Merry, Merry!!!

I've been getting ready for Christmas (nothing like the excitment of my four year old as she waits for Santa- pictured here) and I've been receiving more than a few emails of the following nature:

1) Why aren't my school forms for FILL IN THE BLANK SCHOOL DUE JANUARY 15th completed?

2) I got in to X!

3) I didn't get into X!

4) I thought I submitted my application but I just realized it didn't actually submit it. What do I do?

Items number 1 and number 4 make me feel like making announcements at class meetings and sending you guys emails is futile. Please remember that we have submitted credentials for applications due through January 5th. Everything else will go out the first week we are back. There are reasons for this! A lot of conditions have to be met before we can send out apps (teacher forms need to be completed and you need to have the common app school on your list are two examples) AND past experience has shown us that over the holidays, many seniors take schools off their lists. Either they burn out of all the writing and submitting or they get in somewhere that makes them happy and the list becomes a lot shorter. So, we wait until the first week we are back for those later January applications to be ready to go and make sure they haven't been crossed off the list. For item number 4, you will need to contact the college directly and find out what to do. Please be careful when submitting apps!

For those of you who have received acceptances, Congratulations!!! It's such a nice early Christmas present and we hope it takes some pressure off and puts the irrational fear of "will I get in anywhere?" in it's place! One of my previous students told me that she had a recurring nightmare about being stuck in AP Calculus FOREVER because she didn't get into college. Yikes!

If you haven't received an acceptance and aren't expecting anymore news until the spring, try to hang in there. I know it feels like everyone has good news, but in truth it's usually about half of the class that has received an acceptance by Christmas (we haven't looked at the numbers yet this year). I know, I know - you would much better be in the half that it is IN. But I promise you that just as surely as Easter, spring rain, and incredible humidity the first week of June that makes us all fret over how hot your graduation ceremony will be (just as long as it doesn't rain! will be said again and again) comes every year, so will your acceptances. It's as certain as Mr. Kerns in his red jacket for the first fire drill of the year. And so, if you are fretting, try to put it out of your head and enjoy the last Christmas for most of you that you will be a permanent fixture in your home as opposed to being a visitor for a few weeks before you go back to your "new home." Wherever that is! Merry Christmas everyone!

Published by TSM

Katie Hartley '09 talks about how to stay warm @ BC!

Why I chose BC:
A gut feeling.

What I like about BC:
I love BC’s beautiful campus, which always makes my day. I also love the cold weather (colder than I have ever experienced!) and being surrounded by the Jesuit-Catholic atmosphere. One of my favorite things to do on campus is also to go to sports events: football, hockey, and basketball – Go Eagles!

College is better than high school because:
I can go wherever I want whenever I want!

But I miss ___________ about Visi:
Visi Theater.

Classes I am taking next semester:
Adult Health I: Lecture, Adult Health I: Clinical, Adult Health Lab, Pharmocology, Painting 101, and Modern History I. (I am a nursing major).

Favorite place on campus: Bapst Library.

Stuff to do off campus:
Shopping on Newbury Street, Red Sox games at Fenway Park, Going to the movies at Fenway or the Boston Common, going out to eat at the North End (Little Italy of Boston)—all accessible by the T (the metro), which is right next to campus.

What do you wear to class?
Now that it’s cold – jeans, a sweater, uggs, scarf (plus jacket, gloves, and earmuffs). If you are going somewhere cold, invest in some earmuffs! They are amazing!

Best and worst thing about having boys around:
Best: guys make great friends, and can be so heartwarming. Worst: Boys are stupid.

Anything else you think the girls should know or we should have asked:
I think some of the biggest factors that affect your experience at a school are size and location (size meaning big or small, location meaning in the city or not). I know that sounds pretty basic, but in my opinion, if you try and find what you like in those two options, you can be happy just about anywhere!

Thanks Katie! If you would like to be in touch with Katie, ask your college counselor for her contact information! She will be visiting campus on January 6th during lunch to meet with any juniors or seniors who are interested in Boston College.

College Admissions Myth #472 Debunked!

Not to be a broken record when it comes to quoting the UVA Blog, but I was thrilled that Dean J finally addressed the Urban Myth that it's good to get your application in months ahead of the deadline because the application readers will "be in a better mood" or "have more time to spend" on your application. She addresses this myth on today's UVA blog entry:

Students routinely ask us when they should submit their applications. The easy answer: by the deadline. However, we know what they are really asking. There are rumors that would lead you to believe that you have to strategize when it comes to the date that you hit submit.

At UVa, there is no benefit to the application who submits their application early. There is a benefit to us in that we are able to spread processing of applications out a little more widely when applications come in early. The first few weeks of January are pretty crazy around here since most students submit their applications at or right around the deadline.

Our processing staff would love it if you were able to hit submit early, but from where I sit, I don't want you to hit submit until you are confident that your application is the best it can be. If that happens on December 31st, we will manage just fine.

There! Straight from the source! - Now do you believe us? :)

Published by TSM

A Cautionary Tale

The great thing about being a college counselor is that there is always a new problem to solve, college to learn about, and question that has never come up before. When I came to Visi nine years ago, the technology wasn't quite as advanced as it is now (I get my voicemail on my email!) and students never brought their laptops to meetings with me. These days, it's pretty normal for a student bring her laptop to a meeting and log into a college application so that we can troubleshoot submission quirks, edit an essay on the spot, or just look things over.

For the first time I can recall, not one but two seniors missed November 1 Early Action deadlines because they did not actually submit their applications. In both cases, the students thought they had submitted them correctly - and in one, case the student had submitted the application supplements, but not the actual app. They only found out because they happened to be on their Common Application account doing something else and noticed that their applications were not submitted. YIKES!!! Since this had never happened to my students before, I chalked it up to a technical glitch with their computers or with the Common App website. And then I happened upon this news bulletin on the Stanford admissions site:

Last year, nearly 1,000 would-be applicants to Stanford mistakenly believed they successfully submitted their applications via the Common Application Web site when, in fact, they did not. These students completed their applications online and paid their application fees but failed to actually "submit" their applications online by the deadline. As a result, we were unable to consider their applications for admission.

Applicants who have successfully submitted their applications can check whether or not their applications were submitted and downloaded by Stanford by checking the Common Application Web site (under MY COLLEGES). An email receipt from the Common Application for your application fee does not mean that your Common Application was successfully submitted to Stanford. Be sure to check the Common Application Web site to verify your submission.

As we did last year, we will not consider any applications submitted after the deadline (even for students who experience technical difficulties with the Common Application Web site) and applicants should be aware that our offices will be closed beginning December 18 for the winter holidays. While we will be open to receive mail and to process materials, we will not be open to assist candidates with technical difficulties associated with the Common Application Web site. As a result, it is important that applicants not wait until the deadline to submit their applications successfully. While there is no rush in getting your teachers and counselor to submit their materials to us before January 1, you should make an effort to finish your Common Application and Stanford Supplement well in advance of the deadline.

Ouch!!!! Don't let this be you. Make sure you are diligent in confirming that your application was submitted properly!

Published by TSM

Happy New Year!

Tonight is Junior Parent Night! One of the funny things about college counseling is the pace of our year. Right now we are smack in the middle of an extremely busy time with the seniors in the midst of the college application process, but it is also time to turn our attention to the Class of 2012! If you are a junior or junior parent reading Life After Visi for the first time, welcome! In honor of you, here is a link to some big news from UVA that is relevant to next year's admissions process.

http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2010/11/early-action-coming-next-year.html

Published by TSM

Natalie Perry '08 on Tufts and why Plan B is sometimes better

Natalie's experience is a great example of how sometimes things work out differently than you expect, but they do work out in the end! She is a junior at Tufts, studying Physics in the School of Engineering. She offers some great advice about staying open-minded during the college process and she is continuing to make Visitation proud with her success! If you would like to contact Natalie, please ask your College Counselor for her contact information.

