College Counseling December Newsletters

Link: Newsletter for Seniors

Topics include:

*Remaining Transcript Requests – due now!

*College Decision News – keep us posted!

*ED/EA Back-up Plan

*Early Notification Etiquette – be considerate of your classmates’ feelings.

*College missing documents? – come see us.

Link: Newsletter for Juniors

Topics include:

*Scheduling a College Counseling Family Meeting

*Family Connection

*College Admissions Testing

*College Night for Parents of Juniors, Part II

*Counselor Preference



College Spotlight: United States Naval Academy (visiting 11/30)

Link: USNA

 Mission

The Naval Academy has a unique clarity of purpose, expressed in our official mission:

"To develop midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government."

This puts everyone-faculty, staff and midshipmen-on the same wavelength. It also encourages a sense of spirit and pride found at few other schools.

Program

The moral, mental and physical elements of our program are equally important, all contributing to the qualities of an outstanding naval officer.

Academics

Every midshipman's academic program begins with a core curriculum that includes courses in engineering, science, mathematics, humanities and social science. This is designed to give you a broad-based education that will qualify you for practically any career field in the Navy or Marine Corps. At the same time, our majors program gives you the opportunity to develop a particular area of academic interest. For especially capable and highly motivated students, we offer challenging honors programs and opportunities to start work on postgraduate degrees while still at the Academy.

Professional and leadership training

We don't just tell you about life in the Navy and Marine Corps. After four years at the Naval Academy, the life and customs of the naval service become second nature. First, you learn to take orders from practically everyone, but before long, you acquire the responsibility for making decisions that can affect hundreds of other midshipmen. Your professional classroom studies are backed by many hours of practical experience in leadership and naval operations, including assignments with Navy and Marine Corps units during summer months.

Moral education

Moral and ethical development is a fundamental element of all aspects of the Naval Academy experience. As future officers in the Navy or Marine Corps, midshipmen will someday be responsible for the priceless lives of many men and women and multi-million dollar equipment. From Plebe Summer through graduation, the Naval Academy's Character Development Program is a four-year integrated continuum that focuses on the attributes of integrity, honor, and mutual respect. One of the goals of this program is to develop midshipmen who possess a clearer sense of their own moral beliefs and the ability to articulate them. Honor is emphasized through the Honor Concept of the Brigade of Midshipmen-a system which was originally formulated in 1951 and states "Midshipmen are persons of integrity, they stand for that which is right." These Naval Academy "words to live by" are based on the moral values of respect for human dignity, respect for honesty and respect for the property of others. Brigade Honor Committees composed of elected upperclass midshipmen are responsible for education and training in the Honor Concept. Midshipmen found in violation of the Honor Concept by their peers may be separated from the Naval Academy.

Physical training

We teach the importance of being physically fit and prepared for stress because the duties of Navy and Marine Corps officers often require long, strenuous hours in difficult situations. The physical requirements of Plebe Summer training, four years of physical education and year-round athletics also develop pride, teamwork and leadership.

Summer Seminar

The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is a fast-paced, six-day experience for high achievers who have completed their junior year in high school. Summer Seminar teaches you about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation's leaders.  If you think that you may be interested in pursuing an appointment to one of the nation's service academies and serving your country as an officer, you should seriously consider attending the Naval Academy's Summer Seminar. Mark your calendar! The 2012 Summer Seminar Application will open February 1st.

**Severn Students (sophomores & juniors) interested in a service academy should express that interest to the Severn College Counseling office as early as possible.

College Spotlight: United States Air Force Academy

(Cadet Craig Phelan, Severn '09, visiting 11/28)

Link: USAFA Admissions

In our rapidly changing world, the high-tech United States Air Force rules the skies. In order to continue protecting our country and its interests, we need highly motivated, top-notch people. If you've got what it takes to be a leader in the Air Force of the 21st Century, we offer you an outstanding opportunity — and education at the Air Force Academy.

As an Air Force Academy cadet, you'll spend four years at one of the best schools in the country with all your tuition, fees, and room and board paid for. You'll be continually challenged academically and personally. Upon graduation, you'll receive a bachelor of science degree and a commission as an Air Force second lieutenant.

By knowing the requirements and recommendations to receive a potential appointment to the Academy, you can help prepare your students during high school.

Requirements

The applicant must be:

• A United States citizen (United States citizenship must be finalized prior to entering the Academy.)
• Unmarried with no dependents (Note: Dependents include being married, mother/father by having a birth child, step child, or adopted child prior to graduation, regardless of whether or not you provide financial support for said dependent. Further, if such marriage or paternity/maternity were to occur but not be known to Air Force authorities until after graduation, you may be subject to disciplinary or administrative action as an officer.)
• Of good moral character
• At least 17, but not past your 23rd birthday by July 1 of the year entering (The age requirement is public law and cannot be waived.)

Recommendations

The following high school courses will help make the applicant more competitive:

• Four years of English
• Four years of college-prep math
• Four years of lab science
• Three years of social studies
• Two years of a foreign language
• One year of computer study

For questions or to find out more about the Air Force Academy's admissions process, please call 1-800-443-9266. 

**Students (sophomore or junior) interested in a service academy should express that interest to the College Counseling office as early as possible.

