COLLEGE PLANNING MAGAZINE
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Issue #03 Fall 2017
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Helicopter Parenting WHEN IS HELP TOO MUCH?
JULIE OLSON-BUCHANAN
Getting to College
ALPHABETICALLY
FROM A-Z
22
08
Teen Entrepreneurs GIVING THEM
THE BUSINESS JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS
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CONTENTS / FALL 2017
Featured Articles >>> 22
HELICOPTER PARENTING: When is Help Too Much? - By Kate Alexander
Julie Olson-Buchanan
Julie Lythcott-Haims
California State University, Fresno, Professor
New York Times Bestselling Author
GIVING THEM THE BUSINESS: Teens Are Taking Charge As Entrepreneurs - By Jim Paterson
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06 Publisher’s Note 07 Editor’s Letter
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25 Life Hacks 32 College Calendar 35 Ad index
JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS
Julie Lythcott-Haims speaks and writes on the phenomenon of helicopter parenting and the dangers of a checklisted childhood — the subject of her book, How to Raise an Adult.
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Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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CONTENTS
Inside the Mag >>> COLLEGE PLANNING
College Admissions Officials Share Their Top Tips
08 Getting to College: Alphabetically from A-Z - By Jim Paterson
12 The Changing Face of
08
Online Education - By Kate Alexander
14 Is Early Decision or Early Action Right For You? - By Amelia Mezrahi
CAREER 18 Giving Them the
LIFE 22 Helicopter Parenting:
Entrepreneurs - By Jim Paterson
25 Life Hacks 25 For School:
Business: Teens Are Taking Charge As
18 Job Market Update 20 - By Amelia Mezrahi
MONEY – PAY FOR COLLEGE 30 Higher ACT Scores Can 30
When Is Help Too Much? - By Kate Alexander
Lead to Scholarships
- By Rachel Kapelke-Dale, Magoosh
9 Surefire Tips to Better Grades - By Amelia Mezrahi
26 Combatting the
Freshman 15:
How to Stay Healthy in College - By Mila Sanchez
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[5]
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
W
elcome to our fall magazine and a happy start to a new school year! Fall is an exciting time for our students. It is especially thrilling for our seniors as they begin their journey into the final year of high school and decide what the future holds for them. This is indeed a major milestone for everyone involved in the passage, including students, parents, friends, and counselors. It is in the same spirit of an exciting start to the school year, that we at NextStepU wanted to bring you articles highlighting some of the admissions trends we see this year. Two of those trends are covered in our articles on the continued increase in innovative online education options in Higher Ed, as well as the rise in the percentage of students considering the competitive edge “Early Action” or “Early Decision” can bring to the admission process to the top 100 colleges. Our article, “Admissions Guide from A-Z,” also brings a fun and fresh alphabetic perspective on things that one needs to consider. We also see trends in the softer side of the college planning and education. College admissions and employers are continuing to look beyond academic records for those students who can best demonstrate independence and confidence. We have all heard a lot about the rise of hovering or interfering parents and how this trend is preventing our kids from growing into confident and independent adults. Our two experts in this field, Dr. Julie Olson-Buchanan and Ms. Julie Lythcott-Haims, offer an eye-opening analysis and practical advice on how to address this growing phenomenon. Another key trend is that more and more students are exploring business ideas at a young age. In addition to helping them find their true calling and career paths, starting a business also demonstrates maturity, independence and practical experiences to colleges in their applications. Our article on teen entrepreneurs covers the rise of a few of these individuals and their inspirational stories. We hope that we can bring you more stories of enterprising youths in the future. Finally, I would like to say a huge thanks#23418f to all of our wonderful contributors and thought leaders who generously gave their time in interviews and shared such sage advice. Without them, we will not be able to produce this magazine. As always, thanks also for the incredible work by our writers, editors, and design team, and to you our readers and our reason for being. Here is to another successful school year. Let’s make it amazing! With warmest thanks, Amelia Mezrahi CEO/Publisher Next Step Universe
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Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
Publisher/CEO: Amelia Mezrahi | Amelia@NextStepU.com Chief Revenue Officer: Rob Aronson | rob.aronson08@gmail.com Founder/Adviser: David Mammano | David@NextStepU.com Editor: Kate Alexander l Editor@NextStepU.com Art Director: Silvio Del Monaco | Info@BrainBleachMedia.com Advertising Sales: Rob Aronson | rob.aronson08@gmail.com Lisa Mietelski | Lisa@NextStepU.com Editorial and Contributions: Kate Alexander, Shubham Banerjee, Moziah (Mo) Bridges, Dr. Wally Boston, Julie Olson-Buchanan, Jeni Cook, Rachel Kapelke-Dale, Ashley Dammer, Michael Davis, Derek Doss, Anthony Fontana, Ollie Forsythe, Dr. Yakut Gazi, Teresa Thomas Gereaux, Julie Lythcott-Haims, David Lee Henry, Michelle L. Johnson, Bill Keller, Timothy Lee, Sarah Jane Linehan, Heidi Meyer, Amelia Mezrahi, Lacey Nygard, Jim Paterson, Ashley Peichl, Mila Sanchez, Samantha (Schneider) Scanlan, Laurie Stach, Haile Thomas, Destin Tucker, Mitch Warren, Adam Webster, John R. Westover, Jennifer Ziegenfus Cover photography: Photos provided by Julie Lythcott-Haims, Julie Olson-Buchanan, Haile Thomas, Moziah (Mo) Bridges For questions, comments or advertising information, #168fce Please contact us at Info@NextStepU.com or through NextStepU.com. Next Step Universe is a proud member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. For advertising information email us at Sales@NextStepU.com. Some inside photos from iStock.com ©Copyright 2017 by Next Step Universe. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Copying, reproduction or transmittal of this publication by any means is strictly prohibited without the permission of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or omit all materials submitted for publication, including advertisements, article contributions and event listings. Although this publication is thoroughly edited, the publisher is not liable for any damages due to editing, changes, cancellations, errors, and omissions. All corrections should be directed to our editor. All work submitted for publication is assumed to be the provider’s original work, and the publisher accepts no liability as a result of publishing such works. NextStepU® is a nationally registered trademark. Unauthorized use of the Next Step names, logos, or indicia is prohibited. We strive to make sure the information and advice is accurate, but it is up to you to do your own research. Good luck!
#
EDITOR’S LETTER
W
Hello, NextSteppers!
