The Crabby Counselor

Hi! If you're looking for The Crabby Counselor, click on  this post's title or go here. He'll be commenting on college admission and all it inspires every week or so! Enjoy.

Campus Deadlines & Info Sessions for Fellowships

GT Fellowships Office Information

CAMPUS DEADLINES FOR FELLOWSHIPS

September 10 (noon)׀Rhodes, Marshall, Churchill, Mitchell, Gates

September 17 (noon)׀Fulbright

Send copy of completed application to advisor.

Marshall, Churchill, Mitchell, Gates: Dr. Karen Adams (karen.adams@provost.gatech.edu)

Rhodes: Mr. Paul Hurst (paul.hurst@provost.gatech.edu)

NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP INFORMATION SESSIONS

September 7, 11:00׀Piedmont Room, Student Center

September 30, 11:00׀Crescent Room, Student Center

National Science Foundation (NSF) applications are due the first week of November. Students have an opportunity to hear and ask questions from someone who has been an NSF reviewer. Last year 38 Georgia Tech students won NSF awards worth about $122,000 each. Encourage seniors and first-year graduate students in STEM areas to attend one of these sessions to learn more about the application process.

For more information about fellowship opportunities, please visit the GT Fellowships Office website: http://www.fellowships.gatech.edu/

Combating Digital Maximalism

I just finished William PowersҀ HamletҀs Blackberry which is a great rumination on the costs we accrue as we become increasingly interconnected and what we can do to loosen itҀs insidious grip on our lives. Powers (like Neil Postman in his third idea of technological change) thinks that an identifiable philosophy lies at the heart of technology and that in the digital era it's called "Digital Maximalism" and can be summarized by a maxim and two corollaries:

ItҀs good to be connected, and itҀs bad to be disconnected.
First corollary: The more you connect, the better off you are.
Second corollary: The more you disconnect, the worse off you are. [p.35]

Like most people who value contemplation, Powers takes issue with this philosophy and devotes a good deal of the book examining how we can get off the grid and spend a little more time with our inner selves. HeҀs by no means the first to have written on this theme (think CarrҀs well received The Shallows or my own small contributions in ӀiPhones Each Day Keep the Instructor O.kԀ), but I especially appreciate his attempt to look at a few famous men from Western history (including Socrates, Seneca, Gutenberg and Shakespeare) and examine what theyҀve done to shirk the distractions of the crowd and get down to deeper and more focused thinking. If you need a fresh and interesting take on the canon, and you worry whether our intellectual capacities are diminishing as a result of recent inventions than this book is for you.

Addendum: Powers suggests that we need to build options into our current digital technologies that will allow us to adjust how much connectivity we want. Most of our devices attempt to realize the maxim and corollaries enumerated above. But when people choose the relatively less connected Kindle over the iPad they are often leveraging the kind of option Powers wants to see more of. People (like myself) who turned on Gmail labҀs ӀEmail AddictԀ feature (which made Gmail unavailable for 15 minutes) were after the same thing too. ItҀs a shame that the feature was retired which (incidentally) is somewhat at odds with GoogleҀs very own Eric Schmidt who as CEO once advised:

Turn off your computer. YouҀre actually going to have to turn off your phone and discover all that is human around us. Nothing beats holding the hand of your grandchild as he walks his first steps. (quoted from p.76 of HamletҀs Blackberry).

Great College Lists and Profiles from Allen Grove

August 11, 2010

Allen Grove of About.com runs a great college admissions blog for About.com that I consider to be top tier, along with Jacques Steinberg's New York Times Education blog: The Choice. One of the best features on Allen Grove's site is the "starter lists" he makes akin to the "best and worst" lists the Princeton Review's college guides are famous for. I find these lists really useful when sorting between the over two thousand four year undergraduate programs in the country; Grove brings lesser-known colleges really worth considering to life in his short lists and convenient descriptions. Furthermore, Grove has an unbelievable grasp of the American higher education system as a whole and offers great application and admissions advice.

20 Most Selective Colleges
Ivy League Schools
Top Catholic Colleges and Universities
Top Liberal Arts Colleges and 20 More Great Liberal Arts Colleges
Top Public Liberal Arts Colleges
Top Public Universities
Top Undergraduate Business Schools
Top Undergraduate Engineering Universities  and Top Engineering Colleges
Top Universities and 10 More Great Universities
Top Women's Colleges

Also of note are Groves's lists of "top picks by state" which break down great schools by geography. I hope you Illinoisians will appreciate the "Top Illinois Colleges" page!

American University of Cairo Scholarships

The AUC Exchange Program in Cairo, Egypt is open to eligible Georgia Tech students who have completed at least 2 semesters of undergraduate college study and have maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA. Courses taken at the American University of Cairo can count toward your Georgia Tech degree program.

