Empowering Teens 2011

Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
EMPOWERING TEENS
1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuturecom
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuture.com
Networking Contacts
Empowering Teens
Dr. William R. Wilkie Edited by Acey Martin, Sarae Martin & Jason Wilkie
Copyright 1992 5th Edition 2011
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Copies cannot be made without permission Notes 471 W. Long Lake Drive Harrison, Michigan 48625 (989) 539.1928 wwilkie@netscope.com
All rights reserved under International Copyright Conventions. No portion of this book may be reproduced mechanically, electronically or by other means without permission of the publisher.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Empowering Teens
Table of Contents
1 2 4 5 8 10 17 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 36 39 42 51 63 65 66 68 69
Career Options
I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII.
Coaching Teens Parent as Coach WWW Sites Benchmarking Teens 20 Questions Creating Books a Project Ordinary Students: Surprising Results Action Planning Six Articles Month Plan 4 Year Master Calendar Ranking Colleges Chart Action Plan Chart Essay Themes Action Network Forms
VIII. College Bound Notes IX. College Admissions and Recruiting Athletic Recruiters: Key Questions Draft Two Resumes Questions for College Site Visit X. XI. College Financing Reference Materials Publications NAIA Athletic Programs Questions for College Site Visit with Explanations Questions for Athletic Recruiters with Explanations Higher Education Glossary
Project Ideas "The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason to hope."
Frustrated! Confused! Feeling impotent! Join the Club! You are not alone when working with teens. Most parents and grandparents are under-prepared for working with 21st century teens. Yet adolescence is a critical time of establishing skills, perspectives, "life-view," values and a "lifevoice" that will shape their character. If you feel unprepared, imagine how your teenager feels with their limited experience and knowledge. The teen years by necessity include periods of ambiguity as a child transitions to adulthood. For some, unfortunately, it can even last a life-time. If these periods of ambiguity last too long, they create a kind of psychological vacuum where a childs purpose and identity are shaped by potentially negative as well as positive influences. Professionals are quick to label negative symptoms such as drugs and alcohol as major problems for high schools. Millions of dollars are directed toward dealing with Dr. Wilkie provides a straight forward solution to aimlessness. Teens don't believe they have an identity Career Options crisis. They don't want to talk about it. Therefore, we begin our preliminary discussions around passions, talents, work and college in the 8th, 9th or 10th grade. You can start WWW Sites that discussion at any grade but you will have less time the older the teen. This tool-kit assumes a teen is college bound until they tell us they will not attend college. Every Books student makes a decision about whether to attend college. However, most make that decision too early and with insufficient information.
Empowering Teens
Networking Contacts
Dr. Bill Wilkie has been working with teens in workshops since 1985. He has discovered a straight forward solutions Articles for interested parent/ coaches. Dr. Wilkies views Our second goal is to may challenge the current identify a passion and Most teens are aimless for some period. thinking of parents and turn their passion into a Most teens can describe their passion if coaxed. some educational institu2-4 year project that will Teens are interested in their future. Essay Themes tions. He has outlined fill the vacuum created Teens need to begin making key decisions. the key assumptions that by being aimless. Over Teens want parents or someone to be interested. establish a framework for time, it actually creates Teens are a very creative segment of society. effective empowering in purpose and legitimate Passions and talents can be turned into projects. the box on the right. This self esteem based upon Notes Every teen will make a decision about whether to their performance not document will replace "parenting" with "coachjust artificial affirmation. attend college. They will say yes or no! ing" on the assumption Teens need to nd themselves before they leave there are differences. This tool-kit will show home for work or college. you how to start a Empowering teens beproject and begin the comes more difficult since American these symptoms; however, too little planning process for their future. society is also in a major transition By keeping their options open for money or effort is directed toward beginning in September, 2008. The college until they have enough the underlying problem...aimlessvalues, rules, traditions, institutions, information to make that decision ness. If aimlessness is the enemy, etc., that historically guide teens then we believe that having purpose is critical. It will also lay a foundathrough the process of adolescence is our friend. This tool-kit is intended tion for developing a range of life are in a state of flux. The 20th censkills that they can use in any career. to help you as the catalyst for a tury social contract or "THE AMERISome few examples include: passion & gift driven teen. CAN DREAM" is dead. Goal Setting Do you ever hear the words I Interviewing Adolescence, including its pain, is DON'T KNOW? Young teenagers Data Collection a natural transition from childhood to often do not know: Networking adulthood. It should not be avoided. Who they will become or Organizing How to translate their talents 1992 5th Edition 2011 Evaluating Projects and passions into a career. www.mappingafuturecom Decision Making
Assumptions to Empower Teens
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
"Empowering Teens" is written and formatted for coaches, not students. The teen workbook that complements this manual is designed for teens and has instructions for each section, less material on a page, is focused on their immediate interests and has a column for brainstorming on each page. The teen workbook is designed for coaches who work with their teen and help shape their future. Dr. Wilkie has committed to getting this information into the hands of every parent or grandparent who is interested. To accomplish this goal, we are willing to work with schools, churches, parks and recreation departments, etc. For further information look at www.mappingafuture.com
Grandparent As Coach
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
2
The student editions also include additional work sheets that teens find very helpful. After a review of "What should an 18 year old student look like," we suggest that you begin with the 20 Questions work sheet on page 4-5. Discuss the questions privately. Start with one question and work through it before going on to another question. Keep in mind that this entire process should be incremental and completed over several weeks. The teen will feel frustrated if they sense you are manipulating or pushing them too quickly. At first they may well resist but just inform them that this process is part of your coaching responsibility. They will test you; however, no other explanation is necessary if you continue with the process in spite of their protests. You should also explain to the teen that anything that they write down or claim as a interest, talent, goal, career, etc., can be changed by them at any time in the future. This is their future and they have
the control over the decisions. Many teens are nervous about committing themselves at this time. That is why you get the "I don't know" response so often. We tell them "I don't know" can be used only once in a conversation otherwise you appear ignorant. Take your time and help them find answers. You may have to use many and varied resources. Once you have completed the twenty questions, I recommend that you begin brainstorming a potential project for high school that will last two to four years. The project theme should be unique to the student and not be an interest of the parents or another sibling. You can argue that this could be their distinctive contribution to their family. It will be their area of expertise. It will be a small place in their world where they can stand and gain respect. Begin making a list of possible projects based upon their interests and by watching what other people are doing. You can also go to our USA Today's Academic All-American Team each spring for project ideas. This process should take as little as 6 weeks and as long as six months depending upon when you set the deadline for making a choice on their project. The project should last 2-4 years to be effective. My emphasis on projects is intentional. A project produces tangible outcomes that others can see and evaluate. It lasts longer and demonstrates perseverance. It forces them to find their limits and look for other people who can help. This is the beginning of building their network. They have to organize themselves to complete a project. They learn how to make decisions and set priorities. I could go on and on. However, a project is not the end. It is like an artist's portfolio. It is only a tool. It can and should take many varied forms. Be creative. Our material is intended to be illustrative not a pure model that you can copy.
Networking Contacts
It is the parents' responsibility to Our goal is to help teens "find assist in this process. However, there themselves" including a spiritual are many volunteer resources that commitment that is life-long. They are available if you ask correctly. can discover their place in their Ideally, this entire process conworld . Through a hands on process sumes at least three years. Teachers and with the involvement of selectand administrators often tell Dr. ed adults, it can be very powerful. Wilkie that parents and teens are A project could also include a not willing to begin the process team of three or four high school "early enough to make a big differstudents. This is somewhat unusual ence." I ask, "What is in their DNA in our world that rewards individual performance. I encourage you to ex- creates that behavior?" We all laugh recognizing that it is cultural. Teens plore team projects as one alternain Europe make key career decitive. You could bring in the talents sions before the age of 18. They do of others and build new relationships. It might be very helpful in the not feel abused. It is just how their culture has structured the process. college bound financing process as I often hear from parents that they well as for job searches. Once you have identified a project, are expecting a college to help their teen figure out who they are and I would then introduce an action what their career should be. As a planning process for a "career former college president, I will tell bound" or "college bound" information gathering process. Recognize that every student makes a decision about Every high school student makes a whether to go to college. decsion about whether to attend Some say YES! Some say NO! college. Some say, "YES!" Some say, Most students make this "NO!" Most students make this decision with insufficient or decision with insufficient or inaccurate information. inaccurate information. You should also be aware of the time, money and expertise of the high school you that the faculty in colleges and system in this process. They are universities have not been profescertainly a necessary resource but sionally trained to perform this they are not sufficient. A counselor function. Moreover, on the list of focuses on their high school course priorities for most faculty, it comes in work. Keep in mind that there is usually only one counselor for every fifth behind teaching, research, publication and governance. The work 500-1,000 students in high school. place is even less prepared to help Figuring out who you are before your teens discover themselves. you begin attending college or going into the workplace is first and We would like you to begin this foremost the responsibility of the process by benchmarking your own teen. This does not mean you can't feelings about what an 18 year old change their major in college. But should look like after the serious if they change it more that once it involvement of adults in their lives. could take five years to graduate. On the next page you will find a Some parents respond by saying questionnaire to guide you. that is not all bad until they realize it will cost the student and family an extra $20,000 to $50,000.
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
3
Networking Contacts
Benchmarking Teens
18 Year Old Coached for 4 years
Personal ____% can list their talents ____% have identied their passions ____% have a project/portfolio in an area of interest ____% has one stated "purpose for life" ____% can identify 3 core values that reect who they are. Earning Power ____% will have a skill to earn $25,000/year ____% will be able to earn $15 to $20/ hour and work their way through college Career & College ____% will have identied viable career options ____% will have screening criteria for a college ____% will have chosen a college major ____% will have international experience Spiritual ____% can talk about God's purposes in creating mankind ____% have a relationship with God ____% are rugged disciples now ____% have experienced answered prayers Other ____% ____% ____%
Typical American 18 Year Old Project Ideas

Personal ____% can list their talents ____% have identied their passion Career Options ____% have a project/portfolio in an area of interest ____% has one stated "purpose for life" ____% can identify 3 core values that reect who they are. WWW Sites Earning Power ____% will have a skill to earn $25,000/year ____% will be able to earn $15 to $20/ hour and work their way through college Books Career & College ____% will have identied viable career options ____% will have screening criteria for a college Articles ____% will have chosen a college major ____% will have international experience Spiritual ____% can Essay Themes talk about God's purposes in creating mankind ____% have a relationship with God ____% are rugged disciples now ____% have experienced answered prayers Notes Other ____% ____% ____%
What are the capabilities, values and perspectives that a high school graduate should have as they go off to work or college? If coached with our materials, should they look different that the typical high school graduate? If the answer is yes, then how will they be different? Please ll in a percentage "guess" for each category in both columns. You can assume that the 18 year old has spent at least four years being coached by a parent or grandparent. You will obviously be forced to make some generalizations that will not be true of every high school graduate. Nor will any one graduate possess all the qualities or attributes. So what would you like your teen to look like before they leave home?
Name: Address:
Phone: e-mail:
If you are an average middle class American, you should know that the High school freshmen dont always college and U. S. Government finanplan, but many do dream. They do cial aid programs are not designed not usually know what they want for you. What is available to the to be when they grow up but they middle class besides debt? dream about careers. They cannot Academic scholarships tell you where they will go to college Athletic scholarships but they dream about it. Dreams Non-traditional financing often are the first indication that new areas of interest and giftedness are There are a few alternatives for emerging. High school students will the student to assist in paying part spend incredible amounts of time or all of their college education. It and energy with their dreams. Wise requires 3 to 4 years to put in place. coaches piggy back on dreams. It is not savings and investments. It Drugs and alcohol are not a probis called "work you way through collem in high school, they are only lege." It can be positive if you earn a symptom of a real problem. We believe the real problem is aimlessness. Many student do not know Copy the form on page 7 who they are yet. Being programed Start slow and with small bites. or too busy does not deal with the It may take 3 weeks to complete. It may never be final. problem of aimlessness. This is brainstorming. Do not make judgeWe have found a solution for ments. That will come later. many high school students. It lies in Write ideas down for use later. identifying a high school student's Ultimately, this is the teen's life. Help dreams and passions. them take responsibility. The questions on pages 6-7 will High school counselors can't do it all. help you identify a students dreams and interests. These can lead coaches to areas where they can support their student. Less than 1% more than the minimum wage. As coaches of a 9th to 10th grader, of the parents ask these questions in you might be waiting for counselthe high school freshman year. Few ors to initiate a discussion about even realize its value. your teen and college. They dont The college bound decision prohave the time or budget with ratios cess for students and student-athof 500 to 1,000 students for every letes should begin in the freshman year and it ends in the middle of the counselor. After reviewing these 20 quessenior year. Most students start late tions with your teen, you may in the junior year. They have only 6 to 12 months to figure out who they discover that you need help. This are. They must make their first major is not as simple as it sounds on the decision about their life without ever surface. You can use an experienced friend or find a mentor selected by having practiced before. It is not enough time. They need practice at your student. Most of you will be going through this for the first time. interviewing, asking the right quesYou should not be embarrassed tions, developing screening criteria, by the fact that you do not know evaluation and making the final everything. decision.
Dreams lead to?
20 Questions Every teen should be asked:

Project Ideas Career Planning
Networking Contacts
While making a final choice on a career is not important in the freshman year of high school, exploring a few personal interests Career Options in some depth is useful to build self confidence and eliminate unrealistic options. Developing a dream into a project is one way to accomplish this without talking about careers. WWW Sites A project can become a hobby that lasts for a life time. It may become the beginning of a career. Or it may become the first stage of being a business Books owner.
Do you know as coaches that good jobs are no longer guaranArticles students graduate from teed when college? Technology, corporate restructuring, mergers and international competition have changed the job scene. While you still have Essay to a student during high access Themes school, prepare them for the real tough work world of the 21st century. Thinking about careers now may seem premature but if Notes does not have a great your teen job after college, you will be asking "what could we have done differently?" Many teens will choose to become part of the entrepreneurial cottage industries that are springing up across America. As a result of personal interest or because they are victims, people are choosing to be independent contractors and own their small business. We recommend that you begin the process in 9th to 10th grade and take small bites. Most parents force a three year process into nine months and wonder why students feel pressure to make a decision.
21st Century Careers
5
Networking Contacts 20 Questions
Every Coach Should Ask A Teen
Coaches Background Sheet

Dreams are the first small steps to a goal. Goals lead to action. 1. What are you good at that is also fun? 14. Have you ever thought about going to visit a college Interests emerge around strengths that can later lead to careers. next summer? Do not challenge their perceptions. Just accept their view. If you visit two colleges each summer, that would total six 2. How do you learn best? site visits. After about six visits, students get comfortable Acceptable styles for learning include: discussion, informality, asking their questions. noisy, darkCareer Options room, lying down, etc. Your teen will discover what they like and do not like. Many people learn best by doing. They will become more effective interviewers. 3. What do you dream about doing in your wildest dreams? 15. Lets pick two colleges and plan a day trip with your two Dreams in an area of interest and strength often become realibest friends? ties. Make it fun even though the coach goes. It takes at least 3 WWWmake a dream into a reality. years to Sites Always talk to their friends on the trip. They will listen 4. How can we help you make your dream a reality? to you. The student needs to be the primary person implementing. Financing College Time and experience is limited. Parents are allowed to help. 5. Are you afraid to fail? 16. If parents cannot pay for a college education, will you go? A success oriented culture destroys creativity and risk taking. The first reaction is often, NO, how could I go?" Students Books Great learning often occurs from small failures, i.e., the sciences assume parents will pay. Parents often feel guilty they or athletics. cannot pay for college. Don't feel guilty! Mentors Principle:The more a college student contributes financially Who am I?
Project Ideas
6. What is a mentor? Articles People who help you but receive no financial reward You accomplish more with mentors. Have at least one mentor all your life totaling 3 to 5. 7. What kind of person would you choose for a mentor? It can be a category or a person. Make a list ofEssay Themes 3 to 6 people. 8. How could we find those people and approach them? Call and ask for an appointment. Important people are often flattered and willing to help a 14 year old but maybe not a 30 year old.
Notes
Distinctive Contribution 9. What does distinctive mean? Excellent--Doing the ordinary exceptionally well. Distinctive--Doing the out of the ordinary well. 10. What is your distinctive contribution to the community? Make a list of six possibilities. Help teens find one contribution that no one else is doing presently. 11. Could we turn your distinctive interest into a project? It should last 2-4 years but begins small. It does not have to relate to college or work. It is fun. 12. What role could your mentor play? Students need someone to bounce crazy ideas off. Mentors encourage people to go beyond the normal. College Bound 13. Do you ever dream about going to a particular college? Write down a list of dream schools. Students are comfort 1992 5th Edition 2011 able with dreams. www.mappingafuture.com 6
to their education, the more they benefit. 17. If you work part time, will you get a degree in 5 years? The typical student has never talked to a college graduate who financed their own education. Find some and let your student interview two each summer. If a student works 15 hours per week during school, 40 hours per week all summer and earns $20/ hour, they can gross over $20,000+ annually for their college education. Most college students today take five years to complete a degree because of class scheduling. 18. How much debt are you as a student willing to accumulate over five years to get a college degree? This debt is technically the students and parents'. Middle class students are accumulating an average of $28,000 of long term debt which has to be repaid after they graduate. What is acceptable to your student: $0, $25,000 or $50,000? List implications of debt, e.g., can't purchase a home. 19. If you could develop a skill in high school where you could earn $15 to $20 per hour rather than the minimum wage, what would you select? Make a list of alternatives, for example, desktop publishing; CAD-Computer aided design; tutoring in many disciplines including math, English, foreign languages, sciences; journalistic writing, such as books or short stories; teaching art or music; and organizing a business. Dont be afraid to brainstorm and plan. It may not happen, but the relationships will be enriched for having tried. 20. How can we organize a program for you to get that skill in case parents cannot pay for your college education? Be practical. Take one small first step. Put some dollars behind this program. It may cost less than the escalating costs of college. In 2011, college tuition, room and board range from $18,000 to $50,000 per year. Look at athletic and academic projects.
20 QuestionsWorksheet
Who am I? 1. What are you good at that is also fun? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 2. How do you learn best? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 3. What do you dream about doing in your wildest dreams? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 4. How can we help you make your dream a reality? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 5. Are you afraid to fail? Why? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Mentors 6. What is a mentor? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 7. What kind of person would you choose for a mentor? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 8. How could we find those people and approach them? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Distinctive Contribution 9. What does distinctive mean? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 10. What is your distinctive contribution to the community? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 11. Could we turn your distinctive interest into a project? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 12. What role could your mentor play in this project? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ College Bound
Networking Contacts
13. Do you ever dream about going to a particular college? Please name two. _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 14. Have you ever thought about going to visit a college Career Options next summer? List two you would like to visit. _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 15. Lets pick two colleges and plan a trip with your two best friends? Who are they? _____________________________________________ WWW Sites _____________________________________________ Financing College 16. If your parents cannot pay for your college education, Books will you still go? Why? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 17. Can you work part time during school and still get a Articles degree in five years? How? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 18. How much debt are you as a student willing to accumulate over fiveEssayget a college degree? years to Themes $0, $25,000 or $50,000? Why? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 19. If you could develop a skill in high school where you Notes could earn $15 to $20 per hour rather than the minimum wage, what would you select? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ 20. How can we organize a program for you to get that skill in case parents cannot pay for your college education? _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Message to High School Student You cannot afford to do everything. Parents have responsibilities also. You need information to make certain choices early enough to make a difference. Become friends with your dreams. You can change your answers later. 2011 www.mappingafuture.com 1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuturecom
Project Ideas
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Introduction
Creating a Project
Dont over estimate your student abilities. However, dont protect them from failure either.
You may have friends or teachers who accuse you of doing it all for your grandchild. Ignore them if it is not true. Dont fall into the trap of doing everything for them. There are plenty of learning experiences for them even with your assistance. One thing you can encourage is a project. The observations below are from typical grandparents who have never been through the process of developing a project around a teens passion before. My student is not motivated! Make a dramatic change in their world. For example, ask them what they will do if their parents can not afford to pay for college. Do not abandon them. Empower the student. Empower them to earn their way through college. My student does not talk to me! Ask about their dreams. Listen and do not judge their ideas. Write down ideas and continue discussion over several weeks. But a project sounds complicated! Take a passion and ask how they could make it a simple project. Start small and take one step at a time. Have them write out a one page description. Brainstorm with family and friends if you have difficulty.
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
8
The following two sections will include many ideas. Most of them will not be applicable to your situation. Some of the ideas you will flat out disagree with now. A few ideas will have immediate value. We would encourage you to develop a plan with ideas from many sources. We are trying to show you: Other parents & grandparents have done it before you. Practical ideas do exist. How to brainstorm solutions that reflect your unique needs. Dont just copy from these lists. It takes time and effort but there are benefits. Should a you help manage the college bound process for a student during high school? Yes! Why? The typical high school student has not developed the perspectives and skills required to effectively complete this process alone with rare exceptions. Most parents and grandparents do not realize that this process should start in 9th or 10th grade. If it begins earlier, then the student might have been better able to manage this process alone. Visible professional athletes, rock and movie stars and even the President of the U.S.A. have managers. We call them agents or handlers. Teens need one as well. Not only must you manage the process in the early stages, you can at times actually do some of the work. Time is limited even for students. Young students do not always appreciate the need to do something because they lack experience. Students also lack skills.
How long should it take to create a project? A few students could outline a project within 30 days. Most will take 3-6 months. Some will take 12 months not because they are dumb but because this is a new experience for students and grandparents. What is a project proposal? A project is organized around a problem, a need or a hypothesis. Write a one sentence statement that describes the thrust. Write a one paragraph introduction that describes why you are pursuing this project and what you want to accomplish. Outline the key elements of the project. Describe the plan for the project. Summarize previous efforts on similar projects. List key people who might help you. Outline a simple summary budget for the project-1/2 page. What makes the project distinctive: Subject or problem? Approach or program? Results or solution? What you learned because of the project?
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
Where do I get help? Other volunteer coaches. High school counselors and faculty. A community mentor. College faculty who are experts and share the passion.
9
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
Start Small
"Ordinary students are capable of accomplishing extraordinary things in their area of interest."
A few include: Distinctive problem or approach for a project. Evidence of creative thinking. Evidence of research. Ability to build upon failures. Evidence of effective networking. Each student should also identify a community mentor who will work with them on this project. However, the major contribution must come from the student.
Ordinary Students: Surprising Results
WWW Sites
Books
Every project starts with an idea that is very fragile in the mind of a person. It is very easy to kill an idea in the early stages. Just accept it and do not analyze its value too much. It may or may not blossom. Many ideas die natural deaths for the lack of water and nourishment. That is OK. If an idea does grow into a dream or area of interest, you as a grandparent may have an opportunity to
Articles
Excellent versus Distinctive

