Tag: college readiness

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College Readiness

College Visits

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

Having recently returned from visiting four colleges in Utah and five colleges in Massachusetts, and knowing that many families travel for the holidays, I thought that College Visits would be a timely topic to write about.

I highly recommend visiting colleges if time and money allow. Visiting a few colleges before a student submits an application is beneficial because a student can see what the campus is really like and can better imagine themselves there. The experience becomes real. Brochures and guidebooks tend to make most campuses indistinguishable from one another. Experiencing the campus in person and talking to students and faculty help bring a college’s personality to life. With all other factors being equal, many students have reported that “how a campus feels” is what made them decide to apply and attend or not.

So, how does one visit a college? Students should go online to the college’s website and search under admissions/visits. All colleges have an online visit request system. It is important to register online at least two weeks in advance or more, especially if you are visiting during popular school breaks, as tours will fill up. Please also note that some colleges will not be open on national holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Most visits will include a one-hour information session and a one-hour tour. You can often request to sit in on a class, eat lunch with a student, meet with a specific academic department, or tour facilities not on the general tour, such as fine arts spaces or athletic facilities. Some colleges will have an Open House where the faculty and staff from a variety of departments are available all day in sessions and workshops, in addition to a tour and information session.

Before your trip, confirm your visit time and map out where you are going. Sometimes colleges will arrange discounts at local hotels if you are visiting campus or they may have a lodging facility on their campus. Arrive ten minutes early to check in. Some colleges will separate parents and students on the tour, but most will combine them. If it is a large group, the tour guides will introduce themselves and you can pick which one to go with–so if a guide is from your hometown or state or shares your major, that would be the person to follow.

When on tour, note the buildings, classrooms, interactions between students, evidence of school pride, notices on bulletin boards, etc. If you don’t get your questions answered on the tour, be sure to ask your guide or an admissions officer after the tour while it is fresh in your mind. If you are visiting several campuses at one time, details will run together, so be sure to take notes on what you like and don’t like about a campus and note interesting facts. It is recommended that you visit no more than two college a day to avoid college visit burnout. If you are spending a day or two in the area, experience the shops and restaurants around campus and try out the transportation systems if available. Campus life often extends beyond the actual campus.

Also remember that even if you cannot travel far, there may be campuses in your city that you can visit any time. You may discover a hidden gem in your own backyard!

Happy Visiting!

Categories
Student Perspectives

Ready to Bloom

By Shelby Britton
Lakehill Preparatory School
Marketing Intern, Class of 2019

To be nervous about something means, to me, that I care about it. I want to see it bloom and grow into something beautiful.

Therefore, when I say that college makes me incredibly nervous, it’s a good sign. After all, it’s something completely new and foreign that comes with deadlines every week, application after application, and–just when you think you’re done and that the downpour of responsibility is over–you realize you have to do it all over again with scholarships.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom. I will admit, at first, I was dreading applying to college. I had no clue where to even begin, much less where to apply, but that feeling is actually a blessing in disguise. Sure, I am nervous about college and moving out of my wonderfully comfortable home, away from my family and friends, and leaving behind the places where I have made my memories.

But, now, in this time of emotional turmoil and last-minute applications, I know ahead of me lies fresh ground to plant my roots, and I know that if I’m nervous, I’m about to bloom.

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College Readiness

Navigating the Twists and Turns of College Admissions

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

I recently attended the Dallas County Spelling Bee for private school students as my daughter was the school winner for Lakehill. As soon as we walked through the door, I could sense the enormous pressure of the participants, some praying, some doing yoga/relaxation techniques, some looking at spelling lists repeating letters over and over again. It made ME nervous! My daughter was proud to represent her school, and, aside from initial nerves, she went up on stage, spelled her words with confidence, and existed the stage with grace once a word was missed. I was proud of her!

Why, you might ask, is a college counselor talking about a spelling bee? I see the same scenario play out each year as seniors go through the college application process. For some, this process is more nerve-wrecking than for others, but with solid preparation, a balanced list of schools, and knowing the fact that there is more than one college able to prepare one for the future, our students go through the process with the confidence knowing they will be going to a ‘good’ college as they choose to define it.

I admire the confidence my students display as they perform, apply to colleges, compete in athletic and academic competitions, and engage in new projects in their communities. And I am impressed with the humility and grace with which our students handle situations which may not always work out as expected. Life is full of unexpected twists and turns and knowing how to navigate them will make our kids stronger and more prepared for the future.

Categories
Student Perspectives

The Right Balance

By Salma El-Feky, ’17
Marking Intern, Lakehill Preparatory School

Going into my senior year, I wanted to do everything I could possibly do and be involved in every activity. I wanted to make every minute of my senior year count.

Throughout the school year, my parents and I would sit down to discuss my schedule and what was going on that week. We also spent a lot of time talking about my future plans.

