By John Incantalupo
For StudentAdvisor.com
This time of year a lot of you soon-to-be high school juniors and seniors might just be getting your feet wet in the college search process. But with so many institutions, how do you cut it down to a reasonable number of schools to visit and apply to? How do you really find colleges that interest you that are worth visiting and applying to?
Sure, there's a lot to be found out about a school on their website, but how about using Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare? I know, you’re suspicious. But, you can find out so much more than the jargon on the admissions pages!
How do you know what the food is like in the campus cafeterias? What about living conditions? Is it a serious school, a party school - or somewhere in between? Can I trust that what the gigantic tome in front of me is giving an accurate description of the college? Where can I turn to for an unbiased view?
Here's how to use social media to get the answers to your questions about a school:
Learn More About Life at a College via Facebook
According to Kaplan Test Prep’s 2010 Survey of College Admissions Officers, 82% of Colleges use Facebook as a recruitment tool for prospective students - and THAT was in 2010!
Colleges which you have an interest in are likely to have a Facebook Page that you can search for and visit. Here’s what to do:
1. Log onto your Facebook account.
2. At the top of the page you’ll see a rather large search box.
For kicks, simply type in the word “college”.
3. When the search box drops down, scroll all the way to the
bottom and click on “see more results for college”.
It’s likely that most of the colleges you’re interested in have a presence of some sort on Facebook. Some have nicely designed Facebook Fan Pages. Other pages are links to the Wikipedia site for the college. Some colleges have groups, others try to solicit you to become their “friends”.
Use caution when “friending” college admissions officers! If you “friend” a college admissions officer on Facebook, they will have access to much of your private information.
On the other hand,
“Liking” a Facebook Fan Page is not the same as “friending” a college admissions officer. By “liking” the page, you will receive updates from that page in your Facebook newfseed.
If you’d like to find out more about privacy setting on Facebook, check out the article 5 Steps to Protect Your Facebook Profile During College Applications.
Search for School News on Twitter
Twitter turns out to be the ultimate search tool that almost no one knows about! There are two very useful ways to search Twitter.
First,
search.twitter.com, with its advanced search features is for those that like to customize their searches. Customize by geographic area, date, and even positive or negative attributes! Click on the link above, and then on “advanced search” to access these advanced features.
Then there’s
Topsy which gives a more polished return of info - easier to read, easier to understand. Topsy can be customized as well. In fact, Topsy’s initial search results are spread across a spectrum of social media sites and the web. Once an initial search is conducted, click across the top of the Topsy page to get a variety of different search areas which include tweets, photos, videos and experts (which are determined by the number of social media mentions).
Which Search Terms to Use?
OK - we know what you’re asking! What do I search for?
Try the following generic searches: college, #college, #admissions, admissions, student life, campus food, campus activity...
Try the following if you’re interested in specific school: Tufts, #Tufts, Boston University, Harvard, Cornell...you get the picture!
Even combine the search terms: campus food Tufts, university life Cornell...
By the way, the “#” symbol and the text that follows it is called a hashtag. Hashtags are used on Twitter by users to make tweets more searchable. Folks that use hashtags are generally more Twitter-savvy and often include information in their tweets that is actionable, such as including links and photos/videos that are attached to their tweets.
Find Campus "hotspots" on Foursquare
Foursquare is a location sharing social media network. It is most useful as a smartphone or iPad application. Users “check-in” with their smartphones/iPads/iPods/laptops to actual, real locations and share comments and tips for other users that are checked in with them, or who will check in in the future. Foursquare uses either GPS (on phones) or wi-fi location to determine the users current whereabouts.
If you have the foursquare app on your smartphone or iPod/iPad (with at least wi-fi) or laptop, you will be able to use it on your college visits. You can also use it to research the various campus buildings, and local eateries, nightlife, parks, recreational activities, and the list goes on...
When you are checked-in at a location, you can view comments and tips left by other foursquare users. Some of the comments and tips are very informative, honest and real regarding the overall “feel” of a location. Try it, you’ll see what I mean!
This is a relatively NEW way of using a social media service in the college search process, but we find it very exciting - and a great tool that you can add to your arsenal - remember, you heard it here first!
The Importance of Registering Social Media Accounts
I understand that there are many of you that are reticent to use social media. You’ve read and seen the news accounts of how unsafe it is, how unregulated it is, how many viruses and spam there are...
...but in this article I’m suggesting you use social media for search purposes - not asking anyone to post anything (yet) - I’ll save that for a future article! To use social media for search purposes, all you have to do is have an account. So get those accounts open!
Colleges are interacting with prospective students in the social media space. They know this is the place where most students are logging in every day.
Be there, and at the very least, you’ll find help in your college search. Learn to further use social media in the college admissions process, and you may increase your chances of getting accepted!
John Incantalupo is co-founder of bragTAG, the High School Resume on Facebook. You can check out more of the bragTAG team’s advice on social media and college admissions at the bragTAG College Bound Blog.
By Megan Kenslea
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
Forget Dancing With the Stars – how about Dancing With the Students? Flash mobs have been popping up all around the world lately, so it’s no surprise that college students across the country are joining in on the craze. But not all flash mobs are created equal.
Here are the Top 5 College Flash Mob Videos that caught our attention and have that elusive “x-factor” that the rest just don’t have:
1. Ohio State University - Flash Mob at the Ohio Union
Two Ohio State University - Main Campus students, Jordan Davis and Luc Nutter, put together a unique flash mob to christen the school's new student union last year. Students and staff dressed in Ohio State gear danced through the Union to Glee’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” OSU President E. Gordon Gee even made a cameo at the end.
Don't forget to check out OSU's newest flash mob video featuring 200 dancers getting down to "Dancing in the Street" at a second flash mob at the Komen 5k walk/run for Breast Cancer in Columbus.
2. Furman University Flash Mob 2011
This April, Furman University students surprised picnickers at Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina with a flash mob of nearly 200 people. The students, decked out in Furman purple-and-white, converged on the park, dancing to Cee-Lo’s “Forget You.” The Furman Paladin Mascot joined in, as did Furman University President Rob Smolla – who wore a tux! We also liked the students’ friendly play on the lyrics – they shouted “F.U.” for the school whenever Cee-Lo sung the words “Forget You.”
