This year’s blog posts focus on Insider Insights. Since I have not posted in a while, here is a brief reminder of the impetus for this year’s focus. As a parent, I relate to parents trying to help their students navigate the ever-changing higher education landscape. There is a knowledge gap which I mean to address to alleviate anxiety related to college. I think it will be helpful for those applying to college to gain perspective on a few of the many resources offered by institutions of higher education. It is my hope that these blog posts will help demystify the process. The most recent installment of Insider Insights highlights my conversation with Li-Chen Chin.
Read MoreEarlier this year, Nathan Elton, Director of the Career Center at the University of Delaware was kind enough to share his time and insights on how students should be thinking in terms of preparing themselves for life after college. I was excited to speak with Nathan, who has worked in some capacity in the field of Career Development and Advancement since 2002 at Penn State University, Villanova University, Oberlin College and Conservatories, and Davidson College. Nathan attributed many of his views on career advancement and development to his diverse work experience, connections to employers and workforce development professionals, and research such as the Gallup-Purdue Index on (Great Jobs. Great Lives. The Value of Career Services, Inclusive Experiences and Mentorship for College Graduates). Our first conversation focused on the following question: Are there things prospective students should be mindful of in terms of Career Services when considering their college options beyond placement rates? When applying to college, most students are interested in majors, student/faculty ratios, sports, social life, study abroad options, school location, but I am not sure how many consider the support provided by Career Services.
Read MoreNormally, December is a hectic month - hectic feels like an understatement this year. If you are fortunate to be able to take a break during this last week of December, please focus on recovering from this challenging year. Prioritize sleep, escape the confines of your home by taking a walk or watching a movie in an exotic location, eat well and have a few treats (it is the holidays). If you are unable to gather with friends and family, reach out to them, and finally, take some time to reflect on this unusual year. What did you learn about yourself and how can you apply this knowledge to making 2021 better, no matter what comes your way?
Read MoreOne nice thing about university life is the dependable rhythm of the academic calendar. Students can expect classes to begin and end at relatively the same time each year. As each semester commences, orientations are offered to newly arriving students. Each semester ends with Reading Days and Final Exams. Although not as exciting as the start or end of the semester, Advance Registration also takes place each semester and requires planning. If you are currently a college student and have not begun to think about the courses you intend to take next semester, now is the time to consider a number of factors.
Read MoreFor the college crowd, October brings the start of midterms, the stress that accompanies heavily weightedassessments in several courses all at once, and the respite of fall break. Having worked in higher education for nearly two decades, it is my understanding that fall break was instituted to give students a much needed break during the fall semester. This year, many colleges and universities altered their fall semester calendars with the intention of safely bringing students back to campus and avoiding surges in COVID-19 cases in the late fall. Some colleges opted to bring students back early, while others pushed their semester start dates back. Many universities teaching students in person plan to go remote after Thanksgiving. On many campuses, fall break was a casualty of these calendar changes.
Read MoreAs we head into the fourth week of September, the fall semester of college is in full swing. Students have been attending classes for several weeks, and the novelty of a new semester, for many, is subsiding. If it were a typical fall semester, this would be the point when the first major assessments (quizzes, tests, papers) were due and when students begin to get rundown from enjoying the freedom of living on their own and interacting with their peers into the wee hours of the morning. Since this is not a normal fall semester, some students are at home instead of on campus, or on campus, but confined to their dorms or apartments where there are multiple sources of distraction: Netflix, YouTube….etc. If this scenario hits a little too close to home for you, do not despair. The semester is still in its infancy, and there is time to course correct.
Read More“Focus on getting into a routine. Now with remote work (and working pacific hours) I take advantage of my mornings to go for a run. In terms of online learning, I’d tell myself to set aside a routine like I would on campus – try to add as much structure to my day so that once it starts, I’m active the whole time whether it’s in meetings or working on projects. And of course, take meaningful breaks! Going for a walk around the block or just getting up to stand every hour makes a huge difference to my productivity.”
Sophia Moses, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2020
Read MoreWhat advice would I have given myself about remote learning, given what I know now?