Excellent-Doing the ordinary exceptionally well. Distinctive-Doing the out of the ordinary just well.
Essay Themes
Notes
encourage a student to take it to the next step. It can become a project. Because we are trying to put grades and test scores into perspective but not undermine their importance, the project can represent an alternative way for admissions counselors to assess your student's abilities. A project is based upon a student's chosen area of interest or passion. The project should produce a distinctive topic, approach, outcome, product or service. College admissions staff will be looking for selected qualities.
Can I change my mind?

The student should be in control and they can change their mind. However, there is value in developing an idea in depth and over time. When the going gets tough, some students will just want to quit. Do not let them. However, some students will really find another area of interest. In that case, a student should change direction. The student should really be in control.
10
Why does this work?

It does not work all the time. It is not a panacea or simple formula for keeping high school students out of trouble. But it does work for some students who have interests, are willing to commit time and have the energy to pursue those interests. By the way some students will be turned off if they have to use their project for admissions or as a way to finance college. You should be informal and casual to begin with. Do not make a big deal out of the project as a tool for college admissions and financing.
Mentors
A mentor is someone who is willing to help another person without necessarily receiving anything in return. Students pursuing a project should identify a community mentor who is not a teacher in their high school. It is very difficult but not impossible for a parent to be a mentor to a high school student. If a high school student is fortunate enough to have a mentor, the relationship is usually initiated by the adult often a teacher. However, it is possible for the student to ask an adult to be their mentor. To get a positive response from a possible mentor who does not know them personally, they need to approach them properly. Having collected a list of possible mentors in their area of interest, a student can interview them to select one that is compatible and interested. If they have done their homework and can describe why they have selected a mentor, most of mentors will be flattered and say, "Yes." Below are the steps that should be completed before approaching a mentor: Have a two page written summary of their project. Research the mentor and their organization: "What will they contribute to your project?" Identify three specific areas of expertise that the person or company has that will contribute directly to a student's project. Ask the person to be their mentor before they leave the interview. The student should define mentoring to mean meeting with them for 1-2 hours once a month. Give the mentor a day or two to think about it. Call them back in two days for an answer. It is very difficult for an adult mentor to say no to a highly motivated teen operating in the mentor's areas of interest and expertise.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Fall Back Positions

We are very concerned about designing fall back positions. While students should pursue with vigor a project, they need to plan for not getting their first choice of admissions and an alternative method to finance college. Grandparents should always be pursuing the fall back issue with comments like. Well if all else fails, how will we finance college? If none of the prestigious colleges admit you, where would you like to go to college? If you have a fall back position, you will have more freedom and confidence in your interviews.
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
11
Networking Contacts
Networking
Most students who are successful in their projects over the next few years will probably develop networking skills. They will need ideas, equipment, money, etc., to be effective. The more people they involve in their project early, the more likely they are to build an effective network. Whenever they are meeting with a resource person, they should develop the habit of asking, "Who else do you know that I should talk with about my project?" You will be surprised at how quickly their network grows over the next few years. When a network is functioning effectively, it will usually have more ideas than they have the time or money to implement. Nevertheless, students should keep working at growing and nurturing their network. For example, they may want to send their network an update on their project every six months. Their network should include at least one faculty member and one admissions counselor at a couple of colleges that they might like to attend. They can begin this relationship early in high school. If the admissions counselor gets excited about what you are doing, the admissions and financial aid process can be easier. Lay the ground work today. Do not wait until they are a senior. Students are not obligated in any way to attend a college because they have been helped or encouraged a faculty member along the way. Likewise the college is not obligated to admit a student or offer them a scholarship.
Discovering Projects
The following activities may help you identify a distinctive project. Finding a distinctive project is not easy or quick. However, it is important. It may take several weeks or even months. Make sure that students know that they can always change their minds. However, it may not be the topic that is distinctive but rather it is the approach to the project. It could be the methodology. Or it might not be either the topic or the approach but rather the result that proves to be the distinctive contribution. Colleges evaluate projects for admissions or financial aid based upon its uniqueness or leadership qualities. For many public colleges and universities, the project may not have much value in their decision process. Public universities have less flexibility. It varies considerably. We will show you how to use a project to: Develop a special skill. Create a organization/business. Leverage the project for admissions or financial aid. Design your own scholarship program. We are assuming that a student does have two or three years to identify a passion that might lead to a distinctive project. They are most likely to find a distinctive topic among their existing interests and strengths. They could be surprised at what a strong foundation they have already developed. On the following page you will find some helpful ideas regarding the brainstorming of a topic for their project. Do not be impatient. Your student is probably inexperienced at this type of brainstorming. It will take time. It could take several weeks before you find an exciting alternative.
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
12
Keys To Identifying Distinctive Projects

I. List two areas in which you presently excel. A.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
B.
II. List two areas of interest. They need not relate to school. A.
Career Options
B.
WWW Sites
III. List two topics that no one else will think of for a project. A.
B.
Books
IV. List two issues that are critical to the early 21st century. A.
Articles
B.
V. From the eight items listed above, select one that meets the following conditions: A. No one in your world is presently doing it. B. It would be challenging. C. It appeals to you. Students should their share your ideas with other people, i.e., counselors, teachers, relatives, college admissions staff, etc. If their topic is not really distinctive, start over. Use some of your productive thinking skills by focusing on the many, varied and unusual things you might select as a topic. Students should also talk to mentors, peers, parents and leaders of their community. It may take weeks or even months to find the right idea. Some quick ideas that might help include: 1. Write actual legislation on an emerging issue of consequence to your community, state, USA or world. 2. Attack a real but invisible community problem. 3. Create a unique solution to an emerging problem.
Essay Themes
Notes
13
Networking Contacts
Project Categories Inventions

This category is either fun or frustrating. Usually a student knows if they fit in this category because they are prolific in developing ideas. Some inventors respond to real needs and some do not. This is a difficulty category for a college to judge because there is a tendency to assess an idea ultimately around its perceived value to society. If they happen to invent a mechanism that neutralizes gravity, the benefits to space travel and the cost of energy on the earth are obvious and wonderful to everyone. They could do cancer research. If they invent a widget that has no tangible applications to our world today that we can measure, they may not win a scholarship because of our society's limited vision. Michelangelo drew a sketch for a flying machine. The Wright Brothers were viewed by many as lunatics. By the 1950's flight was an essential part of our lives.
Volunteerism
Colleges would like to see students take an existing organization and provide new direction around a new need. Or they would like to see students identify a need and create a new organization to meet that need in creative ways. Since this does require an organizational effort, it will take more time to establish actual results. After two or three years, a new organization may be quite small but yet vital. Size is not an important requirement in this type of project. An approach can be validated through a pilot program that can later be expanded.
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
New Business Enterprises

Some high school students will define a need in the marketplace, find the product or technology that meets that need and organize a marketing and distribution system to fulfill that need. In this case the distinctive contribution may be in developing a new marketing and distribution system rather than in creating the product or service that has actual value to a market. WalMart of an example. And we all know of examples on the Internet. There are more examples today than ever before of young people who have made a significant contribution early in the computer industry and the internet. These industries have afforded many young minds great opportunities.
Essay Themes
Notes
Humanities and Arts

If they happen to be a talented and highly motivated person in this category, you are fortunate indeed. Society has loved and supported talented people in this area. But beware, society has also rejected people with new ideas in literature and the arts. Some colleges are more open than the society may be to a new topic, approach or result. They should challenge us, inspire us, empower us and make us gasp at the simplicity of life represented through a project. The video tape is a marvelous tool for students to record projects that would normally be difficult to describe.
14
The Gap Year: A Year-In-Between

Most parents first reaction to this idea is that the student might never return to college. This concept is not appropriate for all high school students. Our best guess is that no more than 20% of the high school students are prepared to organize a program between high school and college. We believe that a significant portion of this 20% will benefit in some or all of the following ways: An extra year to mature. Develop more direction and purpose for college. Expand their perspective and self reliance. Gain self confidence. There are four elements to a successful experience: It is an extension of a students area of interest. A student should plan and implement the experience rather than going through a program. Students must begin organizing the experience in the sophomore or early junior year. They can organize a domestic or international study or work experience. It could also be an educational travel experience. To stimulate a students interest we have included several potential ideas some of which have been done already.
International Experiences
The first year of college abroad An obvious alternative for those who are fluent in a foreign language is to attend a foreign college or university. However, four years of high school languages usually will not prepare a student to compete successfully at the college level. Additional language and in country living experiences are required to assure success. If during high school they have acquired proficiency in the language and a cross cultural living experience, then we would encourage this alternative. However, the college transcript will usually become part of a students record. A second senior year of high school A more practical alternative for many students is to graduate from high school in the U. S. and then go abroad and study in a high school overseas. They will complete two senior years. They will have two high school degrees. There is little risk because grades need not be recorded as part of a high school transcript. There are presently few programs organized to do this in the U.S. Students can find a family and a high school themselves. It will be much cheaper than going through a program. However, they will not have the normal support systems. The student must be experienced and fairly self reliant. This should not be their first international living experience. (This has been done by an American student who studied in Chile in 1989-90.) International Work Experience Although more difficult to organize because a student will need not only general language skills but they will also need professional skills that a foreign country is willing to pay for. Difficulty should not discourage anyone. If they network properly
Networking Contacts
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Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
15
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over a two or three year period, this can be their year-in-between. Work experiences are likely to become a more common occurrence as young aspiring scientists and professionals who have developed an area of expertise in high school share that with peers and professionals around the world.
Career Options
International Work in English

There are three types of work experience abroad in English. Students could go to a country where the primary language is English. Secondly, they could work for a U. S. company that has based English speaking professionals abroad. Finally, they could work in a foreign company where the professionals speak and often work in English. For example, some scientific laboratories abroad would be interested in an English speaking researcher or technician to supplement their own work.
expertise that allows them to build relationships with professionals who value their perspective and intelligence. This is done by organizing a project, volunteer organization or company. Then the student can argue for compensation which rivals that of a full time employee performing similar functions. These experiences can lead to summer employment and full time employment when college is completed.
Domestic Study Experiences

This is less typical because then you appear to be just another college student who is enrolled as a freshman. However, the engineering student who would like to spend a year studying in a specialized art institute is another example of a year in between. The pre-medical student who wants to complete an extensive archaeological course including a dig in New Mexico is a second example.
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
International Travel Experience Essay Themes

Although somewhat more unusual for American students, this is more common among Europeans who have extensive travel experience. Whether it is a trip around the world or an extensive travel experience on one specific continent or in one country, it can provide valuable experience if properly organized. Parents are often pleasantly surprised at the energy and ingeniousness of students who pursue this alternative. Hoever, you need to set up guidelines and criteria for planning early in order to ensure the reasonableness and safety for the student. This could also be a business that organizes teenage world tours.
Summary
Any project requires a high level of interest and motivation. It requires a student to be organized and creative in finding ways to accomplish their plans. Usually, students must be tough minded and determined. When people are skeptical and do not take a student serious, they must become more determined rather than discouraged. They need to understand that their original plan will likely not be the final experience. As they grow in their knowledge, they will modify and improve their program. It will look very different three years later. Previous participants have observed that the two years of organizing their experience is as valuable as the experience itself.
Notes
Domestic Experiences
Domestic Work Experiences 16
This may be the easiest of the various alternatives. However, it too presumes that the high school student will develop an area of
Action Planning
Introduction
...but no one told me about that!
John Mitchell, near the end of his junior year in high school, is working diligently with a guidance counselor to develop a list of possible colleges to attend. Having expressed a goal of going to Notre Dame, the counselor examines Johns grades and test scores. John, the counselor squeaks, I do not think you can be admitted to Notre Dame! Shocked, John asks, What do you mean? I have been planning on attending Notre Dame for four years. I even wrote it down as one of my goals as a freshman in your orientation program. John, it would take at least a 3.60 cumulative GPA and SAT scores at least 100 points higher to meet their minimum qualifications. You do not meet their criteria. But, John angrily responds, No one ever told me that before! I could have gotten better grades and prepared more thoroughly for the SAT. Why didnt you say this earlier? High school guidance counselors do not have time to set goals for all freshmen, identify potential college plans and create a development plan to achieve those goals. Given current budgets for schools, it is the responsibility of the parent, student and possibly a grandparent. Often parents and students find this out too late! The decision whether a career or college is the appropriate choice after high school is the first major decision that a student makes. A great deal is at stake. The process involves them having a basic understanding of who they are with all their interests and talents. It also should involve understanding the U. S. economy and the institutional decision making that goes on every year in high schools and colleges. We believe that this cannot be done effectively in 6-9 months beginning at the end of the junior year of high school. This should be a discovery process that is incremental completed over at least 3 years to be effective. This material was written for those who agree that the work associated with a successful college bound process begins early in high school. On the surface junior high performance and behavior don't count. As a freshman in high school, grades are recorded permanently. Attitudes are being observed for references. Contributions to the high school community are noted. Everything a high school student does both good and bad is now being recorded informally or formally by the system. It all counts. The decision process regarding whether to go to college, where to attend college and how to finance college should begin in the freshman year. You can still decide as a senior not to go to college. Most students cram a three year process into nine months. It doesnt work very well and it creates a lot of unnecessary pressure and many mistakes. Dr. Wilkie makes the case for beginning the college bound process early. He will give parents ideas, strategies and reference materials for accomplishing this process. It encourages parents to create a process that allows the student to make their
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Career Options
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Books
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Essay Themes
Notes
17
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Career Options
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Books
own decisions regarding college and career. Personal "action plans," learning how to interview, knowing the key questions to ask, reading between the lines in an interview, etc.; these are but of few of the benefits of a process that begins early. The process outlined in the action section will help the grandparent as well as the student gather information about careers as well as the current admissions and recruiting trends in colleges and universities. Their needs may also be very specialized. For example, a high school student with the aptitude, grades and test scores to be a serious candidate for admission to Cal Tech, MIT or Harvard needs individualized counseling and special strategies.
4. Do you want a big college or a small college? 5. Do you want a highly competitive environment? 6. Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond? 7. Do you want to play college athletics? 8. Do you want to stay within four hours of home? 9. If you had to choose today, what would you major in at college?
Action Plan
The remainder of this section includes forms that are used in workshops to prepare an initial Action Plan for a student over the next 6 months. A plan can be changed anytime. Students should not be locked into a previous draft. They should probably develop a new plan at least twice a year. Students can always get help from high school counselors, teachers, principals, superintendents, other parents and students who have already gone through this process. Have them critique your student's plan and suggest other alternatives. Why is this important? Approximately half of the students who enroll in college actually graduate. For some it is a good experience. For many, they have wasted their time and money.
Articles
Ranking Colleges
It is useful to have some experience with at least four colleges before you develop a students first draft at ranking colleges. See the chart on page 22 as a sample you can use. Do not write on this copy. Make several copies and use this as a master. Why are ranking and criteria important? They will help students screen out many colleges. They will avoid wasting time. They will have more time to spend investigating selected colleges that really fit well. They will have more time to develop strategies for approaching particular colleges. How do you do this? Start with simple questions growing out of your students experience and personal interests. You should tell a student that criteria can and will be changed as they get closer to a final decision. Some simple questions include: 1. Do you like cement or grass? 2. Do you like new buildings or old? 3. Do you like major cities or smaller towns?
Essay Themes
Notes
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6 Month Action Plan

_______________________ __ _______________________ __ _______________________ __ _______________________
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_______________________ Career Options __ _______________________ __ WWW Sites _______________________ __ _______________________