Early Action and Early Decision follow up game plan

While nothing would make us happier than if you are admitted Early Action or Early Decision to your favorite college, we also need to have a backup plan!  We ask that you submit your transcript requests for the rest of your colleges by December 1^st.  Then we can send your transcripts, counselor forms and recommendations before we leave for the winter break.  You do not have to apply until you are ready, but this way we can rest assured that your materials will arrive by those January deadlines. 

You are under no obligation to apply to those colleges, even if we’ve sent your materials.  This is particularly true with Common Application colleges; the materials we send will not even be downloaded until your application arrives.

Remember that to request a transcript, you must add it to your “applying to” list in Family Connection and click “transcript requests.”  Also, if you are applying to a Common Application college, you must add that college to your list on www.commonapp.org.

Please see your counselor with any questions.  We wish you the best of luck at those Early Action/Early Decision colleges.  Let us know the results!   

New feature added: USEFUL LINKS

Check out the newest feature added to An Admiral's Perspective: USEFUL LINKS. In the column to the right (under the Index by Subject), we have added useful and interesting links. This will be an ever expanding list as we come across links that we think you will find helpful or that you suggest that we add. The links include both websites that you are certainly familiar with (like Family Connection and the College Board) as well as other College Admissions related blogs. Please let us know if you have favorite go-to websites or blogs to share with our readers!

College Spotlight--Penn State University (visiting 11/11)

Link: Penn State Univ

The largest campus in the Penn State system, University Park is home to a diverse population of about 35,000 undergraduate students. Penn State University Park students enjoy passing iconic buildings like Old Main daily, while also taking advantage of amenities in new facilities like the Information Sciences and Technology Building or the Life Sciences Building.


Penn State University Park is located in the small city of State College, a quintessential college town with its small eateries and quirky shops that line the street marking the border between downtown and campus. Nestled near the base of Mount Nittany, the surrounding area of central Pennsylvania is known as “Happy Valley.”

Freshmen at University Park are guaranteed on-campus housing, and, in subsequent years, offered housing through an easily managed lottery system. Approximately 13,000 students live on campus. Six residence hall areas offer traditional, dormitory-style living. On-campus housing is guaranteed and mandatory for first-year students.

The diverse community hosts students from all fifty states and more than one hundred countries, with a typical annual student population of more than 40,000.

The campus houses eleven of the University’s undergraduate colleges, the Graduate School, Schreyer Honors College, and a campus of Penn State Dickinson School of Law. It is the base for the University Libraries, which serve all the campuses in the Commonwealth.

The Nittany Lions football team plays at Beaver Stadium on the campus and other Big Ten sporting events are held in the playing fields and in the Bryce Jordan Center, a multipurpose arena for University ceremonies such as commencement, sporting events, and entertainment.

Penn State University Park Virtual Tour

College Spotlight--Franklin & Marshall College (visiting 11/8)

Link: Franklin & Marshall College

Franklin & Marshall was established in 1787 with a gift of 200 British pounds from Benjamin Franklin, and is located in historic Lancaster, a dynamic city with a thriving arts scene.
The College enrolls 2,200 students. The average class size is 19 students, and the faculty-to-student ratio is 10:1. Our students receive more than $500,000 in research grants every year.

At Franklin & Marshall, we emphasize learning by doing, not just by listening and watching.

All students are lifelong members of a College House, five distinct hubs of academic, extracurricular and social engagement in a residential setting. Guided by faculty dons and administrative prefects, students govern their houses, develop leadership skills, and create their own social and intellectual programs.

Students may join one or more of the College’s 76 clubs and organizations, ranging from anime to Ultimate Frisbee. More than three-quarters of students participate in community service, and a quarter of students belong to one of 10 Greek organizations.

Our scholar-athletes compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. The College fields 27 athletic teams—13 for men and 14 for women.

Students may study abroad in any of 200 locations around the world. Each year, one-third of our students goes abroad or enrolls in a travel course. On campus, 87 percent of students have studied at least one of the 11 foreign languages we offer.

Our students seek to learn by doing, not by listening and watching. They embrace the opportunity to work side by side or in small groups with faculty members on research projects that have real-world applications. And when given the choice of being a scholar, an athlete, an artist, a leader or a volunteer, they are most apt to choose “all of the above.”

This is who we are.

College Spotlight--Johns Hopkins University (visiting 11/4)

Link: Johns Hopkins University



The Johns Hopkins University opened in 1876, with the inauguration of its first president, Daniel Coit Gilman. "What are we aiming at?" Gilman asked in his installation address. "The encouragement of research ... and the advancement of individual scholars, who by their excellence will advance the sciences they pursue, and the society where they dwell." The mission laid out by Gilman remains the university's mission today, summed up in a simple but powerful restatement of Gilman's own words: "Knowledge for the world." What Gilman created was a research university, dedicated to advancing both students' knowledge and the state of human knowledge through research and scholarship. Gilman believed that teaching and research are interdependent, that success in one depends on success in the other. A modern university, he believed, must do both well. The realization of Gilman's philosophy at Johns Hopkins, and at other institutions that later attracted Johns Hopkins-trained scholars, revolutionized higher education in America, leading to the research university system as it exists today.

