Like many of you, I envisioned this summer a little differently. I’d spent hours researching the right Airbnb, in just the right location to spend two weeks with my closest friends on a writing retreat in France. Ms. Middleton was headed to Italy, Ms. Dunne was hoping to take her grandson to Ireland and Mr. Almonte had planned a summer full of travel. Needless to say, we were  all headed to far-flung destinations. 

Well…nobody expects a global pandemic to wipe that all away. Yet, here we are. And while it’s perfectly normal to dwell on what could have been and grieve what we’ve lost, it’s also time to start reimagining what this summer will actually look like. This is the task of high school students all across the world who find that their pre-college programs have moved to remote learning or internships and summer jobs are no longer in-person or are canceled all together.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to be active and engaged with the world around us. 

Self-care

Now more than ever, the “self-care” feels like more than the latest buzz phrase. We recognize that students spend much of their time according to heavily packed schedules. Though being in quarantine has loosened things up a bit, it’s fair to say that even the calmest among us is feeling the stress and strain brought on by the changes in our world. It’s important to take the time to do something that makes you feel happy. This could be as simple as a daily walk (while wearing your mask) or journaling or playing a musical instrument. For Mr. Almonte, self-care means a cup of tea in the morning and online gaming as a way to stay close to friends. Ms. Williams likes  to start her morning writing what author Julia Cameron “morning pages” and trying new things in the kitchen like making fresh ricotta (it’s easy!) are bringing her joy. Ms. Middleton’s mornings include a little more shut eye and more cooking than she’s normally able to do.

This is the time to try that craft that you’ve put off because you’re too busy, or pick a book from the stack of books you’ve been meaning to read. If you have a library card, you can download books to a Kindle app or listen to an audiobook at no cost.  It’s also important to remember that when we say self-care,  we are also talking  about  taking good care of our mental health in stressful times. There may be times when the best thing to do, is nothing at all. And sometimes, that’s okay. We encourage you to find activities that make you feel joyful, even in the smallest of ways. 

Start local

If community engagement has always been part of your life or even if you’re getting involved for the first time, don’t be discouraged by the way being quarantined may have limited your options. Instead, think about how technology will make for a volunteer experience that might extend past New York City. 

We’ve always said that you don’t have to get on a plane to give back. There has never been a shortage of ways to help your community and the COVID-19 pandemic has, unfortunately, magnified the hardships that many are facing. If you look around your neighborhood or even the larger New York City community, you will find that there are a myriad of ways to get involved. Is there an elderly neighbor who needs help with errands or can you create a fundraiser to assist a local food pantry? There are hundreds of non-profit organizations out there looking for volunteers. 

Be Flexible

If you already had plans to do a pre-college program or summer camp that has moved to a remote learning plan, don’t be afraid to to stick with it! Even through zoom (or other platforms) there remains the opportunity to explore subject matter that was previously unfamiliar, deepen your knowledge of something you are already passionate about, view leadership in a new way, and engage with peers all across the country and the world. 

If you want to find an educational program to follow at your leisure, take a look at the open courseware at institutions and organizations like edX and UC Irvine Open. There are over a dozen of these kinds of programs available to students at no cost. 

Be Authentic

When college admissions reps sit down to read your application, they are ultimately looking to get to know who you are. They do this through reading your essays, letters of recommendations, and of course the transcript of your grades and courses. But when they look at your list of extracurricular activities, they aren’t counting to see whether or not you use all 10 slots provided by the Common App, nor is there a checklist of activities you must complete, rather they are looking to see how what you do with your free time complements the other aspects of your application. They’re looking for authenticity, real interests that might excite you. As you choose ways to spend your time, focus on the things that make you happy, the subjects that excite you. 

