Top 10 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Boarding School

By Elisabeth Swain

You've done all of your research, and now you're in the “visit and tour” phase of your private school search. This is the most critical chapter of the process!

Make sure that you do your homework on the school before you show up. Reading their mission statement and philosophy, and keeping this in mind when you tour, can help you see whether their values line up with what they actually offer.

However, the most important question is always, "Can I see my son or daughter here?" We find that parents generally have a gut feeling that helps answer this question, but we have ten more that you might want to consider and ask your tour guide or the admissions director. 

1. What kind of student thrives here?

Schools admit a variety of students to create a well-rounded student body; however, there is a "sweet spot" that fits their specific academic rigor and social environment. For example, School X may find the most success with a student that is academically strong in math and science, is socially mature, and above-average athletically.

When speaking with your educational consultant or admissions counselor, inquire as to who they believe the school’s ideal student is. Remember, it doesn't have to be a perfect fit, but it helps to understand the school's strengths fully.

2. What is the core curriculum for the grade that your child will be entering?

Your objective is to gain a better understanding of where your son or daughter fits academically. Will they be behind? Can it be bridged with a supplemental summer class? Or, if your child is academically advanced, is the course load strong enough?

3. What is the average class size and the student-to-teacher ratio?

Most private schools have a small (6-10) to medium (10-15) class size. We always look for a class size that will encourage a friendly social environment and support a fully-engaged learning environment. If your child needs more teacher support, a smaller class size may be advantageous. A larger class size allows for greater social interaction and more dynamic conversation.

4. How available are the faculty outside of classes? What is the procedure to seek assistance? Is there an academic support center? Peer tutoring? What systems are in place if there is an educational need?

The most frequent concern we hear from parents is that their child won’t ask for help. We are always happy to hear that faculty make themselves available to students outside of class. Depending on the level of need, you may also look to see if there is an academic support center, peer-tutoring and/or a well-honed plan for students who need additional help. Your educational consultant can help you determine what supports may be necessary, if any.

5. What extracurricular activities are offered? Is anything mandatory?

Private schools are known for offering a high level of extra-curricular activities which can help your child discover new interests and foster those they have already spent time on. Understanding what is mandatory and where a student can explore will help your child get excited about a school and provide talking points for their interview.

6. How is technology used on campus?

Private schools are usually ahead of the curve with “smart” classrooms. Find out what each school offers, as well as what the requirements will be for your student. Do they need a laptop? A tablet? Both? If you are looking at a boarding school, make sure you know the technology plan and how the school monitors or restricts the use of technology at certain times (during the school day, after “lights out”, etc)

7. What "Health & Wellness” activities are part of the curriculum or overall program?

There is a growing understanding of the importance of each student’s health from a social, physical, and emotional standpoint. Find out what supports and activities are in place at the school. This may include mindfulness classes, yoga, community service, or the ability to speak with a counselor should your child have an emerging need.

8. What comprises a student's assessment? Attendance, grades, effort?

It can be helpful to understand how your child will be assessed. When are grades given out? Are reports narrative or just the numeric/letter grade? What communication can you expect regarding your child’s academic progress?

9. What high schools/colleges do graduating students attend?

Looking at a school’s matriculation list can help you get an idea of where the seniors are going, and if they are in the same category as those your son or daughter might be considering

10. And finally, if you can, talk to students outside of the tour setting and ask questions that uncover what it’s like to be a student there from their perspective.

Questions might include: How is the dining hall - is the food good? How do you like this school? How demanding are the classes? Do you feel supported when things get difficult, academically or socially? What do students do outside of class? Where is "hang-out"? Where's the popular place to eat? Where do students go to buy personal items?

If you are considering boarding school for your middle or high school student, or a New York City day school, check out one of our upcoming Virtual Boarding School Fairs. Visit this link for more information.

College & Prep consultants offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation where we will learn about your child, answer your questions, and begin to explore where your child will thrive.

Call (914) 301-5422 to be connected to one of our educational consultants or fill out the form below to schedule your consultation now.

The Best Kept Secret for High-Achieving Tweens

By Elisabeth Swain

Help your high-achieving tween reach their full potential by enrolling them in a junior boarding school. Junior boarding schools offer unique advantages to students who love being part of energetic and engaged communities, thrive in structured environments and are passionate about pursuing their many interests.

