NY GEARUP 12, 2010 by Dave Tyler

December 2010

nygearup.syr.edu

The College Application Essay ...... 12-14

On Point for College

...... 10 & 11

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SYRACUSE, NY Permit # 1672

Q&A

with Sam Rowser

Return to Eagle Newspapers 2501 James Street Suite 100 Syracuse, NY 13206- 2824

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

St. John’s GEAR UP visits SU ...... 10 & 11

/ NY GEARUP, December 2010

STAFF Message from the Marissa Joy Mims Director

Caitlin Donnelly

Eagle Newspapers Editor

Carolyn Clark

Director

NY GEARUP Media Editor

Ana Maria Panaigua Latisha Lindo Reporters

Malea Perkins

NY GEARUP Office Coordinator

Luz Encarnacion

Outreach 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.

Season’s Greetings! It is hard to believe the holidays are here. Early decision deadlines have passed and most students have finished taking the SATs. We are rounding the corner with graduation in sight. Here at NY GEARU,P we are intensifying our outreach efforts to students who have dropped out of high school. Working in collaboration with district attendance officers, home visits are next on our list. I am also very excited to announce a new addition to our NYGEARUP family, Luz Encarnacion, our new Outreach Coordinator. Luz will be

focusing on our Latino outreach efforts and coordinating college visits, workshops and other activities. Welcome Luz! As many of you are aware, Syracuse has been faced with a rash of gun violence. The Step It Up! radio show has featured interviews with Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler and Helen Hudson from Mothers Against Gun Violence. I personally believe that the answer to this situation rests with our youth. Our Step It UP! crew is very focused on this issue, as it is impacting their peers and creating a intolerable situation in the community. Please look for more interviews on the radio show, which airs from 7 to 9 p.m. Satur-

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.

days on Power 106.9. Regents’ testing takes place in January, and I encourage all seniors who need to pass Regents exams before graduation to take advantage of the NY GEARUP/Say Yes tutoring program that is being offered at each high school on Days 1 and 3 during the fifth block. You will not graduate unless you are successful on your Regents exams. The tutoring is free and practice exams are also being scheduled. On that note, please take the time to support the youth of our community in whatever way that you can. -Marissa Joy Mims

Photos By Caitlin Donnelly

ON THE COVER: NY GEARUP’s Carolyn Clark leads a tour in The Newhouse School complex during the St. John’s GEAR UP visit to SU on Friday Nov. 12. RIGHT: Practice courts sit empty during the St. John’s GEAR UP tour of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center.

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, December 2010 /

Table of contents Message from the Director...................................................... 2 Table of contents ....................................................................... 3 Calendar of events..................................................................... 4 My Goal: A narrative ................................................................. 5 For the Parents.................................................................... 6 & 7 St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GEAR UP visits SU ........................................... 8 & 9

Q & A with Sam Rowser, On Point for College .......10 & 11 The College Application Essay .................. ............................12 Sample college essay topics .............................. .................... 13 Sample college essays ............................................................. 14 The Back Page .......................................................................... 15 College of the Month: CUNY John Jay ............................... 16

/ NY GEARUP, December 2010

December

Sunday 28

Monday 29

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

1 Tutoring during 5th Block

Tutoring during 5th Block

Winter athletics begin

Tutoring during 5th Block

Saturday

at Yonkers Public Schools visits Syracuse University

Tutoring during 5th Block 1/2 Day

Tutoring during 5th Block

Off- Winter Break

1 SU Regular Decision Application due!

Off- Winter Break

*** 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, December 2010 /

Your Counselor and the Application Process Working Together to Submit Your College Applications

ing classroom assistance; administering tests; giving administrative support; and helping in many other ways. They are especially busy when it’s college application time.

Your school counselor is there to help you understand how to apply to colleges and to work with you to find a good college fit. Counselors want to make the college application process easier. And you can help by getting informed and being prepared.

To make the most of your time with your counselor, schedule meetings and come to these meetings prepared. These five tips can help you be efficient.

A Counselor’s Work Your counselor wants to help you and your fellow students successfully apply to colleges. However, it’s important that you stay on top of the process, since a lot of it is up to you. Although counselors are a good resource for you, they often have as many as 500 students to help at the same time. In addition to college counseling, counselors may be working with students with academic, career and personal issues; provid-

Tips for Making the Most of Your Counselor’s Time

1. Be Responsible Ultimately, you want to go to a college that’s a good fit for you. Take charge of the application process. Find out your school’s process, know your deadlines, keep in contact with your counselor and perform the legwork necessary to get the job done.

2. Be Organized Make a chart to keep track of different colleges’ requirements, and mark a calendar with your application deadlines. Have a separate folder for each application so you can keep materials organized and easy to

access. Know your school’s process and schedule for asking for recommendations, and write your essays well ahead of the deadlines.

