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September 26, 2019

Higher Education Enabling a brightEr FuturE

Plan ahead to attain your desired result College readiness quick guide

or many high school students, college seems like something far in the future. But as you come closer to graduation, the importance of college readiness becomes clear. When you take the time to plan ahead, you can reduce stress and assemble all the information you need to make the best choices. Below are some of the major steps to take to ensure you’re ready by the time you graduate.

aside money each month for his children’s college funds. Setting aside money and applying for scholarships is something that can be done well in advance of deciding what school to attend. For many, attending community college and then transferring to a four-year institution is a viable option. Students can receive a valuable and less costly education for one to two years before transferring to a university.

First, Think Broadly Before you start making specific plans, think about what you’d like to study and what institutions support that goal. Sally Rubenstone of College Confidential recommends starting to think about what you’ll be doing post-graduation, as well as starting to make a list of potential choices, in your sophomore and junior years of high school. This way, by the time your senior year of high school starts, you’ll be well-prepared to choose and apply to schools. Senior year is often stressful for a variety of reasons, so beginning college planning well in advance may help reduce some of your stress.

Don’t Neglect the Present As you begin to more seriously plan for college, it is often tempting to neglect current responsibilities like homework and extracurriculars. However, Peterson’s suggests that students (and particularly to eleventh grade students) continue with both academic and non-academic activities through the application process. While colleges will be looking at your grades, they also will evaluate your extracurricular activities when deciding whether to admit you.

Create an SAT Plan While colleges look at a variety of factors when evaluating your application, having a high SAT score is very important for more competitive institutions. Developing an SAT plan that identifies your learning style and applying it can be an excellent way to pre-

The beginning stages of planning your post-graduation future are often daunting, especially if you don’t know how to start. By considering all aspects of preparation — including financial, academic, and extracurricular concerns — you will be well-equipped to put together a strong application.caption pare. Some students may do well with an SAT prep course, whether online or in person. Others may prefer to purchase an SAT prep book and study on their own for the exam. Regardless of which route you choose, taking practice tests that simulate the actual testing environment will familiarize you with the content on the test as well as with the test directions, and this will save you valuable time

during the exam itself. Studies show that extra test practice makes for a higher test performance. Consider Finances With tuition costs on the rise, most people find that they need to plan carefully in order to be able to pay for college. Greg Ward of Financial Finesse notes that his family sets

Plan College Visits Researching the institutions you are considering is a vital step in the college readiness process, since you need to know if a given school’s cost, location, size, admission requirements, and course offerings are what you need. However, once you’ve narrowed down your list, it’s time to choose a few schools to visit. A campus visit, especially one where Continued on page S-8

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Open House Calendar

September 26, 2019 â€” HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Open Houses October 20, 2019; November 16, 2019 Application Deadlines Early Entry: December 1, 2019 Regular Decision: Rolling Admission (Suggested Deadline June1, 2020) Virtual Tour Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/AdelphiUniv

Open Houses September 28, 2019; November 9, 2019 Application Deadlines Early Action: November 8, 2019 Regular Decision: January 22, 2020 Virtual Tour Link: jmu.edu/visit

Open Houses October 28, 2019; November 2, 2019 8:30 a.m. Check in at East Academic Building 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Open house activities, including faculty panel, student stories and more Virtual Tour Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/landmarkchannel

Open Houses November 10, 2019 Application Deadlines Regular Admission: Rolling Deadline Virtual Tour Link: https://www.molloy.edu/about-molloy-college/virtual-tour

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Open Houses October 13, 2019 Application Deadlines Early Action: December 1, 2019 Regular Decision: March 1, 2020 Virtual Tour Link: http://www.youvisit.com/monmouth

Open Houses November 3, 2019 Application Deadlines Regular Admission: Rolling Deadline Virtual Tour Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=MzNuGd87EcHE

Open Houses: Monday 3:30 p.m., Wednesday 4:45 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. Regular Admission: Rolling Deadline Virtual Tour Link: youtube.com/channel/ UCNsNlt9B1dn8AMAz4k4Q1ig

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September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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About an hour from New York City and Philadelphia, and five minutes from the golden beaches of the Jersey Shore, a tight-knit group of students are doing some extraordinary things. They assemble in the residence and academic halls of Monmouth University, where historic and modern architecture blends with stunningly landscaped grounds to create what BuzzFeed calls one of the most beautiful campuses in the world.

Getting your hands dirty, at least metaphorically

From the sea to C Major, opportunities of a lifetime

At Monmouth, they believe learning, and life, are richer when you step out of your comfort zone and expose yourself to new experiences and people. It’s a place where the classroom is only the beginning of your education. So, every student is required to participate in Experiential Education, completing at least one hands-on course in their major or minor through an internship, service learning or corporate project, cooperative education placement, or through the study abroad program.

Surf and sand aren’t the only perks of a campus a stroll away from the Atlantic. With Monmouth’s Marine and Environmental Biology program and the Urban Coast Institute (featuring a beautiful, new, 49-foot research vessel, the Nauvoo), the opportunities for undergraduate research are as vast as, well, the ocean. Megan O’Donnell, BS, ’16 took full advantage, “Aside from the research I have participated in here at Monmouth, the faculty also helped me network at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Science Lab on Sandy Hook and with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)...Getting involved in different research opportunities and beginning to network has been invaluable.”

