Archive for March, 2010
James Franco might have ridden The Pineapple Express, but it did take him to UCLA for his undergraduate degree and to both New York University and Columbia for grad school. His next stop? According to The Huffington Post, Franco is heading to Yale for a Ph.D in English.
Franco is known for his roles in movies and TV shoes such as Milk, the Spider-Man trilogy, most recently (and inexplicably) “General Hospital.” He has also garnered press for his academic pursuits, most of a literary nature. He earned his B.A. in Creative Writing from UCLA and continued writing at Columbia, while he also studied film at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
While there are many Hollywood celebrities who have gone to college, not many have gone on to graduate school, and even fewer have earned a Ph.D. In fact, the only two celebrities I know of are Bill Cosby, who earned his Ed.D from UMass Amherst and Mayim Bialik, star of TV’s “Blossom,” who got her Ph.D in neuroscience from UCLA. (Am I forgetting someone? Leave a comment below.)
It’s rare for a working actor to make the time for education, and we’re glad that it’s paying off for Franco—he’s got a short story that was published in Esquire and a collection of short stories due out later this year. Many jokes and comments have been fluttering around the Internet regarding Franco’s academic affinities, including a picture of Franco asleep in class. But we’re all applauding him here at The CollegeBound Network. Higher ed is sort of our thing here.
Hey James, want to write a guest blog post for us? Call me…
–Barbara Bellesi
March 31st, 2010
It’s raining so hard in New York City today that I’m considering using my lunch hour to start building an ark. Days like this remind me of when I was in college and had to splash back to the dorm from class on a rainy day because, of course, I had forgotten my umbrella. I was always grateful that my campus was small and that I could make it anywhere in about five minutes.
Unless you’re a duck, I think it’s safe to say that most people prefer being indoors on a day like today. However, if you are a college-bound student, it is an excellent day to grab one of those obnoxiously large umbrellas and visit the campus of one of the colleges to which you were accepted.
Have I lost my mind? Of course not. But here’s the deal: Most colleges look beautiful in their ivy-covered glory on a beautiful spring or crisp fall day. It’s easy to fall in love in good weather. But the test of true love is to see if you still love the college when its campus is dreary and waterlogged.
Appearances aren’t everything. But a beautiful campus has been known to distract many a college-bound student, who is blinded by green grass and awestruck by incredible architecture, when they should instead be looking at library resources, talking to professors, and otherwise paying attention to what is offered inside the buildings–like classes! After all, stone walkways and a picturesque quad are great, but they should be the icing on the cake.
So if you are scheduling a second campus visit to a school to which you’ve been accepted, don’t let bad weather get you down. After all, that’s what umbrellas and funky rain boots were made for. Remember, if you like a college in the rain and the snow, you’ll love it when the sun finally does decide to shine.
–Barbara Bellesi
March 30th, 2010
With the March Madness tournament quickly approaching The Final Four, college basketball fans who have bet on the outcome of these games are reaching a fever pitch. Not that I’m advocating gambling, but it makes me wonder why these risk takers aren’t betting on the real March Madness—where will college-bound students end up going to school next fall?
College basketball fans wait with bated breath for March to arrive every year, but the true college madness, as you well know, begins when students start applying to school in September and it lasts all the way through May, when they turn in their enrollment deposit. Talk about anticipation! The March Madness tournament is a measly three weeks of watching brackets, while the real gamble is in the months-long college admissions process, where there are no sure bets and more than a few upsets.
Hold on. Forget scholarships–this could be a way for college students to make some extra tuition money. Seniors, if you’re still waiting for word from the colleges to which you’ve applied, get a quick pool going to see what the outcome of those decisions will be. Juniors, take note—Make a long list of schools that you’d like to go to, and have friends, family, and even strangers with a few extra bucks take bets on where you’ll land during your freshman year. Take a small cut of each bet and you can knock off a little of that monumental tuition bill you’ll have!
