Ranney Beacon, Spring 2010 by Ranney School

Volume 6, Issue 2

INSIDE Ranney Alumni Reflect on the College Process Class of 2010... Snapshots Update on College Admissions From Pennsylvania to Princeton The Parent Perspective

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Dean’s Corner After countless snow storms and a winter filled with over thirty inches of snow, I now understand how a typical college admissions counselor feels as they spend their January and February digging themselves out from under piles and piles of student applications. No matter how many they read or how much I shoveled, the applications and the snow seemed to just keep coming. Unlike previous months, March and April present the spring thaw; a chance for the hectic nature of college admissions to wind down and students to finally hear the good news they have so anxiously awaited. As decisions filled the mailboxes of high school seniors across the country, Ranney’s Class of 2010 met with tremendous success. While more detailed information exists in an article from our Director, Ms. Myronee Simpson, our students have earned acceptances and will matriculate to many of our nation’s most selective colleges and universities. In addition, our students in both the senior and junior classes ready themselves for the countless Advanced Placement exams they will soon take. Newly named the Ranney Beacon (to guide and assist one in their travels), the second edition of our college guidance magazine takes a closer look at not only where students are headed, but how they felt about their entire college counseling experience. Were they prepared academically for college? Did they feel supported in the process as seniors? Are they happy with their selection? As we often say when speaking to families, the college process is a journey of self-exploration and of finding a school that “fits” academically, socially, and personally. The destination is never our main focus, but over 80% of our students earn acceptance into their first or second choice and are finding that perfect fit.

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Several years ago a senior of mine wrote an article entitled, “Varsity Suffering”. In just over 300 words this young man discussed the trials and tribulations of senior year. All he wanted was for the experience of applying to college to be over. Most of the spring, this young man pleaded for me to give him the percentages regarding his chances of earning an acceptance to each of the colleges he applied. What he wanted was to know where he was headed, not so much for the destination, but rather to begin to prepare himself for the transition he would be facing. The next few months are a period of anxiety for seniors. While they are very excited to head off to college and extremely well prepared to attack the academic challenges that will face them in four months, they are equally as nervous about leaving the safe environment of Ranney. Some of our seniors have spent fifteen years cultivating lasting relationships with faculty and students. Ranney has become their home away from home, and it is never easy to leave the comfort of home.

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As adults active in their lives, we must help them begin the process of transition. Purposely I say transition as senioritis looms, and we must help them to keep it just out of reach. A roller coaster of emotions will hover around our students over the coming months as we begin to help them find closure to high school and prepare for the exciting times that lie ahead. All of us in the College Guidance Office and in the Upper School savor these final months with each member of the senior class. Whether a muchanticipated awards ceremony, senior transition day, days of service or Upper School graduation, each event serves as a benchmark of each student’s journey at Ranney. Upon the completion of the events on June 11, 2010, these students will join our alumni and become the class of 2010. Please join us in wishing them well.

Joseph M. Tweed Assistant Head of Upper School and Dean of College Guidance

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A RANNEY ALUMNA REFLECTS ON THE COLLEGE PROCESS by Jessica Watkins ’09

Before she could stop herself, she was on her way out the door, sloshing through endless black puddles in the driveway pavement and trudging through the bitterly cold, damp grass that rears its ugly head in late fall. She had made the walk countless times before, the last time just half an hour ago, anxiously awaiting the man in the small truck that would bring her the letter with her destiny tucked neatly inside. She hoped for a large envelope because it was a known fact that the small ones brought nothing but disappointment and obsessive past-dwelling. What would they Jessica Watkins ’09 is a first-year student at Bryn Mawr College.

say if her envelope was small? All of her friends had already received their big, glossy packages—she was the last one to be judged. As she neared the mailbox, she sensed something foreboding in the air. The truck was nowhere to be seen; it was as if life came to a standstill each time she grasped the black hinge in her palm and yanked on the opening with her address so elegantly inscribed on its outer edge. But this time was different. She raised her hand to the hinge, took a deep breath, and pulled down, only to be sucked into the swirling pile of bills and junk mail by a shadowy figure…

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Do not let this happen to you! The college process may be daunting at times, but it should also symbolize a period of excitement and healthy change.You will be making so many decisions and filling out so many forms that it is all too easy to get caught up in the present and lose sight of what lies ahead — a college or university that will foster your growth as a student, adult and human being. While the paper portion of the college process is extremely important, it is only a fraction of your search for that perfect school. Before you know it, your applications will be filled out, your essays written and every last envelope licked, stamped and sent off on a cross-country journey. However, this will only happen once you get organized and rethink your priorities. Too many high school students shy away from the d-word — deadlines. These dates may seem insignificant when you first see them on an application in July, but as the big day approaches in December or January (or even sooner if you are applying early decision) it may prove much simpler to focus on feeling overwhelmed than to actually sit down and finish filling out a form or writing an essay. Luckily, high school students are blessed with summer; it is the perfect time to visit schools, start filling out the Common Application and write those pesky essays that seem to pile up over time. Oddly enough, summer may turn out to be the most important part of your college process — I know that my college application process would have been much less stressful if I had written more application essays in the summer months instead of waiting until the month the essay was due. So make summer work for you; the payoff is tremendous, and you will have much more time to spend enjoying your senior year and the family you will be leaving, come the following fall. College visits began my process, and they were ultimately my favorite facet of the yearlong search for a school.

