DEC NETWORK-ING

Be prepared!  The DEC NETWORK Interview Pointers session lays a foundation for future interviews related to college admittance, scholarship applications, job interviews and much more. We’ve developed an effective 1.5 hour program to cover all aspects of the interviewing process. Topics covered include: Types of Interviews, Scheduling, What to Bring, Body Language, Resume Use, and  College/Company Website Prep. As part of the program, you’ll learn how to work from your resume to prepare for all interviews, both formal and informal. And, we’ll spend about 45 minutes of this valuable session with actual role playing. Not only will you practice how to effectively ace your answers but also how to develop the right kind of questions to impress your interviewer.  Your ultimate goal: to demonstrate a clear fit regardless of the type of opportunity. And, remember that the interview doesn’t end when you walk out of the door. Our Interview Pointers include several important tips on follow up communication. 

Last week, I presented Winning Strategies for the College Bound to a room filled with moms and daughters from the National Charity League (NCL), Ridgefield Chapter. With an emphasis on the exciting journey ahead, I spoke about a positive and proactive approach to minimize stress and maximize success…yes, with a large dose of fun along the way. My advice? Set your compass to include these strategies: understand your personal profile (academics, personality, activities); create a college criteria “wish list”; identify college matches based on profiles/criteria through search engines, resources, and websites; set up testing timelines (ACT, SAT, SAT Subject, AP); communicate with and visit colleges; develop application themes; convey heart, spirit, character in essays; choose recommendations wisely (teacher, mentor, coach); foster relationships with HS counselors and complete required documents ahead of the game.  The end goal: matching your strengths and interests today with the right colleges and careers for tomorrow.  For information about dates on additional DEC NETWORK speaking engagements and workshops, go to www.dec-network.com.

WSJ On Campus will present a  live, interactive webcast entitled Inside the Admissions Office on Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:00PM. Moderated by Jordan Goldman, CEO of Unigo.com, several admissions leaders will be on hand during the program to offer info on how to make applications stand out, the importance of grades, test scores, interviews and essays, the role of parents in the process, etc. Learn inside tips directly from the mouths of Bryn Mawr, Grinnell, Marquette, Princeton, UPenn, UVM, Wesleyan and Williams. And, if you have questions, don’t hesitate to send an email to wsjoncampus@unigo.com.  How to sign up for the free webcast? Go to http://wsj.unigo.com to join in on the conversation at the designated time. Food for thought at the dinner hour.

Learning, presenting, networking, and RACING…no better words describe my actions at the information packed Independent Educational  Consultants Association (IECA) Conference a few days ago. From one meeting to the next, I managed to attend professional sessions on financial aid, college resources, Personality Type, social networking and more. At the same time, hundreds of college/school representatives were on hand from across the nation  to field questions about their programs. When I wasn’t “in class” or catching up with admissions reps and colleagues on their latest updates, I was dashing to listen to nationally recognized speakers, Daniel Pink (author of A Whole New Mind, www.danpink.com) and Nido R. Qubein (President of High Point University and author of Stairway to Success). And, as a presenter myself, I rallied IECA colleagues on the final day of the Conference about the importance of linking college and career. Back in my home office, I’m exhausted from the marathon, yet incredibly energized from the overall knowledge gained to pass on to   DEC NETWORK® families. Whew…

Last stop of the Southern campus visit journey- the Charlotte area.  I was excited and impressed with the leadership, administration, academics, student life and campus environs related to several schools. Take a look at their distinguishing characteristics: 1) Davidson University-Admissions/Most Selective, 1674 full time students, 12:1 Student/Faculty ratio, NCAA Division I, Popular Majors-English, History, Biology, Economics, Political Science; 2) University of North Carolina/Charlotte- Admissions/Selective, 14826 full time students, 15:1 Student/Faculty Ratio, NCAA Division I, Most Popular Majors- Business, Education, Engineering, Psychology, Communications; 3) Queens University of Charlotte-Admissions/Selective, 1106 full time students, 12:1 Student/Faculty Ratio, NCAA Division II, Most Popular Majors- Business, Health, Communications, Psychology, Education; 4)Wingate University- Admissions/Selective, 1407 full time students, 13:1 Student/Faculty Ratio, NCAA Division II, Most Popular Majors-Business, Parks/Recreation/Fitness, Education. The admissions offices of each of these schools were extremely engaging and approachable!  And speaking of engaging,  Johnson and Wales University- a renowned school for the Culinary Arts, hosted a not to be missed dinner reception. The food was superb! The school also offers undergraduate degrees in Business and Hospitality. With the rental car safely back at Hertz, I was ready to be off the road and in the classroom at the IECA semi-annual conference. Stay tuned for highlights…

