Selecting high school courses
April 17th, 2017Our blog has placed a lot of focus on high school seniors lately as they wrap up the college search process and make major decisions about their academic future. This week, we turn to important decisions high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors will soon be facing, selecting courses for next school year. The high school transcript is the most important document that college admissions officers examine, and on today’s blog we find out how to make your transcript the best it can be.
In the article we share below, posted from the Yale admissions office, insight is given into what Yale admissions officers are looking for. We believe this will help Shrop Ed readers understand what other schools seek, as well. Important take-away from this article: challenge yourself as much as you can, while taking classes that you will excel in and enjoy.
Article published below from Yale Admissions Office website
Many high school sophomores and juniors (and their parents) want to know what courses to take to improve their chances for admission to Yale and other highly competitive colleges. With the caveat that every situation is different, here is some advice to help guide you as you make these decisions.
A Holistic Approach to Admissions
The high school transcript is almost always the most important document in a student’s application. But it is hard to conceive of a situation in which the appearance (or absence) of any one particular class on a transcript would determine the applicant’s outcome. The admissions committee does not make its decisions based on a piecemeal review of an applicant’s recommendations, test scores, activities, or individual elements of a high school transcript. It considers each application as a comprehensive picture of that student.
Read more at Yale Admissions >>Tagged: Applications, College, High school
Cognitive biases: how they might affect your college choice
April 3rd, 2017With the clock ticking towards the May 1 Candidate’s Reply Date, it’s important to use your time wisely. After all, this major enrollment choice will have a huge impact on your academic career. Continue the work we’ve been doing over time: gather as much information as possible about each potential school choice and consider all aspects of the schools on your list. It might be a good idea to revisit your top choice colleges in order to compare the small differences. We also recommend speaking to as many current students as possible in order to gain insight into their experiences, and researching some of the professors in your area of interest.
Juniors and sophomores, we hope you’re paying attention, too. This advice is not only for seniors at the tail end of the college search process!
Amy Brennen, author of the article we share below, gives an interesting perspective on what she believes might be ruining the college selection process today. She offers three biases that are important to contemplate when making your final choice. We appreciate Brennen’s ability to help us dig deeper into this process and really examine our choices, and we’re pleased to have come across her article online.
Article published below by Amy Brennen on LinkedIn
November 9th 2016: Trump’s surprise election victory left the entire the United States in shock. How could Trump win when pundits knew he didn’t have a chance? His victory was not only a wake-up call for many, but also a poignant reminder of how our cognitive biases like overconfidence and confirmation bias can cloud our judgment.
Cognitive biases, i.e. commonly shared tendencies for our brain to think in ways that defy logic, often lead to poor judgments and bad decisions. Yet by becoming aware of our biases, we can begin to fight back against them, an ability that is especially important when it comes to making college decisions.
Read more at LinkedIn >>Tagged: Campus visits, Choices, College
Next steps for any college admission decision
March 27th, 2017Last week many students received their final admission decision letters. For some students, the waiting continues … just a few more days. We’ve been delighted to share in much excitement, some disappointment and, in some cases, questions as to what your next steps should be. Thanks to last week’s post from The Georgia Tech Blog, we all know that during this time we need to “be cool,” but what more, specifically, can you do before making your final enrollment choice?
The article link below offers guidelines to help you contemplate next steps, whether you have been accepted, wait-listed or denied. As always, we are very proud of all our hard-working seniors and we are here to answer any questions you might have during these final weeks of the application process.
Article published below by The Princeton Review
The college decision letters and emails are rolling in. Celebrate your acceptances, stay positive, and strategize with your college counselor about what you’ll do next. Whatever your application status, we have some tips on planning your next move.
If You’re Accepted
If you applied regular decision, you have until May 1 (“Decision Day”) to notify colleges. Here’s what you should do after you receive your college acceptance letters:
Read more at The Princeton Review >>Tagged: Admission decision, Applications, College
Be cool, says Georgia Tech
March 20th, 2017Admission decisions are still looming overhead for many students, although we’re now in the final days for waiting. Whether the news students receive is cause for sorrow or celebration, Richard Clark, in the Georgia Tech blog, provides excellent suggestions on how to “be cool” with whatever decision comes your way.
We can appreciate Clark’s humor, yet we also know it isn’t easy to stay cool if the response isn’t what you were hoping for. We will look forward to hearing news of all kinds in the coming days from Shrop Ed students and helping you navigate through the next step.
Article below published by Georgia Tech blog on March 9, 2017
Written by: Richard Clark
I am not a big fan of having internet access on flights because it is a huge temptation for me to do work in the air. So one of my resolutions for 2017 is to stop getting Wi-Fi on the plane. Instead, I read, write, listen to a podcast, or, depending on the length of the flight, watch a movie. With young kids and a wife who is the romantic comedy queen, it’s a rare thing to get to watch whatever I want to watch.
Chaos Around You…
Last week I was flying to Virginia and watched 13 Hours. It’s a super violent, super intense movie about an attack in Libya on two US compounds/outposts. The movie starts with a US special ops contractor flying into Benghazi. Upon leaving the airport they immediately run into a road block and are boxed in by heavily armed and aggressive rebel fighters. It’s heated and confrontational. Guns are drawn and everyone is yelling at them in Arabic. But the two Americans are unflappable. They’ve been in situations like this before. They don’t raise their voices. They don’t panic. They stay calm and reason with the commander of the opposition force in a firm but balanced manner. Not easy, right? Chaos around you. Lots of voices. Lots of emotions. Lots on the line.
At Georgia Tech, we are going to release Regular Decision notifications in a few days. And over the course of the next month, most schools will also be putting decisions on the streets. So, when you log in to a portal, or receive an email or letter from a school with an admission decision, keep two words in mind: Be Cool. This is on you, because you can’t count on anyone else. Your parents may lose their minds. Your teachers or principal or neighbors or friends may as well. Again, lots of voices, lots of emotions, lots on the line. Two words: Be cool. Allow me to explain.
Read more at Georgia Tech admission blog >>Tagged: Admission decision, Applications, College
