Tips on the Process - Choosing a College: How to Compose a List of Schools

First, evaluate the 5 factors outlined in the article here. Most importantly look at your Geographical Interest and your Academic Major interest; we will use these two criteria to start our search. We will start by plugging the criteria into a search site, such as Usnews, Gocollege,Princeton Review, Petersons, or the College Board. We will use these two factors to generate an initial list. We will then want to narrow this list down by using an additional two factors: your academic profile, and the desired size of schools. I think it is always a good idea to include some schools that will stretch your options, such as a school that may be larger or smaller than you initially wanted, or a school that might be in a different geographic region if it matches on all the other factors. You will want to use your academic profile to determine if you have a chance of admission at the school. Remember, you want to be able to comfortably handle the workload at the college so that you can fully participate in and enjoy college life. If you are trapped in the library all the time, you will miss out on the whole college experience. On the other hand, you do not want to go to a college that is too easy and does not challenge or stimulate you intellectually.

You will want to use your academic profile to break the list into 3 categories:

Reach; Possible; Highly Likely. There are a few ways to try and determine your admissions chances. First, compare your SAT score to the 25-75 split of the school. You can get this number from the US news website, the College Board website, the Princeton Review website, by calling the school, or from some of the "insider's guides." If your SAT score is below the lower number of the range, this school will probably be a reach. You will also want to check your GPA against the 25-75 split for GPA, if available, and against the average GPA. Another method is to determine if your high school tracks the results of former students at your school and look at their admissions success rate at the schools you are interested in. If your school does not have that information available, you may want to compare yourself against the data from Amity High School, which is available online. The web address is:http://apps.amityregion5.org/colleges/CollegeApp. Remember, this is only statistical information, and other factors such as extra-curricular activities, essay, interview, and recommendations, enter into the total admission decision.

To add some additional schools to your list, you may want to look at Rugg's Recommendations On The Colleges, and add some more schools that are strong in your major. Remember, there is a good chance that you will change your major, so if possible choose schools that are strong in a couple of your areas of interest. Once you see the schools listed in Rugg's, cross reference them with a larger college search engine or the school website itself to determine the important statistics for the school to fill in on your list (Size, SAT 25-75 Split, Admissions Phone Number, Web Site).

Your goal should be to arrive at an initial list of 25 schools. Over the course of your search you will add new schools to the list, and of course, eliminate a number of schools. From the initial list, through your research, you will want to narrow it down to 10 to 12 schools that you will visit, and from there try to get it down to 6 to 8 schools to which you will apply. The goal should be to apply to 1 or 2 highly likely schools (schools where you are almost 100% certain that you will be accepted), 2 possible schools (schools where you have a better than 50% chance of being accepted) and a few reach schools. If you are going to be applying to the most competitive schools (Ivy League, Swarthmore, Haverford, Amherst, Williams, Wesleyan, etc), you should consider applying to more than 2 reach schools. These schools are so competitive now, that I would consider them a reach for almost every student.

Once we have our initial list of schools based on the first 4 factors, you will need to do additional research to narrow that list down to 10 to 12 schools. How should you go about conducting that research?

• Look through the school website to try and get a "feel" for the school. Look at the pages of clubs and organizations that interest you. Look at student's personal web pages, and ask yourself, "Do these seem like people that I could picture myself becoming friends with?" Email professors in the department that interests you to ask detailed questions about the department and the program in general. Look through the online course catalogue to see the classes that are required for your major, and also browse for other classes of interest to you. You will want to note how many classes are required for your major, how many classes are required for the "core curriculum", and how many electives you are allowed to take. Also, you may want to find out how difficult it is to double major, or minor, if that is of interest to you. Finally, are there concentrations offered within your major?

• In addition to the internet, look through some of the "insider's guides" and read their reviews on the colleges. Does this sound like a school that you would be happy attending?

• Contact friends you know who are attending the school. Ask their opinion about the school. Find out what they like, and what they do not like. Remember, just because they feel one way about the school, you might not necessarily feel the same way, but nonetheless, it is valuable information.

• Finally, the best way of learning about a college is through a school visit. Planning the visit, and what you should look at while you are on campus are discussed in a later chapter. The visit is so important, it warrants a section of its own.

