Advice from Maddie and Watson’s Human

My friends, Maddie and Watson

live in South Carolina. Their human, Woody O’Cain,
is the Vice President for Enrollment at Erskine College. High school counselors and college admissions folks work on different sides of the same desk and they are always talking about admissions issues. Woody sent a message to counselors to help them nudge their students into action. My counselor thought it was pretty good stuff so she shared it with me and I’m gonna share a version of it with you…here goes…

What do I need to do to get accepted into college?

And…How in the world am I going to pay for it?


What do I need to do to get accepted into college?

All of the information you fill out on a college application is taken into consideration.

HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT - Your high school record is the most important part of the whole process…what you have done the last three years in high school and so far this year will be given the most weight in the review process. Remember that you can’t go to sleep intellectually during your senior year. By the way, almost all colleges require the submission of a final transcript.

TEST SCORES – Your SAT and/or ACT score is another thing many colleges look at in this process. It’s one test that you happened to take on a Saturday. And, you probably had a thousand other things on your mind. Whether you are pleased with your score or disappointed…just remember, for most colleges, your test score is not the “end all” to this process. The amount of weight put on the test score really varies by college. Know that some schools are test optional (www.fairtest.org).

PERSONAL QUALITIES – These include letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, employment, honors, awards and…THE ESSAY. All schools don’t require essays/personal statements. If a school does require these, use them to your advantage to highlight something you are passionate about and to give information about you that can’t be found anywhere else on your application.

HOW TO APPLY - Some schools have their own applications. Others are part of groups that allow students to use one application to apply to more than one school. BEWARE: Some of these applications require supplements. If you have questions about the Common App, here is the link: https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/DownloadForms.aspx

OK, OK, OK—applications, transcripts, test scores—check, check and double check. But… How in the world am I going to pay for college?

Fact: Very few people pay the full sticker price for college! There are lots of scholarships out there both from the federal government and from the schools themselves. Your state will also have a few more scholarship opportunities if you decide to stay in state to attend college.

We do all that we can to help make Erskine affordable for those students who want to be here. That’s doesn’t mean that we, or any school, can give everyone a full scholarship….wouldn’t that be cool? To help in the process, there are several things you need to do. This will probably vary from school to school, but all schools have requirements you must meet to qualify for aid/scholarships.

To help us figure out what the Federal Government can do for you, go here:

http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/index/index.jsf

Visit colleges that interest you. Selecting a college should be about determining which colleges offer you an environment that will allow you to grow and develop–to reach your potential and realize your dreams.


Sincerely,

Woody O’Cain
Vice President for Enrollment
Erskine College

Here’s a news flash—colleges really want students to make good matches. Maddie and Watson’s human has given me some good advice. I think I’ll go talk to my counselor about a college visit. It’s getting late—maybe you should talk to your counselor too!

L8R

Clyde

Paws to Paper

Have you met the registrar at your school? At my school, the registrar is the person who sends transcripts to colleges. Transcripts–you know–those records of grades you’ve earned in high school . . . GULP . . . I wish I had put forth more effort! But . . . I am going to make sure I work as hard as I can this year and finish up with a good record.

At many schools, you have to complete a form to request your transcript. This is because your school needs your permission to release information about you to colleges.

If you haven’t seen your transcript–the time to do so is NOW! Did you know you can request an unofficial copy of your transcript? It’s a good idea to do that. Doing this allows you to see exactly what admissions offices see when they receive your transcript. Does your high school put standardized test scores on your transcript? Mine doesn’t, by the way. Many colleges require that applicants send official test score reports from the testing agencies www.act.org or www.collegeboard.org ). So even if your high school includes test scores on your transcript, it’s important to see if the colleges you are applying to require official test score reports from ACT and/or SAT. Some colleges leave it up to the applicant to send his or her best scores. Some schools have gone over-the-top in requiring applicants to send ALL scores. The important thing to remember is to follow the test reporting policy on the colleges’ websites. Taking the tests a bazillion times probably isn’t a good idea. The key is to take hard classes, do your work, prepare for the tests–actually use information on the ACT and SAT websites about preparing for the tests. While you can buy test prep materials from these sites, they give great test prep information away FREE!

