Higher Education 04-06-2023

Empowering a brighter future

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Firsthand view Get

Today, it seems like you can get all the information you want about any college with a simple Google search. You don’t have to leave your home to get details about the academic curriculum, extracurricular activities or campus facilities. So why exactly do experts strongly advise students to visit prospective colleges before applying? What additional information can you get from a personal visit that you can’t find online?

The answer may surprise you. The biggest advantage of campus visits is that they help you solidify your choice of college.

Get the edge on your nursing career at Saint Paul’s School of Nursing, Queens

St. Paul’s School of Nursing’s mission is to serve the needs of our community by offering a quality education exemplifying the highest standards for nursing practice. Nursing is both an art and a science providing a human service. Our core values of respect, integrity, compassion and excellence are imbedded throughout our curriculum as the foundation for providing care to all.

If you are interested in earning the education required to enter an exciting career in healthcare, then St. Paul’s School of Nursing, in Queens, is the place to be. Founded more than a century ago, and formerly known as Saint Vincent Catholic Centers School of Nursing, St. Paul’s prepares graduates for entry-level positions that can lead to a lifetime of success and achievement.

St. Paul’s School of Nursing is a nonreligious institution of higher education offering two programs: (1) Associate Degree in Nursing program and (2) Associate Degree program in Medical Assisting.

New Yorkers who attend St. Paul’s can pursue the education that they will need to launch challenging careers in healthcare specialties in nursing and

medical assisting.

Conveniently located in Queens, we are right off the Whitestone Expressway on Queens Boulevard. Take your life and your career to the next level. Make plans now to visit our campus in historic Queens, New York, and see for yourself what you’ve been missing.

Visit www.StPaulsSchoolofNursing. edu or call the campus directly at during regular business hours at (718) 357-0500 to schedule an appointment to meet with one of our admissions advisors.

College visits are probably the most fun part of the college application process. When it comes to researching potential schools, there’s no better substitute for figuring out if a campus will feel like home.

If possible, visit every college that you are strongly considering. No website, guidebook, or testimonial will give you a better feel for a school than you’ll get by seeing it for yourself. Many students change their minds after a campus visit. This is obviously preferable to changing your mind after you enroll! Get the most out of your time on campus with these tips.

Mind the calendar. Schedule your visit while school is in session. You won’t get a realistic idea of student life in August (or if you attend during a special event like Spring Fling).

Meet the experts. Talk to the current students they may soon be your peers. If they have a problem or complaint, they will probably share it with you. If they love their school, they won’t be shy about it either. Come prepared with some questions to ask specific ones will get you more interesting (and helpful) answers.

Meet the other experts. Stop by the admissions office and introduce yourself. Let them know what interests you about the school so they can direct you to the best place for further investigation. Collect contact information and send a brief, friendly email thanking them for taking the time to talk to you.

If there is a sign–up sheet, add your name! Colleges do keep track of which applicants have demonstrated genuine interest in the school. A visit is a great way to demonstrate your interest.

Some schools will let you interview with an admissions rep during your campus visit. If this opportunity is available, don’t pass it up.

Take the campus tour. While it’s the most obvious thing to do, the official campus tour is worth your while. It gives the school a chance to show off its best features, like the newly-built theater or their rooftop planetarium. While you’re walking around, check out the flyers and bulletin

boards and pick up a school newspaper to get a sense of what’s going on.…then venture out on your own.

The official tour will probably steer you clear of the school’s less attractive features, like the shoddy dining hall or the tiny gymnasium. Take your own un-official tour by wandering around campus. If there are any facilities that are important to you, find them and have a look for yourself. Make sure your destinations include the library and the first-year dorms.

Be a student for a day (or night). Some schools sponsor overnight programs in which you can stay with a current student. This is a great opportunity to get a deeper sense of campus life and interact with your potential future friends and roommates.

Even if you don’t stay over, most schools will allow you to sit in on lectures. Browse the course catalogue before you arrive, or ask the admissions office what classes are in session that day.

Save the best for last. You’ll get better at visiting colleges with practice. As you compare schools, you pick up on the aspects you like and the aspects you’re not so fond of. You also figure out the right questions to ask, as well as the best campus spots to gauge student life. For that reason, visit your favorite schools last, so you’ll be in the best position to make comparisons to the others on your list.

Keep a record of every college visit. If you visit many schools, your memories of them are bound to overlap. Use a note-taking or voicerecording app on your phone, or plain old notebook and pen, to keep track of the details you like and the stuff that you don’t like. When more questions arise (as they most definitely will), you can fire off an email for an answer rather than visiting a second time.