Books
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Articles _______________________ __ _______________________ Essay Themes __ _______________________ __ Notes _______________________
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Networking Contacts
lendar er Ca Mast
Project Ideas
Sophomore Year
Freshman Year Career Options
Develop your Critical Dates List. Write for information from ten colleges that sound interesting. Have each college send you a catalogue as well as their marketing package. -Three small private liberal arts colleges WWW Sites -Three larger universities -Two regional colleges -Two out of state institutions Identify and approach a mentor in the local community. Visit at least two college campuses and their admissions Books counselors with your student and two friends. The summer time is a good time to do this. If they are an athlete, see an assistant coach in their sport when you visit. It is easier to organize if they select Division II, III or NAIA colleges initially. They do not have to be colleges your student is interestedArticles In fact, pick colleges in right now. where they can practice interviewing. Discuss goals and strategy with a mentor, teacher, counselor, etc. Discuss goals and strategy with parents. Goals and strategy will change over the next three years. Teens should Essay Themes not worry about changing and improving their goals as freshmen Write two resumes: 1) Who am I today and 2) Who would I like to become as a senior. It is a way to informally set goals. Notes Identify one alumnus of a college your student might like and arrange for an interview. Practice answering three questions at every dinner for the SAT exam. Define two words every dinner from the Latin and Greek root words and prefixes until students complete the SAT. Those interested in prestigious colleges should order the national reading list from the, School Library Journal P.O. Box 1978 Marion, Ohio 43305 Select one area of potential distinctiveness in high school. Identify a distinctive topic for the college admissions essay. Complete a first draft of your essay as a project for one of their high school classes.
Revise goals and plans based upon what you learned in your freshman year. Revise Critical Dates List. Rewrite both resumes. Develop five general criteria for the selection of a college. 1. Size 2. Location 3. Private or Public 4. Teaching versus Research 5. Type of environment Select three colleges for site visits in the summer and during the year. Make sure that you visit a large university, medium sized college and a private college. Get some variety even if you do not plan to attend. Identify and visit two alumni in your local community from a college you are interested in attending. Review your goals and strategy with their mentor and parents. Coaches: the goals and strategy do not need to be perfect, yet. Work on distinctiveness. Write a second draft of a college essay as a paper for a high school class. Identify and plan a unique travel/living experience. Prepare for and take the PSAT in October by using a book or computer program as a sophomore. It is the qualifying exam for the Nation Merit Scholarship Program. Learn about the Year in Between program and determine whether a you would like to create your own work or study experience either in the U. S. or internationally after you have graduated from high school but before you enroll in college. It takes two years to organize. Identify, visit, go to some event, take out to dinner and interview a freshman student from your community who is attending a college that interests your student.
College Prep Exam Sites National Merit Scholarship PSAT in junior year qualifies www.collegeboard.org SAT Exam in senior year www.collegeboard,org ACT Exam in senior year www.act.org
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Master Cal
Junior Year
Revise goals and plans based upon what you learn in your sophomore year. Revise the Critical Dates List. Rewrite the resumes for your senior year. The second resume should reflect what you will look like when you graduate from college. Revise and refine the five criteria for selecting a college. Write the next draft of the college essay. Organize site visits to three selected colleges and universities. Visit with two alumni and two students from the three colleges. Early in your junior year identify potential community, state, corporation, foundation and colleges scholarships that might be available. Write them for information. Further enhance an area of distinctiveness and write a one page summary describing it. Talk to three possible references about your future in college. Get their opinion about your plan. Implement a unique travel/living experience. Complete an internship with a mentor. Complete at least two college visits where a student can interview an existing freshman or sophomore. Rank order the colleges you have visited.
Networking Contacts
Senior Year Career Options
endar
Project Ideas
Revise your goals and plans based upon what you learned in your junior year. Revise your Critical Dates List. Finalize your resumes and use both in interviews. WWW Sites Select your final criteria for picking a college. Review them with your counselor, parents and mentor. Rank order the colleges based on their criteria giving each a score of one to five for each category. You should not be afraid to ignore this analysis. Prepare for and take the ACT and SAT one or more Books times if necessary. Read about each test to determine whether it is to your advantage to take the test more than once. Tests are offered on multiple dates. See your high school counselor or see: www.collegeboard.org Articles www.act.org Write a final draft of the college essay. Finalize a one page summary of your distinctive contribution in high school. Outline a one page the contribution that you will make Essay Themes to the college you attend and your field of study. Write a two page proposal for your "project" during college that will require some support from the college. It can be a continuation of your high school project or a completely new project. Notes Interview local alumni and students from your final three college choices. Submit early applications in August or September to the first three college choices. Submit two applications to good colleges where you know the student can be admitted in August just before the senior year Apply for financial aid at a private college as well as a public college if a scholarship is not highly probable. Ask a mentor for help in planning and implementing your college admissions process. Apply for all local scholarships that appear possible and where you meet the criteria. Visit the final three college candidates for an entire weekend including Friday to attend classes. Arrange to live in a residence hall. Select the college of your choice. It may not seem right. It may not even be right in the end. But you can always transfer.
Honest Answers About College Teams First string college athletes love the coaching staff. Second string college athletes tolerate the coaching staff. Third string college athletes will tell you about reality.
While it may be more fun to interview the college athlete who is a hero, you will get different information. When you are interviewing college athletes, select some second and third string athletes who will give you the most honest information.
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Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Ranking Colleges
WWW Sites
Characteristics
Career Options
Size Location
Private/Public
Books
Teaching/Research Environment Articles Student Body

Essay Themes
Opportunities: Academic Notes International Personal Cultural Athletic Professional
Total Points Average Score

Give each college and category a score from 1 to 5. 5 is the highest.
Action Plan
Name Address City & State Telephone Project Graduation Year
Description
1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year
5th Year
Cumulative GPA
SAT
ACT
Talent
Motivation
Knowledge of Project
Leadership
Creativity
Notes
Books
Brainstorming
Articles
Attitude
WWW Sites
Project Ideas
Networking Contacts
* The last eight categories are ratings by a counselor, mentor or other knowledgeable person using a 1-10 scale (10 is highest)
Essay Themes
Career Options
Aggressiveness
2011
www.mappingafuture.com
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Action Network #1
RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE
NAME Career Options ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE WWW Sites
COLLEGE STUDENTS
Books NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP Articles TELEPHONE NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE
Essay Themes
HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS/COACHES

NAME Notes ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COUNSELORS/COACHES

NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE
Networking Contacts
Action Network #2
COLLEGE CONTACTS Faculty
Project Ideas
Alumnus
NAME Career Options ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE WWW Sites
MENTORS Personal
Books Project
NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP Articles TELEPHONE
Essay Themes
PROJECT EXPERTS
NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE NAME Notes ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE
COLLEGE SITE VISITS

NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE
Networking Contacts
Without a dream you will get nowhere! Project Ideas

high school grades and colPublic College & Universities lege grades are not always Criteria for Admissions not Financial Aid a good predictor of success Career Options in life unless we define suc Target a 3.00+ minimum cumulative GPA cess as becoming a teacher. Target an average SAT or ACT Counselors and coaches Extracurricular activities help if marginal are sometimes reluctant Project that makes you a leader or distinctive to encourage high school can also be very help. WWW Sites students about prestigious colleges or college athletDreams are invisible. But they are ics unless they have demonstrated the first step toward tangible goals. tangible abilities that they can all Goals are just a fancy word for stairs that lead students upward toward their say are truly extraordinary. CounselBooks dreams. Goals can be used to develop ors have no way to measure heart! a strategy or program. In the follow- Simply stated, "We do not know which high school freshmen are the ing sections you will have a series of very specific tactics that coaches can late bloomers." A motivated student needs a plan. implement day by day. It is somewhat like a large puzzle. When you first open it, you think, This is impossible. However, it does not matter where you begin if you start early enough. Like that Essay Themes puzzle, as you put each piece in place, the puzzle gets easier because you begin to see the picture. This process is not much different. It will seem clearer the further you go. Notes Many people, including your friends and family, may believe a teen's dreams are impossible. In reality, there is really only one way to find out. You must help them try. High school counselors do not really know in the 9th and 10th grade how motivated, disciplined or creative a student will be as a senior in high school when they discover their niche/passion. In fact while we can make some guesses about how to measure IQ or creativity, the tests are not very accurate. We do know that grades and test scores in high school are very good predictors of how well they will do in college. However,
College Bound
changed several times over the next few years as you learn more about careers, college and a student's interests. We have observed three kinds of high school teens: Good teens help themselves improve. Great teens help other students improve. Impact teens help a whole school be better. What colleges call leadership, is often limited to the "great teen" descriptions. The "impact teen" has something much more special than just personal ability. It is called charisma. Now careers are a more frustrating discussion with teens. When you ask a six year old, "What are you going to be when you grow up? They respond immediately, "A cowboy!" Next week they might say a fireman. They are very comfortable with role playing. If you ask a high school student the same question, you are likely to get, "I do not know!" Why are they less willing to "role play." Beware, teens should only say that once in an interview. They still dream and role play privately but we have created an environment that does not allow them to say, "Given my interest and life experience, I expect to be a high school teacher." Encourage teens to role play.
Articles
Private Liberal Arts Colleges 500 to 3000 Students Attend Accredited Colleges NAIA offers athletic Scholarships
GPA ranges from 2.50 & up Extracurricular activities are important Project equates to leadership
The plan involves: Physical Goals Academic Goals Attitude Goals A plan for the next 6 months This took-kit is designed to give coaches and the teen ideas for completing a preliminary plan. You should not complete any plan in its final form the first time you complete a draft. You should complete at least two revisions before the final draft. It can also be changed at any time. In fact, most plans will be
Prestigious Colleges
Top 100 colleges in the U. S. Top 20% on SAT and ACT 3.5 cumulative GPA and higher Extracurricular activities Project that marks you as distinctive
26
College Admissions & Recruiting

Introduction
Gather information early enough to make a difference.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
ACT
Like many of the other strategies in this book, we recommend that students prepare for the SAT and ACT over a three year period. Courses do exist but they have limited value in increasing your students performance. "The ACT Assessment is a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures students on what they have learned in school. Student scores reflect the skills they possess in four academic areas measured by the ACT AssessmentEnglish, reading, mathematics and science reasoning." The ACT has a total score of 36. 21.1 was the average for 2008 and 27+ is usually the minimum for admission to the more selective prestigious colleges. Preparation for the ACT is best accomplished by reviewing those last three chapters of basic high school texts for the freshman through junior years. See http://www. act.org/news/aapfacts.html for facts.
Career Options
Coaches who have graduated from college think they understand the current admissions and recruiting process for a high school teen. Unfortunately, this view can be more dangerous to a student than those coaches who are inexperienced and know they are ignorant. The situation has changed. Coaches who are college graduates do not always understand the current climate. They must update there information before advising a teen. This process is no different than any other area of life. Every five years the situation changes dramatically. For example, twenty five years ago most students graduated in four years. Today, the average student takes five years unless they plan carefully. The planning process, particularly financial planning, is substantially different today.
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
Intelligence: Can We SAT Measure It? The SAT measures thinking or

Only a fool would think that intelligence alone will make one a success in life.
learning abilities; however, it is under attack by some colleges as a useful tool. Jay Comras, President of Instructivision and one of the foremost analysts of the ACT and SAT, makes the point that the SAT basically covers material through 9th and 10th grades What makes the test difficult is the amount of material covered in a limited time span. Instructivision also sells test preparation material on-line at www.instructivision.com or call 888.551.5144. The "SAT Reasoning Test has possible scores from 600 to 2400 combining test results from three 800-
The educational system attempts to measure intelligence. Testing! Testing! Testing! With all the criticism of education today, tests are being used to prove the worth of education. However, two tests are of real importance to the college bound student: 1) ACT and 2) SAT.
27
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
point sections (math, critical reading, and writing). It is common knowledge that each time a student takes the PSAT and then the SAT you have a good chance of increasing your next score by 25 to 50 points. With the SAT, your last test scores is what counts. The more times you take the SAT the more test sophisticated you become. There are limits to this principle. In addition, we suggest the following preparation beginning in the freshman year of high school: This is no longer a section of the SAT exam. Go to the high school librarian and get a book on the 300 key Latin root words and prefixes. Then practice each day analyzing unknown words that a student can find in the practice tests published in various books for the SAT. Parents can help students memorize the 300 key words and prefixes and learn how to use them in analyzing words they do not know. They can also ask the Latin teacher for help. This process has more value than just memorizing words and definitions. In the twelve months prior to taking the SAT at the end of the junior year, practice taking one of these tests in a simulated test environment so that they can get used to the test situation. They can also purchase tests on-line at www.collegeboard.com/satprep/ index.jsp from the organization that created the SAT. Secondly, listen carefully to the instructions particularly the one that says, Do not guess! For most of the schooling experience teachers have told students to guess if they do not know the answer to a question on a multiple choice test. Under the pressure of the SAT, most students revert to this behavior. Students need to practice not guessing. With the SAT for every question they answer incorrectly, the scoring procedure deducts part of a point from the
total score. If a student can narrow the choices to two answers, they should guess. These courses can not hurt a student. However, expensive courses taught by individuals need to be evaluated to determine their value. There is no research at the present time to indicate that there is a high correlation between these courses and performance on the SAT. A $50 fee is reasonable. A $450 fee is not. Neither the ACT or the SAT attempt to measure intelligence. Some researchers imply that they can in fact measure native intelligence accurately. There are some researchers who would question this assumption. We all know students who did not score high on tests or get high grades. Yet some of them proved to be exceptionally successful people later in life. Are these just exceptions to the rule? Should they just be discounted? No! Special action is required if you happen to be a student whose talents and motivation are not measured by standardized tests. Be careful as a coach. There are average students. Most testing is accurate. It is a disservice to tell an average student that they are brilliant when it is not true. The problem comes when a student is genuinely talented but does not score well on exams. There are hundreds, even thousands, of these students who graduate from high school across the U. S. every year. If a student is talented but does not score well on the ACT or SAT, there will usually be other evidence of this talent. They will exhibit behavior and produce results such as research projects, writings, inventions, artistic products, etc., that can be examined. It will take more effort to be fairly evaluated by the admissions and financial aid staff of colleges and universities. You should be sensitive to developing tangible products or a portfolio over a three year period
Paid Prep Courses
WWW Sites
Analogies
Summary
Root Words and Prefixes
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
Published Practice Tests
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not just in the senior year. If you wait too long, it becomes a tougher sell. How does this student get admitted to college of their choice? How do they receive the financial aid they need so badly? The strategy sections of this manual will elaborate on practical ideas you can implement. If your teen does exceptionally well on standardized tests, then the educational system has mechanisms to identify them for admission and will reward the student financially with scholarships. For example, students scoring high on the PSAT are
Grades
Networking Contacts
Grades are the best single indicator of success in college but not in life."
Project Ideas
High schools are filled with under achievers, over achievers and non achievers. It has less to do with intelligence and more to do with a sense of purpose, discipline and motivation. Under achievers are often intelligent people who are undisciplined and erratic in their grades. If I like the professor and it is great class, I get As. If I am bored, I get Cs or Ds. The PSAT exam taken in the Dont worry too much. These junior year serves as the teens may score high on college entrance tests. They will qualifying exam for the usually get around a 3.00 total National Merit GPA in high school. They will Semi-Finalists. get admitted to a college. It will not necessarily be the college of their choice. They will not automatically identified to particiget many scholarship offers. Many pate in the National Merit Program do very well in college and in life. as semi-finalists. If they become a Non achievers often lack purpose National Merit Finalist through an or direction. They just do not care evaluation in their senior year, they about grades. Good luck! The key will receive partial and full scholarmay be in locating the students own, ship offers from different sources unique and sometimes distasteful inincluding many colleges. Some colleges and universities have terests to adults. Often coaches want their own competitive examinations the teen's interests to be identical to and scholarships. Corporations give theirs. Seldom is this the case. Even if it is, encourage them to develop scholarships for high performance. Communities and local services clubs their own interests. Many coaches and parents want give scholarships. Churches and an over achiever. The high school religious groups reward excellence. Even the U. S. Government gives the student who works hard, studies hard, and plays hard. Presidents Scholarship to a select Being the All American high school group of students every year. student is not all that it is cracked up If a student has intelligence and to be. Rebellion is an important part it can be measured in a traditional of growing up. Often, but not always, testing situation, the educational the over achiever is still trying to system knows how to find students please the parents. Watch out for and help financially. If a student's talent does not show up in tradition- over achievers. The over achiever in high school al testing situations, they will have to can turn over night at college into develop a separate program to sell a person who needs to be protected themselves. with structure. At college there is little supervision and parents are not
Career Options
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Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
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Essay Themes
around to support and encourage. Be careful, most rebellious people reject those who love them the most at least for awhile. This can last three to six years. What is GPA? Ask the freshman in high school to calculate their GPA. Most will give you a strange look and admit they do not know how to calculate GPA. Ask them if they get all Cs in the first two years of high school and all As the last two years, what will be their GPA? Most high school teens have not emotionally adjusted to the fact that their grades now count. Do everything you can, including paying for grades, to encourage them to get at least a B average as a freshman and sophomore. We pay for performance later in life, why not now? High schools, colleges and many organizations reward good grades with scholarships. Is there anything wrong with a parent paying for grades? A B average will increase the options when you begin applying for college. If a student gets motivated and gets straight As their junior year, they could complete high school with a 3.5 GPA. That is respectable. It is also necessary to be admitted to:
Creativity
Creativity is the elusive little element that wins Nobel Prizes. We can not teach it but some people can model creativity.
Notes
Strong public universities. Prestigious public and private