3. Be Early In the case of college applicat i o n s, o n t i m e might not be good enough. Essays, recommendations and transcript request forms should all be completed and submitted at least two weeks before the application deadline. Counselors and support staff members usually fill these requests on a first-come, first-served basis, so get in line as early as possible.

4. Be Ready Even when you apply to a college online, some parts of the application must be sent by mail. Leave time for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver your application and for the college’s in-

ternal mail service to process it. And don’t wait until the last minute to submit online — the website could have technical problems if too many students are trying to use it at the same time. Finally, factor in some additional time for unanticipated errors and delays.

5. Be Positive The college application process, although time-consuming, is a good chance for you to discover yourself, what you are interested in and your opportunities for the future. This may be one of the most complex tasks you’ve ever taken on, but it’s a good introduction to the multifaceted projects you’ll be handling in college and in life. Organization, communication, patience and reasonable expectations are the keys to making it a manageable and successful experience.

Courtesy of CollegeBoard.com

My Goal: A narrative By Dwayne Britt Nottingham High School I feel as though everyone in the world should set goals because if they do, then they will be more focused and more determined to complete it. My goal is to create a program for teens who have to run away from their troubles that they are facing at home or in life; for example, rape, molestation, addiction, and abuse. The thing about this program is that it’s not going to be like the rest. It’s going to be better. If you join this program, there will be counselors, staff and other people there to get you what you need to succeed. At this program you will be able to learn a trade and get tutoring. In the end, you will be gaining a family. This program is called Don’t Leave Anybody Behind. It will help you succeed in life and prepare you for college. But to get into this program you must stay in school and get good grades. If you are not doing so well, you will have to give up your game and TV time until you get that grade up. But for now, I have to graduate from high school first. That is my dream, and I promise it will come true.

/ NY GEARUP, December 2010

Parents

Fast-track college applications … Too good to be true? By Maria Badami Just when you thought you understood all the college application choices, yet another option, “fast-track” or V.I.P. applications have sprung up. First, let me explain how they work. Many of these applications are mailed to students inviting them to apply to College X, using an abbreviated application. Usually these applications arrive with some of the student’s information already filled in like name, school, etc. Often application fees and essay requirements are waived. Many of these colleges request a graded paper in lieu of a personal essay. If that isn’t reason enough to apply, they also promise quick admissions decisions. Why would colleges extend this type of offer in light of the increasingly competitive application process? It’s not out of the goodness of their hearts, I promise you that. Increasingly, institutions use “fast-track” applications as a recruitment tool. Some schools use this vehicle to cherry pick students they are interested

in. Others, anxious to expand their application pool send out tens of thousands of these marketing tools in hopes of increasing their college’s application stats (i.e. number of applicants, % accepted.) However, the most competitive colleges and universities, already overwhelmed with applicants, do not offer similar expedited applications. That is not to say that institutions offering V.I.P. applications are less good schools. At a recent NACAC meeting, college admissions officers defended using fast-track” applications to encourage particularly promising applicants to apply to their institutions. So what’s the hitch? College applications are incomplete without transcripts, teacher and counselor recommendations and standardized test scores, largely sent electronically. If the student selects to mail in one of the “fast track” applications, high schools cannot electronically submit student’s supporting documents to

colleges, and colleges are not able to download these documents until the student submits their application through the Common Application website, for which, of course, students pay a fee per application. Robert Killion, Executive Director of Common Application, admits that money is one reason (the nonprofit association receives approximately a $4 fee from member colleges) that they do not process free “fast track” applications. More importantly, Killion argues that the existing pay for electronic service also prevents colleges from being inundated with documents from students who might list many institutions on their “My College” list, then not end up applying. Students selecting to use “fasttrack” applications have one of two choices. The students’ counselors can print and mail all supporting documents, just as they would for students

using paper versions of the Common Application. Another option is for students who have already created an online Common Application to go ahead and submit an application to the same college online, which automatically allows high schools to transmit required forms. If the student decides to go the mail option, they need to make sure to follow up that all materials have been sent and received. Without an online application submission through Common Application, students will have no way of verifying that materials are still outstanding, unless they call the school directly. Good luck!

COLLEGE DIRECTIONS CNY

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

Application requirements: It’s More Than Just a Form Applications vary from college to college, but most require some or all of the following parts:

Application Form

In the old days (well, a few years ago), students had one application option—a handwritten or typed form. Today your child can often apply online directly to an individual school or use the Common Application, entering information just once.

Application Fee

The average college application fee is around $35. (Some fees are as much as $60, while other colleges don’t have an application fee at all.) The fee is usually nonrefundable, even if your child is not offered admission. Many colleges offer fee waivers for applicants from low-income families. If your child needs a fee waiver, you or your child should

call the college’s admissions office for more information.

