if you’re applying by mail, you have to get your application to the post office by 11:45 am on New Year’s Eve.  That’s an extra 36 hours, and a lot less snow on your shoes.

Check your schedule.  You’ll want to give yourself time for breaks, sleep, meals—and family events. If Uncle Bob’s holiday brunch is scheduled for Friday morning, you want to know that now, not Friday morning, so check your schedule with your parents.  They’ll be pleased to see you’re looking ahead, and that will ease the college stress they’re feeling, too.

Vary your activities.  Most students decide to leave the essays of an application for last.  That’s OK if you’re only working on one application, but if you’re looking at three or four, your essays won’t be as fresh if you write ten in a row.  Start with an easy essay, then go back and fill in your name and address—then back to an essay, then over to your high school activities.  Variety keeps most writers focused.

The “Why Us?” question matters the most.  Previous columns have told you how to approach the “Why do you want to apply here?” question.  Even though you’re in a hurry, be sure you do your best writing with this very challenging question that usually has a limit of 100 words—your answer has to be specific to that college, and can be a deal-maker, so it’s worth the time.

Send test scores now.  SAT and ACT scores can be ordered online during the holidays, so take the time to make sure they get sent to the colleges that request them.  You’ll need a credit card to order them; use this as a break from your essays, and a chance to touch base with your parents to let them know how things are going.

Transcripts and teacher letters will have to wait.  If you discover a form that’s supposed to be completed by your teacher or school counselor, there isn’t much you can do with those right now.  Fill out the top of each form, and make a note to touch base with teachers and counselors the first day school’s back in session; colleges usually give supporting documents a little more time to arrive, but your material really needs to make the deadline.

Build in time to double check essays.  Dazzling essays lose their shine when they have misspelled words, bad grammar, or talk about how much going to Brown would mean to you when the essay is going to Lawrence University.  There’s a difference between being in a hurry and being sloppy—now is the time to show the colleges you know what that difference is.

Celebrate wisely.  Whenever your applications are finished, remember a great application is successful only if you’re around to actually go to the college next fall.  Be safe, be sober, and only ride with those who are the same.

Happy New Year-- you can do this.

college applications | college deadlines | essays | admission | college counseling

2009.12.18 00:22:45

Patrick OConnor

Early Admissions Decisions: Don't Let A Deferral Grinch You

The smoke is finally clearing from Early Notification Week, when students who applied Early Action or Early Decision heard the news from many of their colleges.  Students and counselors are reporting a record number of deferrals this year, where colleges wait until winter to make a decision on the student’s application.

I know—you applied early because you wanted to hear early, choose a college, and get back to the business of being a high school senior, and suddenly the decision you thought would be over one way or another, isn’t.  That’s not especially soothing…

… but on the other hand, it’s pretty cool.  A dozen years ago, almost all early applicants were either admitted or deferred, but no longer—at most colleges, an early applicant who wouldn’t be successful at that college is now being told no in December.  That means if you were deferred this year, the college sees some potential in your application…

…now, you just need to build on it.  Most deferral letters asked students to submit seventh semester grades; now that those requests have been passed along to school counselors, most students think there’s nothing left to do but sit and wait—and they would be wrong.

First, if the college wants to see your grades, they’d better be your rockin’ best—so focus your neurons on something besides DJ Hero 94 and figure out what you can do to make your grades sparkle.  If you’re still in school, this means making the rounds with your teachers to ask if extra credit or make-up work is possible.  I’m not trying to go all Ebenezer on you, but there’s bound to be some down time around the 28th or 29th where an hour or two of school time can send you on a trip to A Land.  If the college that said “show me something” means anything to you, it’s worth the effort.

Second, unless the college says otherwise (like MIT, who only wants to hear from you once), you should write a letter back to the college now to tell them about all the great things you’ve been up to since you sent your application in.  This is a small way to demonstrate continued interest in the school, but it’s big enough to separate you from the students who won’t write anything at all.  Don’t feel obliged to make stuff up (“It was an honor to accept the Nobel Prize on the President’s behalf”), but don’t be shy--and speak from the heart.

