Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A Word to Parents: The Great Temptation


There is an ancient Greek story about a legendary robber named Procrustes who used to force his victims to fit a certain bed by stretching or lopping off their legs. Sometimes as parents we can unknowingly do to our children in the college process what Procrustes did to his victims. We stretch our kids to apply to more highly selective colleges. We lop off any schools on the list that aren’t ranked by Newsweek. We coerce our kids into applying to only “car decal” colleges, because let’s be honest, the bumper sticker matters!

So easily we forget that the college process is not about us. It’s about the child. Michael Thompson, a well-known psychologist, noted that the college process is really about separation or individuation, about the students defining themselves in terms independent of their parents. Thus when we take over, we rob our kids of that “rite of passage” experience into adult-decision making.

Our goal is to subvert the Procrustes impulse that often quickens to a manic beat around the release of the US News and World Report College Edition. Now don’t misinterpret our cautious posture: It’s not that we don’t want to “stretch” our kids; it’s how we “stretch” our kids and in what directions. Our hope then is that we “stretch” them to find the absolute best fit college.

Frank Sachs said it best: "College is a Match to be Made, not a Prize to be Won." It's important to remember through this entire college process that your student is the prize.

In the end, we are confident that your student will have college choices - plural. And our overarching hope is that your student doesn't just "gets in", but that they flourish while they are in college, and Lord willing, graduate in four years ( your pocket book is saying "Amen" isn't it?).

To the journey.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

College That Changes Lives College Fair


Mark Hoven and I would like to formally invite ALL rising senior students to caravan up with us to Tulsa's Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center for the College That Change Lives college fair.

We will leave the Bennett Athletic Center at 5 pm. The event lasts from 7 pm - 9 pm.

There will be a 30-minute panel presentation by CTCL deans and directors, and then immediately after the panel presentation, the college fair begins, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. Casady seniors will be able to collect information from and speak directly with admission representatives from the 40 colleges and universities that inspired noted education reporter and former New York Times education editor Loren Pope to write the book Colleges That Change Lives.

In the recent past, these 40 colleges have grown in popularity among Casady students, and as a result, we've seen more and more students matriculate to some of these 40 colleges.

I think of Taylor Helm, a 10' Casady graduate, who will attend DePauw.

I think of Rose Dubiskis, another 10' graduate, who will attend Hendrix.

I think of Lindsey Henderson and Tori McCune, both 10' graduates, both of whom will attend Rhodes this fall.

These are just a few of our outstanding Casady graduates who have matriculated to one of the 40 colleges that Loren Pope argues are as "good as the Ivies".

Below is a complete list of the 40 colleges that will attend the fair:

AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE
ALLEGHENY COLLEGE
AUSTIN COLLEGE
BELOIT COLLEGE
BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN COLLEGE
CENTRE COLLEGE
CLARK UNIVERSITY
CORNELL COLLEGE
DENISON UNIVERSITY
EARLHAM COLLEGE
ECKERD COLLEGE
EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE
THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
GOUCHER COLLEGE
GUILFORD COLLEGE
HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE
HENDRIX COLLEGE
HIRAM COLLEGE
HOPE COLLEGE
JUNIATA COLLEGE
KALAMAZOO COLLEGE
KNOX COLLEGE
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY
LYNCHBURG COLLEGE
MARLBORO COLLEGE
MCDANIEL COLLEGE
MILLSAPS COLLEGE
NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
REED COLLEGE
RHODES COLLEGE
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, MD
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, NM
ST. OLAF COLLEGE
URSINUS COLLEGE
WABASH COLLEGE
WHEATON COLLEGE (IL)
WHITMAN COLLEGE
WOOSTER, COLLEGE OF


If you have any questions about the college fair this next Monday, you can contact me at bottomlyj@casady.org or Mark at hovenm@casady.org.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Bootcamp Session #1!!

Session #1 is in the books.

And what a hit it was.

The MD lab was jam packed with rising seniors

ready to get a jump start on their college applications through the Common Application.

I did a little iPhone video to capture the moment.




In our session we perused the 418 colleges and universities that accept this application. (Click here to see the 2010-2011 "all member" list).

We worked through every section together, and paused at many spots, exploring questions, seeking clarification.

My favorite question of the group: "So if my cell phone contains a voicemail that includes somewhat questionable lines from a somewhat questionable movie - you're suggesting that I might want to change it just on the rare chance that a college rep might call and hear that message?"

Many seniors also had a chance to look at the supplemental pieces to each school. Wake Forest University always asks creative, thought provoking supplement questions. Curious what they are? Here are the 8 essay prompts:
  • Please list meaningful readings you have completed during the past two years in order of their interest to you:
  • Describe the culture in which you grew up. What are its strengths and weaknesses?
  • What outrages you? What are you doing about it?
  • As a part of 2010 Wake Forest orientation, the freshman class examined The Andes of Ecuador, a painting by Frederic Church. Next year what work of visual or performing art should the incoming class analyze? Why?
  • Think about your academic passion. Design your ideal seminar class in the context of a liberal arts curriculum.
  • What idea most challenges you?
  • What final Jeopardy category would ensure your victory?
  • I wish I knew....
  • What should we know about you that we haven't yet learned?
If I could answer just one prompt - "I'll take J.R.R. Tolkien and Lord of the Rings for final Jeopardy, Alex!" :)



Okay maybe one more. What many don't know about me is that I can dance. Like Michael Jackson-meet-Justin Timberlake dance. Break dance-meet-hip hop. I'm serious. I may be 35 years old, but I still got enough moves not to look like a total fool.



Switching gears; we are looking forward to our next bootcamp session on Thursday.

Let's pack the place again!!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Common Application Bootcamp

I thought I might begin by setting the mood.



While you listen you might want to stretch, do some leg kicks, maybe take a lap around Casady lake.

Because rising seniors, the time has come.

It's the 2nd annual Common Application Bootcamp.


414 colleges and universities await your application!!!

On August 1st the Common Application went live. To go ahead and register with the Common Application you can go directly to their web site by clicking here.

Or you can enter into the Common App. web site by going through your Naviance account.

Tomorrow and Thursday from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm you have a chance to join Mrs. Cockrum and myself to "run the gauntlet" with us.

It's first come first serve.

There are about 18 computers to work on.

Once the computers fill up then we will ask you the senior to return the next session.

Don't fret, because if we have significant overflow, we will add a session this week, and we are working on adding 2 sessions during the week of August 16th-20th.

We want to ensure that every senior has a chance to participate.

As far as the objectives for our sessions:

We will go through each section of the Common Application so you understand what a "holistic application review" constitutes.

We will address any questions.

Input personal information.

Work on rough drafts for short and long essays.

Organize resume info that reveals your passions and interests.

As far as what to bring, you will need to know your social security #, your parent's email, your email, your parent's employer, your parent's educational pedigree.

That's the most pertinent.

In addition, if you have any essays or resumes, you will want to bring them too.

Put them on an E drive and we can insert them.

Don't worry if you don't have any of the major content pieces done (essays and resume).

You have ample time to get that done.

This is just a jump start workshop.

Last year we had over 50 seniors participate.

I hope we top that number this year.

So come all 82 of you!