November Gear Up by Dave Tyler

November 2010

Senior Breakfast

at Nottingham ..... 12 & 13

Return to Eagle Newspapers 5910 Firestone Drive Syracuse, NY 13206-1103 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Extracurriculars Exposed ..........9

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SYRACUSE, NY Permit # 1672

/ NY GEARUP, November 2010

STAFF Message from the Marissa Joy Mims Director

Caitlin Donnelly

Eagle Newspapers Editor

Carolyn Clark

Director

NY GEARUP Media Editor

Tammy Toellner Lynn Dew

Program Coordinators

Mariel Fiedler

Radio Show Coordinator

Contact us: NYGEARUP@syr.edu Phone 443.7848 Twitter: NYGEARUP Facebook: NYGEARUP@ Syracuse University Radio: StepIt UP! on Power106.9 The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is the state agency that has been designated by the Governor’s office to administer the NY GEARUP Program. Funding for NY GEARUP is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. NY GEARUP at Syracuse University receives $567,000 in funding that is matched 100 percent by in-kind services for a total funding of $1,340,000. HESC helps people pay for college by providing a comprehensive range of financial aid services, including the Tuition Assistance Program, guaranteeing student loans, and administering the nationally recognized New York’s College Savings Plan. New York State is a leader in the national financial aid community, providing more grant money to college students than any other state.

NY GEARUP Families and Students: Have you taken the SAT exam yet? Visited a college or started on your college essays? If you are not planning to attend college, what plans are you making to enter the work force? Fall is an active time for our cohort. Many decisions need to be made and all of the students I have spoken with lately are feeling the pressure. Parents too are facing many challenges as they prepare their children to leave home for college or even deal with concerns about students who may be struggling to meet graduation requirements. It is a busy and challenging time, but we will all get to the finish line. NYGEARUP is here to help. NY GEARUP is looking forward to launching our Other Roads programs for students not planning to

attend college. These activities will provide students with opportunities to meet with employers learn job skills and explore various careers. Please look for segments on the Step It UP! radio show that provide students with interviews and information target towards students who will not be attending college in the fall. I am pleased to announce that on Nov. 6, financial aid and admission experts will begin regular segments on the Step It UP! radio show. Parents and students can submit questions to nygearup@syr.edu. The presentations will be timed to correspond to the admissions and financial aid process throughout the school year. Speaking of the radio show, we are looking for two young ladies from Henninger, Corcoran, Fowler

What is NY GEARUP? NY GEARUP is based out of Syracuse University’s School of Education. NY GEARUP works in the Syracuse City School District with the class of 2011 at Corcoran, Fowler, Henninger, ITC and Nottingham high schools. GEARUP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. It’s a national initiative to create innovative programs with the goal of increasing college awareness for students and their families. GEARUP also helps students develop the skills necessary to pursue education after high school. To achieve its mission, NY GEARUP organizes college visits, tutoring and mentoring, college awareness and exploration activites, and educational planning and workshops.

or the Institute of Technology to work on the show along with our current two high school radio personalities from Nottingham. Students will be hired to work 10 hours a week and paid through CNY Works if they meet the financial requirements of that program. This is a great opportunity for two lively and personable students! Interested students should send an email or call NY GEARUP. This is the last year of our sixyear grant and I am anxious to reach out to each student to ensure that we send them off well, regardless of their plans after high school. I am looking forward to this final year being our best. Marissa Joy Mims NYGEAR UP Director

PHotos by Caitlin Donnelly

ON THE COVER: Yadira Junco and Darius Smith stand in line for pancakes and sausage during the Nottingham Senior Breakfast on Oct. 13. RIGHT: The new bulldog mascot, donated by the Class of 1980,guards the front entrance of Nottingham High School.

Interested in Writing? For those students in the NY GEARUP program that are graduating in 2011 and are interested in writing for Eagle Newspaper’s NY GEARUP edition, please contact Caitlin Donnelly at cdonnelly@cnylink.com.

NY GEARUP, November 2010 /

Table of contents Message from the Director...................................................... 2 Table of contents ....................................................................... 3 Calendar of events..................................................................... 4 College Application fee waiver info ....................................... 5 For the Parents.................................................................... 6 & 7 Letter of Recommendation Cheat Sheet ............................. 8 Extracurriculars Exposed...........................................................9

The Deadline Tracker ..............................................................10 Why 20 applications is too many............... ............................11 Senior Breakfast at Nottingham Photos.............. ..... 12 & 13 Graduation Check List ........................................................... 14 The Back Page .......................................................................... 15 College of the Month: Fashion Institute of Technology ... 16

/ NY GEARUP, November 2010

November

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Financial Aid talks begin on the Step It UP! radio show from 7 to 9 p.m.