Through Monmouth’s alternative spring break program, Rachel Connors ’14 spent 11 days building a new school for poverty-stricken children in Guatemala. She also spent four months in London studying communications and psychology (and exploring Europe in her down time). “To be able to fully immerse myself in different cultures was thrilling, freeing, and entirely unforgettable,” she said.

of students

have participated in at least one high impact experience (including service learning, research with faculty, internship or field experience, study abroad) by their senior year (Source: 2018 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE))

Few schools have their own recording label or an affiliation with the Grammy Museum, and only one has Bruce Springsteen’s Archives. Music, and the music business, are a big deal at Monmouth University. Internships, performance opportunities and the chance to interact and network with industry players abound. Just ask Mark Rodriguez, Music Industry major, class of 2020, “It’s not just the music or the business aspects of this program—it’s both combined that makes it special. From sitting in on jam and recording sessions to managing a band in the applied industry class, you really gain insight into both the promotional and creative sides of the world of music.”

Bachelor’s? Master’s? Why not both? For students who come to college knowing they want to continue beyond their Bachelor’s degree to a Master’s, Monmouth University helps them get there faster with its Baccalaureate/Master’s Programs. Motivated students can graduate with both degrees in as little as five years (for many programs), knowing they are well prepared for their career.

Hawks soar. It’s just what they do. On the Best Colleges lists from Princeton Review, Money Magazine and U.S. News & World Report, Monmouth University offers students everything they’re looking for and more. You’ll find a beautiful campus five minutes from the beach, world-class faculty and facilities, Division 1 sports teams, a robust and active alumni community that loves to help their fellow Hawks with networking, internships and jobs, and an engaged, friendly and passionate student body.

It really is a place where students can soar.

To learn more or to schedule a tour, visit monmouth.edu/future.

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September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

LIFE IS HANDS-ON. COLLEGE SHOULD BE, TOO. At Monmouth, we make sure every student has opportunities to reach beyond the classroom and experience the real world. We call it Transformative Learning. You’ll simply call it ‘transformative.’

Sunday, October 13 I West Long Branch, NJ 1052501

monmouth.edu/openhouse

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September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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With so many facets to the college application process, it can be difficult for students and their families to even know where or how to begin. A good starting point—and one of the most important pieces of the process — is formulating a balanced college list.

So many choices It all starts with the list If you want to make a better college search list, don’t limit your potential list of colleges to just schools you have heard of. There are over 1,500 four-year U.S. colleges — there is no reason to start off with a short list of five institutions. Having a larger list of colleges opens up opportunities you haven’t even considered at prices you didn’t think possible. Now your college search list is not the same thing as your college application list where five schools is a very reasonable number. The college search list should contain at least 20 schools, more if you have the time to research them. A good search list will include colleges that you haven’t considered or heard of before you started creating the search list. This is the time to be open to new ideas. Pick or imagine your ideal school in every aspect. Go all out and assume you have a full scholarship to attend. Next, start playing “what if” with the characteristics of this dream school. Would you go if it were 500 miles away? What if it is was significantly smaller than you wanted? Or maybe it doesn’t have the big time college sports you’re looking for? If just one of these factors was missing, would you still attend if you had a full scholarship? If you would still consider going than you need to realize that these “requirements” you have already created are probably limiting some very good schools from your list. You can start expanding your list by taking one college you’re interested

in and changing or removing a limiting characteristic to find similar schools. For example, say you are interested in big universities with finance majors in the northeast. Start by changing finance to business or economics in general. What schools does that add to your list? Or maybe keep the finance part but add the mid-west or change big to medium-sized. Ultimately, these new schools may not stay on your list. However, it’s more likely that you will discover possibilities that you hadn’t considered and revise the criteria for your list. Finance may still be critical but you might decide that there can be mitigating circumstances as far as size goes. Here are things you can do to expand your college search list. Ignore geography This means both location, such as state, and place, such as rural. There are a lot of preconceived notions about colleges based on geography alone. Ultimately, geography may be an important consideration for narrowing your list of colleges. But by keeping geography out of the equation to begin with, you may discover other factors that more than make up for being in a place you had thought was less than desirable. Don’t use rankings to keep colleges off your list Rankings are arbitrary, one person’s top ten may not make it to another person’s top 50. If and

when you do use rankings to narrow your college search list, be sure to understand the basis for the rankings. Look at net cost rather than tuition Few people pay full price. You can get an even better idea of net cost by income level by using the college navigator on college search sites. Make sure you have already calculated an estimated EFC and use the colleges’ net price calculators. Instead of acceptance rates, look at the 75th percentile test scores For example, there are 80 institutions where the 75th SAT CR+M scores is between 1300 and 1350. The acceptance rates range from 25 percent to 90 percent. There are 80 colleges with acceptance rates between 30 and 40 percent and the 75th percentile SAT CR+M scores range from 870 to 1500. Admission rates often reflect a lot of self-selection so try a different approach. Don’t use college size in making your preliminary list This is another area where many students have assumptions that they haven’t really tested. Also, it’s simply a matter of numbers since there are just a lot more smaller colleges than bigger ones. Begin by looking at the percentage of classes by class size or the number or type of classes available for specific majors. n

