Out of State Problems

Things to know about Out of State:

When looking at schools, you tend to look at your In-State schools, or private schools.
Well don’t be fooled, there are plenty of awesome state schools that are great, even out of state.

So while searching, check out some out-of-state state schools. They might surprise you in their awesomeness.

But here are 3 things to know when you’re applying or attending out-of-state

1.    The numbers don’t apply to you

While looking at a school, you will check the average SAT/ACT/GPA and, hopefully, breathe a sigh of relief when you see that you’re right in that zone.
Don’t be fooled though, for most state school the standards are much higher for out-of-state students.
If you’re concerned about it, I would email your regional dean (or talk to a rep) and ask what the out of state to in state application ratio is. I know for my school it’s 2/3 of the applicants applying for 1/3 of the spots (out of state).
If your school has Naviance (or any kind of record of who applied/got in) check it out. The results might surprise you.

2.    They still might be cheaper than a comparable private… but the aid may not be there

While looking you might notice that the sticker price for the school is pretty great. It’s thousands of dollars cheaper than similar private school. BUT financial aid at a state school, out of state, is mediocre at best. So keep a close eye on that while evaluating. The resources are going to go to the in-state students first, every time.

3.    Culture Shock

When you go to a school in a new region of the country some things are bound to be different. This difference is only emphasized when at least 2/3 of the student body is from the area.
The high numbers of instate students can also be a little scary because it seems like everyone knows each other. This dissipates after the first few weeks, but can be intimidating at first.

You can get used to anything… but some things may always be strange.
I will never understand why there would be gravy at breakfast, nor will I ever truly understand the appeal of grits. But that is, in part, why I love my school so much. The strange little things that you don’t find back at home.

I’m absolutely in love with my out-of-state school. But there are a few pitfalls that you need to be prepared for while looking. Avoid being a fish out of water by keeping a close eye on the in-state and out-of-state differences.
 

Head and Heart

Head and Heart



Seniors, we’re coming down to the end here. You’re very nearly done, but for some of you there’s a decision that has to be made. The big one.
Where are you going to college.



For many you started out with a list of 10 or so applications, and those choices were cut down by the schools themselves.
Often, other factors have led to even more schools being taken off. Maybe you didn’t get enough money, or you got into the more academically rigorous version of the same school.
And for many, you’re down to two equal, but different choices.



So today it’s time to pro: con list.
But instead of two lists, you’re going to make four.



For each of the two schools, you’re going to make a head and a heart list, with at least one pro and one con for each.

This decision is a combination of head and heart, and both should be weighted and used.
If you don’t have a strong “heart” feeling for the schools, and the head can really make things easy(head usually coming down to money). Having an overly strong “heart” feeling towards one can put all of the head factors into perspective.

Below is my actual head/heart list for my two 2 schools.


For me, the head and the heart were both very strong for school A (the school I attend) but school B was a strong contender for me. Seeing it written out, the size and name weight of the school were far less important to me than everything else, and my decision was easy.


So when you’re down to your final two, evaluate the head and the heart of each.

It's the Little Things: Traditions

School Traditions and what you can learn from them

I write this post on a Wednesday to post on a Friday.

Why?

Because Friday is my school’s infamous Last Day of Classes.

While I do not usually participate in certain activities associated with the last day of classes, the tradition at my school is that everyone wears matching shirts with their clubs/Greek organizations/singing groups/sports teams/etc. and has a big party on the quad. This party often includes bouncy castles and free food. Then, late at night, there is a giant event called “Pancake House” which provides the students with free pancakes, bacon, juice or milk, and entertainment.

It is a fun day. It is a long day. And, as this is college, it also includes a lot of alcohol. Before class, in class, after class and well into the night. That part is not really supported by my school… In fact, you can win a free T-Shirt for blowing a 0.0 at 6PM (and they’re cool this year).

Most schools have some version of this day of fun (though I’ve been reliably told that we’re the only school where the student’s drink in class), a party weekend or a big concert. A general day-of-fun to help everyone blow off steam.

Homecoming is the version of this at many schools.

So, as important as academics are, when you’re looking at schools look for the traditions. Both official and unofficial.

An official tradition is something like the Last Day of Classes at my school (big party, matching shirts, pancake house, free t-shirt for sobriety). An unofficial tradition is that everyone drinks all day.

So see what cool, fun traditions your school has. It can be everything from a big concert to a parade and carnival for the students. A cool graduation tradition (I know that Colgate has an absolutely terrifying tradition where they give all the seniors (in their flammable graduation robes) torches and they walk down a hill, while people throw them beer and other drinks… Safe guys… really safe). Or just a tradition that happens all year round (is there anything you “have” to do before you graduate?), I know my school has one of the craziest ones around. 

And then ask the students about the “unofficial” traditions as well.

Why?

The unofficial traditions can tell you a lot about the school. The environment, the sense of humor, the community.

Also- most of them are just plain fun!

College is a time of learning and growth. But each college has their own traditions as well. So find out what their traditions are, because they make each of the schools unique.

Your Tour Toolbox

Your tour toolbox

When it comes time to tour colleges (Junior summer, hey-oh!) you might think you have nothing to worry about. All you’ve gotta do is jump in the car and walk around. If you’re not interviewing, no pressure, right?

Well… mostly right. But that doesn’t mean that you should ever go in unprepared!

Here are some things to have ready to go when you’re touring a school.

1. A map of the area (phone or on a navigation system) and the exact street address of the admissions office. Even if there are signs, Murphy’s law states that you’re going to get lost. Prepare for that with a map (digital or physical) and an address. It will save you time and a panic attack later

2. Comfortable shoes. I know you want to look cute, but seriously, you’re going to do a lot of walking and it’s very likely that the campus will be hilly. Be prepared.