I could just howl! Some colleges superscore tests. This means that they take your best subsections from different tests. ACT thinks this is a bad idea. You just need to know how the colleges you are considering view superscoring.

Some high schools also put attendance and tardy records on transcripts. The only way you will know for sure about your school is to get a copy of that transcript. If you were tardy three times a week as a sophomore–you know, when your older brother was driving you to school and he would never get up on time, you won’t know that you need to explain that unless you know it is there!

Go meet the person at your school responsible for sending transcripts. Know what the time frame is for sending these. It may take one day or it may take two weeks to get your transcripts sent.

Allow plenty of time for processing your requests and remember to sign the papers!

L8R,

Clyde

Make a Name for Yourself

It sounds obvious, but admissions counselors and potential employers want to know what makes you stand out from the crowd. Make no bones about it, your GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities are all important criteria – but what do you do to distinguish yourself?

Think about it: college applications from two different students lay side by side. Both college hopefuls have stellar GPA’s, both hold office in their respective Student Councils and both play varsity sports. But there is only one position to fill. Student A’s qualifications end right there. But Student B spearheaded a successful mentoring initiative at her school where incoming freshmen are individually paired with seniors to learn about what to expect in high school. Who do you think has the edge?

And how do you make your activities stand out in the few short lines on the application form? Focus on leadership! Don’t forget, this is one instance where it is OK to brag about yourself and your accomplishments. You’re the one filling out the application. The admissions folks aren’t going to be calling your grandmother to hear about what a brilliant and wonderful boy Billy is – they need to hear it from you.

And what about those college essays? On paper, test scores and lists of activities can only reflect so much of who you are. How can you make yourself stand out? Take the opportunity to let your personality shine in your essay! Don’t spend time pawing over what you think they want to hear—be real. Write about something that truly matters to you.

Don’t get stuck thinking you don’t have the grades or the mammoth list of activities to compete with your peers. Focus on what you do have to offer. Maybe you’ve never had an ear for music, and you’re not athletically coordinated, but you love to read. Take it beyond your English class - why not start and program at your local library, reading aloud to young children?

As for me, I know I’m just not built to play football. And when tryouts came along, there was nothing I could change about that - but I did use my sparkling personality to earn my position as school mascot. Did I take it as a consolation prize? No way! I found the position not only helped my popularity, but my presence on the field made me the subject for many photographers. Who knew I had such a natural knack for modeling? Just look – I’m a legend in my own time!


Embrace your individuality and find a way to utilize your unique gifts!

Woof,
Clyde

In-state? Out-of-state? Public? Private? Four-year? Two-year? Bricks and mortar? Online? Near or Far?

When my friend McCoy was young, he didn’t think much about his future and what type of school he might like. Chilling out and enjoying himself was what was on his mind.

McCoy is older now and he is thinking about his future. He and I have had a running conversation about types of schools. He lives in a state that is known for its flagship public universities, but it also has nationally recognized private universities.

My counselor tells us to look at all kinds of options–to see what types of schools would be the best matches for us. She also reminds us that one of the biggest problems is narrowing the list down because there are so many options!


* In-state publics–both community colleges and four-year schools in-state generally have a more appealing price tag. This is because your family, and you if you are an independent student, pay taxes in your home state and, therefore, you are eligible for a tuition break because these institutions are, in part, supported by state tax funds.

* Out-of-state publics–these schools charge more to residents who do not live in the state because the families of those residents, or the independent students from other states, do NOT pay in-state taxes that help support the institutions.

* Privates–these schools do not rely on state funding for operating expenses. Generally, their tuition and fees appear far higher than the public university options. There is no price tag difference that is hinged to your state of residence.