universities.
Prestigious smaller colleges.
It may be less important whether we can measure a teenss creative abilities than whether coaches and a teen together can identify a creative mentor during high school. If they do not presently have a mentor, find one now! Creativity is randomly distributed. Every region, socio-economic group, religion, etc., have their fair share of creative people. When you get beyond what it means for their family, you will share our enthusiasm for what it means to a society. Three to five percent of the U. S. population think differently. I did not say faster. I said differently. They are not just accelerated, they think differently. That three to five percent, believe it or not, live in wealthy and poor families alike. You will find three to five percent in rural towns and in fancy suburbs. Thats right, expensive suburbs do not have an increased percentage of creative thinkers. We discover three to five percent among factory workers and doctors children alike. Nature may have played a trick on you. It may have honored you with a special child who thinks differently. Do not get too excited. Chances are they do not think like you. Therefore, you may not understand or identify with them. They will have a hard time finding friends like themselves. They need friends during these transitional years. They need to know that they are not alone. They also need a mentor throughout life not just high school or college.
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If they do not have one yet, find one for them now. They can choose their own mentor. Mentors will respond positively if students are prepared for the meeting. What do they need to know and do? 1. Creativity alone will not make them successful in life. It must be combined with other ingredients. 2. Creativity alone will not get them into college. 3. Creativity alone will not get them a scholarship. 4. Creativity alone will not build friendships. 5. Creativity alone will not build great networks of people who are willing to help them. Creative teens often need limits set. They need some structure. At least they need a defined world with rules and laws in which to function. Creativity is not necessarily enhanced by total freedom to do your own thing. Creative students need to find other gifts, skills, or interests that can be combined with their creativity to produce results that the society may eventually pay for as well. Assuming teens have an interest in attending college, identify an interest and project that may be of interest to the academic world. College faculty will want to talk about ideas or concepts that they can evaluate. If the project can produce something tangible or solves a problem, that is even better. Creative students need to attend summer camps with an emphasis that interests them. They need part time employment with mentors who respect and challenge them. They are often willing to take responsibility at an earlier age for their own future. You should encourage and stimulate them toward this objective. They can do research, start companies, develop projects that solve real community problems and make money at the same time. Ask them how they are going to creatively
finance their own college? You might be surprised at their response.
Networking Contacts
Leaders
Born or Made? We bestow the mantel of leadership and then proceed to destroy our leaders. Why?
Project Ideas
Career Options
Colleges and universities say they value leadership. However, very few dollars are given each year for scholarships to exceptional leaders with a 3.00 GPA and average SAT or ACT scores. Only if a student has the grades, test scores as well as demonstrated leadership qualities, are colleges willing to reward them. Leaders without grades and test scores may be successful in college and in life but they will not necessarily be admitted to prestigious colleges or receive substantial financial aid. There are exceptions but they are rare. Student leadership qualities must be very tangible and remarkable. What good is it? Sometimes it has value to society. Sometimes it has value to the individual. Sometimes the society rewards it financially but not always. We give leaders medals and certificates but not always money. Leadership is not always positive. True leaders suffer much injustice. Why? They go against the grain of society. That is why they are called leaders. They do not always make good managers or technicians. They are not satisfied with the status quo. Leaders are both born and made. They are made by circumstances and conditions outside of themselves. We cannot always control whether we become leaders or not. It is beyond one individuals control. Other people must bestow the mantel of leader on a person. Many true leaders rarely aspire to be leaders.
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Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
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Essay Themes
"Political, corporate, religious, educational figures who hold titles are always leaders." It is not true! People with titles want us to admire them. They perpetuate all kinds of myths about leaders. In reality, leaders are often invisible until after their accomplishments are recognized. Leaders do not always possess power. They have something infinitely more valuable. They can influence. People listen to them, change their behavior and risk their lives because they trust a leader. They know deep down inside that the person is worthy of their trust and confidence as a leader. They lead us into uncharted territory. So what do we conclude about leadership. Educate students so that they have a skill and can make a living. They should find problems worth working on and that will make a difference in our lives. If they serve a constituency well, then maybe, just maybe, the people will someday bestow that mantel of leadership on them. But do not aspire to it. Somehow it works against you.
There is an alternative to being disciplined and that is having fun. If a person enjoys what they are doing, discipline comes easier. If we do not like what we are doing, discipline comes hard. The objective would be to make high school as much fun as possible. How? In larger high schools there may be more that one teacher offering a course. Students may be able to select a teacher. A teacher can make any subject either fun or boring. Select courses carefully in the early stages of high school. Make sure every semester has some courses that are enjoyable. But other courses must challenge students. Motivated When a person is driven to accomplish a goal, we usually say they are highly motivated. Goals will vary with the individual. College admissions staff are looking for students who are motivated in the primary functions of colleges: memorizing, reading, studying, thinking and problem solving. When these are enjoyable activities for a student, admissions counselors conclude that a student is highly motivated to succeed in high school and probably in college. High school students are either motivated or they are not motivated. Parents can do very little at this point to force, badger or pay a student to be motivated. It just does not work. It really depends on skills and interests. Interest levels vary substantially depending upon how excited a student is about a class and teacher. Having at least one positive thing in the life of a high school student helps. Cooperative No college or university wants a trouble maker that will distract students, faculty and administrators. They have enough problems to handle that are normal. Very intelligent and often creative people can be trouble makers. Discovering the fine line between a trouble maker and a creative stu-
Attitudes
Notes
Failure is often a first step in success.
College admissions counselors love: Disciplined students Motivated students Cooperative students Successful students Students who know their learning style Disciplined Some students are natural at being disciplined. They do not even have to work at it. Most students must work at it. It is hard, tiring and often frustrating. Perseverance is as important as intelligence for success in college. What do I do if a student has not had much success at being disciplined?
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dent who is just perceived as testy is important for high school students. No one is really against a little fun. But the student must be instructed regarding the limits and understand the negative consequences if violated. Usually they have already demonstrated the ability to understand the rules and play the game well. Successful Success is everywhere. Kids grow up seeing the successful cowboy, policeman, businessman and spy. Bad guys are unsuccessful. Therefore, if students fail, they must be bad. The reality is that most successful people fail and will fail periodically in the future. The issue is not whether you fail but rather what you learn from failure. Oh, what a difficult lesson to begin learning in high school. Self conscious people do not handle failure very well. Small failures are better than big failures. That is why a successful college bound process takes two to three years. It gives you time for several small failures rather than a big failure. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. He and his staff conducted over 5000+ experiments that failed before discovering a filament that worked. He had many more failures than successes. Why do we call him such a successful inventor? What parent would tolerate over 5000+ failures before experiencing success. If Edison was really good, you would have thought that he would only take a dozen or less experiments to succeed. Scientific research is a process of testing a hypothesis and usually failing. But the scientific community does not call it failure. The hypothesis was rejected or found to be false. Really, it is failure after failure after failure. In a sport like baseball batting averages are less that .400 for the best in
the professional ranks. That really means that batters have 60% plus failure rates. Failure is all around us. We must encourage students to embrace it not to avoid it. Or maybe it is not about failure but learning how to win. Learning Style There is a growing body of research that indicates that each of us learns in different ways. Some students need a lot of light others need darkness to learn effectively. Some need silence and others need noise to learn. Some students must lie down and some must sit at a table to absorb information. What this means is that we all learn differently. In the school setting it is important to know whether we learn effectively through lectures, discussion, writing, taking multiple choice tests, etc. Colleges have different teaching styles which dominate the environment. You need to investigate a college to know where you will be most comfortable and effective in learning. It can be the difference between high levels of success and even failure. Coaches, have your teen ask their high school counselor about a test to assess your student's learning styles. It will help everyone understand them better.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
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Essay Themes
Notes
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Networking Contacts
College Essays
"A distinctive essay can set you apart ."
from the thousands of students who are barred annually from admission to America's most prestigious colleges.
Project Ideas
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Books
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Essay Themes
In the mid 1980's an applicant to an Ivy League University wrote an essay on, "Does the End Justify the Means?" She analyzed and compared Presidents Lincoln and Nixon. Each President had concluded that their goal did justify the means they used to achieve their end. President Lincoln believed that freedom for the slaves justified war. President Nixon supposedly supported a Watergate break-in to assure reelection. She drew her own conclusion in the essay which was very important. This was the only essay on that topic from over 10,000 application essays. Her topic was distinctive. Her essay had to be written well but not as well as those four thousand essays written on nuclear disarmament that same year. Distinctive essays can be essential for the admissions process but they can also be very helpful in negotiating financial aid at many private colleges. Essays are not a substitute
Extra-Curricular Activities
It may be more important than you think.
There are several types of extra curricular activities: School Sponsored Activities Student government Service clubs Academic clubs, i.e., Science Club Academic competitions, i.e., debate or Future Problem Solving teams. Athletic teams and cheerleaders Community Organized Activities Junior Achievement Agricultural 4-H Religious youth programs Volunteer youth organizations
Notes
Student Organized Activities Organize a business to meet a need Conduct original Excellent Essay-Ordinary topic but research Create a new volwritten exceptionally well. unteer organization Distinctive Essay-Out of the ordinary
College Essays
topic written well.

for a personal on-site interview but they can set the stage. Each year there are those topics that are popular. Avoid the popular topics. If a student plans to commit 40 hours to writing an essay, allocate at least 25% or 10 hours to choosing the topic. Students should brainstorm topics with friends, relatives, teachers, parents, etc. Anyone they know can help identify an interesting but distinctive topic for their essay. Students usually spend far too little time choosing the topic for an essay. The topic may set them apart
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There are also several different levels of extracurricular involvement as a leader: Exploring charted territory--a leader in a program organized by someone else. Exploring uncharted territory--a leader in a program organized by someone else but where the leader creates new programs within an existing organization. Creating the future--the creator and organizer of a new institution, organization or movement.
Why are these distinctions important? To participate without leading or creating is a good thing. Not every one can be a creator or leader in everything they touch, nor should they be. Students must exercise judgement in choosing where they want to focus limited time, energy and talent. However, in the minds of most college admissions staff there is a hierarchy of extracurricular involvement for leaders. Creating and leading an organization that took three years to put in place in response to a real need in your community has more value than being president of a good program organized ten years ago by someone else. In the last case the student is clearly more of a manager but not necessarily an initiator/leader. Some colleges are looking for leaders. They want their alumni to be leaders as adults. The more prestigious colleges and universities in America will talk more readily and intelligently about valid examples of leadership. Whether a success or a failure, striking out and organizing their own project based upon their perception of a need can often lead to positive consequences. What is the best indicator of future success as a leader? It is successful demonstration of that skill and perspective in high school. Are there exceptions? Yes, quite a few as a matter of fact. See Jim Collins mono-
graph entitled "Good to Great for the Social Sectors." It is a 37 page monograph that is very clear and simple. It could be a process and structure.
Networking Contacts
College Athletics
Project Ideas
Athletics are a great motivator for some high school students.
Career Options
High school student-athletes have a right to information early enough to make a difference. College recruiters tell us that it takes three years to develop the mental and attitudinal characteristics required to compete successfully in college athletics. See www.ncaa.org for up to date information and the Student-Athlete Guide that explains these requirements. This is very technical and you need to be careful that you meet the current requirements by reviewing the "GUIDE FOR THE COLLEGEBOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE" that you can get free by going on-line at http://www.ncaa.org/eligibility The NCAA in their Guide states that, "You become a prospective student-athlete if you have started classes for the ninth grade." Unfortunately, student-athletes and their coaches are often the last to discover that the process
WWW Sites
Books
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Notes
# of College Athletic Programs-1990

I Football Mens B Ball Womens B Ball ____________
NCAA-National Collegiate Athletic Association NAIA-National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics NJCAA-National Junior College Athletic Association
NCAA II 127 214 216
NAIA III 225 302 306 152 414 390
NJCAA
195 298 288
85 464 355
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Many recruiters keep studentathletes ignorant so that they can control the recruiting process as much as possible. If students and High School Athletes Need Help Too parents understand the process and The talented professional athlete are asking the right questions, there or rock star requires help in the will be fewer abuses of athletes. form of a manager or agent. They Every high school freshman athdo not have the time and expertise lete dreams at one time or another to do everything. Likewise, the of playing college athletics Most of talented high school athlete needs them will not make it. Some of them help. Coaches can be a primary wont make it because they didnt source of assistance since a student's have information early enough in time and expertise is limited. You their high school experience. must learn how to utilize their high Many of them would try if only school coach effectively. Coaches someone who knew the ropes should help a student identify and would take the time to tell them approach an athletic mentor who what is required. If a freshman lives within driving distance in high school were to try, we are Few athletes do this on their own. convinced their chances would be It is impossible without help from improved substantially. people who care about you. It is a Jason Wilkie, my son, and I origiteam effort when it is done well. nally wrote a manual for the college bound athlete in 1985 when Jason was a high school freshman. Jason had a difficult time acquiring the in16 core courses & a 2.000 gradeformation on how big, point average or better in your core strong, fast, quick, etc., courses. Earn a combined SAT score he had to be to play of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68 college football. High school coaches have different levels of knowledge and inAlthough the primary responsivolvement about college recruiting. bility lies with the student-athlete, College recruiters are reluctant to others will only help if they see the state specific criteria. Recruiters beathlete giving a maximum effort. lieve that if you meet the criteria and Many high school coaches do not are not offered a scholarship, you inform high school athletes about will be upset. Most college athletes college recruiting until the junior or do exceed the minimum criteria. senior year. Some coaches inform only those athletes who they believe have college potential. There are hundreds of colleges NAIA that play college athletics at five 300+ Accredited Colleges different levels. The choice about Eligibility Requirements whether to prepare physically, at(two of the three) titudinally and academically during high school should be the students -2.00 cumulative GPA not the coachs choice. Preparation -Graduate in the top 50% of class needs to start as a high school fresh-ACT score of 18+ or man. SAT score of 860+ Knowledge empowers people.
of becoming a successful college student-athlete really begins in the 9th grade.
2013 NCAA Regulations
Questions for Athletic Recruiters

Athletic
Project Ideas
Networking Contacts
What position will I play on your team? Describe the other players competing at the same position? Career Options Can I redshirt my first year? What are the strength and conditioning requirements each year? Describe the time commitments each week both in and out of season?
WWW Sites
Coaching
How would you describe your coaching style? Books What kind of offense and defense do you run? When does the head coachs contract end? Describe the preferred, invited and uninvited walk-on's? Articles
Essay Themes How good is the department in my major? What percentage of players on scholarship graduate in 4 years? Do GPA requirements exist to be admitted to my major as a junior? Notes Who teaches classes; professors or teaching assistants? How much financial aid is available for summer school? Describe class sizes? How extensive is your academic support program, for example, study hall requirements, tutor availability and faculty cooperation?
Academic
Living Conditions
Will I be required to live only with athletes? What are the residence halls like? Will I be required to live on campus for all five years? What kind of transportation is available?
Networking Contacts
If you call the NCAA 317/917-6222 and request information, they will send you a copy of the COLLEGEBOUND STUDENT-ATHLETE GUIDE free. On-line you can get a copy at http://www.ncaa.org/eligibility This document outlines the recruiting and college eligibility regulations. It also explains the recruiting processes and dates. Coaches need to have a copy and read it. Freshman or sophomore athletes may not be interested yet in their rights and responsibilities. They just want someone to offer them a scholarship. It may appear too early in the process but it is not. Every junior or senior who is being recruited needs to read this Guide and discuss it with a parent and coach. As Jasons father I was embarrassed to ask high school coaches key questions. I was afraid of being an obnoxious parent. You know, someone who thought his kid could play college athletics when he is only a freshman or sophomore. The facts about criteria, recruiting processes and alternative strategies that we gathered by talking with college recruiters were so valuable that Jason changed his behavior radically in three months. Like Jason, it could start your high school athlete down the road to a successful college athletic experience. Coaches should understand that Dreams become goals... Sports can provide purpose & direction. A students athletic interest can be used to teach information & valuable skills for life not just athletics. A good decision process on where to attend college as a student-athlete takes 2 to 3 years. Athletics are the single larg-
Project Ideas
Career Options
The first step in making their dream a reality is to talk about it with people who care about their future. They will help. Everyone talks about how few opportunities there are in college athletics and how difficult it is to get there. We are surprised by the number of places that are allocated to new freshman. There are over 700 college football programs and over 1200 four year college basketball programs for men and women. Don't be afraid to dream.
WWW Sites
Distance from Home
Books
High school students want to go as far away from home as possible until the day comes to actually leave.
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
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est source of college aid NOT based upon financial need for the middle class parent.
The majority of college students will attend college within 300 miles of their home. No matter how much they talk about moving away from home during high school, a variety of factors affect a student's final decision including home sickness. College admissions counselors understand this also. So when you are applying to a college in another state and arguing that your child is different, be prepared to document this in tangible ways. For example, they may have lived abroad for a year or even a summer in high school. They may have attended camps for an extended period. Recruiters will be looking for behavior that tells them the student has already broken, in a positive sense, the attachments to home and will effectively settle in for four years 1000 miles away from home. This is critical for admissions. But it is even more critical for financial aid considerations. They will be looking to the quality of their contribution over a four year period. If they really believe a student will transfer closer to home after a year or two, a student will not be as strong a candidate for financial aid.
Most high school freshman students have seen a resume and may have even written one. It is not very difficult once they understand what is required. We recommend that a student draft a resume of: Who they are today. Who they are as a high school senior. This is usually frustrating at first for the student. Give
Draft Two Resumes
Networking Contacts
them sample copies of resumes that have been developed by students. Ask coaches or seniors for copies of a resume. Project Ideas They need to update this draft each year based upon new experiences and perspectives. This resume can be used in selecting mentors, developing projects, applying for positions and applying to colleges. See forms for "future resume."
Career Options
Cheryl Jamison
Personal Data Birth: 11/15/73 Single
WWW Sites
Address 3891 James Dr. Grand Rapids, MI. 49506 Books (616) 948-0876
Goals 1. Complete a one year study/living experience in Chile before college. 2. Complete a B.A. degree in international business. Articles Accomplishments 1991 Completed an internship on 3D CAD at Irwin Seating Corporation. 1990 Ten week summer internship at E & L Engineering in Los Angeles. 1989 Summer cross cultural living experience in Spain. Essay Themes 1988-91 Four years on a high school swim team. Special Skills 1. Computer Aided Design (3D CAD). 2. Macintosh SE/30 (desk top publishing). Notes Work Experience 1986 Dairy Queen, Grand Rapids, MI Worked during the summer and school year. 1987 Jersey Junction, East Grand Rapids, MI Work during the summer and school year at an ice cream shop. 1988-1989 Lerner, New York, Grand Rapids, MI Worked for one year part time as a clerk in a womens clothing store. Summer, 1990 E & L Engineering, Long Beach, CA I worked in several departments including drafting, engineering and product development. Education
Forest Hills Central High School, Grand Rapids, MI June, 1991
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Do not underestimate the influence of admissions counselors. They will make a recommendation that will influence your students life forever.
Do not underestimate the influence of an admissions counselor. If a student has their heart set on a particular college, the recommendation of an admissions counselor takes on even more importance. If you are a marginal candidate for admission or financial aid, admissions counselors are the college representatives who could be your advocate in the college meetings where they will decide to admit or reject a student. An admissions counselors impression of a student and their willingness to be a strong advocate for admission to a college is often essential in a prestigious colleges. Talented but marginal candidates can be rejected. Admission may depend upon someone being willing to go out on a limb regarding a students contribution to the life of a college community. College admissions staff are often young, under thirty, intelligent, articulate and social people who want to remain in the college environment. They travel a great deal across the country and are under a great deal of pressure to find and sell the talented student on their college. Did we say, sell!" Thats right, college admissions staff spend a great deal of time trying to attract and sell several categories of college students: Talented academic students Talented athletes Leaders Daughters and sons of alumni Every college needs a small percentage of students in the first three categories above to make their college effective. They need and will get average candidates for admission. Part of their goal is to increase
Admissions Staff
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
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the quality of the talent pools listed above. When applying to most colleges you want to be seen as the customer. You want to be sold the service of educating your grandson or granddaughter. At another college the student may have to sell themselves. It is important for both admission and financing college that you have at least two colleges that are trying to sell you on coming to their college. It would be nice to have two in each category. That is not always possible. The colleges that want your student to attend because of academics, leadership or athletics represent a leveraged position in the financial aid programs particularly at most private colleges. It can also be helpful in securing part time employment during the academic year and full time employment in the summer with alumni for higher pay. More on this later under financing. What do admissions counselors use to evaluate a student? Academic transcript (GPA & Class Rank) Test scores Personal interview Application and essay (always submit an essay) References If the transcript and test scores are outstanding, you have a great start depending upon where your student hopes to attend college. For example, the Ivy League can have ten+ applications for every student admitted. Most of the students who apply to an Ivy League institution have high grades and test scores. That may not differentiate your grandchild from other candidates. However, those same grades and test scores may be good enough to be admitted to a high quality public university in your home state. You cannot generalize from one category of college to another. You need to have completed your homework. Always apply and get admitted
to one college or university that is acceptable to your teen. Apply early in the fall of their senior year and ask for early admissions if they have it. Now, your student will have one alternative in the bag. No matter what happens, they have someplace to attend college. It will give your student more confidence when applying and interviewing at colleges that may have higher admissions requirements.
Site Visits
"Never underestimate the value of a first hand visit to various colleges"
Site visits are critical. Practice does make a student better if not perfect. Site visits should begin in the summer after the freshman year. Why? Before they finish six site visits, the average student becomes more proficient and effective during the interviews. At least three should be conducted in the summer after the freshman and sophomore year in high school. Then they should conduct visits to colleges that make their finalist list during the spring and fall of the junior and senior year. Freshman Year-Select three colleges within a two hour drive of your community. Initially, select colleges that your student is NOT excited about now. Do not practice on a college they might attend. Make an appointment with an Admissions Officer. Ask for a tour and spend two to four hours on campus. The initial site visits will be more fun and profitable if your teen asks their two best friends to go with them. On the way ask each of them to think of three questions they will ask the admissions officer. Then no one will be on the spot during the interview. When you are finished, ask them where they would like to go next. Make sure they select one community college, a small private
college and a large university during your first summer. Sophomore Year-Select three more colleges in your region to visit. Select one of their friends to go with you this time. Select colleges that meet some of the criteria they may have developed to make a final decision. Students should continue to practice their interviewing skills. Adults should be asking no more than two or three questions per interview. Junior Year-Using the criteria your student has developed over the last two years, select four institutions. Do not ask a friend to go with them. They should go alone and with a parent or the coach. This is not practice. This is for real. You want the admissions officer to be focused on your student. You should ask to talk to a faculty member in one major that the student may be interested in when they attend college. The student may not know what they would like to major in at this point. Then here is what your student should say to the admissions staff. "I have two passions: biology and writing. I would like to talk with a faculty member in one or both of these departments during my site visit." After six previous site visits, the student should be more comfortable. They should know many of the right questions to ask. They should be able to read between the lines at times. They will begin to sense when an admissions counselor is misrepresenting the college. They should set up an appointment with a financial aid representative of the college. They should visit during the week and stay over night. Now they can visit at least three classes at each college. They should talk to one faculty member in their major. They can sometimes stay over night in a residence hall with a student.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
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Networking Contacts
College Site Visits

