Advice From Corporate America to College-Bound Students

A few weeks ago, I attended an event for high school students hosted by one of the most profitable businesses in the world. During the event, students had the opportunity to meet a variety of employees working for ExxonMobil. Yes, THAT ExxonMobil. Impressively enough, the young people also had the chance to meet and interact with some of the corporation’s presidents.

Opening the day was Alan J. Kelly, President of ExxonMobil’s Fuels and Lubricants division. His charge was to set the tone for the event and to give some words of wisdom to the program’s participants. The youth in the audience attentively listened in the hopes of hearing some magic formula that would guarantee success and the key to landing a high-paying corporate gig. While the message did not offer a magic formula, it was still noteworthy because Kelly offered three pieces of solid advice to the teenagers in the crowd:

Know Yourself – Kelly stressed the importance of self-awareness when making decisions and figuring out next steps. Many opportunities may look attractive, but some moves are ill-advised because they may not fit with a person’s personal philosophy or within the context of their larger life plan.
Work to Build Capacities – Kelly urged the students to develop a variety of marketable skills and talents that will enable them to compete in this increasingly competitive global environment. He drove home the point that “being good is not good enough anymore”.
Develop Influencing Skills – Alan Kelly explained to the students that collaboration and relationship-building are two crucial skills in today’s corporate landscape. He went on to say that almost no one works in isolation and a person’s ability to effectively work in a team is directly correlated to his/her success.

I was pleased to hear a corporate president echo many of the same sentiments that we in K-12 education have been expressing to our students for years. I hope that the students in attendance heed the words of this accomplished professional and put into practice some of his actionable advice.

At the end of each post, I give readers action steps – ways to put the principles discussed into practice.

Today’s action step:

**Choose five major companies and search their websites for entry-level positions. Note the skills and qualifications that are required to be a successful candidate. Think about how your skills, interests and qualifications match up with the job descriptions.

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10 Things That College Applicants Must Know

College applicant

During a recent visit to a major university, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the application processing center and speak with the employees who handle the thousands and thousands of pieces of information sent in by college hopefuls. I gained valuable insight about how applicants can increase the chance that their applications are kept intact and how they can minimize the opportunity for their packet to get lost.

A very helpful university representative gave me a handout that I recognized as pure gold – The Top Ten Things We Wish Applicants Knew. I obtained permission to share these tips and I now am compelled to pass them on to you:

Deadlines! Make sure you know what they are. Don’t wait until the last minute
After you’ve applied, check the email account you used on your application frequently. We may use that account to communicate to you.
Use the online application, then you can check your own status, and you should check your status frequently!
Use your name as it appears on your Social Security Card for everything: application, SAT/ACT test, etc…If there is a chance that your name differs in any way on your test report, you high school transcript, or your application, we may not get your documents matched in a timely manner.
List your likely schools as a recipient of your test scores at the time you take the test. That way, when you apply, the school will already have your scores. Most schools use your best scores.
Just like your transcripts, your test scores must be official. Sometimes colleges will use scores recorded on your high school transcript if they are complete, but sometimes they’re not acceptable. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Be prepared to provide your Social Security Number on your college application. All schools do their best to safeguard your information, and providing it upfront can help prevent issues with the Financial Aid office later.
If you’ve attended more than one high school, colleges usually only need you to enter the high school from which you will graduate. In most cases, that school will have your transferred grades.
Even If you have taken dual-enrollment classes in high school, most colleges will still consider you a freshman and freshman deadlines will apply to you as well.
If your information changes: you move, get a new phone number or email address, etc. please contact the colleges that you have applied to.

Following the guidelines above will help to remove one source of stress during the college admissions process – the anxiety over worrying about lost elements of your application.

At the end of each post, I give readers action steps – ways to put the principles discussed into practice.

Today’s action step:

**Set up an email dedicated to the college admissions process that will only be used for receiving test scores and communication with universities.

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A Maddening March for High School Seniors

Although it is now April, March Madness is still at a fever pitch. There have been astonishing highs and unprecedented lows. Unexpected underdogs have emerged victorious and surprises have been plentiful.