Wow! Words can’t describe how impressed my colleagues and I were with our day traveling to both the University of South Carolina/Columbia and the College of Charleston. Each campus (1.5 hours apart) exuded richness in history, culture, and Southern charm. Here’s a recap- after a lovely stay at The Inn at South Carolina (owned by the school), our morning began with a campus tour of USC and meeting with CT Admissions Rep, Brett Butler (no, not Rhett!). His enthusiasm was contagious as he discussed the Honors College, popular majors (International Business, Hospitality and Tourism), Division I Athletics (Equestrian, too), and much more. We then drove to Charleston and self-toured the gracious campus set in park-like gated areas within a town of chic shops/restaurants. Popular majors include Business, Social Sciences, Communications and Visual Arts. Athletics are NCAA Division I and, like USC, include Equestrian Sports. The friendly, diverse students were everywhere in the bustling town. Note: the price tag on these public institutions is highly attractive for out of state students, USC-$29,000 and Charleston- $28,000.

Our first stop on the college visit circuit took place at a small, liberal arts (2700 students) school set in Greenville, South Carolina. We were all taken with the beautiful lakeside campus with rose gardens, water fountains and well-maintained traditional architecture. The friendly admissions office touted the Furman Advantage, emphasizing the college’s active education through collaboration, civic engagement, technology, research, study away, and internships. 97% of Furman grads are employed or attend graduate school after leaving upon graduation. From Furman, we headed to Clemson University-a large private university known for its excellent academic programs and spirited campus community. The Tiger enthusiasm was evident throughout the campus with students and administrators alike donning the Clemson trademark color- ORANGE. Students can walk to the small town adjacent to campus which houses many Clemson oriented shops. The $32,000 price tag for out of state students is a great value for families, with over 29% of the student population coming from outside South Carolina. Go Tigers!

What is one of my most important services to clients? Providing feedback on colleges based on first-hand knowledge gained from campus visits. A college visit is invaluable! Each year, I travel to more than 50 campuses to stay on top of the current environment.  Next week, I begin a seven day  journey with IECA colleagues which takes us to schools throughout North and South Carolina. Our campus destinations are diverse and include Furman University, Clemson University, University of South Carolina, College of Charleston, Elon University, Davidson College, Wake Forest University, University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill, Duke University, Guilford College, High Point University, University of North Carolina/Charlotte and Winthrop University. I’ll be blogging from the road as much as possible to provide you with my impressions. Characteristics covered will include academic majors, campus environment, facilities, student life, admissions statistics, merit and financial aid, town/gown relationships, career placement and more. I hope to connect with representatives from each of these colleges. Let me know if you have specific questions and I’ll be happy to provide you with the answers. Stay tuned!

Congratulations Seniors! After months spent assessing personal strengths, visiting colleges, identifying the right fit, interviewing, writing essays, securing recommendations and completing applications, you are now ready to push the submit button. Feel great about the fact that you have given the college search process your best shot at finding schools that will allow you to succeed academically and socially. Once applications are submitted (don’t forget to keep a hard copy!), be sure to follow up with colleges to confirm receipt of all required materials. College decisions will arrive at different times, depending on your admissions option choice. Regardless of the timing, keep on top of your senior coursework and don’t be shy about letting admissions offices know about any accomplishments achieved after applications have been sent. Remind admissions officers about your enthusiasm and capabilities.

While the fall football season is already underway, another type of kick off is taking place around the nation. High school juniors are launching their college planning process with an important first step:  attending college fairs to take advantage of an early start on exploring potential matches. School representatives from around the country are on hand in one convenient place to answer your questions about academics, athletics, campus culture and more. Marketing materials are available, but students also can sign up to be on the college mailing list to receive information. For high school seniors with your final college list in hand, attend the college fair to reach out one more time to your college reps with enthusiasm and your resume (demonstration of interest!) The Ridgefield/Wilton High School College Fair is set for Wednesday, October 14 from 7-9 at the Wilton Field House while the Danbury High School Fair is set for Monday, October 19 from 5-9 at the Danbury Fair Mall. For information on college attendees, go to the high school websites.