* Four-year vs. two-year-George Lucas–the Star Wars guy–started college at a community college–so did Craig Venter (founder of Celera–the company that sequenced the human genome). Remember . . . it isn’t about where you start. It’s about finishing–getting the degree and the experience that will launch you to the future of your dreams. Almost half of the first-time college students in the U.S. begin their college careers at community colleges.

* Bricks and mortar vs. online-Online education options are increasing. Many traditional colleges and universities now offer online courses. Make sure to find out how your online courses/degrees are viewed in the job market.

The real key is to find college matches that fit your needs. Stay focused on that. When McCoy and I were younger, Hawaii seemed very appealing as a location for further education. Beaches . . . sun . . . lots of water . . . I thought everyone went far away to college. Imagine my surprise when I found out that almost 50% of first-time college students are only 100 miles or less away from home! I was even farther blown away to learn that nearly 8 out of 10 college students are 500 miles or less away from home.

Here is another shocker I’m coming to terms with: Private colleges can be as affordable, or in some instances more affordable, than public ones! WOW☺! That is interesting news. The caveat: never rule out a college option based on sticker price. Applying for scholarships and financial aid really can open up lots of options. I’m going to go ask my counselor about the CSS PROFILE and the FAFSA and have her explain institutional forms to me. I’ll fill you in later--all this thinking makes me tired.


L8R,
Clyde

Cough, sniff, AHHHH CHOOOO, wheeze…Learn to wash your paws, please!

Like I don’t already have enough to worry about, just as I am starting to feel like I have gotten into the groove of the school year, I pick up a germ from somewhere (ok, maybe I shouldn’t have nosed through that garbage can) and BAM!! – I’m on my back, sick as a dog.

I feel like I’m trying hard enough to stay on top of everything in my life, the LAST thing I need is the FLU to slow me down and cause me to fall behind in my classes.

In addition to plethora of swine flu cases we hear about every time we turn on the TV, students especially are prone to colds, mono, and other viruses simply because we’re highly active, our immune systems may not yet be fully developed, and, let’s face it – we share a lot with our friends. Come on, I know I’m not the only one who’s taken a sip from my buddy’s water bowl.

How to combat the dreaded cold and flu season? I decided to go straight to my school nurse to find out.

“PREVENTION is the best medicine, Clyde!” she told me. Here are a few tips she gave me to stay ahead of the game AND to make sure I don’t pass along unwanted germs to my friends, either.

1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol based hand cleaners are also effective.


3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

4. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. Duh!

5. Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever of 100°F (without the use of a fever reducing medicine).

6. Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

She also gave me these great websites for more information and tips: Flu.gov and CDC.gov.

And you know what else I found out? “Immunity is the best defense against getting sick, so it is also important to make sure you stay healthy with exercise and a healthy diet,” the nurse said.

Exercise I can handle, what a great excuse to enjoy the great outdoors! Healthy diet? I may need to work on that one…lunch handouts from my foster siblings probably aren’t what the doctor ordered.
Be well!

Woof,

Clyde

Two, to, too . . . their, there . . . receive . . . weight-listed(???) spell check and grammar check are great tools, but . . .

I’m close to finishing my applications . . . except for the essays! Duh. Of course the essays are the hard part. Newsflash! My counselor tells me my essays don’t have to be the caliber of Pulitzer Prize winning novels. That’s a relief. She tells me to stop worrying about trying to get into the mind of the admissions officer–stop trying to write what I think they want to hear. Her advice is to write about something that matters to me. Hmmmmm.

Maybe I should write about the bay–how much I like being in it.


Perhaps I could write about sponging food from my foster siblings or from wherever I can find it –that’s something I am really good at.

Perhaps my numerous roles in school plays could be a good topic?

Talking with others who know me well might be a way to discover a good essay topic.