Why I chose Tufts: I actually had my heart set on my first choice (Brown) where I applied ED. After getting deferred to regular decision I scrambled to put together applications to most of the other schools I had visited, purely as backups. I got waitlisted from the regular decision pool and eventually rejected and had to pick among my other 6 schools. I chose Tufts as the least of 6 evils.

What I like about Tufts: I can't express how glad I am that I ended up at Tufts! It is such a cool place. It's perfect in terms of size and location: about 5,000 undergrads makes it big enough that you don't know everyone's business, but small enough that we really have a tightnit community. You almost always see at least a few people you know walking across campus. We also have a defined campus, again adding to that community feel, but the metro (T up here) stop is 5-10 min away, and a 20 min trip gets you into the heart of Boston.

The best thing about Tufts, though, is the people. We have a reputation as an ivy backup school, which is actually awesome. Everyone here is extremely intelligent, so there's aways stimulating conversation and great ideas, but they don't have that cutthroat competitiveness you get at other schools. They aren't quite so grade-hungry and are always willing to work together on homework or studying. The people here also tend to be a little different. Maybe it's because Tufts loves diversity, but we really get people of all sorts, which is so refreshing after Visitation. All of my friends are weird, in the best way possible.

College is better than high school because: I live anywhere from 0 min to 10 min away from all of my friends. I don't have to drive anywhere from 30min to an hour and a half just to hang out with someone. I can walk down the hallway and hang out for five minutes. It makes seeing your friends during the week (or really any time) sooo easy.

But I miss ___________ about Visi... Marshmallow Roast. My favorite Visi tradition. Tufts has lots of cool traditions too, like painting the cannon and NQR (look it up, it's kind of ridiculous and awesome), but we don't have quite the history of Visitation. I don't think many people can say that their high school is older than their college.

Classes I am taking next semester: I'm doing a Physics major in the School of Engineering, so don't be scared by these classes. We also have lots of cool and interesting liberal arts classes too.
Experimental Modern Physics
Relativity and Cosmology
Stellar and Galactic Astronomy
Fluid Mechanics
West African Dance (took this last Spring, so fun and intense!)

Favorite place on campus: The library roof. It was just redone about a year or two ago, and is a great hangout spot on campus. It is known as having one of the best views of Boston of anywhere in the area, overlooking the city skyline. It has a winding garden with trees and plants in a raised flowerbed, so there is seating all along the edge. Very beautiful.

Stuff to do off campus: Davis Square is 5-10 min away from campus (where the T stop is located). It's a very young/hip place so it's lots of fun. Some must dos: Dave's Fresh Pasta (delicious delicious sandwiches and pasta), Diva Bistro(Indian food- awesome breakfast/lunch all-you-can-eat buffet), J.P. Licks (popular Boston ice cream shop), Somerville Theater (cheap theater, always showing a couple new movies, a couple independent films, has live shows, and just other cool events, like the Rocky Horror Picture Show at Halloween time)

What do you wear to class? I like to try to look nice around campus because I've never been allowed to wear real clothes to school (private school K-12), but if I wake up and don't feel like it, there's no pressure. Sometimes I literally wear what I slept in to my first class, especially when I have an early class like my 8:30am class last year.

Best and worst thing about having boys around: Boys are awesome! It is so fun having them around, living on your hallway, in your classes. Last spring I actually had my first class ever where I was the only girl (but that's because I do physics, a very male-dominated field). They are so much chiller and have a million times less drama than girls. I guess one drawback would be that they aren't very clean, but you can't room with a boy and we always have separate bathrooms, so that's not much of an issue.

Anything else you think the girls should know or we should have asked: College is amazing. You will probably be happy anywhere you go, so try not to stress too much. Really try to check out as many schools as you can..I think Visi girls tend to get tied down looking at all the same schools as everyone else. Don't be afraid to look at some schools a little off the beaten path. A big name isn't everything. Take this opportunity to do what you want to do with your life.

Natalie would love to answer your questions about life at Tufts. Ask your college counselor for her email if you would like to get in touch!

Published by KMH

Mail Call

I am going through a huge backlog of mail from colleges that has been piling up as we've been working furiously to meet November deadlines. Here are some highlights from the college newsletters and profiles that have filled my inbox in the last few weeks.

• University of Richmond had a 52% increase in Early Decision applicants last year!!


• Sewanee is in its second year of a Test Optional admissions policy.


• A really nice "pitch" for Purdue's Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism - check it out! http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/htm/


• The average starting salary for Lehigh graduates is $54,233!


• Manhattan College has a new major in Art History - the major "combines the classroom study of art in its historical contexts with site visits to nearby galleries, museums, and landmark buildings..." Sounds fascinating. Art History might be my college major if I had it to do over again.


• Colby College has a new flexible standardized testing policy.


• Vanderbilt University wants to remind us that they are need blind, meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, and need based financial aid packages at Vanderbilt do NOT include need based loans. As someone who just paid off my need based undergraduate student loans (I graduated from college in 1997) this sounds extraordinary.

There, you are all caught up now!

Filed by TSM

Five Minutes with St. Olaf College

When I sat down with Sarah Patterson from St. Olaf’s College, I knew very little about the school other than it is in Minnesota. As I learned about the beautiful campus nestled on a mix of farmland, wooded area, and prairie (which I remember is a treeless grassy plain because I chose to do a 4th grade book report on Little House on the Prairie and it required that I build a diorama of Laura and her family traveling by covered wagon over the treeless grassy plain to her new home in Kansas). Anyway, the campus is picturesque – and located only 45 minutes south of the Minneapolis/St. Paul – St. Olaf’s offers the best of both the urban and suburban worlds.

Here are some excerpts from Five Minutes with St. Olaf’s…

One thing I wish everyone knew about St. Olaf’s: it is an academically outstanding place – more collaborative than competitive – with a real sense of community. And The St. Olaf Christmas Festival is one of the oldest Christmas musical celebrations in the U.S. - it is broadcast on PBS each year!

If St. Olaf’s had its own IPOD playlist, what would be on it? Pretty mainstream music – alternative rock and pop – like Train and Counting Crows. And Classical music - because of our well known music program – with 17 instrumental ensembles and 10 vocal ensembles – more than 1/3 of our students are involved in music – so someone is always singing or playing the violin around campus!

Dress up for class or wear sweatpants? wear sweatpants

Closest Starbucks or local coffeehouse? There is a Caribou Coffee in town, but the local coffee shop, Blue Monday, is most popular with our students.

Students can name the quarterback vs. we have a football team? It would depend on who you asked – about 25% of our students play varsity athletics and even more are involved in intramurals – but there are definitely students who have no idea who the Quarterback is.

Recent speakers on campus: Karl Rove, Arianna Huffington, and the Center for Experiential Learning is also always inviting alums back to talk with students about their jobs. Also – OK Go was on campus a few weeks ago – which was a big hit!

Published by KMH

We Send It; They Open It

Even if you are not applying to UVA, this post on their admissions blog gives a great look at the "behind the scenes" of processing applications.

http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2010/11/behind-scenes-logistics.html

I hope everyone enjoys some fun shopping at Esprit de Noel and your day off on Monday. I'm sad to miss festitvities this year; I am in Cleveland attending a conference at the Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland.
http://www.hb.edu/


The weather forecast - highs in the low 40's and freezing rain!

Filed by TSM

I'd Like A Latte. Where's My Latte?

