College Spotlight: Marist College

April 21, 2015 Elizabeth Joyce

Last week, I visited 10 colleges and universities in Connecticut and New York. Over the next two weeks, I will discuss my thoughts on these schools, share valuable information, and post a few pictures from each school. The first school I want to share with you is Marist College, located in Poughkeepsie, New York. Located only 2 hours north of New York City, it is situated on a beautiful 200 acre campus on the banks of the Hudson River. As soon as you pull off the main road onto their campus, you are struck by the beauty of its surroundings. Lately, Marist has put a lot of time and money into their campus and buildings, and it shows. Most of the buildings are a similar color of gray stone, all of the Division 1 sports fields are located throughout the campus, and at the center of the campus is a gorgeous lawn facing the Hudson River.

General Information

Marist College has just under 4,800 students, and boasts a 16:1 student to faculty ratio, allowing for a ton of personal attention between professors and students. Today, Marist is an independent private school, but it does have a Catholic background, as it was founded by the Marist Brothers. Their retention rate from freshmen to sophomore year is a superb 93%, and the total cost of attendance (tuition, room and board, fees, etc.) is $47,000 - reasonable compared to many other private schools in the country.

Academic Information

Marist has 6 academic schools, housing 35 Bachelor's programs and 12 master's Programs.
There are no lecture halls on campus and the biggest class is only 35 students.
The School of Communication and the Arts has unique internship opportunities, such as a Marist in Manhattan Program and Art Internships in Florence. They have very close connections with NBC, Guggenheim, MSG, New Line Cinema, and ESPN. They also have a very popular fashion program and often participate in fashion week in NYC.
The School of Computer Science and Mathematics is very demanding and their most competitive program on campus. Marist has a very close relationship with IBM, as they have given over $95 million in technology to Marist. Close to 95% of information and technology and computer science majors secure jobs before graduation at companies such as IBM, USAA, UBS, and Goldman Sachs.
The Marist School of Management is AACSB accredited and offers degrees in areas such as economics, accounting, and finance management. There is a full, live trading room on campus, and they have many internships with Fortune 100 and 500 companies.
The School of Liberal Arts offers majors in areas such as English, History, and Political Science. They also have a pre-law advisory program with a 100% acceptance rate to law schools. Marist is also 1 of 6 schools in the country that works directly and grants internships with presidential libraries (FDR Library and Museum, for example).
The School of Science has many common Science majors, and has medical track programs including pre-dental, pre-medicine, pre-veterinary, and an athletic training program. The School of Science also has a great medical technology program that has a 100% job placement rate by graduation since 1982.
The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences has majors in education, psychology, social work, criminal justice, and more. All students in this school are required to do an internship by the time they graduate. They are also connected with the United Nations, NYPD, FBI, Homeland Security, and the CIA.
Finally, some students have the option of spending their freshmen year at Marist in Florence, Italy - a unique opportunity calld the Freshmen Florence Experience.

Admissions Information

Marists' middle 50% accepted scores for the SAT is 1600-1840 and their average GPA is about a 3.5. The acceptance rate is around 32%.
When reviewing an applicant, strength of program (academic rigor) is very important, as are the letters of recommendation.
Marist is a test-optional school, although 77% of students do submit scores.
Demonstrated interest in attending is very important to Marist Admissions, as is the 'Why Marist" supplement on the Common Application.
They are in the process of building a brand new science building, potentially relieving the acceptance rate a bit for students interested in pursuing a science-related degree.

Personal Feedback and Pictures

I have always known a good amount about Marist, but I was honestly blown away when visiting the school for the first time in official college counselor capacity. This school has a little bit of everything and I think it is a perfect fit for many students. The location is ideal, only being 2 hours from the city, but located in a stunning part of New York State. It is clear that Administration has the students' best interests in mind, and that they are committed to ensuring students have a great overall experience while at school in searching for a career post-graduation. This is truly a school I believe most students should consider for its location, scenery, academics, career development, and overall community.

Joseph D. Korfmacher

New Medical School Partnership with Seton Hall University

April 8, 2015 Joe Korfmacher

Seton Hall University is a medium-sized school of just under 6,000 students in South Orange, NJ. It is a Catholic university with terrific majors in nursing, business, engineering, and much more. In January, Seton Hall began its quest to add even more to their school, by signing a memorandum of understanding with Hackensack University Health Network to form a new, four-year school of medicine. If all goes well, when this is finalized, this partnership will establish the only private medical school in the state of New Jersey. The location on this campus will be in Nutley and Clifton at a state-of-the-art biomedical facility.