After more than 130 years, Johns Hopkins remains a world leader in both teaching and research. Eminent professors mentor top students in the arts and music, the humanities, the social and natural sciences, engineering, international studies, education, business and the health professions. Those same faculty members, and their research colleagues at the university's Applied Physics Laboratory, have each year since 1979 won Johns Hopkins more federal research and development funding than any other university.
The university has nine academic divisions and campuses throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Education and the Carey Business School are based at the Homewood campus in northern Baltimore. The schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing share a campus in east Baltimore with The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Peabody Institute, a leading professional school of music, is located on Mount Vernon Place in downtown Baltimore. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies is located in Washington's Dupont Circle area.

The Applied Physics Laboratory is a division of the university co-equal to the nine schools, but with a non-academic, research-based mission. APL, located between Baltimore and Washington, supports national security and also pursues space science, exploration of the Solar System and other civilian research and development.

Johns Hopkins also has a campus near Rockville in Montgomery County, Md., and has academic facilities in Nanjing, China, and in Bologna, Italy. It maintains a network of continuing education facilities throughout the Baltimore-Washington region, including centers in downtown Baltimore, in downtown Washington and in Columbia.

When considered in partnership with its sister institution, the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, the university is Maryland's largest employer and contributes more than $10 billion a year to the state's economy.

The mission of The Johns Hopkins University is to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for life-long learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.


College Spotlight--Davidson College (visiting 11/3/11)

Link: Davidson College

Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,920 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.

Davidson is a national leader on affordability initiatives, with need-blind admission and meeting 100 percent of demonstrated financial need with a combination of grants and student employment. Davidson was the first liberal arts college to eliminate the loan component in financial aid packages.

Personal relationships with your professors and classes limited to 20 students allow for the development of creative, collaborative relationships resulting in a unique academic experience

A variety of options and opportunities set Davidson apart including its strong Honor Code, committment to community service and Division I athletics

Fast Facts
Take a quick glance at facts and statistics about Davidson that define the college as a unique and exciting educational environment.

College Spotlight--Haverford College (visiting 11/2/11)

Link: Haverford College

One of America's leading liberal arts colleges, Haverford is a close-knit intellectual community located on a serene campus just outside Philadelphia. Founded on the Quaker values of individual dignity, academic strength, and tolerance, we combine a rigorous academic program with an informal atmosphere of mutual respect and collaboration among students, faculty and staff.

Studenst approach work and study — as well as debate and conflict — with an awareness of the greater good. Haverford's Honor Code is one of the oldest in the country, and one of the few with a social dimension — we seek to appreciate and trust each other while working together and speaking candidly about our differences.

A beautiful and stimulating environment, Haverford's self-contained campus on more than 200 acres features award-winning architecture and landscaping. The campus itself is a nationally recognized arboretum, with more than 400 species of trees and shrubs, a 3.5-acre duck pond, multiple gardens, and wooded areas. Our location on the outskirts of Philadelphia offers easy access to its wealth of activities and cultural institutions, as well as the rest of the Mid-Atlantic region.

The College operates more than 50 academic, athletic, and residential buildings. The most recent additions are the Marian E. Koshland Integrated Natural Science Center and the Douglas B. Gardner '83 Integrated Athletic Center. Haverford's Magill Library boasts more than a half million of its own volumes and has access to nearly two million more through its unusual Tripod computerized catalog system, which integrates our library with those of neighboring Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore Colleges. In addition to Magill's main resources, we house a number of special collections including the Quaker Collection, the C.C. Morris 1904 Cricket Library, and numerous rare books and other treasures; we also maintain three smaller music, science, and astronomy libraries on campus.

Haverford students are entrusted with freedom and responsibility from their first days on campus, an act of trust aimed at developing the whole person and creating a lasting bond between individual and institution. Students leave Haverford with an increased sense of independence, curiosity, and confidence, as well as lasting bonds with friends and faculty. Whether 'Fords go on to advance their educations, enter the workforce, travel the world, or better the world in one of any number of ways, they leave grounded and well-equipped for rich, dynamic lives.

View the College's Common Data Set, which many colleges and universities use to provide statistical information.

College Spotlight--Boston College (visiting 10/27/11)

Link: Boston College

Boston College is one of the oldest Jesuit, Catholic universities in the United States. U.S. News and World Report ranks Boston College 31st among national universities.

Boston College confers more than 4,000 degrees annually in more than 50 fields of study through nine schools and colleges. Faculty members are committed to both teaching and research and have set new marks for research grant awards over the last ten years, more than $45 million in the last year alone.

The University has made a major commitment to academic excellence. It is in the process of adding faculty positions, expanding faculty and graduate research, increasing student financial aid, and widening opportunities in key undergraduate programs, such as foreign study, internships, community service, and personal formation.

Boston College has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, including a 75 percent increase in undergraduate applications over the past decade. During the same period, a remarkable increase in revenue from voluntary giving has helped to move the University's endowment to approximately $1.4 billion, among the 40 largest in the nation.

Why Boston College? Click here for 20 reasons — we encourage you to find more

College Spotlight--Brown University (visiting 10/25/11)

Link: Brown University

Located in historic Providence, Rhode Island and founded in 1764, Brown University is the seventh-oldest college in the United States. Brown is an independent, coeducational Ivy League institution comprising undergraduate and graduate programs, plus the Alpert Medical School and the School of Engineering.
With its talented and motivated student body and accomplished faculty, Brown is a leading research university that maintains a particular commitment to exceptional undergraduate instruction.