elcome to NextStepU’s Fall edition! The autumn days are in full swing, and school is back in session. These coming months bring many exciting possibilities for your future, as well as the challenges of staying on top of admissions details, financial planning, scholarship applications, and career exploration. To help you on your path, Next Step interviewed key thoughtleaders across the nation. Our cover story on helicopter parenting features Dr. Julie Olson-Buchanan, of California State University, Fresno, and New York Times-bestselling author, Julie LythcottHaims, whose book How to Raise an Adult helps both parents and young adults understand the critical importance of raising independent, capable children. We examine the helicopter parenting epidemic as it relates to high school and college students, helping our readers grow and make choices for the future wisely. With the admissions process front and center in the minds of high school juniors and seniors, we reached out to many admissions and recruitment experts to put together an admissions guide in our “Getting to College: Alphabetically from A-Z.” Amelia Mezrahi, our publisher, explores the pros and cons of Early Action and Early Decision, the key differences between the two, and how to use them strategically to increase your chance of admission to your preferred program. We also explore a new era of online de-
grees to further your educational goals without breaking the bank. Paying for college continues to fuel our discussion of scholarship opportunities. This issue examines the often-overlooked value of a higher ACT exam score in the hunt for funding college. Beyond this, we highlight the way teenagers are building their own start-ups in a wave of entrepreneurship that could alter how high school students navigate their college choices. For those of you entering college as a freshman, another article looks at the dangers of the dreaded freshman 15, offering strategies to eat healthy and maintain focus and energy. We hope these articles will help you with the college planning process and aid you in taking your “next steps” on the journey to a powerful and successful educational experience and career! We encourage you to register online at www.nextstepu.com to take advantage of college resources and to walk through the path for the college planning process as well as a chance to win free tuition money. Take that step, NextSteppers! We believe in you. All the best, Kate Alexander Editor NextStepU Magazine Editor@NextStepU.com
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ONLINE RESOURCES Get NextStepU Magazine on the go at magazine.nextstepu.com. The free download puts you one click away from expert advice and resources. Register online at www.NextStepU.com/Match for profiles of colleges and universities, and www.NextStepU.com/Scholarships for access to more than 2.2 million scholarships to help pay for college! Visit our new and improved blog at blog.NextStepU.com for college planning, careers, student life, study abroad, STEM, and Gifts & Contests. Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
[7]
COLLEGE PLANNING
Getting to college
ALPHABETICALLY FROM
A-Z
By Jim Paterson
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICIALS SHARE THEIR TOP TIPS FOR GETTING ACCEPTED TO THE COLLEGE YOU WANT We asked admissions officials from a number of colleges to share their top tips for high school students, and here are their responses – from A-Z.
A
AID.
Search early and thoroughly for financial aid options. “The earlier you know what it takes to get assistance, the better chance you have of getting it. Make it your goal,” says Derek Doss from Carolina Coastal College. Complete the FAFSA early, too, says Ashley Dammer of Seminole State. You can now apply starting Oct. 1.
B [8]
BE REAL.
“Tell your own story.” That’s the advice from Timothy Lee
at SUNY Albany – be authentic in all your contacts with the admissions office, interviews and, especially, in your essay. “Don’t tell us what you think you want us to hear about you. We want to know what you are truly interested in and what your passions are.”
C
CONNECTIONS.
D
DEADLINES.
“Contact the person reading your application, even to introduce yourself or to ask a question,” says Samantha Scanlan at Towson University. “It’s a good idea to get to know them and make an impression.” Meet them. Scanlan’s colleague at Towson, Jen Ziegenfus, stresses that all material should
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
be turned in by the deadlines, not just most of it. “Don’t procrastinate,” says Heidi Meyer at University of Minnesota. “Applying early can make an impression.”
E
ESSAY EASE.
“Don’t overthink it,” says Lee. “It’s one part of the application, but take the opportunity to tell us something we can’t find elsewhere.” Melissa Falk at Muhlenberg College recommends careful thought. “It is OK to write about controversial topics, but remember that you don’t know anything about the person who will read it.” Proofread everything, too, she says. “Details matter.” CONTINUED
COLLEGE PLANNING
F
FIT.
Finding the right fit in three areas should be the goal, according to Mitch Warren at Purdue: academics, social and financial. Jon Westover from University of Massachusetts recommends paying equal attention to all three. “Realistically, is this a school I can afford?”
G
GET GOOD INFO. A LOT OF IT.
“Searching for the right college is a process, and it takes time,” says Sarah Jane Linehan from SUNY Adirondack. “Spend time exploring on the front end, and you’re sure to feel good about your selection on the back end.” Remember, colleges spend lots of money to make their Web sites appealing – and rating services aren’t always accurate, says Scanlan. Find reliable information sources.
H
HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS.
“Choose coursework to prepare for college success,” says Heidi Meyer at the University of Minnesota. “This means during your senior year, too. It’s really important to take a challenging curriculum.” Also, your GPA is one of the first things colleges look at.
I
INTERESTS.
Brenda Poggendorf at Roanoke College says you don’t have to have specific career in mind. “Focus on defining your interests, what you like and don’t like. It’s too early to declare a major – though everyone will ask you to.”
J
JUST RELAX.
“Above all, enjoy the journey,” Poggendorf adds. “The college selection process is a time of self-discovery and can be fulfilling in itself.”
K
KEY QUALITIES.
Mitch Warren at Purdue recommends developing a list of the qualities you want most and using them to rate each school. “Don’t consider only those schools your friends are talking about or those that are the best ranked.”
L
LOCATION.
Adam Webster at Carleton College in rural Minnesota says students must think about a school’s locale. “I encourage all students to visit Carleton to recognize that Northfield is a tremendous college town, but it’s not a happy fit for those seeking an urban experience.” Scanlan
notes, however, sometimes college also gives a student an opportunity to try something very different from what they are used to.
M
MONEY TALK.
N
NARROW IT DOWN.
O
OPEN MINDED.
Early in the process parents should relay what the budget is. “Is every school a realistic option?” asks Falk. Start a list, keep narrowing it down and prioritize as you go, but recognize that your feelings may change, says Ashley Peichl at Concordia University in Mequon, WI. “But don’t play the comparison game all the time. While on tour, focus on that specific school.” Don’t make up your mind too early, says Warren. “Colleges come in all varieties – large, small, urban, rural, religiously affiliated, close to home, private and public. Find one where you can thrive.” Scanlan agrees. “If you think you want a small school, visit at least one large or medium school just to make sure. You might surprise yourself.” CONTINUED
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
[9]
COLLEGE PLANNING
P
PAUSE.
Michael Davis at the University of North Carolina says students shouldn’t “get too far ahead of themselves. The years before college are important. It’s when students get to know themselves and think about the kind of life they want to build.” Colleges will appreciate that type of reflection – and it will make the college experience more valuable.
Q
QUALITY.
Consider the school’s real value, including how well its graduates do in the workforce, the class size, credentials of the professors and graduation rates, says Ziegenfus at Towson.
R
RANKINGS.
Nearly all admissions counselors say to be skeptical about many college rankings. “They only tell a small portion of the story,” says Anthony Fontana at the University of Colorado.
S
STICKER PRICE.
“When looking at scholarship opportunities, make sure you are looking at the institution’s total cost of attendance,” says Destin Tucker at the University of Tennessee. “See what percentage of tuition, fees and room and board will be covered by the scholarship. A $10,000 scholarship sounds good until you find out it is only 20 percent of tuition, while $5,000 at another institution may be 50 percent of tuition, or more.” Webster notes that “students should look at different pieces of data like tuition, fees, expenses, housing requirements, but also graduation rates, average grant and debt levels and a sense of return on investment.”
T
TRANSFER OPTIONS.
Could you attend a school that seems unreachable by starting somewhere else and improving grades, then transferring? Do that first school’s credits transfer? Consider these options before applying, says David Henry at the University of South Florida.
[ 10 ]
ADMISSIONS A-Z SOURCE LIST AND REFERENCES
U
UNCLUTTER.
Establish a system to organize the material you collect about colleges, says Ziegenfus, including your list of your top choice. Some students start a spreadsheet where they can check off characteristics that are their priorities. Start folders for each top college to store information and links.
V
VISIT.
“Do it with a plan,” says Falk. Make an appointment and then schedule a general tour, specialized tour, department visit, and interview. “And make sure to document with pictures and notes. After several colleges, memories will get fuzzy, and the most exciting parts could be forgotten.”
W WAIVERS.
Ziegenfus says students can often find application fee waivers [such as common app fee waivers, SAT and ACT fee waivers and others http://bit.ly/2hSu6DP].