Don’t rush to judgment. Try not to base your opinion of a school on bad weather or one boring class. There are bound to be sunny days and more interesting classes. Same goes for overnight visits you might end up staying with a student who has very different interests than you do.

At the same time, trust your gut. Sometimes it’s love at first sight. Other times, something feels wrong (even if you can’t put your finger on it).

Above photo: Visiting a college campus is an exciting step in choosing a college. If possible, it’s best to visit colleges before your applications are due. That way, you can be confident you’d be happy at any of the colleges you’re applying to.

Financial aid available for those who qualify. Career placement assistance for all graduates. For consumer information, visit stpaulsschoolofnursing.edu.

Every college-focused high school student has heard of “College Applications Season.” This intense period is when 12th graders prepare to showcase their last four years of academic and extracurricular achievement in their college applications.

You’ve likely seen your senior peers enduring “College Applications Season,” but do most seniors begin work on their college applications well the fall and winter of their senior year? When does “College Applications Season” really start? The answer often depends upon the type of admission you’re interested in.

Tracking deadlines

One challenge of college applications is the variability from school to school. Each college chooses how students should apply, when its application opens, and, of course, its final application deadline (as well as any early decision or early action deadlines). This means that every college you apply to probably will likely have different dates and deadlines that you need to track. However, this won’t significantly affect your big-picture timeline, since most colleges open up their applications around the same time.

There are other factors that add some uniformity to the college admissions timeline. Many colleges use the Common Application; for all Common App schools, the application opens on the day that the Common App opens, Aug. 1. The Common App opening date has remained the same for some years.

During the college application process, you’ll submit essays, transcripts, recommendations, and more in order to be considered for admittance into the colleges and universities of your choice. When you apply, you’ll need to adhere to certain deadlines, which can vary depending on the type of application you submit.

Keep August in focus

Regardless of admission or application type, it all typically opens around Aug. 1 for the following Fall semester. At this time, you’ll be able to view the current application materials and most up-to-date requirements. You can also start submitting your applications.

However, many people will spend more time working on their applications and apply closer to the deadlines.

Early decision

• Application deadline: Early to mid-November

• Admission decision: Mid-December

• Pro: Finalize your admission decision for your top school months before regular admission decisions are sent

• Con: If accepted, you must attend Early decision enables students to submit

Be mindful of deadlines

Understanding the application process

their application and receive their admission decision before the regular application deadline. As an early decision applicant, your admission offer will be binding if you’re accepted, you’re obligated to attend that school so you can only apply for one school as an early decision applicant. This can be a good choice for someone who knows where they want to go to school and wants to speed up their admission process.

Some schools have two early decision deadlines. The first will typically be in early November, with your admission decision arriving in midDecember. You may apply for additional schools as an early action applicant during this period as well, but you still must attend your early decision school if you are accepted.

The second early decision deadline can be anywhere from mid-November to February, and you can expect your decision to follow within about two months. If the second early decision deadline is on or around the regular decision deadline, you may apply to other schools as a regular decision applicant. However, you will be expected to withdraw all other applications if your early decision school offers you admission.

With early decision, you’ll typically have to apply with a binding agreement before receiving a financial aid package from the school or hearing back about any scholarship applications. Consider how this could impact your financial situation as you think about which type of admission deadline suits your needs.

Early action

• Application deadline: Early to mid-November

• Admission decision: Mid-December

• Pro: Know your admission status for your top schools months before regular admission decisions are sent

• Con: Application deadline is months earlier than regular decision deadlines

The timeline for early action admissions is similar to early decision, but there’s one crucial difference: Early action admission offers are nonbinding, meaning if you are accepted into a school, you can still decide to enroll elsewhere.

Typically, when you’re accepted as an early action applicant, you don’t have to notify the school of your decision until May 1, so you can continue to apply to other colleges during the regular decision period. For some students, a non-binding early acceptance can help alleviate some of the stress associated with the college application process.

As with early decision, some schools have two early action deadlines. This additional deadline is primarily a way for admissions officers to space out their work more evenly over the course of the admissions cycle. Whether you apply during the first or second early action wave, you can anticipate receiving your admis-

sion decision about one to two months after the application deadline.

Restrictive early action is a non-binding early application option, but carries the condition that you may only apply to one school during the early application period. With this policy, you may not apply to any other private schools as an early decision or early action candidate. Still, you can apply to schools during the regular decision period.

Regular decision

• Application deadline: Early January to midFebruary

• Admission decision: Mid-March to early April

• Pro: More time to work on your application

• Con: Less time to finalize your offer decision

Most students apply for college during the regular decision period. During this period, applications are due between early January and mid-February, depending on the school you’re applying to. You’ll typically receive your admission decisions between mid-March and early April and will accept or decline your offers by May 1.

