Is College Worth the Cost page.indd 1
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{CONTENTS}
( BREAKING POINT - 18 )
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We take months worth of classes and suffer hours of preparation for one little test.
FEATURED
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We have debated and are debating multiple factors that determine where we go for college
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Some of us are navigating freshman year in a completely different and new environment.
32 We scrutinize apps to determine which aspects are the most important to admissions officers.
IN THIS ISSUE
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We’ve moved on from high school (and college) to explore what life can mean.
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We’re all somewhat lost and need a flowchart to point out a path for college life.
28 We’ve graduated high school to compete and succeed in college athletics.
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Some of us truly believe that attending college won’t matter for future careers or life.
10/29/14 9:26 AM
FROM THE EDITOR... Hi Reader, Fall is the season of pumpkin spice lattés, bonfires and blankets, and of course, college applications. Therefore, we at the Knight Errant thought, “What better time to honor the stress-ball that is college with an entire magazine dedicated to it?” College. The seven letter word that strikes fear in high school students and their parents alike. Me? I’ve been planning on it since I was a kid, back when I was convinced I would create a new school in Wayzata, Minnesota just so I could stay as close to my mom as possible. Considering that I am currently debating choices on both coasts and close to zero in our great state of Minnesota, a lot can change when the confusing process is underway. First, you have to think about what you want to do in the future… such a fun thing to do! Nevermind that when the counselors first ask you to start thinking about your future you’re a freshman who doesn’t even know how to drive, let alone map out the rest of your life. You have to start thinking of schools that offer your possible majors, then begin selecting based on size, location, how many Starbucks are on campus, and the biggie, the cost. Then, the letters come. I’ve grown to expect at least six letters or incredibly specific brochures from schools daily, not to mention the minimum of 20 emails from lists you don’t remember signing up for
STAFF
Editor-in-Chief: Hannah Scherer
Photo Editor: Keenan Schember Graphic Editors: Ryan Applehof and Keara Clacko Content Editor: Jason Kang
Editorial Assistants: Mary Pat Ross and Molly Eldevik
Writers: Emily Anderson, Caroline Appleby, Elsa Beise, Emma Bird, Leo Driessen, Bergen Flom, Libby Grygar, Grace Gyolai, Johnny Mack, Madison Hicks, Isaac Hogan, Kate Janda, Anna Le Jeune, Rachel Lyons, Sofie Madden, Morgan Matson, Tommy McGinn, Aidan O’Driscoll, Josie Ross, Mary Kate Paulison, Jimmy Youngblut. Photographers: Shannon O’Connor, Kendel Malcom, Meghan Ortizcazarin, Marley Rozman, Bella Szarsynski, Molly Flannery, Alexis Hoedeman
Designers: Kat Behnke, Jeremy Livingston, Anna Von Kampen, Mark Ahern, Hanna Anderson, Jackie Lawyer, Sarah Karels Advisers: Jason Wallestad and Kari Koshiol
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in every inbox you’ve ever made. Each is designed to make you feel unique and sought after, yet hardly any succeed as a good majority of them simply contain the same links to school websites and supposedly informative other materials. It takes so much time to apply to colleges: preparing for standardized tests, writing essays, and working jobs in addition to schooling in order to make up for some of the small fortune your parents will have to pay once you do get accepted. Not to mention the massive amounts of time taken out of enjoying senior year for treks to college after college across the country to tour and hopefully find a place you’ll be comfortable in for the next four years of your life. We’re all so concerned with the idea of the perfect college that we forget to take the time to consider the more unusual paths such as a technical degree that allow you to focus on a trade or give time to follow a passion that would have otherwise been pushed to the side. Though the process can drain an already overwhelmed high school student, it’s necessary for both the advancement of one’s education and the development of a growing adult. Start your applications now class of 2018. Sincerely, Hannah Scherer (KEQ Editor-in-Chief)
PUBLICATION POLICY
KEQ is written and produced by the journalism students at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School. The views expressed in this magazine are the opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of the Knight Errant staff, adviser, or BSM administration.
VOLUME 2 – ISSUE 1
THANK YOUS
Thank you to all the writers, photographers, designers, and editors that made this issue possible. Thank you to the advisers (Kelli Rahn, Nan Onkka, Kari Koshiol, Jason Wallestad) who guided students through the proccess. Thank you to Richard Olson for initially aiding in raising the funds for this project, as well as our three anonymous donors for providing the funds for this year’s issues.
10/29/14 9:26 AM
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Prepping for College KE: College Issue
Fall: 2014
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Despite three college and career counselors on hand for students’ preparation needs, many Red Knights feel the need to venture out of BSM in order to perfect their college applications.
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ow far would you go to perfect your college application? Most travel thousands of miles to visit, or constantly email their admission directors to keep in touch, but others are also seeking extra help outside of school to polish up their applications. Using private college admissions counselors to aid in the college decision process by refining their college essays and supplements, helping to narrow down their top school choices, and keeping up communication with these schools for their client has become a popular practice among students. The most popular method by far amongst students to improve their chances of getting into their top college is SAT/ACT tutoring. The question is whether the results of using these tutors justify their exorbitant prices. Private tutoring alone can cost up to $960 to $2080 on average per student. This financial hurdle, for many families, is much too cumbersome to make private tutoring and counseling a reality for their children. Additionally, with no guarantee that their scores will increase or they will get into their top choice schools, it is not worth it to take the financial risk. On the other hand, there are many students who have responded positively to the effects of ACT tutoring. “I think [ACT tutoring] helps you prepare not only skill-wise but also mentally to get ready for the test. I think it’s worth it because gives you insight and lets you talk to someone who is a professional in that area,” junior Sam Rocheford said. Students find comfort and necessary mental change in being able to meet with professional tutors. This shows that maybe tutoring provides more of a placebo effect than an evident increase in knowledge; perhaps students’ standardized test scores increase because they are more confident when taking the test rather than intelligent. Regardless, students are still seeing an evident difference in their scores after
seeking tutors. “My score changed a lot from the first time I took the practice test,” Rocheford said. In private tutoring, tutors take students’ previous standardized test scores to determine how much help they need and in which subjects. “The process first is to identify a projected score for the student based on PLAN scores and give both the student and the parent kind of a realistic picture of where they can end up and an estimated number of sessions that we’re going to need to have in order to reach that point,” Ms. Rosemary Staler, an instructor for the private tutoring agency the English Tutor, said. Depending on the student, small increases can be shown in different subjects that add up to a pretty significant increase in the total score. “Generally speaking, we can see a three to four point overall composite increase from when they started tutoring with us to when they end. So that means if they started at a 21 overall, they can expect to get to a 24 or 25,” Stalter said. Tutoring is also strongly suggested because both the ACT and SAT have formats that students are not used to seeing. “Even if they are a good tester, a national standardized test is a very different ball game––a very different kind of test than just a unit test at school. [The tutors] know a lot of the inside tricks to the test; we know shortcuts, we know timing strategies, and we can teach kids how to anticipate the types of questions you’re going to get,” Stalter said. For those who need assistance at a budget friendly price, group tutoring classes are a popular option to get a guided tutoring experienced using practice problems. Compared to private tutoring however, the reviews for group tutoring classes have been less than satisfied. “For me, it wasn’t worth it, and I genuinely feel bad for making my parents spend the money,” said senior Shelby Erickson. Some students after group tutoring have
seen unchanged results in their scores, leaving them unhappy with their scores and regretful about the money, usually ranging from $299 to $1099, spent on their tutors. Additionally, Ortizcazarin benefited from her experience of a week-long writing workshop at Brown University over the summer. While attendees could have focused on any of the multiple facets of their writing, Ortizcazarin chose to use this time to get her multiple essays out of the way, leaving room for a greater focus on school and enjoying her year rather than working on essays for the first two months of school. “I’d recommend a similar course to anyone. I’ll make my sister do the same thing because it gives you a head-start, an experience of what college is like, and a feel for how independent you will need to be in the year. Not to mention you get a huge part of the college process done,” Ortizcazarin said. The College Counselors at BSM, however, have a different perspective on tutoring and the necessity of it for a student. “I think for some just taking practice tests is the best way to prepare. Obviously, if everyone could afford hours of one-on-one tutoring that is beneficial, but I don’t think it’s a necessity. Sometimes students know themselves the best and, if disciplined, can do it on their own without needing to pay for a tutor,” Ms. Amanda Anderson said. Whether it is through extra essay planning in a class or just spending some time through practice tests, it is important to find the best way for you to learn and prep yourself for college applications. “Some students have told me that tutoring really helped because it helped [them] figure out tricks or shortcuts, but some students have told me the opposite. I think sometimes students know themselves the best and if disciplined can do it on their own without needing to pay for a tutor,” Anderson said.
Writers: Libby Grygar and Emily Anderson; Photographer: Keenan Schember; Designer: Mark Ahern
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Fall 2014
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GRA LEV BREA DO W F
reshmen shouldn’t stress so much about college; rather, they should be focusing on school work. Seniors, on the other hand, need to maintain their GPA while focusing on all aspects of preparing for college. Being ready is important, but perhaps it’s even more important for you to not to get ahead of yourself. Here’s a breakdown of where students should generally be each year of high school.