• In addition to having academic safeties, you will want to locate a financial safety. We always recommend applying to at least one of your state schools. With recent economic trends, however, state school admission has become increasingly difficult. Another way to locate financial safeties is to look for schools that would offer you an academic scholarship. One good site for this is http://www.collegetreasure.com. You can search for colleges where you are eligible for scholarships based on your geographic preference and academic profile (SAT and GPA). It is not enough to find a school where you know you would be accepted, a good safety is a school where you know you could be accepted and you know you would be happy if you had to go there. You need to research these schools as well in the same manner discussed above.

About The Author James Maroney, the author of this article, is an educational consultant from Milford, Connecticut. He has been helping students with all aspects of the college search since he founded First Choice College Placement in 1999. He is a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association, Education Industry Association, National Association of College Admissions Counselors, and National College Advocacy Group. He is also the publisher of http://www.collegetreasure.com, http://www.admissionhook.com, andhttp://www.firstchoicecollege.com. He lives in Milford with his wife and 3 year old son. The author invites you to visit: http://www.collegetreasure.com

Multicultural Education in Your Classroom

America has always been referred to as a melting pot, but ideally, it's a place where we strive to invite everyone to celebrate exactly who they are. As the US population is becoming increasingly diverse and technology makes the world feel increasingly smaller, it is time to make every classroom a multicultural classroom.

What is Multicultural Education?

Multicultural education is more than celebrating Cinco de Mayo with tacos and piñatas or reading the latest biography of Martin Luther King Jr. It is an educational movement built on basic American values such as freedom, justice, opportunity, and equality. It is a set of strategies aimed to address the diverse challenges experienced by rapidly changing U.S. demographics. And it is a beginning step to shifting the balance of power and privilege within the education system.

The goals of multicultural education include:

· Creating a safe, accepting and successful learning environment for all

· Increasing awareness of global issues

· Strengthening cultural consciousness

· Strengthening intercultural awareness

· Teaching students that there are multiple historical perspectives

· Encouraging critical thinking

· Preventing prejudice and discrimination

Advantages of Multicultural Education

According to the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME), multicultural education:

· Helps students develop positive self-image.

· Offers students an equitable educational opportunity.

· Allows multiple perspectives and ways of thinking.

· Combats stereotypes and prejudicial behavior.

· Teaches students to critique society in the interest of social justice.

Road Blocks to Implementing Multicultural Education

Contrary to popular belief, multicultural education is more than cultural awareness, but rather an initiative to encompass all under-represented groups (people of color, women, people with disabilities, etc) and to ensure curriculum and content including such groups is accurate and complete.

Unfortunately, multicultural education is not as easy as a yearly heritage celebration or supplemental unit here and there. Rather, it requires schools to reform traditional curriculum.

Too often, students are misinformed and misguided. Not all textbooks present historical content fully and accurately. For instance, Christopher Columbus is celebrated as the American hero who discovered America. This take on history completely ignores the pre-European history of Native Americans and the devastation that colonization had on them. Some history books are being revised, but often, it’s much easier to teach that “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”

Most curriculums also focus more on North America and Europe than any other region. Most students have learned about genocide through stories of the Holocaust, but do they know that hundreds of thousands of people are being killed in places like Darfur and Rwanda? Despite our close proximity to Latin America, American schools typically spend little time reading Latin American literature or learning about the culture and history?

Thus, multicultural education is most successful when implemented as a schoolwide approach with reconstruction of not only curriculum, but also organizational and institutional policy.

Unfortunately most educational institutions are not prepared to implement multicultural education in their classrooms. Multicultural education requires a staff that is not only diverse, but also culturally competent. Educators must be aware, responsive and embracing of the diverse beliefs, perspectives and experiences. They must also be willing and ready to address issues of controversy. These issues include, but are not limited to, racism, sexism, religious intolerance, classism, ageism, etc.

What You Can Do in Your Classroom

Just because we’re facing an uphill battle doesn’t mean we shouldn't take those first steps. To integrate multicultural education in your classroom and your school, you can:

· Integrate a diverse reading list that demonstrates the universal human experience across cultures

· Encourage community participation and social activism

· Go beyond the textbook

· By supplementing your curriculum with current events and news stories outside the textbook, you can draw parallels between the distant experiences of the past and the world today.