The regular decision deadline is the latest application deadline, so you’ll have the most time to prepare your application materials compared to early applicant timelines and less time to finalize your offer decisions than you would if you had applied early action.

As this is the final application window, there are no restrictions regarding the number of schools you may apply to during the regular decision period.

Rolling admission

• Application deadline: Varies

• Admission decision: Within 4-6 weeks of submission

• Pro: Receive your admission decision quicker than you typically would with other application periods

• Con: May have a better chance of admission if you apply earlier in the application cycle With rolling admission, admissions officers review applications as they receive them and send their decisions as soon as they complete their review, usually within four to six weeks of submission. If you are eager to know whether you’ll be accepted into a school, rolling admission tends to be the quickest application timeline.

Rolling admissions deadlines vary from school to school, ranging from December all the way to April. Some schools don’t have a deadline at all and continue reviewing applications until they’ve filled all the spots in their incoming class. Some schools also have a priority deadline, meaning they’ll consider students more seriously if they apply by a certain date.

You typically can apply for a school with roll-

ing admissions after the priority deadline. However, applying for schools with rolling admissions early in the application cycle may be a good idea, as spots in their incoming class may fill quickly.

Transfer

As a transfer student, you’ll go through an application process separate from the process for incoming first-year students. There are typically two different transfer admission deadlines each school year: one for the Spring semester and one for Fall.

For a Spring transfer, applications are often due in November or December, while Fall transfer deadlines may be closer to April or June. Some schools offer rolling admission for transfer students. Transfer deadlines can range greatly; it’s best to consult the admissions website of the specific school you’re hoping to transfer into to find out key dates.

When it’s after deadline

College admission offices typically enforce strict deadlines and will not accept late applications. If you are set on applying for college for a specific entrance period, it’s important to submit your applications by the deadline. (You can always submit your applications early!)

College application timelines tend to require planning ahead months or even a year in advance, which isn’t always ideal for people who cannot commit to a program that far in advance or want more immediate access to education.

Here are some options to consider if application deadlines have passed.

Public universities may have enrollment options closer to the start of the school year for in-state applicants. Reach out to your local public college admissions office to find out.

Community colleges often admit students closer to the start of classes, sometimes even admitting students up until the first day of class, if space permits. With community college, you can start your education immediately and apply to transfer into your school of choice during a later semester, or you can continue coursework at your community college to earn your associate degree and, at some schools, a bachelor’s degree.

Certificate programs may offer more flexible admission timelines and can enable you to study exactly the subjects you want to learn. These programs tend to be more targeted to a specific career path or knowledge base and may offer flexible options like virtual or asynchronous learning.

Above Some parts of the process can sneak up on students. To avoid throwing together an application or application component last-minute, you should be cognizant of all elements as you plan out your application timeline.

mOllOy iS NOw mOllOy UNivErSity!

“Molloy College recently announced that it has become Molloy University!

What does this mean for you? Molloy degrees will now be even more valuable in the marketplace.

“If you come to Molloy, you graduate with a job in your field at a salary that’s significantly higher than average.”

- Dr. James Lentini President, Molloy

College

Molloy University Emphasizes Careers, Value and Values

Students and their families are always looking for an academic environment that offers the best fit and the best value for their tuition dollars. Molloy was recently named one of the top 50 “Value” institutions in the country by Niche, the only Long Island university or college to earn this distinction and one of only five Catholic colleges to

make this prestigious list. Molloy has also earned other honors, including being ranked # 15 in a list of the “Safest Colleges” in the nation, as chosen by Niche.

In addition to being recognized as a great value, Molloy is one of the lower-priced private universities in the region, and approximately 90% of Molloy students receive some form of institutional aid. Additionally, Molloy’s strong retention and graduation rates mean that most of our students graduate on time, resulting in significant financial savings compared to students who transfer to other colleges or universities.

A small student-to-faculty ratio (10:1) means that you are more than a number to our professors, who provide input and guidance that will enable you to pursue your dreams.

Academic Programs That Fuel Careers

At Molloy, you can earn your degree in a variety of outstanding academic programs

(including nursing, business, education, social work, music therapy, computer studies, and many more) that lead to rich and rewarding careers. Additionally, Molloy offers a variety of graduate and doctoral programs that provide the opportunity for you to further enhance your career or take a new direction while pursuing a passion. The College’s graduate programs include a variety of MBA options, as well as programs in clinical mental health counseling, criminal justice, music therapy, speech-language pathology, education, and nursing.

