Heads up, traditionalists! A radical new idea promotes kissing the four-year academic program buh-bye and saying hello to a three-year system.
As accustomed as we are to its infrastructure, it would take some serious shaking up to rattle the U.S. education system. Yet Robert Zemsky, chairman of the Learning Alliance for Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Making Reform Work: The Case for Transforming American Higher Education, is advocating for major changes on university campuses — most notably a three-year college program.
Zemsky argues that given today’s economic, political and technological climate, it’s time for Americans to minimize cost, unnecessary resources and wasted time repeating coursework. His proposed plan would cause a drastic uplifting of the current system, impacting high schools as well. But it is Zemsky’s hope that reform ultimately would spawn a more streamlined institution. While the government might not be ready to back such lofty plans, the real question is: Are you?
How will students benefit from such reform? According to Professor Zemsky, shifting to a more sequenced, regimented three-year program will save students time and money — cutting tuition costs by a whopping 25 percent. This is less moolah out of your pocket, not to mention additional interest that builds up as you work to pay off hefty loans. At the very foundation, students would pay for 90 credits over the typical 120.
In a contemporary society where minimizing time and financial expenditures ranks high on to-do lists, it seems almost given that a new system should be put into place. Right? Not necessarily. For one, the program basically assumes all undergrads will go on for a post-grad or masters degree. “If you want college to help vocationally, you have to go beyond the undergrad,” says Zemsky. Under the new system, college would be a breeding ground whereby students learn the basics of a particular trade. It is then in graduate school that learning would become truly vocational.
So how would high schools be affected by this change? High school seniors are infamously plagued by “senioritis” and finding ways to sidestep mundane assignments. Zemsky proposes doing away with wasteful course schedules during senior year and instead modeling it after the current freshman year of college. He suggests pre-college seniors take some of the basic humanities and sciences normally taken by college freshmen.
Zemsky tells us in a phone interview, “High schools would need to make assessments at a ninth-grade level as to whether a student is making progress to be ‘college-ready.’ Remediation would take place at this time rather than at the first year of college. The 10th and 11th grade levels would look the same, and the 12th grade would become equivalent to the first year of college. There would be an alignment so that senior year of high school sets students up for freshman year of college.”
What is the downside of a three-year college program? Some students feel it’s unreasonable to be expected to choose a major and commit at age 18. And indeed, the pressure is really on if the typical college career were condensed. “I don’t know what I plan on majoring in,” says U Penn freshman Brett Levine. “In a three-year program, undecided people have less time to explore new subject areas.
“Even with people who know what they want to study, a three-year program would surely be more demanding if requirements for majors or graduate schools admissions stay the same. A lot of pre-meds and engineering students have difficulty satisfying graduation requirements as is. For undecided students like myself, the variety of course options is incredible. It allows me to explore new subject areas unavailable in high school.”
Says Zemsky: “Students are given endless choices, but it’s expensive. It confuses lots of people, and it takes longer to graduate because they get lost. Redesign the curriculum so it is not a smorgasbord of options.” Say goodbye to elective courses too, because in this system, there’s no room for classes that do not directly relate to your plan of study.
How would such lofty goals be implemented? Zemsky doesn’t kid himself into thinking this would be a minor undertaking: “To really kick off reform, it would take an invitation from the president. I can’t imagine this happening without presidential leadership.” And, yes, he’s referring to the president of the United States.
In a recent Newsweek article, Zemsky argues his position by stating, “Everything around us — technology, medicine, politics — has changed … and [higher education] will too have to rethink what we are about.”
Still, Levine questions the practicality of Zemsky’s proposal. “A three-year program would essentially make college an even more stressful period. It would probably restrict options for traveling abroad, which many students value. It has many potential benefits for some students. People who know they want to major in economics, political science, Spanish or other relatively less intense majors may only need three years. However, others need four to prepare for graduate school or their desired career.”
And furthermore, Levine adds, “Socially, it obviously restricts the amount of time commonly dubbed ‘the best years of your life.’”
What do you think? Do you think our kids are growing up too fast? Do you think a 3-year degree is a wise educational choice?
