March 2021 // Volume 2, Issue 2
THE BLUE SHEET News from the Nobles College Office
THE DIRECTOR’S DESK We’re almost a year into living and learning amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Zoom meetings are getting old, and I bought a pedometer to ensure I was getting up from my desk and moving enough throughout the day. However, we have learned so much more about how to build and maintain strong relationships with our counselees and their families, even when most of our time together is viewed through a screen. Just as colleges had to pivot to all-virtual programming, so did our office. And perhaps unsurprisingly, we are discovering that our college programming is more accessible than ever. In “non-Covid times” as my sons call it, not everyone could make it to campus for our in-person talks, and evening events often conflicted with work, family needs or other responsibilities. Now, you can watch all of our parent and guardian programs virtually – and because we record and post them, do so on your own schedule. Though I’ve grown tired of the “pandemic silver linings” cliché, these are improvements that make the full range of our program accessible to families, and we’re proud of that evolution. We anticipate that this particular change will be something that “sticks” for us well into the future. By necessity, our students are becoming better at navigating the “virtual college search.” While getting to physically visit the college campuses of the schools on one’s list has been a privilege that many of our students enjoyed over the years, it is not an experience shared by all. For those who could not get to campus for a traditional tour and information session, it was a struggle to get a feel for a place beyond a relatively static web presence. Institutions of higher education are not accustomed to being nimble; but the timing of the pandemic (as it coincided with “decision season” last year), forced admission teams to quickly reconsider their applicant-facing presence. The result has been more high-quality, robust, nuanced, and curated online content tailored to help applicants dig purposefully into what a college or university offers. To help facilitate easier counselor-student connections remotely, we have put together a college search “Toolkit” for our Class II students – which includes tools for self-reflection, list building and research. Each of us in the office has noticed that our Class II students seem to be more willing to slow down this year and to do more reflection before diving straight to the work of “making a college list.” In the end, we think this will make for more focused, thoughtful and considered college processes. I guess I’ll call that a silver lining! Be well,
IMPORTANT LINKS
IN THIS ISSUE
The Common Application: www.commonapp.org College Board: www.collegeboard.org|ACT: www.act.org Naviance Student: student.naviance.com/nobles Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa CSS/Profile: cssprofile.collegeboard.org Test-Optional and Test-Flexible Schools: www.fairtest.org Self-Reported Scores: www.compassprep.com/self-reporting-test-scores/ Who Superscores?: www.compassprep.com/superscore-and-score-choice/ NCAA Eligibility Center: eligibilitycenter.org
2...Subject Tests and the SAT Essay: Gone Forever 3...The Benefit of Time: Why Take a Gap Year? 4...Black History Month Feature: Historically Black 7...Colleges and Universities / College Spotlight 5...Alma Mater Reflections 6...Mark Your Calendar/Standardized Test Dates 7.and Deadlines 7...On Our Bookshelves and In Our Inboxes
1
SUBJECT TESTS AND THE SAT ESSAY: GONE FOREVER
Q&A Adapted from blog.collegeboard.org/January-2021-sat-subject-test-and-essay-faq The College Board announced that it would discontinue both Subject Tests and the Essay section of the SAT. The decision comes as many U.S. colleges and universities had modified their testing requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic to offer applicants more flexibility. Recent announcements by colleges indicate that they will continue to be test-flexible or test-optional at least through the next admission cycle. What does this mean for Nobles students? In our office we have always taken the approach that there is not a “one size fits all” answer to standardized testing. We navigate our counseling around testing much as we approach curriculum planning, acknowledging its complexity and nuance. We maintain that it is important to look ahead, to consider one’s aspirations, to understand a student’s strengths and weaknesses – as well as their overall schedule and use of time – when making any decision about testing or a course curriculum. For some Nobles students, particularly strong testers, this meant that over the course of two or three years, they would sit for multiple Subject Tests, particularly those supported by their Nobles curriculum. For others, it might mean taking Subject Tests only in two disciplines, to meet the minimum admission requirements for the schools on their list. However, as the impact and importance of Subject Tests seemed to soften in the last few years, we have steered students away from them with increasing frequency. And now, of course, we won’t be considering them at all. Almost immediately some families reached out to us concerned that a smaller testing portfolio might make their child a less competitive applicant. In a few cases they were reacting to test prep companies who had begun spinning campaigns that suggested “AP Exams are the new Subject Tests!” We will continue to press on that hypothesis and help all of our students make the best decisions possible given the information we have in hand. But for now, wisdom from both our college admissions and test prep colleagues suggests this evolution will not be the case.