3. MIT 150 Flash Mob
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year with 150 days of celebration. At one event, the Open House this spring, with over 20,000 visitors present on campus, students organized a flash mob in the campus’s main lobby to surprise the visitors. The flash mob was comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty – with a special appearance from University President Susan Hockfield and the school’s Beaver mascot.
“We recruited the skills from many corners of the student body and saw great enthusiasm from our peers,” said Shreya Dave, the student coordinator. This flash mob had it all: break dancing, high kicks, and even some students dancing on pedestals. The flash mob ended as the group of over 150 danced out of the lobby and onto busy Massachusetts Avenue.
4. Emerson College - ArtsEmerson Fraulein Maria Flash Mob
The new ArtsEmerson program at Emerson College kicked off the 2010 school year with a flash mob in the busy City Place food court in Boston early last September. For Rob Orchard, the Executive Director at ArtsEmerson, “there was no better way to celebrate our first performances, the Paramount Center’s opening and the collaboration between our office and Emerson students,” he said.
The flash mob was professionally choreographed, with more complicated dance moves than most flash mobs – which the Emerson students mastered with ease. Not only did the flash mob give "students a chance to work with Doug Elkins, a superb choreographer,” Orchard said, but also “highlighted the energy and enthusiasm of Emerson students in the heart of the Theatre District.”
5. Colgate University
After watching the clip of the Colgate University flash mob that took place this spring, we kind of wish we went to Colgate – if only so we could celebrate “Colgate Day,” a campus-wide tradition of celebrating each Friday the 13th with something out of the ordinary. This May 13 (you guessed it, a Friday), the university released a video of students performing a flash mob earlier in the spring. While members of the administration originated the idea and “got the ball rolling,” said Alison Kimble, the student coordinator, there was no lack of enthusiasm among the students: especially throughout the audience.
The cheers grew even more enthusiastic when the students were joined by the school’s Raider mascot, as well as the university’s president, Jeff Herbst. Kimble said the alumni response was just as positive: “Several alumni reached out to me and other dancers to tell us how much they enjoyed the video, and it made them miss their days” at Colgate.
Honorable Mentions
Here are a few of our other favorites that didn't quite make the cut, but are definitely worth watching:
By Sam Coren
For StudentAdvisor.com
The following editorial reflects the opinions of the author and not all of those at StudentAdvisor.com.
A New Backlash Against College
Recently, Peter Thiel, one of the co-founders of Paypal, awarded 24 $100,000 fellowships to students who vowed to take a 2 year sabbatical from college and start their own businesses. His goal isn't to foster the next Mark Zuckerberg. He wants to prove that higher education is the next "bubble" that's about to burst, and that some students may be better off turning down a college degree. By the way, Peter Thiel graduated from Stanford with degrees in philosophy and law.
So why all of a sudden is there this backlash against college? America is still pulling itself out of a major recession. The average student loan debt is climbing as tuition costs skyrocket. Employers in certain sectors are still reluctant to hire new grads. To top it off the Pew Research Center's recent study revealed that a significant number of college presidents feel that America's current higher education isn't even up to snuff.
Are We Victims of a Numbers Game?
Of course all this is happening after the White House issued the goal to make America first in the world for college completion rates. Well chicken little, you might think the sky is falling, and it very well could be if you aren't careful about planning your future.
So as the manager of a blog that's focused on helping people find their best college match, you might think I'd be onboard with this pie-in-the-sky "let's churn out more college grads" dream. Believe it or not, I think this notion of forcefully inflating our nation's college completion rate is a terrible idea.
More often than not, politicians on both sides of the aisle measure the effectiveness of our education system on numbers alone. Because of this our country's public school K - 12 teachers are forced to tailor their curriculum to prepare students for standardized tests instead of adequately preparing them for life after compulsory education.
That being said...
College is not for everyone.
I don't believe that everyone should go to college. I believe everyone who wants to go to college should go to college. If you're self-motivated enough and want to peruse a career in something that doesn't mandate a college degree then college will be a complete waste of time and money for you.
However, let's be honest: how many 18-year-olds do you know have the motivation and maturity to do something that ambitious right out of high school? That's where the college environment can be beneficial even if it doesn't mean a high paying job is waiting there for you when you graduate anymore.
Understanding the True Value of College
College exposes you to cultural elements and career options you might not even have considered. Additionally, the networks of connections you make at college can pay off immensely down the line. Even Zuckerberg wonders how many more incredible people he would've met if he had chose to stay at Harvard. And if you're the inquisitive type, college will provide you with the resources you need for research projects or student groups for just about anything your heart desires if you take the initiative.
And let's not forget that there are some people who just love learning. College gives you the opportunity to learn what you actually want in a structured environment with people who are experts in their field. How awesome is that? Sure, you can sit on Wikipedia and Google search for what you want all day. You can even listen and watch lectures from America's top universities on iTunes U, but they're not a substitute for in-person interaction.
All of these would be experiences would be very difficult to find on your own outside the college environment. But it's the unfortunate truth that several students merely go through the motions and treat college as a vacation rather than spend their time seizing on opportunities to expand their minds and build valuable relationships.
Not Going to College: There ARE Other Options
I graduated from a highly ranked suburban public high school. A big part of that ranking had to do with the large percentage of graduating students going on to 4-year colleges. If you were a student who expressed a disinterest in going to college they would throw every pamphlet they could your way to scare you straight into thinking that college is the only option for success in life. I can't help but think how many American college grads are now up to their eyeballs in debt because they've been brainwashed into thinking that going to college was the only option after high school.
Even if you don't think you're ready for college yet there are plenty of alternatives to fill your time with before making up your mind: Volunteering, taking a gap year, learning a skilled trade, working for your family, traveling, focusing on more creative or personal projects etc. There's no shame in admitting you're not ready yet or that it's just not the right choice for you to make in light of your future goals.
Now more than ever before, college is becoming a big, expensive commitment. If you're only going because you're in it for a job then chances are you've made the wrong choice. After all, there is more to life than work and money.
What do you think? Please share your thoughts on the issues at hand in the comments.
By Dean Tsouvalas
StudentAdvisor.com Editor-in-Chief
The latest StudentAdvisor Top 100 Social Media Colleges list features 17 newcomers, 44 climbers and several schools taking a hit in the rankings after a March Madness boost from the NCAA Basketball Tournament. The latest rankings, which cover April 2011, show that the end of the semester has curbed a substantial amount of social networking, as the Harvard University Twitter group @HarvardSocial that we touted last month has been dormant and, partly, as a result Harvard University has lost its No. 1 spot in our rankings.
