February 17, 2018
As Winter Break approaches, we hope that you are looking forward to rest, recreation, and time with loved ones. If you have any urgent items on your college admission to-do list that need our attention, please see us in the coming week. News and Views will resume publication on March 10.
A Word About Alumni Interviewers
Although using local alumni as interviewers is not unusual, especially for the most selective colleges on the East Coast, and though such interviews are almost always perfectly pleasant experiences, our colleagues at other independent schools have made us aware of some recent experiences that occasion our offering some guidelines you should adhere to.
First, remember that you are free to take a relative or a friend with you. The interview is, of course, between you and the interviewer, but there is no reason that a companion cannot wait nearby.
Second, if the interviewer requests that you meet off-campus, where no Catalina personnel are present, the venue should be reasonably public. Interviews should not take place at the interviewer's home or office. If the interviewer is reluctant to meet this expectation, please decline to meet, let us know immediately, and we will address the situation with the college in question.
Finally, if the interviewer behaves in any way that seems inappropriate--for instance by flirting, becoming emotional, using offensive language, or consuming alcohol during the interview--you should politely excuse yourself from the interview at once and report the incident to us. Again, we will promptly address the incident with the college in question.
The bottom line is this: colleges have every right to scrutinize your preparedness for higher education, but none of them has a right to make you feel the least bit unsafe in an interview, and you can count us to ensure that they correct course when they fail to play by the rules.
Juniors: Thoughts on Course Selection
As you look to next year, our friends at Collegewise offer some constructive insights about how to approach choosing courses. How many AP classes should you to take? Should you enroll in a fourth year of language? Can you boost your GPA by taking a community college class (a strategy known as "sandwich-making" in college admissions, and the answer is that you cannot)? Read on for the inside view.
1. Take the most rigorous schedule your academic abilities can handle.
Remember, it is always better to get a B in a harder class than it is to get an A in an easier class. It is especially important to take the most rigorous courses in the subjects that you find the most interesting and for which you have the most innate ability. You do, however, really want to avoid getting a C or below. So challenge, but do not overextend, yourself.
2. If you find a subject that fascinates you, get more involved in it.
If you absolutely love your U.S. History class, this is the perfect opportunity to show love of learning. So, dive in. Do additional reading on the subject. Take a history course over the summer at a local college (for the sake of learning, not your GPA). Set aside a Sunday to watch the PBS Civil War special that you recorded. Make a point to visit Gettysburg. Colleges appreciate a student who has shown an interest in learning beyond just getting good grades.
3. Practice the art of becoming involved in your classes.
Contribute to class discussions, ask questions, and don't be afraid to talk to your teacher before or after class. Classes are always more enjoyable when you're involved, and your teachers will appreciate that you do more than just sit there in class. This kind of engaged participation will really pay off when colleges ask you to get letters of recommendation from your teachers.
4. Students, not parents, should initiate all discussions with teachers and counselors.
It's important to demonstrate that you, not your parents, are taking responsibility for your academic success. If you are having trouble in a class, go speak with the teacher. If you want to know what you'll have to do to get into AP Biology next year, go see your advisor. Remember how important initiative is in the college admissions process. Here's your opportunity to show a great deal of it.
5. Never be afraid to ask for help.
Many of the Collegewise students who earn the best grades are the also ones who aren't afraid to admit when they just don't get it. There's no shame in asking for some help. So, if you didn't understand a single thing in your trigonometry class today, ask the teacher for help. If you studied really hard and still did poorly on your chemistry test, meet with your teacher and try to find out where you went wrong. And if you're having trouble in a number of your classes and think you might need to make some changes, talk with your counselor and get her advice. By all means, take the sandwich-making class to learn one of life's finest crafts (we like roast beef and cheddar on rye, by the way). But when it comes to getting into college, the students who work hard, like to learn, and are willing to ask for a little extra help when they need it are the ones who impress teachers, counselors, and colleges alike.
The Importance of Staying Healthy and Happy
Blogger Kevin McMullin calls our attention to The New York Times' recent report that the most popular class at Yale is "Psyc 157, Psychology and the Good Life." This semester, 1200 students, more than one quarter of Yale's undergraduate population, were enrolled in the class, which promises to teach students how to lead happier, more satisfying lives.
Why is the class so popular? Here's the instructor's explanation:
"Yale students are interested in the class because, in high school, they had to deprioritize their happiness to gain admission to the school, adopting harmful life habits that have led to . . . 'the mental health crises we're seeing at places like Yale.' A 2013 report by the Yale College Council found that more than half of undergraduates sought mental health care from the university during their time there."
As McMullin rightly observes, if high school students are sacrificing their health and happiness to gain admission to any school that ultimately accepts fewer than 10 of every 100 students who apply, it begs the question, is the sacrifice worth it?
Yellow Brick Road Scholarship
The Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shop has thousands of dollars to give away this year to Monterey County graduating seniors who meet the qualifying criteria. The final date on which applications will be accepted is April 16 at midnight. Students are encouraged to apply long before the deadline to allow enough time for gathering necessary documents. The Selection Committee meets on April 23rd and will have the list of recipients within the following week. For more information, see here.
Kiwanis Club Scholarship
The Kiwanis Club offers a four-year college scholarship to a deserving Monterey resident. The main criteria are residency, performance in high school, and financial need. Applications must be accompanied by a transcript emailed from the student's high school, a financial form from the student's parents, and a Secondary School Report from the student's college counselor. Applications may also include two references. All forms will be shared with the club's Scholarship Committee but will otherwise remain confidential. For more details, see here.
Japanese American Citizens League Scholarship
The Salinas Valley JACL is offering scholarship awards to graduating high school seniors who reside in the Salinas Valley. Applicants should be be planning to attend a trade school or college full-time at the undergraduate level in the fall of 2018.
All applicants are required to be members of the Salinas Valley JACL and may apply for membership at the time of application. To apply for membership, go to www.jacl.org and select the youth membership category of the Salinas JACL.
Award decisions will be based on academic achievement, participation in school and community activities, or demonstrated excellence in sports or the creative arts. For more information, see here.
Hellenic Cultural Institute Scholarship
Spotlight on University of the West of Scotland
How to Save for College During Market Downturns
New Books: The Self-Driven Child
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