Goals for Next Year

Goals for Next Year

by | Jun 17, 2020 | College Applications, Parents, Summer Programs

For most students, it’s officially summer now!  Given how this year ended, it may be hard to think about school in the fall.  But now is a good time to reflect on this past year and set your goals for the upcoming school year.  

Look back at this past year: 

  • Are you happy with your grades?   
  • Did you enjoy your classes? 
  • Did you spend enough (or too much) time in extracurricular activities?  
  • Are there activities or classes you wish you could have taken? 
  • What one change will you make for school next year? 

Take Action: Set a task with your goals for next year!

Need help? Let’s chat!

Bettina Weil

Founder, Weil CVollege Advising, LLC

info@weilcollegeadvising.com

Surviving an Unstructured Summer

Surviving an Unstructured Summer

by | Jun 1, 2020 | Summer Programs

From an article written by Leslie Josel

To help my students get unstuck and started, I introduced the concept of setting “seven daily intentions.” They provide a roadmap for the day, but in a gentler and more balanced manner. And I hope they help all of you, too!

1. Do something for your BRAIN.

Help your child with their online learning or teach them a new life skill (I have a client who is working through the car manual with her 16-year-old son), read a book, learn a new skill or dust off an old one. Do SOMETHING that requires some heavy mental lifting.

And a tip within a tip? If you have a child at home, have them teach YOU! Does your child play an instrument? Know the secret to mastering chess? My son has been teaching my husband how to play the ukulele, and the confidence and connection is priceless.

2. Do something for the HOUSE.

As we all shelter in place, there is no end to what needs to be done in our homes. Whether it’s cooking a meal, creating your monthly budget, paying bills, or planting your spring garden, make sure that every day you are putting in “house time.” Being able to “control” what little we can provides a sense of accomplishment and progress.

And a tip within a tip? Grab your children or your spouse and work together! Sometimes “body doubling” (being in an environment where others are doing what you’re doing) is super motivating. Make it fun by playing everyone’s favorite music and having snacks on hand.

3. Do something for your BODY.

Whether it’s a virtual yoga class, going for a walk, eating healthy or morning meditation, the way you treat your body directly effects your ADHD brain. Engage and invigorate your brain with an invigorating walk in the fresh spring air or a dance cardio workout.

4. Do something for YOURSELF.

I firmly believe that self-care is more important than ever. Whether you relax in a soothing bubble bath, catch up with friends on a Zoom call, or indulge in your favorite ice cream and entertainment magazine (Ok, that’s mine!), building “YOU” time into your day is not selfish but essential and medicinal. Our stress and anxiety levels are off the charts right now. So, remember, no guilt! Taking care of yourself allows you the brain power to take care of others!

5. Do something for SOMEONE ELSE.

This one is my favorite. Why? Because I’m finding the more we are physically distant from others, the more we crave human connection. Our desire to help and support each other – from our immediate family to our community – is powerful and important. Not only does it enrich our lives, it also keeps us happy and filled with purpose.

6. Do something for your SPACE.

Making beds, doing laundry, and yes, even cleaning can provide some much-needed order during this chaos. Performing small daily tasks will provide you with small successes, building the muscle you need to tackle those larger, more daunting projects! If you are looking for ideas for starting a large organizing project, I invite you to check out this easy-to-follow roadmap for getting started: https://www.additudemag.com/home-projects-coronavirus/

7. Do something for YOUR FUTURE GOALS.

I can’t stress this point enough: Balance your focus between today and what comes next. This is critical to your well-being. I know it is impossible to plan, as we can’t predict the “when,” but working toward future goals gives us some power and control to be ready when it does.

Questions? Let’s chat!

Bettina Weil

Founder, Weil College Advising, LLC.

Senior Checklist

Senior Checklist

by | May 20, 2020 | Parents, Summer Programs

Senior Checklist

You are almost there!  What are your next steps? 