I was fortunate enough to fall in love with a school on my very first visit, and I am even more blessed to be attending this college now. My first two college visits fell within one day of each other, and this turned out to be a deciding factor in my quest for the perfect school environment.The first visit was to a small, suburban college surrounded by residential areas, greenery and a little town equipped with a train station that could get me to Philadelphia in fifteen minutes. I fell for this school’s nineteenth century architecture and looming stone buildings and felt an overwhelming sense of belonging as soon as I stepped on campus, but I decided to give a city school a try the next day. My visit to New York was vastly different. I found that a bustling urban environment was not where I wanted to live out my college years. Both of these schools were women’s colleges, and both boasted academic excellence, but their completely different environments helped finalize my decision to choose a more suburban school. When planning college visits, try to include schools from completely opposite ends of the spectrum; it will help you isolate and select qualities that are perfect for your personality, and might highlight some you never thought about before. And girls, do not discount a college because it is an all-women’s school! I attend a women’s

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Once you have found a group of colleges and universities that you absolutely love and completed the applications that go along with them, the only thing left to do is wait — unless, of course, you are applying for financial aid. college now, and I could not be happier. An education surrounded by strong, smart, independent students of your gender is valuable in that it will provide you with an outlook on life that few are fortunate enough to receive. Also, a women’s college provides countless opportunities for research and internships with professors that would be much harder to come across at a co-ed school. Once you have found a group of colleges and universities that you absolutely love and completed the applications that go along with them, the only thing left to do is wait — unless, of course, you are applying for financial aid. Financial aid will undoubtedly become more important in future years, especially with our economy in the shape it is, so it is important to know exactly what you are looking for in terms of aid and how to apply for it. When forms such as the CSS Profile or the FAFSA start to come out, fill out as much information as you possibly can, then fill in the rest after you have gathered the appropriate tax information. Deadlines are important for school applications, but even more so when applying for financial aid. A few days may not make that much of a difference in your admission to a college or university, but can greatly affect the amount of aid you receive; most financial aid is limited and may be on a first-come, first-served basis. Federal and school-specific aid, however, should not be where you stop. There are a myriad of scholarships available through individual states and organizations, and all you have to do is a little bit of researching. Most of these require a simple essay along with your application, a small price to pay for something that could help put you through college. It does not hurt to apply for as many of these scholarships as possible and with a little luck, you could end up with the majority of your college tuition paid by various, non-federal organizations. After a whirlwind of applications, essays and waiting, you might find yourself wishing that the college process was over sooner than later. As admission decisions arrive in early spring and you prepare to leave high school, you will grow to miss the feeling of anticipation that comes from every look in the mailbox. By the time your last college envelope arrives (hopefully a nice, big one), you will have forgotten about most of the tension and stress that arose from late-night essay sessions or last-minute runs to the post office. Only those moments when you truly felt at home when you stepped into a university, or when you found the perfect sentence to articulate your love for a school, will stick out in your memory. When you hear “college process,” do not focus on the seemingly tedious work required of you, but rather on the institution that you have grown to adore and dream about. There is a college out there for everyone, and no matter where you are, you can succeed and leave a trail for others to follow. All you have to do is make the best of it.

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56 students 30 males, 26 females 22 lifers 445 applications submitted to 159 different colleges and universities across the United States

CLASS OF 2010... SNAPSHOTS Below are some insights from current members of the Ranney School Class of 2010 as they share some of their personal viewpoints and advice on the college process.

Meet Mary Breton

Meet Brittany Cunningham

What did you learn about yourself during the college process?

What has been your most important factor in terms of finding the right fit school? Why?

“Through the college process, I realized how important it is to fill my time with what I love to do, not for how it will look on an activity sheet or résumé. Between academics, extracurricular activities, athletics and community service, I have very limited “free” time. However, because I love my choices and what I’m using my time for, it isn’t really a burden to run from appointment to appointment. I’ve learned somewhere along the way that my overall lack of “free” time does not mean that I lack time in which I can enjoy myself, but rather I’ve been able to follow my passions in a way that is true to me, not someone else’s idea of me.” Her advice for the rising seniors: “Take the time to explore the college you’re looking at in terms of the environment, meaning the campus and the people. Think of what you’d like to do with your life, the kinds of activities you’ll want to do in college and beyond and the types of people with whom you’ll want to start hopefully long-lasting friendships and connections. It’s somewhat of a given that the colleges to which you’re applying have strong academics. So, to find the best fit, you should find a place where you’ll be most at home even if you decide to completely switch majors.”

