Going Competitive

Stamford University

Last week I attended a breakfast given by: Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard College, Stamford University, and University of Pennsylvania.   I heard about opportunities offered on each campus.   Each institution offers incredible experiences for their students.


After a year where many students faced challenges and heartbreak over financial aid packages.....it was breathtaking to hear that students attending these elite colleges can potentially graduate debt free.  The  Harvard Representative repeated what has been true for a few years..... that a family making under $60,000 a year will attend Harvard for free.  These institutions package students without loans!   Stamford encourages students to visit http://financialaid.stanford.edu/calculator  for a financial aid estimate.   


The trick is.........admission.........not an easy undertaking.

Harvard College

Admission to this group of colleges (as well as the other Ivy's and elite colleges)   is very, very difficult.  


Each Representative repeated that they are looking for students who have taken on challenges, especially academic challenges.  To me this means,  not just excelling in the rigorous classes at I.C.E. but pushing to take college courses, and earning A's in these classes........and probably taking as many as possible.   And then, of course, there is the resume, the essays and the recommendations. 


It is hard to wrap one's mind around the numbers of students applying to the competitive  colleges....for instance Harvard had 34,950 applications for 2,158 seats.  When asked if Harvard would be moving to the wait list the Representative replied, "very few seats, a couple."  Stamford took in 32,022 applications for 1,675 seats....again little action on the wait list.  


Looking at these statistics, every student must consider these competitive institutions as "reach" schools.  Very often, strong applications to these colleges are denied.


The good news is that there are many colleges that offer incredible experiences for their students.  


Jennifer

Thanks for visiting Justin!

Hartwell Garden

Justin Oliver from SUNY Brockport came to ICE on Wednesday and met with 11 ICE Juniors.  It was a great visit, and we all learned a lot about what Brockport has to offer.  With about 7,000 undergraduates Justin said that Brockport is not too small and not too large, it's just perfect.  He talked to us about courses of study, his experience, study abroad, campus life, and cost of attendance.  ICE students had lots of questions and the conversation was lively.

This is what the Admission Office has to say about the Village of Brockport, "After appearing at the Brockport Writers Forum, Pulitzer Prize winning poet Archibald MacLeish wrote “Brockport is a college town - a University College town - on the flat lands under the wind off Lake Ontario where the spring snow drifts. It is also a town where poets are ... "  

Townhouse Walkway

A town for poets, and a town for students, Brockport was one of the first Erie Canal towns, settled in the early 1800s. Today, this tiny jewel is the quintessential college town, made for walking, filled with Victorian architecture, restaurants, a movie theater, and plenty of places for students to relax and kick back. Nearby, Erie Canal is perfect for biking, hiking, canoeing, picnicking, or just sitting peacefully with a book, a laptop, or a friend." 

Brockport is a liberal arts college and offers a wide array of majors which include:  BFA programs in both Art Studio and Dance as well as majors in Nursing, Meteorology, Athletic Training, Music and Political Science. Check out the website to  see everything that is possible at SUNY Brockport.

And (might I add) Justin said that SUNY Brockport has the best food in the SUNY system!!  Sounds good to me!  I think SUNY Brockport would be a great place to visit!!!

College for a Day at Baruch

Views of Baruch College

Wow!  What a great day we had on Tuesday at Baruch College!  It was the annual College for a Day event, and we were honored to be invited.  I walked with 7 students over to Baruch College. Upon arrival we were offered breakfast!!!  The day was looking good!    

And it really was a good day, we learned about the three schools at Baruch:  Zicklin School of Business, Weissman School of Arts & Sciences, and the School of Public Affairs.  We learned that although Baruch is known for their business programs, Baruch is not just a business school.  Baruch College offers 38 undergraduate majors, including a terrific journalism program.

We then took a tour of the college (which I would recommend to any student interested in applying to Baruch).....the library was amazing.....there are private study rooms available!
And the swimming pool is beautiful, you want to dive right in!

Once again, I have to say there is nothing like a visit to a college campus.