AUC offers two scholarships for Study Abroad students:

1. Hermann F. Eilts International Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded in tribute to Hermann F. Eilts, an AUC trustee and former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Eilts played an integral role in Arab-American relations during his 32-year tenure with the U.S. Foreign Service. He was a negotiator on the Camp David peace accords and one of the State Department's first Middle East specialists. Through diplomacy and education, Eilts worked tirelessly to bridge political divides and increase cultural understanding between the United States and the Arab world.

To be eligible, a student must be accepted to AUC's study abroad program, have a 3.5 cumulative GPA, maintain full-time status, and register for at least one political science, Middle East studies, or history course each semester of attendance at AUC.

To apply, please write a 1500 word essay on the following topic: "How will my experience at The American University in Cairo impact my future career plans and broaden my appreciation of Arab culture?" This essay should be emailed to Wesley Clark at wclark@aucnyo.edu or mailed to his attention in the New York office. The award received may be applied to tuition, fees, and on-campus housing.

2. The Simpson Scholarship in Egyptology

The Simpson Scholarship is a $2500.00 award for one semester to be used toward tuition or living expenses. The scholarship is designed for students who wish to increase their knowledge and familiarity with ancient Egypt at The American University in Cairo. Students must enroll in at least three Egyptology courses.

Up to five scholarships are awarded annually, for one semester each. To apply, please send a 1500 word essay about why you want to study Egyptology at AUC, and include a reference to three Egyptology courses for which you wish to register. This essay should be emailed to Wesley Clark at wclark@aucnyo.edu or mailed to his attention in the New York office.

For more information on the AUC Exchange Program, please visit the OIE website: http://www.oie.gatech.edu/sa/programs/details/auc.php

Summer Tours 2010

COLLEGE TOURS SUMMER 2010


Two weeks on the road and 22 colleges and universities was how I spent the last part of June 2010. I now have seen all but one of the 20 private schools in South Carolina. Several pounds later and way too many desserts, I am now a knowledgeable consultant about the following schools.

Monday started in Columbia, SC at Columbia International University. As a Christian college, all students must major in Bible and something in a vocational field. Their curriculum is based on five core values: authority of scripture, prayer and faith, evangelical unity, world evangelism (involvement in 140 countries), victorious Christian living. Students on campus represent over 130 countries. They have a very unique program with an adjacent State prison. The college president has a goal of have an expanding athletic program.

Monday afternoon we moved on to Allen University located in the urban part of Columbia. This HBCU school is affiliated with the AME church. There is a very family-oriented atmosphere where students have strong bonds from faculty as friends and supporters. There are a number of historic buildings on campus which have lovingly been restored.

Tuesday morning we visited Newberry College in Newberry, SC. Located on edge of a small Southern town with a restored opera house, it has an ideal college setting. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, they are celebrating their 150th anniversary. I found the campus similar to Emory & Henry and Erskine. They participate in the Call Me Mr. Program, which encourages black males to teach in elementary school. Newberry has a laptop program that provides each incoming freshman with a computer for all four years. The nursing program at Newberry just celebrated its first graduation and is expanding. One unique program is the forensic program with a chemistry basis that has a working relationship with SLED.

Lunch was served at Anderson University in Anderson. This Southern Baptist institution has evolved over the past 100 years. The campus has grown in size from 68 acres to 271 acres. Anderson has an accredited interior design major and their graphic design department has won many awards. This school has 2300 students and strives to grow to be even larger. Afternoon tea with a student panel was the highlight of the visit.

Wofford College with its unique Boston terrier mascot was the next host school. Located in Spartanburg, this campus shares its surroundings with several other colleges. Currently at 1500 students, they hope to grow to 1600. The strongest majors are Biology and Foreign Language. Many students study abroad--68% and many are Greek--60%. Wofford has a beautiful housing complex for Seniors with a village-type atmosphere. This is one of the more demanding schools academically.

Wednesday started with breakfast in the outdoor courtyard with fountains at Converse College in Spartanburg. I can still taste those delicious scones! Converse has a dynamic female president with an Ivy League educational background. As a women's college, this institution provides many opportunities. Their athletics program is growing. The newest sports are equestrian, lacrosse, and swimming. Study abroad is enjoyed by 33% of their students. Gorgeous sculptures abound throughout their lovely, expansive campus. Music and visual arts are strong majors. They are going to open their new School of Arts.

The afternoon was spent at Spartanburg Methodist. This is one of those rare two-year colleges which give a strong, supportive environment to its students. They have extremely generous financial aid packages. If you are Methodist, you receive a $1,000 scholarship. Degrees can be earned in Arts, Science, Religion or Criminal Justice. This school has 3 males to 1 female, a very different scenario than most . The cobblestone buildings on campus have a history which began as a school to educate textile workers.

