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Our next postcard comes from the other side of the country – Katie Wells at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. Officially known as the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA Tech is well known for its programs in Engineering, Business and Architecture. In addition to solid academic programs, the nearly 25,000 undergraduate students enjoy competitive Division I sports and Southern hospitality. What is your title/role/department there? Director of Advising at the Pamplin College of Business How long have you been there? I was a student from 2002-2008 and have worked here since 2010 - with a short stint at George Washington University from 2011-2012. City life wasn't for me :) What is your favorite thing about the school? It's hard to narrow it down to just one thing... so I'll say the beautiful campus and the tight-knit Hokie community. What is your favorite spot on campus? I like spending time at the Duck Pond. It's a great place for thinking, getting some exercise, or eating lunch on nice days. I also like to take my two young daughters there to feed the ducks and fish! What is unique about this school, as opposed to other institutions where you've worked or studied? I love the way campus is centrally located in the heart of Blacksburg. Downtown Blacksburg (Main Street) borders the edge of campus so it really creates a tight bond between students and community members (as mentioned above). It's a large land-grant university with a small-town feel. Any fun factoids about this institution? The official school colors, Chicago maroon and burnt orange, were established in 1896 because no other college utilized that particular color combination. Best pizza on/near campus? PK's Bar and Grill - the buffalo wing pizza and the "Hokie" sticks are a must! Best ice cream on/near campus? The Frosty Parrot
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For our second postcard in our "Postcards from Campus" series, we will remain in the state of Washington but will hear from someone at a very different type of institution, University of Washington, which is a large, public research university with about 28,000 undergraduates and almost 40,000 total enrollment. Shelley Stromholt is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Science and Math Education in the University of Washington's College of Education, and has been at "UDub" for 8 years. What is your favorite thing about the school? Right now, the cherry blossoms! What is your favorite spot on campus? Rainier Vista: beautiful old buildings, a big fountain, and Mt. Rainier looming large in the distance. What is unique about this school, as opposed to other institutions where you've worked or studied? UW is less an ivory tower than a community partner. So much of the work done across campus is grounded directly in the challenges faced by community members and groups, locally and nationally. Undergrad and graduate students will find there are a million ways to get involved in the community, gain real-world experience, and make a difference. Any fun factoids about this institution? UW is the site of the book Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. The airplane hangar that was built in the early 20th century and then converted into boat storage is still on campus (and it's where I store my sea kayak!). Best pizza on/near campus? Pagliacci Best ice cream on/near campus? Full Tilt
Our first postcard is from Mary Raschko, Assistant Professor of English at Whitman College. Professor Raschko has been at Whitman since the fall of 2014. Whitman College is known for being one of the "Colleges that Change Lives" and for providing an excellent liberal arts education to students who love outdoor fun in the Pacific Northwest. What is your favorite thing about the school? I love its exclusive focus on undergraduate liberal arts education - that means everyone's focused on the same mission, there are no graduate or professional schools that compete for funding or attention, and the scholarly work we do on campus involves undergraduates. What is your favorite spot on campus? A wooded area with a waterfall that the students call Narnia. What is unique about this school, as opposed to other institutions where you've worked or studied? Especially in fall and spring, Whitman tends to feel like summer camp. We have a main field, rather than a quad, where students are often playing ultimate frisbee, volleyball, flag football, or lacrosse. Our library (open 24 hours a day) sits next to this field, with big windows that look out on it. So it's easy to switch between work and play. We also have an extensive outdoor program - you can rent skis or snowshoes in the winter or equipment for camping or standup paddle boarding in the springtime. Students can sign up for lots of different excursions around the northwest (sea kayaking, a moonlight hike, and rock climbing are advertised at the moment), many of which are targeted toward beginners. Any fun factoids about this institution? One of my favorite events is the "Instant Play Festival," where Whitman students write, rehearse, and publicly perform plays in a 24 hour period. We're a pretty informal community in which lots of professors go by their first names. There is cool art almost everywhere you look - in the student center, the library, the academic buildings, even in the stream that runs through campus. Best pizza on/near campus? My favorite is the pizza truck Why Not Pizza? Best ice cream on/near campus? The Patisserie, a few blocks from campus, has great gelato and amazing baked goods.  By now, many of you are probably thrilled to be finished with the college application process. While I do know of a few February 15 or later deadlines, all of our senior clients have finished their applications and have either sent in a deposit or are waiting for some decisions to be released next month. So, is there anything left to do on the college admissions front? Here are a few things to consider:
Enjoy the rest of your senior year, but not too much!  Canada has become an appealing destination for U.S. undergraduates because of the opportunity to get a world-class international education at a more affordable cost and without crossing an ocean.
Today we attended a lunch meeting with representatives from The University of Guelph (Guelph, Ontario), Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario), Concordia University (Montreal, Quebec) and Bishop's University (Sherbrooke, Quebec) to learn more about the benefits of studying at a Canadian university. Here are some noteworthy facts we learned:
If you can stand the cold, it may be worth considering whether you might like to #LookNorth for your undergraduate education!  Does your daughter need help figuring out what to do with her English major? Is it time to make that high school resume look professional for internship applications? Concerned your son is going to graduate college with an impressive GPA but without the skills to market himself to employers? Real World Ready teaches college students the essential skills necessary to make the leap from college to career. In a series of one-on-one meetings and follow-up homework assignments, Laura will guide your child through the process of exploring his or her interests and goals, polishing written job search materials, and developing a detailed job search strategy. Your child will learn critical job search skills that will be both useful in the short-term and invaluable for the future. Real World Ready is divided into three phases: Assess, Advocate, and Accelerate. Each phase includes two Skype meetings (a total of six meetings) and all e-mail correspondence regarding assignments. For more details, visit www.vinikeps.com/realworldready
 Image credit: Teen Vogue What is Early Decision II (ED II)?