Although the nation is familiar with the frenzy over basketball this time of year, the March Madness that I am referring to has nothing to do with basketball. In fact,I am talking about seniors during the college admissions process.

There are three reasons that this time of year is particularly maddening for high school seniors:

1. Seniors are receiving news about college acceptance – During this time of year, high school seniors all over the country are receiving admissions decisions from their intended schools. Some students who have not thoughtfully applied to college are rethinking their choices.

2. Students are starting to deal with the financial reality of college costs – After filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in the early part of the year, students are starting to receive detailed information about the amount and type of aid for which they are eligible. Some students are underwhelmed by the award letter that they have received.

3. Despite senioritis setting in, 12th graders have to struggle with the fact that grades are still important – Several times in my career, I have been approached by universities inquiring about a senior’s third quarter grades, to the great dismay of these students.

For many seniors, it’s too late. However, in order for underclassmen to avoid the unfortunate fate of March Madness, take these three steps:

1. Apply to a variety of different schools – Make sure that applications are sent to not only reach schools, but also to schools for which you fit the academic profile.

2. Use the winter of senior year to apply for scholarships – Don’t wait until you receive an unfavorable Student Aid Report (SAR) before college finances are seriously considered.

3. Pay close attention to course selection and academic performance during senior year – Don’t fall prey to the long-held myth that 12th grade is of little importance in the college admission process. Actions and decisions during the final year of high school can have lasting effects on a student’s college aspirations.

If underclassmen follow all of the advice above, they are destined to be champions in the college admissions process.

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VCU – Impressions From My Visit

A fellow visiting counselor

I was honored to be invited to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) during a recent college counselor event. Here are a few facts about VCU from collegeboard.org:

It is a large, 4-year, public university. This coed college is located in an urban setting.
It’s ranked as being “Somewhat selective” with 60% of applicants admitted
Regular decision deadline is February 1
Priority application deadline is January 5
Tuition and fees: $21,697 in-state, $35,112 out-of-state
Faculty to student ratio – 18:1
85% freshman to sophomore year retention rate

During my visit, I had the opportunity to talk with university officials, witness a class in session and visit the space where student applications are processed.

Overall Impressions

The Campus – VCU does not have a traditional campus. If you are looking for a university with a tree-lined quad surrounded by neatly laid out academic buildings, look elsewhere. VCU is very much a typical urban academic environment with buildings spread throughout downtown Richmond.

The Location – Richmond, VA is a place that can seem neither too big, nor too small. It provides a good mix of both the urban and suburban lifestyles. Students at VCU definitely benefit from going to college in the state capital, especially if history, business or government are particular areas of interest.

Academic Focus – While students are able to get a great liberal arts education from VCU, this university shines particularly bright in the area of visual arts. Students applying to the prestigious School of the Arts are admitted straight into the school, not through the traditional admissions process. In fact, the visual arts program is so competitive that if a student is not admitted freshman year, he/she will not have the opportunity to later enter the program and art classes are exclusive to arts students only.

The Ideal VCU Student – A successful VCU student enjoys the benefits of attending college in a culturally diverse environment. He/she may be a bit artsy and is ready to take advantage of the many opportunities that comes with being in an urban setting.

VCU is a school whose profile has risen in the past several years. Sparked by its surprising success in recent NCAA tournaments, this university has emerged from ”safety school” status to the ranks of top choice universities.

At the end of each post, I give readers action steps – ways to put the principles discussed into practice.

Today’s action step:

**Research a college that you are not familiar with from the NCAA tournament. Find out about this school’s admissions requirements, location and academic focus. Go to the school’s official website to make sure that the information is accurate and complete.

