What is a Bachelor’s Degree and what is the difference between a B.A. and a B.S.?

While working with my students during their junior year of high school I always make it a point to define what is a Bachelor’s Degree and what is the difference bewteen a B.A. and B.S. degree so they understand just what the undergraduate degree is all about. Most students do not know the defnition so it’s very helpful to start there.

So let’s define the basics of the Bachelor’s Degree:

A Bachelor’s Degree is the degree you earn from matriculating at a 4-year instiution. This college or university grants this degree when you typcially accure 120 credits.

The term bachelor stems from the Latin word baccalarius, referring to people of low rank in the feudal hierarchy, but it was later used to refer to students who had passed the baccalaureate exam and were thus in the second stage of their studies. During the Middle Ages, the bachelor’s degree was merely a stage in the education process, rather than a qualification such as master and doctor, which were already common at the time. This phase entailed the study of grammar, rhetoric, and logic during a period of three to four years, which ended with examinations.

What’s the difference between a B.A. and a B.S.?

A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is a four year degree that emphasizes coursework in a major such as literature, history, social sciences or world languages. While a B.A. is not devoid of math and science (depending on general education course requirements, too), it most likely has less required courses in this area.

A Bachelor of Science (B.S,) is a four year degree that focuses on coursework in more STEM related fields such as engineering, nursing, science, math and technology. Many B.S. courses require lab work as well so their courses require more class and lab/field time. Some B.S. programs have a more lock-step curriculum so you need to enter the program at the beginning of your first year to complete it.

Some universisties offer a B.A. and B.S. in the same field. For exmaple, the Univesrity of Colorado-Boulder offers both tracks in computer science. If a student wants to become an engineer, the B.S. would be the better option but the B.A. is better for students interested in web design and writing for websitses, etc.

There are many options out there so make sure to read what are the differences at each school and what are the course offeriengs per degree.

How to make the most of a College Rep meeting at your high school….

During the fall months, many college admission officers are out traveling from high school to high school meeting with students to discuss their college. These officers are making the rounds in a designated area of the country. This admissions rep may very well be the person(s) who reviews your application when you apply.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when attending a college rep visit:

1. Shake their hand. Introduce yourself and say hello. It’s a great way to practice your professional skills and adults remember students who go the extra mile.

2. Listen and take notes while the College Rep is giving his summary about the school. You won’t remember everything that is said and you can look back on what was told to you later on.

3. Ask a question or two. Ask about whether or not you must declare a major on your application and if so can you switch your major upon matriculating? Or what about housing? Is it guranteed all four years or do students live off campus after freshman year?

4. Do not look at your phone during the meeting. Silence it and don’t snap or text while in the meeting.

5. Say thank you and get their business card. You can email them after the meeting and thank them for coming to your high school.

College Fair Tips….

Fall is a busy season for taking standardized tests, visiting a college campus or two and for attending your high school college fair.

 Attending a Fall College Fair is one of the best first steps in your college search.

 Here are a few tips to consider.

 1.   All high school students should take the time to attend. I’ve been asked if it’s ‘really worth it’ for an underclassmen to attend. Yes, it is.

2.   Upon arrival, pick up a map of the fair and look to visit the tables for schools you may have already identified.

3.   Introduce yourself to the college representative. That’s right, shake the rep’s hand and say hello. It’s great practice to talk with adults informally but in a respectful manner.

4.   If you have any specific interest, make sure to ask about them such as study abroad options or a certain major you are looking to pursue.

5.   Do not specifically ask what is your ‘chance for admission’ but ask what is the range in GPA, test scores and personal qualities the school is looking for in applicants.

6.   Visit two or three schools for which you have never heard of. This is a great way to expand your thoughts about where to attend and to learn of different types of schools: private universities, small liberal arts colleges, public and state universities, etc.

7.   Make sure to have your QR code scanned by every table you stop at. That way, the college can contact you in the future and you can ask questions going forward.

Have fun. Attending is a fun and exciting time to see what colleges and universities are out there!

What is Direct Admission?

If you have a high school junior or senior they might have recently received an email from a direct admit school, saying they were admitted without applying. Direct admit is a relatively new process in college admissions where a student receives admission without going through the traditional application and standardized testing process. The student receives an email with an acceptance letter which usually also includes financial aid information as well. It’s a similar process to getting pre-approved for a credit card or loan.

