HowdecisionsCollegetosupportstudentsthroughouttheapplicationprocess ALLEYV Quarterly magazine of the Valley News FALLFREEISSUEparent sparent s
EWRI4TINGSSAYS
What to consider when drafting a piece to send with applications Valley News / Report For America —Alex Driehaus VALLEY NEWS —JENNIFER HAUCK Anna O’Hara, of Claremont, installs andupdates software at her job as a desktop technician at Alice PeckDay Hospital in Lebanon. O’Hara is completing her degree in cybersecurity at River Valley Community College.
Parents,2Valley T h u r s d a y,August18,2022 CONTENT S
: ON THE CommunityCOVERCollege of Vermont student Savannah Sheehan works on her online principles of management class at her home in Taftsville. Sheehan said that a big part of the reason she has enjoyed her classes at CCV is because of the instructors. “They communicate insanely well,”she said.
COMMUNIT8 Y COLLEGE Students share why rightprogramstwo-yeararefitforthem
SMINIMIZ12INGTRESS discussesCounselor how to help kids through proces s EPERSON14ALSSAY Writer talks about decision to leave four-year school
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‘Tell your story’
The summer before a student’s senior year in high school is a good time to start thinking about writing college essays, Ayla Steere, an upperclassman counselor at Mascoma College essays, while stressful, give applicants a chance to make themselves stand out during the admission process
SEE COLLEGE ESSAYS S6
Parents,4Valley T h u r s d a y,August18,2022
us a story, tell us
Judith Hertog, a college essay writing coach and Norwich resident, tells her students “write as if no one is reading.”“Thebiggest obstacle for most people in writing is psychological,” Hertog said. “You’re paralyzed, you can’t write, because you can’t live up to your Aimingexpectations.”forperfection or to impress, or writing what you think the reader wants to hear are things to avoid when writing a college essay, and they can actually make the process more stressful, she said.
Hertog started offering college essay writing workshops in 2017, and since then, she’s realized how much fear is involved in the process of writing an admissions essay.
VALLEY NEWS —JENNIFER HAUCK AylaSteere, isa10th- through12th-grade counseloratMascoma ValleyRegionalHigh School.Steere coachesstudentsthrough writingadmissions essays. She was in her office at the school earlier this month in West Canaan.
By ROSE TERAMI Valley News Correspondent W hen it comes to applying to college, students need to pull together a variety of information to be considered for admission. Most applications require, or at least suggest, letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores and a list of extracurricular activities.They ’ll also likely require at least one essay. The whole college application process is known to create stress for students and the essay can add to that pressure. It’s often the most personal and revealing component of their application.
“The fear of the empty page”or “the fear of being judged”sur face frequently for her students, she said.
As a coach, Hertog’s goal is “to make writing less lonely”by offering group workshops where students can learn, read and write essays, and hear feedback from their peers. Getting a head start on writing essays and keeping it simple might help ease some anxiety for students applying to college and working on theirBeingessays.overambitious and making grand generalizations about the meaning of life or other big philosophical ideas often contributes to the problem, Hertog said. Instead, telling a simple story that holds meaning for the writer using description, detail and dialogue can help convey personality and authenticity.“Don’t focus on style to begin with. Focus on what you want to say,” she tells students. “Start with something really messy.”
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Out of around 1,000 essays Molly Raposa has read as the assistant director of admissions at Colby-Sawyer College this past year, creative elements like wit, humor and authenticity, along with good writing skills stand out, she said. But an outof-place comma or capitalization error won’t make or break an application, she added.
Reaching out to a school beforehand to ask questions or ask for advice never hurts, especially given that every college has a different admissions approach and looks for different strengths or weaknesses in prospective students, Raposa, 26, Forsaid.prospective students, the essay portion of a college application is an opportunity to explore reflection, thoughtfulness and honesty. It’s a chance to convey personality and showcase writing ability to colleges.“Tellusa story, tell us your story,”she said. “Some of the more memorable essays I’ve read have been ones where people are telling us a stor y.”