Vibrant Student Life

Not all learning takes place in the classroom. With more than 50 clubs/ student associations, evening and weekend activities and trips, a 550-seat theatre, exciting dining options, and popular study and meeting areas, Molloy gives you the opportunity to enjoy yourself and make new friends. Whatever your interest, Molloy has something for you!

Are you interested in living on campus?

Molloy’s three residence halls house approximately 350 students and provide energy for a campus already buzzing with activity. Living with roommates, meeting new people, and learning to live on your own will help you succeed in and out of the classroom.

Don’t take our word for it. Visit our campus and see for yourself all the wonderful opportunities Molloy has to offer. And don’t miss our Open House, on April 23 at 1 pm!

At Molloy University, you’ll think about the future in a whole new way.

Welcome to the new U!

Inside a college fair

What to expect

The college search sometimes feels a lot like dating. There will be some colleges and universities where the spark isn’t there and a few schools you’ll absolutely love. Where better to get know each other than a college fair?

A college fair is a great chance for students and even your parents to find out more about their child’s top college choices and hear from universities they might not have considered.

Attending a fair is a little like a speed dating event, says a college admission counselor. You have somewhere between 90 minutes to two hours to check out the schools and sometimes there are hundreds to choose from. Before the event, try to find a list of the colleges that will be attending and put an asterisk by the ones that interest you.

Make a game plan

Before you arrive at the fair, do your research. Which college representatives do you want to meet? What do you know about their college already, and what more do you want to know? Depending on your priorities, you might decide to focus your attention on schools that have a strong program for your intended major or look into scholarship information to help pay for college.

Speak up

Every date needs a little small talk, so come with a few questions about college, from how to get financial aid and scholarship money to

admission requirements and what assistance you’ll have getting in.

If a college rep can clearly see you are interested and familiar with the school, that impression can have a huge impact. A few thoughtful, well-researched questions are best. If you can find the answer on their website, ask something else.

Here are some questions to get you started to get you started:

√ What do students like most about your school? What is the biggest complaint from students?

√ What kinds of students are happiest at your school?

√ Where do students hang out on campus? Do students mostly live on or off campus?

√ What financial aid programs does your college offer?

√ What academic programs are the most popular?

√ Do admission officers make decisions solely on numbers and stats, or do extracurricular activities truly matter at your school?

√ How would you describe the academic pressure and workload?

√ How does your career planning department compare to other colleges/universities?

√ How accessible are the faculty outside of class?

√ Is there job placement help for graduates?

√ Are you able to give me the names of a few students that I can talk to about their experience at your school?

Request more information

Of course, everyone wants to make a good impression when it comes to getting into college both the student and the admission counselor you’re visiting with. “College fairs are our way of bringing a small bit of the campus directly to you,” says admission counselor Michelle Rogers. The representatives colleges and universities send are hoping to spark your interest and make a memorable impression.

If a school feels like a fit, it might be time for a second date. Request information from colleges of interest or schedule a campus visit.

Give yourself a “fair” advantage

Admissions officers offer these tips for getting the most out of your college fair experience.

Visit at least three schools you’ve never heard of. You’re there to gather information, so gather as much as you can.

Don’t ask “how good is the (fill in the blank) major?” The answer you’re likely to get is, “great!” Will that really help you learn more about this school? If you have questions about specific curricular offerings, it’s usually best to visit the

department’s website or to contact the academic programs directly.

Make sure to read the table banner! Usually, the location and type of institution (university, college, or state university) is prominently displayed.

Don’t ask for the representative to evaluate your chances based upon the quantitative information you’ll be submitting to colleges. Most schools won’t be able to answer this question.

Stay engaged while you are interacting with college representatives. You should be approaching schools that spark your interest and asking questions that are important to your college search process. If you find yourself losing interest, maybe it’s time to think about a different set of questions the ones you are truly interested in!

Don’t assume that the person standing behind the college fair table is an alumnus of the institution. College counselors are drawn to representing universities for various reasons and many will work for schools they did not attend!

If you’re looking for other ways to connect with current students or alumni, make sure to check out the school’s website. Many colleges have students and alumni that are more than happy to answer your questions during the process. Students attending a college fair with their parents, should use this as an opportunity to drive their own college search process. While it is absolutely acceptable and even expected for parents to ask questions, the students should introduce themselves and always try to ask the first question.

Above photo: College fairs can be an integral part of your college search — they provide easy access to a wealth of information from a broad range of colleges and universities.

“Fit” from an admissions officer’s perspective

An insider’s take on navigating the complexities of the admissions process

Sometimes when it comes to college admissions, families put the cart before the horse: students get their heart set on being accepted to a particular school, then try to fashion themselves in the image of that school.

