Estrela Consulting

IECA 2011 Fall Conference Presentations

2011-11-13T21:53:00.003-03:00

Thank you to those who attended one or both of my talks during the Fall 2011 Independent Educational Consultants Association Conference in Dallas, TX last week! As promised, here are both presentations...remember to C.A.S.E. from either one!

STI Tune-Up: Marketing Your Practice (and Yourself!) in 2011

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Your Tag is Showing: Marketing Your School (or Consulting Practice!) from the Inside Out

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Data and Decisions: A Guide for Applying to College in the U.S.

2011-10-28T22:26:00.003-03:00

It’s all about the numbers…at least that’s what high school students are told when embarking on the college search process. GPA. SAT. ACT. It’s a feat just to keep the acronyms straight, let alone understand exactly WHAT colleges and universities are looking for in an applicant. The complexities of the search process are augmented even further if the applicant is applying to a university outside of the place they are currently calling “home”.

International students, expatriate children, and “global nomads” are applying to universities abroad at record numbers. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE) there are more than 3.3 million students studying in a country other than their own. Leading the pack in popularity for attracting international students is the United States with more than 690,000 enrolling in 2009-10. This figure is actually not surprising given the more than 4,000 university options available in the U.S. Other countries seeing a significant influx of international students in recent years include the UK, Germany, France, Australia, and Canada.

A recent IIE study, Open Doors 2010, revealed that the top places of origin for international students studying in the U.S. went to China, India, South Korea, Canada, and Taiwan. To put these facts into perspective, nearly 127,000 students from China enrolled at U.S. universities last year compared to just 8,700 from Brazil. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, students coming from outside the U.S. comprise just 2% of the countries’ total undergraduate student population. In fact, just 10 states within the U.S. account for 61% of all students coming from outside of the country. California, New York, Texas, and Massachusetts are currently the states attracting the most international students. The most popular universities hosting non-U.S. students this year include University of Southern California, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, NYU, Purdue and Columbia.

According to the Open Doors 2010 Study, the top fields of study for students coming to the U.S. from abroad include Business Management, Engineering, Physical and Life Science, and Social Science. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that the highest number of degrees awarded to all undergraduates in the U.S. in 2009 were in the fields of Business, Social Sciences/History, Health Sciences, and Education.

When applying to universities in the U.S., both domestic and international students can save an immense amount of time by submitting the Common Application online. The Common Application was created in 1975 through a collaboration of just 15 private colleges in an attempt to standardize the college application process. Today there are 456 universities who accept the Common Application, including both private and public institutions. In fact, 146 universities are exclusive users of the Common Application including Boston University, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, and all Ivy League schools with the exception of Harvard. The Common Application has allowed students from around the world to apply to many universities by completing just one application online. In fact, in 2010 nearly 2.5 million Common Applications were submitted online!

Before completing an application for admission to a U.S. university, students worldwide must complete one of two standardized tests: the SAT or the ACT. Both exams are accepted by all universities in the U.S. and both offer international testing locations. In 2010 approximately 1.6 million graduating seniors had taken the ACT, while 1.55 million sat for the SAT. Many students take both exams as they are very different and test different academic areas.

The ACT, developed in 1959, includes 215 multiple choice questions in the areas of English, Math, Science, and Reading. An optional writing section is also offered. The average score for students taking the ACT in 2010 was a 21 out of a possible 36.

The first SAT exam was administered in 1901 and today includes 170 questions and an essay in the areas of Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. According to The College Board, the company administering the SAT, the mean scores in 2010 were: Critical Reading-510, Math-516, and Writing-492. The mean composite score for all sections was 1509 out of possible 2400. An interesting fact cited by The College Board is students who have taken four years of English and three or more years of math and science scored, on average, 151 points more than students who had not.

For students applying to U.S. universities from abroad the process can be daunting, as indicated by the numbers above. However, by gathering information early, preparing for standardized tests, and becoming familiar with the Common Application, students anywhere in the world can successfully gain admission to a university of their choice…and take time to enjoy their last year of high school!

A Dorm By Any Other Name Is...A Residence Hall?

2011-08-18T14:05:00.006-04:00

Applying to a U.S. college or university can be daunting for domestic students...imagine what the experience is like for international students. I've worked with students from around the world and I can assure you that applying to college is not a "one size fits all" process. Unfortunately, however, many parts (such as the Common App) are structured with domestic or native English speakers in mind.

The good folks over at US News and World Report have put together a fantastic glossary of terms that will no doubt serve as a handy reference to students from abroad applying to U.S. colleges (or are they universities?). Actually, domestic students might learn some new vocabulary, as well! Check it out:

U.S. Higher Education Glossary - US News and World Report

At Ease! A Military School Primer for Parents

2011-02-21T17:00:00.005-03:00

It’s unlikely that most people would connect the dots between actor Lorenzo Lamas, author JD Salinger, and racing legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Even more difficult to tie together are Donald Trump, former New York Yankee’s owner George Steinbrenner, and baby food mogul Daniel Gerber. In fact, all six of these seemingly different people have one key thing in common that, most likely, contributed to their success in their respective professions: all attended a military school.

For many parents, the term “military school” elicits images of uncooperative children in barracks waiting to be transformed into rule-abiding, respectable young adults. In fact, today’s military schools are much different from those in our grandparent’s day. One main difference is that many of these schools are now coeducational and feature a college-preparatory curriculum.

“Military academies today focus on college preparation,” says Gretchen Herbst, Director of Admission at Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida. “Our goal is to educate students to become well-rounded, self-confident, independent thinkers ready to succeed in college.”

Max Brooks, Director of Admission at St. John’s Military School in Kansas feels that military schools offer many benefits to adolescents.

“I believe today’s military school environment is much more supportive, encouraging, understanding, and nurturing,” says Brooks. “This is representative of the lessons in leadership that the schools are striving to impart.”

Another common misperception is that students attending military schools are doing so as a first step towards joining the military. The reality is that few students actually continue in military service upon graduation from these schools, dispelling the myth that all military schools exist to churn out the next batch of service men and women. Why, then, would a student choose to study in one of these academies if they don't have hopes of flying jets and steering ships?

According to Cristhina Starke, Director of International Admission at Wentworth Military Academy in Missouri, families choose military schools for many different reasons, including a desire to develop leadership skills and improve self-esteem.

“I have seen many students gain self-control and mature in ways that often times exceed the expectations of their parents and even themselves,” says Starke. “The military approach places a larger emphasis on teamwork which gives them the foundation necessary to excel in any field they might pursue.”

For those students with a genuine desire to pursue a military career, these schools can certainly serve as an appropriate stepping stone towards that goal.

“There is certainly no obligation, nor any suggestion for that matter, that graduates enlist in military service upon graduation from our school,” says Brooks. “However, a military school background can serve graduates with additional opportunities and benefits for those interested in a military career.”

In addition to the college preparatory curriculum offered by these schools, many offer a significant amount of extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities for their students. Since most military schools feature a boarding component, students have the opportunity to gain independence and learn responsibility.

“Beyond learning leadership skills, students experience a vast array of sports, electives, and community projects,” says Herbst. “This all takes place in a diverse setting among dedicated faculty and staff, many of whom live on campus.”

Though military schools have changed dramatically, the focus of most has remained the same: educating young people and encouraging development of leadership abilities, self-esteem, and responsibility. The type of student who would be best served by a military school is no longer a rebellious, aggressive, and self-destructive adolescent.

According to Brooks, “A military school is the correct choice for a young person that may be squandering potential, requiring additional levels of structure and discipline to uncover their innate abilities.”

Starke echoes these sentiments and believes families value the experience provided to their children by military schools.

“Many parents and former students have shared with me how grateful they are for the changes they have seen in their children's lives,” says Starke. “The structure and discipline that they received at our school has become ingrained in the students.”

School's (Almost) Out For Summer...Now What?

2011-01-26T13:04:00.005-03:00

The start of the New Year clearly symbolizes one thing for students…the halfway point of the school year! Though the seasons may differ for students residing in different parts of the world, many still refer to the months of June and July as “summer” and begin looking ahead to their break from school. However, this time off from school doesn't have to mean a complete halt to all things academic. In fact, many fun-filled academic-based summer programs are offered at boarding schools in the U.S. and Canada. Boarding school summer programs are ideal because as “home” for students from around the world during the academic year, these campuses are well equipped to serve students year round. Also, most of these campuses feature housing and amenities unlike traditional camps. Here is a sampling of some unique opportunities that are available to students in 2011:

Any future Mark Zuckerberg’s out there? How about the next Ben & Jerry’s creator? Young entrepreneurs aged 14-18 will get a head-start developing their own business while attending Camp $tart-Up at Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Massachusetts. The weeklong camp, held July 29-August 7, will include behind-the-scenes field trips to places such as the Hasbro Company and the Basketball Hall of Fame. Participants will leave with a business plan and a stock portfolio using the school’s high-tech simulated trading floor.

Shutterbugs entering grades eight through 10 will enjoy the Documentary Photography Program at Episcopal High School. Participants will learn the fundamentals of documentary photography using the school’s Washington D.C. location, including visits to battlefields and monuments, as the backdrop for building their own portfolio. The program, held July 17-24, will culminate in an exhibition of student work on the school’s campus. Students of all experience levels are welcome and all equipment will be provided by the school.

Budding musicians will have the opportunity to refine their skills and learn new techniques while attending the Hotchkiss School’s Summer Portals Chamber Music Program held June 26-July 17 on the school’s Connecticut campus. The Portals program offers two options: Instrumental for students ages 12-15 and Vocal for students ages 15-18. Instrumental program participants should be accomplished string or piano solo performers and will be selected via audition. Working with professional chamber musicians, participants will receive individual instruction, ample performance opportunities, and weekly master classes. Vocal program participants will receive individual vocal coaching as well as work on style, foreign language diction, and fundamental ensemble principles. The Portals program will culminate in a joint concert showcasing the accomplishments of students from both the Instrumental and Vocal programs.

Parlez-vous français? Students ages 11-16 who answer “oui” or “pas encore” should consider attending the Stanstead College Language Adventure Program. Participants in the French as a Second Language program will use the Canadian school’s location in the French-speaking province of Quebec as the backdrop for their 3-week immersion into the language. The Language Adventure Program, held July 3-23, will feature interactive language instruction, language-oriented outdoor activities, and off-campus cultural excursions.

For those students entering grades six through eight who prefer a visit to Washington D.C. over Disney World, Woodberry Forest School in Virginia offers a program that is sure to hit the mark. The Journey Through Hallowed Ground program, held July 10-22, will take campers on a two-week adventure to some of the most historic locations in the U.S. While walking in the footsteps of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison participants will gain a new perspective and appreciation for the founding fathers of the U.S. Off-campus excursions will include a visit to Monticello, a canoe trip on the Potomac River, and a bicycling adventure to Gettysburg. Students will not only experience these historic landmarks themselves, they will digitally record their adventures and produce a mini-film to share with their family at the culmination of the program.

A wonderful feature of each of these programs is that, though primarily academic in nature, a good portion of time is set aside for recreational activities and opportunities to develop strong friendships with other campers from around the world. No matter which program a student attends, they are certain to have a great experience pursuing their academic passion!

Why XYZ University? Ask Alumni!

2011-01-25T17:55:00.003-03:00

The world relies on client reviews. No matter what you’re getting ready to purchase, you can count on the candid feedback provided by those who have already invested in a product. Your college investment is no different and the thousands of alumni who have graduated from the schools on your list are a great resource to you as you finalize your plans for next year.

The first step in getting in touch with the alumni from any university is to contact each school to let them know you’d like to speak with one of their graduates. Before doing this, consider these things:

Do you want to speak with someone who has graduated recently to find out what options new grads have found? Or are you interested in hearing about long-term outcomes?
If you’ve decided on a major, would it be helpful to speak to someone who completed the same course of study? If you’re undecided, how about speaking with an alum who tested the waters before declaring a major?
Are you curious about what someone from your geographic area or home town loved (or loathed) about XYZ University?
Wondering if the school was helpful in supporting the needs of a first-generation college student? What about financial assistance…are they still feeling the burn in their bank accounts?

After deciding exactly what type of alum you would benefit most from speaking with, relay that info to your admission office contact. Most schools will try very hard to put you in touch with an appropriate match whether by phone, email, or in person. Colleges will often give prospective students the option of meeting with alumi in their area either as an information session or an admission interview. An important thing to note: interviews are two-way. Make sure to come prepared with questions you have about the school and their experiences as a student. Here are a few questions to consider asking:

What are some pieces of advice about surviving your first year at XYZ University? Anything you wish someone had told you?
Any words of advice about overcoming homesickness or resisting the temptation to head home every weekend?
What type of assistance did you receive (if any) from the Career Services Office at the university? Have you had any help from them since graduating?
What was your college search like and why did you ultimately select XYZ University?

While certainly not an exhaustive list of questions, these should help you get started. Another aspect to keep in mind when speaking with alumni spokespeople selected by the college: unhappy alums are not usually asked to speak with prospective students. With that in mind, keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to ask anything that will help you with your decision. Finally, don’t forget to thank them for taking the time to help you with this big decision and consider passing on the favor when you’re the satisfied client!

Neither "Hear" Nor "Their": The Importance of Editing Essays

2010-12-20T17:49:00.000-03:00

“Their is nothing worse then using bad grammer and forgetting to spell check you’re college essays.” If you are just as frustrated as I am reading that poorly written sentence, imagine how college admission folks feel whilst reading hundreds of applications, many just as bad or worse.

As you head toward the finish line of the application race, it’s important to remember that colleges do much more than browse your completed applications…they actually read them! For this reason it’s imperative that you spend just as much time reviewing your essays as you did deciding on the topics on which you have written.

However, reviewing can’t be left to the spell check fairies on your Mac or PC…you need real sets of eyes to be set on your would-be opus. That’s right, “sets”, as in more than one person. A few people you can approach about helping you with the review process are your parents, teachers, family members and, while you’re at it, why not ask your friends, too? You can return the favor by hosting a “Bring Your Own Essay” proofreading party!

In all seriousness, the effect that grammatical and spelling errors have on the perception an admission officer has of you can be significant. Make sure your essay is free of factual errors as well. If you don’t know for sure what year the first seedless watermelon was grown, it’s best not to write on that topic. Choose a topic that doesn’t need much, or any, outside research. Colleges are hoping to learn about you, not how adept you are at garnering information from Wikipedia. Yet another error that has plagued prospective students is the “Why I want to go to ABC College” essay that is submitted to XYZ College. Colleges know that, most likely, you’re seeing other schools…this just isn’t the way to let them find out.

One final suggestion: make it interesting! Admission folks spend immeasurable amounts of time reading essays that mirror other essays in terms of topic and scope. The essay is the one section of your application in which you can truly make yourself stand out and be noticed in the pool of applicants. Use your voice and be yourself...remember that you’re the prospective student, your proofreaders are not. However, they may have been in your shoes at some point and will feel proud that you’ve included them in your “Proofing Party!”

Left Handed Twins Need Apply: Cool Scholarships and How to Get Them

2010-11-25T17:14:00.003-03:00

Beautiful campus, check. Excellent majors, check. A way to pay for it, oh boy.

Though most high school seniors are in the throes of the college application process at this point in the year, their parents are no doubt thinking much further ahead to the tuition bills that are forthcoming. Though seemingly far off, it will soon be what school folks refer to woefully as “Financial Aid Season.”

Financial Aid Season officially begins on January 1^st, the first day on which families can submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to determine how much need-based aid a family should be eligible for, as well as their Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

However, those in the know begin the search for outside aid much earlier. Outside aid is made up of any non-federal award that a student receives toward their higher education costs. These awards are based on a variety of specific criteria determined by the organization sponsoring the award. The easiest method to search for outside awards is to head to the Web. Several well-established scholarship search engines can provide easy access to the thousands of awards given out each year.

FastWeb.com is one of the most reputable scholarship search sites, and has been used by more than 50 million people in the past 15 years. FastWeb allows users to complete a biographical profile and academic/interests inventory that are used to help the site search through its scholarship database and direct users to appropriate awards. Once a person completes a profile, FastWeb will continually notify that student about any new scholarships that match their profile. It’s then the responsibility of the student to pursue awards of interest.

Other sites that allow users to search through databases of current opportunities available include Scholarships.com and FinancialAidFinder.com. It’s important to note that ALL scholarship applications should be free of charge. If a listing includes a fee for applying, it’s most likely a scam, even if it’s just $1.

Now, for the fun stuff! Everyone has heard of outlandish scholarships that are offered for things such as being left handed (It’s true! Check out the Juniata College (PA) Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship for southpaws). It’s also a fact that if your last name happens to be Baxendale, Hudson, Thayer, Downer or Bright, Harvard has a scholarship for you. If you’re one of a pair you should check out the scholarships for twins at Lake Erie College (OH), Carl Albert State College (OK), or Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

Here are a few lesser known, and creative, awards that you might also want to consider:

The Life in a Flying House Scholarship is sponsored by Clements International, an insurance company for expats. Applicants must be ages 12-18 and have spent at least two years living outside their home country to be eligible. The contest offers three awards ranging from $500-$3,000 and are awarded based on an essay and creative media contest (including photography, paintings, or video) in which participants share their experiences of living in a foreign country.

For those students who have a raging sweet tooth, the American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT) sponsors the John Kitt Memorial Scholarship, a $5,000 award for students with a “demonstrated interest in confectionery technology.” How might one measure this, you ask? You don’t have to surround yourself with Oompa Loompa’s, but you do have to be a college sophomore, junior or senior majoring in food science, chemical science, or biological science at an accredited North American university.

Scholarship searches can be time consuming. Students should start as early as their sophomore or junior year as many applications have early senior-year deadlines.