 Does this feel familiar? You drink your morning cup of coffee while catching up with your 11-year-old, who was up late last night putting the finishing touches on his speech for history class. You check in about his schedule and he reminds you that after lacrosse practice he’s only going to have about 15 minutes to eat dinner and get across town to play rehearsal, and it’s going to be a late one.  

 You’re amazed that he’s doing so much, grateful that he’s on top of his schedule...and maybe a little overwhelmed.

 For many parents, having a self-motivated child who thrives on structure and loves being involved in multiple activities is a source of pride and joy--and exhaustion. Juggling schedules, meals, travel and actually finding enough challenging and engaging activities that match your child’s interests can be a tall order.

 Now imagine this:

 Your child wakes up at 7, gets ready and walks down the hall of his dormitory, greeting friends on his way to breakfast. There he piles a plate high with eggs, bacon, and pancakes and goes to eat with his advisor and advisory group before he heads off to class.  His 10:15 class today is his favorite--science. Today the class is going to bring the catapults that they’ve been building in physics out to the football field to launch pumpkins. Then he’ll have math, and after lunch, he’s got Italian and his woodshop elective. 

 Once classes are done he’ll get changed and head to soccer practice, followed by a quick shower, dinner and supervised study hall where he’ll finish up her homework. Then it’s free time until bed.  Maybe he’ll join a pick-up game of basketball or watch a movie in the common room. He’ll text you quickly before cell phones and laptops are turned in for the night and tomorrow he’ll start all over again.

 If this sounds like it would be a dream for your tween, you may want to consider a junior boarding school. 

 Junior boarding schools are, in essence, middle schools that provide a boarding program for students in grades 6-9. Led by educators with a deep understanding of this age group, junior boarding school communities offer unique opportunities to high-achieving students to develop socially, emotionally, and academically while building lifelong friendships and growing as independent thinkers and leaders.

 Many schools offer both full-boarding and five-day boarding options which your child would return home on the weekends. Students can start junior boarding schools any time between 6th and 9th grade. While some choose to transfer to a high school after 8th grade, there are many benefits to staying through 9th grade and taking full advantage of the junior boarding school experience.

 As Ben Tuff, Admissions Director at Rumsey Hall School noted, "Seniors (9th graders) benefit from the continued individualized support and challenges created by the faculty who are true experts in adolescence and know how to tap into the full potential of each individual student as leaders of the school and, most importantly: awesome human beings, as they prepare to excel in High School."

 And it’s not all hard work! Students at junior boarding schools live, work and play with their friends. They have a unique opportunity to develop independence, explore their interests, and grow into themselves, all in a safe and supportive environment. From participating in pick-up games after dinner to going on weekend trips to the theater in a nearby city to camping in the wilderness, there is never a dull moment at a junior boarding school, making it the perfect place for highly engaged and motivated tweens.

 To learn more about junior boarding schools, check out our upcoming Virtual Junior Boarding School Fair (Thursday, October 7th, 2021) or contact us directly for more information.

 We offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation where we will learn about your child, answer your questions, and begin to explore where your child will thrive. Call (914) 301-5422 to be connected to one of our educational consultants or fill out the form below to schedule your consultation now.

5 Keys to Second Round Admissions

By Elisabeth Swain, M.Ed., M. EdL

It’s 6 a.m. on March 10, and while that’s a time that most teenagers are still struggling to get out of bed, for those that have applied for boarding school, it’s about the time that they start regularly refreshing their email to see if they have gotten into the boarding schools of their choice.  Many of those that applied to private day schools have already known the answer for a few weeks now.

When the email relays news of admission, it’s a relief. But for those students and families that didn’t hear what they were hoping - a “thank you for your application, but not this year”  or a waiting list assignment - it can be disheartening and a difficult time.

If your family finds itself in this situation, here are five keys to getting back in the mix and finding a school that is an excellent fit in the second season of admissions.

1. Revisit your list. Look at the schools that you applied to and those that you considered but ultimately ruled out and see what they have in common. Decide which are the most critical aspects of each, and then widen your parameters on the other elements. Perhaps a strong field hockey team, AP history courses, and a commitment to diversity are the three most important factors. If the school’s distance from home was part of the mix, but ultimately not a deciding factor, widen it out by another hour of driving and see what great schools may have been just beyond that initial border.