High School Transcript

This form is filled out by an official of your child’s high school. If it comes with your child’s admissions materials, he should give it to the guidance office to complete as early as possible. Some colleges send this form directly to your child’s school after receiving his application.

Admissions Test Scores

At many colleges, your child will have to submit SAT® or ACT test scores. Many colleges require admissions tests because they are a standard way of measuring a student’s ability to do college-level work.

Letters of Recommendation

Many private colleges ask your child to submit one or more letters of recommendation from a

teacher, counselor, or other adult who knows your child well. When asking someone to write such a letter, your child should be sure to do so well before the college’s deadline.

Essay

If your child is applying to private colleges, his essay often plays a very important role. Whether your child is writing an autobiographical statement or an essay on a specific theme, he should take the opportunity to express his individuality in a way that sets him apart from other applicants.

Interview

This is required or recommended by some colleges. Even if it’s not required, it’s a good idea for your child to set up an interview because it gives him a chance to make a personal connection with someone who will have a voice in deciding whether

or not he will be offered admission. If your child is too far away for an on-campus interview, he should try to arrange to meet with an alumnus in your community.

Audition/Portfolio

If your child is applying for a program such as music, art, or design, he may have to document prior work by auditioning on campus or submitting an audiotape, slides, or some other sample of his work to demonstrate his ability. Remember, all parts of your child’s application should come together to create an accurate portrait of who he is, of what he will bring to the college. If possible, there should be a theme running through it.

Courtesy of collegeboard.com

NY GEARUP, December 2010 /

Parents

Community meets to discuss recent spike in violence Photos By Caitlin Donnelly

On Saturday Nov. 13, nearly a hundred community members from the city of Syracuse convened at the Mary NelsonYouth Center, 2849 S. Salina Street, to discuss the recent increase in violence among the city’s youth. Parents, activists and community leaders, including Mayor Stephanie Miner and Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler, discussed possible causes of the violence, and changes that need to be made throughout the city neighborhoods.The meeting lasted more than two hours, where dozens of attendees voiced their concerns and opinions. BELOW: Community members demand change in their neighborhoods that have recently made local headlines due to the increase in youth violence. RIGHT: Mayor Stephanie Miner and Police Chief Frank Fowler address the crowd and ensure measures are being taken to reduce crime in the area.

What’s in a College Essay? Understanding what colleges are looking for in your child The college essay gives your child a chance to communicate with the school on a more personal level. Other parts of your child’s application—grades, scores, and recommendations—show what your child has done. Your child’s college essay reveals who she is. It can be a strong voice in your child’s favor and a way to stand out from the rest.

An Essay of Self-Analysis Self-analysis isn’t easy and it can

be especially hard to do at this point in your child’s life, when many of her goals and plans are unsettled. Your child may already have confronted this problem at college interviews. Admissions people ask, “Tell us about yourself ” or “What are your hopes and aspirations?” These are questions that require some thought, and they’re pretty hard. The essay is a chance to demonstrate which questions your child has asked herself and what answers she has found.

Writing Evaluation Your child’s college essay is going to be examined as a clue to her writing ability by an audience that is both critical and crucial. For example, Columbia University lets your child

know what they’re looking for right on the application: “Please remember that we are concerned not only with the substance of your prose but with your writing as well.” After all, a very large part of your child’s performance and evaluation in college will be based on essays and written tests.

Short-Answer Questions Short-answer questions that ask for only a paragraph response should be approached with the same care and attention your child gives to the full-length essay. The writing process is the same. Your child should just reduce the introduction and conclusion to a sentence each. Your child should try to make her topic vivid

in a few lines and never sacrifice specifics.

Writing Samples Some schools require or encourage submission of an academic essay or writing sample. There’s no reason not to send a school essay. Your child should choose a strong performance (a B+ or better) and a paper on a not-too-esoteric topic. Your child should not send a 15-page term paper or a collation of library research. A short, illuminating essay on one poem, one lab experiment, one incident in history, is a good choice.

This article is based on information found in The College Application Essay by Sarah Myers McGinty,

/ NY GEARUP, December 2010

St. John’s GEAR UP visits Syracuse University By Caitiln Donnelly On Friday Nov. 12, NY GEARUP welcomed students from the St. John’s GEAR UP program to Syracuse University for a tour of the campus and the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. The visit began with a brief tour of the SU Bookstore and the E.S. Bird Library, followed by a question and answer session in Lyman Hall with counselors from the Office of Supportive Services. David Peterson, academic counselor for the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and Amy Horan, academic counselor for the Student Support Services Program (SSS) discussed the programs, which are designed for students that many have financial difficulties, or are first generation college students, and fielded general questions about SU from the group of approximately forty students. The question and answer session was followed by a brief tour of the campus, where students spilt up according to their prospective majors. Five current SU students led the tours, where the high school seniors caught a glimpse of the SU community and asked questions