The Evolution of LD: A Global Guide for Parents

2010-10-26T12:39:00.000-03:00

According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 25% of children with learning disabilities will drop out of high school, compared to 9.4% of the general student population. Though a concerning statistic, even more troubling are the results of a Roper Starch Poll which revealed that 44% of parents who noticed some indication of learning difficulty in their children waited a year or more before openly acknowledging that the problem may be serious. Once a much tabooed topic of discussion amongst parents, acknowledgement and education about learning differences is growing and, fortunately, so are the resources available to families throughout the world.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities defines a learning disability, a term coined over 50 years ago, as “a neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to receive, process, store and respond to information.” LD students may have difficulties with reading, spelling, writing, mathematical calculations, verbal and social skills. Approximately one-third of LD students are also diagnosed with AD/HD, while many others exhibit characteristics associated with giftedness.

“There is no doubt that stigmas are still a big issue,” says David Tuttle, Admissions Director at The Kildonan School, a New York boarding school serving students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. “However, there is a lot going on globally and so many more options exist for families today than ever before.”

Helen Waldron, who has served for more than 20 years as Assistant Head at The Forman School, a Connecticut boarding school for students with learning differences, has witnessed many of the changes that have occurred in LD education and support over the years.

“Feeling safe in the classroom is a new experience for many LD students and it enables them to be more engaged,” says Waldron. “Learning programs and strategies that build on what students can do – rather than what they cannot do – improve confidence and highlight the success of each child.”

Parents often feel confused or lost when it comes to how to best help their LD child. According to Waldron, “some parents initially believe that a Learning Difference is something that can be ‘fixed.’” The Learning Disabilities Association of America educates families that learning disabilities are lifelong conditions and that only through “understanding, support, and appropriate interventions” can children be successful in the classroom.

For many families, enrolling their child at a boarding school specializing in working with LD students, such as Kildonan or Forman, can make a tremendous difference in the life of the student as this is often the first time they will have felt comfortable in a classroom setting.

“An all-LD school provides a safe place where students can focus their energy toward learning,” says Waldron. “Students do not need to give up arts, athletics, or other extras to get the support they need.”

In this age of technology and instant information, families can also find many resources available through local, national, and international organizations dedicated to educating families on LD issues. During a recent trip to São Paulo, Tuttle had the opportunity to develop contacts with several organizations including Education USA and the Associação Brasileira de Dislexia (ABD).

“In Brazil, ABD is a thriving organization founded by parents of students with LD who are doing remarkable things,” says Tuttle.

The Education USA organization assists families by hosting seminars, receptions, and providing a full resource library of school and college information for those seeking educational options in the U.S.

“It has been interesting to watch how different cultures are reacting to the growing awareness of learning differences,” says Tuttle. “For example, in mainland China I am rarely contacted directly [by families] at a school fair, but parents will often wait for me in the hallway or stop and ask if they could meet me at another time.”

Tuttle, who spends several weeks per year meeting with families worldwide and speaking about the ever-changing resources available to families with LD children, feels that connecting faces with learning disabilities provides a visual point of reference. Most people aren’t aware that some of the world’s greatest leaders, artists and inventors have had learning disabilities including Cher, Albert Einstein, Tom Cruise, Walt Disney, Steven Spielberg, Thomas Edison, Whoopi Goldberg, and Pablo Picasso. A motley mix of characters, this group is a great point of reference for families across the globe of the types of accomplishments LD students can achieve given the appropriate resources and support.

A Global Nomad's Guide to College

2010-08-25T17:38:00.001-04:00

Sao Paulo via London via Hong Kong via the United States. Such is the logistical path of many expat families. This path often includes making new friends, learning new cultures, and experiencing new educational systems. Differences in curriculum, extracurricular offerings and grading systems are sure to be discovered as you move between countries.

Families whose children have spent their school-age years living abroad can often reach a state of frustration or panic when embarking on the college application process. Questions abound such as: “Will my child’s transcripts make sense to the admission committee?”, “Will they understand why my son hasn’t completed the full IB diploma?”, or “Will the fact that my daughter hasn’t been a club president be viewed negatively?”

It’s important to remember that the majority of the more than 4,000 universities in the U.S. and Canada have worked with international and expat students. The breadth of knowledge that each school has regarding the application and visa processes for students can vary, however, the reality is that most schools will have enrolled someone in your situation in the past.

“Universities want students who have had international experience because they bring global connections to the campus and enrich the student body,” says Aaron Andersen, an International Recruitment Manager at The University of British Columbia. “Even a Canadian or American returning ‘home’ brings a unique individual perspective.”

According to John Sullivan, Dean of Admission at Eckerd College (FL), students should use their applications as a way to distinguish themselves in the applicant pool.

“Rather than stress about how your transcripts and ability to be involved are different than students who have attended the same high school for four years, you should capitalize on the different experiences you’ve had,” says Sullivan. “Bring it to life in the essay.”

A common difficulty for expat applicants is how to provide a stellar list of extracurricular activities, including leadership positions, that is often assumed to give an applicant the edge in this process. Lin Larson, Coordinator of International Admissions at Saint Mary’s College of California, feels that students need to concentrate on a few things in which they have a strong interest, instead of being non-active participants in many.

“It’s more important for a student to be consistent in an activity than to have 30 on their application. Colleges like to see commitment and dedication,” says Larson. “Leadership is good as well, but we also know that if families are moving every year or two, this isn’t possible for the student.”

Joan Jaffe, Associate Dean of Admission at Mills College (CA), echoes these sentiments regarding extracurricular activities.

“We’re not interested in the laundry list of activities or in ‘what looks good on a college application’,” says Jaffe. “We’re interested in those activities or interests that show real depth and commitment on the part of the student. We want to know what inspires the student and what he or she is passionate about and to bring that depth of commitment and passion to our campuses.”

When sending in application materials it’s important that expat students include all necessary documentation such as transcripts and school profiles. Families should work together with the student’s college counselor to ensure that all paperwork is completed and sent by required deadlines. Remember: all students have the same deadlines, regardless from which country they’re mailing their application materials.

“Universities need the official transcripts sent directly from the original institution; if there have been multiple high schools that may mean contacting the previous institution to request that a document be sent directly to the university,” says Andersen. “Be sure to start the application as early as possible so that documents can be processed on both ends.”

It’s also important to develop open lines of communication with an admission representative from the university using email or Skype. This relationship can, and should, be started well before a student actually submits an application.

“I always encourage applicants to keep in touch with me throughout the application process; admission committees don’t need to be nameless or faceless groups,” says Jaffe. “Students have access to an admission counselor who will assist and advocate for them in the admission process and it’s okay to contact your admission counselor with any questions.”As the college admission season approaches remember: look to your strengths and highlight those on your applications…being a global nomad should be at the top of your list!

Determine Your Final List

2010-08-04T16:19:00.002-04:00

Summer is almost over which means one thing for high school seniors: it’s application time. But, before you can start filling out forms and writing essays, you have the daunting task of determining your “List.” The List will consume your every thought because not only are you concerned about which schools have made the cut, everyone in your life wants to know what schools are on it too! By now you’ve probably researched and visited several schools, now it’s time to choose those at which you can see yourself for the next four years. There are many basic factors to that you’ve probably already considered such as geography, size, and majors. Here are a few other areas to consider that will help you narrow your list:

è Check Out Alumni Outcomes: Are alumni professions diverse or does the school seem to funnel graduates into a certain niche field? Is the career you aspire to accessible with a degree from this university? Does the Office of Admission have any alumni whom you can contact?

è Check Out Your (Possible) Peers: Technology has created an opportunity for future students of any college to communicate online using social networking sites. Do you want to go where everyone has the same interests and personal philosophy as you, or are looking for a variety of outlooks on life? Take a look at whom else is considering the school…can you see them as your peers?

è Check Out School Stats: How many students transfer after their freshman year at the university? Have you looked at campus crime statistics and are you comfortable with the results?

è Check Out How the School Communicates With You Now: Have you felt the Admission Staff has been responsive to questions you have had so far? Do you get a timely response to emails, phone calls, or other requests? How you are treated during this time in your search can be indicative of how the staff (faculty, dorm staff, etc.) will be toward you as a student…does their style work for you at this point?

Once you’ve considered all of these points, you should be able to finalize a manageable list of prospective schools to which you’ll apply. The actual number of schools can vary by student though generally your list should be anywhere from five to eight schools. Remember: the more thorough your narrowing down process is, the more likely your final list will be full of appropriate matches. Save yourself time and application fees by doing your research first!

College Search 2.0: Tech Tips for Parents

2010-07-10T15:01:00.005-04:00

It’s my senior year and Mrs. Davis hands me a giant college guide book and an application form for the SAT. That was it…my college search process had begun.

Students today will never open a giant guide book and they will most likely submit their SAT application online. In fact, most students will probably have their initial campus visits virtually and communicate with college admission counselors using social media. Technology has changed the landscape of the college search process and universities are trying to one-up one another to attract not only the best and brightest, but to appeal to their parents, too.

It’s obvious to say that kids get it. High school students today have never needed dial-up, let alone a stamp. Their parents, however, may be longing for a glimpse of a glossy view book or a thick course catalog in order to share the excitement of the college search. Helicopter (and even fighter jet!) parents can get involved by using the same online tools as their children to learn about college and financial aid options. Many tools are available so it’s important to seek out those that provide useful, but accurate, data on not just where a school ranks in U.S. News, but the non-tangibles as well.

With over 3,600 colleges and universities in the U.S. alone, beginning a search can be daunting. Several new sites have emerged that provide tools for finding colleges based on “real deal” criteria such as how safe students feel on campus and how accessible professors are based on student opinion. Unigo offers student reviews, videos, and Q &A forums…a great place for a parent to ask the embarrassing questions usually reserved for the campus tour guide! Unigo allows you to create an account and when someone uploads photos or updates information about one of your selected schools, you receive an update.

Another site to remember when checking out a school from the student prospective is Facebook. Hundreds of schools have “Fan Pages” on Facebook and most allow non-students to join. This is a great way to stay up-to-date on campus events…do you see things happening that you know your son or daughter would enjoy? If not, do you see opportunities for them to make their mark with new ideas in the campus community? These pages are also a great place to ask questions as they are normally monitored by members of the admission staff at the universities.

Two other up-and-coming sites that students are flocking to are Cappex and Zinch. These sites provide a role reversal of sorts in the college search process. Students create profiles of themselves including items such as academic and extracurricular interests, as well as info on any special talents or accomplishments they may want to exhibit. Once a profile is created the student can then sit back and wait for schools to contact them…that’s right, they come to you! Schools search student profiles to locate those whom they feel would be great additions to their campus community and then contact them through these sites. Students have the opportunity to learn about schools which they may not have considered and get updates on cool things happening at those schools. In addition, Unigo, Cappex, and Zinch all offer great scholarship search engines for students within their sites.

Long gone are the days of phone calls to admission offices, having been replaced by a plethora of e-communication styles. Email communication has slowly been replaced by instant messaging and now the world’s “all a Twitter.” Universities are using Twitter to provide campus updates and answer questions in real time. In order to understand Twitter, one must Tweet. It’s free, it’s easy and a great tool with which you can ask questions requiring quick responses a -la “When is your application deadline?”, “What time does the Open House start?” and the ever popular “What are your dorm visitation policies for the opposite sex?”

While all of these sites are wonderful resources, it is important to remember that nothing can replace the value of an actual campus visit or face-to-face conversation with a member of a college admission staff. Also, keep in mind that the college search process is much more than just a senior-year experience. Families can, and should, begin educating themselves on appropriate options as early as the freshman year of high school. With the abundance of options available in higher education, it just might take four years to narrow down your list of schools to which your student will apply. Doing your research first can save time, energy and money that is often wasted on pursuing inappropriate programs. Remember: this process, though seemingly complex, can be very exciting!

Campus Visit Value: Tips From Behind the Desk

2010-06-01T18:04:00.005-04:00

Your child has been counting the days until their break from school and they’re ready for some relaxation before their junior or senior year. Before breaking out that ski gear and heading to Chile, remember that in just a few months your child will be knee-deep in brochures and emails from colleges trying their best to entice them into considering their golden thrones of higher learning.

Though some families feel comfortable selecting a college sight-unseen, there are good reasons to be wary of this plan. Have you ever seen a university brochure with photos taken during a New England winter storm featuring homesick students wearing inappropriate attire eating cereal for dinner? Of course not. Will you see this scenario played out during your campus visits? Absolutely.

“Though you may fall in love with a school from their website or publications, the campus visit is your opportunity to see if the school is a 'fit' for you and your needs,” says Renee Scheske, Associate Director for Admissions Operations at Penn State University. “An on-campus visit may surprise you and provide you with critical information you need to make your decision.”

By this point in their schooling, your child may have developed a preliminary list of colleges with the assistance of their college counselor. Jim Abbuhl, Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid at Hiram College feels that pre-planning is one of the most important pieces of a college visit.

“Families need to discuss the visit prior to setting foot on any campus,” says Abbuhl. “Try to establish the needs of the student and family including things such as size, facilities, student diversity and campus location.”

When scheduling visits remember that most schools will offer set group tour times that are generally coupled with an information session or an interview opportunity. This means you should plan to spend at least two to three hours per visit. Also, keep in mind that weekend visits are rarely offered during the U.S. summer months.

“Don't assume you can easily squeeze more than two college visits into a single day, even if the schools are in the same city or general area,” says Laurel Brooks, Associate Director of Admission at Vassar College. “You'll want to allot extra time for traffic, parking delays, meals and bookstore visits.”

Though many schools don’t require on-campus interviews, it’s best to take advantage of this opportunity while you are on those campuses which do. Remember: interviews are two-way. It makes sense that both you and your child have questions about what will surely be a huge investment on the part of your family. An easy rule of thumb when preparing questions for the information session or interview is to ask those things which can’t be found on the institution’s website. Your tour guide is also a valuable resource and will, most likely, have a different perspective than your admission counselor.

“If you're seriously pressed for time and have to choose between a tour and information session, take the tour,” says Brooks. “All of the information given in the admissions session can be found online or in brochures and you shouldn't pass up the opportunity to walk around and see the campus yourself.”

Be sure to bring a camera with you during your visit. Visual triggers, as opposed to written notes about the number of volumes in the library, are much better for you when you return home and are trying to differentiate between schools. Take photos of unique items on campus, not just exteriors of buildings. Here’s a tip: photograph flyers on billboards around campus as a reminder of what social offerings are available at the school.

“Students should ask if they can see themselves on a particular campus living and learning in the residence halls and in the classrooms,” says Staci Ambrose, Coordinator of International Admissions at Beloit College. “They should experience as much as possible during their visit by touring the campus, sitting in on a class and staying overnight with a student host if possible."

After your visit it’s important for students to follow up with a “thank you” to those individuals who assisted them during their time on campus including tour guides, admission counselors, and faculty members. In this age of technology it’s appropriate to do this via email or a social networking site. In fact, why not send a Tweet or post something on the school’s Facebook wall about your experience? This is helpful to other students who may be looking at the same school and a great way to maintain active communication channels with the university.

It’s important to remember that the undergraduate college search process should ideally occur just once in your child’s life. Thoughtful planning and thorough campus visits will aid them in ultimately selecting the most appropriate school.

Episcopal High School (Alexandria, VA)

2010-04-22T14:27:00.005-04:00

We’re looking for drivers, not passengers.

Emily Atkinson, Director of Admissions

Just 10 minutes from Washington, DC sits the oldest high school in Virginia: Episcopal High School. Though 100% of the 430 students at this 9-12 school reside on campus, it feels much more like a distinguished private day school because of its location. Although the school was all-boys until 1991, great strides have been made to achieve a balanced gender breakdown and the population now has a 55%/45% boy-girl ratio.

Admission to the school is very competitive with just 40% of applicants receiving acceptance each year. Though many of the students at EHS come from neighboring states, the population has representation from 30 states and 20 different countries. The campus is closed on weekends (meaning students are unable to head home), with a few exceptions, so even local students are around to participate in weekend activities including athletic contests and excursions to the plethora of attractions available in the DC area.

While touring the campus I felt an air of formality and a serious nature amongst the students. While eating lunch in the very formal dining room, it was obvious that the students are taught to be respectful of their peers and the staff at the school. My tour guide, Reid, mentioned that the students take the school Honor Code very seriously. The simple code consists of four parts:

I will not lie.

I will not cheat.

I will not steal.

I will report the student who does.

One area of the school that I found very impressive was in the Arts. We had an opportunity to stop and chat with one of the faculty members from the Art Department and his excitement about the program was infectious. It was obvious that he had a true passion for not just the arts, but for sharing that enthusiasm with EHS students. Any budding artist would enjoy the offerings available as well as the beautiful Angie Newman Johnson Gallery. Those with musical talents will be impressed by the digital recording studio and live performance spaces.

The athletic strengths of EHS are well-known in the independent school world…particularly by those who have been following the 110-year football rivalry against Woodberry Forest! Students at EHS will have a beautiful new addition to their athletic facilities this fall as the school completes additions and renovations of their current buildings.

While few grads head along the military path of prominent EHS alum, John McCain, nearly all continue on to institutions of higher education. Those schools most popular in recent years include: UNC-Chapel Hill, UVA, Sewanee, Washington and Lee, and the University of Georgia.

Woodberry Forest School (Woodberry Forest, VA)

2010-04-22T14:01:00.004-04:00

There’s no question when you step foot onto the 1200-acre campus of Woodberry Forest School that this is an all-boys school…and that it’s truly southern. Greeted by “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am”, your first impression is that the nearly 400 students here, native southerners or not, have learned quite a bit about respect. In fact my student host Miguel, who hailed from Mexico City, somehow managed to blend right in with his peers from Virginia and points south…“yes ma’am” and all.

During my visit to Woodberry I was fortunate to join Miguel for both breakfast and dinner in the school dining room. One thing families can be certain their sons will NOT have the opportunity to do while at Woodberry is go hungry. I’ve carried my fair share of dining hall trays during both boarding school and college visits and I can say with certainty that the size of the trays here was impressive. Even the glasses seemed larger. I witnessed many young men filling their trays with multiple plates so I’d venture to say they think the food is pretty decent, too.

