Posts filed under 'College Admissions'
When I was making my college decision, I visited Athens, Georgia with my dad and knew the University of Georgia was the spot for me.
It wasn’t just about what degrees the school offered or its reputation in academic and athletics; I fell in love with the vibrant, pedestrian downtown that was just across the street from campus. It had trendy shops, small local restaurants, and clubs and music venues that hosted so many popular bands that Rolling Stone called it the #1 college music town.
You’ll find cities with colleges and universities among those of Kiplinger’s Best Cities for 2009, which looks at factors such as job stability and growth. These and other kinds of “best cities” lists are worth looking at as you consider where you’re going to call home during your college career.
Athens, home to the University of Georgia, comes in at #5 on the list and had 34,180 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in fall 2009.
The top city on the list – Huntsville, Alabama–offers students the University of Alabama at Huntsville, a research-intensive institution with 10,000 students.
Washington D.C. – #3 on the list – boasts more than 15 schools surrounding our country’s center of government. They range from Georgetown University to Howard University to American University to theological seminaries and smaller community colleges.
At #8, Austin, Texas, also has a collegiate atmosphere and a happening music scene, as host of the annual South by Southwest music festival. It’s also home to one of the largest public universities in the U.S. – the University of Texas at Austin – which has a staggering amount of students, nearly 50,000.
Madison, Wisconsin, #7 on the list, also boasts another large state university, the University of Wisconsin-Madison with 42,030 students.
Another school I considered – University of Virginia, with 21,057 students – is in Charlottesville, Virginia, which comes in at #4 in Kiplinger’s list. In Olympia, Washington, The Evergreen State College attracts about 4,600 students annually. #2 on the list, Albuquerque, New Mexico is home to The University of New Mexico, which had a record enrollment of 34,674 students enrolled at its campuses in fall 2009. Flagstaff, Arizona at #9 offers schools such as Northern Arizona University, and North Carolina State University is in Raleigh, N.C., #10 on the list.
For me, the town atmosphere and setting was a plus in making my college decision. It could be for yours, too.
–Lori Johnston
November 3rd, 2009
If you’re feeling haunted by the college application process, you’re not alone.
These are the top 10 things that frighten college-bound high school seniors, according to Cappex.com’s survey of more than 600 students.
1. Getting rejected (77%)
2. Writing the application essay (50%)
3. Keeping up with deadlines (31%)
4. Finding scholarships (31%)
5. Applying for financial aid (29%)
6. Meeting a college’s GPA and test score requirements (26%)
7. Filling out applications (22%)
8. Narrowing a list of college picks (18%)
9. Reading all the mail from colleges (12%)
10. Starting a list of college picks to explore (9%)
Those are all scary propositions, but there are ways to face those fears.
The application essay may be a huge worry, but here are some tricks for making it through the fall without looking like the “Scream” stalker all the time. Think of that essay as letting college admissions folks see the real you behind the Halloween costume, as well as to learn more about your personality and dreams – things that aren’t on the basic application. Revealing an interesting side to yourself could be one way to do just that in an engaging essay that people won’t want to put down.
Getting rejected is something we all want to avoid, but it’s nothing to be frightened about.
Instead of waiting and worrying, focus on finding scholarships and applying for financial aid, which can help keep those checklist items from driving you batty. Researching options online and connecting with people in the community with funds available for your education can keep you busy this fall – and getting a head start will allow you to hit those haunted houses with a clear mind.
The ultimate treat? Not a bag of candy, but knowing where you are headed to college.
–Lori Johnston
October 7th, 2009
Hats (or, shall I say helmets?) off to the high school guidance counselors who recently embarked on a 12-day bike tour that covered 400 miles and spanned more than a dozen campuses. God bless her soul, but my college counselor barely walked from her office to our homeroom.
The initiative originated from a Florida-based counselor, Taylor Smith, who told The New York Times he wanted to fuse his love of cycling with the college tours he makes every summer, ones he says help him better advise his students. The unique adventure has since become an annual event, with counselors from across the country meeting up to pedal onto campuses in the name of research.
Among their most memorable experiences? According to NYTimes.com article, Kirk Blackard, a counselor at Christ School in Arden, N.C., said it was not “facts you can learn from the Web site,” but the personal stories he heard while settling in from long days of biking to eat in college cafeterias and rest up in dorms.
I’m thoroughly impressed — not only with the drive of these counselors, but how that drive illuminates an unparalleled commitment to their students. The way I see it, if they’re willing to don spandex bike shorts, pack up a change of clothes in a mini bike trailer, and sleep in a dorm after shackling their bike to the campus bike stand, I bet they’ll go to bat for their students when the time of need arrives.
Pedal on!
