Check your email! A crucial habit for college applicants
January 21st, 2020In today’s world we are always connected. Cell phones have created a new way to communicate and respond immediately that is much faster and quite frankly more enjoyable than the way things used to be. Long gone are the days of “snail mail” where response time could take almost a week.
For teenagers, email is typically not the first means of communication and understandably so. Sifting through junk mail to find the important pieces of communication can be a turn-off, and replies don’t arrive as quickly as with texting!
However, email is still a very important way to communicate in the world of school, work, and especially college admissions. In the article linked below, the Chicago Tribune helps you understand the importance of staying on top of all the information being sent your way so that you don’t miss anything.
Article referenced below from Chicago Tribune, published December 19, 2019 written by Dawn Rhodes
Teenagers don’t use email — colleges do. That’s a problem during college admissions season
Amber Fitzgerald never uses email.
When the 18-year-old started applying to colleges this year, the crush of messages flooding her inbox made her stop checking it.
“I get 10 emails a day just from two colleges,” said Fitzgerald, a senior at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. “If I go a week (without checking) we’re talking 100 emails easily from schools I’m not even interested in.”
Email is not the default for most teenagers, but it remains the primary avenue for colleges to communicate with prospective and current students. That can mean aggravation for college-bound teens and their families at the time of year when schools send critical admissions and financial aid information mostly via email.
Read more at Chicago Tribune>>
Tagged: Boarding school, College, Communication
A summer job or internship can change your life
June 25th, 2019Summer break lends the perfect opportunity to gain real world experience through an internship or summer job. Teenagers who take on this responsibility can foster skills in organization, time management, and self-confidence. And sometimes these opportunities can lead to a better understanding of their field of interest.
In today’s blog post we share an article written for graduate students working on summer internships. Why?
Believe it or not, it’s equally relevant to high school and college students. The most important thing you can do this summer is make the most of your time. Use each opportunity as a learning experience whether it’s an internship, or paid or volunteer work. This will lead to a proactive approach and can help you not only determine your future goals … but reach them!
Article linked below from Inside HigherEd, published June 12, 2019 by Andrew Bishop
For many grad students, summer is a chance to leave the classroom and have a new experience outside of the university environment. Some programs (like mine) require students to participate in a summer internship within their respective disciplines so that they can practice newly acquired skills, explore potential career paths, and build their resume. Internships can provide you with a new lens through which you can contextualize your work and see where you fit in the broader field.
The problem with internships is that they can often be hit-or-miss. While some organizations have a robust program that allows interns to dive into engaging projects and receive mentorship, others are ill-equipped and barely have enough work to fill one’s time. As an undergraduate, I had internships across this spectrum. I remember the excitement of digging into research on education policy that came with one internship, but also the boredom that came with another.
Read more at Inside HigherEd>>
Tagged: Boarding school, College, High school, Opportunity, Summer, volunteer
Make summer break count!
June 11th, 2019Summer is finally here! Go ahead, relax. Daydream. Enjoy some downtime, which you deserve after all your hard work this school year.
There is such a thing as too much downtime, though, so how can you find the right combination of constructive activities and relaxation? Balance is the key during summer months.
Students still looking for summer ideas can find many valuable experiences that can shape good workers, learners and people. Summer break is the perfect time to delve deeper into your passions, things you don’t necessarily have time to explore deeply during the school year.
Today, we share an article written by Lee Shulman Bierer, a fellow educational consultant. Her article may help you find wonderful ways to fill summer break openings with meaningful activities that can benefit you in the long run.
Article written by Lee Shulman Bierer for College Admissions Strategies
Perhaps you’re not one of those super-organized, type-A people who firmed up their summer plans last January. And, right about now you’re finding yourself with more than a little free time this summer. Don’t worry, you’re not alone and the best news is that there are still some good options out there.
What’s the best way for high school students to spend their summer?
You might be surprised when I tell you that relaxing and having some fun is near the top of my list. But, let’s be clear, it isn’t the only thing on my list. Students should dabble in some type of career experience; it could be job-shadowing at an orthodontist office, interning with a physical therapist, volunteering on a local political campaign or at an animal rescue shelter or tutoring neighborhood children in reading or math. Don’t wait until the summer before senior year to do this, this is great advice for rising sophomores and juniors too. One of the objectives of the summer break should be to test the waters and try to figure out what career fields or college majors might be of interest.
Read more at College Admissions Strategies>>
Tagged: Boarding school, College, High school, Opportunity, Summer
Ready, Set, Go: finishing the year strong
April 30th, 2019Warm weather is bringing about much excitement in the Bluegrass. As flowers bloom and Derby Day nears, we know that summer will soon be here.
With celebrations and year-end activities being planned, it can be challenging to maintain plenty of energy for the final weeks of the school year. Don’t let that end-of-the-year fatigue set in! Consider the school year a marathon, not a sprint – do you really want to slow down and walk across the finish line? Or would you rather push yourself to finish strong? Remember your long-term goals and how important your academic success is to achieving them.
Students at all grade levels can still make the most of the remainder of the school year. Yes, even seniors who have college plans secured should strive for their strongest finish yet. With the right effort, you can keep it all together through this home stretch. Summer will be your near-term reward.
When thinking of ways to encourage all of you to finish the year with a flourish, an email surfaced in my inbox. Jim Siverts, a retired business owner, sent a link to his exceptional website built to help college students manage their time effectively. His site helps students create a solid study plan, which can increase success dramatically. We think it may also be a great tool for high school and middle school students, and hope you’ll give it a try. The best part is, the web version is free and there could soon be a mobile app version. If you’d like to learn more, visit Siverts’s website: www.howtostudyincollege.com.
Tagged: Boarding school, College, Graduation, High school, Summer