Writer: Caroline Appleby Photographer: Marley Rozman Designers: Jason Kang and Hannah Scherer
GRADES:
FRESHMAN TESTING:
During their first week of high school, freshmen are less likely to worry about grades than about making friends and going to football games. Here’s a piece of advice: grades do matter. Start your first year of high school strong, so when senior year comes, you aren’t scrambling to bring up your GPA. It might not seem important now, but once you begin applying to colleges, that early boost will greatly aid your stressed-out mind.
There aren’t many standardized tests freshman year, but understanding the school material and class instructions is important for sucess in future tests. ACT and SAT tests are typically drawn from reasoning skills learned as early as freshman year; knowing the basics is crucial. There is one standardized test freshmen take on a designated school day, the Explore Test, which is taken to discover students’ interests and possible career paths.
COLLEGE: Most freshmen don’t know where they want to go,
ACTIVITIES: Freshman year, getting involved in as many
and that is normal. Some will start thinking about a region they may want to live in, some might not know anything, and some might have known since they were young. It can be beneficial to start before your senior year; you don’t want to tour fifteen schools at any break possible and still not know which campus fits you.
activities as possible is essential. It’s a great way to make new friends, find a possible passion, and keep yourself busy during this time of adjustment. Try out for a sports team or audition for the play; see if you like the activities you begin. These activities are also a great way to push you out of your comfort zone.
Freshman Anna Carr: “I am just trying to do as many activities as possible this year and do things that will look good on an application or transcript. I have some colleges in mind that I like, but I don’t plan on visiting soon.” Freshman Greg Ramle: “I am trying to gather information about colleges. I’m planning on taking classes in the upcoming years that interest me to help me find a possible career path.”
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ADE VEL EAK O WN SOPHOMORE GRADES:
Classes get harder sophomore year, and grades do still matter, which will require more studying and time set aside for homework. Be prepared to work harder to maintain your GPA. As you get older, teachers expect a lot more. You aren’t a freshman anymore; they assume you’ll be more independent at that point.
COLLEGE: For some, college will still not have crossed their minds, while it could be what all others think about. Students should have a general idea of where they would like to go and determine what subjects activities they enjoy in and outside of school; it is a great start to finding a career path.
TESTING:
People start to mention standardized tests, and many students choose to start tutoring the summer following tenth grade. It’s important to find a method of studying that works best for the student; that can involve private tutoring, group classes, selftutoring through books and other materials, or a combination of them all. You are also required to take the PLAN, a pre-ACT test. It will give you a good feel of what the test will be like when you take it your junior year and also show which parts of the test you excel on and which you struggle with.
ACTIVITIES:
Keep doing activities. They do take up time, but they are great for your resumé; it’s always beneficial to continue meeting new people. It doesn’t matter if they are academically or athletically based; they both will build your character and identity.
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QUICK TIP:
After finishing your sophomore year, you probably want to hang out with your friends and spend the entire three months of summer on the lake. Nonetheless, you should consider spending your break wisely. Many people start to have jobs after their sophomore year. If you don’t like the idea of having to work for money, you can also search for volunteer opportunities at non-profit organizations around Twin Cities, as it will come handy during your junior year and later when filling out your college application. Sophomore Riley O’Connor: “I have started looking at an area where I want to go to, where would be fun, and where I would fit in.” Sophomore Colleen Wagner: “I’ve seen one college, and it’s only because my sister was touring, but I know I want to go to the east coast for college.” Sophomore Joe Blake: “I have visited one college, and I’ve thought about what I want to possibly major in. I have a bunch of colleges I’m thinking about and planning to tour them.” Sophomore Ben Scherer: “Right now I am beginning to look at what I am interested in colleges. I have begun to start visiting a couple colleges out east.”
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JUNIOR GRADES:
TESTING:
Junior year classes have more difficulty; there is much more expected of juniors from teachers and a noticeable increase in homework. This means that you have to step up your game in order to keep up your GPA. Although it is important to have a good transcript all four years, colleges like to see an increase in GPA for each class going into senior year. Juniors who choose to take AP classes should be prepared for a lot of work. It is important to find a balance between maintaining your GPA and taking rigorous classes.
The big year is here; the year to take the anxietyinducing ACT or SAT. Many students will choose to tutor throughout the year to get their score high enough for the schools they want to go to. Some students choose to go into the tests blind their first time in order to get a baseline measure and start tutoring from there until they get their desired number. Tutoring can be very helpful by giving students tips and tricks to succeed on standardized tests.
COLLEGE: During junior year, most students choose to start
ACTIVITIES: Junior year is the year coaches and advisers start
touring schools they are interested in. By touring, you get a feel for the campus and a sense of if you could fit in there. Most juniors start with a list of about 10-15 schools they think they might like. As the year goes on, they can further determine what they want in a school, therefore narrowing down their list. It is important to make sure the schools you decide upon offer the major you’re interested in––if you have one at this point.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The BSM college and career
counselors constantly bring in college representatives. If you think you may be interested in a school, it won’t hurt to stop down and see what the representative has to say. There are many requirements for students to get them prepared for the application process senior year, including a required job shadow, filling out a mock common application, and creating your activities resume. There’s also a required meeting with both your designated college counselor and your parents to go over what to expect your senior year and any further preparations you may need to take.
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to look for leaders. This could entail being an athletic captain or a leader for Knightlife. All leadership positions are important when applying to college. Activities you are involved in take up a lot of your time, but it’s important to remember that school should always come first. Junior Taylor Madison: “I am in the process of looking at colleges I think would fit me. I have started studying for the ACT and plan to go to meetings in the college and career center.” Junior Sam Rochford: “I am in the beginning of the college process. I have a list of 10 schools that I am looking at, and I am hoping to narrow that down.” Junior Sarah Randall: “I’ve been looking at colleges with the Interior Design major because I want to go into that and I have started to study for the ACT and SAT.”
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SENIOR GRADES:
There is a mistaken belief that grades don’t matter senior year. This may come as a surprise: they do. Colleges do look at your senior year first semester grades and also ask for both midterm and end-of-year reports to ensure you maintain your work ethic after being accepted. It isn’t time to start slacking off. It is also important to take classes that interest you but aren’t just the “easy A” course. Colleges pay attention to the rigor of your senior year schedule in their decision process.
COLLEGE: Almost everything in senior year revolves around
college. Expect to spend a lot of time in the college and career center filling out applications. Making your essay perfect is one of the keys to getting in. Your essay should be unique and not a cookie-cutter story that admission officers have seen many times before. Once you have gotten back your acceptance or rejection letters from colleges, it’s time to decide where would be the best fit, typically one of the hardest and most nerve-racking decisions. The benefit of making that decision, however, is feeling the weight of the unknown being lifted off your shoulders.
TESTING:
Some seniors choose to take the ACT or SAT again during the fall of their senior year, typically in September or October. After you get your scores back and are hopefully happy with them, you can finally be done with the dreaded standardized testing. Some schools require you to also take SAT Subject Tests, which measure knowledge in certain subjects. Depending on the college in question, they can be taken many times throughout the year.
ACTIVITIES : Keep being involved. The fact that it’s senior
year does not give cause to drop all activities. It is your last year of high school, and you won’t want to regret quitting later in life. Many seniors will be the captains of their sports teams, which is a big responsibility. As a role models for younger teammates, all eyes will be on your attitude––both in school and out. Get involved and even try out new things senior year; it won’t hurt anything. Likely, increased participation will better cap off your high school experience.
Senior Kyle Johnson: “I have applied to all of my colleges and now am just waiting for my transcripts to be sent and to hear back.” Senior Caroline Wagner: “Over MEA I am touring two of my schools, and I am going to apply early decision so I will know where I am going before christmas.” Senior Madi Studsrud: “I’ve applied to all my schools except for one. Over MEA I am going to tour of them.”
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Community Do you feel lost, confused, or just have some questions that need to be answered about college? Do you feel like you have no one to ask because no one can possibly understand how stressed you are? Well, it turns out that help is right in your school. From college counselors to BSM’s school president, our school’s community is full of stories, ideas and advice on the wonderful world of college.
From the President rounded person. So whatever career or profession you chose to pursue, you’re going to be prepared for that.” KE: How many schools did you apply to? Why did you feel like that was a good number? KG: “I probably applied to around five or six. Well, in my case, it was a matter of
“I really want to
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KE: How early do you think kids should start preparing for college? Kevin Gyolai: “Well, I think by the time they are in Junior High. They need to begin exploring what is of interest to them because by the time they get into high school, they have to make some decisions about what track to pursue. But on the other hand, it’s also important, I think, that people, especially at BSM, sort of embrace the overall experience that is the core curriculum and then the other extra curriculars and about what it’s like to be in our community, so you’re a well-
encourage them just to not worry so much about what they think they might want to do in life, but to just embrace the whole BSM experience.