Final Thoughts

Ultimately summer planning is not about checking off a box on your applications for the benefit college admissions offices. It’s about the opportunity for self-care, self-discovery, and the potential to further your learning in a way that fulfills you. We live in a world where technology can bring us closer together, whether that’s through a class taught on zoom or 

So how is the college office reimagining our summer? Instead of the classrooms of 181 we’ll host our essay writing workshops and continue to help the class of 2021 to prepare for the fall applications virtually if necessary.  But we’ve also reimagined the ways we will spend our summer vacations.  Ms. Middleton hopes to spend more time in Long Island, Ms. Williams’ writing retreat will be at her parents’ house in Philly, Mr. Almonte is going to spend his summer writing and reaching his fitness goals.  While these may not have been the exact plans we had hoped for, we are embracing the summer for the possibility of what it could be. 

We encourage you to do the same.

 

When you had your family appointment and we handed you a preliminary list of colleges to consider with a bunch of other docs, the following was included. In case you missed this initial set of tips, look no further! Or, no, look further. Just look here, too. And, don’t miss these Additional Tips.

Academic Experience

• You may not need to know your major in order to assess a college’s or university’s fit for your academic interests. Start with examining the structure for completing General Degree Requirements. You will discover that some have distribution or structured core requirements while others have a more open curriculum with very few courses required. Knowing yourself and how you might navigate an open vs. a structured program might help you choose which is the right option for you. 
• If you do have a specific major in mind, make sure to review important details about what makes that program unique to others you might be researching. Department Websites often include research interests of faculty, multiple areas of focus or concentration within a given major, summer study or study abroad, independent study options, and more. If you have questions about the details, consider reaching out to the admissions office or directly to faculty to get your answers. Note whether applying to your major might make selection more competitive and what might happen if you change your mind.

Connecting with Faculty

• Student to Teacher Ratio is the number of full-time or full-time equivalent* (FTE) students divided by the number of full-time or FTE faculty. If the colleges and universities you’re considering have part-time faculty who are practitioners (often key in the arts, architecture, business entrepreneurship or engineering), the contributions of part-time faculty, and their availability, may be significant as would their experience in the field. Ask questions about faculty and student interactions that go beyond just the numbers.

        * Full-time-equivalent means full-time plus the full-time equivalent of part-time (1/3 for each faculty member).

• To learn more about interaction with faculty, consider asking about Average Class Size or better yet, ask your guide for the size of each of his or her classes in the freshman year as well as in the major. With the opportunity for smaller classes, you will have more opportunity to connect with your professors and engage in academic discussions. Of course, there may be some larger classes for some majors, but a balance of smaller classes may allow you to adapt more easily to your academic environment, even at a larger college or university. Also ask how often students utilize faculty office hours.

Support Services

• While you are exploring how students might connect with faculty, also be sure to investigate Faculty/Staff Advising. With whom will you discuss course selections, major choices, internships, or research? When are you expected to choose your major and how are major advisors assigned? Who will be available to guide you should you have some hiccups along the way? How do students talk about their relationships with faculty? Are they mentored, nurtured, encouraged, engaged? 
• Even the strongest of students may need to access Academic Resources on their campus in the form of a writing center, math or chemistry help rooms, or peer tutors. How does your college or university support students? If you are a student with a diagnosed physical or learning disability, you will need to register with the Office of Disability Services upon enrollment in order to receive services. Explore the resources available. Will you need updated diagnostic testing to receive services?
  

Co-curricular Resources

• Colleges and universities with a pre-professional focus are not the only ones who talk about the many ways they make Practical Experience available to their students. Liberal arts colleges have specialized programs to connect students with internships, research (sometimes even in the first-year), and study abroad or domestic exchanges that enhance the academic experience and help to put theory into practice. Pursuing these opportunities will guarantee a resume ready for the job search, regardless of what you choose as a major. 
• As early as your first year, be sure to connect to Career Education/Development, Global Programs and Centers for Research to learn more about how to make this happen. It may take careful planning to fit all your interests into your four-year plan, so it’s important to start early (it does go by quickly). And, remember that funding is often available for each of these kinds of programs even if an internship is unpaid or you are relying on campus-based financial aid and want to study abroad at an affiliated college or university program.