For the first time in the history of my campus visits I had the opportunity to sit in on a class I’d never seen before: Bagpipe. Yes, my host from Mexico was taking a class in bag piping…and I have to say he wasn’t half bad! The Fine Arts building where the class was held was beautiful and the student work displayed in the gallery space was impressive. It’s obvious that the young men here are encouraged to pursue artistic endeavors and it’s nice to see such a welcoming space for them to use.

While touring the campus it was obvious that the Woodberry community has a tremendous amount of school pride. Inside the Headmaster’s house (designed by Thomas Jefferson), visitors will begin to notice tiger-esque elements scattered amongst the ornate antiques and décor from soap dispensers to tiger-striped wine goblets (you guessed it…the school mascot is a tiger).

The school spirit is likely driven by the competitive athletic programs in which 90% of students participate each season. One group that inspires spirit on campus and that you should ask about if you venture to Woodberry for a campus tour: their cheerleaders.

As the Woodberry campus is somewhat secluded, and 100% of the students board, weekend activities seem to consist of athletic contests, mixers with all-girls schools, and studying. In fact, when I asked some students at breakfast what they would change they unanimously agreed that they’d like more to do on weekends. That being said, I did see a weekend activity list and it looked like there were several offerings available, including many off-campus opportunities. If all else fails, the school has a 9-hole golf course on campus, too!

Each year 100% of Woodberry grads attend four-year colleges upon graduation. The list of colleges and universities to which they head is diverse, and in recent years has included Amherst, Elon, Harvard, Kenyon, Johns Hopkins and Wake Forest.

Foxcroft School (Middleburg, VA)

2010-04-21T13:50:00.003-04:00

It’s easy to predict with some certainty what most people familiar with Foxcroft School would list as the most unique feature of the all-girls boarding school: sleeping porches. While, perhaps not what one would list as the school’s best selling point, they are truly something that most current and past students talk about and, at least from what I gathered during my visit, actually like. However, I’m curious to know if notable Foxcroft alum Keshia Knight Pulliam (that’s right, “Rudy” from The Cosby Show) thought the porches were better than bunking with Vanessa!

Though the sleeping porches were, at one point, simply unheated screened in rooms with rows of bunk beds, there’s no need to worry about cold nights anymore. The school has since covered the screens with glass windows and added heat. In some ways the sleeping porches reminded me of military-style barracks…just much more girly and smelling much better! In addition to the porches, all 180 students at the school have a smaller double room with desks, dressers and closets so there is an opportunity for them to have some private space.

My tour guides at Foxcroft, Jessa and Maeve, really loved the dorm life at the school (even without TV’s in the dorms!) and the friendships they had made. The students I met during my visit seemed much younger than those I’ve interacted with at most other all-girls schools…as in, they acted their age. It felt as if the Foxcroft community embraces the girls as young women, giggling and all, without pushing them to act as if they were in college.

During our tour we were able to see the newly opened Athletic/Student Center on the school’s 500-acre campus. This will be an absolute show piece for visitors to the school in the future. The building features many multipurpose spaces as well as improved indoor athletic and dance facilities. Girls at the school are required to participate in a sport/activity during each of the three seasons and this is a building in which I’m sure they won’t mind spending their time.

The Riding Program at Foxcroft has nearly the same historical tenure as the school itself (the school was founded in 1914), and today about 1/3 of the students participate. The school barn features 60 stalls with 30 school-owned horses.

Students from beginner to advanced can find an appropriate level of instruction through the program and competitive riders will certainly find a high level of competition. Another unique equine-related feature of the school is the Foxhunting Team. The Team travels around the world and spent time in 2009 participating in a foxhunt in Ireland.

Saint James School (St. James, MD)

2010-04-21T13:39:00.004-04:00

There are some people who might say that the face of Saint James School is Father Stuart Dunnan, the school’s headmaster since 1992. However, if you ask any of the school’s 225 students they just might tell you that Betty, the school receptionist, is the true rock of the school as she’s been providing daily smiles (and a friendly voice!) to the school community since 1951!

That being said, stepping onto the rural Saint James campus there is no question that you are at an Episcopal School being lead by an Episcopal priest. Mass is held each weekday morning with the Eucharist each Wednesday. During our visit, we had the opportunity to attend this Wednesday mass and see a typical day from a student perspective. While the majority of the students participated in the mass, there was a definite subpopulation that chose to rest their heads on the pews for a few extra minutes of shut eye. Though welcoming to students of any faith, students who have a true aversion to the Episcopalian culture of the school may not find the best fit at Saint James.

My tour guides (Hadley, Tessa, and Kevin) were three students who have truly found their place at the school. All three seemed much more articulate than most students their age and it was obvious that they had acquired a tremendous amount of courtesy, respect, and maturity during their time at Saint James. I was amazed that none seemed phased by the school’s cell phone ban on campus (student rooms have land line phones)!

In addition to a strict dress code including jackets, ties, and collared shirts, students are expected to respect peers, staff, and themselves and adhere to the Honor Code. Visitors to the school will also notice that students are expected to stand when adults enter a room…something that surprised me when we entered the McIntyre Library on campus. It’s obvious that students will leave Saint James with a new definition of respect.

Aside from all of the formalities, students at Saint James are also encouraged to be kids. Parents can participate in the “Cookie of the Month” program which delivers a box of cookies to their child each month. Ice cream cakes can also be ordered for birthday’s or special events. Outside of the academic day, student participation in athletics is required during all three seasons and many of the teams are very competitive with athletes going on to compete at the collegiate level. An active theater and art program is also a staple at the school.

In terms of college placement, popular options have included the University of Maryland (College Park), Sewanee, College of Charleston, St. Mary’s College of MD, and Furman University. Here is a great indicator of the variety of schools to which Saint James students matriculate: the 38 graduates of the Class of 2009 enrolled at 38 different universities!

Mercersburg Academy (Mercersburg, PA)

2010-04-20T20:00:00.004-04:00

“We try to make sure they aren’t idle very long.”
Frank Betkowski, Associate Director of College Counseling

It’s hard to believe when you arrive at Mercersburg Academy that you are actually at a high school and not a small university campus. Though the school is non-denominational, the beautiful Chapel is a true focal point when you enter the rural 300-acre campus. A large campus green space divides the many academic buildings and residence halls. Had it been warmer I imagine the lawn would be littered with many of the school’s 450 students on blankets and tossing frisbees.

Though familiar with Mercersburg before my visit, I did a bit of a pre-arrival survey amongst my consultant colleagues to find out what type of student the school produced. Two names immediately sprung to the tips of their tongues: Benecio Del Toro ‘85 and Jimmy Stewart ‘28. Both actors proudly wore blue and white before becoming stars of the silver screen (and both winning Academy Awards). In fact, Stewart was not only a member of the school’s football team and glee club (an early day Finn Hudson, perhaps?), he also acted in his first stage production while at Mercersburg. However, the school doesn’t just produce wonderful talent in the arts…anyone who’s basted a Thanksgiving turkey will recognize the name Jim Perdue ’69, CEO of Perdue Farms.

I was fortunate to have two tour guides, Ian and Katherine, who had completely opposite personalities. As a class leader, Katherine was extremely enthusiastic about student involvement in the community at the school, while Ian was a very dedicated student-athlete raving about the renovations taking place in the athletic center on campus.

Both had a laundry list of activities in which they were involved and mentioned that students really don’t have much down time. Ian and Katherine both felt that a student who is simply looking for a place to go to school wouldn’t last very long at Mercersburg as the students are definitely active outside of the classroom.

Walking through Rutledge Hall, visitors will get a sense of what lies ahead for Mercersburg grads (besides poultry or the silver screen!). Tiffany stained glass windows emblazoned with the names of many prestigious universities adorn the walls of the Harry Potter-esque hall. My guides said that when the hall was being built the school offered those universities who contributed towards the completion of the building their very own window adorned with their institution name. This meant that Mercersburg students would see those school names daily and would thus be more apt to select one of those institutions upon graduation.

Does this still ring true? These institutions have enrolled the most Mercersburg grads in recent years: the U.S. Naval Academy, Boston University, Dickinson, University of Rochester, and Bucknell. Do these schools have a stained glass window in Rutledge? You’ll have to visit to see for yourself!

Oldfields School (Glencoe, MD)

2010-04-20T18:22:00.005-04:00

When you meet Taylor Smith, Head of School at Oldfields School, it’s easy to see why some students had t-shirts made that were emblazoned with the phrase “Oldfields Girls are Taylor Made”. Smith has recently returned to lead Oldfields after a 20-year hiatus from the school. It’s easy to see when speaking with him that his passion for the school never left and, judging from the students I met during my visit, he’s already making a positive impression on the school community in his short time back.

The Oldfields campus is very secluded and has a definite “girl’s school” feel. Everything from the dining room to the landscaping to the “Calorie Gallery” snack shop seems to have been executed with the idea that this place is for its 135 female students. The students are laid back and, as there is no uniform required, most were sporting sweatshirts and flip flops during my recent visit. The student diversity is impressive given the small population of the school (in fact, the Princess of Jordan, Abir Muhaisen, is a 1992 alum!).

During my tour with guides Dana and Liz, I was impressed to see the extent of the art program and facilities at the school. As the campus has had some financial woes in the recent past, it was nice to see that every effort is being made to maintain the current facilities and make necessary improvements, while still being fiscally responsible. The fine and performing art spaces, including a dance studio and digital photo lab, would be a selling point to any student interested in the arts.

As is common at many boarding schools, Oldfields certainly has its share of traditions. One fun tradition is the seemingly-endless search each year for something lovingly referred to as the “thing-a-ma-bob”. Though Dana and Liz didn’t know the origin of the “thing-a-ma-bob”, they did tell me that it’s actually an old wooden table leg that’s been decorated over the years.

Liz mentioned that a tradition she is looking forward to is walking barefoot at graduation. Oldfields lore says that a student once forgot her shoes for the ceremony and, in a sign of friendship and unity, her classmates opted to walk sans shoes along with her (and much to the dismay of their parents, I’m sure!). The tradition stuck and to this day the girls can be seen walking barefoot through the grass on graduation day.

St. Timothy's School (Stevenson, MD)

2010-04-19T18:13:00.003-04:00

Walking through the halls of St. Timothy’s School it’s easy to distinguish Brownies from Spiders. If you’re looking for the absence of chocolate, or for those with eight legs, you must not be in on the “possy” (a phrase used at the school meaning something "positively secret") of the longstanding, friendly rivalry at this all-girls school.

All 150 students at the 9-12 school are assigned a team, Brownie or Spider, once they enroll. These teams have been competing each year since the school’s founding in 1882 and the rivalries are just as strong today. Students compete throughout the year for points with the winning team earning bragging rights for the next school year.

Though some visitors to the school could be easily drawn to one team or the other by tour guide bias, I was fortunate to have two guides, Erin and Sierra, who were from rival teams. Of course, they did take several opportunities to rib each other about which team has earned points for what this year! During the tour they spoke of how traditions like Brownie-Spider are some of the things they love best about St. Tim’s. Of course, there were some traditions that were “possy” and were off limits to this visitor.

The students at St. Tim’s, decked out in ponytails, school sweatshirts, pearls and Sperry shoes seemed less pajama-party-esque and much more career-driven and focused. I sensed a slight air of academic competitiveness among the young women I met and a definite curiosity about the world.

Several students spoke of their summer trip to South Africa during which they visited the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and met Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who, by the way, will be the Commencement speaker at St. Tim’s this year). It was obvious that the staff at the school take their membership as an IB World School very seriously and are working to incorporate this sense of global awareness into most of the curriculum. As a side note: St. Tim’s is currently the only all-girls school in the U.S. to offer the IB curriculum.

Aside from the academic rigor at St. Tim’s, students keep themselves busy with clubs or the required athletic program. With 70% of the student population boarding at the school, involvement is a must. As an Episcopal school, weekly Chapel meetings are held and the Eucharist is celebrated twice each month. That being said, students from many different faiths and backgrounds enroll at St. Tim’s and feel comfortable in the spiritual environment offered.

Garrison Forest School (Owings Mills, MD)

2010-04-19T17:49:00.003-04:00

"We measure our work by the lives that our alumnae lead.”
Melinda Bihn, Head of Upper School

The Garrison Forest School name has been, for years, synonymous with the equestrian world. In fact, the school’s riding team won the Interscholastic Equestrian Association’s (IEA) national title in 2008. One horsey-fact that I wasn’t aware of before my recent visit to this 100-year old girl’s school was that they also have a national champion polo team. In fact, the team has won 12 national titles in the past 18 years!

Breeches and bits aside, GFS actually seemed less riding-focused than I had expected. In fact, my tour guides, Cassie and Chloe, shared much more with me about their academic experiences at the school than about the features of the riding programs.

The Women In Science and Engineering (WISE) partnership with Johns Hopkins University is a definite stand-out program at the school. Junior and senior students involved in this program spend time conducting research alongside faculty on the JHU campus. One GFS student told me she had had the opportunity to conduct colon cancer research during her junior year…definitely a rare experience for a 17-year old!

One experience that Cassie raved about was receiving one of the school’s Jenkins Fellowships which allowed her to spend part of her summer last year doing eco-service in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. Since 1999 Jenkins Fellowships have allowed GFS students to participate in international service opportunities around the world. Other locations in 2009 included China, Haiti, Malawi, and Ghana.

The physical features of the GFS campus are difficult to list as much of the campus has been renovated or newly developed in the past decade. Though the PK-12 school has just 60 full-time boarding students in grades 8-12, the dorm rooms were some of the largest I’ve seen at a boarding school. Also, the campus grounds are beautiful and very well-maintained. Finally, one thing is for sure about GFS…it’s a good thing they have an abundance of horses as you’ll need them to get over what are the biggest speed bumps I’ve seen at any school!

SBSA Annual Conference Presentation

2010-03-18T23:09:00.001-03:00

Thanks to all who attended my presentation at the Small Boarding School Association (SBSA) Annual Conference last week at Stanstead College! As promised, here is a copy of my presentation slides. Feel free to email me with any questions!

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Stanstead College (Quebec, Canada)

2010-03-17T13:01:00.002-03:00

Not every boarding school can say that they're located in the heart of one of "The Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec"...but Stanstead College can do just that. Located in the heart of Stanstead, Quebec, the school's 600-acre campus is surrounded by beautiful hills and countryside and is just a short ride from the Vermont border. In fact, approximately 20 of the schools 165 students in grades 7-12 hail from Vermont and cross the border with ease each day.

The campus itself feels much less like a Canadian boarding school as its physical plant mirrors those at traditional U.S. boarding schools of similar size. Though land abounds at Stanstead, most of the campus is clustered together...a welcome layout for students trying to avoid long distance treks from dorms to classes in the cold Canadian winter. The Eric T. Webster Student Centre (built in 2001) is a definite focal point of the campus and is a great place for the school community to gather socially both during the week and on weekends.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see a traditional school day and student interactions as my visit to the school fell at the start of Spring Break. However, I was still able to have a campus tour with two wonderful Stanstead students, Spencer and Maddie. During the tour I was impressed with the level of talent demonstrated by the artwork on display throughout the buildings. Traditionally known as being a heavy hitter on the ice, Stanstead has some very artistic students as well!

That being said, hockey is still a huge draw for students to the school. In fact, the next project in the works on the campus is the Pat Burns Arena. Funds are still being raised for the project but both Stanstead and its namesake village will use the new facility...a great indicator of the positive relationship the school has with the town.

Stanstead offers students the option of graduating after grade 11 and enrolling in the Quebec CEGEP program or continuing on to 12th grade at the school. Recent graduates of Stanstead have gone on to study at Dartmouth, Bishop's College, Lake Forest College, and the University of Toronto.

Bishop's College School (Quebec, Canada)

2010-03-16T14:42:00.005-03:00

"We have a critical mass of silliness that goes on here every day."

Ian Watt, Bishop's College School Headmaster

When Scott Abbott graduated from Bishop's College School, he probably had no idea he would go on to co-create one of the most popular board games in history: Trivial Pursuit. Could Abbott have perhaps gained his passion for trivia from his time spent in the hallowed halls of this Quebec boarding school? It's hard to say what his true inspiration was (though Internet lore claims it was frustration with missing Scrabble pieces), but there's no doubt that Abbott's creative spirit isn't the only one to have been a part of the BCS community. However, based on what I saw in the school dining room, there's a good chance his idea for the pie-shaped game pieces was inspired by the beautiful desserts served at BCS!

One of the most striking things when first arriving at this school of 250 students is the bilingual environment. Walking through the halls of the school it is obvious that French language influences much of the academic environment. In fact, BCS offers students the option of participating in the T.H.P. Molson Bilingual Programme which allows native French speakers to improve their English skills and non-French speakers to advance in French (all non-native speakers will take French as a Second Language). This option is wonderful for those seeking to improve their French skills both in the classroom and in social settings. In fact, many of the students I encountered during my visit (including my fabulous tour guide, Jenna!) hailed from Quebec and cited French as their mother tongue. That being said, students come to BCS from around the world with 60% of the boarding population classified as international.

Another prominent feature of the school is its inclusion in the Round Square Program. With just 65 schools elected to participate in this program, it is certainly an honor for BCS. Students at BCS benefit from this program through a variety of events and international exchanges each year to countries including South Africa and Scotland.

Headmaster Ian Watt joked during our visit that the school offers more than an acre per student. The campus is large but compact and students can travel between buildings quite quickly (one dorm even has underground tunnels connecting it to the rest of campus!). The facilities on campus are well-kept and offer a mix of historic and new. The beautiful black box theater and new squash courts are definite focal points.

The dorm that I visited was very simple...students hoping for a Hilton experience won't find it here. However, that's just fine with the Headmaster who told us "I don't mind having 'not great' dorms because that's the last place I want the students to be." He went on to explain he'd rather have active students who are spending time with their peers, not just lounging in their dorm rooms.