––Dr. Kevin Gyolai
KEQ: College Issue
where they had programs that I was interested in because I grew up in a small town, [and] the thought of going off some place far, far away was foreign to me, so these were mostly colleges and universities that were fairly close within the region.” KE: How many schools realistically do you think kids should apply to? KG: “They should certainly apply to several, not just one, because you never know if you’re going to get in or not. I think that number around five is a pretty good option because there is a cost associated applying to worry schools and going to visit them. While I like students to be free to explore, you have to be practical about that.” KE: How did you think of essay topics? How did you stand out? KG: “I wrote about things that were really meaningful to me, and that I could talk about from the heart and that really helped the college or university understand who I was as a person and sort of differentiated me from others.” KE: What other tips do you have for any student (not just seniors)? KG: “I really want to encourage them just to not worry so much about what they think they might want to do in life, but to just embrace the whole BSM experience.”
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From a teacher
KE: How early do you think kids should start preparing for college? Ken Pauly: “It’s never too early to be thinking about it, but I certainly believe that junior year is a good time to start a serious thought process in my view.” KE: What did you decide? KP: “I decided I liked St. Johns; I went to St. Johns for a year, then I ran out of money, so then I went to the University of Minnesota. The thing is my experience is different, in that I went to Wayzata High School, and after high school, most of my family went into the military. KE: How many schools realistically do you think kids should apply to? KP: “I think you can overdo it, and I think that once you start that application process, for me personally, I would want that list narrowed down to at the most four schools. Sometimes I think you can have too much, so to me four would be the max.” KE: What tips do you have for seniors applying for college? Or any student deciding what colleges to apply to?
Writers: Morgan Matson and Elsa Beise Photographer: Alexis Hoedeman Designer: Anna von Kampen
From a college counselor KE: How early do you think kids should start preparing for college? Heidi Wessman: “I think ninth grade students should start to understand that they now have a high school transcript, and on that transcript there is going to be information that is valuable to the colleges that they apply to. So starting freshmen year, they need to think about their choice of classes, how much effort they want to put into their classes, and how those choices match up with how they see themselves going to college.” KE: How many schools did you apply to? how you can add to what they already HW: “I only applied to one because I was have going on, so I would recommend a volleyball player, and I was offered a that your essays include those two full-ride scholarship to the University thoughts.” of Texas. I did look at three schools in KE: What tips do you have for seniors total but really only applied to one.” applying for college? KE: Why do you think that that was a good HW: Visit! Decide whether or not you think number? it is a good fit. It’s about finding the HW: “Back when I was in high school, the right fit for you, not how prestigious culture was to apply to about one or the university is. Also, while going two schools, which is very rare now.” through the process, and think about KE: How did you think of essay topics? who you are as a person to truly decide HW: I think that colleges want to see how which is the best fit.” you will fit in on their campus and
From a teacher
KE: How many schools did you apply to? Claire Shea: “I applied to six schools— Providence (where I went to school), Boston College, Santa Clara, St. Ben’s, Loyola Baltimore, and Stonehill College.” KE: What tips do you have for seniors applying for college? CS: “Use the three-tiered rule—apply to your safety school, your reach school, and your probably school. When you do that, you have some kind of idea of where you want to go, and it makes the decision easier in the end. Another piece of advice I have is, really to go visit the colleges you are applying to.”
Advice KEQ: College Issue
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How to Do College
CHEAPLY
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Do your best in High School Work as hard as possible in high school to set yourself up for a more inexpensive and a potentially more successful college experience. “To do college cheaply you have to get good grades. If you want scholarships, your GPA matters big time. If you want scholarships, your test score matters big time. So both of those things along with the curriculum you’ve taken,” BSM college counselor Amanda Anderson said. BSM college counselor Heidi Wessman also stresses the importance of doing the best your best in high school. “[Students] have a great opportunity here
Take AP Classes
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BSM offers a wide variety of accelerated curriculum, including multiple Advanced Placement classes. Depending on the college, you could be eligible to get full credit courses that you’ve already taken in high school. “For $33 per AP exam, you can get 4 college credits. $2000 [per college class] versus $33, which one’s a better deal?” Anderson said. Ms. Wessman, likewise, believes pursuing academic rigor in high school proves beneficial in the long run. “It is a financial benefit because [students] can get credit for those courses at their schools, and so entering college with credits that work towards their degree is going to save them money in the long run,” Wessman said. It takes a normal engineering major five years to graduate college at the University of Minnesota, but,
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at BSM. They have access to a lot of high level courses, a rigorous curriculum. The hard work that they show through their grades and their scores can get them some good scholarships at different colleges,” Wessman said. Hard work pays off, even beyond financial benefits. BSM alum Emily Herrmann took difficult classes in high school and now finds herself at the University of Wisconsin-Madison taking a semester off working at an internship at Extreme Engineering Solutions near campus. “The hard classes prepare you better for college, right? I did better in my classes here in college because I had
because of all of the AP classes Sauer took, she only takes nine semesters of college. Thus, Sauer has more choices of places to study abroad, including her final decision to study in Florence, Italy, for a semester and do engineering work for Cargill in Memphis, Tennessee. Herrmann is another prime example of the benefits of taking AP classes. In fact, she took so many AP classes at BSM that she went into college as a sophomore. “Engineering people generally graduate in 4.8 years and I’m graduating in 3.5,” Herrmann said. Herrmann, likewise, used her AP credits to enroll at UW Madison as a sophomore in 3.5 and seized the opportunity to take a semester off and take an engineering internship at Extreme Engineering Solutions. “I got a lot credit and state schools are generally very good about accepting good AP scores and getting class Writer: Leo Driessen Photographer: Kendel Malcolm Designer: Keara Clacko
KEQ: College Issue
Fall 2014 10/29/14 9:38 AM
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Apply for Scholarships
College fairs can be beneficial to students, even if you are not a senior. “Students can learn about the cost of different colleges, they can ask questions as to whether that school is very generous, if they have a lot of scholarships available to students. They can ask how to become eligible for scholarships, is it a separate application or is it just part of their application for admissions?” Wessman said. In addition, plenty of students logically believe that once they’ve been accepted to colleges, they are done going to college fairs, but Sauer knows just how beneficial going to college fairs during senior year can be. “It turns out that just by meeting people at college fairs, and talking to the advisers, like admissions people that I
was able to network and meet new people. They gave me a tour and they advocated for me and through really good grades and really working hard, good ACT score, and they gave me a scholarship, [which] covered everything, room, books food, covered tuition, everything. Basically, I’m getting paid to go to college right now,” Sauer said. While Sauer’s case is very rare, there are still benefits to going to college fairs after acceptance. “Just introduce yourself and say I’m trying to figure out where to go to school, I want another opinion about these places so I can make an informed decision,” Sauer said.
Go to College Fairs
College fairs can be beneficial to students, to the advisers, like admissions people that I was able to even if you are not a senior. “Students can learn about network and meet new people. They gave me a tour and the cost of different colleges, they can ask questions as they advocated for me and through really good grades and to whether that school is very generous, if they have a really working hard, good ACT score, and they gave me lot of scholarships available to students. They can ask a scholarship, [which] covered everything, room, books how to become eligible for scholarships, is it a separate food, covered tuition, everything. Basically, I’m getting application or is it just part of their application for paid to go to college right now,” Sauer said. admissions?” Wessman said. While Sauer’s case is very rare, there are still benefits to going to college fairs after acceptance. “Just In addition, plenty of students logically believe introduce yourself and say I’m trying to figure out where that once they’ve been accepted to colleges, they are done going to college fairs, but Sauer knows just how beneficial to go to school, I want another opinion about these places I can make an informed going to college fairs during senior year can be. “It turns K: so College Issue Fall:decision,” 2014 Sauer said. out that just by meeting people at college fairs, and talking
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IS COLL WORTH THE CO Spend ten minutes with a senior in high school and the topics of SAT scores, college applications, and especially the price of college will undoubtedly come into the conversation. College can put you in debt for decades, yet in just one decade many employers won’t care if you went to Harvard or a basic four year college. The investment may not pay back in the way the college marketing departments let on. People spend hundreds of thousands dollars on furthering their education to get a job, to earn enough money, and to live comfortably, a definition that differs from person to person. But does spending $60,000 versus $5,000 a year really give you a leg up in the job hunting world? Frank Delapo, the manager of the prestigious Minneapolis Club, said, “As an employer, what is more important now is to know they finished school. By finishing you are telling your employer you are the type of person who gets things accomplished.” The simple act of going to college and finishing shows you have what it takes to face immense obstacles and overcome them. Employers understand that not all people are going to have
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KE: College Issue
the same opportunity to go to an Ivy league school. “The most important thing I look for is a positive attitude. The second is if they’re smart. What skills they don’t get from school, we can teach them,” Delapo said. Sophia Flumerfelt, 2013 BSM graduate, knew she needed to go to college but had a chance to take a gap year. She planned on going to Lehigh University the fall after high school like most students do but took what was, for her, the opportunity of a life time by spending eleven months in Brazil. She got back from the life-altering experience and decided she didn’t need to go to Lehigh. “Instead of going to Lehigh University right away in August, I decided to stay home and do a year or two of community college [Normandale] to save money and be at home after all that time away,” Flumerfelt said. By transferring her credits to a four year university she can get a world class education without the debt. “I realized that there’s a difference between good debt and bad debt––good debt being college loans––but I wanted to minimize the cost of school as much as possible. There is so much life beyond college, and it
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LEGE H OST?
