The College Whisperer™ | Navigating The Road To College

One Of The Best Things About Going To College. . .

October 21, 2010

. . .Is That You Can Always Come Home Again!



Posted by College Connection. Posted In : College Life 

 

Don't Even Think About Submitting That College Application. . .

October 13, 2010

. . .Until You Speak With A COLLEGE CONNECTION Counselor!

Overwhelmed!

That’s what parents and high school students alike tell us about the college application and admissions process.

It’s the perfect storm. The confluence of conflicting deadlines, endless paperwork, constant pressure, and information overload.

Wondering which college is right for you or your child? Has the Common Application left you asking yourself, “where do I start?” Is the personal statement cause for terminal writer’s block? Are you betwixt and between in your scholarship search? Don’t know your FAFSA from your CSS Profile when it comes to applying for financial aid?

Stop the madness. End the stress.

Whether you need comprehensive college planning — from choosing which colleges to apply to through filing for scholarships, grants and financial aid — or simply want an assist tweaking your essay, we can help you develop a dynamic admissions strategy!

COLLEGE CONNECTION is Long Island’s one-stop source for comprehensive college planning, guidance and support. An invaluable resource and indispensable tool for every prospective college student — and his or her parents.

College Matching ~ Admission Strategies ~ Application Enhancement
Essay & Resume Development ~ Scholarship & Financial Aid Sourcing

Individualized attention specific to achieve your goal of acceptance into the college of your choice. No gimmicks. No cookie-cutter counseling. Customized plans for every student and any budget. The information and advice you need to successfully navigate the road to college.

Call COLLEGE CONNECTION today at 516-345-8766 for a FREE, no obligation telephone consultation, or e-mail us at info@CollegeConnect.info.

The road to college admissions success begins at COLLEGE CONNECTION.

Posted by College Connection. Posted In : College Planning 

 

College Is A Six-Figure Investment

October 8, 2010

Shouldn't you be working with an "investment" advisor?

Call COLLEGE CONNECTION today for a FREE telephone conversation. 516-345-8766.

We help students -- and their parents -- navigate the road to college. We also help them find money to pay the bills once they get there!

COLLEGE CONNECTION

College Matching ~ Admission Strategies ~ Application Enhancement
Essay Development ~ Scholarship & Financial Aid Sourcing

516-345-8766

Posted by College Connection. Posted In : Paying for College 

 

College "Best Buys"

October 7, 2010

While reluctant to call most college tuition, "bargains," there are, to be sure, great values to be had, even schools that charge no tuition at all. [Now that's a bargain!]

Check out the Forbes' list of America's Best College Buys, which includes both private and public colleges:

Rank Name State
1 United States Military Academy NY
2 United States Air Force Academy CO
3 United States Naval Academy MD
4 Cooper Union NY
5 United States Merchant Marine Academy NY
6 College of the Ozarks MO
7 Berea College KY
8 United States Coast Guard Academy CT
9 University of Florida FL
10 New College of Florida FL
11 Brigham Young University UT
12 Florida State University FL
13 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC
14 California Maritime Academy CA
15 Utah State University UT
16 Troy University AL
17 University of North Carolina, Wilmington NC
18 University of Georgia GA
19 CUNY, Baruch College NY
20 Appalachian State University NC
21 University of North Carolina, Asheville NC
22 University of Central Florida FL
23 SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry NY
24 University of Mississippi MS
25 University of California, Berkeley CA
26 Louisiana State University LA
27 Georgia Institute of Technology GA
28 University of California, Los Angeles CA
29 CUNY, Queens College NY
30 University of Washington WA
31 SUNY, Binghamton (Binghamton University) NY
32 West Virginia University WV
33 Western Washington University WA
34 Mississippi State University MS
35 North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC
36 East Carolina University NC
37 University of North Carolina, Greensboro NC
38 SUNY, Geneseo NY
39 University of Arizona AZ
40 SUNY, Stony Brook (Stony Brook University) NY
41 Colorado State University CO
42 James Madison University VA
43 University of Virginia VA
44 University of Mary Washington VA
45 University of Oregon OR
46 Texas Tech University TX
47 Arizona State University AZ
48 University of Colorado, Boulder CO
49 University of California, Irvine CA
50 University of Oklahoma, Norman OK
51 College of William and Mary VA
52 Oregon State University OR
53 University of California, San Diego CA
54 University of Iowa IA
55 University of Alabama AL
56 University of Wisconsin, Madison WI
57 Northern Arizona University AZ
58 Virginia Tech VA
59 Oklahoma State University OK
60 Texas A&M University, College Station TX
61 SUNY, Albany (University at Albany) NY
62 University of California, Santa Cruz CA
63 University of Texas, Austin TX
64 Virginia Military Institute VA
65 University of California, Riverside CA
66 University of Arkansas AR
67 University of California, Davis CA
68 George Mason University VA
69 Murray State University KY
70 Truman State University MO
71 Indiana University, Bloomington IN
72 University of California, Santa Barbara CA
73 University of Maryland, College Park MD
74 SUNY, Buffalo (University at Buffalo) NY
75 Auburn University AL
76 University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN
77 University of Delaware DE
78 University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE
79 University of Kansas KS
80 The Citadel SC
81 Ohio State University, Columbus OH
82 University of Minnesota, Morris MN
83 Washington State University WA
84 Missouri State University MO
85 Purdue University, West Lafayette IN
86 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
87 University of South Carolina, Columbia SC
88 Iowa State University IA
89 University of Northern Iowa IA
90 University of Connecticut CT
91 University of Missouri, Columbia MO
92 University of Texas, Dallas TX
93 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign IL
94 Towson University MD
95 St. Mary's College of Maryland MD
96 Colorado School of Mines CO
97 Miami University, Oxford OH
98 College of Charleston SC
99 Ball State University IN
100 Millersville University PA