The majority of students graduating from BCS each year head to Canadian universities such as Concordia University, University of Toronto, Carleton University, Queens University, and the University of Ottawa. That being said, BCS grads also apply, and are accepted to, universities worldwide each year.

Done...Reward Yourself!

2010-03-10T17:58:00.002-03:00

Looking back on the past six months you can probably recall a time when you thought your college application process would never end. Guess what? The hard part is over! By now you’ve completed the biggest hurdle and it’s now time for you to reward yourself for your efforts. All of your applications have been submitted and you may have already heard back from some schools. Perhaps you’ve even decided on a college and submitted an enrollment deposit. Whatever stage you’re at, you’re certainly in the home stretch!

In addition to all of the activity surrounding the college search process, your last year of high school is also a time to enjoy all of the things that being a senior entails. Many students become so overwhelmed by their college search that they forget to relax and spend time with friends from whom they will soon be parting. It’s important to remember that, though you will surely maintain contact with school friends, you will not have the same opportunities to spend time together while away at campuses across the country. Believe it or not, the last few months of your senior year will fly by and you’ll soon be walking across the stage at graduation!

Here are a few things to consider doing before your big high school finale:

· Get rid of any old mailings from colleges you did not consider (recycle them if possible!). This simple act will make your room, and life, feel much less cluttered!

· Write thank you notes to any helpful Admission Counselors at colleges you did not select. Though you may not be heading to their campuses next fall, they will appreciate you recognizing their efforts!

· Offer to speak to the junior class at your high school about your college search experience and share helpful “do’s” and “don’ts”. Your advice can be invaluable to a soon-to-be senior.

In addition to the tips above it’s important that you take the time to congratulate yourself for your successes both in high school and in completing your college applications. Why not go out and purchase a few cool posters for your new dorm space? How about a shower caddy or some desk accessories? Another idea is to host a “Half Way There” party for your senior classmates. Everyone attending wears a shirt from the college of their choice and brings with them a fun dorm accessory wrapped in a brown paper bag, which is then numbered at the party. Each guest picks a number from a hat and receives the corresponding gift. This is a great way to get everyone started on their dorm preparations!

The most important advice is to take the time to enjoy being a high school student. Your college work will be much more difficult and you will be responsible for managing your own time and schedule. Remember to take the time to thank teachers at your school who have impacted your life so far and to spend time with friends. Also remember that you’ve put forth a lot of effort to get to this point so reward yourself with some fun and relaxation!

IECA 2009 Fall Conference Presentation

2009-11-13T13:30:00.004-03:00

Thanks to all who attended my presentation yesterday with Michael Fleischner at the IECA 2009 Fall Conference in Charlotte, NC! As promised, here is the slide show from our presentation. Please feel free to contact myself or Michael if you have any questions. Enjoy!

Organic Marketing: Growing Your Brand in a Digital World

View more presentations from Estrela Consulting.

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Queens University of Charlotte (NC)

2009-11-10T16:41:00.004-03:00

"We focus on enrolling alumni, not first semester freshmen."

Evan Sprinkle, Queens Admission Counselor

The final stop on our (rainy!) tour of Charlotte-area colleges was a school of which, prior to our visit, I had almost no prior knowledge. Upon our arrival at the school it was obvious that their staff was going to make sure our group wouldn't forget tiny Queens University of Charlotte.

Before heading out with our guides, Emily and Amber, the Admission staff made sure we were each well-equipped with an umbrella and a cup of hot cider. Luckily the 30-acre campus is compact and our guides quickly whisked us inside every building along the way. The campus, despite the rain, was very nice and had a definite small-community feel. It felt as if each of the 900 undergraduate students knew each other and any student looking for a close-knit community would feel right at home at Queens.

Following the tour we had the opportunity to hear from a student/faculty panel. However, the true shining point came from Dr. Pamela Davies, President of Queens. Aside from the fact that it is quite rare for a university president to take the time to speak to a group of (non-donor) visitors, I was thoroughly impressed by how down-to-earth Dr. Davies was as she spoke to our group. It was obvious by her interaction with the students that there is certainly no ivory tower at Queens, and her enthusiasm about the place was truly genuine.

Two areas that impressed me during Dr. Davies discussion with our group were the Internship and International Studies Programs. Queens students are required to complete 172 hours of internship work before graduating. In fact, two students recently interned at Ford which offers 40 internship spaces per year. At the end of the internship Ford offered full-time positions to just 9 of the 40 interns and both Queens students were selected...a good indicator of their academic preparation! Some other internship locations have included Coca Cola, Bank of America, UNICEF, and the Charlotte Bobcats.

In 2009 U.S. News ranked Queens #2 in the percentage of students who studied abroad as 90% of its students do just that. Recent locales have included South Africa, Greece, and Yap...that's right, Yap. For those who are pulling out their atlases, Yap is a small island in Micronesia and apparently a great location for Environmental Studies. If that's not enough to lure a student to participate in these programs, how about the fact that tuition covers nearly the entire cost for these trips? Not too shabby.

The one downside (depending on who you ask) is the gender make-up of the student population at Queens. Founded as an all-women's school, men were admitted just 22 years ago. Currently the ratio of females to males is 70%/30%. However, the male students we spoke with seemed more than happy with this ratio!

The opportunities afforded at this small school rival those at many larger universities. In addition, the school's proximity to nearby Charlotte is a great bonus to the already active on-campus community. Queens is definitely a hidden gem.

UNC Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)

2009-11-10T16:36:00.003-03:00

I always feel bad when visiting a campus in the pouring rain. No matter how beautiful the campus may be, it's just not the same experience. Hurricane Ida made sure to send some of her remaining downpours to UNC Charlotte during our tour at the school's main 1,000-acre campus. However, we came armed with umbrellas and our wildly enthusiastic tour guide, BJ, made every attempt to distract us from the flowing rivers that we encountered walking between buildings.

UNC Charlotte is the 4th largest of the 17-member UNC system and actually has four of its own campuses. Though the student population is around 24,000 currently, the University has plans to grow to 35,000 by the year 2020. The student population is diverse, though the majority of students hail from North Carolina, the Charlotte area in particular. BJ also said that because just 1/3 of the students live on campus, most of the weekend activities happen off-campus...a downside for non-NC students (just 14% of the population) who are without a car on campus. That being said, there are students from 46 states and 89 countries, though many of these are enrolled in the school's graduate and doctoral programs.

The UNC Charlotte campus has had several major additions over the last few years including The Quad area and College of Education. However, a key show piece is the new Student Union which houses several food options for students including Starbucks, Wendy's and an Einstein Bagels. There is also a movie theater...a nice new feature on campus. We had the chance to eat lunch at the student union and it was obvious that this is a central hub of student activity.

During the tour BJ pointed out the tall structure (below) in the center of campus that is actually a bell tower. He also mentioned that the bell tower plays "Good Morning Sunshine" every day at 8am...not a bad way to begin your day!

In addition to the tour we had the chance to speak with Jon Hutchins from the Office of Admission. Jon mentioned that two of the most popular academic areas at UNC Charlotte are those offered at the Belk College of Business and the School of Architecture. Admission to UNC Charlotte is not overly competitive (74% acceptance rate) but that isn't the case for the School of Architecture. According to Jon, if you "mix Albert Einstein with a hippie, that's the ideal candidate for our architecture program."

UNC Charlotte is relatively young (founded in 1946) but it has seen many changes in its short existence. With the projected campus growth it will be interesting to see if there is an effort to increase the percentage of out-of-state students in the undergraduate programs. Regardless, there are some definite improvements taking place at the school and students who have the academic talent and drive to be admitted to the School of Architecture will be pleased with their choice of UNC Charlotte...rain or shine!

Davidson College (Davidson, NC)

2009-11-10T16:28:00.003-03:00

"One of the first things you learn when you come to Davidson is that you're not the smartest person in the class anymore." -Jessica, Davidson Tour Guide

It's no wonder that in 2006 Newsweek included Davidson College on its list of America's 25 New Ivies considering the list of schools with which the College crosses applicants: UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, University of Virginia, and several Ivies. The academically competitive Presbyterian school of 1,700 accepts just 26% of its applicants and boasts a 95% first-year retention rate.

Applicants to the school can be assured that their applications are reviewed thoroughly as the Davidson Admission & Financial Aid staff includes nearly 30 staff members...many more than most colleges of this size. The "Davidson Trust" is no doubt one reason the school has such a large staff in this area as the Trust allows the school to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need WITHOUT the inclusion of loans. This relatively new program (began in 2007) has drawn significant attention as Davidson was the first liberal arts school to implement this type of program.

During our tour of the Davidson campus we had the opportunity to see that, though there is a definite air of competitiveness amongst the students, the faculty are engaging and fun. While walking through the science building we were fortunate to not only chat with science professor Dr. Karen Bernd, but she also introduced us to "Earl", the Science Department mascot (below...appropriately dressed for the upcoming holiday!).

Dr. Bernd was extremely passionate about the work that the faculty and students were collaborating on and stressed that, because the school offers solely undergraduate programs, the students are working one-on-one with faculty on advanced research. As a side note: I've rarely had a faculty member interrupt their work to come out of their office and speak to a group of consultants so this left a great impression on me!

The Davidson campus is most likely not the main draw for students interested in the school. The majority of buildings, though in good condition, are a bit older and simply outfitted. Students at Davidson seemed very serious and, most likely given the competitive nature of the school, focused on where they were heading and/or what they were working on at the moment. I didn't get the sense that this was a real "party school" environment or that the school's Greek life dominated the social scene. Students interested in a truly academic setting in which they can be surrounded by somewhat like-minded people would enjoy the Davidson experience.

Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC)

2009-11-09T16:17:00.002-03:00

Duncan, Bogues, Howard, Paul...mention Wake Forest University and you'll no doubt hear some reference to one of these surnames. If you think these folks were former leaders of the school or names of dormitories on campus, you've obviously not spent time with the Screamin' Demons at the North Carolina school.

The Wake Demon Deacons basketball program has produced several NBA standouts, including those mentioned above. It's easy to feel bad for poor Arnold Palmer as the legendary golf pro is often left in the shadows by his fellow Wake alums on the hard court...and not just because of their height. In fact, Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues '87 holds the title as the shortest player in NBA history at 5' 3"!

Athletics are not the main draw to Wake for most students, though school spirit is definitely visible on campus. Applicants hoping to join the 4,400-student community should expect a competitive pool of candidates with whom they'll be vying for a space. In fact, more than 70% of the incoming freshman class this year were in the top 10% of their high school classes. Interviews are highly recommended (80% of applicants chose to interview last year) and can be done in person, via Skype or using an online written interview. The school is now SAT optional and, according to Wake Admission Counselor Nelson Brunsting, the admission staff will "place a premium on creativity" when reviewing student essays.

During my tour of Wake I was surprised by how spread out the campus was, and how there seemed to be two separate campuses in one: an upper and a lower campus with two distinct looks. The most familiar image of Wake is most certainly "The Quad" and specifically Wait Chapel on the upper campus. Aside from its famous image, the Chapel has played host to two U.S. Presidential debates in 1988 and 2000.

The Quad, on the other hand, is much more recreational and regularly covered in toilet paper after sporting events. This activity, referred to on campus as "Rolling the Quad", is a campus tradition and remnants can frequently be spotted in many of the trees. Again, there's no question that the Demon Deacons have school spirit!

Near the end of our tour we asked our guide why she chose to attend Wake. She mentioned that, though many of her peers think it's a negative, she enjoys the fact that the school is often referred to as "Work Forest" because of the academic challenge. The work load doesn't seem to be driving students away as the school has a 95% freshman retention rate. Before we left our guide mentioned that, though she loves her classes, she hasn't yet had an opportunity to have a course with Wake's most famous professor: Maya Angelou.

Elon University (Elon, NC)

2009-11-09T16:08:00.002-03:00

It is no surprise that "Elon" is actually the Hebrew word for "oak", as the trees bearing this name fill much of the green space on the 575-acre campus of Elon University. The oak tradition at Elon goes beyond the trees on campus as each new student is given an acorn by the President during the Opening Convocation each year (a ceremony held "under the oaks" of course!). When these students graduate they'll then receive an oak sapling to represent their growth during their time at the university...a very meaningful tradition!

Elon has seen quite a geographic shift in the make-up of its student population over the years. What was once a school filled with in-state students, Elon now enrolls 5,000 undergraduate students from 47 states (25% from NC) and 49 nations. However, admission to the school is competitive with less than half of all applicants being granted admission. It's obvious that students are happy once they enroll at Elon as 90% of freshman return for their second year.

Students interested in studying abroad would find a good home at Elon. Nearly 70% of students will study abroad in countries such as England, Italy, and Mexico before graduating. The school's 4-1-4 calendar system provides students an opportunity for either short-term or long-term study and some students also choose to go abroad in the summer months. A great aspect of the study abroad program at Elon is that financial aid and scholarships are available to students interested in these opportunities.

My tour guide, Alex, told me that one of her favorite Elon traditions is the College Coffees on Tuesday mornings. These are generally held outside and the University President is almost always in attendance. It's a great opportunity to chat with faculty, staff and classmates...and have a free cup of coffee!

During our tour I was impressed by the new Business School building and the School of Communications. Elon has played host to several well-known speakers such as Anderson Cooper, Jane Goodall, and Desmond Tutu. Bragging rights are well-deserved as both Kenneth Utt '42, producer of Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia; and Rich Blomquist '00, Emmy-winning writer for The Daily Show with John Stewart, are Communication program grads.

Walking across the campus at Elon I was surprised by how few students donned traditional college student gear (i.e. sweats, t-shirts, etc.). It was obvious that most of the students here don't just roll of out bed and head to class...they dress to impress. If you're looking for a more casual environment, this may not be your match. In fact, it's no wonder that Miss North Carolina 2009 is an Elon grad!

High Point University (High Point, NC)

2009-11-09T15:53:00.006-03:00

I'd guess that most college presidents don't send balloons and cards for every birthday on campus. I'm also pretty sure it's rare for a college to have a school sponsored ice cream truck making the rounds on hot days...for free. How about cookies and milk? You can count on them every night in the student center. No, this isn't a Hollywood dramatization of what students wish college was like...it's High Point University.

When Dr. Nido Qubein came on board as the new president of High Point in 2005 (he's also an alum) he made the commitment to the school that he would raise $10 million in 60 days. Twenty-nine days later Dr. Qubein gathered the members of the school community to let them know that he wouldn't be able to raise that amount in that amount of time because he'd already doubled the amount in half the time: $20 million dollars in 29 days. This was the beginning of an aggressive fundraising and building campaign which is still yielding results today.

Arriving at HPU is like stepping foot on a brand new campus. The number of new buildings on campus in the last 5 years is in the double digits and there are more to come. The school's 3,500 students come from around the country (75% out-of-state) to experience this "Club Med" of the higher education world. In fact, the school was ranked #1 on the US News "Up and Coming Colleges" list in 2009.

Additional amenities include an on-campus movie theater (with free popcorn, soda, and candy), a high-end steak house (included in the meal plan), a sports-bar-style restaurant with a game room (free games), and Thursday night Karaoke. Students at HPU won't be at a loss of social activities and it's no wonder that 98% of students choose to live on campus. I should also mention that the campus and grounds are immaculate. This isn't solely due to a staff of landscapers and maintenance crews, it's in part due to the school's Honor Code. Students at HPU adhere to this code and there is a strong sense of respect for people and things on the campus (and a giant version is on display in the student center to remind them!).

The admission folks mentioned that they are expecting to see the school's academic profile rising as they have more than doubled the size of their freshman class in the last five years. Approximately 71% of applicants were admitted this year and had a mean SAT (CR & Math) of 1069 and mean ACT of 23. With growing interest in the school (not surprising given the physical plant) the school will undoubtedly have the ability to be more selective during the admission process.

During our visit we had a great presentation by Dr. Matthew DeSantis, a faculty member in the Political Science Department. Dr. DeSantis shared with us information about the First-Year Seminar program which includes topics such as Love in Cyberspace, Code-Breakers, From Bronx to the Babe, and God, Greens, Guns, and Gays (a class he will be teaching). Dr. DeSantis was enthusiastic and made many of us want to enroll in his course. It's obvious that the faculty enjoy being at HPU and as Dr. DeSantis said, "We have the happiest damn faculty in the country!"

Other academic features at HPU include the new Qubein School of Communication which features a TV studio (above) and Green Screen Room used for video game development. The Phillips School of Business features an impressive Stock Trading Room, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and, given the school's location in the furniture producing capital of the U.S., the Home Furnishings major.

Kent School (Kent, CT)

2009-10-23T15:01:00.002-03:00

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. I'm guessing that's what Ted Danson was thinking when he arrived as a new student at Kent School in the early 1960's. With 560 students on a 1,200-acre campus, this might be difficult at times, however, my tour guides Adam and Lucas seemed to know everyone. Unfortunately for poor "Sam Malone", neither of my guides knew who Danson was, but could immediately cite Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane as their most notable alum!

As the last visit on our consultant group's one-week of boarding school tours in Connecticut, the folks at Kent had their work cut out for them. We were fortunate to have stayed in the town of Kent for the week and thus got a great sense of what type of local community exists for the students at the school. The town of Kent is small, quaint, and safe with a few nice shops and restaurants. Students seeking hustle and bustle won't find it here but parents will certainly feel much better about the school's open campus policy (no sign in/out process) once seeing the surrounding area.

The school campus, though large and somewhat spread out, feels much more like a small village. The Episcopal school's St. Joseph's Chapel is a beautiful centerpiece of the campus and features an impressive pipe organ. The other side of campus boasts the beautiful Rowing Center which opened in 2005. Kent has an exceptionally long history of offering crew and nearly 1/5 of the students participate either at the varsity or intramural level each year.

