| |
Hi all!
I wanted to write a blog entry in response to a comment that was posted on Kathryn Bethea's blog. The comment was:
Now that we already have our first round of Early Decision Applications in, this might be helpful for those of you who are thinking about applying for Early Decision II or Regular Decision. When you apply to Carnegie Mellon, we require one teacher recommendation and one counselor recommendation. To be honest, there is no "set formula" for WHO should write your letter of recommendation. The most important thing is to get a letter of recommendation from someone who knows you well and will speak highly of you.
Whether you are applying to the Carnegie Institute of Technology or the Tepper School of Business, for example, we want you to seek out teachers who can tell us about your work ethic, character, etc. To use your example Taylor, if you feel that your tenth grade English teacher knows you the best and will write you a great letter of recommendation, ask them to write one! That could even be better than getting a vague letter from another teacher just because you think that the subject they teach is more applicable to what you want to study.
Another thing to mention is "how many" letters of recommendation we want. Like I said before, we require two, but it's ok to send one or two more. Let's be realistic though... you really do not need to send in 8 letters of recommendation! It's much better to send two, three, or four letters of recommendation from folks who will write solid letters. You could get one letter from a counselor, one from a teacher, and one from either a coach, mentor, or boss, for example.
The moral of the story is... THINK about who knows you best and who will convey your personality best. Make sure to ask that person as early as possible too, just to be courteous of their time. While you definitely want to put some thought into WHO you ask to write your letter, try not to stress too much. Feel free to post comments if you have questions or if I can clarify anything!
 After a great fall travel season, I’m excited to be home in Steelers’ country (even after their loss against the New York Giants last Sunday night)! The past two months have flown by between recruitment trips and Sleeping Bag Weekends. I just got back from Florida two days ago, which was my final trip this fall. I spent over a week in Miami, Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale visiting high schools, giving presentations, and meeting students and families at four different college fairs. You were all great, by the way! I was particularly impressed with the questions you asked.
Over the past few months I have enjoyed meeting talented, motivated, bright young people in Boston, MA; Nashua, NH; Portland, ME; Chicago, IL; and the Florida cities I already mentioned. A number of my colleagues are still on the road and may be going out for one more week in November. I know we've all enjoyed meeting you!
 Let me just say that you guys never cease to amaze me. Every time I think that I’ve met the most incredible student, I meet another one who is equally remarkable…and the cycle continues.
Whether I interviewed you or met you somewhere along the way this admission season, I just want to say thanks for letting me see a glimpse of your world and what you could bring to Carnegie Mellon. Trust me, I’m impressed!
In addition to sharing your lives with us, I hope that WE were able to answer YOUR questions and gave you some insight about the Carnegie Mellon community. For those of you who are applying this year, good luck wrapping up your college applications. For those of you who have submitted your application under the Early Decision plan (or are getting ready to submit your application), we will be reading them soon! It's hard to believe that the first Early Decision deadline is November 1!
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to post a comment and I'll try to address it!
Since I'm the new Sleeping Bag Weekend Coordinator this year, I figured it would be a great idea to recap our first weekend and mention future events! Sleeping Bag Weekends (SBW's) are a time for prospective students and their families to come to campus and experience life at Carnegie Mellon. Ok, so the weekends are really designed with students in mind, but parents are more than welcome to come if they wish!
Students have the opportunity to sign up for one of four weekends during the fall and winter months. The SBW website should be pretty helpful! Here are the dates:
October 5 - 6, 2008 October 19 - 20, 2008 November 9 - 10, 2008 January 25 - 26, 2009
During each Sleeping Bag Weekend, students are invited to come to campus on Sunday morning and participate in a variety of activities. You can meet with the Director of Admission and other admission counselors, attend college information sessions, ask questions during student panels, take a campus tour, and more! Around 5:00 PM on Sunday, you'll meet up with your host, a current Carnegie Mellon student. Keep in mind that we'll do our best to match you with a host who is studying what you'd like to study, but we can't always guarantee a perfect match. We hope that regardless of who you stay with, you'll have the opportunity to interact with other prospective students and current students.