Of course, cost may well be relative (as in bang for your buck), and your mileage may vary. Still, the list gives a fair representation of college "buys," based upon the criteria set by the folks at Forbes (who could, in all likelihood, well afford the nation's most expensive colleges).

Whether a value or worthy of a seven-figure trust fund, finding the right college "fit," and the money to pay for it, can be a challenge. Cost is among the most significant considerations to many students -- and their parents -- and should be factored into both the decision of where to apply and where to attend.

The choice is yours to make. Make it wisely!

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Posted by College Connection. Posted In : Paying for College 

 

The Choice

October 7, 2010

No. Not which college or university to apply to, or, ultimately, which school to attend. [Though the former (application) is certainly on the minds of many a high school senior this month, with the latter (admission) the desired goal. We're talking about the blog -- The Choice at The New York Times.

The College Whisperer tips his cap (tassel sold separately) to the writers and editors at The Choice, who truly do their part (as we do ours) in "Demystifying College Admissions and Aid."

Today, we are delighted to pass along some thoughts -- and advice -- on surviving, if not enjoying, perhaps the busiest (and one of the most stressful) months in the college admissions process.

Take a look at Not the Cruelest Month on the Admissions Calendar, but a Hectic One, then give us a call at College Connection.

Helping kids get into college. De-stressing parents along the way. It's what we do!

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Posted by College Connection. Posted In : College Admissions 

 

College Fair Rehab

October 4, 2010

The morning after the College Fair at the Nassau Coliseum, I can still see the glazed looks in the eyes of parents and high school students. You know. That deer-in-the-headlights glare as they attempted to traverse the aisles, packed in like sardines, swimming upstream against the current as if salmons on their way to spawn. [How's that for mixed metaphors? The College Whisperer wants to give equal time to all species. Cue the reptiles! ;-)]

Yes, if you attended the College Fair, and didn't leave the hallowed halls of the Coliseum but $10 poorer (parking), and dazed, confused and bewildered, you must have been at the wrong venue (or waiting for tickets for the Islanders opening game).

For those who didn't get to the College Fair (it seemed as though everyone on Long Island was there), by all means contact College Connection at 516-345-8766 to see what you missed. For those who made it to the Fair -- and there were thousands (most of whom were crowded around five or six popular college booths) -- contact College Connection (that number again is 516-345-8766) to help you sort out all the info you packed into those plastic bags they dutifully handed out. [Hmmm. You would think, in these times of environmental concern, someone would have asked, "paper or plastic?" Oh well.]

The College Whisperer would like your take on the College Fair experience. Worth it? Waste of time? Information overload? What information? No mustard at the concession stand? Write to me at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com.

A small snippet from The College Whisperer's playbook:

Worth It: Schmoozing, one-on-one, with student representatives from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and admissions personnel from smaller, or often overlooked colleges.

Not Worth It: Standing in line, 6 or 8 deep, waiting to fill out a card requesting information at the booths of large, popular colleges, such as Syracuse University, when you can get or request the very same info online at the school's website.

Worth It: Having the opportunity to harangue (SAT word) the reps from College Board, which now has to pay for a booth and reach out to students who they may loose (and rightfully so, in my humble opinion) to the ACT. [One of the largest crowds at the Fair was, in fact, gathered around the table manned by the College Board reps. And almost all of them wore scowled faces and carried torches and pitchforks! ;-)]

Not Worth It: Trying to joke with an alum representing a small southern college (name withheld to protect this tiny enclave of southern charm and hospitality), who clearly did not want to be on Long Island (the constant yawns were a dead giveaway), and could not fathom the subtle (and not so) humor of us native New Yorkers.

While some of those I spoke with during the Fair found the experience to be rewarding, most expressed exacerbation (good SAT word), and an overwhelming desire to find the exit door.

Overwhelming. [Notice the segue (another great SAT word) here.] That's how most parents describe the college application and admission process. Too much information. Too few cogent (one more SAT word) answers. Over-the-top competition, particularly at the schools deemed as "selective" (and aren't they all?). Soooo very expensive, as to put most colleges (and not only the Ivies) out of financial reach.

So, the College Fair (or, should I say, the National College Fair? There are other College Fairs to come) is behind us. What lies ahead? [And do you know when to use "lies" and when to use "lays?" ;-)]

First, let's end the madness. Stop the insanity. Take the stress out of the process.

