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Newsletter January 2012
In This Issue
Navigating a College Website
A Teen's Guide to Getting Published
January To-Do's
Quick Links
Upcoming Events 

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Navigating a College Website: 10 Tips for Getting the Answers You Seekapple logo

 

 

Most college websites are chock full of useful information if you know what to look for. Whether you are a junior just beginning your research or a senior with several acceptances in hand, these tips might help you get some answers.

 

1. News You Can Use -- Look at the news on the home page to see if the college seems like a lively, active place. It's a positive sign if faculty, alumni and student work and research are highlighted and if interesting guests are visiting campus. Suffolk University does this effectively on their home page.

 

2. Videos: The Next Best Thing to Being There -- Most colleges and universities are taking full advantage of YouTube and usually have a link to videos from the home page (or you can find them using the site search box). If you have yet to visit and are looking for an overview of the college or a preview of campus aesthetics, look for a general admissions video. The University of Rochester has a few very good admissions videos.  

 

3. Home Page Navigation -- Take a look at the home page menu. You will typically see headings such as Academics, Student Life, Admissions, Research, and About Us. Peruse these tabs, noticing that there will be information for prospective students and current students. The prospective tab will tell you about admissions and what to expect if you come to the college; however, you are more likely to find detailed information on the current student tab so visit both. The "About" page is ideal for getting fast facts such as enrollment, gender distribution and other demographic information and also learning about the college's values and ethics.

 

4. Colleges and Majors -- Notice that a university is made up of a series of colleges such as the College of Arts and Sciences, the (big donor name) Business College, Engineering, Nursing and so on. If you are unsure of your major, it might be useful to look through the various colleges and see what they have to offer. Likewise, look at the majors and be sure there are a wide range that are in line with your interests. Explore further by clicking into the academic department web page to get more detail about that major, required courses and associated opportunities such as undergraduate research (it's not just for science) and internships.

 

5. What's Happening? -- In addition to the news on the home page, take a look at the calendar to see what events are taking place during the semester. Are there a wide variety of events to appeal to a range of student interests? Colleges offer everything from musical performances and comedians, to famous guest lecturers and social events such as dance parties or athletic contests. Here is the daily events calendar at Dartmouth.  

 

6. What Will You Join? -- Research shows that the college students who make the smoothest transition during first semester are those who join a club or organization. Take a look at the list of clubs and organizations and identify at least three that you might want to explore. Check out the offerings at Wheaton College in Massachusetts.  

 

7. Academic Extras That Really Matter! -- A first-year seminar that helps students get ready for college-level writing is one of the most important courses most college students will take. Check out the options either in the online course catalog or the English department webpage. Here are some offered by Vanderbilt. Investigate if the college has overall requirements (usually under the "Academics" tab) that you must take (sometimes these are called general requirements or distribution requirements). Here is an explanation of requirements at Connecticut College. Be sure there are many options in line with your interests and learning style. You should also check out the academic support offerings--are writing centers and tutoring services provided? Most colleges will offer a range of services such as these at the University of Massachusetts. If you have a learning disability or attention or related issue, contact disability services to be sure they can meet your needs.

 

8. Everything You Need to Know: Admissions -- The undergraduate admissions page is where you will get answers to all your questions about how to apply and how to arrange a campus visit. This section will sometimes tell you the name of the admissions counselor that reads applications for students from your state or region in case you have a specific question.

 

9. Advising, Counseling and Career -- A strong advising program from freshman year is essential to getting the most out of college--you can find out more under the "Academics" or "Campus Life" tabs. Find out if the career center is open to you from freshman year. Peruse the health and counseling services pages to be sure the offerings meet your needs. If you are particular about dorm life, visit the housing page under student life to learn more about the options.

 

10. Get More Information -- If you like what you learned about the college from your tour of the site, add yourself to the mailing list. This is typically found on the admissions page and might be on a button that says "Request Information." This will ensure you will be invited to events if the college visits your area. It also lets the college know you are interested, which can help them take your application more seriously.

A Teen's Guide to Getting Published  

 

With blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, it is very easy for anyone with internet access to publish almost anything online. A few keystrokes and a push of a button are all it takes for you to post a blog post, update, or reply on any number of sites. However, despite the convenience of these tools, there is something infinitely more rewarding when seeing your writing go out under the auspices of a respected publication.

 

"But wait," you might be thinking to yourself, "Who would want to publish work by high school students?" Actually, there are a number of journals that focus on publishing outstanding analytic and creative work by high school students. However, before you click "Submit" or send in a paper to one of the publications below, here are some guidelines to help you present your best work:

  • Be certain to check the publication's submissions guidelines. It doesn't matter how excellent your creative nonfiction piece about the school dance is if you are submitting it to a journal that only publishes analytical papers.
  • Send in the most polished draft possible, and make certain to have at least one person carefully proof your writing. This seems like common sense, but you'd be surprised how easy it is for typos or inconsistencies to slip into your writing and go unnoticed.
  • Adhere to the word/page limits set by the publication. Sending in your 20,000 word opus to a publication that is looking for 2,000 word articles will only frustrate the editors.
  • Appearance matters, so use conventional fonts, ink colors, and sizes. In other words, don't submit a paper using Comic Sans or other unconventional fonts.

Some Publications that Specialize in High School Student Writing

  • The Claremont Review is a Canada-based journal that publishes poetry, short stories, and short plays written by young adults (ages 13-19). They also accept artwork for their publication.
  • The Concord Review publishes secondary students' academic writing on any historical topic.
  • Polyphony H.S. is a student-run literary magazine that accepts poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Be certain to check out their very helpful FAQs and Submissions Guidelines pages, which have excellent advice for any aspiring writer hoping to get published.
  • Teen Ink, a Newton-based magazine, book series, and website, accepts writing (both fiction and non-fiction), art, photography, and videos from teens.
  • Teen Voices is a Boston-based, non-profit organization that focuses on supporting and educating teen girls. They accept a variety of submissions, including poetry, memoir, essays, reviews, and original art.

Please feel free to share your experiences on our Facebook page or blog. Happy writing, and good luck!

January To-Do Lists

Seniors:
  • Confirm that the colleges to which you have applied received all your application materials including transcripts and recommendations. 
  • If you used The Common Application, make sure you submitted the supplement, the payment and the actual application as these are three separate submissions. 
  • Write thank-you notes to the teachers and counselor who wrote recommendations for you. Be sure to tell them of acceptances as you receive them.

Juniors: 

  • Create a plan for when you will take the SAT, SAT Subject Tests and/or the ACT, and begin preparation on your own or with a tutor or course.

  • If you plan on taking the March SAT register by February 10, 2012. For the April ACT, register by March 9, 2012.

  • Begin reflecting on what you are seeking in a college experience so you can talk with your counselor about a list of colleges to further research.

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.
1678 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02445
617-734-3700
Newsletter editorial staff:
Joan K. Casey
Terri Suico