JudithHertog ather homein Norwich,earlier thismonth. Hertog,a writerand teacher,is offeringa course on writing a college essay. HERTOG
In writing an admissions essay, arranging a plan to complete the necessary steps can be helpful. Choosing a topic is a good place to start but can also be the most difficult.
“The essay is really a great way for us to get to know the student holistically as a person,”Raposa said.With that in mind, Raposa recommends that students view the essay as a chance to tell a college something they really want them to know that might not be conveyed through other data and credentials that are a part of their application.
VALLEY NEWS —JENNIFER HAUCK
Parents,6Valley T h u r s d a y,August18,2022 Valley Regional High School and former Plymouth State University transfer admissions counselor, said.As an applicant, the last thing you want to do is rush yourself and run out of time to submit a thoughtful and true application, Steere, 27, said.
“The big obstaclegest for most people in writing is psychological.” JUDITH
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“Those first two or three sentences are really cr ucial,”Steere said. Even if a student isn’t planning on going to college, writing an admissions essay teaches professional writing skills, which are important to have no matter what path students travel, Steere added.
“The problem of ‘I have nothing to write about’ is more common than the problem of ‘I have too much to write about,’”Steere said. “A lot of students’feeling is because they didn’t find a new planet, they haven’t done anything that’s worth lege-essay-worthyabout.”writingFindinga“col- ” topic can be as simple as drafting a timeline of life events and highlighting some significant moments to write about. As long as the story is honest and the student cares about what they ’re writing, they’re on the right track. That can be followed by an outline, including the word count.Steere recommends a student write down as much as they can about the topic, then go back and piece it together. She added that a good thesis statement is needed to draw the reader in and can help an essay stand out from the rest.
COLLEGE ESSAYS FROM S4
College essays give applicants chance to stand out
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By ROSE TERAMI Valley News Correspondent T hroughout her four years at Woodstock Union High School, Savannah Sheehan knew that she wanted to continue her education after she graduated in 2021. In pursuit of that goal, Sheehan applied to several out-of-state colleges. When she was rejected, she started to rethink her plan. Sheehan looked at some options closer to home. Because community college is a less traditional option than a four-year college, it can have
“The finances and the time spent with family is not something I could have gotten by going to a traditional school.”
More Upper Valley students embrace the community college route to combine work and education, and stay out of debt
SEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE S10
‘There’s no losing at all’
ANNA O’HAR A
Parents,8Valley T h u r s d a y,August18,2022
VALLEY NEWS —JENNIFER HAUCK Anna O’Hara, of Claremont, unpacks new computer monitors at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon earlier this month. She works as a desktop technician at the hospital.
a reputation for being less valuable, she“Isaid.used to believe in that (stigma),”Sheehan, a 19-year-old Woodstock resident, said. Having completed her first year at the Community College of Vermont, Sheehan is among thousands of students in Vermont and New Hampshire who have chosen community colleges over other options for post-secondary education. As college and university enrollments continue to drop around the country and in the Upper Valley, community college attendance seems to be on the rise.CCV serves nearly 10,000 students per year, and the college saw a 9% increase in enrollment last fall, likely due to the pandemic and an abundance of scholarship opportunities for prospective students, Erin Wetherell, a CCV administrator, said. For students, community college is appealing because of the flexibility it offers, allowing for the completion of a two-year degree while working around other commitments, such as work or parenting. “I knew that I wanted to continue
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Young adults who had mentors: Are more likely to report engaging in productive and beneficial activities than youth without a mentor. Have more positive visions of themselves and their futures and achieve more positive outcomes in school, the workplace, and their communities. Report setting higher educational goals and were more likely to graduate from high school and even go on to college.
YOUTH MENTORING BUILDS HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
When asked by members of the community how they can have an impact on the safety, health, and vibrancy of their communities, my number one answer was always: mentor a young person.” Michael Schirling, retired chief of the Burlington Police Department and 2016 Mentoring Month spokesperson forVermont
Mentor volunteers have a desire to spend fun-filled time with children in need of a special friend and are fully committed to the needs of their mentees and to youth mentoring in general. A mentor’s goals are to develop a close friendship based on trust, respect, and communication, promote fun and healthy life choices through safe, creative activities, increase the mentee’s self-esteem, and foster awareness and accountability for his or her actions.