X
XENOPHOBIA.
It means fearing something that seems strange or different. Scanlan notes that you should think about any fears and perhaps challenge them – and know that your ideas about what is comfortable may change.
Y
YOUR GUT.
Be practical, but trust your instincts, too. One school might just feel better.
Z
ZONE OUT.
“Think of a moment when everything in your life was in balance and you felt on top of the world,” says Poggendorf. “You were in that zone. Freeze that moment and try to create a list of characteristics that made it happen. Consider colleges that would help you create those characteristics and made your life feel in balance.”
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
Purdue University Mitch Warren Director of Admission University of Colorado, Denver Anthony Fontana Associate director of admissions University of Massachusetts Amherst Jon R. Westover Senior Associate Director Undergraduate Admissions The University of Tennessee at Martin Destin Tucker Director of Admissions Carolina Coastal College Derek Doss Associate Director of Admissions Doug Bell, Media Relations Towson University Samantha (Schneider) Scanlan Senior Assistant Director Jennifer Ziegenfus Associate Director of Recruitment University Admissions Muhlenberg College Bill Keller Media Relations Melissa Falk Dean of Admissions SUNY Adirondack Sarah Jane Linehan Director of Admissions Concordia University Wisconsin Ashley Peichl Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission University of Minnesota Lacey Nygard Assistant Director of Public Relations Heidi Meyer Executive Director of Admissions Office of Admissions Seminole State College of Florida Ashley Dammer Admissions Representative Roanoke College Brenda P. Poggendorf VP of Enrollment/Dean of Admissions Teresa Thomas Gereaux Director of Public Relations University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Michelle L. Johnson Director of Media Services SUNY Albany Timothy Lee Director of Undergraduate Admissions University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Michael Davis Jeni Cook Office of University Communications University of South Florida David Lee Henry Director of Admissions Carleton College Adam Webster Senior Associate Dean of Admissions
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TECHNOLOGY
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COLLEGE PLANNING
By Kate Alexander
The Changing Face OF ONLINE EDUCATION
M
anicured green lawns, slick athletic centers, well-developed dorm communities, technology-enriched classrooms: the college campus is changing, and expensive. Meanwhile, the generation entering college is more technologically advanced than we have seen. And more and more adult students are returning to college to complete a B.A. or to enhance their career path with a Master’s degree. However, a revolution in higher education has begun. The system of traditional, campus-based universities and colleges is needing to adjust to the times, culture and needs of today’s learners. Dr. Yakut Gazi, Associate Dean of Learning Systems at Georgia Tech Professional Education, states that “Higher
[ 12 ]
education has a need to reinvent itself – a need to increase student success and engagement, while making postsecondary education more affordable and broaden its reach to traditionally underrepresented populations.” Georgia Tech has been leading the way with MOOC-based (Massive Open Online Course) higher education degrees. Dr. Wally Boston, President and CEO of American Public Education, which includes American Public University (APU) and American Military University (AMU), has written extensively on the topic. He states that the increase of online education “just really mirrors the times. Online you can pretty much take from anywhere. And so, if you’re working and your job says you have to go to Dallas, well guess what? You don’t miss class. You don’t have to grab the notes from a colleague. You’re
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
going to keep up with the course,” he explains.
COUNTING THE COSTS
Two chief motivations for the course are affordability and accessibility. A 2015 Forbes article estimated that elite private universities could cost as much as $334,000 by 2018 and a four-year public university as much as $140,000. (http://bit.ly/2xleDTM) Gazi asserts that emerging online programs “are unique in their desire to create more effective learning environments with sound learning methodologies, in a more affordable way, for an unprecedented size of learners: achievable, affordable, accessible education.” For instance, Georgia Tech is leading the way for graduate programs: an online master’s of science in computer science (OMSCS) launched in 2014, and OMS Analytics. “These two degree programs from Georgia Tech are offered at a third to a fourth of the cost of the residential program and delivered on MOOC platforms (Udacity and
COLLEGE PLANNING
edX, respectively),” says Gazi. Describing the many ways the APU and online educational models at large could be a fraction of the cost, Dr. Boston shared several scenarios. At APU, a student could obtain a four-year degree “for about $32,000.” For some schools, that is a complete degree for the same price as one year at the private university. But, if one gets even more creative, the cost could be even less. For instance, “some community colleges … will offer online two-year degrees.” Subsidized, this means the first two years could be around $3,000. If you transfer that to a fouryear online school, like APU, the total undergraduate cost could be $22,000, Boston explains. Moreover, an online degree, Boston contends, does not limit job prospects. He cites SHRM, the Society of HR Managers, as reporting that Human Resources members “don’t distinguish between an online degree and an onthe-ground degree.”
EXPLORING ONLINE
If interested in exploring online options, students should investigate programs as thoroughly as they would residential options. Gazi articulates that students and parents should consider “the quality of the program, the reputation of the
institution, and program performance related to retention, job placement and other factors.” He suggests that students should “ask questions about a program’s retention rate, availability of financial aid, how long it takes a typical student to graduate, job placement rate (and where these graduates were placed), and services offered to support online students… and compare costs of similar degrees and institutions.” In other words, be as thorough in your search for an online program as you would be with a residential program. Interestingly enough, online does not mean “remote” or “distance” learning for many of online students. Gazi notes that “more than half of online students choose a program that is within 50 miles of where they live – their communities recognize the brand, which is important for employment prospects, and there is also comfort in knowing that if you have to, you can go to campus if necessary.”
FLEXIBLE, PORTABLE
With the multi-screen functionality of many courses, allowing students to carry their program with them on their laptop, tablet, and smartphone, students can be mobile in their learning. For undergraduate students, this could
even mean “students who, instead of taking a year attending an overseas institution, take a year off, and go overseas, but they take all of their courses online, so they can travel much more frequently ... So they keep up with their credits,” Boston explains. This innovative approach allows flexibility while still staying “on track” with their fouryear plan.
DRAWBACKS
Barriers to completing an online degree can actually be about the student as much as the course. “I will be the first one to tell you that online is not for everybody. A number of our students who try us say ‘I don’t have the self discipline ... to sit down and get this work done.’ They need the physical classroom, the support of fellow students, the routine of going to the library, and even the peer pressure of getting things done.” The camaraderie and community are more necessary to some students than others. And that’s ok. Undergraduate programs that are fully online are a bit more challenging, but not impossible. U.S. News lists their “Best Online Degree Programs,” naming 246 as 100% online. (http://bit. ly/2v7yRPU) Technology has to keep up with advances in many subjects (i.e. labs). The sheer number of classes in a virtual environment for a four-year versus a Master’s degree also affects going fully online. Gazi notes that “the challenge in undergraduate online education is the large number of classes to convert to the online modality, as well as the challenge that comes with lab-based or hands-on programs.” Dr. Boston notes that APUS “had the first fully online bachelor of science electrical engineering, and had to work with a technology partner to bring lab experiences online.” With changing times, innovative technology, and a wider range of students to reach with an affordable education, it seems online learning will only become more prevalent. It will eventually have a profound impact on higher education and tomorrow’s labor markets.
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
[ 13 ]
COLLEGE PLANNING
By Amelia Mezrahi
Is
Early
Decision or
Early
Action
RIGHT FOR YOU? [ 14 ]
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
O
ne of the more popular options for students applying to colleges, especially competitive ones, is Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA). In a world where students can apply to many schools, they serve as one of the only signals of a student’s passion for a college. it also helps to know earlier in your senior year that you have your choice of college all set. In addition to the challenge of finding the school you want to spend the next four years, there are some other considerations.
