Carnival of Education–Presidential Debate Edition

The newest edition of the Carnival of Education is up and running over at EduWonkette, one of the great EdWeek blogs.  The theme is appropriate, on this, the day of the last presidential debate of 2008.’


In addition to a post from yours truly, there is plethora of pleasing posts.  Among my favorites this week are:


Stories from School argues that school (or college) is not for everyone.  I have to agree.  While I think we should never stop learning in high school, I don’t like our cultural prejudice that dictates that if you don’t go to college, you’re a big, fat loser.  After all, only 25% of Americans have a BA.  Does that make 75% of Americans “worthless” or necessarily “uneducated?”


Stuart Buck makes the same argument (and you thought this was a debate!), based on a recent column by Charles Murray at the Cato Institute.  If you haven’t read Murray’s column, you should.  Post-secondary education is great, but again, it’s not for everyone.


Right on the Left Coast (one of my faves–he makes me think) sheds light on the idiocy of faculty/staff meetings.  Why do these sorts of meetings happen over and over?  Why is it that in schools, all leadership has to be “collective?”   (Perhaps we need The Decider to Decide?)


As always, the Carnival of Education is an excellent run around the Edusphere.  I’m looking forward to the next edition.


Mark Montgomery

Carnival of Education


In Defense of Large University Endowments

The Los Angeles Times ran an opinion piece today written by Anthony W. Marx, the president of Amherst College, in which he eloquently defended independent decision-making by independent colleges.  In the past year or so, Congress has had its knickers in a twist about the rising value of college endowments at some private colleges–even as tuition rates have continued to rise.


Now with the economic downturn, I expect the outrage about balooning college endowments will subside–because they’re not balooning very much right now.  Up until the past few weeks, the “American Way” has been characterized by debt burdens, excessive leverage, and wanton spending.  Our collective profligacy has caught up with us, and the immediate future doesn’t appear very rosy.


If we remember Aesop’s fable of the grasshopper and the ants, we can think of Congress and the rest of the outraged public (or, the grasshoppers) complaining that private colleges (the ants) were unnecessarily stuffing their mattresses with investments.  Well, winter has now come, and the ants are sighing with relief that they made some good decisions.


Congressional grasshoppers, left out in the cold, how have to turn their attention to the messes they neglected, rather than continuing to complain about the apparent wisdom of the ants.  Most private colleges have weathered economic storms for decades, if not centuries in some cases.  While some colleges have gone under (and a few of the more spenthrift colleges may lose their shirts in this downturn), we don’t hear about Harvard or Yale or Vanderbilt going belly up like AIG, Lehman Brothers, or Washington Mutual.


Undoubtedly well-endowed colleges and universities will feel the economic pain of the current crisis, and while many (like Amherst) will try to continue to offer large financial aid packages to those who need them.  It will be interesting to see, however,  if all of them will be able to make good on every pledge they made a few months ago when their endowments wer at record highs.  If university endowments have shrunk by 40% in the past year (as has the average porfolio), we may see some colleges backtracking.


Ants will be ants.


Mark Montgomery

College Admissions Consultant




Technorati Tags: college, university, endowment, financial aid, scholarships, Amherst, Yale, Harvard, Aesop

Carnival of College Admissions, 2nd Edition

Welcome to the second edition of the Carnival of College Admission.  The Carnival is a biweekly round-up of interesting blog posts related to the transition from high school to college.


I’ve had many folks contact me asking what a blog carnival is, and why they should consider submitting posts to each edition.  My friend, Peter Baron over at AdmissionsQuest, called me up last week to ask me to describe what we’re doing.  He recorded our video conversation, and I’d like to kick off our Second Edition by sharing it with you.


College Admission Carnival / A conversation with the Carnival’s founder, Mark Montgomery from Peter Baron on Vimeo.



So, now, on with the October 8, 2008 edition of Carnival of College Admission.  Enjoy the ride!


Admission

Andrew Burns, the Director of Admission at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, presents insight on how to get the most of attending a college fair.  He provides great advice to the high school senior about how to get good information, and at the same time make a good impression on admissions officers.  


Adam Epstein, an admissions counselor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), presents a post entitled, “So What’s In A High School Visit?” in which he explains why admissions folks visit high schools, and what students can expect from an encounter with people like him. Check out Adam’s blog at Adamissions.