During those discussions, my parents gave me some good advice: “Be honest with yourself and find a balance between school, friends, and family.” This advice helped me change the way I approached my school work and my extracurricular activities. I realized that I can’t do every single thing, every single time. I prioritized my responsibilities and focused on those that were the most important. With my new focus, I could make a schedule and stick to it. I learned how to better manage my time. In the past, it was hard for me to admit when I needed help. By communicating more with my teachers, I gained confidence and certainty in completing my assignments. Most importantly, I feel better prepared for the future and for the college experience that is just ahead.

High school is definitely a challenge and can be overwhelming – if you let it be. While I wish I could go back and share this advice with the freshman version of myself, I am glad that I received it now and will carry it with me to college.

Enjoy every moment in high school, get involved, and be active–but remember to be honest with yourself and make sure you seek balance in your life. Schedule your school work, but remember to leave enough hours to get a good night’s sleep and enjoy some down time for yourself. This will keep you from becoming stressed and will allow time for you to enjoy the little moments and make memories.

While I was writing this, I received my first college acceptance letter! I am so grateful for my Lakehill experience and the environment that has allowed me to stay positive and focus on my goals. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Salma El-Feky

Categories
College Readiness

Taking a Risk

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

Earlier this fall, I unintentionally performed a social experiment.  A representative from the University of Southern California was coming to present on the university and I had nearly 50 students signed up for the lunchtime visit.  The best place to accommodate this number of students and their lunches was obviously the lunchroom.  So I instructed the students who signed up for the visit to sit on the right side of the cafeteria.  Easy, right?  Well, little did I know how attached students were to their tables and their groups of friends.  I even heard one student say, “I guess I’ll learn more about USC,” as he didn’t want to move from his place, and he hadn’t signed up for the visit.

Fast forward a few weeks later.  At our annual presentation to our freshman and parents of freshman, we had a student panel of seniors offering their advice on how to be successful.  One piece of advice that they offered was to try something new, don’t just follow friends.

So this is my advice to students reading this blog…there are so many opportunities out there.  Do not let something pass you by because you were afraid to step out of your comfort zone.  Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School each has its unique set of activities and events.  College will offer you even more–some colleges have over 700 clubs and organizations!  And to parents reading this blog, encourage, but do not force your children to do something new.  Continue to offer new opportunities and be confident that something will click.

Life is too short to sit at the same lunch table every day.

lunch-room

Categories
College Readiness

Finding Blance

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

Since I am in the middle of the course selection process for next year and in the middle of AP testing, I have been thinking a lot about the structure of a high school student’s day. I find myself coming back to the word BALANCE.  Lakehill encourages students to explore their interests, both inside and outside of the classroom. We want our students to excel in their academic interests, but we also want them to explore new subject areas. Our students have two electives each semester for several reasons:  we want them to perform, create, look at texts in a new way, and explore non-traditional subjects.

As a college counselor, I am often asked, “What do colleges want to see?” But there is no magic formula. Colleges want students to follow a curriculum which challenges them, but is one in which they can be successful. They want to see that students can read, write, and think critically, creatively, and independently. Colleges want well-rounded students who are enjoying what they study and enjoy what they do in their “free time” so that they can contribute to their future campuses.

If a school offers AP classes or honors classes, students should be encouraged to take a class or two to further their knowledge and interest in a particular subject area, but only if it makes sense with the students’ learning profiles and other components of their lives. Students should not be tempted to choose an AP class because “it looks good on a high school transcript for colleges.” The same is true for activities and electives. Students should be encouraged to explore different activities and fields of interest, and to stick with those they like in order to develop their skills and leadership roles in those areas.

BALANCE is key to healthy, happy children. There are only 24 hours in the day, and 9.5 of those hours should be spent sleeping, so students should be encouraged to spend the other 14.5 hours in ways that will foster their personal and academic development in positive and healthy ways.

Heather Dondis

Categories
College Readiness

Let’s Hear It for School Spirit

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

I love dressing up. Halloween costumes, holiday sweaters, and my cow costume for free Chick fil A sit in my closet.  I delight in coming up with an outfit that matches each day of Lakehill’s Homecoming spirit week.  Tacky sweater day was truly tacky–my bedazzled, jewel-encrusted, florescent flower pattern with the garage sale price tag still hanging on the front garnered accolades from students and staff alike.  And it goes without saying, my own children were covered from head to toe on College Day, representing a variety of colleges that I have visited over the years.

For me, spirit week represents more than the week leading up to a Homecoming football game. It is a chance to be silly and have fun with students and colleagues. It is a chance to show solidarity for our school.