Project Ideas
Admissions Process
What are the requirements for admission? Grades Test Scores Career Options Essay Interview Extracurricular Activities What is the process you use? What is the timing? Is there an earlyWWW Sites admissions program?
Social and Cultural Life

What types of activities can we participate in on campus? Does the college provide entertainment? What cultural events are available in the community? What opportunities exist for participation in the arts?
Living Facilities
Books Academic Programs
What type of teaching styles do the faculty emphasize? Can you describe you faculty, i.e., committed to research or teaching? Articles Who teaches the undergraduate classes? How large are the classes for freshman and sophomores? How large are the classes in my major? Where will I live as a freshman? What facilities are available to upperclassmen? Can I live off campus? What is the food like? Describe your meal plan: 19 or 21 meals? May we visit a dorm and talk to students?
Essay Themes
Geographic Area
Is the college more than 300 miles from home? Is it rural or urban? Is it integrated with a city or a single contiguous campus? Do you like the architecture? Can you picture yourself on this campus?
Major
Notes
Will I be able to relate to the students in this major? Do I like at least one faculty member in the department? Have I found at least one possible mentor in this department?
Financial Aid
Will financial aid be available? Please describe the application process? What proportion is grants and scholarship rather than loans? Where does the money come from? Are special academic scholarships available? How do I apply? How much debt does the average student who does not qualify for financial aid accumulate during five years?
Support Systems
Do you have a placement center? Who works with students on placement to graduate school? Do you have a counseling center? How does the academic advising program work?
Site Visit Questions

The quality of their questions reflect on their candidacy for admission."
The interview process involves many things including the quality of the students initial questions. Even more important is the quality of the follow-up questions based upon the natural flow of the conversation. They can memorize a list of critical lead-in questions. However, they must practice the art of follow-up conversation with questions that reflect a student's true depth and interest to an admission counselor. Questioning is an art that takes time to develop. This is why we suggest that prospective students begin site visits and interviewing during the summer between their freshman and sophomore year. We suggest that coaches indicate to a young high school student that during the initial interview the parent or coach will participate in the question and answer period. However, the student should be asking 30% to 50% of the questions. They should identify three good questions that they can ask easily. See page 42 for a list. After three practice interviews, most students are reasonably comfortable with the interview process. They will discover that most admissions counselors generally talk too much because they find that most parents and students do not know what questions to ask. Admissions counselors feel a need to carry the interview. It is partly because they are selling their institution to you at this point. There will come a time when the student may have to take control and sell themselves to the admissions counselor. But that can wait until the senior year. After ten site visits, students will begin to read between the lines. Most admissions counselors sound amazingly similar. You are trying to educate the teen about how to distinguish
one institution from another. Over time they will become quite good at knowing what is for real and what is just sales talk. After ten site visits, the key screening criteria that both of you will use in the senior year to decide which colleges to submit applications to will be easier to identify. If over three years, you conduct ten substantive site visits, each more thorough than the previous one, you will discover that your student is ready to interview by themselves, get important information and make a good decision. You will be more willing to let them make the decision. After all, that is one of our objectives as grandparents.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Types of Colleges
Books
Choosing the right type of college can make the difference between success and failure in college.
Articles
As coaches you must understand that there is a vast array of colleges. It is not just large or small, public or private, college or university. There are specialty schools, technical institutes, and private liberal arts colleges with special block curriculums for the student who needs to take one course at a time. Do not let this selection overwhelm you. Most of the options will sort themselves out over time. The student will find themselves focusing on one to three different types of colleges and universities in three years. As you conduct site visits to nearby colleges several of the categories will be eliminated. Coaches be patient. When you start this process as a freshman or sophomore, you and the student have plenty of time to complete it. Changes in behavior, insights in the decision process and clarification of screening criteria will begin to explode on the scene as you get closer to the senior year. You need to make sure that the groundwork is laid.
Essay Themes
Notes
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Networking Contacts
Community Colleges Regional Universities

Tuition up to $3,000/ year $10,00 to $18,000 /year
This was an extraordinary movement that began with junior colleges before WW II. They were created to make the first two years of college available to the middle and lower class in America. They have expanded their mission to include two year vocational programs as well. Students who are interested in getting a good education in a community college can accomplish that goal. They are usually less expensive than residential four year institutions because they are supported by the local community. There is a tendency in some regions to think less of the community college because of their open admissions policies. If for financial or academic reasons this is the only realistic alternative available, you should familiarize your student with the local community college so that you can dispel some of the myths that surround these institutions. If the student attends a community college and then goes on to a prestigious college based upon exceptional performance, no one will ever ask where they received their Associates Degree. The only question asked on job applications and by other people is, Where did you graduate from college? Most people mean where did you get your BS or BA. No one really cares if a student attended a community college. They are only really concerned about the bachelors degree. Depending upon the population, a state may have one, two or three types of public four year colleges and universities. States that have regional institutions will sometimes name them after a geographic area like Western Michigan University. They also name them after cities, i.e., Long Beach State University. Many of these institutions began as colleges for teachers. Today, they have a broad range of majors. Only a small portion of their students would be in education. They are often noted for their emphasis on teaching and learning as contrasted with publishing and research at major public universities. Most regional universities today have limited graduate programs. There is not a great need to provide graduate research or teaching assistantships to graduate students. This results in the classes for freshmen and sophomores in regional institutions being taught by faculty members rather than graduate assistants usually called teaching assistants or TAs. Not all of the faculty would have their Ph.D.s but probably a majority would. The remainder would have completed at least a Masters degree. Many faculty who take a position in a regional university understand that the primary emphasis is on teaching and not on research. A student can often get better quality teaching from a regional college or university at the undergraduate level than at some large public universities focusing on research and graduate education.
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
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$12,000 to $22,000 / year

In every state in the U. S., there is a Land-Grant university. Another name for them is agricultural college. The original Land Grant Colleges have usually become public universities. In some states they were combined with the public university that already existed. For example, the University of Illinois, Ohio State University and the University of California combined the functions. In Michigan, Indiana, Montana, Texas, etc., you had two separate universities created. The Land Grant universities are very respectable institutions. In certain disciples, particularly those associated with agriculture like biochemistry, they have outstanding departments because they build upon the strength in agriculture and its funding. One unusual exception to this pattern is Cornell University in New York. Cornell is a private university and part of the Ivy League Conference. Cornell is under contract with the State of New York to operate the agricultural college for that state.
Land-Grant Universities
ties in the Midwest have developed departments in the biological/genetic sciences serving agriculture that rival the best in the world. They have real depth of talent among the faculty. These departments might have several world renown faculty not just one or two. The quality of a university is measured primarily in terms of the quality of the faculty and students. One obviously attracts the other. Facilities also contribute to any evaluation. Finally, there is the reputation of the alumni. Networking among alumni could be a very important consideration for the graduate of an institution particularly if they plan to remain in a state or region.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Public Ivy League Universities
Books
$18,000 to $30,000 /year
Articles
Public Universities
$15,500 to $22,000 / year
Every state has at least one major public university that performs the traditional undergraduate functions but also has a medical and law school. The quality of these public universities does vary. You need to research the quality of these institutions by department. A university can be rated exceptional overall and be somewhat deficient in your major. Many departments in major public universities exceed the quality of the very best universities in the world. For example, many Big Ten universi-
You will hear people refer to the Ivy League that is made of up eight great east coast universities: Harvard University Brown University Yale University Dartmouth University Princeton University Cornell University University of Pennsylvania Columbia University As a conference this is one of the most academically prestigious set of universities in America. There are individual universities in other conferences or regions which rival the reputation of the Ivy League, i.e., Stanford University, Duke University in the Atlantic Conference, The University of Michigan and Northwestern in the Big 10 and the University of Texas. The three most prestigious public
Essay Themes
Notes
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Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
"Ivy League" universities are generally recognized as the: University of Michigan University of California at Berkeley University of Texas The minimum tuition, room & board at an Ivy League university is approaching $50,000+. The pubic Ivy League universities represent a Best Buy for in-state students and for out-of-state students, e.g, the tuition cost of a public Ivy League university can be 1/2 of the private Ivy League universities. These public "Ivy League" universities stand out as international universities that overall are among the finest in the world. In selected majors they would even compete for recognition as the very best.
applicant pool that generally has very high grades, high test scores, been involved in some form of extra curricular activities and determine who has the greatest potential for contributing to the college and society. They are assuming that distinctive students will eventually become prestigious alumni. Marketing Strategies For juniors or seniors, the die has probably been cast. Their efforts must revolve around assessing and selling who they are to prestigious institutions. They need to find out why students with 3.70 to 4.00 GPA's and high test scores are not always admitted. We heard one admissions counselor in the Ivy League say, All the applicants on the short list from which we select the finalists have high grades, high test scores and have been student body president or its equivalent. We know successful applicants to the Ivy League with 3.50 GPA's and average SAT score. Why? How? In addition to the traditional measurements, the prestigious university is also looking for the leaders of the 21st century. You must comprehend the subtle difference between the pursuit of excellence and the pursuit of distinction. Prestigious colleges are also looking for athletes who can contribute to their program but who can also compete academically. They also give special treatment to the sons and daughters of alumni. Developmental Strategy Freshmen and sophomores have the luxury of finding out what is expected early. If you understand the game and the rules, it is much easier to play successfully. While good grades and test scores increase the probability for admission, they are not necessarily a guarantee of admission. The prestigious university is also looking for students who: have demonstrated higher level thinking skills, are distinctive and are leaders. Dick Moll, former Admissions
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
$40,000 to $50,000 /year
Essay Themes
Notes
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This is usually considered to be a measure of the 100 top colleges and universities in the U. S. Several publications produce a list. U. S. News and World Report publishes periodically an evaluation of the 100 best colleges and universities by categories as reported by college and university presidents. Prestigious colleges include public and private, large and small, general and specialized as well as urban and rural. For the most prestigious colleges, applicants can exceed students admitted by as much as 10 to 1. These institutions often compete with one another for applicants. For example, students may apply to several prestigious colleges but increasingly there are restrictions being developed. They can be admitted to all of them. But they can attend only one. Prestigious colleges will often require an essay and a personal interview in addition to the normal application process before considering an applicant for admission. In other words, they are trying to take an
Counselor for Amherst, has developed a video tape outlining the five categories of students who are now being admitted to the Ivy League. There is no longer just one category. The criteria for the categories vary substantially. When you have decided which category fits your student, then you can develop a strategy to meet the criteria for that category. Prestigious institutions often select students from within these categories. For example, the academically talented student who is not the child of an alumnus must have much stronger credentials. Children of alumni may be admitted with lower
Institutes of Technology
Networking Contacts
$25,000 to $50,000 / year

Project Ideas
There are several institutes that are of very exceptional quality. The two best known are Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech). While these institutes are not limited to majors in science and technology, that was the emphasis in their early history. There are presently over twenty institutes of technology dispersed across the U. S. They are of varying quality and emphasis. They are worth investigating if you have Prestigious College Admissions specialized needs or by interests. The followCategories ing is a partial list of technological insti The Scholar tutes.
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA. Dick Moll Illinois Institute of Playing the Selective College Admissions Game (Video Tape) Technology, Chicago, ILL. Lawrence Technogrades and test scores than other logical University, Southfield, MI. applicants. Massachusetts Institute of TechThe largest pool of applicants is in nology, Boston, MA. the All American student category. New York Institute of Technology, Students must be truly extraordiOld Westbury, NY. nary to compete in this category. If Polytechnic Institute of New York, applicants do not fall within one of Brooklyn, NY. these categories, admission to the Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute, Ivy League is almost impossible. Troy, NY. This model does not apply to all col Virginia Polytechnic Institute and leges but it may be helpful in your State University, Blacksburg, VA. student's personal analysis.
The Special Talent Minority Admissions The Family (alumni children) The All-American
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
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Networking Contacts
Predominantly Black Colleges

$7,500 to $15,000 /year
Predominantly black colleges and universities fall in both the private and pubic categories. North Carolina A&T is an example of a public institution which has provided education to black students over the years. Howard University in Washington, D.C. is an example of a private institution. The predominantly black colleges and universities have improved substantially over the years. Today, many provide a fine quality education. The greatest advantages to blacks include the emphasis on their history, their culture and being part of their own peer group while attending college.
Project Ideas
institution in your region that appeals to you, just ask an admissions counselor who their competition is around the U. S. They will be willing to inform and educate you about the similarities and differences.
Religious Colleges
Career Options
$28,000 to $48,000 /year
WWW Sites
There are two dominant types of religious colleges in the U. S.: Catholic colleges, universities and seminaries Protestant colleges, universities and seminaries University of Notre Dame, Loyola University of Chicago, St. Johns University, DePaul University, etc. are representative of the catholic colleges. Examples of Protestant colleges include Hope College, Calvin College, Wheaton College in Illinois, Taylor University, Bethel College, Gordon College, John Brown University, Westmont College, etc. There are some fine colleges and universities in this category. Most, but not all of these colleges, will admit students from other faiths.
Books
Articles
Artistic Institutions
$20,000 to $50,000 / year
Essay Themes
Notes
Pratt Institute, Juilliard, Center for Creative Studies, College of Art and Design, American Conservatory of Music, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, etc., represent a unique educational resource in America. Not everyone should attend a traditional four year college. These institutions cater to students who are highly skilled, intensely motivated and narrowly focused. Often anything that distracts these students from their current life purpose has no value. Therefore, the curriculum is specialized and very professional. Beginners beware. These programs are not for the shy or faint hearted. They are tough and demanding with little or no patience for those who may be struggling. The institutions are usually small enrolling less than 1,000 students totally. Many of them are private institutions. If you can identify one
Low Out of State Tuition

You can attend some out-of-state colleges for less money than an in-state college.
Tuition rates for in state students varies substantially. However, the tuition rates for out-of-state students is even more varied. For example, a Michigan resident was admitted to the University of Michigan. However, she really wanted to go to south to a warmer climate. She discovered that
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the out-of-state tuition at major public universities in Florida was approximately the same as in-state tuition in Michigan. In others words, it would be approximately the same cost to the University of Florida or the University of Michigan even though she was a Michigan resident. Five states with low out-of-state tuition states are: Arizona California Florida New Mexico Texas
Non-Traditional Programs
Being different is not a valid reason to pursue a unique curriculum
There are a vast array of nontraditional programs. They include interdisciplinary programs rather than individual courses at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington; block curricula at Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado; experienced based learning at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont; work/study programs at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio; Kettering University in Flint, Michigan and designing your own major at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
Difficult Out of State Admissions
WWW Sites
"Do not be surprised by how they treat out of state applicants."
Books
If a student has a desire to leave a state, students should investigate these possibilities. The most difficult colleges for out-of-state students to gain admissions are usually in geographic areas that are very appealing to students and where they have a strong academic reputation. That is usually means sunshine, warm weather, mountains or water. They include: University of California, Berkeley University of Colorado at Boulder University of Michigan University of North CarolinaChapel Hill University of Texas
Articles
Inter-disciplinary Programs
These programs reflect the interrelationships between disciplines. Today, students will see in university catalogues majors in Bio-Chemistry that also reflects the growing interdependence among disciplines. Most inter-disciplinary programs go even further in their pursuit of interrelationships. They will usually cross major disciplinary lines such as the social implications of certain scientific studies. Or they may deal with the ethical/philosophical implications of certain legislative decisions.
Essay Themes
Notes
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Networking Contacts
Block Curriculum
Has your child ever had the desire of taking just one course at a time rather than four to six courses? Each course would last three to six weeks. You would take at least nine courses per year. To most students this is not appealing. However, there are some students who would love the opportunity to concentrate. Two undergraduate liberal arts colleges have developed their entire curriculum in blocks : Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa
Work-Study
There are several alternative programs in this category across America. Engineering programs like the one pioneered at General Motors Institute (GMI), now Kettering University in Flint, Michigan are growing in popularity. They are often designed so that you alternate between academics and work. Students usually earn a salary while they are working. Companies are identified by the college and provide work experiences for a certain number of students on an ongoing basis. Colleges and students are beginning to realize that there are growing numbers of students who learn in this style more effectively. Why? Students see a more direct relationship between college and work. Students are able to earn money as they go to school usually at a rate higher than minimum wage. In many cases the employers choose new hires from students who have worked for them as part of work-study programs.
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Experienced Based
A unique international program is offered by the School for International Training, an outgrowth of the Experiment in International Living in Brattleboro, Vermont. They only admit students who have completed their first two years of college. The program is both international and experiential based. Approximate 25 students are admitted each year. The first seven months are spent in international academic courses with their peers. Also during that time the student is designing their own one year cross cultural international work/study experience. Each student lives in a foreign country for 12 months where they are fluent in the language. They work with an organization completing a work project. After returning to the U. S, they must present a written and oral report to their entire peer group, faculty and one outside consultant who is an expert in the field being discussed. This three month period back in the U. S. then completes their requirements for an undergraduate degree.
Articles
Essay Themes
Notes
Designing Your Own Major