Letting the horse pull the cart is clearly the much more effective approach: students should pursue excellence in their studies and activities, and seek to build a personal narrative around what gives their lives context and meaning. From there, the college process becomes about finding a school that is the right fit for the person they are becoming.

Working from this perspective ultimately leads to happier students, because they are matriculating in universities with the resources and environment to fuel their personal growth. It also leads to better college admissions outcomes: if a student is truly a good fit for a school, that school is much more likely to accept the student.

Jay Bacrania, owner and CEO of the academic consulting firm Signet, and Valerie Marchand Welsh, a former admissions officer and college counselor, dig into the idea of “fit” and what it really means.

How do you define fit for students in the college process? What does it look like from a student’s perspective?

Fit is admittedly a hard thing to try to describe for a student. If you do a Google search you’ll find some standard advice out there, but I think it’s only when a student starts stepping onto campuses that they fully realize what fit means. From a student’s perspective, fit is a collection of the factors that give a college its own unique character.

Some of these factors are tangible and easy to understand (i.e. an urban campus vs. a rural one). Others are more challenging to explain (i.e. the energy on campus during the academic year), but are definitely an important part of the college experience.

Students should be assessing schools for qualities such as:

√ Geographic location

√ Rural vs. urban campus

√ Climate/weather

√ Proximity to home

√ Type of school

√ Size of school

√ Academic programs and majors available

√ Sports and other traditions

√ Energy or vibe on campus

I always tell families that while the colleges in your local area might not be the schools your student wants to go to, it’s wise to use your backyard to get a sense of what various kinds of college campuses feel like. Check out a large public university, a tech institution, and a small private school (provided they’re nearby); these “college types” will give your student lots of information about what specifically they’re looking for in a college that’s a good fit.

Keep in mind that parents and students may not always agree on these factors (particularly distance from home!) and that’s okay. These visits can be useful in opening up a bigger conversation within families.

What does fit look like from a college’s perspective? How do admissions officers define fit?

Colleges are looking for students who reflect what the school wants in its community and in its classrooms. Every school, and often each department within each school, has its own goals and values that direct admissions officers

and help them determine which students would be a good fit.

Summer is when schools and individual departments are defining their priorities and goals for the following year. Although admissions officers have some flexibility to present candidates they think are a good match, there is a structure provided to them that comes from above. Grades and test scores that match the expectations of the school are usually a requirement, especially for selective colleges.

Honestly, it can sometimes be difficult for students to know what’s going on inside departments, even if they have done significant research on the school. A department may be in the middle of shifting what they’re looking for in students, and in that case the current student population wouldn’t necessarily reflect the direction admissions is heading.

If colleges are making the right decisions for themselves and the students, then they are making the best decisions for everybody. The school may have greater insight than a student, for example, about the course of a particular academic program. While a student might think the program is a great fit, someone more familiar with the curriculum might realize that the program is actually too rigorous or challenging for that student, based on their transcripts.

You talked a bit about how colleges selfidentify what would be a good fit, and how sometimes there are considerations students won’t be aware of. Can you describe some ways students actually can tune in to what colleges are looking for in terms of fit?

Absolutely. There are several ways students can do this.

Listen to the admissions officer’s spiel. Admissions officers are trained to talk about specific outcomes for students who attend their schools, and to emphasize specific qualities or characteristics that embody the mission and values of their college. Students who are listening closely will be able to read between the lines to see how the school identifies itself. These talks are often short, given at fairs with a lot of students and limited time, so admissions officers tend to be fairly direct about what they’re looking for in order to attract students who are a good fit to submit applications.

Look to alumni examples. When a college gives presentations or sends out promotional materials, they often highlight alumni profiles to

show the value of getting an education from their institution. The examples they choose to promote can indicate to students what the school’s values are, what they’re most proud of, and why. That might trigger a continuing conversation that a student can have with the school. A student might point to the examples provided and ask “Are you looking for more students like this? Why was this student important to your university?” in order to learn more.

Reach out via email or phone. It can be really challenging to have in-depth conversations at college fairs, because admissions officers are totally swamped. However, a student can definitely reach out with questions over email (to that officer or the office in general). Officers are often too busy to meet with students when they are visiting campus, but finding ways to engage with current students can be an avenue for asking these kinds of questions as well, and students often work in admissions offices answering phones.

Use student or department blogs. Admissions offices often publish regular blogs, some by staff and some by students. Your student can learn plenty about academics, campus life, extracurricular activities, sports, and even specific departments through these posts. Blogs provide a great window into the experience of life at that college, and also demonstrate what’s important to the students and the school itself.