Brown’s vibrant, diverse community consists of 6,000 undergraduates, 2,000 graduate students, 400 medical school students, and nearly 700 faculty members. Brown students come from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

Undergraduates pursue bachelor’s degrees in more than 70 concentrations, ranging from Egyptology to cognitive neuroscience. Anything’s possible at Brown—the university’s commitment to undergraduate freedom means students must take responsibility as architects of their courses of study.

Graduate students study in more than 70 programs. The broad scope of options vary from interdisciplinary opportunities in molecular pharmacology and physiology to a master’s program in acting and directing through the Brown/Trinity Repertory Consortium.

Brown students have a lot to smile about. Named by the 2010 Princeton Review as the #1 College in America for Happiest Students, Brown is frequently recognized for its global reach, many cultural events, numerous campus groups and activities, active community service programs, highly competitive athletics, and beautiful facilities located in a richly historic urban setting.

There's an App for that!

Thanks to a new Class of 2013 "An Admiral's Perspective" follower comes a recommendation for what sounds like a handy app for your next college road trip:

Fiske Interactive College Guide 2012

By Sourcebooks, Inc

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fiske-interactive-college/id418350915?mt=8

Of course, College Counseling and the Severn library have hardcopies of this book for your reference.

College Spotlight--Dickinson College (visiting 10/20/11)

Link: Dickinson College

Dickinson College, founded in 1773, is a highly selective, private residential liberal-arts college known for its innovative curriculum. Its mission is to offer students a useful education in the arts and sciences that will prepare them for lives as engaged citizens and leaders. The 180-acre campus of Dickinson College is located in the heart of historic Carlisle, Pa. The college offers 42 majors with an emphasis on international studies, has more than 40 study-abroad programs in 24 countries on six continents and offers 13 modern languages.

Quick Facts

• 2,365 full-time students
• 43 U.S. states and territories and 41 foreign countries represented
• 10:1 student-faculty ratio
• More than 50 percent of students study abroad
• 26 percent participate in varsity athletics

History

Dickinson College is an institution steeped in history. Its grounds have been the site of notable revolutionary experiences; its limestone buildings are monuments of ancient architecture; its paths have been walked by remarkable men and women; and its founding spirit runs deep and propels us forward today. Learn More 

Mission

Chartered in 1783, just days after the conclusion of the American Revolution, Dickinson’s founder envisioned the college offering a distinctively original form of American education—one that was rigorously rooted in the traditional liberal arts and was also ultimately useful. As we face the challenges and complexities of the 21st century, Dickinson continues to seek direction from this revolutionary heritage within a contemporary context. Learn more

Diversity

Dickinson College is a diverse community that includes individuals from majority populations, historically under-represented populations, international students and scholars, and individuals from various socioeconomic levels—all having a wide variety of ideas, attitudes and beliefs. Learn more 

College Spotlight--Elon University

Link: Elon University

Elon University is a selective, independent, private university renowned as a national model for engaged learning, along with excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs. Elon's beautiful and historic campus in central North Carolina is designated as a botanical garden.

Elon’s rich intellectual community is characterized by active student engagement with a faculty dedicated to excellent teaching and scholarly accomplishment. The curriculum is grounded in the traditional liberal arts and sciences and complemented by distinctive professional and graduate programs. Elon students put knowledge into practice, fulfilling their roles as global citizens and informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.

Elon sends more undergraduate students to study abroad than any other master’s-level school in the nation, and was named one of the top three universities in the nation for community service by the federal government’s Corporation for National and Community Service. In addition, 78 percent of students complete internships, one-third of students hold at least one campus leadership position, and about 250 students annually work with faculty members on undergraduate research projects.

In its 2011 "America's Best Colleges" guide, U.S.News & World Report rates Elon the #2 Southern University and among the top 86 colleges and universities in the nation "where the faculty has an unusual commitment to undergraduate teaching."Newsweek-Kaplan named Elon the nation's "leader in engaged learning" and one of 25 featured colleges in its 2010 guide, and Princeton Review ranks Elon among the nation's 373 "best colleges." Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, USA Today, Princeton Review and the Fiske Guide to Colleges all name Elon one of the nation's "best value" private universities.

Elon's 600-acre campus is recognized by Princeton Review as one of the nation's most beautiful college environments. The campus has been designated a botanical garden, and includes the 56-acre Elon University Forest, a land preserve and natural area for scientific research.

Elon's 358 full-time faculty teach in more than 50 undergraduate majors. The university includes Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the School of Education; and the School of Law. Master's programs are offered in business administration, education and interactive media, and doctoral programs include physical therapy and law. Elon operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar, including a four-week term in January.

Elon's 5,032 undergraduate and 677 graduate students come from 48 states, the District of Columbia and 49 other nations. About 25 percent are from North Carolina, with 9 percent each from New Jersey and Massachusetts, 7 percent each from Maryland and Virginia, 6 percent from Pennsylvania and 5 percent each from Connecticut and New York.