An observation that I made during our tour, and later at the student panel, was that Kent has one of the most interactively diverse campuses I've seen. What I mean is that I actually saw students of different backgrounds hanging out, studying and eating lunch together. Though many schools are diverse in numbers, it's a whole other thing to witness diverse groups, particularly international students, interacting when taken out of the classroom or assigned-dorm-room environment.

Kent has had a solid reputation for academic challenge (they offer 25 AP's) but it's the unique nature of some courses offered that caught my attention. Students at the school can take Genocide in the 20th Century, Roman Comedy, and Meteorology. Interested in Irish Drama? They've got a class for that, too. These types of courses have certainly made Kent grads stand out as they've head off to places like Kenyon, McGill, Oberlin, and Yale.

Before finishing our tour I asked Lucas what his favorite traditions were at Kent. Without missing a beat he said "plaid suits" with a huge grin. Apparently it has been a tradition for the male students and staff at Kent to dress for the first formal dinner of the year in plaid suits. Now, from what I could gather, these suits don't err on the side of subtle...the more colorful the better! The other tradition that I loved was the school's annual "Spoon Game" against rival Loomis Chaffee School. That one I'll let them tell you about when you visit...make sure to stop and check out the spoon!

Rumsey Hall School (Washington Depot, CT)

2009-10-23T15:00:00.005-03:00

The start of our visit at Rumsey Hall School felt a little like being on a game show. Not so much a Deal or No Deal, or even Wheel of Fortune...more like a This is Your Life...if You Come to Rumsey! I say this because we were lead through the beautiful Maxwell A. Sarofim '05 Performing Arts Center by Admission Director Matt Hoeniger, naively thinking the next door we passed through would take us to a classroom. However, when he opened the door (a-la Willy Wonka), we were greeted by a beautiful theater where students waited patiently for our arrival.

We were then told to take our seats...the lights were dimmed...the curtain went up...and there was the school's a capella group, "Passing Notes", ready to sing their hearts out for us. The group was followed by a fantastic photo slideshow set to music chronicling a year-in-the-life of the school. I can tell you that after hearing the group sing, and then watching the video (which is shown to all visiting families), I had a very strong sense of the close-knit, family-like community at the school...the video even got me a little choked up!

I was thrilled to meet my tour guide, Kisha, as she is from Brazil. It was wonderful to talk with her about what the adjustment has been like being so far away from home at a young age. She told me she was very homesick at first but has gotten very involved at Rumsey and has made many friends. She told me she started playing soccer but switched to volleyball because she was too cold playing an outdoor sport in New England. Keep in mind that it was only October!

The population at Rumsey consists of 304 students from Kindergarten to Grade 9. This year there are 122 boarding students (grades 6-9) and a little more than half of them are international. A neat fact that Mr. Hoeniger told us is that of all the junior boarding schools in the U.S., Rumsey actually enrolls the most female boarders. This is part of the reason the school recently opened two new girls dormitories on campus. These dorms house just 6 girls each and truly feel like homes.

The dorms and Performing Arts Center are not the only new construction on campus. In fact, the majority of the academic and athletic facilities (including a new hockey rink) at the school have been constructed or renovated just since the school's centennial celebration in 2000.

At the end of my tour I asked Kisha if there was anything she would change about the school. Her answer: more drinking fountains on campus! On the flip side I asked about her favorite things so far. She told me she likes that the Headmaster, Tom Farmen, invites students to his house to read them "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. She hadn't heard of this book before, or heard Mr. Farmen read it, but all of the older kids at Rumsey had told her about it and it's given her something to look forward to...in addition to more water fountains.

The majority of students leaving Rumsey head to some of the most highly regarded prep schools in the country, many of them choosing to board. The schools topping the 5-year matriculation list include The Gunnery, Taft, Canterbury, Suffield, and Kent.

Westover School (Middlebury, CT)

2009-10-22T15:00:00.007-03:00

"So, are you a 'West' or an 'Over'?" This might be a strange thing to ask anywhere but at The Westover School where the question is like asking the Hogwarts pupils if they're Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. The difference is that, at Westover, there's no Sorting Hat. The similarity is that each of the 200 girls is named to one of these two "sides" when she arrives at the all-girls school and from then on pronounces her allegiance with pride (PS-it's a friendly rivalry!).

This is just one of the traditions at Westover, a school that will celebrate its centennial this year. This was a great time for our visit to the campus as the place, and people, were buzzing with excitement about the future that is ahead and about the strong set of alumna who have laid the path to get them to this time in their history. Head of School, Ann Pollina, is probably one of the most enthusiastic Heads I've encountered, and her staff follows suit. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a panel of Administrative Team members at any school laugh together as much as the one that Ann has assembled at Westover. It's obvious that they not only enjoy working with the girls at the school, they truly enjoy their colleagues and their contributions to the team...something that has a tremendous trickle-down effect in a boarding school environment!

My tour guides at Westover, Grace & Annie, were fantastic. The first place we headed was the ceramics studio where girls decked out in sweat pants and t-shirts (there are no school uniforms) were making clay figurines. As seemed to be the theme at the school, we heard the laughter before we even entered the room. The students were truly enjoying themselves and it was obvious that the atmosphere at the school was much more laid back than many all-girls prep schools (in a good way!). In fact, many of the students we met were on a first-name basis with their teachers...a much more collegiate feel.

Our next stop was the beautiful Fuller Athletic Center that opened in 2002. In addition to the gymnasium and fitness area, the Center features 4 international squash courts...some of the nicest I've seen at the high school level. Our guides mentioned that several girls have gone on to play squash at colleges including George Washington, St. Lawrence and Northeastern.

Upon entering the new Performing Arts Center at the school, you can't help but feel a little bit of jealousy, particularly if you are artistically inclined. The Center features a beautiful theater area, gallery space, and 3 dance studios. The dance studios are of such professional caliber that the Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow selected Westover as the location for their 5-week summer program for the past two years...the only program like it that they hold in the U.S.

In addition to the arts, Westover lays claim to being one of the first schools to begin the Women in Science and Engineering Program (W.I.S.E.) in 1992. Currently, students who are involved in this program get the benefit of collaboration with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Also, Westover grads have a 99% acceptance rate into the RPI program after graduation...not a bad statistic!

Notable Westover alumnae include Edith Cummings, the first female-athlete to be featured on the cover of Time and Ginevra Kin, F. Scott Fitzgerald's inspiration (and his first love) for leading lady Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby. Recent alumnae have graced the campuses of Barnard, Dartmouth, Grinnell, Pomona, and Swarthmore, to name a few.

Cheshire Academy (Cheshire, CT)

2009-10-22T14:58:00.004-03:00

Here's a cool fact: Did you know that the name of the standard household can of "WD-40" actually stands for "Water Displacement 40th attempt". You probably get the whole "water displacement" factor, but whose 40th attempt was it? I'm so glad you asked! It was none other than Cheshire Academy alum, Norm Larsen, a chemist who tried 40 times to perfect the squeak-preventing spray. However, Larsen isn't the 215-year old school's only notable alum. Author Robert Ludlum, of The Bourne Identity fame, and actor James Van Der Beek, best known for wooing Katie Holmes in the TV sitcom Dawson's Creek, are included on that list as well.

Cheshire Academy is a campus that is seeing quite a bit of change right now. The school's new Head of School, Doug Rogers, comes from a 30-year career at Phillips Exeter Academy having served as both a teacher and an administrator. We had the opportunity to hear from Mr. Rogers during lunch and we were impressed with his sense of what he thinks Cheshire is and what it can be in the future. He seems to be integrating himself into the community quite well by hosting senior students for dinner in his home and making random Munchkin Donut deliveries around campus (an obvious way to impress teenagers!).

During our tour we saw a few newer construction projects including a new dorm and several faculty houses. The campus grounds are beautiful and the John J. White '38 Science & Technology Center (1999) is a definite focal point. I personally enjoyed watching one of the science faculty members swinging a water-filled bucket over his head on the steps of the Science Center in an attempt to explain gravity...the kids were loving it!

The campus also boasts Bowden Hall, a 213-year old building that now houses the Alumni & Development Offices...a great piece of school history! In fact, all 360 students at Cheshire (and the staff!) follow what they have termed "The Eight Pillars of Bowden." These pillars are the core values the school community weaves into each academic year and consist of: Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Civility, Citizenship, Morality, Fairness, and Trustworthiness. Now, you're probably asking yourselves if the kids actually remember these and apply them to their lives at the school. Believe it or not, three students I asked were able to rattle off all eight AND give me examples of what some of them meant personally to them...impressive!

A unique academic feature at Cheshire is the Roxbury Program. This is a program for students needing academic support due to a diagnosed learning difference or simply students who need to improve test-taking, study, or writing skills. Students also have access to a wealth of assistive technology and a Writing Center. The staff members in this program are highly trained and the director is unbelievably passionate about working with these students. There is an additional fee for this program, however, after hearing testimonials from several students who have gone through it, it is well worth the investment.

The 5-year matriculation list for Cheshire is diverse, both in type of school and geographic region. Topping the list are Quinnipiac University, Ohio Wesleyan, Suffolk University, and Stetson.

The Forman School (Litchfield, CT)

2009-10-22T14:57:00.004-03:00

When it comes to an endorsement of a school, would anyone argue with Albert Einstein? The crazy-haired Nobel Prize winning physicist certainly could relate to the students at The Forman School, having struggled with reading issues as a child. It was this, coupled with his friendship with school founder, John Forman, that lead Einstein to serve on the Academic Board of Visitors at Forman in the 1940's. Talk about a great resource to have!

Today Forman serves 180 students in grades 9-12 with language-based LD's as well as ADHD and ADD. Students head to the school from across the U.S. and a few other countries to take advantage of the the unique program offerings. The school is primarily boarding (75%) and the boys outnumber the girls at a ratio of 2:1.

While touring with our guides, Christian and Brooke, we had the opportunity to stop in the Olson Outdoor Education Center where the boat-building program takes place. Christian said that at the end of the year the boats are auctioned off as a fundraiser for the school...and they actually float! In addition to the boats, there was a geometry class involved in the building of Adirondack chairs...talk about a unique teaching method!

Another impressive area of campus was the Art Department. We had the chance to talk to the teacher and see some student work in progress. The level of talent was above high school and it's apparent that for many of these students the arts are a wonderful creative outlet.

A unique program offered by Forman is the Winterim. During the weeks between Thanksgiving and winter break students select a course for intensive study that is not traditionally offered in the curriculum. Some Winterim offerings for this year include: 100 Years of British-American Humor, Freudian Slips & Other Psychological Fairy Tales and Food Chemistry.

Following our tour we had a fantastic student panel that opened with a student greeting in sign language (one of the languages offered at the school). The students had a range of LD's and all felt very fortunate to have landed at Forman. Several panelists were involved in the school's Rain Forest Program. This program, though sponsored by Forman, includes students from other Connecticut schools and focuses on research on rain forest topics. The students take a Tropical Ecology course for seven months and the program culminates in a trip to the rain forests of Costa Rica.

Some students graduating from Forman are able to do college level work without assistance, while the majority continue to find support on their respective campuses. For this reason many students choose to apply to universities that offer some form of learning services so they can continue to be successful in the classroom. If anything, these students have learned to be advocates for themselves and to seek out help rather than continuing to struggle. Universities with the most Forman grads right now include Curry College, Lynn University, Hofstra, New England College and the University of Arizona.

The Woodhall School (Bethlehem, CT)

2009-10-21T22:58:00.004-03:00

It's a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness and no one here has ever had an easy streak in their life. - Student Addressing A Peer During Woodhall's Committee for Accountability

During my week of boarding school visits in Connecticut I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time chatting with my fellow independent consultants. It was during one of these conversations that I became familiar with The Woodhall School, a tiny all-boys school of 38 students in grades 9-12. Young by New England standards (founded in 1983), this family-lead school has already made quite an impression on those in my profession.

Several consultants had worked with families whose sons had gone to Woodhall as shy, unmotivated, and just plain socially awkward kids, and emerged with a sense of confidence and respect for themselves and their peers. Were they still quirky? Yes, but at Woodhall that's okay. These boys are themselves and yes, they love Dungeons and Dragons and go to anime conventions (my tour guide loves them!). It's also true that the beautiful fitness area donated by none other than famed former NBA coach Pat Riley (his son is a grad) looks untouched...but here that's okay (in fact, the school offers only two sports: cross country and soccer). At Woodhall you are who you are, end of story.

During our visit we had the chance to sit in on the Committee for Accountability. This is a truly unique experience for these young men. According to the Woodhall website the committee "provides a forum where students and teachers can hold community members accountable." Students and staff submit requests to hold someone accountable and the situation is presented in front of the school community. Other students and staff have a chance to tell that person how their behaviors/actions are affecting the school community. The person then has an opportunity to give their reaction and cite ways in which they might alter these behaviors to create a more positive situation.

Classes at Woodhall are small by design with just 2-5 students in each. It's important to note that the school is not an LD or therapeutic school, and the majority of the kids have above average intelligence. Students have minimal distractions and the campus is intentionally not wireless. Recent Woodhall grads have found their way to Eckerd, Guilford, University of Denver, WPI, and Ohio Wesleyan.

I was fortunate during my visit to join some of the boys for lunch. It's very apparent why this place works for these kids. In a time when so much pressure is placed on kids to achieve social status in high school, Woodhall is a place where boys who might otherwise be on the fringe can find peers who can relate to them and their interests...or someone with whom they can attend an anime convention!

The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville, CT)

2009-10-21T22:56:00.002-03:00

No matter what you do here, there's probably someone here that's better than you. - Chris Downs, Hotchkiss Director of Admission

My first interaction with The Hotchkiss School was actually in South America...quite a ways from Connecticut! Two months after moving to Brazil I was contacted by the Head of the Music Department at the school, Fabio Witkowski. Mr. Witkowski's wife (and fellow music instructor), Gisele, was planning a trip to Sao Paulo for a performance and to visit family (she is Brazilian). We ended up meeting while she was here and we had a great chat over coffee. After her visit I was excited to see the campus first hand.

Upon our arrival at Hotchkiss we were lead into a grand building nestled next to a cemetery that had actually been the Headmaster's home in past years (the house, not the cemetery!). Unfortunately, this was the one school on our tour at which we didn't have an opportunity to meet the current Head. However, we did have a short chat with Director of Admission, Chris Downs, before heading out on our campus tour.

My tour guide, Cat, has a family history of Hotchkiss attendees and had planned to apply to the school for years. She knew that competition for admission was tough at the roughly 600-student school. In fact, the school admits only 20% of its applicants on average...in line with some very competitive colleges. However, the school was founded with, and still maintains, a strong dedication to diversity on all levels. The student population currently includes 27% students of color and 15% international students. Hotchkiss has been a proud supporting member of outreach programs for years such as Prep for Prep and A Better Chance, which work to provide academic opportunities to underprivileged students in low income areas. Approximately 36% of Hotchkiss students are receiving some type of financial assistance from the school.

Once students enroll at Hotchkiss, expectations are high both from faculty and peers. Classes are rigorous and the competition is tough. Cat said she spends much of her free time studying, but so do her classmates. That being said, Hotchkiss offers a wide range of non-academic activities and hosts a competitive group of interscholastic sports teams. The school has over 65 student-run clubs and organizations including several literary options and a high-tech radio station.

One of the most impressive staples of the campus is the Music Department. I could sense the level of talent and opportunities just by speaking with Gisele Witkowski during our visit in Brazil, but the facilities just topped off my initial impressions. The practice rooms are beautiful and the music technology lab is impressive. Students interested in music can't go wrong with the program at Hotchkiss as they'll be exposed to some extremely talented instructors.

An information booklet listing"Colleges Most Frequently Attended" by Hotchkiss grads yields no surprises: Harvard, Brown, Princeton, Stanford, Yale...you get the picture. There is a reason the school's reputation has stuck: it produces some pretty impressive folks. A few notable alumni include Henry Luce (founder of Sports Illustrated, Fortune, and co-founder of Time), several members of the Mars Family (think candy bars), and Allison Janney of West Wing fame.

South Kent School (South Kent, CT)

2009-10-20T22:55:00.003-03:00

We're not interested in producing celebrities, we're interested in producing heroes. - Andrew Vadnais, South Kent Head of School

It's not every day that a Head of School hops on a bus with you so he can show you a now-defunct dairy farm he hopes will become a new learning space. In fact, it's not every day that a Head hops on a bus at all! Andrew Vadnais, however, is not your run-of-the-mill Head. It's wildly apparent when you meet him that he is truly passionate about this place he calls home.

As the last stop on a day of boarding school tours, tiny South Kent School (population 150) had quite a task ahead of them in order to keep our consultant group interested. Fifteen minutes of listening about the plans for a nearby farm purchased by an alum of the all-boys school intrigued me...not just because of what those plans included, but because of the excitement in the voice of Mr. Vadnais. I'm looking forward to hearing about the progress on those plans as they come to fruition...but I'll need to hear about it from Mr. Vadnais as I don't think anyone can do the project as much justice!

The current 500 acre campus has a definite all-boys feel and doesn't tout a bunch of bells and whistles. That being said, there have been some improvements in recent years including a new dorm and upgrades in technology. The chapel on campus (the school is Episcopalian) adds a historic touch to the aesthetics of the place. All students are required to attend a service here at least four times per week. Students of other faiths can speak with the staff about opportunities for other services nearby.

My tour guides, Lucas and Curran, both stressed the impact of athletics on the students at SKS. Both told me that a non-athlete would find life a little bit hard at SKS as athletics are required two out of the three seasons. They also mentioned that the post-graduate (PG) program is a huge draw for athletes (approximately 15-20 students each year), particularly basketball players. In fact, the school has had a few students go on to play in the NBA including Dorrell Wright (Miami Heat) and Andray Blatche (Washington Wizards).