3. Umbrella. Just in case, have a small umbrella waiting to go. Check the weather before you pack, but always be prepared. I don’t care if it’s the world’s most perfect school, if you’re wet and cold you won’t enjoy the tour.

4. Water and snacks. Tour days can be a bit exhausting. In the summer they can be crazy hot as well. Be ready for that with a bottle of water (don’t pay vending machine prices) and a snack or two.

5. Questions. Don’t go into a tour blind. Do a bit of research on the school. If you want to ask questions about a specific department, go for it, the worst they can say is “I don’t know.” You’re talking to a student, and they’ll have the best information available. So go in with a few school-specific things you want to know about. They can be extracurricular (I know I always asked about theatre) or academic.
My personal favorite question is “where don’t I want to live freshman year?” The answer they give is very indicative of the school (and if they say all of the freshman dorms are awesome they are lying).  

You’re going on an adventure! Why leaving the bubble is a great idea

When you’re applying to schools, you might notice that there are some “typical” places people from your high school attend. They might be the state schools, or the “best” schools that are close by. They might be a big party school not too far off.

And some people love the idea of going off to College with their best friends. There’s security. You don’t need to worry about losing touch, or not having friends at school. You know plenty of people who are older and can guide you through it.

But going outside of the bubble has its advantages too.

When you leave the bubble, you get a truly clean slate. While this is less of a concern for many, it’s nice to be able to start without any preconceived notions. You can be friends with people without having to worry about them remembering the time you pushed them at recess in second grade. You can date whomever you want, because you don’t have to worry about who’s ex you might be crushing on.
You can meet people who didn’t see you all throughout your incredible awkward phase.

Being in a new place, without any real history, can help you grow. You are doing what you want without any preconceived notions as to who you are. And that’s great.

While I’d say that it’s hard to truly reinvent yourself, because at some level you are who you are, you can shake off some of the old stigmas attached to you.

Additionally, it’s great to be exposed to people from all walks of life.

If you’re a life-long private school kid, you may have never had friends outside of your socioeconomic group before. Geographic diversity is another really cool thing that you might provide if you go far enough outside the bubble.

For example: I took a class this semester called “Adolescent Seminar” which was all about development and research on teenagers. One of the big topics that came up, and best debates we had, was about sexual education.
Coming from a super liberal high school in a super liberal state, I had never heard any of the “Abstinence Only” education tactics before. But my classmates, by and large, had only learned about abstinence in High School sex-ed. It was really interesting to see everyone’s different backgrounds, and what people from different places were taught.

Another thing about going outside of the bubble is that it’s going to teach you some skills you might not have learned otherwise. One week into freshman year my school was evacuated for Hurricane Irene and I spent a week at my roommate’s house because it was too far for me to travel home. That week taught me a lot of things.
Or simple things like having to pack myself up at the end of the year. Or that when I get sick it is really up to me to do what I have to do. If my parent’s were a short car-ride away it wouldn’t be that easy.

All in all, I really recommend at least looking at some schools outside of your bubble. The clean slate and independence are really nice, and a great catalyst for real growth.

School Search Tools: “Similar Schools”

There IS something to use US-News for (besides kindling)-  the “Similar Schools” tool. (Regular readers of CollegeApp Chick just fell out of their chairs) As you can probably tell, I strongly dislike rankings for schools, as I think ranks are really a terrible tool for selection.
BUT: US News is not completely without value. While I think you should ignore the numerical rankings, they do have one really awesome school search tool.

“Similar Schools”

“Similar Schools” are a goldmine of branching out. They’re my absolute favorite thing for looking for schools. They’ll help you find more things to add to your list, and usually outside of your area.

They’re schools with similar geography, personality, academics, rigor, or prestige to the one you are looking at.
Most college guides also have tools like this, but the US News one is online so we’ll use that for today.

So lets start with a student profile:

Boy. 4.0 weighted average with mostly AP and honors classes. Extensive leadership in orchestra and captain of a sports team. 2100/31 ACT. Works at a summer camp over their summers.

And he is very interested in going to an artsy, urban school.

So his ideal school is NYU, and he can’t really think of anywhere else he’d like to go.

So he goes look at US News NYU page, and this little box catches his eye

He doesn’t have the package for Columbia or Cornell, but he gives BU a nice little click. BU ends up being a nice fit, so it goes on the list.
Then he looks at the “Similar Schools” box from BU and sees these options, and decides Northeastern seems like a cool place to look.

He had never considered Boston schools before, but both of these schools fit his qualifications nicely.
Lets say he also likes Bard College (also in NY). A look at that tool shows him two new hipster-intellectual zones to check out. While he’s not too fond of the west coast, he’s happy to take a little look at Oberlin, even though it’s overly rural. He finds on his visit that he actually really likes rural schools.


While looking at Ohio schools, he takes a sneak peek at Kenyon college, and decides that’s the place for him.
From a big city school to a small liberal arts, he’s found an unexpected match.
All thanks to 6 degrees of separation and using the “Similar Schools” tool.

These chains are really fun to go through, and can really help you find things you like but may not have looked at before.
Make sure to look very closely at the stats for the new schools, because although students may have a lot of overlap you might be reaching a bit high.

Also, for you college enthusiasts, there’s a fun game called “Find Harvard” where you start with any random school and try to get linked back to Harvard (your best bet is to try to get geographically closer to Boston, or if you’re on the west coast or deep south, Stanford, those will get you a few clicks away).

Finals Week at CollegeApp Chick

Welcome to Finals Week on CollegeApp Chick!

I have finals Monday (4/29), Tuesday, and two on Thursday. I will then be driving home 10 hours on Friday (5/3).

As such, I am writing all of the posts in advance. I will still probably be answering questions (I do need study breaks of course), but I am currently writing the posts for next week.

