A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
YOUR BEST COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT What Is The Best College Environment For Your Talents?
CLINIC FOR STUDENTS
Michael Cerreto, MS, CSC, Edu-K, CLC Applied Performance Counselor A Talented Mind, Inc. 2500 Castle Hill Road Midlothian, Virginia 23113 804-272-3927 cerreto@atalentedmind.com www.atalentedmind.com
A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
TABLE OF CONTENTS CLINIC AGENDA
Page 3
INTRODUCTION
Page 4
TIME MANAGEMENT
Page 7
Your Likely Time Management Needs At College Your Checklist
HOUSING
Page 8
Your Likely Housing Needs At College Your Checklist
SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
Page 9
Your Likely Relationship Needs At College Your Checklist
CLASSROOM AND STUDY ENVIRONMENT
Page 10
Your Likely Classroom and Study Needs At College Your Checklist
OTHER SOCIAL AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Page 11
Your Likely Needs For Other Activities At College Your Checklist
MONEY MANAGEMENT
Page 12
Your Likely Money Management Needs At College Your Checklist
RELATIONSHIPS WITH FACULTY AND ADVISORS
Page 13
Your Likely Relationship Needs With Faculty Your Checklist
PRESSURE AND COMPETITION
Page 14
Your Preference for Pressure and Competition At College Your Checklist
CAMPUS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY
Page 15
Your Likely Campus and Community Needs At College Your Checklist
ABOUT A TALENTED MIND
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
AGENDA Introduction
Welcome and Benefits Of the Clinic: The clinic facilitator welcomes the students and explains how they will benefit from participating in the clinic.
(30 minutes) Group Talent Discovery Activities: Students get actively involved in a series of creative activities that enable them to discover each other’s talents. These activities are designed to help everyone learn more about each other and discover all of the unique talents in the room.
Environment That Matches Your Talents (30 minutes)
Importance Of Understanding Your Abilities & Talents: The facilitator explains the three different types of abilities that, when put together, influence the talents each person possesses. The facilitator explains how understanding your talents can positively impact the decisions you make throughout your life. Finding The Right College For Your Talents: The facilitator explains the nine critical areas of a college’s environment the students need to evaluate to assure a college is the right fit for their talents and learning style.
Your Best College Environment (1.5 hours)
Closing Exercise (30 minutes)
Determine Your Best College Environment: While working in groups of two, the students complete the following:
Survey of their preferred college environment
Card for each of the nine areas of a college environment that asks the students to describe what they need to look for (based on their survey results) when evaluating colleges. The students can use their cards as guides when visiting and evaluating colleges.
Closing Exercise: A closing exercise is conducted in groups of four to help the students appreciate the different college environments they all need for their unique talents.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
INTRODUCTION If you ask a hundred different college students what criteria they used to select a college, you will probably get one hundred different answers. The reasons why students pick a college are unique to each person. Some students make the selection based on one or a combination of the following reasons: college’s reputation, geographic location, campus, parent’s influence, friends, sports coaches, athletic programs, graduate programs, majors available, admissions standards, TV commercials, size of the student enrollment, college website, tuition, scholarship, friendships, etc. When I explore more deeply into these general reasons with my counseling clients, I discover that other more personal factors influence their selection: Personal Style: Their personal style of interacting with people and groups
influences the type of social environment they want. Natural Talents: Their natural talents and gifts influence their perception of
which college will provide them with the majors and classes that use their strongest abilities. Learning Styles: Their dominant learning styles influence what type of edu-
cation environment will make them feel most comfortable and successful as learners. I have also learned that many students and parents are not fully aware of the specific areas of a college environment to evaluate in order to determine the right fit for the student’s personal style, natural talents and learning channels. They occasionally make a college selection by feel. In other words, they know it when they see it. This can be a risky way to invest six figures and a young adult’s development. Like an athlete who needs to find the sport that best leverages his or her strongest athletic talents, students need to find the college environment that best leverages his or her personal style, natural talents and learning style. The college environment needs to be fertile soil for the student’s talents to grow with acceptance, challenges and positive nurturing. The environment needs to fit who the student is as a total person. By attending this clinic, you have taken the first step in consciously developing your own set of criteria for selecting a college based on your unique personal style, natural talents and strongest learning channels. This publication is used during the clinic to help you start evaluating your desired college environment in the following nine areas:
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
Time management Housing Social relationships Classroom and study environment Other social, learning, and affiliation activities Money management Relationships with faculty and advisors Pressure and competition Campus and surrounding community
Each of the following sections gives you a brief introduction about one of the areas above, and provides you with a checklist to evaluate what environment you may need in that area.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
YOUR BEST COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT CHECKLIST
Evaluating the best college environment for your talents
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
TIME MANAGEMENT Most college students spend less time in the classroom each week than when they were in high school. This means that they have more time outside of a structured class schedule to manage their time, and they no longer have their parents near by to help. College students have many options for how to spend their time each day. On one extreme, some students choose a combination of studying, membership in a club, socializing, working at a job, and meeting with professors. On the other extreme, some students focus more on sleeping, hanging out with friends, studying at the last minute, and shopping. How you choose to manage your time to be productive and grow as a person in college is impacted by your values and goals, personal time management skills, and the college you select. Based on your talents, personal and learning styles, please use the check list below to choose the option that best describes what you need at college in this area.