COLLEGE PLANNING
Early Decision vs. Early Action Before discussing if they are right for you and how to use them, it is important to contrast the two options. Early Decision (ED) is a binding decision. If accepted at that university, you agree to go there. Early Action (EA) is nonbinding and you can apply to more than one school. This signals that you are serious about the school, but it leaves your options open. A variant of early action called Single Choice Early Action (SCEA) is where a school allows you to apply early action (non-binding), but you may not apply to any other school as EA or ED.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Early Decision Early Decision is the single most powerful signal you can give a school if it is your first choice. The impact on your application’s chances varies by school, but at many schools it is seen as significantly increasing your odds. You also hear back early from the school with its decision, thus reducing stress for the remainder of your senior year. However, it has several drawbacks. If you have any second thoughts about the school over the course of your senior year, it is too late to change it. You really must be sure this is the school that is right for you. Second, if you are looking at financial aid, you lose the ability to compare financial aid offers across schools that offered you admission. You can always meet with the financial aid office to request more assistance, but the outcome is uncertain. Third, if you are not a solid candidate for the school, you may receive an outright rejection. This also means that if you expect to have further standardized tests to add to an application or want to show a full fall semester of grades, you might also benefit from waiting, depending on deadlines. In short, if you are absolutely certain this is the school for you and you believe your grades and standardized scores make you competitive, ED is very attractive. If not, you should consider EA or general admission. If the school makes data available, you should also research how early deci-
sion affects your chances. But be careful not to read too much into the data. The students applying early are often stronger than the general applicant pool. So it can be hard to infer how much ED improves your chances.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Early Action For most students, they are still considering a few different programs and may be sensitive to what kind of financial aid each school offers them. For such students, Early Action is attractive. It offers a strong signal that you are interested in the school early on without locking you in. And if you are offered admission, it still lets you know earlier in your senior year that you have at least one option all set for college. Accordingly, many college advisors and counselors recommend EA over ED for most students. As noted, the Single Choice Early Action (SCEA) is popular with some schools. The application is not binding, but you can only select one school. The power of SCEA, as with ED, is that it tells admissions officers that their program is your first choice and that you are very likely to go if offered admission. Yet SCEA still gives you the option to change your mind, especially if another school offers you a more attractive financial aid package. When you have a school that you think is right for you, SCEA is a very good idea.
Other Benefits of Getting Your Applications in Ahead of Time More generally, filing your applications early is attractive. It lowers stress, reduces the chance of a mistake or issue with your application, and signals that you are well-organized. It may not affect your chance of admission to schools with a deadline. However, one exception is that earlier is always better for schools with rolling admissions. Once they have filled their incoming class, they will no longer admit additional students.
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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Help them find their paths.
Your students look to you for guidance as they plan their lives after high school. Send them to the website with a customized platform made just for them — no matter what their paths after high school are. Planning for college, career, military and anywhere in between is our specialty. Let NextStepU help you get them there.
www.NextStepU.com
What’s Your
Go Get involved!
OCTOBER 6, 2017 OCCURRING ANNUALLY ON NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY
Home Schools
Private Schools
2.8 Million Students and K-12 Counting Engaged Schools to Participate Colleges
?
Charter Schools
STEM-related jobs are some of the fastest growing jobs with thousands that are currently going unfilled today due to a lack of qualified candidates. The number of jobs vacancies is predicted to reach 2.6 million by 2020. The United States is facing a skills gap that is threatening our ability to be a global leader in the new industrial revolution. We must become innovators and producers of next-generation products and services.
Learn about Design Thinking and enhance your problem solving skills through participating in Day of Design challenges. Build a prototype that presents a solution to a problem discovered within the challenge. Film the challenge to capture your thought process as you collaborate build, test, and solve real world problems together. Students and teachers can then upload their challenge videos to the Day of Design website to claim a badge of accreditation.
Join us in November for the awards ceremony and the report to the nation for the commencement of the first annual Day of Design.
The only question left is...
What Will You Design? www.dayofdesign.com
www.dayofdesign.com
Jordan Bullock jordan.bullock@stemconnector.org
CAREER
Giving them the business TEENS ARE TAKING CHARGE AS ENTREPRENEURS By Jim Paterson
S
mart, savvy teens, energized by technology and a sense they can build a business as well as anyone, are increasingly doing just that. We have recently seen teens successfully marketing everything from bow ties to healthy meals. And colleges are often helping them take the next step. Fortune magazine recently highlighted 18 successful entrepreneurs under 18 years of age who are “inventing new products, building brands and making millions.” http://for. tn/2ceVX0h “Both scary and inspiring to consider, our future purchasing, socialization, and entertainment behaviors are in their hands,” Start-up Grind magazine noted when it highlighted top teen business people. http://bit.ly/1KhWN9f However, experts say that, despite their preparation and drive, these young CEO’s need training and guidance – and the best place for that is still college. “I want to go because I know I still have a lot to learn,” says Moziah “Mo” Bridges, the founder of Mo’s Bows,
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which produces custom bow ties and has partnerships with Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales. Fifteen-year-old Mo was also featured on the TV show “Shark Tank.” “It is important to add to your knowledge, and college is the place to do it. I won’t be my best at this work without it, and I want to be the best.” He plans to attend design school in New York. Colleges and business schools are aware of these young entrepreneurs, and are developing business programs to assist them – and even offering support services before they attend. The MIT Launch program is designed to offer training and resources for young entrepreneurs through online courses, “launch clubs” and a fourweek summer program. There, students work with other high school entrepreneurs from around the world, build their entrepreneurial skills and launch a real startup with their team, working with mentors from MIT. Laurie Stach, founder of the program, says these young talents “have access to brilliant minds, technology, and makerspaces that empower them to
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
accomplish so much.” She and other mentors stress that despite the glamorization of some leaders who did not attend college – particularly in the tech industry – higher education is a huge benefit for most. “The supportive communities at universities create ideal environments in which to start companies, build their product and test it. The new ideas, perspectives and the network of students, alumni, and professors they’ll be exposed to in college will be expansive for them and their business,” she says. Emily Weimer, associate director of the Lewis Institute and Babson Social Innovation Lab at Babson College in Babson Park, MA, says the school’s graduates are glad they finished their degrees. The school also supports high school entrepreneurs in a variety of ways, including a summer program. “The most important things college can provide young entrepreneurs is access to new and different information to ignite new thinking and spark new interests and ideas. It can help them frame, focus, or even expand their ideas,” Weimer explains. She says the challenges faced in the fast-changing business world are reasons they need good foundations and support, even though it may not be a traditional business education. Babson promotes a methodology called “Entrepreneurial Thought and Action.” “The pathways to success from 20 years ago aren’t the same today,” she says. “The world is more connected, and it is changing at the speed of light, so we teach young people how to navigate uncertainty, create their future, and develop solutions to problems that we don’t even know about yet.” Weimer also notes “entrepreneurship naturally cultivates other vital skills such as critical thinking and reframing failure. That only serves to help them on whatever pathway they choose.”
