Top Ten Things to Pack for College

1. Carrying case for toiletries.  You will probably have to share a shower, and it may be far down the hall.  You will need something to carry your shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. And make sure it has holes for drainage. 

2. Earplugs. Even if your roommate says that they only snore “on occasion,” earplugs are a good idea to have on hand. 

3. Extension cords, flash drive and surge protector.  College dorm rooms are notorious for having only one outlet in the most inconvenient place possible. 

4. Over the door hangers, adhesive hooks, and poster putty.  There never seem to be enough places to hang things, so be creative.  And don’t forget the poster putty to cover those cinder block walls.

5. Crates, under the bed boxes and other storage containers.  A well-organized dorm room can be the key to success – and to a happy roommate.  

6. Air fresheners.  Don’t be “The Stinky Room.”

7. Lamps.  One single ceiling light will not be enough.  Make sure you have a good desk lamp (but not halogen since most colleges now ban them) as well as a lamp for your bedside.

8. Foul weather gear.  The weather may be unpredictable – don’t forget an umbrella and a rain jacket; snow boots; and a fan! 

9. First aid kit.  Band-aids, cold medicine, tweezers, antiseptic, antibiotic ointment, aloe vera gel, etc. 

10. Coat hangers.  The most commonly forgotten item!!

Congratulations Class of 2018… and get packing! 

Know Your EFC

Many families make false assumptions when it comes to their ability to pay for their child’s college education.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, “There is no way we will qualify for financial aid based on what other parents have told me.” Or, “Of course we'll get money - how else can anyone afford to pay full price?”  The reality is you may be surprised either way.  Ultimately, however, it is never a good idea to go through the college process uninformed. 
 
When determining your eligibility for need-based financial aid, colleges examine the assets and income of the parents and student to calculate what they think your family can afford. This number is called your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).  While the EFC calculated by the college may differ from what you think, or what you want to pay for your child’s education, it is still important to know what that number is.  When formulating your college plan, understanding what the colleges expect you to pay will help you to map out a plan.  Maybe you need to look at colleges that are generous with merit money (non-need based financial aid) or colleges that have a lower price tag (and yes, there are options other than your in-state university). Sometimes it means finding colleges that will give an edge to a student who can pay the full price.  In any case, knowing your EFC is critical to building a sound college plan.

On the Road Again

Looking for a four-year adventure? Consider LIU Global

LIU Global allows students to earn a degree while exploring the world.

The unique program gives students a truly global perspective, combining classroom instruction, fieldwork, and internships through immersion experiences in eight or more countries. 

All LIU Global students earn a BA in Global Studies -- an education that is hands-on and experiential. Home base for year one is Costa Rica. The second two semesters are spent in Europe. During the third year, students choose between Australia or China. Finally, the four-year experience culminates in the final year when students put their education into practice with an international research project and capstone semester at the Long Island University Brooklyn campus. 

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At College Matters, visiting colleges, meeting with admissions professionals and talking with students and faculty are very important aspects of what we do. 

These visits allow us to give our students insight about colleges… before they go themselves.

On the Road Again

Stony Brook University

At College Matters, visiting colleges, meeting with admissions professionals and talking with students and faculty are very important aspects of what we do. 

These visits allow us to give our students insight about colleges… before they go themselves.

On our recent visit to Stony Brook University, we learned about the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) program. WISE students have a plethora of opportunities and advantages: from small first-year study groups led by a mentor to priority registration, generous merit scholarships, specific WISE evening seminars, and additional faculty advising. You must be admitted to WISE as an incoming freshman, so check it out in advance! You'll be happy you did.

Ask the Consultant

Q: What are the difference between AP exams and SAT Subject Tests? Which should I take?

A: We get this question a lot! They are both tests administered by ETS that assess your knowledge in a single subject. But beyond that, they are very different.

Some colleges require SAT subject tests as an admission requirement (although the number that do is dwindling). That being said, even if they don't require them, most colleges will consider them as a part of your application if you submit them. And while SAT subject tests are given in particular areas of study such as Chemistry, US History or Latin, they do not directly correspond to one specific course curriculum. Our advice: good test scores never hurt a student. Take a practice exam and see how you do. If you do well, take the test, even if the colleges to which you will be applying do not require them. Having two solid SAT subject test scores in your testing portfolio gives the student the most options! 

AP exams are also subject specific, but they are tied to a specific curriculum. AP exams scores are never required for college admission because there are many high schools that either offer the International Baccalaureate curriculum or have decided to sidestep the AP curriculum altogether. That being said, one does not need to be enrolled in an AP class to take an AP exam. We have had many students earn college credit via their AP scores, even in courses that were not classified as AP. The main purpose of taking AP exams is to earn college credit, which usually requires that a student score a 4 or 5 out of the maximum score of 5. 

So which should you take? If qualified, take both. The subject tests to show readiness for college-level work and AP exams to exhibit mastery of a subject.  

It's Teacher Appreciation Day

What makes one a great teacher? Their lessons endure.

I was recently at a book discussion at a local library where the facilitator made a claim: that reading literary fiction improves one's capacity for empathy. It seems that the practice of putting oneself in the shoes of another via fiction translates into the ability to understand what others are feeling and thinking. 