Elon Phoenix athletics include 16 intercollegiate men's and women's sports in NCAA Division I (FCS football), and Elon is a member of the Southern Conference. In addition, many students actively participate in 18 intramural and 21 club sports.

Elon was founded by the Christian Church (now the United Church of Christ) in 1889, and its core values have remained constant throughout history: close relationships between faculty and students, a culture that supports constant innovation, and a strong sense of community. Each Tuesday morning, students, faculty and staff gather around Fonville Fountain for refreshments and fellowship during "College Coffee." Weekly chapel services in historic Whitley Auditorium provide an interfaith worship experience. Daily events, spontaneous gatherings and sidewalk conversations are the hallmarks of this friendly and welcoming academic community.

Elon University is a member of Project Pericles®, a national organization of colleges and universities committed to make socially responsible and participatory citizenship an essential part of our educational program - in the classroom, on the campus, and in the community.

Myths about Scholarships

Top 10 Myths About Scholarships

September 23, 2011

By Beckie Supiano

New Orleans–For all of the good information available to help students figure out how to pay for college, there are also more than a few urban legends  about who gets money and why. Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of the web sites FinAid and FastWeb, tried to clear up some of these misunderstandings at a session of the NACAC meeting here on Friday, where he shared ten myths about college scholarships.

1. Only straight- “A” students win scholarships: Students with better grades and test scores are more likely to win scholarships, Mr. Kantrowitz said, but some of the money does go to “B” and “C” students. Not every scholarship considers academic qualifications, Mr. Kantrowitz said,  including one of his favorites, a contest to make the best prom outfits out of duct tape.
2. Only minority students win scholarships: White students are actually disproportionately likely to win awards, as Mr. Kantrowitz shows in a recent paper.
3. My child will get a full-ride scholarship: There are some full-ride scholarships out there, but Mr. Kantrowitz has calculated that only 0.3 percent of students win enough money to cover their cost of attendance. Two-thirds of the students who win scholarships receive less than $2,500.
4. Only athletes win scholarships: Only a small fraction of institutional aid is awarded based on athletics, Mr. Kantrowitz said, and the average athletic scholarship only covers about a third of the cost of college.
5. Only the poor win scholarships: Mr. Kantrowitz has found that middle-income students are more likely to win private scholarships than their low-income peers. Private scholarships are not usually based on financial need.
6. Scholarships are just for high-school seniors: Students can apply for some scholarships as early as kindergarten, Mr. Kantrowiz said, and can continue to apply for some after beginning college.
7. The cost of private high school is earned back in scholarships: Students who attend private high schools do win a bit more in scholarships–about $1,000 of institutional and private money combined. But that pales in comparison to the cost of sending a child to a private high school, Mr. Kantrowitz said.
8. $6.6-billion in scholarships went unclaimed last year: Claims like this one are based on an outdated–and unrelated–study about employer tuition assistance, Mr. Kantrowitz said. “There are a handful of scholarships that go unclaimed, but that’s because they can’t be claimed,” he said. Sometimes no one meets the criteria.
9. Colleges will just reduce other aid if a student has a scholarship: It’s important to know a college’s outside-scholarship policy, Mr. Kantrowitz said, but most try to ensure that students keep some financial benefit for winning a scholarship.
10. Applying for scholarships is more work than it’s worth: Searching for scholarships is easy with the help of sites like his, Mr. Kantrowitz said, and it’s no harder to apply for them than for admission. Small scholarships and those requiring essays tend to be easier to win, as fewer students apply. “The bottom line,” Mr. Kantrowitz said,  ”is if you don’t apply for a scholarship, you’re not going to win it.”

Reprinted from The Chronicle of Higher Education blog "Head Count"  (http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/top-ten-myths-about-scholarships/28862

 NACAC: National Assoc of College Admission Counseling

Beckie Supiano is a staff reporter who covers financial aid, admissions, and the role of religion in the college experience.

College Spotlight: High Point University (visiting 10/18/11)

Link: High Point University

At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. HPU is a liberal arts university with outstanding professional programs and experiential opportunities.

The university has approximately 3,300 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 50 countries and more than 40 states at campuses in High Point and Winston-Salem. It is ranked by US News and World Report 6th among comprehensive universities in the South and in the top 100 nationally. The university has an economic impact statewide in excess of $370 million per year.

HPU announced in October 2007 that it was doubling its investment in academic programs, student life, scholarships and construction of new facilities. The university’s board of trustees approved doubling the investment in the university from $110 to $225 million over a period of three years. The campus transformation is made possible through gifts, bonds and operating revenues.

HPU has completed the construction of eight new buildings and two stadiums, the renovation of 16 buildings and the acquisition of 50 acres of land, with the campus now at 140 acres total. The board has approved the construction of a parking deck, new restaurants, a tennis complex and four new residence halls to accommodate the growth of traditional day students from 1,500 to 3,000 by 2010. The university enrolls an additional 1,200 students in its graduate school and evening degree programs.

The university offers 68 undergraduate majors, 33 minors and seven graduate-degree programs. It is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference.

College Spotlight: St. Mary's College of Maryland (visiting 10/18/11)

Link: St. Mary's College

Officially St. Mary's is the State of Maryland's public honors college, designated by law in 1992 in recognition of the quality of the undergraduate education. At its heart, it is a place where students are challenged to create their own path. All students at St. Mary's are honors students. This isn't a place where a small group of students are selected for an honors program. Rather, the entire school is an honors college. Every student has access to discussion-oriented classes and one-on-one interactions with faculty. It is an intellectual community that includes everyone. It's not about being the smartest-just smart.