WHAT DOES A MENTOR DO?YOUTH MENTORING WORKS
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Our cultural history is filled with famous mentors – from Yoda to Prof. Dumbledore! These are caring adults who help a child grow and mature.
“W HEN ASKED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HOW THEY CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE SAFETY, HEALTH , AND VIBRANCY OF THEIR COMMUNITIES , MY NUMBER ONE ANSWER WAS ALWAYS : MENTOR A YOUNG PERSON.” Michael Schirling, retired chief of the Burlington Police Department and 2016 Mentoring Month spokesperson for Vermont
Mentors in our Community program commit to meet with their mentee for approximately two hours per week, or six to eight hours a month for one year. We ask our Schools program mentors to meet with their mentee one hour per week for the duration of the school Activitiesyear.are determined by the mentor pairs and might be outdoors, indoors, or at any of the regional attractions in the Upper Valley (many of which provide discounts or free access for mentor/mentee pairs).
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COMMUNITY COLLEGE FROM S8
“Every angle you look at this from, from my perspective, there’s no losing at all,”she said. “I really couldn’t be more happy as to how things turned out.”
O’Hara started taking classes at River Valley during her sophomore year at Stevens High School. She participates in a degree program funded by an anonymous donor paying for 20 students to earn their associate’s in information technology. At River Valley, O’Hara was able to work, participate in extracurricular activities, and be a full-time high school student, all while earning credits toward an associate’s degree in cybersecurity.“Iwasgiftedwith this program of getting my associate’s degree for free,”O’Hara said. She has two more classes to go before she finishes the program. “I can’t give up on this and it does not make financial sense for me to go to a four-year school for what were remote classes at theManytime.”students and young people don’t realize that community college is an option for them to consider, so “focusing on making students in high school aware that there are programs out there that exist at a reduced cost if they attend a community college”is important, O’Hara said.Suzanne Groenewold, the director of enrollment and marketing at River Valley, echoes this sentiment.
Groenewold pointed out that choosing to attend community college doesn’t close any doors for other educational opportunities, either. At a community college, a student can merge one educational path with another at any point in time, and their credits are almost always transferable to another academic institution, she said.
“I was also able to work with career counselors at the college that helped me with my resume …and affiliate companies that are willing to partner with River Valley to create a pathway from education to career.”She hopes to gain workplace experience and eventually continue her education with tuition reimbursement from Dartmouth Health, the Lebanon-based health system to which APD belongs. Sheehan plans to attend the University of Vermont as a transfer student this fall. The 30 credits she earned during her year at CCV will count toward general education requirements and her bachelor’s degree in business administration.
As the coordinator of student advising at CCV, Wetherell works oneon-one with enrolled students to help them navigate the academic and career support resources available to Mostthem.students enroll part-time and complete their associate’s degree at their own pace, she said, which she thinks plays a big role in the appeal of community college.
“I was able to get experience in my field by going to River Valley,” said O’Hara, who now works as a desktop technician at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon.
Upper Valley students turn toward community college REPORT FOR AMERICA —ALEX DRIEHAUS
Over the past six years, enrollment in RVCC Early College programs —which allow high school students to earn college credit — has almost doubled, with an average growth rate of around 20% per year.
VALLEY NEWS /
For O’Hara and Sheehan, community college is setting them up to achieve their goals.
Community college gives students the option to learn while still living at home or nearby, and they can still be involved in the surrounding community, something not commonly found at a traditional fouryear college or university.
“For the adult student, (community college) is a comfortable place to be,”Groenewold added, noting that the average age of a River Valley student is 29.
Community College of Vermont student Savannah Sheehan works on her online principles of management class at her homein Taftsville earlierthis month. Sheehan initiallyplanned to leaveVermont for college,but between scholarships and having family nearby it made more sense financially to stay close to home.
“I think that just speaks to what people need; it’s flexible,”she said. “You can take one or two classes at a time and fit that into your life.” It was the affordability of a community college education, in contrast with other options, that made attending River Valley Community College a smart financial decision for Anna O’Hara, a 19-year-old Claremont resident. “It’s a cheaper alternative to a four-year school,”she said. “The finances and the time spent with family is not something I could have gotten by going to a traditional school.”