Writer: Grace Gyolai Photographer: Kendel Malcolm Designer: Keara Clacko
would be difficult to live it while strapped into economic slavery,” Flumerfelt said. While being in Brazil, Sophia also got to see a whole new side of life most people her age never get to see. “Taking that gap year between high school and college really gave me a chance to reexamine my goals and experience the world,” Flumerfelt said. Living in one place for possible four years is a big commitment. Ensuring that you feel welcome and positive in the space can be crucial to learning. Jerry Pettinger, BSM’s athletic director, believes the atmosphere of the college is more important than its rank across the United States. “Finding [your] right fit for college is more important then if it’s the most prestigious big name university or some school nobody’s ever heard of. I think what students are interested in studying, where they feel comfortable on campus, all of those things are big,” Pettinger said. Although they cost much more, private and big name colleges will prepare you for a career. Jane Mcdonald Black has two sons who graduated from BSM and one who currently attends. She went to Marquette University and majored in accounting. “Because I had
a combination of a really marketable major, and Marquette was a logical and good fit for me” Black said. Going to a high end school was not the only thing that helped Black obtain a career. She graduated with a specific major, and she credits her major to getting a job quickly after college graduation. “I had a very specific bachelor of science degree which made it easier to find a job. I think if you major in something more general like from the college of arts and sciences it might be harder to pinpoint what you want to do,” Black said. Receiving a diploma with a specific degree will put you into a position to get a job fast, but specific degrees can be obtained from any college. In the end going to any school of higher education can create opportunities to succeed, and move forward with the progression of life. It’s up to the person applying to decide what will give them the best chances to be an educated and independent adult. “College teaches you adversity, reaching goals, setting goals, and striving for things you didn’t know was possible to strive for. I think that’s where my inner confidence of who I am is from,” Black said.
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Checking in with the Class of
2014
As seniors start to fully immerse themselves in the college application process, we took some time to catch up with graduates from the class of 2014 to see how their college experience is going so far and advice they have for the underclassmen. To get a wide range of opinions, we talked to students who went all over the nation from USC to Penn State, from the Naval Academy to McNally Smith College of Music.
Danny Faber
Lars Oslund
NYU
McNally Smith College of Music
KEQ: What has the experience been like so far? DF: I love my teachers. NYU has such a passion for the arts, and it’s so refreshing to be in a community that has the drive to cultivate these types of talents in its students. I am very happy though. It feels like I’ve truly found a school and city where I can be comfortable with being who I am and doing what I love. KEQ: What is some advice you have for underclassmen, juniors, and seniors? DF: The college process is extremely stressful, draining, and random. If you don’t get into your top choice, it isn’t always because you’re not qualified... College isn’t all about academics anyway. You are finding a community where you can thrive, participate, and be yourself. It’ll make you grow.
KEQ: What has the experience been like so far? LO: It’s been great, I’ve honestly been playing shows and touring constantly...when I’m at school it’s all music all the time, I love it! KEQ: What is some advice you have for underclassmen, juniors, and seniors? LO: Honestly do what you want to do, and especially not letting people discourage who you really are; it is super easy to have that happen in a condensed area like BSM so just stay straight and true to your own self! I did and it worked out great for me, don’t be the normal BSM student! Don’t go in to whatever you do with no passion for it, do what you love. Loving life and every second of it is greater than making money at a bad job.
Katie Segner UW-Madison
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KE: College Issue
KEQ: What has the experience been like so far? KS: So far the experience has been amazing. There’s a lot that’s very different but college has so many resources to help make the transition smooth so that helps a lot. KEQ: What is some advice you have for underclassmen, juniors, and seniors? KS: Some advice I have, especially for the seniors, is to find a balance this first semester between college apps and all the college craziness and enjoying your senior year. Yes, all the applications and tours are very important and shouldn’t be put off, but don’t let senior year pass you by. There is so much to enjoy, and it will be over before you know it.
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“I never have to serve detentions so there’s that... I’m so happy out here, it’s hard/impossible not to love Southern Cal, especially when you live right in L.A. I’m happy with my decision, no place I’d rather be.”
-Kenny Egelkrout USC
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K: College Issue
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Writer: Johnny Mack Photos courtesy of interviewees 3 Fall: 2014 Sarah Karels Designer: 10/29/14 9:28 AM
COLLEGE PRESSURE Y
ou spent two hours ensuring that the lines on a board game you had to make for an APUSH project were exactly straight and started over when they weren’t. You stayed up until one in the morning putting errors back into your Spanish paper to make it seem like you didn’t use Google Translate. You claimed you saw the soul of your dead great aunt leave her body to get an A on a Religion paper. You cleaned Bio Bob’s fish tank to get one point of extra credit.
Why? One word, seven letters: College. Whether the stress is coming from self-pressure, parental nagging, or social expectations, high school students walk a balance beam struggling to carry what they can actually handle on one side, and what is expected of them on the other. The mental strain that this puts on the minds of students has increased drastically since the conception of modern education. So much so that, in a Psychology Today article, Professor Robert Leahy of Weill-Cornell Medical College stated that, “The average high school kid today has the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s.” Students have lots of mentally taxing issues to deal with already: how to cover up that giant zit located above your right eyebrow, how to flirt with that one person in your English class who seems to interpret Shakespeare in the same way you do, and most importantly, trying to figure out the exact number of seconds to heat up your Taher cookies so as to get the perfect amount of mush. Add college to that oh-so-exhausting list, and we may as well book Dr. Steffensen for the next month. Thoughts on the number of schools to apply to, how much it all costs, and how one manages to even get in add approximately ten pounds onto the “what is expected of you” side of your equilibrium––knocking off your balance
into such a state of disrepair that even Gabby Douglas could not manage to stay atop the beam. As we are mere prep school students and not Olympic athletes, the fear of falling off the beam translates to a fear of rejection from the schools we’ve worked so hard to impress. “My biggest fear is by far getting rejected from a college. It would honestly be so sad just getting a letter that says, ‘whoops, sorry we don’t want you,’” senior Sofia Scott said. It should be noted that Scott is among one of the better prepared students––equipped with 16 extracurricular activities, strong writing skills, and a gregarious personality. She shouldn’t be afraid, but she is. “Even if it’s a college I’m not really passionate about, I would probably cry. I should be ashamed to say that, but I’m not,” Scott said. Often students who have the most going for them are the ones who feel the greatest amount of pressure to succeed because success becomes an expectation instead of a goal. “I think because I set my goals so high and have done so for such a long time that I just kind of assume I’m going to achieve them,” senior Mimi Burns said. The concept that these highperforming students have worked so hard simply to attend the same school as someone who put in half the amount of time as they did is almost unimaginable. Mostly, though, it’s the fact that they’ve essentially had control of their outcomes by calculating what was necessary. Now they face the reality that, despite how prepared they are, a lot of their future rests in the hands of an anonymous admissions officer. “Ultimately [the college] gets to make the choice on whether or not I’m right for them––I don’t get to decide,” Burns said. After working with students at both University of Minnesota and Wayzata High School, English teacher Ms.
