Naviance and Podcast

This past summer I have had the pleasure of connected with Naviance, a company dedicated to planning and advising systems for secondary education.  I learned of Naviance when I worked at the Cate School in Carpinteria and then I connected with Joe Berry at Naviance who asked me to do a Podcast for the Community portion of the Naviance website!  The topic of the podcast was “What to expect your first semester” — It was so much fun!

Naviance then had an amazing summer institute where counselors from all over the world gathered for workshops.  100 of my books, The Little College Handbook, were given away as prizes so 100 counselors throughout the U.S. are getting my book!

It’s such a small world too because while I have been working with Joe Berry, his boss Don Tollman, the VP of Enterprise Sales, asked Joe “Is this the Melissa Mellott who went to Colorado State University?”  Don was one of the first admissions counselors I worked with in the Office of Admissions at CSU when I was an undergrad and just starting to work in higher ed admissions!  Don is such a great person, very funny and an amazing higher ed professional!

My experience working with Naviance thus far has been incredible!  They are change agents, making a difference and improving structures of organization in education.

Anatomy of Politics

I am a part-time adjunct professor at Santa Barbara City College and I right now I am teaching my class the basics of Anatomy for Estheticians.  We cover the basics of face, neck, should and arm bones and muscles.  This is a short story about arm muscles that I wrote, hoping it will help them remember two of the muscles in the arm!  I hope it’s silly enough for them to remember when they are taking the State Board Licensure Exam!

The Anatomy of Politics

 

 The Terminator, who was the Governor of California, said to the SUPINATOR, “I think you should RUN for office. What are your STRENGTHS?”

 

“Well,” said the SUPINATOR, “I RUN Parallel to the Ulna.  Plus I TURN the Palm of the Hand UP; this is perfect for collecting tax money from Californians.”

 

“Dat is convincing SUPINATA.”

 

But then the PRONATOR overheard this political conversation and muscled his way into the conversation.

 

“Excuse me, but I think I have better qualifications than the Supinator to RUN for office.  I RUN across the Ulna AND the front part of the RADIUS.  The Supinator only runs parallel to the Ulna,” said the PRONATOR.

 

The PRONATOR continued, “Plus, I turn the palm of the hand downward AND inward so I can shake the hands of Californians and not just collect their money.”

 

The End

Choosing a Major

I am often asked about how one goes about choosing a major.  Students are pressured by this question.  I wrote an article for the Independent a few years back on this question that is pondered over and over.  And still to this day (I’m 32 now), I think if I were in college, I would still be changing my major.  Here’s the article:

A Minor Detail: Choosing a Major in College
by Melissa Mellott

Ten years ago I was a first generation college student overwhelmed by all of the details of the college process—especially that of choosing a major. I signed up as an Occupational Therapy major because it sounded interesting. But a failed biology class and miserable internship later and I had become part of a statistic: On average, college students will change their major 3-5 times before graduation. I switched from Occupational Therapy to Business to Liberal Arts. After working with hundreds of college students as an admissions counselor, and going through the experience myself, I believe choosing a major is stressful because of the belief that it is the beginning step toward a career that you’ll be locked into. The truth is, however, people out of college continue to grow, explore, and change their careers throughout their lives.

With that in mind, think of college as a place that provides opportunities for discovering yourself and your interests. Two college degrees, a book, and a few loans later, I realize that I learned about what disciplines appealed to me by exploring ones that ultimately didn’t interest me. You may start as a pre-med and after a fainting spell in the lab, realize it’s not for you. Or perhaps you are undecided in a major and don’t even know where to begin—business seems appealing…perhaps engineering…what about psychology. For many students, the path to choosing a major is mapped by academic advisors, the career center, and friends and family. The following are suggestion about how to help you choose the major that’s best for you.

» General Education Requirements are the classes that every student, no matter their major, must take to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Besides making you a well-rounded student, these classes are an opportunity to experience different subjects and to evaluate where your interests and strengths lay.

» Study Abroad lets you live in and learn about a new country and offers one of the most intellectual and personal growth opportunities for a student. Financial aid and scholarships are generally available for studying abroad.

