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To do: application updates

February 1st, 2022

It’s February! You’ve done the work; applications have been submitted and now you’re supposed to relax and just wait, right? Well, maybe not!

Sitting back and relaxing is not all that easy while you play the waiting game. I’m asked all the time if there is anything students can do to improve their chances after applying, and the answer is yes, particularly if weeks or even months have elapsed since application submission.

Whether you’ve applied Regular Decision or been deferred through an Early plan, sending updates through college admission portals or writing letters can be helpful. Discuss new academic interests and projects, along with any new extracurricular accomplishments, research progress, etc.

Some colleges indicate through their “update guidance” that they want to know how serious an applicant you are. So, letting a school know it’s your top choice and why can be beneficial, too, if you have clarity about that.

The information in the article linked below from Medium, although aimed at college applicants, is useful for college and boarding school applicants alike.

Article linked below from Medium, published on February 15, 2019 written by Theo Wolf

Guide to Sending an Update to Colleges After Applying

So you’ve sent in your applications and now you’re nervously waiting to hear back. You might be wondering if there’s anything more you can do to help sway the decision. The answer is yes! While we don’t recommend inundating the admissions office with updates (there’s a classic story known in college admissions circles about a kid who sent postcards to the admissions office every week), in some cases it can be helpful to send an update to the schools you’ve applied to.

Should I submit an update?

You should submit an update to colleges if you have made significant progress in some aspect of your candidacy story, whether you’ve greatly developed your Spike, won a major award, received serious recognition from a well-known website, etc. If you haven’t done anything noteworthy, an update email is unnecessary, as it will be unlikely to move the needle on your application and may actually annoy admissions officers (they have a massive amount of reading to do this time of year). You don’t need to send an update on grades (unless it’s requested of you), since that will be in your counselor’s midyear report. We particularly recommend an update if the college cares about demonstrated interest.

First-year files: The “special sauce” at University of Chicago

January 18th, 2022

The new year is a great time to reflect on the year past: the challenges, the joys, and all the experiences created. I like to encourage Shrop Ed advisees who are now in their first year of college to look back on their first semester. These insights and experiences can often help younger students as college choice decisions are near.

In today’s installment of “first-year files,” a student who attends the University of Chicago after taking a gap year shares her experiences. This post is a great distillation of University of Chicago’s intellectual environment, which I consider its “special sauce,” and I am delighted Jenny is willing to be so candid. I believe this is a great read for students as they continue to decide what direction their lives will take.

Jenny’s first year experience from University of Chicago shared below….

I loved my first quarter at UChicago. I took a gap year before coming to college, and to me, being at college combines the best of being in high school and being on gap year––––I have the school community and daily schedule of high school to ensure my productivity, but I also have much greater freedom to make my own schedule and decide what to pursue like throughout my gap year.

I took math, physics, and a core humanities class called Philosophical Perspectives this past quarter. In my philosophy class, we studied ethics through books like Plato’s Five Dialogues and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. Our class discussed topics such as “Is anyone really morally responsible for their actions?” and “If someone you love becomes unvirtuous, should you stop loving them?” In my physics class, we built upon students’ knowledge from AP Mechanics and learned techniques for solving physics problems. The coolest part of our class was that our professor was part of the team of physicists who discovered the Higgs-boson particle. After our final, he hosted a social event for our class and shared his experience of working with scientists all over the world on experimental particle physics.

I’ve enjoyed all three of my classes, yet my math class, Honors Real Analysis I, stood out the most. It is the most difficult class I’ve ever taken but also the most rewarding. The class was fast paced: we covered Treil’s Linear Algebra Done Wrong and Rudin’s Principles of Mathematical Analysis in nine weeks. I spent many nights and weekends in the library reading textbooks and doing problem sets with my friends, but I don’t regret any second of it for the beauty of mathematics the class has shown me. It was my favorite class this quarter, and I’ve tentatively decided on a math major based on my experience.