Here are some more tips my counselor gives us for writing essays:

• Write from your heart about something that matters to you. Be honest. Integrity matters.
• Use proper grammar. Proofread . . . Proofread . . . and when you are finished, Proofread AGAIN!
• Text speak works for friends–not for applications. This should not appear in your applications or in your essays: Am n lotsa AP classes, d-bate team, yrbk 3 yrs, stud cncl prez.
• Remember . . . the person reading your essay could be a few years older than you or a few decades older than you–make your essay a conversation with the admissions representative.
• Know that sometimes outside readers can be hired and trained by an admissions office to read files. Sometimes files are read by territory–meaning a rep is assigned to your region or state.
• If you aren’t funny, don’t try to be funny. Funny essays are difficult to write well. They are risky. However, if you can write well, a funny essay could set you apart (hopefully, in a good way).
• Make sure the essay is your work. Believe it or not, the admissions officer reading your file, and your counselor, can tell if a forty-five-year-old had a hand in your essay. This is a big NO NO!
• Writing too much or too little can be bad.
• If there is a specific essay prompt, use it. Answer the question/address the prompt as stated.
• Be careful writing anything about mission trips. If you’ve been so moved by your mission trip experience that you returned to your hometown and you’ve begun a highly successful international organization to improve the lives of those in a third world country, then you are exempt from this caveat.
• Short answer essays matter too. Especially the ones that say “Why do you want to attend (college name)_________________________?” My counselor let us know in no uncertain terms that if you can fill in the name of any city and any school in your response to this item, you are not in good shape.
• This is not the time to write about boyfriends or girlfriends, odd peculiar little habits you have, or why NO ONE liked rooming with you at camp.
• Use great caution with the SUBMIT/SEND button. Once you’ve hit that button, you can’t retrieve it. Write out your answers the old-fashioned way and proof them before you enter them on the online form. You’ll still have to proof the online version to eliminate errors.
• Remember, your essay could be read by someone in a great mood or someone who has had a terrible day. Admission officers are human. Yours could be the first read of the night or you could be #50 in a huge stack. The essay is your chance to provide information that can’t be found anywhere else in your application. If you really want to know how it might sound, have someone read your essay to you . . . no kidding . . . listen to your essay. Do the sentences flow nicely? Do the paragraphs have good transitions? Have you violated the I commandment? (Used the pronoun I a zillion or so times in one paragraph?) Can you bark:B O R I N G?

Every night when I look at the blank space on my application where the essays are supposed to go, I hear my counselor saying:

“Procrastination is the enemy.”

Take charge. Get writing. Deadlines loom.

Woof,
Clyde

How to deal...

So, I know that I need BALANCE in my life. But, how do I handle the day-to-day stress that comes with the territory of being a high school senior? I decided to go to my school counselor for a few tips.


“Slow down there, Clyde!” she told me. “Before you give yourself a panic attack, take a few deep breaths and remember a few key things.”

• Develop time management skills. Don’t over schedule your day. Create realistic expectations and deadlines. Plan ahead and prioritize tasks. You may have to say “No” to some things.

• Pace yourself. Remember that life is a marathon, not a sprint. That goes for school and the college admission process.

• Don’t let little things become big things. Take care of small tasks as they arise before they become MAJOR CRISES.

• Remember, nobody’s perfect. Don’t demand perfection from yourself or from others. Not everyone gets to be #1 and that is OK!!!

• Take time out of your busy schedule to have fun or relax. Find out what activities engender a feeling of well-being within you. It could be reading for pleasure, playing music or singing, meditation, deep breathing exercises, an afternoon power nap, a game of chess—anything that takes your mind off school and relaxes you.

• Regular exercise is a proven method of minimizing stress. Find something vigorous to do that increases your heart rate for at least 20 minutes a few times a week. You can combine this with the one above (see, time management!).

• Eat well, be well. Too much junk food or fast food will contribute to your high stress levels. Good nutrition is essential to a healthy mind and body.