1. ParentsCountdowntoCollegeCoach.com–You will find the MOST information here on our blog: college guidance, college planning, college coaching, and college news. Come here first to find the latest and best tools to help you navigate the college maze.
2. UniversityParent.com–A site where parents can ask questions, gather information, and download and view college guides and campus newsletters.
3. Fastweb.com–An extensive scholarship search website with a massive database of scholarships, along with articles and helps designed specifically for parents.
4. Zinch.com–A free service for students and parents where students can showcase themselves, connect with colleges, and search for scholarships.
5. Cappex.com–A site created for students to help them simplify their college search, create a profile and search for scholarships.
6. MeritAid.com–The place to go to find merit scholarships and academic scholarships from colleges across the country.
7. SmartCollegeVisit.com–Created to provide information about college visits, help parents and students plan, and view personal accounts from both parents and students.
8. MyCollegeCalendar.org–Interactive college admissions counseling program designed for both high school students and their parents.
9. Scholarships.com–An extensive scholarship search engine that helps you search and schedule alerts for deadlines.
10. MyUSearch.com–An excellent blog with tips for parents and students about college; also provides college matching and scholarship searches.
11. FindTuition.com–Help finding money to pay for college, along with articles related to college financing.
12. EntrepreneurEdu.org–This is an excellent resource for students who are interested in colleges who offer entrepreneurial programs.
13. ElizabethOnline.com–An SAT expert and coach offering tips to help your college-bound teen improve their SAT/ACT scores.
14. Bookrenter.com–Rent college textbooks and save up to 75% over purchasing them new.
15. TheCollegeSolutionBlog.com–An excellent resource for college-bound teens and their parents: admissions, testing, and financial aid.
16. ReduceMyCollegeCosts.com–Everything you need to know about financing a college education and saving money.
17. UniversityLanguage.com/blog–Great blog articles about everything related to college admissions geared toward students.
18. CollegeWeekLive.com–A virtual college fair that sponsors free LIVE events with archived presentations, student chats, and college booths.
19. BetterGrads.org–A network of college student peer advisers and a resource filled website presenting honest accounts of the college experience geared toward high school students.
20. Youniversitytv.com–Learn about colleges by watching video tours, chat with students on campus forums, post questions and get answers.
21. Unigo.com/wsj–A partnership with Unigo and The Wall Street Journal providing articles and videos to help with college admissions, decisions and choices.
22. NYTimes-TheChoiceBlog–Demystifying college admissions and financial aid by providing articles and Q&A by experts in the field.
23. GreatCollegeAdvice.com/blog–An excellent resource about the college admissions process providing expert advice helping students map their college journey.
24. CollegeGrazing.com–A resource for parents and students providing 13 interactive college surveys to help students find their perfect fit college.
25. USNews.com/Education–The education channel of U.S. News and World Reports providing the latest news and information related to college.
26. Fafsa.ed.gov–The official government website for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
27. CommonApp.org–The common application site used by 400 colleges and universities across the country.
28. PrincetonReview.com–The best value colleges list for public and private institutions across the country.
29. NCSASports.org–The college recruiting site for athletes.
30. FairTest.org–The site for the National Center for fair and open testing providing information about colleges who do not use the SAT/ACT for admissions decisions.
31. SallieMae.com/plan–A FREE education investment planner that will help determine college costs, compare college costs, and provides information about student loan repayments.
32. UPromise.com–UPromise partners return a portion of eligible purchase money back to you. Those earnings accumulate in your Upromise account until you decide to use it to invest in a 529 plan, help pay down eligible student loans or assist with college expenses—all tax-free!
33. SavingForCollege.com–Everything you need to know about financing a college education.
34. CollegeBoard.com–It’s here you’ll find the CSS Profile application (required by many private colleges), register for the SAT, and read articles about planning for college.
35. CollegeBasics.com–An excellent resource for information about college essays, college applications and high school resumes.