If you have any suggestions for columns, or big questions you want answered article-style, send me a message/ask/inbox/ or email me at CollegeAppChick@gmail.com

You’re all the best! Good luck on APs and with final decisions.
I’ll be back to regular posts and activity on May 6^th (My 20^th birthday! Wahoo!)

Find a mentor, be a mentor

The transition from high school to college is a terrifying one. You are going into uncharted waters, and you’re going to feel a little lost. But there is always someone who can help you find the way, if you’re willing to ask.

So, as you near the end of high school, find yourself a mentor.

A mentor is someone who’s a little older and wiser, who can help you through scary things like senior year and entering college. You might find them in your classes, clubs, or just through mutual friends. They’re someone who you look up to, admire, and who seems to have it all together. They can give you advice and help you sort out your feelings.

A mentor is a little different from an advisor because they’re your age and they’ve just been through whatever you’re going through. They’re there for you and they’re going to vouch for you when the time comes.

The qualities you want to look for in a mentor:

Encouraging – They aren’t going to be a Debbie downer about your goals and dreams.
Good Listener- Sometimes you just need to vent to get your thoughts out. A good mentor will listen to your rants, and help you collect your thoughts. 
Have it “Together” – Though mentors may be busy with their own lives, they are organized and available to you when you really need them

Knowledgeable/Wise- They know what they’re talking about. Obviously they don’t know everything, but they know enough to be an asset.

Helpful- They’re there for you to help you. They can give you advice and guidance that you agree with and take to heart. A mentor isn’t worth having if you don’t like the advice they give.

Most of the time you will come by a mentor organically. You’ll find people in your family, extracurriculars, or classes who you mesh well with and look to for guidance. Some high schools have entire programs where older students are matched up with younger students to give them help. If your HS doesn’t have that, think about whom you often go to for help. It might be a friend, it might be someone else.
Don’t be shy to ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness or incompetence; it’s a sign of maturity and knowing what you want. You don’t have to be super formal about it, “will you be my mentor?”
You can be organic, and just say, “hey I need help with ____, can you give me some advice?”

A mentor will be there for you.

I was lucky enough to have two older sisters who I am close with who helped me find my way. Though I have a stubborn independent streak a mile wide, I was willing to ask for help when I really needed guidance, and it put me on the right path. In particular, they ripped my college essays apart so I could build them up again. They pointed me towards the summer program that was the make-or-break moment for theatre and me. They encouraged me to seek out my goals and stop caring about what others think.

In college I have an official mentor, my big. While we’re often very mutual on our advice giving, she’s really helped me grow academically and as a leader. It also helps that she’s ridiculously smart and is going to UPenn for her masters (so I will be hitting her up when it comes time for me to apply to grad school).

If you have an amazing mentor who can guide you, pay it forward. Take your younger friends under your wing. Find someone with potential and no guidance and be there for them.

Part of why I love college advising is that I love polishing the jewels in the rough. Everyone I’ve ever worked with has so much potential, is so uniquely amazing, can do so many great things. But sometimes people need a little guidance. They need a shove in the right direction, or a bit of tough love. They need someone to take a peek at how they’re presenting themselves and say, “This is great, but you’re so much more than what you’ve said. What about this?”

And the best part of being a mentor? Seeing your mentees flourish, spread their wings, achieve what is great.

One of my closest friends is someone who I totally took under my wing in high school, and she’s like a sister to me. She was also one of my first college advising lab-rats. Watching her apply to a school she never even thought about, get in, and have an amazing freshman year has been one of the best experiences of my life. She needed a bit of a push, a bit of guidance and help, and a lot of late night chats. But she’s done it, and she’s on her way.

If there’s someone who’s been there for you, thank them. A good mentor is hard to find, but one of the most important relationships you can foster.

AP Tips: Prioritize and Memorize

Those gross pesky nasty things called AP exams are just on the horizon. While I’m rather skeptical of their actual value, the fact is that you’re paying a lot of money for them and its deeply ingrained in us that we must study for all of our exams.

So as someone who took TEN AP exams in high school (and got 4s and 5s on all of them) here are my two biggest tips for sitting for APs.

Number 1: Prioritize

           

Many of us take 2-5 exams a year, and for many it’s just not possible to do amazingly well on that many comprehensive, difficult exams in such a short period of time (college finals do not really understand this).
So if you’re sitting for more than one AP exam, I would highly encourage you to rank them in order of importance, and study accordingly.

Lets say, hypothetically, you are attending a school/looking at schools that take only 5s as credit (word to the wise, taking higher placement is largely useless and/or hurting yourself).
You are signed up for 5 exams: Micro, Lit, Calc AB, Environmental Science, and Psychology. 

So your goal should be to get as many 5s as possible, but if you spread out the studying equally, you probably won’t get any.

So what do you do? You evaluate your chances to maximize the 5s.
You know you are a poor writer, so a 5 on AP Lit is very unlikely as the essay is such a big part of the grade. So you decide to bite the bullet on that one and do not study at all.

You are very good at Calc and are confident about your abilities to do well, but you know you’ll need to spend time studying formulas, and go in and get a bit of tutoring done for some of the trickier part of the course. It takes a good amount of time, but not spending time on Lit has freed that up.

You like environmental science, psychology, and micro, but you also know that they’re all very vocab heavy tests. You decide that you are the least likely to get a 5 in micro, just off of your class performance, and will study for environmental and psychology instead.

What is that, they’re vocab heavy? Huh?

Most AP exams (outside of math and English) live and die on vocabulary terms. While you want to make sure you have core concepts and formulas down (particularly in economics and sciences) the majority of multiple-choice questions come down to do you know what this is? So make an effort to really drill that vocab, it will help.
This is also true on the essays, where often you will need to understand causes and effects, but knowing what something is will help you answer it.

So when you’re taking AP exams, especially if you’re taking a lot of them, prioritize the exams, and study the vocab.

