From the Quad

PREPARING FOR THE EMPTY NEST: Where's my baby chick?

With many dads and moms facing a new world order in a few weeks with their daughters and sons leaving for college or boarding school, many are beginning to create a deep emotional confrontation by internally asking themselves, "Oh my God, what am I going to do?" 

 

Sending our kids off to school is the beginning of a journey for everyone involved.  For the kids it’s their first genuine journey of exploration.  It's going to be an often joyous and sometimes calamitous experience of self-guidance, the development of independence, a time to thrive and discover their unique potential.  Reality be told - if we have done a good job, then our child might soar from the nest to start school but will find a new joy in 'coming home.' Going to school should be as guilt-free for Mom and Dad as possible.

Keeping it together when they leave is essential to help them continue their healthy emotional development.  It's not the end of our relationship but the beginning of a more adult relationship with our son and/or daughter. It's also the beginning of the next chapter with one's spouse. The Empty Nest offers a new era of privacy.  The plans, the ideas, the dreams all have time and space for the creation of a new reality together.  It's a time for redefining romance, relationship and reliving the core elements of why we originally committed to marriage and family in the first place.

 

 

Dive off of the Green into the Blue: A status of the Blue Jobs Economy......

In a recent estimate, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that the Gulf of Mexico spill is spreading at 5 times the rate of what had initially been projected.  See New York Times Article: Size of Spill in Gulf of Mexico is Larger than Thought.  Fortunately, it appears a final solution to complete a new containment apparatus is only days away from ceasing the flow of oil into the delicate marine ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico.  See BP Happy with New Oil Leak Effort.   BP and thousands of oil recovery workers are transitioning from crisis mode to the much longer process of evaluating and addressing the impact. These individuals will now be faced with the daunting task of identifying a strategy and personnel to provide relief to the delicate ecological balance affected by the spill.

 

Make way for a wave of new workers moving into action.  Marine scientists, coastal engineers, and Coast Guard professionals are assembling to decide the next steps in the restoration effort of one of the largest marine ecological disasters in recent history.  The BP Corporation has been tasked with providing $20 billion in restitution. These funds, set aside for relief efforts, environmental reconstruction, and long term impact studies, will have a significant impact on the Gulf economy and employment structure.  

 

This is good news for the broad base of college freshman as well as those currently searching for employment and careers.  This new “blue jobs movement," as it is called, is starting to edge out the green-collar jobs wave.  As Sam Eaton (Marketplace Desk for Sustainability) states, "Forget the green economy. Some lawmakers say we're on the cusp of a blue jobs revolution. Think offshore wind farms, aquaculture, even marine bio-medicine."

 

The blue jobs movement could provide a significant impact on the bleak employment market.  As many reel from the impact, others are lining up with creative energies to address some of the significant challenges ahead.  Many entrepreneurs and innovative business are stepping into the void between disaster and restoration.  See What you're saying: Oil spill sparks Creativity inspires inventions for cleanup effort.    At junctures just as these, great businesses and innovators can provide insights into how to not only remedy these disasters but provide alternative solutions to long standing challenges. All this creates new opportunities.

 

Try not to get too excited as your mind wanders to sailing the great oceans stopping along the way picking up checks from biomedical research firms.  Marine scientists are only a small portion of the marine economy.  For an idea of the breadth of careers available, visit Oceancareers.com and NOAA'S (National Association of Atmospheric Administration) career site.   For those interested in the educational track you can explore the colleges focusing on marine and oceanographic science.  A list of the most competitive and highest ranked in this sector can be found at the US News and World Report Top Colleges Ranking.   

 

At the transition between challenging times and prosperity is the innovative pathway to new paradigms.  Be the first in your class to step forward and explore the options that may land you somewhere on the vast expanse of today’s ocean economy.  This is best said in the words of the most famous marine scientist of our time.  

 

"If we were logical, the future would be bleak, indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope, and we can work."
Jacques Yves Cousteau 

 

Safe travels,

Jeremy McGeorge

 

Jeremy McGeorge is the Director of Special Needs Services at Bertram Educational Consultants.  He can be reached at jdmcgeorge@cmbertram.com.