Brown University is unique since all students are really expected to design their own curriculum. While it sounds appealing on the surface, few college freshman can really do this effectively. They have not developed the life experiences, perspectives and skills to complete the process. Some honors programs at major universities across the U. S. allow certain students who have already demonstrated a mastery in their discipline to design their own undergraduate curriculum. Students remain challenged by going beyond what is normally learned in traditional undergraduate courses. Although less frequent, it is also possible at many colleges and universities for an advanced student to work
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with the faculty of a department and design a new curriculum. This usually happens with students who have demonstrated during the first two years a mastery of the program. Personal contact with the faculty in a major is required so that they can make a personal judgement about what has been learned and the students ability to organize, discipline themselves and learn independently. They do not want someone to fail. Therefore, faculty are very cautious. They only allow a student to pursue this course after they are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will be successful. Students who are excited about designing their own curriculum should identify programs that are structured to hear and respond to their desires and needs. If it is not a program, students need to identify faculty who are open to this alternative. It is more work for the faculty. However, some faculty thrive on this.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Summary
Non-traditional programs exist across the U. S. Some are separate colleges. Many are developed within the framework of a college or large university. If the teen has specialized interests, begin asking around. They may not find a program in their state, but this option may be important enough for them to leave the state to get the program that suits their interests or learning styles. If they cannot find what you need, create it. Be aware that it may take two to three years to convince the college that your idea is valid.
Essay Themes
Notes
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Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Beginning in 2012 the 4 year total cost of a university education could range from $80,000 to $220,000. The university cost of tuition in 2007-08 ranged:
Public $7,000$15,000+ Private $20,000$36,000+
College Financing Introduction
College financial aid is awarded based upon financial need or merit and is designed primarily for three categories of students: financially needy, the profoundly talented academic student and the extraordinary student-athlete. The rest of the middle and upper classes need to focus on financing their own college education not financial aid. The financial aid process needs to be divided into three categories: 1. Public colleges and universities. 2. Private colleges. 3. Prestigious colleges and universities.
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Middle class parents should think in terms of financing college rather than being preoccupied with financial aid that can involve large debt for students and parents. 63% of college students polled said they couldn't afford college."
Placement of Assets
"Parents can legally and strategically place assets to improve financial aid packages."
Essay Themes
Bloomberg TV June 7, 2002
Notes
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Most extremely talented students and student-athletes will receive scholarships. Colleges have a way of finding them. Most students who are on some form of financial aid will also accumulate debt, sometimes thousands of dollars. It is treated by students as free money, sort of like a scholarship, until they have to repay it after completing their education. Many students cannot afford the current debt levels encouraged by colleges and the U. S Government. If you are from the middle class, earning over $30,000 with only one student in college, you will be frustrated by the current college financial aid system. Why? There may not be much if any scholarship money available for your son or daughter attending a public college or university.
The biggest mistake parents make is to put college savings into accounts in their child's name or a parent's name. The Financial Aid Form (FAF) used by the U. S. Government and many colleges requires that you disclose these assets as part of this analysis. Although their is no longer a 10% tax penalty for removing money early from an IRA, you should be careful about removing money from retirement accounts. IRA's, 401-K's and SEP's represent three alternatives locations that do not require disclosure on an FAF. Some families have used the single premium life insurance policy as an alternative. Because of the technical nature of these allocation of assets, the changing regulations and the tax consequences for each individual, we recommend seeking advice from an accountant and tax planner. You may also talk with the financial aid staff of a particular college that interests a student.
Public Institutions
"Public colleges can be highly subsidized or very expensive."
for example, National Merit Scholarships Presidential Scholarships Corporate scholarships Foundation scholarships Service organization scholarships There are books in your counselors' office that lists these scholarships, the criteria for selection, addresses, etc. On the internet you should start with www.petersons. com as a source for material on scholarships. Then I would go to financial aid sites in you individual state. It will take some research and effort. Usually, it does have a limited pay off but there is no guarantee.
Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
The financial aid process used by public colleges in all the states is very similar. It is based upon the assumption that you will also be applying to the federal government for assistance. Colleges will generally say that everyone in a public university is treated the same in the financial aid process. Everyone is allocated aid based upon their financial need. Generally, this is accurate but there are three conspicuous exceptions: Athletes at NCAA Division I & II colleges or NAIA colleges may receive full or partial scholarships based upon their athletic ability. This is the largest category of aid available that is not based upon need. Scholars at many public colleges are in selected cases given partial or full scholarships based upon their academic accomplishments. For example, Michigan State University has an Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Award that is given to Merit Scholars from across the U. S. Leadership is rarely recognized and rewarded with a partial or complete scholarship. The contribution must be quite exceptional. The financial aid criteria will focus on two aspects of your financial situation: income and assets. One of the frustrating parts of this process is that most middle class people will qualify for little if any public scholarship or grant money. We are often asked, Are there any alternatives? If you have other children in college or have the cash/assets to invest in single premium life policy as an alternative form of investment, you might meet their criteria. Please see an accountant for legitimate alternatives. We suggest that you explore the possibility of special awards that are made on the basis of merit not need,
Career Options
WWW Sites
Private Colleges
Books
"Some private colleges are a best buy."

Articles
Many high quality liberal arts colleges are invisible to us. Although many of them will not be familiar, coaches and students should not avoid exploring this alternative. Many people believe that if a college costs over $30,000, they cannot afford to go there. The issue is the net cost to the family. Since the financial aid for the private colleges differs significantly from public colleges, students should apply to at least one private college on a serious basis and convince them of their leadership or distinctive contribution to their institution before you complete the financial aid application. At many private colleges there are special scholarship funds, for example, the Presidents Scholarship, the Trustee Scholarship, the Alumni Scholarship or the John Doe Scholarship in Sociology. Admissions counselors do not talk a great deal about these scholarships unless they think a student is qualified. The criteria for some awards are subjective. The awards also tend to be given out early to attract very talented students away from other colleges or
Essay Themes
Notes
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Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
universities. Be a little aggressive if you have a distinctive quality of interest to a college representative. The private college has more discretion in financial aid. You might discover that attending a small private college would not cost anymore and maybe less than a public institution. For some students it will represent a better educational alternative.
Financial aid is more traditionally allocated at most colleges. Stanford University, Duke University, Rice University, MIT, Cal Tech, Northwestern University, University of Michigan, the University of California, etc., give financial aid based upon both need and merit unlike the Ivy League that is just need based.
Career Options
"Price is always higher for perceived value."
Cost of College
"Don't be surprised at the costs."
WWW Sites
Books
Articles
Essay Themes
In the minds of many applicants to very prestigious colleges and universities, the problem is how to be admitted. Financial aid is a secondary consideration. In the fall of 2008, prestigious colleges and universities will range in tuition costs from $18,000 at public institutions to $35,000 at selected private colleges. In 2013, at an 8% average increase per year, most of these institutions will range from $25,000 to $60,000 per year for tuition, room and board. By their senior year of college, one year could cost $70,000+ at private prestigious universities.
Notes
Blind Financial Aid

Race, sex, and intelligence make no difference to the financial aid committee in the Ivy League. Once admitted, each student is given financial aid based solely upon their familys ability to pay. The formula is changed upward from the traditional formulas used by public institutions and the federal government to calculate financial aid. Even though a student may not have qualified for aid at another public or private university, they may still qualify for some aid in the Ivy League. A student's athletic ability is not a passport to financial aid as much as it can be a vehicle for being admitted. If you also fall into the financially needy categories, you will receive the aid.
There is a wide range of costs for college. For purposes of this discussion cost will reflect tuition, room and board. The one exception is the community college where students usually reside at home. For families looking at private Division III or NAIA institutions, the total net cost to your family is an important consideration. For example, a public university may cost $24,000 and a private liberal arts college $45,000. However, with the additional scholarship money that a private college can include in the financial aid package, the actual cost to the family is $14,000 or $10,000 less than the public university. Check out one private liberal arts college before making any final decisions.
Typical College Financial Aid
College financial aid is not designed for everyone. College financial aid often means nothing more than a large debt.
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The typical student who qualifies for financial aid will not receive a full ride scholarship. We would all like a scholarship but full ride scholarships go to a small number of academical-
ly and athletically talented students. Typically, financial aid is a combination of: grants which do not have to be repaid, work-study subsidized by the Government loans which is another word for debt accrued until the student completes their college education. In fairness to the financial aid system, it is really not designed to serve the middle class. It is based upon financial need. However, most parents and students find this out too late. Ask the typical parent whose child is now in college, When did you fill out your first financial aid form? Or When did you find out that you would not be receiving much financial aid? The answer is usually in the fall or winter of the senior year of high school after identifying and applying to specific colleges. However, parents can fill out a traditional financial aid form (FAF) any time during high school. Parents can submit it to the appropriate national agency for an evaluation. Ask you high school counselor or college admissions counselor for the form. Fill it out and return it with a small fee for an evaluation. You can know very early whether you will qualify for aid and for how much. Use the results of this evaluation to inform your high school student regarding the realities of college financing. At the same time inform them about other alternatives discussed later in this section. Let them be involved in deciding key issues. The majority of students attending college are from the middle class. Most Americans end up frustrated with the college financial aid process for three reasons: The forms are detailed, personal and complicated. They get little or no cash. The student only qualifies for lots of debt.
Who Should Pay For College?
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The person who benefits the most.
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Why parents of course! The high school student agrees. The college agrees. The U. S. Government agrees. The banks agree. Not surprisingly, even many parents agree. There are growing numbers of parents who can contribute very little if anything to financing college. All they feel is guilt. This guilt is created by an assumption that a good parent pays for college. It is an assumption that may not even be good for the child who is kept in a dependent relationship with the parent. Where does this assumption come from and is it valid? It may have had it roots in the days when only the wealthy sent their children to college. They could afford to pay. But many weathly parents today, choose not to pay. After WW II, the GI Bill provided a financing mechanism for middle class children returning from the war. The middle class wanted to send their children on to college. Parents funded college when they could because it meant a better paying job and a better life for their children. In the best of all worlds, the student would choose to pay for their own college education. They would want independence, full freedom of choice regarding majors and the college they would attend. They would own their education and appreciate it more. They would make the most of it even if it takes an extra year or two to complete college. By the way, who ever said college had to be completed in four years. The college completion rate has already extended to five years for most students. This could be expensive if the parent is paying. It could cost and extra $20,000+. If the student needs to work and does not have time to take a full load, it is
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then their choice. In a less than ideal world, parents who cant afford college must put the burden on the student for financing college. These parents must inform the student early in high school so that the student can develop a plan for financing college that is realistic, minimizes debt and maximized the wage a student can earn. Parents must recognize that 63% of college students report, according to Bloomberg TV in June, 2002 "...that they could not afford college if they did not work." Some parents who can afford to pay for college will choose to delegate that responsibility to the student. If they are responsible, they will inform students early and help them discover better ways to finance college than part time work at minimum wages and maximum debt. But what are the alternatives? Should we let college students pay for their own education? Should parents partially finance college? How should the student finance college? Can parents help prepare students to be more financially independent during college? When should parents start preparing a student?
because of death, medical disability, or a business/economic crisis four years later. Some parents will not pay because they do not agree with a student's major or the choice of a college. Thousands of students complete college each year without financial assistance from parents. Thousands of college students pay for college without accumulating huge debts and they are not on any scholarship.
Always paying higher taxes and never receiving a benefit.

Most middle class families cannot afford to completely pay for their childs college education. They will not qualify for large amounts of grants or scholarships. Middle class parents feel guilty when they cannot afford to pay the cost of college. What is even sadder is that no one works with the student to understand that Many students get a college education without parent financial support. It may take five or six years to complete a degree. There are alternative ways to finance college than a minimum wage job and debt. However, you must have skills that you cannot develop in six months. Parents in the middle class have several alternatives: Hope for a talented student or student-athlete. Save a lot of money each month. Make sure your income jumps up during college. Empower your child to plan and organize a non-traditional method to finance college. Do not be too distressed over this reality. First, there are non-traditional
The Middle Class
Notes
Financial Aid Myths
Reality is tough to face at times."
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Who perpetuates financial aid myths? Financial aid as an effective method for paying college expenses is a myth for the majority of Americans. The best thing we can do for our student is to tell them the truth. It means forcing a freshman in high school to recognize the following realities early enough to make a difference. Many parents will not finance all of college because they are unable. Parents should not feel guilty but they will feel guilt. Some parents who promise a child as a freshman that they will pay for college will be unable
alternatives which we will explore in the next section. Secondly, the current system that keeps students dependent through high school and college may not be in the students best interest. Confronting a high school freshman with the financial realities facing them over the next eight years will not be fun. I can assure you that every student survives. Your student will be stronger. Whether they end up deciding to go to college or not, you will empower them rather than perpetuating dependency.
Student Debt
It is like an infection, once it gets started it is difficult to stop.
Why do the U. S. Government and colleges encourage debt? Most of the time there is no other better alternative. Administrators have not consciously made a decision to make American college students debt ridden. However, over time debt has become burdensome for many college graduates. Public college students today on financial aid can leave college with $28,000 average of debt. All students graduating in the 1990's accumulated debt to the U. S. Government totaling billions of dollars. Debt to finance college is a forced choice situation for most students. If they are going to continue in college, they believe they have no other choice. It is usually too late. In most cases they do not have a choice because they have not made other plans. If you were to ask the typical senior in high school whether they should borrow $35,000+ to complete their college education, many would say, No!. Students have no credit record, no job and no immediate prospect for a job to repay substantial debt. Yet the U. S. Government, colleges and even banks will loan them thousands of dollars to pay college
expenses. If a college student gets a credit card and runs up $1,000 of debt, we are shocked. Yet that same student could accumulate up to $28,000+ in debt without any collateral. Once a student is addicted to not making any monthly payments, it gets easy to accumulate more debt. We do not advocate debt. We understand that it sometimes becomes unavoidable. It needs to be minimized. Why? It is usually the responsibility of the student not the parent to repay the debt. However, because of growing numbers of defaults, parents are now asked to co-sign all notes. Beware! If your student cannot get a job after graduation or leaves the country, parents are responsible for this debt. Not all colleges inform the student about the reality of college debts. Parents inadvertently keep students ignorant and powerless during high school when they could be developing the background, skills, perspective and/or a business to fund part or all of their college education. This ends up maximizing the debt for college rather than minimizing debt. It is unfair and very expensive for college graduates. We believe that there are alternatives. Debt should be a last resort not the first response.
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Inform Student: Now!

Coaches should begin talking seriously about financing college early in the high school experience. Students are in transition. Although they might not fully understand what you are doing at first, they will appreciate your intentions later in high school or college. Students need information regarding the reality of their future early enough to make a difference. Students need to plan and develop skills that can give them as many options as possible to financing a college education. With three or four years to plan, more alternatives will
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Why are so many former college students defaulting on their colbecome available for your student. lege loans? They cannot afford to Most parents try to accomplish extraordinary feats in the six months pay on a student loan and still live preceding college. Most out-of-the- on the salaries for entry level posiordinary alternatives required time to tions. They cannot find work in their professions that would generate the develop adequately. income they expected to pay off the loans. This number increased because of the financial crisis of 2008. We have seen at least four alternaTradition does not always tives to student debt and minimum produce the desired result. wage work-study programs:
College Financing
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The traditional approach to financing college is savings. We do not know how many parents actually fund college out of savings. Many parents fund college from current income and debt rather than savings. Today, it is difficult to say that there is one preferred method for financing college. As the second largest investment a parent will make after a house, parents need to explore all alternatives carefully including the student accepting part or all of the responsibility.
Developing special skills. Organizing a profitable business. Developing a project. Creating your own scholarship program.
Special Skills
A highly skilled college student should be paid an hourly wage equivalent to a full time employee who performs the same function.
Essay Themes
Creative College Financing
Notes
Inspiration is followed by perspiration.
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Most students whose parents cannot afford to pay for college end up with debt at graduation. Debt can amount to a few thousand dollars or $28,000+ of debt at a public college. It can be more at a private college. Students have a right to know the college financial picture early enough in their high school experience to make choices and plans. If they have three or four years to plan they can often avoid huge debts that needs to be repaid during their early professional life and while they have a growing family. Money is in short supply then because it is needed for other purposes. Houses and other major purchases are delayed because that monthly payment must be made for a college education.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with minimum wage. The issue is as simple as time and money. If a student needs to make $140 per week to meet my college expenses. At $7 per hour that is 20 hours per week. If they can earn $14 or more per hour, they can reduce their work time by at least 50%. They will have more time to study, play or make more money. If a teen understood these economic realities as a freshman in high school, what choice would they make? Might they choose to develop a special skill that would allow them to earn more per hour in college? Lets also look at summer employment. Forty hours per week at $7 per hour is $280 gross pay per week. If the summer lasts twelve to sixteen
weeks, the typical student can earn $2,800 to $3,360. If that same student can earn $14 per hour, they can double their summer wages. But how realistic is it to expect a student to develop a skill that can reap these financial benefits? It is not as unusual as a coach might think at first. For example, skills that can pay $12 to $15 an hour or more include: Tutoring in various subjects. Computer analysis and programming. Computer Aided Design skills. Laboratory technician skills in various disciplines. Artistic, drama and musical performance. Staff work in advertising agencies. Book keeping skills. Higher level skilled jobs in manufacturing. Staff jobs with smaller companies that use part time people. Higher level mechanical repair skills, i.e., auto, truck, aircraft, agricultural, small engine, etc. Scientific analysis. Writing and editing. Staff support roles for professionals, i.e., para-legal. Desk Top or Electronic Publishing. Sales roles in a variety of product lines.
subcontractor. The costs are less and the company's expertise is the marketing and distribution rather than the manufacturing. There are three other places a student can start: -Franchises -Distributor sales -Entrepreneurial start ups Businesses usually require several years to develop before they generate significant cash flow that could be used to pay for all or part of a college education. Students should plan on taking at least three years. They need to start early in high school. Most initial business ventures fail. This is particularly true if the owner is a new business person. However, few business people are willing to share that failure is often the stepping stone to eventual success. Tenacity, the ability to hang in there, keeping the business alive and improving the business are more important than immediate success. When dealing with a totally new business, a student should be aware of research that has been done on the amount of time it takes for a product to become a commercial success. It generally takes seven to fifteen years for a new product to become successful if it ever is a success. The lesson is start early, be tenacious and be patient. Does this guarantee success? No! But if you do not lay down the conditions for success, it will never happen.
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Organizing a Profitable Business
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Developing Projects
A project should set you apart from the crowd.
A business is defined as a group of employees or sub-contractors who are hired to perform a service or manufacture a product. We suggest that young inexperienced business people begin with a service business because the start up costs are usually substantially less than trying to manufacture a product. However, a student can also design a product to be manufactured by a company that they hire as
Every May, USA Today publishes their All USA Today Academic Team. You can purchase a copy of the 2008 list by going on-line at http://www. usatoday.com or calling (800) 8284414. If on-line, go to the archive link on the left column. Once in archive search for "All USA Today Academic Team" without quotes. It will give you a list of articles with a
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free icon and an icon for purchasing the article. The free one is just a summary. You can also pay for an on-line copy of the article. You can also go to your local public library and look up the article. If your student has specialized interests that might lead to a unique project, this list could be a source of encouragement and ideas. Each student listed usually has completed a project lasting several years in length. The project descriptions will be useful brainstorming materials for you and your student. What is the value of having a project? It is hands-on education. It is also the central theme of Japans new educational approach to developing Nobel Prize winners rather than good copiers. It gives the student self confidence and an area of expertise It represents a tangible product that can be put on the resume and marketed to colleges for admissions and financial aid. A student is free to pursue their own area of interest in new and creative ways. Here is an another area where it is important to be distinctive not just excellent. The subject or approach you choose to develop a project may be as important as the quality of the project. It should be something uncommon. They should be at the beginning of the learning cycle. If they are at the end of the learning curve they will end up tinkering with solutions where incremental improvements require extensive intellectual investments. They want something new where a reasonable intellectual investment can produce substantial and quite dramatic results. Here are some ideas: Get the list from USA Today Brainstorm a series of projects. Select projects that are distinctive.
Create Your Scholarship Program