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“The most important factor for me had to do with the fact that I needed a school that would allow me to explore a few more academic areas before choosing what I wanted to do for my career. I have always been leaning between law and business, and I was too afraid to decide on one or the other without knowing more about the two beforehand. Because of this, I made sure to apply to colleges that I knew would allow me to easily switch between majors, and in some cases, the business and liberal arts schools. I’m so happy that I focused so much of my attention on this factor because I would never want to be stuck on a career path that I didn’t absolutely love.” What part of the application process was the most challenging and why? What did you like most? “The most challenging part of the application process for me was the Common Application essay. I felt like this essay was the most important part of the whole process, which was obviously not true, but I’m glad that I worked so hard on my many, many, rough drafts! I had written three separate essays before one day I came home from school and wrote a new essay in two hours. It turns out that this

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was the best one I had written because it came without anxiety and without any pressure to focus on anything academic. This essay, that I wrote on a complete whim, was the one that I will always be so proud of! My favorite part about the college process was researching all the schools online and going on visits. When I visited the school that I now decided on, I felt an amazing connection with it. I knew from the moment I stepped on campus that this school would be what I would strive for. It never occurred to me before this year that I could feel so strongly about one school.

Meet Dan Burstiner What did you look at most carefully during a college visit? “Honestly, colleges are very similar. They all have their academic buildings, their dorms, their dining halls, and their libraries. Some facilities may be better than others, but all colleges have many similar features. The most important thing to me during my college visit was the type of people who attend the university. This is a very important concept for me because I want to be where people will accept me and where I can get along. I know I would not fit in a school that is based on arts or a school based on sciences. The most important person to me was the tour guide. The tour guide gave me the impression that I would fit in at a school like George Washington University. Her motivation and self-interests gave me the idea that this was the school where I wanted to be. Looking at the type of people who attend the university was the most important characteristic for me.”

What part of the application process was the most challenging and why? What did you like most? “The most challenging part was deciding what schools to apply to. This was most challenging because there are hundreds of schools to choose from with so many great opportunities. The things I liked the most were visiting the schools, being creative with my essay and activity sheet and receiving my acceptance letters.”

Meet Kara Santora What part of the application process was the most challenging and why? What did you like most? “The college essay was the most challenging for me because I really wanted my personality to show through. I originally wrote an essay that I thought the colleges would like to read—academic and stuffy. I asked my friend and fellow senior John Zipp to read it and his reaction was, “This is boring and not you.” So then I just wrote about what I wanted to. It was an unconventional essay—my first paragraph talks about how I met Jude Law. But that’s me and the colleges liked it, I guess. This proved to be fun to write when I wasn’t worrying about what the colleges would think.”

Meet Heather Flynn

Meet Matthew Simpson

Her advice for the rising seniors:

What has been your most important factor in terms of finding the right school? Why?

“Start early! I waited until September and October to write many of my college essays while also taking a heavy course load senior year. While it’s certainly doable, the process would have been less stressful if I had taken a few afternoons out of my summer vacation to write the essays and get my Common Application in order.”

Meet George Parlamas What did you look at most carefully during a college visit? “During a college visit, I paid close attention to what I referred to as ‘the vibes’ on campus. I tried to picture myself on campus during every tour I went on. Over time and many visits, it became easy to distinguish which campuses I could see myself at and which I couldn’t. I also listened carefully to what students said about the school. Whether it was a student working in admissions or just one I met during a lunch in the campus dining hall, their perspective was important and insightful. I learned a lot about schools from what students said to me, some things that admissions committees had left out.”

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Meet Katie Rodriguez

“For me, the most important factor in finding a place that feels comfortable is how I will get along with the other kids. Do they seem approachable? Friendly? Will they be interested in the things I am interested? Can we learn from each other?” What are you looking forward to most about college next year? “I am looking forward to connecting with more kids who are more similar to me. I hope to be able to pursue my interests at a higher level with dedicated and passionate students. I am also looking forward to living in a different part of the country and meeting new people.”

Meet Christopher Tomasetta What did you learn about yourself during the college process? “This process was the first time I actually sat down and evaluated myself. I had always thought about what a cool job would be, and looked at the different options. Looking for colleges forced me to actually think about how I would best fit in each field, and I began to think about the direction I wanted to take.This made me actively look at all of my interests and choose which were important to me.”