Lucas and Curran both live less than two hours from the school and mentioned that, though the school is primarily boarding, many students head home on the weekends. However, the school does offer weekend activities and sporting events are a definite draw on the weekends. The school participates in social events with other independent and all-girls schools as well. On campus, the fitness center is open 24 hours a day and is a popular campus resource. Another plus that my guides mentioned is that, unlike many schools, the food is actually very good!

Even though there does seem to be a strong athletic presence on campus, the academic offerings are also strong and include several AP courses. The young men graduating from SKS have gone on to higher education institutions including Northwestern, Boston College, Tufts, Purdue, and Williams.

Salisbury School (Salisbury, CT)

2009-10-20T22:54:00.004-03:00

If anyone is looking for an example of the benefits of an all-boys education, just take a trip to Salisbury School and head out on a tour with Jamie '10 (PS-he's also the student body president!). Initially it's hard to look past the physical beauty of the campus and facilities and focus on the intangibles...but once you do, the true feel of Salisbury actually comes out.

All 300 young men wear blazers and ties to class each day. The atmosphere at this Episcopal school is formal and there is a definite feeling of respect between not just students and staff but amongst the students themselves. In addition, Headmaster Chisholm Chandler mentioned to us that he invites 20 students over for dinner in his home with his family each Sunday. There is an air of tradition here and it's obvious that these students will leave as polished young adults.

The Salisbury campus has had quite a few improvements ($70 million worth!) in the last several years since its centennial in 2001. The first stop on our visit was to the new boathouse, home to the school's Olympian-producing crew teams. In addition to their New England competition, the team travels each year to the Henley Regatta in England...a definite draw for serious rowers!

Someone must have called ahead to Salisbury to make sure our visit was special because, not only did we have the student body president as our guide, we also had a sneak preview of the school's new Flood Athletic Center. The Center was slated to open the week after our visit and Jaime was thrilled that, as our guide, he got to take a look before his peers. Of course, we later saw him showing pics that he snapped to jealous classmates in the dining hall! The Center features an Olympic-size hockey rink (the team won the 2009 New England Championship), basketball and squash courts, a fitness center and more. This will definitely be a selling point for many prospective students.

One of the most impressive parts of our tour, in my opinion, was the Ruger Fine Arts Center. It's easy to assume that, as an all-boys school, athletics would be the key draw for many students. Based on the level of talent displayed in the work at the Arts Center, as well as the amount of activity taking place while we were passing by, Salisbury has done a great job of inspiring the boys to look at their creative sides. There is even a very cool wooden boat building program...not sure if they've ever used their creations for crew!

Salisbury grads head to a diverse list of post-secondary institutions. The class of 2009 matriculation list included over 60 colleges with the U.S. Military Academy, Trinity, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges topping the list.

Indian Mountain School (Lakeville, CT)

2009-10-20T22:53:00.004-03:00

Driving onto the campus of The Indian Mountain School a familiar tune begins playing in your head...no, not "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain"...it's actually the theme song from Rocky you hear. Why, you ask? Just talk to any of the students who've participated in the IndiMountain Film Fest at the school and they'll tell you about the mentoring they've received from none other than John Advilsen '51, the Director of Rocky (AND Lean on Me AND Karate Kid!).

The IMS film program is just one area in the arts where the school's upper campus kids excel. The junior boarding school (PK-9, boarding grades 6-9) offers an extensive selection of music instruction and more than half of the students participate in private lessons. In fact, there are currently 60 students studying guitar at the school...nearly 1/4 of the 260 students! The curriculum at IMS also includes one music class per week, with one of the school's 10 music instructors, including courses in music appreciation and composition (remember this is middle school!). At a time when many schools are cutting arts programs, this is one place that truly values this aspect of a child's education.

The IMS 600-acre campus is an energetic kids dream. The students have beautiful outdoor playing fields in a picturesque mountain setting (hence the school name). Indoor athletics take place at nearby Hotchkiss School during the day. The academic buildings at IMS are kid-friendly and the new library is a definite show piece. Parents of boarders would certainly feel comfortable with the feel of the school. In fact, both the Head of School and Director of Admission mentioned to me that one of their goals is to let the kids stay kids for as long as they can...a great goal that I'm sure many parents will appreciate!

It's no coincidence that I just happened to win a copy of the "Official Chuck Norris Fact Book" from Goodreads.com just one month after my visit to IMS. In fact, I was so inspired by the medley of "Chuck" facts adorning the walls of one of the dorms at the school (talk about a creative houseparent!) that I actually entered the drawing for the book...intentionally. To be honest, it wasn't just the facts that caught my eye in this particular dorm, but there was a real feeling of home here...something that you don't find at every school.

When students leave IMS they head off to a variety of secondary schools, with many deciding to enroll at boarding schools. The two schools, in recent years, that IMS grads have enrolled at most frequently have been Berkshire and Millbrook.

The Gunnery (Washington, CT)

2009-10-19T00:17:00.003-03:00

One of the first things I'd bet most people assume about The Gunnery is that it must be a military school. Though the school's name does stir up images of foxholes and cannons, its origin is actually the surname of its founder, Frederick W. Gunn. A great fact about Gunn is that he is considered to be the father of recreational camping...I'm sure we were all wondering who came up with the idea of sleeping on the ground outdoors!

The Gunnery is actually not military (or religiously) based at all and is, in fact, a traditional coed New England boarding school. There was a short period during the school's history in which it became all-boys...this (or perhaps the military assumption of the name) can probably account for the 40%/60% imbalance in the female to male student ratio amongst the 300 current students. While on tour I did see that the school is offering all-female math classes in its curriculum...an option in which I can see many families finding value.

During my visit I had two great tour guides, Tim and Sean, both of whom are seniors at the school. One of my favorite things to talk about with students are the traditions that have been passed down over the years. I have to say that The Gunnery is FULL of tradition and both my guides were excited to share with me their favorite: The Stray Shot.

The "Stray Shot" is an actual 90 lb cannon ball (I promise the school isn't military!) that is hidden each year by the senior class. The seniors then proceed to leak clues scavenger-hunt-style as to the whereabouts of the cannon so the junior class can recover it before the end of the school year. The cannon has quite an interesting history which includes fraud, theft, and even the Rumsey pond.

In addition to the Stray Shot, the seniors have their own "Senior Rock" and each individual class has a class tie (boys) and belt (girls). Also, each year the school adds some Harry Potter-esque flair by hosting the "Dorm Cup"which offers friendly competition amongst the houses on campus. A great feature at The Gunnery is that all day students (approx 1/3 of the population) have an assigned room in one of the dorms. Not only does this allow them to participate in the Dorm Cup, they also have somewhere to hang out between classes and after school as needed.

The curriculum at The Gunnery is college preparatory with several AP offerings. During our visit Susie Graham, the Head of School, mentioned that the school has been considering the IB Program. Because the application process to become an IB school is extensive, this could take some time to implement. However, IB or no IB, students from The Gunnery have had great success in terms of higher education placement. Recent grads have headed to Georgetown, Lake Forest, UPENN, Purdue, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

The Canterbury School (New Milford, CT)

2009-10-19T00:15:00.009-03:00

The first stop on my week of boarding school visits in Connecticut started on the picturesque campus of The Canterbury School. The school is a staple in the little town of New Milford and the 150-acre campus is actually quite spread out. Arriving on campus we were greeted visually by the beautiful stone chapel...a focal point of the Catholic school where Mass is required on Sundays (70% of students are Catholic). Our first stop on the visit was the home of Head of School, Tom Sheehy. Mr. Sheehy has been a fixture at the school for quite some time having served as Head for almost 20 years...just the 5th Head in the school's nearly 95-year history.

The students we encountered during our visit seemed very polished and there is a definite prep-school feel on campus. Approximately 2/3 of the school's 350 students in grades 9-PG board while the others travel up to an hour as commuters. The dorms feel less home-like than some other schools, but they are well-maintained and clean. One of the girls dorms also houses the art department...a definite plus for someone who finds creative inspiration at non-traditional school hours. That being said, the art room was one of the cleanest I've ever seen...not sure how much the space is actually used or if they are just exceptionally neat!

Students interested in music will love the options afforded to Canterbury students. There are plenty of music practice rooms, performance groups, and my favorite feature: a very cool recording studio. Students can experiment with new instruments and techniques and have ample opportunities to showcase their talents on campus.

It's not many schools that can tout NHL players AND a celebrity heiress among their past hockey players. Before she was busy being famous for...well...being famous, Paris Hilton had a short stint at Canterbury and played on the school's JV hockey team. Of course, her tenure at the school didn't last long as she was dismissed within a few months of enrolling for being unable to follow campus rules.

Another former Canterbury student who didn't last long, due to a case of appendicitis, was John F. Kennedy. The school has a great display of letters that Kennedy wrote to his family during the few months he attended the school at age 13...definitely a must-see during a visit to the school's library.

Our final stop on the tour was the school's new athletic and aquatics center, which opened in 2008. The pool is one of the nicest I've seen at the high school level and in addition to recreational swimming, students can participate in interscholastic swimming or water polo. Athletics are required during all three seasons for all Canterbury students and there are several options available for students to choose from.

Students leaving Canterbury head to a diverse range of institutions of higher education including Columbia, Dickinson, Oberlin, NYU, and Vassar. The matriculation list is a great mix of schools and shows that, though the students may have similarities in faith, their academic interests are broad.

The Marvelwood School (Kent, CT)

2009-10-19T00:15:00.007-03:00

After visiting The Marvelwood School, I decided it would be fun to play one of my favorite games: Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Believe it or not, I'll show you how you can connect Marvelwood to one of America's most beloved actors. Here we go...

Degree One: Famous Marvelwood Alum, Robb Demarest, known for his hit Sci-Fi Channel show "Ghost Hunters International", graduated from the school in 1992, just one year after...

Degree Two: Marvelwood students voted to have the Pterodactyl as their school mascot. The school ties to the bird world didn't stop there as the school also began a program in...

Degree Three: Bird-Banding. This process allows the students to track migration patterns of birds during times such as winter months when the school offers...

Degree Four: Recreational Skiing and Snowboarding. This isn't a surprising feature considering that Jake Burton is an alum of the school. For those not familiar with this name, Burton is the founder of...

Degree Five: Burton Snowboards. While on my visit to Marvelwood I heard about Burton's connection to the school from Headmaster Scott Pottbecker who conveniently...

Degree Six: Is a dead ringer for Kevin Bacon! Well, there you have it...now on for the real info about Marvelwood.

Founded in 1956, tiny Marvelwood has seen many changes over its relatively short history including location (moved from Cornwall to Kent in 1995) and genders served (became coed in 1970). Today the school serves 168 students in grades 9 through post-graduate, almost all of whom board. Though the school population is approximately 2/3 male, the campus doesn't have the feel of a school that was once all-boys.

Students expecting a flashy campus won't find one at Marvelwood. That being said, the hilltop location is great for the outdoorsy-types. One of my tour guides, Sam, told me that he participates in the mountain biking team...not something you'll find at all schools. The buildings on campus are a mix of old and new with the new recreation center being one of the show pieces.

The students at Marvelwood seemed very down-to-earth and some were a little funky/edgy. I get the sense that kids here aren't seeking a traditional New England prep school environment. Approximately 1/3 of the students here have some type of learning difference and the school has an assistive technology lab and learning support center. I think a student who has struggled academically in past educational settings would be given a great opportunity to thrive at Marvelwood. Who knows...they might also get to be within Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon!

Landmark College (Putney, VT)

2009-10-15T23:42:00.001-03:00

A recent statistic shared with me was that only 28% of students with learning disabilities who start college actually make it to the finish line. This percentage, though unfortunate, is not so surprising given the lack of academic support services available to college students with diagnosed LD issues at many institutions. It is for this reason that a school like Landmark College can be a real saving grace for a student who has struggled with dyslexia, ADHD/ADD, or other learning differences.

Landmark is just one of two colleges (the other is Beacon College) in the U.S. that are specifically for bright students who learn differently. The tiny school of 500 students offers students an Associate of Arts Degree which they can earn prior to transferring to a 4-yr school to complete their Bachelors Degree. In fact, about 40% of students actually transfer TO Landmark after beginning their schooling in a traditional 4-yr program in which they had not received the support they needed. Some recent colleges attended by students after Landmark include the University of Denver, American University, Keene State, Lesley, and the University of San Francisco.

Students at Landmark have the traditional academic course options available at most other schools but also focus on things such as self-advocacy, time-management, and study skills. In addition, students have a faculty that are well-trained in working with LD students and aiding their growth and development. Students have a wide range of Assistive Technology to work with as well, depending on their individual needs.

The school is relatively young, having been founded in 1985, but the physical plant is fairly worn and it seems that the campus has not had many upgrades for nearly a decade. Students attending the school should not expect bells and whistles on this front, though these will certainly be delivered on the academic side.

The only other real downside to Landmark is the ratio of male to female students which currently stands at around 70% male/30% female. Unfortunately this is somewhat a product of the culture of diagnosing boys with things such as ADHD/ADD at a rate much higher than girls. That being said, the female students I met at Landmark didn't feel like they were outnumbered. All of the students I spoke with seemed very grateful for their experience at the school and I believe it's a fantastic place for any student with a diagnosed LD to begin their college experience.

Vermont Academy (Saxtons River, VT)

2009-10-15T17:27:00.005-03:00

QUESTION: What do Marshmallow Creme (you know, like in Fluffernutter sandwiches?), Aerosmith, and Rotary International all have in common? ANSWER: Vermont Academy! It's true...the inventor of Marshmallow Creme (Archibald Query), Joe Perry from Aerosmith, and the Founder of Rotary International (Paul Harris) are all VA grads...cool, right?

Believe it or not, this impressive list of grads wasn't the only information I gleaned on my recent visit to Vermont Academy. Our consultant group was fortunate enough to have lunch with students and staff from the school upon our arrival and the new Head of School, Sean Brennan, was one of my table mates. Having a very limited knowledge of VA before my visit, I was actually unaware that this was Mr. Brennan's first year at the school. In fact, based on his interactions with the students and staff at my table, I would have thought he'd been around for a while. He mentioned to us during lunch that he'd actually been keeping a blog of his first 100 days at VA...something I think would behoove all new Heads to consider!

After lunch we had the chance to hear from a panel of current students regarding their VA experiences. Several of the students on the panel had taken advantage of the strong Learning Skills Center at VA. Students who are in need of academic support outside of class can spend time in the Center each week until they are ready to work without this support. Approximately 30% of the 200 VA students take advantage of this program at any given time. While we were visiting we had a chance to visit a construction project that will soon be a new site for the Learning Skills Center...a great space!

During my tour I was amazed by how much out-of-school time at VA relies on the cold weather...it made me wonder what the students do when it's hot outside! I say this because the school has a very active skiing program with interscholastic competition in alpine, Nordic, and freestyle skiing in addition to ski jumping, snowboarding, and of course, hockey. The VA website even has a special section entitled: Vermont Academy Sports on Snow! Any kid with a passion for the snow would love this place. Did I mention they also have their own ski jump on campus? Check it out (picture it snow-covered)...

Another impressive feature of the 500+ acre campus was the Horowitz Performing Arts Hall. The Hall, which opened just a few years ago, features a beautiful theater and gallery space. Any student interested in the fine and performing arts would feel perfectly at ease in this space.

The only real downsides of the VA campus were some slightly outdated dorm spaces and an older gymnasium. Other than that, there is certainly enough to keep kids happy here...though there's no guarantee of Aerosmith concerts or unlimited Fluffernutter sandwiches. A kid can dream can't they?

Marlboro College (Marlboro, VT)

2009-10-15T00:03:00.002-03:00

You will find the Marlboro adventure far more intense and intellectually demanding than Harvard, any other Ivy or Ivy clone. There simply is no comparison. - Excerpt from "Colleges That Change Lives" by Loren Pope

A quick stop by the Marlboro College bookstore and you'll notice the following school logo items: ice scrapers, wool ski hats, and Eco-friendly shopping bags. After my visit to this tiny rural school, these items make sense as staples for their motley mix of 325 students.

Marlboro is a relatively young school that was founded by returning vets in 1946 on what was then an old farm. The campus itself probably doesn't look so much different than it did at that time as the aesthetics of the buildings still have an old farmhouse feel. The hilly 350-acre campus is very rustic and most paths are made by rocks or simply non-existent. Campus dogs abound and a word to the wise (as you will be walking through the grass on tour), watch your step! Believe me, I found out the hard way.

One of the reasons Loren Pope included Marlboro in Colleges That Change Lives, and one of the main reasons students choose to attend, is the Plan of Concentration. Students entering their junior year at the school choose an academic area of concentration, or more, to focus on for their remaining two years. "The Plan", as it's known by the students, is Marlboro's version of a college major, but much more individualized for the student. Students have their own space on campus (my tour guide had an office she shared with 2 others) in which to work on their Plan over the course of these two years. Once students complete their work, many will have their written research hardbound and stored in the library in the only room on campus that requires a key (tour guide lore perhaps?).

Students at Marlboro have a wide range of academic interests and 70% of them go on to graduate programs. At the onset of a Marlboro education, students must pass a Clear Writing Program in which they must produce a 20-page portfolio in lieu of distribution requirements. Students at Marlboro need to have a strong academic desire in addition to a great capacity to engage in individual study. In fact, the average student age at the college is much higher than at most schools and as such many students have already worked and studied for years before arriving at Marlboro.

One member of my tour group ventured to ask about the athletic program at the school. Our tour guide proceeded to point to a group of students playing a game of tag football on the grass and said "That's our best team." In all seriousness, a visit to the Marlboro website yields no call outs for Athletics but rather the Outdoor Recreation Program. Students here do compete against other schools in soccer and fencing, but if you're looking for a pom pom squad, you won't find it here. In fact, the school mascot is The Fighting Dead Tree...I'll leave that for you to ponder.

Finally, about the students. My feeling from the tour guides and students I met during our visit is that Marlboro is a generally accepting place, especially for those with liberal views and alternative lifestyles. The admission acceptance rate is fairly high (about 2/3) and many home schooled and Waldorf kids find their niche here. There is a definite "hippie-ness" about the campus and as such you may be engulfed in the smell of incense in the dorms (as was our experience) and see a wide array of dreadlocks, piercings, and vegans.