School spirit is a major factor students consider in a college search, but often, this is defined in terms of football games. Although football games undeniably generate a great amount of spirit, it is important for students to consider other aspects of school spirit.  All colleges have their own traditions:  midnight breakfasts during exam weeks, a birthday swim in the campus pond, a President-mandated day off to have fun on a nearby mountain, or sledding on cafeteria trays during the first snow; the list is endless.  Students who engage in the life of their campus tend to have a more positive college experience and often perform better academically; so save up those old costumes, hang on to those tacky sweaters, and be ready to eat pancakes in the wee hours of the morning.  Your college experience depends on it!

Heather Dondis

Categories
Student Perspectives

The Right Place

By Haley York, Class of 2015
Lakehill Preparatory School

Senior year: the last first day of school, the last football game, the last year with the friends that you have grown up with.

It is the time when we all pick our colleges and majors and plan the next chapter of our lives, which is not only hard work, but incredibly stressful. The college of my choice may not have been what people had expected, but once one sees the journey, I think they would agree with me that where I chose is exactly where I need to be.

Just a year ago, my top choice was Vanderbilt University, but honestly, my naïve self most likely chose that for the name. Over the summer of 2014, I applied to many colleges and heard from each within just a few months: University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, SMU, TCU, and Baylor. As you can see, Vanderbilt was not on this list. Over the summer, I spent a lot of time thinking about where I needed to be and I realized that staying in Texas for college was the right choice.

Then came decision time… I visited each school, very unsure as to where I would end up. There was a place where my heart was pulling me, but I, at first, ignored it because I felt that I should follow my brain. In early March, I started praying hard, asking God to give me signs that would point me where He needed me, where I am called. After, signs from everywhere pointed to one certain college. I kept seeing car stickers from this university all over the place, I kept meeting people who went there and heard their amazing stories, I saw people wearing the ring from the school, and when I turned on the television, jerseys from that school’s sports teams kept showing up.

Finally, I decided to visit this college with my father. When we arrived in the small town where this large university stood, we immediately felt a vibe like nothing I have ever felt before. After spending the night in a hotel, we went to look around the campus. Seeing the people, the construction of the football field, and the beautiful facilities, I was hooked, but I still needed one more sign from God in order to make my choice. Immediately after asking for a sign, I heard my name being called by a familiar voice. I turned around to see my counselor from Sky Ranch. Although I had not seen her in two years, she  was the one who recommended me for the Sigma leadership camp, and the one who became like a sister to me in the span of a week. She ran to me and hugged me tightly, on the verge of tears because she was so genuinely happy to see me. She looked at me and said, “I just had this weird feeling that I would see you here.”

That, right there, was the sign, the sign that made me know that Texas A&M was the perfect place for me. My advice to younger students is to just follow your heart. I know that this time is stressful, but once you sit back and rely on what you feel, you will make the right decision for you.

Categories
College Readiness

A Shout Out to Freshmen

By Heather Dondis
Lakehill Preparatory School, Director of College Counseling

At Lakehill, we are proud to include freshmen in our college counseling programming. This week the Head of Upper School, Director of College Counseling, and Freshman Class Sponsors spoke with the freshman and their parents about high school success.

It is critical for freshmen to start building a strong foundation in their academics and study habits.  We encourage our students to be independent learners, take ownership of their studies, challenge themselves within reason, be good planners, get involved in their school and community, and maintain a healthy balance between school, activities, and responsibilities at home.  It is important for teachers, parents, and older students to model this too.  We encourage our freshmen to research jobs and careers. We also want them to learn about colleges by attending presentations on campus and throughout the city and by meeting with college admissions officers.

By developing these good habits early in their high school careers, students will be more than prepared to gain admission and be successful in the college of their choice.

Categories
College Readiness

Let Your Interests Lead the Way

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

I heard the most exciting news this week that one of our students was selected among all nominees in Dallas to attend a three-day interview program at a major university on the east coast along with 100 students from around the world in hopes of a full scholarship for his four undergraduate years in college. I also heard this week that another one of our students was one of twelve students worldwide selected to interview on campus for a full scholarship for four years at a liberal arts college on the west coast. Pretty impressive.

These students didn’t even know about these scholarships until this year, yet they have been preparing for them for at least the last four years, if not more. To be at this level of competition, students need to have an excellent academic record, but this doesn’t just come in the form of grades. It comes in the form of knowledge and being able to apply that knowledge to real-world situations and being able to talk about that knowledge with others who share the same interests.

Students need to challenge themselves in the classroom and outside of the classroom, learning all they can about a variety of subjects. They should take challenging and interesting courses in high school, but also continue that learning process on their own. Both of these students had a desire early on to learn about specific subjects that interested them. They spend hours reading at home, combing the Internet, and putting their knowledge into practice at research labs and internships. They followed through on that spark, that passion.

This played out naturally in the college scholarship process as colleges are looking for students who will do great things on their campuses. Everyone has the potential to have that spark. Learn all you can about the subjects that interest you. Find ways to discover what you are interested in within your community. Learn from people who share the same interests. Use your knowledge to help others. Perhaps you, too, will be preparing for an interview weekend to share your story with others.