· Creating multicultural projects that require students to choose a background outside of their own

· Suggest that your school host an in-service professional development on multi-cultural education in the classroom

Favorite Lessons in Multicultural Education

Analyze issues of racism through pop culture.

Example: Study the affects of WWII for Japanese Americans through political cartoons, movies, photography, etc.

Analyze issues of socioeconomic class through planning and development.

Example: Design a development project with solutions to the needs of those living in poverty stricken communities.

Analyze issues of sexism through media.

Example: Make a scrapbook of stereotypical portrayals of both men and women. Compare both positive and negative stereotypes and determine the struggles they face as a result of these stereotypes.

About The Author Erlinda Garcia is a writer for http://www.TeachHUB.com -- a new, free online resource center specific to the needs of K-12 students and educators. This stand-alone resource center has made thousands of classroom-tested and teacher-approved strategies, tools and recommendations available in one convenient location. For more professional development opportunities, and classroom resources relating to multicultural education and all other topics within the K-12 education world as well as other articles by E.K. Garcia, please visit http://www.TeachHUB.com. The author invites you to visit: http://www.teachhub.com

5 Ways to Pick the College of Your Dreams

When you head off to college, it’s the place you’re going to be spending the next four years of your life living, studying and making new friends. With thousands of colleges to choose from, you may be finding it hard to pick the one that is right for you. So when it comes down to making a final decision, it’s really about where you’ll feel the most comfortable. Use these five ways to help you pick the college that best fits your personal needs and wants.

Class size

Everyone has a different learning style and while some thrive no matter how many people are in their classes, others need smaller classes in order to receive the right about of attention to foster learning. It’s not only about the size of individual classes either. It may be more about the size of the college in general. If you feel the need to be a part of tight-knit community with smaller classes then you may want to consider smaller private schools. If big city living is more your style and class size isn’t an issue for you, then bigger colleges and universities may be right up your alley.

Location, Location, Location

It’s important to remember that the college you choose is located in a city, town or geographic area of the country. The community that surrounds the college is just as important as the campus itself because you will have to live and interact beyond the confines of the campus. How close a college is to your hometown or where you have family, the weather and the geographic area of the country where the college is located are all factors that play in the decision making process.

Academic Programs

While most colleges and universities offer similar academic programs you should make sure that the colleges you are considering offer the area of study you’re interested in. There are schools that are rated higher than others for certain areas of study so this is something else you’ll want to consider when reviewing academic programs. For example, if you want to study international business, then you’ll want to consider the colleges that have the most graduates in the U.S. from the college of business.

Campus Life

College life isn’t all about the academic programs offered and how many graduate from its classrooms each year. College is also about the extracurricular activities, social events and clubs that make up the social side of college life. If you’re a competitive swimmer, you may want to consider colleges that have swim teams that you can try out for. If you’re a movie buff then it may be important to you that there is an on-campus theater.

Comfort and Safety Level

Before making a final decision on which college you’ll attend, you’ll need to visit each campus. You can take a guided tour with a peer advocate or walk the campus on your own with your parents. Pay close attention to how you feel during your visit. Do you feel comfortable and safe like you fit right in? Can you see yourself living in the community, going to classes and participating in the college life that surrounds you? Your comfort level with the college will play a key role in the decision you make.

Every college has pros and cons associated with attending it. When you’re comparing colleges, be sure to use these ways to help you create a list of your own pros and cons for each institution. The school that has all or most of the characteristics that are important is probably the one you’ll end up attending. In the end, when you find the school that is right for you, you’ll know it.

About The Author Michael Gluckstern is the owner of My College Guide, an annual print magazine and website that provides a fresh and fun approach to the college admission process and college life. For up-to-date information on getting into college and college life, visit the My College Guide blog at www.mycollegeguide.wordpress.com or check out the magazine at www.mycollegeguide.org. The author invites you to visit: http://www.mycollegeguide.org

Rediscovering the Classroom: How to Make Learning Fun

If you're like many people, you spent much of your youth in school, sat in a lot of classes, listened to a lot of lectures, and did a lot of homework. Maybe along the way you even learned something.