Have you seen the commercial where a girl is at a coffee shop counter and she orders a latte. A split second later, as the blog title suggests, the girl says, "where's my latte?" I can't recall what the commerical is advertising but the point is that we are a society of instant gratification. In the world of text messaging and twitter, we communicate at lightening speed so it's hard to wait for things. Which brings us to college deadlines!

If you have applied to a college with a November 1 deadline, pat yourself on the back, exhale and congratulate yourself for meeting the deadline and filing your first application!!!! If your next inclination is to call the admissions office and make sure that everything has been received and perhaps inquire how long it will take to receive your decision, take another breath.
As we attempted to humorously portray at class meeting last week, colleges have received thousands of credentials in the last few weeks and it takes time to process everything!

Sometimes it's a few days and sometimes a few weeks, so please do not be alarmed if you check a website and it says that something is missing. We have submitted credentials for every transcript request (several hundred!!!) we received for November 1 so everything is out. Now the colleges will open mail, download (and sometimes print) transcripts, recommendations, etc. Then they will read your lovely essays. Then they will answer you.

It's hard for me to even write this, but please remember that this Friday is another transcript request deadline. If you have any applications that are due in December, please hand in a form no later than Friday. Examples of colleges with December 1 deadlines are: Marquette, Clemson, and Miami University in Ohio.

Keep Calm and Carry On

We know that most of you are putting the finishing touches on your November 1 applications and we are doing the same for OUR part of your applications. We are also still meeting and greeting colleges, reading your essays, short answers, and quick email questions, and generally feeling very stressed about the amount of work that needs to be done.

If you find that you are so full of angst about what has to be done that nothing is actually getting done, I recommend a very brief and energizing distraction. Here are some of my favorites from the past few nights:
1) "Test out" the Halloween candy that is in the pantry for trick or treaters.
2) Contemplate your Halloween costume.
3) Organize your email inbox.
4) Think about what you will be Thankful For once Thanksgiving finally rolls around (hint: that your Early Applications are in).
5) Fold some laundry. At least you will feel that sense of accomplishment that seems elusive with so much to do!
6) Revel in your Marshmallow Roast victory.
Okay - your time is up. Back to work for both of us!

Published by TSM

Five Minutes with Radford

Radford University is located in the heart of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Trail in Virginia. With Virginia Tech only about 15 minutes away, there are a ton of college students in the area. Students are allowed to bring their car as early as freshman year – so you can make the 4 ½ hour drive from DC with ease or head to the mall and restaurants only 10 minutes away. Radford has about 9000 students, Greek life, and D1 sports - and their popular majors include Nursing, Education, Criminal Justice and Psychology. Most importantly, Radford has one of our recent alums, Danie Curtis-Williams, Class of 2010, in their current freshman class!

Faye Holliday, a Radford Admissions Officer, spent a few minutes filling us in about life on campus when she visited our school...

If Radford had its own IPOD playlist, what would be on it?
Radford has a nice mix of students from Northern Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey and Southwestern Virginia – so the more urban vibe of hip hop gels with the country music scene.

Dress up for class or wear sweatpants? Radford is a relaxed campus. Freshman start off dressing up for class – but quickly learn that the uniform is jeans and a Radford hoodie.

Closest starbucks or local coffeehouse? There is a Starbucks on campus in the Student Center – along with a bowling alley, pool tables, and the newest movies offered for only $1 in the auditorium.

Students can name the quarterback vs. we have a football team?: Radford doesn’t have a football team – but Division I Basketball is big! Former Radford Center, Art Parakhouski, was just drafted to the NBA.

Popular local hangouts: Radford has a lot of local restaurants and bars – Sharkey’s and BT’s are two of the more popular, close to campus hangouts.


Thanks to Ms. Holliday for taking the time to answer our questions. If you would like to be in touch with her, just contact your College Counselor.

Published by KMH

An Essay that Worked! Alex Campanelli-Jones '10

Alex Campanelli-Jones, one of our best from the Class of 2010, just stopped in my office to say hello while she is home for the weekend from Christopher Newport University. It was great to see her and it sounds like life at CNU is treating her well! I asked her if we could post a copy of her essay to provide an example of how you really can write about any topic and produce an excellent personal statement. Her essay received accolades from Admissions Officers last year - so hopefully it will inspire you as you work towards November 1st. If you want to hear more about CNU, just contact your college counselor for Alex's email.

Swoosh. The automatic doors slide open as I step through the entrance. I stride forward over the welcome mat, feeling my pulse quicken. The bright overhead lights shine brilliantly down upon fourteen aisles of utopia. My eyes widen at the various new displays, and my fingers begin to twitch with anticipation as my mother strolls up alongside me, pushing our cherry-red shopping cart; I know it will be filled in minutes. “Alrighty—let’s get what we need and get out”, she mutters, beginning to follow me as I head for aisle one. I don’t respond because she and I both know that’s not how I operate—when I’m in Staples, I’m in heaven. I take my sweet time.

My obsession with office supplies began the year I entered high school. I’ve always been organized; I can’t stand chaos or messiness. As I entered my pre-teens, my desire to have everything in its right place grew stronger, most likely in direct correspondence to other facets of my life I could not control, such as my parents’ impending divorce and my younger brother’s diagnosis with autism—two events which profoundly affected my youth. They caused me to mature faster, and realize that in order to do so I needed to have my act together. My freshman year of high school, I again learned quickly that I would never stay afloat for the next four years if I didn’t create an orderly system to act as my life vest. My jaw dropped as I watched several of my peers present crinkled pieces of paper as homework, claim they had lost a handout, or blatantly forget to do an assignment. How could they stand it?

It started harmlessly enough: I asked my dad to borrow a pack of Post-Its so I could stick a to-do list in my assignment notebook. The Post-Its, which he willingly supplied, were the items that began my fixation. Soon enough, I was begging my mom to take me to Staples to get more. There were so many different kinds to choose from! Orange, yellow, blue, green, pink, small, long, circle, square…Yes, I bought them all. In addition, I bought several legal pads to quench my list-making thirst, new dividers for my binders, and several white-out pens. I soon found list-making had become a passion of mine as I went through Post-Its and legal pads like water, the fate of the world’s rainforests not even registering in my mind. I clung to my life vest, needing to maintain control and order over my world.

For the past four years I have rejoiced the day when I get to go school-supply shopping. I have become a Very Important Customer at both Staples and Office Depot. I looked forward to going to my summer job working as an office assistant at my church, though I’m sure you can imagine why. Limitless access to any office supply of my choosing? Sign me up! The happiest day of my summer, however, came at senior registration, where I jubilantly purchased a new assignment planner, which had been “upgraded” from last year’s to include calendars, a bell schedule, page protectors, and dividers.

This obsession may seem nonsensical to some; maybe others can understand it completely. To me, it’s a matter of personality. I cherish and hold on to office supplies because that is how I can convey my dedication and organization to others. Whether it be as class president, as a student, or as a friend, I take pride in the fact that people see me as “the organized and dependable one”; it is one of the best parts of me that I can offer.

High school is supposedly about finding oneself and being happy—this cliché, universal odyssey on which teenagers embark on the path to self- discovery and self-actualization. The one thing I’m confident I’ve learned so far is that life comes in many shades of grey, no matter how much I long for it to stay black and white, clean-cut and simple. I will continue discovering, continue learning, and continue on my own odyssey into this new grey world that college presents me with. My Post-its and my to-do lists will come with me, but they will not define me—that is what’s most gratifying. Well, except the feeling of crossing “finish college essay” off my to-do list.