Inside a College Fair Your first look at your college or university choices 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 you and even your parents to find out more about your top college choices and hear from universities you might not have considered. You can find out about fairs near you through your high school, online or by checking with a university that interests you to see when they’ll be in town. The College Search Going to a college fair is a little like a speed dating event, says a university admissions 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 fair, try to find a list of the colleges that will be attending and put an asterisk by the ones that interest you. College Questions to Ask 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. Here are a few more subjects to get you started: √ Does your college offer undergraduates the major or program I’m interested in? √ How much does your university cost? √ What kind of scholarships does your college offer? √ How much financial aid do students at your university get? √ Who will help me find a major? √ What college application deadlines should I keep in mind? √ How big is your school? √ My GPA and ACT/SAT scores are (xxx) and (xxx). How does this profile compare with students admitted to your school? √ I am planning to major in (xxx) or (xxx). Are there specific admissions requirements for these majors? How competitive are these majors? √ What makes your programs related to these majors unique? √ What internship opportunities are available that are related to these majors? What support is available in finding internships? √ How do first-year students choose their classes? Request More Information Of course, everyone wants to make a good impression when it comes to getting into college — both you 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 an admissions counselor. 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 that interest you or schedule a campus visit. n

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September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Adelphi: A Uniquely Personalized Approach to Learning The top six reasons students choose Adelphi: Strong Career and Pre-Professional Training • 95 percent of our students have jobs or are in graduate school within six months of graduation • A network of 115,000 alumni around the world 87 Percent of Full-Time Undergraduates Received Scholarships and Grants • More than $84 million in scholarships and grants • 10 percent increase over last year Small Classes Mean a Personalized Education • Average of 21 students per class • 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio • Dedicated professors who know your name Highly Ranked Programs Taught by World-Class Faculty • U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges and 2019 Best Value Schools • Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education 2019 Top U.S. College • Forbes magazine America’s Top Colleges

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September 26, 2019 â€” HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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The importance of college recommendations Help the admissions team to get a clearer picture of the whole applicant

any colleges and universities use a holistic approach to the admissions process. Instead of simply looking at test scores and grades, admissions teams want to get a clear picture of the whole applicant. For this reason, you may be asked for supplemental application materials such as goal statements, personal essays, and letters of recommendation. You likely have heard from your high school instructors that college recommendations are important. This isnâ€™t just something they say to encourage good classroom behavior! Here are a few ways that college recommendation letters are important to your college admissions application: Speaking to your character A recommender who knows you well and you have a good rapport with should be able to write a stellar recommendation letter. Since the admissions officer wants to know more about you personally in the holistic selection process, it is helpful to have a recommender who can really speak to your personal qualities that make you a great addition to a college campus. They can address anything from your dedication, trustworthiness, creativity, and perseverance, to your exceptional social skills and friendliness. Encourage your recommender to use specific examples that demonstrate these qualities. After reading about your amazing character, an admissions evaluator will have a hard time denying your application. Supporting your skills and interests Many times, you will need to identify your skills, interests, and hobbies in your application, but it is certainly helpful if what you report is corroborated by someone else. If you are applying to an engineering program, your recommender can discuss your keen calculus skills. If you are applying to a social work degree, your recommender can talk about your various volunteer activities in the community, demonstrating that you truly have a passion for your future field of study. Considering a major in the arts? Your recommender can address your passion, creativity, and dedication to your craft. College recommendation letters can address a wide range of interests and skills, which will help the admissions teams at your intended colleges get a better sense of who you are and, hopefully, come to the conclusion that you would be an active, involved member of their campus community. Assessing classroom behavior Admissions offices want to know they are accepting students who will be productive and respectful in the classroom, and avoiding students who will cause chaos or discomfort for their peers and faculty. Your high school teachers can provide excellent commentary on your classroom behavior, since they have experienced it first-hand. It is critical that you only ask your teachers for a recommendation if you were a respectful student to them and contributed positively to their class. A recommendation letter reflecting on poor in-class conduct could cost you admission.

Further strengthening your application You may have an excellent application already; you aced every class, took only honors courses, scored well on the SAT or ACT, and wrote an inspiring personal essay. However, it immensely helps your application to have a third-party, objective, and enthusiastic statement about who you are as a person and a student. A poor, or even apathetic, letter of recommendation could be the nail in your admissions coffin. To avoid this scenario, only select recommenders who you know think highly of you. Be sure to talk to your recommender before he or she starts writing to ensure he or she has enough information to craft a powerful letter that describes clearly who you are and why you should be admitted to your college of choice. Justifying gaps in academic performance Sometimes, even great students experience personal or academic hardship. For example, if you experienced a death in the family, undiagnosed learning disability, personal illness, or another emergency that negatively impacted your high school grades, your college recommendation letters can help justify or explain these gaps in academic performance. Recommenders can explain the situation from a sympathetic and supportive stance, while painting the picture for an admissions officer that you are still a good fit for a program or college despite your struggles. n

ABOVE PHOTO: While in high school, try to form quality, meaningful connections and relationships with teachers and staff so you have people willing to write high-quality recommendations for your admissions applications.