One last feature that is unique to Marlboro are the monthly Town Hall meetings that are held on campus. Students and staff gather to make decisions about the goings-on at the school and in this sense, students have a real say in what happens. With 80% of the students residing on-campus, it's a true indicator that the school operates like a small village. Students wishing to be a part of a small but purposeful community will find their place at Marlboro.

The Greenwood School (Putney, VT)

2009-10-14T23:55:00.005-03:00

Greenwood is a boarding school in Southern Vermont dedicated to taking bright and talented boys with learning differences and learning disabilities (LD) such as dyslexia, attentional difficulties (ADD / ADHD), or executive functioning deficits and empowering them with the skills and strategies necessary to bridge the gap between their outstanding promise and present abilities. - from The Greenwood School Website

Traveling in Putney, VT in the fall just makes you want to go out and pick apples and carve pumpkins. While heading up the path leading to The Greenwood School I felt like we were heading to camp. The junior boarding school (ages 9-14) is nestled in a hilly, tree-filled section of the town and sits just a short skip away from The Putney School. The campus is pretty rustic and it's easy to see how the 45 boys at the school could find one adventure after another here. In fact, the boys suggested that the school add a mini skate park a few years ago and now it's a main hang out location on campus.

As soon as we arrived at Greenwood we headed out on a tour of the compact campus with student guides. I have to admit, this was my first tour given by a 9-year old (Will) and I have to say, he did a great job! My other guide, Harry, was in his 3rd and final year at the school. We spent much of the time talking about his excitement and fears about leaving Greenwood next year. As a student with ADHD and dyslexia, Greenwood was somewhat of a refuge for him over the last few years and he told me he'd learned how to work with his learning difference and apply those skills inside and outside the classroom. He told me that when he first arrived at Greenwood he would never have imagined being a tour guide and speaking with adults. You would never have known that this same kid was once shy and introverted!

During our tour I noticed an abundance of campus dogs at which point Will informed me that they have a 2:1 student to dog ratio at the school. In all seriousness, the school actually has that ratio of students to faculty, something particularly imperative for these students. Students at Greenwood take traditional academic courses but have additional work on topics such as social and speech pragmatics. The art and music component is woven into the daily schedules and their work displayed throughout campus is great.

A key academic piece at Greenwood is the Village Program. Each year students design and construct buildings that become part of the "Village" at the end of the year. In addition to the construction piece, students also learn how to obtain loans, plan the town center, and manage a budget for purchasing construction materials. At the end of the year an architect comes to campus and appraises each of the homes which are then "purchased" by the school. Both Will & Harry cited the Village Program as their favorite part of the year and the excitement we witnessed in the wood shop indicated the rest of the boys feel the same.

After Greenwood approximately 60% of the boys go on to traditional high schools, while others continue in other remedial programs. Students who have continued in mainstream schools have enrolled in places such as The Gow School, Kents Hill School, Dublin School, and Brewster Academy.

St. Johnsbury Academy (St. Johnsbury, VT)

2009-10-13T23:47:00.003-03:00

A few years ago I had the opportunity to do some student recruitment travel with a member of the St. Johnsbury admission staff. I remember hearing about the school and not really thinking all that much about it at the time. During my recent counselor tour in VT I was pleased that "St. J" was on our schedule so I could check it out for myself. After touring the campus and meeting members of the school community, I can easily say that this is a school that deserves to be noticed.

I was fortunate during my visit to have a personal tour with two great student guides, Hannah and Xan. The SJA campus is spread out and is a main staple in the town of St. Johnsbury. This was one of the larger boarding schools we visited during our VT tour with 1,200 students in grades 9 through post-graduate. That said, only about 20% of the student population are boarders and 70% of those are international.

There were several impressive physical features of the campus including a great black box theater and art gallery space. The arts are a popular feature at the school and the level of talent is impressive. A great stop on our tour was chatting with Mr. Golden, somewhat of a living legend in the Art Department at SJA. Every student I met on my visit said "You HAVE to meet Mr. Golden"...and I wasn't disappointed! Any visiting family interested in the arts should make sure to stop by his classroom and he'll show you why SJA artists have it good.

Aside from the arts, another area that caught my eye was the tech program...the automotive program in particular. Students get hands-on experience in the program and a student I met at dinner actually did some work on the Headmaster's car earlier that day...how's that for an endorsement? Speaking of dinner, we were treated to a fantastic three course meal prepared by students in the SJA Culinary Arts Program. The school actually runs its own restaurant in St. Johnsbury thus giving the students a unique hands-on opportunity to learn all aspects of the restaurant business. Check out the dessert they prepared for our group...almost too pretty to eat!

During dinner it was great to chat with current students and staff. A fun fact that I discovered is that 33% of the faculty and staff at SJA are alumni...a great indicator of the impact the school has made on its students...they come back to teach! A final note I must add is that during our dinner we had the opportunity to hear from SJA's Headmaster, Tom Lovett. Mr. Lovett spoke of his pride in SJA grads and told stories of three particular students. When he finished the story of the third student he told us that this one meant the most to him...this third student was his son. It is obvious that aside from being a past SJA parent, Mr. Lovett has a strong devotion to the school and truly believes in the opportunities that are provided to its students.

Lyndon Institute (Lyndon Center, VT)

2009-10-13T23:32:00.003-03:00

Visiting Vermont in the fall is fantastic and campus locations such as that of Lyndon Institute have a leg up when it comes to fall foliage. My visit to Lyndon was part of a counselor tour of VT schools and as such, we received a very nice greeting from the Headmaster, Rick Hilton. After Mr. Hilton's chat, we had the opportunity to hear from the academic department heads before heading out on our tour.

LI is unique in that, though it is a private institution, it actually serves as the high school for local students as no public school exists in this little town. The town actually pays the tuition for the local students to attend and as such the enrollment is fairly large with more than 600 students in grades 9-12. The boarding program was re-established in 2003 after many years of being only a day school. Because of its recent revival, the boarding program is fairly small with just under 100 students residing on campus. Of the 100 students, more than 80 are international and the remainder are primarily 5-day domestic boarders.

The academic component of LI is also fairly unique due to its student population. Students have the option of enrolling in courses ranging from Tech Ed to Advanced Placement. There is also a significant special education program available, something rarely found at traditional boarding schools. Also, students in the Tech Ed program have many offerings including welding, automotive instruction, and drafting.

The LI campus is fairly extensive with 30 buildings, including 6 residence halls. A new library is a nice feature of the academic building and a great arts building/gallery space (below) is impressive. While on our tour we were told that there are plans in the works for another new dorm to accommodate the growing boarding population. This is impressive as 75% of the current boarders already have single rooms!

The vibe at LI is pretty casual and the academic mix of students makes it feel much more like a suburban public school. The kids we met were great and were enthusiastic about their time at LI and their plans for the future. The list of schools mentioned by the seniors we met who will be applying to colleges included: the University of Vermont, Pratt Institute, George Washington University, and Boston University. In addition to college, LI students could follow in the path of alumna Ashley Wheeler...Miss Vermont 2008!

Worcester Academy (Worcester, MA)

2009-10-09T17:20:00.004-04:00

After spending the afternoon in Worcester, MA at Clark University, I decided to visit nearby Worcester Academy. WA is also set in the heart of Worcester, a truly urban environment, and not the most aesthetically appealing city. The campus, however, is very well-maintained and seems pretty secure with two security guards on the school grounds.

I arrived at the school during the after school activities and saw quite a few students bustling about. I was surprised, based on the amount of activity I saw happening after 4pm, to learn that only about 1/3 of the 660 students at WA are boarders (grades 9 to post-graduate). The boarding population is approximately 65% international and the school has quite a bit of diversity within this group as well. The school offers 5-day boarding for students which means the dorms on weekends are comprised of mainly international students.

Many buildings on campus seem to be historic, though some have had renovations recently. One building that has had some polishing on the outside and renewal on the inside is the Kingsley Laboratories, one of the main academic buildings. Another beautiful building is the Lewis J. Warner Memorial Theater. The Warner Theater (below) was a gift from the president of Warner Brothers Studios in memory of his late son, a WA grad.

Athletics has quite a longstanding tradition at WA with many grads going on to the NBA, NFL, and the Olympics. In fact, the WA website even has a section entitled "Powerhouse Tradition" within their Athletics tab. The school competes against some top-tier prep schools and has done well in recent years.

The well-known alumni list at WA doesn't stop on the playing field. How about adding Edward Davis Jones (co-founder of Dow Jones) and Charles Merrill (co-founder of Merrill Lynch) to that list? More recent grads have headed off to such places as Babson, Northwestern, Duke, McGill, and nearby Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Clark University (Worcester, MA)

2009-10-09T17:02:00.003-04:00

Clark is a major research university of small size, a place where a teenager can make things happen that he wants to happen, much as he can at a small liberal arts college. He will find a faculty concerned for his welfare, a faculty of the highest competence, and one that will set a high level of expectation, and care enough to see that he works to meet it.- Excerpt from "Colleges That Change Lives" by Loren Pope

Having previously worked at (and graduated from!) one of the other 40 "Colleges That Changes Lives", I was looking forward to visiting Clark University. Unfortunately, construction detours in Worcester forced me to arrive 10 minutes late and miss my group tour. I inquired about having an individual tour but it wasn't possible so I headed out on my own self-guided tour. Fortunately I was still able to attend an Admission Information Session at the end of day.

After wandering somewhat aimlessly around the urban campus of 2,200 I decided to stop in the beautiful student center for lunch (I recommend the General Tso Tofu Wrap!). It was great to see the Clark students bustling around between classes and I got a sense by the general attire of sweatpants and flip-flops that the campus has a laid-back vibe. The student population at Clark is very diverse with 66% hailing from states outside of MA as well as 74 other countries. The school has a strong desire to be socioeconomically diverse and offers financial assistance to 85% of its students.

The Clark campus is fairly compact and is located in the heart of Worcester. There are a few new buildings on campus including a Center for Bioscience and the student center. Because I had a self-guided tour I was unable to see the dorms, however, I did hear that 74% of students do live on campus.

Though Clark is a research university, all classes are actually taught by professors, not grad students. During the info session I was impressed by some of the unique majors the school offers such as Innovation & Entrepreneurship, International Development & Social Change, and Screen Studies. According to the Colleges That Change Lives site, Clark's Strassler Family Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies is the only center of its type in the world AND Clark offers the only Ph.D. in Holocaust History in the country.

Students who are seeking a place where they'll be able to jump right in to research in their field of interest (as an undergrad!) would find a great fit in Clark. However, the aesthetics of surrounding Worcester could deter someone not seeking an urban environment. Either way, it's worth a visit to the campus...just make sure you're on time for the tour!

Hampshire College (Amherst, MA)

2009-10-09T09:26:00.002-04:00

Today was my visit to the last of the Five Colleges, and the only member of the Colleges That Change Lives group. Hampshire College was founded in 1970 as "an experiment in alternative education." In a nutshell, students attending Hampshire receive narrative evaluations instead of grades. The 1,400 students attending Hampshire will also graduate without an actual GPA...definitely "alternative" when you think about the company the school keeps.

Instead of academic departments, Hampshire offers five "Schools of Thought" from which students develop their own concentration and design their own majors. In fact, no two Hampshire students have ever had the same exact program of study ...a true testament to the highly interdisciplinary nature of the school. In addition to the course offerings at Hampshire, approximately 25% of students will take a course at one of the other Five Colleges.

The campus itself is a little bland with most of the architecture being straight from the '70's. The Admission Office and barn are adorable but the rest of the buildings don't have much of a wow factor. One interesting fact is that nearly all restrooms on campus are coed. Those that aren't have a picture taped to the door letting the entering user know exactly what to expect inside.

The academic preparation at Hampshire speaks for itself and the long line of notable alumni, particularly in the areas of music and film, are a testament to the success of this non-traditional academic environment. However, one thing that sets Hampshire apart from its Five College counterparts is its social reputation. The fact that the school made Playboy's Top 25 Party Schools 2009 is an obvious indicator of what keeps the rural campus hopping on the weekends.

That being said, my tour guide did let us know that there are smoke free dorms that include "non-bumming zones"and that "some dorms are really druggie; other's aren't." I think Hampshire would be a great place for a very intellectual student with a creative flair and interest in unconventional wisdom. Students seem very independent so the 70's culture that seems to pervade the campus and its stereotypes can be taken or left...it's up to the student to decide.

Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA)

2009-10-08T20:56:00.001-04:00

Prior to visiting Mount Holyoke, one of the admission staff members was kind enough to connect me with a current Brazilian student on campus, Mayara. Upon my arrival at the Admission Office, Mayara was waiting to greet me…a great way to start the visit! I spoke with Mayara for a while about the things she loved about MHC and why someone should consider an all-women’s college. Mayara was the first person in her family to study in the U.S. and she had nothing but rave reviews about her MHC experience.

After chatting with Mayara I headed out on tour with Hannah, my tour guide, and a group of students from a Rhode Island college outreach program. Hannah, whose father is a professor at MHC, gave us a brief history of the college including the fact that it was actually the first of the “Seven Sisters”, the original all-women’s colleges. MHC has a laundry list of famous alumna including the poet Emily Dickinson and Elaine Tuttle Hansen, President of Bates College. The most famous (fictional) prospective student was none other than Frances "Baby" Houseman...and believe me, no one ever put her in the corner.

The student population is actually larger than I had expected with 2,200 students enrolled. The population is very diverse, particularly within the international student population. Currently 70 countries are represented on campus and 30% of the freshman class was international this year. The campus is very residential with about 97% living in the residence halls. As a side note: Hannah mentioned that milk and cookies are served in the dorms most evenings…no wonder so many girls choose to live on campus!

MHC offers very strong academic options and the language offerings were cited by students at all of the Five Colleges. Though intro classes can be as large as 100 students, the college has no graduate students teaching courses (note: most classes are much smaller than this). In addition, about 70% of MHC students take advantage of the Five College program by enrolling in a course at one of the other campuses.

The sciences are also a strong suit of the college and a beautiful LEED certified science complex, Kendade Hall, opened in 2004 on the campus. The school has a botanical garden and green house and a great campus tradition involves each new student receiving a plant to care for going forward. It wasn't clear how many of these plants actually survive their freshman year! There is also a Japanese garden on campus in which the students have a weekly tea service.

As for the students at MHC, they definitely lean toward being more conservative than some of the other all-women's colleges. Students seemed very polished and were dressed much nicer than most college students I've seen at 9am. However, I get the feeling that these girls do let their hair down every once in awhile and take advantage of the Five College connections for socializing.

Wilbraham & Monson Academy (Wilbraham, MA)

2009-10-08T17:08:00.002-04:00

One of the smartest decisions that Wilbraham & Monson Academy made in recent years was to trademark the school tag line: The Global School. In a time when so much of the world is seen from a global perspective, it is a school like this that will catch the eye of a prospective family. Add this to the forethought by Head of School Rodney LaBrecque to grab the Twitter screen name @HeadOfSchool and I think you can see a trend in how WMA works...they're one step ahead. As a matter of fact, they were the first boarding school to enroll students from China in 1847 and the school is the alma mater of the first Chinese grad from an American University (Yale-1854)...how's that for being ahead of the curve?

My visit to WMA was in the late afternoon so I had the chance to see students on the playing fields as well as practicing for the upcoming school play. It was great to see the interactions between the younger day students and older boarders at the impressive field house on campus. I have to also say that the kids, young to old, were some of the most polite I've encountered...holding doors, saying hello, and smiling as we passed. Though the school has just 300 students in the upper school, the campus seemed much more active than I imagined. It was also nice to see that there was no distinct difference between the day students and boarding population which is split 50/50.

A really neat tradition at WMA is senior bricks. Each year each senior gets the opportunity to design a brick that is then placed on a wall lining a part of the campus. It was great to see how the bricks have changed from chiseled, illegible, works of "art" to electronically embossed professional pieces.

One of most impressive things that WMA now offers is their Trading Center, funded by alum Mark Shenkman '61. Students interested in stock trading and life on Wall Street can take part in research and trading courses. This is a unique opportunity for students at WMA and the technology in the Center is outstanding.

WMA is perfect for a student who wants to be very active on campus and who is truly interested in gaining an international experience. Graduates of the school in recent years have gone on to study at these colleges and universities: Boston University, Brown, Ithaca College, Parsons, Mount Holyoke, SCAD, and Purdue.

Smith College (Northampton, MA)

2009-10-08T00:04:00.000-04:00

The next stop on my Five College tour (think Gilligan’s Island) was the other all-women’s college, Smith College. Smith has one of the best locations of the Five Colleges, in my opinion, as it’s located right in the heart of bustling Northampton, MA. Northampton is a true college town with a high per capita of coffee shops and bookstores per student.

When I arrived at the Admission Office I was surprised by the mix of folks milling about in the waiting area. Two students waiting for their tours discovered they were both from California and, while you would think they’d have a lot in common, were as different as night and day. One was dressed in her Sunday best while the other, clearly an artistic soul, wore striped tights and a red and black tutu-style dress. The same was true for the Admission folks I encountered - ranging from prim to pierced…clearly a sign of the diversity at Smith.

My tour guide, Natalie, was from Ohio (woo hoo!) and was majoring in Sociology. She told me and my tour mate with the tutu dress that she wasn't thrilled with Smith as an option at first because it was an all-women’s school. However, she said her experience has been great, especially being able to find strong, intelligent women whom have served as her role models.

The Smith campus is unique in that it is actually an arboretum and was designed by the same person who designed Central Park in NYC. There is also a boathouse on campus at which any of the 2,600 students can borrow kayaks or canoes… a popular activity in warmer weather. The academic buildings include a beautiful new LEED certified science building, Ford Hall, as well as a new art center. The campus is a nice mixture of modern and historic buildings that blend nicely with each other.

