This blog from Georgia Tech admissions does a great job in delineating how to ask questions in a way that will prove most helpful to a student. I particularly like this blog as it reinforces for the student that it is their responsibility to dig deeper into each school to better understand how a particular college will serve a student. Similarly, this article talks about important questions students should keep in mind when visiting the disability office at a college being considered. The questions you ask may not only generate new questions for you in determining if a college is the right fit, but these questions may also allow the student to better understand their unique needs and the importance of ensuring their academic needs can be met at the college they choose.
When creating a college list and planning college visits, consider a strategy to learn the critical information about each college that will impact your decision to apply. Students should work to not only have a balanced college list, but they should also ensure that all of the colleges on the list will be a good fit. Determining what makes a college a good fit for a student takes time, as factors such as location, areas of study, academic fit, support services, etc. all need to be taken into account. I have found that creating a mindset of knowing the right questions to ask about a college is important to determine if a student should apply. What might be a good fit for one student, may be a poor fit for another.
This blog from Georgia Tech admissions does a great job in delineating how to ask questions in a way that will prove most helpful to a student. I particularly like this blog as it reinforces for the student that it is their responsibility to dig deeper into each school to better understand how a particular college will serve a student. Similarly, this article talks about important questions students should keep in mind when visiting the disability office at a college being considered. The questions you ask may not only generate new questions for you in determining if a college is the right fit, but these questions may also allow the student to better understand their unique needs and the importance of ensuring their academic needs can be met at the college they choose.
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The number of test optional colleges has been increasing over the years, and with that increase comes some amount of confusion. There are nuances to the test-optional focus, as some colleges are test optional for certain programs and not others, some are test optional for in-state students only, and some will consider a test optional student who has a GPA above a certain level. Still others will not consider test scores for admission, but will want the scores for students that are accepted. The message here is that students must do their research when adding test-optional colleges to their list. Students should begin by reviewing the websites of each college, and then contact the admissions office to clarify any questions regarding your particular situation. Be thoughtful in your contact with the admissions office, as you will hopefully be building a relationship with them as you demonstrate your interest in their college. Here is an article that lists some great colleges that are test optional for you to explore. In addition, the article reviews important questions for you to ask admissions representatives when you reach out to them.
Some high school students are very clear about what they want to study in college, but most students are not clear at all. This video from Boston University helps students to see that they can take their time and explore their interests while in college. To many professionals in the college admission process, entering college without a major provides students with an opportunity to explore a variety of interests. For this blog post, I would like to share with you a variety of resources on the topic of choosing a major as well as the importance of being open to exploring opportunities in a variety of college settings. First, here is an article about taking a liberals arts path towards a career in high tech. This is a great article to help students see there is not one path or approach to success in a specific career.
Spending a few minutes exploring some basic concepts about choosing a major can be helpful, and this article does a good job in laying the groundwork. Big Future also has amazing resources to search through majors and careers that can be found at the right of the article. It is true that some students and parents worry that if a student decides late on a major or changes a major, it can impact their ability to graduate in 4 years. This article explains research regarding these concerns. I believe the message for high school students is to think about areas of interest and possibly have a focus or major in mind when you get to college, while being open to the idea that this might change. Here is a worksheet to help you think through areas of study that could be a good fit for you. But if you don’t determine a major before college, or if you change your mind while in college, you should feel confident that it is all part of your journey. As PSAT scores will be released next week to students, it might be a helpful time to review the issues around accommodations for SAT and ACT testing for students with disabilities. It is great news that the College Board recently announced that they will be making it easier for students with disabilities to receive accommodations starting in January. Read more about the changes at the College Board for 2017 and how this might impact your family. In addition, here is information on obtaining accommodations for the ACT.