College readiness quick guide Continued from page S-2

classes are in session, can give you a sense of the schoolâ€™s general atmosphere. During a visit, you may also be able to schedule a personal interview or speak with one or more professors in your chosen field. Because campus visits can be expensive and time-consuming, planning them out in advance is recommended. While a visit to a nearby school may not take as much time, flying across the country to visit a school is a major undertaking. Be sure to plan your visits so you have enough time to take a tour, explore the campus, and speak with professors or students if you would like to. Choose Your Recommendation Writers Teachers and counselors are often overwhelmed with recommendation requests from students, so be sure to choose your recommenders early on. This is not only respectful, but it also gives your recommenders the time to put together a thoughtful recommendation for you. Many letter writers are teachers, but also including a recommendation from a coach or someone else who has supervised you in an extracurricular context may give the institution a better idea of who you are as a person. A good piece of general advice is to make sure at least one of your recommenders has known you for at least a year, since this means they know you at least somewhat well. n

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“That’s one thing I really learned doing research here is that I love to be in the lab. I love to work with my hands. I love to do the work myself.” After the Ohio State contingent sequenced DNA from family members, the JMU team of Wright and Albertelli eventually pinpointed a correlation between a protein mutation and the sudden cardiac deaths. The years-long research eventually led Wright and Albertelli down a path that has them on the hunt for a potential cure.

“The cool thing about this project, in addition to the obvious therapeutic potential,” says Wright, “is how it required both of us to extend beyond our comfort zones and develop aspects of the project that range from physics through physiology.” “Seriously, coming into college, never in my wildest dreams did I think that what I’ve done here would have ever happened,” Albertelli says, pointing to a story at one of the many conferences where she has presented that really drove home the magnitude of her intellectual journey thus far. “I have my poster hanging up on the wall. And another professor came by and we were just talking about it. He said, ‘How does it feel to be the only one in the world who knows this?‘ And it was like I never thought about it that way before, yet it has always stuck with me since then. And that makes it so easy to stay excited about wherever research might take me.” It’s completely by design that JMU provides so many varied opportunities for undergraduates to conduct real research. As impressive as it’s been so far, Albertelli says she knows that her dance with science has just begun.

BEING THE CHANGE®

TAYLOR ALBERTELLI Major: Biochemistry Pennsylvania native who has become a research whiz as a JMU undergraduate

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, JMU’s hallmarks include an undergraduate research focus, a friendly community of curious learners, and an environment that promotes discovery, teamwork and success. Crafting the knowledge. Saving the day.

BEING THE CHANGE® Come for a visit! jmu.edu/visit Fall Academic Open Houses: Sept. 28, 2019 and Nov. 9, 2019

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When she enrolled at JMU, Taylor Albertelli knew she loved science. Then she met Dr. Nate Wright, and the undergraduate research sparks began to fly. Wright, one of just seven prestigious 2018 Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholars in the U.S., explains that a colleague of his from Ohio State and his students asked Wright and Albertelli to help investigate why large numbers of a 50-person Utah family seemed to be dying of heart failure in their 40s.

September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

FINDING THE ANSWERS

College applications that stand out

September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Make an impression that will get them to say yes! Everyone knows a student who sees college application deadlines approaching and immediately joins every club that he or she can fit into a day. Rather than suddenly spreading yourself too thin, send stronger applications and increase your overall acceptance rate by making your applications more personal, more unique and more specific to each school you are applying to. In order to catch the eye of the admissions office, you need be creative. Here’s how: High school students are on an information highway that all seems confusing and blurry because of the number of things they have to think about in order to get into the college of their choice.

Understanding the admissions process How do you get from here to there? Admissions officers review and make decisions on hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applications in a short period of time. They are under enormous pressure to assess the applicant pool in order to produce the best class and the best campus community possible. How you apply, when you apply, and what you say can all impact whether you receive an acceptance or a denial. What factors in to the increasingly selective college application process? What Matters Most A student’s record in and outside the high school classroom demonstrates to an admissions officer the kind of contributions he or she will make at the college level. Colleges are looking for candidates who perform consistently well or show a record of improvement in rigorous or college-prep courses. This means the right coursework, good grades, and activities that have a positive impact should be a continuous focus throughout high school. Attention to Detail in the College Application Admissions officers learn very quickly how to glean, within moments of opening an application folder, whether or not a student has a shot. That makes the applicant’s quick and direct articulation of her merits essential. Attention to detail counts — the benefits of a well-written essay or a stellar interview can easily be negated by careless application mistakes such as exceeding word counts, overlooking required questions, or not answering the question. Bottom line? Pay attention. Impacts of the Internet No doubt, technology has changed the application process — mostly for the better. Online applications submitted with the touch of a button or “common applications” filled out once and sent to multiple institutions have made it easier than ever to get organized and to apply to colleges efficiently. But technological bells and whistles can have a downside. Misuse of social media or improper video and web submissions of college applications can be disastrous. Poor choices in any of these areas could mean ending up in the deny pile. College Application Timing and Money Not all college admissions factors are connected to an applicant’s record. When a student applies — Priority Admission, Early Action, Early Decision 1, Early Decision 2, Regular Decision, or Rolling Admission — can impact admission. Finances — some schools consider a student’s need for financial aid while others are so-called “need blind” — can also factor in. Overall trends in admissions as well as an individual school’s particular demographics and institutional priorities also impact the process. While some of these elements are beyond an applicant’s control, a shrewd candidate will consider them all in an application strategy. In fact, a successful application process involves much more than just deadlines and essays. It’s about understanding all of the mitigating factors and then planning, strategizing, and knowing which schools and application pools will maximize your chances for acceptance. n