2nd Annual Writing Our Lives Youth Conference

NY GEARUP @ St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visits SU

Off

1/2 Day

Report cards mailed

Off- Thanksgiving Recess

*** This is NOT a complete list of events and activites, as new events are added daily. Please visit us on Facebook (NY GEARUP @ Syracuse University) or Twitter (NYGEARUP) for a more up-to-date schedule of events.***

NY GEARUP, November 2010 /

2nd Annual Writing Our Lives Youth Conference The 2nd Annual Writing Our Lives Youth Conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 13 at the Hughes School, 345 Jamesville Ave. in Syracuse. The conference, organized by Marcelle Haddix, assistant professor in the School of Education at Syracuse University, is open to students in the greater Syracuse area that are interested in improving their writing skills and writing in more “authenic” ways. The conference includes breakfast, two workshops and lunch. This year, workshops will include college essay writing. For more information, contact Marcelle Haddix at mhaddix@syr.edu.

Financial aid on the radio NYGEAR UP’s radio show Step It UP!, which airs on Saturdays from 7 to 9 p.m. on Power 106.9, will feature the SU Office of Financial A i d b e g i n n i n g N ov. 6. Parents of seniors are invited to submit questions related to the financial aid process to nygearup@syr.edu or call our office at 4437848. Questions will also be printed in the monthly NYGEAR UP newsletter mailed to the NYGEAR UP cohort each month. Parents should include their name and the name of their student with each question. This information will not be printed in the newspaper or given

out on the radio, but is used for our own record keeping. We are also looking for parents who may be interested in participating in the radio show to discuss issues of interest to parents of seniors or students who should be seniors but may be having academic problems- please email Marissa Mims at mjmims@syr.edu.

Waiver of college application fee breakdown Eligibility

You are eligible if you used SAT or SAT Subject Tests fee waivers and plan to enter college in the fall of 2010. Application fees can range from $50 to $80, which can add up. If you are eligible, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity.

How many can you receive You are eligible to receive up to FOUR Request for Waiver of College Application Fee forms.

Send the form to colleges How the waivers work

The Request for Waiver of College Application Fee forms notify participating colleges that you have participated in the SAT Program Fee-Waiver Service and request that they consider waiving their application fees.

First, speak with your guidance counselor to make sure that you are eligible, then check the Directory of Colleges Cooperating with the SAT Program FeeWaiver Service (which you can find in your guidance office, or online at collegeboard.com) to make sure the colleges that you are applying to will accept it. Then mail the completed, signed form with your college application.

/ NY GEARUP, November 2010

Parents

How to:

Help your child through the college application Do I give up now in despair or just do it myself ? This is the question many parents ask during the college application process. The challenge is to be supportive while doing neither. The application is a source of much anxiety for students, and understandably so. This is the package that will seemingly decide their hopes and dreams. But parents can reassure students that things are not that dire. Thousands of schools are looking for qualified applicants, and the vast majority of students who want to go to college will get in. More than 80% of students are accepted by their first-choice schools; almost 89% of freshmen enrolled in four-year colleges are attending their first or second choice. Virtually all students who apply to two-year schools are accepted by the school of their choice.

Getting Organized

So, take a deep breath and relax. This is not rocket science, at least, not yet. In fact, the most challenging thing about the college application is being organized enough to get the required pieces in by various deadlines. Here’s where your itch to take over might be strongest, because lots of students express their anxiety by putting things off. Of course, you can’t do it for them. You can, however, empower your child with tools to conquer the paperwork. Suggest your child dedicate a folder to each college. At the front of each folder should be a checklist of required materials and the date each is due. Now you can both see at a glance what’s been taken care of and what still needs doing.

Warming Up

Most applications request a list of activities your child has participated in and a list of honors and awards. Some may ask for additional information such as career interests, and some may even ask for a statement from parents. You can help gather

details on four years of activities and honors. Your child should also have a copy of her high school transcript and know her social security number and high school code. Now the details will be at her fingertips. The less stress students have during the application process, the more they will get out of junior and senior years. It also helps to brainstorm with your child before getting started. Ask her which activities were most significant to her and why, or whether a particular award or honor stands out in her mind. Ask her what she thinks she might contribute to the college that no one else would. This will prepare her to highlight the most important items and will help her stand out as an individual.

