College Docs was happy to be part of  Fairfield Market on the Green on Sunday June 11, 2017.
It was wonderful getting a chance to meet with people from Fairfield and the surrounding communities to talk about college concerns.  Some of the questions raised were:

• When is a good time to start the college planning process? (Freshman and Sophomore years are ideal in order to have to time to optimize the high school curriculum and summer and extra-curricular activities.)
• What’s the best way to deal with communication between parent and teen without nagging? (Often it’s helpful to have a third party to allow the student to be open to adult advice and assist the student to own the process.)
• How can we get the best “bang for our buck” regarding college costs? (Don’t be fooled by “sticker shock”. Interestingly, often the largest scholarships come from well-endowed private colleges.)

Feel free to contact College Docs with these, or any other, college-related issues, and see the many ways we can help you and your teen in planning for their future.
 
We will also have a booth on the Sherman Green at the Fairfield Sidewalk Sale & Street Fair on Saturday, July 22.  Stop by to say “hello” and receive a small gift.  Anyone who signs our mailing list will get $50.00 off an initial College Docs consultation.

Call us at 203  330-1852  or email us at collegedocsmail@gmail.com

The event is free, open to the public with a first come, first serve format. Since there can be thousands of students and parents attending the event, expect long lines at the more popular schools such as  Rhode Island School of Design(RISD), Pratt Institute, Cooper Union School of Art and Fashion Institute of Technology(FIT). Expect to spend 10 to 15 minutes with each school's art faculty getting feedback on your work. As the event is only four hours long, it is beneficial to get there early and  do research ahead of time to maximize your visit, as you may only get to talk to 5-6 schools.  The event is for all high school students, families, art teachers and counselors and is advantageous for sophomores and juniors who can benefit from the art faculty feedback to improve their portfolios. Seniors can use the event as part of their admission portfolio review at individual schools as a part of their application process.

  For further information about attending an event at various cities around the country, go to:  www.portfolioday.net.

If you,  or someone you know are planning to major in the visual arts at college and are  interested in receiving custom, one-on-one guidance through every step of the college application process, contact College Docs. We specialize in the visual arts and offer   personalized college action plans . 

​
​Many high school students and parents are overwhelmed with the task of applying to college. They recognize how much information they have to decipher and look for resources to assist them with the college planning process. Some may have heard of Harlan Cohen or seen his bestselling book, The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College. He also hosts webinars and speaks at schools  around the country. He focuses on helping students transition to college life and 'becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable'.
Check out his website: www.harlancohen.com.

​By Dr. Deborah Barany
Barany Educational Consulting
www.baranyeduconsult.com

​After years of music recitals, high school performances, choir concerts, rehearsals, tech weeks and maybe even more than a few musical theater productions, you are ready to apply to college music programs. The music application process  takes planning, time management and attention to additional requirements.
The music application has more steps and requirements compared to a typical college application. Start researching early and learn about the following:

• Types of music programs found in colleges, universities and conservatories, (i.e.: dual degree options, conservatory, schools of music and departmental offerings)
• Preparation of a music application
• Audition process
• Music studios and pedagogical approach. 

Types of music programs found in conservatories, universities and colleges.
Almost every college or university offers a music major. The most important takeaway from this entire blog post is:

​All music programs are organized  around the studio system. Students select or are assigned a faculty member in their instrument. They typically stay with this teacher throughout their degree program. Private, group and master classes are taught through the studio. Students in the studio become colleagues, collaborators and friends. One of the benefits of the studio system include meeting students at all levels, -freshmen- senior and even graduate students. The studio becomes a home away from home as well as the center of music training. Now you might understand why music students are choosing a studio as well an institution.

There are all kinds of structures for earning a degree in music.
 
Conservatory - Only offer music degrees. Some liberal arts courses are required for graduation but do not form the majority of the course load. Examples include Eastman, Manhattan School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory.
 
Conservatory/Liberal Arts College- -There are a handful of schools in the US that have conservatories and liberal art colleges. Students can enroll in either the conservatory or the Liberal Arts College, OR they can enroll in both, earning two degrees. Campuses offering both are are referred to as double degree programs. Any two degrees can be combined, for example, Bassoon performance Major (Bach. of Music) and Biochemistry (Bach. of Sci). Examples include Lawrence University, Gettysburg College, Oberlin College and Conservatory.
 