Third, this is no time to pine—and I’m not talking about your Kwanzaanukahmas tree here.  A record number of students are applying to college this year, and a higher percentage of those applied early—that overwhelmed the colleges.  If you were hoping one person would ask you to the New Year’s dance, and thirteen people popped the question, you’d want some space to sort things out, right?  Colleges are no different—it’s a banner year, and they want things to work out in the best possible way for everyone.  Time—and your continued communication with them—will help them do that.

It’s hard not to take “tell me more” personally, but if you see this is more about the college than about you, the best thing to do is to give them exactly what they want—more of the very best you that you can offer. Jump at the chance; be clear, smoke your grades, don’t go crazy, keep the big picture in mind, and the next leg of your college journey will be sweeter than walking in a winter wonderland.

college entrance | college admissions | deferred | college decisions

2009.12.14 21:41:23

Patrick OConnor

Choosing a Major: Where's the Safe Money?

There you are, gliding along on your college applications, and things seem under control.   Name?  Check.  Address?  Check—until you have a new one at college.  Major—Ancient  French Architecture.

And then it hits you—The Ghost of Holidays Past comes by to remind you of the words Uncle Dave uttered as he lit the fourth candle on the menorah:

“Ancient French Architecture? Is there any money in that?”

It’s hard enough to choose among the six things you’d really like to study, but Uncle Dave’s question throws another log on the fire of indecision—will you be able to make a living?

The best way to build an answer to this question is to consider these three questions:

Is this really an either/or question?  Too many people think careers and college majors are either about working with people or working with things, about following your heart or making money.  Why can’t you do both?  Become a professor in ancient French architecture, and supplement your income giving guided tours of French architecture in the summer; go make a ton of money in the business world, and volunteer at the homeless shelters on weekends; be an artist for 10 years, then go back to school to become an engineer.

This is just as true with students thinking about graduate school.  With research, you’ll find some med schools are actually hoping you’ll major in English or Political Science, and law schools love to teach smart poets—if you meet the pre-reqs and get good grades, you may actually bring a perspective that will allow you to see things others don’t, and that’s good. 

Is Uncle Dave right?  If you just can’t shake Uncle Dave’s question, it’s time for an Internet road trip.  Your favorite search engine is eager to take you to great places with questions like “How do musicians make money?” or “What does an architect do all day?”  Unless you’re simply making up a major, someone else has the same degree you want—some time on the Web, or a call to a college prof who teaches the subject, will help you hone your answer.

How much does this really matter right now?  It’s important to pay the light bill once you’re done with college, but that’s almost five years from now.  Unless you’re thinking about a serious change—like you’ve only applied to music schools, but now engineering sounds good—there’s a good chance college will give you both the flexibility and the knowledge to change majors with a purpose.  Since most students change majors three times, this gives you plenty of time to go with your gut right now, discover the details later, and make Plans B, C, D and Q in due time.

In addition, we’re dealing with some serious unknowns here.  Two years ago, real estate agents made big money—what about now?  What about those studies that say 95% of the jobs in the future don’t even exist now—how do you prepare for something that doesn’t exist? 

Most career experts say it’s best to learn how to think, how to relate and communicate with others, how to create, and how to put your heart into your work—so Ancient French Architecture sounds like the ticket to me, as long as it’s something you love, and you keep your eyes and ears open to the possibility that things might change.

college major | major | applying to college

2009.12.03 23:14:31

Patrick OConnor

Grades and College Applications: What's Your Road Map?

It’s now time for the world’s easiest college admissions test.  Ready?

Question 1.  If I were to compare my high school transcript to a geographic feature, I would choose:

1. A mountain
2. A valley
3. A ski slope
4. The end of a ski jump
5. A very high plateau

Time’s up—let’s check your answer, and see what this means about your college applications:

If you chose a mountain, this means you started high school with OK grades, had great grades in 10^th or early 11^th grade year, and went back to OK grades in late 11^th grade or during this first term.  If this is the case, colleges may be wondering why your latest work isn’t as strong as your Rocky Mountain work.

If you chose a valley, this means your early grades were strong, then you hit a rocky patch, and now you’re back at your usual level of work.  Colleges will definitely want to know about what caused the unexpected drop in altitude.

The ski slope is also known as the negative trend— grades in 9th grade were the highest you’ve earned, and they have been declining ever since.  This is a cause of concern to colleges—if you keep getting lower grades each semester, where will your GPA be after your first semester of college?