Just the Facts

While students understandably want to impress, the old rule applies: Honesty is the best policy. Admission officers can sniff exaggeration a mile away. Schools prefer to see a sincere picture of individual interests over a scattershot list of brief forays jotted down just to beef up qualifications.

More Than Just the Facts

On the other hand, the supplemental information category is a chance to explain special circumstances or detail unique abilities. Not all applications provide such an opportunity. If not, you can contact the admissions office and inquire about including such materials. Aspiring artists or dancers might wish to send slides or a videotape. Be sure your child labels such materials and indicates on the application that it is included.

To Whom It May Concern

Even if not required, letters of recommendation help give a more

complete picture of your child’s strengths. But use common sense when including these materials. Andrew Flagel, dean of admissions at George Mason University, says he once received 34 letters of recommendation for a single student! This is way too much material for overworked admissions officials and won’t add much to an application. Teachers who know your child well and can speak in detail about one aspect of her achievements are often the best choice for recommendation writers. Some colleges may also ask for recommendations from peers or alumni and other adults. Seek out individuals for their relationship with your child, not for their credentials. A detailed, well-written letter by the next-door neighbor is worth more than vague generalizations from a well-known figure. Of course, you can’t do it for them. You can, however, empower your child with tools to conquer the paperwork. Encourage your child to ask for letters well in advance and provide the writer with a firm deadline. She might also suggest the writer focus on a single area of achievement. A drama teacher should write about your child as a drama student, not as an AP® math student and athlete. Since college course work requires intensive writing and reading, a letter from an English teacher is always a good idea. Finally, your child should be sure to provide the writer with completed recommendation forms and a stamped, addressed envelope for each school.

Déjà Vu All Over Again

Applications all have similar requirements and it is perfectly permissible to use the same materials for different schools. In fact, the Common Application is used by approximately 400 public and private colleges, from Pomona and Occidental to Dartmouth and Harvard. The form is available from high school guidance counselors. But your child

should order application packets, even if she is using the Common Application because some schools require additional information.

Should Your Child Apply Early?

Some schools allow students to apply early. Such early decision and early action programs often inform students of admission in the first part of senior year. This can reduce the stress of waiting, but there’s a catch: early decision plans require the student to attend that college if accepted with an adequate financial package. This option can be ideal for students who are sure of the school they want to attend, but it doesn’t work for those who want to compare their options. Help your child do careful research on all the details if she goes this route. George Mason admissions dean Andrew Flagel says perhaps the most important advice for parents is to avoid putting too much emphasis on the process. “The less stress a student can having during the application process, the more they will get out of junior and senior years—a crucial time—and the better they will do on standardized tests. When the application process becomes more important than the education they are receiving, there is a problem,” he says. At last, the envelopes will all be sealed and ready to mail. You might want to help your child send the packets certified mail, so she gets confirmation and a record that they were delivered on time. You and your child can celebrate this accomplishment; it’s one more step on the road to independence and adulthood.

Courtesy of collegeboard.com

NY GEARUP, November 2010 /

Parents

Extracurriculars matter by Maria Badami Hey college-bound seniors, the 2010-2011 Common Application has been available online for over a month. For those students who have avoided taking a sneak peek, let me preview the one major revision, the expansion of the “Activities” section. In response to thousands of complaints that the previous application only allowed for the listing of seven activities, the 20102011 Common Application expands this section. Now applicants are provided space for eleven activities, reflecting the increased importance college admissions officials place on non academic pursuits. In this increasingly competitive college environment where students’ test scores and GPAs continue to escalate, extracurricular activities are one true way for students to differentiate themselves from other

applicants. Beware, colleges can see through resume-filling activities. Hammering nails for an afternoon with Habitat for Humanity or dishing out soup at a homeless shelter one evening is not the type of activity that impresses colleges. T hey are looking for continued commitment, passion and leadership. Tall order for a high school student, but it is what students applying to the most competitive colleges offer, in addition to excellent grades and near perfect test scores. Which student stands out more, the student who donates old clothes to a clothing drive, or the one that organizes the drive and convinces his entire school to participate? How about the student who occasionally at-

tends art clubs meetings versus the student who invites local artists to introduce club members to new mediums, or organizes a local student art exhibit? Passion and depth of commitment are what matter. I am the first to admit that many students are seriously overcommitted. I am not suggesting that applicants must fill in all eleven spaces with extraordinary accomplishments. Colleges would rather see three or four activities that show real depth of commitment or leadership than eleven “one shots.” So what should sophomores, juniors and seniors do at this point? Attend your school’s club fair. If you have an interest that isn’t represented, start a new club. If a club already exists, really

get involved, consider holding an office in the club. Remember, a club faculty mentor may be someone you choose to write your college recommendation. More importantly, clubs allow you to explore new interests. Colleges care so much about your non academic endeavors because they want interesting, engaged people with diverse interests to add depth to their college community.