Make your essays vivid Judith Hodara was the associate director of admissions for the University of Pennsylvania (www.upenn.edu) and the director of admissions for the Wharton School of Business, who now coaches high school students and MBA hopefuls through the application process. She says, “Students should really capture a moment in their lives; a chess tournament when they have their hand on a pawn and are going to move it, getting out the door when the volunteer fire department alarm goes off, or the shock of cold water when they hit the pool for swim practice. All very small instances, but they give the reader a real idea of who the student is.” Manage your online presence It’s important to delete inappropriate Facebook photos or tweets, but you should also use your online presence to boost the strength of your applications. Jessica Givens, author of “Get Your Summer Strategy On,” encourages students to build a website as a showcase for their talents. “Every college admissions official today sits only a few feet from a computer… A website is a powerful record of time spent and interests explored. Applicants want to make sure they put the web address on their applications, both in the activities section and on their personal resumés.” Buddy up with your regional admissions rep “Usually admissions will have representatives who cover certain areas of a state,” says Amy Macy, a former admissions counselor at the University of Colorado (www.colorado.edu) who is now director of college counseling at the Denver Academy. “Introduce yourself and keep in touch with that person. I had one student who was on the cusp of being accepted to CU-Boulder, but her grades weren’t quite high enough to immediately accept her. She sent me a handwritten card every month updating me on what she was up to, what skills she’d recently acquired, and how she still felt CU-Boulder was her first choice. When we were at the point where we could accept the next batch of applicants, I immediately pulled her file and accepted her.” Check in regularly with admissions — it works in your favor “Many colleges track how many times a student makes contact with the college, whether it’s stopping by at college fairs, visiting campus or calling the admissions office,” says Macy. “You don’t want nagging, but we’re impressed when students make themselves a presence in the admissions office.” Show that you’ve done your research “Students should know the school’s mission statement and values, goals for the students, university, the community and names of the department chairs and faculty,” says Elizabeth Venturini, a college admissions coach. You should also make relationships on campus before you apply. Then, you can engage in a bit of healthy namedropping in your application and essays. Says Hodara, “I encourage students to mention faculty they may want to do research with [and reach out to

Finding ways to differentiate your application can lead to positive admissions decisions that faculty member in advance so that they can really use great information].” If you can’t visit, reach out to student leaders “[Students] should find specific clubs or organizations that they are excited about and reach out to the student leaders. They should try to imagine themselves on that campus going through a usual Wednesday,” says Hodara. If you can’t make a trip to campus, she recommends doing some research and reaching out to “have that interest come through with details and great color.” Include supplemental materials that demonstrate your hobbies and passions “My clients have submitted examples of their websites, musical performances and writings,” says Venturini. You can even take a multimedia approach to your supplemental materials and submit DVDs with video files, music clips or photography portfolios. Says Mandee Adler, a college admissions coach, “I almost always recommend it when a student has a particular talent or interest that needs more ‘room’ or an additional medium to explain.” And before you send any supplemental materials, make sure the college accepts them. “At CU-Boulder, it was policy that we didn’t see or consider supplemental materials,” says Macy. If possible, back up your activities resumé with newspaper clippings Maxine Frendel, a freshman at the University of Chicago, started freelance writing when she was a sophomore in high school and she’s also an avid skier. She says, “I sent a packet of my newspaper/magazine articles as well as articles that have been written about my freestyle skiing accomplishments to the admissions representatives.” Don’t go too far “We had a student ship extra information for their application glued to large flat rocks,” says Sandra Starke, vice provost for enrollment at Binghamton University. “It cost the student a great deal of money to ship them and it was inconvenient for us since the rocks could not be scanned or easily handled. We treated this application no differently than any other — once we got rid of the rocks.” Adler is quick to clarify an extremely important factor in sending in an exceptional college application: “My students don’t do things to have unique applications... they do things to make themselves unique that then come across in the application.” n

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BEING THE CHANGE®

September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

FINDING THE ANSWERS

TAYLOR ALBERTELLI Major: Biochemistry Pennsylvania native who has become a research whiz as a JMU undergraduate

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Our core values of respect, integrity, compassion and excellence are rooted in our nursing and medical assisting curricula with a mission instilled in each graduate to provide the highest standard of patient care possible. If you are ready to become a member of America’s most trusted occupation as a RN, or to follow your passion of being a medical assistant, you can find the education and skills to help you excel in the profession at St. Paul’s School of Nursing.