Keep in mind that receiving accommodations is something you want to discuss with your high school counselor in a timely fashion. Discussing with your counselor when you would like to take the test is a first start, and then beginning the paperwork process to ensure you are able to meet your time frame will follow. This leads to the question of when is the best time to take the ACT or SAT? There is no one answer for all students. Here is an article that talks about some of the variables to consider. If you are not sure about how to best handle the test taking options for your situation, talk it through with your counselor. There are different variables to consider such as the challenges in taking it Spring of junior year with all of the heavy academics of that period of time, as well as what level math the student has taken before they sit for the exam. Talk about your situation with your counselor and you will be able to come up with a plan that meets your needs. Although most of the focus of high school seniors and juniors is getting accepted to the school of their choice, another area of focus should also be on their radar. That other area is ensuring students have the skills to actually be successful in college. Getting into college does not assure that a student will be successful in college. A recent article talked about the types of students who thrive academically in college, and those who struggle academically. The article refers to them as “thrivers” and “divers”. These are students who began college with similar high school grades but began to achieve differently in college. Read the article to learn more about this topic.
Additionally, it would be helpful for students and parents to be aware of what some colleges consider to be the important skills for success. This list from Clark University is helpful to explore before students begin college, as developing these skills for some students can take more time and focus than other students. Getting into college is a great first step, but being aware of what skills will enhance a student’s success can be just as important. It is October, and most seniors have already decided on their college list, or are getting close to finalizing the schools they will apply to. While in the flurry of completing applications, taking a few minutes to explore what makes a college a good fit for you can be helpful. It does not mean you should change your list, but it might give you something to think about when you visit the colleges or when you are deciding which college to attend after acceptances are sent out. This article does a great job in delineating important points for students with learning differences to consider when thinking about where they will attend college. I particularly like how the article highlights the importance of exploring the graduation requirements to make sure that what the college will expect from the student is a good fit for the student. In the article there is also a link to colleges that provide supports for students. It is not an exhaustive list, but it certainly gives the reader an idea of what supports are available to students. Check it out and see what you think.
Being open to the ideas of others when starting on a new path in life is usually good advice. Current seniors who are taking steps to apply to colleges are embarking on a new path in life. This is stressful for most students, but students with disabilities can find the process even more overwhelming. Listening to the suggestions of others who have experienced the transition to college can help prepare students for what is to come, and to be well informed about what is ahead. Getting helpful advice about what to look for on a college campus, how often to visit home, and how to decide what and how many classes to take are just a few of the many decisions awaiting college freshmen. This article does a great job in offering helpful advice to students making the transition to college. I love his suggestion about taking one fun class each semester. Check it out and see what you get out of his advice.
In the July blog I wrote about the student perspectives on the transition to college. For the August blog, I thought I would focus on one parent’s perspective on the process of transitioning to college. This article talks about the journey of a parent and her son through their school age years. Learning about the journey of parents who have gone through a particular process with their child is so helpful and informative. Even if the circumstances of your family are different, there is something to be gained from hearing the voices of others dealing with the transition to adulthood.
Like most things, the transition to adulthood is unique for each student. There is no exact formula to follow to guarantee success. But there are elements in the stories of others that parents can draw from to help determine the best path for a student to take as they transition into adulthood. Being open to the stories of others can help parents learn how to best support their own children through this important time in their lives. It is so helpful to read articles about the transition from high school to college for students on the autism spectrum that incorporate the experiences of students themselves. This article does a great job in bringing out the voices of students, but also conveys important information about the transition process. Like most articles on this topic, the importance of the student being able to self-advocate is highlighted. This is such a critical aspect in achieving success in college, that it can not be mentioned often enough. The article also provides additional resources on self-advocacy that offers very useful information. Feel free to check it out and see what you think!
It is June, and rising seniors are getting geared up to create a plan for after they graduate from high school. Many students are looking at 4 year institutions and are preparing for the SAT/ACT, writing essays, creating college lists, visiting colleges, etc. Other students are planning on attending community colleges and are learning about the wonderful options available throughout the community college system. Still other students might be unsure as to what is the best fit for them after high school. This is a great time for students to begin to explore other options that might be a fit for their interests and skills. Here is some helpful information on exploring technical colleges. http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/Articles/Pages/CareerandTech.aspx Technical colleges offer hands on learning experiences in areas such as healthcare, electronics, auto mechanics, etc. These can be excellent career options that should certainly be considered by students.
It is very important for students to think about the type of learner they are and what interests them. Some students do best in hands on educational environments that teach students specific career focused skills. Such students should feel free to explore options that fit their profile of interest. Students should also be aware of how to locate the program that will best meet their needs. Check out this link for more information. http://www2.ed.gov/students/prep/college/consumerinfo/index.html |
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