Meanwhile Johns Hopkins University continues to innovate and has become the Top Social Media college according to our latets rankings. For example in a recent post on the Hopkins Insider blog, graduating senior Lauren Carney had this to say:
"In the four years I have worked for the Undergraduate Admissions Office at Johns Hopkins University, Hopkins Interactive has come a long way. I’ve seen us move from a tiny, forgotten corner of the admissions website to our own dedicated, interactive domain. I’ve seen us grow in size from 12 students to nearly 30. I’ve seen videos produced; blogs become smarter, ideas become more creative and more in tune with our audience of prospective students. I’ve seen our work advertised by all departments at the university with pride and have seen us win national awards for our social media outreach."
Three other colleges not only rocketed onto the list but also landed in the top 25. Each had been percolating but with their end-of-the-year activities proved, they easily are some of the most socially savvy schools.
- The Ohio State University landed at number five. In a clever use of their home page to entice social media engagement, the university invited fans of all ages to show their pride by adding their image of OHIO. As of now they are more than 8000 uploaded images strong.
- Louisiana State University easily broke into the top of the list, landing at number nine thanks to the end of the year engagement of the student Digital Media Fest, now in its fifth year of showcasing undergraduates’ creative and intellectual digital media projects.
- Another school that we welcome to our Top 100 list, and in fact have been waiting for, is Texas A&M. We’ve been following Texas A&M since it was the third school to collaborate with Foursquare and have grown their engagement almost 10,000 friends through innovative programs such as its social media scavenger hunt. Additionally Texas A&M was one of the first 16 schools to launch iTunes U.
Other trends to note from our updated rankings:
These nine schools saw dramatic movement either up or down by at least 30 spots.
By Judith Lee
For StudentAdvisor.com
For all you high school juniors out there wrapping up AP exams and finals, summer is a great time to get a leg up on your college applications. First thing is to build your college list - that list of 6 to 10 colleges that you'll be submitting apps to come fall. If you want to get a head start on the application process you might want to consider applying to schools early decision or early action.
"Should I Apply to College Early?"
For many colleges, there are two decision rounds, one Early (usually with deadlines from Nov 1-15) and one Regular (usually with deadlines around Jan 1-Feb 1). Early rounds come with different restrictions, depending on the college.
"What does it mean to apply Early Decision?"
You can only apply to one college Early Decision, and if you get in, you are required to withdraw all of your other college applications and commit to this one college. The only way to get out of this binding decision is if you applied for financial aid and the aid package the college is offering you is not enough for you to afford going there.
You should apply Early Decision if:
- You believe your college record as of end of junior year is as good as it will get or your record is within the target range of the school where you would apply EA.
- You have done enough work to get your applications in early (also meaning getting Recommendation Packets to teachers and counselors by end of September at the latest)
- You have one top choice in mind and would be ok with committing to it if you get in.
"What does it mean to apply Early Action?"
This is where you can apply to many colleges early. This decision is not binding and if you get in, you can choose to wait to hear from other colleges before you decide. Most Scholar Strategies students will apply to at least one school EA.
You should apply Early Action if:
- You believe your college record as of end of junior year is as good as it will get or your record is within the target range of the school where you would apply EA.
- You have done enough work to get your applications in early (also meaning getting Recommendation Packets to teachers and counselors by end of September at the latest)
"
What's Restrictive Early Action?" (REA)
This is where you can apply to only one college early. This decision is not binding, and if you get in, you can choose to wait to hear from other colleges before you decide.
You should apply Restrictive Early Action if:
- You believe your college record as of end of junior year is as good as it will get or your record is within the target range of the school where you would apply EA.
- You have done enough work to get your applications in early (also meaning getting Recommendation Packets to teachers and counselors by end of September at the latest)
- You have one top choice in mind.
"Why do colleges offer early application rounds?"
Colleges offer early rounds for a number of reasons. Its a great way to get a head start on filling up the incoming freshman class early with students who manage their time well enough and have performed well enough to submit early applications. Also, early admit numbers are usually not factored into the college rankings (e.g., US News & World Report) where a lower admit rate correlates to a higher ranking.
Early rounds are usually where legacies, athletes, development candidates (aka big donors), etc. are admitted. At many colleges the Early pool can be a slightly less academically competitive pool.
Judith Lee is Founder & CEO of Scholar Strategies, a college admissions consulting company that helps individuals achieve their educational and professional goals. Judith loves meeting students and families, and can be reached at judith[at]scholarstrategies.com.
By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
Even though the spring semester has come to an end for most students, college happenings are still making headlines. This week brings us a rash of controversy with stories about Yale's Greek Life and students against unethical hummus. On the sunny side of things, two teenage prodigies on both coasts are starting to garner national attention with their out-of-this-world accomplishments. To top it off The Pew Research center dumped a bunch gas on the fire that is the "Is College Worth the Money?" debate.
Clueless? Don't worry, the latest edition of This Week in College News will keep you in the loop:
George W. Bush's old Yale University fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon, has been suspended from the university for five years. The suspension comes after a hazing incident that involved newly initiated members chanting phrases about sex acts including rape. After suspending the fraternity, Mary Miller, Dean of Yale College, stated "it is my hope that this will not only shed some light on a matter of public concern but also provide notice of the outcomes to all those who may have been affected by sexual harassment and, accordingly, educate our community."
Students at DePaul University in Chicago will be voting on whether or not to ban sales of Sabra Hummus on campus. The vote comes after a group of students made a video to inform others about Sabra's parent company, the Strauss Group, supporting brigades in the Israli army that have committed human rights violations.
Imagine getting your college degree without being old enough to drive. Well that dream came true for one student. This week Ty Hobson-Powell became the youngest students to graduate University of Baltimore at the age of 15 with an interdisciplinary degree in public policy, history and psychology. What's next for the young grad? He's got his eye on law school.
If the thought of being a 15-year-old law student didn't blow your mind, how about being a 19-year-old venture capitalist? Ernestine Fu, a sophomore at Stanford University, has been keeping herself busy running a non-profit, co-authoring a book, and listening to startups pitch as a member of the board at Alsop Louie Partners. However, the young Civil and Environmental Engineering major is having a tough time deciding what to do when she finally leaves school.
