Where in the world is... "Admissions Nicole?"

Parks, Soybeans and Winding Down.

Greetings from Janesville - "The City of Parks!"  As I sit in my hotel in Janesville, it is the night before my last official "tour" that I have been on since early September - the daily tour of high school visits throughout southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.  Tomorrow is my last day for fall high school visits as I end in Milton, Brodhead and Albany.  (all three schools have consistently sent outstanding students over the last few years!)

I haven't posted any pictures lately because my camera has been "under the weather" and the weather itself has been pretty gray and gloomy, which makes for not-so-glamourous pics from the road. 

BUT... I have visited some new places and met lots of new faces.  For the first time we added to our visit roster high schools in Monona, Waunakee, McFarland, Verona, and Waterloo.  I am excited to make repeat visits to these schools again in the spring.

This week I visited the city of Janesville and surrounding areas.  I always love Janesville, because I have family here and it is always fun to meet up with them when I can.  Last night when I got into town I met up with my cousin Mary Kay, for dinner.  Today, Janesville turned it out!  Way to go Janesville!  I had 2 students at Craig High School who were already admitted, and Parker High School had 14 students waiting for me - we ran out of room in their guidance conference area because the group was so large!  I also had a great visit with a senior at Evansville High School today as well who is interested in our Theatre Arts program.  By the way, did you know Evansville is "The Soybean Capital of Wisconsin?"  Neither did I, until today!  I've been visiting there since 2000, and noticed the new sign they posted as you enter their town.  Another little Wisconsin travel trivia fact for ya!

Be sure to look for my next posting - another college planning tip, coming in a few days!

See you on the road,

~ Nicole

PS: Just wanted to say "Hi" to my cousin Tom and his wife Pam.  Tom is a professor of Business Management (Finance) at the University of Idaho.  We hosted our annual family reunion at our house this past weekend during his visit from out west.

Giving Thanks...

It's been a couple of foggy gray days, but the forecast calls for a few inches of snow over the next 48 hours here in southeastern Wisconsin... just in time for - Thanksgiving!

Most people at this time reflect about what they are thankful for in their lives, which usually are their families, friends and so on.  While many of us give thanks for these things every day, we rarely think about everything else in life that we encounter, that others may not have access to - like education.  A friend recently made me reflect on this very subject.

He is a graduate of UW-Parkside and is now serving in the U.S. Army.  He has served in the middle east on three tours of duty.  On his most recent tour, his group was charged with establishing schools.  He said that when his unit handed out textbooks to the local children, the kids were so overwhelmed that they cried and hugged their books.  Via translators, the children told the troops that they were overcome with joy because before they had only "attended school in their dreams."  In the past education wasn't accessible, and in some cases illegal.

He said that the children would wake long before dawn to help with family chores, then walk miles to get to school, then after school they'd go home and work more chores only to stay up until the late hours of the night - reading their books not only to study, but FOR FUN.  These students really value and treasure the opportunity of education.

It puts into perspective how blessed we are with the educational opportunities we have in this country!  While here in our country we continue to make education accessible to all,  everyone has access to education through high school and if you wish to go further - and you want it bad enough, (and you work hard enough), you can go to -- and FINISH college.

...just something to think about next Monday morning when you don't want to wake up to go to school!  *wink wink*

See you on the road,

~ Nicole

Knowledge for College #6: Get Out There!

As the weather grows colder, and the holiday season draws near, our lives become more hectic - and we may brush aside that extra repeat college visit that you need to take in order to finalize your college decisions.  Think about making a second visit to your top one or two schools - here's some helpful tips on how to make your visit count!

Knowledge for College #6: "Get Out There!"  As you read this, "it" is out there, and "it" is lurking somewhere in your house. "It" is the overwhelming accumulation of promotional college brochures that you have stashed away into a pile or a box in some dark corner, only to multiply further (like rabbits).

While these promo materials are colorful, impressive and show pictures of smiling happy students strolling about campus, they cannot give you the true feeling of a school. Acquiring a solid comfort level with your top two or three schools is paramount in the college selection process. Achieving that sense of comfort is more than a just attending a formal open house or visiting your college-friend during a homecoming weekend. Before making a final decision on a school, you need to completely submerge yourself into the school during an extensive visit, in order to objectively learn about the campus atmosphere.

We know you are constantly reminded from college admission representatives, guidance counselors and parents to visit their top schools of choice.  While more of today's students can "virtually tour" campuses online, the actual college visit has become an increasing standard. 

But...

How you spend your time on a campus is the key to making the most of your time and money when choosing a particular school.

Selecting a college is like buying a house.
It's an investment, it can be expensive, and may seem overwhelming and time-consuming; and just like a house, college will be the place where you "call home" (for the next 4 years)! 

A thorough college visit is crucial to the selection process. Most colleges offer formal visits known as Open Houses and Preview Days. These programs are a recommended standard and a great way for students to get a general, but formal overview of the institution. These are good introduction visits, but it is still not enough.

Taking that extra step to make that second non-formal and customized visit is a great way to get to know your schools of choice. The second visit should be focused on immersing yourself into the campus environment and customizing it to your interests.

• Schedule your second visit on days that your high school is out for teacher conference/in-service, or during your high school spring break. While you are not in school on these days, it is likely the colleges/universities are in session.

• Avoid scheduling your visit at the beginning of a semester, during major festivals such as homecoming, midterms, the week before final exams or during final exams. These are times when professors and students are busiest and you may not have access to them as easily as you would during the semester.

• Request a campus tour and meet with an admission representative.  (if you haven't already)     

• Request to meet with a professor or academic advisor from the major that you are interested in (request this a least 2 weeks before your scheduled visit).