YOUR CHECKLIST 1
2
3
I like to focus on the most immediate thing that needs to be done. I rarely schedule my time each day. I also get distracted by whatever comes up at any given time.
I like to schedule my time from day to day and to achieve most things on my list. I may occasionally get distracted by other things at times.
I like to schedule my week and month in advance. I stay on schedule, and rarely deviate from what I originally planned to do.
I need a college environment that gives me the flexibility to manage my own time and schedule.
I need a college environment that gives me the flexibility to manage my own time and schedule. I also need an environment that gives me some options to deviate occasionally from my schedule to help me explore opportunities outside my strict schedule.
I need a college environment that helps me schedule and manage my time, and has limited opportunities for me to get distracted.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
HOUSING Colleges have many different housing alternatives for students. Most colleges require freshman to stay in dorms their first year, and room with one or more roommates chosen by the college. After the freshman year, students are usually able to select roommates and other alternative housing arrangements such as other dorm halls, on-campus suites, off-campus apartments and houses, property rented from the college or privately. Some colleges even hold lotteries for certain types of housing. In addition to the four walls you live in at college, the choice of roommates is important. Your transition to college will obviously be more comfortable with roommates you enjoy and share similar values for studying, relationships, music, resolving conflicts, etc. You may also benefit from roommates who have qualities that you don’t have but need to develop. For instance, a shy student may benefit from an extroverted roommate who encourages him or her to get out and meet people. Based on your talents, personal and learning styles, please use the check list below to choose the option that best describes what you need at college in this area.
YOUR CHECKLIST
1
2
3
I like a quiet room and housing. I like to spend more time alone than with others. I like a roommate who is similar to me.
I like a room and housing environment that gives me a balance between being with others and being alone when I want it. I like a roommate who is sociable but gives me space and time alone when I want it.
I like a very active room and housing situation with a variety of people and activities. I like to spend most of my time with other people and don’t like being alone. I like a roommate who is a little different than I am for some variety.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS As you move from your family and high-school friends into college, you enter a world of more diverse people, personalities and backgrounds. Among this diversity, you choose the type of relationships you want to form similar or different from the ones you had with family and friends back home. Your relationships with some people will be intimate. Other people will simply be acquaintances because they share a similar class, major or dorm with you. Your personal style, interests and values significantly influence the friends you hold closest and furthest away from you. Some of your relationships will be with people who you say “...are just like me.� Other relationships will be with people who are very different but open your eyes to other beliefs, cultures, personalities, and talents. The differences among your friends can help you learn more about yourself and others, and influence you to be a better student and person. Some friends, however, can be poor influences and cause you to be less successful in college. So, forming strong and healthy social relationships in college is important to your overall enjoyment and development as a person. Based on your talents, personal and learning styles, please use the check list below to choose the option that best describes what you need at college in this area.
YOUR CHECKLIST
1
2
3
I like to socialize only with people who have the same interests and values as me. I am not interested in having friendships with a diverse group of people. I have only a few close friendships, and also like to spend some time alone.
I like a combination of knowing many different types of people and having some close friendships. I like to have a balance between being alone and being with other people.