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call us at (718) 357-0500 or visit us at stpaulsschoolofnursing.edu 97-77 Queens Boulevard, Queens, Ny 11374 For consumer information visit www.stpaulsschoolofnursing.edu

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Conveniently located in Queens, New York, St. Paul’s School of Nursing (SPSON) takes pride in training today student nurses for tomorrow careers. In as little as two years, our nursing students can earn their Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Through classroom instruction and clinicals, which can take place at local partnering hospitals, physician offices or other healthcare settings, our students have the advantage to graduate with in-field experience and skills to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and fulfill their dream of becoming a Registered Nurse (RN).

September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Building your ‘brag sheet’ Including a brag sheet can help you get into the college of your dreams!

igh school students have busy schedules often filled with extracurricular activities, clubs, volunteer work — not to mention academic work, too! All of these aspects make up who you are as a student and that’s exactly what you want colleges to see. Building a brag sheet can help you give colleges the necessary information they should know about you, whether it’s through your voice or a teacher’s. How and why to build a ‘brag sheet’ What’s a brag sheet? A brag sheet is very similar to a student resume — it highlights your accomplishments, key experiences, leadership skills and employment throughout your high school career. Essentially, it’s a quick reference guide with all of the details and achievements for someone trying to get to know you better. Your brag sheet can be used for a variety of different purposes. You can share your brag sheet with your teachers, coaches or with any other adults with whom you are asking for letters of recommendation. Though a teacher may have you in their class, they may not necessarily know all of the clubs and activities you participate in, both in and out of school. The brag sheet will help them easily reference your accomplishments, activities and skills, should they need help — remember, many of these adults have hundreds of students to keep track of so it’s difficult to reference each student’s accomplishments without help. Making it easier for them to do so will help them write a letter of recommendation effortlessly and this certainly works in your favor. Including your brag sheet with your college applications can also give college admissions officers more insight into who you are, not only as a student, but as a human being as well. While it’s wonderful to have a great GPA and high test scores, colleges also want to see students who have passion, students who give back to the community and who are active beyond traditional academics. How can a brag sheet help me? The brag sheet offers you a chance to shine beyond academics — especially if your GPA or test scores aren’t quite as high as you’d like. Take the opportunity to show off your individuality and highlight your personal attributes, which more than make up for a score, because that’s what makes you unique. Formatting a brag sheet As with college essays, keep your brag sheet as clear and concise as possible. Anyone who will be reading your brag sheet will be reading many student documents, so under a page is always best. Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs for readability, making sure that whoever reads your sheet can easily scan and still get the main points. Keep in mind that your brag sheet won’t look exactly like a typical resume. For example, a business professional will certainly have a different look and feel to his or her resume than your brag sheet, just as your resume would look different if you were applying for a job versus creating a brag sheet for college applications. Yes, you should include your GPA and any test scores (such as the PSAT, SAT and ACT) but your

brag sheet will also include many other highlights of your high school career as well. Starting from ninth grade, include all of your experiences. Ideally, you would have been keeping track of all your time in any extracurricular activity, sport, club, travel time, volunteer service, as well as any awards, leadership positions, etc. However, if you have not been keeping track, there’s no time like the present to create your list. Also, keep in mind that this is called a brag sheet for a reason. It can seem uncomfortable listing all you’ve accomplished, but they are your accomplishments! While you should be honest (some schools do verify the truth to these), you should not be overly humble — it’s time to highlight your accomplishments! At the top of your brag sheet, include your name, address and contact information. Additionally, some brag sheets include a question and answer format, which is your option. Some students answer questions, but only include them when giving their brag sheet to individuals writing letters of recommendation and not to potential colleges. You will have to determine what the best option for your application situation. Some example questions include: What would you consider to be your most outstanding accomplishment thus far, academic and personal? Talk about an event or happening in your life that had a significant impact on you. How did it affect your life, both personally and academically? Describe yourself using only five positive adjectives. What do you consider your three greatest academic strengths and weaknesses? Please

• • • •

• • • • • • • •

briefly explain your answers. What do you consider your three greatest personal strengths and weaknesses? Please briefly explain your answers. Are there any factors or circumstances in your life related to your grades or admission test scores that you would like colleges to be aware of? • Are you excited to explore a particular academic area in college? If yes, which area of study and why? Are you interested in a particular profession? Why? Briefly introduce yourself to your future college roommate. Key high school experiences and activities that colleges will look for include (but are not limited to): • Volunteer and community service work • Leadership positions you’ve held Non-academic extracurricular activities such as your involvement in music, arts or athletics Academic clubs or academically-focused extracurricular activities you are (or have been) involved in Honors and awards you’ve received (in school, community or otherwise) Employment, part-time or otherwise When listing items like jobs, volunteer work and community service, you want to be sure to list the organization supervisor’s name and number with the description, so that colleges are able to verify your experience, should they feel the need. n Courtesy Fastweb

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September 26, 2019 â€” HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Five Reasons Why Landmark College is the College of Choice for Students Who Learn Differently

inding the right college for a student with learning differences (LD) can be an overwhelming process. Should you consider a college such as Landmark College, which is exclusively for students with learning disabilities (such as dyslexia), ADHD, or ASD? Or would the student be well served by a traditional college? Here are our answers to key questions you need to ask about resources and features available in each setting so that you can find the best fit for your student. Are LD support services integral to the academic experience? Our comprehensive support services are integrated into the curriculum. Furthermore, our academic advising model is individualized to help students become their own advocates.