A recent study by the Pew Research Center this week revealed that 57% of Americans believe the US higher education system fails to provide students with good value for the money. Additionally, when the study surveyed college presidents it found that only 19% of them find the U.S. system of higher education to be the best in the world. On the flip side, 86% of college graduates say that college has been a good investment for them personally and 94% of the parents surveyed in the study expected their child to go to college.
By Vicki Salemi
For StudentAdvisor.com
Summer break is the perfect time to start building your resume with an internship. If you've never interned before, finding your first position can be a bit daunting. Read over author Vicki Salemi's tips for an idea of where you can start and be sure to check out more solid internship advice in our free StudentAdvisor Get That Internship guide:
1. Treat your internship like a job search.
Internships, like full-time jobs, don’t always hit the “open” market. They won’t always be advertised online and if they do, you’re competing with hundreds of applicants. You have to get in the ground floor.
2. Leverage your university ties.
This means going to the career office and asking if they can give you access to a list of all alums with your major or the field you want to get into or the location where you want to be. Most importantly, network with recruiters who went to your school or Human Resources Directors and high level decision-making folks. By connecting with them for an informational interview, even twenty minutes on the phone, and staying in touch via LinkedIn, you’ll be front of mind for when that internship does open up.
3. Get a temp job.
Technically temp jobs are internships except you’re paid hourly. It’s time to think outside the box: you’re seeking work experience to bulk up that resume. A temp job will do just that. Some temp jobs are menial like filing or answering phones but once you get in the door through the temp agency, you can prove yourself by asking to take on more work, ask to sit in on meetings, and make a valuable impression on your supervisors.
Vicki Salemi is the author of the ABC's of College Life. She's also a dynamic public speaker, career consultant, and sassy freelance writer with over a dozen years of experience working in human resources/recruiting and freelance writing.
By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
One of the cool things about working at StudentAdvisor is getting to read all the college reviews real students submit on their schools. In our reviews we always ask these what's good, what's bad, and would you choose to go to the same school if you could do it all over again. After reading hundreds upon hundreds of reviews, I've noticed a few trends in what students place in the "bad" section no matter what school they go to.
Curious to find out what's nagging today's college student? Read on:
The Food
For students who live on-campus in a dorm without a kitchen, you're typically at the mercy of campus dining services. This is even more true if you attend school in a very rural location and it's hard to get to restaurants and grocery stores. Many public colleges are obligated to go with the lowest bidding food service provider and these also tend to be massive corprations that care more about keeping food costs low rather than food quality.
Having to eat prison food for your whole college career can be pretty depressing. Even at more commuter oriented schools, students often find themselves strapped for options when they forget to bring a lunch.
However it's not all cold sloppy joes and soggy fries for every college student. Check out this Boston University student review glorifying the school's lobster dinner night and visiting chef series.
Feeling like a number more than a person at large schools.
Many students at bigger research focused schools complain about rarely getting to speak to their professors and having TA's teach most of their courses. Typically students who go to schools with low student to faculty ratios have more of an opportunity to build a relationship with their professors. Also larger schools tend to have a more bureaucratic infrastructure, which can make it hard to get answers to your questions or even find out where to go to get them.
Lack of diversity at small schools.
On the other end of the spectrum students who go to smaller schools aren't real fans of lack of diversity in the campus student body. We get a lot of complaints about smaller schools feeling more like "high school" socially because of the strong presence of cliques or small schools recruit specific types of students. Larger schools have a tendency to gather people from all walks of life and most students enjoy meeting people of different ethnic backgrounds, religions, socio-economic groups and geographic locations.
Urban schools having a lack of school spirit.
Reviews from students at colleges in big cities (think NYC, Boston, LA, etc.) complain that most of the student body will spend their free time out exploring the city rather than attend campus events. Lack of attendance at sporting events is the norm and many students treat school more like a job rather than participate in on-campus activities.
Rural schools with a lack of nightlife.
Many students at rural schools tend to feel suffocated by a lack of things to do outside school. Some rural colleges try harder than others with student activities such as concerts and festivals. In this University of Wisconsin - Green Bay review, a student writes that the student union turned into a night club. However not all rural schools put that much effort into keeping their students entertained. Some students also complain of poor "town"/"gown" relationships, such as this student review on Bates College, which make it harder for students to enjoy themselves off campus.
Financial Aid
Since the majority of students currently attending college receive some form of financial aid from their schools this is a biggie. Many students complain of a long, confusing, and tedious process for applying for financial aid at their schools. Each school has a limited number of funds they can offer each student and some are more generous than others.
Tuition and Fee Hikes
In the same vein as financial aid, across the board the cost of a college education is going up for everyone.
General Education Courses
For students who were promised they could finally take classes they care about when they got to college, many of them have a grudge against general education courses. Gen ed courses fulfill liberal arts requirements and if you're a student pursuing a BA rather than a BS chances are about almost half the classes you take in college will go toward fulfilling these.
Many schools have it scheduled out that all freshman do gen ed requirements their first year, and students will feel frustrated not being able to dive right into the courses related to their major.
By Robin Pendoley
For StudentAdvisor.com
Even in a struggling economy and with the price of higher education climbing every day, it’s important to remember one thing: EVERYONE CAN AFFORD A GAP YEAR.
In fact, I’m going to argue that you can’t afford not to do a gap year. It’s a bold statement, but consider these two things:
1. Gap Years Can Help Pay for College
For those worried about the high cost of college tuition, there are a number of gap year options that will pay students both a living stipend and an education award. City Year and AmeriCorps provide a range of service learning opportunities in communities around the US, including both individual and team settings. A year of service is rewarded with a modest living stipend and a $5500 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to be applied toward college tuition. Additionally, many colleges around the country will augment that award, sometimes even doubling or tripling its value.
2. Students Who Take a Gap Year Get More Out of College
Bob Claggett, Dean of Admissions at Middlebury College, was quoted in Time Magazine in September 2010 saying that the gap year was the single best indicator for success of students on his campus. Gap year students widely report being more focused, driven, and directed during their college years. With as many as 50% of students dropping out of college before graduation, investing in a gap year may be the best way to ensure the money invested in college tuition will be well spent. (For more on this, check out my previous post.)
So, whether your primary concern is paying for college or ensuring you get the most from your college years, a gap year is a crucial step before college.
"How Much Should I Spend?"