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Writers: Jackie Lawyer and Hannah Scherer Photographer: Keenan Schember Designer: Ryan Applehof
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Tiffany Joseph has seen fair share of her students stressed to the max. “I’m not sure where [the pressure] originates; if it’s all on the students themselves, or if it’s the cultural process at work,” Ms. Joseph said. It’s important to remember that people would not have received rejection letters if the college though that they were a perfect fit and would thrive there. “I’ve seen a lot of students devastated about not getting into their top schools. Of course it’s upsetting, but they need to realize that it’s not affecting them in the extremely negative way they seem to believe. There’s opportunities all over the place, and if you don’t get in somewhere, it wasn’t meant to be,” Ms. Joseph said. Most people seem to be aware of this, but if it’s true, where does all this pressure come from? “It comes from my family, my sister, my peers, everywhere there’s pressure,” Burns said. While students should feel a sense of camaraderie amongst their peers––as they’re going through the exact same emotionally and mentally taxing experience––they tend to be extremely competitive instead. “No one ever says anything directly, but that doesn’t mean that there is no pressure. The pressure comes more from hearing where other kids may be applying or how competitive it may be to get into a certain school,” senior Jay Weber said. People form friend groups based on similar interests and complementary personalities. You’ll naturally end up applying to a few of the same schools as your friends, or do so intentionally. This will either create a pressure to follow your friends to a certain school or an element of competition within your friend group. It can be an extremely difficult decision to stray away from the people you’ve spent the majority of your time with for the past four years, but it’s important to maintain your individuality and push back against the pressure to conform. “I have no interest in following my friends. I want to do my own thing in college and blaze my own trail,” Weber said. We’ve been told that our main
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competition in regards to our admittance to a specific school are the people who are most like us. Unfortunately, the people who seem to be the most similar on paper are often our friends. This creates an ever-constant pressure to outshine them in nearly every aspect of our résumés. “I’m very competitive. So when people are doing the same thing as me, I want to be better,” Burns said. While students are innately concerned about their own futures, there seems to be a group who cares even more: parents. Those who created us are rightfully the most invested in where we end up and how we get to that destination. “Parents want their kids to have a better life than they did. My mom didn’t follow the traditional route, so she wants me to do better,” senior Azzairia Jackson-Sherrod said. This pressure may seem be the most demanding, but many believe that it is an integral and helpful part of the application process. “They are probably putting a little pressure on me intentionally to encourage me to meet their expectations. The rest is most likely unintentional––especially from my dad who thinks he is just offering helpful fatherly advice that is actually stressing me out ten times more,” junior Amanda Kautzer said. Though it may seem that your parents are breathing down your neck about the most minute aspects of your application, their involvement stems from genuine concern. “The most important thing a parent can do is provide encouragement––there are thousands of great schools and the goal isn’t to get into a ton of them; rather, it is to find a school that matches the student’s needs. That’s my hope for my kids,” Sheila Letscher, mother of Dan (‘13), Sam (‘14), Sarah (‘16), and Abby (‘18) said. Kautzer believes that, despite the expectations coming from her parents’ love and concern for her, the pressure has extended to not only choosing a school, but choosing a plan for the rest of her life. “My parents don’t care about the prestige of a college, but definitely care about me getting a ‘successful job,’ regardless of my interest. My dad has openly made fun
KEQ: College Issue
of majors such as education, psychology, and even nursing, telling me I have a lot of talent and it would be a waste for me to go into those fields, regardless of how necessary those jobs are for society at large. He also disregards my personal interest in these “lesser” fields,” Kautzer said. One of the more interesting effects of this pressure is its duality, resulting in harder work on school-related assignments but less time to take care of an ailing mind. “I am more motivated in all school related areas, but I can already tell I am burning out a little bit in school, which is a horrible way to start college, or even junior/senior year,” Kautzer said. Despite peers and parents accounting for a large portion of the stress put upon students, the cliché “you’re your own worst critic,” could not be more true at this stage. “I put more pressure on myself than anyone else. Recently, I‘ve been trying to convince myself to not have my heart set on a certain college––that I will be happy anywhere. I’ve tried to tell myself that numbers don’t define me. There is so much more to my life than my grades or my ACT score; I don’t focus all of my energy into worrying about that because I know it will all work out,” Scott said. Self-pressure is most prevalent, as we tend to hold ourselves to a higher standard. “Ever since kindergarten, I’ve always wanted to be the best I could be. I’ve wanted to surround myself with who I think are the best people. I’ve wanted to have the best grades. I want the best life for myself,” Burns said. Some students face even more pressure due to the added obstacles of either sports or the pursuit of a career in the arts. Both of these processes add hours onto the application process and an increase in stress due to the more selective and non-traditional nature of the schools. Senior Luke Guidinger has been invested in theater and the performing arts his entire life, despite a strong opposition from a society fixated on gender norms and following traditions. “We live in a world where ‘what sport do you play’ is the first
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question in ‘getting to know you’ games. This really draws people, especially boys, away from artistic pursuits that are considered more feminine,” Guidinger said. On top of writing essays, perfecting résumés, and sucking up to the teachers writing his letters of recommendation, Guidinger, and others following the same path, must showcase the best of their abilities through monologues, music, and visual aids. “I have to send in a regular app, plus an artistic review or portfolio, then a prescreening video. Later, I go to an audition at the school. I have to prepare up to four contrasting monologues––two classical, two contemporary––for my theater schools where I’m applying for acting, and two contrasting monologues with two contrasting songs for my musical theater schools. There could be five hundred kids applying for a twelve spot program,” Guidinger said. On the sports end of the spectrum, student athletes are under constant observation by prospective coaches. Whether it’s a collection of game highlights, or the attendance of recruiters at games, athletes are continuously being watched, analyzed, and evaluated. “I try not to think about it because if you mess up, they drop you. It’s just a lot of pressure,” junior and soccer player Sophie Roux said. It’s clear that students have a lot of concern in regards to college, but is this pressure to get into a ‘name-brand’ school really worth it? Does it really matter where you go? The truth is that it varies. “When you look at it from a certain perspective, there is a difference between a candidate from St. Thomas and a candidate from Normandale. But, a business degree from St. Thomas versus a business degree from Notre Dame? No difference,” Mary Ortizcazarin, Vice President of Accessories at Best Buy, said. There are some companies that show loyalties to certain schools, but it’s still a holistic process. “We have a number of ‘core schools’ where we do on-campus interviews and very actively recruit. It’s easier to get a job with us if you happen to attend one of these schools since we are predisposed to
Pressure.indd 5
consider their students. However, anyone can apply, and we consider test scores, GPA, and major,” Peter Lawyer, Senior Partner and Managing Director at the Minneapolis branch of the Boston Consultant Group, said. If everyone’s putting this much pressure on themselves for colleges, and later, job opportunities that ‘anyone can apply’ to, is it worth it to go at all? Is it worth it to stress out about individual APUSH assignments and pointless Religion papers all for the sake of higher education? Yes. Even though people can choose to work directly out of high school, and live full and meaningful lives doing so, the benefits of a college degree––no matter what point in life it comes at––are well worth the stress, time, and potential debt. With college comes valuable life lessons, both in and outside of the classroom. Most college graduates view their time in undergraduate school as the most socially formative years of their lives. Making the jump from high school to college truly moves students out of their comfort zones, allowing them to grow as students and as people in general. The intellectual aspect is equally as important as the social one. Prior to college, most of your education is rigid and vastly unspecialized. Upon matriculating into college, you get free reign to specialize in whatever field interests you most, with many colleges even giving students the freedom to design their own interdisciplinary programs. You’re finally in charge of what you learn and that’s an opportunity not many people get, despite what the social norm at BSM is. Furthermore, college helps jumpstart your future via providing you with a multitude of opportunities. Some alumni networks will open up a large amount of internships or jobs to you purely because you attended the same alma mater. Although the importance of going to college is undeniable, it still should not be the driving force that propels you through high school. The trend of this dictation is exemplified nationally as well as at BSM. Out
of the 436 Red Knights who took a Knight Errant Survey, only one responded that college plays no part in her motivation at school. Looking back, getting fish excrement on your new shirt for an extra point in biology maybe wasn’t worth it, but maintaining a good work ethic throughout high school most certainly is. Don’t strive for the unattainable, but don’t sell yourself short. Study for your tests, but don’t worry about how individual assignments affect your admittance to Yale. So, what exactly are you supposed to do now? One word, five letters. Relax.
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PURSUING
Junior Rachel Jungmann has a passion she’d like to follow, maybe in place of attending a college or university.
PASSION
Do You Need a Degree to Do What You Love?
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henever the college counselors come to discuss about where to go to for college, taking the ACT, or what activities to be involved in, BSM junior Julia Feld groans. The counselors are helping other students figure out what they want to do in the future, but she already knows. Feld wants to be a firefighter. Most high school students spend a lot of time thinking about college: where they want to go, what grades they have to achieve to get there, what ACT or SAT scores they need, and how many extracurricular activities to participate in. However, Feld, along with a few others, feel that all of this is overrated and don’t think that going to college can help them achieve their goals. Sophomore Elyse Vandersteen is one of these few; she would much rather spend
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her time pursuing theater than focusing on college. “Depending on how things go, you could end up having a stable job either doing tech or being on stage. If it’s something you actually have a passion for, you shouldn’t let other things hold you back,” Vandersteen said. When considering her career as a firefighter, Feld looks to get a two-year degree instead of the typical four-year, or even possibly not going to college at all. “Technically speaking, after I turn eighteen, I go could go [into training] right then; I wouldn’t even have to go to college,” Feld said. Similar to Feld and Vandersteen, BSM junior Rachel Jungmann would prefer to focus on her sport. “In a perfect world, I would get high school out of the way quickly
and spend my time improving my skating skills while I’m still young enough to have some hope of doing it professionally,” Jungmann said. These students who feel that school can actually be counterproductive to figuring out their futures also believe their futures don’t require a college degree. “I dedicate most of my time and energy to figure skating because it means much more to me than anything I have ever learned in school. I tend to get really frustrated with school and college because it takes so much focus away from things that are actually important to me,” Jungmann said. These students are left wondering whether or not college is actually worth it. “If I don’t need to have [a degree] for the job I’m looking at, why bother?” Feld said. Writer: Emma Bird Designer: Anna von Kampen Photo Courtesy of Rachel Jungmann
KEQ: College Issue
Fall 2014 10/31/14 9:09 AM
From an in-state education University of Minnesota, to traveling thousands of miles to attend the University of Hawaii, BSM graduates have ventured everywhere across America in pursuit of the right educational fit. Different details such as price, location, and size have all made up the minds of students itching to experience something new.
