This is it! You are finally graduating high school and getting ready for that next step of your life, whatever that may be.

You have made it through high school, hopefully unscathed and excited for the future. For those of you that will be heading off to college in the Fall, you have the next few months of summer to celebrate all that you have accomplished so far in your life and also to prepare for future challenges. This is also a great time to get ahead and cross many things off your to-do list.

First let’s get the technicalities out of the way. Make sure that your high school knows where to send your final transcript. Colleges will need this to verify that you graduated, met all the requirements, and kept your grades up. If you have ever taken Advanced Placement exams, request scores to get sent once you receive your final scores in July. Colleges will need this report to properly place you in courses. And make sure that you have submitted all required forms to the college you will be attending. If the school requires you to attend an Orientation session, schedule one as soon as possible so that spaces don’t fill up.

While you have just finished four years of schooling, summer can be an ideal time to get ready for the academic rigors of college. If you are already feeling anxious about a certain course, take it over the summer to either get it out of the way or to just build your confidence. Alternatively, if you want to get some other general education courses out of the way so that you can focus on your core classes during the year, take one or two over the summer. Before you enroll in any courses, you should check with your college to make sure that the courses will be accepted. If you are feeling stress free about your academics, then skip the courses and spend your time on other endeavors.

If your calendar is completely free for the summer, use this time to try something new or learn something you have always wanted to learn. Pick up a hobby or go back to one that you had to give up because you did not have enough time before. These activities make you well rounded and bring some balance to your life. And hobbies can be learning experiences too! They can also introduce you to ideas and people that will serve you will in your life.

If you have a job or are planning to get one, you can use this time to save up some money and get some experience. Any type of job can help you develop strong skills.  Working in any place that requires you to interact with customers on a regular basis, can teach you strong interpersonal skills. Working with people is something you want to learn well and early because it is something you will do throughout your life.  Jobs also force you to be responsible and accountable  – two traits future employers will want to know you have.

These days of summer will go by in what seems like an instant. Make the most of every day, but make sure to also have some downtime. You are about to embark on a journey that will change your perspectives and impact your future. Taking a breather will help you to reflect on where you are and contemplate where you are headed.

More than anything enjoy this time in your life. And congratulations!

All the best, 

Team Insight 

I was lucky enough to be able to recently tour Saint Mary’s College, a welcoming gem of a school tucked away just an hour and a half from the South Bay area. 
 

Saint Mary’s College has been in Moraga for over 100 years, yet few have heard of this small Catholic college located between Berkeley and Walnut Creek. 

For California students hoping to stay local, Saint Mary’s College offers a number of major differences from the typically UC/CSU experience: 

January Term – They have only one (yes, you read that right!) class in January. Students will often choose to talk this class abroad, discover an interest outside their major or dive deeper into their volunteering, internships and extracurricular activities. Since the whole school is structured this way, this doesn’t even delay time to graduation. 

Faith and Service: The school is undeniably Catholic from the large chapel on campus to its two religious class requirement. While 52% of students identify as Catholic, it is welcoming to people of faiths. The school’s 2000+ undergraduates contribute a remarkable 15,000 – 20,000 of community service hours annually, and this respect for all people is reflected in the many campus clubs and speakers of diverse viewpoints, like the founders of the #metoo movement or the social entrepreneur behind Numi tea. 

Collegiate Seminar Classes– Much like a Socratic seminar filled with lively debate, Collegiate Seminar Classes consist of a series of required courses that give every student a firm foundation in the liberal arts. The program is made up of four courses that examine major works of Western civilization: works of literature and philosophy, history and political theory, art and science. 

Small, Welcoming Community: With an average class size of 19, at Saint Mary’s there’s no hiding in the back of the room when you haven’t done the reading! Yet this intimate setting is one of the strengths of a Saint Mary’s education. At this school, you’ll find a the university president makes regular office hours to meet with students, many clubs and welcome events like the Freshman ‘Weekend of Welcome’, an infectious school spirt from the school’s division I athletics program, and even inter-house competitions just like in Harry Potter. 

While a liberal arts school, Saint Mary’s also has a strong business program, and undergraduate research opportunities and a cadaver lab for students interested in science or medicine. 

Wondering if you can afford this private school? They give merit based scholarships ranging from $6,000-$25,000 a year, and this can be in addition to departmental scholarships that offer up to $13,000 in scholarships to students seeking certain specialties, from business to history.  Interested students should strongly consider signing up for an optional admissions interview. 

Overall, Saint Mary’s is a small, supportive environment that offers an educational experience far removed from a large state school. In the words of the university, Saint Mary aims to ‘engage the intellect and the spirit with exceptional academics… to change lives and inspire the desire to transform society.’ 

