Admissions Insider

Augustana has a recommended list of courses students should take in high school to prepare for college.  With the possible

exception of our foreign language recommendation, most of these classes are required to graduate from high school.

However, every year I have students talk to me about their senior year course work.  Typically students fall into three categories:
1. I’m going to take a “blow off” year.
2. Whatever they sign me up for I’ll take.
3. I’m going to pretty much kill myself by taking the hardest classes I can.

As I’ve been watching the Olympics and interviewing students as they prepare for their senior year, I’m finding some similarities between world champions and the students I believe will be successful.

Obviously, not training for a year prior to the Olympics – or training a minimal amount – doesn’t bode well for success at the games in the same way a “blow off” year

or taking the least amount of classes and a lot of study halls senior year doesn’t bode well for success in college.  Muscles aren’t used to the competition in the same way taking a year off from challenging coursework can allow a student to get out of practice with being a good student.

Not caring – just taking whatever is suggested without being invested – well, that can have drawbacks too, because “heart” and mental engagement are half the battle to success.   This quote says it best:
If you could have the arms of Hercules, legs as swift as the wind, if you could leap shoulder high above the rim, have all the kick of a dolphin, the reflexes of a cat, if you could have all this, you would have the body, you would have the tools, but you will not have greatness until you understand that the strongest muscle is the heart.

So, without focus and engagement – success may be elusive even if you have the ability.

I also believe that athletes can over train. And students can over commit themselves to high level classes. There is something to be said for pushing beyond the limit, for reaching for goals, for strengthening and flexing muscles and aptitudes to the very edge – but there should be a balance.  If students are too overwhelmed and unable to balance the extra with the academic – there is often a cost.  Over trained athletes often pay these costs as well – with torn hamstrings, exhaustion, or just a lack of enjoyment when(if) the victory actually comes.

The best students, like the best Olympic athletes learn to balance the challenge, the drive, and the passion with a rest day, a recognition of what is really necessary to be successful and a commitment to self over the goal.  With this balance, success will likely follow because it’s core strength (athletic pun intended) that often makes the difference.  Knowing yourself, your abilities and taking those to the next level without breaking almost always fosters greatness.

http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2012/07/26/college-orientation-comes-with-a-hefty-pricetag/  College Orientation Comes With a Hefty Price Tag

In response to this article/blog in the Wall Street Journal about colleges fees, I offer the following advice: Get a fee list from the schools you are considering from the previous year and add that in to your total cost comparison.

A few years ago Augustana did away about half a dozen random fees – activity fees and dorm check-in fees and on and on.  Families barely figure out how to pay for the first term of school. They load up little (or big) Johnny in the car, pull up to the residence hall and BAM! another fee!  Kudos to Augustana’s administration for limiting these fees.  Granted, the fees were rolled into the overall tuition and fees number – but at least there aren’t a bunch of random of add-ons costs to the tune of hundreds of dollars as families are trying to acclimate (and afford) to having a college

student.

The blog listed above has to do with an orientation fee many colleges require for parents and students to “transition” from high school to college.  I guess I feel like this is just part of the J.O.B of the college – to be there for the parents and students and provide a transition, not for an extra fee, but because if a smooth transition saves even one student from quitting – the college has probable made up the cost of the transition/orientation program in the revenue generated from that student.

But…maybe I’m just insular in the sense that this type of thing – providing support and encouragement and information to the WHOLE family – is what great private liberal arts colleges do.  Our mission statement – to develop qualities of mind, spirit and body – seems to me to include family.   And it’s hard to feel good in your spirit when your family is scraping the bottom of the bank account to pay for orientation.

In the fall of 1999, my boyfriend (now

husband) and I traveled across the wide wide state of Ohio to watch an Augustana Viking football playoff game vs. the Mount Union bad guys.  I had graduated the previous May and worked (as I do now) in  Admissions and Luke was in his senior year. Luke’s roommate was Josh Johnson, the starting defensive tackle for the Augustana Vikings.