If you’ve picked any of these, you’ll want to address these trends with the college.  If  low grades can be attributed to an unexpected challenge— illness, family issues, or something personal—it’s usually wise for you or your counselor to tell the college why things didn’t go as planned.  If your grades have turned around, it’s important to point that out; even though it’s clear on your transcript, pointing this out assures the college that the storm has passed, and you expect to have strong grades from here on in.

If you find yourself in the middle of a tough time with grades right now, it’s time for some quality counselor time.  A personal challenge in senior year is one thing; but if the grades are low because your classes are too hard, that’s something very different. The time to sort out the cause and build a plan is now, with the support of someone who can help the colleges understand.

Some students are hesitant to talk about the challenges they’ve had, either because the memories of that time are still too fresh, or they feel the colleges will judge them on their behavior.  If this is the case, your counselor can address the issue, either in a note to the college, or through a phone call.  Either way, it’s important for someone to talk about it; transcripts don’t lie, and if a bad run of grades isn’t explained, the colleges won’t know what to think— and you don’t want that to happen.

The end of the ski jump is known as a positive trend, where your grades have been getting higher and higher every semester.  Colleges may want to know why you started out low, but generally they’re pleased about this, since it suggests you’re improving your grades all along. If there was a personal issue early in your high school career, mention it; if not, it might be wise to let it go.

You high plateau folks are fine, as long as you’re taking the most challenging classes you can handle.  If for some reason the colleges think you didn’t ramp it up, and could have, they’ll take that into account—but you’ve still got a lot to be proud of.

A’s all around!

college counseling | counseling | grades | college help | college applications

2009.11.24 19:54:30

Patrick OConnor

Applying to College? Count your Blessings

I’m pretty sure Abraham Lincoln didn’t decide to put Thanksgiving in November just because high school seniors could use the break—then again, since Lincoln never went to college, maybe he did!  It would be easy enough to talk about how this is Wall time, when the last 100 words of the big essay won’t come, or the homework due in your 15 AP courses doesn’t give you the time to work on essays anyway, or you’re bracing yourself for your Aunt Esther’s response on Thursday when she finds out you’re applying to art school—or your mom’s boss has decided to take another week or two to decide if another round of layoffs is in order.

It is indeed Wall time, and that’s really saying something, since the entire country is in a Wall year.

Having said that—and remember, I live in Michigan the state that is the poster child of this Wall year—it could be worse:

•We started this school year with the expectation that more colleges would have less money for financial aid.  Early reports indicate the opposite is true—I don’t know where they’re printing this cash, but every college I’ve spoken to has said their coffers are full.

•The same was true about need conscious admissions—the expectation was more colleges would consider a student’s ability to pay as part of the admissions process.  Many colleges still do this, but the number is actually down from last year.

•Detroit Public Schools started the school year with the news they were laying off almost all school counselors, leaving most high schools with one counselor for 1000 students, or no counselor at all.  Two weeks ago, the layoff was rescinded; counselors are all back to work, and Detroit is actually hiring school counselors for the rest of this year.

•Michigan’s Promise Scholarship, a $4000 incentive to do well on a state-required proficiency exam, was cut last month, leaving thousands of college students with unexpected debt and some tough decisions.  Public push-back on the issue is leading the legislature to reconsider their position—for more on this and how you can help, go to the home page at www.collegeisyours.com

Of course, not everyone lives in Detroit, and many colleges don’t have as much money for aid—but if there are ideas to hold on to in Michigan, surely there are opportunities for you to consider as you build your plans.  This isn’t to say the bad will simply vanish by looking at the good, but given how the year has gone, looking at the good isn’t all that bad of a plan…

…and I hope your future plans include some time for rest and reflection.  Another big college deadline looms next Tuesday, and I imagine many of you will be up with the chickens—or turkeys, I suppose—to crank out the rest of those early applications.  Do what you need to do, but remember this is your last Thanksgiving in high school.  While many of you will tromp over the river and through the dorm to get home next year, Thanksgiving can be different on the college end; so take a good look around before you jump on that essay, and if your cousin wants to see if you’ve got game with Left 4 Dead 2, let the essay wait a while, and revel in the thrill of taking out some zombies…

…and no, I’m not talking about Uncle Bob.
.
This weekend is designed to create more of the possible by seeing the good in what you already have.  Ready?  Begin. 