On Monday morning, you'll have the opportunity to sit in on as many classes as you like. We'll give you a class list and you can "pick and choose" what you want to attend. Most of the departments offer more specific information sessions or open office hours on Monday. Campus tours are offered again on Monday if you didn't have time to fit one in on Sunday.
Overall, the Sleeping Bag Weekends are very open-ended and flexible. There are only a few things we require you to attend (for example, you need to be present during the "host-matching" event), but other than that, you can really personalize your experience. There isn't an official end time for the event on Monday, but we hope you'll stay as long as you feel is beneficial.
During our October 5 - 6 weekend, we had about 143 students come to campus! If you are reading this and you attended the first SBW, feel free to post comments about your experience. We'd really appreciate your feedback! We're gearing up for our second Sleeping Bag Weekend on October 19 - 20 and expect another large group.
Our November weekend is already at capacity for overnight visitors, but we still have our January weekend available. The January 25 - 26 weekend is open to students who have applied for admission to Carnegie Mellon. Portfolio reviews and auditions are also available that weekend for students who have applied to a fine arts program, as long as reservations have been secured on the College of Fine Arts Admission Procedure Website.
If you're unable to come to campus for a Sleeping Bag Weekend, don't worry. There are plenty of other chances to connect with alumni, admission counselors, and current students. If you need something, just ask. You can always call our office, but feel free to post a comment on my blog or one of the students' blog. We'd love to hear from you!
This blog is in response to a comment that was made awhile ago! First of all, I apologize for not writing sooner. Now that travel season has started, I am not in the office all the time. All of the admission counselors and I are out on the road, traveling to different cities around the country. We're meeting with students during high school visits, connecting with families during group presentations, and interviewing students in their hometowns. It's a very busy, but exciting time of year since we get to meet so many fantastic folks from around the world!
I'm sure that some of you have already seen our website, but it's a really great reference tool. If you're interested in learning more about Carnegie Mellon and you haven't had the chance to visit our campus, check out this site: Carnegie Mellon Counselors on the Road. From here, you can click on your state to find out if and when any of the admission counselors will be in your hometown.
I couldn't come home from Spain without posting a few pictures from my vacation abroad. The first two pictures you see here were  taken in the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, Spain. It is probably one of my favorite places in the entire world. During the 4 months I studied in Salamanca, I walked through the Plaza Mayor almost every day. When I walked into the Plaza for the first time since 2005, a wave of memories came rushing back!
The Plaza Mayor is the central meeting place in the city. One of my favorite things about the Plaza is that there is always SOMEONE in it, regardless of the time of day. The city center is so full of life, whether people are stopping to have a coffee or just passing through. There are restaurants all along the huge square. I could sit in the Plaza for hours and observe my surroundings. If you ever head to Spain, I suggest you stop in Salamanca and check it out. Another recommendation would be to climb to the top of the cathedral and check out the view (see final picture)!
 Overall, my trip was amazing. I feel so thankful that I was able to go back and relive some of the memories from my study abroad experience. Going back made me so excited for students who will study abroad in the future. It's hard to believe that a new first-year class has already been on Carnegie Mellon's campus for 2 weeks... oh, the possibilities that lie before them!
That’s right, I’m currently riding a train that left Madrid, Spain a few hours ago and is heading for Galicia. Galicia is the most northwestern province in Spain, right above Portugal if you’re looking at a map. I’m writing this entry by hand, and will hopefully find an internet cafe so I can post it!
When I was in college, I studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain for almost 4 months (one semester of classes). I would classify my time in Spain as one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life thus far. I lived with a host family and had a number of housemates. I was lucky enough to share ¨un piso¨ (a flat or apartment) with two students from Spain, one student from Japan, and one student from the United States. The 5 of us ate almost all of our meals together with our ¨señora,¨ or our host mom...who was a great cook! It was just amazing to talk with her and learn about her life and family. I’ll never forget the first night I met her when we took a walk through the city and I saw the magical lights in the ¨Plaza Mayor¨ for the first time. I instantly fell in love with Salamanca and its people.