Early Decision II, similar to Early Decision I, is a binding commitment -- if you are admitted, you promise that you will attend. Once admitted, you must withdraw all other applications. Typically, ED II deadlines are the same as a school's Regular Decision deadline (though in some cases, i.e. Grinnell College, it can be earlier). What types of students should consider ED II? Early Decision II can be a great option for several types of students: -Students who were not admitted to their Early Decision I or first-choice Early Action school. You should hear from most Early Decision I and Early Action schools by mid-December, and most ED II applications are due in early January. -Students who only recently decided that a particular school is their top choice. You may not have been ready to commit by the ED I deadline but are now sure this is the right school for you. -Students who did not apply ED I because they were waiting for fall test scores or grades to bolster their applications. You are now a better candidate. Does every school offer ED II? Early Decision II is offered at many small liberal art schools that also offer ED I, and more schools are adding this option every year. Here is a good list of schools with ED II, but always check a school's website to confirm. According to a 2015 New York Times article: “Of the more than 625 colleges that use the Common Application, about 30 percent offer E.D. I; 13 percent offer both E.D. I and II. Among the latter are selective liberal arts colleges (Colby, Pomona, Swarthmore) and small private universities (Brandeis, Emory, Vanderbilt). But hardly any publics offer E.D. II., and no Ivys.” Does ED II carry as much weight as ED I? Applying early and making a binding commitment to a school nearly always improves your chances of being admitted. Many schools report their Early Decision statistics without distinguishing between ED I and ED II. But anecdotally, it is typically (at least slightly) more advantageous to apply ED I. For example, for last year’s freshman class, Hamilton College accepted 42 percent of ED I applicants and 32 percent of ED II applicants. Hamilton’s regular decision acceptance rate was 23 percent. What if I already submitted my application? Can I change it to ED II? In many cases, a school will allow you to convert your regular application to ED II, if you submit the required forms. Contact the particular school for details on how to proceed. Some schools will even allow this after the deadline has passed, if they have not yet reviewed your application. Can I apply ED II to the same school if I was not accepted in the ED I round? No. Once a decision has been made on your application, you may not apply to the same school until the following application year. When will I receive a decision? This varies by school, but many ED II deadlines are in January and decisions are released in mid to late February. We thought we'd post some fun facts to distract you from the stress of finishing college applications, studying for finals, and waiting for Early Decision results!
Did you know that.... Duke University loves monkeys! Established in 1966, the Lemur Center in Duke Forest is the world’s largest sanctuary for rare and endangered prosimian primates. The Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, chose their band name while students at Emory University in the mid-1980's. Both were English majors and transfer students, and they frequently return to campus for homecoming concerts. Can't bear to leave Fido home? Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, is one of the only colleges to have pet-friendly dorms. They even have a separate graduation ceremony for outgoing pets. The University of South Carolina is home to the state's only 360 degree rotating restaurant, Top of Carolina. USC's campus also hosts the National Advocacy Center, a centralized training center for the U.S. Department of Justice. Agnes Scott College, a tiny (but beautiful!) all-women school 6 miles east of Atlanta, has been the setting for numerous movies and TV shows, including Driving Miss Daisy, Scream 2, and The Blind Side.  Many schools give applicants the opportunity to interview with local alumni as part of the application process. In some cases, this is offered to all applicants, while others require applicants to follow specific procedures. For example, if you want “priority consideration” for an interview with a Duke alum, you need to submit your Regular Decision application earlier than normal - by December 20. At Carnegie-Mellon, you need to search the alumni directory and submit a request online. Be sure to check specific instructions for each school on your list.
Alumni interviews typically occur in a public place like a coffee shop, and are generally low-key and conversational. Be sure to come prepared with questions for the interviewer, and do your homework to show you are excited about the particular school. Basic etiquette rules always apply – dress appropriately (suits are not required, but no ripped jeans or sneakers!), be on time, turn off your cell phone, and send a thank-you note. It never hurts to do a practice mock interview with a counselor or a parent! For some great insight on what questions interviewers typically ask, and what they are looking for, check out this recent article from Business Insider: “A former Harvard admissions interviewer shares the 5 questions she asked almost every applicant.”  Interested in learning more about Jewish life on campus? At the recent Independent Educational Consultants Association Conference in New Orleans, we presented a program called "Lox-a-Options: The Search for Jewish Life on Campus." Click here to view the conference handout, which has links to suggested resources and a list of questions to think about when visiting schools.
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Vinik Educational Placement Services, Inc. * 4701 Sangamore Road, Suite S105 * Bethesda, MD 20816
301-320-9711 (Bruce) * 301-660-6130 (Laura) * 301-320-3133 (Annie) * info@vinikeps.com