Study: grit as an indicator of college success
May 1st, 2017Have you ever heard the word “grit” used to describe a successful student? I wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t, but it has become a buzzword in the education community. The word encompasses three characteristics: persistence, determination and resilience. These traits are often more difficult to quantify than test scores and GPA, but college admissions offices are beginning to incorporate this into their process for determining college success.
The article posted today comes from the NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) website. In this post, author Tara Nicola shares a study that was used to look into the predictive power of grit. We’re excited to see more studies proving that it is important for colleges to incorporate more cognitive traits into their selection process.
Article below published on the NACAC website on February 14, 2017
Underlying the college admission process is the principle that colleges should strive to accept the most academically talented students. What are the factors that best predict academic success in college?
Historically, postsecondary institutions have relied on quantitative indicators such as high school GPA and standardized test scores to assess a student’s academic potential, and with good reason—there is strong evidence linking these factors with academic performance in college. Yet such measures are neither foolproof, nor do they capture key non-cognitive characteristics, like motivation, enthusiasm, and maturity, which also impact academic outcomes.
Read more at National Association for College Admission Counseling >>Tagged: Choices, College, Personal characteristics
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
Not Yet: the power of believing that you can improve
December 12th, 2016Each and every day we are challenged with difficulty at work, school and even in our social lives. The question is, how do we cope?
Do you get discouraged and give up? Or do you have the mentality to push through it and strategize for a way to defeat the obstacles that lie ahead? In the link posted below, from TED Talks, Dr. Carol Dweck talks about the benefits of the “not yet” mindset. Read on for her great advice about how we can start taking steps in the “not yet” direction.
Link below posted by TED Talks in December 2014
Presentation by Dr. Carol Dweck
The power of yet.
I heard about a high school in Chicago where students had to pass a certain number of courses to graduate, and if they didn’t pass a course, they got the grade “Not Yet.” And I thought that was fantastic, because if you get a failing grade, you think, I’m nothing, I’m nowhere. But if you get the grade “Not Yet” you understand that you’re on a learning curve. It gives you a path into the future.
Read more at TED Talks >>Tagged: Choices, Personal characteristics
A plea for harmony and understanding
December 5th, 2016“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
– Written by: Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)
The recent turmoil on college campuses has been splashed all over news headlines since the presidential election in November. Episodes of hatred toward minorities, protests and rallies have been spreading like wildfire. One story we want to share that hits close to home is about two Jewish professors who were recently targeted by this hatred. The article to which we link below, written by Colleen Flaherty for Inside Higher Ed, reminds us that it is never too soon to begin working together in harmony. We each have a responsibility to speak up in the face of bigotry and hatred in our schools, our colleges, our workplaces, our communities. Let’s do all that we can to improve the world around us and speak up on behalf of those who need our help.
Article published on Inside Higher Ed November 28, 2016
Written by: Colleen Flaherty
Jewish faculty members on two campuses were the targets of anti-Semitic language and threats in the last few weeks. Two doesn’t make a trend, but the incidents do echo other instances of hate seen on college campuses in the days since the presidential election — and they come amid reports since the election of swastikas drawn in various locations on a number of campuses.
Benjamin Kuperman, associate professor and chair of computer science at Oberlin College, and his wife reportedly heard tapping sounds outside their home early in the morning on Nov. 17. They opened the front door to discover smashed seashells and a note behind their mezuzah, a small case that contains parchment with verses from the Torah, which many Jews place on their door frames. The note read, in glued letters, “Gas Jews Die,” according to the local Chronicle-Telegram.
Read more at Inside Higher Ed >>Tagged: Choices, Personal characteristics