I kid, of course, but only about the betting part. College admissions, like March Madness, can run the gamut of emotions, from exhilaration to nail-biting tension to downright disappointment. There’s a lot at stake for you and those carefully written essays and well-organized applications, and your fate lies with the admissions counselors. Will they call a foul on your SAT scores? Stay tuned—the madness is almost over. But while you’re waiting, feel free to tell us what you’re doing to stay (sort of) calm and collected on our Facebook page or by using the hashtag #collegesuspense on Twitter–you could win a $25 Amazon gift card.
–Barbara Bellesi
March 29th, 2010
The #collegesuspense is over at the Englewood campus of Urban Prep Academy for Young Men in Chicago: every member of the school’s very first senior class has been accepted to a four-year college. The seniors were granted admission to more than 70 colleges and universities, including Northwestern, Marquette, Howard University, Morehouse College, and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
Urban Prep first opened its doors in 2006 as the country’s first public charter high school and four years later, it has met its lofty expectations by preparing all of its students for a successful transition to college. In addition to the Englewood, there are two other Urban Prep locations in the Chicagoland area, including the South Shore campus and the one at East Garfield Park. All three schools linked by the same mission of providing at-risk students with a real chance at a better life through education.
As a reward for a job well done, Chicago Mayor Richard Daly and city schools chief Ron Huberman announced that the 107 seniors would be attending the prom for free. Considering the fact that only 4 percent of these seniors were able to read at grade level when they entered Urban Prep as freshmen, there will be a lot to celebrate at this year’s prom.
Although the school’s administrators will let the students bask in the glow of their college acceptances for a while, there’s still work to be done: Urban Prep is making sure that the students make good on their acceptances and actually attend college. In fact, the school is planning to have a special day where the seniors sign a contract promising that they will attend college.
We wish these students and all the other college-bound seniors the best of luck with all of their future endeavors.
–The CollegeBound Network
March 26th, 2010
The Sweet Sixteen round of March Madness starts tonight, and if you’re a college basketball fan, the suspense is probably killing you. But if you are a college-bound student, you’ve got other suspense to deal with as you wait for those all-important college decisions to arrive in your inbox or mailbox.
We gave you some ideas for coping with the anxiety of waiting to hear from colleges the other day to make the time go by faster, but we know how long the days can be when you’re waiting for big news. So here are five more things to do while you wait for your college decision:
5. Watch American Idol. Consider this: If you get rejected from a college, you can read your letter or email in private. Get rejected on Idol and all of America knows. Feel better now? You’re welcome.
4. Hang out with your dog. No matter who or what says you’re not good enough (boo to them!), your canine companion will always think you’re tops. Plus, he or she doesn’t want you to leave for college, anyway. (Your cat, on the other hand, is waiting for you to move out so she can have your bed to herself).
3. Exercise. Not only will you get an early start on staving off the dreaded Freshman 15, but you’ll also get those endorphins pumping so that no matter what the outcome of your college applications is, you’ll be feeling on top of the world.
2. Read a comic strip. No, not a comic book. Spider-Man doesn’t have any advice for you. Neither does Garfield, for that matter, but he is very funny. So are Snoopy and those kids from “The Family Circus.” Indulge your inner child and read a few strips that will make you laugh. It’s true that laughter is the best medicine, and when you are waiting for big important news from college, you need a big dose of comic relief.
1. Focus on fate. Really, where you end up at college is most likely where you’re meant to be at this stage in your life. Focus on the positives — what you’ve accomplished, how you’ve evolved, and where your journey will ultimately take you.
Don’t think we’re trying to prepare you for disappointment. We want you to get into your first-choice school just as much as you do. But we also want you to understand that college is what you make of it, and if you’ve got enough ambition and drive, you can make the most of your next four years at any college.
That said, you deserve a little something for all of your trouble. Follow us on Twitter @CollegeBoundNet or find our fan page on Facebook (The CollegeBound Network) and let us know how you’re staying sane during this final stretch. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #collegesuspense so we can gather all of your fun hints in one place. Your tweet or Facebook post could WIN YOU a $25 Amazon gift card.
