Dear Babs,

When my son was twelve, he was diagnosed with dyslexia and AD/HD. He is on medication and we have been helping him manage his schoolwork and daily stress with lots of coaching, prioritization, tutors, and scheduling. He has good grades and is capable of getting into a good college, but I am worried about his ability to cope when he is out of the house and without our help. Should he apply to a college that specializes in LDs? I don’t want him to go to a “special” school; I want him to have as normal a life as possible.

-Loraine for Learning

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Dear Loraine,

Like any parent of college-bound students, you are worried about your child’s abilities to “sink or swim” without your presence and support. However, unlike every other parent, you and your son have special concerns which you need to attend to. Rest assured: you are not alone. Almost 3 million school-aged children in the U.S. have a learning disability or LD. Many of these students will go on to college. Ensuring your son’s own success at college requires some foresight, open communication, and most importantly, trust.
Before I get into some of the resources available to you, I would like to bring up the most obvious one: your doctor. I am assuming, since your son is on medication, that he has a doctor or psychiatrist that is aware of his condition. Talk to him or her and ask their recommendation. They may have some experience with other patients who have faced similar difficulties, and be able to offer you some guidance.

That being said, my hunch is that if your son has been able to manage his LD well enough to get good grades in school, he will be able to succeed at a competitive college. Most colleges have “special services” departments that offer study help, note-taking services, and counselling to help students with LDs cope. Most schools will also offer special consideration to students with diagnosed LDs regarding deadlines and exams. For a list of schools with excellent LD services, go here. Even if you’re son’s dream-school is not on the list, give the school a call and ask what they have to offer. You might find that even schools without official programs will be more than willing to be flexible.

Know that in order to qualify for such services, your son will have to provide documentation of his diagnosis, and that different schools and states have different qualifications for what counts as sufficient proof. He may have to be re-evaluated before he begins school: when in doubt, ask.

There’s a great list of tips for college-bound students with LDs on the website ldonline.org. I think my favorite is to begin preparing for college work now. He should ask his teacher to assign him a long-term independent project that requires him to structure his learning. This will give him practice on the kinds of assignments he will get in college, and he will get this practice while he is at home with you. He can also enrol in a community college class or summer-program at a local university. Again, this is great practice with little consequences. If he stumbles a bit, it does not count towards his GPA or degree. Work with him now to instil the habits that he will need in college. And a little more advice (hey, I’m good at it). Your son is probably pretty good at picking up on your apprehension; if he senses that you don’t think he can “succeed” like everyone else, than he probably won’t think so himself. Let him know you have the highest expectations for his future, and he will most likely be able to meet them.

Good Luck!

-Babs

Dear Babs,

My uncle is an alumnus at Vanderbilt University. I don’t know that much about the college, but I thought that if I have legacy, I should apply. What do you think?

-Relatively Unsure

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Dear Relatively,

I hate to break it to you, but you are not a legacy through your uncle. College admissions departments that give preference to legacies (and some do more than others) usually only consider an applicant’s immediate family-that is, parents and siblings. Unless your uncle donated a building, he probably won’t help your admissions chances.

Okay, that is not entirely true. Although the college admissions department won’t have you listed as a legacy, you should start chatting-up your uncle about his college days. Did he make any friends with some of the professors? Does he know a guy in admissions? Is his old college roommate a well-connected alumnus? See if he knows anyone directly or indirectly (through a friend) who might have some pull. A professor in the department where you will likely major can be a great advocate for your admissions.

That is, of course, assuming that you want to go to Vanderbilt University. Do a little research before you start hitting your uncle up for contacts. Look into the programs, student life, and online student reviews for a good feel of the college. Only apply if it’s a school you would actually like to attend, not just because you think you have an “in” in admissions.

Good Luck!

-Babs

Got a question for Babs? Email her at dearbabs@campuscompare.com.

You can publish Bab’s on your school newspaper or blogroll at http://www.campuscompare.com/college-resources/dear-babs

Dear Babs,

I am a high school student in New Jersey, and I will be sending in my college application this winter. I was born in Columbia, and English is my 2nd language. I am now an American citizen, but do I still have to take the TOEFL in order to get into college in America?