Parents,Valley10 T h u r s d a y,August18,2022 my education,”Sheehan said. “I just kept looking at my options for school and then I found CCV …they were there and more than happy to help.” Now, Sheehan is grateful that she decided to attend community college. Part of that reason is that it’s more affordable. In addition to scholarships and other forms of financial aid, Sheehan also works part-time to put more money toward her educa tion.“My biggest fear (was) having so much college debt,”said Sheehan, who works as a server and host at Lui Lui in West Lebanon. “I’ve literally gotten a whole free year of school and knowledge (at CCV).”
“There (are) a lot of people, unfortunately, who don’t know about community college,”she said.
A community college graduate herself, Groenewold said that one of the best advantages is that “you’re not overly committing to such a huge change of life,”she said. “Some students feel like they are not ready to leave home necessarily or they can’t afford to leave home.”
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Some students want to jump right into the workforce or join the military out of high school. Additionally, we are in a time where the demand for carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other trades is high. I think the best advice I can give is to not close any doors until you have good reason to do so.
A : Though it can be outlined broadly from start to finish, the college application process is largely individual and varies student-to-student. Some students come into my office with a clear idea of what they want and how to get there; others know that they want to attend college, but don’t know how to begin. I strive to provide everyone with the same information and then tailor individual meetings and conversations, so that each student and family can make the process their own. Most of a student’s time and energy should be devoted to identifying the “must-haves”that their ideal campus will offer. Simultaneously, working backward and not being surprised by deadlines can be helpful, such as allowing enough time to craft the personal essay and supporting documents, keeping an evolving cost-benefit list, etc.
Tom Eberhardt, 40, of Norwich, has worked as a middle school and high school counselor for the past 15 years. He’s about to begin his seventh year as a counselor at Hanover High School, which is also his second year as the director of counseling. A few things stand out when it comes to the advice he has for students thinking about post-secondary education. In an email interview with Valley Parents, Eberhardt offered his thoughts on the process of applying to college, including tips to help choose the right one, how to break up the process to avoid stress, and what parents and other supporters can do to encourage theirThisstudents.interview has been edited for length, style and clarity.
Hanover High School counselor Tom Eberhardt discusses how to support students through college application process the right post-secondary fit Q&A
Answer: I think it’s important to note that even at a public high school like Hanover (where well over 90% of students go on to attend four-year colleges), the more time that can be spent by students and families thinking and talking through post-secondary options, the better. Instead of assuming that college is the next step after high school, it can be helpful for students to articulate why they want to attend, and to identify any emerging characteristics they want their campus to have.
A : There is not a magic number, but more does not equal better. If a student hears our advice and applies to a broad range of schools that categorically make sense for them, they will likely have positive results. Occasionally, students and families believe that applying to lots of schools will yield positive results; this is not always the case if all the schools are highly selective. Though it may sound obvious, a student should never apply to a school that they don’t plan on attending.
Q: How many colleges would you recommend a student apply to? Is there a strategy to this?
VALLEY NEWS —JENNIFER HAUCK Tom Eberhardt at his home in Norwich earlier this month. Eberhardt helps students at Hanover High School with post-secondary education, applying to college and making a college decision.
By ROSE TERAMI Valley News Correspondent C hoosing an educational path post-high school is a difficult, exhilarating, sometimes stressful, and deeply personal journey. It’s different for everyone and there might be some surprises along the way.
Finding
A : It is important to maintain your own perspective. The process of applying to college does not need to be stressful. Yes, it will likely involve some ups and downs, but if a student does not fall in love with a place until they have a reason to (after being admitted, for instance), then they can better navigate the ups and downs of acceptances
A : Though I spend a great deal of my time working with students who want to attend fouryear colleges, it is equally interesting and rewarding to help students navigate their post-secondary path where college is not part of the equation.
Q: What advice do you have for students who don’t plan to attend college or are thinking of alternate options?
Question: What are some post-secondary education options for students to consider?
