One Lasting Piece of Advice

The typical college-searching, campus-touring high school student is bombarded with approximately 2,943 pieces of unwarranted, unhelpful, and unfounded advice before they even hit ‘submit’ on the Common App.  Okay, so perhaps I made that up, but from what I can remember, everyone and anyone for that matter had thoughts on how I should best move through the search and application process.  “Be funny in your essay” they said; “Join activities to show your well-roundedness” they said.  “Check out my alma mater” or “You should really look into engineering”.

As a junior and senior, you are absolutely barraged with tidbits of advice, suggestions, reminders and recommendations from everyone you meet.  And you know what, more often than not, these pieces of advice have more to do with the person saying them than with you!

Back when I was going through the college search (the search that eventually landed me at Bentley!), I let many of the so-called “words of wisdom” from others just wash over me and didn’t take much of it to heart.  Looking back, there is one piece of advice that actually resonated with me and it came from my dad.  Surprising, right?  The last thing I wanted to do at the time was admit that he was (dare I say it) right!

At the start of every campus tour, he would lean over and say, “Don’t forget to look for your spot”.  From the very beginning of my search, my dad told me about a space on his college campus that felt like it was his and only his.  A small cubby of a space in an academic building that no one else seemed to know about; this became his haven during his college years.  A place to study, write papers, get some space from roommates, or just find calm among the buzz of campus life.

For me, when I looked at schools, I had already done the research on rankings, majors, job placement rates and all of those other fast facts.  I was zoned in on getting the true sense of what it felt like to be on a campus and if I could picture myself adopting that community as my own for four years.  With the idea of finding “my spot” on campus, it kept me focused during long tours on really soaking in the campus and thinking about my future cubby of space to call my own.

After countless campus tours, edits and re-edits of my essay, months spent waiting to hear back, and one really exciting visit from my mailman, I got my acceptance letter to Bentley.  My mind instantly transported me to the feeling of being on campus, despite being in my familiar kitchen at home.  What I loved though, was the fact that the familiar feeling of being home was what I also felt as I pictured Bentley in my mind.  It felt like the place that I would call my home for the next four years and the place that I could have “my spot” on campus.

P.S. – My spot was somewhere in this building, but I can’t give away its exact location!  Maybe someday you’ll find your spot here too!

The College Search – Top 6 Ways You’re Doing It Wrong

The hunt is on.  Out of nearly 4000 colleges and universities in the United States alone, you have been charged with narrowing that list down to just a select few which you will apply to and eventually just one that you will enroll in for the next four years.  No big deal, you’ve got this, right?  Right?

From someone who has gone through the process and has watched others make their way for many years, I wanted to offer you the top 6 ways that students go about their search and application process in the wrong way.

You’re doing the college search wrong if…

1. You made your decision to like a school (or not) based solely on the website.

A bunch of HTML and graphics shouldn’t be the only reason you make this decision.  Websites are there to give you as much information as possible, but there is still nothing like getting your feet on a campus and seeing it for yourself, rather than through the eyes of an IT department!

2. You are applying to a school just because your mom/dad/brother/aunt went there.

Sure, it makes for a great story to share amongst the family tree, but make sure you are picking a school because is it where you can see yourself being successful and happy.  Just because someone else had a great experience doesn’t automatically mean that it is the right choice for you.  It can be hard to tell a family member that you don’t want to follow in their exact footsteps, but speaking up now can make your next four years a lot better.

3. You cross a school off your list just by looking at the cost.

College is expensive.  I know that, you know that, colleges know that.  What is important to remember is that your cost is not necessarily the same one that is shown on college websites and brochures.  The annual cost of tuition, fees, room and board doesn’t take into account any potential merit or athletic scholarships or federal, state, or institutional aid like loans, grants, or work study awards.  When you find a school you are interested in, make sure you ask about available scholarships (and what you have to do to qualify).  Ask what forms they need submitted and by what deadlines. Check out the Net Price Calculator that is found on every college website.  With the right financial aid package, some schools that appeared too costly at the outset may end up being more reasonable than a school with a lower starting “sticker price”.

4. You wait until the last minute to write your college essay. Under pressure, it’ll just write itself, right?

Quite a bit of the time you spend filling out college applications will be focused on checking off this box and that box and entering your address, your birthday and school information (you will have that high school CEEB code memorized before you know it).  When it comes time to “write” your essay in the application, hopefully you are able to copy and paste in your carefully and thoughtfully crafted final draft instead of starting from scratch.  Your essay is your chance to talk to us!  You have the attention of the admission committee – what do you want them to know about you?