Summer Placements – It’s Not Too Late

In the traditional admission cycle, families and students spend the fall and early winter researching schools, taking standardized testing, visiting and applying to schools.  What happens if a family decides to apply to a boarding school after that time period?  Have they lost an opportunity?

Absolutely not!  Many families apply post April 10, once the first-round candidates have chosen their schools and the schools have tallied their yeas and nays. In fact, some schools make it a point to save a space or two for the Summer Gem, the student who is a wonderful candidate, who would be a true boon for any school.

This is the trick:  At this time of year, schools will go to committee to review a candidate’s file quickly, may offer a spot quickly, and will want an answer quickly. For this reason, it is best to visit schools in a tight rotation so all offers can be considered at the same time.  Once they have communicated their decision to the family, schools will want the family’s decision within a week or so.

Keep in Mind:

· There is a school for everyone, even during the summer months

· Not all schools will have spots, but there will be choices

· At this time of they year, it is rolling admission – First Come, First Served

· It is unlikely there will be Financial Aid available: it is generally allocated by March 10

· Admissions will be on campus during the summer, but often regular faculty are off doing something else

· Summer programs at schools will likely be comprised primarily of kids who are not enrolled in that school

· Schools are enthusiastic about meeting with summer candidates

So, even though the summer placement process is condensed and intense, assume it can be done and that there is a place for every interested student.

Audrey Ludemann is Director, Independent Day and Boarding School Advising at Camille M. Bertram Educational Consultants.  She can be reached at anludemann@cmbertram.com

Reader Beware!

Forbes Magazine recently reported a list of “America’s 20 Best Prep Schools” (http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/29/best-prep-schools-2010-opinions-private-education.html). For many years, independent schools have shied away from and even boycotted lists and rankings because a school experience or appropriateness for an individual student cannot be quantified so simplistically.

First and foremost, consider the methodology. In this case, Forbes weighed student/faculty ratio, percentage of faculty that possess advance degrees and size of the school’s endowment  as well as the percentage of graduates, over the last five years, that matriculated into what they deemed to be the “top 10 colleges”.

With regard to student/faculty ratio, yes, this is a good indicator of the individual attention that many independent schools pride themselves on. However, student/faculty ratio can be a very different number than an average class size if the school is heavily weighted by non-teaching administrators or adjunct tutors. Also, an advance degree, although impressive, is not the main ingredient in what constitutes a good teacher. Advance degree holding faculty often may struggle to connect with students in the multi-faceted ways that they are expected to in these intimate learning environments. Understanding, connecting and inspiring are not inherent in an advance degree. A school’s endowment is certainly an indication of institutional health. However, a school in any given year can receive a significant financial windfall and that does not make it a great institution. Just as with people, “Money does not make the man.”

College matriculation is indeed an important characteristic when choosing a school. However, upon first blush of this article one should question how they determined the “top 10 colleges”.  There was no discussion of that methodology in the article. Keep in mind that college matriculation is often skewed by legacies, development prospects, recruited athletes, and financial aid need. The methodology also does not take into account international matriculation to renowned colleges and universities like Oxford, Cambridge or McGill.

It is impossible to truly measure the prowess of an academic institution. To do so would be to quantify an experience. The characteristics of schools cannot fit into an excel spread sheet. And, sending your son or daughter to one of these “top” schools does not guarantee success. Finding the right fit for your son or daughter where he or she will thrive is the most important factor in choosing a school. Parents should focus on seeking a school where their child will feel comfortable taking risks and be able to excel. Where you go to school matters far less than what you do when you get there.

Holly McGlennon Treat is Director, Boarding School Advisory Services, at Camille M. Bertram Educational Consultants.  She can be reached at hmtreat@cmbertram.com.

Audrey Ludemann on "Cost versus Value" when choosing a school

I sat down to my mail the other day and was reading the spring magazine from my old alma mater. Up front was a short article from the new president and the title was ‘Cost vs. Value’. The opening statement addressed that, for much of its history, my much-beloved alma mater has occupied one of the two top places as the most expensive school in the country. Cost is finite and it's easy to compare the relative fees of different institutions. It is a data point – black and white, easy to understand. But how to assess value?  Did you know that when you look up the word value in the dictionary there are no fewer than 15 definitions for the word as a noun?  And three more for a verb.  Clearly, the word "value" has many intrinsic values of its own!