A few more myths: Busted

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A few more myths: Busted

Every once in a while, while I’m doing research (or, lets be honest, looking at college confidential threads) I come across a statement that is just objectively wrong. These are myths that just won’t die, no matter how illogical they seem. So here are some more college myths (some I’ve mentioned before, some new) that need to be busted.

Myth 1: You get 300 points on the SAT for spelling your name right

I’ve mentioned this one before, but I’ll do it again.
This myth is partially true; you do get an automatic 300 points on the SAT.
BUT it’s not for spelling your name right. It’s for sitting your butt down in the chair and taking the test (which, lets be fair, you deserve those points, the SAT is stressful!)

But you can totally misspell your name and it won’t affect your score.
It can make things a bit difficult with reporting if you really screw up, but if you accidently fill a bubble out wrong for your name it won’t change things. 

I know this one for sure because my sister spelled her name wrong on the SAT. Even better, my other sister’s acceptance letter to her college spelled her name wrong.
We have a long and storied tradition of spelling errors in this family…

Myth 2: Doing a summer program at a school increases your chances/counts as demonstrating interest

This is a myth that is never outright supported by the programs, but they’re not going to tell you otherwise. So people assume “Oh if I spent my summer there, it will help me get in!”
This just isn’t true. The admissions standards for (MOST) summer programs at colleges are much lower than the standards for the actual undergraduate programs.
So look at the quality of the program, not the quality of the school that hosts it.

Additionally, if you spend a summer at a school make sure you sign up for the tour. I know that in your head you go “well clearly I like it and am interested if it’s on my application that I was there for 2 months.” But that doesn’t count as expressing interest, and there are schools where that really matters.

Spending a summer there doesn’t count as looking at the school. For whatever reason they’re not the same thing. Just take 2 hours out of your day and take a formal tour.

I know this one from a few anecdotal pieces of evidence, as well as what I was told at the summer program I did my junior year. It was competitive admissions-wise, and held at an amazing school. Did approximately 50/150 of us end up attending that school? Yes. But we were very explicitly told that if we wanted to attend we had to tour.

Myth 3: 2400 on your SATs is an auto-accept into any school

This one just logically makes sense to people. Schools are looking for the best and 2400s are the best.
But this ignores everything else we know about admissions. Soft factors matter a lot, and if the SAT were the only determining factor I’d be out of a blog and admissions wouldn’t be so darn confusing.

A 2400 is going to help quite a lot, but it will not guarantee you admissions anywhere.

Myth 4: They read everything you send in

This one is really pushed by many liberal arts schools “No, really, we read everything you send in!”
I will say that from my conversations with admissions people and research that read is a strong word. Smaller schools will definitely skim everything you send in… IF you’re a competitive applicant.

If you’re remarkably under qualified, they’re not going to waste their precious time reading your heartwarming story about overcoming shyness to get onto homecoming court and collection of short stories.

At a big school (or a school where they’re getting tens of thousands of applications) you have to be at least near-qualified (or hooked) to have any of your soft factors really looked at.

Myth 5: Schools won’t superscore your SATs/will de-superscore them/will only look at your lowest reported scores

This is a big college confidential myth. The reasoning is that schools need to find a reason to reject you, so instead of looking at your highest scores, they’re only going to look at your lowest ones.

This can also be a conclusion drawn from misinterpreting the type of advice I give where it’s not necessary to send all of your scores 

So here’s the skinny:

If you have drastically higher scores (to the point where it looks like cheating/a fluke/you got lucky), you don’t want to send in your crazy low scores.
This is a 500-750 jump, not a 670-800 jump. In my case, this was my 99^th percentile ACT vs. 95^th percentile SATs. I didn’t report my SATs because 1. I wanted to save the money and 2. My ACT was dramatically higher because my math score didn’t bring me down as much due to lovely composite scores.

But if you have a bit of a jump, but overall all of your scores are fine (said 670-800 jump) go for it. The schools want to see you in the best light possible. They also want to report the smartest/most competitive incoming class possible, meaning they will look at your highest scores.

There will always be myths about anything that is as mystical and confusing and seemingly illogical as college admissions. But always look at the myths from the school’s point of view, rather than taking them at face value. Ask if you don’t know, because assumptions can hurt you.

How to: Accept a School

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Step 1: Receive offers.

After months of agonizing waiting, it’s your time to shine. Letters, emails, packages, phone calls, everything starts rolling in. and they want you. They want you so bad; it’s driving them mad. So do a happy dance because you’re not living in a box on the street next year (unless you consider a freshman dorm to be a box, which it very well may be).

Step 2: Agonize over offers

Wait. Wait hold on. You have to choose a school? And you only have a month or so to do it? Ahh!

Even if you got into your top choice school, you’re still going to take a nice look at all of the other options.
And now you might agonize. Yes school A is what you’ve been dreaming of, but school D is offering you so much money. School C has such a good program, and your best friend has already committee to B!
It’s okay to agonize. It happens to everyone.

Step 3: Look

Suddenly, you’re Sherlock Holmes (maybe even the Benedict Cumberbatch one… mmmm Benedict Cumberbatch). It’s time to investigate those schools. No stone unturned. What’s the best freshman dorm, what’s the worst freshman dorm? How easy is it to get your classes? Is the food like this all the time?
You might tour, overnight, or go to admitted students day.
You might make pro/con lists.
But you’re going to find out everything about those schools before you make that decision.

Step 4: Narrow

You’ll probably be down to 2 schools in the end. They both have huge pros and cons, but you can’t decide. You’ll flip coins, go on randomizers, talk to everyone you know.

But eventually you’ll have to make the decision.

Step 5: Deposit (AND PARTY)

Finally, everything seems clear. School A was always the school meant for you and now you’re going there.
So send in that deposit (as much as it hurts to see a check that big), put on your T Shirt/Sweatshirt/Sweatpants/Hat/Cardigan/Etc and rock out the rest of your senior year.
Because YOU DID IT!