Is LD-specific career planning and placement available? Our Office of Career Connections offers on- and off-campus internships and an Employment Readiness

Located in southern Vermont, Landmark College offers access to major ski and snowboarding resorts without traveling too far from home. Program for students with minimal job experience. Do students have access to assistive technology? Our educational technology support is free of charge, allowing students to experiment with the tools most effective for their learning style.

How does college staff communicate with parents? A main focus of LCâ€™s Family Services is helping parents understand the support, needs, and developmental milestones of successful students. Prospective families can read student stories, schedule a campus visit, or contact parents of current students.

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Are there specific medical tax deductions or other financial aid options available? Tuition, fees, books, computers, and other costs may qualify as a medical tax deduction for students with LD. This deduction is only available at a dedicated LD school like Landmark College.

September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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College vs. University

What’s the difference?

ou’re not sure whether to choose a college or a university. What’s the difference, anyway? “In the U.S., ‘university’ and ‘college’ are used interchangeably in common conversation, though some institutions are called ‘colleges’ and others ‘universities’ in their official name,” says James Harbeck, an editor and a freelance designer. He spent six years at Tufts University in Boston, where he earned a master’s degree and then a Ph.D. in theatre history. So is there a difference in the U.S. between college vs University? While used interchangeably, there is a difference. “Colleges focus on undergraduate education and generally award only bachelor’s degrees,” says writer, editor and Internet publisher Shannon Turlington in her recent book, The Unofficial Guide to College Admissions.” “These liberal-arts schools don’t prepare you for a specific career path. Instead, students take a broad base of courses in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.” On the other hand, universities “are often large institutions that include an undergraduate college, some professional schools and several graduate programs,” Turlington says. “Universities run the gamut from those known for their scholarship and research to those known for their football or basketball teams. Most state-funded public schools tend to be large universities.” According to Turlington, the biggest difference between a typical liberal-arts college vs university is the focus of a professor’s atten-

tion. “At liberal-arts colleges, the professor’s primary job is teaching undergraduates, which generally results in smaller classes and more personal interaction with professors. At universities, the professors may be more concerned with research, publishing or teaching graduate-level classes. As a result, undergraduate courses may be larger, or graduate students instead of full-time professors may teach classes.” Specialized school choices Specialized schools, which Turlington places in a separate category, provide a morespecialized education than liberal-arts colleges or comprehensive universities. An example is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which provides training in science, mathematics and advanced computer technology. Art schools, business schools, nursing schools and vocational schools are also part of this category. American schools can also be classified by their funding. Either they are state funded or privately run. State schools- college vs. university Some four-year schools are state universities, popularly called “state schools,” that offer lower tuition for residents of that state. Private college vs. university settings, on the other hand, raise their money themselves. They have endowments that, in the case of Harvard, Princeton and other top schools, are measured in billions of dollars.

You can personally design the next few years of your formal education so they end up being the best years of your life. Schools are also classified according to their size and location. If you’re a big-city guy or girl, you might feel trapped in a rural school where you won’t be able to satisfy a craving for tandoori chicken. If you’re an introverted person, you might love being just a number in an urban school. And if you want community without compromising privacy, a small-town school might give you that happy balance. “Begin searching for schools by examining your interests and talents and then looking for strong academic programs in that general area,” Turlington advises.“Ask yourself what you like to study, what your strongest subjects are and what skills you have. What do

you do in your free time? Do you have a passion for any particular hobbies? If your idea of a good time is a poetry reading in a coffeehouse, you probably won’t appreciate a ‘party’ school.” From an academic standpoint, a liberalarts college might be the best choice if you want a general liberal-arts education. This kind of school will give you the analytical skills useful in any workplace. An undergraduate college within a large university also gives you this kind of education. And if you’ve already chosen a profession, you could go straight to a specialized school. n

Searching for that ‘perfect fit’ Where to begin When building your college list, there are probably things that are very important to you. You want to make sure the college has the major you are considering. You want to make sure it is located in an area that is appealing to you. And, you want to make sure the college is affordable for you and your family. However, there are other items to consider when choosing the colleges that will go on your list. As you are building your college lists, make sure to check out these factors when researching colleges. Acceptance Rate Get to know your chances of being admitted. Look at the acceptance rate (percent of students who were admitted out of all of the students who applied and completed their application), as well as average GPA and test scores of the admitted students. Do you fall within in the range? If the college has a high acceptance rate and you fall within or above the averages, you are likely to be admitted. If the college has a lower acceptance rate and you fall within the average, there is a possibility you will be admitted, but not necessarily. Freshman Retention Rate This rate tells us how many students return after their freshman year. A high rate usually indicates students are satisfied with their experience. If the institution has a low retention rate, it may be worth asking why

make sure they offer the things you will need. Campus Safety By law, all colleges and universities must have their crime statistics available for anyone who wants to see them. Campus tour guides typically cover campus safety features on campus, such as lighting, emergency phones, and campus escorts. However, the in depth crime statistics will give you a good idea about campus safety.