And how do we decide whether a school’s value has enough merit to be a worthwhile option for an individual student? Individuals bring to a school community their unique experiences, perspectives, expectations, strengths, and needs.  And families bring their opinions, hopes and fears.  It is the synergy between family, student and school that helps define its relative value.

To digress slightly, I once attended a presentation and the speaker discussed a situation in which there was a difference of opinion between a school and a family. The family wanted the Cadillac of educations, and the school, in their opinion, offered a Ford. The trick here, of course, is to identify what the Cadillac education constitutes for each individual student or family. Is it academic, intellectual, social, artistic, athletic, altruistic, moral? And can it be counted upon to instill the qualities and values that will grow, mature, develop and enhance a life through the years?  For one student, the autonomy of a large public institution where there is access to myriad activities could be the perfect school: their personal Cadillac. Another student's Cadillac might look like a school in an urban environment, with a multitude of cultural opportunities and the chance for heightened independence. For a third, it could be a low teacher student ratio in a warm and nurturing environment. The value of identifying and investing in that ‘best fit’ school can pay off in exponential growth over a lifetime.

So, when choosing a school, and perhaps when thinking about cost versus value, compare which attributes really determine the most perfect school ‘fit’.  Identify the true Cadillac on the lot.  Appreciation of its true worth will only improve with age.

Audrey Ludemann is Director, Independent Day and Boarding School Advising for Bertram Educational Consiltants.  She can be reached at 203.762.7401 or at anludemann@cmbertram.com

Bertram Gathering in Boulder, April 11, 2010

  The Cellar Room at Martin Hammer’s “4580” in North Boulder was the perfect venue for a festive Sunday evening gathering of Bertram family, friends and colleagues on April 11^th.   Diane Arnold, Linda Cain and Rob Meltzer represented IECA, and professionals joined us from AIM House, High Frontier, Living Well Transitions, Open Sky, Second Nature 360, and VIVE.  Andy Rose of Ski Therapy offered us a private demonstration of “Heart Math,” a handheld biofeedback device, which is must for all our students suffering from test anxiety or other struggles with regulating emotion.  For more information on this fascinating approach to test taking, e-mail Andy (andy@skitherapy.com).

 

Special friends who joined us at 4580 in NoBo included Bill Shutkin of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Bill is a global leader in sustainability and innovation and is the author of two award winning books on environmentalism. Bill’s sister, Lisa Shutkin Schwartz, is Operations Director of Bertram Educational Consultants.  Long–time Bertram friends, Ted Atkinson and Marcia Pryde, journeyed from Castle Pines to be with us for the Sunday night soiree.  It was a great time to celebrate our “connectedness,” as well as our commitment to helping families find the most prudent path for their children’s well being and success. In addition, the 4580 event was an opportunity to collaborate about the good work of the IECA Foundation, which provides educational opportunities for children, teens and

young adults who would not otherwise have access to such programs.  Read more about the IECA Foundation and its initiatives at www.iecafoundation.org.

Leveling the playing field… the role of athletics in college admissions

Student athletes have a unique edge in the college application process – and they should.  While some students volunteer a few hours a week doing community service or volunteering, most student athletes dedicate as many hours daily to their sport.  As a tier one varsity coach once told me, "The recruiting edge evens the playing field."  On one level, it shows the admissions committee that the applicant is able to maintain high academic standards with less time – a positive indicator that the increased load at the college level will not be too much to handle.  On a deeper level, it demonstrates the desire to give back to the school community by bringing recognition to the institution.

 

Athletics is not only a great entrée into getting in, but of even greater importance, being part of a team creates an immediate circle of friends and support group as the student enters into a new phase of his/her life.

 

Whether it is DI, DII, or DIII, entering the college admissions process as an athlete will definitely give you an advantage.  For advice in this process, whether it be in contacting coaches, preparing DVDs to show off your skills, or finding the fit both athletically and academically, please give us a call at (203)-255-2577.

