Reflections on taking a gap year

By Brittany MaschalApr 24, 2017

 

New York Times readers who’ve taken a year off from their education, what many now call a gap year, were asked what they learned and what tips they have for those who are considering the same. Some of the responses included in this Education Life article were edited for length and clarity, and I’m posting some below. I do not think a gap year is right for everyone, but students who it is right for know how to conceptualize the time, outline their goals for it, plan it (for the most part) themselves, and have indicated a way to measure their success. Gap years are not years off. In fact, they are very much the opposite. Here’s what some gap-year-takers had to say about it:

By taking a gap year, you are making the brave decision to slow down. I deferred my admission to Claremont McKenna College for a year. I made a few plans, but ultimately left my gap year full of gaps. I worked as a salesperson. I took a class at a community college. I road-tripped with my best friend. The one thing I scheduled was a three-month-long trip to the South Pacific, a gift from my parents that I combined with some of the money I made in the fall.

For my gap year I lived with my parents and siblings. I worked a variety of jobs: for a land surveyor, nights at a convenience store and as an inventory checker. I hated them all, but they got me out of the house and put some money in my pocket. I felt lost. My friends were gone and I didn’t fit in with my family dynamic. The highlights of my months were my military service weekends. I made close connections with my fellow soldiers and looked forward to the challenges and camaraderie of our training time. Recognize that the gap year is a time of transition. When you feel alone and like your life is stuck while your friends are away on their own adventures, remember you are experiencing a challenge few accept. You will learn more about yourself during your gap year than most of your friends will learn during their first year of college. In addition, you’ll develop skills that will serve you in life: resilience, self-reliance, courage and patience. Your gap year will be the furnace that will temper your steely resolve to achieve when you arrive at college.

I decided a gap year would be the best choice for me because I felt exhausted after going through high school. Even though I come from a low-income family, there are programs like Global Citizen Year that provide scholarships for students of all backgrounds. (I paid $5,000 through outside scholarships and my own fund-raising.) Though there are many struggles at times with limited resources to take care of mental and physical health, the experience over all has been very meaningful. I am learning three languages here: French, Pulaar and Malinke. I even decided on what I want to study in college: linguistics. For work, I teach English at the local high school two days a week, and on the other days I work at my host family’s community garden. Since my host father works for the Peace Corps and Trees for the Future, I get to learn a lot about sustainability and foreign aid. Mostly, the trip is worthwhile because I got to meet my host family, who have guided me through Senegalese life as a Vietnamese kid who doesn’t know a lot about what he’s doing.

My experience with a gap year was not without its challenges. I went to northern Thailand, taught in a rural school and did community work with a monastery. The school, community and people were amazing. It was the other students in the gap year program that made it especially challenging. The majority of the people I was with picked Thailand so they could party. My weekends became party central, which was not what I signed up for. But all in all, I learned much more than I would in first-year university, about myself, rural education, public health and other cultures. I was forced out of my comfort zone on multiple occasions, and it served me well in the long run. I recommend doing your research. I fell for the company with the great promotional videos and website, and I paid for that, and my experience wasn’t as great, as far as gap years go.

If you are considering a gap year, we can help walk you through planning considerations. Feel free to reach out to us!

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High-agency working environments motivate students to own the college application process

By Brittany MaschalMar 21, 2017

 

I help students organize and manage the college application process.

I’m always a bit surprised when a student, even when provided clear instructions from colleges, and on top of those guidelines an outline of what do to complete required tasks crafted specifically for them by me, acts completely helpless.

I introduce organizational tools, send lots of reminders, and provide emotional support during what is a stressful time, but students need to take the initiative and act on it for these supports to be put to best use. In 10 Tips for Developing Student Agency, Tom Vander Ark states, “agency is the capacity and propensity to take purposeful initiative—the opposite of helplessness.” Hitlin and Elder, in their work on the concept of agency, suggest four overlapping conceptions of agency, the fourth being particularly relevant as it pertains to the college admissions process:

  • Existential agency: The capacity, or free will, for exerting influence on our environments.
  • Programmatic agency: Following rules and routines.
  • Identify agency: What we believe about ourselves and the ways that we wish to be perceived by others.
  • Life-course agency: Actions that we take to affect future outcomes.

Student’s actions, or inaction, affect future outcomes—and this is especially true as it pertains to applying to college. They need to write their essays, fill in their applications, and submit them on time—they need to own their role in the process!

I hope the relationships I create with my students during the college counseling process result in a high-agency working environment, motivating them to take ownership of the process, while at the same time knowing they have a caring adult to support them every step of the way.