Published by KMH

Cami Thompson's Take on Holy Cross

Cami Thompson is a graduate from the Class of 2008. As a student-athlete, she learned to balance her time well at Visitation and has continued to find that same success in college! Here's what she has to say about classes and lacrosse at College of the Holy Cross...

Why I chose Holy Cross:

Academically I was looking for a school that had some of my favorite aspects of Visitation: a close-knit community, dedicated teachers, and small class sizes. It was also perfect for me because I wanted to play lacrosse in college and Holy Cross had the great combination of a
Division I athletic program and small liberal arts college. I fell in love with the campus when I visited and saw that everyone worked very hard, but was still having a fun college experience.

What I like about Holy Cross:

One of the best parts are the people because they are genuinely happy to be at Holy Cross and like being involved in different aspects of the community. There aren’t any teaching assistants and every professor knows you by name and is happy to meet with you outside of class. I am able to reap the advantages of attending a small school (just under 3000 students) whether walking around campus where I constantly see familiar faces or in class when everyone can be involved in discussions, but there are enough people that it doesn't become boring. While I have heard great stories about Greek life from my friends at other colleges, I like that we don’t have sororities or fraternities at Holy Cross. Even without frathouses there are always plenty of house parties walking distance from the dorms. A lot revolves around sports teams that have parties at their houses orother seniors that open their houses to most underclassmen.

College is better than high school because:

You get to live with you best friends and you are around people your age 24/7. There is an added dimension to relationships because your friends become your family too. The dorms also allow you to meet and befriend people with different interests.

But I miss... the camaraderie and school spirit from Visi. We had a shared experience that we could commiserate or celebrate together, but everyone in college is taking a different path.

Classes I am taking next semester:

I am spending a year abroad at Oxford University in a Politics, Philosphy, and Economics program so the classes will be a bit different. They have trimesters based on one on one meetings with professors or“tutors” and lots of independent reading/research. I will be taking
a Microeconomics course and Ethics tutorial for the first trimester. It will bequite a change but I am looking forward to focusing on just 2 classes at a time.

Favorite place on campus:

Besides the dorms probably Kimball dining hall. It is a great place to run into people and unlike the library or walks to class you can actually take the time to talk and catch up. It's great for a quick bite, last minute studying, or other times my friends and I will realize that we justspent 2 hours at a weekend brunch reliving the previous night's events.

Stuff to do off campus

There is the Auburn mall and BlackstoneValley which have all of the restaurants, movie theaters, and shops you would need. The Salvation Army and Forever 21 also come in handy for themed parties. I have always found plenty to do at Holy Cross, but on weekends the school offers free transportation to Boston and Providence which are both less than an hour away. Corner Grill is a great pizza place, 111 Chop House has amazing steak, and Takara is a fun Japanese restaurant to go to with a group of friends. The Salty Dog Saloon is fun for going out on weeknights and there are lot of places in Worcester that let students 18+ in so there are many off campus options even for freshmen.

What do you wear to class?

There are definitely days that I miss the Visitation uniform, but luckily with lacrosse I have an excuse to wear sweats when I haveto go straight from class to practice. Otherwise I attempt to wear jeans and a casual top. On the few days it warms up it’s fun to pull out the dresses.

Best and worst thing about having boys around:

Boys add a different perspective and sometimes look at a topic in a way that I never imagined. I also like studying with them because they don’t seem to let the stress affect them as much and just get the workdone as efficiently as possible so they have time to have fun. Girls do act differently in class when boys are around.

Thanks to Cami for taking the time to answer our questions!

Published by KMH

Filling Out Applications, Round Two

Filling out applications is really fun, isn't it?!! Today you asked:

Do I have to/Should I report all of my SAT/ACT/AP scores on my applications? If you are filling out the Common App, the answer for most of you will be "no." Many of you are at least considering the possibility of applying to an test optional school or using the score choice option to only send your best or best combo of your SAT or ACT. And you are still waiting for your new scores! So it's fine to leave some or all of the test information section blank. But! There are a handful of colleges out there that require applicants to submit ALL of your SAT/ACT/Subject test scores. So please be sure you are reading all of the instructions regarding test requirements for the schools to which you are applying.

Did you get the email from UMD asking for my recommendation? Yes, I did. But that email only pertains to schools that do not send their documents and recommendations electronically. Even though you there a lot of forms coming your way that say Give This To Your Teacher/Counselor, you really do not need to do so. We are very fancy here and do it all online!

What about this ED agreement form? Okay, you got us. That's the one form you do actually need to print out from the Common Application (or the school's own website if they are not a Common Application school) and bring to us to sign. You are then responsible for mailing it the old fashioned way. Apparently this form is going to be available for online submission sometime soon but we haven't been able to access it yet, so let's follow this protocal for now.

Published by TSM

Are You Filling Out The Common App RIGHT NOW?

From the emails coming in this weekend it seems like a many of you have spent some quality time with the Common Application website this weekend! I have been chained to my laptop as well - writing recommendation letters, filling out forms, and answering many of the same questions about filling out the Common Application over and over again. Hopefully you will have more time to work on applications, essays, and homework this Wednesday while the juniors are taking the PSAT (aren't you glad to have THAT behind you?!). In the meantime, here is a summary of some of the FAQ's from the weekend.

How many seniors are in the Class of 2011? 120

Is my GPA weighted? Yes! Is there an unweighted GPA to report? No! Really? Really.

What is my class rank? GVPS does not rank.

But if I have been given an award that recognizes the top 20% of my class, can't I just list my class rank as Top 20%? GVPS does not rank - you should list awards in the section of the application that asks about Honors and Awards.

What is Visitation's school code? 090080

What is your title/phone extension/fax? It's listed under my signature in any email I have ever sent you.

Should I attach my resume to the end of the application? Maybe. There are differing opinions about this but I usually recommend not uploading a resume if it's mostly a repeat of what you've listed on the Common App activities grid. For example, if you've already listed your four year commitment to field hockey, lacrosse, and club ice hockey, there's really no need to tell them again on your resume. However, if there are activities that didn't quite "fit" the template provided for activities (service projects, Gold/White leadership, research at NIH, leading a session during Diversity Week would be good examples of activities that are difficult to format into the grid) it might be useful to use the extra space for that purpose.

My four year old asked me this weekend why I have been so grumpy. All I can say is...it's October. Hopefully you have been nicer to your family than I have!

Published by TSM

Five Minutes With Washington and Jefferson College

How great is this viewbook cover? Bethany Simmons, Assistant Director of Admissions at Washington and Jefferson College, visited our school recently and agreed to be profiled on the blog. We thought she would be a particularly reliable source regarding campus life since she just graduated from W&J last May!

If Washington and Jefferson had its own ipod playlist, what would be on it? The Wichi Coax (which she described as an "almost fight song"), Don't Stop Believin' by Journey

I wish that everyone knew ________ about W&J.
I wish that everyone know how strong our pre-law and pre-health programs are. W&J has a 90+% acceptance rate to law, medicine, and health related graduate programs!

How many applications will you read this fall? Probably around 1,500.

How long will you spend reading each one? About 20 minutes.

Popular guest speakers/entertainers on your campus in the last year or so? Cobra Starship performed at the annual spring concert last year.

This or That about your school...

Dining Hall or Eat Off Campus? Definitely the dining hall! The food is really good and there are tons of choices including 15-16 main courses and a wood burning pizza oven.

Dress Up For Class or Wear Sweatpants? This one is a 50/50 split. People do both; it depends on what time they have class!

Nearest Starbucks? About a mile from campus. Ali's cafe is a popular place for coffee that is right across the street from campus.

Students can name the quarterback or "we have a football team?" Students can definitely name the quarterback! The stadium is right off campus and games draw a big crowd. Team name: The Presidents!