And as I drove home, reflecting on that point, I realized that many years ago, Mrs. Glitzenstein taught me that. 

We read a lot of classics in senior English -- it was a college prep class after all. But what stands out to me about what I learned that year was that Mrs. G challenged us not just to read and analyze a text, but to internalize it. To live it. To feel it. I wrote papers in the style of Jonathan Edwards and pondered the scarlet letters that demonize many. I learned that words could be beautiful and they could convey pain. From that point on, I read differently. 

Admittedly, it wasn't until after college that I really began to read for the pleasure of it, but it is a habit and a hobby that has endured. I still love it when a book lets me explore an unfamiliar world or exposes me to an alternate reality. Most of all, I read because reading challenges me to jump in and walk the path of another, if only for a little while.

And for that, these many years later, I thank Mrs. Glitzenstein. Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

ACT Announces Free Test Prep Resources

The testing company ACT recently launched "ACT Academy," a free online test prep and learning tool for students who want to improve their ACT scores.  The service is similar to College Board's partnership with Kahn Academy for SAT test prep and aims to close the gap regarding equity, opportunity, and achievement for all students interested in test prep, including those who may not have the means or desire to pay for test preparation services.  The content is personalized for each student and uses instructional videos, practice questions, full-length practice tests, and games for learning.  The personalized approach is shaped by the student's previous ACT or preACT scores, which are entered by the student manually, as well as platform diagnostics.  ACT reports that the ACT Academy tool was developed in partnership with Khan Academy, NASA, PBS, and other organizations.  Making it even more user-friendly, ACT Academy is compatible with all devices and is available anywhere that a student has internet access.

Ask the Consultant: Double Depositing

Q: I can't make up my mind where I want to attend. Should I put down deposits at my first few choices?

A: We will admit -- we're not the best at reading the fine print either. Downloading a new version of iTunes? Gym membership contract? Move to the bottom, check "I agree," and add your John Hancock.

So you may have done the same with your Common Application. Every time you sent an application, you had to check a series of boxes, agreeing to policies and stipulations. One of those: "I affirm that I will send an enrollment deposit (or equivalent) to only one institution; sending multiple deposits (or equivalent) may result in the withdrawal of my admission offers from all institutions. [Note: students may send an enrollment deposit (or equivalent) to a second institution where they have been admitted from the waitlist, provided that they inform the first institution that they will no longer be enrolling.]"

Can you double deposit? The answer is no. 

Student to Student

Hi there!

My name is Alina Dess, and I attended University College Dublin through the N.U.in program during my first semester of college, during the fall of 2016. I am now a second-year Environmental Engineering student about to go on my first Co-Op. I know it’s a lot to take in when you get accepted to the N.U.in program, but first off, CONGRATULATIONS!  It’s awesome that you got accepted into Northeastern and this incredible program.  

Usually, around 1/5th  of the freshman population goes abroad their first semester, so you don’t have to worry about sticking out on the Boston campus. I like to compare Northeastern to a revolving door; every six months a different group of people moves onto campus from abroad, co-op, or even a different school, so there is a constant flow of people. You will be coming back to campus with all the friends that you made at your N.U.in location as well as with all the other students from the other locations. Northeastern is really good about incorporating the N.U.in students into the student body, so you will have an orientation when you get back in January with fun events like club fairs, comedy nights, and free tickets to events across Boston. 

Another concern that I had was in regards to academics. You will be taking Northeastern-approved courses that fit with your major while you are abroad. For me, that was General Chemistry, Introduction to Physics, Calculus One, Irish Presence in America, and Global Experience. What was really nice about this courseload was that I got to experience a new learning environment while not having to worry about my grades affecting my Northeastern GPA because while the credits transferred, the grades did not.  If you have any AP/IB credits, you will work with an advisor to see what other course options are at your location. When I got back to Boston, I took Calculus Two, Introduction to College Writing, and Cornerstone One and Two. Usually, Cornerstone is broken into two semesters with Physics One taken during the second semester, but because that was done abroad, some of the other courses were moved around. Regardless of your major, by the end of your second semester, you will have taken all the same courses as other freshmen students who were on campus the whole time. 

Hopefully, this information is helpful!!!

Many colleges are offering alternate admission options for first year students: January entrance, guaranteed transfer, and first semester abroad options. Today, Alina, a former College Matters student, shares her experience in Ireland with NUin. 

Juniors: Why You Should Request Teacher Recommendations Now

Most colleges require applicants to supply one or two teacher recommendations, and often a counselor recommendation as well.  But it’s only April, and college applications won’t be due until the fall, or early in 2019, so you may think you have plenty of time to ask teachers for letters of recommendation to include with your college applications. However, keep in mind that some teachers limit the number of recommendations they will write as they usually do them on their own time, sometimes over the summer if they have requests from juniors in advance.  

Ideally, you should choose two teachers from your junior year. They should be from different subjects; the ideal is one from math or science and one from social studies or humanities. But if you have other ideas, check with the colleges themselves to see what their requirements are.

So, now is the time to ask the two teachers who know you best if they would be willing to write a recommendation for you!  Get on their list and check that off your “to do” list for college application preparations. It’s an easy task to take care of now and important to help ensure that your application is as strong as it can be.