2. Know your timeline. While it takes months to hear back from schools in the first round of admissions, decisions can be made within weeks during the second season. Generally, those that are accepted to a school have about four weeks to make a decision. Most will do so within the first two weeks. This means that you want to start contacting schools regarding second season admissions about two weeks after they send out their admissions letters. Schools then have a chance to get a good sense of what their fall classes look like and who they may still be hoping to enroll.

3. Ask about revisit days. Some schools will be able to relax their protocols regarding on-campus visitors as the spring continues. Ask the schools you are considering if they offer an in-person revisit day and whether you might be able to join that group if space permits. It’s an excellent opportunity to feel the “vibe” of a school that you may not have had the chance to visit in the fall.

4. Be organized. Each school will have a separate set of expectations and processes regarding its second season admissions. It can be a lot to keep track of, and admissions officers are no less busy than before the first round of acceptance letters went out. This is where an educational consultant can be beneficial. We have relationships with the admissions staff and can get the inside scoop on what schools are looking for, whether your child would be a good fit, and the best course of action to create the best possible outcome.

5. Stay optimistic.Facing rejection is never easy, and, for most students, it feels incredibly personal. Keeping things in perspective and modeling resilience as you parent your child through this time is essential. Remind them that they are looking for the best fit and that getting a “no” response just means that the school wasn’t the best fit for them at this time. Invite them to broaden their horizons and find other schools that will give them the academic, athletic, and social environment that they’re looking for - those schools are out there and just waiting to get their application.

If you need help navigating the second round process, give us a call at 914-301-5422 or email me at Elisabeth@CollegeAndPrep.com

Riding the Standardized Testing Wave

by Diana Jones M.A, M.Ed.

Last admissions cycle, 2020-2021, students faced the arduous task of trying to pivot and adapt to all of the standardized testing cancellations and changes. It was a BIG ask.

After studying for months to prepare to do their best on a standard assessment upon which colleges and universities have relied for years, they were met with no-notice closed test centers, the imposition of last-minute student occupation limits at test sites, and constraints on re-registration for future replacement test dates.

Students signed up for ACTs when they preferred the SAT and vice-versa. They traveled to testing sites out of state and hundreds of miles away. So much time and energy were put into this one single factor and so many faced disappointment and unfulfilled efforts that often there was little energy left for other integral admissions’ factors.

This went on even with hundreds of schools responding to these challenges by adopting a test-optional policy for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. Why did students feel so obligated to submit test scores?

1) Taking and submitting scores is the way it has always historically been done, so deviation felt like a miscalculation, and so many had prepared heroically.

2) The fine print within testing policies at many schools underscored a message that test-optional does not mean test blind. And if test scores were to be had, schools who professed this wanted them.

At a test-optional institution, if scores are submitted they will be considered as part of a student’s admissions profile. Why not seek to have that advantage if your scores are strong?

Here in early 2021, the testing metamorphosis continues. Just this January, Collegeboard made the announcement that they will be discontinuing all SAT Subject Tests for US students. International students will have access to these tests until June of 2021. It’s a shake-up for sure. These subject tests are measures that have most certainly been used at all - even required at many elite - institutions to differentiate candidates. They have often been an influential factor in acceptance to Engineering and Business programs. With their abandonment, the move is to redirect emphasis onto AP classes and exams - but where does this leave current juniors who may have structured their course schedules differently 2 years ago had they known this was brewing?

So how does testing in the 2021 admissions cycle ramping up now look? Some schools that had only committed to a one-year ‘test-optional’ policy are ‘re-upping’ for another year. Cornell University and Columbia University are examples of this as is Williams College which will extend through the 2023 cycle. Which other colleges and universities will follow suit remains to be seen and again, read the policies with a keen eye.

Thus, with the admissions terra firma rumbling under their feet, September's rising seniors - today’s juniors - face a lot of important decisions and challenges. The protocol will now dictate that they pointedly review testing policies at schools and learn new lingo such as test-blind, test-flexible, and test-optional. They will have to contend with a rising number of ‘competitors’ as test-optional admissions have opened the application floodgates as is evidenced by Tuft’s 35% rise in applicants for this Fall with significant similar rising patterns across numerous other campuses, and they will have to do what they always have to do: maintain a strong GPA, take an appropriately rigorous curriculum, and engage in extracurriculars, sports, and volunteerism. Like I said, a big ask.