–The CollegeBound Network
March 25th, 2010
While some of the schools on your list might have already sent out their admissions decisions, April 1 is still typically D-Day for many colleges. So what do you do during the last few harrowing days of waiting? As always, we’re here to help, which is why we’ve taken a page from Letterman (sorta) and compiled a list of five speedy suggestions for making it through these final days of the tortuous college waiting game:
5. Watch an episode of “Jersey Shore.” Your brain will be so numb from all those fake tans and fist-pumping that you’ll actually crave adult conversation in a college classroom—even if it’s not at your first-choice school.
4. Go to bed early. It sounds like something you’d do as a kid the day before Christmas or your birthday, but it does work: The quicker you fall asleep, the quicker morning will come, and you’ll be one day closer to an admissions decision. Plus, all those good nights of sleep will give you the energy you need to tackle the next step after your admissions decision—positive or negative.
3. Shut off the computer, cell phone, etc. Finish your assignments first, of course, but then unplug for a while to get away from the stress-laden texts, Facebook updates, and tweets that are being launched into cyberspace from friends and other college-bound students in the same boat as you.
2. Hang out with people younger/older than you. Yes, this includes bratty younger siblings and those oh-so-embarrassing older folks who keep insisting that you are related to them. Why? Because they are not applying to college like you are and have plenty of other things to talk about besides SAT scores and dorm rooms. Enjoy their company and a very welcome change of subject.
1. Go green. Recycle all the leftover paperwork, viewbooks, business cards, essay drafts, and crumpled tissues from stress-related colds and sleepless, teary nights. Perhaps your old admission essay drafts will get recycled into new paper that a sleep-deprived college-bound student will reach for next year.
Got any suggestions for the list? Follow us on Twitter @CollegeBoundNet, where we’ll spend the week tweeting with the hashtag #collegesuspense. Join us—the more the merrier, and it could WIN YOU a $25 Amazon gift card. We’ll choose one random #collegesuspense Tweet and one random #collegesuspense Facebook post to CB’s Fan Page to each win a gift card to spend at Amazon however you wish… college-related, or not!
UPDATE: Congratulations to Michael Brindle, a.k.a. @younata on Twitter, for winning a $25 Amazon gift card as part of our #collegesuspense contest. Good luck at school!
–The CollegeBound Network
March 23rd, 2010
Each year, a college basketball team seems to come from out of nowhere and have an incredible run during March Madness. In the case of 1985, the so-called “Cinderella” the–Villanova–actually ended up winning the entire NCAA Tournament.
Do you think you’re a Cinderella candidate for a certain college? Maybe you sent in an application thinking you’re a longshot for admissions. If you get in, it may be a surprise to you and your friends and family. But it could happen. Look at the stories of these four Cinderella teams from past NCAA tournaments. It may give you some encouragement as you’re waiting to score with a certain school.
The team: Villanova
The year: 1985
What happened: Villanova was not considered a top program in the 1980s, when they entered the tourney as a No. 8 seed. The team barely made it out of the first round, beating Dayton by only two points. The 66-64 championship game victory against Georgetown, led by star center Patrick Ewing and famed coach John Thompson, was one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.
This year: Villanova came into March Madness as the No. 2 seed.
The team: George Mason
The year: 2006
What happened: Cinderella teams often unexpectedly win their conference tournaments, earning automatic bids to the NCAAs. The Patriots didn’t win the CAA tournament, so they didn’t know until Selection Sunday that they would receive an at-large bid. Some analysts (most notably Billy Packer) criticized the selection. George Mason silenced critics by making a shocking run to the Final Four. Along the way, the Patriots defeated defending national champion North Carolina and Connecticut, the top seeds from their region. Florida, that year’s national champion, ultimately defeated George Mason in the Final Four, but it was quite a run.
This year: George Mason is not in the tournament.