about attending SU. The tour guides included NY GEARUP’s Carolyn Clark, senior magazine journalism major, English and textual studies minor and Lara Campbell, senior English major, marketing minor; Calvin Chan, senior aerospace engineering major, engineering marketing minor; Alana Miles, senior psychology, sociology and African American studies triple major; and Jasmin Miles, psychology and sociology duel major. Once reconvened at Lyman Hall, the group boarded their coach bus and headed to “south campus” for a tour of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. Barbara Henderson, senior associate director of athletics and senior women’s administrator, led the students through the state-of–the-art athletic training room, practice courts, men’s and women’s locker rooms and a corridor full of trophies and awards from past team accomplishments. Before boarding the coach bus and heading to Ithaca College to continue their weekendlong college road trip, the group posed for a photo beneath the sign, “Syracuse, Home of Champions.” Students in the St. John’s GEARUP program come from numerous high schools in Queens, NY.

NY GEARUP, December 2010 /

Photos by Caitlin Donnelly

10/ NY GEARUP, December 2010

Q&A

with Sam Rowser

Program Director, On Point for College

Seth Colton, from Nottingham High School, and radio host DJ Showcase sit down with Sam Rowser, Program Director of On Point for College, during a recent Step It UP! radio show on Power 106.8 to discuss the benefits of the program for high school seniors.

Seth Colton: What exactly is O n Point for College?

Sam Rowser: On Point for Col-

lege is a non-profit organization that works with students 17 to 25 to remove barriers that hinder them from being successful in college.

Seth: How did you get involved

with On Point? Rowser: Actually, I was working over at the Southwest Community Center with a program called Results when I was introduced to a woman named Ginny Donohue. She had a number of students she was trying to transition into college and she needed some help. I had worked at OCC previously doing that exact same thing, and so it was an opportunity to get back into the field of helping students that wanted to go to college but may not know all the ins and outs of getting in.

Seth: What work does On Point do

with students? Do you work with middle school and high school or just high school? Rowser: Again we work with students that are 17 to 25, so we start working with them when they are juniors and seniors in high school. We also work with students who maybe have stopped going to school, or are working on GEDs. We work with students that have graduated and are interested in getting into college, and we work with students that have gone to college and not been successful and are now looking into getting back into college. We work with them from application to graduation.

Seth: What does On Point for College cost for students? Rowser: All the services that On Point for College provides are free. You’re not charged for anything.

Seth: How can kids get involved

with On Point, or people that may have dropped out but want to go back ? Rowser: The central contact would be myself. They can give me a call at 374-4104, and then I would connect them with the appropriate person or organization. This is either one of our access advisors, who help students who have never gone to college before, or one of our retention advisors who works with students who are already in college or who have gone to college.

Seth: I hear you guys allow volun-

teer work. How can a person apply to be a volunteer and what is required to be an On Point volunteer? Rowser: For the most part, our volunteers do a variety of things. They help with transportation, because we help students get rides to and from school. They basically fill out an application, we do a police background check, if that is cleared, then they are allowed to come in and work with our students. They can also be tutors if they want to work with students to tutor, and they can be mentors also.

Seth: We covered a lot of important

stuff right there. So where are you guys based? Rowser: Our home office is in the Catholic Charities building… 1654 W. Onondaga Street. Let me just add one other thing. There’s one other component to the program that I didn’t mention, and that’s our On Point for Jobs component. Once a

students goes to college and we help them transition through college, we also assist them in finding employment. So we have the On Point for Jobs component to the program. It’s all located in the central office at 1654 W. Onondaga Street, although our advisors do work out in the community at a number of community centers. The Catholic Charities Community Center, Southwest Community Center, Boys and Girls Club community centers, the Salvation Army Barnabas House, Syracuse Housing and the Center for Community Alternatives, which is located downtown, as well as the Dunbar Center. Some of our centers are “call only” centers, where if you call us and we’re in the area, we can meet you there.

Seth: You guys go to the high

schools to present to students that may be interested or anything? Rowser: Yes we do. In our program, we have a component called the Early Awareness portion. We have our students that have already attended college come back to the community, and they go out in the community and talk to other students about college that’s possible. We try to find students who have attended those high schools previously to go back in and share with students their transition from that high school into college and what that experience is like. We also try to do that at the middle school level, the community center level, the church level. We try and get our kids to go back all over the community and share that good word.

Seth: Is there any online link for On Point?

Rowser: We do have our website,

its onpointforcollege.org and it will give you a lot of pertinent informa-

NY GEARUP, December 2010 /11 tion about our program, what we do, our service that we provide and who works for our organization, and some information about our graduates.

Seth: Showcase, you want to add anything?

DJ Showcase: Do you partner

with Say Yes in any way? Rowser: Yes, we do have a partnership with Say Yes where we work with students while they’re in the school district. We’re helping them with some of the financial aid information, we’re helping them with college visits and college tours, so we are working with those students through Say Yes. Also, to help them get into college and stay in college.