CAREER
TOP TIPS BY TEEN ENTREPRENEURS What tips do young entrepreneurs have for you if you’re thinking of starting your own firm? Moziah “Mo” Bridges
Haile Thomas
Moziah “Mo” Bridges, the founder of a nationally-marketed bow tie company, says entrepreneurs have to “stay true to their brand,” noting it’s easy to get sidetracked with a new idea or opportunity, but that it is “critical to stay focused.” “Make sure it is driven by passion and purpose before thinking about the money,” says Haile Thomas, 16, founder of the Healthy Active Positive Purposeful Youth (HAPPY) Organization. HAPPY has successfully contracted with schools to help young people learn better eating habits and gets the word out about nutrition. “Start with what good you can do in the world and then eventually find ways to monetize it.” Shubham Banerjee, 15, founder of Braigo Labs, which developed a low-cost braille printer, feels similarly. "Be humble,” he told Fortune magazine. "Innovate for the right reasons – money is not one of them.”
Shubham Banerjee
Ollie Forsythe
Laurie Stach
Among many of these young people, the best advice they have received is to find work you love and then fully dedicate yourself to it. “If someone tells you your idea is not going to work, make it your mission to prove them wrong,” says Ollie Forsythe, 18, who started an online jewelry company and now heads The Budding Entrepreneur Club, which supports young business people. He says persistence is the key – and not being afraid to ask for help. “Entrepreneurs sometimes think they know everything. It’s fine to look for advice or mentoring, and it will help you be successful.” Laurie Stach, founder of the Launch program for young entrepreneurs at MIT, suggests that is important to have the right “entrepreneur mindset.” “Being smart as far as business is concerned also means being adaptable, resourceful, and knowing when and where to ask for advice or help,” she says. “You alone can never have all the answers. Plus, inherent talent can sometimes even cause you to keep from listening to other perspectives.” She notes that there are important business skills entrepreneurs need, and that execution is more important than having a great idea. “Every investor I’ve ever spoken with has said the same thing: they choose startups based on the teams in place to execute the idea, not the idea itself. Ideas are, unfortunately, a dime a dozen. Success in startups is more about what you do.”
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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CAREER
Job Market
UPDATE THE CLASS OF 2017 was fortunate to graduate into the best job market in 10 years. But differences by major remain important. Here is an analysis of early and mid-career earnings by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. A key caveat is that these numbers mask the substantial variability in earnings for some majors, especially in mid-career stage. Business and STEM fields may see wide differences in wages that only grow over time. Wage differences in education or criminal justice are lower, for both beginning and mid-career salaries.
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Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
EXPERIENCE Schedule a visit today! vaughn.edu/admissions
NEXT GENERATION EDUCATION ENGINEERING | TECHNOLOGY | MANAGEMENT | AVIATION
LIFE
r e t p o c Heli g: n i t n Pare UCH?
P TOO M L E H IS N E H W
A
By Kate Alexander student’s phone rings in the middle of a meeting with a professor. An undergraduate responds to a text message from mom during class. A father writes the 11th grade English teacher about his son’s grade. A young adult brings one of her parents to a job interview. An essay shines more than usual after heavy editing by an eloquent aunt. Sound familiar? The trend is called “overparenting” or “helicopter parenting,” and it’s not new, but it’s getting more prevalent. Today, this phenomenon has begun to seep into students’ high school, college, and even work experiences. To understand this issue, NextStepU interviewed two experts on the topic. Dr. Julie Olson-Buchanan, Professor, Department of Management at California State University, Fresno, and New York Timesbestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Stanford freshmen dean and author of How to Raise an Adult.
DEFINING BOUNDARIES
To begin, we asked each expert to define “helicopter” parenting. Olson-Buchanan, who co-authored an empirical research study on the topic with Jill Bradley-Geist, states that it “is when a parent is overinvolved in the lives of their child, young adult, or adult offspring where it is beyond the appropriate level given their age and development.” Lythcott-Haims defines it as “doing for kids what they can already do or can almost do for themselves.” She cites Dr. Madeline Levine, author of Teach Your Children Well and The Price of Privilege with this principle of almost. “We parents
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must not do what our kids can already do, can almost do, or that’s just related to our own egos. Because it interrupts the kids’ development.” The reason? “That’s where learning happens, in the ‘almost do’ spaces.”
GUEST APPEARANCES
So, where does this over-parenting show up? Virtually everywhere. The prevalence of technology, especially smartphones, increases the constant contact. “Technology allows a parent who wants to be more involved or too involved to be very involved,” Lythcott-Haims states. If the consistent texts and phone calls are just about love and care, it’s one thing. “It’s all well and good if all you’re saying is I love you. How are you?” Lythcott-Haims explains. “But if it’s ‘what class do you have next? When are you going to study for that test I know you have in Bio next week? Don’t forget to sign up for this,’ we’re effectively still trying to function as their [young adults’] frontal lobe. We’re trying to be the person who remembers this stuff, or is on top of this stuff, instead of teaching them how to do that for themselves.” Beyond challenging grades, which may be a common example of over-parenting, parents are also “telling them what they have to study, making the choices about which classes they will take, basically acting like my kid is an investment and I have to maneuver it.” Olson-Buchanan describes the “invisible” presence of helicopter parents, especially in college. It “may not be detectable to others” but includes “following along in the syllabus and checking in on your student [to see] if they completed
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
an assignment.” This may be fine at the junior-high level, but not as a young adult in college.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND OVERBOARD
Parental involvement is not the problem. “Parent involvement is caring and being engaged when you’re supposed to be engaged and not pushing it further. Research has shown this is related to academic success, social success, and psychological well-being,” Olson-Buchanan clarifies. The real issue is that over-parenting hinders self-efficacy and construction of identity. “Over-parenting ends up hurting the very people you’re trying to protect. By protecting them, they’re not developing these life skills that they need for work, that they need for a social life, that they need just to have a healthy balanced life,” Olson-Buchanan asserts. OVER-PARENTING ENDS UP HURTING THE VERY PEOPLE YOU’RE TRYING TO PROTECT. - OLSON-BUCHANAN Lythcott-Haims discusses the ramifications of not allowing young adults to make their own choices. “These are the years when a young person begins to construct a sense of self. Who am I? Who do I want to be? … What really brings me joy and excitement in the classroom?” With constant parental involvement, students don’t get a chance to create a self.
LIFE Perhaps because of this, the lack of “self-efficacy” can predict and affect things like “job performance, job satisfaction, and persistence. It’s something that we develop as we grow up. It’s your belief that you can have control over your motivation, that you can motivate yourself. It’s the belief that you can control your behaviors and get things done,” OlsonBuchanan shares. Not only does this self-efficacy affect the job success, but also parents are inserting themselves into the workplace. Lythcott-Haims explains how “they’re calling HR managers to say ‘why didn’t you give my child that promotion’ or “why didn’t you give them a bigger raise” and so there is this constant need to advocate for young adults, even well into the adult years.” She contends, “It’s time for young adults to get off leash … they don’t know how to think for themselves. They don’t know how to make a decision.” By being “over-attended,” young adults become depressed or anxious, feeling incompetent, Lythcott-Haims explains. That is the opposite of what parents desire. “What we’ve got to do as parents is remember that our job ultimately … is to put ourselves out of a job.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Often in today’s society, we look back at the way it used to be and criticize – or idealize. But in the world of over-parenting, looking back is exactly one way to solve the problem. For parents of today’s high school and college students, remembering what their parents didn’t do helps. Both Lythcott-Haims and Olson-Buchanan suggest that one way to prevent over-parenting is for parents to remember what it was like when they were kids and college students. Parents should “look back at our own childhood like ‘wait a minute. When I was ten, I was making
myself lunch, or when I was 12, I was babysitting other people’s children, and now my 12-year-old can’t even seem to make a pop tart,” Lythcott-Haims asserts. By looking back, it will help forge young adults’ future. It is as though parents need to be re-educated about appropriate involvement. “Colleges and even workplaces are starting to respond by having orientations for parents where they address these issues,” Olson-Buchanan states.