Recently I had the good fortune to visit UMass Amherst for a campus tour. The public research university, located in Western Massachusetts, is the commonwealth’s flagship campus.  UMass has approximately 22,700 undergraduate students and another 6,500 graduate students. It is also a member of the Pioneer Valley’s five college consortium along with liberal arts colleges Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith.  As part of this consortium, UMass students can take up to 8 credits every semester at any of the 4 schools at no extra cost.  They also provide a free bus system between campuses to make transportation a non-issue.

The average class size at UMass is 36, but ranges from smaller classes with fewer than 10 students to intro classes with more than 100 students.  Class size tends to decrease as you get closer to completing your major. The university features 10 specific colleges and schools, including the Colleges of Education, Engineering, Humanities and Fine Arts, Information and Computer Sciences, Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Social and Behavioral Sciences, as well as the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Isenberg School of Management, and the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.  Students are placed into each school or college based on their major.

During final exams the campus library, named after W.E.B. Du Bois, is open 24/7.  There is a wonderful sense of camaraderie as students access the most modern technology and fall asleep in Men in Black style egg-shaped chairs.  There is also a free tutoring center that is complimentary to all students. UMass students can become certified tutors through the training program, and earn money while helping their peers. 

Beyond the classroom, UMass has more than 300 different student organizations to get involved in. In addition to traditional clubs focusing on sports, music, politics, community service, theatre, and religion, UMass also offers less common options, such as squirrel watching, bee keeping, and skydiving.  And if you are a sports fan, good news!  Students are granted free admission to home games for all sports.  All students are also allowed free memberships at Planet Fitness.

UMass as a whole is constantly looking to improve and is currently in the process of renovating the Student Union and building Worcester Dining Commons, set to open in Fall of 2020.  The prestigious Isenberg School of Management is currently undergoing a $62M addition, while the brand new Innovation Hub opened this past January.

In addition to offering study abroad options, UMass is also proud to be a part of the Domestic Exchange program, which allows students to travel to over 180 other schools all over the US, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. But while students have the opportunity to spend a full semester at a different state school, UMass Amherst itself is actually the second most requested school in the entire program, right behind the University of Hawaii.  That’s pretty impressive company considering the climate differences.

UMass is well worth considering this upcoming college application season, whether you live in Massachusetts, California, or somewhere in between. In fact, 30% of enrolled students now come from out-of-state. In addition to allowing students to apply early action in November (which is not binding), every student who applies is considered for acceptance into the school’s honors program.  But don’t worry, even if a student is not admitted in the first year at UMass, you can apply to be reconsidered. 

And for the cherry on the sundae, upon graduating from UMass you will join a long list of notable alumni including NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, singer Natalie Cole, actor Richard Gere, and basketball legend Julius Erving!

All the best, 
Zach & Team Insight

“A gap year?” – Puzzled Parents

No, a gap year does not mean you spend the majority of your time hanging out shopping at The Gap in the mall closest to your home. Rather, a gap year most commonly refers to taking a year off from school in between high school graduation and the start of college. While many seniors are preparing to go straight into college as a freshman next fall, let’s take a quick look at some of the reasons why some students opt for a different path.

You need a break

Assuming you began your early education in kindergarten, that’s 13 straight years in school. Some may find it a tad overwhelming to jump head first into the deep end on their way to 17 without taking some time to themselves. Remember, just because your friends are touring campuses and filling out roommate forms doesn’t mean that’s right for you.

You didn’t get into your top choice college

Allow me to spare you what I’m sure is an immediate concern: You are NOT the only one in this position. While it can be disappointing to miss out on your preferred program or school, don’t take it personally. There are many factors that go into the decision-making progress, and the reality is there is only so much space available on a college campus and in the dorms.

You want to experience a job

Working in between high school and college is a great way to not only earn money, but also to achieve independence, to learn responsibility, and to collaborate with others in a real-world professional environment. You may also be looking for work in your preferred field for the first time, which can demonstrate your interest in your major choice when you decide to apply for college again.

There are a number of other reasons why students decide to give themselves a semester or a full year off as well, including the desire to travel, the opportunity to take community college classes, the chance to build a resume away from school, and the time to meet new friends or spend more time with family. In some instances, 17 and 18-year-olds simply need the time and space to mature, assess what they want, and make sure they are actually ready to go off to college and succeed on their own, both academically and socially.

Remember, above all else, you need to do what is right for you. Giving yourself the freedom to think and the opportunity to learn new skills can make you not only a stronger applicant when the time comes, but this can also provide you with increased confidence, the feeling that you can accomplish anything.

All the best,

Team Insight

Now that many of you have heard back from most of your schools, you will start hearing people talk about completing their SIR, asking if you’ve completed yours, and asking where your “SIR-ing” too? 

And you may be asking yourself, what does SIR even mean?? 

PS- more of a visual learner? Check out our video on this topic! 

SIR stands for Statement of Intent to Register. Long story short, you must submit a SIR to ONE school by May 1^st.  This means that you plan to attend and enroll at that specific University. 