A little reminder: Enjoy it

It’s a stressful time of year right now. The seniors are weeks away from making one of the biggest decisions they’ve made in their lives. The juniors have SATs, APs, and the most important HS summer ahead of them. The college students are prepping for finals (I’ve got my stress chocolate at the ready).

And while all of these tests and papers and class commitments are buzzing around and coming to a crescendo, we’re also all overcommitted to 100 different activities, clubs, jobs, lessons, and we’re still expected to see our friends! There just aren’t enough hours in the day to get it all done.

So here’s a little reminder that I think we all need: You’re supposed to be enjoying your clubs. They’re extracurriculars. You volunteered to do them, and while you’re committed to them, there are things that are much more important (school and mental health, for example).

If you’re really not enjoying your clubs, reevaluate why you’re participating in them.

Personal stories instead of hypotheticals today:

When I was a junior in high school I was crazy overcommitted. I did 5ish plays a year in theatre, was in the crazy competitive singing group (remember Vocal Adrenaline from Glee? Like that), was taking a very hard course-load, didn’t have a lunch period or study hall, and I participated in about a million other clubs.
So what did I do?
I dropped the club that I cared about least.

I was a very competitive in forensic speech tournaments in high school. I was very good and had a ton of awards. But I didn’t really enjoy it. I liked the acting part of it, but I practiced on my own because I didn’t like the people. I hated giving up my Saturdays to go to tournaments. Once my sister graduated I didn’t have anyone to hang out with at away tournaments, which meant I had to room with people I didn’t get along with/didn’t like.

So I dropped it. I stopped competing about halfway through junior year.  And I never looked back.

I know, you’re all gasping and going “How do you drop a club junior year!? You need to have 4 year commitments and officer positions in everything!”
I dropped it because sometimes you have to do what will make you happy. Because yes, clubs look good for college, but you’re supposed to do them because you like them. You’re supposed to enjoy yourself.

So if you’re really hating it, think long and hard about why you’re participating.

Most people have 2-3 high commitment clubs, and even without Forensics I still spent 50+ hours a week in extracurriculars and lessons.

They’re looking for depth of commitment, not breadth. So if you have an extra club or two that you do but aren’t super into, or just find them to be miserable time-sucks, maybe it’s time to consider spending that time on other things.

I know at times it seems like everything you do in high school is for college (and there are people who think like that), but it’s not. You do clubs because you want to spend time on things you enjoy.

No club should make you miserable. And no club is more important than your health, academics, or happiness.

Sometimes you have to put things on hold or take a break from things because you’re too busy. Don’t drop everything, but sometimes its okay to take a hiatus to focus on grades or tests. I know that my parents always said I could only audition for a new show if I was doing well in school (which, oddly, was motivation for me to do well and keep balancing, I loved theatre more than anything in high school). It’s okay to turn down an offer if you can’t handle it. Learn to say no.

If you can’t handle a higher commitment (being captain of a sports team, editor in chief of a newspaper, the lead in a Shakespeare play where you’ll have to spend 5 extra hours a week just learning the lines) don’t take on that commitment.  It’s hard to say no to a great offer, but sometimes you just can’t take on any more.

Make sure that you’re enjoying what you’re doing. This is about you. Applications are all about demonstrating your passion. If you’re not passionate about things, don’t fake it.

I was asked exactly once about dropping forensics (Hamilton College, my best college interview, didn’t apply because I got into my ED school, WHOOPS). My answer “I loved competing and was sad to see it go, but I took on so much more time and leadership in theatre junior year that it wasn’t feasible to keep both of them. Theatre and performing are much more important to me than winning a few tournaments.”  
And then we talked about my theatre commitments for a while, and my interviewer basically said, “So theatre is basically 5 clubs in 1 for you?”
Which was so painfully accurate.
They want to see what makes you tick, what you’re passionate about, what keeps you going. Don’t keep something that doesn’t ignite that passion in you.

Things you like might be stressful from time to time, but you deal with the stress because you love them. If you’re just “putting up” with an activity, it’s probably not a good use of your time.

Do what makes you happy. Enjoy your activities.

The Big Three- Factors for making your list

While there are many little things that may help you pick one school or another, when you’re at the very early planning stages you want to look at a wide variety of schools.

But with literally thousands of colleges to choose from, how are you supposed to narrow down to 20-30 to start your search?

Look at the Big Three factors.

The Big Three?
These are the very broadest categories and definitions of schools that will help you decide. While many of them have fuzzy lines, generally speaking they are factors that you can give a numerical value to and make cut offs. 

The Big Three factors are:

1.     Size

How many students are at the school?

How many are graduates and how many are undergrad? Are you going to have small seminar classes of 10-20 students, or big lectures with 300? Are you going to have 2 degrees of separation with everyone on the campus, or are you going to meet complete strangers every day? Is the campus like a bustling city of 18-22 year olds, or is it a small quiet oasis?

This is a factor that students usually won’t know at the beginning of their search, and I also believe that you should add in some outliers and play with your numbers. Generally speaking, you’re going to fit into 1 of 3 preferences (2000, 7000, or 10000+). Take a look at all of these types and see which one fits you best. It’s usually not something you know until you see it.

2.     Academic Rigor

How tough are the classes?

Are the academics top-notch with the crème de la crème or is it like high school 2.0? How many students do they send to grad school every year? Is the program for your major respected and reputable? What is the acceptance rate? Is there grade deflation, or can I expect to do well?

Academic Rigor is one of the biggest factors for when you are picking a school. You want to go to a place that will fit you and you can handle the work, but also you won’t be bored. This is an easy factor to match because, generally speaking, you know where you can get in. Again, generally speaking, academics are tougher at a school that is harder to get into (granted, I’m talking about a school with an 80% vs. a school with a 40%, not a 30% vs. a 10%, where the difference is really more about name recognition rather than the actual quality/difficulty of education). 