Then, let's concentrate on the work that needs to be done toward the dual ends every student seeks to accomplish: applying to/getting into the college of choice and finding and getting (two different and distinct animals) money to pay for college.

The "How To" on accomplishing these critical goals? [Hint: You won't find the answers in any book or on the Internet].

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Posted by College Connection. Posted In : College Planning 

 

See You at the College Fair!

October 1, 2010

The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum plays host this Sunday, October 3rd, to the National College Fair.

Come on out and meet The College Whisperer as he makes his way through the crowds, past the booths manned (and womaned ;-) by cheerful college reps, to the concession stands. LOL

While I love and loathe college fairs, I will miss no opportunity to mingle with the hopeful, the stressed and the angst-ridden, as they scout out information and insight on prospective colleges.

Look for the College Connection car in the Coliseum parking lot (yes, we have to pay the fee). Take a card. Ask for a brochure. Pick The College Whisperer's brain if you happen to see him in the car, listening to the football game.

Later, at home, shoes off, feet up, snack in hand, give College Connection a call at 516-345-8766, and find out how we can help you navigate the road (and we're not just talking about Hempstead Turnpike or the Meadowbrook Parkway) to college.

COLLEGE CONNECTION. The difference between applying to college and actually getting in!

Posted by College Connection. Posted In : College Planning 

 

Win A Free Ride To College

September 30, 2010

Free Ride -- or Full Ride -- scholarships, covering everything from tuition to room & board, one year or all four, are highly coveted, often written about, and, yes, as hard to come by as a winning lottery ticket.

Scour the web, searching for a "free ride to college," and aside from the ingenious ad of a car service offering students just that (imagine arriving at your dorm room in a stretch limo), you'll find a plethora (good SAT word) of contests, sweepstakes, and scholarship opportunities, most of which will give you little more than finger cramps as you keyboard away, filling out seemingly endless online forms. [Beware the scams, and, unless so advised by your counselor, never pay a fee to enter or "process" a college scholarship contest.]

Unless you're going to one of the colleges that charge no tuition (and there are a few), you will need money to help foot the bill beyond what the money tree in the backyard will bear.  So what about "full rides" for those who attend schools that would otherwise break the bank long before you ever get to the college bookstore?

Most colleges offer scholarships and grants -- from several hundred dollars to the whole enchilada -- to high achieving students. Achievement can be academic (outstanding GPA, SAT/ACT or AP scores), athletic, or in any number of fields (music, art, community service, to name a few) that may endear a student to a university. [Check out this list of colleges offering full tuition academic scholarships, including the likes of Boston College, the University of California, Johns Hopkins and the University of South Carolina.]

There are also tuition reductions and "discounts," often based on financial need or other criteria as determined by the individual college.

Be sure to visit the websites of the colleges to are applying to for the schools' own lists of grants and scholarships, reductions and discounts (typically found under the heading of, "financial aid"), along with the underlying requirements for each award. [And be sure to complete and submit the FAFSA online, as well as the CSS-Profile, where required. Colleges and universities, as a golden rule (emphasis on "gold" here), will not give students a blessed dime unless the requisite financial aid forms are accurately complete and filed in a timely manner, no matter how qualified those students may be!]

Then there's the eternal scholarship search, the nemesis of a high school student's free time (what free time?) during senior year. Usually started at Fastweb, and progressing through a host of scholarship search engines (mileage may vary with each. Be sure to consult with your counselor and advisor, as well as this blog, for the most effective scholarship search methods and the best places to look for money to pay for college) with the hope of finding cash to cover that college IOU. There's a host of sought after (and why shouldn't you be the one seeking?) full tuition scholarships at scholarship.com and guaranteed-scholarships.com, among other reputable sites. [And remember, not every scholarship is in cyberspace. Money for college can likely be found -- and is often easier to come by -- right in your own community!]

Frustrating and, to some, painstaking, as it may be to mine the scholarship sites for the mother load, keep at it. Register. Complete those pesky, even inane profiles. Open and read those e-mails. Check out each and every opportunity. Then actually apply. It's a process, and, yes, a time-consuming one at that. And yet, diligence and persistence pay off. A hundred dollars here and a thousand more there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money!

Here is a listing of some of the more unusual scholarships, an eclectic array (two good SAT words) indeed, from the folks at finaid.org:

Physical Characteristics

Scholarship for Left-Handed Students
The only scholarship for left-handed students is the Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship of up to $1,000. This scholarship is awarded to left-handed students who will be attending Juniata College. This scholarship is only available to students who are enrolled at Juniata College. For more information, write to Office of Student Financial Planning, Juniata College, 1700 Moore Street, Huntington, PA 16652.

Little People of America Scholarship
The Little People of America (LPA) association offers the LPA Scholarship for members of its organization. LPA is a nonprofit organization that provides information and support to people of short stature and their families. Membership is offered to people who are 4'10" or less in height. The deadline for the LPA Scholarship is April 1.

