Your dream college may be looking at information about you on your Facebook page (24% percent of colleges said in a Kaplan Test Prep survey they do). So use social media to your advantage to find out information about the school you may be attending.
Here are 10 things you can learn from a college’s (official) Facebook page.
1. Campus happenings.
You’ll get a sense for big events on campus and what their student organizations are doing – it can be a big help as you try to envision what it may be like to be a college student at that school.
2. Big news.
From new majors to sports victories, you’ll find updates that show how this school is doing more for students and being successful, too. They’ll also have news about alumni – UCLA’s Facebook page, for example, congratulated 1990 graduate Alexander Payne who directed “The Descendants,” which won the Golden Globe for best drama in January.
3. Basic information.
If you’re touring a school and need the address for the GPS, it will be there. Or get directions, phone numbers, official website urls, and even a contact e-mail for more information.
4. Photos.
From shots of campus landmarks to student activities to sports teams, it’s a great place to see what this campus is like.
5. Videos.
Relive big moments or watch interviews with professors and students to learn more about the college.
6. Events.
Learn about events for prospective students and current students so you can plan a campus visit or tour.
7. Student activities.
In addition to information about student groups and activities being posted on the wall, you’ll find the “likes” section on pages like the one for Spelman College, a historically black college and university for females in Georgia, can have links to campus organizations, fraternities and sororities, and other school Facebook pages.
8. Other social media connections.
On the Facebook page, some schools will have listed their Twitter username, so you can follow them there, too.
9. Deadlines.
From application info to big dates throughout the year, some colleges have these details posted on Facebook
10. Answers to questions.
Students may post questions about activities, financial aid and tuition, majors, or other topic that you may be wondering about, too. The answers on Facebook show another way that schools are connecting with students and applicants today.
Those are some big reasons to add Facebook to your research when you’re looking at prospective schools.
With the New England Patriots and New York Giants facing off in Super Bowl XLVI next month, we wanted to see where they stacked up, in terms of colleges and universities. Neither town fumbles with its wide array of schools, which have turned both areas into hubs for higher education.
The Boston, Mass., area – home to the New England Patriots – boasts elite schools including Harvard University and MIT (both in nearby Cambridge), private and public two-year and four-year universities, community colleges, and technical schools. The team plays outside of Boston, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Here’s our Super Bowl-worthy lineup of historic and innovative colleges and universities in Boston.
Founded: 1839 (It actually began as a Methodist seminary in Vermont and moved to Boston in 1867.)
Majors: Boston University has more than 250 fields of study.
Cool fact: Boston University has seven Nobel Prize winners, including Martin Luther King Jr. (who earned his Ph.D. from the school in 1955), and 22 Pulitzer Prize winners among its faculty and alumni.
Majors: UMass Boston has eight colleges and graduate schools, with the top five bachelor’s degrees awarded in management, psychology, nursing, criminal justice, and English.
Cool fact: The University has been recognized for its advocacy of human and civil rights, and works to promote social justice worldwide.
Majors: The largest independent college of contemporary music in the world, offers majors in composition, contemporary writing and production, electronic production and design, film scoring, jazz composition, music business/management, music education, music production and engineering, music therapy, performance, professional music, and songwriting.
Cool fact: Berklee alumni earned 30 Grammy nominations in 2011.
If you go to or are applying to these or other schools in the Boston area, we would love to hear from you in the comments section below. Look for schools in the New York Giants area in our next blog post.
-Lori Johnston (additional reporting by Delaney Young)
CB extends its thanks to Saint Louis University for participating in our Admissions Spotlight Series, and to Joseph Fernandez from Parliament Tutors who conducted this interview.
As an Admissions Counselor, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?
[We] review applications, accept or deny students, inform students of their application/acceptance status, and counsel students on the admission and enrollment process (including financial aid).
What do you consider the most significant parts of an application, the parts which applicants should prepare the most carefully?
I would say that the essay is incredible important because that is the one opportunity we have to see the prospective student as who they are instead of just simply the scores that they have received during their high school academic career. Make sure that essays are written and organized clearly, and detail a topic that the student finds interesting. The essays should also be edited and checked for grammar errors.
Is there anything you frequently see on an application that you hope to never see again?
Generic essays and letters that were copied to multiple schools where the other school’s name is still left in the subject line. Grammar errors are also a problem. Students need to pay attention to the details. Everything should be clear and concise.
What common pitfalls should applicants be careful to avoid?
Grammar errors.
Are there any myths about the application process which you would like to dispel?
That a student is alone in the application process. Schools have admission staff to help prospective students. We are here — you are not alone!
What advice would you give to an applicant with below-average standardized test scores but significant work experience?
It is always a good idea to continuously retest in order to try for a higher score. That being said, if there is a extenuating circumstance that contributed to the below-average score, you can explain that in the essay. Progress shows in our applications and we can see when a student is trying for improvement.
What do you look for in a recommendation letter?
We look for a recommendation letter from an individual who can speak to the applicants character with specific details that illustrate the desired image of the student.