The campus is highly residential with 90% of students residing on campus. All first-year students are required to live in one of the home-like dorms, and most upper class students choose to stay on campus. The students actually eat their meals in their dorms…a unique feature of the school. The dorms each have their own vibe and many are themed by interests and preference, similar to those at Mount Holyoke.

The academic preparation at Smith is very strong and many students head to graduate school after leaving the college. Smith is now an SAT optional school but this will certainly not affect the academic strength of the students which it attracts. A neat academic fact is that Smith was the first women’s college to graduate a class of female engineering students!

Smith grads tend to range from artists, to poets, to activists. Its impressive list of alumnae includes activists Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan; former First Ladies Barbara Bush and Nancy Reagan; poet Sylvia Plath; and chef extraordinaire Julia Child.

The MacDuffie School (Springfield, MA)

2009-10-07T22:35:00.005-04:00

I experienced a first today on my visit to The MacDuffie School...the school lost power due to high winds so it was my first "blackout tour!" While touring the main academic building (using a flashlight!) I was greeted by the pleasant sounds of a student strumming a guitar in the hallway sans any lights, and others trying to do homework by the glow of the emergency lights.

The MacDuffie School is little known by my colleagues in the educational counseling world as it has grown from a day school with a small home-stay-style program for international students, to a school of 200 with about 25% boarding. Though the school serves grades 6-12, boarding is only available to those in grades 9-12. Currently, all but one of the approximately 50 boarders are international.

The MacDuffie campus, though small, is very quaint. Boarding students live in old homes that, though dated, are well-maintained and comfortable. The students I met were genuinely happy with their experiences at MacDuffie and seemed like a close knit group. Because of the small number of boarders, the school feels much more like a day school and boarders are encouraged (but not required) to spend time off-campus with their day student peers on weekends. However, the surrounding area of Springfield is somewhat depressed and the green, manicured campus actually seems a bit out of place in comparison.

The academic rigor at MacDuffie is high and graduates head to primarily New England institutions upon graduation (including Boston University, Hampshire, and Harvard). Students seeking a very small, culturally diverse school would find a nice fit at MacDuffie. Amenities don't abound here but the size and friendly staff can make the right student feel at home.

Amherst College (Amherst, MA)

2009-10-07T22:26:00.006-04:00

The second stop on my tour of the Five Colleges was Amherst College, just five minutes from the UMASS campus. The historic campus setting in the center of Amherst makes the school feel as if it’s the entire town. The campus bookstore is even located in the main strip of stores in the city center.

Though the student population is 1,700, the campus actually feels much more intimate. The beautiful freshman dorms surround a large green space that includes Adirondack chairs strategically placed for enjoying the beautiful mountain views. With only one dining hall on campus, students know each other well and interact daily. The campus is compact and filled with oak trees…in fact, one member of my tour group was hit on the head several times by falling acorns!

The school has several points worth boasting about including the library and natural history museum. The library was named for a longtime former faculty member: the poet Robert Frost. The natural history museum, neat in of itself, holds the world’s largest collection of dinosaur tracks…Jurassic Park enthusiasts rejoice!

Academically, Amherst does not have any distribution requirements though students take a wide range of courses outside their academic concentration. The school offers 30 majors but no minors as the administration feels that if students decide to pursue an academic interest, they should do it to the full extent. Most classes at Amherst are approximately 17 students though some can reach to the 150 range.

My tour guide, Suzannah, raved about the social scene at Amherst. A student from NY, Suzannah doesn't head home often so she’s gotten very involved in campus activities. New release movies are shown on campus (they have their own mini-theater) twice per week. Another unique program is TYPO: Take Your Professor Out. This program provides students with an allotted amount of money with which they can use to take a professor of their choice out to dinner...a great indicator of how the students feel about their faculty members!

The students I met ranged from laid back, flip-flops and jeans to J. Crew preppy. My feeling is that the students are much more academic and a bit more polished than those at UMASS. That being said, the welcoming, diverse environment on campus would suit a student from most any walk of life.

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

2009-10-07T22:19:00.007-04:00

Today was the first day of my tour of the “Five Colleges” in Massachusetts. The Five Colleges are a consortium including UMASS-Amherst, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College, and Hampshire College. Students enrolling at any of the Five Colleges can take courses at any of the others and a handy free inter-campus bus system provides their transportation back and forth.

The first stop on my tour was the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the only state university in the consortium (75% of students are from MA), and the largest school with approximately 20,000 students. Due to the size of the student body, classes at UMASS range from one student up to 500. The academic offerings are very broad which is certainly a draw for other Five College students who want to attend a small college socially, but are looking for more breadth in the curriculum that a large university offers.

I had the opportunity to meet with Amanda, a grad student who also has a BA from UMASS. Amanda is studying Audiology and cited her strong undergrad prep as the reason why she stayed for grad school. My tour guide, Mike, was what he referred to as a “Super Senior”, a student who has not graduated after completing their first four years of study (fairly common here). To be honest, I can’t remember what Mike was studying as he was a double major and had 2 minors!

The UMASS location is great as it’s only two hours by bus from Boston, and three from New York. Both Mike & Amanda cited many friends that had taken the opportunity to find internships in both of these cities, as well as in the local Amherst community.

Because all first and second year students are required to live on campus, the place is pretty bustling. There are 45 dorms on campus and the local Amherst community is loaded with student-friendly stores and restaurants. Many of the dorms are themed by interest including such things as a gaming dorm, several political activism dorms, and culturally-themed dorms.

As for the campus vibe, the buildings are a mix between historic and modern. A new state-of-the-art wellness center is also scheduled to open this month on campus. The common thread that I noticed amongst the student population, at least the females, were Wellies (trendy rain boots for those not in-the-know). This, combined with the sweatshirt-clad males, makes me believe that UMASS students are laid back, friendly kids who value comfort in their academic settings. As for academic standards, UMASS accepts 60% of their applicants and most admitted students are in the 3.6 GPA/1170(M &V) range.

Miss Hall's School (Pittsfield, MA)

2009-10-06T22:12:00.001-04:00

"This is about love that doesn't care about deodorant." - Miss Hall's student reflecting on a Shakespearean sonnet during my October 6th English class visit.

Having worked previously at an all-girls boarding school, I was very excited to spend time visiting Miss Hall's School. The school was founded as, and has remained, an all-girls institution for over 100 years. Though small in size with just 175 students in grades 9-12, the highly residential nature of the school (75% board) made it feel very much like a large family.

The campus is small and all but the senior students live in the upstairs of the main academic building. A few beautiful recent additions to the campus include a new library and an art building. The art building includes a nice gallery space, a ceramics studio and a great studio space with a lot of natural light.

Athletics are an integral part of the Miss Hall's education and students are required to participate in a fall sport each year. Unfortunately, the current gym/fitness center are fairly outdated and could use a face-lift. The current Athletic Director is very dynamic and it was obvious in speaking with the students that she has made a very positive impact on the girls.

My tour guide spoke in depth (and enthusiastically) with us about a unique offering at the school called the Horizons Program. Horizons is essentially an internship program that has been integrated into the curriculum at the school. Students in grades 10-12 participate in experiential learning off-site each Thursday at places such as the Humane Society, local museums, schools, law offices and hospitals. This is a great experience for high school students and provides an opportunity for the girls to test the waters in a job field before heading off to college.

Students at Miss Hall's seem very unpretentious and relaxed. There is no uniform in place so the girls have some freedom, within reason, as far as their attire is concerned. The students I met were very down-to-earth and appreciated the environment that a single-gender environment had provided them, particularly in the area of leadership opportunities.

Tradition is a big deal at Miss Hall's...as is the case at many prep schools. Each year the seniors have a ring ceremony at which they receive their class ring. In addition to the ring, they are each given a long ribbon which they then cut into pieces to distribute to the students and staff that have made an impact on their lives at Miss Hall's. I imagine there are quite a bit of waterworks at this event each year.

Miss Hall's grads in 2009 received admission to places such as Boston University, Smith, Dartmouth, Cornell, SCAD, McGill University, and Yale.

Buxton School (Williamstown, MA)

2009-10-06T21:50:00.002-04:00

It's a slight understatement to say that Buxton School is unique. The school's 90 students receive no letter grades, have no class rank, and have "customs" instead of rules. Buxton is definitely one of the most progressive schools I've visited thus far and the students were some of the most interesting. The student population is about 90% boarding and hails from around the world.

My tourguides Alex and Miles, both senior students from NY, couldn't have been more different from each other in appearance and interests. It wasn't until I asked them why they chose Buxton that their similarities appeared. Both said that the size of the school was great, but not the most important factor for them. They also said they liked the location with views of the Berkshires and proximity to Williams College but, again, this wasn't the main draw. Finally, as we walked outside the dining/student center did the clouds part and the answer became apparent: their passion for 4-square. You read that right...Buxton kids have a fierce competitive spirit when it comes to this beloved past time.

Joking aside, Buxton kids are free thinkers and for such a small community, extremely aware of the world around them. The school has a work program twice a week in which the students basically maintain the campus (shifting wood, cooking, cleaning, and even making ceramic mugs for use in the dining room). The Buxton Community isn't one of excess...the buildings are simple, but quaint, and the grounds have a camp-like feel. The photography lab and art studios are hidden away in the basement of a house that also serves as the campus library...and guess what...the kids like it that way. Also, Friday night dinners are made up of leftovers from the weeks meals...talk about sustainability in action!

The dance program is popular with most students and features both African and Balinese styles. The students also have an opportunity each year to travel to Bali to learn this art form from the experts. In addition to the Bali opportunity, the entire school takes a trip each year...a tradition that hails from the beginnings of the school. This year the school is hoping to head to Nicaragua.

Though Buxton doesn't offer honors or AP courses, the list of schools to which its grads matriculate is impressive: Amherst, Columbia, Oberlin, Reed, and countless others. Buxton grads leave with a slightly different outlook on learning...one in which they are active participants. These kids question what their books tell them and then go out and rewrite them.

Berkshire School (Sheffield, MA)

2009-10-05T23:06:00.004-04:00

The folks at Berkshire School certainly have one thing on their side: their location. When I arrived on the school's campus in western MA today I was taken by the spectacular view. The campus is set at the base of the Berkshire mountains and the fall foliage is beautiful.

Aside from the breathtaking views, Berkshire has much more to offer its 325 students (most of whom I assume take the views for granted after a while!). The school has seen some renovations and building projects over the last few years including renovated classroom spaces and an impressive recreation complex featuring 2 indoor hockey rinks (one of the school's flagship sports).

In addition to the physical improvements to classrooms, the school has made great strides in bringing technology into the classroom with nearly all rooms now equipped with Smart Boards. A demo provided by a math department faculty member demonstrated the ways the students and staff have become integrated using programs such as Moodle.

The academic rigor at Berkshire is high (and admission is competitive) though support exists (for an extra fee) for students with documented learning needs (ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia). The only real academic weakness at this point is the area of fine arts. However, in speaking with the Head of School, plans are in the works for improving this dimension including plans for a new art facility.

As nearly 90% of students board at the school, the campus remains buzzing after the academic day ends. Students at Berkshire are required to participate in athletics two out of the three seasons during the school year and have options such as soccer, hockey, and lacrosse. In addition to the new indoor facilities, the outdoor fields and track are impressive.

Signs of the school's history as an all-male institution can still be felt on campus, though efforts are being made to create a gender balance in enrollment. Male students still wear blazers and ties while the girls have many more options for dress (though still business-casual). If a student is seeking a traditional New England, Vineyard Vines-esque environment, Berkshire is the place.

Bard College at Simon's Rock (Great Barrington, MA)

2009-10-05T21:45:00.005-04:00

I first became aware of Bard College at Simon's Rock (or just "Simon's Rock", as the students call it) by its listing in the book Cool Colleges by Donald Asher. After spending the morning there today I have no questions about why Asher would include such a school in this book. Simon's Rock is like no other college in the country in that it's geared towards kids who haven't graduated from high school. That's right...no diploma necessary! Students apply to the college after the 10th or 11th grade and have the option of either completing an AA or a BA in one of their 43 programs.

While the majority of the 425 students transfer to a 4-year program after their second year, I did meet several students during my visit who decided to stay and complete their BA degree. Those who transfer head to a motley mix of schools including Cornell, Brown, Oberlin, University of Chicago, Stanford, and their namesake school, Bard.

My campus guide, Iris, chose Simon's Rock because she found her high school classes boring and her peers unmotivated. She wanted to be surrounded by other students who were actually interested in learning and valued more than just the social scene. This pretty much sums up the "why" for most of the students I met at Simon's Rock today. These students aren't necessarily the "Doogie Howser's" of the world, but they are high achievers. As for the campus vibe, it feels very laid back and granola-crunchy liberal. Students are on a first-name basis with their professors and the label of "friends" was used liberally by the students I met in describing the faculty.

The physical feel of the campus is like a mix between traditional New England and summer camp. A fairly new Science Center features some neat classroom and common spaces and an impressive dance studio graces the art space. The library is small, though the students have ample electronic resources and book-sharing services. Two areas that were noticeably weaker were technology in the classroom and music performance offerings. One student cellist mentioned that he was able to have an outside instructor come to campus so this wasn't a glaring area of concern for him.

Overall, Simon's Rock is great option for the truly individual high school sophomore or junior (or a home schooled student!) who is ready to start reading the Great Books and is independent enough to take on all that college life brings. It's also great for students who ride a unicycle (they have a club!) and have a fondness for llamas (the school mascot!).

A Long Strange Trip to Hogwarts: Junior Boarding Schools 101

2009-09-25T16:28:00.007-04:00

Jane Fonda. Michael Douglas. Georgia O’Keefe. The Grateful Dead. Holden Caulfield. Harry Potter. Believe it or not, you don’t need Kevin Bacon to connect this motley mix of well-known characters. Every person on this list shares a unique trait with all of the others: each one attended a boarding school. Though some are fictional and others have family traditions of attendance, all have shared experiences, though generations apart.

One type of boarding experience that is lesser known, but a wonderful option for many students, is a junior boarding school (JBS) program. These programs are similar to traditional high school boarding programs but are geared toward students in the junior high and middle school years. Many studies have shown that the middle school years are a critical time in the development of adolescents. In fact, the New York Times ran a series in 2007 focusing on middle school education entitled “The Critical Years”, published on the tails of a 2005 TIME feature entitled “Is Middle School Bad for Kids?”…how’s that for getting a parents attention?

It’s easy to see why so much emphasis is being put on this time in a child’s life. A quick Google search of the phrase “middle school education” uncovers link after link of discussions on bullying, online safety, body image and much more. It’s imperative for parents to consider this when deciding what type of peer groups and social/academic settings in which children should be immersed at this time in their lives. This is why many families make the decision to consider a JBS program.

The reasons for selecting a JBS program vary from family to family. There are a variety of niche offerings for students at this level from single-gender environments to English as a Second Language programs to those for students with learning differences. The common theme is that each JBS offers a community of faculty and staff members that are experts in working with this specific age level of students and the students genuinely want to take advantage of this experience.

“Middle school students, while they need structure, also want a sense of independence”, says James Ramsdell, Director of Admission at The Fay School. “They want to feel like they are part of the decision making process.”

JBS programs generally begin in the fifth or sixth grade though some, such as The Bement School, begin as early as the third grade. Most students will stay through middle school and move on to a secondary school beginning in the 10^th grade.

At schools such as Indian Mountain School, students follow a rigorous curriculum that includes academic options not traditionally available at the middle school level such as character education and method acting. Admission Director Mimi Babcock points out that the Arts are an integral component of a JBS program. “We do not squeeze the arts in ...they are a large part of each child's world,” she says. “More than 160 kids here play at least one instrument!”

Jennifer Russell, Admission Director at Linden Hill believes independence and accountability are traits garnered by students who have attended a JBS.

“Junior boarding schools provide an alternative program in line with the mantra that the whole child be addressed through academics, arts, athletics, sciences, and that weaknesses be attended and strengths bolstered,” says Russell. “There is a measure of independence and accountability for one’s self that is acquired at a junior boarding school which prepares students for secondary school.”

Making the decision to consider a junior boarding school for your child is not easy. However, there are several resources that can help you discover what benefits may exist at a JBS and whether your child would have benefit from the experience. The Junior Boarding School Association offers a directory of schools, as well as links to education resources. The Association of Boarding Schools offers a much larger directory consisting of both junior and traditional high school boarding programs.

Florida Southern College (Lakeland, FL)

2009-03-24T12:21:00.002-04:00

Despite being not very easy to find, Florida Southern College is a great little school that is worth a look if you are visiting schools in the greater Tampa area. The 100-acre waterfront campus is seeing a period of face lifts with several construction projects happening this year. The campus is well-known for its collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings (the most in any single location), though the school interestingly enough doesn't offer an Architecture program. Academic highlights at FSC include strong Business and Nursing programs. However, the school's southern location lends itself well to unique majors in Horticulture Science, Recreational Turfgrass Management, and my favorite, Citrus.

While touring FSC my tourguides, Lexi & Brittany, shared many great fun facts about the school. According to the girls, the college President is easily recognizable on campus as she wears red, (the school color) every day. Talk about school spirit! Also, in terms of social outlets for students on this dry campus, the 70-plus clubs and DII sports include programs such as water skiing and an intramural Rock, Paper, Scissors Club. Now that's a club I haven't encountered at any other school!

The FSC campus and buildings, though very compact, have much to offer. All freshman are required to live on campus (and can have cars!) and many stay in the dorms all four years. The dorms offer rooms for one to four students and, though a little outdated, are cozy. The dining facilities are part of the student union and seem recently updated.

A beautiful Hindu meditation garden an temple (the school is actually Methodist) is a focal point of the campus and the Olympic size outdoor pool is a definite social gathering location for students. A fun fact is that part of the film "Billy Madison" with Adam Sandler was actually filmed on the FSC campus.