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Stop! Read This Before You Make Summer Plans for your Teen

It’s hard to believe that spring is here. It’s also hard to believe that the time is near for parents to think about what to do with their teenagers for the summer. Before you write that check or fill out that registration form, there are 3 points that you must consider:

Beware of “official-looking” offers – In the mail you may receive a fancy envelope that has a raised seal, professional stationary and contains promises of extraordinary benefits for the “bargain” fee named below. Some of the organizations who send out marketing materials are legitimate and offer worthwhile programs. However, there are some scammers around who prey on the desires of parents of high school students to beef up students resumes in the hopes of increasing chances of college admission. Sad news parents, chances are that your child was not specially chosen for these programs, but his/her name was sold to a company as part of a marketing campaign.

Examine your reason for choosing a summer program – As I mentioned before, there are some worthwhile paid programs that students benefit from tremendously in a variety of ways. However, most opportunities that you have to pay for will not help your student’s college application. College reps are well aware that parents pay for the “honor” to participate in a number of opportunities. If your student is interested in the subject matter presented and you have the means to provide a particular summer experience for him/her then, go for it. On the other hand, if you are taking out a loan so that your child can participate in an activity in the hopes that it will help to get him/her into college, keep your money.

Work closely with your student’s school to identify low or no-cost summer experiences -The truly prestigious summer experiences are typically advertised through your school and most of them cost little to no money. Ask you school counselor to help identify worthwhile summer programs or internships. Chances are he/she is plugged in to what really impresses colleges.

The bottom line is that you must carefully vet any summer opportunity to make sure it makes the best use of your student’s time and energy.

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Davidson College – My Impressions

: Belk Visual Arts Center

: Student Union

: Rodin Sculpture

: Davidson at Night

Recently, I spent three full days on the campus of Davidson College, a small liberal arts school outside of Charlotte, NC. Here are a few facts about Davidson from collegeboard.org:

The regular application deadline is January 2
It is a small school with a population of about 1,790 total undergrads
93% of students graduate within six years
Tuition and fees: $40,809 in-state, $40,809 out-of-state
Faculty to student ratio - 10:1
97% freshman to sophomore year retention rate
It’s ranked as being “Most selective” with 25% of applicants admitted
Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church

During my visit (which was designed for counselors) I had the opportunity to talk with university officials, dine with current students, speak with faculty members and staff, enjoy a basketball game and attend an actual class. I also got the opportunity to ask lots and lots of questions!!

Overall Impressions

The Campus - Davidson’s campus fits the mold of the traditional college setting complete with a well-planned configuration and tree-lined walkways leading to various areas of campus. The newer buildings on campus served as evidence that Davidson believes in construction, renovation and improvement. One of the newer buildings is the Katherine and Tom Belk Visual Arts Center, a very beautiful and modern addition to the campus.

The Location - The town of Davidson can best be described as quaint. In fact, several students with whom I had contact called the town “cute”. It’s a very small town, but if students want a taste of city-life, Charlotte, NC is only about 20 minutes away. Because of this, students can feel like they have the best of both worlds.

Academic Focus - The biggest emphasis absolutely seems to be on making sure that students have a firm, broad foundation so that they are able to successfully tackle any challenge. I chatted with students who were studying a variety of different majors from math to sociology to political science. The one common thread that was often mentioned was the emphasis on writing and making sure that the students and later, graduates, were able to communicate effectively.

The Ideal Davidson Student - A successful Davidson applicant has a high GPA, a strong course load, a robust record of extra-curricular involvement, an intense curiosity and a tireless work ethic. S/he should be a student that is not easily intimidated by an intense academic environment and a person who can thrive in an intimate academic setting.

Other Observations

An interesting initiative that was started in 2007 is the Davidson Trust. According to Davidson’s website, “The Davidson Trust, the college’s top priority, supports Davidson’s longstanding commitment to need-blind admission and its historic decision to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need of accepted students through a combination of grants and campus employment, with no loans. The Davidson Trust makes it possible for talented students from all backgrounds to imagine coming to Davidson, and for graduates to make life and career choices based on their interests and passions.” The Davidson Trust allows its admissions reps to meet 100% of demonstrated need without loans!
One of the top draws for Davidson College is its Division I basketball program. In 2008, Davidson made it to the final four and students are able to take advantage of attending a school with a world-class sports program.
Diversity is growing on Davidson’s campus. According to one of our hosts, Davidson has gone from being 88% white when she arrived about 10 years ago, to having 25% of its population as domestic students of color.