DJ Showcase: What about when

you come in contact with some of the parents and their challenges. What is it like when you help them out? Rowser: The challenges are many. I mean, sometimes it is just ‘I just need someone to explain this form to me and how I fill it out.’ And everybody needs to fill out the FAFSA, and again, even if you are part of the Say Yes program, you still need to fill out the FAFSA. That’s one of the things Say Yes is really promoting: trying to get students to fill out the FAFSA applications early and have a complete program where they’re engaging the youth this year, and they’ll start early in January and February setting up places for students and parents to get help filling out the FAFSA forms at the various high schools. You do run into all kinds of obstacles because some parents have never gone to college, these are first generation students we’re working with, so they don’t understand the application process and the financial aid process and the difference between the loans and the grants and the scholarships and the college work study and all that stuff. They just need someone with a listening ear to sit down and listen and explain that process to them. Once they get that help they are able to more easily help their students with that process.

DJ Showcase: Do you help out

with the application process as well? Rowser: Yes. We work with students on the admissions application, with the financial aid applications, support services like HEOP or EOP depend-

ing on if you go to a private or state school. We also give them information about scholarships that are out there, we share that information with our students. I mean the process for some students are things that people don’t think about, so things that hinder students from being successful are what they call “non-contextual.” For example, some of the students don’t have anyone in the family who has a car, who can drive them to and from school. If you go to school in Buffalo and you hitched a ride home, how are you going to get back and parents don’t have enough money to get you a bus ticket. Well, we get you a bus ticket and help you get back. You’re in school and you’re having some dental issues, I mean you may have health plans, but where’s the dental plan? We’ve been fortunate to have someone on our board who does some pro-bono work, and we can help our students get some dental work done. They don’t have eye glasses, we help them get glasses. You know, just some of the Photo by Carolyn Clark little things that some of us take for Seth Colton, aka Seth “Dollar,” during the taping granted, you know, someone is going of a Step It UP! radio show earlier this year. to be there to take care of that for me. I’ve got winter coats and winter boots. Some of our students don’t have these we have a person, and we want to get things and we’re able to plug those you done. gaps with last minute things and last minute dollar scholarships to help DJ Showcase: Sam, for the people our students be able to stay on par so that stop, what’s the age requirement for that? they can be successful in school. Rowser: Once you’re an On Point, DJ Showcase: Is there any small you’re always On Pont. Our program secret about On Point that people started eleven and a half years ago, don’t know about, maybe another so if you started when you’re 25 and sub-program or initiative that On now you’re 36, come see us. We’re Point has going on that you would ready for you. like to share with the teens and even DJ Showcase: Yes sir! That’s what I want to hear! the parents? Rowser: I guess the one major initiative that we’re getting ready to DJ Showcase: People always talk undertake now is we’re getting ready about the lack of access to resources, to bring a person in as a re-enroll- and here’s a resource for you that’s in ment counselor. There are hundreds our community and basically says… of students out there, hundreds of we’ll meet you where you’re at, which people out there, who started college is awesome, and will help you naviand for whatever life-on-life reason, gate the system and get you where had to take some time out. Well we you want to go. want you to finish. If you’re an On Point student, we’re looking for you. We want to find you want to find, we want to find out what the obstacles are that stopped you from finishing the first time. We want to get them out of the way, and we want to get you graduated. So if you started college and you stopped, give us a call and we can get Tune in to Step It UP! from 7 to 9 p.m. you re-enrolled. We have a program,

every Saturday on Power 106.9.

Here’s a complete list of locations where On Point for College is available. Call the counselor listed for more details: Barnabas House Call A. Nina Frank 317-3968 1941 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13205 Bishop Foery Center Call Mawut Guarak 744-0693 100 Edmund Ave., Syracuse, NY 13205 Boys & Girls Club -Central Village Call Tiffany Rush 744-0694 212 VanBuren St., Syracuse, NY 13205 Boys & Girls Club -East Fayette Street Call Tiffany Rush 744-0694 2100 East Fayette St., Syracuse, NY 13224 Boys & Girls Club -Hamilton Street Call Tiffany Rush 744-0694 201 Hamilton St., Syracuse, NY 13204 Boys & Girls Club -Shonnard Street Call Tiffany Rush 744-0694 201 Shonnard St., Syracuse, NY 13204 Center for Community Alternatives Call Tiffany Rush 744-0694 115 East Jefferson St., Syracuse, NY 13202 Dunbar Center Call A. Nina Frank 317-3968 1453 South State St, Syracuse, NY 13205 Hawley Youth Organization Call Mawut Guarak 744-0693 716 Hawley Ave., Syracuse, NY 13203 Northside CYO Call Mawut Guarak 744-0693 527 North Saline St., Syracuse, NY 13208 Rolling Green Call Tiffany Rush 744-0694 2005 E. Fayette St., Syracuse, NY 13210 Sidney Johnson Center Call Tiffany Rush 744-0694 573 East Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13202 Southwest Community Center Call A. Nina Frank 317-3968 401 South Ave., Syracuse, NY 13204 Syracuse Housing Authority (TAP II) Call A. Nina Frank 317-3968 516 Burt St, Syracuse, NY 13202 Vincent House Call Mawut Guarak 744-0693 514 Seymour St., Syracuse, NY 13204