Suppose an applicant has little or no experience relevant to your program, but has significant experience in other fields. What can that applicant do to distinguish himself or herself in your eyes as a good candidate for your program?
I would encourage the student to look for internships or shadowing programs relevant to his or her intended major. However, we are happy to talk to students from a diverse background who are interested in pursuing a new field.
Joseph Fernandez is a San Francisco tutor with Parliament Tutors. He specializes in SAT Prep Tutoring.
A lot of people like to get organized in January, and when you’re preparing to go to college, there are some key things students need to during the first days and weeks of the year, too. Maybe you’re already suffering from senioritis, or feeling overwhelmed by all the details required in the college application process. But take a deep breath and don’t let those gray winter skies (unless you are lucky enough to live in a state with perpetual sunshine) get you down. Instead, attack January with a new attitude looking to the future – graduating high school and going to college.
Remember all the school work you did during the fall? It may be a hazy memory for you, but many colleges want to look at your fall semester results as part of the college application process, according to CollegeBoard. One of the reasons for doing so is that colleges want to make sure you kept up your grades and didn’t drop any classes, so be proud of yourself if had a strong semester! And be sure to put this at the top of your to-do list: Ask your counselor to send your fall semester grades to colleges with your application in their hands.
As soon as Jan. 1 hits, you also can send in your application for federal aid for college, known as the FAFSA. Getting it in as soon as possible (and filled out CORRECTLY) is not just good for federal grant and loan money, but it will put you in the running for state- or school-based scholarships, grants, and loans, which can be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Submitting the FAFSA online also allows you to cut out any extra time it would take for your paperwork to be received.
Those are two big steps for high school seniors in January, and getting them done can make a huge difference when it comes to getting into the college of your choice and affording tuition next fall.
Yep, You-Know-Who’s making a list and checking it twice this week. It’s important to impress Santa by staying on the “nice” list when it comes to preparing for college. Avoid these actions that can get you a lump of coal in your stocking:
• Not retaking the SAT to improve your score, if necessary.
• Forgetting to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which can be submitted after Jan. 1, 2012.
• Blowing off senior year and letting your GPA slide.
• Turning off your mind during the holidays by not reading or following the news or ignoring assignments while out of school.
Nice
• Volunteering to help those in need, which can round out your application for college.
• Taking an extra AP class instead of an easy course for your final year in school.
• Graduating early and getting a head start at a community college before heading off to another school.
• Keeping up or even improving your GPA senior year to end high school on a strong note.
• Getting a part-time job to earn some money for college.
Santa not only sees you when you’re sleeping, but he also knows when you’re awake (sort of) and in school. So there’s still time this year or next year to give Santa a reason to say “ho, ho, ho” and to get your college future off to a merry start.
How can test prep be so entertaining, you ask? Well, when you get a great conversation going and add some slap-happy people to the mix (it is a short holiday week, after all!), mirth and mayhem ensue!
Our good Twitter friend @akilbello started the trend of funny analogies. You won’t find these on the SAT or ACT, but they are a reminder that you need to keep your sense of humor as you study for entrance exams. Enjoy!
SAT is to ACT as McDonalds is to Burger King
ACT Science is to Science as Chicken McNuggets are to Chicken
SAT is to college admissions as gold fronts are to dating
Tests are to grades as hamburger is to Angus Deluxe Bacon & Cheese
We got in on the act with this one:
Bad test taker is to SAT as Nicki Minaj is to walking in high heels. (AMAs reference)
… and we added a few more today.
Skipping breakfast is to taking SAT as empty gas tank is to road trip.
Oxygen is to survival as #2 pencils are to answer grid.
Taking the ACT is to taking the SAT as annoying is to annoying.
Yes, these tests are a necessary evil of the admissions process. It helps to laugh about it, though, so add your own fun analogy below. Better yet, join us next Monday at 4pm ET as we tackle a new college-bound topic!
By now, you probably already know if you thrive on stress in school, and if so, going to a college known for being a stressful environment is perfectly OK with you.
If your personality doesn’t handle stress well (with results ranging from stomach aches to depression), considering the stress level at a college could be really important in your college search. A school’s competitive environment is something to look into as you weigh other factors, like tuition, before sending in an application. Your choice may be a prestigious school, but a pressure-filled one, too.
Not surprisingly, costly private schools top a 2011 list of most stressful colleges. At the top is Columbia University in New York City, followed by Stanford University in California, and Massachusetts’ Harvard University (first in The Daily Beast’s competitiveness rank and acceptance rate rank).
The 50 schools on the list got the highest rankings in categories that the American College Health Association finds contributes to stressful college campuses: tuition, acceptance rate, overall academic competitiveness, crime, and the difficulty of its academic programs.
From the moment you send in that college application, stress can rise. But it could be even greater for students applying to schools on the list, since so many high school seniors want to get into those universities.
Is a college’s stress-inducing environment something you’ve considered during your college search or should consider? Let us know in the comments section below!