School of Music - Usually found at the university level. Most schools of music operate like conservatories but have the resources of the larger university. Examples include Boston University, University of Puget Sound, Indiana University.
 
Music department - Usually found at colleges and operate like any other department, eg. biology department. Examples are St. Olaf College,  Pacific Lutheran University,  and Amherst College.gg
 
Music program - Programs are not full departments but in some colleges a student can still major in music. Best to check out the offering carefully.
 
Art school- - There are a number of Art colleges that offer music programs.  Good examples are The University of the Arts, Cal Arts , and Cornish College of the Arts .  This  type of school offers both visual and performing arts majors.

The Music Application
In addition to the regular application process (transcripts, essay, letters of recommendation, application, test scores) the music application is likely to require:
1) Audition
2) Resume
3) Head Shot
4) Additional  Application
5) Additional Letters of Recommendation from Music Teachers
6) Pre-Screen Submission
 
Audition- Make sure you know the requirements for your instrument. Requirements are listed on each school’s website. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE...this is not the time to wing it or come in underprepared. The audition will make or break your application. You might have the perfect GPA and test scores but that will not overcome a bad audition! There are several options for auditioning. The best option is audition live, on campus and in front of faculty. If that is not feasible many schools hold regional auditions around the country. If you really can’t get to campus or a regional audition you can submit a video to the school.
You must submit a complete application to the school before you can schedule an audition!!!!!
Even though you will most likely only be able to apply regular decision, submit your completed application by the ED1 or EA1 deadline.
Audition season is generally in January and February. - Unfortunately for the musical theater students it usually means no high school show for you in senior year.
 
Resume- This is a music resume which should include your instruments, all the ensembles, performances, current repertoire, and music teachers/lessons.
 
Additional Application- It is common for music programs to include a separate application in addition to the general application for the college/university. Check each school to find out what they require.
 
Music Letter of Recommendation- These letters must come from your private music teacher in your primary instrument (and secondary if you have one). You must also include your high school music teacher and community ensemble (if you participate in one).
 
Pre-Screen Submission- Many schools have so many applicants they can’t listen to everyone. Make sure you know if a school requires a pre-screen video submission. From this pre-screen video they invite candidates to a live audition. If you don’t pass the pre-screen stage then you are denied an audition and will not be admitted to the music program.
Check with each school’s application to see which portal, such as SlideRoom, they require for the pre-screen video. Some colleges have their own arts submission portal.

Application- Apply RD but think ED!!!
In order to schedule an audition you have to submit your application to the college/university first.  A couple of schools offer early action/decision for music students if they hold fall auditions. In most cases music students can only apply regular decision.  Nonetheless, in order to secure an audition date your application must be submitted in the fall. You do not have to worry about high school transcripts or test scores. Your common app and all your music materials must be complete and turned in early.
 
What about admission rates?
Unlike non-music majors, schools rarely report admit rates. The admit rates for music are very low- sometime even more competitive than the Ivies. This changes year to year and is different within the music program itself. For example, a large group of Baritone singers graduate making room for new Baritones.  At the same school, Alto Sax is full so no new students will be admitted in the Alto Sax studio. This is because of the studio system. Schools admit new students based on openings in the various studios. I have seen schools take 0% in a particular instrument because they had no room for new students that year.  Sometimes schools will let you know but most of the time they will still hear all instruments in case there is an opening.  Because of the level of competition, be sure to allow yourselves a variety of program options.
 
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Try and get the application done by early fall
• Prepare for the audition
• Know the requirements
• Choose your repertoire at an appropriate challenge level
• Let the music teacher be the coach, parents and counselors are not qualified nor appropriate to coach
• Ask music teachers for recommendations
• Enjoy the process, it is a big step toward the professional world

Personalized College Action PlanMany thanks to our colleague, Dr. Deborah Barany, IEC, for sharing her expertise with our readers.
For further information or help with college admissions for the arts, feel free to contact College Docs and check out the Performing Arts page on our website.  College Docs offers personalized college action plans to help with every step of the college admissions process. 