Brad J. Ward, an admissions officer at Butler University and a technology guru in the higher education field, shares a hilarious post from his blog Squared Peg about the importance of responding to emails from admissions officers.  Why?  Because they like it!


Todd Johnson presents Legacy admissions. The best way to gain admissions to selective colleges? posted at College Admissions Counseling Blog.  Todd is another prolific blogger, and he provides all sorts of useful information to families of college-bound students.


Yours truly, Mark Montgomery, is happy to direct you toward his post that gives an insider’s view on admission to schools of art and design.  I was able to make a video of a portfolio review of a young woman hoping to be admitted to the Art Institute of Boston.  If you want to check out my blog, well, you’re already here.



Boarding School
Peter Baron at AdmissionsQuest, a resource for boarding school admission in the US, shares a post from a new guest blogger on his site: a parent. Her first post a welcome to her boarding school admission journal.  Thanks again to Peter for putting together the short video introducing the Carnival!

Sean Costello at VideoJug posted his organization’s video channel related to school admission in the UK. 



Test Prep

Mark Truman presents Someone Finally Stops Inviting the SAT and ACT to the College Party posted at Omniac Attack!.  In this amusing post, Mark highlights the report from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) that encourages colleges and universities to reconsider their use of the SAT and ACT tests as important criteria in the admissions decision.  Perhaps more and more colleges will be going test optional here soon.


Todd Johnson shares another post in which he explains how many colleges “superscore” the ACT and SAT tests.  Students who worry excessively about the fact that a college  may see both low and high scores on the same test can rest assured that colleges have every incentive to give you the benefit of the doubt. Find Todd’s blog at College Admissions Partners.



College Life

Shae presents, “Hey Roommate–Stop Stealing My Food!”  Shae has a lot of fun stuff to share about how important food can be in college life.  And I remember those days when I had to label the food in the communal fridge to keep the crew team from swiping my comestibles.  Check out Shae’s blog at The Collegiate Gourmet.


Ali Hale, who blogs as Alpha Student, presents a post entitled “Feeling Shy?” in which she provides tips for getting to know people on campus. As Ali says, “If you’re feeling shy and a bit nervous of approaching new people at college – don’t worry, you’re not alone.”


Linda P. Taylor has submitted Part 2 of her series on the limits of political speech on campuses.  She examines the new regulation at the University of Illinois that bans faculty from wearing political buttons or participating in political rallies on campus.  Linda blogs at AskLindaPTaylor.com, and of course, you can also find Part 1 of her series there!


Barbara Nixon is an educator and technology fan.  She offers 10 Tips for Success on Assignments. Check out Barbara’s blog, Making Connections.


My friend Andrew Burns is really getting into the spirit of the Carnival.  He submitted another interesting post describing Fort Lewis College’s community book program, which this year featured Greg Mortenson and his book Three Cups of Tea.  More an more colleges are adopting these community book programs, especially for first year students, to help ease the transition to college.  Check out the rest of Andy’s blog posts.


Many of us in the college admissions field recognize that more students with autism and Aspberger’s are applying to college–and getting accepted.  Michelle McFarland-McDaniels presents resources and information on Preparing Students with Autism for a Successful College Experience.  Michelle blogs at Autism Assistance.



Financial Aid

Julie Stewart over at Virtual College Fairs, presents a post that explains how to determine your EFC, or Expected Family Contribution.  This all-important number is an indicator of a family’s financial need.  Check out Julie’s blog, too.


Everyone has seen their portfolios shrink in recent weeks.  Students and their families are among the most nervous about the credit crunch.  John presents Student Loan Crunch Getting Tighter posted at Free College.


Wenchypoo, in a post entitled “The College Conundrum,” explores the “return on investment” that we make in pursuing a college degree. As she points out, financially some degrees just don’t make economic sense. Wenchypoo also submitted a similar post on the same subject, entitled, “The NEW Lessons in Higher Education.” You might want to take a look at her other blog posts: Wenchypoo is a prolific blogger!


The Editors of Financial-Aid-Resource-Center.com present Grants for College, which explains that federal grant programs are designed to assist students with the greatest financial need.  Read this post for a summary of available grants.



Scholarships

Jeremy Zongker presents Free College Education Exists. This post highlights the few colleges that actually offer a complete college education at no cost. Have a look at the entire blog at Destroy Debt.