All of this information can also help students write strong supplemental essays that demonstrate they’ve done their due diligence and homework on the college, beyond a campus visit and looking through the website.

When you were reading applications, what were some specific ways you assessed fit?

I’ve alluded to this, but the two main aspects we looked for were academic fit and cultural/ values fit.

Academic fit: The obvious part of academic fit is whether a student’s grades or test scores match up with what the college expects its applicants to have. But academic fit can also be more subtle.

A student might be applying for an engineering program, but the admissions office, who knows the curriculum, can see that the student doesn’t have the right science path to be successful. Maybe they needed a higher level of physics in high school in order to be on track with the other college freshmen. It’s not the stu-

dent’s fault that they either didn’t have this information or didn’t fulfill these requirements. Not being the right fit doesn’t mean anything about a particular student or their abilities, it just means that the school is not certain the student will be academically successful in their programs.

Cultural/values fit: A university often wants its students to engage in their community in a particular way, and the individual student’s goals may not fit in with that vision. If a student is articulating similar values to the ones the college holds, that will resonate with an admissions committee. If they talk about taking specific skills from their degree and how they will use their education, that may or may not align with the values of the department or university. If it aligns, that’s a good fit.

Admissions officers learn a lot from how a student talks about what they’re interested in, what they’ve done, and how they describe their ambitions and goals. Students definitely should talk about their interests in really specific ways, whether those are academic, extracurricular, or community-minded; both colleges and students benefit from finding the right fit.

Can you give an example of a great fit student?

A student who is a great fit offers specific details of their experiences and what they are looking for that resonate with what the school wants. When a student is deeply passionate about a school, that shines through in every aspect of an application.

I have definitely read applications where the student fit what the school was looking for in terms of transcript, great teacher recommendations that show engagement, etc., but they didn’t do anything to distinguish themselves. Many students meet those qualifications, and in those cases we use essays and personal statements to understand who would be the best fit.

Without repeating what was on the website or seeming like they were giving us what we wanted to hear, certain students told us through their own eyes how they saw themselves on campus, in a way that matched with the things they had been involved with during high school.

Can you give an example of a student who might be a good student but a bad fit for a school?

Parents often look up a college’s stats (GPA, scores, students’ background) and think, “My student had these qualifiers or exceeded them, why weren’t they accepted?” It can definitely feel like the idea of “fit” moves the needle to things that families can’t see or fully grasp It can actually be heartbreaking to read through an application where you know how amazing a student is great grades, excellent teacher recommendations, and they’ve really thrown themselves into the application but at a certain point the school can only admit so many students. Sometimes students have done everything right, all the things that they possibly could, but their application is just not meeting something that the university is looking for.

In that case the student might be denied or deferred. Those cases are the most difficult for an admissions officer, especially if they have communicated or developed a relationship with that student along the way.

Above photo: Choosing the right college involves looking at the options from all angles. Determining the right fit based on a combination of facts and “gut” feeling.

It’s Your Time to Shine: Spotlight on Five Towns College!

Creative Students! Imagine you are on stage . . . whether it is the main, center, or backstage, at Five Towns College (FTC), you are part of a creative team!

Here, you are constantly creating content for Audio, Business plans, Film scripts, Media Arts characters/ graphics, Broadcasting, Music, Theatrical plays and more. College life is about realizing that when the spotlight is on, you not only get the attention you need but the audience you deserve. It’s your time to shine at FTC - the creative center of Long Island!

Celebrating 50 years, FTC is dedicated to creative students. The strength of a specialized college with a mission focused on a creative learning community helps students develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to pursue careers in the performing arts, audio and music, multi-media and communications, filmmaking, business, and the teaching professions.

FTC is not only regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education but also possesses recognition in the arts. FTC is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Theatre, and the Teacher Education Division is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of

Educator Preparation. This recognition is sought after by specialized institutions and makes FTC stand out front.

All first-class amenities college-bound seniors expect can be found here, including modern residence halls and athletic facilities, computer labs, film and television studios, audio/sound stages, broadcast facilities, and theatres. Moreover, the institution is proud of its esteemed and accomplished faculty, and an average student to faculty ratio of just 12 to 1.

Five Towns College has the lowest tuition of any private residential college on Long Island and offers competitive financial aid packages based on

need, talent, and merit. FTC has demonstrated its commitment to Long Island and NYS with a generous scholarship program that benefits 95% of our students.

The FTC Summer High School Scholars program for 10th, 11th and 12th graders covers full tuition for accepted students. Apply today! The Graduate and Doctoral Fellowship Performance Initiative offers opportunities to perform in large ensembles and graduate degrees with funded scholarships, too.