12/ NY GEARUP, December 2010

The College Application Essay For many, writing the college essay is the most difficult part of the college application process. From brainstorming ideas, to the basic do’s and don’ts, sample essay topics and sample essays, NY GEARUP provides help for every stage of the writing process.

Books

For more tips on college application essay writing, check out these books:

Topic Brainstorming worksheet No matter what the essay question is, you’re essentially being asked one thing: “tell us about yourself.” Brainstorming usually begins with a laundry list of ideas, good and bad, from which the best ideas rise to the top. Here’s ideas to help you brainstorm topics that will reveal something about yourself:

What are your five most favorite memories?

In chronological order, what are the five most important events in the story of your life?

What are you five most favorite books or movies?

If you had to give a speech or presentation, what five topics would you feel most confident talking about?

What five adjectives or personality traits would your family or friends use to describe you? (Ask if you don’t know.)

If you were marooned on a desert island, what five things (besides necessities) would you want to have with you?

Who are the five people that you most admire?

Writing an Outstanding College Application Essay By Estelle Rankin and Barbara Murphy $14.95 What five people have influenced you the most?

Essay writing Do’s and Don’ts DO keep your focus narrow and personal Your essay must prove a single point. Your main idea should be clear and easily followed from beginning to end. Ask someone to read just your introduction, and then have them tell you what your essay is about. (And remember, it’s about showing them who you are.)

DO back up what you say Develop main ideas with specific facts, events, quotations, examples and reasons. Okay: “I like to be surrounded by people with a variety of backgrounds and interests.” Better: “During that night, I sang the theme song from Casablanca with a baseball coach who thinks he’s Bogie, discussed Marxism with a little old lady, and heard more that I ever wanted to know about some woman’s gall bladder operation.”

DO give specifics

DON’T write a resume

Avoid clichéd, generic and predictable writing by using vivid and specific details. Okay: “I have gotten so much out of life through the love and guidance of my family. I feel that many individuals have not been as fortunate; therefore, I would like to expand the lives of others.” Better: “My mom and dad stood on plenty of sidelines ‘til their shoes filled with water or their fingers turned white, and somebody’s golden retriever signed his name on their coats in mud. I think that kind of commitment is what I’d like to bring to working with fourth-graders.”

Don’t include information that is found elsewhere in the application. Your essay will end up sounding like an autobiography, travelogue or laundry list. Yawn.

DON’T tell them what you think they want to hear Admissions officers read plenty of essays about the charms of their university. Bring something new to the table.

College Admission Essays for Dummies By Geraldine Woods $19.99

DON’T use 50 words when five will do Eliminate unnecessary words. Okay: “Over the years it has been pointed out to me by my parents, friends, teachers—and I have even noticed it myself—that I am not the neatest person in the world.” Better: “I’m a slob.”

DON’T forget to proofread Typos and spelling or grammatical errors can be interpreted as carelessness or just bad writing. And don’t rely on your computer’s spell check!

Based on information found in The College Application Essay by Sarah Myers McGinty. Courtesy of Get it Together for College by CollegeBoard.

CollegeBoard’s The College Application Essay By Sarah Myers McGinty $15.95

NY GEARUP, December 2010 /13

Sample essay topics: You are on your dream vacation and have just finished shooting a roll of film. As you go to develop the film, the local merchant offers to make a postcard of one of your photos. Describe the photo, why you selected it and write a brief note to your friends back home. (Be sure to include where you are and what you have been doing there.) (University of the Pacific)

Community service can be a valuable part of the college experience. If you were to devote one year of service to a volunteer project, what would it be, and what would you hope to accomplish? (Goucher College)

Imagine that you have the opportunity to travel back through time. At what point in history would you like to stop and why? (Swarthmore College)

Pick a story of local, national, or international importance from the front page of any newspaper. Identify your source and give the date the article appeared. Then use your sense of humor, sense of outrage, sense of justice—or just plain good sense—to explain why the story engages your attention. (University of Chicago)

Tell us about the most embarrassing moment of your life. (Santa Clara University)

Tell us about a conversation you’ve had that changed your perspective or was otherwise meaningful to you. (Stanford University)

What is the best advice you everreceived? Why? And did you follow it? (University of Pennsylvania)

Tell us about the neighborhood that you grew up in and how it helped shape you into the kind of person you are today. (Yale University)