Of course, there are many gap year options and the best fit for you may charge tuition or a fee. While money is an important factor when comparing programs, it’s important to not let it limit your search. Ultimately, you want to find a program that is both affordable and the right fit for what you want to learn and gain.
Here are some things to consider when evaluating the cost of the programs you are considering:
You Get What You Pay For
When looking at the cost of a program, remember to look carefully at what you get for the money you spend. Small group sizes, safety precautions, support services, itinerary details, and quality of experience and learning opportunities are all details to investigate.
College Credit = $
Some organizations offer college credit for successful completion of their gap year program. It is important to check with your university ahead of your program to determine if those credits will transfer. If your college does, the credits earned may satisfy general education requirements, shortening your time on campus and reducing tuition costs. Additionally, accredited programs are often eligible for traditional college scholarships like those that can be found on Fastweb.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Many gap year programs offer need-based scholarship and financial aid resources to accepted students. Scholarships can range from a few hundred dollars to enough funds to cover all costs of participating. Some programs will assist students in raising funds on their own to cover the cost of the program. Additionally, local and national service organizations like Rotary International provide scholarships for student exchange. If you are planning to apply for scholarships or raise funds it is critical to apply to the programs and scholarships early.
Earn Your Keep
Plan ahead and schedule time over weekends, summers, or holidays to work and earn money to put toward the cost of your gap year. Additionally, some students choose to spend the first few months of their gap year working full time locally to finance programs or travel later in the year.
Virtually every student can benefit from a gap year. With some planning and legwork, a gap year is possible for every student, regardless of financial concerns.
Robin Pendoley is Co-Founder & CEO of Thinking Beyond Borders, an educational gap year program.
By David Kimmelman
For StudentAdvisor.com
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is predicting that the hire rate for new college grads in 2011 will increase by 19% after a decline of 22% in the previous year. These are certainly positive signs of job growth but that does not mean that it’s guaranteed that new grads will get a job.
Why Those With Internships Standout to HR
College students that have worked as interns in their field of endeavor throughout their college career are significantly more likely to acquire the type of job they are looking for versus those students that did not serve as interns. That does not mean employers will not hire the non-interns, but they will have to be that much better at networking and interviewing than their counterparts who have already acquired some practical experience in their field.
The Stigma Against Hiring Millennials
New college grads need to be aware that there is a growing skepticism amongst hiring managers that these new workers do not want to work hard to prove themselves and have the patience it takes to climb the corporate ladder. It is not fair to lump every young grad into this bucket, but our society loves to label people and in most cases people’s perceptions become their reality.
Therefore, jobseeker beware! Know that you are heading into this perception be it right or wrong, and be prepared to prove to prospective employers that you are well prepared for your interview, and be prepared to show examples of your work ethic, passion and desire to deliver nothing short of great results. Do this well and you are likely to separate yourself from the rest of the pack.
David Kimmelman is Director of Product for GetTheJob.com, a career and job management site that brings more personalized guidance, expertise, information and jobs, to jobseekers. David has almost 20 years of HR and Staffing experience serving in roles from high tech recruiter to VP of HR, and he has also worked on the vendor side of HR as VP of Business Development for companies like Lee Hecht Harrison, BrassRing (now Kenexa) and the Human Capital Institute.
By Marcy Black
For StudentAdvisor.com
In this day of streaming video, YouTube clips, and phone apps, it may seem quaint to pack up a prospective student and physically visit college campuses. Many schools offer virtual tours on their websites. But there are some things you cannot get from a video on your computer.
College visits can open a teenager’s eyes to the possibilities of life after high school.
Think back to when your identity was defined by where you sat in the cafeteria, the classes you were tracked into, whether you earned a varsity letter, or got stuffed in your locker. Rigid cliques determined social standing. Your high school friends were the most important people outside your family, and life without them was unimaginable.
Whether your student is basking in the sun at the top of the social heap, or struggling to find a comfortable niche, some high- schoolers can’t imagine anything beyond these four years. One parent described her daughter’s immersion: “It was all about the dynamics of high school, fitting in and finding her place in a social system that she thought lasted forever. So I showed her there is an alternate universe outside of high school.” Campus visits give teens a peek at life after 12th grade. A visit will show your student that high school is just a stepping stone to their future.
Campus tours help teens get to know schools more intimately.
By immersing themselves in campus life, kids can better judge whether or not a school has those indefinable qualities that would make it a “good fit” for them. It’s easy enough to research a student’s checklist for school size, location, majors offered, student/ teacher ratio, etc. But so much more goes into finding a college match in which a student will feel comfortable and thrive.
In fact, a 2004 student poll by educational consultants The Art & Science Group found that the campus visit is the single largest influence on student application decisions. As carefully as they try, a parent cannot pick up on the subtle clues that scream at a teen, “This place is full of snobs,” or “I’ll fit in here, easy.” High school counselor Scott White describes watching with fascination as his daughter drank in the scene at several schools. He says, “She could pick up, by the pocketbooks the girls carried or the brand of jeans the kids wore, some things I was blind to. She could interpret subtle differences in the language that I could never hear. She is in a culture that, as much as I try, I will never truly understand.”
A campus visit may improve a student’s chance of admission.
A college visit cuts both ways. Not only do students get to see the school, but the school gets to see the student. Every contact between the two is charted in their enrollment management plan. Some schools say that a campus visit is not a factor in the admission decision; others say demonstrated interest by an applicant does affect the admissions committee’s deliberations.
After several years of rising campus visits, editor Sally Reed says the annual CollegeBoundNews.com survey of colleges found fewer students visiting campus in 2009, possibly as a result of the recession. Still, schools with more applicants than space for enrollment or with more applicants for financial aid than their budgets can provide, must pick and choose. So they may be likely to look with more favor on a student who demonstrates serious interest in the school by taking the time and making the effort to visit the campus.
By Purvi S. Mody
For StudentAdvisor.com
Being a parent is probably the most challenging role that a person can take on, and being the parent of a teenager can take stress to epic proportions. Working with so many families throughout the years, I have seen examples of parenting that I hope to aspire to. So this week, I reached out to several families whose children are graduating or are already in college to give my readers some tips to get through the high school years.
Keep the lines of communication open.
