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Newsletter September 2011
In This Issue
The Purpose of the Alumni Interview
SAT Science Subject Tests
Short Takes on Colleges
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The Purpose of the Alumni Interview

by Terri Suico

 
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Until recently, alumni interviews seemed like a win-win-win situation for the schools, applicants, and alums involved. However, a March 2011 article from Bloomberg.com signals that some alumni are becoming disenchanted with admissions interview programs. As admissions to top-tier schools, such as the Ivy League, gets increasingly harder, alumni are seeing their success rates dwindle, prompting some to decrease their participation or stop their involvement altogether. Even as some schools, like Princeton, try to recast the interviewers' roles and expectations to "being ambassadors for the university" rather than advocates for admissions, this new approach isn't winning over all alums, since it elicits the question, "What great purpose is being an ambassador to 20,000 people who are not going to get in?"

 

I can certainly empathize with this sense of frustration. For several years, I did an average of 10-15 alumni interviews a year. As any student who has received the dreaded thin envelope or the short "Thank you for your application but..." email, rejection is hard to take, even when logic tells you that you aren't the one being rejected. After an hour or so of conversation with these students and additional time reflecting on the meeting and writing up the report, it is easy to feel personally invested in the admissions results. Regardless of the admissions decision, I couldn't help but take the result to heart. If my time, opinions, and effort weren't worth something, I had to ask myself, "What is the purpose of all of this?"

 

Luckily, time and distance from the process have given me a much better sense of perspective. For students who are thinking of writing off the alumni interview as a waste of effort and time, I recommend that you consider the numerous advantages meeting with an alumnus might have for you. Rather than viewing the interview as something to check off on your application to-do list, think about the experience as being part of the big picture. Besides being another opportunity to express interest in a school, the alumni interview also gives students another way of learning about the college and the community they might be a part of for four years. The perspective and information that alumni have probably won't be found in a viewbook or on a college tour, so it is a great way of getting a unique glimpse of the school. From finding out the best places to study to learning what college students really do on the weekends, you get an insider's unscripted view of what the school is like.

 

The alumni interview also allows you to practice your interviewing skills, which will serve you well in college and beyond. Internships, careers, and other opportunities usually require an in-person interview; however, many students go into interviews without really knowing what is expected of them. For an alumni interview, you use the same skill set you will need in other interview situations. Take advantage of this opportunity to hone your interview prowess while also finding out about a school that obviously interests you. 
SAT Science Subject Tests: To Take or Not?

by Katerina Buff 

 
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This year your freshmen, sophomore, or junior started taking a new science class. Whether it is biology, chemistry, or physics, you may be wondering whether your child should plan to take the corresponding SAT Subject Test or not. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you think through the decision:

 

My son has done well in biology; does it mean he will be as successful in chemistry or physics?

Not necessarily. Although biology, chemistry, and physics are all part of the science curriculum, in biology the flow of material differs from the other science subjects. Units in biology are not always connected and interdependent. For some, no prior knowledge is required, while units are based on understanding of chemistry or previous concepts in biology.

 

Should I start encouraging my son to take a science SAT Subject Test at the end of the year?

While it is good to think ahead to SAT Subject Tests, it is too early to decide whether taking a particular subject test makes sense for your student. The reality is, your child is only now getting to the meat of subjects. Give him until the end of November before talking to him about SAT Subject Tests. By then you (and he) will have some sense of his workload, amount of stress, and his grasp on the subject.

 

My child is taking physics in high school. Will this be enough to prepare her for the SAT Subject Test?

While taking a science course during the school year is very helpful in giving students a foundation in the material, most high school classes do not have a chance to include all of the different concepts and units within each subject. For instance, a biology class is not likely to study anatomy, physiology, or botany in depth. Also, different high school classes address different topics within a subject. Consequently, it is important to do preparation for an SAT Subject Test outside of school.

 

When and how should my daughter start working on SAT Subject Test preparation?

Ideally, students should start preparing for the test around the end of January or beginning of February. However, most of my calls requesting SAT Subject Test tutoring come during the first two weeks of April, which gives the student and me very little time to prepare for the test. Only on very rare occasions do I agree to work with a student at that point. It is almost never enough to have six or fewer classes for test preparation and, if it is, that child may have been successful studying without the assistance of a tutor.

 

How do I know it is worth my child's effort to spend extra time on the test prep?

Whenever you or your child decides to start the test preparation, follow these basic steps. Take the appropriate SAT Subject Test book out of your public library or borrow it from a friend. Have your child take one test, and calculate the score according to the College Board guidelines: # of correct answers - (# of incorrect answers x 0.25). Take a look at your child's test score. In my experience, the average improvement is 100 points a month. In other words, if your child got 530 in the middle of March, he/she will
could be around 750-770 by the test date in June. Hopefully, this exercise will give you a rough idea on your student's preparedness and whether taking an SAT Subject Test is the best use of time and resources.

Have a great academic year!

 

Katerina Buff has a master's degree in secondary science education. She holds Massachusetts license for teaching biology and chemistry in grades 5-12. Katerina is a former private school science teacher and department chair that now devotes most of her time to private tutoring and SAT Subject Test preparation as well as science curriculum consulting. Katerina can be reached at [email protected] or 617-319-5306.

 
Short Takes on Colleges: New Programs  
  • Loyola University New Orleans is starting three interdisciplinary majors in the environment: a bachelor of science in environmental science with a concentration in biological sciences; a bachelor of arts in environmental studies with a concentration in the humanities; and a bachelor of arts in environmental studies with a concentration in social sciences.

  • University of Massachusetts at Amherst is starting a graduate certificate in wind energy.

  • Miami Dade College is starting a bachelor of science program in biological sciences.

  • University of Rochester is starting an undergraduate major in business and a minor in sustainability.

  • State University of New York at Delhi is starting a bachelor's program in criminal justice, to be offered on the campus of Schenectady County Community College to allow for easy transfers from the latter college's associate degree program in criminal justice.

  • University of Virginia is starting a minor in global sustainability.

  • Virginia Tech is starting a bachelor of science in meteorology.


From www.insidehighered.com

Juniors: It's Time to Start Thinking about College

Educational Advocates guides juniors in setting goals to get the most out of an all important year and helps students begin to develop criteria for what they are seeking in a college experience. We also help parents think about how to pay for college and more. Email us at [email protected] or call 617-734-3700. 
 Educational Advocates
College Consulting Corp.
1622A Beacon Street, Suite 203
Brookline, MA 02446
617-734-3700

College Admissions Advising
School and Boarding School Placement with Tory Dodge
Graduate School Advising with Steve Gibson
Newsletter editorial staff:
Joan K. Casey
Terri Suico