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
Over-parenting may “come from a sense that you’re keeping up with the Joneses and the other parents are advocating for their child. There is this sense that if I don’t they will be at an unfair disadvantage to the others. And it’s realizing that actually, if you don’t do it, your child will learn how to do it,” Olson-Buchanan explains. Lythcott-Haims’ encourages parents and students to look beyond U.S. News and World Reports’ rankings for colleges. “The whole point about the right colleges, is the right college for you!” She suggests two other lists for different reasons: Colleges That Change Lives (https://ctcl.org) “focuses on what makes a college experience fantastic and worthwhile (i.e. faculty attention and strong residential communities).” The Alumni Factor (https://www. alumnifactor.com) examines how alumni are doing after they graduate, on multiple levels. “We need to stop being so worried about our own egos as parents, about what our neighbors and friends are going to think,” she states. Overall, both experts agree a supporting, loving environment helps students in their high school, college and workplace experiences. But, it’s the letting go that teaches both young adults and parents the most.
To learn more from our experts, see LythcottHaims’ New York Times Bestseller, How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success. Her TedTalk, from October 2015, has had over 2.5 million views to date. Watch her “How to Raise Successful Kids Without Overparenting” online: https://www.ted.com/talks/julie_lythcott_
Tips for Parents and Students Over-parenting can cause an unhealthy cycle between parents and their children. To help shift expectations and roles, Julie LythcottHaims gives parents and young adults some key tips. She suggests parents follow the advice of her friend Stacey Ashlund. Her four steps to teach any skill will prepare students to live powerfully and independently. Without steps two and three, self-efficacy won’t emerge. • You do it for them. • You do it with them. “They're alongside you, and you're doing a lot of narrating and explaining and they're kind of watching and may be helping.” • You watch them do it. “They really take the reign; they really take the driver's wheel. They are doing it, but you're there, not to micromanage, but just to give a little feedback.” • They do it completely independently. For young adults who sense their parents may be overstepping, Lythcott-Haims recommends: LOVE: “Start with love and gratitude,” she asserts. Say something like: "Hey guys, I know you love me and I love you, and I'm grateful for all you've done for me and all you've taught me." EXPLAIN: Pick a few responsibilities you want to take on. “Students can say ‘I think it’s time that I started doing more for myself.’ They “should pick three things that they really feel like ‘it’s time. I want to be responsible for these things.” REMIND: Help your folks recall what it was like with their parents. You could say, “I bet grandma wasn't doing these things for you.” She says you can explain that “the rationale is I just want to be as competent as you were when you were my age.”
haims_how_to_raise_successful_kids_without_ over_parenting Olson-Buchanan’s study, with co-author, Jill Bradley-Geist, “Helicopter parents: an examination of the correlates of over-parenting of college students” looks at what leads to and comes from this trend: http://www. emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/ET-102012-0096
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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Studying: Do you dread studying? Here are some of the best universal study tips and hacks out there.
1
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By Amelia Mezrahi
LIFE Life Hacks
for School
SUREFIRE TIPS
TO BETTER GRADES
MAKE A SCHEDULE.
You need to schedule in all exams, papers and assignments at the beginning of the school year or semester. Then, begin to think about blocks during a typical week that you can assign to different tasks. Your schedule does not need to be set in stone, but if you do not plan a schedule, it is very easy to find yourself looking at a clock that says midnight and wondering where your day went. This is especially dangerous in college where you will only spend 15-18 hours a week in an actual classroom. For many courses, the entire semester grade rests on one or two large papers or exams, with almost nothing else due from week-to-week.
USE MICRO-BREAKS... Work for 25 minutes, break for 5. Listen to a song, surf the web, watch a video. Resume studying. Just be careful not to let the breaks stretch on. After you have done this for 2 hours, try taking a longer break.
7
BUDGET TIME IN THE MORNING TO STUDY.
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Most of us are not natural morning people, but getting in even 40 minutes of studying every morning can make a difference. This then leaves more time for focusing on the most important materials just before bed. Studies show that our strongest retention is of what we read right before bed (if we can still get a good night’s sleep and are not doing an all-nighter). In short, work experience helps develop the crucial skills we all need for life.
CHEAT SHEETS.
Some classes allow you a page of notes for an exam. Many do not. Nevertheless, you should create your own sheet anyway. Why? The act of writing down the most important notes, formulas and takeaways will significantly improve your recall for any exam. Relatedly, if you have lots of formulas to remember, writing them down quickly on a piece of paper at the start of an exam also works. You might also want to make a use of a whiteboard for the same reason.
#23418f
USE GOOGLE/YOUTUBE AS YOUR LIFELINES.
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Is an idea just not sticking? Having trouble interpreting a graph or applying a formula? If your notes and textbooks do not work, go online. There are dozens of short Youtube videos (think: Khan Academy) that are laser focused on almost any concept or formula tripping you up. Similarly, just look for any concept with “.pptx” in google and there is a good chance the lecture slides of dozens of professors are online, ready for viewing. Quickly find one expert whose teaching style is the easiest to follow.
USE MICRO-REWARDS.
Have 100 pages to read? Give yourself an M&M or small snack for every 10 pages you turn or problem you solve. Find the treat that motivates you. One other advantage is that it may prevent you from binge eating later when you studying late into the night.
6
FIGHT DISTRACTIONS.
Turn your cell phone to airplane mode, turn off social media, and focus while working, especially studying for an exam. If you like to work while listening to music, be very careful to use something that works in background (low volume instrumental music or songs that you will not find too engrossing). Pick a tough paragraph you are reading or a challenging problem as a quick test. Can you listen to this without getting distracted? If so, this music may work for you.
STUDYING IN TEAMS WITH STRUCTURE.
Studying in groups has been linked to academic success. You will work harder and be more engaged. The challenge is avoiding getting sidetracked with other conversations. Your study session could turn into a social event. Before any meeting, ask each person to come up with a list of what they are having trouble understanding. Divide up the list and alternate having study members answer these questions.
#168fce
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SEE THE BIG PICTURE.
For any materials you are reading (textbook or articles), step back at the end of each section and ask, what the main point or takeaway was. This is especially important in social sciences, humanities and business or communication fields. Write the key takeaways in the margins. (This is especially helpful if you use highlighting.) Otherwise, you can risk memorizing the trees while missing that they are part of a forest. You will be shocked at how many of your classmates can read an article on why the American Revolution happened, take notes on it, and still be unable to answer the question in the title.
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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LIFE
COMBATING THE FRESHMAN By Mila Sanchez
15: F
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY IN COLLEGE
or those of you who are fresh out of high school, and headed to college with its first taste of freedom, you are probably pretty excited — and you should be! College is an awesome place to start taking charge of your life and getting to know who you are as an individual. But sometimes the overabundance of freedom paired with a plethora of new responsibilities can be a little overwhelming. You’ve probably heard of the dreaded “freshman 15.” If you haven’t, it’s the phenomenon of gaining 15 pounds during your first year of college … for some, the first semester. There are many factors that contribute to gaining the freshman 15, but many chalk it up to students being in charge of their own food intake for the first time; pair that with a student budget and some notso-good food choices are bound to be made. Also, endless hours of classes, studying, and homework can leave you sitting most of your day. Bad food choices and a sedentary lifestyle is a disastrous recipe for rapid weight gain.
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But this doesn’t have to happen to you! You can maintain your current weight and level of health — or even lose a freshman 15 if you’ve got some extra weight you’d like to ditch — by following these tips.