If you have questions for Bethany, ask your counselor for her contact information.

Published by TSM

Team Fennessey in St. Louis

The blog has been quiet this week because Team Fennessey is in St. Louis. We are here for NACAC - a national conference for college admissions officers and counselors. We have been attending sessions and meeting and greeting college reps from all over the country. It's also great to hear what other high schools are doing. Best of all, we squeezed in two college tours during our stay! While the DC area has been drenched in rain, it's been 70 degrees and sunny here and we are loving the friendliness and laid back feel of the the schools we visited -Washington University and St. Louis University. Both of these schools could be a fantastic fit for Visitation girls.

Highlights from our SLU tour:

1) Vampire Weekend is performing on campus this weekend!

2) There is a gorgeous state of the art fitness center and a beautiful outdoor pool with a beach volleyball court and palm trees. Who knew?

3) SLU is like Visitation - it is a beautiful, self contained, green campus in the middle of the city. So many Visi girls want a campus like this. If you are looking at schools like St. Joe's, Loyola-Chicago, Fordham, Loyola-Maryland, or John Carroll, than you should be checking out SLU!

4) We learned about their unusual school mascot, the Billiken, and other fun traditions on campus. Walking around, it was clear that this is a school with a lot of character and spirit. And it's really beautiful. Here's one more picture!

Highlights from our Wash U visit:

1) When we were in college, we felt lucky to have Burger King and Taco Bell available to us in the Student Union. At Wash U, you seem to pass another amazing dining opportunity every five minutes - including the chance to enjoy a three course, sit down, dining extravaganza. And you are not eating in a standard cafeteria with a plastic tray - you could be seated in an outdoor pavilion or an oak paneled lounge with flat screen TVs on the wall.

2) We had gotten turned around on campus as we were looking for the fitness center and a very friendly student stopped to help us out. She pointed out not one, but two, athletic facilities - and then sent us on our way to the South Forty which resembled Main Street in Disney World. While Wash U is a little further away from downtown St. Louis than SLU, they have made sure all the modern conveniences of living in the city are just a few steps from your dorm. You can drop off your laundry to be washed and folded, get in your work out and get your hair and nails done at the salon with ease!

3) These students are smart, smart, smart! The library was full, students were on their laptops in the quad and they did not seem to be facebooking. This is not to say that campus was quiet, there was a buzz of activity, discussions, and intellectual energy all around.

It's been a busy week! We are excited to board the plane back to DC with bags full of college brochures and business cards - as well as some new SLU hoodies!

Published by TSM and KMH

Five Minutes with Wofford College

Last spring, as March Madness approached, I sat down to work on my picks for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and came across an underdog team who caught my attention. As I consulted my expert bracketology advisor, (aka my brother - while he gets a little frustrated with me when I make my decision based on which team has a player with a heartwarming story or a good mascot, if I bribe him with a free dinner he will help me with the important discernment process of choosing the teams certain to win!) I became more and more intrigued by this small liberal arts school in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After watching Wofford College lose a heartbreaking, but very close game against a Big Ten powerhouse, I started looking more closely at this school, wondering if it would be a good match for Visitation students. After meeting today with one of Wofford’s Admissions Representatives, Jenni Lister, I think that Wofford’s school spirit, close knit community, and strong academic programs offer a great fit!

Wofford has about 1500 students enrolled - and is growing. They pull in a large percentage of their population from South Carolina but 40% of its students enroll from out of state. They offer a unique January Interim program that allows students to earn credit while participating in experiential, real-world learning via internships, study abroad, guided research projects and service learning opporunities. One thing that Jenni Lister wished that everyone knew about Wofford is that they send at least 3 students each year to The Aspen Institute – a prestigious leadership opportunity. When describing the co-curricular programs, Jenni mentioned a short video created last year that is set to Montell Jordan’s “This is How We Do It” that captures some of the fun-loving nature of the school.

Here are some other excerpts from our “five minute interview":

This or That about your school…

Dining Hall or Eat off Campus: Eat off campus

Dress Up for Class or Wear Sweatpants: (without any hesitation) - Wear Sweatpants

Starbucks or Local Coffeehouse: There is a Starbucks right off campus – but the on campus coffee – Java City – is 10 times better!

Students Can Name the Quarterback or “We have a football team?": Students can name the Quarterback – and since we are a small community - are probably good friends with him!

Speakers/Groups who have drawn the biggest crowd on campus:
• Paul Farmer, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
• Marian Wright Edelman, President and Founder of Children’s Defense Fund
• Jerry Richardson, Owner of the NFL Team - Carolina Panthers
• The Wofford Men’s Basketball Team! – especially for the 2009-2010 Selection Show. One of Wofford’s Alum even sponsored 10 charter buses to help students get to the Round 1 game in Jacksonville to support their team.

So, you just never know where you are going to find a hidden gem of a school – just another excuse to enjoy March Madness! If you’d like to learn more about Wofford College, you can get Jenni Lister’s contact information from your college counselor.


Published by KMH

Interview With Lizzy Wells '09

Why did you choose the University of St Andrews?
Growing up, I spent significant amounts of time visiting family in the UK so it became my home away from home. I always knew that I wanted to go to go to school in the UK and when I visited St Andrews, I loved it immediately. St Andrews is located right on the coast--I love cold weather and the beach so it’s the perfect combination!

What do you like about St Andrews?
Although a lot of people assume that Scotland is always rainy and cold, I have found that not to be entirely true. St Andrews can be very cold and windy, but the weather can still be really sunny. I love having friends from countries all over the world, including Russia, Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, and of course the United States. I also love the quaintness of St Andrews. Although the town is small, it has everything you would ever look for in a university town.

What is it like to study abroad?
I absolutely love studying abroad because I have had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and learn a little about their own cultures. In addition, my professors are also from a variety of countries throughout the world. Studying abroad in the UK also allows me to do a lot of traveling in Europe during various breaks and holidays.

What classes are you taking next semester?
At St Andrews, when you apply, you apply for a specific major. In your first and second years, you take 3 classes: one being your major and then any other two courses of your choice. For example, this semester I will be taking International Relations, which is my major, Modern History, and Philosophy. Most classes will consist of a few lectures a week and a tutorial group.

What is your favorite place on campus?
I think it’s hard to pinpoint a favorite place in St Andrews, but one of the places I really enjoy is the edge of the pier. The pier juts out into the North Sea and is next to one of the three beaches in St Andrews called East Sands. Even when it is cold, there are always people on the beach!

What sort of things are there to do off campus?
St Andrews doesn’t really have a campus, but rather the entire town is the campus. All the university buildings are spread out throughout the town. For example, the Student Union is right across the street from The Raisin, a pub that many students go to. The Vic, another pub, is down the street from The Raisin where people can order food and drinks and go dancing. There are also loads of other restaurants, pubs, and places to go out in the evening.

What do you wear to class?
St Andrews students get pretty dressed up for class. On a typical day, I usually wear jeans, a nice sweater, and flats or boots. I have rarely ever seen anyone wear a sweatshirt to class…and most definitely never seen anyone wear sweatpants.


Anything else you want Visi girls to know about St Andrews?
The University of St Andrews was founded in 1413 so it’s rich with tradition. Some of the more recent traditions include the Academic Family, which is a little like the Big Sister Little Sister program at Visitation, the Foam Fight on Raisin Sunday, Pier Walks in the traditional red gown, and the May Dip, in which students swim in the North Sea at dawn.

Published by TSM

Five Minutes With....

Washington University's Cory Zimmerman spent all of second period with two very interested seniors, patiently answered all of my admissions questions, and was nice enough to volunteer to be profiled on the blog!