Also, notice how I didn’t say prestige? They are different things.

3.     Location/Distance

Where is the school?
This one is the limiting factor for the vast majority of college students, because most students are limited to their home state. And that’s totally fine. I go to a state school (out of state) and I LOVE it and I’m jealous that the state I’m in has such fantastic public schools (as opposed to my home state where even our good publics are only meh). Also, not debting yourself is literally worth it’s weight in gold.

For those who can look a little further, you’re going to have to know your preferred radius, and take into consideration the financial constraints of traveling. Can you drive, take the train, or fly? Are you a 2-hour person? A 5? Or are you willing to go cross-country?
While I’m the only one of my siblings to go outside of the Tri-State, the 10 hour drive to and from school is a bit harrowing and a HUGE pain in the butt, even only twice a year.

This is a great limiting factor because it has very hard lines. While I’d say that there’s very little difference in 5 hours driving and 5 hours flying, try saying that when your schools is evacuated for hurricanes…

So know what you, and your family, can handle distance wise.

How The Big Three can help make your decision:
While there are a million and one reasons you can pick a school, these are three of the easiest ways to cut out HUGE chunks of schools right off the bat. You might not know exactly what you want at first, but once you know what appeals to you, it makes a list nice and easy.

So when you’re starting your search, know where you stand on the Big Three  

Preventing a Civil War: Top 3 Ways to Survive Living With A Roommate

College is a time of exploration. Growth. Transition. Learning. Trial and error. Life experiences you will get no where else.

And one of these experiences is living with a roommate.

Most college students will spend at least one year living with a stranger. You’ll probably be paired up by the school, but you might have self selected from Facebook or 6 degrees of separation (You know, “Oh my best friend from waterskiing camp when I was 12 is going there! You should meet up!”).

No matter how you were paired, it doesn’t change the fact that for many freshman, they’re living in a 12x10 space for a year with a complete stranger.

Personally, my freshman roommate and I lived together wonderfully. We were a facebook match (into similar things, but not competing with each other, compatible personalities and schedules) who lived together so well we went on to live together sophomore year (though I’m living in my sorority house as a Junior so we are breaking up the band for a year. Sad. I know).

While you hope for the best, there are a few ways to boost your chances of having a successful (or at least manageable) freshman roommate relationship.

1.    Be honest on your surveys

This is perhaps where the biggest mistakes are made. There are plenty of people who fill out the surveys for housing with what they “wish” or “hope” to be, or with how they believe they will change when college rolls around. Just be honest and objective about yourself. It will make you a lot happier.

Even worse are the people who fill out their surveys because they’re trying to game the system. Do NOT do that. Some examples of gaming the system are:

I know several sloppy people who said they were “neat” on their surveys in hopes of getting a roommate/maid. That doesn’t actually happen. What you get is a whole lot of screaming arguments about leaving your crap everywhere.

Similarly, there are people who go to bed late because they’re working but say they’re “early risers” because they don’t want party animal roommates. Another situation where that will not work out and it will be your fault.  

If you are a smoker who tries to hide it from their parents, don’t put “nonsmoker” on your survey. Once again, you’re going to make your roommate miserable and it will be your fault.

Just be honest about yourself and your habits. Don’t think you’re suddenly going to become a neat-freak in college if you’re messy at home. Honesty will work out in your favor.

2.    Use your words

This is a life strategy that almost always works out. Don’t expect your roommate to be a mind reader. Don’t let them walk over you if they’re taking advantage.
Some examples of this:
Many people will be super passive aggressive about things like cleaning or food. If something your roommate does bothers you, tell them. If you feel like they’re not pulling their weight, talk to them. Don’t accuse. Ask and explain. For example, my roommate and I share a Britta filter that we keep in our fridge. Sometimes months will go by where I am the only one who fills it, which can be frustrating. But if it’s bothering me, I tell my roommate “hey, I’ve been doing the Britta, can you do it when you get a chance?” It works.

This works with going to bed. If you want to go to sleep while they’re still up, just ask them to switch to their lamp. If you’re really light sensitive, buy a sleep mask.

Another big one is the infamous sexile. You know, sexual exile. You need the room, they need the room, it’s a part of life (in fact, I’d call it the circle of life). First of all, nobody likes to be surprised by their roommate getting it on. If you need the room, text them. It can be as simple as “Hey, can I have the room for a few hours?” Be polite. Be reasonable. Also, don’t kick them out overnight if you can help it, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask them to come back at 2AM on a Saturday. It’s less reasonable to ask them to stay out all night on a Wednesday. Golden rule. Also, your roommate has activities and class times. Work around their schedule. But always ask.

3.    Don’t expect too much

Everybody wants to make friends, and having your roommate be a friend seems like a no-brainer. But don’t go in with high “we’re going to be best friends” expectations (even if you picked each other).

The vast majority of freshman roommates end up in the middle of the Love-Hate spectrum. They’re friendly, but not friends, or they don’t really get along, but they don’t hate each other.

You should expect to cohabitate with them. If you end up being friends, that’s great! But don’t rely on them for that and don’t expect it to just happen.

If you have good vibes about getting along, do some “roommate bonding” like getting meals together or watching TV or going to movies. If you two don’t get along, just be polite and friendly and know that you only have to be there a few more months.

My roommate and I are close friends. But the running gag in our lives is we spend next to no time together outside of our room, to the point where several of our mutual friends have never actually seen us in the same place at the same time. It’s not because we don’t love each other, it’s because we are both incredibly busy and have very different schedules (I finish class for the day when she wakes up, I start rehearsal when she ends rehearsal, etc). We have a few cute little traditions (like that we watch Friends together if we’re both home for the night, and clapping to the theme song is NOT optional), but neither of us expects the other one to hang out on the weekends (different friend groups). Be realistic about your expectations for your roommates, and you’ll be a lot happier.