TAKE NOTE OF YOUR CURRENT HEALTH
It’s hard to track changes in your weight or health if you’re not aware of where you currently are in those respects. One way to look at these things is to calculate your BMI (body mass index). While it’s not the end-all-be-all of accuracy, as everyone’s body type is different, figuring out your current BMI will give you a general idea of where you are on average. Also, be sure to take note of your current eating habits and activity level. What and how much do you eat on a daily basis? How active are you? Knowing these things now will help you figure out either what you need to maintain or changes you’d like to make going into the school year.
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
Mila Sanchez is a writer and recent graduate with a BA in English Linguistics. Her ambitions include traveling the world, studying languages, and taking pictures of her dog, Baymax. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram!
LIFE
MAKE GOOD FOOD CHOICES
There are two lifestyles that most college freshmen are likely to find themselves in: living on campus cafeteria food with the food plan that dorm dwellers are required to get, or living off-campus, and having to grocery shop and cook for themselves for the first time. Both of these scenarios can end up with students making some less-than-stellar decisions when it comes to eating. The students who have a food plan that comes with on-campus living have access to a buffet-style cafeteria for their daily meals. With a nearly unlimited smorgasbord of food to choose from, a young appetite, and an inkling to “get your money’s worth,” overeating happens more often than not. With so many different food options, it’s tempting to go for the delicious (and probably more unhealthy) options. This is where you need to take responsibility and make good choices; take only how much you need to fill yourself, and try to make a healthy choice like fruits and vegetables, non-oily meats, and whole grains. Getting something on the unhealthier side, like pizza every once in while isn’t going to kill you, but eating like that every day certainly isn’t going to do you any favors. Students who live off-campus and have to fend for themselves typically fall into the “buy the cheapest and easiest food possible.” You know the old stereotype of the college student living off ramen — it’s a stereotype because many students actually do it! Instant ramen, mac and cheese, microwave meals — if it’s cheap and easy, it’s free game. But these inexpensive
foods are almost always extremely unhealthy; tons of sodium, preservatives, and processing make up these foods. They are not good for the human body. The misinformation here is that these foods are the cheapest options. There are plenty of ways to eat healthily on a budget. Try to buy things like rice in bulk and stock up on low-cost frozen vegetables.
FIND WAYS TO BE ACTIVE
In high school, you probably had different ways of being active, whether it was participating on your school’s sports teams, or just walking to school or around your neighborhood with your friends. But in college, your schedule is more than likely going to be a lot more hectic. Unless you were one of the few lucky recruits to one of the university’s sports teams, you’re probably not going to have many opportunities for organized exercise, let alone the free time to seek out possibilities ... or the energy. It’s funny how all those hours of sitting and studying wear you out. It’s hard to get motivated to exercise when you’re
mentally exhausted. But, if you hope to combat the freshman 15, you need to find some ways to incorporate exercise into your life. If you look in the right places, you can find a lot of creative ways to add some extra activity to your college life. If you’re going to a state school with a large campus, skip using the shuttle and make an effort to walk to each of your classes when possible. If you’ll be commuting to school, you can choose a far parking spot to add a bit more walking. For more constructive exercise, you can use your campus gym. Most universities have a recreation center that is free to use for full-time students. Just pack your gym bag and make it a point to go there a few times a week — perhaps during a large break between classes or before you go home for the day. If the gym is boring to you, you can find other creative and fun ways to get more exercise. Get some of your dorm mates or friends from classes and make it a group hang; explore an activity you all enjoy — like campus favorite ultimate Frisbee — and try to do it a couple of times a week. For those weeks where you have more homework than time, take 10-minute study breaks every hour and follow along to a YouTube work out, or even just dance around to your favorite music. Any type of movement is going to do you good! The freshman 15 is a reality for many, but it doesn’t have to be one for you. Use your newfound freedom to make good choices for yourself and your health, and the only weight you’ll gain this year is the weight of new knowledge in your mind. Good luck this year!
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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LIFE
Must Have
Gadgets FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
A PORTABLE CHARGER
Some days, you are going to be out all day and in classrooms without any electrical outlets. A portable charger is especially handy when you may have longer courses that let you use a laptop or tablet. So having an external charger you can use all day is a must. An increasing number of backpacks come integrated with chargers, although you may prefer the flexibility of getting a discrete one ($20-50 depending on size).
WIRELESS HEADPHONES
Chances are you are going to spend long hours studying in libraries, study halls, or in a dorm with a roommate across the room. So getting good headphones is a must. Exercise is also an important activity while you are in school. Having great earbuds to zone out while exercising is a key to maintaining your rhythm. A set of good wireless headphones gives the flexibility to move untethered to any devices. At the top end for audiophiles, Wireless Beats systems deliver superb sound and noise isolation ($300). If you have an iPhone and prize ease of use, Apple’s new AirPods are great ($160). But simple Bluetooth systems that hang around your neck can be had for as little as $30.
A GOOD TABLET
Tablets are extremely useful as more and more textbooks are available online. Instead of lugging 10 pounds of books, go for a tablet. At the high end, iPads are attractive. The new Surface tablets from Microsoft can even replace a laptop. However, an Amazon Fire tablet can be purchased for as little as $50. The 8-inch Fire Tablet is perfect for reading, streaming video, and playing games. It costs a mere $80.
A STREAMING STICK
This applies only if you have a TV or HD equipped monitor. A Google Chromecast stick ($30), Amazon Fire stick ($40) or Roku Stick ($30) will allow you access to online services like Youtube, Netflix and HBO. All of these devices will give you hours of entertainment on the go or in a dorm. Plus, you can take it home with you for the holidays or on trips.
A USB FLASH DRIVE FOR YOUR KEY RING
Even in an age of the cloud, there are endless times when transferring something by simple USB key is helpful. Especially when trying to transfer documents to and from classroom podium computers or desktops in computer centers. How do you make sure the drive is with you? Get one that is on a keychain ($5-10).
A TRADITIONAL ALARM CLOCK
This is the one retro piece of tech. Lots of websites will tell you with a smartphone that you no longer need an alarm clock. But when it is finals week and you forget to plug in your phone (or when your roommate unplugs it to charge their phone), what are you going to do when you sleep through your exam? For people who find it particularly hard to get up, you can also put it across the room, forcing you to get out of bed ($20-30).
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Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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MONEY
By Rachel Kapelke-Dale
Higher ACT Scores Can Lead To
SCHOLARSHIPS!
A
lot of students are more likely to connect the SAT, rather than the ACT, with scholarships. After all, the official name of the PSAT is the PSAT/NMSQT, or the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. And while the PreACT on its own won’t get you any scholarship money, the full-length ACT might. Just to be clear, the ACT organization itself doesn’t offer any scholarships. However, score high enough on the exam, and you’ll put yourself in the running for literally thousands of scholarship opportunities. Not sure how you’ll score? Take an ACT practice test to get a sense of where you’re starting from before you begin your test prep (or to measure where you currently are).
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HOW HIGH SHOULD MY ACT SCORE BE TO QUALIFY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS?