Explain why and how you would, if given the opportunity, change a decision you made in the past. (Salisbury State)

It has been said [Andy Warhol] that “in the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.” Describe your fifteen minutes. (New York University)

At Colorado College, diversity is considered an integral component of every student’s liberal arts education. Discuss your division of “diversity” and the ways in which you expect it to affect your college experience. (Colorado College)

What invention would the world be better off without, and why? (Kalamazoo College)

How would you describe yourself as a human being? What quality do you like best in yourself and what do you like least? What quality would you most like to see flourish and which would you like to see wither? (Bates College)

If you could hold a conversation with someone (living or deceased) you consider significant, whom would you talk to and what would you talk about? Describe your conversation. (University of Oregon)

If you could go back and change one day in your life, what would you change and why? (Santa Clara University)

If you were to develop a Mt. Rushmore representing the 20th century, whose faces would you select and why? (The College of William and Mary)

Tell one story about yourself that would best provide us, either directly or indirectly, with an insight into the kind of person you are. For example, the story can simplyrelate a personal experience, or a humorous anecdote; it can tell about an especially significant academic encounter or about an unusual test of character. The possibilities are unlimited (well, almost so).You choose. Just relax and write it. (Princeton University

14/ NY GEARUP, December 2010

Sample essays: Caitlin Donnelly is a 2006 graduate of Centereach High School. During her senior year, she applied to five colleges Syracuse University, Ithaca College, SUNY Purchase College, New York Universiy and Fordam University which meant five different application essays. Below are two essays she wrote, one for Ithaca College and one for Syracuse University.

Caitlin Donnelly Centereach High School Class of 2006

Ithaca College Required Essay: Please select a topic of personal, local, national or international interest and explain why it is important to you. Limit your response to 350 words. Each year, thousands of people die from various forms of cancer, and each year, doctors vow to find their cure. Unfortunately, the money supplied by the government only funds research to a certain extent. I believe that if the government concentrated more on issues in our own country, and less about making everyone else in the world happy, we would already have answers to these medical mysteries. A few years ago, I was indifferent to the topic of cancer research. While two of my grandparents died from

cancer, I was too young to remember their battles with this deadly disease; therefore I felt no real connection to it. It wasn’t until the summer before my freshman year of high school that I understood the impact of cancer on the individual and their loved ones. A classmate and friend, Ashley Vauhn*, was diagnosed with leukemia, and for three years battled the illness. Although she was at one point in remission, she soon relapsed, and eventually passed away at the age of sixteen. After attending her funeral and mourning her loss, my outlook on

life had changed, and I realized how fragile it truly is. It had been devastating to thin about how my friend was robbed of the chance to live her life, and to enjoy the events that many teens take for granted, such as going to the prom, graduating from high school, and going off to college. After realizing this, I now appreciate my own life much more. Having dealt with the pain of losing a friend, I have realized how important cancer research is, and believe the government should do more to fund these projects. While increased

government involvement does not appear likely, it is gratifying to see how local citizens pitch in to try and raise the money for themselves. Local chapters of the American Cancer Society sponsor annual walk-a-thons, and since Ashley’s death, I have participated in two Relay for Life events to help raise the much needed funds. After understanding the impact cancer has on people’s lives, it is satisfying to know that I have helped to raise money to find a cure for the deadly disease. C 2006 Caitlin Donnelly

Syracuse University Required Essay: Describe one thing you haven’t yet accomplished in life that you would really like to do. Explain how being at Syracuse University will help accomplish that. (250-500 words) Throughout life, individuals set many goals for themselves. Whether it is a daily goal, or one that takes years to accomplish, it provides a sense of direction in a person’s life. During each stage of my own life, I have set a variety of goals. With hard work and determination, many have been reached with pride. Others no longer seem important after time has gone by and I have matured. As I end a chapter of my life as an adolescent, and step out into the “real world” as an adult, I am faced with unfamiliar responsibilities, and new goals have been set. My hopes are that a college education will refine the skills needed to pursue my goals and be successful in life. I learned to appreciate the fine art of photography at a young age. After years of watching my mother take

photo after photo of family functions, dance recitals and other memorable events, it seemed natural to always have a camera ready. In time, I, too, began taking pictures, and over the years have accumulated hundreds of snapshots of smiling family and friends. It wasn’t until high school and found myself in the beginners level photography course that I realized my hobby could be turned into a career. Now enrolled in Advanced Photography as a senior, I plan on using my skills in photography to pursue a career in photojournalism; incorporating my love for taking pictures with my passion for writing. One of my goals in life is to one day have my work printed in a major publication, such as the New York Times or Time Magazine. Although it will take years of experience, I hope to one day be a

well known writer/ photographer and not just another name under a headline or photograph. Syracuse University would be an ideal place to pursue my dreams because it has many of the qualities that I am looking for in a college. Syracuse offers programs in not only one, but three of the subjects I am considering as a major: English, journalism and photography. Living away from home is another benefit of the college, opening up many doors and presenting opportunities to an individual trying to find their way in life, such as myself. The diverse student population helps people to have an open mind when meeting others, and allows them to experience how different people live. Most importantly, the new responsibilities that come about will help to instill discipline, which is