In an email sent from Seton Hall's President, Dr, Gabriel Esteban, he estimates that by 2020, there will be a shortage of 2,500 physicians in the Garden State. He goes on to state that "HackensackUHN and Seton Hall's joint venture to create a premier academic institution will help combat the physician shortage by providing key educational, research, and career opportunities to incentivize the next generation to pursue a career in medicine". It is Dr. Esteban's hope that the future school will be "committed to educational and healthcare excellence, cutting-edge research, high quality care, and the advancement of medical and health science educational imperatives".

This is a fabulous opportunity for individuals looking to go into the medical field and stay close to home. Please follow Seton Hall's progress with this new medical school, which should open in the next 3 years.

-Mr. Joseph D. Korfmacher

NYT Article on Surviving College Admissions

March 17, 2015 Elizabeth Joyce

I wanted to share with you this very powerful and well-written New York Times article on college admissions at the most selective colleges and how this can be a damaging process to students across the world, but it doesn't need to be. It explains how ridiculously competitive it is to gain admission to the top colleges in the country, but how students should not feel as if they have to attend the top 25 colleges in order to be successful. It shares personal stories about young men and women who were denied admission to the most selective colleges, went on to "second tier" schools, and were extremely successful at school and in their careers. These students turned the rejections into a learning experience and propelled them into taking full advantage of all of the opportunities that the school that did accept them offered.

I personally am a strong believer in finding the right fit of a college for each student, and the name of a college really does not mean much to me. Students should strive to find a place where they will feel comfortable and that will give them the chance to be happy and successful. Students don't necessarily need to go to the Harvards and Stanfords of the world to be happy or successful. I urge you to read through the entire article, and the end offers a great story of what two parents did for their son during the application process. The article can be found here, on the New York Times website. Enjoy!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher

College Spotlight: The University of Miami

March 2, 2015 Elizabeth Joyce

At the end of January, I was lucky enough to attend a counselor-fly-in to the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida for three days. I have never visited this school and I was impressed with the high level of academics and the beautiful community of students, faculty, and surrounding environment that makes up 'The U". Miami is a research university and has just over 11,000 undergraduates, which makes it a very accessible campus, and allows for students to get to know their faculty and administration and establish relationships to help with their academics and career search. As you can see by the pictures below, the University of Miami is situated on an absolutely beautiful campus surrounding a small lake with water fountains in the middle. Right next to the lake is an outdoor swimming pool with Olympic style diving boards. The University is about 25 minutes outside of Miami, and is in the suburbs of Coral Gables, which is an absolutely pristine town.

Academically, the university has pretty much any type of major students are looking for, including architecture, marine biology, engineering, and business. Miami is a school that continues to grow in popularity, and is a school that's academics, culture, and environment, makes it a place where many students should look. For everyone who has had enough with this year's winter, when I was down there, it was a bit chilly to the locals at about 72 degrees every day! Check out some facts about the school below, and you would be smart to put this school on your map!

Miami's Mascot is the Ibis, which is a type of bird, known to be the last to leave before a storm hits and the first to come back when the storm is over, so just like their students and faculty, the Ibis is known for its resiliency.

There are 11 schools and colleges, including the Miller School of Medicine and the School of Law. The other nine undergraduate colleges are:

For admissions, they offer Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision, with an RD deadline of January 1st. This past year, UMiami had about 700 students apply through ED, and they accepted about 180 students, they had about 15,000 applications through EA and accepted about 6,500 students, and through regular decision they had about 17,000 applications, and most likely will accept about 5-6 thousand students. Their middle 50% for the SAT for acceptance is 1900-2100 and the ACT is 28-32. They offer a ton of big time merit scholarships including the Stamps Foundation Scholarship which is a full ride (applicants usually have a 1500 SAT or 35 ACT) and they offer 70 full tuition scholarships each year.

UMiami has a fantastic career development center, called the Toppel Career Center. This is a 12,000 square feet building dedicated to career counseling, which is a big deal on their campus. Here they offer 1-on-1 career advising and interview labs which are focused on the student's industry they are going for, and they have cameras and microphones to record practice interviews. The career center also offers "meet-ups" with employers for their students to network. Finally, UMiami gives 1 free academic credit for an internship. Check out www.hireacane.com for more information.

Othere highlights:
Architecture has 3 semesters focused on the art and drawing aspects of this field, they are very big on urban design and living, and students complete one semester studying in Rome.