St. Mary's is a public institution, dedicated to providing a premier education for students with disparate backgrounds and worldviews. A fifth of our students are first-generation college students, a quarter are from states other than Maryland or from other countries, and a fifth are students of color. The honors college difference means that students make life-long friends both with those who share their views and others who challenge their thinking.

The honors college prepares students for the future by challenging students' limits. In a world where people will change careers multiple times, being educated for the future is the only lasting education.

The College on the River

Located on a horseshoe bend of the St. Mary's River just upstream from the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, St. Mary's College occupies the land where settlers founded the fourth oldest permanent English settlement in North America (1634). The colony's "Act of Toleration" made St. Mary's City an early site of religious freedom and remains an abiding precept of life at the honors college.

National acclaim

It is not just the river and our 361-acre waterfront campus. It is people who are drawn to it and to the concept of an honors college. Creative individuals, who write music, conduct experiments, build computers and put their beliefs into action. Don't just take our word for it. As one of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation, St. Mary's is ranked prominently in the major college guides.

Surprising Value

As one of only two public honors colleges in the nation, St. Mary's offers the same challenging academics and individualized attention as a small, private liberal arts college. "Public" means we're devoted to accessibility, diversity and affordability--including a reasonable price and a full range of financial aid programs. The honors college is the best of both public and private education.

Scholar Athletes

Another feature of the honors college is that varsity athletes do not have to choose between being a serious athlete and a serious student. They are both. We offer Division III athletic programs and are proud of our scholar-athletes in action.

Learn More

There are many ways to learn more about St. Mary's. Request information by mail or download Information. Do you want to visit, meet with a professor, chat with a coach, and experience our beautiful waterfront campus for yourself; or just browse some fun facts? The choice is yours. Let us know how we can help.

It's in the WATER.

It's in the PEOPLE.

It's why we're HERE.

College Spotlight: Salisbury University (visiting 10/13/11)

Link: Salisbury Sea Gulls

Salisbury University is a premier comprehensive Maryland public university, offering excellent, affordable education in undergraduate liberal arts, sciences, pre-professional and professional programs, including education, nursing, social work, and business, and a limited number of applied graduate programs.  Our highest purpose is to empower our students with the knowledge, skills, and core values that contribute to active citizenship, gainful employment, and life‑long learning in a democratic society and interdependent world.  

Salisbury University cultivates and sustains a superior learning community where students, faculty, and staff engage one another as teachers, scholars, and learners, and where a commitment to excellence and an openness to a broad array of ideas and perspectives are central to all aspects of University life. Our learning community is student-centered; thus, students and faculty interact in small classroom settings, faculty serve as academic advisors, and virtually every student has an opportunity to undertake research with a faculty mentor. We foster an environment where individuals make choices that lead to a more successful development of social, physical, occupational, emotional, and intellectual well being.

SU At-A-Glance

• Founded:  1925
• Location: Wicomico County, Maryland  more..
• 8th President:  Janet E. Dudley-Eshbach, Ph.D. (Appointed July 1, 2000)  more...
• Carnegie Classification:  Master's L: Master's Colleges & Universities (Larger Programs)
• 42 Undergraduate Programs
• 14 Graduate Programs
• 4 Post Baccalaureate Certificate Programs
• Student/Faculty Ratio:  17:1
• Number of Countries Represented: 69
• Number of States/Territories Represented: 32
• Percent Out-of-State: 14.2%
• Percent minority & nonresident alien: 21%
• Percent female: 57.7%
• Percent that are undergraduate: 91.7%
• Percent full-time (undergraduates):  92.5%
• Most Popular Majors
• Rankings

College Spotlight: University of South Carolina (visiting 10/13/11)

Link: University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina welcomes students from diverse backgrounds—freshmen from around the United States, transfer students from state technical colleges, international students from more than 100 countries, graduate students from other prestigious institutions, and students transitioning from one of the University's regional campuses to Columbia.

What they all find is a tradition-rich and growing institution with a host of opportunities—from challenging academics, to 300 clubs and organizations, to volunteer and service projects. The Horseshoe is the University's picturesque and historic campus, a gathering place for studying, sunbathing, Ultimate Frisbee—you name it. (Take a virtual tour of campus.)

A few blocks from main campus, the University's unique research and innovation district, Innovista, is taking shape with two large facilities, the Horizon Center and Discovery Plaza.
Other new or future facilities include:

• the $22 million Arnold School of Public Health Research Center
• West (Green) Quad, the world's largest "green" dorm
• the state-of-the-art Wellness and Fitness Center
• the Greek Village's 20 fraternity and sorority houses
• the South Carolina Honors College residence hall
• the 34,800-square-foot Dance and Marching Band facility
• the Gamecocks' new riverfront baseball stadium
• the academic enrichment center for student-athletes

South Carolina is a pioneer and national leader in the first-year experience, including its acclaimed University 101 program that helps students adjust to college life. The First Year Reading Experience also brings together more than 3,000 students from the freshman class the week before fall classes begin to discuss a book as a common point of reference. The 2010 selection: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.