COLLEGE DIRECTIONS CNY

7030 E. Genesee St, Fayetteville 315.243.6658 collegedirectionscny.com collegedirectionscny @gmail.com

Early Decision and Early Action If your child finds a college that seems a perfect fit, applying early may be a good idea. Early decision and early action plans allow your child to apply early (usually in November) and get an admission decision from the college well before the usual spring notification date. You know by December or January whether your child has been accepted at the firstchoice college. Sometimes, students who apply under these plans have a better chance of acceptance than they would through the regular admission process. These plans are also good for colleges because they get students who really want to go to the college to commit early in the process.

Early Decision vs. Early Action

Your child should understand the differences between early decision and early action before sending in applications. Keep in mind, also, that the

rules may vary somewhat by college. Your child can check with the school counselor to get an understanding of the early applicant’s rights and obligations. Below are some important facts about the three types of earlyapplication plan. Early decision plans are binding. Your child agrees to attend the college if accepted and if the college offers an adequate financial aid package. Although your child can apply to only one college for early decision, applying to other colleges through the regular admission process is allowed. If your child is accepted by the firstchoice college early, all other applications must be withdrawn. Early action plans are similar to early decision plans, but are not binding. If accepted, your child can choose to commit to the college immediately, or wait until the spring. Under these plans, your child may also apply early action to other colleges. Usually, candidates have until

the late spring to let the college know their decision. Single-choice early action is a new option offered by a few colleges. This plan works the same way as other early action plans, but candidates may not apply early (either early action or early decision) to any other college. Your child can still apply to other colleges under regular decision plans and is not required to give a final answer to the earlyapplication college until the regular decision deadline.

Should My Child Apply Under One of These Plans?

Your child should apply under an early decision or early action plan only if your child is very sure about wanting to attend a particular college. You child should not apply under an early decision or early action plan if planning to weigh offers and financial aid packages from several colleges later in the spring. Also, your child

shouldn’t apply early if it would be beneficial to have more senior year work to show a college.

Which Colleges Offer Early Plans?

More than 400 colleges offer an early decision plan, an early action plan, or both. Many colleges list this information on their websites.

A Last Word of Advice

In the fall, it may seem appealing to get the college decision over with, but your child may want to keep options open during senior year, while learning more about colleges and personal preferences. On the other hand, your child may be confident of thriving at a certain college. If so, your child is the type of student early decision was created for.

Courtesy of collegeboard.com

/ NY GEARUP, November 2010

When filling out college applications, colleges almost always ask for letters of recommendation from adults that can best describe your character. Recommendations can come from teachers, employers, coaches, club advisors, and mentors, to name a few. When chosing the perfect person to write your letter of recommendation, make sure that you have known them for at least a year, and they are someone that can vouch for the well-rounded, student leader that you are. Beacuse your potential recommendation writers may be busy, be sure to give them sufficient time--say, a month--to complete your letter. And because they are human, they may forget, so ask them about two weeks before your personal deadline how the letter is coming. To ask for a letter of reccomendation, type up a letter of recommendation request (see right). Once they accept, compile a “cheat sheet” of your accomplishmenys (see below) to help them along in their writing. After they have mailed their letter off to the school of your dreams, send a personal thank you note to show you appreciation for their help, and check “letters of recommendation” off your “Deadline Tracker” on page 10.

Sample letter of recommendation request

Letters of recommendation cheat sheet Date, 2010

Your name Street address City, state, zip

Name of person you are asking Street address of school City, state, zip Dear ______, I am applying for admission to [name of college(s)], and I need a letter of recommendation. Would you consider writing a letter for me? I have attached the instructions for the letter, and an addressed and stamped envelope for each school. I have also attached a short resume of my accomplishments, which I hope you will find helpful. My deadline for the recommendation is [date]. Thank you very much! I really appreciate your taking time to do this for me. Sincerely, [your name]

Sample activities resume

From Getting it Together for College by CollegeBoard

School activities (List the activity, number of years you have participated, and hours spent per week. Then write a sentence or two about what you learned, leadership positions you held, or highlights you are most proud of for each) Activity

Years

Hours/week

Activity

Years

Hours/week

Which activity was most important to you? Why?