Teens have the capacity to chat with ten of their closest friends at a time, while updating their Facebook with their most intimate thoughts and secrets, but as soon as a parent walks in the room, the ability to communicate dwindles down to a couple of shrugs. It is not always easy to talk to a teen, but let your child know that you are there to listen as much as you are there to guide
Understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
Your child is a still a work in progress, so allow them to not be perfect. Applaud her for her strengths and gently point out areas where she can improve and give her the tools to do so. This does not always mean shelling out big bucks. It can be as simple as quizzing her on vocabulary, having her practice a speech in front of you, or giving her a quick tutorial on how to use Outlook so that she can manage her time.
Don’t compare your child to others.
Teens hate to be compared to one another. And while you might compare your child to motivate her, you may have exactly the opposite reaction. She might rebel against the behavior you want her to model. When talking about positive attributes of others, recognize your child’s strengths as well. This is especially true if that model citizen or scholar is a sibling.
Teach your child to be independent.
A past student of mine was not allowed to walk anywhere – school, the park, or even a friend’s house down the same suburban street. By the time he was a Senior, he was so afraid of change that he insisted on only applying to colleges at which he could live at home. In the end he sacrificed the chance to experience new ways of life and growth for comfort.
While this might seem like an extreme example, I so often see parents taking charge of their child’s schedule, checking their grades online daily, or talking to teachers on the child’s behalf over minor issues. Let your child be in charge. It will build his confidence and your confidence in him.
Encourage your children to excel at more than just academics.
While academics are important, it is just as vital to teach your child to pursue his hobbies and curiosities. Doing so will help him to develop into a well-rounded and fulfilled individual.
Don’t criticize your child publicly.
I have had parents tell me that their child is dumb or lazy when he or she was sitting in the same room. I have had parents say that their child’s interests are not worthy. I have had parents say that their child will not amount to anything and will have to be supported his whole life. I keep a box of tissue in my office for exactly these types of moments, which are not as rare as I would like. Your child looks to you first for support and affirmation. While I don’t believe that you must always agree with your child’s decisions, support and encourage him publicly and share your concerns privately. Your child will be less willing to come to you if he is afraid of your reaction.
Parenting, while challenging, should also be fulfilling. And while the gratification may not be immediate, one day, your child will appreciate all that you have done.
Purvi S. Mody is co-owner of Insight Education, an educational consulting firm that helps students throughout the country and internationally to achieve their educational goals. Get in touch with her via email at purvi@insight-education.net or follow her on Twitter @InsightEduc.
By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
Late Spring is serious gift buying season. Is your calendar like mine with all these weddings and graduations stockpiled from May through June? Ouch, my wallet! While cash is always king, sometimes you'd like your gift to represent a little more thought than a fistful of dollars. While
Dr. Seuss's beloved Oh! The Places You'll Go is cute and inspiring, at the end of the day it's still a children's book that's going to collect dust until they have kids.
So if you're trying to impress a certain grad-to-be here are a few graduation gifts they can make serious use of:
1. A Gym Membership
Now you might want to use a bit of discretion before giving this to a new grad, but for many college grads their "free" pass to the gym is coming to an end. Most campuses will revoke recreation center privileges a month or two post-graduation, so for a college gym rat, facing the music of having to pay for a private gym membership can be a tough blow. You should also consider getting them a membership at a gym that has multiple locations in the very likely event will they wind up moving.
2. A New Passport
Ask any seasoned traveler and they'll tell you the best time to get or renew your passport is when there's no pressure to get it done right before a trip. And with a typical application processing time of 4-6 weeks it's easy to see why! If your new grad currently doesn't have a passport, the application and execution fees come to $165.
It's also important to note that if they were under 16 when they got their first passport they won't be able to do a simple renewal and will have to apply for a new one. So do a bit of digging and ask their parents if they have a passport and when they got it before signing a check and printing out the application forms for their gift.
3. A Vanity Domain Name
Getting [your grad's name].com is a way of insuring they can start staking a claim in their own online presence. This is crucial in today's modern job market where HR departments and recruiters are taught to Google candidates before even picking up the phone or sending you an email for an interview. Even if your new grad isn't super tech savvy they could still make use of having a custom domain name - it's incredibly easy to set up a Tumblr blog and point the domain name to it.
4. A Gift Certificate to a "Grown Up" Clothing Store
Even though some fashionistas consider college campuses the new runway, not all college students have a reliable inventory of "job interview friendly" clothes. Giving a new grad a jump start on a new wardrobe can be a huge help. Chances are after college their favorite duds went through some serious wear and tear anyway and they could use some new clothes, job interviews or not.
5. A Car Share
If the new grad is moving to a big city and giving up their car in favor of public transit, they might end up going through some seperation anxiety. Luckily there are numerous car share companies that recognize the urbanite's need for personal transportation.
A car share company is essentially a car rental agency for short-term use. Want to make a run to pick up a lot of groceries or need a day trip to the country side? Companies like Zipcar make it easy by having cars throughout the city availble for hourly rentals with insurance and gas included in the membership cost.
On today's weekly wrap up of the latest news rocking the college world we'll cover Osama Bin Laden, graduating when you're over 70, and why some Louisiana students are failing to make the grade. Have no idea what's going on? No worries. This Week in College News is here to help:
One soon-to-be Spring Hill College graduate proves that you're never too old to go back to school. At 74 Jean Bassett will be earning her BA in General Studies along side her daughter after taking a 50+ year hiatus from college. Jean left Lincoln University in Missouri in 1957 after two years to start a life with her husband after he joined the Air Force.
Most of America's college students were still in elementary school at the time of the catastrophic events of September 11th, 2001. Despite this, college students across the country took to the streets upon hearing the news of Osama Bin Laden's death. NPR reports that for many students, this marked the end of the "boogey" man responsible for the worst acts of terrorism in American history and 10 years of war.
As the state of Louisiana aims to raise admissions standards for public colleges, critics note that many of the students currently enrolled at University of New Orleans would not be admitted. New standards incoming students at UNO to carry a 2.5 high school GPA or a score of at least 23 on their ACTs. An alarming 27% of current UNO freshman fail to meet the new admissions standards.
Several colleges are beginning to take a different approach to combat college drinking. 14 schools including Northwestern, Boston, Princeton and Stanford, have joined the national Learning Collaborative on High-Risk Drinking. The organization started by Dartmouth President Jim Yong Kim aims to treat college binge drinking as a health issue rather than a disciplinary one with Freshman education courses and partnerships with local law enforcement, bar owners, neighbors, landlords, and others.