If Washington University had its own ipod playlist, what would be on it? Taylor Swift, K-pop, T.I., Lady Gaga, MGMT, Scott Joplin, The Beatles.

How are DC area students/applicants different from their counterparts in other regions of the country? DC kids are savvy and can clearly articulate what they love about their school and their city. They definitely take advantage of their amazing location.

How many applications will you read this fall? Probably around 1,000.

How long will you spend reading each one? It really depends on the application - anywhere from a few minutes to almost and hour.

Popular guest speakers/entertainers on your campus in the last year or so? The Biden/Palin debate, Thomas Friedman, Seth Myers

This or That about your school...

Dining Hall or Eat Off Campus? It's a tie. The food is fantastic on campus (for example, there is Mongolian Barbeque and a Vietnamese Deli in the student center) but there are great options off campus as well. Most people probably eat in the cafeteria during the week and venture out on the weekends.

Dress Up For Class or Wear Sweatpants? The students are very casual - definitely closer to sweatpants than anything fancy!

Nearest Starbucks? Kaldi's coffee (a Starbucks rival in St. Louis apparently) is served on campus and there is a Starbucks six blocks north on The Loop.

Students can name the quarterback or "we have a football team?" We do have a football team but I'm not sure most of the campus can name the players. Basketball and volleyball are probably our more popular sports.

This is the second year Cory has visited our school and his third year in admissions. If you have questions for him, ask your counselor for his contact information. We are looking forward to visiting Washington University when we are in St. Louis for a National Admissions Conference in a few weeks. Thank you for spending so much time at Visi this year and volunteering to be on the blog Cory!

Published by TSM

Interview with Faith Cerny (2008) about UVA's School of Architecture

Thanks to Faith for her thoughtful answers and advice! If you'd like to contact her for more information, just ask your college counselor.



Why I chose UVA:
I was actually reluctant to apply here because everyone from Visitation seems to go to/apply to UVA. But if it seems to have everything you want, you can't overlook that. After 12 years of Catholic schooling I wanted public; after four years of all-girls I needed co-ed; I wanted a school that had frats and a football team--basically I was looking for "the college experience." A little cliche, but it's the truth. Also, the fact that I knew I wanted to study architecture made my decision much easier, as it narrowed down the list of potential schools. Proximity to home was never really a factor, but I'm glad UVA is so close; being able to drive to school makes things so much easier, yet it still feels like a different world than DC.

What I like about UVA:
The stereotype of UVa is that it's a "work-hard, play-hard" school; for me that is completely true. After developing such a rigorous work ethic at Visitation (whether you like it or not (or believe it or not), you did develop one), I know I couldn't be at a school that didn't keep me engaged academically. However; on the note of "play hard," definitely bring those old halloween costumes and tye-dye tanks to UVa, because if you want it to, the party scene will surely meet your expectations. I am never bored here, because 1. it's too big for me to be bored, and 2. most everyone wants to make every hour in the day worth it-- most people are go-getters here. There are tons of ways to get involved (seriously, it's awesome to be part of a school that's big enough to give you options). I love the size-- small enough to walk to class and see someone you know, yet big enough to remain anonymous. If you get involved in clubs or greek life, you can definitely make UVA a smaller school and more manageable. Student self-governance here is awesome; students seem to be in charge of everything. It's super easy to start your own club, intramural sports team, etc. I definitely feel in control of my life and education here. I don't find UVa to be cutthroat, or too competitive of an environment, though it's easy to surround yourself with self-motivated workers who are inspiring rather than intimidating. Also, Charlottesville is an awesome area-- tons of outdoorsy things to do, eclectic shopping/eating at the downtown mall.

College is better than high school because:
More options, more opportunity, more independence. In high school I felt like there was a set track for students-- the curriculum was pretty set with limited opportunity for electives. I wanted to do art but was pushed into AP psychology because I was told an AP science would look better when applying to colleges than an art class would. After school you played your sport or did theater and that was it. Life was pretty stable, unvarying, familiar. In college your life can change dramatically from year to year, or even between semesters, depending on the direction you take for your major, the clubs you get involved in, the amount of volunteering you do, your level of participation in the Greek scene, etc. You are your own boss--there is no set track you have to move along. You are no longer doing things to put on your resume, you are doing things because you want to do them.

But I miss ___________ about Visi.
Being able to walk around the campus and wave at every single person. Wearing a faded, torn polo shirt that looked horrible but was so comfortable. Being close with your teachers. Feeling like I could control the discussion in a classroom. Being on sports teams/sports in general. Hanging out with the same people all the time and consequently, developing really close friendships. Sometimes this closeness can be stifling, however, which is what I like about college, and the distance it allows. I also miss going to school in Georgetown, but hey, that's a pretty unique experience that would be hard to replicate in college.

Classes I am taking next semester:
Since I'm in the architecture school, third year there is a set curriculum (which is ok because I had plenty of opportunity to take electives the past two years). This semester I am taking Intro to Architectural Design I (a.k.a. studio), which constitutes the bulk of my work, Architectural Theory and Ethics, a CAAD (computer-aided architectural design) class (3-D modeling and visualization), and Systems, Sites & Buildings.

Favorite place on campus:
I mean, the lawn is iconic of UVA and a lot of things happen there (acapella concerts, picnics, tailgating, streaking, etc.), but my favorite places would have to be the Corner, Rugby Road (where the frat houses are), O'hill dining hall on Saturday morning (the brunch is awesome), west range cafe/anywhere that serves coffee. Too many places to name.

Stuff to do off campus:
Shopping at the downtown mall (mostly boutique-type stores, there's an Urban Outfitters too), eating out at the downtown mall (my fav spots are the mudhouse coffee shop and sweet frog, which is an awesome frozen yogurt place), ice skating at the downtown mall (everything at the downtown mall is a free trolley ride away), seeing movies, lots of concerts at JPJ arena (Lady Gaga just performed there) and at the Pavilion, among other places, drive down route 29 for Red Lobster, Target, things of that nature, go to Barracks shopping center for your groceries, barnes and noble, chipotle, etc., sports games (UVA is awesome at just about every sport except the ones people watch on tv haha), eating/shopping along the Corner is a daily activity (the dumpling store is a must, arches, bodos bagels, little johns, the white spot, boylan (best burgers), the Virginian, etc etc. shop at duo and finch. Outdoorsy activities are popular too, such as apple picking at Carter's mountain, hiking (humpback is a popular lookout point), blue hole is awesome (hike 30 minutes to a water hole where you swing off a rope off the rocks into the water), the quarry, which i think is a 50ish foot jump off a cliff into the water, tubing along the James River is awesome, whitewater rafting, camping (might go next weekend). Wintergreen is 45 minutes away I think, so tubing/skiing there is popular in the winter.

What do you wear to class?
Usually jeans and a top that's nicer than a t-shirt, nice boots/flats/flip-flops/sandals, maybe a cute jacket. Or if you're feeling a little lazy you could go for the athletic look--sneakers, running shorts, t-shirt (but still look decent). No one wears pajamas/sweats to class really. People usually dress pretty well. The funniest thing is when the weather hits about 60 degrees after the winter months, and every girl seems to whip out that summer dress. I am always surprised that people in the architecture school look as nice as they do, considering most of them get about 4 hours of sleep a night.

Best and worst thing about having boys around:
Best is that they're around. It just feels right, natural. No more recycling guys among your group of friends like you did in high school! However, you'll notice as you get older that your social circles get smaller and you'll start to see the same faces around. Worst thing would be the fact that your appearance does matter, I guess? Though I tend to feel better about myself when I shower and make a little bit of an effort to look decent haha. Honestly I can't think of any "worst thing."