• Request to observe a class that most freshmen in your desired major would take, or to shadow a student in your major for a day (request this a least 2 weeks before your scheduled visit).

• Take notes! Bring a notebook and write down what you like and dislike about the school. Jot helpful hints or advice that faculty, staff or students share      during your visit.

• Bring a list of questions to ask such as: What is the student to teacher ratio? How many students in an average freshman classroom? Are classes taught by teaching assistants (T.A.'s) and if so, what percentage for freshman classes?  What types of educational support services are available? Does the major hold any special accreditations? What are some examples of internships available in my major?  What type of academic advising is      available?

• Talk to students - learn from their advice and experiences.   Ask them what advice they'd give you?  What they wish they did differently?  Do not be afraid to ask what they like, and dislike about the institution. 

• Ask for the college/university newspaper. It’s written by students and current issues that are important to students are disclosed in this one resource. (usually free!)

• Eat in the cafeteria - you could possibly be eating this food for the next four years!

• Do not leave until you tour the residence hall(s).  Take notice of different living options, security, and cleanliness.
  
  When should you start to make your visits? Most counselors and admission professionals recommend that students visit during junior year. Ask yourself a few questions after visiting. Do you feel comfortable at this school? Do you feel you can be successful at this school? Do you feel safe at this school?

Sort through your college literature and narrow down schools that fit into your various criteria (size, location, programs offered, etc.) Attend your first formal open houses, and after narrowing down your options, make the most of your non-formal visits during your sophomore and junior years. When the fall of senior year arrives, you will be ready to apply to the top schools of your choice. After you have immersed yourself in the atmospheres of these campuses, you will apply knowing that you are comfortable in your final decision and excited to begin your new life in your new home away from home.

See you on the road,

~ Nicole

Haunted Happenings, A Homecoming, and Life in the O.C.

This week was definitely a unique one for sure!  Not only was it Halloween Week, but I had a recruiting visit at my alma mater, and I had a valuable and fun opportunity to speak at an assembly with the freshmen at Oak Creek High School.

Monday was "a homecoming" as I traveled to Libertyville, Illinois - for a visit to my alma mater, Libertyville High School.  I had a great visit with Ole Stevens, the LHS College Coordinator and two students.  One student came learn more about our great Pre-Health Programs and the other student was undecided, but found some new interests in a couple majors he never knew existed, like Sport and Fitness Management!  It is  always fun to visit LHS, meet with current students and to see the changes over the years.  I'll always be a Ranger, but I started as a Wildcat at LHS.

If you were near campus Tuesday night, you may have heard blood curdling screams.  No, it's not finals - it was UW-Parkside Haunted Tunnels!  This event has become a Halloween tradition on campus and seems to grow larger each year.  The event is a "one-night only" haunted house that takes place through a labyrinth of maintenance tunnels that exist beneath Parkside.  Admission is free with donation of 1 canned food item per person, and all donations go to a local food pantry.  Over the last several years I have been assisting on behind the scenes operations for a charity-based haunted attraction that friends of ours run.  The attraction was on hiatus this year, so I brought costumes on loan and my makeup case, to assist the PAB students in becoming ghouls.  The tunnels consisted of several student clubs, each section with a different horror theme.  PAB recreated an 1980's horror prom scene.  The girls dresses were hilarious and "very 80's."  The Residence Hall Association reenacted the SAW movie, Black Student Union had a chainsaws, Parkside Adult Student Alliance and Parkside Asian Organization both created a dark mazes with ghouls and WIPZ radio did an elaborate indoor and outdoor zombie apocalypse scene.  The students had an extremely small budget and only a few hours to create the attraction. It was amazing how much hard work was put in to transform the tunnels.  Other Parkside staff and I were standing at the exit watching the "finale" laughing - it was a riot to watch our students and local community kids run out of the building screaming as they encountered WIPZ's zombies - many ran screaming all the way into the parking lots!

On Halloween we had a special family event, we took our 1 1/2 year old daughter trick or treating for the first time.  She was a cow and our our dog Tootie was a bumble bee.  She wasn't fond of her cow costume so after a couple of houses, and her saying "All Done?" about 100 times, we came back home.  On Halloween she enjoyed the costume parade at her daycare much more, perhaps because Mommy pushed her the whole way in her stroller!

Thursday I got to visit the O.C. - as in Oak Creek.  They had testing amongst the upperclassmen so they gathered the freshmen together and had a couple presenters from various post-high school options to speak.  I was there to represent the 4-year institutions and to discuss how to prepare academically for college.   There was also a representative from the military, and an administrator for curriculum at OCHS who spoke as well.  It was a fun morning of interaction with the students.  Though we represented different institutions, we all echoed the same message:  "Don't settle, push yourself academically."  I was impressed with the students who came down after the presentation to ask one on one questions.

After the presentations I had a few minutes to visit with the person who was my Admissions Counselor when I entered UW-Parkside, Jennifer Farnsworth!  While Jennifer worked at Parkside in Admissions, she also went on to get her Master's Degree, and now is an outstanding Guidance Counselor at OCHS - but I'll always know her as my guide to Parkside!    

Tonight I'm off to Indian Trail High School in Kenosha for a Student/Parent Forum on planning for college and tomorrow I'm doing a similar program on campus for Parkside's Women in Science Day (for local female students and their mothers).  Saturday ends the week for me with our second Experience Day Open House. These types of programs so important for families and I always look forward to participating in them.

If you want to see more pictures from LHS, The Haunted Tunnels and Oak Creek High School, check out my "Halloween Week 2007" album!

See you on the road,

~ Nicole

PS: Good luck to Men's Basketball tonight as our Rangers play UWM!  Go get 'em guys!  Lookout UW-M, here comes the GREEN MACHINE!