36. InsideHigherEd.com/blogs–Several different blogs related to higher education.
37. InsideCollege.com–A search site that groups colleges in categories and provides college “hot” lists (i.e. top college for late bloomers, colleges for students needing a second chance)
38. ECampus.com–Find textbooks, sell textbooks, search for college supplies and college apparel all on this one site.
39. TheRealCollegeGuide.com–Four blogs about college life: the dorm, lifestyle, academics and heath and fitness.
40. GlobalQuad.com–Find a college, a professor, other college students, and even admissions advisers who are on Twitter.
41. DesignYourDorm.com–A free online, interactive resource for designing and organizing your college-bound teen’s dorm room.
42. CollegeAdmissionsPartners.com/blog–An expert blog dedicated to helping students find the right college.
43. GradeFund.com–Students invite their friends and family to sponsor their drive for good grades. Sponsors choose grade levels and sponsorship amounts for each grade (as low as $5) to help students raise money for their college education.
44. CollegeParentCentral.com–A blog created to give parents useful information about college and the college admissions process.
45. Number2.com–Free online test prep (SAT/ACT) with vocabulary exercises and help.
46. VolunteerMatch.org–Find local volunteer opportunities for your college-bound teen and teach them about the importance of giving back to their community with the added bonus of adding that service to their high school resume.
47. KnowHow2Go.com–A college planning site for college-bound students providing helps and aids from middle school to senior year: interactive and fun!
48. BeRecruited.com–If you have a teen that’s a student athlete, they can create an online profile here and help colleges and coaches find them and be recruited.
49. FinAid.org–An excellent resource for the answers to all your questions regarding college financial aid.
50. TheCampusBuzz.com–An online clearinghouse for national college news; find all the college news in one place!
Today is CollegeWeekLive’s FREE online event that will answer many of your questions about paying for college. They have taken the time to gather all the experts and bring the information to you in the comfort of your own home. Sit down with a cup of coffee and watch, listen and chat while they give your their tips on financial aid, scholarships and financing.
Straight from College Week Live’s email:
Would you like to talk live with representatives of the US Dept of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid office about the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and federal financial aid options? Want to speak with an expert from US News & World Report about tracking down cash for college? Would you like to find scholarships or get advice from college financial aid officers?
Get all this and more at CollegeWeekLive PAYING FOR COLLEGE on January 14th from 3:00 – 10:00 PM Eastern. Register for free and login this Thursday to speak live with this all-star cast of financial aid and scholarship experts!
Visit the Scholarships.com booth on the Financial Aid floor for more scholarship information and live chat!
Don’t forget about the CollegeWeekLive scholarships: Click here for more information!
You don’t want to miss this FREE resource. Set your alarms, your watches, your smartphones and your Outlook calendars. See you in cyberspace!
Last night I sat down for an hour and watched a web presentation at College Week Live about the the Common Application. It was basically a question/answer session where the Director of Outreach for the Common Application gave a brief synopsis of what the Common Application was and then fielded questions that were posted online.
Here are the basic highlights:
Some Questions and Answers:
Q. Do colleges prefer their own application over the common application?
No. The common application and the college application are treated as equals. If a college is part of the Common Application membership, they receive it just as they receive their own college application.
Q. When can you start completing the application?
Each year the applications are purged (in the summer) to make room for new applications in the fall. You can get in and play with the applications, practice, familiarize yourself with it, whenever you choose. If you want to look at it as a freshman in high school, it’s perfectly acceptable because it will get purged in the summer. Once you are ready to apply to the colleges, you will want to do begin the process in the fall of the year you apply to prepare for submission.
Q. Why do some colleges add supplements and other do not?
The supplements give colleges the ability to gather information that they might consider unique to their institution. Some colleges need additional information, others find the application itself sufficient.
Q. Do you have to complete the common application AND the college’s application?
A. No. Once you complete the common application and submit it to the colleges you choose, you are finished.
Q. Do colleges prefer the online application or the paper one?
Colleges PREFER online applications over paper because it saves them time inputting data and enables them to share the information easily with others and read online. NOTE: DO NOT complete the online application and send a paper version. Do one or the other. It will complicate the situation and cause all sorts of problems with your application.