Jennifer

Thank You, Bennington College!!

entrance to garden at Bennington

"Bennington College is, by nature, a hotbed: People come here to do things they cannot do elsewhere. In the 1930s, dancers flocked to Bennington to chart the course of modern dance. Visual artists gathered here in the 1950s to redefine the visual arts canon. In the 1980s and 90s, the College was a mecca for writers eager to push the edges of literature. Today, Bennington is a hub yet again, for artists, writers, scholars, students—innovators in every field—who want to apply their individual talents to addressing global issues of urgent concern. This small but fertile spot in southern Vermont has become a point of convergence for those who see public action as an essential piece of their larger work. " 

(Elizabeth Coleman, President of Bennington College)

Jennings Music Building

Last week I spent 3 days at Bennington College and I had a wonderful time getting to know this amazing place.  The students, faculty and staff  were incredibly welcoming and informative.

It was so cool that every student I spoke with was excited to talk  about the work they were currently doing.  I sat in on a class titled How Animals Work?  it was scientific and very interesting, but best of all the professor made the class so fun......there was some singing and a good deal of laughing.    What a great way to learn!!

I want to give a special shout-out to Kian Ross, an I.C.E. grad who is attending Bennington.  I ran into him 3 times AND......he was in the class I observed!  It was so much fun to see him and hear about his college experience.  He promises to send a picture and a post at some point, so stay tuned. 

The Commons

Now a few things about Bennington.....
students, with the help of faculty, develop the Plan which is the course of study that they will pursue at Bennington.  Along with the Plan students participate in the required Field Work Term each year, in which students intern for 7 weeks, pursuing interests and making personal connections as well as getting experience in a particular field.

The Admission Office writes, "Applicants to Bennington have a strong academic history, a record of self-motivation, independent and creative thought, and a desire to direct the course of their own program of study. Bennington looks carefully at applicant essays, teacher recommendations, school performance, supplementary materials, and interviews." 

I sat in on a mock admissions session and listened to the admission staff review 3 applicants. Everything that the applicants submitted was carefully considered.  The essay, graded writing, the interview--besides the high school grades played an important part in the admission process.  

Bennington is a small school with 668 undergraduates and 135 graduate students.  Last year 171 students entered Bennington from 16 countries and 25 states.  Even though Vermont sounds like it's far away from New York City, Bennington is only about an hour outside of Albany, NY.  I went up to Bennington by taking Amtrak to Albany and then a hired car to Bennington---altogether, just over 3 hours.

Once again, there is nothing like a college visit.

Jennifer

SUMMER BRIDGE PROJECT LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY--BROOKLYN CAMPUS

Juniors,

An amazing summer opportunity awaits those of you who do not have summer plans.
Long Island University--Brooklyn Campus is offering Tuition-Free college courses.
Applications are due next Friday, May 13th.    L.I.U. will be conducting interviews
for the program in late May.  Your transcript, an essay, and a letter of recommendation
need to accompany your application.  So, if you are interested you will have to
act quickly.  Come to the College Office and pick up an application.  I will also
visit your classrooms today and on Monday to discuss this wonderful opportunity.

Summer Bridge Project - a 4 week program

is an intensive learning experience for high school students between their junior and senior years. The program helps develop five critical skill areas:

     Writing

     Speaking                                                       

     Critical Thinking

     Research

     Creativity

Summer Bridge Project students will take a writing course and an arts course. Classroom experience will be enhanced by excursions

around Brooklyn. Your exploration of Brooklyn will be incorporated into your writing course and will serve as the foundation for your small

group arts project.  At the end of the program each student group will showcase their work. In the past, projects have focused on Dance, Ceramics, Printmaking, Video or Film, and Bookmaking.  Keep in mind that you will register for a course and earn three college credits. Successful

completion of the Summer Bridge Project makes you eligible to enroll in two tuition-free college courses during the regular academic year.

ELIGIBILITY: 

High school junior

Overall average of 78% to 87% (C+ and B+).                            

You need to be eager, work well in

groups and be ready to work hard.

make summer something special!

Jennifer