The team: Loyola Marymount
The year: 1990
What happened: This Cinderella example is framed in tragedy: the team’s star forward, Hank Gathers, collapsed and died on the court during a West Coast Conference tournament game. Though dealing with grief from the loss of their teammate, the Lions advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Among the three wins: a 34-point win over defending national champion Michigan in the second round.
This year: Loyola Marymount is not in the tournament.
The team: Davidson
The year: 2008
What happened: Led by Stephen Curry, a skinny sophomore guard who is now a rookie with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, Davidson made it to the Elite Eight by beating Gonzaga (another past Cinderella team) and Georgetown by just six and four points in the first two rounds. Davidson then trounced Wisconsin 73-56 and almost knocked off Kansas, the 2008 champion, but didn’t advance to the Final Four. Some people thought Curry wouldn’t perform well in the NBA – he didn’t get receive much attention coming out of high school, and he was considered too small to play on the top level. Nevertheless, he garnered national recognition at Davidson and was the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft.
This year: Davidson is not in the tournament.
We’re looking forward to seeing who this year’s Cinderella team might be. Any thoughts?
-Lori Johnston. Additional reporting by Robert Inskip.
March 22nd, 2010
My college search involved thousands of miles of travel. I was attending high school in the Chicago area, but headed back to the scenic campuses I remembered from growing up in the South.
Now there are so many virtual tours on Web sites and the opportunity to interact with school officials online via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites that you may think the college visit isn’t as important. Campus visits are still very important, though checking out schools online does help narrow down the choices, so that you may only need to visit your top two or three schools instead of trying to see a dozen.
My dad and I visited Auburn University and the University of Georgia. What helped with some of the expenses was that my dad fortunately planned a business trip to Georgia while we were there. Even though we spent money for my plane fare, rental car, and hotel expenses, that visit paid off in a big way, because that’s when I decided that UGA just felt right and had the beautiful setting for me to spend four years there. When my sister toured Auburn University and Florida State University, my family had moved back down South and they drove her red convertible to the schools, but there still were gas, hotel, and food costs.
Whether you’re facing a flight or a long drive to the colleges you are considering, here are some ways to trim the costs.
1. Stay with friends or family. Find friends, or friends of friends, willing to let you stay in a guest room or on the couch for the night. Also think about this if you’re visiting out-of-town friends and family even before your senior year–you can tour a campus or two before your and want to tour a potential school.
Some college-bound students stay in the dorms with friends already at that school, which gives them a first-hand look at student life. If you don’t know anyone at the school, many schools will pair up applicants with current students–just call the admissions office on campus.
2. Go for the group rate. Katherine Cohen, CEO and founder of IvyWise and ApplyWise, tells “Today” that a cost-effective option is to get a group of friends together who are interested in the same college. You can share car, hotel, and other expenses. Companies like College Visits offer all-inclusive group tours. Cohen says it’s possible to visit some 10 campuses during a week trip that way.
3. Check the map and compare campuses in the same region. If there are colleges that you have even a slight interest in near one that you are planning to visit, go see them, even if you don’t take an official tour. For example, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Duke are just minutes apart, allowing students to see the differences between the public and private schools. It can help you determine what schools might and might not appeal to you.
4. Make fewer visits to the same school. Instead of checking out the campus before applying and after acceptance, only make one visit, says ApplyWise’s Cohen. She suggests making a pre-application visit and attending the information session and tour so the college will know you were there.
5. Ask if the school offers a travel reimbursement. Schools such as Colorado’s Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design offer a $300 travel reimbursement for visiting students who live 150 miles or more from Denver. If they choose to attend the school, the reimbursement is credited to tuition costs.
-Lori Johnston (Additional reporting by Robert Inskip)
March 19th, 2010
The nice weather is making it hard to stay indoors, but starting today, sports fans actually have a legitimate excuse to forgo fresh air and hunker down on the couch—March Madness.