College of Engineering offers a 6-year BS/MS Program Partnership with the University of Bologna in Italy (which is a top 10 school for civil engineering in world). This is for civil engineers only, where they do 3 1/2 years in Miami and 3 1/2 years in Italy. Students graduate with BS and MS from UMiami and a MS from U of Bologna.

The Nursing program usually has about 25-35 students per class and students do not have to apply directly to the program. If they are accepted to the University, they can be a nursing major if they want.

The Frost School of Music has about 450 undergraduates, and all students must audition.

They also offer a music engineering major, where students get a BS in music, and take lots of math and engineering courses. Other unique majors include music therapy, music education, and music business. Although it is not mandatory, it helps to audition on campus, as this could help with potential scholarships.

The School of Communication offers five main areas including Interactive media, journalism, advertising, PR, and motion pictures. LinkedIn has named UMiami the #17 school in the country for media preparation.

Hopefully this information was helpful, and I urge you all to look more closely into The University of Miami as a potential destination! Enjoy the pictures, and as always, happy searching!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

College Spotlight: Saint Anselm College

January 23, 2015 Elizabeth Joyce

Today, I had the pleasure of meeting with two admissions representatives from Saint Anselm College for a presentation about their school. Saint Anselm College is located Manchester, New Hampshire, only about 4 hours from Manhattan. Saint Anselm, also referred to as Saint A's is a Catholic Benedictine Liberal Arts College with about 1,900 underclassmen. I will admit that I did not know as much about St. A's as I do with other schools, but after learning more today, this is a school I am eager to visit, and will recommend to many students in the future.

Saint Anselm is situated in the beautiful city of Manchester, on a picturesque campus in New Hampshire. The school is only one hour from Boston and the ocean, and only 10 minutes from the nearest airport. This is a place that embodies what a true college community is all about. It attracts students who are eager to participate in a liberal arts education where they will be challenged, but supported by peers, professors, and administrators during their time there. Professors know their students very well and are always there to make sure they get the most out of their education. Below are a few facts about the school and the students that make up the Saint Anselm community.

There is a 90% retention rate from freshmen to sophomore year.
92% of students live on campus all four years.
86% of students stay on the weekends.
St. A's has a 75% acceptance rate and the average GPA for accepted students is 3.2. Average accepted SAT scores are 1080-1220 and the average accepted ACT score is 25.
Test scores are not required to be submitted with application, unless the applicant is applying for nursing.
St. A's is a top 20 liberal arts school in the nation for return on your investment.
Although the sticker price is a little under $50,000, the average net price for families is only $23,000, signaling that merit scholarships and financial aid are readily available for all students.
One of St. A's most competitive programs is nursing, which has roughly a 35% acceptance rate. Unlike at some colleges, students will begin taking nursing classes freshmen year and will begin clinical work sophomore year.
They have a 3-2 engineering program with multiple other colleges, including Notre Dame.

Finally, one very special aspect of Saint Anselm is their connection to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP). In New Hampshire, Saint Anselm is the premier resource for individuals interested in contemporary political issues. As found in their literature, Saint A's was founded "on the premise that an educated citizenry is vital for a healthy democracy...and they created the New Hampshire Institute of Politics to provide a vibrant, innovative and non-partisan forum where men and women can explore, debate, and participate in all aspects of the American political process"

Almost every major national political race goes through the campus of Saint Anselm, where candidates will present and debate, giving their students VIP access to major players in politics. Interestingly, every president since JFK has spoken or has been involved in a debate at Saint Anselm. Finally, the college has recently established a partnership with Bloomberg to create nationwide polling systems.

All in all, this is a small school in a beautiful setting, full of students and faculty who truly care about one another and of improving themselves and the world around them. I personally highly recommend it as a school that students need on their radar! I hope this information was helpful, and as always, happy searching!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

Best Colleges for Your Money

January 8, 2015 Joe Korfmacher

What many people want from college isn't too complicated. They desire a good education, a safe and comfortable environment, to be prepared for the workforce, and to not break the bank to attend the school. With soaring college costs and a competitive job landscape, it is more important than ever to find that perfect fit, where students will be challenged, graduate with marketable skills, and will not have loans to pay for the next 20 years. The website 'Money' recently came out with a list for colleges that are the best bang-for-your-buck. As you will see, many of them are some of the most selective schools in the country, but it is certainly worth a look. You can view the list here on their site. As always, happy searching!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

College Spotlight: Saint Joseph's University

October 22, 2014 Elizabeth Joyce

As a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, I will try my best not to be biased with my information and updates on Saint Joseph’s University (SJU), but with that said…it is an absolutely fantastic all-around university. SJU is located in Philadelphia, but is outside of the main city center, in a suburban setting. SJU is a 10 minute drive or train ride to downtown Philadelphia, so it offers the best of both worlds in regards to the college environment experience. SJU is a Catholic (Jesuit) liberal arts university, with a terrific school of arts & sciences and business school. Although some students may have a major and career already figured out, this is not necessary at SJU, as nearly 70% of applicants are undecided.