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UPDATE ON COLLEGE ADMISSIONS by Myronee Simpson, Director of College Guidance

The Class of 2010 has had a very successful admission cycle to date. At Ranney, the fall application season typically begins in early October, when the seniors determine whether they wish to apply either Early Decision or Early Action and then begin to submit their application materials to the College Office for the November 1st and/or November 15th deadlines. This year, 50 out of 56 seniors (89%) applied either Early Decision or Early Action to colleges. Before the winter break, many of the seniors had already received notification of admission to at least one school, often to one of their top choice colleges. By the end of March, 100% of the senior class was accepted to at least one school for Fall 2010. In all, the Class of 2010 submitted a total of 445 applications to 159 different colleges and universities.The success of the seniors is even more remarkable considering that many colleges and universities reported significant increases in applications during this year’s application cycle. Among the institutions reporting increases in admissions applications were Brown University, University of Chicago, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University and Stanford University. By mid April, most of the seniors have already determined their final college destinations. For the students who have selected their final college choice, they typically were admitted to institutions which represented either their first or second choice school. Some of the more popular college choices for the senior class have been Bucknell University, Columbia University, Franklin & Marshall College,

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Lehigh University and New York University, to name a few. The college choices for the senior class reflects a diversity of schools, small liberal arts colleges, mid-size and large private universities and large public state schools. The month of March is very exciting as college admissions offices transition from the application reading period to “committee review” where each application is reviewed and a final decision is

made by the members of the admission staff. One of the trends that we have observed this year is that colleges moved the timeframe of notification to applicants earlier in the month of March. The College Office congratulates the senior class and looks forward to seeing them achieve future success at college.

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The Class of 2010 will be attending these colleges in the Fall: Bard College

Lehigh University (3)

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Barnard College (2)

Loyola University Maryland

The Catholic University of America

Bentley University

Marist College

The College of Wooster

Boston University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The George Washington University (2)

Bucknell University (2)

Middlebury College

The University of Scranton

Carnegie Mellon University

Monmouth University

Stanford University

College of Charleston (2)

Muhlenberg College (2)

Tufts University

Columbia University (2)

New York University (5)

Tulane University

Duke University (2)

Northeastern University

University of Delaware

Emory University (2)

Princeton University

University of Miami

Fordham University

Quinnipiac University

University of Michigan

Franklin & Marshall College (2)

Rollins College

University of Pennsylvania

Georgetown University

Rutgers, The State University

Ursinus College

Hofstra University

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of New Jersey (2)

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The students of the Class of 2010 were offered admission to the following colleges or universities: Albright College

Emerson College (2)

Middlebury College

Sarah Lawrence College

UC Santa Cruz

Allegheny College (2)

Emory University (3)

Monmouth University (3)

American University (3)

Endicott College

Moravian College

School Museum of Fine Arts

United States Naval Academy

Arcadia University (2)

Fairfield University (3)

Muhlenberg College (2)

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

University of Colorado at Boulder

Babson College

Flagler College

New York University (9)

School of Visual Arts

University of Delaware (2)

Bard College (2)

Florida Southern College

Northeastern University (4)

Skidmore College

Barnard College (2)

Fordham University (4)

Northwestern University

Stanford University

University of Maryland, College Park

Bentley University (2)

Franklin & Marshall College (5)

Ohio State University

Stetson University

Ohio Wesleyan University

Stevens Institute of Technology (2)

Binghamton University Boston College (2) Boston University (2)

Georgetown University (4) Georgia Institute of Technology

Otis College of Art

University of Miami (2) University of Michigan (2) University of Notre Dame

Oxford College, Emory University

Stony Brook University (2)

University of Pennsylvania (4)

Susquehanna University

University of Pittsburgh

Pace University (2)

The Catholic University of America(4)

University of Redlands

Penn State University Philadelphia University

The College of New Jersey

Hofstra University (3)

Pratt Institute

The College of Wooster

University of Southern California

James Madison University

Princeton University

The Cooper Union

University of Virginia

Johns Hopkins University

Providence College

Ursinus College

Johnson & Wales University

Quinnipiac University

The George Washington University (2)

College of Charleston (4)

La Salle University (2)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

College of the Holy Cross

Lafayette College

Rice University

Columbia University (2)

Lehigh University (5)

Dartmouth College (2)

Brandeis University (3) Bryant University Bucknell University (2) California Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University (3) Case Western Reserve University

Dickinson College (2) Drew University (6) Drexel University (7) Duke University (3) Eckerd College Elmira College

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Gettsyburg College Harvey Mudd College Hobart and William Smith Colleges

The University of the Arts The University of Chicago

University of South Carolina

Vanderbilt University (2) Vassar College (2) Villanova University

Rider University (4)

The University of San Francisco (2)

Wake Forest University

Loyola University Maryland (3)

Roger Williams University

The University of Scranton (3)

Rollins College

Washington University in St. Louis (3)

The University of Tampa (3)

Loyola University New Orleans

Rutgers University (15)

Towson University

Sacred Heart University (3)

Tufts University

Saint Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University (2)

Tulane University (3)

Salve Regina University

UC San Diego

San Francisco Art Institute

UC Santa Barbara

Marist College Maryland Institute College of Art Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2)

Whittier College Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Santa Clara University