If you would like to view the hour long session, you can go to College Week Live, sign in and look for it in archived presentations.
I asked Sarah Schupp (founder of University Parent) to be a guest blogger and fill us in on the benefits of her Parent Guides from various colleges that you can view online and download. Her site is jam-packed with useful information for parents.
UniversityParent.com partners with colleges and universities across the U.S. Our mission is to help parents easily find university and visitor information.
To this end, we have developed print and online guides for over 100 schools that provide detailed information on everything from where to stay when visiting your student, to a helpful list of frequently requested phone numbers. The university provides us with school specific information, such as: academic calendar, campus maps, articles about campus resources, managing finances, student life and tips for parents. To find this information, please visit, http://www.universityparent.com/online-guides and select your student’s school. You’ll find links on the left sidebar to the topics mentioned above. If you don’t see your student’s school listed, please email me at sarah@universityparent.com, and I’ll work on signing them up! If you’d like to download a PDF of the print guide, please visit: http://www.universityparent.com/downloads.
We also build a visitor guide with the help of the local convention and visitors bureau and the chamber of commerce. Our intent is to help parents easily navigate their student’s new community. If you’re planning a trip to your student’s campus, or want to send a birthday gift, check out the guide on the right sidebar. You can even book hotels right through our site!
We are working on building a community of college parents through our Facebook Fan Page, http://www.facebook.com/collegeparents and through our Twitter account, http://www.twitter.com/4collegeparents. Parent participation in the community helps us determine the types of issues parents are concerned about – and we try to address these on UniversityParent.com.
We hope these resources help nurture your connection and involvement in your student’s college experience!
About UniversityParent.com:
When the time came for my parents to visit me as a student at the University of Colorado, their anxieties heightened. They wanted to know where to stay, dine, and shop for last minute items they felt I couldn’t live without. They also wanted to know what activities they could do, or places they could visit while my orientation schedule kept me busy.
Although my campus offered a wide variety of useful information for visiting parents, we quickly learned that it was not compiled into one all-inclusive resource for easy and convenient use. My parents’ personal experience of a void of comprehensive information is what sparked this venture. The idea of producing a University Parent Guide began as my senior project through the Leeds School of Business Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After graduating in 2004, I pursued University Parent Media full-time. The University Parent Guide is now available at over 100 campuses nation-wide. This guide may not have been available when my parents needed it, but it is now! We hope you find it useful.
This week, I’ve been spending time at College Week Live’s virtual college fair. I’ve been gathering information and gleaning some excellent tips about the college admissions process. What makes this advice unique? It’s straight from the horses mouth: admissions officers. You can’t get any more “hands on” than that and it’s the best place I know to get caught up on the latest admissions information.
Yesterday, I watched a “live” video interview with Peter Van Buskirk, the author of ” Winning the College Admission Game” and a former admissions officer. He spoke about that “perfect fit” and how important it was to find it. When asked by a student, “how do you determine if a college is the right fit?”, Peter first said to overlook all the emotional motives:
He said once you remove those emotional motives, you can concentrate on five criteria that will help you determine whether or not the college is a “perfect fit”:
According to Peter (and I completely agree) you should encourage your teen to “chew” on each of these and think about what it is they want to get out of a college education. College is more than bricks and mortar and a place to get a diploma. It’s a place where the mind is challenged, social interaction abounds, friendships are formed and a place your college-bound teen will call home for at least four years of their life. That “perfect fit” will assure your teen is comfortable, challenged and ready to learn.
If you would like to hear all of the interview, visit College Week Live and go to the presentations tab. There are numerous presentations available to watch, along with additional information to help you help your college-bound teen find that “perfect fit”.
Also, check out Peter’s website, The Admission Game, on the events tab to see if he’ll be speaking at a school near you.
Times they are a’changin! When my kids were making those college decisions, we had to get in the car, head out to a college fair held at our local convention center, and fight our way through the crowds, hoping to snag some one on one time with the busy college representatives.