Being a liberal arts college at its core, all students, regardless of major, must take 18 core courses across all disciplines, including a foreign language, English, history, science, and more. Students also must take 8 electives, which if used properly, can possibly go towards a minor. With all of this said, there are a few unique programs I would like to spotlight at SJU. For instance, their Food Marketing program is one of their most popular majors. This is 5 year program, where students will complete up to 3 Co-op experiences while attending the school. Also in their business school, Saint Joseph’s University offers Pharmaceutical Marketing, Sports Marketing, Family Business & Entrepreneurship, Entertainment Marketing, and much more. Other strong programs include accounting, biology, political science, and 3 + 3 programs with Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia are available for Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.

SJU has about 4,600 undergraduates on campus, with 20 Division 1 sports, and hundreds of clubs available including a competitive rugby program and a newly established equestrian club. Although there is no Greek Housing on campus, students are able to join fraternities and sororities, and about 13% of students are involved in Greek life. Study abroad is extremely popular on campus, and their biggest study abroad options include Ireland, Florence, and South Africa. I am also happy to report that SJU is in their second year of going test-optional during the admissions process, so students do not have to submit test scores to be considered for admission. SJU is “fair test-optional”, in that they do not require any additional questions or essays if the student goes test-optional, and it will not affect scholarship or financial aid consideration. Last year, 100% of all students received financial aid of at least $5,000/year. Overall, Saint Joseph’s University is a community where students will receive a top-notch education, will have first-rate career opportunities upon graduation, and be in a family that truly cares about their entire college and life experience.

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

Summer College Checklist for Rising Seniors

June 17, 2014 Elizabeth Joyce

So you are officially a senior...this is exciting right? Only one more year of high school and then you are off to pursue the major of your choice at hopefully the college of your choosing! Although many students would like the college application process to be over already, you still have many months left. Some of the more important months throughout this process are June, July and August. The summer is a crucial time to prepare, search, and begin to formalize your college application plans. It is definitely not a time to sit around and do nothing. So look at these following tips on ways you can best utilize your summer days to best prepare yourself for the fall when you finally apply to college!

Get Involved: Depending on the selectiveness of the colleges you are applying to, admissions counselors are looking for applicants who have done something positive during their time off. Whether it is traveling, taking a pre-college summer class, volunteering, or working, make sure you are doing something! It looks good on college applications and it is just good to stay active in a positive way!

Continue to visit schools: If you are able to get to college campuses during the school year, that is great, but it is not always possible. Although high school does not begin until September, many colleges start during the last week or two of August. Whether you can go in August, or the other summer months, visiting schools is a vital part of this process. Get to the campus, walk around, ask questions, and imagine if this is the best place for you. Make sure to contact the undergraduate admissions office prior to the visit, to see if they offer an information session or guided tour while you are there.

Begin narrowing down your college list: With many application deadlines beginning in November (some earlier), it is now time to eliminate some colleges from your list. You should end up with about 8-10 colleges on your list; all of which you would love to attend. Make sure to have at least 2-3 colleges that you are certain you will be accepted into, often referred to as safety schools. Safety schools should still be schools that you have investigated and would be happy attending. Your list should reflect hard work on your part, and you want to be completely satisfied with the final amount of schools you apply to in the fall.

Research school specific application guidelines: Colleges differ across the board on application procedures such as how to apply (Common Application or their own), deadlines for regular decision, early action/early decision, priority, and rolling decisions, and application requirements such as SATs, subject tests, and additional supplements. Be sure to have all of the requirements and deadlines organized in one centralized location to reference (i.e. your college list)

Work on your résumé for college: You are able to upload a résumé for many colleges, so you want to be prepared. Try your best to remember everything you have been involved in and accomplished during your time in high school, and get these down on paper in an organized template.