» Can’t choose between all of the great majors? Choose a minor or even double major. To minor, you will most likely be in college an extra semester; count on an extra year for double majoring.

» Internships give you hands-on experience and a foot-in-the-door approach. They offer a glimpse into the real-life aspect of working in a specific field. Internships also provide additions to your resume and reference list and can even land you a job after you graduate.

» Intrigued by what a day-in-the-life of a professional is like? Plan a time to interview or shadow them. Ask what they studied, what they like most and least about their job.

» What about a job? Working 10-15 hours a week, whether it’s on campus or off, is insight into the work world. Don’t settle for the cafeteria or library; get connected to something that relates to your interests and major.

» Get a life! Join a club, go Greek or volunteer. Extracurricular activities are another way to learn more about yourself, relieve stress, enjoy the fun and games of college.

» An academic advisor will be assigned to you when you enter college. They are key players in structuring your class schedule, talking with you about different requirements for different majors, and offering guidance. It’s best to meet with your academic advisor every semester or quarter to re-evaluate and assess your academic and career goals.

» The Career Center is a good place to start researching which majors lead to different careers. It is also a great place to get personality tests to assess your strengths.

» Lastly, multicultural offices, women’s centers, and other advocacy offices are good resources for major and career information and counseling.

Most importantly, select a major that intrigues and excites you, and stretches your thinking. Perhaps the challenges—and even the failures—will steer you closer to the right path. Choosing a major is the first stepping stone to your goals and career, but the impact of your experiences in college will stay with you a lifetime.

“The Not-So-Secret Admissions Process”

My best friend Kim Charles, who now works as an admissions counselor at U of Wisconsin Madison, sent me this article “The Not-So-Secret Admissions Process” which was published in the recent Alumni Newsletter.  Kim and I met 8 years ago when we were hired at the same time as admission counselors at University of Colorado at Boulder.  This article is a little long and only really pertains to UW-Madison admissions, but has good tidbits of information about the Myths of Admissions overall. 

USC has the Right Idea

Promoting higher education is about more than just advocating “College Access for All.”  I think a deeper understanding of the business, ethics and philosophy of higher education is necessary.  Many colleges start new programs or committees to address various issues on diversity, access, prep, etc. all of which are good, but I think only scratch the surface.  USC is taking philosophies on enrollment policies to another level and one that I think will have a deeper impact.  A new research center will take a close look at admissions practices and will bring together scholars, professionals and business leaders.  In an article written by James Grant in the USC Chronicle, the founding executive director Jerome A. Lucido says, “Today in America, a laser light is focused on the point of college access.  Parents and students view the college admission process as a gateway to future prosperity, health, security and satisfaction.  This new research center will look at critical questions, including; ‘Why is the admissions office door the focus of all these hopes and dreams?’  ‘What barriers exist within admissions processes that continue to separate many Americans from the opportunities and benefits of higher education?’ ”

In the article, USC Provost C.L. Max Nikias states, “The mission of this center could not be more relevant or timely.  A university campus is, in our day, far more than a collection of classrooms and laboratories held together by ivy and landscaping.  Today, a university campus houses nothing less than the full range of our society’s ambitions and aspirations.  Enrollment management policies and questions must be addressed vigorously and answered in meaningful ways, if colleges and universities of the United States are to serve our constituencies to the fullest of our ability.”

Click here for entire article.

One Student’s Perspective on College Visits

This past fall I started working part-time in the college counseling office at Cate School.  Margo Dorion and Emilie Griffin, the two counselors I work with are wonderful and I enjoy the community at Cate.  This type of work is just what I know … working with young adults in an environment sharing information about college.  With students rushing the office sometimes with anxiety about the details of applying, SAT’s, deadlines … “Ms. Griffin, Ms. Griffin … what if … and what if …”  Calmly and with encouraging words Margo and Emilie seem to settle nerves — of students AND parents.  One of our seniors, Hallie McPherson, wrote a piece for the school newspaper, on visiting campuses.  I found her approach and perspective funny and I was glad to see a young adult who “gets it” and is attempting not to take the process of college too seriously. 

