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Newsletter  June 2010
In This Issue
Summer Reading Recommendations
Finding Support in College
Transitioning to College
Take the Watson Trivia Challenge
Short Takes on Colleges
Quick Links
Upcoming Events

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Summer Reads (Beach Optional): Book Recommendations
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It's summertime again, and it is the perfect time to work your way through your "To Be Read" list. In addition to our book recommendations from last summer as well as lists from sources like NPR and public libraries, below you will find favorite book recommendations from a survey of high school students in the community. Read further for suggestions from the Brookline Booksmith.
 
What books or magazines do you plan to read (or reread) this summer and why?
 
A book cited by two of our contributors was Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Relin. "It has a good storytelling approach and is very informative about both mountaineering and rural areas in Pakistan," said Holger Ketterle. "It also offers a nice narrative of Mortenson's dealings with local people, finances, and personal struggles to build schools for the rural children of various regions in Pakistan."
 
Anna W. hopes to finish The Short Bus by Jonathan Mooney. Mooney's book details his experience driving a short bus and talking with people who have disabilities. On a lighter note, she is also hoping to finish Love, Ellen by Betty DeGeneres about her famous daughter. "I started them before I started studying for finals and unfortunately had to put them down'" said Anna. "I've enjoyed what I've been able to read so far and can't wait to pick them back up."

In addition to catching up on the Twilight Saga, Alyssa plans to read This is Your Brain on Music and Musicophilia, both of which explore human's relationship with music, specifically how music affects the mind.
 
Besides rereading some Sarah Dessen books "because they are great beach reads," Julia also wants to read The Time Traveler's Wife and Nicholas Sparks's Dear John and The Last Song in order to see how the books compare to their movie adaptations.
 
All-Time Favorites
 
Anna recommends Kurt Vonnegut's war novel Slaughterhouse Five because she "loved the discussions that came from reading this book with a group." She also cites Alice Monro's coming of age novel Lives of Girls and Women and Jerzy Kosinski's satiric Being There as other personal favorites.
 
Julia's keeper shelf includes Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle Trilogy, which includes A Great and Terrible Beauty, because of its combination of "history, fantasy, and romance."
 
Kendra's favorite books are of a historical bent, particularly Gone with the Wind, a Civil War epic romance featuring the strong-willed Scarlett O'Hara, by Margaret Mitchell, and 1776, a look at a crucial year in American history, by David McCullough. She also cites the "interesting writing style" found in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, a fictional account of several soldiers in Vietnam.
 
Need more suggestions? Emily McLean, bookseller and children's literature specialist at Brookline Booksmith, recommends the following books:
  • Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher: Everything we do affects everyone around us -- whether we want it to or not. This mystery will leave you piecing a puzzle together with every turn of the page. What really happened to Hannah Baker?  Only after listening to thirteen recordings will Clay Jensen find out why she committed suicide.
  • A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass: Mia sees her world through colors.  In fact, every sound, number, and letter has its own color. To Mia this is normal, but she soon discovers her secret is something called synesthesia. This award-winning novel is truly an amazing read. Whether for fun or school, you won't be able to set it down.
  • The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld: In a world where everyone is fashioned to look like a model, everyone would lead a perfect life, right? Tally believes this at first and wants to be made "Pretty." What could possibly be better than partying all day?  Sleeping as late as you want? Riding hoverboards all around town?  This is a world where everything you could want is at your fingertips. When the truth about this world unravels, though, Tally wants to remain "Ugly." But she doesn't have a choice.
  • Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: Silence is a power that can often be stronger then words. But, when should you say something and when do you just keep quiet? Melinda finds it safer to be quiet... Anderson's extraordinary novel reveals the power that sexual assault has on a person, her friends, and those around her -- especially when the secret is kept silent.
What did we miss? Is there a favorite book you'd like to recommend? Feel free to offer your own recommendations and insights on our Facebook page or on our blog.
Finding Support in College

One of the biggest mistakes that students with attention, learning, or other needs make when they start college is not accessing the help available on campus.  If you had any kind of tutoring, coaching or counseling on a regular basis during high school, you will need to find a way to replace that support in your college setting. For students with a diagnosed, disability, documentation should be sent to your college disability office before you arrive on campus, and you should make an appointment with the disability services contact either during summer orientation or as soon as you arrive on campus. You can even call from home and begin the process this summer.
 
For those without a diagnosed disability, but who need academic or counseling support, talk with your adviser about how to access the academic support services on campus such as tutoring and the writing center. Students can also make an appointment in the counseling center and meet a therapist before the hectic pace of the semester starts.
 
Keene State College student Rick Baron learned first hand the importance of actively seeking out academic support in college. In this issue, he shares his story in the hope that other students will get off to the right start during freshman year.

Transitioning to College: One Student's Story
by Rick Baron, Keene State College '12

When I graduated I felt completely ready. I felt ready, but I wasn't. I didn't know the level of effort that college would require as compared to high school. I arrived at
Wentworth Institute of Technology, I was handed a piece of paper that said syllabus and then the year was off. My mistake right from the beginning was not reading the syllabus. I didn't know I was supposed to read certain chapters or when I had projects that would be due. It is the most important thing in college. Teachers do not tell you most of the time when things are due.

Another thing I didn't do was ask for help. There were two reasons for this. One, I didn't take the time to find the people I needed to talk to so I had no idea who to ask. And the second thing was that I believed that it would take time away from getting my work done if I went to seek help. All of this was in my head. At Keene State College, I have found help through disabilities services and I'm doing much better than I did at Wentworth. The most important thing to do when you arrive at college is figure out who the people are who can help you. Get to know everyone who should be associated with you. I am a theater major and I have gotten to know all of the staff in my department.

Basically don't try to be independent because no one in this world is. Everyone needs support and that is the key thing you need to survive college. But support isn't all you need. You need four key elements: self advocacy, support, the syllabus, and getting to know your teachers. You will be all set if you rely on these. And do your homework first, party after. Trust me. I get my work done, and parties don't start till 10 pm, so you're not missing out by working late.

Take the Watson Trivia Challenge
Looking for a new challenge this summer? Test yourself against Watson, an automated question-answer machine developed by IBM as part of their initiatives in artificial intelligence. See if you can beat the machine. It isn't easy!
Short Takes on Colleges
  • Arizona State University is starting an online bachelor of science degree in criminology and criminal justice.
  • Dean College is starting three new baccalaureate degrees: a bachelor of science in business, a bachelor of arts in liberal arts and studies, and a bachelor of arts in theatre
  • State University of New York at Buffalo is starting a bachelor of science program in environmental geosciences
From www.insidehighered.com
Register Now for College Planning Assistance

Rising sophomores and juniors -- Register now for our full-service college planning service and receive a complimentary session this summer. You will receive helpful advice about next year's course selections and summer plans, while contracting with us at this year's professional service rates.

Please contact Joan Casey at Educational Advocates for more details.
Educational Advocates
1678 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02445
617-734-3700

Joan Kelleher Casey, President
jcasey@educationaladvocates.com
Newsletter editorial staff:
Joan Casey
Terri Suico