Anything else you think the girls should know or we should have asked:
Just general notes about applying to colleges:
1. take the application process seriously. It's worth putting in the time and effort if you're rewarded with admittance to an awesome college that is right for you in the end.
2. try to figure out what you might want to be when you grow up. Lots of people don't know, even in college, what they're really interested in studying. I've had friends here who didn't really know what to do because they had realized what they want to study, only to find that UVA didn't have the program.
3. take a breath, hang out with your best friend, enjoy Visitation and Georgetown and senior year. You'll make the most of wherever you end up and have a awesome time there.

Your Name And Your Hook

We hope that everyone was inspired by today's Essay Workshop with Ryan Hargraves from UVA! It is an understatement to say that I personally enjoyed seeing the Class of 2011 participate so enthusiastically and I was especially wowed by those brave souls who stood in line to share their "hooks" with the class. GREAT job ladies!!! Since it is essay writing season, I thought I would share excerpts of an essay from one of last year's seniors, Erin Gallagher. If you knew Erin, I am sure you will agree that you can 100% hear her voice in this essay. Enjoy!!!!

Excerpts from Visi Girls by Erin Gallagher

“Visi Girls” wear spandex under their skirts, t-shirts under their polos, and brand new boat shoes. Almost all of my pants are long and denim, two shirts are too much for me, and my deck shoes have seen an entire summer of dirt, water, wood, and sand.
“Visi Girls” wear ribbons in their hair. My hair isn’t long enough for ribbons, even if I could ever get those stupid strips of cloth to do what I want them to.
“Visi Girls” run. They run after soccer balls, tennis balls, basketballs, or to the finish line. I sail. I tack. I jibe. I tighten. I luff. I lean over the high side of a keeling Flying Scott, ignoring the water’s spray as I cut through whitecaps, laughing as hard as I can.
“Visi Girls” walk into the classroom, panicking because they were up all night studying for the math test and Oh my God! I can’t remember anything! What is the tangent of a 45-degree angle in radians? I look up from reading The Historian and say, “There’s a test today? Eh, I’m dead.”
“Visi Girls” came to Georgetown Visitation because of its challenging academic curriculum, its impeccable reputation, and its amazing athletic program. I came to Georgetown Visitation because of its ability to turn me into “a woman of faith, vision, and purpose.” I came because I wanted to spend my high school years at a school where I could develop confidence, self-esteem, and life-long friendships. I wanted to become someone who will be able to face the world without crumbling and to acquire qualities that will carry me through life. It hasn’t been perfect, but not one of us will walk away disappointed.
“Visi Girls” are friendly and welcoming.
“Visi Girls” are White Team Bears and Gold Team Tigers.
“Visi Girls” know within five minutes when there are boys or food on campus—not necessarily in that order.
“Visi Girls” say things like “Sen10rs,” “Relig,” and “This (insert class assignment here) is killing me!”
I am passionate, somewhat disorganized, supremely verbose, hyperactive, creative to a fault, and a compulsive writer. Clearly, I’m not the typical “Visi Girl.” I am nothing like my classmates, but that is okay. Saint Francis, the Patron Saint of Visitation, tells us to “be who you are and be that well.”
I am Me and “Me” is a “Visi Girl.”

Thanks to Erin for letting us share her very personal essay with the world. Erin is in enjoying her freshman year at Christopher Newport, where she was awarded membership into the President's Leadership program. If you would like to be in touch with Erin, ask your college counselor!

Published by TSM

Five Minutes With...

Hopefully you all know by now that we will host over 100 college visitors this fall. Did you also know that we meet with the representatives after you have spent time with them? This is one reason why our calendars are so busy right now! When we meet with the college reps, we make sure to note all of their policies, deadlines, admissions statistics, and get updates on their campuses. We also take this time to talk to them about what's new at Visitation and the girls who may be applying this year.

We thought that this year we would go beyond our usual questions about average SAT scores and also ask about some fun topics that might interest our dedicated Life After Visi readers. We have been working with Jesse Bowen from the University of Maryland for several years. In addition to visiting our school and reading our applications, he has been gracious enough to be part of our Junior College Night panel presentation twice. He works with both prospective and enrolled students at Maryland and so we thought he would be perfect for our first "five minute interview!"

If University of Maryland had its own ipod playlist, what would be on it?

The Maryland fight song, Vampire Weekend, Lady Gaga, international music, Talking Heads, and a little Michael Jackson for good measure.

How many applications will you read this fall?

Around 1,000.

How long do you spend reading each one?

About 5-10 minutes.

Popular guest speakers/entertainers on campus in the last year or so?

Barack Obama, Tim Gunn, Bob Saget, Ludacris

This or That about your school....

Dining Hall or Eat Off Campus? Definitely the dining hall - the food is really good!

Dress Up For Class or Wear Sweatpants? Sweatpants

Closest Starbucks? On campus and another one a stone's throw from campus in case you need a refill.

Students Can Name Your Quarterback or "We Have a Football Team?"

Everyone can name the quarterback! Actually we have two - but that's a longer story.

Thanks for being such a good sport Jesse! If you have questions for him (about admissions, not what to wear to class), ask your college counselor for his contact information.

Published by TSM

In an Empire State of Mind: Stephanie Mpamaugo, Class of 2009

Why I chose Columbia: I always knew I wanted to go to an Ivy League university, but I had no idea which one was right for me. So I did a lot of research. I looked at the Alumni that attended Columbia University and the location of the school and I feel in love with it. I really loved that it was located in the heart of New York City, Manhattan. I also loved the school when I visited. The people were all cool and laid back.The atmosphere was lively and everyone was so different. Being an African American student I wanted to go to a school that was extremely diverse and Columbia is number one in diversity amongst the Ivy League schools, with a great population of international students. But one of the most important reasons for why I chose Columbia is because they had my major, Neuroscience and a strong pre-med program.

What I like about Columbia: I love the people. I have met some outstanding people and some long time friends. It is so culturally diverse which I love. It's in the city so there is always something to do and never a dull moment. I love that the people here are willing to help you out when you need it and you can go to your professors as well as your TA's for help whenever you need it.

College is better than high school because: You have the freedom to do as you please and while this can be your downfall it can also help teach you many life lessons. I have been able to make mistakes and learn from them on my own. Also there is no one defining who you are so you're free to be whoever you chose to be. I had the opportunity to try new things from joining more clubs to taking part in more activities then I could have during high school. There is something for everyone in college. As far as the classes go I feel that college is better because you're not competing against everyone else, you're competing against yourself. I try so hard to not worry about what other people are getting and to just focus on doing MY best because that is the only way I will be happy with the grades I have.

But I miss ___________ about Visi: Honestly I miss the support system that I had at Visi. From Mrs. Clay to Ms. Hosmer and my teachers, I have not had anything even come close to any of them. College can be a difficult place to navigate and much of this will come from not having people like them to fall back on. For example I can't go to Mrs. Clay's office and just sit there and tell her my problems from school to my personal life. This helps you grow also because I had to learn to stand on my own without always relying on other people, but it is hard. I really miss the family that Visi is and the nuns that would be so compassionate and loving. The Visi family was not duplicated for me in college and that is something that I truly miss.

Classes I am taking next semester: I am pre-med and a neuroscience and behavior major so most of my classes consist of pre-med classes and classes for my major, but Columbia also has a strong core curriculum so there are classes that I am required to take. So with that being said my classes for next semester are Physics, Physics Lab, Biology, Psychology class, Contemporary Civilization, and Major Debates. The first three classes are for pre-med and my major the follow two are for the core curriculum. This is a pretty heavy load for me especially since I work and I'm involved in a few extracurriculars as well. Time management is not a joke in college.