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Focused College Applicants Beat Well-Rounded College Applicants Any Day

By Brittany MaschalMar 17, 2017

 

Being well-rounded is nice generally, but colleges are looking for students with something unique, a specific talent, skill, or interest to add to their next class. Students who drill down on their interests early on in high school will be better positioned to tell a clear, focused story in their college applications. By doing so, you hand the reader of your file exactly what they are looking for—you make it easy to see your value add.

You may love all five clubs you are in and the three sports you play, but how much can you meaningfully contribute to all eight activities? Suggestion: try to narrow down your interests and corresponding activities by the end of 10th grade, and think about how you can engage more meaningfully and at a higher level in the one or two things you love the most. It’s a bonus if these activities relate to your potential college major, or support it in some way!

Drilling down on your interests to develop a clear story or narrative for your college apps will go a long way in the admissions process, and is one of the focus areas of our college counseling work with high school students!

Remember, colleges seek to build a well-rounded class comprised of students with unique talents and skills, not a class full of generalists.

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Getting in to college is not the same as good to go to college

By Brittany MaschalMar 15, 2017

Lisa Damour’s NYT’s article “Getting In to College Doesn’t Mean Students Are Ready to Go” is a must read for parents of high school students. It points out some sad and scary truths about high school and college students today, but I see it more positively as a call to action.

I love that most of the students I work with are well-prepared for college life—academic and otherwise—but there are always a few that I fear for as they start freshmen year. They are the ones that end up contacting me near the end of their first semester.  Some of them need more academic support, which is easy to provide. Others are just unable to find their way socially and settle into living on their own for the first time. This second bunch also often thinks this means the college or university they attend is not the best fit; I tend to disagree. Although there are some students who for one reason or another are strong candidates for transfer, the problem is usually not the school—it’s them. Issues lingering beneath the surface throughout high school emerge and often result, sadly, in situations like Damour explains in her article.

What Damour describes is just one of the reasons I am a huge fan of gap years, but as she notes, and I have seen in my work with college applicants, getting students to think about delaying the start of college is not easy:

“Of course, the biggest barrier may well be the teenager’s own resistance to delaying enrollment. High school seniors who have secured and celebrated college admission are rarely eager to push the pause button. The drive for autonomy practically defines adolescence and it’s no small feat to bar that door.”

For the reluctant student (and often parents, too), I do see some alternatives to delaying the start of college. Recently, I have been working alongside mental health professionals and mindfulness educators on how best to get information out to students and parents on the importance of pre-college counseling, post-admission. Typically, once a student has decided where they are going to college, I do not hear much from them, except around early summer, when I (hopefully, because I love cards!) get a graduation announcement or thank you note in the mail. Today, I know that needs to change. The benefit of continuing the counseling relationship and providing services up until students leave for college, and even into the start of their freshmen year, is just too important to overlook.

I see pre-college counseling in the form of mindfulness and resilience training as a vital step in ensuring students about to head off to college are equipped with the tools they need to successfully navigate the transition to and thrive in college. And, if a student is really not ready to leave home in the fall, it is often uncovered or made very clear during targeted pre-college counseling activities (if not already brought to light through the college application process). Taking steps to gear up for college post-admission may reveal a student is not good to go. Those that are will only be better prepared to face the challenges that come with the high school-college transition, armed with the tools and mindset they need to thrive during the next phase of their educational journey.

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What’s Worse Than Waiting to Hear From Colleges?

By Brittany MaschalMar 08, 2017

….getting asked about it!

Later this month and throughout April, colleges and universities will notify students about their regular decision applications. Students will either be admitted, denied, or placed on the dreaded waitlist (although we have helped quite a few student get off the WL and into their dream school, ask us how!). Needless to say, it is a stressful time for all seniors who did not commit to a school after the release of early round results.

As we approach decision dates, consider giving this post (with video) from the Wall Street Journal a read!

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Is the Cover Letter Dead?

By Brittany MaschalJan 16, 2017

 

Repost from Grammarly:

The cover letter was once a valuable tool for all job seekers hoping to get by the HR gatekeeper. However, the rise of innovative tech, social media, millennials, and good old-fashioned networking is killing the cover letter.

The only thing missing from the decline of the cover letter is a time of death. In fact, chances are your cover letter won’t even be read, according to Fortune. Nearly 90 percent of hiring managers admit to never reading cover letters.

Interestingly, most job posts require a cover letter despite the unlikeliness of it getting more than a quick glance. Studies have found, however, that cover letters still get read if submitted with a resume.