LPA was founded by Billy Barty, the 3'9" actor who starred in Rumplestiltskin and Willow. The Billy Barty Foundation also sponsors a scholarship for college students who have a medical form of dwarfism.

Tall Clubs International (TCI) Scholarship
Tall Clubs International (TCI) offers a $1,000 scholarship for tall people, the Kae Sumner Einfeldt Scholarship. Individual chapters may also offer local awards. Women who are at least 5'10" and men who are at least 6'2" are eligible for the award. Candidates must be under 21 years old and plan to attend college in the fall.

Creativity

Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Contest
The Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck on Prom Contest is open to students age 14 years or older who are attending a high school prom in the spring. US citizenship is required. Entrants must enter as a couple (two individuals) and attend a high school prom wearing complete attire or accessories made from duct tape. The submission must include a color photograph of the couple together in prom attire. The first place prize consists of a $3,000 scholarship for each member of the winning couple and a $3,000 cash prize to the school that hosted the prom. Other prizes include $2,000 for second place, $1,000 for third, and Duck Tape sportswear for honorable mentions. The winning couple will be selected based on a variety of criteria, including originality, workmanship, quantity of Duck Tape used, use of colors, and creative use of accessories. The Duck Tape contest web site includes photographs of the winning costumes.

Seussvile: Oh, The Places You'll Go! College Scholarship
Random House, the publisher of the Dr. Seuss books, sponsors a $5,000 essay competition for high school seniors age 21 or younger. Essays must be original, typed, double-spaced, written in English, at most one page, in at least 12 point type and no more than 500 words. The essay must answer the essay question fully. The deadline is February 15.

National Make It Yourself with Wool Competition
The National Make It Yourself with Wool (NMIYWW) competition awards $2,000 and $1,000 scholarships for knitting wool garments. Winners are selected based on the appropriateness to the contestant's lifestyle, coordination of fabric/yarn with garment style and design, contestant's presentation, and creativity. For more information send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
National Make It Yourself with Wool Competition
Box 175
Lavina, MT 59046

David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship
The David Letterman Scholarship was established by David Letterman in 1985 to provide scholarships for telecommunications students at Ball State University. The awards are intended for average students who nevertheless have a creative mind. Winners are selected primarily based on creativity. Projects may involve a variety of media, including written work, research, audio, video, graphics and film. The winner receives a $10,000 scholarship. The first runner-up receives $5,000. The second runner-up receives $3,333.

Collegiate Inventors Competition
Sponsored by the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the Collegiate Inventors Competition (previously known as the BFGoodrich Collegiate Inventors Program) seeks to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to pursue new ideas, processes and technological innovations. The invention must have been reduced to practice and patentable. It may not have been made available to the public as a commercial product or process or been patented or published more than one year prior to the date of submission to the competition. Submissions are judged on originality and inventiveness, as well as on their potential value to society (socially, environmentally, and economically), and on the range or scope of use. Up to four students may work together as a team, but only one prize will be awarded per entry. The grand prize winner receives $25,000. There is also one Graduate Collegiate Inventors Competition prize of $15,000 and one Undergraduate Collegiate Inventors Competition prize of $10,000. The deadline is June 1. For more information, write to The Collegiate Inventors Competition, c/o The National Inventors Hall of Fame, 221 S. Broadway Street, Akron, Ohio 44308-1505.

J.D. Salinger Award
The J.D. Salinger Award at Ursinus College is intended to recognize and support "oddball geniuses" in the field of creative writing. The unconventional award is named after the renowned author of The Catcher in the Rye, who attended Ursinus College in 1938. Besides a four-year scholarship of $25,000 per year, the winner will also get to live in the same dorm room previously occupied by Mr. Salinger. The competition is open to high school seniors. Candidates must be nominated by a high school teacher or guidance counselor for their "quirky brilliance". Recipients are selected on the basis of a portfolio of 10 to 15 pages of creative work in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction or hybrid genres. Although grades are not weighted as heavily, candidates should be able to achieve admission to Ursinus College (i.e., class rank in the top 25%, GPA of B or better, and SAT score of 1,210 or better). The deadline is November 1.

Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests
The Ayn Rand Institute sponsors several essay contests.

  • The Anthem Essay Contest is open to high school freshmen and sophomores. It provides annual cash awards for short, original, unpublished essays on the philosophic themes in Ayn Rand's novel, Anthem. The first prize is $2,000. There are three 2nd prizes of $500 and five 3rd prizes of $200. There are a total of 229 awards. The deadline is in mid-March.
  • The Fountainhead Essay Contest is open to high school juniors and seniors. It provides annual cash awards for short, original, unpublished essays on the philosophic themes in Ayn Rand's novel, The Fountainhead. The first prize is $10,000. There are five 2nd place prizes of $2,000 and ten 3rd place prizes of $1,000. There are a total of 244 awards. The deadline is in mid-April.
  • The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is open to all college students. It provides annual cash awards for short, original, unpublished essays on the philosophic themes in Ayn Rand's novel, Atlas Shrugged. The first prize is $5,000. There are three 2nd prizes of $1,000 and five 3rd prizes of $400. There are a total of 49 awards. The deadline is in mid-September.
Essay topics and other information about these contests can be found at www.aynrand.org/contests. For more information, send email to essays@aynrand.org.