Artists and Scholars from all over the world come to our creative community. They share their passion and unique talents as musicians, actors, audio recording specialists, filmmakers, artists, broadcasters, music teachers. They work collaboratively across all disciplines.

Our advisors support your journey. Career Center professionals prepare you for the real world. Internships and professional networking are available. The Counseling Center supports your personal growth. Tutoring is offered, too.

There is still time to enroll for the Fall 2023! RSVP to our Open House on April 22 at ftc.edu/rsvp.

Nassau Community College Make the Smart Choice for Your Future!

Nassau Community College, a campus of the State University of New York, offers nearly 80 associate degrees, certificates, vocational training, and continuing education programs taught by distinguished faculty. With a commitment to personalized education, the College provides small classes, flexible course schedules and affordable tuition.

The College Experience

Located in Garden City, the campus is the ideal environment for the complete college experience. With over 110 student clubs, 26 intercollegiate sports teams, study abroad opportunities, and a dedicated career counseling program, Nassau Community College is the college of choice for nearly 13,000 fulland part-time students.

• New Academic Programs: NCC continues to meet the demands of the labor force through innovative programs in Medical Assistant, Cybersecurity, Chemical Technology, Health Care Data Analytics, Health Care Administration and English.

• Nassau - Adelphi Gateway Program: Earn an Associate’s degree while residing at Adelphi University and being a part of campus life.

• Honors Program: Academically motivated learners participate in externships, networking and scholarship opportunities while receiving superb preparation for transferring to a fouryear university.

• Nationally Ranked Athletics: Coaches who are focused on student athletes achieving success both inside and outside the classroom. The College is home to championship lacrosse, football, wrestling and cheerleading teams.

• Individualized Support Services: The Student Services Center provides life, career and education counseling to prepare students for university transfer or immediate employment.

• Scholarships: NCC offers an abundance of scholarship opportunities to students, including the Stay on Long Island Scholarship for eligible NCC graduates to transfer to top universities including Hofstra, Molloy, St. John’s and Stony Brook, among others.

• Workforce Development Programs: Partnering with top companies such as Google, Amazon, and Northwell Health, among others, NCC provides career-ready education that trains students for jobs that are in high demand throughout the New York metro area.

Resume Building Opportunities

The College’s on-campus, awardwinning public radio station, WHPC, provides students with exciting internship opportunities, Nursing majors practice in a computerized hospital simulation lab. In Fall 2024, students pursuing careers in culinary arts and hospitality will study in a state-of-the-art culinary arts building.

We Are Nassau Community College

The NCC Alumni Network is over 168,000 strong with graduates finding success as elected officials, doctors, attorneys, teachers, professional athletes, executives, financial advisors, hedge fund managers, artists, actors, fashion designers, sports managers, and IT professionals — and the list goes on. Join the ever-growing ranks of NCC graduates and start your journey to a successful future today! Apply now at ncc.edu/admissions.

As a first-generation college student, I knew that attending Nassau was my best option for a great education at an affordable cost to avoid taking on student loan debt. Smaller class sizes allow me to have more one-on-one time with my professors. I have access to wonderful campus resources like mentoring and a network of people guiding me on my path to success.

– Tasnia Zzoha, Finance/Business major, NCC Student

Government Association President.

Landmark College is the College of Choice for Students Who Learn Differently

Landmark College (LC) is internationally known for helping students who learn differently find success and confidence – in and out of the classroom. LC’s summer programs are built upon LC’s acclaimed strengths-based model for learning.

“We want to help students build those skills and not lose the momentum they’ve gained during the school year,” says Carroll Pare, senior director of intersession and online programs. “It’s really important because, depending on the level of support that students are receiving, it doesn’t take long for them to unlearn some of that or forget some of the skills and strategies that have been successful.”

LC’s summer programs attract high school and college students from across the U.S. who want to build their academic skills and learning strategies. “Students are learning new strategies all the time, because of the way the summer programs are structured,” says Pare. The campus life experience, the resident hall with their roommates, as well as in the classrooms – we try to introduce them to new skills and strategies they might not be aware of and give them an opportunity to understand what works for them.”

What better place than Vermont to create a summer of natural beauty, fun, friends, and relaxation? Many of LC’s summer programs include outdoor adventures

and experiential learning.

• High School Summer Program (July 8-29) is for rising high school juniors and seniors who find it challenging to keep pace academically and who want an introduction to college. An optional Social Pragmatics Track offers additional opportunities for students to develop social skills, including two days of PEERS® group instruction and social coaching.