You’re probably going to hate this answer, but…it depends. It truly does. The higher the better. Scoring above a 30 on the ACT puts you in the 90th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 90 out of every 100 students who take the exam, so that’s a good place to start. A score of 30+ will make you a very competitive candidate for most scholarships. But even if your score is not in the stratosphere, don’t rule out the possibility of getting money for college based on the ACT. Currently, the average ACT score is around 21, and even scoring above 14 on the ACT puts you in the running for the AIEF (American Indian
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
Education Foundation) Undergraduate Scholarship Program, if you are also Native American. Similarly, scoring above a 15 could put you in the running for a King’s Daughters Health Foundation Health Career Scholarship if you meet their requirements (hint: pursuing a career in healthcare is a big one). However, not all scholarships are limited to certain candidates. Many colleges offer scholarships of their own to entering students with ACT scores above a certain level, usually if they also meet GPA standards for the scholarship.
SO…HOW MUCH MONEY COULD I GET? Scholarship amounts are pretty closely related to how high you score on the ACT. For example, let’s take a look at
MONEY Oklahoma State University. If you score 24 and have a 3.0 GPA, you could get $8,000 a year at Oklahoma State—saving you $32,000 on your whole education. And that’s if you’re an out-of-state student! But pull your score above 30 and you’re looking at $12,500 a year— that’s $18,000 more, or $50,000 in all, over the course of four years. Just for a difference of six points on the ACT!
I’M CONVINCED! HOW CAN I GET THE SCORE I NEED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS? The most important ingredients to success here are: 1. Starting early 2. Studying smarter, not harder 3. Taking lots and lots of practice tests Starting early not only gives you a lot of time to prep, but it also takes some of the pressure off. Even if you don’t achieve your desired score the first time around, know that you can retake the
exam—in fact, most student will get their best scores by taking the ACT twice. However, it doesn’t matter how long you study if you’re working with subpar materials! Make sure you have a top-notch ACT study guide to help you master the content of the test, as well as the format, so you know exactly how to approach each and every problem on test day. Finally, there’s no better way to prep than by taking regular practice exams— once a week, if you can. This will not only get you used to the test-taking experience, but it also provides you with invaluable information about the areas you should review before you take the actual exam. Plus, it’s the best way to
track your progress. No matter where you’re starting, know that your ACT score will likely put you in the running for some scholarships. Just study hard—and if you find your motivation wavering, think how great it’s going to be when those scholarship dollars start pouring in!
Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a High School and Graduate Exams blogger at Magoosh. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, an MA from the Université de Paris VII, and a PhD from University College London. She has taught test preparation and consulted on admissions practices for over eight years. Currently, Rachel divides her time between the US and London.
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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“SENIOR” COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE
2017 / 2018
SEPTEMBER 2017
OCTOBER 2017
Make sure that you have by now thought through your educations goals and developed a list of colleges
Thank those who have provided recommendation letters for you
Continue to take a full course load and work on your grades. They do matter in the senior year. Develop a system to organize and track material, due dates and actions Research all application, testing, financial aid and scholarship deadlines and tasks Meet with your counselors and teachers to review your plans Talk to your counselors to see if you are eligible for fee waivers for applications Check your transcript so far for accuracy If you need to take/retake ACT or SAT, check the dates for registration and prepare for them Go to school’s information sessions or any scheduled college rep visits Start on your applications, Common App., or any college specific applications Make a list of those you want to work on your recommendation letters and prepare folders for each one Determine if Early Action or Early Decision is for you
NOVEMBER 2017 Complete and file early action or early decision applications if you are considering these Take or re-take any ACT, SAT or SAT subject tests (if they are needed) Complete your FAFSA if you haven’t already Follow up to make sure test scores have been sent to colleges Email or contact colleges to check the status of your application material Check with colleges to see if additional financial forms are required Speak with students, college ambassadors and others in schools you are applying to If using dual enrollment, contact the college for your transcripts
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Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
Make sure you fill out FAFSA and if you need to file CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE as many private schools require this. Both are available starting on October 1st. Make sure you have all your application material ready if you are applying for Early Action or Early Decision, in order to complete this by November 1-15. Check your schools’ deadline. If you are an athlete make sure you are registered with the NCAA Start your search for scholarships early Work on your application essay if colleges on your list require them
DECEMBER 2017 ROTC application is due by December 1st Continue to work on your applications and complete all necessary documents for the main January application deadline Use your winter break to plan out the second term and the remaining months Make sure test scores have been sent to colleges Send out mid-year grade reports to colleges
TIMELINE
JANUARY 2018
FEBRUARY 2018
Develop a system to track scholarships and continue the search
Most college-specific financial aid deadlines are in February
Complete and file applications that are due by January 15th
File all federal financial aid forms, filing date is usually February 15th
Make copies of the application for your record
Make sure that your first semester grades have been sent to colleges
Complete school-specific financial aid forms
If you filed early for FAFSA, you should receive your student aid report (SAR) and a similar document from the CSS PROFILE
Make sure any updated test scores from exam retakes have been sent to colleges
Stay on track with your grades and extracurricular activities
If you have not completed the college application by January 15th, speak with your counselors. There are still college choices to consider
MARCH 2018
APRIL 2018
Decision letters will begin to arrive!
Follow up with schools that you were wait-listed
Review your financial aid packages closely and determine the best financial plan
Determine any strategies for financial aid and scholarships for the schools you have been accepted to
Consider a plan for visiting campuses
Write thank you letters to teachers and advisors who wrote recommendation letters and helped you
Tell your counselors on the responses you get from schools Review student aid report for accuracy and notify FAFSA and colleges of any inaccuracies
Prepare to notify your college of choice by the National Decision Day of May 1
MAY 2018
JUNE 2018
Acceptance letters are due by May 1st, the National Decision Day
Confirm that the final transcript is sent to your college
Send deposits to the accepted school
Notify college of any private scholarship received
Notify schools that accepted you that you will not be attending
Graduate from high school!!!
Complete the final transcript request form with your school
Make a plan for summer activities including visiting schools and taking pre-college courses
If applicable, take IB and AP tests; AP exam week 1 and 2 Dual enrollment students must complete their transcript request in order to transfer their college credits
Keep track of any college summer mailings. Most have deadlines or require action such as orientation, housing forms and scholarships.
NOTES
Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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“JUNIOR” COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE
2017 / 2018
FALL 2017
WINTER 2017
Begin understanding college planning timeline for junior and senior years
Conduct scholarship search for local, state and federal levels Prepare for SAT and ACT by taking practice tests Check out test dates and register for SAT/ACT or both which is administered in the spring If you are considering IB or AP, register for them as they are administered in May Consider taking CLEP exams to earn college credit for courses that are not included in the AP exam
Create a system to collect information on colleges, testing, applications and financial aid Start making a list of what you want to study in college and majors or interests you would like to pursue. Remember majors can be highly specialized these days. Meet with your counselor for a plan of action and strategies Check out any local college fairs or college rep visits Start searching financial aid options and check out sources such as StudentAid.ed.gov See if you want to take PSAT administered in October Determine any material that is needed for special interests such as sports, music, art, or jobs you have had. Determine if you want to take pre-college and college prep classes in the summer and determine the deadline for applying to them
SPRING 2018
SUMMER 2018
Make a list of 15-20 colleges you are interested in and your strategy Make final plans for the summer pre-college, college prep and supplementary courses you want to take in the summer Speak with your counselor if you are interested in ROTC or military academies Begin the 4- year ROTC scholarship application if applicable Check with your counselor on your college plan and activities to prep for in the summer and senior year
Visit colleges and speak to students and ambassadors Download all application material for colleges you are interested in applying to Complete your summer college program or the job you have landed Take workshops online or in your local community on writing essays and creating your resume Put together your academic, extracurricular and work accomplishments portfolio Relax and enjoy your summer as you will need to be energized for your senior year.
NOTES
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Magazine • Fall 2017 • www.nextstepu.com
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