College Spotlight: Vanderbilt University (visiting 10/13/11)

Link: Vanderbilt University



Cornelius Vanderbilt had a vision of a place that would “contribute to strengthening the ties that should exist between all sections of our common country” when he gave $1 million to create a university in 1873.

Today, that vision has been realized in Vanderbilt, an internationally recognized research university in Nashville, Tenn., with strong partnerships among its 10 schools, neighboring institutions and the community.

Vanderbilt offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, music, education and human development, as well as a full range of graduate and professional degrees. The combination of cutting edge research, liberal arts, nationally recognized schools of business and divinity and a distinguished medical center creates an invigorating atmosphere where students tailor their education to meet their goals and researchers collaborate to solve complex questions affecting our health, culture and society.

Vanderbilt provides a gateway to greatness, drawing the best and brightest students from across the nation and around the world. Vanderbilt alumni can be found in Congress, on the judicial bench, in the pulpit, heading corporations, conducting innovative medical research, writing for and appearing on the stage and screen, and playing in the NFL and major league baseball.

An independent, privately supported university, Vanderbilt is the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee and the second largest private employer based in the state.

Enrollment by School

• College of Arts and Science: 4,285
• Blair School of Music: 211
• Divinity School: 249
• School of Engineering: 1,327
• Graduate School: 2,228
• Law School: 615
• School of Medicine: 618
• School of Nursing: 882
• Owen Graduate School of Management: 577
• Peabody College: 1,702
• Division of Unclassified Studies: 27
• Total: 12,721

Facebook & College Admissions

(Due to copyright issues, the following 9/21/11 USA Today article cannot be reprinted. Click on the link to read a very timely and informative warning.)

LINK:  "More college officials learn about applicants from Facebook"

Question of the Week

"What is The Academic Common Market?"



The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition-savings program that operates on the premise that if public institutions (private institutions can’t participate) in a student’s home state do not offer a degree program (undergraduate or graduate) that a student intends on pursuing, then he/she may attend a participating out-of-state institution offering the degree of interest through the ACM and be granted a waiver of out-of-state tuition charges. This serves as a cost-saving measure for both parents and students as in-state tuition rates are lower than out-of-state rates. It is also a savings for the state, as these programs do not have to be duplicated here in Maryland. The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and the state higher education agencies of the sixteen (16) participating states administer the Academic Common Market (ACM) and ACM/Electronic Campus (EC) programs. 

Associate degree programs and non-degree programs are not eligible for ACM benefits. First professional degree programs, such as law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and optometry are also not eligible for ACM benefits.                                             

The ACM program is not competitive, merit-based, or need-based, but applicants must meet state residency and college program requirements. Some institutions may impose additional acceptance requirements. Students are strongly advised to contact the institution directly for this information. It is the student’s responsibility to remain informed about and abide by the ACM Policies of Maryland AND of the Institution they plan to attend. 

Note:  The ACM is not a financial aid program and it is not affiliated in any manner with scholarships, award money or financial aid packages that students receive.  The ACM program represents a cooperative agreement among 16 states.  The State of Maryland also reciprocates with partnering states.  No funds are involved, reimbursed or exchanged.  

Please see ACM Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and ACM Policies and Procedures (PDF) for additional information. 

Which States Participate in the ACM?:  Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. These states participate at the graduate level only:  Florida, North Carolina and Texas. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Effective for the 2012-2013 academic year, as a result of the “General Assembly of North Carolina's Appropriations Act of 2011”, the State of North Carolina will no longer participate in the Academic Common Market program. This policy will remain in effect until further notice. Academic Common Market students who are enrolled in the program and begin study prior to July 1, 2012 in the University of North Carolina System may continue to pay in-state tuition as long as the student (1) remains continuously enrolled full-time in their approved ACM graduate program (defined by institution), (2) remains in good academic standing (defined by institution), (3) maintains home state residency and (4) makes satisfactory progress toward the degree.  

What Program/Majors are available through the ACM for Maryland Residents?:  Numerous undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available to Maryland residents through the ACM. See the links below for a complete list: 

• Undergraduate ACM Programs for Maryland Residents

*** Maryland residents may submit applications ONLY for programs listed in the current ACM inventory.  

Who may apply:  Current Maryland high school seniors and full-time, degree-seeking   undergraduate and graduate students who have been fully accepted or are already enrolled in an eligible program of study that has been selected for the ACM by a participating public college/university.                               

College of the Week: Georgetown University (visiting 10/6/11)



Link: Georgetown University



Georgetown is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institute of higher learning in the United States. Jesuits have played a significant role in the growth and evolution of Georgetown into a global research university deeply rooted in the Catholic faith. Georgetown’s Jesuit tradition also promotes the university’s commitment to spiritual inquiry, civic engagement, and religious and cultural pluralism. The Jesuits are members of the Society of Jesus, an international religious community which was founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century. Today, Jesuits continue to enrich the university through their work as scholars, researchers, administrators, chaplains and counselors.

Undergraduates at Georgetown receive a liberal arts education steeped in the Jesuit traditions of social justice and cura personalis, or “care of the whole person.” The university is committed to helping students grow intellectually, spiritually and emotionally as well as encouraging them to become thoughtful and caring members of society who contribute to the greater good.