When you SIR to a school, you typically put down a non-refundable deposit to hold your place at the institution. This tells the university that you plan to attend, you will be paying tuition, if you’re staying on campus then you’ll be paying for housing and a meal plan, and all of those types of things. The college will hold this spot for you knowing that you have expressed your commitment to them through the SIR. 

Some of you may be reading this and asking “but what if I’m on a waitlist for another school, do I still need to SIR”?

The answer is YES! You must SIR to one school even if you are on the waitlist for other schools. If you don’t SIR to a school, they will assume that you are not attending and may give away your spot to someone else off of their waitlist or a student that lodged a successful appeal. 

If you get off the waitlist at another school and accept their offer (this is typically after May 1^st), you call the original university that you submitted your statement of Intent to register and let them know that you do not plan to attend that university. You will lose that initial deposit and will have to put a new deposit down at the school you plan to attend. It is important to do this so that you won’t incur more fees (like tuition, housing) and also so they can offer your spot to another student who could attend that university. 

All the best in this very exciting time! 

Team Insight 

A question that we hear a lot from students and families during their first meeting with us is how to think about building a college list, and what they should consider in this process.

There is a combination of factors that result in not only a strong college list but more importantly, a well-rounded college list.

(Ps- want to watch a video on this topic? Click HERE to see Zach’s video on college lists) 

Because many students can thrive in more than one type of environment, it’s important to know yourself, and your personality, to choose the school that’s going to fit you best. You also should think about how comfortable you’d feel being far away from your family and your hometown. Some students like the idea of being a 20-minute drive from home, while others are intrigued at the possibility of traveling to the opposite coast, or – take a deep breath, parents! –  maybe even another country. But you shouldn’t worry, because the best college for your child may very well be far away, and at the end of the day you want them to be happy. Plus, with social media, Skype, and Google Hangouts, you are really never that far apart anyway.  

Another crucial component of building your college list is being realistic about your academic profile. If some classes during high school have been more of a challenge or you’ve enjoyed being able to have access to teachers for more direct academic help, looking for a college that has smaller class sizes is important to consider. The reality is there are many schools that offer low student-to-teacher ratios, professors who emphasize hands-on learning, and the opportunity to explore several areas of study at a pace that works well for you, and best fits your learning style.

You also want to give yourself options. It’s never a good idea to apply only to reach schools, just as it’s not a great idea to apply to only safeties. You are aiming for a range of colleges that will enable you to succeed both academically and socially. Don’t focus your list based on where your friends are applying, because their list is based on the schools that right for THEM, not you.

Ask yourself this question when thinking about even your best friend: Do you have the same grades, interests, test scores, extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, family dynamics, world knowledge, sense of humor, climate preferences, political points of view… If the answer is no to even one of these things, then your lists are not going to be identical, and that’s ok.

At the end of the day, there’s no point in applying to a school that you wouldn’t be happy attending. You have a lot freedom when you are considering colleges, which is a good thing, because, at age 16, 17, 18, you are becoming your own person, you are taking responsibility for your actions and choices. So, think about what YOU want. Where MIT ranks on the list of top Computer Science programs ultimately might not matter too much if you are scared of the cold and hate walking around busy cities. Don’t concern yourself with your friend’s admission to Pomona if you aren’t even interested in colleges with fewer than 10,000 students.  

And as important as any other factor is in building your college list, give yourself enough time. You need time to seek guidance, time to research, time to arrange and take college tours, time to discuss with your family and your counselor, and time to allow for your school work – which don’t forget, actually does extend into senior year!

Remember, you are going to be spending the next 4 years of your life on a new campus as an undergraduate student. So, take the time to figure out what’s best for you.        

All the best,

Team Insight 

The short answer is… probably not. We get a lot of requests to help with appeals for students who just can’t understand why they received the decision that they did. As tough as it can be to hear, often times the decision from a college is going to be the final decision and launching an appeal process will be unsuccessful. 

However, a great reason to put an appeal together is if there was something missing from your application. Something you didn’t tell colleges about that you probably should have! 

We have worked with students who have done successful appeals because they were given bad advice about discussing something like a personal struggle that would have given colleges context about why their academic performance wasn’t a strong as it otherwise may have been. Or, not explaining a dip in grades in their application and just glossing over it, hoping that the college didn’t notice. 

Another reason could be a major accomplishment may have occurred in the time between submitting the application and receiving the decision! This can be a great thing to make sure the college is aware of. 

Whatever the reason may be for why important information wasn’t included in the application, those are the types of things we will be looking for if a student comes to us wanting to launch an appeal. It needs to be on the basis of some information that you are ADDING to your file that was missing from the original application. 

So, when you receive your decisions and start to think about your next steps, keep in mind the types of information necessary to launch a successful appeal and see if you have any of those. Completing an appeal takes work, time and emotional energy, so it’s important to make sure you understand all of your options and if this is the right one for you. 

We work with students and families on appeals and college decision meetings. Reach out to us today at info@insight-education.net for more information! 

All the very best!
Team Insight