-Bilingual in New Jersey

Dear Bilingual,

No, you do not need to take the TOEFL, although you should always double-check with your colleges admissions office (a simple phone call or email may be the quickest way). As you live in New Jersey, I am assuming you go to an English-speaking high school. Students who will be obtaining a diploma in an English-speaking school in are usually exempt from the TOEFL requirements.

This may not be true if you just moved to the US and were in special ESL courses at your high school. However, as it sounds like you have been in the country a long time, I would not worry. Do call the admissions office and double-check, but if you are able to take a high school English class then you should have no problem with college courses in English.

Good Luck!

Babs

Got a question for Babs? Email her at dearbabs@campuscompare.com.

You can publish Bab’s on your school newspaper or blogroll at http://www.campuscompare.com/college-resources/dear-babs

Dear Babs,

I’m applying to colleges this winter, and I’m stumped. Some of my college applications ask me what I want to study, and I don’t know! What should I put down? Will they penalize me if I say I don’t know? Can I change my mind?

-Majorless in Minnesota

Dear Majorless,

Don’t worry, you are not expected to know exactly what you want to study. Colleges are looking more for an idea of what field you are interested in, not a specific college major. Just think of your best subject, and choose something in that field. All A’s in English? Write down English Lit or Communications. Love science? Biology or chemistry. Just make sure the school actually offers that major.

The one exception to this rule is if you are applying to a specific program, which you should not be doing if you don’t know what you want to study. An example would be the School of Communications at Syracuse University, or School of engineering at Tufts University. These school’s offer tailored academic programs for very focused students who know that they want to go into that specific field, and so they often expect you to declare your major right away.

So long as you are applying to a general program, like a liberal-arts college, or a school of Arts and Sciences at a big university, you should have no problem. Just put down whatever subject you are likely to major in, and figure out the rest as you go along.

Good luck!

Babs
Got a question for Babs? Email her at dearbabs@campuscompare.com.

You can publish Bab’s on your school newspaper or blogroll at http://www.campuscompare.com/college-resources/dear-babs

Dear Babs,

This past fall I was nominated for a All-State Academic Award. To the best of my knowledge, everyone who is nominated gets recognition (last year 67 people got it). And since I have well surpassed the requirements, I naturally added it to my awards on the common app. I have since sent three applications in and now my common app is frozen. But now I’m starting to worry that I won’t be chosen for it. There is no way for me to remove it from my application. What do I do if I don’t get the award?

-Worried in Texas

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Dear Worried,

If I could turn back time, as Cher is known to say, I would recommend that you simply write “nominated for an All-State Academic Award” as opposed to “recipient of an All State Academic Award”. However, what’s done is done, and the best thing that you can do now is not to stress about “what could have been.”

As you said, most people who are nominated do get the award. So you may not have a problem at all. This is the most likely scenario, and you will look back on this whole anxious-ridden situation as a lesson learned.

That’s your best-case scenario. In the worst-case, you do not get the award, and the best you can do is damage control. To avoid lying on your application, I would send a letter informing those three colleges of the discrepancy. It was an honest mistake, and you did not intend to lie. Explain that you were presumptuous but not malicious, and that you are trying to rectify the situation with full-disclosure. Ask your guidance counselor to call the admissions department to further explain your situation, and to vouch for your character. Although that award would look nice on your application, I am sure it is not the only thing going for you. As long as the rest of your application is strong, and the colleges are understanding about your mistake, there is no reason why you should be penalized.

I just want to make this absolutely clear that you should in no way send this letter to the colleges unless YOU DO NOT GET THE AWARD. If you get the award, then no harm, no foul. No need to notify them of a lie that might-have-been. So sit tight, and hope for the best. I’m sure everything will work out in the end.

Good luck!

Babs

Dear Babs,I love the website and find it very informative. In what year of college does a student have to declare their major?

Thanks,

L.E.

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Dear L.E.