Passion, Perseverance and Civic Pride - How Colleges are Considering Evaluating Applications in the Age of Covid

The buzz around grit, commitment, and selflessness is not a new idea in the realm of college admissions, but with the uncertainty of standardized testing, a revamped AP evaluation, and transcripts sporting pass/fail grades, these qualities have, perhaps, taken on even greater importance.  The question now is how to impose an effective objective lens on these subjective traits and behaviors. 

Admissions officers are quick to remind applicants that academic performance, as demonstrated by their overall transcript, still remains paramount in the process, but now some colleges and universities are revisiting their own mission statements as a means to quantifying the “type” of student with whom they are seeking to fill their classes.  According to Robert Massa, vice president emeritus for enrollment and college relations for Dickinson College, characteristics such as, “Intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, being creative, being generous toward others, civic engagement, working hard, and open-mindedness,” embody the undergraduates they are hoping to have walking their halls. Giselle F. Martin, director of recruitment and talent in the office of undergraduate admission at Emory University agrees stating, “We are looking for significant leadership and creativity in school and community. Students who are not afraid to put themselves out there and maybe have a difference of opinion. Academic achievement and unselfish character. Kindness.” 

New questions, such as the one revamped this year by Syracuse University, encapsulate this philosophy as it asks ‘Why Syracuse,’ as it always has, but adds, “and how do you see yourself contributing to a diverse, inclusive and respectful campus community?”  In addition to being hard-working, setting and meeting purposeful goals, and being engaged, it is now also important to demonstrate that you will be committed to participating in and elevating your campus community.

So where do these traits lurk in a typical application?  They reveal themselves in student’s essays, resumes, activity sections, and in recommendations. Have you pitched in at home during the pandemic? Volunteered within your community in some meaningful capacity - before and during Covid?  Overcome a learning challenge to achieve good grades in a subject directly impeded by this disability? Maintained a B average while holding down a job?

~ Diana Jones M.A., M.Ed.

914·301·5422 or Diana@CollegeAndPrep.com

8 considerations for graduating high school seniors rethinking their plans due to COVID-19

HKL's own Diana Jones' recently penned the article "8 Considerations for Graduating High School Seniors Rethinking Their Plans Due to Covid-19," which was featured on NBC News Online in their "Out of Office" column.  For all graduating High School students and parents of those students, it is a must-read.

READ FULL ARTICLE BELOW

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The shake-up from COVID-19 has been like an earthquake on the college admissions landscape. Some compare the pandemic’s impact to an asteroid and the educational institutions to dinosaurs who must quickly pivot and adapt.

And as a result, many high school seniors are rethinking their plans after they graduate. Should they defer freshman year in college if it means e-learning instead of the traditional on-campus experience? How do you reevaluate an offer that is on the table when a school visit or re-visit is now prohibited due to social distancing? And in the event that freshmen can come to campus in the fall, what will your experience be like with sports, the return of upperclassmen, and other extracurriculars, academic, and social experiences impacted by COVID-19.

How do you decide? It’s time to rely on an old but dependable tool: a spreadsheet. Place the name of the schools you’re considering on one side and your non-negotiables on the other side and evaluate. Consider the following:

1. Keep in mind, something attracted you to these schools originally; you added them to your list and then followed through with an application.

2. Re-explore those factors and apply a litmus test to see if they have retained their viability, and if not, what factors have risen to the top? Cost? Location? Diversity?

3. Find a way to connect with a student at your choice schools. This is a huge advantage for mining peer-based insight.

4. Attend live and recorded virtual events on the school’s admissions page to reinforce what you know about the school and/or discover new things previously unknown.

5. Visit social media sites for the schools - not the one for the admissions page - but the sites for activities you enjoy such as “crew,” as this will help you get a sense of the students and climate on campus, as will reading the school newspaper.

6. Know: dreams come true! There has been tremendous waitlist movement and admissions offices suggest this could continue into the summer. Sadly, international students are facing potentially insurmountable hurdles returning to campuses or coming for the first time. Schools want full classes and so do you.

7. Should you need to, consider a gap year. However, to maintain the integrity of the incoming class of 2021, schools have reported that they will likely cap the number of gap requests years granted. Similarly, gap year experiences will be subjected to the same worldwide restrictions as all in-person programs, so the excursions of the past may not be available.

8. Lastly, keep in mind that it still remains to be established how schools will reopen in the fall, whether virtually, in-person, or using a hybrid model. Visit the admissions page and your email daily looking for updates. However, according to a list being curated by The Chronicle for Higher Education currently, 67 percent of the 950 schools who have reported are proposing an “in-person” model - Great news!

