Want college success? Find a mentor.
Mentors can be students who are older than you, a minister or Rabbi, or your boss in a part-time job. But often you can enlist a professor to become your mentor, and it’s one of the reasons why class size (for your major) is important.
One of the best opportunities to find a mentor is in a smaller class where the instructor can get to know you.
My professor and mentor, Conrad Fink, a former foreign correspondent and executive for The Associated Press, inspired three decades of journalism students at the University of Georgia. He sadly died this month after battling cancer, but he taught me a lot. Among his lessons, I learned some of the key things you can look for when choosing a mentor.
Professor Conrad Fink (seated, left) sitting next to me when I was a student at the University of Georgia.
1. Respect.
Some students were fearful of Fink at first because of his gruff nature and intimidated in a way by his long history in the industry, where he covered wars and other major news events. In the small classes, you couldn’t hide from Fink and what he had to say about your writing, or avoid being questioned during class discussions. But any intimidation soon turned to admiration and a desire to make him proud of my accomplishments as a student and journalist.
2. An open door.
College professors will let you know about their office hours, and you’ll want to take advantage of that. With Fink, we could stop by to soak up his “war stories” or to get his thoughts on where he saw us finding our place professionally. I also noticed that former students always visited to catch up with him – it showed the special relationship he had with his students. I often stopped in, even when I wasn’t taking his classes. As an adjunct professor now at UGA, I appreciated my chats with him and was always hoping he would be proud of where I had taken my career.
3. A challenge.
He always pushed me to work harder and do better as a student journalist and after I graduated. In the days after his death, many of his former students have referred to one of his quotes: “The door is always open, the traps always set.” The mementos that lined his office walls, from photos to excuses why students couldn’t make it to class, also showed us that we needed to keep entertaining him and hold his interest.
4. A generous spirit.
When Fink got annoyed at his students, he showed it by kicking our desks or narrowing his eyes and trademark bushy eyebrows at us in frustration. But those actions showed me he cared about more than giving me a grade. He wanted me to mature as a person and as a journalist. His generosity was evident in how he provided opportunities for us to network with other journalists, and made it possible for us to attend industry events across the country. When I expressed interest in a certain area of journalism, he connected me with his brother who could provide insight. At the same time, when I backed out of an internship he helped set up for me for an opportunity at a magazine, I had to mend the relationship by letting him know I appreciated his help, but believed this was the right choice for me. (He still thought I was wrong, though, but he respected my decision.)
5. Relationship beyond the semester.
It will be rare for you to find a professor that you will keep in contact with after the semester is over, or after you graduate. But if you can find one person who will be there for you, they can provide amazing counsel as you mull job offers or take steps in your profession.
College gives you access to the best minds, but it’s up to you to seek a relationship that goes beyond your grade. Carving out a mentor relationship can be well worth the time and effort it takes, so give it a shot.
-Lori Johnston
January 23rd, 2012
Yes, the same network that made the phrase “It’s T-Shirt Time” famous, brings you a unique Facebook application called My College Dollars. The app scours the web for scholarships opportunities based on the information in your Facebook profile — genius! Using the app also qualifies you for a chance to win tickets to the VMAs and cash prizes.
What’s really cool about the app isn’t so much the information (which has always been available online), but that it’s geared toward users who might not otherwise be aware of all the college financial aid opportunities and information out there. My College Dollars was the brainchild of Devin Valencia, winner of the Get Schooled Affordability Challenge contest. Her winning entry gave her the opportunity to work with designers and a $100,000 budget to create this app. MTV worked in collaboration with The College Board, the Get Schooled campaign, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to launch the app yesterday.
In addition to the scholarship alerts, there’s also a FAFSA guideline, a deadline calendar, an “ask the expert” feature, and links to other resources. And, because MTV is involved, would you expect it to not be enhanced with super star power? The app is peppered with inspiring messages about the importance of education from music artists, actors, and athletes.
Check it out here, and let us know what you think of it.
-Dawn Papandrea
January 19th, 2012
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.
January 18th, 2012
Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and it may mean a three-day weekend for you. Some schools are out, others are in session, but maybe your classes are taking time to discuss the late Civil Rights Leader.
Photo from: The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
King’s college career is definitely worthy of recognition, as he is one of our nation’s most famous graduates of a historically black college and university.
Check out these five facts about the education King received on his way to making a lasting impact on our country before his assassination in 1968.
1. Martin Luther King Jr. graduated from high school in Atlanta at age 15.
2. He entered Morehouse College, a HBCU for men in Atlanta, as an early-admission student in 1944.
3. MLK received his bachelor’s degree of arts in sociology from Morehouse in 1948 (his grandfather and father also graduated from Morehouse, and his son, Martin Luther King III is a Morehouse man).
4. At Morehouse, King was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the nation’s oldest fraternity for Blacks.
5. He earned a divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania in 1951 and then his doctorate from Boston University’s School of Theology in 1955.
If you’re in school on Monday, go ahead and bring up King and his legacy with your teachers and friends (maybe one of these facts can help create a discussion about him and college). And if you’re in the midst of college application madness, get some inspiration from this well-educated man who was so important in our nation’s history.
January 13th, 2012
For the first time, U.S. News has ranked online bachelor’s degree programs, giving another resource for those of you researching online learning in college.
The ranking looked at 196 online bachelor’s degree programs (plus more than 500 master’s degree programs) from for-profit and not-for-profit schools. To be considered an online program, at least 80 percent of the content had to be delivered online.
To stand out, the programs had to have strong faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, and student engagement and assessment – all of which can help enrich the online learning experience.