Last Name

Zolp Scholarships
The Zolp Scholarship is restricted to students at Loyola University in Chicago who are Catholic and whose last name is Zolp. The student's last name must appear on their birth certificate and confirmation certificate. The scholarship provides full tuition for four years.

Other scholarships for students with particular last names include:

  • Scarpinato at Texas A&M University. Scholarship pays full cost of attendance at Texas A&M University for anyone whose last name is Scarpinato by birth or marriage.
  • Gatling at North Carolina State University. The John Gatling Grant provides scholarships for students who were born with a surname of Gatling or Gatlin to attend NC State University. The scholarship provides up to $9,000 for in-state students and $18,000 for out-of-state students. (There is no known relationship between John Gatling and Richard Jordan Gatling, the inventor of the Gatling machine gun. John Gatling made his fortune as a real estate developer in Raleigh, NC.)
  • Harvard University has several scholarships based on the student's last name, including Baxendale, Hudson, Thayer, Downer, Bright.
  • Van Valkenburg. The Van Valkenburg Memorial Scholarship awards $1,000 to a descendant (by birth or legal adoption) of Lambert and Annetje Van Valkenburg, who emigrated in 1643. Variations in the surname Van Valkenburg are acceptable, including Van Valkenburg, Van Valkenburgh, Van Volkinburg, Van Falkenburg, Valkenburg, Vollick, and Van Velkinburgh.

Sports

Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship
The Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship awards one $5,000 and three $1,000 scholarships to skateboarders who are high school seniors with a GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Recipients must enroll as a full-time undergraduate at an accredited college or university the fall after high school graduation. US citizenship is required. The award is given to skateboard activists. The deadline is in late April. For more information visit the web site.

Barry Lefkowitz Scholarship Billiards Tournament
The Barry Lefkowitz Scholarship Billiards Tournament is open to University of Akron students each fall and spring and awards a $1,000 first prize, $500 second prize and $250 third prize. The pool competition has been held twice a year since February 2002. The tournament is sponsored by Barry Lefkowitz, a 1966 graduate of the University of Akron who was the university billiards champion in 1965-66.

Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Award (application)
The Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Award is open to graduating high school senior scholar athletes. Candidates must demonstrate excellence in academics, athletic performance, leadership and community service. Candidates must also be a resident of one of the 48 contiguous states or the District of Columbia. There will be one scholarship of $7,500 awarded to each of 25 regional winners. The deadline is in early March. The whymilk.com web site includes photographs of previous winners with their milk mustaches.

Evans Scholars Foundation
The Western Golf Association sponsors the Charles "Chick" Evans Jr. Scholarship for golf caddies. Caddies must be nominated by their club, rank among the top 25 percent of their high school class, have a superior caddie record for two or more years, demonstrate financial need, and have outstanding personal character. More than 200 new Evans Scholars are chosen each year. Another scholarship for golf caddies is the Francis Ouimet Caddie Scholarship.

US Bowling Congress Scholarships
US Bowling Congress sponsors several scholarships for bowlers. The scholarships include:

In addition, the SMART Program & Scholarships Web site lists more than $6 million in scholarships offered by bowling associations and councils, tournaments and proprietors.

National Marbles Tournament Scholarships
The annual National Marbles Tournament awards $5,000 in scholarships to mibsters (marble shooters) aged 8 to 14. The tournament is held in June each year. The children crowned King and Queen of Marbles each receive a $2,000 scholarship. A $1,000 scholarship is awarded to the boy and girl who win the spontsmanship award. For more information, write to National Marbles Tournament, 811 Roeth Avenue, Cumberland, MD 21502.

Surfrider Foundation Thomas Pratte Memorial Scholarship
The Thomas Pratte Memorial Scholarship is sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation for for students with an interest in coastal environmental science, such as oceanography, marine affairs, environmental sciences, public policy, community planning and natural resources. The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the world's waves, oceans and beaches. A total of $10,000 is awarded each year: one $2,000 scholarship for an undergraduate student, one $3,000 fellowship for a master's student, and one $5,000 fellowship for a PhD student. The deadline is March 15. For more information, write to Surfrider Foundation, Attn: Pratte Application, PO Box #6010, San Clemente, CA 92674-6010, or send email to prattescholarship@surfrider.org.

Other scholarships with a connection to surfing include:

Field of Study

LaFontaine Aquatic Entomology Award
The LaFontaine Aquatic Entomology Award is available to graduate students conducting a research project in aquatic entomology. The award amount is $500.

American Welding Society Scholarships
The American Welding Society Foundation offers several scholarships, fellowships and loans for students enrolled in a welding-related educational or training program. The deadline is March 1. For more information, write to:
AWS Foundation
550 NW Lejeune Road
Miami, FL 33126

Mycological Society of America
The Mycological Society of America offers several graduate fellowships for students who are studying mycology (spores, mold and fungus). Awards include the $500 Backus Award and two $2,000 MSA Graduate Fellowships.