The cover letter is as out of fashion as Hammer pants and Beanie Babies. Unless a cover letter is explicitly required, it is a waste of time and effort. Here’s why.

Your Social Media Accounts Are the New Cover Letter

It may not come as a surprise, but your social media presence is very accessible. Recruiters know this, and they will check out your profiles and activity. Social media is, in effect, the new cover letter, and at times the new resume.

This can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on your digital footprint. When recruiters want to know something about potential candidates, they simply Google them or check their Twitter accounts. Your Facebook photos are far more compelling and revealing about who you are compared to a thoughtfully scripted cover letter.

Old-Fashioned Networking Is Another Cover Letter Killer

Your cover letter may include all the traditional pleasantries, but there is always a more effective way to put your best foot forward. Networking is often far more effective than a cover letter.

In fact, 70 to 80 percent of jobs are never posted online, Matt Youngquist, president of Career Horizons, told NPR. This makes the cover letter a time-consuming effort with little return. Networking is possibly the best and fastest way to land the job you want.

Freelancers Have Saturated the Job Market

Companies large and small, including fresh startups, have all gone the route of the freelancer. Often, a cover letter is not part of the equation when hiring for contract positions.

An estimated 34 percent of the American workforce is composed of freelancers, according to a study conducted by the Freelancers Union. And this is expected to rise to 50 percent by 2020.

The wide range and availability of freelancers has made the cover letter irrelevant. Why bring in new employees on a salary when a freelancer will do the work on a project basis? Freelancers are often more economical for companies as well.

Professional Online Platforms = Recruiter’s Dream

If a recruiter needs to fill a position fast, why take the time reading endless cover letters? All the information they need is on a potential candidate’s professional online profile such as LinkedIn. In fact, nearly 93 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to fill their company’s talent pool.

Professional online platforms like LinkedIn are not only killing the cover letter, but they are also putting the resume to rest as well. Many companies even permit potential candidates to apply for a job with their LinkedIn profile.

Don’t toss your cover letter just yet. There is still a place for it in your job hunt as it takes its last fleeting breaths of life. Though the cover letter is nearly dead, it is still required for the many jobs still posted online. However, focusing on your professional digital footprint more than your cover letter may prove to be time better spent.

Source

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50 Colleges Still Taking Applications for Fall 2017

By Brittany MaschalJan 06, 2017

 

MONEY has compiled a list of 50 colleges that rank highly for value and have application deadlines of Jan. 10 or later. See the full list below, organized by due date.

There are more than 500 colleges whose application deadlines for the fall 2017 academic year fall between Jan. 15 and Aug. 15. And more than 200 colleges take applications on a “rolling” or “space available” basis, meaning they take applications until they find enough students to fill their class. In many cases, they’ll still be accepting applications up until August.

Don’t delay too long, though. Admissions experts say students who delay their applications give themselves three major disadvantages:

  • Lower admission odds: Many schools, such as Michigan State and Indiana University, accept late applications on a “space available” basis. So late applicants are competing for whatever slots may be left after all of the qualified earlier applicants have been accepted. In practice, marginally qualified students are more likely to be rejected if they apply late.
  • Less aid: Federal financial aid is guaranteed as long as you file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before the end of your academic year. But many states and colleges give out aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Purdue, for example, is still accepting applications for admissions on a “space available” basis but limits its merit aid to those who applied by Nov. 1. So some late applicants are likely to pay higher net prices.
  • Fewer major choices: Many rolling admissions and space-available schools say their most popular majors — such as nursing, engineering, and computer science — tend to fill up early. At Purdue, for example, engineering spots for fall 2016 filled up by February last year, says Pamela T. Horne, the school’s vice provost for enrollment management. Qualified students who apply after that may be offered admission to less popular programs, such as liberal arts, she says.

 