Davidson is king of its category – small liberal arts college. Davidson has been able to straddle the difficult line of attempting to be both selective and inclusive and this will set it apart from other similar schools.

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5 Things You Need to Know About Demonstrated Interest

There is a relatively new term that has been tossed around in the world of college admissions for a while now- demonstrated interest. When I was set to go to college two decades ago, no one talked about demonstrated interest or acknowledged that the contact that students and/or their families made to colleges mattered. In today’s competitive environment, however, demonstrated interest can be an “x-factor” that allows a student to gain a slight edge. This post answers the top five questions about demonstrated interest and the role it plays in college admission.

What exactly is demonstrated interest? Simply put, demonstrated interest is any form of contact by a high school student to a prospective college or university.

What are examples of demonstrated interest? Not all demonstrated interest is the same. Some of the most effective ways to reach out to schools are visits to campus, attendance at regional events put on by the admission office and talking to admission representatives if they visit your high school. Also tracked are contacts during college fairs, e-mails to college reps and telephone calls to campus.

Why is demonstrated interest important? Colleges and universities are not only institutions of higher learning, but they are also businesses that must remain fiscally solvent. College officials believe that admitting students who have had multiple contacts with their school increases the chances that the student in question will actually enroll (this is also known as yield).

Do all colleges track demonstrated interest? No. Your job as a savvy applicant is to find out if a particular school tracks demonstrated interest and the weight that it has in the admission process.

Does it ever pay to be a “school stalker”? Is there such a thing as “bad contact”? Families can take the concept of demonstrated interest too far. Some questionable tactics are: attempting to “friend” a college rep on his/her personal Facebook account, calling a university official’s personal phone number and conveniently dropping by the admissions office when the representative is on his/her way out to the car. Instead of showing persistence, these things can actually move the needle to “creepy” and “borderline-stalking”. Keep your attempts to show interest professional and appropriate.

The bottom line is that families should do the research to find out what role, if any, demonstrated interest plays in the college admissions process of a particular school.

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A 6th Grader Taking Algebra I???

Today’s topic is something that parents all over the country are struggling with this time of year. When I was a middle school Director of Student Services, I was often asked by parents whether or not they should accelerate their students in math. As the requirements for college admission increases, so does the pressure for families to push students harder and faster at an earlier age. Students as young as fifth grade are taking abstract mathematics courses like algebra and geometry. When considering whether or not to accelerate your student, keep these three things in mind:

If your student starts advanced math in middle school, he/she will be expected to continue to take advanced math throughout high school. Most colleges would concede that it is better for a student to reach pre-calculus in senior year as opposed to take pre-calculus in sophomore year and discontinue taking math.

I’ve seen several students experience mid-high school math burnout. They were advanced math students in middle school but by high school their interest and/or skill level declined and they hit a metaphorical mathematical wall.

Some universities don’t count middle school classes for admission, even if students were awarded high school credit for them. I recently visited a major university that revealed that they recalculate GPAs based on core academic classes. According to this school’s procedure, middle school classes don’t count in the equation. This is a fact that might surprise many savvy parents who thought that they were giving their children an advantage by having them take a foreign language or math during middle school.

Just because a student can do something, it does not mean that he/she should do it. Many families fear missing out on an academic opportunity, believing that a misstep will sentence their student to a lifetime of academic mediocrity.

Here are a few questions to keep in mind as you think about whether or not to accelerate your student in math:

Does your student love math?
Have you looked at the high school sequence of courses? Will your child really be ready for BC Calculus as a senior or is he/she already showing academic reluctance?
Are you bowing to social pressure and/or are you secretly enjoying the cachet that comes with having a child in advanced academics?

Parents, students and school counselors must make sure that all of the important factors are weighed appropriately when considering math acceleration. A thoughtful decision now can decrease the chance of regret later.

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American University – My Impressions

Recently, I was invited to American University to participate in a counselor event. I was excited about my first visit to AU and couldn’t wait to experience what the university had to offer.