I say "maybe" because despite all the "changes" in educational curriculum over the last three decades, school is still focused on learning by listening, repetition and memorization. Unfortunately few schools teach to multiple learning styles in the classroom. This is true despite the fact that not all of us (truth be told, very few of us) learn best this way.

Mention "learning something new" to many people and they shudder with memories of bad educational experiences. A teacher friend of mine shared how challenging it could be to get some parents to come to "Back-to-School Night" and parent-teacher conferences because it reminded them of their own negative experiences in school. You yourself may have quit college or skipped it altogether due to negative associations with school and learning. And, understandably so, it can be frustrating to feel like you are always working twice as hard as everyone else. But, you're not alone.

Studies have shown that people, both adults and children, learn best in different ways, ways that correspond to the ways they see the world. Discovering your unique learning style can totally change your attitude toward learning a new skill or subject for the better. So how do you learn best? It's easy to discover your individualized learning style and change the way you feel about learning something new.

Do you like to dive head first into an experience, see what happens and learn from the outcome?

Perhaps you learn best through stories that illustrate key points and allow for dialogue about the meaning and importance of what occurred.

Or you might prefer a detailed, comprehensive investigation that proceeds systematically and is non-interactive.

Do you grasp new learning intuitively, understanding new concepts from small bits of information? Or do you take a more logical, methodical approach, gathering and organizing data that you then compare and contrast intellectually?

When you engage in learning that is geared toward your learning style, the process is joyful and the outcome is meaningful and satisfying. Only then can learning something new begin to change your life in a positive way. You will find that you retain important information more easily, and put new skills to use more effortlessly.

Understanding your individualized learning style can make learning a new language, instrument, etc., easier and more enjoyable. Getting started is easy. Take 10 minutes to recall one learning event that was enjoyable and meaningful for you, and then one learning event that was painful and difficult.

Now ask yourself these basic questions:

• How were the two events presented differently?

• What about the enjoyable event made it so enjoyable for you?

• What about the difficult event made it so difficult for you?

• What do the answers to the above questions tell you about how you learn?

You can learn more about understanding your unique learning style and how to take a learning style questionnaire or survey by contacting Gary Jordan, Ph.D., at (800) 942-3934, or you can visit their website at http://www.vrftsuccessforlife.com.

Take the time to find out how you learn best so you can learn something new!

About The Author Gary Jordan, Ph.D., has over 27 years of experience in clinical psychology, behavioral assessment, individual development, and coaching. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology – Berkeley. He's the co-founder of Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd., a consulting firm that specializes in helping people discover their true skills and talents. http://www.vrft.com.

Kunjungan SMA N 10 Sendawar

Rombongan SMA N 10 Sendawar yang terdiri dari 60 siswa dan 4 orang guru pendamping melakukan kunjungan ke SMA N 1 Muara Muntai dalam rangka studi banding. Hal ini bertujuan untuk mengukur dan meningkatkan prestasi baik di bidang akademik maupun kegiatan pengembangan diri dan menjalin persahabatan antar dua sekolahan.

Lelah dalam 5 jam perjalanan dengan menggunakan kapal melintasi Danau Jempang seakan sirna tak berbekas saat disambut dengan penuh persahabatan oleh siswa dan guru SMA N 1 Muara Muntai. Bahkan setelah istirahat sebentar, sore harinya siswa-siswi kami masih sempat mengadakan pertandingan volly ball dan sepak bola.

Acara pentas seni yang diadakan malam harinya menjadi sebuah acara untuk mengekspresikan diri lewat lagu dan seni tari. Kesenian SMA Negeri 1 Muara Muntai yang kental dengan nuansa Islam seperti grup rebana dan tarian jepen berpadu dengan kesenian SMA N 10 Sendawar yang bangga dengan unsur etnik dayaknya. Suatu keberagaman yang indah, pelangi dengan banyak warna dan perbedaan yang menciptakan harmoni selaras.

Ada Apa Dengan Dunia Pendidikan Kita?