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From Pennsylvania Faculty and Student Highlights from the Spring College Trip by Myronee Simpson

The College Office sponsors an annual college trip for juniors During our visit to Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, we were greeted by Mr. Michael Materasso, Assistant Director of

and sophomores to visit college campuses and in early March, Admissions at Lafayette and brother of Mr. Adam Materasso, Ranney students visited a range of schools in the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and Central NJ. Over the course of two and a half days, they visited three liberal arts colleges (Lafayette College, Swarthmore College and Ursinus College), a mid-sized Jesuit institution (Saint Joseph’s University) and an Ivy League school (Princeton University). During these visits, Ranney students toured the various campuses, attended information sessions hosted by admissions representatives and, most importantly, met with Ranney alumni at the respective schools who shared their perspective about academics and student life on campus.

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Associate Director of College Guidance. Michael gave the information session and after an extensive campus tour, our group ate in the student center dining hall where we were joined by Ranney alumni Ed Epple ’08, Terrin Kalian ’09 and Nicole Maguire ’09. The group then traveled to nearby Lehigh University in Bethlehem for an information session with the Admissions Office followed by a campus tour. During the campus tour, we were joined by Ranney alumni Arika Aggarwal ’08, Will McGinty ’08, and Millie Shah ’08. On the next day, students had the choice of visiting either Swarthmore College or St. Joseph’s University followed by an afternoon visit to Ursinus College. At St. Joseph’s University, we were greeted by Ranney alumni Shannon Gelson ’08 and Allison Lyttle ’09. Mr. Materasso, who accompanied the group, commented that “St. Joe’s is a school that continues to grow its facilities and program offerings, especially with the recent addition of the former Episcopal Academy campus.” He further remarked, “Our students were able to get a good sense of the community because the campus was a haven of activity and the St. Joe’s students went out of their way to welcome us and answer any questions.”

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to Princeton Our trip concluded with a tour of Princeton University. Ranney alumni and current Princeton undergraduates Kate Fitzgerald ’07 and Christina Henricks ’09 gave an excellent presentation as they led our group on a tour of Princeton’s historic campus. While the college trip does provide students opportunities to visit schools where they may eventually apply, they can also use these visits to help them to narrow down their college search. Ranney juniors Devin Green and Thomas Najmy attended the college trip and they both commented enthusiastically about their experiences. Devin remarked, “The college trip was so informative. Before the trip, I was unsure about what type of campus setting I wanted, either a small city or a rural campus. I really liked Lafayette’s campus and the people I met. Also, listening to the admissions officers during the information sessions really helped to clarify the college process for me.” These trips provide students opportunities to visit campuses in areas where they had not expected to apply. Before the college trip, Thomas did

not envision himself attending a school in Pennsylvania. He visited Lafayette College and Lehigh University and liked them both. As Thomas explained, “The college trip provided me with the opportunity to see more schools; what I most enjoyed about the trip was seeing campuses with my peers and learning how to visit a college campus.”

Early spring is an opportune time to visit college campuses and witness student life in action. As our students can attest, visiting a college campus can have a powerful influence on the type of schools where a student will eventually apply. We strongly believe that there is no substitute for visiting a campus, and we encourage students to take advantage of opportunities during spring break and the summer months to visit college campuses.

Myra Simpson with current Princeton undergraduates Kate Fitzgerald ’07 (left) and Christina Henricks ’09

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From New York CRUSSH, not just the name of a soft drink by Myronee Simpson

n late April, I had the opportunity to experience CRUSSH, not the soft drink brand, but the acronym for one of the most established and longest running college visit programs for college guidance counselors in the country. Approaching its fortieth year, CRUSSH stands for Colgate, Rensselaer, Union, Skidmore, Syracuse, and Hamilton, six of the nation’s elite colleges and universities. Because of the popularity of this program and the limited number of spots available each year, counselors often register several years in advance before they are formally invited to participate in the tour. I initially pre-registered for CRUSSH in the fall of 2005 and was thrilled, when at the end of last summer, I finally received an invitation to attend the program for April, 2010. Over the course of four days, I had an opportunity to travel with sixty other guidance counselors to visit each of these unique institutions. We began the CRUSSH Tour with a visit to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in nearby Troy, NY. RPI is the nation’s oldest technological university and is widely recognized as one of the top schools in the country for architecture, science and engineering. Paul Marthers, RPI’s Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, gave the welcome and an admissions overview on behalf of RPI’s admission staff. The next stop on the tour was Skidmore College, located in Saratoga Springs, famous for horse racing and natural springs. The bus driver dropped our group off in downtown Saratoga Springs, so we were able to walk through the heart of the downtown area on the way to the campus. Skidmore is known for its strong programs in creative disciplines such as Creative Writing, English and Studio Art. A community of 2,400 undergraduates, the school’s motto is “Creative Thought Matters” which defines every aspect of life at Skidmore. On day two, we arrived at Union College in Schenectady, NY, which is a short drive from the State Capitol. During our time