Outside activities (List most important activities outside of school with years and hours spent. This includes jobs, community service, religious activities, hobbies, arts, etc.) Activity

Years

Hours/week

Activity

Years

Hours/week

Activity

Years

Hours/week

Which activity was most important to you? Why?

Honors and Awards (List those received in and out of school, the date received)

Personal profile

(List qualities that describe you in detail. Start by brainstorming five words that describe you and go from there.)

Academic profile (List any academic accomplishments you are most proud of (papers, science experiments, etc.))

What do you hope to accomplish in college and in the future? (Describe your career goals and goals for the future)

What interests you? What types of academic settings do you do well in?

From Lick-Wilmerding High School, California, in Getting it Together for College by CollegeBoard

NY GEARUP, November 2010 /

Extracurriculars exposed How after school activities can help you in the future

By Carolyn Clark You hear it in the first few hours of high school: teachers, guidance counselors, everyone telling you that you need to get involved. That’s how you’ll find real success! But high school is hard — balancing a seemingly unending amount of work with a social life is hard enough without needing to add to it club and sports involvement. But making sure to include these into your hectic schedules proves important for your development, happiness and future success. Extracur ricular activities, like clubs, sports, and volunteering allow you to take a break from the rigors of your schoolwork. Focusing on something other than that paper on gender roles in “The Taming of the Shrew” or studying for that World War II exam can help you relax. And batting practice for softball is a great way to release some of that stress. But these non-academic activities are also important for your overall development. By getting involved in a club, you take on responsibility to be an active and contributing member of the group. Taking on a leadership role in a club is even better since it gives you a chance to show everyone what you’re made of: you know how to organize events and activities for the club, you work well with others, and you know how to work with administration to keep things running smoothly. College Board explains that you don’t necessarily have to get involved with everything to stand out: ”‘We’re looking for a commitment to and a passion for an activity outside of the academic setting — we’re looking for depth

rather than breadth.’” Nanci Tessier, a college admission director, says on the College Board website. Colleges take notice of these things on applications. Admissions officers want to see that you’ve gotten involved in high school to make sure that you explore your interests and passions. They want to see that you don’t limit yourself. And don’t shortchange yourself: Extracurriculars are not restricted to schools p o n s o re d a c t iv i t i e s. M ay b e you’ve danced for several years or volunteered with a church group for a while. These types of activities show an admissions counselor that you explore your interests and options rather than only what is easily accessible through school. Peterson’s College Search online advises that admissions officers will notice a student with a wide variety of activities than one who has experience with a narrow field. So instead of doing a sport every season, try to balance physical activities with art and academic—you might find that while you were mediocre on the tennis courts, you might be the next Daniel Day Lewis in the school play. But while you make the effort to stay involved, College Board advises, you also have to make sure you’re not exhausting yourself. There are also downsides to being an overachiever and involved in absolutely everything. With too many commitments, you’ll find yourself losing focus, energy and passion for the things that you started out loving and committed to. You might also feel your health – both physical and emotional – deteriorate. Having a packed schedule means you might sacrifice healthy eating, proper exercise and sufficient

sleep. And spreading yourself too thin can actually hurt your chances of getting into college. “The majority of colleges indicate that they are looking for well-rounded students,” College Board says on its website. “Essentially, they prefer applicants who achieve balance among their academic pursuits, their extracurricular activities, and their personal lives. When admissions officers look at resumes, they are attempting to assess leadership, commitment, and integrity. If you’re an overachiever, beware. More is not necessarily better.” To make sure you’re getting involved the right way, College Board suggests you get involved in only what you like rather than joining every club to fill your resume. That way, you can schedule time to relax and decompress from the chaos of class work and activities. Lastly, they advise to always take care of yourself inside and out by eating healthily, getting exercise and sleeping enough. These help to avoid burnouts. Doing this now while in high school will help you to reach that success everyone raved about that first day of high school. You’ll also effectively prepare yourself for the hectic fun of a the typical college lifestyle.