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By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
Facing a less than stellar job market, recent college graduates are looking more dewy-eyed than ever at the possibility of going grad school. After all, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Master's degree holders on average tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher weekly earnings than those who have just their Bachelor's. For some, deciding to peruse a graduate degree is the first step to a major career change if they want to work in a new field. For others, it's a necessary step they must take to advance to leadership positions in their current industry.
The Council of Graduate Schools published a study indicating that between 1999 and 2009 grad school applications increased an average of 4.8% each year, with a sharp increase between 2008 and 2009. However, with grad school application numbers on the rise you have to wonder, how many people are just haphazardly going through the motions. Deciding whether or not you're ready for the commitment of a graduate-level education is not to be taken lightly. Higher education is a huge investment of time and money - you remember getting your Bachelor's, don't you?
So before you filling out applications for Master's programs, Law School, Medical School, or B-School here are a few things to consider:
1. Your resume is lacking in the "experience" section.
A lot of recent college grads who are having a tough time getting their foot in the door for job interviews have a tendency to think that a Master's degree might be what employers are looking for. If you choose to persue a grad degree for that very reason alone you're only continuing to shoot yourself in the foot.
Take a long hard look at your resume, and then take a look at the requirements and skills in the job postings. Chances are something's out of synch on your end. Choosing to apply to grad school while shying away from internships and volunteer projects that can help you gain much needed experience and real-world skills is a huge mistake. If you're still set on going to grad school despite this, make sure you're looking at programs with strong research, internship or co-op programs that can help you fill the void.
2. You're missing pre-requisite courses on your transcript for the program you want.
So you want to go to medical school, but you haven't taken a lab science class since high school? Well, now is the time to consider enrolling in some community college courses to fill those pre-requisite course gaps in. Some colleges even offer discounted rates on courses for alums as a perk, so be sure to check with your alumni office.
3. You haven't touched a practice book for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT.
Unfortunately, just like applying for schools your first time around, most grad school programs require you to submit standardized test scores along with your grades. If you felt like you could have had a stronger GPA as an undergrad, performing well on the standardized test may help you compensate and you should prepare yourself adequately. Don't forget - those exam fees aren't cheap, so practice, practice, practice!
4. You haven't paid off student loans from your undergrad degree.
This is the hard music so many recent grads must face. According to the Department of Education, the average student loan debt was $24,000 per person for the graduating class of 2009. Adding more debt to the pile isn't in your best interest no matter how badly you want that Master's degree. Pay off your Bachelor's education first and then look into cost-effective ways for getting to grad school. In-state tuition, scholarships, employer tuition re-imbursement, online classes, part-time programs, etc. - the list goes on.
Don't Beat Yourself Up If You Aren't Ready
When all is said and done none of these signs are the nail in the coffin to your dream of getting a Master's degree if you're willing to work hard to turn yourself around. And let's not forget - getting your Master's should not be all about getting a bigger paycheck or building a rolodex of connections. Go back to school because you're excited to learn more about what you love learning about and you'll find the best return on your investment.
By Sam Coren
StudentAdvisor.com Staff
Remember that day you moved into your dorm at the beginning of the school year and everything looked so…clean? Well the time has come to conquer Mt. Laundry and dismantle your tower of empty energy drink cans. Yes, move out day is just around the corner and summer vacation can't come soon enough.
But oh, what about those pesky roommates? Move out day is one of the biggest sources of college roommate angst. People are animals whenever they have to move (you remember move-in date, right?). Whether it's accidentally taking your favorite shirt, or carelessly knocking over your desk mirror - you need to brace yourself for the unexpected.
Here are a few ways to get through the process pain-free:
Start packing early.
Bit by bit you should be starting to pack up stuff you won't be needing over the next couple weeks. Not only does this make for less work on move out day, but if you share the same room it makes it less crazy if everyone isn't scrambling to pack and move things at the last minute.
Find out when they're moving out and offer to help if you're available.
As always, clear communication is key when it comes to preventing roommate problems. Offering to help them isn't just a courtesy, it's a way to make sure they're being mindful of your belongings without looking like a parole officer. One of the biggest issues on move out day is roommates who take things that don't belong to them regardless of intention. This is your chance to make sure they're not making off with your beloved copy of Call of Duty.
If you do run into a situation where you spot something of yours in their move out bin, it's important to NOT accuse them of stealing right away. Ask them, "Oh hey, isn't that my ____?" Chances are they'll plead it got there by accident and you'll be returned what's rightfully yours without a huge scene.
Determine a time when everyone is still there to clean.
Some schools will charge students an extra cleaning fee to all students who share a room if they leave it behind in bad condition. Even if they don't charge you a cleaning fee, it's still the respectful thing to do to leave the place spotless. Determine a time after papers and finals are over for all your roommates to chip in on cleaning.
When you make it a group effort it can get done quickly and you aren't the only one burdened with the cost of cleaning supplies. Nothing is worst than having to be the last one to move out and be stuck with a gigantic mess to clean up.
Have a goodbye lunch or dinner.
Whether you're BFF with your roommate or not, having a nice send off meal is a good way to ease tension before the move and pat yourselves on the back for making it through a year. You can also use this as an opportunity to coordinate move out schedules. Before you leave talk about each other's future plans. You never know when you'll cross paths again, and let's face it, no on needs more enemies, right?
Photo: Siena College
By Puja Shah
StudentAdvsior.com Staff
Four years of late-nights either writing papers and studying for too many accounting exams or reminiscing with roommates about the bad (but really good) decisions you made freshman year all come down to one day – actually, just a few hours of sitting impatiently waiting to walk across the stage for a handshake that will feel like a million dollars. Graduation isn’t like any other milestone in our lives; it’s one we’ve worked towards facing challenges, making mistakes, and finding ourselves along the way.
So for a ceremony that celebrates a chapter of your academic success, will you remember who you were sitting next to? Will you remember who tripped walking across the stage? Will you remember the keynote speaker and their inspirational message to send you off into the real world? The graduating seniors at these schools are guaranteed at least the latter. From comedians and actors to Thomas Friedman (Tulane University) and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel (Washington University in Saint Louis), this notable list of Commencement Speakers for 2011 will be sure to leave a lasting impression among graduates and guests.