• Get plenty of rest. Avoid all-nighters and eleventh-hour cram sessions fueled by caffeine. Sleeplessness and chronic fatigue exacerbate stress.

• Stay positive. Don’t get caught in a cycle of negativity and frustration. Look for solutions to problems. Learn to be patient and understanding of other people’s behavior.

• Seek professional help if you feel overburdened and unable to cope. Don’t put off talking to me or another trusted adult if you feel overwhelmed by stress.

• Don’t shut out your parents. According to the Mayo clinic, “Adolescents who have positive relationships with their parents tend to handle stress more effectively as adults.”

She also told me to remember that stress is a part of life. “It’s a byproduct of the fight-or-flight function of our nervous system,” she said. “Acute stress can save us in a crisis or cause us to rise to the challenge of an important event, but chronic stress brought about by the pressures of daily life can be debilitating unless managed. You have more control than you think, you just need to center yourself every once and a while!”

Stress is inevitable, but by constructively dealing with it, we keep our minds and bodies healthy and can stay at the top of our game!

Woof,

Clyde

Stop! Put Your Pencils Down . . .

OK . . . I’ll admit it. I hate standardized tests. In fact, none of my friends likes them. The reason I’m thinking about them right now is that my foster siblings are gearing up for the PSAT/NMSQT. You know–one test, one day, one point on a 240-point scale can make the difference in making National Merit Semifinalist.

Last year, the big guys in the admissions world issued a report on standardized testing: www.nacacnet.org/AboutNACAC/PressRoom/2009/Pages/followuptesting.aspx. My counselor thinks it was a super effort and hopes that some of the recommendations become reality–SOON! But, until they do . . . Did you know that more than 800 colleges offer test optional admissions? How do you find out? Go to www.fairtest.org for a list. Take comfort in the fact that new schools are added to that list every day.

So . . . how should my foster brothers and sisters and YOU bone up for these tests? Here are some suggestions:

• Work hard every day in the toughest classes you can take.
• Do your homework–pretty simple. Read those novels. Solve those math homework problems. Do those AP Bio labs. Listen to those language tapes.
• Read. Reading improves your comprehension, speed in reading and vocabulary. Duh! All of these tests are reading-based and anything that improves your reading should improve your performance on these tests.
• Take the practice tests offered by the big dogs that make the tests. When you miss something, ask a subject-area teacher to explain the rationale for the question.
• Know how the tests are structured. This will improve your performance. Both ACT (www.act.org) and College Board (www.collegeboard.org) tell you how this is done in their materials, but . . . you have to read the materials to know!
• Get a good night’s rest the day before the test–not too much sleep and not too little.
• Allow enough time to get to the testing center and not be in a dash–rushing around will stress you out.
• Test days aren’t days for sugar-coated breakfasts–you need protein to help your brain kick into gear.
• Relax some–tension won’t help your test performance.
• Know that for many colleges, testing is just one factor in the admissions process. Many schools use tons of factors in deciding who to admit to a given class.


Realize that one test, one day does not make a great college student. What you have taken in terms of course work and how you have challenged yourself, in and out of the classroom, remain the best predictors of your college success.

How many times should you take these tests? Let me ask you–do you want to spend numerous Saturday mornings getting up early and paying money to do it? PREPARE and take the tests as few times as possible! That’s my motto. Be aware of the new Score Choice issues. If you don’t know what that is, google it and you’ll get a long list of information. In terms of score reporting, follow the guidelines on each college website to ensure you’re in compliance with specific admissions policies.


And . . . I don’t know about you, but all this talk about testing makes me tired!


Woof,

Clyde

Thirty-Love . . . Grover Cleveland . . . “Would You Like Fries with That?” . . . “Checkmate!” . . . “May I help you?” . . .