The late afternoon we visited Limestone College in Gaffney. Situated on the edge of a quarry, this institution began as a women's college in 1845. The oldest building on campus was originally a hotel for those who wished to visit nearby healing springs. Limestone is most known for its strong lacrosse program. Business is the most popular major. Another plus for Limestone is that they have a LD program. Life coaches are an important part of this alternative learning program.

Thursday we traveled to Sumter to Morris College. They are a HBCU affiliated with the Baptist Education and Missionary Convention of South Carolina. Criminal justice is their fasted growing major. Those in engineering or nursing, benefit from the agreements with Clemson, NC A&T, and USC. This school also participates in the Call Me Mr. Program. The biggest boost to this school is a $10 million gift from an alumnus who won the State Lottery. Their will be new buildings, campus improvements, and additional scholarships. Morris served the world's best fried chicken and wow, what a dessert bar!!

A bit of a ride on country roads and we arrived at Coker College in Hartsville, just a bit from Florence. Dinner was hosted at their historic 1820 Thomas Hart House, followed by a tour of the campus's Kalmia Gardens. On Friday morning we returned to Coker. They hosted a lovely sit-down breakfast in the beautiful Coker home which was adorned with rare, expensive Dresden and Waterford chandeliers. Coker got my star for this tour. Set in a lovely Southern town, with an expansive, green campus--it is just beautiful--columns and bricks abound. The Governor's School shares this same setting. Round-table learning is the predominate style for this campus. There are an abundance of choices in dance and music--choreography, music/piano--to name a few. There are 630 students from many states. This is a wonderful, small liberal arts school with excellent academic opportunities for students.

Friday afternoon was a trip back to Columbia to travel back home. There was just enough time to go home, unpack, do laundry, repack and be back on the road on Sunday.

I made my way to High Point, NC to begin the Central portion of the North Carolina private colleges and universities.

After starting at High Point University, everything else was lacking in the shine and precision experienced at HP. High Point is the Disneyworld of college campuses. Inside and out the campus sparkles and shines and offers the best of the best to its students. The staff and President of HP were very polished and professional in all that they did, said, and offered to the tour counselors. Purple banners, fountains, flowers, life-size sitting figures of great historical individuals, classical music piped throughout the campus--including the outside, finely furnished student areas, fine art throughout the campus are just a few of the things to be found on this growing campus. A new Greek village with million dollar homes is to begin construction. Growth to an enrollment of 5,000 is the goal. HP is a Steinway campus. This school is on an upward trajectory which will surely be reached under the leadership of President Nido R. Quebein. This is soon to be the next Elon. Counselors were treated to dinner in the campus Steak House, movies with popcorn, candy and drinks, and chocolate chip cookies wrapped with a thank-you card at our room doors. The amenities that are offered to the students in their comprehensive fee is not to be found on any other campus that I have visited thus far. In their own words, they have an "elegant, pristine, boutique" campus. All I can say is WOW about HP.

Monday afternoon we proceeded to Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. WF is a test optional school. They have a lovely new stadium that is guarded by a gigantic Demon Deacon. Wake Forest own properties in England, Austria and Italy with 65% of students taking advantage of study abroad. Early decision is the way to get in to this highly competitive university. One-third of the freshmen class is admitted Early Decision, which is rolling and binding. Business is the most popular major. After having lunch atop the new stadium, we moved on to another location in Winston-Salem.

Salem College in the historic Old Salem district hosted us for dinner. We first had a chance to explore the Old Salem section. The bakery was not to be missed. Founded in 1772 by Moravians, this is the oldest women's college in the United States and in North Carolina. New majors are exercise science and public policy. They have a strong School of Music. There was extreme passion for this school exhibited by the President, faculty and students.

Tuesday started at Catawba College in Salisbury. They hosted breakfast in their Center for the Environment--a lovely building set into the hillside with a waterfall running beside it. They have a strong environmental program that is supported by a 189-acre ecological preserve and a 300-acre wildlife refuge. The German Reform Church founded this school. The core values of scholarship, character, culture and service are stressed. With 1,000 students and 40 majors, one should not have to worry about overcrowding. One unique concentration is popular music. A learning specialist is on staff. Lemonade and cookies at the lovely campus guest house was a nice touch farewell send-off.

Livingstone College in Salisbury was our next stop. A HBCU it was founded by the AME Church. A former plantation with ties to the Underground Railroad and Harriett Tubman are part of this campus. This school provides an excellent setting for at-risk students. There is a Bridge Program, as well as scholarship incentives, for good academic performance. The school population is primarily first-generation--73%. This is another campus that has a three-to-one, male-to-female, ratio. This campus has the only library funded by and named for Andrew Carnegie.

Wingate University in Wingate was our dinner stop. This school strives to have students graduate in four years. As a Baptist institution, their motto is Knowledge that integrates Faith that inspires Service. New sports are diving and track. They hope to grow to a campus of 4,000 undergrads. The entire Junior class participates in the Winternational Program, which involves study abroad for ten days. Religious activities, though voluntary, play a large role on this campus.