March Madness refers to the NCAA college basketball single-elimination tournament that garners a ton of attention in late March. “Madness” is a great adjective for the frenzy that surrounds the men’s and women’s games—and if you’ve taken a look at the tournament brackets, you might get a little giddy yourself.
We’ll leave the actual March Madness coverage to the big kids at ESPN and CBS Sports, but for those of you who don’t know your Sweet Sixteen from your Final Four, here’s a little background:
March Madness kicks off its first round of play today, with 64 college basketball teams pairing up for 32 games played over the next two days. Remember, it’s single elimination, so by the time the second round starts on March 20, the playing field will already be sliced in half. The remaining 32 teams will play, and the winners of those games will advance to the Sweet 16 round of play on March 25 and 26. Another cut brings us to the Elite 8 on March 27 and 28. Those teams that survive the first four rounds of play advance to the Final Four on April 3, and finally, the tournament wraps up with championship play on April 5.
Still with us? That was just for the men’s teams. Women b-ball players are also very much a part of the NCAA tournament and have their own share of mind-boggling brackets, though they have a different game schedule than their male counterparts. All told, by the time April 6 rolls around—the day of the women’s championship—basketball fans will have their appetites whetted by 126 games in the span of three weeks.
Die-hard college basketball fans take March Madness very seriously—and they’re just watching it. Imagine how the teams themselves must feel, especially those two that go head to head in the championship game, after surviving all those elimination games. It’s no wonder why March Madness is one of the most betted-upon sporting events next to the Super Bowl, although here’s some sobering news we heard on the radio recently: there’s a better chance of winning the lottery twice in a row than getting all of the brackets correct in March Madness.
We’ll be watching–will you? What are your predictions? Leave a comment below.
–The CollegeBound Network
March 18th, 2010
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
There’s lots of green popping up all over today, and it’s not just because it’s a gorgeous, almost-spring day (at least it is in NYC). Yes, St. Patty’s Day is here again, and everyone, Irish or otherwise, is feeling a bit festive today.
It goes without saying that Ireland is probably the most exciting place to be on St. Patrick’s Day, but I’m thinking that the students at the University of Notre Dame are having a good time, too. After all, Notre Dame is the home of The Fighting Irish, a name so widely recognized that even non-sports fans recognize the spunky leprechaun logo. It’s hard to believe that once upon a time, ND’s founder, Father Edward Sorin, CSC, once banned students and faculty from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
Some colleges have their spring break this week, but Notre Dame students are indeed on campus today, gearing up to celebrate St. Paddy after they finish classes (of course). I took to Twitter to see what the plan was for Notre Dame fans—and a few surly enemies—on this day of days. Take a look:
@hvasquez If I didn’t know any better, I might think Notre Dame invented St. Patrick’s Day
@jasongroupp I mean, who gives a guy a ticket on St. Patricks’s day, who has NOTRE DAME license plates? He hates the Irish!
@sarahvab Today, I miss college at Notre Dame: http://bit.ly/cktK6Z
@DanielGafford If I had a green suit, I would have worn it, but I’m so short I would look like Notre Dame’s mascot!
@1035TheBlaze I’m not wearing green today, is that a crime? Not drinking any green beer either. That’s 2 strikes. I hate Notre Dame sports too. Yer Out!
@zooamy Happy St. Patty’s Day!!!! Looking for some Irish luck as I finish my bracket. But I’m still taking Old Dominion over Notre Dame!
@SuprDave St. Patty’s Day: The one day a year when it’s socially acceptable to wear my Notre Dame gear on the Ohio State campus. Go Irish!!
Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team is in the March Madness tournament, which begins tomorrow, so if you think mentions of ND are blowing up the Twitter stream today, stay tuned!
-Barbara Bellesi
March 17th, 2010
Previous Posts
James Franco might have ridden The Pineapple Express, but it did take him to UCLA for his undergraduate degree and to both New York University and Columbia for grad school. His next stop? According to The Huffington Post, Franco is heading to Yale for a Ph.D in English.