The college search process is a journey of self-discovery. Even if your student has dreamed of going to a certain school throughout their school years, not checking out other options can only do you a disservice. students are not returning. Graduation Rate How many students graduate in fouryears? How many students graduate in six years? While freshman retention rates may be high, graduation rates could be low. If graduation rates are low, ask why? Course Availability Many students take more than four years to graduate. Sometimes the reason is because students cannot register for the classes they need to graduate. Ask the institution if it is possible to graduate in four years.

Students may also want to ask if it is difficult to register for the classes they need each semester/quarter. Sometimes classes required for certain majors might only be offered once a year. Academic Support Many students need some sort of academic support when in college. Many colleges offer freshman experience courses and offer resources to help students transition to college, such as classes on note taking, studying, and time management. Some students may need tutoring. Check out the academic support resources available to students and

Surrounding Community The college campus may be a serene place, but outside the college grounds, it may feel like a different world. Research the surrounding area by looking at maps and checking the city/town crime statistics. Students will need to leave campus during the time in college — will you feel comfortable leaving campus? Does the surrounding community have everything you need? Campus Housing Tour guides typically show the nicest residence halls on campus tours. However, it may not be the residence hall you will be placed in when housing assignments are made during the summer. Learn about all of the housing options . This can work to a student’s benefit when filling out the housing application because they may allow you to list your preferred residence hall.. n

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ollege-bound students and their parents are always looking for an academic environment that offers the best fit for the student and the best value for their tuition dollars. Last year Molloy was ranked the #18 “value added” college in the U.S. by The Wall Street Journal, arguably the nation’s premier financial publication. Additionally, Newsday recently produced an enrollment overview of the many private colleges in our region. While most of our competitors struggled in the 2012-2017 period, Molloy “saw the largest increase, rising by more than 11 percent.” Molloy has also earned other honors, including being ranked the #10 best value among Catholic colleges nationwide by College Values Online.

Drawing on the Strength of the New York Metropolitan Region One of the many strengths of Molloy is its proximity to New York City. Nestled in the Long Island suburbs just minutes from Manhattan, Molloy takes advantage of the NYC metro region to provide its students with the highest quality internships and clinical placements. The largest metropolitan region in the country, the NYC metro area is a world leader in healthcare, business and finance, education, criminal justice, performing arts and more.

e are dedicated to providing our students with the best possible value. If you come to Molloy, you graduate with a job in your field at a salary that’s significantly higher than average.”

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Investing in Student Success “We invest in student success and we challenge our students to succeed. Molloy students are committed to a value system that stresses a strong work ethic, resiliency, professionalism and leadership,” said President Bogner. “This is why they graduate, and why they get

hired. We reach beyond the classroom and educate the entire person.” A small student-to-faculty ratio (10:1) means that students are more than a number to their professors, who provide input and guidance that enable students to “live their story” and pursue their dreams.

—DreW Bogner, Ph.D. President, Molloy College

What’s New Molloy, founded in 1955 by the Sisters of Saint Dominic in Amityville, NY, and home to approximately 4,900 undergraduate and graduate students, recently opened its new

facility at 50 Broadway in lower Manhattan. The space serves as the new home of the Molloy/CAP21 B.F.A. in musical theatre, and also hosts other academic programs and special events. The College continues to expand its flexible learning options for many of its programs, so that students can take night, weekend, hybrid or online classes. Some of Molloy’s newer offerings include an online MBA, as well as a new degree completion program that will enable returning students to easily complete their undergraduate degree.

OPEN HOUSE: SUNDAY, NOvEmbEr 10 At 1Pm. mOLLOY.EDU

Molloy recently opened the new Barbara H. Hagan Center for Nursing, which houses the College’s School of Nursing and serves Molloy’s nationally ranked nursing programs. This follows significant additions to the Molloy campus in recent years, including a student center (which houses the Madison Theatre) and two residence halls. A new residence hall, the College’s third, recently opened. Visit molloy.edu to learn more.

September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

mOLLOY COLLEgE CONtiNUES tO EArN NAtiONAL HONOrS

WHERE THE EDUCATION EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION. The Wall Street Journal named Molloy College one of the “top added-value colleges” in the nation. – September 2018.

OPEN HOUSE : SUNDAY, NOV. 10 AT 1 P.M.

LIVE YOUR STORY. WHERE. HERE.

MOLLOY.EDU I 516.323.4000 1054516

September 26, 2019 — HIGHER EDUCATION - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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