She starts, “I had deliberately avoided my itinerary for a month, ignoring words like “Harvard,” “Yale,” and “Swarthmore” like minor cavities that you forget not to tongue, and cringe when you do.  College talk makes me catty on my best days, murderous on my worst, and my dad has learned to speak quickly whenever we’re on the topic; too many minutes at a time produces in me a strange kind of minor hysteria. … Click here for her entire article on her visits to 12 colleges in nine days. 

Am I a College Consultant?

No.  “College Consulting” can mean a wide variety of things, but I do not have a business in college consulting — that is charging for my advice on college information (mainly college admissions).  This can be a long and more detailed discussion, but in short and generally speaking, some of my thoughts and opinions conflict with the philosophy and structure of being a private college consultant.  The idea of me going into this business came up again today when my friend Chip told me about an article in this month’s Entrepreneur Magazine.  It rated college planning and consulting on the 2008 hot list for opportunities for entrepreneurs because more than 17 million students apply for college each year and are in need of guidance through the college process.  Further, the excerpt on college planning says,
When we say college students are hot, we don’t mean the girls of Delta Gamma or the guys of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. We mean that the more than 17 million students who apply to college every year are a hot market for entrepreneurs.Thanks to the complex application process, more students applying to multiple schools, skyrocketing tuition fees and parents in desperate need of information, there aren’t enough high school counselors to keep up–the National Association for College Admission Counseling reports a 315 to 1 student to counselor ratio. “Given the challenges families face, there’s tremendous growth potential for advising college-bound students,” says Monisha Perkash, 33, co-founder with Paul Wrubel of San Mateo, California, TuitionCoach.com, which provides college-planning consulting services.

That demand has prompted an entire industry of college-planning consultants, specialized tutors, application experts, financial planners, publications and networking sites “all geared toward helping incoming students find the college of their choice and succeed once there,” says Justin Baer, creator of college-prep DVD Cracking College. He points out that today’s parents are willing to pay top dollar to help their children succeed.

Although Perkash agrees–families spend $5 billion annually researching and applying to colleges–she sees affordable college admissions and funding advice as an untapped area. Sites like hers–which expects six-figure sales this year–can tap that market at no cost to the customer. Now if only college were free. –L.H.  Click here for entire article. 

I’m less inclined to charge high hourly rates for consulting and more interested in providing information through my book and other ways to share my info through the blog, a website and a newsletter.  Chip and I talked about subscription based websites which gives helpful information, still gives the student the responsibility of doing their own research and yet can be a good business without charging outrageous fees.  Given the load (overload) of students that high school counselors work with, it’s understandable that families would be looking for additional advise and counsel on college admissions and financial aid.  I just think the ethics and business of college consulting need to be handled carefully and professionally.  I’m encouraged though by new thoughts and practices in the college consulting business.

Welcome to Education Defined

Thank you for visiting ED.  This blog is meant for students, parents, educators, and college administrators and I invite entries and comments as well. 

Ever since I went off to college, I have been an enthusiastic advocate of getting a college degree, especially for first generation college students.  As a promoter of higher education, one might guess that I started this blog to give traditional information on college topics such as college admissions, ACT or SAT, the college essay, financial aid, scholarships, visiting a campus or even choosing a major.  While I may touch on these topics and am happy to answer questions regarding these topics, I am drawn more toward a deeper understanding of issues surrounding higher education. 

After many years of working in higher ed and at various college campuses, I have observed and learned many things.  Also as a college grad myself, with thousands of dollars in debt, a handful of careers on my resume and having interviewed many people in my work and travels, I have developed an additional perspective on a college education (not replacing my current stance on the importance of a college education, only adding further understanding.)  I hope by sharing articles, ideas and thoughts, this blog will promote discussions and challenge current philosophies all the while giving traditional feedback and advice on the college process.

Santa Barbara Local Education Hero

Santa Barbara’s Independent recently recognized Same Wake in their “Local Heroes” issue.  After I read why they chose him, I remembered one of the many reasons I wanted to start this discussion blog on college topics.  Mr. Wake is a true pioneer in education (adult education) and I saw it appropriate to recognize his efforts for my first blog entry! 

Now 92, Sam Wake spent 25 years promoting the importance of adult education.  He is quoted as saying, “It’s the most important education there is — no grades, no credits, no degrees — just the joy of learning.”