Parents,Valley12 T h u r s d a y,August18,2022
Q: In what ways should a student judge a college to decide if it would be a good fit for them?
A : Sometimes starting is the most difficult part. If a student finds themselves feeling stuck or not knowing how to begin, I recommend committing a few minutes each day to reading about a particular college. This can be clicking through websites and taking in all you can, or just leafing through a book to learn specifics about a place.
Q: What can students do to help ease anxiety around the college application process?
A : This can be different from one student to another. Ideally, the student is choosing a place that will feel like home for the next four years, and a place that makes sense academically, socially, geographically, etc. Sometimes music, athletics, or other extracurriculars are part of the equation; sometimes the campus setting and surrounding town, city or environment are important. Ideally, the school meets the student’s needs, and the whole package is desirable enough for the student to call the place home.
Q: How would you outline the college application process from start to finish? Where in the process should students dedicate most of their time and energy? Why?
Q: For students going through the college application process, where is a good place to start?
SEE Q&A S15
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Finding my way —without college ESSAY
“Why spend the money on a degree when I’m not really sure why I want it yet?”I thought.
Writer reflects on decision to leave four-year school, enter workforce
By ROSE TERAMI Valley News Correspondent N ow that I’m 20, I look back on the past two years as the worst and best years of my life so far. I was 17 and close to the end of my senior year in high school when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In combination with the anxiety that preceded graduating, COVID-19 accentuated this surge of confusion and panic about who I was and who I wanted to be. I felt rushed to make decisions that seemed life-altering, like what college I wanted to attend, or if I even wanted to attend college.In 2020, I applied to 10 schools throughout the East Coast, and my mind was set on continuing my education. Filled with the intense desire to get out of the house and the small town where I grew up, I packed my bags and hopped on a plane as soon as I turned 18. I headed for suburban Wisconsin to live with my grandparents and other family. From there, I began my first semester as a student at Loyola University Mar yland. I took my classes online. I attended lectures through the screen of my MacBook. I held myself accountable for managing my study schedule around the hours of my part-time job as a barista at a local coffee shop. I didn’t meet my college Zoom friends in person until six months later when I was able to live and learn on campus in Baltimore. I was excited to be physically present in the new community I had found at Loyola. Once I was on campus, I felt more motivated to learn, but my major was still undecided. I felt that the main reason I was in college at this point was more for personal development and less about working toward a particular degree. I was looking to build a network, gain “real world”experience, make new connections and work on my communication skills.Navigating my freshman year throughout COVID-19 was difficult. Most of my classes and activities were hosted over Zoom. Even if I had the chance to participate in something in-person, it always came with a long list of precautions and restrictions that had to be followed. I felt like the college experience that I was supposed to have was just out of reach.You could be reported to the campus police if you were gathering in a group of more than a few and not wearing masks, and there was even a monetary fine associated with breaking the rules. While I didn’t face any of those penalties, I knew of people whoWhendid. I heard that this hybrid, regulated environment might continue into the next year, (and I would still have to pay the same tuition, room and board rates), I started to think differently about myIfuture.wanted to learn, but I also wanted a more fulfilling experience. I considered traveling solo, moving back home and living on a farm abroad. The thought of pursuing a path other than college scared me, because I would be leaving behind the security it offered.Thesummer of 2021, my life changed completely. I had already grown and changed in many ways since high school: I was more independent and I had developed more confidence. But the next year of my life ushered in an even deeper personal transfor mation. I was uncertain about what I wanted to study in school, unsatisfied with my routine and schedule as a college student.
I began to think about this idea prevalent in society that a high school graduate should go straight to college, even if they didn’t know what they wanted to do because it’s considered a “safe bet”or a “traditional path.”
Parents,Valley14 T h u r s d a y,August18,2022
I thought about my own reasons for going to college. Though I was able to make my college decision independently in the end, I did feel the burden of societal pressures —and of my own high standards and expecta tions for myself —to continue my education after high school. Not going to college seemed so rare and non-traditional that it almost felt like a rebellious option (which might be why I liked it).