Finding the Right Fit F
or many students, the thought of moving far away from home for moment they knew that the college they chose was the exact one for them. college is frightening, but for others, it is a new adventure and step in There are students, however, that chose to stay close to home. It may their life. Benilde-St. Margaret’s alumni Kathleen Meskill, who attends be a better way to get scholarships, avoid out of state tuition, and keep the University of Pittsburgh, explained why she chose a school on the East family close by. BSM alumni Jack Goldstein, who attends St. Olaf college Coast, distancing herself from Minnesota. “I’ve always wanted to go out of in Minnesota, had a few reasons why he decided to stay in his home state. state because I think that’s part of the college experience, and it helps you “I was looking at colleges in Minnesota, California, and Massachusetts, but grow up and truly become independent,” Meskill said. I chose MN over anywhere else in the midwest because MN has smaller Location of a school is one of the many colleges that are highly academic and have D3 football, which I received a factors that goes into the college decision scholarship for at St. Olaf. I also wanted to be near home because I process. There are also other elements in thought it would be nice for my parents to be able to come choosing the perfect college, such as what the and watch my games if they wanted,” cost of the school is, or the size of said school. Goldstein said. Many students similar to Meskill are taking these College and class size are also factors into consideration everyday to help them important aspects of the college decision pick their dream school. that many students take into consideration. Meskill chose her university because she knew BSM alumni Andrew Renier, who attends St. Johns that it would possibly benefit her in the future and University in Minnesota, knew that he wanted to be a long fit her career and living choices. “I picked the East distance from his home within his home state, but also have Coast because I love how it is totally different than a close-knit class. “I wanted to be able to get to know almost the Midwest. I am also hoping to live out here, all of my classmates, and have smaller class sizes. The St. John’s and I think it is important to go to a school located network is unbelievable, and everyone is so connected with each STUDENTS where you would maybe want to start your career,” other,” Renier said. STAY Meskill said. Another choice that students must make is how Meskill’s opinions on going to college out of much they want to invest in their education. Ms. INSTATE state are logical choices that students often discover Anderson believes that the financial situation of a as they search for a school. According to Ms. Amanda family or a school is one of the more detrimental Anderson, a BSM college counselor, the main reasons reasons a student may or may not go to a specific students choose to go out of state are either for independence, career choice, university. “Cost is one of the main aspects, especially in regards to the or the pursuit of a new or different experience. school and the travel involved to get there. Attending a public college in-state “Students often choose an out-of-state school because they feel it will versus out-of-state is a lesser cost, and the reciprocity is not as much for a force them to be more independent, or they want to go to a college in an area majority of Midwest schools,” Ms. Anderson said. where their career will flourish; for example, many students will head to New Another aspect of the college selection process is the financial York if they want to pursue an acting or singing career,” Ms. Anderson said. situation. Receiving financial aid or scholarships is usually a crucial part of There are many other students who make independence and a long the affordability of college for students, and families of students, because it distance from home their main priority for college, but for others it just may reduce the costs of tuition, room and board, and other accommodations happens at a natural point in the search process. an undergraduate student may need. “Many colleges offer scholarships. The BSM alumni Laura Shannon, who attends Northeastern University best things that a student can do to make college affordable are to apply in Boston, Massachusetts, didn’t have a strict list of criteria, but ended for and get these scholarships at the colleges they are applying to,” Ms. up falling in love with a school a long distance from home. “We looked Anderson said. at Northeastern, where at the time, I knew very little about. I had a very The financial situation and cost of a school may be the breaking point Goldilocks-esque moment when I got on campus and realized that there was of a school decision. If a student falls in love with a university, but the cost a legitimate campus right in the heart of Boston. The more I learned about of attending that school is too much for them and they aren’t going to be Northeastern, the more I fell in love with it,” Shannon said. receiving any scholarships, they may have to re-evaluate their decision, and Many students have had epiphanies similar to Shannon’s of the pick a college that is less expensive, and offers them some financial aid.
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Taking a Different Path
Writer: Isaac Hogen Photographer: Keenen Schember Designer: Jeremy Livingston KE: College Carter Burn: Courtesy of the Burn Family
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hen seniors decide which colleges they are going to apply to, they usually base their decision on cost, size, location, and academics. For some, one more variable is added into the equation: Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, more commonly known as ROTC, is a college program that awards scholarships and financial aid to students in exchange for their service to the United States Armed Forces. Those involved in ROTC attend college classes and are involved many of the same activities as other students but also participate in military-based training. The ROTC groups meet a few times a week for physical training and attend classes relevant to the Armed Forces such as military history. ROTC is offered to nearly every branch of the United States Armed Forces, with the exception of the Marines and the Coast Guard. Senior Mark Falls plans on joining ROTC next fall. “I decided to go into the military when my brother was a senior in high school. He was planning on joining right after high school, but our mom wouldn’t let him and he wasn’t determined enough to go through college and ROTC, so I decided to show him up and do what he couldn’t,” Falls said. He plans on joining the Air Force and hopes to be part of their ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I tried to narrow my college choices down to schools that had good engineering programs
as well as offering an Air Force ROTC program,” Falls said. Along with Falls, Alexander plans on joining the Coast Guard, which does not offer an ROTC program. She hopes to attend the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, which has a very selective admissions process, including a physical fitness evaluation. After attending the academy, there is an active duty service requirement of six years. “Ever since I was a little girl I have had an admiration for the military and hoped that I would be able to be a part of it in the future,” Alexander said. This isn’t the first year that BSM students have found their vocation in military service. Peter Watkins, a graduate from the class of 2014, attends Iowa State and is part of their Army ROTC program. His day starts with physical training at 5 a.m., which happens six days a week, and going to military classes. In addition, he attends engineering classes and practices squad tactics and squad ambushes. “It changed my experience in college by not only making me an engineering student but also becoming a leader, so I can lead other soldiers in the future,” Watkins said. Watkins plans on graduating with a degree in engineering before beginning a career in the military. Carter Burn, a 2014 graduate, also found his place in the military when he chose to attend the United States Naval Academy. “After a trip to Germany, I fully realized how great the United States was and that each freedom we have is so important. I wanted
to defend those freedoms and ensure that each person is able to live the free life that they were born with,” Burn said. Being accepted into the Naval Academy, however, is no easy task. Firstly, the school requires an essay and the application; then, applicants are required to receive a nomination from either a district or state representative or senator. To receive a nomination, applicants must write an essay, fill out an application, and be interviewed by the staff of a senator or representative. The Naval Academy does not provide students with the typical college experience. The year starts on July 1––a time that most incoming college freshman spend partying and making the most of their last few months with high school friends. “I wake up at about 5:30 and will not go to bed until 12. Sleep is not a thing here,” Burn said. In addition to the copious workload, the Naval Academy enforces a very strict set of rules. Computers are to be used for schoolwork only; music, YouTube, and games are prohibited. On top of that, students have only a brief twelve hours on Saturday when they are allowed to leave campus. Although their code of conduct may be strict, it sets students up for success through discipline and commitment. College sets young adults on the path to success and, with the addition of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs, students will gain even more discipline and improve their work ethic, all while lowering the cost of exponentially growing college tuition.
Carter Burn, a 2014 graduate, also found his place in the military, “After an international trip to Germany, I fully realized how great the United States was and that each freedom we have is so important. I wanted to defend those freedoms and ensure that each person is able to live the free life that they were born with.”
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Erin Sherman, class of 2009 KE: Are you where you thought you would be after graduating from BSM?
KE: How did the academic and social life at BSM helped you prepare most for college?
ES: Yes I am! I had heard all of the time while going to BSM that it was a college-preparatory high school, but I didn’t realize how truthful that was until I began my first year of college. BSM emphasized the importance of a good education, and they also encouraged me to be the best well-rounded individual that I could be, from the extracurriculars to the volunteering opportunities.
ES: I think BSM encouraged participation in academics as well as the extracurriculars, so I learned how to effectively manage my time, which was a lifesaver during college! Any of the AP classes are great prep because you are able to start to get a feel for the coursework and the level of difficulty that college classes are going to have, and you can also get college credit.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Will college turn out as you expect? Can you know today what your life will be tomorrow? What was your original plan? How are things different today? Sarah Blake, class of 2007 KE: Are you where you thought you would be after graduating from BSM?
SB: Not quite. When I left Xavier and came back home, I didn’t jump back into school right away. I worked for a while and then had my daughter in 2012. I didn’t expect my life to be the way it is right now, but I think everything happens for a reason. If I wouldn’t have left Xavier to come home, I wouldn’t have had my daughter. School is a lot tougher now with an energetic toddler running around, but I wouldn’t change my life for anything.
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KE: What are you actually doing now? SB: I work as a Nursing Assistant at a Memory Care Facility. KE: How did you decide on a college and what made you chose one over another? SB: I decided I wanted to go to a smaller school. Xavier was a good size, bigger than high school but still small enough where you always see a familiar face walking around campus. They also were very generous helping with financial aid. Another reason was because I really hate Minnesota winters. Cincinnati has a very mild winter compared to here; it was nice, and I miss it.