 

Nuria Rubert is a former All-Ivy and NCAA All- American working with Bertram Educational Consultants.  She can be reached at norubert@cmbertram.com.  

Calling All Juniors…….

Juniors, it’s that time of year….time to really start thinking about what comes after high school. For some of you this means a four year liberal arts college. For others, it may mean attending a college that has a strong focus in business or music or art.  While some of you may be very certain as to where you want to apply and hopefully attend, and some of you have no idea of where you want to go and find the whole process of applying to schools just too overwhelming, there is one thing for sure….high school will come to an end in just over a year, and many exciting opportunities await you. While the days may be long from now until then, the year will be short. The time will fly by and before you know it, you will be donning your cap and gown and saying your good byes to old friends and hellos to new ones. In an effort to keep you on track, I offer some tips, advice, and perhaps a bit of comfort as you begin this exciting journey.

1. Hopefully, you have taken the SAT exam. Perhaps you were pleased with your scores, or perhaps not and anxiously wait until taking them again this May or June. While the SAT exam is not the only factor considered in your application, unfortunately, it is often used to categorize students into Accept, Reject or Hold piles. Knowing this and knowing your scores will help you to come up with a list of schools.
2. Based on your SATs, GPA, and extracurricular activities, make a list of about 10-15 colleges that you would like to visit and perhaps attend. The list should include 3-5 safety schools, 3-5 realistic schools, and 3-5 competitive schools. When developing the list of schools, take geography, setting (i.e., rural, suburban, urban), and size into consideration. Also consider the type of school (i.e., alternative, liberal arts, specialized, as well as private vs. public). You may also want to continue participating in an extracurricular activity, so check out the clubs, sports, and cultural activities. There’s also the X factor…the nondescript thing that makes you fall in love with a school the second you pull up to campus. You just know this is the school for you and where you want to be for the next four years! 
3. After you have developed the list of schools, now plan a visit. It’s a good idea to take a week and visit 5-10 schools so as to compare and contrast the schools. Make sure to go to the school’s website and register for the information sessions and campus tours. Oftentimes, the information sessions are led by an Admissions representative and the tours are led by students. Definitely try to participate in both so as to get a more complete picture or feel for the school. Very rarely do schools offer interviews to Juniors, yet some schools will offer small group information sessions for a particular major. While these are not interviews, they may be led by a faculty member who sits on the admissions committee, and you can indicate in your application that you met with him/her. After the visit and tour, if one school stands out and you really want to apply and hopefully attend, then definitely send a follow-up email to the Admissions office and let them know of your strong interest in attending.
4. After completing your college tours, you may want to narrow your list of schools down to about 10. Make sure to have 2-3 safeties, 2-3 realistic, and 2-3 competitive schools. Continue to check out the schools websites for updated information and keep in contact with the schools high on your list.
5. To make yourself more competitive for your top choice schools, you may want to consider enrolling in a summer academic program, even if for only 1-2 weeks. Register soon, though, for most schools that offer summer programs for high school students have application deadlines of April and May. Perhaps you want nothing to do with academics this summer. If this is the case, consider a summer program that will strengthen your extracurricular activities. When thinking about your summer ahead, realize that you will have to write a couple of essays for your college applications. Writing about your summer experience and how it helped you to figure out your strengths and weaknesses, dreams and fears, may seal the deal and be the one aspect of the application that made the Admissions committee decide to move you from the “Hold” pile to the “Admit” pile!
6. Come this fall, you will have to narrow your list of schools to about seven schools. You may want to visit some of the schools a second time, or you may be invited by the school to interview. Just remember to focus on your strengths, yet recognize your limitations. After you have narrowed the list, then comes the daunting task of completing the applications. Hopefully, the school tours and your summer experience have provided you with time to reflect on your goals and allow you to complete the application with ease and write an essay that is genuine and sincere.

Hopefully these tips and words of advice help you to set some goals and plan the next couple months.  If you need hands on help, give us a call at (203) 255-2577.  We’d love to work with you.

This blog was written by Melinda Irwin, PhD, M.P.H.  Melinda is a college advisor with Bertram Educational Consultants, and can be reached at mlirwin@cmbertram.com.