TAPPI Scholarships
TAPPI awards several scholarships relating to the pulp and papermaking industries. The William L. Cullison Scholarship is open to college sophomores who are interested in pursuing a career in the pulp, paper and converting industry. The scholarship provides $4,000 per year for the last two years of the winner's undergraduate program. The award is tenable at two dozen colleges that have pulp and paper programs or which have TAPPI Student Chapters. The deadline is May 1. The TAPPI web site also lists a variety of other scholarships, ranging from the best paper award to scholarships for corrugated packaging. Most of these awards have a January 31 deadline. For more information, call 1-800-291-3145.

Eileen J. Garrett Scholarship
The Eileen J. Garrett Scholarship is restricted to students attending an accredited college or university who are studying the science of parapsychology. The award amount is $3,000. The deadline is July 15. To request an application form send email to office@parapsychology.org. Application forms are also available on the web site. The Parapsychology Foundation also offers the Frances P. Bolton Fellowship and the D. Scott Rogo Award.

The Final Frontier

Klingon Language Institute Scholarship
The Kor Memorial Scholarship is awarded by the Klingon Language Institute to recognize and encourage scholarship in the field of language study. Familiarity with Klingon or other constructed languages is not required, but creativity is preferred. The $500 award is open to undergraduate and graduate students. Nominations must be submitted by academic department chairs and/or deans. Only one undergraduate student and one graduate student may be nominated by each department chair or dean. The deadline is June 1. For more information, write to:
Klingon Language Institute
Kor Memorial Scholarship
PO Box 634
Flourtown, PA 19031

Starfleet Academy Scholarship
The Starfleet Academy Scholarship offers several $500 scholarships for active members of the Starfleet Academy. Fields of study include medicine, veterinary medicine, teaching, writing, law enforcement, engineering, acting, dance, music, foreign languages, international studies, business and management. They are available for students at community colleges, technical schools, four-year colleges and graduate schools. The deadline is July 1.

SPAACSE Scholarships
The Society of Performers, Artists, Athletes and Celebrities for Space Exploration, Inc. (SPAACSE) offers two $1,000 scholarships.

  • The SPAACSE Galaxy Music Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors who are pursuing an interest in space music as a means of expressing the beauty and inspiration of the universe. The music submission must be recorded on either a cassette or CD and should be 4-6 minutes in length.
  • The SPAACSE Liliane Webb Art Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors who have an interest in space art. Candidates must provide an original two-dimensional space artwork to be considered for this award. Candidates must also include a 1-2 page description of prior artistic and other school activities and awards.

Illustrators of the Future Contest
The Illustrators of the Future Contest is open to artists from all nations. An entry consists of three black and white works illustrating a science fiction or fantasy story with no recurring theme. Entries may not have been previously published. The award is up to $4,000. Additional information can be found on the web site.

Animal Appreciation

Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest
The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest awards a $1,500 scholarship to the winner. The first runner-up receives a $500 scholarship, the second runner-up receives a $300 scholarship and the third runner-up receives a $200 scholarship. The contest is open to any high school senior in the United States who can call ducks. Contestants have 90 seconds to use four calls (hail, feed, comeback and mating).

National Rifle Association Scholarships
The National Rifle Association (NRA) sponsors several scholarships for NRA Junior Members. NRA Junior Members can qualify for the Outstanding Achievement Youth Award for such activities as participating in shooting or hunting clinics, participating in an NRA Postal Match, entering a submissions in the NRA Wildlife Art Contest, and visiting the National Firearms Museum. Recipients of the NRA Youth Award Certificate are eligible for the NRA National Prizes. First place receives $3,500, second place receives $2,500, and third place receives $1,500. Participants in the NRA Youth Education Summit (YES) are also able to compete for the YES Grand Scholarship. The NRA also offers the Jeanne Bray Memorial Scholarship for children of law enforcement officers who are NRA members. For more information, call the NRA Youth Programs Department at 1-703-267-1505, write to NRA Youth Programs Department, Outstanding Achievement Youth Award, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 or send email to youth_programs@nrahq.org.

Mule Deer Foundation Scholarships
The Dannie Jasmine Scholarship is sponsored by the Mule Deer Foundation, a conservation foundation established to conserve mule and blacktail deer. The Dannie Jasmine Scholarship consists of a $500 award to a student at the Department of Environmental and Resource Sciences at the University of Nevada at Reno. The deadline is June 15. For more information, fax 1-775-322-3421 or write to Mule Deer Foundation, Attn: Dannie Jasmine Scholarship Fund, 1005 Terminal Way, Suite 170, Reno, NV 89502.

Food-Related

National Beef Ambassador Program
The National Beef Ambassador Program is a national public speaking competition for students aged 16 to 19. Winners are selected to represent the beef industry and win college scholarships and cash prizes. The cash prizes include $2,500 (1st place), $1,200 (2nd place) and $800 (3rd place). The scholarships, which are sponsored by the American National Cattlewomen Foundation, include $1,000 (1st place), $750 (2nd place), and $500 (3rd place). For more information, write to American National Cattlewomen, P.O. Box 3881, Englewood, CO 80155.

Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship
The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) offers two $5,000 scholarships each year to graduating US high school seniors who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and communities. The application requires an essay about how the applicant promoted vegetarianism in their high school or community. The deadline is February 20. Applications are available on the VRG web site. For more information, call 1-410-366-8343, write to The Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203, or send email to vrg@vrg.org.

AACT National Candy Technologists Scholarship
The American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT) sponsors an annual $5,000 scholarship for college freshmen, sophomores and juniors (for use in the next academic year) who have demonstrated an interest in confectionary technology. Candidates should be attending an accredited, four-year college or university in North America, be majoring in food science, chemical science, biological science or related area, and have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The deadline is March 31.

American Society for Enology and Viticulture
The American Society for Enology and Viticulture awards several scholarships to students studying grapes or winemaking. Candidates must be pursuing a degree in enology, viticulture or other curricula emphasizing a science relevant to the wine and grape industry. The deadline is March 1. Amounts vary. Applications are available on the ASEV web site. For more information, contact:
ASEV Scholarship Committee
PO Box 1855
Davis, CA 95617-1855
Email: society@asev.org
Fax: 530-753-3318
Phone: 530-753-3142

Activity-Related

DePauw University
The Icy Frost Bridge Scholarship at DePauw University is restricted to female music students who can sing or play the national anthem with sincerity. Icy's brother, Jack Frost Bridge, is an alumnus of DePauw University.

Students for Organ Donation Youth Leadership Award
The Students for Organ Donation Youth Leadership Award is available to full-time high school or undergraduate college students. One or two $500 to $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Candidates must have made a commitment to raising awareness of organ donation and transplantation. Selection is based on effectiveness, leadership, creativity and sustainability of efforts. Applications may be based either on a report of previous events that have successfully raised organ donation awareness, or a detailed and realistic plan to raise donor awareness. (Receipt of the award is contingent upon confirmed execution of the plan.) The deadline is May 31. (As of April 2010, the organization's web site www.studentdonor.org appears to be defunct.)

Tupperware Home Parties Scholarship
Tupperware offers a scholarship to independent Tupperware dealers, managers, franchised distributors and their dependent children. The amount of the award varies. The deadline is January 15. For more information, write to:
Tupperware Home Parties
PO Box 2353
Orlando, FL 32802

Coven of the Sacred Waters
The Coven of the Sacred Waters offers two scholarships for Pagan and Wicca students. The Karma Award is a $500 scholarship for Pagans. The Community Service Award is a $400 scholarship. The application deadline is November 30.

Good Works

Miles "Thank a Professor" Scholarship
The $10,000 Norman A. Miles Scholarship is awarded annually at Rochester Institute of Technology to the junior with the highest GPA. The student, in turn, gets to pick a professor to receive the same amount for professional development.

Hiram College Hal Reichle Memorial Scholarship
Hal Reichle took great pleasure in helping others and would do so secretly and serendipitously. In his memory, family and friends funded a scholarship at Hiram College to reward students for their random acts of kindness. Recipients are chosen on the basis of their humanitarian efforts, community involvement, and volunteerism. There is no application for this scholarship. Instead, the selection committee relies on an army of stealthy observers, the Secret Society of Serendipitous Service to Hal (SSSSH!), to identify students of strong moral character with a spirit of giving and dedication to others.

What You Don't Do

Gertrude J. Deppen Scholarship
The Gertrude J. Deppen scholarship at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania is restricted to Bucknell University students demonstrating financial need who have resided in Mount Carmel for 10 years, graduated from Mount Carmel Public High School in Pennsylvania, who are not habitual users of tobacco, intoxicating liquor, and narcotics, and who do not participate in strenuous athletic contests. (It is sometimes referred to as the "unathletic scholarship" in the news media because of the latter restriction.) It was established by Joseph H. Deppen, Class of 1900, in memory of his sister, Class of 1902.

Alice McArver Ratchford Scholarship
The Alice McArver Ratchford Scholarship is a need-based scholarship for female undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro who must be single, live on campus, don't own a car, have never been married and have no other scholarships.

Twins

Colleges that currently offer special scholarships or discounts for twins and triplets include:

Valparaiso University in Indiana previously had a scholarship for twins, where each twin would get a full ride in alternate years and the other was dependent on whatever aid they otherwise qualified for. This program was funded by an alumni set of twins. However, the alumni stopped funding it in the late 1990s.

The Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc. sponsors a scholarship for four parents of multiples in Illinois who are continuing their education.

Legacy Scholarships

Hood College's Grandma Scholarship
Hood College offers a heritage scholarship in which selected incoming freshmen pay the same first-year tuition as their alumnus parent or grandparent.

 
Happy hunting!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
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The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Posted by College Connection. Posted In : Paying for College 

 

What are my chances?