PHOTOS CONtributed by the SCSD

TOP RIGHT: The Nottingham HS Key Club participates in volunteer activities throughout the school year. CENTER RIGHT:The Corcoran HS women’s cross country team holds practice every day after school. Photo By Carolyn Clark

BOTTOM RIGHT: Seth Colton, from Nottingham, participates in the NY GEARUP Step It UP! radio show on Power 106.9 each week.

10/ NY GEARUP, November 2010

The Deadline Tracker College 1 Deadlines Grades

Regular application Early application deadlines High school transcript sent Senior mid-year grade report sent Release SAT Subject Test scores

Test scores

Send SAT scores Send ACT scores Send AP grades Number required Teacher recommendations due

Letters of Recommendation Counselor recommendations

Other recommendations Send thank you notes Proof of spelling and grammar

Essays

Have 2 people read your essay Final copy in application Interview required?

Interviews

Interview date Send thank you note to interviewer Sign app and keep copy of everything Pay application fee (amount)

Submitting the Confirmation receipts application

Notify school counselor that you applied Send supplemental material, if needed Received decision letter from admissions

Interviews

Deadline to accept admission/ send deposit Tuition deposit sent Housing forms completed and sent Notify other colleges youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not attending

To keep track of important deadlines and paperwork, fill in the dates below, and check off each task as you complete it.

College 2

College 3

NY GEARUP, November 2010 /11

Why 20 is too many Understanding the Application Frenzy

Colleges and universities across the country have reported recordbreaking numbers of applicants over the last few years. Is this phenomenon the result of a sudden surge in the number of high school graduates? No, the main reason for the application increase is that high school seniors are applying to 20 or more colleges rather than the traditional five to eight. The fact is, however, that 20 is way too many.

Why the Surge?

Why are students applying to more schools than ever before? The reasons are varied, ranging from the ease of applying online to the use of the Common Application—now accepted by approximately 400 schools—which enables students to apply to multiple colleges with just one standardized form. And because electronic applications are easier and less expensive to process, some schools waive their application fees for those who apply online—yet another incentive to apply to more and more schools. Another factor is the economic climate and how it may affect individual families. The schools themselves are also responsible for the recent application surge. Despite the administrative headache of reviewing so many applications, numerous colleges continue to use aggressive marketing strategies to attract applicants. Students receive applications by mail and email (known as “snap” and “fast track” applications) that they haven’t even requested. Some schools provide incentives to sought-after applicants, such as waiving the essay, teacher recommendations, or the application fee. In some cases, schools will even start the application for a student.

With such enticements, who wouldn’t want to apply?

Why Not to Overapply

As the parent of a student in the midst of the college search process, you are keenly aware of the overwhelming competition. It is therefore a natural reaction to want your child to widen his options, to allow for all potential opportunities. Perhaps you’re thinking that by submitting many applications, at least he will get into some schools. This type of reasoning may not best serve your child, however. Do you really want him going to any old school—even one he hasn’t thoroughly researched—just because he was accepted there? What if the school doesn’t offer programs that interest your child? Or isn’t located in a place he likes? Or isn’t the right social scene for him? If it’s not a good fit academically, geographically, and socially, then the likelihood that he will drop out increases. The college search process is not an easy one. Researching schools that appeal to your child in terms of size, location, programs offered, and so on and then narrowing that list to include ones that range in admission competitiveness (reach, probable, and safety schools) is a challenge. Suzanne Colligan, director of college counseling at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C., advises her students to have good, well-researched reasons for every school on their list. To get to that point, she encourages students to complete a self-assessment to identify their top three or four criteria for a school. Each school on a student’s final list should meet those criteria. Colligan strongly advises students not to add schools to the list that

they would never really consider attending. In order for your child to end up at a college where he will be happy and productive and will grow academically, socially, and developmentally, the process of self-assessment and college research must happen before he applies to college, not after. It may seem tempting to simply cast the net far and wide and then make the decision later, after the acceptances are in, but that is not wise. Here are some reasons why: 3 When application numbers are up, admission rates go down.

Perhaps the greatest effect of the application surge is that colleges are becoming more selective and sending more rejection letters than ever before. College and universities often have a finite amount of facilities and resources; more students are competing for the same number of places.

3 Because of the surge in applications, colleges are working to improve methods of weeding out indifferent students. Admission

officers want to focus exclusively on those who show a genuine interest in attending their school. One way some colleges are attempting to weed out insincere applicants is by making the writing portion of their application more challenging and thoughtful. If your child is applying to ten or more schools, he can’t possibly have a deeprooted interest in all of them, and this will be clear to admission officers.