Aside from finding the classes incredibly engaging, I also felt a sense of community and strong intellectual atmosphere at UChicago. Unlike in high school, where I sometimes felt like students separate into cliques based on athletic abilities, academic interests, or cultural backgrounds, in college, I’ve found it much easier to talk to students who, upon first glance, seem completely different from me. Additionally, students here have more diverse passions and stronger interests in intellectual discussions. I know someone whose goal is to join psychology academia and research human happiness, but he also loves soccer and Go. Another friend of mine could have pursued music professionally, but decided instead to study physics and keeps a 20-pages+ google doc of her physics theory ideas. UChicago students diverge in their interests, social-cultural backgrounds, and beliefs, but I think most of us share a hunger for knowledge and eagerness to make our mark in the world, and that, to me, makes the school an inspiring place to be.

We’re grateful to Jenny for her generosity in sharing experiences with others, and wish her continued success at UChicago!

Tagged: Freshman files, Liberal arts

Dreaming of warm summer days…

January 4th, 2022

January 1st marks the date when people all over the world make a list of resolutions for the upcoming year: go to bed earlier, begin a new workout routine, etc. Sound familiar? What if this year your resolutions were more connected to educational goals in order to expand your interests? Warmer days may seem like a lifetime away, but it is never too early to get a head start on planning for summer activities that will help you achieve those goals.

The long break in school is the perfect opportunity for students to find activities that promote personal growth and satisfaction. Whether you participate in volunteer opportunities, a part-time job or take a college course, try to create a balanced yet rewarding experience. Even if your summer plans are not academic in nature, there is still value in sticking with something that increases maturity, self-discipline and potential for college success.

Our friends at College MatchPoint have published a great resource that will help you determine the right opportunity for a positive impact this summer. This summer planning guide linked below offers excellent advice as well as a worksheet to help you accomplish your goals for summer 2022. I can’t wait to hear what your plans will be!

Article linked below from College Match Point: Guide to Summer Planning 2022

GUIDE TO SUMMER PLANNING 2022 EDITION

For many of today’s college-bound high school students, summer is
no longer nine weeks of total relaxation, but rather an opportunity
to spend time actively working, learning new skills, or diving deeper
into an area (or areas) of interest. Summer is the perfect time to
take calculated risks that push students into unfamiliar situations,
build skills, and enrich life experiences. Planning is the key to finding
the most rewarding experience.

We encourage students to consider what they enjoy, what areas they
could improve in, and what their goals for the future are in order
to decide what to do over the summer. With any activity students
choose to participate in, there should be opportunities to help
them learn more about themselves by expanding their interests,
gaining new experiences, or taking on responsibilities. Whether or
not it’s going to help in the college process should be secondary to
having a good growth experience.

While we don’t quite know what this summer might look like, the
summers of 2020 and 2021 showed us that students will be able to
find activities that work in a virtual environment, and in doing so,
they’ll learn more about themselves. With some creativity, they can
find new ways to engage in their interests and develop new skills.
Bonus points if they make a positive impact on others in their
community in the meantime.

Seize the days of winter break!

December 21st, 2021

Winter break comes at a time when students could use a little breather from daily routines. With little homework and few school obligations, you can finally slow down and spend some quality time with family and friends. Believe it or not, a little rest and relaxation can unleash productivity! So while I do believe in the importance of down time, I also think winter break can be an opportunity to get a few things accomplished.

For high school seniors, regular decision application deadlines are imminent. This rings true for boarding school applicants, too, as some deadlines fall in early January. Tweak your applications and make final revisions to your essays. Tackle remaining work thoughtfully while you have the time, and you’ll feel less overwhelmed in the new year. Your future self will thank you!

For younger students who aren’t in the midst of admission application season, this time off of school can still be productive. Whether you choose to pick up a new hobby or get organized for the new year, the article linked below from classrooms.com will give you some fantastic ideas about how best to seize the days of winter break.

Article linked below from classrooms.com, published on November 15, 2021 by Carolina Brown

Making the Most of Your Winter Break

It’s finally here. You’ve worked hard throughout the semester and have earned your break. Whether you’re in high school or college, you’re sure to be ready for a break after months of endless homework, quizzes, and tests. Winter break is a great time to relax and unwind while preparing yourself for the upcoming semester.

3 Ways to Continue Your Learning

Nobody said you have to relax all winter break if you don’t feel like it. You might find that it pays to keep your brain active and focused on learning things, even if you have a break away from your courses.