What was your original plan? When I first arrived at Marquette, I entered its college of communication as a journalism major with a minor in Spanish. I unofficially changed my major almost five times. I officially declared myself as a major in marketing and journalism and got my first job as a writer. I’m broke, but I’m doing what I love and couldn’t be happier (Maddy Kennedy ‘12)
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KEQ: College Issue
Fall 2014 10/28/14 8:43 AM
Mikayla Coulombe, class of 2012 KE: Are you where you thought you would be after graduating from BSM?
KE: What was your original plan for yourself ?
MC: I’d always thought I’d probably become an English major, and here I am now, officially MC: To be honest I never thought I’d end one. However, I hadn’t really planned on up at Carleton. For basically all of high playing college soccer, which I ended up school, I was totally against applying to doing, and I can’t even imagine what my life any schools in Minnesota. I remember would be like if I hadn’t. I would seriously constantly telling my parents that I was have none of the same friends and way too “getting out of this state” and “going much time on my hands for my own good. somewhere new and different.” Instead, I ended up in Northfield. Definitely the best decision I’ve ever made though.
After months of preparation, most BSM students enter colleges filled with ideas of what their futures will bring. However, for some students, their expectations differ from reality, leading them to places they’ve never imagined.
Jack Johnston, class of 2014 KE: Are you where you thought you would be after graduating from BSM? Why? JJ: I am absolutely where I thought I would end up at the time I left Benilde-St. Margaret’s. I got very lucky in that I was accepted at my first choice, so deciding on New York University was easy.
Writers: Bergen Flom and Katie Janda Designer: Hanna Anderson Photos courtesy of interviewees
KE: What was your original plan for yourself ? JJ: I had planned to go to New York for college since I was 12, slowly garnering knowledge and developing a strategy to eventually bring to the college search. I started touring New York colleges the week after sophomore year ended, partly to feed the fantasy of it and partly for actual information. I am tremendously privileged to have been able to made that work for myself. Hard work, strategy, and a hefty dose of luck made it happen, and I’m very thankful it did.
Are you where you thought you would be at the end of your time at BSM? Sure, I guess. I didn’t really have a plan after high school (Katie Hector ‘07). What are some classes or activities at BSM helped in terms of college preparation? I’d say my art classes helped because I went into design. I had great relationships with the teachers in that department (Katie Hector ‘07). KEQ: College Issue Thought vs. Now.indd 27
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KE: College Issue
Fall: 2014
10/29/14 9:27 AM
THE
NEXT LEVEL
With a strong athletic foundation at BSM, these alums found their places in college sports.
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Writers: Aidan O’Driscoll and Tommy McGinn Photagrapher: Keenan Schember Designer: Jackie Lawyer
t 8:30 a.m., BSM ‘14 alum Taras Tataryn’s alarm rings in his really useful resources as they can help us get tutors and help DePauw University dorm. His day begins with breakfast–– whenever we’re struggling or want extra help,” Labosky said. followed by some last minute homework––and going to Athletic scholarships have also proven to be extremely morning classes. Then, he goes to lunch, studies while eating, and advantageous by giving college athletes the opportunity to be makes his way to his afternoon courses. After his work is done in admitted into distinguished schools and offer financial aid, which the classroom, he heads to soccer practice, which includes an hour compensates for the sacrifices parents have had to make in order or so of weight training, before finally eating a late dinner and going for their children to excel in their various sports. “It is really a to sleep. When he wakes up the next day, the whole process starts return on an investment that my parents made for me to be able over. to play hockey and soccer at a higher level and to pay for all of As rewarding as it is to be a college athlete, there are many the training to get me to this point. It definitely does not hurt to responsibilities that come with this privilege. Trying to stay on be an athlete when it comes to paying for college,” BSM ‘14 alum top of school work while excelling at a sport is stressful to say the and University of Minnesota hockey player Kelly Pannek said. least, but, with hardwork and dedication, the experience a college Even though their schedule often causes them to miss out athlete can have is life-changing. on school events and other Often times, the tightactivities, they prove rather packed schedule that student trivial compared to the athletes take on forces them overall benefits of being a The values that I have learned to be more conscientious student athlete. “So far, I am with their time, or lack friends with a lot of athletes, through hard work, dedication, thereof. “It’s all about time whereas if I wasn’t an athlete and working together as a team management. I obviously I probably would never have have less time to do met them. All in all, I like are lesvsons that I will forever homework and study than to think that I am having a remember and apply in my life. non-athletes, but at the same positive social experience. I time I have a more structured gain so much from being on a schedule and feel I am more team that I think it outweighs ––Sanjay Lumpkin (BSM ‘12) organized and useful with what I might potentially my time than if I hadn’t miss out on,” Pannek said. played soccer,” Tataryn said. Not only does playing BSM Class of ‘12 a sport in college help build alum Sanjay Lumpkin knows all too well about the commitment relationships with teammates but also provides athletes with that it takes to be a college athlete. Playing Division I basketball connections beyond the court, field, or rink into broader realms. “The at Northwestern University, which stands as one of the most values that I have learned through hard work, dedication, and working prestigious schools in the country, he has learned to cope with the together as a team are lessons that I will forever remember and apply academic rigor along with his athletic schedule. “It is definitely in my life. From family and friends, to students at Northwestern and a challenge [to keep up with schoolwork], but I enjoy putting in fans, it has a very positive impact on me socially,” Lumpkin said. hard work and feeling a sense of accomplishment,” Lumpkin said. Even though athletes likely will not be playing sports as In addition to organizing their schedules, schools will go an occupation later on in life, their collegiate sports careers out of their way to accommodate college athletes’ academic provide assets that help them succeed after college. “Whether needs. BSM ‘13 alum Dan Labosky’s road to college hockey you are an athlete or not, making connections with people began when he took a year off playing for the Tri-City Storm during college is very important, and anybody can find them or before attending Colorado College. He manages his busy agenda make them, and being an athlete is no different, except when it by using study halls and academic mentors in an attempt to comes to where or who I make the connections that will help stay on top of his schoolwork. “The coaches and staff are me after college when I am trying to find a job,” Pannek said.
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KEQ: College Issue KEQ_Issue1_Page?.indd 3
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What college club do you belong in?
Homies
Social butterfly
Who do you hang with?
Bunk with homies
Al the
Anyone
High school is a never ending hall of horrors, where everyone is trying to fit in one specific role. Everyone escapes high school and ends up in the wonderful world of college. College is a new beginning for people, with many different clubs and teams to join. Are you not sure which club you belong in? Use this flowchart and find out which club is best.
Netflix marathon
Antisocial
Are you social?
Flying solo With pals
Sit in your room and cry
Yes
No Professional future
Michael Jordan of your sport Still want to train Just want to relax
Participate more on J.V.
More into sports
Are you decent at your sport?
Um I guess
Star student Want to be the best
Start
Can I be the president of it?
Student Council is my life
Do you enjoy school?
Yeah, Starbucks
Are academics your jam?
30 FlowChart.indd 30
More like I like to be in clubs
4,000 Clubs
No
Yes
YES
KEQ: College Issue
Too busy, I have a job
More like I like my job Saving up for somthing special?
Fall 2014 10/31/14 9:18 AM
On
What classes do you take
ies
ke bs
Always keep the whistle with me Am not about that stranger danger
Check your class schedule
Hard and as many as possible
The roommate who I secretly despise
Meet my roomate
Academic Club
Any that I can chill with my friends
greek The roommate who will be a groom’s man / bridesmate in my wedding
Part time job, I have a life
Find a Job
ubs
SPORTS
Go to college First thing you do on campus
Go to the gym
KEQ: College Issue FlowChart.indd 31
Job
I live for my job
Go to every club meering
One club
life
Fall 2014
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Writer: Jason Kang Photographer: Meghan Ortizcazarin Designer: Jeremy Livingston
Senior Ben Newhouse epitomizes the type of student colleges look for in the midst of application season. He’s a skilled cellist, an extremely talented athlete, volunteers regularly, and manages to maintain a boastworthy GPA.
