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                                                                                  Call Ellen at 415.420.0541

 Welcome to my 
March/April 2012 Newsletter!

      

 

College4u is a service that is best to begin second semester freshman year.  When working with an athlete however, it is even more critical.  There are an enormous number of tasks and activities for the athletic scholar.  This year there have been changes to the new eligibility rules for NCAA.  I will highlight some of them. 

  • For Division II -  Prospective athletes may be contacted beginning June 15 following the completion of the sophomore year of high school.
  • For Division II -   Unlimited contacts may be made by coaches beginning June 15 following the sophomore year of high school.
  • For Division II -  The permissive use of texting prospects beginning June 15 following the sophomore year of high school.
  • A rule passed four years ago becomes effective for student entering college in fall 2013.  Division II has increased the number of high school academic core units required for initial eligibility to 16 units (previously 14 units).
  • For athletes entering college in 2015 Division I will require students to have achieved a minimum 2.3 academic core average and SAT test scores will be increased by about 180 points on the sliding scale.    

 

The college process today is very complex. As an Independent College Advisor, I have extensive training and experience in working with high school students.  In Northern California, our fees represent about 2% of the cost of college attendance.  This is a small sum to pay for the benefits an Independent College Advisor provides.

  

 

If I can assist any readers in the college admissions process, please contact me and I will tell you more about my College4u service.....ellen

 

  

 

Elon    

 

Elon University, in Elon, North Carolina is growing; it actually intends to cap at 8000 undergraduates up from their 5000 students today.   Elon is currently building to support the growth.  Nestled on beautiful acreage, the community of students come from all states and many other countries.  75% of the students are out of state and a huge percentage of those are not from the south.   Elon is a Division 1 University and has a 4-1-4 calendar year.  The most popular majors are Business, Communications, Fine Arts, Education and Psychology.  With a 90% retention rate between freshman and sophomore year, students make a solid decision that Elon is the best match for them.  Read about the "Elon Experience".  Although every student must complete one qualifying experience in their 4 years, most complete 3 out of the 4.  There is a Core Curriculum and no classes are over 33 students.

  

 

Davidson College 

 
 

Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina is a Liberal Arts, undergraduate - only college with 1900 students. It is an historic campus, situated on a 460-acre arboretum. With a 10:1 faculty student ratio, this highly selective college is strong in tradition. The Honor Code is paramount and every student signs off with his/her support. The average class size is 16 to 17 students. Over 80% of students study abroad and a similar percentage engage in research opportunities. Davidson students are passionate. The strength of the school spirit is evident in all aspects of school life. The strong school spirit is also evident in the fact that Davidson is ranked 3rd in the nation for Annual Giving from alumni. 92% of the students graduate in 4 years and there is a 96% retention rate between freshman and sophomore year.


Considering Women's Colleges
Graduation 2011

 

Location, major, size, sports, climate, cost - all of these characteristics are generally considered when compiling an initial list of colleges.  One factor often neglected, however, is student gender.  Women's colleges offer students a different experience than that available at coed institutions, and young women might want to think about how well a women's college might fit them.

 

The more than seventy U.S. women's colleges tend to be small liberal arts institutions that offer small classes, lots of interaction with professors, a strong sense of community, and opportunities for research and mentorship arrangements.  Active alumni networks provide students and graduates with opportunities for career advancement.  While many of these factors are also characteristic of coed schools, what makes the student experience at a women's college different?

 

Attitude and expectations are probably the answer.  At women's colleges, women are expected to be the campus leaders, and of course, they are.  Since more of the faculty and administration are likely to be female, students find positive role models throughout their college years.  Women often say that they are taken more seriously in the classroom, and they are more likely to participate fully in class discussions.  At women's colleges, young women are more likely to major in the traditionally male disciplines of science, math, and economics.  Tests of self-esteem have also shown that women's college students feel better about themselves than women at coed institutions.

 

Students say that it's easier to focus on studies at women's colleges since there is more separation between academic and social life.  Focus is evident in the fact that graduates of women's colleges are more likely to enter medical school and to receive doctoral degrees than students at coed institutions.  Cross-registration and social events at nearby coed colleges still permit students to enjoy a full social experience, however.

 

Women's college graduates have also shown impressive achievements in the professions and corporate world.  While remembering that only two percent of all U.S. women students attended single sex colleges in the last thirty years, consider that graduates make up one-fifth of all female members of congress, a third of the women board members of Fortune 1000 companies, and thirty percent of Business Week's  list of 50 women who are corporate "rising stars".

 

Want to learn more about how well a women's college might fit you?  Visit the website of the Women's College Coalition at www.womenscolleges.org for more information, and try to visit at least one women's college when planning a college tour.

2011 & 2012 Test Dates

case western 2

SAT and SAT Subject Tests:   http://www.collegeboard.org
 

March 10, 2012  (Register by Feb 10)  SAT Only
May 5, 2012  (Register by April 6)
June 2, 2012  (Register by May 8)



April 4, 2012 (register by March 9, 2012)
June 9, 2012 (register by May 4, 2012)

I hope you enjoyed this Newsletter!
 
Please forward (link is below) to anyone you feel might benefit from this information.  If you would like to read previous newsletters, please visit my website and click on Newsletters.
 
Warmest Regards,
 
Ellen Fisher
Independent College Advisor
_ _ _ _
 415-420-0541 
Fax 650-572-1881
 

About Ellen ...

Ellen Fisher is an Independent College Advisor assisting high school
students and their families on every facet of the college admission process.
Working with Ellen, is all about the MATCH.  With over 4,300 colleges and
universities in the US alone, it is not about 'getting in'.  It is about the student's
success at that institution.
 

Ellen resides in San Mateo, CA and has clients throughout the Bay Area, as
well as nationally. The goal of College4u is to be part of the TEAM -
parents, teachers, and high school counselor - to make sure the student
has choices and 'lands' the college of choice. Please visit my web site at
www.college4u.infoor contact me at 415-420-0541 for more information.