During my semester in Salamanca, I took 4 classes with students from all around the world (Australia, Germany, Japan, China, Belgium, Italy, and more). Looking back, I was fortunate to get to know people from various cultures by communicating with them in Spanish... the first thing we all had in common. As Spain went out of view from my airplane window on the day I flew home, I told myself I’d come back... and here I am!
I´m here on vacation with one of my best friends, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is from California, and she and I met in Salamanca when we studied abroad at the same time. We did a lot of traveling together when we were here before (to a number of cities in Spain), and we decided to come back and see a few places we missed the first time around. Obviously, we’re going to spend some time in Salamanca visiting our señoras (we didn’t live with the same host family) and to re-visiting some of our favorite cafes.
As I bet you can guess, my advice would be to study abroad! I can guarantee that you won’t regret it! Granted, you may think you’ll miss your friends and family, but they’ll support you! I like to think of college as a built-in time in your life when you can take advantage of opportunities. Studying abroad is one of those opportunities. Whether you’re going to study engineering, a foreign language, or international business, you will learn a lot about yourself and come home with very special memories. I’m also proof that you can walk away from the experience with life-long friends. In my opinion, being exposed to another culture or cultures is only going to help you in the future... in your work life and personal life.
FYI, your professors at Carnegie Mellon will definitely support you in your decision to study abroad. The Office of International Education (OIE) will help you plan all aspects of your trip. Most Carnegie Mellon students study abroad for one semester, but you could choose to study abroad for a full year, or even do a shorter program during the summer months. Europe remains one of the most popular places to study, but students really do go everywhere (Australia, Asia, South Africa, South America, and the Middle East to name a few). We´ve actually had a handful of physics students go to Antarctica to do scientific research. Speaking of research, one of our student bloggers, Amal, has been doing research in Japan this summer and it sounds like she is having a great time! Feel free to check out the study abroad section of the OIE website and post questions/comments on my blog if you have them. I'll respond when I return to the US!
A comment was made on one of my earlier entries (The Admission Interview Process) that posed the following question:
“Do you know who your Admission rep. is for the DC Metro area?”
Since this is a variation of one of the most common questions we hear as Carnegie Mellon Admission Counselors, I thought the answer deserved an explanation. At Carnegie Mellon, we do things a little differently than many admission offices. As admission counselors, when we go out on the road to meet with prospective students, we do not travel by territory.
As a matter of fact, we could do a different trip every year, which means new cities, new guidance counselors, and new students. I traveled to New England, Georgia, and the Midwest last year. This year, I’m heading to Florida, Illinois, and New England (again, just by chance)!
What this means is that any of the admission counselors in our office can answer your questions. We‘re all familiar with the entire university and meet students who are interested in all of our programs, no matter where they live in the country or in the world.
Even though we don’t travel or read applications by territory, that doesn’t mean we can’t build relationships with you. If you meet with one particular counselor during your interview, a high school visit, or group information session, feel free to ask questions or follow-up with that counselor.
See…simple question, but now you know the answer!
YES!
Since I’ve grown up here, there are a few things I look forward to every year. Going to the Three Rivers Arts Festival is one of my favorite things to do every summer. What is it? Well, it’s an arts festival, which means that there are a ton of vendors selling their original artwork, photography, jewelry, woodwork, and more. There are performances held every day as well (local and national bands, dance ensembles, theatre groups, music ensembles, etc). Of course, the Three Rivers Arts Festival wouldn’t be complete without some amazing FOOD! The food vendors sell a wide variety of ethnic food, plus some of your traditional “carnival-type” snacks. It’s always impossible for me to decide what to eat, so I’d advise you to go on more than one occasion… or you could just stuff yourself with gyros, funnel cakes, “chicken-on-a-stick,” and pierogies (a Pittsburgh classic)!