It really varies depending on the college. Most liberal arts colleges give students until the start of their Junior year (3rd year) to declare their major. This means that by second semester, Sophomore year, students should have a pretty good idea about what they want to major in. Students may have to declare earlier if they applied to enter straight into a specific college program, like the Tufts University School of Engineering. In such a specific program, the student may be asked to declare their specialization as early as the first semester of their freshman year, but these types of programs and colleges are rare.

For each school that you plan to apply, make sure you double-check what year you will be expected to declare your major, and think about if that is going to be reasonable for you. Generally, this information can be found under “Academics” or “Schools and Programs” of a colleges website.

Good Luck!

-Babs

Dear Babs,

I’m starting in January on my Associates Degree at a community college and then looking to transfer to a 4-year college for my Bachelor’s, and then possibly my Masters in Food Science! As I am 37 years old, I’m excited and nervous to be going back to college after 19 years! I’m looking ahead to the 4-year college and I have been comparing two but I’m trying to look at the Food Science Program itself, not the basic college info such as tuition, campus life, etc. The two institutions that I’m comparing are Delaware Valley College and Drexel University. I am aware of Drexel’s status among universities but I’m not sure it’s the right choice for me. Could you help me compare colleges by college program?

-Not Quite Finding My Answer

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Dear Not Quite,

Congrats on going back to college after so long! It sounds like you have a real plan, which is important, especially when starting your education later in life. As a closet foodie myself, looking into these two college programs was pretty fascinating.

They honestly both look like great college programs. The main differences that I can see is that Drexel combines the disciplines of management, science and technology, and culinary arts into their culinary science program, whereas DelVal asks that you choose a stream. If you know that you are most interested in the technical/scientific production of food, as opposed to the business of it or the creation of it, then perhaps DelVal is a better bet. If, on the other hand, you are looking for all three aspects, Drexel might be a better choice.

I don’t think either school has a one-up in terms of reputation. They are both very good for those college programs. DelVal does site an impressive 95% of its students go onto a masters right away, and the school has its own MBA in Food and Agribusiness to facilitate this. Drexel, on the other hand, offers impressive internship with food-giants like Hershey’s and Campbell’s. DelVal does look like they also offer internships, but they do not go into detail with whom. You did not mention why you don’t like Drexel. If you were looking for a more focused major, and are sure about grad school, then maybe DelVal is right for you.

As an older student, my advice is to try and minimize costs and maximize your potential for immediate employment following graduation. As far as costs are concerned, DelVal is slightly cheaper. Apply to both, and see what sort of financial aid you are offered. Beyond minimizing your debt leaving college, make sure that you take advantage of as many internship and career opportunities as you can while you are an undergrad in order to better your chances of landing your dream-job when you graduate! Both Drexel and DelVal look like great college programs. Compare colleges in terms of these two criteria, and see which ones stand out.

Good Luck!

-Babs

Got a question for Babs? Email her at dearbabs@campuscompare.com.

You can publish Bab’s on your school newspaper or blogroll at http://www.campuscompare.com/college-resources/dear-babs

Dear Babs,

I’m looking at schools to apply to this winter, and I wanted to know your opinion. Where is college life better, a small college town or a big city? Some of my friends really want a small town (I’m from a small town) but others think there’s more to do in a big city. What do you think?

-City Mouse or Country Mouse

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Dear C.M.,

It really just depends on the person. Both a small college-town and a big city have their ups-and-downs. So here’s a little pro’s and con’s list to help you out:

College-Town

• Pros: Often, in a college town, the student body and faculty will dominate the population of whatever town the college is in, making the whole area like an extended campus. This can make you feel like you’re part of a close-knit community, where everyone knows each other and has something in common.
•  Cons: Since pretty much everyone you meet will be affiliated with the college, there’s not a lot of diversity. Plus, if you ever need a break from campus-life, there’s really nowhere to go. Small towns can also be tough if you need a summer job, internship, or off-campus job. With only one Starbucks and no real businesses outside of the campus, opportunities are scarce.
• Best examples: Amherst College, Vassar College, UNC 