3 Applying to numerous schools won’t allow you to bargain for a better financial aid package. Jack

Joyce, director of college-planning services at the College Board, explains that schools frown upon those who apply to many schools to see which will offer the best financial

package and then use that to bargain with other schools. Colleges resent the idea of negotiating, and trying to do so may put a student in a difficult position. According to Joyce, negotiating is not effective because schools offer as much assistance as they can from the start according to a student’s circumstances. Unless the student’s financial situation changes or an extraordinary event occurs in a student’s life, the offer will not be revised. Additionally, with the jump in applications, schools have no incentive or need to negotiate. Financial aid is understandably an important consideration for many college-bound students. When applying to colleges, however, Joyce advises making other factors, such as a student’s needs and interests, higher priorities. Spring semester of senior year is traditionally a time when students can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the rest of high school with the security of knowing where they will be in the fall. Unfortunately, with the deluge of applications that colleges are receiving, students are often still on waiting lists come spring and still dealing with the accompanying anxiety of not knowing what the future has to offer. For those who have been accepted to a slew of schools, their last precious weeks of high school are often spent racing around the country, visiting schools and trying to figure out which is the best fit—something they should have done before they applied.

Courtesy of collegeboard.com

12/ NY GEARUP, November 2010

Senior Breakfast at Nottingham HS

Photos By Caitlin Donnelly

Seniors at Nottingham High School enjoyed a half day of school and free pancakes on Oct. 13 during the annual Senior Breakfast. Students filled out “class bests,” the senior survey, and handed in “senior dues” for prom and graduation. The event took place in the high school cafeteria from 8 to 10:30 a.m.TOP LEFT: Ali Hosheshi and Marisol Sinchico. TOP RIGHT: (left to right) Dalena Phan, Michael Wazen, Alex Conniff, Jacob Whitney, Christian Green, Colin O’Keef and Aghiles Bacha. CENTER LEFT: Janelle Pitts and Cole Richardson. CENTER RIGHT: (left to right) Jalen Snow, Eric Webster, Phill McCarthy, Kaseem Flanagan, Abdurahman Ali, Jason Ostune, Marlin Chisolm and Robert Howard. BOTTOM LEFT: Chulee Paw, Kohinur Aktar, Sejla Custic, Kemi Mogaji, Yahumara Aquirre, Ashwak Alanzi and Mirsada Berisa.

NY GEARUP, November 2010 /13

Photos BY CAitlin Donnelly

TOP LEFT: (left to right) Brian McElroy, Dwayne Britt, Hali Escke, Daniqua Hicks, Tailor Edmond, Taylor Hughes, Gabby Royal and Alfonso Gyder. TOP RIGHT: Seated: (left to right) Charles Gay, Myette Rivers and Briana Dillon. Back row: James Royal, Ester Owusu and Carla Thomas. LEFT: Seated: (left to right) Markel Laenn, Adrien Allen, Donald Gainey II, Richard Webb. Back row: Chris Bonner, James Glover, and Anthony Campbell. RIGHT: Faith Forman shows her school pride with a “Seniors 2011” sweatshirt. BOTTOM LEFT: Fadila Memisevic and Hatidza Salkic. BOTTOM RIGHT: (left to right) Taylor Hughes, Zonairia Mosley, Ja’leasa Worley, Sasha Robbinson, Devin Edwards, Lloyd Colton and Janae Green, front.

14/ NY GEARUP, November 2010

Graduation Checklist Minimum required credits

Minimum required Regents exams

Students need a final average of 65 or higher to earn course credit

English

Credits

English 9 English 10 English 11 English 12

Total

Mathematics** Credits ______________ ______________ ______________

1 1 1

Total

Art/ Music

Credits

_______________

Total

Phys. Ed.

Credits

Phys. Ed. 9 Phys. Ed. 10 Phys. Ed. 11 Phys. Ed. 12

Total

Health

.5 .5 .5 .5

Credits

Health I Health II

Total

Credits

Global I Global II U.S. History Government Economics

1 1 1 1

Total

Social Studies

.5 .5

Science**

1 1 1 .5 .5

English Language Arts (ELA) Global History U.S. History

(Math regents)

Credits

_______________ _______________ _______________

Total

Required Regents exams

1 1 1

Score

(Science regents) The SCSD and New York State Regents consider 65 or above to be a passing score on a Regents exam. Some exceptions do exist, so please speak with your guidance counselor to discuss your Regents exam grades.