College applilcations | applying to college | college essays | gratitude

2009.11.21 18:53:26

Patrick OConnor

Looking at Teacher Letters-- To Waive, or Not to Waive?

As you continue completing college applications, you need to keep the big picture in mind about a tiny box.  If a college wants teacher recommendations, they usually provide a form the teacher has to complete.  Before you give it to the teacher, you fill out the top of the form—name, address, the usual suspects—and then you’re asked if you want to waive your right to see the completed form and letter after the college makes a decision on your application.  

The box to check is the one that says yes, you do waive your right.  Check that box, sign the form, and give it to your letter writer, along with a stamped envelope addressed to the college. 

Why check the “Yes” box?  It’s the only way you’ll get a letter that will help your application.   

I’d like to tell you teachers who like you would write the same letter no matter which box you check, but that’s just not the case.  All counselors and teachers—even the ones who would eat turkey giblet hash if you asked them to—are all too aware of the sad but true stories from the Wacky Letter Hall of Fame, where parents return draft letters of recommendation to the teacher with corrections in red pen, or the student wants to know why a teacher only checked the “Superior” rating, and not “One of the top students I’ve ever had.”   

No matter how close your relationship is, the minute you check the “No” box, you’re telling the teacher or counselor they are writing a letter that’s as accessible as an e-mail—and everybody knows you don’t put something in an e-mail you wouldn’t want printed on the front page of the New York Times. To avoid misunderstandings, hard feelings, and lawsuits, if you check the “No” box, the letter the teacher sends will basically say “Nice kid, good teeth.”  

I’m thinking you are hoping for something better.  

Besides, there’s another reason why the “No” box isn’t very helpful.  If the college denies you admission, the documents you submit with the application are either destroyed or don’t become part of your school record, because you aren’t going to school there.  This means that almost all of the time, you don’t get to see the letter anyway, if the college turns you down. 

On the other hand, if you are admitted to the college, the letter usually becomes part of your school record, meaning you are, by Federal law, entitled to see it, if you checked the “Don’t Waive” box. But on the other hand (I know, this is a third hand), once you’re in college, you have better things to do than wonder what your old letters said—like building solid relationships with professors who will write your next round of letters for graduate school or work.   

Some students tell me they check the “No” box because they’re worried about what the teacher might write.  I hope you can see where this is going; if you are asking someone to write you what might be a bad recommendation, it’s probably time to find a new recommender.  

There may be a rare occasion where you are required to have a teacher write you a letter that may be less than glowing, but overall, letters of recommendation are an exercise in respect and trust.  You trust a teacher to write you a good letter, because they respect you too much to do anything less.  This is clearly a relationship that best flourishes outside the box; in this case, just say no to saying no.

College application | teacher letters | letter of recommendation | letters of recommendation | FERPA college counseling | college help

2009.11.12 19:09:08

Patrick OConnor

Applying to Colleges a Bear? Time to Regroup!

This is the hardest three weeks of applying to college.  You've already submitted a couple of applications, and now you're up to your Uggs in essays and deadlines for more colleges.  You're starting to wonder if this is all really worth it, when along comes a thick envelope from one of the colleges you applied to in September-- congratulations, you're in!

You have now entered the Goldilocks zone.

(Forgot about her?  Go to http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/goldilocks_story.htm --DON'T ask your English teacher, who will tell you the story is a metaphor of global consumption by Western civilization.)

Why Goldilocks? Right now, you think your college list is:

Too hard  With 5 class papers to do and the fall play, you're sure you are applying to too many colleges.  You only visited half of them, the time you spend on essays would be much better spent on keeping your grades up, and you're already admitted to one college-- do you really need more?

Too soft  Sure, you're in at one college-- but that was a safety school.  In fact, every school you're applying to looks like a sure thing.  Maybe it's time to ramp things up-- and if that means more essays, you can take your laptop to Grandma's on Thanksgiving.

These may seem to be opposites, but they are signs of the same thing-- you are stressed about the application process.  Pull up a bowl of porridge, and let's sort this out with three simple questions:

How did you feel about your college list in September?   If you put a lot of thought into your choices, visited some campuses and researched the others, chances are you'd be cutting out some options by cutting down on the list; the busy-ness of school is blocking your view of the big picture, and it's time to take a breath.

