Time for College Visits

GUEST Blog- Jill Burstein, Chicago, Ill. is our guest blogger this week.

Spring is upon us and now is the time for juniors in high school to hit the road. Take some time and go visit your top choices of colleges. You do not have to zig zag across the country but pick one geographic area and see several difference types of schools. You might want to stop at Boston University, a large city school and follow it up with a small liberal arts college such a Clark University. A mid size school like Tufts would round out the list.

Come prepared with a list a questions that you would like answered, to help you differentiate the differences between the schools and what might be the best fit for you. Take a campus tour, meet with someone from the admissions staff and talk to your tour guide. What do they like best about their school? What would they want to change? Why did they pick their college?

For students with learning differences, make sure you meet with the Disability Services Office to find out what kinds of services are provided. They can be minimal, just providing for accommodations or and extensive as one on one meetings with professional learning disability people.

Lastly, have FUN!

Seniors- here they go!

Senioritus. None of our students experience this at all, right?  It is that time of year again where we preach to our students about the hazards of not finishing strong.  Rather than lecture-  I wrote this "Senioritus Blues" last summer. Enjoy!

Senioritis Blues

By Cyndy McDonald, cyndy@mycca.net

Yo, I have worked my butt off four years straight

Taken tests over and over with my classmates

Volunteered my face in all the school clubs

Took AP classes until I was ready to hit the local pub

Ran for office more than was my due

Played Varsity football, soccer, and wrestling too

Choose my list of colleges with my advisor’s might and strength

Not too long, not too short, just the right length

Essays and applications, perfected and polished

Are what it took to get me into college

Now my answers have come back clear

No from some, and yes from the one I held most dear

I can party now, and enjoy myself from now to June

Replace homework with music on my iPod to stay

Drop Calculus and take time with friends after lunch

No need to study, the AP test will be a cinch

I can go to prom and stay up until dawn

Forget about helping my parents or mowing the lawn

Now I am singing the senioritis blues

In a letter from the college I got the news

My record is no longer stellar

The college did not like seeing my grades in the cellar

The college withdrew my acceptance for the fall

My face will no longer grace the freshman hall

Learn from my story and don’t let senioritis get to you.

Or you too will be singing the senioritis blues.