What should I do if I’m already registered for or was planning to take SAT Subject Tests? Students in the U.S. who registered for the May and/or June 2021 Subject Tests will automatically have their registrations canceled and fees refunded. No further action is needed. I’ve already taken SAT Subject Tests. Will colleges still accept those scores? Colleges will decide whether and how to consider students’ Subject Test scores. Students should check colleges’ websites for the most up-to-date information on their policies. How can I show my skills in specific subject areas without the opportunity to take SAT Subject Tests? Colleges have access to information about student performance in key subject areas through their scores, high school transcript, course selection, and other measures. As college counselors, one of our primary jobs is to help you pull together a strong application that showcases your strengths. Why are you discontinuing the optional SAT Essay? This change simply streamlines the process for students who have other, more relevant opportunities to show they can write an essay as part of the work they’re already doing. Writing remains essential to college readiness, and the tasks on the SAT Reading and Writing and Language sections are among the most effective and predictive parts of the SAT. What should I do if I’m already registered for or was planning to take the optional SAT Essay? Students can still take the SAT with Optional Essay through any national June 2021 administration. If you no longer want to take the optional Essay portion of your SAT, you can cancel in your online account, with no change fees, until the registration deadline.
March 2021 // 2
WHY TAKE A GAP YEAR? In recent years, the practice of “gapping” — taking a semester or year away from classroom learning before attending college — has gained traction in the US. One of the most visible examples is former First Daughter, Malia Obama, who interned with the U.S. Embassy in Spain, traveled to South America with the gap-year program Where There Be Dragons, and interned with a film and television production company in New York before enrolling at Harvard in fall 2017. The fact is, gap years have been a more common practice among European students for decades, and the U.S. is finally catching up. The rationale is simple: after 12 (or more) years of constant schooling, a year away from the classroom gives young people the chance for reflection and to enjoy a different type of learning experience — be it in the form of travel, paid employment or an internship, studying a foreign language, or performing service work. Recharged and with a year of real-world experience under their belts, students can then face the college workload with greater maturity and purpose. The data is compelling: various studies show that students who take the extra year do better academically and socially, are happier, and are more intellectually motivated. At Nobles, anywhere from six to twelve Class I students embark on a gap experience after graduation, and none have regretted it. Every college receiving Nobles students has supported it, and some are even building gap experiences into their offers of admission. In early February, Ben Snyder and Meghan Hamilton convened a panel of Nobles graduates who had embarked on gap experiences. They shared their experiences, highlights, and advice for students and families at various stages of gap year consideration.
Panelists Foster Graham (2017) served with City Year as an assistant teacher focusing on math and reading tutoring for middle school students in Roslindale, Mass. Foster now attends the United States Coast Guard Academy. Nick Hazard (2020) spent the fall interning with democratic political campaigns and registering voters, and the early winter dedicated to in-depth mindfulness and practicing yoga. Nick is currently an intern with the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Genomic Medicine, and plans to enroll at Columbia University in the fall. Annika Harrington (2018) did gap programs in Latin and South America, working on farms and in schools while hiking and exploring those regions. Annika attends Williams College. Sam Jankey (2020) relocated to Salt Lake City and is an intern with the Bariatric Medicine Institute researching weight loss procedures. Sam recently earned his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license and is headed to Kenyon College in the fall. Bronwyn Jensen (2020) enrolled in a residential culinary school in Denmark for the fall and spent the winter working at a ski resort in Vermont. After a public relations internship at a Danish clothing brand this spring, Brownwyn will begin at Middlebury College in the fall. Peter Scharer (2017) spent the year on a Princeton- sponsored gap program in northern India, studying Urdu and working at a school, before returning to the New Jersey campus to begin college.
March 2021 // 3
BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEATURE: HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUs) Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have long been on our college counseling radar. With the presidential election season in full swing last fall, Vice President Kamala Harris proudly brought her alma mater, Howard University (Washington, D.C.), into the spotlight. In the last two decades, Nobles students have enrolled at Howard and Morehouse College (Ga.), while others have applied and been admitted to Clark Atlanta University (Ga.), Fisk University (Tenn.), Florida A&M University (Fla.), Hampton University (Va.), Norfolk State University (Va.), Spelman College (Ga.), Tennessee State University (Tenn.), and Xavier University (La.). Even if a student does not choose to matriculate at an HBCU for the duration of their undergraduate education, some may opt to spend a semester “studying away” at an HBCU, which may provide a rich opportunity for those enrolled at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) to immerse themselves in the broader culture, academic rigor, and experience of an historically Black college or university. If you want to learn more, the college office can help you research and connect you with HBCU admissions officers.
COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT - OHIO SCHOOLS
KENYON COLLEGE
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
LOCATION
Distant town
Fringe town
Large city
ENROLLMENT
1,750
19,716 (17,246 undergraduates)
61,391 (46,818 undergraduates)
SOME POPULAR MAJORS
❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
English Economics Political science Biology
❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Finance Marketing Kinesiology Public relations
❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Computer engineering Accounting Speech communication Mathematics
OVERALL ADMIT RATE
34%
80%
54%
SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE
90%
81%
86%
ADMISSION PLANS
Early Decision I (11/15) Early Decision II (1/15) Regular Decision (1/15)
Early Action (12/1) Early Decision (12/1) Regular Decision (2/1)
Early Action (11/15) Regular Decision (2/1)
Data courtesy of College Navigator, Common Data Set and individual school websites March 2021 // 4
ALMA MATER REFLECTIONS We tell students that choosing a college is a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision. Recently, we asked our faculty and staff to reflect on and share a bit about their undergraduate experiences. Harriet Prince|Graduate Affairs Syracuse University, Class of 2010 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, minor in Communications Upon reflection, what is one thing you most appreciate/value about your undergraduate experience? That I branched out and didn't go to a small school. I was advised by many that I would be happier on a small campus but I followed my gut and loved it. Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew then? That it was ok to switch majors and schools within the university. I felt stuck even when I realized what I knew going in, that photography would not be a career I could sustain and I wish I had done more to see what my options were to move within the school.
Nahyon Lee|History and Social Science & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Bowdoin College, Class of 1997 Bachelor of Arts in Government and Environmental Studies Upon reflection, what is one thing you most appreciate/value about your undergraduate experience? Meeting people from all over the world. The strong relationships I developed with professors (I still keep in touch with my advisor), and the opportunities to study abroad and apply for post-graduate fellowships (I received the Watson Fellowship). Also, Bowdoin food is incredible! I never thought I'd fall in love with Maine so much. Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew then? I came from a big public school in Minnesota; I didn't realize that Bowdoin would feel small after a few years.
Erik Diaz|Performing Arts University of Nebraska, Class of 2001 Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Production Upon reflection, what is one thing you most appreciate/value about your undergraduate experience? The fact that I was exposed to so many different areas of my discipline in an environment where everyone was supportive of each other. I had started at a different school and I transferred after my first year because that program had a toxic culture. Is there anything else you would like to share? Trust your instincts. Don't choose a school because it is what others are doing, or because you think that is where you need to go. Go where you feel you will stand to gain the most and where you will be positioned to succeed post-college.
March 2021 // 5
MARK YOUR CALENDAR Unless otherwise indicated, events are virtual, and will be recorded and shared with the intended audience afterwards. April 14 and April 28: Preparing to Write the College Essay with Allan Reeder of Hillside Writing. Attendance is required for all Class II students. The recording will be available for a limited time. Mid-April: Boston Independent School College Counselors Association (BISCCA) webinar series covering key topics such as financial aid, standardized testing, and equity and access. Details forthcoming. Late April: Special Interests (athletics and the arts) and the College Process webcasts available.
STANDARDIZED TEST DATES AND DEADLINES SAT sat.collegeboard.org Registration Deadline (Late Deadline)
Date
March 13
ACT myact.org Date
February 12 (March 2)
Registration Deadline (Late Deadline)
March 30 @ Nobles
March 12
April 13 @ Nobles
February 26
April 17
March 12 (March 26)
May 8
April 8 (April 27)
June 12
May 7 (May 21)
June 5
May 6 (May 26)
July 17
June 18 (June 25)
March 2021 // 6
ON OUR BOOKSHELVES AND IN OUR INBOXES Adapted from Goodreads.com NORA DOWLEY-LIEBOWITZ The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make By Ron Lieber Sending a teenager to a flagship state university for four years of on-campus living costs more than $100,000 in many parts of the United States. Meanwhile, many families of freshmen attending selective private colleges will spend triple—over $300,000. With the same passion, smarts, and humor that infuse his personal finance column, Ron Lieber offers a much-needed roadmap to help families navigate this difficult and often confusing journey. The Price You Pay for College gives parents and guardians the clarity they need to make informed choices and helps restore the joy and wonder the college experience should represent.
MEG HAMILTON The Vanishing Half By Brit Bennett The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern Black community and running away at age 16, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities and their racial identities. Many years later, one sister lives with her Black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect?
TOM RESOR The Best American Sports Writing 2020 By Jackie MacMullan and Glenn Stout As an avid sports fan and someone who has always been envious of Sports Illustrated’ s profile writers, I became hooked on this series many years ago, and it is basically the only Christmas present I desire (I admit I am difficult to shop for). This year’s edition is the final one of the series, which began in 1991. So far, the piece that has fascinated me the most is Jon Griswold’s The Exiled and the Devil’s Sideshow, which describes the Angola (Louisiana State Penitentiary) prison rodeo. In it, prisoners compete in various rodeo events in front of 7,500 spectators, generating millions of dollars in revenue that apparently does not benefit the prison system as much as it should. Reading the piece, I was particularly struck by the carnival-like atmosphere but also the writer’s quoting both William Faulkner and Mark Twain.
Noble and Greenough School is a nonsectarian, coed day and 5-day boarding school for grades 7–12. 10 Campus Drive, Dedham, MA 02026 781.326.3700 | www.nobles.edu Follow us on Twitter: @Nobles_CC Questions or comments? Email Kimya Charles. March 2021 // 7