  • Finish strong!  Strive to finish the year with your best work.  We all know that the past weeks have been a challenge and online school is wearing on many people.  But honor the hard work you put into the year by finishing the last few days or weeks as the best student you can be.   
  • Check in with your college – often.  Situations at many universities are very fluid as administrators are trying to anticipate what the fall will bring.  No doubt you are getting updates via the student portal or by email but be sure to stay on top of changing information.  This may include updates for housing, orientation, registration, etc.  
  • Schedule new student orientation.  Many colleges may be making arrangements to move orientations to an online format for this summer – or delaying orientation until just before the fall semester.  Whatever the circumstance, you don’t want to miss it.  Orientation usually includes valuable advising information and will often be when you register for classes.   
  • Schedule placement tests.  Some colleges require you to take Math and/or other placement tests.  Find out the requirements and be sure to get it completed.  Sometimes your SAT, ACT, or AP scores will suffice, and you will not need to take a test.  If you have questions about placement test requirements, contact the college. 
  • Say thank you.  Tell teachers, counselor, coaches and others that have helped you, “Thank you”.  Give special thanks and appreciation to parents and family for support. 
  • Make summer meaningful.  Plan to work, improve your study skills, learn something new, or spend time (whether online or in person) with friends and family this summer.  Save any money you earn for when you start college in the fall. 
  • Get a physical.  You may need vaccine boosters or a physical exam from the doctor before beginning the fall semester.  Check with the college to understand their requirements.   

Questions? Let’s chat!

Bettina Weil

Founder, Weil College Advising, LLC

Summer Plans for High Schools Students: Volunteer Opportunities

Summer Plans for High Schools Students: Volunteer Opportunities

by | May 14, 2020 | Parents, Summer Programs

A resource for volunteer ideas while maintaining social distance. The last few ideas are virtual activities that are not volunteer.

  1. Assisting the elderly with buying groceries. Students could organize this through neighborhood associations, churches/mosques, synagogues, other service associations, such as The Lions Club or Interact Clubs or Honor Societies at their school, and/or social media, using sites such as NextDoor, or help expand Invisible Hands to your area. CNN has already reported on one teen who has organized this kind of effort and volunteers are starting to offer to perform these services on Craigslist: here, here and here.
  2. Providing social connection with the elderly who are sheltering in place. One existing organization is making remote “Social Calls” to the elderly.
  3. There is also a current desperate need for masks for healthcare workers. #MillionMaskMayday even tells you how you can make them yourself so you can donate them. Better still, crowdsource all of the Californians you know who got N-95 masks during the wildfires and donate them to people who really need them This political PAC is currently accepting donations to order masks and donate them to hospitals in NYC.
  4. Doing remote volunteer tutoring for younger children whose school has also been canceled — again, students could use Nextdoor, social media, community organizations, and even their own teachers to find elementary school teaching colleagues who might spread the word and contact parents who might find it useful to have a teen help children with homework, teach lessons or activities, or just read-aloud remotely through an organization like Quarantutors. The Bay Area Tutoring Association might be a useful resource. Again, listings for this service are already appearing on Craigslist. Many companies, such as Khan Academy offer valuable resources. Other websites list multiple links to educational resource companies offering free access and other educational resources during this crisis.
  5. Even students on lockdown can organize virtual fundraisers (virtual concerts or other performances? poetry slams? offer online ballet, karate or taekwondo classes?) or teach online classes/tutor for younger children to help parents and donate the proceeds, organizing friends to help who are also stuck at home. list,
  6. Remote political volunteering. While the coronavirus crisis is ongoing, our 2020 Election political process continues. Students can volunteer to increase voter turnout through organizations such as Rock the Vote, which offers opportunities that can be done remotely, which offers remote volunteer internships, and Postcards to Voters, which can be written at home.
  7. Students with programming skills can do home-based coding for nonprofits that need help through organizations such as Code for Social Good, Benetech, or DonateCode. These students could also help develop apps or websites for some of the efforts listed above: helping coordinate neighborhood food service to the elderly, and/or families looking for remote tutors. Or help the people who are helping the rest of us through a Facebook group like Australia’s Adopt a Healthcare Worker and #ViralKindness , which started in England.