NAME MONEY RANK LOCATION DEADLINE ACCEPTANCE RATE (2014)
Wheaton College 75 Wheaton, IL Jan. 10 69%
Georgetown University 84 Washington Jan. 10 17%
University of North Carolina School of the Arts 60 Winston-Salem, NC Jan. 13 43%
Virginia Tech 18 Blacksburg, VA Jan. 15 73%
Wellesley College 34 Wellesley, MA Jan. 15 30%
University of Connecticut 38 Storrs, CT Jan. 15 50%
University of North Carolina 45 Chapel Hill, NC Jan. 15 28%
University of Delaware 54 Newark, DE Jan. 15 68%
University of Georgia 56 Athens, GA Jan. 15 56%
Colgate University 59 Hamilton, NY Jan. 15 26%
College of the Holy Cross 65 Worcester, MA Jan. 15 43%
Lafayette College 69 Easton, PA Jan. 15 30%
University of Vermont 79 Burlington, VT Jan. 15 73%
Washington University in St Louis 87 Saint Louis Jan. 15 17%
Union College 98 Schenectady, NY Jan. 15 41%
University of Illinois at Chicago 56 Chicago Jan. 16 74%
University of Maryland 19 College Park, MD Jan. 20 48%
Washington State University 37 Pullman, WA Jan. 31 82%
University of Michigan 2 Ann Arbor, MI Feb. 1 32%
Brigham Young University 5 Provo, UT Feb. 1 47%
Virginia Military Institute 42 Lexington, VA Feb. 1 44%
University of Wisconsin 63 Madison, WI Feb. 1 57%
DePauw University 67 Greencastle, IN Feb. 1 57%
Indiana University 77 Bloomington, IN Feb. 1 76%
The College of New Jersey 94 Ewing, NJ Feb. 1 49%
St. Lawrence University 95 Canton, NY Feb. 1 48%
McDaniel College 100 Westminster, MD Feb. 1 76%
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 100 Eau Claire, WI Feb. 1 84%
Stevens Institute of Technology 108 Hoboken, NJ Feb. 1 44%
Earlham College 28 Richmond, IN Feb. 15 65%
Muhlenberg College 87 Allentown, PA Feb. 15 53%
Maine Maritime Academy 62 Castine, ME March 1 79%
Siena College 72 Loudonville, NY March 15 66%
Clemson University 21 Clemson, SC May 1 52%
The University of Texas at Dallas 91 Richardson, TX May 1 62%
Saint Johns University 25 Collegeville, MN Rolling 79%
Massachusetts Maritime Academy 43 Buzzards Bay, MA Rolling 62%
College of Saint Benedict 47 Saint Joseph, MN Rolling 82%
Purdue University 51 West Lafayette, IN Rolling 59%
St. Mary’s University 52 San Antonio, TX Rolling 59%
Michigan State University 54 East Lansing, MI Rolling 66%
University of Minnesota 58 Minneapolis Rolling 45%
Gustavus Adolphus College 74 Saint Peter, MN Rolling 61%
Saint Vincent College 78 Latrobe, PA Rolling 72%
Bethel University 82 Saint Paul, MN Rolling 95%
Molloy College 84 Rockville Centre, NY Rolling 75%
Citadel Military College 86 Charleston, SC Rolling 76%
Michigan Technological University 90 Houghton, MI Rolling 76%
Martin Luther College 95 New Ulm, MN Rolling 97%
University of Utah 106 Salt Lake City Rolling 81%
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Thank You Notes (Yes, You Should Write Them)

By Brittany MaschalDec 27, 2016

Reminder for all students admitted under ED and EA programs! It can be easy to forget the many individuals who were there every step of the way of the college application process, guiding you towards college. But remember you didn’t make it here all by yourself. Take some time to thank the people who helped you along the way by writing them a thank you note!

People to thank: parents, guidance counselor, teachers, letter of recommendation writers, anyone else who read your essays/app, college admissions officers you met with, and tutors just to name a few!

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What Do Teenagers Want? Potted Plant Parents

By Brittany MaschalDec 19, 2016

 

Many parents feel that their adolescents hardly need them anymore. Teenagers often come and go on their own schedules, sometimes rebuff our friendly questions about their days, and can give the impression that interacting with the family is an imposition that comes at the cost of connecting, digitally or otherwise, with friends.

So here’s a complaint one might not expect to hear from teenagers: They wish their parents were around more often.

Interesting read on the importance of a parent’s physical presence on adolescent health. Check it out here!

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Text to Text: John Milton’s ‘When I Consider How My Light Is Spent’ and ‘Today’s Exhausted Superkids’

By Brittany MaschalDec 16, 2016

 

Right now, many students are entering the final college-application sprint. They’re wondering Are they enough? about their lists of accomplishments. Some may even be wondering Is it worth it? about college at all.

Centuries ago, the poet John Milton wondered how best to live his life as he went blind. In his sonnet “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent,” he contemplates his condition. While for him, the “light” he spends is literal — he was completely blind by age 42 — he uses it metaphorically to meditate on what it means to really live.

In this Text-to-Text they pair Milton’s poem with Frank Bruni’s Op-Ed “Today’s Exhausted Superkids,” which discusses the high costs of following the narrowly defined and proscribed path to an elite college.

This a thoughtful read for parents and students alike, or really, anyone working with adolescents today. Check it out here!!!

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