– Gina LaGuardia
July 16th, 2009
The New York Times recently addressed the financial aid climate of college admissions in an article that is quite disturbing to me. Financial aid has always been an issue and great concern for pretty much the entire college-application population. But because of the state of the economy, it is definitely at a low point.
While financial aid is still available to some, it is certainly not as available as it once was. This is, of course, completely understandable. However, in the article, some admissions offices revealed that they are looking to admit applicants who don’t apply for financial aid or those who come from wealthy families:
This year, many of these colleges say they are more inclined to accept students who do not apply for aid, or whom they judge to be less needy based on other factors, like ZIP code or parents’ background.
Although such colleges admit to applying this mindset only to those “students at the margins, the ones who would probably be ‘maybes,’” it’s a scary factor, for sure. Now, in addition to being faced with a million different emotions and issues with affording college, parents must also grapple with knowing that their pleas for aid may affect the acceptance of their children into their college of choice.
Colleges want those students who will be able to pay tuition in full, especially as endowments do not increase. What we have here is rising tuition and an attitude that is blinded by the green monster of the almighty dollar. Now, more than ever, this makes colleges seem more like businesses than institutions designed to better students’ (and the country’s) future.
This is certainly a sign of the times that those with more academic potential but less endowment potential would get rejected from their prestigious dream college. Could this be a trending discriminatory practice?
-Amanda Fornecker
April 3rd, 2009
According to The New York Times, many of the top colleges and universities in the nation are reporting that they’ve received significantly more applications than last year – despite the recent economic downturn. Although it’s encouraging to see so many high school students going for the gold, this increased turn-out translates to a lower acceptance rate and possibly more challenging admissions race.
Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts), for instance, has seen a record-high of 29,112 applications this year but will only admit seven percent of all applicants – a one percent drop from last year. Similar statistics can be seen with other top schools: Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island) had 21 percent more applications; Columbia University (New York City), 13 percent; and Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut), 14 percent. (Though these colleges did not release their anticipated acceptance rates for this year, students will start to find out as of tomorrow when they start e-mailing decision letters to applicants.)
Stanford University (Palo Alto, California) also experienced a 20 percent increase in applications from last year, and expects to admit an all-time low, although they would not release an exact prediction as of yet.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
March 30th, 2009
The letters “S-O-S” rarely stand for anything good, but today that changes thanks to Sallie Mae’s new private loan, the Smart Option Student Loan. Compared to private loans offered by other companies, the Smart Option Student Loan will let students pay off loans nearly a decade sooner than they would have under normal circumstances while saving approximately 40 percent off what they would have paid.
The key to these fast savings — or rather, the catch? Instead of hitting students with the bill upon graduation, the Smart Option Student Loan lets students start paying off the loan’s interest while they’re still in college. (Not that everyone can do that, but if you can it’s a viable option worthy of further exploration.) Though nothing goes towards the principle amount, according to Sallie Mae — and, OK, the math — doing that on a monthly basis can substantially decrease the amount you will ultimately owe upon graduation.
Consider this, if you take out a $10,000 loan at a 6% annual interest rate, you’ll owe an additional $600 in interest at the end of your freshman year. By the time you graduate, you could owe nearly $3,000 more on that first loan thanks to that 6% rate –- and that’s only considering one of four loans! (Each year of schooling is considered a separate loan when it comes to calculating interest.)
Students who can swing a monthly payment while in school can get a head start on paying that interest down. So rather than let four years of it hit you where you least suspect it, Sallie Mae’s Smart Option Student Loan lets you nip things in the bud. Sallie Mae estimates that a student with an initial loan of $7,700 could save nearly $9,000 by applying for the Smart Option Student Loan as opposed to other offers for private loans. Another A+ perk? It enables those who are able to make monthly payments to build up their credit score.
On a personal note: I had a student loan very similar to this when I was in college and it made my loan payments so much easier to handle once I had graduated. The only problem was that, by my senior year in college, both my tuition rate and interest rate had jumped enough to make the monthly payments a little more than I had anticipated. What helps though, is to put some money aside during your first two years of college and apply this chunk of change to any additional interest you may owe during your third and fourth years. Remember, during the first year of your Smart Option Student Loan, you’ll only being paying down the interest on one loan, but by your senior year, you’ll only be making payments on four.
For more info, visit Sallie Mae’s Education Investment Planner.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
March 23rd, 2009
Whether you’re a busy high school grad, a college student looking into his/her first profession, or a budding career changer, one thing you’ll wonder is how a job will fit with your life schedule. Will you have time to get home and tend to your responsibilities? How about just having the time to have fun or work on furthering your skills or education?