There are a few programs that curently use direct admission including the Common Application (Common App) and Concourse.

Concourse requires a fee ($75) that can be waived but students create a profile which must be certified by a teacher, guidance counselor or another school representative. The profile needs to contain information such as GPA, college interests, test scores and location. Then Concourse will ‘match’ the student with universities that fit their criteria.

The Common App started a direct admit program a few years ago and continually add more and more schools to the program each year. Students who completed their Common App profile but did not submit had their information sent to participating schools. Six schools participated in the Common App direct admit program in 2021 and 14 did so in 2022 and it’s growing each year.

This information is constantly changing so check out the program you are interested in to find out more details!

How to prepare for the new digital SAT in 2024!

Students will take the new digital SAT at official testing locations on individual laptops, tablets or other devices. But they will need to have downloaded an app called Bluebook to take the exam. It consists of a graphing calculator and annotation tool and you must have the app set up before test day.

1. You can download Bluebook the app needed to take the exam on your device. Go to the College Board website to download it now: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital/digital-practice-preparation

2. Two weeks before the test: Take a full-length practice test in Bluebook.

3. Five days before the test day: Complete exam setup in Bluebook and get your admission ticket.

4. On the test day: Arrive on time (early). Check your admission ticket

How to prepare? Some students prep with a tutoring service, either one-on-one, small group or possbly on-line. Some use Khan Academy which is a great free online website that can help you prepare for the exam, too. Preparing for the exam will ensure that you use your time wisely and know the style and structure of the exam. If you need any tips on how to prepare, please reach out.

Want to know how the new digital SAT will be scored? Check out my blog on “the new digital SAT uses adaptive scoring-here is how it works!”

The new digital SAT uses adaptive scoring- here is how it works!

The digital SAT is organized using a multistage testing adaptive testing (MST) system that aims to provide a more efficient and accurate assessment of a student's skills and knowledge. MST is a type of computerized testing that adapts to a student's ability level, presenting questions that are more or less difficult based on their responses. This approach allows for a more personalized and tailored testing experience, ultimately resulting in a more precise evaluation of a student's performance.

In the digital SAT, the MST system is implemented across two equal-length sections, each consisting of two modules of questions. Both sections have two modules of both Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. Each section is dvided into two modules has equal amount of time and the same amount of questions. (See chart below)

Additionally, each module is separately timed, with students having a specific amount of time to complete the questions within each module of that section.

Depending on how you do in the first module will determine if you move on to an easier or more difficult module for the second and last module of that section.

The College Board still combines your scaled scores from reading & writing and math for a maximum total number of 1600 points. (Combined score range of 400-1600)

You are not penalized for answering a question incorrectly. Your raw score represents the number of correct answeres on a specific section of the SAT.

Understanding Financial Aid

Financial Aid is broken down into two sections: Need-based and Merit-based.

1. Need-based aid is awarded to students by submitting the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and/or the CSS Profile (College Board). Even if you do not think you are eligible for need-based aid, fill out the FAFSA (and CSS if need be).

The Department of Education and the institutions you are applying to determine if you are eligible for need-based support at each college or university.

Students do not need to pay back an educational grant or award but do need to pay back loans (subsidized loan payment starts approximately 6 months after graduation and unsubsidized loan payment begins immediately).  Loans are the bulk of most financial aid packages. Know the difference between loans. (Private loans are the most expensive.)

Need-based aid is awarded by a combination of the following:

·      Loans (such as Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Grad PLUS Loans and Parent PLUS Loans, Perkins and Subsidized Stafford Loans)

·      Federal Pell Grants

·      State Grants

·      Federal work-study Programs

2. Merit-based aid is awarded regardless of financial ability to pay for college. It is usually based on special talents such as athletics, music or academic. Mostly, merit-based aid is awarded through scholarships given by universities, states, and local organizations. Make sure to apply for awards through your high school’s scholarship/awards handbook during senior year. It can add up.  

Merit-based aid:

Money is awarded to students regardless of need. Merit aid can be awarded for:

·      Tuition Waivers

·      Scholarships (such as academic or athletic)

·      Awards

To find a comprehensive list of helpful Financial Aid information click here:

https://www.suzannelagemann.com/helpful-links/

Applying for Financial Aid

Applying for need based aid is an important component of the college application process. Each institution requests that you do so. I highly recommend that you apply even if you do not think your household is eligible for need-based aid.