Roommates can be a scary idea, but they’re people too. With a few exceptions, most people are reasonable if you have realistic expectations and are honest with them. Communication is key to a successful roommate relationship.
And if you’re paired with a real whacko nutjob? Talk to your RA or the head of housing. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.

ACT Tips for SAT Takers

April 14^th is quickly approaching ladies and gents, and for you juniors out there, this could very well mean that it’s time to take the ACT (maybe for the very first time).

I can tell you that the ACT was totally my jam! On the SAT/ACT comparisons I scored about 200 points higher on the ACT than the SAT. While I didn’t take April) exam, I know that this is a high-pressure month.
Not only are AP exams and the next batch of SATs right around the corner (ahh!), but the guidance office and all the college resources are so focused on those pesky seniors right now.

So here are some tips for taking the ACT, and how to rock it hardcore, even if you’ve only studied for the SAT up to this point.

1. When in doubt, fill it out.

Someone I knew bombed her first ACT because she didn’t fill in the bubbles on the ones she didn’t know. The ACT has no guess penalty. You only earn points for the things that you get right. So always guess, and if you’re running out of time, fill in the bubbles at the end anyway (if you’re really, REALLY out of time and have 30 seconds to fill in 10 bubbles, just make them all A or all D, statistically you’ll get more questions right if you make them all the same).

1. Time is of the essence

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 1000 times; The ACT is a test of TIME. If you haven’t yet practiced a full test with the time constraints, DO IT NOW. It feels very different from the SAT, and SAT trained students tend to not finish their first ACTs. Bring a watch, don’t get stuck on a question for too long.

1. Don’t be blinded by science

Shockingly, the science section is about science reasoning more than science knowledge. It is also perhaps the most time-crunchy of the ACT sections. If you haven’t seen a science section before, go practice a few. The reading section of the science part is a huge time suck, so be careful with it. The graphs are usually manageable, but make sure you know which part of the experiment they’re comparing. If there’s a part of the science that you’re really stuck on (ex: I encountered a physics section when I hadn’t taken physics) fill in random bubbles for the ones you can’t answer and go back to it at the end. You’re better off hedging your bets on the questions you do know that wasting time on ones you probably won’t get right.

1. Smiting the Writing

You are probably (hopefully) taking the ACT plus writing. This is great because it can stop you from having to take (or, lets be honest, submit) SAT IIs. But don’t stress too much on the actual plus writing. First of all, the questions are usually more tailored to student life (I believe mine was about students being allowed to graduate early from HS) so your SAT canned responses might not fit so well. Luckily, colleges really don’t look at your essay score (I mean, they see it, but it’s not really used for anything). They’re going to rely on your CommonApp essay way more than the ACT essay score. So if you’re really confused or stuck on the essay, don’t stress. It doesn’t really matter.

1. Waiting for Super-scores

There’s this super weird SAT strategy where students bank on the magic of super-scoring. In this strategy, students sit for the SAT 2-4 times and each time really focus on one part (Math, CR, Writing), while taking breaks during the other sections.

The ACT uses your best composite score. It's the average of your best scores. The individual sections of the ACT don’t really matter as much as your overall score. This is excellent if you’re weak in one part of the test and very strong everywhere else.
Focus on having a good sitting.

Overall, I’d say to keep a close eye on the time and stay calm. It’s an exhausting experience no matter what test you’re taking. But that finish line is in sight and you will do well.

Unpopular Opinions: Less is more (when it comes to recs)

A recommendation (or two or three) is simultaneously the most and least stressful part of the application. Theoretically, it’s easy. You find a teacher (or two, or three) who knows you and your capabilities, ask them politely (face to face, spring of junior year and then again fall of senior year) to write a nice letter about you, and then give them a list of schools, stamped and addressed envelopes, and a thank you card or gift.
No writing, no pressure, no work.

At the same time, good rec writers are hard to find. You need someone who can write about your talents as an academic, but they need to write something to make you stand out from all of the other incredibly talented applicants. You want someone who knows you fairly well. Some teachers require hounding and constant reminders. You have basically no control over anything they say, and you’re never going to see what they write.

Some students believe that the way to make their recs stand out is to pile them on.

But this is a bad idea.

There’s a phrase in college admissions, “The thicker the file, the weaker the applicant.”
What this means is that if you send in too many additional things, the admissions committees are going to start to worry about what you are compensating for.

Many students try to have as many recs as possible, but really, one excellent recommendation is better than five mediocre ones.

Most school require two: A guidance counselor and a teacher.

I would say that you should send in one, maaaayyyybbbbeee two additional recs. But that is IT.

The first two are set in stone. Your guidance counselor might not know you well, but they’ll often ask for some additional information to help flesh you out. The first teacher rec must be from a core subject (Math, Science, English, History).

Oftentimes the third rec will come from an adult who knows you well but couldn’t write the first two recs. Maybe it’s a music teacher, your boss, or your soccer coach. The fourth could be from an alumni who knows you well, or a double from the previous list.

I think 2 (or 3) recommendations is perfectly adequate for most students.

Finally, a recommendation from someone famous or important sounds like a great idea, even a hook.
It is not.
Admissions will roll their eyes and assume it’s from their assistant, or a generic letter. It will come off as a cheap play, not as a genuine recommendation.

Don’t be that student who’s sending in 5 teacher recommendations, or a recommendation from every family they’ve ever babysat for. Even in different subjects there is going to be a lot of overlap, and you’re just going to waste your reader’s time.

So, personally, I believe that when it comes to recommendations, less is usually more. 