Lauren Wilshusen
Director of Admissions
Massachusetts College of Art and Design

​Hello from beautiful Boston! Did you know that Boston is home to the nation’s first public school, first subway, first public library, as well as the first art school to grant a degree? That school is Massachusetts College of Art and Design. MassArt—the country’s first and only remaining freestanding public college of art and design—has been around since 1873. A lot has changed since then, but what hasn’t is our commitment to make arts education accessible to students from all over the country, and the world.
MassArt offers a variety of disciplines spanning fine art, design, media, art education, and art history, as well as  graduate degrees in the fine arts, dynamic media, architecture, and art  education. Certificates are available in fashion, graphic, and industrial  design. Classes are taught by professors who are artists, designers, and scholars actively working in their field.
Our campus boasts  close to 1 million square feet of classroom, studio, and living space, the largest printmaking studio in the Northeast, and the Paine & Bakalar Galleries, which is the largest, free contemporary art space in New England. In addition to the professional galleries, there are six student galleries on campus, all of which are free and open to the public. The newly opened Design and Media Center offers interdisciplinary classroom space, a lecture hall, as well as brand new lighting and sound studios, and a modern woodshop.
Off-campus, MassArt students have access to cross-registration, athletics, performing arts, and social events through the Colleges of the Fenway and ProArts Consortia. Additionally, students can take courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the state Community Colleges, and the other State Universities.
There is quite a bit happening here at MassArt! Do you want to know more? Don’t hesitate to contact the Admissions Office or schedule a visit to campus. We hope to see you soon!

-The MassArt Admissions Team

THIS IS A SECOND IN  A 2-PART SERIES BY  
 Bonni  Alpert, Ed.D.
Assistant Dean, Office of Student Disability Services
Western New England University

As students eagerly anticipate the ‘independence’ that awaits them, as they embark on this new life phase in a post-secondary world, parents are often left wondering, “how do I let go, give my child space, and also help my child learn how to navigate this new, and sometimes daunting, experience?”  This can be compounded for parents of students with disabilities.  One reason for this is that, while many of these parents may have attended college themselves, they have never attended college as a student with a disability.  And, because of this, it is much more difficult to know first-hand what their child is experiencing, and then to help them navigate, from what may seem to be a very foreign vantage point.  Another reason for this is the fact that many of these parents have spent the last 18 years advocating on behalf of their child to make sure that he/she is supported and able to successfully transition through the K-12 educational system, in hopes that they will do what most students do – go on to college.  It is difficult to let go of a job you’ve been doing for so long – especially when there is so much love invested and the stakes are so high.
 
In my 25+ years of supporting/ensuring access to students with disabilities in higher education, I have witnessed, hundreds of times over, how well-meaning parents have unintentionally sabotaged their child’s success in their college and vocational pursuits, just because they weren’t aware of the following key points:   