Favorite place on campus: I love low steps on a nice day, when there are tons of people out there on the lawns and the steps just relaxing and having fun. It's great!!

Stuff to do off campus: Phelio Yogurt formally known as yogurtland I loved that place, Times Square (the chaos is great), Brooklyn Bridge (saw the fireworks there on 4th of July it so beautiful and very romantic, best ice cream and pizza places are located near the bridge), Harlem Magic Johnson Theater (I get discount student tickets and it very close to campus so convenient walk), Soho (for your shopping craving), 72nd street and Lincoln Center (great area with lots of shops), Union Square (is awesome with some of the most interesting people and amazing painters and artist), and lastly New York City (the entire place is a playground).

What do you wear to class? I love trying new styles and experimenting with new looks everyday so I never wore sweats to class, but that's just me. If I'm really tired though I'd put on a cardigan. t-shirt, and jeans.

Best and worst thing about having boys around: Best thing is you can hangout with them and they become some of your best friends. They also give a different perspective on many things from topics in class to just life in general. The worst thing is keeping up appearances. It's normal to take a second look at yourself in the mirror before you step out just to make sure you look okay.

Anything else you think the girls should know or we should have asked: It's important that you girls realize what you're there for at the end of the day and that is to get an education. There are so many thing that can get in the way when you're in college, boys, extracurriculars, having an active social life, but at the end of the day your grades matter and that is something that even I am continue to learn. Another thing is knowing that you should be yourself in college. The pressure that you may have had in high school is amplified by triple the amount so stay true to yourself because everyone is different and you don't have to be someone you're not because you'll always find friends that have something in common with you. But on the topic of friends, chose them wisely - very wisely! Don't feel like you need to cling to someone that you don't get along with - branch out - there are so many people you can meet in college so go out there and meet them. Build connections with professors that you like because most likely you'll need them to speak on your behalf at some point in the future i.e. recommendations.



Published by KMH

Happy First Day!

There's nothing quite like the first day of school - especially for seniors! As if you are not completely disheartened by the massive amount of work laid out on your syllabus for each class, you have to tackle the college process. We will be visiting the first Block period in your English class to add to your Back To School Angst walk you through the paperwork and deadlines related to the college process.

If you are already stymied by the nuances of the Common Application and are feeling like you should have started your college essay yesterday...you will be thrilled to see us.

If you are wishing this would all go away....rest assured that there is plenty of time to get it all done.

If you have only one college on your list.... that's okay too! Over 100 colleges will visit between now and the end of October and we will fill you in on where to find the list and how to get out of class to meet with the representatives.

Our calendars are up so please come and sign up as soon as you can remember how to get to Fennessey. I don't know about you, but I think one of the hardest things about coming back to school is adjusting to the early wake up time so try to get some extra rest this week and weekend. Doesn't it feel like we never left?


My three year old also started school today. I hope she won't have too much homework!

Published by TSM

Help Us Help You!

I was thrilled when Father McHugh gave a shout out to Jerry Maguire, one of my all time favorite movies, this morning at Mass. Besides being an all around fantastic movie, I believe there are many life lessons in watching Jerry "grow a conscience," struggle to become a better person and find meaning in a stereotypically soulless profession. There is one scene in particular that really resonates with me. If you have seen the movie, you no doubt recall the infamous "Help me help you" locker room scene in which an exasperated Jerry begs Rod to tone down his attitude and play his heart out so that Jerry will have a chance of negotiating a better contract for him. Jerry describes being a sports agent as a "pride swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about." At times, being a college counselor feels a little like being Jerry Maguire! Did you know that we routinely call colleges to advocate on your behalf and remind them how wonderful you are and how difficult Visitation is? We love the opportunity to call attention to a fantastic set of first semester grades or the 300 hours of service you did last summer. So....help us help you! Some ways you can do this:

• Stay in touch - make sure we have your most up to date resume and that you have filled out the blue Brag sheet to the best of your ability. The more you can brag about yourself (as unnatural as that seems), the more we can brag about you to colleges!



• If something fantastic happens during the year - let us know that also! Sometimes you forget to tell us about the exciting things that happen over the course of the school year - or you just assume we already know. Keep us posted on new honors, awards, and interesting experiences. Don't be shy!



• At the same time, let us know if something...not fantastic...happens. If you are really struggling in one of your classes or something is going on that might impact your applications, it's better to make sure we are in the loop before things reach a level that feels unmanageable.

This is all fine and good, but you would really like to see the aforementioned clip, wouldn't you? Enjoy!




And while we're at it, feel free to enjoy the "You Complete Me" scene at the end of the movie. Swooning is optional.

Published by TSM

Aisle 9 with Molly Smith '06

During a recent trip to the grocery store, as I was headed down the pasta aisle, I ran into no other than recent Visi alumna, member of the Class of 2006, all around superstar, Molly Smith! While Molly was just trying to pick up a few staples, she ended being harrassed by her former Class Counselor about her recent graduation from Notre Dame and plans for grad school this fall. While at Visi, Molly was truly gifted at keeping things in perspective and finding balance between academic pursuits and having a life. Here are some of her words of wisdom...

What was your favorite class at Notre Dame?
I can't pick just one! My favorite class in my major was Introduction to Chemical Principles. It was my first semester, incredibly difficult, but it had the most amazing professor with a really innovative teaching style. I really felt engaged and challenged. My other favorite was Beginning Intensive German. I took it on a whim and ended up studying in Austria the very next summer! I loved being in a class of only nine students and forced to speak only German in class from day two on. The camaraderie one finds in beginning language classes is unimaginable.

What is your favorite Notre Dame memory?
Junior Parent Weekend. It bridges the gap between your home life and your school life. Afterwards your parents finally "get it" when you talk about why you love Notre Dame so much and why you can't wait for summer to be over so you can go back to school.

If you are not a Notre Dame football fan (implausible, I know!), is there anything else to do in on the weekend?
I've definitely had friends who were not fans and didn't buy tickets, but you kind of have to embrace football weekends if you choose to go to ND. It's a mad house; some even call it "Catholic Disney World'. So, if you don't get swept up in the football frenzy, or even just spend some time hanging out with friends in the student section, you have to actively try to avoid football and avoid the crowds that come with it.

What was your major at Notre Dame?
Chemistry!!!

When you were a senior at Visitation, did you know this would be your path or did you change your major during your four years?
I knew I wanted to be a chemistry major after my first high school chemistry class. My major never changed.

We have 8 students from the Class of 2010 attending Notre Dame next year, what do you think makes ND such a good match for Visitation students?
I think it is a strong academic and spiritual fit for Visi girls. The communities at Visitation and ND are so strong knit and you always feel supported and challenged. Besides the weather, there is very little "culture shock" when transitioning from Visitation to ND, in my opinion.

What are your plans for next year?
I am at Johns Hopkins University pursing a Ph.D. in Chemistry.

Were there any resources on campus that advised you about the possibilities after college?
The Career Center at ND is immensely helpful for jobs, internships and resume support. In the sciences, however, it helped to develop relationships with the chemistry professors to help decide on graduate work.

Do you have any tips for current seniors about keeping things in perspective? Any advice you would offer from your current self to your 17 year old self about to apply to college?
Not every grade matters. Try your best, but if you spend 100 percent of the time working you will burn out quickly. I would remind younger-me to find at least one non-academic activity, club, service or social group that you can spend time doing to de-stress and to find it sooner rather than later. It wasn't until sophomore year that I found out how to destress. By my senior year, I somehow ended up president of the improv comedy group on campus and met some of my best friends doing it. I just wish I had started from the beginning.

Published by KMH