on campus, we met with the college president, Dr. Stephen Ainley, who spoke about the distinctive features of Union. Founded in 1795, Union is in its third century as an institution of higher learning. Union is one of the few liberal arts colleges that offers pre-professional programs in engineering and medicine. One of their unique programs is Leadership in Medicine, a seven-year combined degree program with nearby Albany Medical College. During our next visit to Hamilton College, we encountered a rare experience for Northeasterners, a late April snowstorm! On the final day of CRUSSH, we visited Syracuse University. Because of the size of the campus and its numerous programs, our group had a limited amount of time to learn about some of the academic schools. The three undergraduate schools that we had the Colgate University opportunity to visit were the School of Architecture, the Whitman School of Management, and the Newhouse School of Public Communications, all recognized as some of the nation’s premier schools in their respective disciplines. On our final stop, we traveled to Colgate University, which is located in Hamilton, NY. During my visit, I met up with Jennifer Tendler ’08, who is completing her second year at Colgate as a science major. She told me that she is enjoying her experience at Colgate and is looking forward to next year. Each year, parents and students in our community ask the following question, “How do colleges and universities know about Ranney School?” The answer is two-fold; the colleges send representatives to visit our school during the year, and our office participates in organized programs at schools across the country to learn more about their campuses, interact with admissions staff members, and represent Ranney to the larger community. One of the best aspects of CRUSSH was the opportunity to see a variety of schools, big and small. Another major benefit of this program is when I visit these schools, I am better able to visualize if a school would be a strong match for a student. Spending time visiting colleges and universities ultimately helps me to be a better counselor for Ranney students and their families.

Syracuse University

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to Ohio

Visit Ohio Today

by Adam Materasso, Associate Director of College Guidance

elping students find the right “fit” school is my top priority as a college counselor. Each year, several college consortiums host visitation programs for college and guidance counselors. During these visits, we take in-depth tours of the campus, meet with the admissions staff members including our school’s representative and hear from current students, professors and administrators (including the President), while sampling the college atmosphere in an effort to get a feel for the climate at each particular school. Spending four or five hours on each campus makes my job as a counselor easier when it comes to recommending schools that would best serve the needs and wants of my students. In mid-April, I visited six liberal arts colleges in central Ohio. After a quick 90-minute plane ride from Newark Liberty International Airport to Columbus Regional Airport, I was greeted by members of the Wittenberg University admissions staff and the other fifty guidance counselors from across the United States. Our first stop was Kenyon College, a beautiful hilltop campus of 1,600 undergraduates in Gambier, Ohio. Having been impressed by their facilities, particularly the 263,000 square foot Kenyon Athletic Center, there was a noticeable sense of community among the students, professors and administrators that extended beyond being cordial to each other. Continuing classroom discussions outside of the academic buildings is a common practice for students as they always put their best foot forward and take advantage of the rigorous academics. Our next stop was Wittenberg University, a rolling hills campus with 1,900 students in the city of Springfield. As a community of engaged students with an extremely active alumni network, their motto “Having a light, we pass it on to others” most definitely describes what they do both on campus and within the greater community. Our second day began with a visit to Oberlin College, a school just outside of Cleveland with 2,800 students that uniquely comOhio Wesleyan University

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bines a leading College of Arts and Sciences with a worldrenowned Conservatory of Music. Because of the rigorous academics and endless research opportunities, graduates from Oberlin have gone on to earn more Ph.D’s than any other college in the country. Diversity exists in so many forms on their 440 acre, eco-friendly campus that is rich in history. Our second stop was the College of Wooster, an institution where 1,854 “independent minds work together” to complete a yearlong mentored research Independent Study project. Thinking “outside of the box” is what Wooster students do regularly both in the classroom and during the 7,000 scheduled events that take place each year on this very busy campus with tree-lined paths and Gothic arches. Our final day began with an early morning visit to Denison University in Granville, a suburb of the state capital, Columbus. Their 900 acre campus includes a 550 acre biological reserve campus and has a blend of historic and modern buildings. Given the emphasis on interactive learning, lecture halls do not exist on this student-centered campus. Everyone participates in community service and Denison is proud of its twenty-four student service committees. The test optional policy for admission may also appeal to you! We concluded our program with a visit to Ohio Wesleyan University. Celebrating diversity year-round has been integrated into both the curriculum and student activities program. Their Fresh X pre-orientation adventure programs are lauded by the students and ensure a smooth transition to college. If you are concerned about spending the next four years of your life in Ohio, consider what one student from Kenyon College said: “Four years in the country. There is a very specific kind of student here that embraces the rural lifestyle for four years and takes advantage of the time to self-reflect.” As you identify the most important factors in finding the right college, consider the Midwest and take a trip to Ohio. You will be welcomed by the local people and impressed by their hospitality.