• ​Students should know their rights and responsibilities.  For example, a school may not discriminate on the basis of disability. It must ensure that the programs it offers, including extracurricular activities, are accessible to students with disabilities. Postsecondary institutions can do this in a number of ways: by providing architectural access, providing aids and services necessary for effective communication, and by modifying policies, practices and procedures.  If your child does not require any accommodations, she can choose to keep this information private. If accommodations are needed because of a disability, however, your child must disclose in order to receive them. A school cannot provide any service, modification or accommodation when it does not know one is required. It is your child's responsibility to make her needs known in advance. This process is often facilitated by an office for Students with Disabilities. It is then the school's responsibility to work with your child to make reasonable modifications or provide appropriate services in a timely way​Students should be working on developing strong organization, time-management, planning and independent living skills while they are home and still in high school (while the stakes are relatively low).  While all young people may struggle in these areas to some degree, students with certain disabilities may be impacted significantly.  With all of the transition issues associated with the first year of college (new people, experiences, expectations, etc.), it is an unrealistic expectation that your child will be able work on developing these skills, while also managing a substantial course load.  Elizabeth Hamblet, an Educational Consultant, shares “8 Simple Ways that Parents Can Teach Kids to Get Organized”: http://time.com/4208279/8-simple-ways-parents-can-teach-kids-to-get-organized/?p=4208279?xid=tcoshare. 
• All people NEED to experience failure, before they can truly know how to succeed.  Based on my 25+ years in this field, and my own experience as a parent, I know that many parents will do almost anything to avoid having their kids experience even mild discomfort, anxiety, or disappointment.  Unfortunately, however, the result is that when, as adults, they experience the normal frustrations of life, they think something must be terribly wrong.  Dan Kindlon, a child psychologist and lecturer at Harvard, warns against what he calls our “discomfort with discomfort” in his book Too Much of a Good Thing: Raising Children of Character in an Indulgent Age. He believes that if children don’t have the opportunity to experience painful and uncomfortable feelings, they won’t develop “psychological immunity.” I’ve observed, for instance, students becoming despondent over something as easy to resolve as not understanding an assignment, without ever having considered the notion of contacting the professor for some answers.  In addition, research shows that predictors of life fulfillment and success are perseverance, resiliency, and reality-testing. These are qualities that people need so they can navigate the day-to-day of school, work and life in general.  Successful students/workers/people have a realistic understanding of the areas in which they excel, as well as the areas in which they are likely to struggle and may need help.
• Some students are just not ready for college, and that is okay!  A post-secondary education is a huge investment of time and money.  It is, therefore, so important that you really listen to your child, both his words and the messages she may be sending you.  Does she understand what it takes to do well in college level classes?  Is he equipped with the necessary skills to survive in a college environment? Has she exhibited a commitment to achieving a college education?  Does he want to be at the college or university to which you are sending him?  Does she want to pursue the major she’s in, or is this your dream for her?     The students who struggle the most are often apathetic regarding their academic performance, maybe      because they are in college because their parents want them to be, or because they think this is something they are supposed to be doing.  These students also often demonstrate a learned passivity, possibly because their parents were too afraid to let them struggle and fail.  These students often stumble along waiting for someone to offer assistance, but they don’t seek it themselves.  They don’t know they are missing something, they don’t ask questions, and they are not actively trying to find out answers when they don’t know them.  This just may not be the right time for college?!

• Nothing is irreparable.  My mom taught me this.  We all make mistakes, and our mistakes have consequences; however, the great thing about mistakes is that we can learn from them, and hopefully prevent similar mistakes in the future.  So, try to relax, sit back and enjoy the ride, with your kid in the driver’s seat.

These days with the prevalence of computers, tablets and smart phones, both students and parents, as well as businesses and institutions, have gotten used to relying on emails, texts and other online forms of messaging. While this can be very convenient for many communications, there are times when speaking directly to a person on the phone or face-to-face is essential.

Researching the college list and visiting
There are many parts to the college application process. To start, you need to find out accurate information on different colleges, what majors and special programs they offer and what standardized tests may be required for admission. Then, you need to explore what else each college has to offer in terms of clubs, sports, and academic rigor to see if the college would be a good fit for the student. Despite all the great information that can be obtained online, it is important to try and visit any school that the student is interested in as it helps to get the 'feel' of a campus that cannot completely be conveyed through a website. It can motivate a student to work harder once they see some real life colleges that they desire to attend. It can help to refine the college list and eliminate schools that are not liked.

Visiting can also show the college 'demonstrated interest' that can improve a student's chances of acceptance. In addition, once the student has hopefully been accepted to several colleges it can be difficult to try and rush to see all the schools in the spring. A campus visit affords the opportunity to speak directly to admissions staff, as well as current students, where asking questions is very important. Students and parents should feel empowered to ask anything of concern to them: from roommate selection, the political leanings of the student population, the school's policies on safety, to how easy or difficult it is to change one's major.

Another step in the college admissions process is developing the student's resume. This includes the transcript, extracurricular activities, jobs, special talents and one or more essays. A problematic personal essay has been known to sink an otherwise promising college application. It is very important for students to get adult feedback on their essay as well as how to best present themselves to the colleges, especially if there have been one or more academic bumps along the road. Parents can play a role but often have a harder time being objective and are unlikely to know what the admissions officers are looking for. Further complicating matters, it is often hardest for students to hear feedback from their parents rather than other adults.