Foreign Language Credits _______________

Total

Electives**

Credits

_______________ _______________ _______________

Total

1 1 1

22 = l a t To

**Speak to your guidence counselor to chose the correct combination of math, science and electives needed to graduate.

Seniors, be sure to check in with your guidance counselor to make sure you are on the right track to graduate this spring! Do not wait until the last minute!

NY GEARUP, November 2010 /15

The Back Page VOTE! What is the most difficult part of the college application process?

20 questions to ask college reps

The college essay Financial aid paperwork Keeping track of deadlines The application itself Check out NY GEARUP’s blog, nygearupblog.blogspot.com, or post your response on NY GEARUP’s facebook page by searching NY GEARUP @ Syracuse University, and vote! Then check back in next month’s edition to see how your fellow classmates weighed in.

Sudoku

2 7 5 4 5 2 1 6

9 3 6 7 9 1 2 9 4 8 2 7 9 4 3 8 4 5

5 2

3 9

Courtesy of StatePoint Media

8 2 3

1. What makes your college unique? 2. What academic programs is your college most known for? 3. How would you describe the kids that go there?? Where do most of them come from? 4. Where do kids hang out on campus? 5. What happens on weekends- are there things to do on campus or in town, or do most kids go home? 6. Are fraternities and sororities a big part of campus life? 7. What are the housing options for freshmen? 8. Do many students live off campus? 9. Is there a sports complex or fitness center? 10. What are the most popular clubs and activities? 11. What’s the security like on campus? 12. What’s the surrounding area like? Is it easy to get around? 13. What are the most popular majors? 14. How would you describe the academic pressure and workload? 15. What support services are available (academic advisors, tutors, etc.)? 16. Do I need to bring my own computer? 17. What’s the faculty like? How accessible are they outside of class? 18. Are there opportunities for internships? 19. Is there job placement help for graduates? 20. Are any bid changes in the works that I should know about? From Getting it Together for College by CollegeBoard

16/ NY GEARUP, November 2010

COLLEGE OF THE MONTH Fashion Institute of Technology

The Fashion Institute of Technology is a SUNY school located in New York City. Founded in 1944, the four-year college offers 43 majors in design, art, communications, business and— most notably—fashion. FIT has more than 7,290 full-time and 3,123 part-time students—10,207 undergraduates— that attend its wide variety of classes including cosmetics, fragrance marketing and menswear, which are unique to FIT. Approximately 84 percent of the students are female, 16 percent are male. There are 253 full-time and 754 part-time faculty members that teach at the school, many of which have made valuable contributions to the fashion, communications, art and design industries. Notable alumni include fashion designers Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. FIT has been ranked one of the top five fashion schools in the world by Fashionista, the online fashion news site. Because of its campus location—at West 27th Street, between 7th and 8th avenues—students find themselves in the” heart of the garment industry.” Has nine buildings—three dorms, six educational buildings—which include classrooms, computer labs, studios for radio and television

production and design, and numerous exhibition galleries to show off student work. There is also a Barnes and Nobel College Bookstore and two large theaters for special events. In their free time, FIT students can participate in numerous extracurricular activities, from volunteer opportunities throughout the city and career clubs to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III sports. FIT also has its own radio and television broadcast stations, WFIT, and newspaper, W27. Because of its location in the Chelsea neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, students can experience a wide range of art, culture, and cuisine right outside their doorstep. FIT also offers a study abroad program for students in cities like Hong Kong, Florence, London, Milan, Paris and Monterrey, Mexico. The FIT campus is also home to The Museum at FIT. Established in 1967, the museum has one of the only permanent historical fashion collections in the United States. The museum is also known for its featured exhibits, and for Gallery FIT, which displays work by the college’s faculty and students. For more information about the Fashion Institute of Technology, visit fitnyc.edu.

contributed photos

Be Heard

The Step It Up! staff has settled into a spectacular weekend routine with its two-hour talk-based show about teen issues, college readiness and NY GEARUP. It’s entertaining and informative for anyone from students to parents and community members. We’re always looking for people to interview and high school seniors to try their hand in the radio business. If interested, contact Mariel Fiedler at mfiedler@syr.edu

NYGEARUP@syr.edu

NYGEARUP

NY GEARUP @ Syracuse University