I like to socialize with a very diverse group of people who have many different interests and values from me. I also like to have many close friendships, and like to spend more time with other people than alone.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
CLASSROOM AND STUDY ENVIRONMENT An important issue to consider when selecting a college is the learning environment (inside and outside the classroom) that best fits your strongest learning channels and how you solve problems. For instance, universities with large class sizes and less access to professors require students to be selflearners, with strong reading memory. Smaller colleges that emphasize undergraduate teaching may provide more hands-on support for students who use listening and discussion to learn. Some students are also “specialists” who require a more narrow curriculum in majors such as engineering, business, art, nursing, etc. versus “generalists” who benefits from a variety of subjects, ideas and people. Based on your talents, personal and learning styles, please use the check lists below to choose the option that best describes what you need at college in this area.
YOUR CHECKLIST
1
2
3
I like to learn primarily in a classroom setting. I like to reading independently only to reinforce what I learn in the classroom. I like to have a lot of access to one-on-one tutoring and advising.
I like to learn through a balance between classroom instruction and reading independently. I like to have some access to one-on-one tutoring and advising for special situations.
I like to learn through reading independently, and have the classroom instruction reinforce what I read. I need very little access to one-on-one tutoring and advising.
1
2
3
I like to focus my studies in a specialized area or major. I like to learn with students who share the same major as me, and do not like learning with students from other majors.
I like to focus my studies in a specialized area or major, but also like to take a variety of classes in other subjects to help expand my learning and get some exposure to other types of students.
I like to focus my studies in a lot of different areas and topics, and don’t like to focus only in one area or major. I also like to learn with students who have very different majors and expertise from me.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
OTHER SOCIAL AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES Some college students benefit from other activities around campus that provide them with opportunities to socialize, organize and learn. For instance, some students like to be members of clubs, sororities and fraternities, community action groups, learning groups, student government committees, religious groups, sports and intramural teams. These memberships give students the ability to work with others, solve problems, challenge themselves, meet new people, and learn how to collaborate. While some students seek out and get involved in these activities, other students have limited interest because they may be more introverted or want to specialize in a very narrow subject or group of friends. Based on your talents, personal and learning styles, please use the check list below to choose the option that best describes what you need at college in this area.
YOUR CHECKLIST
1
2
3
I do not like to get involved in other college activities, clubs or sports beyond focusing my time and energy on my close friendships and studying.
I like to get involved in a few other college activities, clubs or sports beyond focusing my time and energy on my close friendships and studying.
I like to be involved in a lot of other college activities, clubs or sports beyond focusing my time and energy on my close friendships and studying.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
MONEY MANAGEMENT Managing your money at college can be challenging as you face many options and activities on which to spend. It is not unusual for college students to call or email home half-way through the year pleading with their parents to “send money quick.� Managing your money requires you to consider the long-term consequences of buying decisions and know how to organize your spending and savings. Some students make decisions by considering the impact on future needs. While other students live for today and find themselves with no money left to purchase books or supplies down the road. Some students also find it easier to deal with tangible objects and concepts like money, rather than abstract ideas. To them, money is something concrete and physical they enjoy managing. For the abstract thinker who would rather spend time with ideas, money is often managed or considered at the last minute when vitally necessary. Based on your talents, personal and learning styles, please use the check list below to choose the option that best describes what you need at college in this area.
YOUR CHECKLIST
1
2
3
I constantly run out of money and usually need a lot of help managing how I manage and spend money.
I usually make good spending and saving decisions but, occasionally, make an unwise purchase. I occasionally need advise about how to manage and spend money.
I am very good at making spending and saving decisions, and keeping track of my money day-to-day. I need very little help or advise about money.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
RELATIONSHIPS WITH FACULTY AND ADVISORS Some college students have learning styles that enable them to be self -learners and require less one-on-one interaction with professors, academic tutors and advisors. Other students benefit from added discussion and question and answer sessions with professors and tutors because it enhances their learning. Some students also like to develop close relationships with professors and advisors because they benefit from the mentoring they receive and enjoy sharing a mutual interest. Each college has its own personality when it comes to encouraging and supporting students’ needs for relationships with faculty and advisors. Some universities are geared to graduate education, academic research and publishing and provide undergraduate students with less access to certain professors. These students may find themselves spending a lot of time running down professors for help, or relying on graduate assistants for tutoring and classroom instruction. Other colleges focus on undergraduate teaching and student mentoring in which students have greater access to faculty. Academic advisors are another great resource to help students map out their learning. So it is important to explore to what extent students have access to advisors and how well the advisors get to know their students. Some students need more guidance than others and these advisors can be invaluable. Based on your talents, personal and learning styles, please use the check list below to choose the option that best describes what you need at college in this area.