5 Habits to develop in College (and 5 to Avoid)

College, just in its nature, is a huge lifestyle change. Instead of living in small family units, you live in dyads and triads of friends in dorms. Instead of a rigid schedule of constant superior monitoring, you’re left to your own devices. Instead of a strict regimen of breakfast lunch and dinner, you have vaguely outlined “meal periods” or 24 hour dining options. Instead of curfews and “I don’t know their parents!” you’re free to go on 2AM adventures with complete strangers.

This weird, ridiculous free-for-all can lead to the forming of strange habits. So listen to me, a wise college sophomore (almost junior. WHERE DID THE TIME GO?) about some habits to build (and those to avoid).

1A- Do: Develop a regular eating schedule, maybe even with friends

College is weird in that you are really left to your own devices to eat. If you want to skip a meal (or two or three) nobody is monitoring you. To avoid that “I’m to busy to eat” habit, set up regular mealtimes when you know you’re going to eat. And, while you’re at it, kill two birds with one stone and make those set mealtimes into friend dates. It’s a really nice thing to know you’re going to see certain friends every week, because everyone gets so busy at college.

1B- Don’t: Adopt Fourthmeal as a regular thing

While this might be a “my friend group” thing, and an unfortunate result of a 9PM-12AM rehearsal time, fourthmeal is a real thing in college. You know, breakfast, lunch, dinner, fourthmeal.
While I’m a big fan of fourthmeal for keeping energy up when you have late night activities, don’t make it an everyday treat. Maybe only before tests when you’re going to be up all night, or during finals when you’re so stressed you have to eat something.

That extra late night meal can really help that freshman 15 come along quickly.

2A- Do: Be social and adventurous, try new things

College is a time of exploration. It’s going to be the last time in your entire life where you are completely surrounded by people who you can relate to in age and interests. But you’re never going to see that if you’re alone in your room every night. Even if you don’t want to party or drink, you can find perfectly fun and crazy things to do that are safe and legal. Go to an open dance party stone cold sober, or run around in the woods with some of your friends, flashlights, and a camera.
One of the craziest nights I’ve had at college involved looking for an abandoned theatre in the woods at my school.

Put yourself out there and do some things outside of your comfort zone. Make memories.
Be safe, be smart, but don’t be stagnant. 

2B- Don’t: Be afraid to take a “me” night

On that note, one of the worst habits you can develop in college is “going out” 4 nights a week (Thursday-Sunday) every week. Don’t be afraid to take a night to yourself to get ahead on homework or just veg out. If you have the option between going to the bars, and laying in bed with your best friend eating Ice Cream, watching Once Upon a Time on Netflix, and toasting the end of both of your relationships, don’t be afraid to take option 2 if that’s what’s fun to you. Because, while both are fun, one will result in cuddles and a full nights sleep, and one will result in a hangover.

3A- Do: Adapt to college eating (at least temporarily)

Unfortunate part of college life, you need to get your food where you can get it. Which might mean learning to eat some foods you hate for protein/vitamins sake. For instance, I never ate cooked green beans before I started school, lots of my friends started eating yogurt or tofu after starting school. It could be something as easy as learning to eat a salad once and a while, and making sure there’s enough veggies to fill you up.
This can also mean lowering your standards. It might be a lean cuisine kind of night. It might be a ramen week.
Quoth my roommate: “I’m legitimately scared for the day I get sick of Easy Mac”

3B- Don’t: Rely on snacks

This is a bad habit I’ve developed. I have a small appetite and considerably limited free time. So sometimes I might have a bag of popcorn and a few spoonfuls of nutella for dinner, because I don’t have time for anything more substantial. It’s fine once in a while, but don’t make it a habit. Schedule in your meals and don’t skip them.

4A- Do: Attend your classes

True life: I have only missed 1 of each of my classes this semester, and they were excused for a college-sanctioned event.

Remember that you are at college to learn. And that tuition money you are paying is going towards these classes you’re taking. Go to your classes. Do your work. Don’t get lazy. If something is hard or boring, it might be a struggle to drag yourself three times a week, but definitely go. Also, most classes are awesome. My Russian history and literature professor tells amazingly off-color jokes, my Adolescent Psychology class is the most engaging and fascinating seminar I’ve ever taken (even at 9:30AM), and my Cognitive Psych class, though tough, has a really charismatic professor.

Also, 4/5 of my classes this semester take attendance every day and have “three unexcused absences and you fail” policies. Make sure you know the attendance policy in your classes.

.

4B- Don’t: Use “They don’t know my name” as an excuse

This is more common with big lecture classes, but seriously, just because they don’t know your name doesn’t mean that you can be disrespectful. My biggest class I’ve ever taken was Astronomy-Astrophysics, with 175 students in a giant lecture hall. Well… only about 100 of us showed up all the time, but you know what I mean. My professor didn’t know any of our names. Many students took this as an excuse to not show up, talk through lecture, make snarky comments, or just not pay any attention.

Guess what? One of the biggest tricks I can teach you about school is that if a professor knows your name, it will help your grade. Go to office hours, introduce yourself, participate actively in class. It will help you.

5A- Do: Start exercising

The Freshman 15 is real. It’s from the greasy food and calorie ridden drinks. But it’s also from inactivity.
Even if you hate to exercise, take advantage of the free gym at school (well… free with tuition). Set a schedule and stick to it. Now is the time to start these habits. They’ll relieve stress, and offset some late night pizza that you just had to have.

5B- Don’t: Stick to one thing

When you’re exercising you’ll often find one thing that is enjoyable to you or works for you. Don’t stick to one thing; try a lot of different things. If you like running on the elliptical, try a bit of weights. If you’re very into yoga, try the treadmill. You need to do cardio and strength to keep healthy.

And know that it’s not always easy. I love yoga and I started running this semester. I’m now limping around in an ankle brace because I pushed myself too hard.

The most important thing I can tell you is to find a balance between health, school, and social life. It will make you happy and fulfilled, and help you get the most out of your school experience.

Don’t let bad habits form, make good ones instead.