However, if you threw the list together to get Mom and Dad off your back, you may now have a better idea of what you want-- or don't want.  If that's the case, there's time to re-visit the list, and a good reason to do so.

How many essays do you really have left?  Count up the college essays you have to answer.  Now, divide that number by six.  That's the number you have to complete each weekend to finish the apps by mid-December.  If you mix and match short and long essays, you're probably OK if you have to do three each weekend, maybe four.  (Remember, no writing during the week.  That's time for school work, which is the way you keep your grades up.)

Then again, if you have to write something like one-sixth of an essay each weekend, you have room to apply to more colleges.  Write down what you're looking for in a college, and spend this weekend looking around for more; it sounds like you can skip the essays for a while.

Have your college goals changed since September?  If you have new college plans, a review of your list is the right thing to do.  If you really know all of the colleges are keepers, it's time to pull up your socks and do the heavy lifting of the essays.  Persisting now will be good practice for college, when you have to choose between turning a paper in on time, and the Euchre tournament.

Goldilocks made bad choices-- trespassing, destruction of private property, and napping after a big meal.  Don't let this happen to you; step back, think about what matters most to you, and you'll make a decision about college apps that's just right.

college applications | applying to college | college entrance | college stress | paying for college

2009.11.09 22:03:18

Patrick OConnor

Applying to College is a Changing Game!

October seemed to be the month of surprises for college-bound students, at least as far as the state of Michigan was concerned.  The first surprise came on October 16th, when the University of Michigan announced they were going to change the way they recomputed the GPAs of their applicants.  For years and years, U-M only counted grades in the five academic areas (English math, science social studies, and foreign language) earned in 10th and 11th grade.  Right—they didn’t use any grades used in 9th grade at all.  Now, U-M is not going to recompute GPA — they will use whatever GPA appears on the high school transcript.

While this is a huge surprise—admission reps at U-M were still talking about recomputing GPA as late as October 14th—the bigger surprise is that this change will go into effect immediately, including applicants for the Fall of 2010.  It’s uncertain if this change will impact admissions decisions—U-M says it studied GPAs for two years and concluded this change had little impact on applications—but the news that the change would begin this year was most unexpected.

The second surprise came two weeks later, when the budget for the State of Michigan was passed.  One of the programs axed by the state was the Michigan Promise Scholarship, where students who scored well on a state exam could receive up to $4,000 to attend a Michigan college.  The test is given in junior year, meaning this year’s seniors took the test last March, thinking they were aiming to get some college cash.  It turns out their labors were literally for nothing…

…but it gets worse, I’m afraid.  The Promise Scholarship has been in existence for three years, and the entire program was cut.  As a result, students in some Michigan colleges have been sent letters saying “So, the state was supposed to pay $1000 of your tuition this semester, but they really aren’t.  Here’s your bill.”

U-M’s decision on the Ides of October and the Devil’s Night Diss from the state legislature emphasize three important points when it comes to applying to colleges:

paying for college | applying to college | college applications

2009.10.21 21:49:16

Patrick OConnor

Freezing on College Applications? Here's the two-step cure

The real challenge for a college counselor is helping students whose first sense of application panic comes on a fall Saturday morning, when they bring a pen or laptop to the breakfast table, throw a last handful of Cocoa Doodles in their mouth, decide it’s time to take on that first application—and they freeze on the line that says “Name.” In other words, they are coming out of the “College is Crazy” hype, and thinking about what they really want out of college for the first time in a long time, or for the first time ever. 

I’m sorry I can’t be at the breakfast table when there’s nowhere to run to—if I could be there, I would tell them to go to their room. 

The good news is the colleges that are right for you will feel just like home. It may be in the dorm rooms, it may be at the library (hey, it happens), it may be the whole campus—but somewhere at those colleges, there is a spot waiting for you to reflect on the challenges of life, wonder about the possible, and text your BFFs til dawn. Once you think about college as your next home, completing the applications will be as easy as taking the written exam for your driver’s license, because both are just the paperwork that leads to a greater sense of freedom. In the end, going to college isn’t about leaving home—it’s about taking home with you. 

The second thing I would do is replace students’ earbuds with soundproof headphones. Some students hit the brakes because of outside opinions about their college choices. The application to a college a student loves often heads to the shredder when a well meaning neighbor asks “Where is that college?”, or Uncle Bob reports the college is nowhere to be found in the recently published rankings. If it turns out no other student at the local high school is applying to this college, this can become a trifecta for trauma.