As you are planning college visits, you might have discovered that your mom’s or dad’s alma mater may be on the list. Or maybe it’s your uncle, aunt, a grandparent, or another family member who can’t wait to show off their school. Take it from Haley’s experience on ABC’s “Modern Family” – this can be an embarrassing experience!
In a recent episode, Haley and her dad visited his alma mater, where he acted as the tour guide, taking her to the school library, student union, and dorms. And yes, they even sat in on a class. Awkward Phil – still trying to be a cool dad and wearing a college sweatshirt – relived some of his college days by eating his favorite chicken wings, hustling students in a dart competition, and joining in with cheerleaders on campus. Sure, Haley tried to be the good daughter and hang out with him, but she really wanted to go to a campus party instead. Of course, it gets even more awkward with Phil tracking her down and discovering it’s not the rowdy frat party he imagined.
Enjoy this clip if you missed it:
Here are three things that episode shows about surviving the alma mater trip with your family members:
1. Expect embarrassment. Don’t live in denial. If your parents loved their college experience, visiting their alma mater will allow them to relive their college days. So expect moments where they come dressed in full school spirit gear. Or try to talk to the other students. Or even (heaven forbid) dance.
2. Plan out what you want to see and do.
You may be yawning as they take you to the millionth spot on campus where something funny happened 20 years ago. Or when they want to see their old dorm room. Or when they want to visit with old professors. Let them do it – with or without you – but also make sure your parents know what YOU want to see on campus, such as new buildings, the dining hall, or where the fraternity and sorority houses are located. Work out a plan so that if you are invited to be with other students visiting campus, you can do that. Be aware, however, that they’re intimately aware of the campus hangouts–and it would be reallllly awkward to run into them there.
3. Go ahead and bond.
This trip to their alma mater is not just about them; it’s about you leaving home. They hope you love college as much as they did, all while knowing how much they’re going to miss you. So go ahead and enjoy a moment with Mom or Dad like Haley did (grabbing a plastic cafeteria tray and sliding down a hill with her dad, another tradition). It will help your parents create new, even more meaningful, memories on their old campus – you hanging out with them.
So many people admire Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who passed away last week, for his innovation and impact on our culture and even education. And though he didn’t finish college himself, he had a connection – through his wife – to helping students make it to college.
Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, is a co-founder of College Track. College Track is an after-school program that since 1997 has helped more than 1,100 high school students in California, Colorado, and Louisiana get into college. The first group of minority students it worked with headed off to college in 2001, and hundreds have followed since then.
Will.i.am speaks at a College Track event.
The organization even drew Justin Bieber, who performed at a College Track benefit concert in June 2011 (that event and other fundraisers helped College Track raise $2 million). Will.i.am also spoke in May 2011 to graduates assisted by College Track. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the Jobs family provided “significant” financial donations to found and run College Track. Jobs’ wife remains chairwoman of the board.
College Track assists mostly low-income students who would be the first in their family to go to college. The organization starts working with students before their 9th grade year in these cities – California’s East Palo Alto, Oakland, and San Francisco, as well as New Orleans, and Aurora, Colorado. It provides all types of resources – academic, social, and financial (student earn up to $1,400 for each year they participate to go toward college) – to help students find a way to go to college. Here’s how it has succeeded:
• 100 percent of its seniors graduate high school
• 90 percent go to a four-year college
• 85 percent are the first person in their family to earn a college degree
• 70 percent graduate from college within six years
Many college students helped by College Track (see these videos with students’ stories) are serving as interns and volunteers, sharing their knowledge with current high school students.
Of course, many people are wondering which philanthropies or organizations will receive some of the billions of dollars that was part of Steve Jobs’ fortune. We’ll see if College Track is a beneficiary. In the meantime, if you know of someone in any of those cities in middle school who want to commit themselves to graduating and going to college but need a little assistance, they can apply online.
A student who graduated from high school in 2007 posted a comment on College Track’s website: “To succeed, you need to find something to hold onto to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you. That place for me is College Track.”
Students of all ages have been known to contract a case of the back-to-school jitters. Fear of the unknown can even lead to some serious pre-college stress. But take a deep breath — every fear has its foil….
Enter The CollegeBound Network! We may not have a cape or a stake to take to the heart of college admissions, but we are equipped with weapons of mass information!
After all, the more you know, the better off you are. (Just think about how the “smart” girls are the only ones to usually survive in all those horror films!)
Find out more about the popular Twitter chat, #CollegeBound, which can connect you with college respresentatives and others who have the same goals, struggles, and questions you have. Every Monday at 4 p.m. EST on Twitter. Get detailed info here.
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Follow our smart and savvy CBN bloggers as they guide you through every step of your quest to find the right college. Whether it’s figuring out that FAFSA, making sense of the SAT, or simply dishing gossip about celebrity smarty pants, they’ve got you covered. But be warned—these bloggers are fully caffeinated and know how to use their social media powers for both good and evil! So, whaddya’ say — do they get an A+?
As an Admissions Counselor, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?