Grass stains on your collar???

 

“So what’s your Major????” is a phrase that for decades was a friendly college freshman's introduction. With unemployment for college graduates at levels unseen since the 1980’s this same phrase can cause a great deal of anxiety.  Upon graduating, former students face the bleak reality that individuals with college degrees make up 70 percent of the overall 9.7 percent unemployed in the United States.  Although those with college educations are surely better positioned to gain employment, it will be more essential than ever to look in job sectors with the greatest growth.  Commencing Employment, 2009

 

With grey clouds looming over the typically gorgeous, spring graduations, new graduates and entering freshman alike are exploring the possibility of hanging up the white collar oxford and trading it in for a shirt with a tinge of green.  

 

As part of President Obama’s impressive $787 billion dollar stimulus package, $40 billion dollars has been set aside for the creation of green employment. This will surely shine a little sun on today’s dreary job market.  With average salaries well above the typical offers for new graduates, this growing sector will likely provide the first steps back towards a more thriving American workforce.  The Best Jobs in America’s Green Movement

 

So the question arises, just what does a college/high school student do to become part of this innovative quickly expanding movement?  Students can start by looking into aligning with private high schools and colleges that devote significant energy and investment into green technology and education.  A great place to start this process is to look over the Sierra Club’s “10 schools that get it” list.  Sierra Club’s List of Green Schools  At the website, students and parents will find a list of the most innovative university programs in the country.  For those in high school looking to get a head start, there is also a list available through Admissions Quest of private schools who participate in the Green Schools Alliance (Green Cup Challenge).  Private Green Schools

 

In a job market that is evolving faster than ever before, preparation is everything. Smart parents help their kids by making sure that they have all the resources they will need to compete when they graduate. There is no doubt that high-paying, green jobs are part of this future. What remains to be seen is who will be first in line for these desirable and innovative jobs.

 

This blog was written by Jeremy McGeorge at Bertram Educational Consultants.  He can be reached at jdmcgeorge@cmbertram.com.

 

The wait is over. The results are in. Now what do you do?

The March 10^th notification date for boarding (and most day schools) has come and gone… phew! Now you must take stock and consider your options. Perhaps your son or daughter got in the school of his or her choice, and you are done. If so, congratulations!  Perhaps you have a choice between two or more schools and the re-visit programs will help inform that “gut feeling” that has been building for months.  Or, you are in limbo – “waitlisted” or “denied”, a remarkably frustrating result after a long and arduous process. In this case, now the real work begins.

If you are waitlisted, now is the time to take action. First, consider writing a letter to your first choice school (if you haven’t already) and let them know that if you are accepted you will enroll. This is a commitment, so do not take it lightly. It is impossible to predict if a waitlist decision will roll-over to an acceptance or not. It is entirely dependent upon the response to the offers put forth to the first round of students. Some years, a school might move almost half of its waitlisted students to accepted students. Other years, there will be no movement at all. You are welcome to check in with schools periodically in the next few weeks, but most will not have a sense of how much activity their waitlist will have until after April 9 when they evaluate their numbers and class balances.  If there is no movement for your son or daughter, you can wait indefinitely. You never know what might happen in the middle of the summer! It is not out of the question…

If March 10^th did not bring you good news, take heart. Several very fine boarding schools will have spaces rolling into the early months of summer as they fill the last few beds or currently enrolled students’ circumstances change for one reason or another. These schools take a bit of work to identify, but it is possible. I have known plenty of students to gain admission at some of the finest schools during the summer months. Time to roll up your sleeves and start again. It might be worth calling your admission contacts and trying to get a sense of the weaknesses in the application. Perhaps it is a matter of adjusting your expectations. Maybe an educational consultant can help you navigate this precarious time.

Regardless of the result, take pride in your child's (and your) completion of the rigorous application process.  One can only hope that at the very least it helped you better understand your children and yourselves as a family. Moreover, the experience gave you a rehearsal for the college process which will be coming sooner than you think!

 

This blog was written by Holly Treat, Director of Boarding School Advisory Services at Bertram Educational Consultants.  She can be reached at hmtreat@cmbertram.com.