"Seribu lebih guru golongan IVa di Riau rame-rame menggunakan karya ilmiah "aspal" untuk kenaikan pangkatnya". Sebuah ironi, di mana biasanya guru yang mendidik siswanya dengan ajaran moral dan menekankan pentingnya arti kejujuran justru melakukan tindakan yang sangat tidak jujur. Memakai jalan pintas dengan cara yang "instan" agar bisa naik golongan dengan cepat tanpa repot harus menghasilkan karya ilmiah sendiri. Hasilnya tentu saja negara dirugikan karena harus membayar kenaikan gaji mereka yang seharusnya belum mereka terima. Apa bedanya dengan korupsi? Atau memang karena budaya korup kita sudah sangat kronis yang sudah menjangkiti para pejabat negara sampai rakya jelata yang tak berdaya? Apakah sekarang tumor korup juga mulai bersemayam di tubuh Guru yang seharusnya menjadi benteng pertahanan moral dari bangsa ini?

Kasus yang lain "Seorang Guru Besar dari Universitas terkenal di Jawa Barat melakukan tindakan Plagiat dalam karya ilmiahnya". Artikel yang mengenai ini silahkan kunjungi http://wijayalabs.com.
Sebuah kasus lain yang mencerminkan ketidakjujuran dan parahnya dilakukan oleh seorang guru besar yang dimiliki oleh bangsa ini.

Saya jadi teringat beberapa tahun lalu, kasus kecurangan UAN di Medan. Beberapa guru diduga terlibat memberikan kunci jawaban kepada siswa-siswanya saat ujian sedang berlangsung. Indikasi ketidakjujuran plus rasa tidak yaqin dari guru bahwa anak didiknya akan bisa lulus UAN. Akhir kisah, biasanya kita tutup mata, telinga, dan tidak peduli. Secara logika, Medan adalah kota besar dengan sarana pendidikan yang lebih menunjang bila dibandingkan dengan daerah-daerah di pelosok Nusantara ini. Dengan keadaan seperti itu saja, guru-guru di Medan tadi tidak yaqin dengan kemampuan siswanya lalu bagaimana dengan keyaqinan para guru lainnya yang ada di pelosok-pelosok negeri ini?
Tidak yaqin terhadap kemampuan siswanya untuk bisa lulus karena guru tahu persis akan kemampuan siswa-siswanya. Sekali lagi, jalan pintas yang diambil.

Apakah tidak ada ketakutan kita bersama bahwa fenomena-fenomena ini seperti kasus "gunung es"?

Jadi ingat lagi deh kata-kata bijak yang entah dari mana sumbernya,, "Keberanian yang sesungguhnya adalah kejujuran".

Menjadikan Lingkungan Sebagai Laboratorium IPA

Mendengar kata "Kalimantan" yang terlintas dalam benak kita adalah hutan belantara dan ribuan anak sungai. Gambaran seperti itu setidaknya tepat untuk melukiskan keadaan di daerah-daerah pedalaman Kalimantan.

Di Kalimantan terdapat pula beberapa danau seperti Danau Jempang, Semayang, dan Melintang. Danau Jempang bahkan merupakan danau kelima terluas di Indonesia. Ketiga danau tersebut berada di Provinsi Kalimantan Timur dan terletak di Daerah Aliran Sungai Mahakam bagian tengah. Di sekitar wilayah danau terdapat pemukiman yang juga dikelilingi hutan yang masih lebat.

Selain manfaat di bidang lainnya, danau dan hutan juga menyediakan keanekaragaman hayati yang sangat melimpah. Hal ini membuka peluang untuk menjadikan danau dan hutan di sekitar pemukiman sebagai sarana pembelajaran IPA atau sebagai laboratorium IPA yang besar dan luas. Hal ini jika dimanfaatkan secara optimal tentu dapat meningkatkan efektivitas KBM mata pelajaran IPA.

Ide menjadikan Alam dan lingkungan sekitar sebagai laboratorium memang bukan sebuah ide yang baru apalagi orisinil. Lewat artikel ini, penulis hanya mencoba untuk berbagi pengalaman dengan harapan dapat memberikan manfaat bagi dunia pendidikan di negeri ini.