YOUR CHECKLIST
1
2
3
I am not concerned about having easy access to professors and advisors for help. I am not interested in developing close relationships with them. I also don’t care about the qualifications of the faculty as long as I complete the classes I need.
I would like a few close relationship with professors and advisors. I also want to have easy access to them for help during special times I need it most. I want the best qualified faculty teaching classes in my major, but don’t care about the qualifications of faculty outside my major.
I would like to develop very close relationships with professors and advisors. I also want very easy access to them for help each day. I want the best qualified faculty teaching all of my classes inside and outside my major.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
PRESSURE AND COMPETITION College provides a great environment for people to become strong specialists in a subject, field or activity. In fact, college can often feel like everyone has a very narrow expertise that they like to show-off to others. This type of specialization at college can sometimes create a competitive environment between students, professors, departments, programs, etc. Some colleges have environments that encourage academic competition and pressure. While others create a more collaborative and un-pressured learning environment that encourages everyone to learn and share. Some students thrive in a more pressured and competitive academic environment because it helps them stay focused and challenged. This same pressure and competition can hinder other students’ learning. So, it is important for you to assess your needs and the overall competitiveness of the colleges you consider. You also need to consider the competitiveness of the majors you want to explore. Some majors such as business and the sciences at different colleges may encourage competition among students more than other programs. Based on your talents, personal and learning styles, please use the check list below to choose the option that best describes what you need at college in this area.
YOUR CHECKLIST
1
2
3
I like a highly collaborative learning environment in which students help each other learn. I do not like academic competition and don’t need to be viewed by others as being the best or unique as a student.
I like to collaborate with other students to learn, but I am competitive at times when I think I know more about a subject than someone else. I like a balance between cooperative learning and some competitive situations.
I like to show people my expertise and knowledge. I want to be appreciated for being a unique student. I like to compete with other students and be at the top of my class.
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A TALENTED MIND Your Talents Realized
CAMPUS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY Colleges spend a great deal of time and money creating a campus environment that is easy to get around, safe, and encourages a sense of community among faculty, students, administrators, and visitors. Some campuses are located in urban areas; some are a short distance from a city; others are in rural country-sides. With so much variety, students have an abundant number of campus settings to consider. Some students like the activities and resources available on a city campus. Other students want a more visually beautiful campus with brick towers and ivy. Student preferences are partly based on how the visual environment stimulates them and creates feelings that help them learn and live comfortably. Another consideration is how active students want to be throughout the day. Some students like the physical activity that comes from having to travel around a large campus, while others prefer less effort to get around. The community around the campus is also important because some students want access to culture, food, activities, and people they cannot find on campus. Other students have a lower need for activities off-campus and are not as concerned with the surrounding community. Based on your talents, personal and learning styles, please use the check list below to choose the option that best describes what you need at college in this area.
YOUR CHECKLIST
1
2
3
I like a large, active campus environment with many activities and resources for students on campus. I like to have access to a large city that provides other opportunities and resources.
I like a medium size campus with a variety of activities and resources on campus. I like some access to a local community that has resources and opportunities I can’t find on campus
I like a small, intimate campus with an average amount of activities and resources for students. I do not have a strong need to have access to other resources and opportunities in the local community.
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ABOUT A TALENTED MIND A Talented Mind helps people fully develop and perform their talents: For athletes, we provide assessments, counseling and education to improve your mental skills in sports and learn lifelong lessons through athletics. For students, we provide assessment, counseling and education services to help you identify the best college environment and major that appropriately fit your natural abilities, personal and learning styles. For young adults, we provide assessment and counseling services that help you understand how to successfully move from the security of family and school to the adult world, and create a life centered around your unique talents. For parents, we provide counseling and education services to help you better support and nurture your children’s talents in school, sports, or the performing arts and, at the same time, teach your children important life skills. To learn more, please contact A Talented Mind at 804-2723927, email contactus@atalentedmind.com, or visit our website at www.atalentedmind.com.
A Talented Mind Your Talents Realized
2500 Castle Hill Road Midlothian, Virginia 23113 804-272-3927 contactus@atalentedmind.com www.atalentedmind.com
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