Success and Completion

• The Graduation Rate is based upon a cohort’s completion within a standard of 6 years. For each college or university, these numbers are readily available in Family Connection, on College Board’s Big Future, or via the College Scorecard. Some colleges and universities may have an abundance of part-time students or students may have difficulty in getting required courses. However, even at some of the most selective colleges, there could be many reasons why students may not graduate in 4 years—professional pursuits, illness, late change in major or program—be sure to ask why? 
• The Retention Rate is the percentage of a college or university’s first-time, first-year undergraduate students who continue at that college or university for the next year.  Generally, if a student considers transferring, it’s usually during the first year, so a high retention rate may indicate happy students.

Financial Aid Policies

• As you research Financial Aid, there are handy tools and terms for you to learn. First, we encourage you to use the Net Price Calculator, a tool available on all colleges’ and universities’ websites, created as a consumer tool to allow families to determine a college’s cost, after taking grants and scholarship aid into account. Use this at each school to see estimate costs. Note that complicated financial circumstances may not be reflected in the NPC and may require follow up with the college’s financial aid office for a more accurate estimate. 
• Note what kind of aid policy each college or university follows. Are they Need Blind or Need Sensitive? Under need-blind admissions, the college or university decides whether to make an offer of admission to a student without considering the financial situation. Under need-sensitive or need-aware admissions, the college or university may take the student’s financial situation into account when deciding whether to offer admission. In this case, need often becomes a factor when deciding to accept a borderline student. Though a college may be need-sensitive, this does not mean they will not admit students with need, even when need is high. 
• Is the aid at your college or university need-based only or does it also offer merit aid? Need-based aid is awarded based on your family’s financial need. Colleges and universities with this policy determine your need by subtracting your expected family contribution (EFC) from the cost of attendance (COA). Merit aid is awarded without regard for financial need. This type of aid is usually awarded for academic achievements and/or special talents, such as musical or athletic skills. Some colleges will offer both. 
• How effectively do the colleges and universities you are considering meet need? Generally, those with the most resources are able to meet full demonstrated need (a very small number do this with no loans), while others may only meet a portion of that need. Some may meet need of stronger students, while gapping the need of others, providing a preferential financial aid package to students with stronger academic profiles while leaving a gap in a financial aid between the college or university’s cost and how much need they will meet for other students. Use the College Scorecard, SCOIR, or College Board’s Big Future to determine the percentage of need met and average cost.

Important Resources Noted Above

The College Scorecard

College Board’s Big Future

Net Price Calculator Center

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. The class of 2019 is looking towards their next adventure and the class of 2020 spent their last day of school thinking about how they’ll begin to craft their unique stories to share with colleges come the fall. In the College Office we are busy planning welcoming the newly minted Seniors back for a series of common application essay workshops led by Carolyn and Khaliah. 

While we hope your summer is off to a good start, we want to share some advice with you. For the last two years the BC College Office has run a series of morning meetings over coffee with the parents of 9th and 10th graders. Each time, we’ve sought to change the format for our time together so that we approach the college process from a myriad of angles. Back in May, we hosted a panel of college admission experts to share their first-hand knowledge with the BC community. 

We invited our in-house experts, Eugenie H. and Maddie E. to talk about their experiences over the past year. They were open and honest about the natural ups and downs of the college admissions process, how to deal with parents, and the value of working closely with their BC counselor. 

Our college experts, Darren Drabek (Lake Forest College, IL) and Sarah Vallancourt (Barnard College) traveled from near and far to offer their perspective on (among other things) the changing tides in college admission and the purpose of an applicant’s essay. 

Lastly, we wanted to be sure that we included all the voices in the college conversation. Dr. Felicia Eve, mother of Michael ‘17, Madison ‘19, and Maxwell ‘22, has gone through the college process twice, and was able to offer her valuable insight on best practices for parents approaching college admissions. 

We hope that the knowledge each of our experts have shared helps deepen your understanding of what the college process can look like for an individual student, family, and post-secondary institution.

You can hear what our panel of experts had to say by clicking on this link.