In the classroom, discussions span the universe of human interest. No matter what their academic pursuits may be, all undergraduates explore broad intellectual horizons in one of four undergraduate schools:

• Georgetown College
• School of Nursing and Health Studies
• Walsh School of Foreign Service
• McDonough School of Business

Students are admitted to and receive their degrees from one of the four schools but can take classes offered in any undergraduate school. In fact, students are encouraged to think broadly and take an interdisciplinary approach to their education. Many students major in one school and minor in another, getting valuable experience of studying with students of every major and background.
 Students are encouraged to enhance their classroom learning experience by taking advantage of Georgetown's location in Washington, D.C., holding internships on Capitol Hill, the National Institutes of Health, ABC News, The World Bank, The Smithsonian, Embassies, or with the myriad of non-profit and corporate groups involved with policy-making. Before graduation, 95% of Georgetown students have had at least one internship.

With more than 6,300 undergraduates from all 50 states and more than 130 countries, Georgetown is a vibrant place to live and learn. Visit the Campus Life section of the University's website to find out more about the dynamic Georgetown community. It includes a wide spectrum of student organizations, sports teams and clubs, student publications and student activism in political and social causes. Community is further fostered through residence life, with more than 80 percent of students living on the University campus.

College of the Week: University of Maryland

Link: University of Maryland

The University of Maryland boasts 78 academic programs ranked in the top 25 nationally and 29 academic programs in the top 10 according to U.S. News and World report. By drawing top-notch faculty, attracting the brightest students and investing in the quality of our academic programs, we are a force to reckon with on a national basis.
Maryland has eleven colleges and schools and Letters and Sciences. As a new student, you'll first find an academic home in your college or school and, from there, your major. Letters and Sciences provides advising for students who are still undecided about their major. Maryland also offers ways to make connections across disciplines, through our special academic programs, certificate programs and academic resources.

Maryland by the Numbers:

• Ranked #18 among U.S. Public Universities
• 100+ majors
• 73 Academic Programs ranked in the Top 25
• 26,000+ Undergraduate Students
• 1:1 Male to Female ratio
• 34% students of color - graduating more African American students than any other Top 20 Public University
• 3,000+ total faculty
• 3,480 international students
• 36 residence halls
• 3 million+ library books
• 1,200 acre campus
• 27 Division I NCAA teams
• 240,000+ alumni
• 335 employers recruiting on campus
• 100% of residence halls and academic buildings with wireless internet
• 1,800 undergraduate students studied abroad this past year
• The Clarice Smith Performing Arts center is the largest performing arts center on any university campus on the east coast, covering nearly 17 acres.
• McKeldin Mall is not only the largest collegiate mall in the United States but it's also wireless.



Question of the Week

"Can you describe the timing of

College Admission testing?"

Two companies in the United States sponsor college admission tests. The College Board offers the PSAT, SAT-I and the SAT-II Subject Tests. American College Testing provides the ACT.

The SAT-I is a three-hour and 45-minute exam designed to measure critical reading, math, and writing skills. The PSAT is the practice test. Severn will automatically register Sophomores and Juniors to take the PSAT on campus. This year's PSAT is October 12.

The ACT is three hours long and measures skills in English, math, reading, and science. A 30-minute Writing Test is an optional component of the ACT. Most colleges require the writing section.

Students are penalized for entering a wrong answer on the SAT-I. Students are not similarly penalized on the ACT; therefore, it is to the student's advantage to answer every question on the ACT.
SAT vs. ACT: Almost all colleges and universities will accept either the SAT or the ACT. Some state their preference. Still others will accept the ACT as a substitute for their SAT Subject Tests requirement. Testing policies will vary from college to college.

Revolution Prep offers test preparation courses at Severn, and some juniors may choose this option for this winter or spring (for more information, please see their website: www.revolutionprep.com).  Financial aid is available to those who qualify.  Other students will find success by reading on their own and by using one of many available books to prepare for and practice taking the SAT.  For the first time this year, Revolution Prep will offer a free mock ACT test to Severn juniors on Saturday, November 12th.   More information will follow in the Binnacle.

Score Choice: The ACT has always given students the option of reporting their best ACT scores by test date. Now this same option is offered by the College Board. Beginning with the class of 2010, students may choose to send SAT scores by test date and SAT Subject Test scores by individual tests. The College Board ruled out allowing students to mix and match their best math, critical reading, and writing scores from the different test dates. However, most colleges will continue to follow this practice if they receive more than one set of scores.

Score Choice is optional. If students do not use it, all scores will be sent to colleges automatically. All scores will still appear on reports sent to students and counselors.

Keep in mind that, regardless of the policy of the College Board, colleges may set their own test requirements. All the more reason for students to follow college application instructions carefully.

Reporting Scores: Severn students are responsible for having their scores sent directly to colleges from the appropriate testing agency. Admission test scores do not appear on a student's transcript.

 Typical SAT/ACT Testing Sequence

Grade	Date	Test
Tenth Grade	October	PSAT
Eleventh Grade	October January+May June	PSAT SAT-I SAT-II Subject Tests ACT (optional)
Twelfth Grade	October November	SAT-I ACT (optional) SAT-I