With this last point in mind, current undergraduates may need to reevaluate as well. While a semester of eLearning or hybrid-structured learning is not what you signed up for, colleges want and need to reopen. This is a clear and resonant message from every admissions office worldwide, and they will. So, sticking it out may be the best option, especially if you have been happy on campus.

Overall, we know things are changing rapidly and consistently. It’s very challenging not to get caught up in the deluge of information or to become completely overwhelmed with the frenzy of news and become frozen in a state of inertia.

My best advice? Take time for yourself. Evaluate your needs, wants, desires, and do not give up on your dreams even if you need to re-conceptualize them.

Written by: Diana Jones

Test Optional: Buyer Beware

Colleges and Universities - even some elites - are waiving standardized testing requirements for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle (and some beyond), but be sure to read the fine print.

SATs and ACTs,  stress-inducing rites of passage for most have become a sparse commodity for this year’s rising juniors.  College Board has made a plea asking, “colleges to extend deadlines for receiving test scores and to equally consider students for admission who are unable to take the test due to COVID-19.”  College Board CEO David Coleman has specifically requested that, “our member colleges be flexible toward students who can’t submit scores, who submit them later, or who did not have a chance to test more than once.”

Understanding the scarcity of upcoming testing sites, especially in some of the hardest-hit areas such as New York, Boston, and Denver and the multiple missed testing dates from the winter and spring, colleges and universities have risen to the occasion with the UC system suspending all requirements of SAT or ACT scores indefinitely and schools such as Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, and Dartmouth responding to the inequity with test suspension policies of their own and joining the ranks of over 1200 schools not requiring tests for the high school class of 2021.  But, many on this list are not newcomers to the test-optional landscape.

However, there are two critical issues to consider in this year’s world of test-optional.

One, the importance of keeping in mind that test-optional is NOT test blind, meaning scores can be submitted and will be considered at many of these “pop-up” test-optional institutions. Thus,  it still may pay to make the effort to test. And, two, read the fine print.  Schools suspending their policies specifically in response to the COVID pandemic are, in some instances, using some very specific language - language which requires attention.  Here is a quote from Dartmouth’s recent admissions blog announcing their test-optional status; “At Dartmouth, we will welcome any testing element a student chooses to share—the SAT, the ACT, a subject test, an AP score—or none at all. Our admission committee will review each candidacy without second-guessing the omission or presence of a testing element……. For students who wish to submit an SAT or ACT score, we recommend just one test session.” Dartmouth Blog HERE   And Cornell clearly state in their policy for this upcoming year that, “Cornell overall has not planned to adopt a test-optional admission policy permanently. As appears to be true at test-optional colleges and universities, we anticipate that many students who will have had reasonable and uninterrupted opportunities to take the ACT and/or SAT during 2020 administrations will continue to submit results, and those results will continue to demonstrate preparation for college-level work.”  Cornell Message HERE

There is no doubt that many students will legitimately not have the ability to test as the future with COVID remains unknown. However, when deciding to submit or not submit/to test or not to test - “Buyer beware” and read each school’s guidelines very carefully.

~Diana Jones

The Myth, Mystery and Misinformation around College Application

The college application process is steeped in layers upon layers of myth, mystery, and misinformation. As with any worthwhile pursuit, it is important to try and obtain an objective perspective so that you can make the right decisions. That’s where we come in to provide expertise and guidance to simplify the process and raise your child’s chance of earning admission at the right school for them. With that in mind, we thought it would be valuable to devote some time to dispel some common college admissions misconceptions.

1) Harder to get into does not mean better

The quality of a college and its selectivity are not perfectly correlated to each other. More importantly, some colleges with very low admissions rates may be a terrible choice for your child. The most important consideration is not acceptance rates but ensuring that your child has enough options when the time comes around to actually selecting a school. Applying to many schools with low acceptance rates doesn’t necessarily raise your child’s odds of acceptance. Similarly, it is important to not only apply to “prestigious” schools.

2) Be wary of misjudging your child’s ability to get admitted to a particular college

All colleges are generally looking for the same thing: students with strong academic backgrounds with interesting lives outside of school. Among the most selective colleges in this country, many regularly reject students with perfect GPAs, test scores, and extracurriculars. The more selective the colleges you are considering, the more you need to be aware of the competition to gain admission.

