Best time for campus visits is upon us
October 2nd, 2017October is now upon us and it’s the perfect time of the year for campus visits. Leaves are changing and the air is crisp!
Not only are school grounds typically beautiful at this time of the year, but students are now comfortable with their new surroundings and schedules. Visit schools on your list during a normal week if at all possible, rather than on a weekend or during finals week. This will provide great opportunity to see what college or boarding school life is all about and give you a chance to interact with faculty and students.
Before going on a campus visit, I encourage you to be prepared to ask a lot of questions so you can learn as much as possible. Provided below is a link to a thorough list of questions to consider when going to view a school or college for the first time. Many of you have this campus visit guide already; although it’s written for the college search, it’s equally valid for boarding school exploration.
Indiana University mobile pocket guide>>
But wait, there’s more! Whether you are applying to college or boarding school, the article posted below is another wonderful resource. Although written for boarding school families, some of the advice can benefit families looking at colleges, too.
Article referenced below from The Boarding School Review
Read more at Boarding School Review >>
Tagged: Boarding school, Campus visits, College
Use Your PreACT, PSAT performance to choose a college entrance exam
September 5th, 2017Now that most schools are in session, we hope everyone is settling into the groove of routines and schedules again. September is the month for all juniors and some sophomores to register for the October PSAT, so this article is perfectly timed to share. School counselors will share details about the PSAT calendar and how to register.
Many seniors begin the year with plans to retake either the ACT and/or the SAT (some took advantage of the College Board’s August test date). But juniors and their parents often ask how to determine which exam is right for the student. Most of you have discussed with us taking an ACT practice test to compare to the PSAT; according to the US News article linked below, evaluating your performance on the PSAT and the Pre-ACT is also a helpful way to determine which exam is right. We can compare results, consult a concordance table, and then develop a plan for tests and dates to follow.
One important note: although the article suggests otherwise, all colleges weigh the ACT and SAT equally now, so there need not be concern about any college preferring one over the other.
Article referenced below from US News
Choosing between the ACT and SAT is a pivotal decision that all college-bound high school students must make. One of the key steps in reaching an informed decision is to sit for an official practice test – the PreACT or PSAT – which give you a better idea of what to expect when you take the official college entrance exams.
In addition to considering other factors, such as whether your top-choice schools prefer a specific standardized exam, your performance on these pre-exams can help guide you in choosing between the ACT and SAT.
Tagged: ACT, College, High school, SAT
Changing the world one start-up at a time
August 21st, 2017Have you ever had a great idea for a business that you thought could really make a change? Starting a business is not easy and for that reason most great ideas remain dormant. It takes time, resources/money and courage to start up something new, and sometimes it is hard to take that leap of faith and believe that you can make something of your idea.
In today’s article, from NBC News, the story of two young men from Pakistan whose vision became a reality is shared. These young entrepreneurs were encouraged by their Drexel University professor to put forth the effort to create something they believed in. This is a wonderful article that encourages students to harness their creative powers, identify problems in need of solutions, and bring change to the world. To find out more about these young entrepreneurs, click on the article link below.
We’d also like to note that several Shrop Ed advisees have created companies while undergraduates, and some have received wonderful recognition for their ideas. Perhaps you’ll be the next!
Article referenced below from NBC News
Danish Dhamani was painfully self-aware of his accent when he arrived in the U.S. four years ago.
Born in Pakistan and raised in Tanzania, Dhamani was riddled with anxiety at the thought of speaking in class at Drexel University. Worried this would hold him back, he sought out coaching. Dhamani improved over time, and pretty soon it hit him: No one was born a public speaker, but with a little practice, anyone could become one. But what if you don’t have the time, money or motivation to work with a coach?
The 22-year-old mechanical engineering student and his friend Paritosh Gupta, both students at Drexel, decided to create a mobile app that would help users improve their public speaking skills. The duo, who lived in the same dorm their freshmen year and became fast friends, brought that vision to life in the form of Orai.
(You’ll note that sharing the NBC web page with this article are several other articles that do not pertain to to the main story … but if you continue to scroll down once on the page, you’ll find more about student entrepreneurs).
Read more at NBC News >>Tagged: Career, Choices, College, Opportunity, Personal characteristics