Today, you have another option. CollegeWeekLive.com offers a virtual college fair from November 4-7. It’s a GREAT opportunity to get the “inside scoop” from admissions professionals and even CHAT with college representatives and students. According to their website:
CollegeWeekLive attendees can watch admissions experts speak on topics such as how to prepare for the SAT, how to write a winning application essay or how to pay for college and have questions answered via live chat. Attendees can also video chat with college students and learn what campus life is really like. The event features scholarships and special promotions available only to those who attend.
And..here’s the BEST part. It’s ABSOLUTELY FREE. Click here to sign up and add events to your Outlook Calendar. What could be easier? I know I will be attending. And…if you’re a parent of a college-bound teen, you don’t want to miss it. It’s your opportunity to gain some knowledge and ask those questions you’ve been saving for the experts.
Mark your calendars and don’t miss a single session. This is an invaluable resource for parents and college-bound teens.
According to a recent article in the NY Times–The Choice, the college essay should be looked at like “a first date”. Chad Hemmelgarn, an English teacher at Bexley High School, in Columbus Ohio, said, “It’s kind of like a first date. You’re telling us the stuff that makes you special.” He was speaking as part of a panel at an annual forum in New York sponsored by The College Board.
When you think about it, that’s a great analogy. The essay is a way for you to let the admissions committee get to know you and an opportunity for you to focus on your strengths. Here are some tips that Mr. Hemmelgarn recommends that your teen can use when approaching the essay:
As a parent college coach, it’s your responsibility to guide your teen throughout the application process. Offer encouragement and feedback on their essay content. Help them brainstorm about a topic to use. Encourage them to spend some time thinking about what they want colleges to know about them.
And remember: Preparation Prevents Panic!
Talk about college sticker shock! I just read an article about a company that charges $14,000 for a 4-day Application Bootcamp. The camp sells out every year and boasts a waiting list. The statistics are posted about the students who attend and the results of their admissions applications. The stats are impressive, but I had to ask myself if that price tag was worth the results. Perhaps it is, if your teen’s heart is set on a specific school and you have the cash on hand. But most parents are scrambling just to pay tuition, let alone come up with $14,000 to pay for an application coaching camp.
If you’re one of those parents whose teen wants to be accepted into a top-tiered college or university and you don’t want to drop 14 grand for admissions coaching, what can you do? Will that price tag assure your teen an acceptance letter?
If that cost sends you running in the opposite direction, try this instead:
Granted, there are those parents who can afford and are willing to pay hefty prices for admissions counseling. But the bulk of most parents are on a budget, scrimping and saving to be able to send their kids to college. The Parents Countdown to College Toolkit is an affordable and effective alternative!
If your teen is an average student, you might be thinking that community college or a local small state college is their only option. But, in reality, there are some options you might consider.
According to a recent seminar at the National Association for College Admission Counseling,
There are application strategies that can help… Some strong colleges are looking for more geographical diversity, and will consider students with weaker grades if they are from another part of the country. Students with weak standardized test scores should also consider colleges where SAT and ACT scores are optional. (A list can be found at www.fairtest.org.) Students might want to request an interview at colleges that don’t necessarily require them, to exhibit character strengths that transcripts and GPA’s don’t reflect. One college counselor recommended applying mid-year, when admissions are less competitive than in the high-pressure fall. Another recommended looking for colleges with pre-admission programs to ease students into the college they plan to attend.
There are application strategies that can help… Some strong colleges are looking for more geographical diversity, and will consider students with weaker grades if they are from another part of the country. Students with weak standardized test scores should also consider colleges where SAT and ACT scores are optional. (A list can be found at www.fairtest.org.)
Students might want to request an interview at colleges that don’t necessarily require them, to exhibit character strengths that transcripts and GPA’s don’t reflect.
One college counselor recommended applying mid-year, when admissions are less competitive than in the high-pressure fall. Another recommended looking for colleges with pre-admission programs to ease students into the college they plan to attend.
Of course, all counselors recommend that paying attention to grades early in your teen’s high school career will ensure more college options. But if your teen is already into their senior year and there is no time to rectify their GPA, there are always application strategies that can help.
If you are looking for a list of some colleges that welcome average students, you might want to read the entire article.