City-College

• Pros: You definitely won’t lack opportuniies in a city. If you go to a major hub like New York, LA, or Chicago, you’ll be surrounded by the best cultural and financial institutions in the world, giving you plenty of places to get your foot in the door. Plus, as part of a bustling metropolis, you’ll get to take part in all the social and cultural activities that you just can’t find in a small town.
• Cons: Some students feel lost in a crowd. If you’re the kind of person who shies away from big groups or doing things on your own, a city might not be for you. Also, because of all the resources (like hospitals, community centers, and grocery stores) available in large cities, many city colleges skimp on student services. You really need to be independent and not afraid to ask for what you want in order to make it in a big city.
• Best examples: NYU, UCLA, Northwestern

Think about who you are, and what you like. Both will give you a great-just different-college life. And if you want to know my tip for the best of both worlds: check out schools in Boston, MA. Boston is a major city in terms of financial and cultural opportunities, but it also has over 50 campuses in its greater area. That means a serious student-vibe. Just food for thought.

Good luck!

-Babs

Got a question for Babs? Email her at dearbabs@campuscompare.com.

You can publish Bab’s on your school newspaper or blogroll at http://www.campuscompare.com/college-resources/dear-babs

Dear Babs,

Can I get caught lying on my college application? My extracurricular activities are looking pretty grim. I was on the yearbook committee for two years, and I ran track for three. I did debate club all four years, but I never got a role. I was thinking of saying that I did all of my activities all four years, and “making myself” editor of the yearbook. Do admissions officers really check up on that kind of stuff?

-Sneaky Sara

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Dear Sneaky,

Uh, yes. Not to mention that lying on your application is wrong.

Moral lecture aside, the truth is that college admissions officers don’t have time to check up on every fact. But if a lie is small enough to not get caught, in all honesty it’s small enough to not make a difference on your college application. Not to mention that if you do get caught, you’ll be automatically rejected: no wait list, no transferring. And remember, your guidance counselor will be submitting a letter summarizing your academic AND extracurricular achievements along with your application. If those facts don’t line up, it’s a giant red flag for the folks at admissions.

You need to ask yourself: is it even worth it? Adding a couple years of participation, or a title like “editor” isn’t going to make or break your college application. If your GPA is sub-par, or your SATs don’t cut it, editor or president of this and that won’t help you come admissions decisions time.

Rather than risk getting flat-out rejected, why don’t you be honest, keep your integrity, and give it your best.

Good luck!

Babs

Got a question for Babs? Email her at dearbabs@campuscompare.com.

You can publish Bab’s on your school newspaper or blogroll at http://www.campuscompare.com/college-resources/dear-babs

Dear Babs,

I’m starting to work on my college admissions essay, and I’m concerned. Should I get my mom to look it over? I know some of my friends had their parents practically write their essay and college application, but is that right? I don’t want to cheat, but if everyone else is doing it, I don’t want my essay to suck.

-Authorial Alex

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Dear Alex,

Go with your gut instinct. If having your parents write your essay for you seems wrong, it probably is! College admissions officers are looking for your voice, not your mom or dad’s. And want to know a little-known-secret? There’s no guarantee your parents can write better than you can. Unless your mom is a professional essayist, her version is probably going to be on par with yours. You do, after all, take an English class 5 times a week. Compare your experience to writing essays to that of your parents. I guarantee a student is going to have more of a knack for it than an adult who works as an office manager, writing up reports and presentations.

I’ve read some of these ghost-written essays before, and let me tell you, they are rarely any good. They are often stiff and dull. What college admissions officers really look for in an essay is an authentic voice and above all enthusiasm. There is no way your mom is going to get as excited about your track meets, choir practice, or soup-kitchen volunteer work as you do.

Don’t take this to mean that she shouldn’t look it over. Every author needs an editor! Have her check your essay for coherency (make sure it makes sense), cohesiveness (make sure it has a theme, and doesn’t jump around too much), and spelling/grammar. Have her make comments and suggestions. Then decide which ones you want to keep.

When it comes to college admissions essays and college applications, there’s nothing wrong with a second opinion, just make sure that the first one is yours!

Good luck!
-Babs