"It becomes the art of the possible."
Within a decade this will be a more common occurrence because it makes sense for the student and potential employers. Businesses, labs, government agencies, etc., are all looking for talented and committed employees who are risk free. The primary barrier that you as a coach and your teen must get past is viewing this as an expensive scholarship program. On the next page you have the Ten Steps to Create Your Own Scholarship with various decision makers particularly small business owners. Most have concluded that sending an existing employee off to a college that might have solutions to improve their business is really an inexpensive and very effective way to access talented people and current knowledge. If this business were to hire a consultant to do the same thing, they would have to pay $500 to $5,000 per day for the knowledge. Consultants do not just work for a day or two. They can be very expensive. More importantly, these decision makers have all concluded that if the student is talented, it reduces the risk of hiring an employee that will not work well in their organization. If you hire a person for $40,000 and they leave after one year without making much of a contribution, that is very expensive. If you hire someone who has not only worked for you, but who has actually contributed to the company, it is a great deal for everyone.
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Project Ideas Most high school students are beneficiaries of college financial aid programs developed by someone else. There is no reason that a student cannot initiate and organize their own scholarship program. They must start as a freshman in high school and there is no guarantee. If they never try, we can guarantee them that the probabilities are slim for a scholarship. They can take this scholarship anywhere in the United States to study any subject they are interested in pursuing. They are in control and they define the rules. It does not demand a certain GPA or test score. A parents income and assets are not relevant. Students cannot understand why someone would do this. The business owner or lab manager views this Career Options as a cheap way to access new ideas. Below are ten steps. Step #1 Select a dream that can become an interest worth focusing on for three years. Step #2 Using your interest as the basis, design a three year project that is distinctive and out-of-the-ordinary. Step #3 With a two page summary of your project, identify and approach a mentor who has facilities, resources and even a business to help finance your project. Step #4 Retain all rights to your project through patents and copyrights. Write out a statement that your mentor should sign at the beginning of your project or before you become an employee. Once you become an employee, owners want the rights. They should pay a royalty for any rights. See a lawyer. Be very careful. Step #5 After six months, approach your mentor about part time employment at 2-3 times the minimum wage. You should be paid for completing your project if it is good and produces real benefits. Step #6 In your junior year, you should talk with your employer/mentor about the project and its value to the company. If positive, approach your mentor about attending a college with national experts to improve and continue the project in college. Step #7 If positive, ask your mentor's help in being admitted. For example, your mentor WWW Sites might continue to fund your project during college. Ask your mentor to join you for the final visits to assess the departments and the faculty. It will be impressive. Books Step #8 After being admitted, you should ask your mentor to give you a full ride scholarship in returnArticles for your continued efforts and the potential results while at college. It might produce a new product, reduce costs or increase profits for the company. Essay Themes Step #9 If positive, approach your mentor about summer employment at a salary equivalent to full time employees who are performing similar functions. (Range Notes is $15 to $25 per hour) Describe the project's benefits to the company that you produced and will continue to produce.
Create a Scholarship
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Step #10 Explore the possibility of work-study. This is where you take every other semester off and work full time at the company with the intent of returning to college one semester later. College might take 5 or 6 years to complete, but you will have more money to spend and greater possibilities of full time employment when you graduate. If reluctant, suggest a four year work commitment following college much like the military academies expect. 62
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Reference Materials
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Publications Books NAIA Athletic Programs College Site Visit: Explanation of Questions Athletic Recruiters: Explanation of Questions Essay Themes Higher Education Glossary
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Petersons Guide to Four Year Colleges--www.petersons.com

We recommend Petersons Guide to Four Year College. It is reasonably priced. In addition to an analysis of each college, Petersons has a description written by the college itself. More importantly, Petersons has a Majors Directory. This is Career Options very useful in discovering how many different colleges offer various majors. Also there are some useful statistics. We suggest you pick one up at your local bookstore or ask them to order one for you.
Greek & Latin Root Words & Prefixes Analogies

The SAT no longer has a section on analogies
For the more complex vocabulary words, you could memorize the 300 Greek and Latin root words, prefixes and suffixes. WWW Sites You would also need to practice deriving the meaning of a new word from the clues associated with root words and prefixes. Your high school librarian or Latin teacher should have a copy. Flash cards have little value for the tests.
Books
SAT & ACT Preparation Programs--Computer Based (IBM & MAC)

at INSTRUCTIVISION--www.instructivision.com
SAT Edge Computer Study Program
Articles
This is designed and produced by Jay Comras of Instructivision. This is the best interactive system which is available to date. This is better and cheaper than a course. It is available for both IBM and Apple.
ACT: Improving College Admission Test Scores Essay Themes Financial Aid References
The ACT program is also designed and produced at Instructivision. It is a very recent version. It is an interactive computer program available for both IBM and Apple. Dont Miss Out Notes This monograph is subtitled the ambitious students guide to scholarships and loans. This paperback sets out to make a student aware of where the money is located. It is the most popular of the three books listed by Octameron Associates. Call 703.836.5480 to order. Their web site is www.octameron.com The As and Bs This paperback monograph is subtitledyour guide to academic scholarships. This volume concentrates on no-need scholarships for students with a B or better average or who score 900+ or 21+ on the SAT/ACT. Call 1-703-836-5480 to order. Their web site is www.octameron.com The College Financier This is a primer for people who have more complicated financial situations. You should always order the latest version of this and other financial aid books. Call 1-703-836-5480 to order from Octameron Associates. Their web site is www. octameron.com College Blue Book: Scholarships & Loans It is divided into nine categories, preceded by ageneralsection listing sponsors who do not restrict their awards to specific majors. This publication is usually available in college or large public libraries. The publisher is MacMillan Publishing, 866 Third Ave., New York, New York 10022. Directory of Financial Aids for Minorities This volume lists scholarships, fellowships, loans, grants, awards and internships designed primarily or exclusively for minorities. It also includes state sources of educational benefits and references on financial aids. It is available in college and large public libraries.
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Directory of Financial Aid for Women Presents more than 1,100 references and cross references to scholarships, fellowships, loans, grants, awards, internships, and financial aid directories. It is available in large public libraries. Foundation Grants to Individuals Project Ideas This is a comprehensive listing of private U. S. foundations which provide financial assistance to individuals. It is arranged by type of assistance, i.e., scholarship and loans, fellowships, grants, etc. It may not be available in the library. It is published by the Foundation Center in New York City. Michigan Postsecondary Admissions and Financial Assistance Handbook The State of Michigan publication provides information regarding contact personnel, campus characteristics, financial aid and application procedures for each college in Michigan. Your local high school counseling office or library should Career Options have a copy for your state.
NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete--www.ncaa.org

This is published annually by the NCAA and its 1055 member institutions. Juniors in high school should call an get a copy WWW Sites of the current guide. All freshman and sophomores should call and ask for the newest version since it will have the new academic requirements for all students entering college in the Fall. The NCAA will send you one copy free. Call the NCAA at 1 877/262-1492. You can also go to the NCAA web site at www.ncaa.org You can also call and get questions answered or interpretations of the recruiting regulations free of charge at 877/262-1492 to talk with a NCAA representative.. National Collegiate Athletic Association Books P.O. Box 6222 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222 877/262-1492
NAIA Guide for the College Bound Athlete--www.naia.org Articles
This is similar to the NCAA document. It deals with the regulations applicable to their membership of 332+ colleges. You need to understand their criteria for admission since some of these colleges will give athletic scholarships when NCAA Division III college cannot. You can call the NAIA at 816.595.8000 for further information. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 23500 W. 105th Street Essay Themes P.O. Box 1325 Olathe, Kansas 66051 816.595.8000
Notes National Directory of College Athletics

If you are going to seriously pursue various alternatives for college athletics, you should purchase the National Edition. It is an invaluable directory because it includes the head coach for various sports, athletic departments phone number, address, enrollment, conference, size of stadium and field house. National Edition is $69.95 COLLEGIATE DIRECTORIES, Inc. PO BOX 450640 Cleveland, OH 44145 PHONE: (440) 835.1172 TOLL FREE: (800) 426.2232 www.collegiatedirectories.com
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National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Project Ideas 330+ Accredited Colleges Grant Athletic Scholarships
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NAIA
Michigan NAIA Colleges

Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI. Concordia College, Ann Arbor, MI. Detroit College of Business, Detroit, MI. Grand Rapids Baptist College, Grand Rapids, MI. Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI. Madonna University, Livonia, MI. University of Michigan-Dearborn, MI. Northwood Institute, Midland, MI. Saint Mary's College, Orchard Lake, MI. WWW Sites Siena Heights College, Adrian, MI. Spring Arbor College, Spring Arbor, MI. 2 play football 9 play men's basketball 9 play women's basketball Books
Indiana NAIA Colleges

Anderson University, Anderson, IN. Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN. Franklin College, Franklin, IN. Goshen College, Goshen, IN. Grace College, Winona Lake, IN. Hanover College, Hanover, IN. Huntington College, Huntington, IN. Indians University Southeast, New Albany, IN. Indiana Institute of Technology, Fort Wayne, IN. Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN.
Articles Indiana U-Purdue U at Indianapolis, IN. Indiana University at South Bend, IN. Manchester College, Manchester, IN. Marian College, Indianapolis, IN. Oakland City College, Oakland City, IN. Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN. Essay Themes Saint Francis College, Fort Wayne, IN. Taylor University, Upland, IN. Tri-State University, Angola, IN.
5 play football Notes 19 play men's basketball 18 play women's and men's basketball
Ohio NAIA Colleges

Cedarville College, Cedarville, OH. Central State University, Wilberforce, OH. Dyke College, Cleveland, OH. University of Findlay, Findlay, OH. Lake Erie College, Painesville, OH. Malone College, Canton, OH College of Mount Saint Joseph, Cincinnati, OH. Mount Vernon Nazarene College, Mount Vernon, OH. Ohio Dominican College, Columbus, OH. University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, OH. Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH. Tiffin University, Tiffin, OH. Urbana University, Urbana, OH. Walsh College, Canton, OH. Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, OH. 5 play football 14 play men's basketball 15 play women's basketball
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This is not always bad. There are great TAs. Many are inexperienced. How large are the classes for freshman and sophomores? At large public universities, you can have hundreds of students in a class. At small expensive private colleges, you may have 15 students in those classes. How large are the classes in my major? Usually classes get smaller in the major. In some majors like business, however, you need to ask. What is the faculty to student ratio? All colleges keep close track of this statistic. Compare your final three colleges. You may be surprised. Harvard is not the lowest in the U. S. Where do graduates go to work or for graduate school? The quality of opportunities for graduates will tell you a lot about whether you will get your money's worth. The great schools will give you many specific examples and back it up. Poor quality institutions will be vague. What unique international programs do you have available? With the development of a world economy language skills are important. Of even more value is a cross cultural living experience for at least six months abroad. Employers want to know that you can adjust quickly to international employment.
Admission Process
What are the requirements for admission? Grades Get a feel for the range for admissions and financial aid. Understand the minimum and its relationship to test Career Options scores. Test Scores Is ACT or SAT the important test? Relate to the grades for admissions and financial aid. Essay WWW Sites Most colleges do not require. It can make a difference if you are marginal. Interview Most colleges do not require If required, prepare for the interview. Do practice sessions. Books Extracurricular Activities Try and get a feel for the type of activity that is important to this college. Is it student government, athletics or volunteerism? The more distinctive the activity, the better your case. Articles What is the process you use to evaluate admissions? How they process admissions applications can tell you what are the major categories that are important, i.e., grades, test scores, essay, interviews, extracurricular, etc. Your application strategy should be designed for specific colleges. Your applications will look different for differEssay Themes ent colleges. What is the timing? It can vary but you need to have realistic expectations about when you will hear from the college. Is there an early admit program? Notes Take advantage of these if you are qualified. You can always say no. Always have a good fall back position even if it costs you $200. You can withdraw.
Support Systems
Do you have a placement center? I am only a freshman, why should I care? Jobs are hard to get. You need all the help you can get. Some placement operations are better than others. Go by and check what companies have visited for interviews in the last twelve months. Who works with students on placement to graduate school? You need the undergraduate faculty's help . Personal contacts can be very important in getting into the better graduate schools. Do you have a counseling center? Some people have a difficult time adjusting to college and life. If none exists, the college is under funded. How does the academic advising program work? Good advising can mean the difference between taking four or five years to complete a degree. That can translate into savings of at least $10,000 to $15,000+. It can also mean the difference between an average or high GPA. If students take classes from professors that they like, they tend to get better grades.
Academic Program
What type of teaching styles do the faculty emphasize? High school students need to have a general idea about their own learning style. College departments and even entire small colleges have particular teaching styles. Can you describe your faculty, i.e., committed to research or teaching? Dependinguponyourinterestsasanundergraduate,youmay want to emphasize teaching over research. Some small liberal arts colleges have great undergraduate programs because the professional faculty teach all the undergraduate courses. But not all do! Who teaches the undergraduate core classes? At large universities, core courses are taught largely by TAs. (Teaching Assistants who are graduate students.)
Major
Do you have any areas of study which excite me? If they do not have your major, you should not attend. Some colleges such as the University of Michigan have
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College Site Visits Cont. GPA minimums during the first two years of college in order to be admitted to certain majors like business. If you cannot meet those minimums, your status even as an athlete will not help. Will I relate to students in this major? If you do not like the kind of people who gravitate to certain majors, be careful. Increasingly, employers are looking for people to functions as teams. Do I like at least one faculty member? You should be able to identify with faculty. Get to know some of them over a two year period if you can decide on a college early. They could become a pen pal during high school. They could help design a project for high school that could continue into college. Have I found at least one possible mentor? If possible, find a mentor in your area of interest at college. This is the informal part of education that can be as important as the formal classes.
Living Facilities
Where will I live as a freshman? Some colleges specify where freshmen can reside. What facilities are available to upperclassmen? Apartments or special living arrangements. What about languages houses? Project Ideas Can we live off campus? There are still colleges where this is not an option. What is the food like? Make sure you eat one or two meals at the college. What provisions are made for special diets. How many meals per weekCareer 19 or 21? are served: Options Alternatives are available. You can save money. May we visit a dorm and talk to students? If they say no, you better ask a lot more questions. Current students will be WWW Sites they like it. very candid even if
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Geographic Area
Financial Aid
Will financial aid be available? Get a realistic view early. Middle class families must design other alternatives to finance college. Please describe the application process? If you seem to qualify, get the details. Private colleges have more flexibility than the public institutions. What proportion of financial aid is grants and scholarship rather than loans? Limit your debt. It is an unfair burden on many young graduates. Can we work out higher paying jobs with alumni during the summer if the student has valid skills that justify salaries beyond minimum wage? Where does the money come from? Government and state funds are inflexible. Need! Need! Need! Privately funded scholarships at public and private colleges are more flexible. Are special academic scholarships available? How do I apply? Most colleges have special categories. Find out early and you could develop yourself to fit the category. But be true to yourself. Ask the admissions people for help. Encourage them to brainstorm with you. What is the range of debt that students can accumulate? College student credit cards can run up debt very fast. Teach them how to use the credit card while they are still in high school and under your supervision. However, the real tragedy is the student loan programs where students can accumulate thousands of dollars in debt over five years and never make one payment until after they graduate. Students should be told how long it takes to pay of student loans. They may not even get a good job to pay off the debt after graduation.
Is the college more than 300 miles from home? Most students finally decide to go to college within 300 miles. If you really go beyond that distance, plan for substantial additional costs. Books Is it rural or urban? Usually students are comfortable with a similar environment to their home. If it is too different, they are more likely to transfer, loose credits and time. Articles Is it integrated with a city or a single contiguous campus? Many great colleges and universities are integrated into a town or city. Student usually have preferences. Do you like the architecture? Even in America, students have preferences. Essay Themes Can you picture yourself on this campus? If a student cannot picture themselves on a campus, travel to other colleges. Usually, if you complete 6 to 8 diverse site visits over a three year period, they will find one which they are comfortable Notes with.
Social and Cultural Life

What types of activities can we participate in on campus? Smaller colleges will have more opportunities per student. With a student body of 40,000 there is still only one student body president. Does the college provide entertainment? Even the smallest college should provide a variety of entertainment at little or no cost to the student. There should be a variety of options. What cultural events are available in the community? Opportunities should go beyond athletics. College budget may prohibit the cultural events which you value. What opportunities exist for participation in the arts? Many students need to participate to be happy. They are not good spectators. Usually, there are plenty of opportunities.
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Networking Contacts
Athletic
Athletic Recruiters
Project Ideas
Academic
What position will I play on your team? It is not always obvious. Most coaches want to be flexible so that you are not disappointed. Describe the other players competing at the same posiCareer Options tion? If there is a former high school All-American at that position, beware! This will give you clues as to what year you might make first string. WWW Can I redshirt my first year? Sites You should expect and even demand that you be redshirted. If gives you another year to play when you are a better player. What are the strength and conditioning requirements Books each year? This will tell you how sophisticated the strength coach is. No one can compete successfully today without a program. Articles Describe the time commitments each week both in and out of season? The NCAA now has some limitations in major sports. You are also a student and need to compete in the classroom.
Coaching Essay Themes

How would you describe your coaching style? Every coach has a peculiar style. If it does not match your learning style, it could be a long 5 years. What kind of offense and defense do you run? Notes Certain programs will allow for more playing time for your position Certain defenses and offenses will tap your personal athletic skills better. When does the head coachs contract end? If the coach is loosing and the contract ends in two years, you may have a new coach to content with. If he is winning and the contract ends in two years, do not worry. Describe the preferred, invited and un-invited walk-on's at your college? Teams treat walk-on's different. How many made it, played and earned scholarships in the last five years.
How good is the department in my major? Smaller colleges can have very highly rated departments A team's reputation is only one variable to consider. What percentage of players on scholarship graduate in 4 years? 5 Years? This will tell you about the quality of their commitment to academics. Athletes live up to the high expectations of coaches. What GPA requirements exist to be admitted to my major as a junior? Some colleges have these for programs, i.e., business, premed, etc. You are not exempt nor will you receive special consideration because you are an athlete. Who teaches classes; professors or teaching assistants? Teaching assistants are graduate students who lack experience. The best education for you is with senior faculty who teach undergraduates. How much financial aid is available for summer school? There is no guarantee. Get a firm commitment. You may need to lighten your normal load and go to summer school in order to graduate in four years. You can take graduate courses. Describe the class sizes? Core classes in the first two years will be larger. Have them tell you about class size in your major as well. Describe in detail your academic support program, for example, study hall requirements, tutor availability, staff, class load, faculty cooperation? This is imperative for marginal students. Go to a college that will take the 3.00 student and help them get a 3.50.
Living Conditions
Will I be required to live only with athletes? It is fun at first. It can get old for some students. You need to be exposed to students with other interests. What are the residence halls like? Discuss study areas, community bathrooms and laundry facilities. Explore the number of students in a room and whether the halls are co-ed. Will I be required to live on campus for all five years? If the answer is yes, ask whether exceptions are ever made. Apartment living is better than dorm living. Is there summer work in your city for athletes? The pay per hour is critical. NCAA rules prohibit you from earning more than a normal person.
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Higher Education Glossary