We’ve thought about these questions too and narrowed things down to three careers that can accommodate a busy schedule as well as the training they require:
Nursing: In addition to helping out those in need, a nursing career gives you an alternative to the average 9-to-5 office routine. While some nurses do work normal office hours, the various 24-hour hospitals and care services around the nation allow nurses to schedule work shifts that compliment and accommodate their busy home lives. Need the daylight hours for errands or school? Then work evenings or nights as a nurse. Of course, you’ll need the proper degree and licensure in order to land a nursing career. Depending upon the specific field you are pursuing this may take anywhere from two to four years.
Teaching: Though teachers for elementary schools and above often have workweeks that exceed 40 hours, they often enjoy a two-month vacation for the summer. In addition, many preschool and kindergarten teachers work part-time in light of the shorter school day schedules. In either case, the teaching profession allows you a greater amount of flexibility when it comes to scheduling your day or year. In order to get into this field you’ll need the right credentials. All teachers, except private school teachers, need a license to teach, but depending on the age group you instruct you may or may not need a bachelor’s degree in education.
Medical Billing and Coding:
If you’re interested in health care but prefer the behind-the-scenes approach, medical billing and coding may be the career for you. While medical billers work on the business side of health care, keeping records on the costs and nature of various hospital services provided to patients, medical coders specialize in coding info on patients to provide to insurers. Thanks to the nature of their work many people with medical billing and coding careers work from home, setting their own hours, or establish their own businesses. To get your own medical billing and coding career you’ll need to train with an accredited program and attain national certification in billing and/or coding.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
February 25th, 2009
Valentine’s isn’t until Saturday, but here’s our early gift to you: the 10th edition of the Carnival of College Admission. Once again hosted by Mark Montgomery, the carnival selects and presents the best of college- and job-related posts from across the ‘net. While we hope you check out all of the posts, and leave plenty of comments, here are a few of the must-reads we came across:
- David Petersam tells you what not to do on your college applications over at myUsearch.com.
- John at Universities and Colleges gives the rundown on how you can get As in college without breaking your back.
- Jessica Gross of Unigo, details the best and worst of college dating confessions and advice.
And of course, our very own Dawn Papandrea and Amanda Fornecker made the cut with posts about what to do after being laid off, and the supply and demand of financial aid.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
February 12th, 2009
It’s February, winter is dragging on, the SAT rush is over, and the only holiday to really look forward to is Valentine’s Day. But wait! Before you burrow back under the covers for another six weeks, there’s plenty you could be doing to prepare for college.
Whether you’re a high school soph, senior, or newly minted college freshman, the Carnival of College Admissions has the higher ed info that will set you on the right path to college and career.
This edition of the carnival, hosted by Peter Baron on Admissions Quest’s boarding school blog, includes articles on everything from iPhone apps for overwhelmed students to the best schools for B-students. Make sure you check out all that the Carnival of College Admissions has to offer, and don’t forget to check out our posts that made the cut: “Preparing For Your Job Interview” and “So What is Personal Branding Anyway?”
*Image courtesy of the Associated Press.
– Genevieve M. Blaber
February 2nd, 2009
The historic inauguration of our 44th president, Barack Obama, took place yesterday. As President Obama readies himself for the next four years and begins his first official day on the job, he needs to be sure he has the right staff to back him up. Looking back at the previous Presidential Cabinets, you might see some sort of pattern as to where they went to college. Are you an aspiring Presidential Cabinet member? Check out which schools might be of interest for the next four years of YOUR life and beyond. Here, you’ll find five as outlined by Dr. Katherine Cohen, CEO and founder of IvyWise:
1. University of California, Berkeley
Cal’s alumni have presided over several cabinet positions (most recently, a Ph.D. graduate Steven Chu for the department of energy) as Cal’s graduate programs in the Sciences, Law and Business consistently produce leaders whose experience is meaningful in D.C.
2. Yale and Georgetown (Tie)
Yale’s Law School still produces high-quality politicians and advisors, and, while Georgetown’s number is actually lower than Yale’s (Rumsfeld didn’t actually graduate G’town Law School), their top-notch Foreign Services, Business and Law Programs are specifically tailored for the future politico
3. Indiana University
The big surprise of the group, Indiana boasts four alumni in cabinet positions since 2001. A closer look at their highly ranked Business (Number 15 overall; Number two for Entrepreneurship) and Management Program reveals that IU’s innovative curriculum based on applicable, “real-world” knowledge builds connections that lead to political leadership.
4. University of Denver
This should not be a surprise for those in the know in the Business and Political World. While Condoleezza Rice is still its most famous alum, Denver has three other cabinet members and a world-class International Studies program, ranked ahead of giants such as University of Chicago, Yale, Stanford, University of California-Berkeley, and MIT.
5. Harvard
Harvard has more alumni in cabinet positions than Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT COMBINED. Whether it was the Law School, Business School, or Harvard college, the Harvard reputation still carries much clout in the beltway.
-Amanda Fornecker
January 21st, 2009
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