Some non-volunteer activities:

  1. Brush up on foreign language skills through Slow News in French or News in Slow Spanish — students already know current events; these sites give them familiar content spoken more slowly in the languages they’re studying in school so non-native speakers can follow along.
  2. Do “remote science” through the projects listed here: Citizen Science projects. This website has a searchable database of projects, some, like this one, looking for images of sea lions in photographs. There are even “crowdsourced history” projects
  3. Take an online course or learn to code online through IXL, Udemy, Coursera, EdX, Harvard online courses in Social Sciences, Stanford online courses, and Great Courses of the World. Or access the free resources of OpenCulture for ebooks and audiobooks or all of the TEDTalks. The Facebook group Amazing Educational Resources has assembled a pretty comprehensive listing of resources that companies are now allowing everyone to use for free during this crisis.
  4. Or do test prep for AP tests at Fiveable or use Crack ACT practice tests and free practice tests on the SAT CollegeBoard website
  5. Tour an online museum: http://www.virtualfreesites.com/museums.exhibits.htmlhttps://people.com/travel/stuck-at-home-you-can-visit-these-world-famous-sites-from-your-couch-for-free/, https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/art-exhibits/virtual-museum-tours-take-viewers-around-the-world-15137598, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75809/12-world-class-museums-you-can-visit-online, https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours, https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour, and https://lifehacker.com/you-can-virtually-tour-these-500-museums-and-galleries-
  6. American Red Cross needs blood donations org/giveblood.html
Summer Enrichment Programs

Summer Enrichment Programs

by | Apr 3, 2017 | College Applications, College Life, Parents, Summer Programs, Uncategorized

Summer Enrichment Programs

As we are dusting off the winter and welcoming the spring, or minds start to think ahead and dream of warm days, sunshine and flip-flops. And with those warm feelings, the prospect of a different routine, and free time to pursue interests and hobbies. College-bound students: this is your opportunity to pursue your intereses,experience life on campus, and have a great time!.

Here are some options for the best and most prestigious summer enrichment programs.

Cornell University – Introduction to Architecture Summer Program:

This intense six-week, June 24 – August 7, 2017, course introduces high school and college-level students to ideas, principles, and methods of exploring architectural problems in a studio setting. The course requires no specialized knowledge or background beyond a serious interest in architectural design. Applications are due by April 29, 2017. For more information about the program, visit cornell.edu

Syracuse University:

Summer College 2017 applications are now available online at summercollege.syr.edu. Choose from 30+ credit and non-credit programs, 2 to 6 weeks in length. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis – and many programs fill early.

Marist College:

This exciting opportunity is available to high school sophomores and juniorsand will provide you with a taste of college life, both in the classroom and on campus. There will be sessions in New York and Italy. To apply and get more information, go to www.marist.edu/precollege

Worcester Polytechnic Institute:

Frontiers: Pre-College Summer Program – Explore the outer limits of knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Immerse yourself in laboratory techniques and unsolved problems. Some of the sessions include Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Robotics, GenCyber Cybersecurity, Creative Writing and many more courses. For more information visit: wpi.edu/+frontiers for more details. Deadline for applications and supporting documents: April 15, 2017

Bucknell University:

If you want to develop creative problem solving skills that will help you make an impact on the world, then the Bucknell Academy Summer Experience (BASE) is for you on June 25-29, 2017. As a BASE participant, you will learn to consider similar ideas from different academic perspectives and build collaboration and presentation skills through exploring questions. Apply online by Monday, May 1, 2017. For more information, go to BASE@bucknell.edu or call 570 577-3000.

Carnegie Mellon University – Summer Academy for Math & Science:

Rising seniors are invited to apply to this six-week rigorous residential experience for students with a strong interest in computer science, engineering and natural sciences. For more information and to apply, visit http://admission.enrollment.cmu/edu/pages/diversity-sams. Application deadline: March 3, 2017.

University of Pennsylvania –Wharton Pre-College Programs:

Apply to one of Wharton’s pre-college programs: Leadership in the Business World, Management & Technology Summer Institute, Wharton Sports Business Academy and Wharton Moneyball Academy. Visit: http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/academics/pre-college-programs.cfm Admission is rolling – apply as soon as you can.