Michelle McFarland-McDaniels presents another post this week, providing resources on information on sscholarships for college students who have autism.  If autism is a particular interest, make sure to check out Michelle’s blog at Autism Assistance Resources and Information Blog.



Other Cool Stuff

Malia Russell presents Christina is Graduating This Month (May 2008) posted at Homemaking 911.  Malia gives the story of her daughter, who has achieved a lot…through both dedication and heart.


Karin Chenoweth presents We Need Better Teaching posted at Britannica Blog.


Raymond presents Where Is The Safest Place To Save Or Invest Your Money? posted at Money Blue Book Finance Blog.



This wraps up the second edition of the Carnival of College Admission. Please participate on our next edition, which will open on October 22nd right here at Great College Advice. Submit your blog article to the next edition using our handy submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.


See you in two weeks!


Mark Montgomery

Great College Advice



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Artist Portfolio Review at National Portfolio Day

My clients who aspire toward a career in fine art know that they need to prepare a portfolio of their work to present to admissions officers.  These portfolios need to show off their best work, and provide a window into their creative thought processes.


Most students interested in admission to a school of art and design participate in one of nearly 50 different National Portfolio Day events around the country.  Admissions officers from accredited art schools gather to meet with students and offer advice and constructive criticism on how to construct their portfolios.  Admissions officers also get an opportunity to meet with potential recruits and tell them about their school.  Students also have an opportunity to learn more about the programs and schools that may interest them.  (For see my post about National Portfolio Day here).


My clients ask, “what is a portfolio review like?”


So I took my camera to a recent National Portfolio Day event and asked both admissions officers and students if they would allow me to film the experience and share it with others.  Jon Nutting, an admissions counselor at the Art Institute of Boston, readily agreed.  And an aspiring artist named Sarah from Firestone, Colorado, was more than happy to share her experience with my clients–and with you.

As you can see, Mr. Nutting’s comments are both encouraging and constructive.  He offers personalized advice on how to improve her portfolio to give admissions and scholarship panels more information about her artistic talent and the way she approaches different sorts of projects and ideas.


Mark Montgomery

College Consulting



Technorati Tags: art school, fine arts, porfolio, admission, National Portfolio Day, design, Art Institute of Boston, Lesley Univeristy Del.icio.us Tags: art school, fine arts, porfolio, admission, National Portfolio Day, design, Art Institute of Boston, Lesley Univeristy

National Portfolio Day at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD)

portfolio word written in yellow color on a blackboard

I spent a beautiful fall day at recently at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, located in Lakewood, Colorado. The occasion was National Portfolio Day. Budding young artists attend one of about 50 portfolio events around the country in order to receive some critical feedback on their portfolios before they are submitted to colleges of art and design for admission and scholarships.

Hundreds of high school students–and others–aspiring toward a career in art and design descended upon RMCAD to show their artwork to 33 different art schools. I interviewed Liz Dietz, who explained a bit about what to expect at National Portfolio Day.

 

Aspiring artists will want to take advantage of the opportunity for lots of free advice on how to present themselves and their work in the best way possible. Colleges of art and design are glad to share their experience and expertise with you–in large part. Because it gives them the chance to review your work, too, and to convince you that their school is best suited to your needs.

So don’t hesitate to participate in National Portfolio Day!

Mark Montgomery
College Counselor

A Chinese Woman Majors in Accounting at the University of Wyoming

During my recent visit to the University of Wyoming, I met a woman from Suzhou, China, chattering away in Mandarin with a friend.  I had learned that there were significant numbers of international students on the campus.  In fact, my tour guide that day was from Zimbabwe.


But I wanted to learn a bit more about how this woman made her decision to attend the University of Wyoming.  Below she explains.



I was impressed by two points she makes.  First, accounting is accounting is accounting:  it doesn’t really matter all that much where you study accounting, as long as you learn the principles of accounting and are able to use those skills.  So this woman chose her university based more on location, the price, and the general safety of the campus-factors that were most important to her and her family.


Second, this emphasis on price is especially important for international students, who may be unable to apply for financial aid.  So international students often are keenly aware of the value of their education.  The University of Wyoming offers an outstanding value in this respect, as another Wyoming student pointed out to me in an interview.