When this happens, I encourage students to make the mature choice and be selfish. By fall, college-bound students know who they are and what they want in a college—with all the research they’ve done and the campuses they’ve visited, if college selection were a term paper, they’d have about 25 sources to quote and 3000 file cards to synthesize by now. 

Knowing what you know about college and yourself, it’s important to keep the well-meaning insights of others in perspective—some may know you, some may know colleges, but very few (except your parents) will know both as well as you do. Everyone on your first grade soccer team got a trophy for participating, and choosing colleges works the same way—with self knowledge and college knowledge, everyone gets a best college, even if what’s best for you is different than what’s best for everyone else.

college applications | applying to college | essays | college essays

2009.10.17 03:50:38

Patrick OConnor

College Essays Continued

I’ve had the chance to ask college reps what they are looking for in terms of student essays.  While some of these ideas aren’t new, they’re still important:

It’s a personal statement, not a book report  It’s often said a good personal statement will tell the college a story.  That’s true—you don’t want to write an essay where you say “I love History” when you can tell them an example of when you knew History was your thing— it’s much better to show them than to tell them.

The key is telling the story and include your thoughts and feelings, not just a narrative of what happened—colleges want to know the what, but they want to know about you as you went through this experience as well.  So yes, by all means tell a story, but be sure to tell them your view on the story—let them see the experience through your eyes, mind, and heart.

Write what you want to say, not what you think they want you to say  This is still the essay that makes reps either want to jump out of windows or change to upsizing fries for a living.  While books like “100 Winning Essays” mean well, they really don’t help all that much, because they seem to suggest a) the student got in because of the essay (and you never know that) and b) you can get in writing something just like one of these essays.

Neither is true—they want to hear about you, as written by you.  A good test of this is to read your final draft out loud.  If it sounds like a thank you note to Aunt Martha for the new socks she gave you, or that sing-songy voice too many people use when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with no thought or feeling, it’s not your final draft.  This is where being buddies with an English teacher is a boost—they will not only point out grammar issues, but they’ll honestly say if this sounds like you or not.

Don’t overlook the small questions  The second essay answer that makes reps howl at the moon is the response to the questions they ask about their school, known as the “Why Us?” question.  Here, colleges want to know what it is specifically about that school that interests you—so even if it’s a small liberal arts college with a study abroad program, using that for your “Why Us” answer doesn’t work, because there are three dozen other colleges that fit that description.

Visit the college Web site, and find out what you value about that college.  Try and describe that in an adjective or two, and center your “Why Us” answer on those qualities.  Mentioning a specific program or activity only available at that college is fair game, and talking about why you see their college as different from other colleges can work, too, as long as you don’t mention the other college by name. When you’re done, read your answer; if you can use that answer for any other college you’re applying to, look deeper, and try again—this tiny answer can make a big difference.

The same is true for any other short answer question—detail and insight.  If they ask “How did you hear about us?” try something like “You were recommended by my high school counselor, and when I visited campus, I knew he was right.  You offer a simulation room with live downloads from Wall Street, and your lacrosse team is the right mix of competition and cooperation for me.”  Boom.

college counseling | college essays

2009.10.09 23:46:54

Patrick OConnor

Writing Essays Shouldn't Bring Adversity

It has been a heavy-hearted week for the sports fans of my hometown.  After a summer-long stay in first place, the Detroit Tigers came out on the short end of a tiebreaker game, leaving the team without a playoff spot, and leaving their fans with a case of athletic adversity.

The goal of the essay is for colleges to learn more about you. Essays are the opportunity to bring yourself to life, to show a college the you behind the grades and test scores.  Effective essays should tell them a story, give them a taste of your voice and a peek at the way you look at the world, and show them your ability to write.  Regardless of your topic, keep these in mind as you respond.

A challenge isn’t always a crisis.  Some colleges may ask for a “setback” or “adversity”, but what that means is really up to you.  This may include a serious situation, but challenges aren’t always life-threatening as much as they are life-jarring, or life-changing.  Wake-up calls come in different ringtones—talk about one that authentically got you thinking, and you’ll be fine.

essays | college counseling