5. You ask the first teacher you see in the hall at school to write you a letter of recommendation.

Think carefully before asking just any teacher to write this all important letter.  Not every single teacher is going to know you well enough to portray your best qualities to an admission committee.  Don’t necessarily just pick the teacher who has given you the highest grade. Consider asking a teacher who helped you through one of your tougher classes – they may have gotten some insight into how you handle challenges or setbacks.  They may be the one who has really seen you blossom through the years and exceed all expectations.

6. You watched the movie Admission. Tina Fey was funny. Also, you know everything about college admissions now.

Fact: This rom-com was mildly entertaining.  Myth: Every admission office in the country is just like the one in the movie.  Each college and university has different deadlines, programs, policies, and admission processes.  Find out who your admission counselor is, ask what else you can do to stand out, make sure all of your information is sent (and then, in fact received) at each college.  Admission counselors are in this line of work because they want to be a resource to you, so take advantage of their help!

What Does It All Mean?

As we gear up to release our Early Action decisions, we know that our decisions will be met with mixed emotions: excitement, disappointment, and even some confusion. Perhaps the most puzzling decision for students to receive is the dreaded “defer”, so I wanted to take a moment to dispel some of the common misconceptions about this decision. Many students automatically think of being deferred as bad news, but this is not the case! With thousands of applications in Early Action and thousands more coming in Regular Admission, the admissions committee has to make some very difficult decisions. At Bentley, we take the holistic review of an application very seriously and make sure to put just as much time and energy into reading your application as you put into writing it!   We look at a myriad of personal and academic qualities that would make a student a good fit for Bentley, but this is not a decision that can be rushed. In some cases we might need more information to make a final decision or we might need to look at the entire pool of applicants before making the most informed decision that we can. With a limited number of spots in the class and so many wonderfully talented and special applicants, it is not an easy process. So, what can you do if your application is deferred to the regular decision pool?

1. Show us some love. If you believe that Bentley is the place for you, but haven’t been able to make a visit to campus, there are plenty of other ways to show your interest! For example, don’t be afraid to reach out to one of our admission counselors and let us know you’re interested. We love hearing from you!  Your admission counselor’s contact information can be found here: http://www.bentley.edu/undergraduate/contact
2. Make sure we have the most up-to-date information on your academic or personal achievements. You can log in to your MyBentley Account (http://applicant.bentley.edu) to make sure that we have all of your supporting documents and be sure to have your guidance office send your mid-year grades along when they become available.
3. Hang in there. We know that it might not be the decision you were hoping for, but rest assured your application will continue to receive the time and energy it deserves.

5 Easy Steps to Having an Awesome First Year at Bentley

No matter how much I refuse to believe that this is my last year at Bentley, it is inevitable that I will be walking across the stage in May to receive my diploma. It has been one crazy ride these past few years, but after some reflection I realized that freshman year was the start to my amazing experience at Bentley.

With that said, let me leave you with 5 easy steps to having an awesome first year at Bentley

1. Attend ORIENTATION

College… It can be a little nerve-wracking. You are most likely leaving home for the first time to an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar faces, but trust me on my words that orientation will take all those nerves away. Are you scared of doing something embarrassing? Don’t worry the Orientation Leaders will be doing things that will surpass any sort of embarrassment you may come across. Just EMBRACE THE CHEESE and you will find yourself making friends before the semester even starts. You might even find a potential roommate!

                     

2. Set S.M.A.R.T Goals

Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Realistic. Timely

Everyone sets goals beginning January 1st to start off the New Year, but why not set some more goals day 1 of college? Think about the things you want to achieve in your first year. Whether it is a personal or academic based goal, college is a blank slate where you can start all over. Continue to set and reach your goals throughout your years at Bentley, and you will find yourself succeeding in all your endeavors.

Tip: Make your goals visible! Write them down or create a dream board and tape it to your wall or mirror everyday to remind yourself of the achievements you want to obtain by the end of your first year.

3. Get INVOLVED

There are over 100 student organizations recognized on campus! So go to the Activities Fair at the beginning of the semester and sign up for something you’re interested in. This is a great way to meet new people that have common interests with you! My best friend and I became friends starting freshman year through our involvement in South Asian Students Association.

4. EXPLORE

You may or may not be from Waltham, MA, but there is always room to venture out in the town and Boston. With the close proximity to Boston and access to Harvard Square via the Bentley Shuttle Bus, you can explore the beautiful city with friends and family! You might also want to really venture out and go skydiving one day with your friends. 

5. Build RELATIONSHIPS

Most importantly, build relationships with peers, faculty, and staff! I touched upon meeting new people in the previous steps, but take the time to create those strong bonds with them. I am so appreciative of the people I met at Bentley. My peers, faculty, and staff were the ones that supported and helped me grow with the opportunity to become an Orientation Leader, ALANA Leader, Resident Assistant, Peer Academic Advisor, Admissions Fellow, and Risk Assurance Intern at PwC.