Academic Advisor--The person at a postsecondary college who assists students to decide what career is appropriate, what major to pursue and the specific courses to take to complete a degree. Academic Standards--Colleges have standards that students must maintain to remain in good standing, i.e., cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). Academic Year--The school year is from Fall through Spring. Accredited--Colleges that meet the formal requirements of various regional accrediting associations in the U. S. regarding library holdings, quality of the faculty, number of Ph.D.'s on the faculty, quality of facilities, etc. Achievement Tests--Standardized tests given by the College Entrance Board. Because the quality of high school curricula vary so much this is used by colleges as standard by which they can compare more accurately students from different high schools. College use thesetestresultsforadmissions,courseplacementandexemptions. These tests are not always required for admission. ACT--A standardized admissions test administered by the American College Testing Program. It is usually taken in the junior year of high school and required by many colleges as part of the admissions application. See American College Testing Program. Admission Requirements--High school students seeking admission to college must meet a set of requirements, for example, minimum Grade Point Average (GPA), minimum score on a standardized admissions test, taken certain college prep courses in high school and extracurricular activities. Advanced Credit--Some colleges recommend taking tests for advanced credit. Students who receive the minimum score can earn credit in specific core classes or majors. Advanced Placement--When a student takes the SAT and some colleges offer advanced placement tests before a high school student begins college. If you earn a minimum score you can earn college credit and not take the formal course. It can also be less expensive than paying normal tuition for the course. Advanced Registration--This is an early registration process during which students can register for next term's classes. Alumni--Students who have graduated from a college. American College Testing (ACT) Program--They develop and administer the ACT for college admissions. For information contact a high school counselor. Application Fee--A small non-refundable charge for reviewing a student's application. This fee may be waived with students who demonstrate a financial need. Assistant Instructor--A graduate student who assists a professor teach a class. They may perform all the functions such as teaching, grading materials and leading discussion groups. They will not usually develop the class material. Associate Degree--This degree is granted by two year colleges, generally junior or community colleges, when you have completed a two year course of study. Baccalaureate or Bachelor's Degree (BA)-This degree is awarded by college after a student has met the college's requirements for a four year degree. Many students now average five years to complete a BA degree. Blind Financial Aid Policy--The college accepts students and then administered aid based solely on a financial need analysis and without regard to race, athletic ability or academic ability. The Ivy League has a blind financial aid policy.
Networking Contacts
Block Curriculum--Students take only one course at a time. Only a few colleges organized courses this way. Two examples are Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO and Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa. Board of Trustees--The governing body of a college. Members can be appointed or elected in public elections. Career Options Bulletin--A smaller version of a college catalog. It describes the critical aspects of a college to prospective students. Bursar--The office or person who handles the money at a college. Students will pay their tuition, room and board to a bursar. Calendar--Colleges divide the school year in two or three segments called semesters or quarters. WWW Sites Catalog--A booklet describing in detail a college, its majors and courses. It will also include information about the faculty, tuition, room and board. Admissions offices have catalogs. Certificate of Completion--These certificates are awarded by occupational schools after completing a course of study. Chancellor--The Chief Executive Officer of a campus or group of Books campuses. Civic Organizations--These are local community organizations that often give college scholarships. Coeducational--A college attending by both men and women. It can sometimes be a residence hall where both men and women live in separate rooms. Articles College--An educational institution that offers studies leading to an academic degree, including and AA, BA and BS degrees. College Scholarship Service--This organizations analyzes students' Financial Aid Forms (FAF) See Financial Aid Form. College Work-Study Program--A form of financial aid where students earn money for college by working part time for the college. The Essay Themes U. S. Government helps pay the salary. You qualify for work-study by completing an FAF form. Commencement--The graduate ceremonies where students receive their diplomas in person after finishing a degree. Community College--A college that offers courses of study leading to a entry level position in the job market or to transfer to a four Notes year college. Commuter Student--A student who studies a college but lives off campus, either at home or off campus. Conditional Admissions--Colleges admit students who do not meet all their requirements for admissions. To stay in college after the first semester or quarter a student must make normal progress toward a degree or they are asked to leave. Consortium--A cooperative arrangement between college that allows students to take courses at one or more colleges. Convocation--As assembly of the college student body to start a new year or celebrate a particular event. Cooperative Education (CO-OP education)--A course of study and work that alternates usually every other semester or year. The student is usually paid for the work portion. Core Classes--Basic classes that all students are required to take particularly in the first two years of college. Co-requisite--A class that must be taken with a related course during the same semester or quarter. Correspondence Course--A course of student where students take the class by mail. The college sends the assignment and the student returns it by mail to the instructor. Correspondence courses are one example of independent study.
Project Ideas
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Course--This is the same as a college class. Networking a questionnaire Course Evaluation--This is Contacts that is given to students at the end of a course by the professor to rate the course. Course Number--A number is usually assigned to every college course. As an example, many college use 100, 200, 300 and 400 level course that parallel the year in college. It is not a perfect match, however. Project Ideas Credit--Colleges measure progress toward a degree by the number of credits a student earns. Curriculum--All the classes in a student's course of study for a degree. Dean--The administrative officer responsible for a division, college, school at a college. For example, the Dean of the Faculty or the Career Options Dean of Students. Declared Major--A students has officially decided their course of study and a major. Deferred Admission--A college may accept a student and they let the student enroll a semester or a year later. Deficiency Points--These result from unsatisfactory class grades such WWW Sites as a D or F. Students who accumulate deficiency points are usually put on academic probation and can be eventually dismissed from college. Degree--After completing the requirements in a particular major at a college, students will receive an academic title, i.e., Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Books Department--A specific area of study including the faculty within a college. Diploma--The official document given by a college when a student completes a degree program. Discipline--A field of study, i.e., Physics. Discussion Section--Many classes have a lecture section where a large group of students meetArticles a professor. Later, they split together with up into smaller discussion group with the professor but often with a Teaching Assistant (TA) or Assistant Instructor. Dismissal--This is when a college expels a student for academic or other reasons. Distributive Requirements--These require the student to take a variety Essay Themes of courses within and outside of their major. See General Education Requirements. Dorm--Dormitory or residence hall where students live and often eat. Double Major--A student meets the requirements for two separate majors. Dual Enrollment--Some colleges allow high school students to enroll Notes in college courses for credit. The course fulfills a high school requirement for graduation as well as college credit toward a college degree. Students are usually required to have permission from both institutions. Early Admit--If a students applies during the summer or early in the Fall of their senior year, some colleges have an early admit program thatevaluatestheirapplicationandmakeadecisionaboutadmission and financial aid before January of the senior year. Many colleges will not make a final decisions about college admission until April of the senior year. Emeritus Faculty--College professors who have retired from teaching but keep the title. Enroll--To officially register and take classes. Exemption--Students who pass proficiency tests and do not have to take certain classes. Extracurricular Activities--Programs or activities that occur outside of the classroom. FAF-Financial Aid Form. See other section. Faculty--Professors and instructors who teach college classes. Fee Waiver--A written statement declaring that a student does not have to pay a specific fee including tuition. Finals Week--The one week period at the close of classes when faculty
give comprehensive examinations. Financial Aid--Scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs offered by colleges, states, U. S. Government, corporations, community organizations and other private organizations and foundations. Financial Aid Officer--The administrative official at a college who takes a student's information, analyzes it and decides how much aid you will receive based on certain formulas that have been developed. Financial Aid Form (FAF)--A student must complete this form to be eligible for most financial aid. The exceptions include athletic scholarships and highly competitive academic scholarships. The FAF must be completed and mailed to College Scholarship Service before March 1 of the year before the student plans to attend college. Fraternity--A group of students who organize a group around common interests, i.e., social fraternity and professional fraternity. Full-Time Student-This is a student who usually enrolls for 12 or more credits in a colleges. 4-1-4 or 4-4-1--This is an academic calendar that some colleges use that provide or a short one month term in which students take one specialized course. General Educational Development Test (GED)--This test measures the skills and knowledge that is usually required to get a high school degree. A person passing this test is judged by colleges as having the equivalent to a high school diploma. Gift Aid--This is scholarships or grants to pay college costs that does not have to be repaid. GPA--See Grade Point Average. Grade Point Average (GPA)--A numeric system for evaluating a student's performance in a class. It is calculated by dividing the sum of grade points by the number of course work credits or hours. Grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of hours for a course by the student's grade in that course. A four point scale is often used. Graduate--A person who completes a course of study and gets a diploma and degree. Graduate Student--A student who has completed a bachelor's degree and is taking advanced courses in a similar area of study. Grant--Financial aid based upon need that does not have to be paid back. Greek Organizations--Social fraternities or organizations named by Greek letters. Members are selected and often live in a house or facility together. Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL)--See Stafford Loan Program. This is a loan program for students. The guaranteed refers to the U. S. Government's guarantee to pay back a student's loan if they default. It does not guarantee the student a job if they graduate. Highly Competitive Admissions Policy--This is where a college is more selective in admitting students than normal. An example of this is the Ivy League on the East coast Housing--Living accommodations at colleges. Identification Card (ID Card)--Colleges issue this card to students attending their college for purposes of registration, library privileges and admission to various social and athletic events. Independent Study--Studying a subject for credit but not in a class or with other students. This is usually on campus but it could be a correspondence course. Individualized Major--This is a major that the student designs for themselves based upon their skills and interests. Usually a faculty member is involved and the college needs to approve the final course of study. Instructor--A non-tenured college teacher. Intercollegiate Sports--Athletic competition between colleges on different campuses. Interdisciplinary--A program of study that uses knowledge from more than one discipline or major, i.e., Bio-Chemistry.
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Internship--Course credit is given for practical work experience in a student's major. Intramural Sports--Athletic competition between students on a single campus. Junior College--This is a two college that focuses on college courses that can transfer easily to a four year college degree program. It is similar to a community college. Language House--This is a house or residence for students where a single foreign language is spoken at all times. For example, a Spanish House would never allow anyone to speak English on their premises. Liberal Arts--It is a well rounded course of studies in the arts and sciences. Itfocusesongeneralknowledgeandthinkingskillsbutde-emphasizes careers. Students still have a major in a single discipline. Major--An academic course of study. It is usually in a student's area of interest and/or a student's area of talent. It can lead to a career but does not always. Matriculate--To enroll at a college. Mentor--A more experienced person who helps a student but receives nothing but personal satisfaction in return. Minor--A course of study that is taken simultaneous with a major but in a complementary or very different area of interest. It requires less credits to get a minor. National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Negro Students--This is a scholarship program based upon the PSAT often taken in sophomore year. It is exclusively for AfricanAmericans. National Merit Scholarship Program--This is a competitive academic scholarship program based upon initial scores on the PSAT. Colleges and corporations contribute money for the actual scholarships. Need Analysis Form--This is a financial form that students and parents complete to apply for financial aid. The FAF or Financial Aid Form is one example. Need Based Financial Aid--This is financial aid for college expenses based upon a student's and parents' financial assets and income. Ombudsman--An official of the college who intercedes on behalf of students who feel they are not being treated properly. Open Admissions Policy (Open Door Policy)--These colleges admit any student who has completed a high school degree regardless of their grades or test scores. Orientation Programs--These are programs for new or transfer students to help them adjust to life on a specific campus. Part-time Student--These students are enrolled in the same courses as other students but are usually taking less than twelve credit hours. Pell Grant--This is a U. S. Government grant based upon financial need that does not have to be repaid by the student. Ph.D.--This is a Doctor of Philosophy degree given by graduate schools to students who have completed an intensive 3-4 year course of study and completed a dissertation (research written in the form of a report or book.) Most college faculty have either completed a Ph.D. or are working on the degree. Phi Beta Kappa--This is a national honor society that recognizes academic excellence by using cumulative GPA to select its members. Postsecondary Education--Any formal educational program that occurs after high school. P-ACT (Pre ACT)--Students take this test to prepare for the ACT. Pre-Admission Summer Program--This is a program for students who have already been admitted but who would like to get a head start or some remedial help before enrolling in the Fall program. It is a combination of normal courses and skill building. Not all colleges offer this program. PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)--This test measures verbal and mathematical abilities. It is a preparatory test for the SAT. It is also used for students to qualify for the National Merit Competition.
Pre-Programs--College courses of study to prepare undergraduate Networking such as pre-law students for professional graduate programs Contactsand pre-medicine. Prerequisite--Beginning level class that serves as a foundation for a higher level course. Private College--This is a college that is not supported directly by the state. However, in some states, students who are residents can Project Ideas participate in financial aid programs and use them at private colleges in that state. Probation--When a student's cumulative grade point average falls below a certain minimum, the college's way of warning the students that they are in danger of being expelled is to put them on probation. Professor--A teacher at a college. Faculty move up from assistant professors to associate Career Options talented to professors and if they are very full professors with additional age and experience. Proprietary Schools--Post secondary educational institutions that are run as profit making organizations. Usually, they provide students with practical job training. Prospectus--A pictorial booklet with general information about a colWWW Sites lege. Provost--The chief academic officer or a college or university. The deans of various colleges report to the provost. Quad--A group of academic buildings or residence halls that encircle a green space or park like area called the quad. Quarter--Some colleges use this calendar that usually lasts ten weeks. Books Quiet Floor--Some colleges have residence halls or selected floors where their are strict rules. Students usually choose to live there. Reading Days--After a period of instruction and often just before final exams, there is a break in the class schedule for extra studying. Registrar--The college official who keeps track of all classes and academic records and signs off that a student has completed all the requireArticles ments for a degree. In a student's sophomore year they should take their last two or three years of course and ask the registrar to review their program and meet graduation requirements .Religious Affiliation--Some colleges are associated with a denomination or religious group. They will often admit students who are not part of that religious group. Notre Dame is association with the Catholic Church. Essay Themes Remedial Course--These are courses taught in college for students who did not develop the skills in Math and English in high school. Residence Hall (Dormitory)--A campus building that is dedicated to living accommodations and dining as well as social and educational activities. Residency Requirements--Public college require that a student be a Notes state resident for a specific period of time to receive in state tuition. Colleges also require that a student take a specific number of courses on campus in order to graduate. Resident Assistant--A trained undergraduate student who lives on a residence hall floor and coordinates social and educational programs for a small group of students who live in close proximity to one another. Rolling Admissions--These colleges make an admissions decision within weeks of receiving an application rather than waiting for a dead line in the Spring. Room & Board--The cost of living in a residence hall including your room and food. The number of meals served each week can vary. Rush--Greek organizations has a period of time each year when they try to attract younger students into their organizations. SAT--See Scholastic Aptitude Test. Satisfactory Academic Progress--When in a major a student must complete a sequence of courses for a degree. Colleges monitor your progress toward a degree, including a GPA, and will often make financial contingent upon satisfactory progress. Scholarship--Financial aid award for extraordinary academic or athletic
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performance in high school. It does Networking Contactsnot have to be repaid. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)--A standardized admissions test used by many colleges to evaluate a student's abilities with a common test across the U. S. It is prepared by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). See Standardized Admissions Tests. Semester--An academic calendar that divides the academic year into two 15 weekProject Ideas sessions. Sorority--A college women's social organization often designated by a Greek letter. Stafford Loan--Students qualified for this loan program by completing a Financial Aid Form. The actual loan is made by a local bank and must be paid back with interest after a student leaves college. A student must be enrolled in a college to receive this loan. Career Options Standardized Admissions Test (SAT, ACT, etc.)--Students take these tests late in the junior or early in the senior year in high school. They are used by colleges because the tests represent a single common standard across the U. S. where high school curricula and grading vary considerably. The tests can be taken earlier for practice but vary in how they score them. Talk you your high school counselor WWW Sites about these tests. Student Body--All the students who attend one college. Student Center or Student Union--A campus building that is dedicated to dining, social and recreational activities for students. Student Loan--Usually a part of financial aid packages that must be repaid with interest once a student leaves the college. Books Study Abroad--Students sometimes will spend a semester or year in a foreign country studying with other Americans. A few will actually attend classes for credit in a foreign college or university. Subject Area Tests--The American College Testing program develops and administers a sets of standardized tests for subjects taken in high school. Colleges may use these test to determine whether to Articles exempt a student from certain classes. They are not usually used for admissions evaluation. Summer School--Some colleges will offer formal classes in the summer. This are sometimes shorter but more intensive courses where a student takes fewer classes at one time. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)--Students with exceptionalEssay Themes the same time they apply for financial need can apply at a Pell Grant by completing the Financial Aid Form. Support Services--Most colleges have extra staff who help with special needs in tutoring, counseling, academic advising, etc. Teaching Assistant--Graduate students at large universities will often helpprofessorsteachvariouscoursesforundergraduates,particularly Notes the first two year core courses or introductory courses in a major. Tenure--Special status given to associate and full professors. It guarantees long term employment at a specific college. Terminal Degree--A course of study that when completed will allow a student to perform a set of functions in a career. Transcript--The official written record of a student's college educational experience. It includes courses, grades, major and degrees. Transfer Student--When students move from one college and enroll at a second college, they transfer their courses and credits. A college will not always accept all the courses and credit particularly toward a specific major or degree program. Transfer students can loose credits and time if they do not plan carefully. Trimester--Some colleges use an academic calendar divided into three 10 week trimesters. Tuition--The cost of attending and completing classes at a college. Tutor--A trained instructor with experience in a specific subject. They usually help student who are having difficulty with a class. They can be free but usually the student pays by the hour for help from a tutor. Undergraduate--Student working toward a Bachelor's degree. University--An academic institution that has several academic colleges, a graduate program that grants degrees and faculty who
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Networking Contacts
Project Ideas
Bill Wilkie, a former faculty member & Special Assistant to the President at Michigan State University, joined the W. K. Kellogg Foundation program staff from 1973-75. From 1976-82, he entered the automotive industry world as Executive Vice President of Multifastener. After serving as President of Rockmont College in the early 1980s, he founded an executive recruiting boutique in Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1987-1998. Since 1998, Dr. Wilkie has served as a consultant and coach for people of varying ages including age 4 to 65.
Career Options
WWW Sites
Books
Bill loves to engage people in conversations about their future and the 3-4 u emerging NEXT SOCIETIES in the 21st century. Please feel free to join e him at one of his next workshops and engage him in a conversation. v
www.mappingafuture.com m
Articles
Empowering Teens
Dr. William R. Wilkie Edited by Acey Martin, Sarae Martin & Jason Wilkie
471 W. Long Lake Drive Harrison, Michigan 48625 (989) 539.1928 wwilkie@netscope.com
Notes
Essay Themes
www.mappingafuture.com

Empowering Teens 2011

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Empowering Teens 2011

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Networking Contacts

1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuturecom

1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuture.com

1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuturecom

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII.

1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuture.com

Assumptions to Empower Teens

Typical American 18 Year Old Project Ideas

1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuture.com

Dreams lead to?

20 Questions Every teen should be asked:

21st Century Careers

Networking Contacts 20 Questions

Every Coach Should Ask A Teen

Coaches Background Sheet

Ordinary Students: Surprising Results

Excellent versus Distinctive

Can I change my mind?

Why does this work?

Fall Back Positions

Keys To Identifying Distinctive Projects

Project Categories Inventions

New Business Enterprises

Humanities and Arts

The Gap Year: A Year-In-Between

International Work in English

Domestic Study Experiences

International Travel Experience Essay Themes

6 Month Action Plan

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Articles _______________________ __ _______________________ Essay Themes __ _______________________ __ Notes _______________________

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Freshman Year Career Options

Senior Year Career Options

Teaching/Research Environment Articles Student Body

Opportunities: Academic Notes International Personal Cultural Athletic Professional

Total Points Average Score

1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuturecom

HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS/COACHES

NAME Notes ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP TELEPHONE

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COUNSELORS/COACHES

1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuture.com

NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE & ZIP Articles TELEPHONE

COLLEGE SITE VISITS

1992 5th Edition 2011 www.mappingafuturecom

Without a dream you will get nowhere! Project Ideas

College Admissions & Recruiting

Intelligence: Can We SAT Measure It? The SAT measures thinking or

Paid Prep Courses

Root Words and Prefixes

Published Practice Tests

Strong public universities. Prestigious public and private

Prestigious smaller colleges.

finance their own college? You might be surprised at their response.

Failure is often a first step in success.

"A distinctive essay can set you apart ."

It may be more important than you think.

topic written well.

Athletics are a great motivator for some high school students.

# of College Athletic Programs-1990

NCAA II 127 214 216

NAIA III 225 302 306 152 414 390

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