Make your plan for admission testing: You may be satisfied with your SAT and/or ACT scores, which is great! However, many students need to retake these tests in hopes of higher scores. For the SAT, there are testing dates in October, November, and December, which most likely are the latest ones you can take. For the ACT there are testing dates in September, October, and December. Also, if any of your colleges require subject tests (SAT II), remember to sign-up during one of these test dates. You cannot take the SAT and Subject test the same sitting, so please plan accordingly!

Begin the Common Application starting in August: The Common Application opens August 1^st. Feel free to create an account and begin working on the application. There is no need to rush this, but it will be helpful to get familiar with the application and see what other supplements are needed for schools. Also, if you haven’t done so already, start writing the main CA essay, and feel free to send it to your college counselor to help with editing.

Keep in touch with your counselor: If you have any pressing questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to your college counselor. Also, once school begins, make an appointment to see your counselor and talk about a plan to apply to schools.

-Mr. Joe Korfmacher, MA

College Spotlight- Seattle University

May 29, 2014 Elizabeth Joyce

I’m going to stay in the Pacific Northwest, with the next college to showcase. Seattle University is a Jesuit university in the middle of stunning Seattle. It has just over 4,500 undergraduate students with a diverse population of students and a myriad of top notch programs to study. When I first arrived on campus, I was struck by the beauty of the campus and how it meshed very well with the surrounding environment. Although the campus is right outside downtown Seattle, you are surrounded by water and snow-capped mountains, and the modern and unique architecture of the school buildings is quite breathtaking. I know Seattle is far for us east-coasters, but as I talked to students, faculty, and administration at Seattle University, I realized this was truly a special place with so much to offer for students across the county, and it is a place I would feel very comfortable recommending. Here are a few fun and helpful facts about the school, so enjoy!

Student Population: 4,500 Undergraduates, 35% minority students, average class size is 20, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1.

AdmissionsInfo: Middle 50% GPA for acceptance: 3.3-3.9, SATs: 1600-1910, ACT: 24-29. Seattle U has both Early Action (11/15) and Regular Decision (1/15).

Cost: The current total cost of attendance is $46,410 per year. However, 96% of freshmen come in with financial aid help, which averages at $27,000 per student.

Colleges: Albers School of Business and Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, Collegeof Education, College of Nursing, College of Science and Engineering, School ofLaw, School of Theology and Ministry, Matteo Ricci College (Jesuit centered, humanities program).

Standout Majors Offered at Seattle University: Their nursing program is very competitive, where students should have a minimum 3.7 GPA, and mid 600s in each of the SAT sections. Other standout majors include cultural anthropology, digital design, prelaw, social work, sports and exercise science, finance, business economics, biochemistry, and engineering (civil, environmental, computer science/software, electrical, mechanical).

Seattle University has numerous Division 1 sports and a ton of school pride when it comes to athletics. Some of the sports they offer are baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, swimming and more.

Seattle U is committed to its Jesuit foundation and students there truly care about helping the surrounding community. They offer a program called the Seattle University Youth Initiative (SUYI), which is a popular organization at school where students are very involved in supporting and helping the neighborhood to improve academic and personal development. The sense of community is very noticeable at SU, both on and off of campus.

NotableRecognition:

· US News and World Report ranked SU as the #6 institution in the west

· SU has the #1 legal writing program in their school of law

· Bloomberg Businessweek has ranked SU’s business school the #1 program for macroeconomics

· SU has been ranked #1 in the nation among private institutions for increasing graduation rates and closing the gaps between Hispanic and Caucasian students

· SU has the 5^th highest amount of Fulbright Scholars in the nation among master’s institutions in 2013-2014

· In 2012, the White House honored Seattle University with the Presidential Award for community service

Final Thoughts:

I have been to many outstanding colleges across the country, and Seattle University is near the top of my list of standout institutions. It has an amazing community, strong and diverse academics, and is set on a stunning campus in one of the more beautiful parts of our country. Students who want to venture out to another part of the country and are committed to academics and being an active member of the community should definitely take a look at Seattle University. Whether you are in the engineering or humanities college, all students will come away with an education that will prepare them to become integral members of our society. Students are challenged to push themselves in the classroom, and to possibly go out of their comfort zone to help others in the community. The Jesuit education is very real at Seattle University, and the overall environment is a place that I foresee many students being very happy at. I know Seattle often has the reputation of rainy weather, but all I can say is that while I was there, the sun was shining and I felt a great sense of positive energy in a vibrant community…and I think if you dig deeper into Seattle University, you may just see the light too. Enjoy and happy searching!

-Mr. Joe Korfmacher, MA