Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Recommended reading: "Crazy U" by A Ferguson

Review from amazon.com of Crazy U by Andrew Ferguson:

The cutthroat competition to get into the perfect college can drive students to the brink of madness and push their parents over the edge—and bury them in an avalanche of books that claim to hold the secret of success. Don’t worry: Crazy U is not one of those books. It is instead a disarmingly candid and hilariously subversive chronicle of the journey that millions of parents and their children undertake each year—a journey through the surreal rituals of college admissions. It’s a rollicking ride from the man Christopher Buckley has called “my all-time favorite writer.”

Pummeled by peers, creeped out by counselors, and addled by advice books, Andrew Ferguson has come to believe that a single misstep could cost his son a shot at a happy and fulfilling future. He feels the pressure to get it right from the moment the first color brochures land in his mailbox, sent from colleges soliciting customers as though they were sailors come to port.
First is a visit with the most sought-after, most expensive—and surely most intimidating—private college consultant in the nation. Then come the steps familiar to parents and their college-bound children, seen through a gimlet eye: a session with a distracted high school counselor, preparations for the SAT and an immersion in its mysteries, unhelpful help from essay coaches and admissions directors, endless campus tours, and finally, as spring arrives, the waiting, waiting, waiting for the envelope that bears news of the future.
Meanwhile, Ferguson passes on the tips he’s picked up during their crash course. (Tip number 36: Don’t apply for financial aid after midnight.)

He provides a pocket history of higher education in America, recounts the college ranking wars, and casts light on the obscure and not-terribly-seemly world of higher-education marketing. And he dares to raise the question that no one (until now) has been able to answer: Why on earth does it all cost so much? Along the way, something unexpected begins to happen: a new relationship grows between father and son, built from humor, loyalty, and (yes) more than a little shared anxiety. For all its tips and trials, Crazy U is also a story about family. It turns out that the quiet boy who pretends not to be worried about college has lots to teach his father—about what matters in life, about trusting your instincts, about finding your own way.

Monday, November 21, 2011

LD friendly colleges

There are several LD friendly colleges to choose between. A good starting point is Churchill's website where you'll find research, guidance and information about colleges that Churchill alumni are attending.

The Gow School, the world's oldest boarding school for dyslexic boys grades 7 - 12, has compiled a list rating LD support and ease of admissions at selected US and Canadian colleges.

http://www.gow.org/page.cfm?p=346

Churchill School College Guidance

Getting into college is easier than you think

Colleges with programs for LD kids

Sunday, November 20, 2011

The College Process at Churchill

Churchill students attend many types of schools including prestigious colleges such as Barnard College and Northwestern University. Since the first graduating high school class in 2004, Churchill students have been accepted at some 200 colleges, Bill McBrien, college advisor at the Churchill School, said in an interview at his office. When it comes to success at college, Churchill alumni have repeatedly demonstrated their capacity and preparedness to thrive at higher learning institutions. At a recent Alumni Night at Churchill current college students shared their experiences with Churchill families.
“They looked empowered and confident,” Tibor Feldman, father of Churchill senior Harris Feldman says about the Churchill alumni. He found Alumni Night very helpful for his son and family.

The college process at Churchill has been evolving since 2004. Currently, the college preparation kicks off in 11th grade, but beginning next year McBrien will be introducing 10th graders to the process. In 2011/2012, all Churchill admissions data will be available anonymously in an electronic college guidance tool called Naviance. Accessing Naviance, Churchill students will be able to obtain statistics including average GPAs and test scores for previous students for all the colleges where Churchill students have been accepted.

Some colleges have structured programs geared to students with learning issues, while other schools have great support in general. For example, students benefit from technological advancements, such as audio books and homework assignments online. Specific support, however, varies from college to college. When planning a college visit, set up a meeting with the learning center, McBrien advises. To qualify for accommodation on standardized tests, students need to have a recent evaluation documenting the learning disability and apply ahead of time with the College Board and/or the ACT. The College Board can take several months to process applications for SAT accommodations.

Applying non-binding “Early Action” to at least one school can be a real confidence booster, says Cheryl Howard-Fleming, mother of senior Robert Fleming. As a result of early action, her son, Harris Feldman and other Churchill seniors have already been accepted at colleges on their lists.

College is a huge financial commitment. With the cost of a four-year private college education hovering around $200,000, many families include state schools in their searches. McBrien has received positive feedback from former students at some state schools.

Obtaining good grades, cramming for standardized tests, and finding the “right” college can be overwhelming.  “This is a daunting process for the kids,” Howard-Fleming says. “They need a lot of emotional support.”

The college process may be stressful, but it is also an opportunity for students to discover themselves, McBrien says. Researching higher education and visiting colleges give students opportunities to develop academic passions and mature. He advises students to discuss the college process with their parents in a positive way and use it as a learning experience. It is important to share hopes and dreams, and not be bogged down by the details.

“It’s very rewarding to be a part of this process,” McBrien says. 

(Published in The Torch, Churchill School and Center 2011 Spring issue. By V. Stolt)

Friday, November 18, 2011

PSAT, SAT and ACT and extended time for LD

At Churchill, most students sit for the PSAT (Preliminary SAT) during the fall of their junior year and take the SAT in May the same school year. The PSAT is a administrated by the College Board, which takes at least 7 weeks to process an application for extended time on the PSAT (and other College Board tests such as the SAT, SAT subject tests and AP exams). From my experience, the ACT people are much easier to deal with and make their decision much faster than the College Board, but this may vary.

The testing required for extended time is expensive, around $4,000 for a neuropsych evaluation. This eval can then be used in college for extended time and other accommodations and is valid at least three years depending on the college. To be cost effective, one should do the testing early enough to get extended time on the PSAT and late enough to use it at college. If not doing the PSAT, the testing could wait until junior year depending on ACT test schedule.

The main difference between ACT and SAT is that ACT tests what the student has learned so far in high school, while the SAT has more emphasis on measuring strategic reasoning.  Both tests have a writing component. Students tend to score similar on both tests so there is no need to take both, which is very time consuming for LD kids. Which test to pick depends on the college of interest. Some college ask for "SAT + subject tests or the ACT", meaning the ACT saves your child the trouble of having to take more than one test. Many colleges are becoming "testing optional" meaning you don't have to send any test scores.

A good idea is to identify colleges that would be a good match for your child and plan your testing strategy according to the requirements of those colleges.