You may be surprised to see which four schools made the honor roll for online bachelor’s degree programs.
These universities are not for-profit institutions and are not in the online-only business – they have a long history of on-campus education, too. Another thing they all have in common: Classes are recorded and available online, which allows students to listen to lecture material when their schedule allows. Here’s a sneak peek…
Pace University (based in New York, NY) – Pace is proving the bigger doesn’t need to be better. With 196 students in its online bachelor’s degree programs – according to U.S. News data – the school ranked fourth in faculty credentials in and training and 10th in student engagement and assessment.
Granting online bachelor’s degree since: 2004
Online bachelor’s degrees: iPace Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program (B.B.A. in Business Studies w/concentrations in Internal Auditing and Business Communications, B.S. in Professional Technology Studies w/concentration in Computer Forensics)
B.S. in Professional Technology Studies, a part-time program offered in conjunction with the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL).
Florida Institute of Technology (based in Melbourne, FL) - In Florida Institute of Technology’s online bachelor’s degree program, students can still work full time while earning their degree, and courses last eight weeks. An estimated 4,631 students are enrolled in those programs, according to U.S. News, with the most popular being business administration and management.
Granting online bachelor’s degree since: 2008
Online bachelor’s degrees: B.A. in accounting, applied psychology, business administration, criminal justice; B.S. in computer information systems.
University of Florida (based in Gainesville, FL) – Students are joining the Gator Nation from afar, as online learners at the University of Florida. It has 557 students pursuing their bachelor’s degree online, according to U.S. News. The school cracked the top 20 in faculty credentials and training, coming in at No. 17.
Granting online bachelor’s degrees since: 2002
Online bachelor’s degrees: B.S. in microbiology and cell sciences, business administration, fire and emergency services, health education and behavior, sport management, and applied physiology and kinesiology
Westfield State University (based in Westfield, MA) – Westfield is tops among all online bachelor’s programs for faculty credentials and training, recognizing its focus on ensuring quality education by requiring all faculty who teach online to go through training. The school offers degree completion programs that allow most students with an associate’s degree to complete their bachelor’s degree online. Its online bachelor’s program had 57 students enrolled, according to U.S. News, but the school expects that online student enrollment will increase by a 300 percent this year.
Granting online bachelor’s degrees since: 2008
Online bachelor’s degrees: Business, liberal studies, history and sociology
The fact that online bachelor’s degrees programs are now included in U.S. News’ reflects how they are a viable option for students today.
What about online learning intrigues you most?
January 10th, 2012
When LSU and Alabama vie for the BCS National Championship tonight at New Orleans’ Superdome, we’ll see again how they match up on the field as football teams. LSU won when it played Alabama during the regular season, back in November, with a 9-6 victory. This football championship and other bowl games that have happened during the holidays are times that students, alumni, and fans look forward to so they can cheer on their schools.
As for LSU (ranked No. 1) and Alabama (ranked No. 2), both are in the Southeastern Conference and have a recent history of performing well in football (recently, LSU was national champion in 2007, Alabama in 2009). Here’s a look at how else the schools match up:
University of Alabama
Football Coach: Nick Saban
Mascot: Crimson Tide
School location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Number of students: More than 31,000
Year founded: 1831
Famous alumni: The Help author Kathryn Stockett, football players Joe Namath and Bart Starr, Broadway actor and Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz
LSU
Football Coach: Les Miles
Mascot: Tigers
School location: Baton Rouge, La.
Number of students: More than 26,000
Year founded: 1853
Famous alumni: Former President Hubert Humphrey, political strategist James Carville, basketball player Shaquille O’Neal, composer Bill Conti
If you’re watching a game, see what you think of the school’s commercials, or tell us if you’ve liked any other school commercials during the recent bowl games!
–Lori Johnston
January 9th, 2012
Hey kids, it’s your friendly CollegeBound Network bloggers here. How ya feeling in this new year so far? By now, you probably have your college applications finished and submitted by now, and if not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Sorry, that’s what we’re here for. To give you some tough love about the college admissions process. We want to see you succeed in your college goals, and it if means we have to use our Caps Lock key every once in a while, we will.
Join us on Monday for our first #collegebound chat in 2012. We’ll dish about all the stuff that’s on college-bound students’ minds these days. See you there!
(And just to toot our own horns, the folks behind the Plan for College blog think we’re pretty cool! Thanks, guys!)
–The CollegeBound Network
January 6th, 2012
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.
–Lori Johnston
January 2nd, 2012
How did my true love ever guess that I wanted three French hens today?
Although I can do without the non-stop Christmas music on the radio, I am NOT ready to say goodbye to my favorite time of the year. And luckily, I don’t have to! After all, there are 12 days of Christmas, just like the song tells us. And as Shakespeare’s play tells us, Twelfth Night was a pretty fun party all those centuries ago.
I will stubbornly leave my Christmas tree and decorations out until January 5, the day that the 12 drummer drumming are due to arrive from my true love. Feel free to celebrate those 12 days right along with me, thanks to this college-themed version of that golden Christmas oldie. Merry Christmas!
The Twelve Days of a (College-Bound) Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me….
One perfect college essay.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Two March Madness finalists.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Three-year undergrad programs.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Four-year college scholarships.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
FIVE OLYMPIC HOPEFULS.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Six frat boys a-scheming
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Seven days of parties
On the eight day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Eight hours of sleep.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Nine ways of paying (my tuition).
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Ten uses for ramen noodles.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
11 AM classes (more sleep!)
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Twelve hours in the library.
–Barbara Bellesi
December 27th, 2011
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