• Summer College Readiness Program (July 16-29) is for recent high school graduates who are preparing to enter college in the fall. This program focuses on preparing college-bound high school graduates for their crucial first semester of college by immersing them in a living and learning experience that offers

a real taste of college-level work. Admission to a college other than LC is required to participate.

• Summer Bridge Experience (July 9 – August 12) is for current college students who are struggling to find academic success and helps students develop the reading comprehension, writing, and executive function skills needed to return to their home college and find success. Participating students can earn up to four college credits, depending on their course selection.

• 5-Day Online Boot Camp (July 17-21) is for collegebound recent high school graduates and current college students who struggle in the classroom. This is a fully online, synchronous program.

• PEERS® Workshop (July 17-28) is for young adults in the California Bay Area who want to learn and improve skills for self-advocating, making friends, and building relationships.

DISCOVER YOU @HOFSTRA

Hofstra University is a diverse, dynamic institution that honors tradition while challenging convention. Built on a strong liberal arts foundation, the University offers 180 undergraduate program options, which makes it easy for students to explore their interests and tailor their educational experience.

Across every discipline and major, Hofstra combines the atmosphere of a small college with the international reach, reputation, and resources of a large university.

The Hofstra campus is a nationally recognized arboretum with tree-lined quads and ivy-covered buildings that house sophisticated labs and facilities. Classes are small – averaging just 21 students – and our professors are leading scholars, excellent teachers, and dedicated mentors who really get to know their students.

Hofstra’s location just 25 miles from New York City provides opportunities for internships

and paid co-op experiences with leading companies and organizations in nearly every industry, including media, science, technology, business, public policy, the arts, health care, and engineering. These experiences often lead to job offers; in fact, 97% of Hofstra undergraduate degree recipients report being employed or in graduate school within a year of graduation

Nursing

Hofstra’s partnership with Northwell Health, the state’s largest healthcare system, provides a powerful combination of theory and practice for any student who dreams of a healthcare career. The School of Health Professions and Human Services and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies offer a range and quality of clinical experiences, internships, and professional placements that can be found only in a health network like Northwell, with its 21 hospitals and 850+ outpatient facilities.

Engineering and Technology

The undergraduate engineering programs in the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science are ranked #29 among non-doctoral engineering programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (2023 edition). Students learn in cutting-edge labs dedicated to research in big data, cell and tissue engineering, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and cybersecurity. They can pursue full-time, paid work experience before graduation through a co-op program with more than 200 corporate partners. In fall 2023, the school will expand into a new Science and Innovation Center.

Business

The Frank G. Zarb School of Business promotes collaboration, entrepreneurship, and research using the same high-tech tools used by industry professionals. Students work with real-time financial data in one of the largest academic trading rooms in the nation. They conduct research for some of the world’s top companies in a behavioral lab equipped with eye-tracking and biometric technology. They learn how to turn their ideas into viable businesses at the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and build their core skills in communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence using interactive software and virtual reality.

Education

As the education landscape changes, the School of Education has helped drive change in curriculum, policy, and applications of technology. Our distinguished faculty have deep connections and wide-reaching professional networks in New York City and on Long Island, which result in field placements and job opportunities in some of the best districts and charter schools in the region.

Public Policy and Public Service

As one of very few institutions in the country with a unique focus on the U.S. presidency, and the only university ever to host three consecutive U.S. presidential debates (2008, 2012, 2016), Hofstra is committed to civic engagement and service. At the Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, students pursue their interests in disciplines ranging from political science and history to global studies, sociology, and economics, or combine their interests in policy, the political process, and public service through a program in public policy and public service.

Communication and Performing Arts

Students broadcast play-by-play for professional sports franchises at WRHU88.7 FM, Radio Hofstra University, fourtime winner of the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award as the nation’s best college radio station. They learn filmmaking and television production in one of Variety magazine’s Top 30 Film Schools in North America. Billboard magazine cited Hofstra’s Music Department and Music Business program as one of its Best Music Business Schools, and the Drama program is home to America’s longest-running Shakespeare Festival.

Why Hofstra?

At Hofstra, you will be immersed in a full college experience: outstanding academic programs, personal attention, a vibrant campus life with more than 200 clubs and organizations, 21 NCAA Division I sports, and, most importantly, a community that really cares about you and your dreams Come for a tour, open house, admitted student day, or transfer day event.

Attend our upcoming UNDERGRADUATE OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, May 7, 2023

Tour times are 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m.

At this event, you will have the opportunity to speak with Hofstra faculty, and learn about services offered by Residence Life, Student Financial Services, and the Center for Career Design and Development. You can also virtually tour our beautiful 244-acre campus.

For event details and to RSVP, please visit hofstra.edu/admissions/visit.