Compiled by Sherry Donnelly

needed in pursuing any goal. As the college experience unfolds, people often reevaluate themselves and set new goals. The opportunities available at a college such as Syracuse University help to set an individual on the right path to his or her dreams. I believe that receiving an education from Syracuse would be beneficial to my dream of being published in Time Magazine because it fulfills many of the standards I have set for myself while choosing the right college. Most importantly, it will help to tie my interests in photography and writing together to pursue a job I would love, and prepare me both socially and mentally for the trials and tribulations that will be encountered on the road to accomplishment. C 2006 Caitlin Donnelly

NY GEARUP, December 2010 /15

The Back Page Online Application Do’s and Don’ts

VOTE!

DO create user names, PIN numbers, and passwords that you’ll remember easily. Write them down and keep them in a safe place.

What is the most difficult part of the college application process? The college essay Financial aid paperwork Keeping track of deadlines The application itself

DON’T compose your essay or personal statement in the space allotted online. Draft (and re-draft) these separately in a Microsoft Word document, then copy and paste the final draft into the online application. DO print and save hard copies of the completed application. Proofread it before you hit the “send” button—sometime your information in text boxes can get cut off.

Sudoku

DON’T be too quick to click.Take your time, follow all directions and complete each step with care. Scroll each page from top to bottom and read every pop-up to be sure you don’t miss any information. DON’T forget to periodically save your work.You might get “timed out” if you don’t enter anything for a while (usually 30 minutes). If you need to take a break, use the save/ log-out feature to store your application, then log back in when you’re ready.

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.

2 3 1 5 4 7 1 6

DON’T treat an online application casually—it’s an important document that reflects on you. So never use lingo as if you were text messaging or IMing.

DO as someone else to review the application for errors before you send it.Two sets of eyes are always better than one.

3 2 6

DO print and save a copy of the confirmation page that should appear after you submit the application so that you have a record of your application ID number.

4 1

8 2 2 8 3 8 2 8 1 3 2 4 5

Courtesy of StatePoint Media

DO tell your school counselor about every online application you submit. Better yet, give your counselor a hard copy printout.This is critical, because your application won’t be complete until your counselor forwards your transcript and any other material the college may require. DON’T apply online and then send a paper copy in the mail.That will just confuse things. DO call or email the college if you haven’t received an email confirmation of receipt within 48 hours. Online submissions do get lost occasionally (that’s why it is so important to print and save). DON’T apply online the week before the application deadline. Because of high volumes, application Web sites tend to get slow and cranky at this time. It’s also the most likely time for a system failure. If you’re up against deadline, it’s safer to apply through the mail.

Courtesy of Getting it Together for College by CollegeBoard,

16/ NY GEARUP, December 2010

COLLEGE OF THE MONTH John Jay College of Criminal Justice

John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a City University of New York public school located in Manhattan. The college was named after John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States, and was founded in 1964, admitting its first class of students in September 1965. John Jay is a liberal arts college, but is known for its studies in the fields of criminal justice, public safety and public service. Some notable majors include criminal justice, criminology, legal studies, political science, and forensic science—one of the few undergraduate programs in the field offered in the U.S. There are approximately 13,350 students enrolled in undergraduate studies. John Jay was ranked 121 in the Best Colleges 2011 in Regional Universities (north) study by U.S.

News and World Report. Located on the Upper West Side—on 10th Ave., between 56th and 59th streets—the John Jay campus is a short distance from Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle and Central Park. The campus includes the Lloyd Sealy Library and numer-

ous academic buildings, but has no dorms. The college does, however, refer students to nearby housing facilities and apartments for those that are not from the area. There are many opportunities for undergraduates to get involved in student life. From

Make-a-Difference community service club, to the Armed Forces Society Club, to the International Criminal Justice Club, there are numerous clubs and community service activities to keep student schedules full. For those interested in communications, you can write for the college’s newspaper, The John Jay Sentinel , or become a radio host on JJ Radio as well. Jo h n Jay o f f e r s s t u dy ab ro a d p ro grams, assistance with internship placement, and cooperative education programs that integrate classroom learning with field experience in your area of study. Graduates from the college often continue their education through graduate programs and law school. For those that enter the work force upon graduation, students typically have little dif-

Contributed photo

Street view of the John Jay College campus in NYC.

ficulty finding jobs in their field because of the large number of public service and public safety positions available in the Big Apple. For more information visit John Jay’s website, jjay.cuny.edu.

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