September 29, 2010

P.B. of Greenvale, NY writes:

I know that there are many variables in college admission decisions, including grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and, of course, the personal statement. That said, are there any websites where students/parents can plug in the "cut and dry" and, while far from absolute certainty, at least get an idea whether they are in the ballpark for admission at a particular college?

The College Whisperer responds:

As you so aptly acknowledge, with so many factors to be weighed, both the objective and the subjective, it is an arduous task for even the most seasoned college admissions professional to make the difficult decision of who gets in and who must go somewhere else. Not only do test scores, GPA, the rigor of the student's course load, the strength of after school activities and community service, and those all-important personal statements and supplemental essays go into the mix, but the likes of demographics, special skills or talents, and, yes, ethnic background and socio-economic status are sometimes thrown in -- for better or for worse -- as a veritable monkey-wrench into the gears of the admission process.

To reduce the various factors and myriad criterion that colleges consider in making admission decisions to an online calculator, of sorts, would be an injustice to both student and admissions personnel. There simply are, as you correctly note, no absolutes!

With this in mind, and since you ask, there are several online resources which have proven to be somewhat reliable indicators of admission success, based, of course, on objective data (SAT/ACT scores, GPA, etc.) input by the student. Some, more than others, permit students to tweak the data so as to indicate the level of coursework (i.e., AP, Honors) as well as participation in activities outside of the classroom.

CampusExplorer.com, for instance, professing to be your guide to finding your "dream college," has a portal for setting up a detailed profile, from which students can "calculate" their odds of getting in to, literally, hundreds of schools.Simply plug in your info, hit "enter," and voila, colleges present on the screen as "Safety," "Target," and "Reach." If only Vegas could give you such odds!

MyChances.net, CollegeData.com and CampusCompare.com are three among many with online predictors and prognostications. Carnac the Magnificent had nothing on these websites!

Be forewarned that (a) there are no guarantees. The online calculators are, at best, guesstimates. Past admission performance is no guarantee of future admission results. And (b), you will likely be deluged with tons of e-mail (most sites require you to register, creating a login and providing an e-mail address), from colleges you've never heard of offering you application waivers and Dean's scholarships (hey, you never know), to lenders looking for students to take out private loans at hefty interest rates. [Keep that finger at the ready over the "delete" key!]

Try one or all of the online calculators. If nothing more, they are fun diversions.

Also check out CollegeConfidential.com (they, too, require registration), which is more of an online forum than a straight forward prediction tool. Here you'll find articles and discussions, including threads posted by students, parents, and college officials (or so they say), offering insight about the colleges themselves as well as your "chances" of being accepted.

Of course, one of the best resources in the "What are my chances..." category is the college's own website. While many are intentionally vague as to the weight and breadth of admissions criteria, they will give you a pretty good idea of what they're looking for, and may even provide ranges of scores and grades, often as "averages" or "medians," for good measure.

Again, as the calculators will show, along the matrix there are those with perfect GPAs and standardized test scores who do not make the cut, while others, seemingly well below par, somehow manage to get in. [Being a female Pacific Islander whose single parent served in the military, lost three fingers on the dominant hand, and can whistle Dixie while doing the Charleston two-step, couldn't hurt. ;-)]

"Chances" are just that. Chances. Keep in mind that, grades and test scores aside, you can significantly improve your odds of acceptance at the college of choice by demonstrating your abilities in other areas. Superior community service, a talent in music, art, or a specified field valued by a school, a "knock-em-out-of-the-box" essay, and a complete, accurate and timely application can work wonders, if not miracles.

Then, too, one should take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of both guidance counselor and independent college counselor. They can not only give you a pretty good idea as to your "chances," more often than not, they can also help you beat the odds!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
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Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Posted by College Connection. Posted In : College Admissions 

 

Get Your FREE College Planning Here

September 28, 2010

Planning for college can be expensive. College Connection, Long Island's one-stop source for college planning, counseling and support, helps keep costs in check with its Referral Rewards Program. Earn credit toward FREE college counseling.

Now that the school year is underway, friends and classmates are starting to think about applying to college. Many have already started the process. Bravo!

At College Connection, we want to help you reduce the cost of college planning, while helping other students (and their parents) through the long and sometimes overwhelming journey to college admission.

How? Simple!

Just refer other students (classmates, friends, relatives, neighbors) to College Connection. Once they have completed at least one paid session in addition to the initial evaluation session, you will be credited $25 against your session fee or payment plan.

So, for example, if you refer 4 students who "sign up" and pay, you will receive a $100 credit ($25 x 4). Refer enough students, and your college planning sessions could be FREE!

Word of mouth is the best advertising, and College Connection's reputation in helping students and their parents successfully navigate the road to college speaks for itself. [Of course, we have references.]

Go ahead. Talk us up. Become a College Connection recruiter at your school, in your neighborhood, at the water cooler. Then reap the rewards of paid credits toward the best college planning east of the Hudson.

Questions: Shoot us an e-mail (info@CollegeConnect.info) or give us a call (516-345-8766).

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
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Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.

Posted by College Connection. Posted In : College Planning 

 
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