1. Create a FSA ID

https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm

Students need to create an ID in order to gain access to the Federal Student Aid’s website. This should be completed in the student’s name ONLY.

2. Complete the FAFSA after December 1.

https://fafsa.ed.gov/

Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available on or around December 1. Ten colleges or universities can be listed. (If you need to list more than 10, you will have to wait until after you receive an email stating that your FAFSA has been processed to add more schools.)

Please note that the FAFSA is to be completed in the student’s name. Many parents fill out these forms but it should be in the student’s name.

3. Check the Institutional financial aid deadlines. They will vary depending on if you are applying ED or Regular, etc.

 Make a plan (create a spreadsheet) on when you need to apply for each school as per their website or call each Financial Aid Office. You do not want to miss a financial aid deadline. No question is silly. Ask the schools for clarification, if needed.

4. Check to see if any of the schools you are applying to ALSO ask that you complete the CSS Profile: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

The College Board administers the CSS Profile and it is mostly used by private schools.

It asks for your financial history and information in more detail than the FAFSA. Again, check school websites to check for deadlines. 

5. Last, when does your high school make their Scholarship/Awards Directory? Most do so in the early winter months. Make sure to know so you can apply for as many as possible.

Eight Tips for navigating the college search as an LGBTQ+ student

The student experience is what most college students focus on when they arrive at college. Therefore, it’s important as a prospective student to know what traits of a college to look for, who to speak with while visiting a campus and what aspects of a college culture to inquire about as an LGBTQ+ student. So, here are my eight tips on what to investigate during your search and application process.

1. Does the college promote a welcoming and inclusive campus culture? Are there pride flags on campus(not just in June during Pride month), LGBTQ+ friendly events, seminars, facilities embedded across campus?

2. Does the college employ LGBTQ+ faculty and staff?

3. Is there an LGBTQ+ center on campus for students and community?

4. Does the University Health Center promote and provide resources for LGBTQ+ students?

5. Does the college provide housing, learning communities or a roommate-matching service to connect students to an LGBTQ+ friendly roommate?

6. How does the university administration respond to acts of aggression toward the LGBTQ+ community?

7. When you visit a college campus as a prospective student, visit the LGBTQ+ center and ask to speak with students that identify as yourself and/or the director of the center. Are they friendly? What type of events do they organize throughout the school year? How many students are active at the center?

8. Last year, the Common App reported that at least 20% of applicants self-identified as a part of the LGBTQ+ community. This is self-reporting. I am sure that number is higher since some students did not self-report.

   Go to www.campuspride.org for more information about how to find an inclusive campus and which colleges are not inclusive.

Navigating the college search as a Jewish Student

Finding community at college is, in most student experiences, very important. For a Jewish student, finding a college or university that provides a welcoming community can be a significant factor during their college search. Here are my tips for what to consider when researching colleges as a Jewish student:

1. Holistic Fit: No one Jewish student is alike so keep in mind that what fits one student may not be what another is looking for. But in general, it is important to find community both socially, religiously, kosher, academic and through campus organizations.

2. Religious Services: Does the college provide religious services especially for the High Holidays: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? And if you want to observe other religious holidays such as Sukkot, Purim or Passover, does the college provide services for these holidays as well?

3. Does the college or university provide a Kosher dining option for Jewish students on campus? If so, does it provide this option in all dining halls or just one or two?

4. Does the college or university provide a campus organization such as Hillel International, Chabad, Jewish Student Union or an OU-JLIC? These organizations would potentially provide community for the Jewish student to have Shabbat each week, religious services throughout the year and give the student a social community.

5. Are academic courses offered in Jewish studies such as middle eastern studies or Hebrew language?

6. What type of social experiences and community does the college provide for Jewish students?

7. How does the administration create a safe and inclusive environment for Jewish students? How does the college or university deal with Anti-Semitism or micro-aggressions?

   Hillel International and Chabad are found on many college campuses across the US. Checkout their extensive websites for a great list of where they can be found.

   https://www.hillel.org

   https://chabadoncampus.org