Know Yourself: Self-Reflection
I found it really important towards the beginning of the pandemic to ask myself what my expectations were for myself during this time. How stressed was I? How was I reacting to my new learning and living environments? How will I structure working and breaks? I’m someone who focuses for shorter bursts, and likes to take longer breaks in between. I tested different ways of structuring my studying - I found using tomato timers (pomodoro timers) really useful, but 25 min of working with a 5 min break was too short of a break for me personally, so I adjusted. It takes trial and error. There were definitely times I took breaks and never came back to my work that day. But with time and deadlines it helps to not just sit down and stare endlessly at problem sets. I also binge-watch lectures instead of watching them as they were posted - I’m more of a cram study-er, but that’s me. Find what structure works for you, and ask yourself how you’ll operate best in these remote circumstances.
Read More“Dedicate a space that is solely for work. Having your camera on while you are in class makes you more attentive during classes. Schedule Family Dinners with your friends. My friends and I meet at 8 pm on Sunday night; we eat together and catch up in a Zoom call. Sometimes we have a weekly challenge to learn something new, do something different, bring a family story and are ready to share what we did that week with our friends at Family Dinner. It’s a great way to feel connected with your friends while you are a part. It is really easy to get distracted at home. Make a schedule and do your best not to deviate from it.”
Michael Barsoum, Drexel University, Class of 2020
Read MoreQuite frankly, it’s difficult to know where to start. The impacts of coronavirus are far-reaching, and education is certainly no exception. I spent my last semester of classes the way I think we all did; like a cautious driver who was lost in the woods, one eye on the GPS and foot hovering above the brake, I was more concerned about how to make it through to the next fork in the road than how to cruise in style.
Read MoreThe 2019-2020 academic year was challenging for myriad reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning environments shifted online, sports, activities, and annual social events were cancelled, students returned home, and rites of passage were either forgone or dramatically altered to protect everyone’s health. All of these alterations have taken a heavy toll on students and the institutions that educate them. As the summer has progressed, there has been a great deal of media coverage regarding the 2020-2021 academic year focusing on measures colleges and universities are taking to ensure a safe return to campus for all community members while enabling students to live independently and form strong relationships with their peers. As universities across the country have released fall semester plans, I have been reviewing them closely. While I am unclear on how the 2020-2021 academic year will unfold, I am encouraged by recent articles about investments certain universities made last year to provide additional support for students. In light of all the negative news and uncertainty surrounding academia, here are programs and positions that were initiated last year to help students excel in college.
Read MoreCOVID-19 has impacted summer plans worldwide. High school students planned to take the SAT and/or ACT only to have them cancelled and the universities they planned to apply to have forgone their testing requirement for the upcoming application cycle. College students’ summer internship plans were cancelled or are now remote. Others lost full time employment opportunities and are searching for new jobs. Below are some options to have a meaningful summer in spite of unforeseen changes in circumstance.
Read MoreCongratulations to the high school class of 2020! You have accomplished so much and unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we are unable to celebrate you as you deserve. This is saddening but I applaud the individuals who are creatively celebrating you during these unusual times. Additional kudos for coming to the end of the college admissions process! By now you have selected an institute of higher learning, or for those who have received an extension, are in the final stages of the decision process. While selecting the right university is a challenging task, this year poses an even more difficult issue for students and parents: the decision to matriculate in the fall or defer.
Read MoreIf you had asked me if it were possible to negotiate your financial aid package prior to my experience working with students admitted to the University of Pennsylvania’s M&T Program, I would have said no. My reasoning would have been, these students are the best and the brightest, they are admitted to the best schools across the country and world, why would Penn not lead with their strongest aid packages? During my tenure with the M&T Program, we lost students because of financial aid.
Here are some tips I learned over the years. Hopefully they will assist you and your family with selecting the best institution of higher education available to your child based on their academic needs and your family’s financial resources.
Read MoreThe coronavirus is altering life. A very common employment interview question is, tell me how you handled a challenging situation. This is a challenging situation. Below are some thoughts on how to stay mentally strong and finish the semester/year with positive results.
Read MoreYou’ve submitted your applications, now it is up to the universities to review applications and cultivate the class of 2024, or is it? Could you utilize this time to make a more informed decision once offers are released? YES!
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