Have you ever wondered how to have the perfect resume? How can you tell which activities matter– which ones will get you into your dream university, land you the perfect part-time job during school, or, if it’s your choice, help you get a full-time job after graduation? Would sports do the job? How about Scholar’s Bowl–you know brainiac jeopardy? If you have a job and can’t participate in extracurricular and community activities, will it set you back in your quest for success? What if chess is your major activity–what’s the demand factor for that? Doesn’t exactly seem to translate to Econ major or set you up for management training at Target? And . . . if you volunteer, how are you going to translate that into a jump start to the future of your dreams?

Here’s what my counselor tells students:

“Butterfly joiners aren’t good at anything except flitting around.”

She tells us to join something we are truly interested in–and if we can’t find activities that suit our interests, we should start one! Better yet–start two. She tells us to share our enthusiasm and talk some friends into joining our efforts. All of a sudden, we’ve then become entrepreneurs. It helps to find ways to demonstrate true leadership in endeavors. Proven leadership, making things stronger and more successful, making an organization stretch farther than it ever has before, having a real impact can translate any activity into a real stepping stone to success – no matter how you define success.

I’ve learned that whether I join existing school clubs, organizations and/or athletic teams, work part-time, or spend tons of time making a difference in my community volunteering, the real key to making any activity work to further my goals is to work to make the activity a huge success and to be able to demonstrate my connection to that organization’s success. Working as a team is critical to success in school, activities, community endeavors, college and business. Part of success in life is learning to make and share goals. It really isn’t the number of activities or the types of activities that end up making a difference in a resume. It’s what I do in the activities I join–or start–that shows what kind of student, employee, team member, and/or leader I will be.

Go join activities you are passionate about and then make those groups wildly impactful–that is the real way to make your resume a stand out and you’ll actually have fun because you are engaged in things that really matter to you.


Woof,

Clyde

All Work and No Play Makes Clyde A Very Dull Dog...

Balance. It seems a simple enough concept in theory. But realistically, how can I ever find time to just chill out with my friends, watch TV, or hang out at the beach when there is so much WORK to be done? I mean, come on…I’ve only got four paws!

Here’s what I know for sure. Hour after hour, day after day, and week after week of studying, working, and STRESSING are a recipe for BURNOUT. As in poof, the flame is gone, no desire, no motivation, no purpose for crawling out of bed in the morning. Don’t let yourself get stuck in that place!

High school students lead active lives, and stress just comes with the territory. A little stress is a good thing – it keeps us on our paws. A lot of stress can lead to loss of sleep, feeling like we’re always in the doghouse, or finding ourselves at the bottom of a Dog Chow bag wondering whatever happened to our lives. Ok – maybe that’s just me.

Anyway, here’s what I do to decompress:

When I feel I’ve got too much on my plate (or in my dish), I’ve been known to go outside and kick the ball around for a while...


Unleash my creativity on the canvas...


Or just chill out with my friends...


None of these things make my obligations go away, but they do make them a little easier to stomach. And it helps me to work when it’s time to work and find time to chill to regenerate my brain cells and my spirit.

Have some pent-up energy you need to express? Take it outside! Go for a run, take a trip to the batting cage, grab a friend for a little one-on-one action on the basketball court.

Brain bogged down with one too many vocabulary words or mathematical equations? Stretch that grey matter in a different direction by curling up with a good book or picking up your guitar to just JAM!

Feeling overly anxious about that interview, acceptance letter, LIFE IN GENERAL? Talk about it! Your friends are experiencing the same worries you are right now and it helps when you know you aren’t facing the world alone.

The important thing to remember is: your high school years should be fun. You’re supposed to be making memories! Don’t get so carried away with the seemingly insurmountable task ahead of you of preparing for the rest of your life that you forget to enjoy today. Otherwise you’ll eventually reach tomorrow, look back, and all you’ll see is a long trail of textbooks, applications and essays. Choose instead to pave your road with experiences, friendships and good times. It’s amazing what a little balance can do to lighten your load.

A little work, a little play, a happy dog at the end of the day.

Woof,
Clyde