Colleges have their own agenda when selecting students as they seek to build a well-rounded class, not a group of individuals with exceptional credentials. They are, of course, concerned by each individual student’s merits, but many other factors are at play. Therefore, even though your child may exceed their average GPA and test scores, that does not guarantee admissions. Similarly, just because your child does not exceed those averages does not mean they will be rejected.

3) Be wary of choosing a school due to the quality of their athletics

The year after Northwestern University played in the Rose Bowl they had a record number of applications. This effect, known as the Flutie Factor after Doug Flutie, the Boston College football quarterback who led an upset win over the defending national champions, serves to remind us that people really do consider the quality of the athletics program when evaluating a school. However, unless you are seeking to play competitive athletics in college, this should only be one of many factors in deciding which institution will provide your child with the best four years of education aligned with their aspirations.

4) Don’t be afraid of looking outside your immediate area

While the distance from home can certainly be a factor when evaluating colleges, you should not constrain yourself to colleges within easy driving distance. Expanding the scope of your search, even a little bit, provides tremendously more opportunities to find the best educational experience for your child. Simply put, the further away from home you are willing to consider the more options you have.

5) You should visit most of the schools on your list

Visiting a college while the students are present is a great way to get a feel for the campus and culture. Talking to people, seeing what posters are up around campus, and sitting in a class and experiencing how professors and students relate to each other is invaluable in deciding if a college would be a good fit. If you are unable to visit schools, try and visit similar types of schools that are nearer to you. This can be useful to help clarify such things as if a liberal arts school feels right or if, perhaps, you would rather attend a large state university.

6) There is not only one “right” college

You may be surprised how many parents and students we work with believe there is only one optimum choice to assure that their child will be happy and have the future they desire. This is simply not the case. The reality is there are many “right” colleges and it is imperative to keep an open mind so that you can uncover them. While aligning the majority of your interest with one particular school could work out, it very possibly could not - having many wonderful choices is the key to a successful, fulfilling and informed admissions process.

Choosing the Best Program Over the Prestige of a "Best College"

 The patina of prestige does not always indicate the best, and such is the case when deciding where you want your child to go to college. Illusion of stature aside, your objective is a school that will set him or her up for lifelong success, not simply look good framed on a wall. The cultural cachet of the school won’t help spark your child’s intellectual curiosity or help develop your child into their best self. In fact, a Stanford study found that to find the best fit for your child you should ignore college rankings and look at deeper factors such as the quality of the departments associated with our child’s major and predilections, as well as the campus culture and the extracurricular offerings. 

Simply because a school ranked high on a list does not mean it will give your child the best education. Supporting this, the Center for College Affordability and Productivity found that Ivy-league professors don’t rate the highest. Whether because they are more focused on their graduate students or their own research, students at Ivy-league schools don’t appear to connect with their professors in the same way students at other institutions seem to do. This is crucial because a Gallop poll found that the most correlated factor to college graduates’ ability to find fulfilling employment was having felt emotionally supported at school, frequently in the form of bonding with a professor and finding a niche within the college’s culture. Moreover, it is not just those professors with whom your child develops a memorable relationship that is key. Even those professors who don’t become a mentor or friend are crucial to your child’s success. Research shows that students with present and effective professors outperform students who lack similarly talented professors. This sense of investment on the part of their teachers, coupled with school culture and the the quality of the department, makes for the perfect foundation for student excellence, fulfillment, and success. 

As much as they can appear to be easily-mentioned platitudes, an appropriate school culture and climate are vital for your child’s academic prosperity and happiness. A positive climate empowers your child to push themselves without fear of failure, to accept challenges from which they might otherwise shirk, and to try new things that can end up enriching their life. In contrast, a toxic culture can breed apathy, exclusivity, and complacency. What contributes to climate can include things such as the presence of Greek life, the level of school spirit and support for athletics, the diversity of the student body, available programs for studying abroad, and much more. The blend of these characteristics that best fits your child is wholly unique, but they are important enough that they merit careful consideration. 

It is easy to be beguiled by a school’s notoriety, but with admissions rates at these institutions in the single digits and entrance nearly impossible even for tip of the spear students, attempted applications to them based solely on their assumed merit can be a humbling and heartbreaking experience for a 17 year old. With this in mind, whether Ivys stay or go from your child’s final list, try and blindly weigh each school on a myriad of key factors which dovetail with your child’s specific aspirations and dreams. Cliche or not, it is not so much where you go to school but what you do, accomplish, and feel when there. 

