DEC NETWORK-ING

Kinesiology (the study of physical activity) is on the move. For many years, the discipline of kinesiology was associated with coaching careers, but that’s no longer the case.  As reported in Inside Higher Ed, the American Kinesiology Association (AKA) states that “the number of undergraduate kinesiology majors grew 50 percent from 2003 to 2008, to more than 26,000 students, making it one of the fastest-growing majors in the country”.  State universities are especially feeling the growing pains. University of Maryland, for example, experienced a 63% increase from 2002 to 2007. What’s the draw?  Students majoring in kinesiology understand the future career opportunities available to medical related professionals. And, according to the AKA,  more than half are developing skills as athletic trainers, occupational therapists or physician assistants. Go to www.americankinesiology.org to learn more about this exciting field of study.

The DEC NETWORK Newsletter is a monthly resource for families involved with a college search. What can you expect? From September to June, look for timely information on important college planning calendar dates such as standardized test date deadlines. Read articles dealing with college financing as well as specific topics relevant to the college process. And, a favorite feature highlights a particular type of college with this month’s story focusing on military academies. Finally, don’t miss the “website of the month” offering a great resource on such topics as summer enrichment, scholarships, athletic recruitment, and college search engines.  What’s in print for the upcoming month? Our September Newsletter is chalk full of  helpful tips on how to manage: 1) College Costs and Your College List, 2) Getting Recommendations That Can Make A Difference, 3) Rants, Raves and Vents of College Admissions Officers, and 4) Making the Most of Your High School Years. Check out also this month’s website, www.campuscompare.com. ( The site allows you to compare colleges along several variables such as majors, location, sports and careers. Visitors also can view links to student reviews on Facebook and Twitter). Sign up to receive the free DEC NETWORK Newsletter by going to www. dec-network.com.

Don’t leave any stone unturned. Go to the website of each college on your list to be absolutely clear on current admissions requirements related to high school curriculum, standardized tests, interviews, teacher/counselor recommendations, admissions options and deadlines. Depending on other sources can be a big mistake. Colleges may institute a new requirement smack dab in the middle of an admissions cycle. Or, in the case of Harvard and Georgetown, a long time standardized test requirement has been changed for this year yet will the vast college internet resource data base  be updated in a timely fashion? (three subject tests are no longer required).  To stay organized (and sane!), mark the requirements of each school on an Excel spreadsheet and review as you fine tune your admissions timeline checklist. And, remember: colleges vary with regard to policy on all of these areas regardless of their selectivity level. Don’t expect the Ivies, for example, to be in sync with their requirements.

In a recent New York Times Op-Ed, with humor and poignency, Maureen Dowd uses the “college roommate experience” to remind the incoming Class of 2014, “As you leave behind high school to redefine and even reinvent yourself as an adult, you need exposure to an array of different ideas, backgrounds and perspectives…” I couldn’t agree more! And, it doesn’t just begin and end with college. How many of us have shared a cramped one bedroom apartment with three others in New York or a similar city? We learn how to live together because in many cases, we simply have no choice. And, through this, we develop essential  interpersonal skills to navigate the workplace and more.  The most successful leaders in business, education, medicine, government or other career destinations are those that understand how to get along with others. Early lessons can be found within the college dorm room or later in a brownstone on the Lower East Side. Go to http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/opinion/11dowd.html to read more.