College of Wooster

Oberlin College

5/18/10 7:41:39 AM

REFLECTION It’s March 2nd at Bard College and the sun is shining for the first time in what feels like a

month.The snow on the ground, aging somewhere between two and three weeks, is finally starting to melt, giving hope to Bardians that spring may actually be around the corner. It’s certainly taken some time to adjust to the never-ending Upstate New York winters. While I remain crazily anxious for spring to arrive, I am puzzled by the fact that just a year ago I was at Ranney awaiting school acceptances (or rejections). For me, the application process by Jesse Feldmus ’09 Jesse Feldmus ’09 and Ranney

was quite the self-challenge. I pushed myself to better understand who I was and what it

Lifer is a first year student at Bard

was that I wanted from a school. It is only now that I can look back and reflect upon the

College in Annandale-on-Hudson,

entire process, from building my list of schools, to making the final decision. Although each

New York.

individual’s college process is unique, my experience was quite interesting. My mother is always one to say “things happen for a reason.” While I have my doubts about such a phrase, the way in which my college process developed made me reconsider those doubts. After visiting twice during the summer, I decided to apply early decision to Skidmore College. Without fully understanding what it was I wanted from the school, I thought it would be a perfect fit. I felt rushed into making a decision based solely on the fact that I am an extremely impulsive person. During the time between mailing my application to Skidmore and receiving their admissions decision, I took the time to revisit the reasons I chose to apply Early Decision to Skidmore. It was during this time that I ultimately realized the reasons I applied were not based on what I wanted, but on the false perception that one needs to find/know what they want as quickly as possible in order to have a leg up. After truthfully acknowledging this fact, I decided that Bard was a better fit for me. To make an extremely long story short,

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I was ultimately deferred from Skidmore, allowing me to select the school that was best for me. Things weirdly did happen for a reason, but also a strategy to the process. If I learned anything, it would be to remain true to yourself and your desires. You should know what you want. I don’t necessarily mean know what you want to study, (I’m only a second semester freshman and I’ve already changed my major twice) but perhaps what type of person you want become, how that school can make that happen, and if that school embodies values that you share. For me, no school other than Bard was able to satisfy those desires. As the Class of 2010 awaits their college acceptances, they are also awaiting a lifechanging decision. If anything, I advise taking this waiting time and using it to revisit all those questions I asked myself just a year ago. The better you understand yourself, the better fit your school of choice will be.

5/18/10 7:42:16 AM

From left: Patricia Adams ’02, Colleen Adams ’05, Katherine Adams ’09 and Dennis Adams ’03

The Parent Perspective by Maryellen Adams

As a parent of four Ranney graduates, Patricia ’02, Dennis ’03, Colleen ’05 and Katie ’09, I have spent the better part of the last decade immersed in the college process.Traveling as far west as California, south to North Carolina and north to Boston with several stops in between, I have amassed an impressive amount of miles on the journey (both figuratively and literally) as each child searched for that perfect spot to spend the next four years. Although stressful at times, upon reflection, some of my best memories with my children were spent on college road trips. Even though as parents we have a significant amount of input and influence on the college choices our children make, it is important to remember that it is their decision. We are not going to spend the next four years on the campus that they ultimately choose. Letting go is not easy, but it is important to be mindful of what it is that your son or daughter is looking for in a college. Each child’s preferences are as different as each one of their personalities. In addition, sometimes they change their criteria for the perfect school several times throughout the process. It would have been so easy if each one of my children had a first choice, applied and was accepted Early Decision, thus completing the process by December 15. However, there were several decisions made on the May 1 deadline! The college process does not have to be a traumatic experience. Ranney provides

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excellent support and guidance to each student to help him or her navigate the process. The best thing you can do for your child is to help your son or daughter keep the deadlines that the college office sets and consider a variety of schools. Here are a few of the most important tips I can offer as a veteran of the process:

Visit as many schools as you can when the college is in session. This provides a great opportunity to interact with students and to experience the campus environment. In addition to the information session and guided tour, take some extra time to linger on campus and talk to students.

Set realistic parameters as far as distance, programs and size of school before developing a college list. If you know that your son or daughter does not want

to be too far from home or would not be comfortable at a larger school, this can narrow your search.

Encourage your child to get a head start on applications during the summer before senior year. This will allow the student to devote some real quality time to each essay and will help in meeting deadlines, eliminating stress once school starts.

Have your child apply to several schools but only apply to schools that he/she would be willing to attend. It is more important to love your “safety” schools than your “reach” schools.

Make sure your child understands that a rejection is not a reflection on him or her and their ability. Sometimes colleges simply have too many qualified applicants for a very limited number of spots. Admissions committees are “building a class” and therefore need to make their selection based on a variety of factors. They are looking for a well-rounded class, not just well-rounded students.

When it is time to make the final decision, allow your child to trust his/her intuition. At this point, you should remind your child that he or she will not make a “wrong” decision. It is important to tell them that they have to make the choice that is right for them, not what everyone else thinks is right.