We spent the first part of the gray February morning in American’s new Welcome Center. The admissions counselors showed us a brief video about the campus and student body. Afterward, representatives answered our questions about admission to the university. Among the topics of discussion were their test-optional program, merit awards and AU’s use of a two-pronged Early Decision system. A student-led tour of the campus followed, filled with views of classrooms, the dining areas and a student room within a residence hall.

Overall Impressions

The Campus – Overall, the campus had a good layout and a strong emphasis on safety. In fact, according to our tour guide, if anyone activates one of the numerous blue light boxes anywhere on campus, security will arrive within 90 seconds. The buildings were clean and well-kept and the presence of construction equipment shows that progress is a priority.

The Academic Programs – The biggest emphasis absolutely seems to be on International Affairs. Whether a student studies Business, Communications or any other major, he or she should be prepared to view it through an international prism.

The Ideal AU Student – A successful AU applicant has a high GPA (the middle 50% of students earned between a 3.6 – 4.05), a healthy record of extra-curricular involvement and an intense interest in issues around the globe.

Other Observations

I was intrigued by AU’s test optional system. It allows students who do not wish to submit standardized test scores as part of their application to forgo this requirement. It’s important to note that students who wish to be admitted under this system must have applications that are able to stand on their own without this factor.
At about $54,000/year, American is pricey, but students shouldn’t let the sticker shock scare them away from applying. There are scholarships and some merit aid available. If you are interested in American University, apply and see what financial package they are able to offer you.
Demonstrated interest is an important factor to AU. This university tracks every contact made by a student or family and this may help a student who is on the academic fence at AU gain admission.

Even though American University is one of eight major universities in Washington D.C., it has managed to carve out a niche in the area of Global Affairs. Any student whose objective is to study the world as a community of citizens should consider American University as a possible choice.

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Generalized advice about college admission is nice, but often, families want input about their own customized situation. In an upcoming podcast I will be answering your questions about the college admissions process.

What are your top questions about the college admissions process? Comment below or on the ”Contact Sia” tab on http://www.siaknight.com.

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How to Pick Perfect Classes

In many places across the country, students are picking classes for next school year.

Choosing courses can be a daunting and overwhelming chore. My tips below help to make the course selection process a more manageable undertaking:

Listen to the advice of your teachers and school counselor when picking courses. Most of them have been working with students for many years and have a level of experience and point of view that comes only with dealing something on a daily basis. School officials can give recommendations based on a global viewpoint, not through the myopic lens that many of us use as parents.

When choosing classes factor in the student’s work ethic. The fact that your student is a genius and has the ability to earn an“A” in organic chemistry, doesn’t mean that she has the interest in the subject matter or work ethic to do the 90 minutes worth of homework each night that it requires to achieve this task. Be realistic. My motto for many years as a school counselor was “just because you can do something, doesn’t mean that you should do it.”

Factor in other responsibilities/activities when choosing courses. My favorite is example is of the rising ninth grade parent that has registered their child for all honors-level classes, the marching band and travel soccer. Is it possible that a student can juggle all of this in addition to the transition to high school? Maybe. Is it worth risking a nervous breakdown in the process? No.

Pay close attention to the academic requirements of the college(s) that you would like to attend. The fact that you will be able to graduate with an advanced diploma from your high school with two years of world languages will provide little consolation when you find out in January of your senior year that your dream college requires three years as a minimum.

These four tips can serve as a good starting point when preparing to choose next year’s classes.

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What are your top questions about the college admissions process? Comment below or on the ”Contact Sia” tab on http://www.siaknight.com.

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The College Savvy Coach

Sia Knight

Advice From Corporate America to College-Bound Students

10 Things That College Applicants Must Know

A Maddening March for High School Seniors

VCU – Impressions From My Visit

Stop! Read This Before You Make Summer Plans for your Teen

Davidson College – My Impressions

5 Things You Need to Know About Demonstrated Interest

A 6th Grader Taking Algebra I???

American University – My Impressions

How to Pick Perfect Classes

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