Thursday morning began at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in Concord. This is a very regionally based college which offers a variety of medical majors from the AA to BS level. Many of the students were non-traditional.

Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer hosted us for lunch. There were so many tasty sandwich choices that it was difficult to make a final decision. They refer to their setting as a village with a Methodist Church that is run by the students. The Bonner Leaders Program, which is connected to AmeriCorps, is on this campus. There is a train that runs through the campus. This institution was founded by the Pfeiffer family from Upstate New York. A student would be comfortable on this campus if they have strong religious values. There is a certified learning center. Snow cones were our treat at the end of our visit!

Elon University was our last stop of the day. Since my last visit to this campus, there has been a big building boom, which is still in progress. This school is connected to the United Church of Christ. Experiential and engaged learning seemed to be the current terminology on the campus. The acorn and the oak (there are many oak trees on campus) are integrated into campus traditions. Elon is moving to a four-credit system--as is High Point. Elon is a Phi Beta Campus. Elon is the school that High Point is striving to become.

Guilford College in Greensboro was our overnight host. After breakfast on Thursday, we were given a golf-cart, progressive campus tour. There are a number of renovations throughout the campus. Green is the important word. Quaker values are an integral part of life on this campus. Strong LD services are provided. The Bonner Scholars Program is on this campus. Guilford is a writing-intensive school.

Bennett College for Women in Greensboro was our next stop. This is a HBCU affiliated with the United Methodist Church. This is another campus that was supported by the New York-based Pfeiffer family. There are many traditions connected with this historic school. Rolling admission and test optional admissions make things easier for applicants. This is the only campus that has a headstone in memory of Miss Gossip.

Thursday evening we spent in downtown Greensboro, right down the street from the Civil Rights Museum. Just up the block was the lunch counter that was the center of so much activity in the sixties. We were treated to a Grasshoppers baseball game, the local farm team, at the nearby stadium.

Friday morning marked our final visit of the tour. We toured Greensboro College. This is a United Methodist school that began as a women's college. Their brother school was Trinity (now Duke.) Athletics are strong on this campus with a male-majority population. This is one of the few schools that have a Learning Service Program with no additional fees connected to it. Generous financial aid packages are offered at Greensboro. The four-credit system is now being used on this campus. The most popular majors are athletic training, criminal justice, and business.

At the conclusion of our Greensboro tour, we returned to High Point. Driving home gave me time to formulate a plan to lose all of those lovely calories that I consumed as I took my college (culinary) tour through the Carolinas!

The Common Application is live, Class of 2011!

The Common Application went up on August 1st, 2010 for the High School class of 2011 who will be entering college in the fall of 2011. Don't tell me you haven't been waiting all summer for this moment... maybe just me! In any case, the Common App is now legitimate, so you can add the schools you're interested in applying to, get all of the address/family/education background questions out of the way, and find out the fees and supplemental applications associated with each college. If you haven't done so, register for an account now so that you can start taking advantage of the resources the Common App makes available, even though most applications aren't due until November (early programs) or January (regular decision).

As far as opportunities to get started on your essays before school starts, this is the time to start! I would recommend that everyone work on the required Common App "pesonal essay" first, and then go on to school specific supplemental essays, which are unique to each college and will only be read by that particular school.

This year's Common App essay choices are as follows:

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
Topic of your choice.

Stay posted for advice on writing and revising your essays. I have attended three workshops on writing the college application essay and will be sure to fill you all in! I'll also be reviewing the book 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays, Third Edition: What Worked for Them Can Help You Get into the College of Your Choice (Harvard Crimson). For now, here is a great exercise to get started.

The Ideas Exercise - Facing a blank Word document with a blinking cursor taunting you? Don't know what to write about in your essays? This exercise is designed to get your mind loosened up to writing freely. It should preferably be performed with paper and pen, but it can also be done on a computer word processor. Set aside ten minutes of time at a desk in a quiet area with no distractions, and simply begin writing. Here's the only rule: never, never stop writing. Even if you run out of things to write (or type) about, simply write "I have nothing to write about. I have nothing to write about." Before long, you will notice that you "have something to write about... this one time..." and so the exercise goes. Simply getting those ideas out on paper shows you after a few brainstorming sessions, which things you naturally think about in the world. Do you write mostly about your past experiences, about other people, about places in your future, or about the meaning of life? That's the gist to capture in your essay first and foremost: your approach to the world and the way you really think. (Exercise courtesy of a writing workshop I attended at Harvard.)

In addition, here's a great resource on the application process in general that also addresses the common apps and shows a few strong sample essays for you to get an idea of what is expected: Allen Grove's article on the Common Application (About.com - college apps).