This year, the Three Rivers Arts Festival was from June 6 – 22, 2008. Next year, the event will celebrate its 50th anniversary, so I’m sure there will be some great things planned! I think the best part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival is its location – it’s situated in downtown Pittsburgh, along the waterfront. The area is known as Point State Park (“the Point” for short). The Point is where Pittsburgh’s three rivers meet and there’s a huge fountain (I love the view)! If you’re in the area, make sure to take a walk by the river and experience it for yourself!
Since I’m on the “arts” topic, another one of my top picks for the summer is to go see a show at th e Benedum Center. I recently went to see Peter Pan, presented by Pittsburgh CLO (Civic Light Opera). Yes, it was a flashback to my childhood, and it was phenomenal… Peter Pan actually flew out over the audience!
Even if you’re not into Peter Pan, there are a variety of musicals and shows throughout the year (at the Benedum Center and other concert halls in Pittsburgh). Both “The Point” and the Benedum Center are just a short bus ride from campus, and with your Carnegie Mellon ID, you can get there for free! Keep an eye out for some of my other favorite Pittsburgh places in future entries!
Now that summer is upon is (it’s finally 80 degrees in Pittsburgh), I know that many of you are starting to plan your college road trips. If you’re coming to visit Carnegie Mellon, why not take advantage of everything we offer for prospective students and their families?
In addition to taking a campus tour and attending a group information session, you can call our office or go online to schedule an interview with an admission counselor. We’ll be happy to find a day and time that works best for you. While we don’t require admission interviews at Carnegie Mellon, we highly recommend them.
So you’ve scheduled an interview, but what does that actually mean? I’ll take you through the process… Let’s pretend you’re meeting with me. First, you’ll come to the Office of Admission Lobby and fill out “the blue form.” It sounds scary, I know, but it’s really just a piece of paper that asks you to list where you go to high school, your senior year classes, your extracurricular activities, etc.
After you’ve completed the interview sheet, I’ll come downstairs to the lobby and introduce myself. At this point, you and I will meet one-on-one (sorry parents, this is the time for your son or daughter to shine on their own)! We’ll have a conversation and I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you have… it can never hurt to ask questions! Some of the items you listed on your interview sheet may become “talking points” during the interview. For example, if you listed that you’re the senior class president, I may ask what duties you have or why you decided to run for office… you get the idea.
After your interview, we’ll go back down to the lobby to meet with your family. Parents usually have questions too, so it’s good for all of us to meet together briefly before you’re on your way. There you go, it’s painless! Heck, it should even be fun!
The best advice I can give you is to be yourself. All of the admission counselors want to get to know you and love hearing about your unique talents and interests. Last year, I met a student who told me that he was most proud of the fact that he built a 7-foot tall “Harry Potter castle” out of Legos and had it featured in Lego Magazine! How cool is that? The point is, be confident and be you. We can’t wait to meet you!
I rode a yellow school bus today for the first time in a long time. Why, you ask? Bright and early this morning, my fellow admission counselors and I boarded buses and set sail for a number of schools in the Pittsburgh Public School District and surrounding areas. We welcomed almost 300 high school juniors and their guidance counselors to campus for our 10th annual college admission preparation conference, College Success 101! Carnegie Mellon and the Urban League of Pittsburgh sponsored the event.
The day was filled with workshops and students attended two of the following sessions: “Financial Aid and Scholarships,” “Prepare for College/Marketing Your Abilities,” “Becoming a Student of Excellence,” and “What Colleges Should I Apply To.” Boxed lunches are always fun, and the day ended with a college fair!
One of my colleagues, Melanie Jo, and I planned the college fair and we were happy to host 30 colleges and universities. Along with the Pittsburgh institutions in attendance, many admission counselors traveled to Carnegie Mellon from the surrounding states! It was great to see students in our own backyard have an opportunity to connect with so many admission representatives. For those of you who attended (students, guidance counselors, and admission counselors), thank you for making the day a success! No pun intended…
|
|
|
|