When I see the Spirit banner that hangs around Augustana’s campus – I think of all the pride and cheering and excitement and loyalty that I witness here on a daily basis – but I really think of that game in Alliance, Ohio.  It was classic old-school Augie football with our Viking offense pounding the ball down the field generic cialis for an unprecedented 48:08 minutes of the game.  The rushing attack netted 298 yards on 83 attempts and picked up a total of 28 first downs.

I lost my voice for 4 days from all the cheering.  While the mighty Vikings fell – it wasn’t for lack of passion, or dedication or spirit.  We just needed a few more minutes on the clock.

When you are looking for a college – do you want one with Spirit?  I recommend it.

There’s nothing like receiving your first college acceptance letter. Excitement, nervous anticipation, happy, reassured, elation, delight, relief…the emotions run the gambit. But really end in one overall feeling of “WOO HOO”. Even if the first acceptance letter you receive

isn’t from your top choice institution – the fact remains:  someone wants you.

So, you need to CELEBRATE! Too many families congratulate each other and then put the letter in “the box” of college stuff and move on to dinner or practice or meetings or TV…whatever else is going on…but they don’t take the night to celebrate what just occured.

You (or your son or daughter) have been working toward this letter for years. You now have an option to start the rest of your life.  You matter. A school wants you to represent them, to learn and lead and experience all they have to offer. But more importantly – they want you to teach others about your story.  Who you are, what you do, what you care about – that school wants you to bring all that is you and share it with them.

So, CELEBRATE!  It doesn’t have to be the most elaborate celebration – but do something to commemorate this impressive milestone – have a special meal, go out for ice cream, watch your favorite movie as a family, put your letter on the frig for a few days. Your first acceptance letter matters.  Make it a big deal.

Augustana started admitting students November 1st. The sooner students apply, the sooner they might have a reason to celebrate.

This time of year warms my heart for more reasons than the holiday music – I’m inspired by the work we do.  We get to interact with young people at the beginning of the rest of their lives – when all the choices are set before them and all their dreams are being formed.

Check out some reactions from those that recently heard from Augustana:

“Thank you so much for sharing the information today regarding [our daughter's] acceptance.  We have been running to the mailbox everyday, the suspense was killing us.  [She] along with mom and dad are so excited that she will be attending Augustana College.  Again thank you, you made our day.”

“Thank you for making [our daughter's] year!  She was on Facebook in about 2 seconds after answering your message yesterday.  She was especially excited to learn she received the Presidential scholarship, since she wasn’t sure her class rank earned that award. Thanks for encouraging her to send in the additional letters of recommendation, her admissions essay and coming in to talk w/Amy Zero……Anyway, buy cialis online now we can learn all about being an Augustana family once we get the packet. I’m sure it tells us what to do next and a timeline. We will look forward to working with you to complete this process. I think you’re stuck with us, and having [her] as one of your ‘kids.’”

GPA: Grade Point Average. For most colleges this means a cumulative grade point average. For a cumulative grade point, each grade a student is given is assigned a number value, those numbers are added, and divided by the total number of grades for an overall number. An example of a GPA on a 4.0 scale (most common) is 3.2.

RIC: Rank In Class. Many schools put students in an order based on their cumulative grade point average. Where students falls on this list in comparison to their peers (number of students in their grade) is their class rank or rank in class.

An example of a student at a school where there are 412 other students in her grade: 57/412.

CEEB Code: College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) is an organization of educational organizations (schools, college, etc) and each institution is assigned a number (or code). This number is then the CEEB Code for that school. For example, the Rock Island High School CEEB Code is 143725. College applications often ask for a high school CEEB Code.

ACT:  “a see tee” originally an abbreviation of American College Testing is a standardized test for college admissions.  ACT’s Definition.   Wikipedia’s definition.  The highest score a student can score on the ACT is a 36.

