Georgia Tech in Online Education Vanguard
November 14th, 2016Georgia Tech has already developed an online master’s degree program at vastly reduced cost (compared to its campus-based program) and now is dipping a toe in the water regarding undergraduate coursework. Of course, offering a single course for credit online doesn’t replace a full degree program for undergrads, but today’s article link sheds light on Georgia Tech’s thinking in this regard.
Is it time for us to be nudged out of our thinking about the four-year, campus-based undergraduate experience?
Article below published on insidehighered.com November 2, 2016
Written by: Carl Straumshein
The Georgia Institute of Technology is expanding its model of low-cost online computer science education to undergraduates.
The institute on Tuesday said it has partnered with massive open online course provider edX and McGraw-Hill Education to offer a fully online introductory coding course. Initially, the course will be available to anyone as a MOOC with an optional $99 identity-verified certificate. After piloting the course next spring among its own students, Georgia Tech intends to offer another incentive for completion: college credit.
Read more at Inside Higher Ed >>Tagged: Career, College, Online degree program
Evaluate a global university from afar
November 7th, 2016In the midst of application season, it’s easy to be so task-focused that we lose excitement for what the next step is all about. Yet college is exciting! It is, above all, a place where you will build your future and expand your worldview. Most of our students choose a college away from home so they can be challenged by different experiences; some students choose to be even more adventurous and attend a school outside of their home country.
Although contemplating a school outside of the country may be an excellent choice, there are some factors to take into consideration. It may be difficult to visit all of the international universities that you would like to, or you may not be able to travel abroad at all before making your final decision. According to Anayat Durrani, author of the article we’ve linked to today, there are some great ways to assess colleges overseas without visiting in person. We might add that as is so often the case, the advice in Durrani’s article is also highly relevant to families considering boarding schools outside of their home countries.
Article below published October 25, 2016
Written by: Anayat Durrani
When Singaporean-French student Claire Deplanck and her parents began researching potential universities abroad, they used all available resources – and did so from their home in the Philippines.
Not all prospective international students have the luxury of visiting university campuses abroad. They have visa issues to contend with, as well as time constraints and travel costs. But there are other ways to adequately assess a university without visiting.
Read more at US News >>
Tagged: Applications, Campus visits, College, Travel
College applications: coming down the home stretch
October 24th, 2016In last week’s blog we shared tips to help you motivate yourself if you’re having a bit of a mid-semester slump. Some students feel overwhelmed at this time of the year when it comes to completing quality work on time, and seniors have the added overlay of college applications.
In order to finish your applications with excellence it is very important to work well ahead of published deadlines, allowing ample time to proofread and make sure your work is at its highest level. In previous years we’ve heard reports of technical glitches happening on the due date for many colleges; by submitting applications ahead of deadlines, this can be avoided. Thank goodness, we’ve never had a Shrop Ed student caught at the final hour in this way. However, some seniors are still working on finishing applications due November 1, and other deadlines will come up quickly!
The article posted below, published by US News, gives great tips for avoiding application mistakes, so we wanted to share this excellent set of recommendations as you come into the final stretch.
Article below published September 11, 2013
Written by: Courtney Rubin
Colleges are sure to find your international baccalaureate degree impressive – but not if you call it an “international bachelorette” on your application. That’s a spell-check-induced gaffe cited by deans of admission at more than a couple schools.
What are some other mistakes that drive college admissions staffers crazy – and sometimes send the applicant straight to the rejection pile? U.S. News asked pros from around the country to weigh in on what they’d strongly rather you not do. Here are some of the highlights.
Read more at US News >>Tagged: Applications, College
Can campus tours be vacation opportunities?
October 10th, 2016Fall has arrived in Kentucky and here at the ShropEd office, we consider this college and boarding school touring season. Choosing the university or school you attend is one of the largest investment decisions you will make during your lifetime (not only on financial terms) so we believe it is important to take a close look at your options. This is usually a beautiful time to visit campuses; not only are the leaves changing colors, but school spirit is in full bloom during football season and classes are in session so you can get a feel for what your school or college experience will be like.
While you may think that looking through brochures and “googling” the school of your choice is just as good as seeing it in person, there really is nothing like first-hand experience. The article we’ve posted today, written by Elaine Glusac for The New York Times, shares ways to make college visits more enjoyable for parents and kids.
We love Glusac’s list and suggestions for making these trips into more of a vacation for everyone. Although written with college in mind, this article is equally applicable to families visiting boarding schools.
Article below published September 22, 2016
Written by: Elaine Glusac
At Amherst College in Amherst, Mass., my family, including our son, prospective applicant Seth, enjoyed the natural history museum and spied on swim team practice. At Colby College in Waterville, Me., we appreciated the colonial architecture and the modern art collection. At the University of Chicago, we loved the Hogwarts-like reading room and the pierogi truck.
So it goes with college campus visits, a mix of research and entertainment through which high schoolers shop for their academic future.
Read more at The New York Times >>Tagged: Boarding school, Campus visits, College