5/18/10 7:42:31 AM

Closing Reflection

ne of the advantages to being the Head of School is that I have the privilege of watching the growth of this institution in every facet that one can imagine. As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, I am reminded each time I drive on campus of the physical transformation that has occurred over the course of the last 17 years. In June, as I shake the hands of each member of the graduating class, I am always proud of the mature young men and women standing before me. As an institution, we continue to attract students gifted in academics, athletics and the arts; students who embody the spirit of our community. Russell Ranney envisioned a school that would enrich the lives of children, providing them with countless opportunities to foster and challenge their love of learning. I am so proud and honored to say that we are living his vision in 2010. My tenure at Ranney affords me a dynamic vantage point from which to reflect upon the rich history and tremendous growth of our Upper School and College Guidance Program. As I consider the path of a Ranney student, and specifically one in the Upper School, I find myself returning to several key points that I would like to share. • Ranney families are well-versed in the college process by the time their child enters the Upper School. Our students attend numerous school-sponsored college trips, countless workshops and are visited by the Deans of Admission of highly selective universities such as Yale University and University of Notre Dame. • Our College Guidance program focuses on the match and the journey, not just the college destination. • In an effort to pursue their passions, Ranney students are encouraged to attend challenging and enriching summer programs at the New Jersey Governor’s Schools, Stevens Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Brown University summer sessions, Ringling College and Pratt Institute’s pre-college art programs,Vassar College’s Powerhouse Theater Program and many more. • Ranney students excel in state-wide academic competitions in science, math and the arts. • Ranney seniors traditionally earn over $2,200,000 in scholarship awards annually. • The Capstone Program, a student-directed yearlong, cross-disciplinary research project, enriches our student’s academic portfolios by demonstrating the ability to research and work independently. • Ranney has a 19:1 student to counselor ratio. • Ranney students are accepted to their 1st or 2nd choice college over 80% of the time! With a nationally recognized College Guidance team, every student receives expert assistance, steering them in a positive direction and leading them to a quality outcome! When Dr. Jeffrey Brenzel,Yale University’s Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, came to Ranney two years ago, he said that “...what matters most isn’t where you end up going to school, but rather, what you do after you get there.” He reinforced the importance of optimizing the college experience by taking advantage of all the learning opportunities available. He also praised Ranney School for providing so many learning opportunities and shared with the students that “if you take advantage of Ranney, then you are putting yourself on the path to getting into a great school.” It is important to remember that during the college application cycle our students are on a journey to discover and define themselves. Best of all, each child receives individualized attention from counselors who have a deep understanding of their interests, talents and goals. I am reminded daily of the changing scope of college admissions and all of the added pressures that exist for young people entering this process today, I am confident in knowing that Ranney students have an edge. With a caring community of parents, students, faculty, and staff, Ranney students will find their passions, challenge themselves in and out of the classroom and head off to the college of their choice prepared to make the most of their new opportunitues. Ranney in the 21st century will continue to chart a path that provides endless opportunities for its graduates. I look forward to taking this journey with you. Best regards,

Lawrence S. Sykoff, Ed.D Head of School

Did You Know?

A Hidden Pearl on Florida’s Coast

recent years, the University of Miami has been one of the most popular out-of-state choices for Ranney School students. In fact, eleven students in the Class of 2010 applied for admission to the University of Miami for Fall, 2010. One of the University of Miami’s rising competitors for applicants is the University of Tampa. During a visit to Florida in February, Ms. Simpson had the opportunity to visit the University of Tampa and was completely amazed! The University of Tampa is truly a hidden gem among schools in the Southeast. Here are some distinguishing features of the University of Tampa: Population University of Tampa boasts a total student population of just over 6,000 students with more than half of the students coming from outside of the state of Florida. Many

of the students come from the Northeast; in fact, the two states with the second and third highest number of students in University of Tampa’s population are New York and New Jersey, respectively. Location For the student seeking a contained campus setting nearby a city, University of Tampa’s campus offers the best of both worlds, a beautiful historic campus located on Tampa’s famed Riverwalk which is just a short stroll from the downtown area of Tampa. Internships Communications, Management and Nursing rank among the top five highest enrolled undergraduate majors at University of Tampa. The campus location provides students prime opportunities for internships. Students majoring in sports management benefit from Tampa being the home to

three professional sports franchises (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rays, and Lightning), and nearby Clearwater is the spring training base for the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. Communications majors have access to two newspapers (The Tampa Tribune and The St. Pete Times Forum). Tampa General Hospital, the facility most often used by nursing students for clinical experiences, is also a short walk from campus. Cost University of Tampa’s total cost (tuition, fees, room and board) this year comes to $30,778, making it a relative bargain among private institutions. In addition, generous merit scholarships are offered to incoming students, offsetting the already reasonable price tag.