SAT: “ess a tee” first called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, then the Scholastic Assessment Test, now does not stand for anything, but is a standardized test for college admissions run by CollegeBoard.  College Board’s Definition.  Wikipedia’s definition.  Most colleges are only interested in the Math and Verbal scores.  Students can score up to 800 in each of these sections for a total possible score of 1600.

FAFSA: “faf – sa” Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form students complete to apply and find out if they qualify for student financial aid.  FAFSA.gov.  Wikipedia’s definition.  Each school year has a specific FAFSA form for that year and families have to complete the FAFSA

each year and for each student in their family interested in financial aid.

FAFSA PIN: Families who file the FAFSA online need a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that serves as their electronic signature on the FAFSA.  Both a parent and a student each  get unique FAFSA PIN.  Learn more at Federal Student Aid PIN Website.

FERPA: The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. In short, schools are not allowed to share student records without written permission. This is particularly important for parents to recognize. Once a student is 18 years old – the school is legally not allowed to share information about a student’s school record (including grades) with parents or anyone else. There are some exceptions – see the link above for further details.

What other acronyms are second nature to admissions junkies that real world people struggle with?  Please let me know.

On Wednesday (Oct 26) The College Board said “about 56% of bachelor’s degree recipients at public schools graduated with debt averaging about $22,000.  From private nonprofit universities, 65% graduated with debt averaging about $28,000.”  AP via Seattle Post Intelligencer and University Business (A Guide to Obama’s Student Loan Plan)

Here’s a web article: Cool Cars under $30,000. Check out this Pontiac Solstice, turbocharged 260-hp GXP version – under $28,000.

.

In fact, most off the cars listed (Ford Mustang Coupe, Jeep Wrangler, Mazda MX-5 Miata, MINI Cooper S Convertible, Subaru Impreza) – were under $28,000.

One of the first purchases a student often

makes upon graduation from college is a new car. Many finance this, taking out a car loan which they expects to pay off in three or five years. No one really bats an eye at a car loan.  There’s no public outcry to

the government to help young persons manage this astronomical debt.  No special bills are proposed in congress. People consider the car an investment, they finance that purchase, and pay for the car. They don’t get 10 years or 20 years to pay off the loan.  It isn’t on a sliding scale based on their salary.  I know not everyone buys a $28,000 car – but many vehicles are a significant investment.

Why is $28,000 in college debt – for a college education which is (or should be) four years of unparalleled learning, exposure to new ideas, foundation building for future excellence, career impacting networking, international study – viewed as this unmanageable albatross around the necks of our young people?

The right college education will launch a person to their next step – graduate school, career, service.  It is an investment that’s worth increases exponentially as time passes.  Unlike a car which will stop working and, in fact, decrease in value – a college education will serve students for their entire lives.

A Ford Mustang or an Augustana education – is there really even a question in anyone’s mind which is more valuable?  Which is worth the investment? Bring on the $28,000 in loan, I say – and bring on a successful future.

Personal Items
  Soap
  Shampoo
  Conditioner
  Feminine napkins
  Tampons
  Shower shoes
  Lotion
  Toothpaste
  Toothbrush
  Towel
 Washcloth
  Toothbrush holder
  Makeup
  Deodorant
  Contact lens solution
  Hairspray

School Supplies
  Pen
  Pencil
  Paper – lined or plain
  Notebooks
  Sticky notes
  Highlighters

Other Items for Care Packages
  Photo album
  Letters and drawings from younger siblings
  Video of family sending their love
  Blank CDs/DVDs/USB drives
  Holiday decorations
  All purpose spray cleaner
  Trash can liners
  Laundry detergent
  Fabric softener
  Recent magazine
  Recent hometown newspaper
  Motivational book
  Devotional book
  Air freshener
  Paper towels
  Napkins
  Dish soap
  Dish cloth
  Phone card
  Envelopes
  Stamps
  Pictures of recent event