Financial concerns
Once a well thought-out list of colleges to apply to has been compiled, most families will apply for financial aid. There are many details to this process which can be confusing. Here again, it is most important for students and parents to follow through with questions on anything that is not clear or where information is missing and to be aware of deadlines. Read carefully through all paperwork sent from the college as soon as you receive it. When filing the FAFSA, be aware of common errors, such as how to make sure all the colleges receive your financial information if the student is applying to more than ten schools. In that instance, after you've verified that the first ten schools have been sent and received your information, you can then go back and replace additional schools in those slots. Increasingly over the last few years it is not enough to simply submit the FAFSA. Some schools want the CSS Profile, a more thorough questionnaire about a family's financial information. Many schools now want an IRS transcript sent to them as proof that the family did, in fact, file their tax returns and that the numbers are consistent with what they reported on the FAFSA.

One needs to clearly understand the different types of financial aid that may be offered to the student. Failure to do so can cost a family thousands of dollars. There are scholarships and grants offered from the college (both one-time and renewable) which don't have to be paid back and are the best type of aid. There are various types of federal grants or loans if you qualify. While grants are preferable, federal loans are the most desirable of the loans because they have the lowest interest rates and have several deferment options following one's undergraduate education. There are also private student loans, which can be used to pay the gap between what monies are offered and each college's cost of attendance. Ideally you want to minimize the proportion of private loans in the financial aid package as these are the most costly upfront and during repayment.

One of the reasons it can be valuable to apply to several schools is that you then have a wider selection of financial offers. While money isn't everything, no one wants to leave school saddled with hundreds of thousands of dollars of loans. It is important that the student and the parents have ongoing open and honest discussions about each school's desirability and affordability. Even with a family's demonstrated financial need, colleges are not required to offer scholarships or grants to fill the gap. They may expect the family to take out extensive loans to pay for college. Often private colleges have greater endowments than state colleges, and are thus able to offer more scholarships, despite having a higher stated cost of admission, the 'sticker price'. In addition, state college are mandated to provide for their in-state residents, and many offer little money to out-of-state residents to offset costs to their in-state students. Ironically, therefore, students can often pay significantly less for a private college than for a seeming less expensive state school out of their state.

Be proactive and follow through
With all the hours and effort put into the college application process, it is crucial that important details are not overlooked. If a student or parent has a question or concern, it is not sufficient to simply send an email and then wait for weeks to get a reply. Emails can get overlooked, people can get sick, go on vacation, leave their job or simply make mistakes. Do not assume that the college staff are always thorough. Teenagers have to realize that adults are not necessarily competent. Other adults, such as parents, realize this. This is a truism of life in general. Communications from colleges sometimes are not clear. Do not doubt yourself or not follow up because you don't want to seem foolish or be a nag. Do not rely on a 'reminder' from the college for missing documents. It is the student's and parents' responsibility to respond or to call and get clarification if something is not clear or does not seem right or goes beyond the time expected to get an answer. It's always good to be proactive when dealing with the importance of the next four years of a student's life and their future job prospects.

Do not hesitate to call a college's admissions office, specific department office or financial aid or bursar's office, or FAFSA itself with questions. That is part of their job. If you do not get a thorough answer, politely ask to speak to someone higher up who might know the information. Often students are manning the desks at the colleges and the initial person on the phone does not have the experience or authority to correctly answer a question. Be courteous but do not allow yourselves to be put off. Students should utilize their parents if they feel that they are not getting clear or thorough information. Make sure all information received by the student is shared with the parents. Do not assume parents received a duplicate of the information and that they will 'take care of it'. Many parents want to be helpful but do not understand a lot of today's requirements because things have changed in the last 20 to 30 years.

Learning to be strong self-advocates will enable students to navigate college more successfully, as well as serve them for the rest of their lives. Getting expert college advice is an investment in a student's education that can increase their chances for acceptance and the offers of scholarships. College Docs works with students and their families to help them obtain the best opportunities for successful college admission. Feel free to call us for questions on how we can help.
Contact College Docs at 203-330-1852 or collegedocsmail@gmail.com