Mark Montgomery

College Consultant




Technorati Tags: Wyoming, China, Suzhou, university, college, BA, USA, accounting, consultant Del.icio.us Tags: Wyoming, China, Suzhou, university, college, BA, USA, accounting, consultant

What’s a Nice Girl Like You Doing In WYOMING?

During my recent visit to the University of Wyoming, I came across two women chattering away in Mandarin Chinese.  While one was Chinese, the other was from Saipan, a small island in the South Pacific that is within the US Commonwealth (like Puerto Rico or Guam). Her name is Jennifer “J.J.” Jang, and she’s a senior majoring in international studies and education.


I asked this poised young woman how on earth she landed in Laramie.  She turned down offers from New York University and the University of Florida in favor of the fresh air, outdoor activities, and laid back environment of the University of Wyoming.


Listen to how she made her college choice and what she thinks of her decision.



Mark Montgomery

College Counselor



Technorati Tags: college counseling, college counselor, Wyoming, Saipan, university, Asia Del.icio.us Tags: college counseling, college counselor, Wyoming, Saipan, university, Asia


University of Wyoming–The Benefits of Attending A Wealthy State College

Often when I visit a college campus, I sit down with students to discuss their experiences. Such discussions initially unnerve the students (“Who are you, and what do you want?”).  But when they realize that I’m genuinely interested in learning about their college, they usually open up and share the good with the bad.

 

The young woman in this video, Allie Coit, is a third year student at the University of Wyoming. She had recently transfered to the university from Northwestern Community College.  She was delighted with her decision to continue her studies in Laramie, and she had some good things to say about the advantages of a larger universities (great facilities, for example).  She also admitted that the large size also caused her problems in navigating the bloated bureaucracy and advocating for herself.

 

Have a look at what she had to say about being a Wyoming student.

 

 

Note that this young woman transfered from one of Wyoming’s community colleges.  In what may turn out to be a trend in higher education, students are turning to their local community colleges to get their general education requirements out of the way, and then turning to the state flagship university to complete their major and obtain their degree.

 

Such a trajectory can save a family loads of money and still provide a student with an excellent education.

 

Mark Montgomery
College Counseling

 

 

Technorati Tags: Wyoming, university, college, Laramie, student, community college, value, financial aid Del.icio.us Tags: Wyoming, university, college, Laramie, student, community college, value, financial aid

Three Reasons to Attend the University of Wyoming

university

I recently visited the University of Wyoming. Situated in Laramie, the university is the only four-year college in the entire state. As such, the entire population is focused on providing Wyoming students with the best in higher education. I met with Brooke Spicer, an Admissions Representative, and asked her what would make for a great college fit.  She offered up three solid reasons that students anywhere should consider the University of Wyoming.

Here is her response. In a nutshell, her three reasons were as follows:

First, Wyoming is a big state with a big spirit, and because the University has no competition for the hearts and minds of its people, students benefit from the support of the entire population. As she says, football fans travel seven hours–each way–and even if the team is losing–to see a Cowboys game. This spirit engenders a sense of pride in being a student in Laramie.

Second, the outdoor opportunities at the University of Wyoming are unparalleled. Hiking, biking, skiing, camping, sledding, spelunking–it’s all here. Anyone who likes the out-of-doors should consider trekking to Laramie for the sunshine and the access to unspoiled wilderness.

Finally, Wyoming is a relatively wealthy state in proportion to its population. With recent tax windfalls from surging oil and gas prices, the state’s legislators have decided to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the University. The result is a construction boom–new library, a new business school, a new student union, technology investments and upgrades. And at the same time, tuition costs have been kept quite reasonable. So in terms of value, the University of Wyoming is a place where you get plenty of bang for your buck.

Thanks to the folks in the admissions office who welcomed me with open arms. I had a great day exploring the University of Wyoming.

Mark Montgomery
College Admissions Counselor

How to Go to College: The Unofficial Rules

This was recommended to me by a friend on Twitter. It is a very clear, explicit guide for approaching your college career.  Too many students leave for college believing that the “school rules” will be essentially the same as those they encountered in high school


Nothing could be further from the truth.


This guide should be required reading for every high school graduate and college freshman.


Read it the How to Go To College rulebook and let me know what you think.


https://www.wcsu.edu/sas/howto.asp