University of Chicago:

Applications for Summer Session 2017 are now available. Learn more about the full list of courses, application deadlines, program dates, tuition, and scholarship information by visiting: summer.uchicago.edu

California College of the Arts:

Applications are open for these 4-week, 3 college credit courses to be held June 26 – July 21, 2017. Courses in Animation: 2D, Animation: Stop Motion, Architecture, Creative Writing, Film, Industrial Design, Illustration, Photography, and many more will be offered. March 6, 2017 is the Scholarship deadline. Eligible students will have just completed the 10th 11th or 12th grade. Visit: cca.edu/precollege

Georgetown University:

Experience life as a college student, without the pressure of grades. You will engage in hands-on learning, study alongside classmates from around the world, and explore exciting areas of study in the Pre-Collegiate Programs. Take an in-depth look at an area of interest while earning college credit. College Credit Courses cover a diverse range of subjects and span from introductory Fundamentals courses to the advanced Summer Honors Intensive Program. For more information, visit: summer@georgetown.edu

Parsons Pre-College Academy – Summer 2017:

Registration opened November 15, 2016. Some of the courses being offered are Lang Summer Writing Intensive, Acting Intensive for Stage, Filmmaking Intensive, and many more. Visit online for dates and times.
Sign up at: newschool.edu/summer

Gettysburg College – Academic Summer Camps:

Gettysburg College is excited to offer several opportunities for high school juniors and sophomores to attend academic camps over the summer months. Subjects include psychology, American government, creative writing, or information technology. Here is a list of subjects.

  • Camp Psych – Campers will get hands-on experiences that introduce them to research in psychology during this fun, challenging, and engaging introduction to the field.
  • Campaigns and Elections Academy – This program is designed for highly-motivated students who have a strong interest in American campaigns and elections. Participants learn about the origins and evolution of democracy in America and gain hands-on experiences related to modern political campaigns. *Application will go live in early February.
  • Writing Camp – Students gain an in-depth introduction to all four genres of creative writing: fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and writing for stage and screen.
  • 3D Object Modeling and Printing Camp – Students will study 3D object modeling and printing starting with the basics of a 3D printer. After learning the fundamentals, they will practice designing objects.
  • Adruino Camp – Students will use their creativity and the easy-to-learn Arduino to create projects with its sensors, motors, speakers and displays, to create projects that interact with them and their world.
  • Civil War Institute Summer Conference – The High School Student Scholarship component of Gettysburg College’s annual Civil War Institute summer conference provides high school students an opportunity to explore the history of the Civil War era on the site of the war’s most decisive battle. For more information contact: admiss@gettysburg.edu
Duke University:

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a scientist? Make a dream a reality this summer at Duke Summer College. Here are just a few of the courses being offered.

  • Love and Hate Between Humans and Micro-Organisms
  • The 3-D Genome and Human Disease
  • Mathematics of the Universe Sensory Biology: Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch, Sound and Beyond
  • Introductory to Evolutionary Anthropology
  • The Ecology of Urban Environments
  • Introductory Seminar on Big Questions in Physics
  • The Hard Truth of Evolution
  • Microbes and Our World

For a full list of the classes being offered this summer, visit: summercollege@duke.edu

Denison University:

Reynolds Young Writer’s Workshop – Every summer, 36 current sophomores and juniors are welcomed to Denison University for this 8 day workshop. This is an opportunity to work with people who have made writing their career. The program runs from June 18 – 25, 2017. Financial aid is available to families who need it. Information about the program is online at reynolds.denison.edu Applications must be submitted no later than Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 11:59 pm.

Colorado College:

Summer Session will offer a full academic course schedule that supports the Block Plan. Students will have the opportunity to dive into their passions and engage with the intellectually curious community in Colorado.

Block A: May 31 – June 23     Block B: June 26 – July 20     Pre-College: July 10 – July 26

For more information, visit: www.coloradocollege.edu/precollege

Cornell University:

Attend a 2, 3, or 6 week program this summer. Experience the excitement of college life at a great Ivy League university. Earn 3 to 6 credits in courses with Cornell faculty. Attend admissions workshops and make friends from more than 40 countries all over the world. For information on dates and courses, please call 607 255-6203 or visit online: summer_college@cornell.edu

Oberlin College – Foresight Prep:

An intense, pre-college summer institute for building the power of high school students to address urgent social and environmental challenges. The courses empower motivated students to take action, and a year-round network connecting alumni with real-world change makers to ensure their college and career success. Some of the courses available are Power of Cities, The Arts, Movements, Food, Business or Communications.

Priority deadline for financial aid applicants is February 15, 2017. For more info, contact Jenny Goldsmith, Program Manager, Jennifer@foresightdesign.org or call 772 271-1990.

Great options, right? Would you like to know more about these courses? Let’s chat!

Bettina Weil, LMSW, IEC

info@weilcollegeadvising.com

Thank you Masters School for providing us this information!

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