Having second thoughts about going to college gave me imposter syndrome. All throughout my childhood, I thrived in an academic environment (I was the kid who begged my mom to let me go to school when I had a fever). I always assumed I would continue down that path. I took school, grades and my future plans seriously, so when I filed the paperwork for a year-long leave of absence last July, I couldn’t help but feel like I was making an out-of-character decision.Myparents were surprised but supportive. I got the same reaction from other friends and family. A few encouraged me to go back to college after my year away.Ihad no idea what I was doing, but slowly, things started to fall into place. I was faced with mature decisions right off the bat: Where did I want to live? Did I want to work toward a career or just have a part-time job? How was I going to pay for my own car? Should I think about investing in stock, cryptocurrency or real estate? My credit score? These sudden changes and things to think about, combined with the ongoing pandemic throwing a wrench in things, accelerated my coming-of-age story quicker than I imagined possible. Late last summer, I met my boyfriend, Sam, who had decided to go straight into real estate sales after graduating from high school in 2020. We were both figuring things out on our own, learning a lot of lessons along the way, and we supported each other instantly. As young adults already pursuing a lifestyle different from our peers, Sam and I both felt some pressure to conform to more “age-appropriate”activities like partying or sleeping in until the afternoon, the kinds of things that other kids our age were doing. Instead, we were going to bed early and exhausted from our multiple day jobs. Our weekend excitement usually consisted of watching Trailer Park Boys or making sure our grocery bills were inline with our budgets.After working part-time at a taco truck over the summer, I decided to get back in the game and start writing again, one of my passions. I had always loved to write and became interested in journalism during my senior year in highAfterschool.Istarted writing for the Valley News, I found out that there was so much more to learn about the Upper Valley, even though I had lived here my whole life. Interviewing people and sharing their stories or covering local events was so rewarding and I started to build a network as a freelance writer. Less than a year later, I started a business to market myself as a writer. I’ve traveled, met new people, made friends, and I’ve discovered so much about myself and my capabilities. I’ve learned that I don’t need to go to college or have a degree in order to be worthy or successful. College might be the right choice for some —and maybe me in the future —but for now, I’m content with where I’m at and more than ready for what’s to come.
Q: How might financial aid play a role in the application or decision process? What advice do you have for students who need financial aid for college?
Q: What can parents, friends and family do to support their college applicant? What should they not do?
Parents,Valley15 T h u r s d a y,August18,2022 and rejections.
A : Parents, friends and family can offer wonderful support by asking questions and listening. The student should be the driver in the process, but might ask parents to help with organizing campus visits and be a sounding board for evolving thoughts, ideas, etc.
A : The college should make sense through as many applicable lenses as possible: finances, academics, campus, food, location, culture, etc.
A : Being true to yourself. Figure out the characteristics that are important to you, and then find schools that meet that list of criteria. There are a lot of schools in the U.S., and the majority of them accept more than half of their applicants. If you’re willing to move beyond the big-name, highly-selective schools, there are good options for everyone. How to help students make college decisions
Q&A FROM S12 Q&A:
Q: What do you think is the most important part of the college application process and why?
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A : It’s important for students and families to have a conversation about finances before beginning the college process. The sticker price for college is exorbitant. All colleges have a net price calculator —a tool that can be used on the front end to predict what the costs of attending might look like. If financial aid plays a role, there are ways to work through the details to make the process more manageable and affordable. Counselors help with these conversations to the extent students and families wish us to do so.
Q: What should a student think about when deciding which college to attend?
Parents,Valley16 T h u r s d a y,August18,2022 www.VRH.org Valley Regional Hospital has been caring for the greater Claremont community since 1893. Valley Regional PediatricsHospital Healthcare for your children, and the whole family is here at Valley Regional Hospital. Preventative medicine including immunizations is critical to your child’s health. Our providers support the growth and wellness of your newborn and they care for patients up to age 18. If you have been looking for a compassionate and skilled pediatric team to support the needs of your growing family, contact us! Corinne Sullivan, MD Juliann Barrett, DO Victoria Johnson, MSN, CPNP-PC, SANE Jillian Rafter, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC Marcella Meier, MSN, FNP-C Valley Regional Hospital – WE CARE about your children!