CORE VALUES EXERCISE

This is an exercise adapted from Dr. Beverly Chiodo.

Our core values are the true representation of our authentic selves.

Unfortunately, our authenticity is not always what we present to the world.

The bright beacon of core values may dim under the clouds of other people or circumstances.  That is why it is important to know and stand firm on what your core values are.  If you put a small value on your core values, we can assure you that the world will not raise your price!

It doesn’t take years of soul searching and self-reflection to find your core values.  This simple exercise can help you start living your best life according to your core values. How long will it take? About 10 minutes. Isn’t it worth 10 minutes to refocus your life on your core values?

Grab a pen and piece of paper and let’s go!

1.  Determine Your Core Values

From the list below, choose and write down every core value that resonates with you.  Do not overthink your selection.  As you read through the list, simply write down the words that feel like a core value to you personally.  If you think of a value you possess that is not on the list, write it down.

2.  Group All Similar Values Together from the List of Values You Just Created

Group them in a way that makes sense to you, personally.  Create a maximum of five groupings.  If you have more than five groupings, drop the least important grouping(s).  See the example below.

3. Choose One Word Within Each Group that Represents the Label for the Entire Group

Again, do not overthink your labels – there are no right or wrong answers.  You are defining the answer that is right for you. See the example below – the label chosen for the grouping is in red.

Now that you have assessed what is important to you, you can start to look at schools in an informed light. Your College years are likely the most influential when creating the adult you’ll become. So, finding a campus, social community and academic setting that is the most fulfilling is critical to your success.

Explore Location, School Size, Class/Major size, School Curricula, Program offerings, Extracurricular offerings and finally, School Values and Mission Statement. These will help guide you into a school and program that ignites your fire and allows you to thrive in college.

If you want to know more, we can help. 914·301·5422

Scholarships: Athletic vs Academic

I recently attended a seminar on College recruiting led by Bill Manning. Bill is a legendary Ivy League Rowing Coach, now at Princeton. Coach Manning started the talk with “How many of you would like to ‘Get Recruited’ to row in College?” Every one of the 100+ high school rower’s hands went up. He continued, “How many of you have got private lessons, attended a rowing camp or belong to a private team in addition to rowing for your school?” Again, all of the student’s hands went up. Then Bill took all of the air out of the room, “ If you really want a scholarship to go to college, you’d put that money into tutors and get academic scholarships. The chance of you getting an academic scholarship is 10 times higher than getting an athletic scholarship.” You could hear a pin drop along with the hopes and dreams of all the underclassmen. It was a wake-up call that many, including parents, needed. Bill did leave it on a happier note. “If you want to row in college, you can. Walk on, try out and you’ll row, guaranteed! Don’t put the pressure on yourself to get a scholarship or get recruited. Row because you love it, not to pay the bills.”

This is so smart and insightful. When you commit to a program for athletics, it’s usually a partial scholarship, not a full-ride. Athletic programs will get a certain number of scholarships to allocate to the in-coming class and they are usually split into halves or quarters to give a little bit to a few students. So you still need to figure out how you’re going to finance your education. Furthermore, the soccer team, volleyball team, etc. owns you from that point forward. You are essentially a “Pro” athlete, they pay for you to be there, so they expect you to show up for 4 am rowing practices or 7-10 pm volleyball practices and keep your grades above a B average. This can be quite a shock to families and freshmen students.

Academic and special-interest scholarships are much more accessible and can be very helpful to students. In 2017, there were 2.3 billion dollars in unclaimed scholarships. Honestly, it’s a hassle to find and fill out all of the applications, jump through the “requirement” hoops and submit them all. Especially when you’re trying to create the perfect College application to your top schools. However, we had a student that was very ambitious and applied for every local, special -interest and academic scholarship that he could find from junior to senior year and it paid off. He was able to fund his entire 4 years of undergrad and actually had enough money left over to buy a car upon graduation from college.

We understand the prestige of being able to say that you were recruited and compete at a D1 or D3 level, but if you are not going to be a professional athlete, perhaps an adjustment of priorities can provide you a spectacular education AND an opportunity to compete in a sport of your passion in college.

Either way, we can help. 914·301·5422