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KEQ: College Issue
Fall 2014 10/31/14 9:13 AM
n
Y
What Colleges Actually Look for
ou open up your laptop and go to the Common Application site. You begin entering in your profile, test scores, lists of activities, and so on. But as you’re doing this, you imagine another high school student 2,000 miles away that’s doing the exact same thing. Only, he/she has a higher GPA, test score, and plays 3+ varsity sports, and, while your application seems pretty solid, theirs is nearly perfect. The term “perfect,” however, can be interpreted in many ways. You, along with many students, might believe that in order to be accepted at selective schools––or to be considered “Ivy-worthy”––you must maintain not only a perfect GPA but also attain a high standardized score and take as many AP classes as possible, assuming you’re going to ace each AP test in May. “In order to get into that upper echelon of colleges and universities, you have to have everything going for you. When you are competing with people equally as qualified as you, it ends up being a crapshoot,” senior Connor Day said. And, these numbers only play a part of the stigma. Most selective schools, such as University of California, Berkeley, which accepted 17 percent of applicants this year, take a “holistic approach,” which misleads you into believing that they have to be involved in varisty-level sports, provide hundreds of hours of community service, and join other clubs, if they have any time left. Not to mention, you should also grow up in an impoverished, underdeveloped environment and preferably be of some race other than white. At least that’s what people think. Imagine if you were accepted into prestigious university such as Harvard or Princeton, and, upon arriving at the campus, you found yourself immediately surrounded by a student body that is only capable of keeping a 4.0 and getting a 36 or 2400 on standardized tests. Pretty boring, huh? College––it’s like a smaller scale of a country. It needs to have its athletes, musicians, artists, and, of course, scholars who are going to be the intellectual
drive behind the school. According to Ms. Heather Lee, the BSM Director of Admissions, the first thing admission officers take a look at in your résumé are your high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores. They’re obviously going to look at how you’re performing academically––they don’t want you to fail––based on your GPA and the rigor of your curriculum and also see if you are up for college level work by examining your standardized test scores. “A student might have a high test score and low GPA, which shows that the student didn’t do their homework. Or, they might have a high GPA but not as a high test score, which shows that they aren’t the best test takers on standardized tests,” Ms. Lee said. Once the numbers are evaluated, they look at the other part of the application, which includes extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations, awards, and the essay. For selective schools these tend to play a bigger role because the majority of their applicants present themselves with high grades and test scores. “Selective colleges will look for many of the same characteristics in a prospective student’s application file as many other colleges. The difference will be that so many applicants that they see will be the best of brightest from across the country, so every little detail counts even more when trying to differentiate one application from the next,” Josh Anderson, the Admission Counselor at the University of St. Thomas, said. But, at the same time, colleges do not necessarily want to you join all the clubs at your high school; rather, they prefer a student with a particular “hook”––a unique characteristic that makes a candidate stand out among others––that can contribute to the their schools. For instance, if colleges see a candidate who played three varsity sports and was a part of 10+ clubs, they can safely assume that he/ she has been very involved in activities, and yet, they cannot to truly figure out what the student is really passionate about and even
presume a lack of commitment. On the other hand, when admission officers, for example, see a student with a zeal for science, that he/she devoted four years of high school to constructing instrumental projects and participating in numerous science fairs and competitions, they are able to determine how the applicant will fit in with and positively influence the student body. “Activities really do tend to supplement a student’s application well. It’s always fun to see what students are passionate about and what they spend their time doing outside the classroom,” Ms. Lee said. And then there’s the essay. In 650 words or less, you are to write something in the lines of, “recount an incident or time when you experienced failure,” or “reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.” During this process, many students make the mistake of explaining colleges how they were able to get an “A” in a class or how they made the varsity football team. Truth is, they already know. Instead of trying to come up with something superficially creative to present yourself as a perfect student to colleges, tell an honest story and show that you have invested a lot of time writing your essay. “Often times, students are really conservative about what they’re writing in the essay, [but] all students should not be afraid to write everything about them,” Ms. Lee said. Now, you might be a little rattled or even more stressed about college after having read all this information. Well, don’t be. You’ve already made it through three-fourths of high school, and what you’ve accomplished in and out of school so far will not go unnoticed. “Take the time to talk about the decision with your parents, and let them know what is important in your college experience. They want to see you succeed, and they’ll be able to help you if you inform them of what your goals are as you narrow down your options,” Mr. Anderson said.
KEQ: College Issue KEQIssue1ben.indd 33
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The OverRated Ivy
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Writer: Rachel Lyons Photographer: Shannon O’Connor Designer: Ryan Appelhof
he question of where to attend college is a lurking shadow. It’s an all-consuming thought constantly nagging at the back of many a high schooler’s minds. Maybe if her ACT score is high enough, she participates half-heartedly in enough extra-curriculars, she volunteers on the weekends, writes a flawless essay with the help of college counselor, starts three pointless clubs, and gets straight A’s, she’ll make it. Maybe then she can get into an Ivy League school. Maybe then all her work will pay off. Handfuls of students have earned the right to call themselves the few, the proud, the Ivy League scholars. Many high school students are working hard and striving towards acceptance into one of the eight notorious Ivy League universities. For passionate and qualified students, schools such as Harvard or Princeton may be perfect. However, more often than not, the appeal of these universities is not the classes they offer or their locations, but the name recognition. “Everybody knows about Ivy League. They’re like name brand clothes,” BSM college counselor Mrs. Amy Larson said. The words “Ivy League” seem to carry a golden glow. Students who attend these schools have been known to shock their peers who wonder about all it took to be accepted. “People might not be able to name all eight of the schools, but they are the ultimate. People think if they go there, people are going to know that they’ve succeeded. They’re what we call bumper sticker schools; kids want people to see the prestigious names on their cars,” Larson said. The reputable schools have always seemed to boast low acceptance rates; in 2013 the already highly selective percentiles
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dipped even lower. It’s no surprise that fitting into these small admission pools is sought after. “The thing is, just because one school is harder to get into, doesn’t mean it’s a better school,” Larson said. Many students with high GPAs and outstanding test scores feel their high school track record necessitates applying to challenging schools, whether they would actually enjoy the school or not. “Kids come to me and say ‘I want to go to a good school,’ and I don’t know what that means; I try to help students find the right school,” Larson said. Any college counselor would be happy to explain to worried parents and stressed students that picking a college is about finding the right fit. For a select few, Ivy Leagues are their best option. “I wanted to get away from the Midwest and find a wellrounded school on the East Coast that had a good engineering program and Cornell was a good choice,” Cornell University student and BSM alum Stephen Jacobs said. For Jacobs, attending Cornell wasn’t a goal until he did some research for himself and decided taking rigorous engineering classes in New York was something he was genuinely interested in. “When I was applying for colleges I knew exactly what I was looking for. I’m sure some people are here for prestige, but most people are here because they are really passionate about things outside the classroom,” Jacobs said. He and many other happy Ivy League students find themselves given opportunities to excel in their passions that they wouldn’t find anywhere else. The problem arises when students forget to look into what schools have to offer, and simply apply with misplaced ambition to highly selective schools because they are the “best schools.”
KEQ: College Issue
“The thing is, every Ivy League school is so different. When people talk about wanting to go to Ivy League schools, it’s completely crazy because none of them are alike at all,” Jacobs said. Prospective college students are often enchanted with the idea of excellence. And, unfortunately, this excellency is tied directly to money—how much money students pay, and how much money they will someday make. “At Ivy League Schools there tends to be a lot of recruitment for jobs in finance and consulting and stuff; it can get pretty competitive at some schools,” Brown University student and BSM alum Sean Simonson said. Students are constantly fooled into thinking the only way they will be successful is if they learn at a top-ranking school. “Ivy League may may open some doors in certain areas, but you can get a good job no matter where you go. It’s all relative; if you want to get a business job in Minnesota, go to University of St. Thomas,” Larson said. According to the BSM college and career center, in 2013, 15 BSM students applied to an Ivy League school and 16 students applied in 2014. Of these, many applied to more than one of the eight schools. It is possible that all of these students did thorough research and decided they would be happy at a mid-sized East Coast school. It is also possible that a few of these students simply believed they were qualified, and therefore obligated to apply to such honorable universities. “People need to find a place that fits them. Brown fits me in a way that I’m really happy; but, I’m sure I would’ve been happy at another school too. I encourage people to look beyond titles,” Simonson said.
Fall 2014 10/31/14 9:37 AM
C
Ivy League Acceptance Rates Harvard
2013: 5.9% 2014: 5.79%
Columbia 2013: 5.9% 2014: 5.79%
Brown
2013: 9.6% Stanford 2014: 9.16%
KEQ: College Issue Ivy.indd 35
2013: 9.6% 2014: 9.16%
Fall 2014
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Top College Choices (from classes 2010-2014)
1 U of M, Twin Cities 2 University of St. Thomas 3 U of W, Madison 4 Iowa State University 5 Marquette Uinversity 6 U of M, Duluth 7 University of Denver 8 Loyola University Chicago 9 St. John’s University 10 Miami Universtiy, Oxford 11 Creighton Universiy 12 College of St. Benedict 13 University of Notre Dame 14 Boston College 15 The University of Iowa 16 DePaul Universiy 17 Northwestern University 18 St. Olaf College
19 Gustavus Adolphus College 20 University of Kansas Designer: Anna von Kampen Statistics courtesy of Amanda Anderson True_Pholio.indd 1
Top Majors (by number of declarations) from the class of 2014
84
Engineering
12 5
4
Computer Science
Biology 7 Business 3
Communications
Electrical Engineering
Adminstration
8 BSM TOP Finance
3
Mechanical Engineering
Chemistry
STATISTICS
93.9%
0.2%
4 Year College
Year Off
0.3%
Employed
1.0% Other
0.5%
2.8%
2 Year College
Unknown
0.6%
Non-US College Percentages of outcomes from students in the classes of 2010-2014 10/28/14 9:44 AM