Political Figures
Among this list are the President and First Lady who will each be addressing more than just one graduating class. President Obama is scheduled to speak at the United States Coast Guard Academy after Miami-Dade College. Michelle Obama will be speaking at the University of Northern Iowa, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Spelman College (after four years of campaigning for her to address the senior class). The list of politicians does not end there – others addressing the Class of 2011 include Bill Clinton (NYU) and Al Gore (Hamilton College).
Business Leaders
Then there are the business leaders who, through successful and ethical behavior, have inspired us over the year. We hope they will share their stories of challenges and successes but we hope even more that they will share advice for how we can avoid making the same mistakes as generations before us. Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg (Barnard College), Apple Computer Inc. co-found Steve Wozniak (Michigan State University), and PepsiCo Chief Executive Officer Indra K. Nooyi (Wake Forest University) are among the most popular in this category.
Entertainment Icons
Harvard University opted for a lighthearted speaker, Amy Poehler. They certainly weren’t alone in staying away from business and political figures. Other entertainers on this list include Stephen Colbert (Northwestern University), Tom Hanks (Yale University), Morgan Spurlock (Salt Lake Community College), Brooke Shields (Princeton University), and Denzel Washington (University of Pennsylvania).
Whether they will leave us laughing or questioning how will we tackle the problems of the future, these keynote speakers have certainly conjured up excitement for their respective graduates and guests. Congratulations, Class of 2011!
Puja Shah is a graduating senior at Bentley University. The StudentAdvisor team would like to wish her and all graduating seniors this year the best of luck!
Caleb Daniloff
For StudentAdvisor.com
For urban colleges and universities especially, local clubs, bars, and taverns, are woven into a school’s social fabric. They offer a break from the books, a chance to mingle, enjoy live music or sports, and, for those of age, to knock back a few. But there is a dark side. They are often the environment of choice for sexual assaults. Some 90 percent of all sexual assaults on college campuses involve booze, according to experts, many of them by a friend or acquaintance.
To combat such sobering statistics, Boston University has reached out to local bar owners and staff, offering them workshops on spotting predators, how they operate, making their places inhospitable as possible “hunting” grounds, and formulating a plan of action should the worst happen.
“Sexual violence awareness is important for our students and those in the community interacting with our students to understand, both from a personal safety and bystander perspective,” says Elizabeth Douglas, manager of wellness and prevention services at BU’s Student Health Services. . “If people are more aware of what constitutes sexual violence, they can better identify situations and safely speak up or intervene.”
At the initial informational meeting, Douglas was joined by members of the Boston Police Department (Brighton-Allston), the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC), the Boston University Police, and the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC).
75% of all assaults and sexual assaults across the country are alcohol-related.
“A study that just came out showed that 75 percent of all assaults and sexual assaults across the country are alcohol-related. And you’re in the business of selling alcohol. These problems, these assaults, they have a ripple effect across the community.” said Ted Mahony, chief Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) investigator.
Mahony acknowledged that liquor stores and private parties play a part, too. He also figured that the owners of the problem bars had probably not RSVP’d to Douglas’ invitation.
“My experience has been that 10 to 15 percent of the bars out there are the real problem, because the fact of the matter is they just don’t care. They’re going after that bottom line. We’re talking about at closing time, people are literally thrown out of the doors. We’ve picked people up out of the gutter, vomiting in the gutter, I can’t tell you how many times. They don’t know their name, but they were still served at that establishment.”
BUPD Captain Robert Molloy told the audience that handling alcohol-related reports consumes the bulk of his department’s time. The University has a long-standing policy of transporting inebriated students to the hospital rather than leaving them in the care of friends or roommates. During summer 2010, Molloy said, BUPD executed 12 alcohol transports. In September, that number spiked to 40, and bumped up to 42 in October. In all, BUPD officers brought 249 students to the hospital for alcohol intoxication in 2010.
“That’s a high number,” Molloy said. “That puts a lot of pressure on hospitals and ERs that are trying to help other people. So we’re all just trying to think of ways of reducing that number.”
Sexual Violence Prevention Training for Local Business Owners
Representatives from four different local alcohol-serving establishments showed up to BU'S workshop on alcohol-related sexual violence. Peggy Barrett, the rape crisis center’s director of community awareness and prevention services, started by shaking loose some of the stereotypes surrounding rape and sexual assault. While the bulk of the research has focused on male-on-female assaults, Barrett said, women are also perpetrators and men can be victims. In fact, one in 33 men will have been the victim of rape or attempted rape in their lifetime (for women, it’s one in 6), she said.
“They might be showing up at your establishment again and again, looking for people they can overpower easily or who could be made more vulnerable through alcohol or maybe they’re using other drugs,” Barrett said. “They’re looking to take advantage of people. So what we’re talking about is how you can change the environment so it’s less comfortable for those folks.”
Meg Bossong, BARCC project manager for community mobilization, urged staff members to think about preventing sexual assaults as not just a liability issue, but in terms of customer service. The safer an environment, the more repeat business. Word will spread, she said.
“If there’s a college population, there’s a lot of competition to get people in the door,” said Bossong. “You work really hard on marketing your business, special events, games, sports events. The point is that making your business one that is safe and free from sexual assault is just as much a part as those other aspects. No one wants to see their establishment as a place where someone gets assaulted. That does incredible damage to your business. There are places in the city that are seen that way.”
"Sexual violence can almost be an afterthought."
Because the dynamics of acquaintance sexual assault are more subtle, detecting the crime, or seeing it about to unfold, is challenging. Barrett took the audience through a typical perpetrator’s steps, according to research. “Assaults are premeditated to a certain degree,” she said. “The perpetrator might not know the specifics, but they know they will move ahead for sexual activity.”
Barrett, Bossong, and the bar staff later worked through various real-life scenarios submitted by local taverns. One featured a regular well-paying customer bragging to the bartender that girls at the club were easy. The bartender then sees the man ordering drinks for a woman until she has trouble walking. How would you get this person not to return, Bossong asked.
The group discussed other tactics, such as keeping security circulating around the club, paying attention to who people arrive with and who they’re leaving with, and checking on drunk patrons in front of their friends, which signals to any perpetrator that they are being observed. The main thing, Bossong said, is working as a team, from wait staff to bartenders to security, so that the onus is not on just one or two staffers.
“It’s good to understand the concerns of the community that usually aren’t brought up on a daily basis,” said PaulCarew, security head of one of the participating local bars. “From a security standpoint, physical violence is the major issue, so sexual violence can almost be an afterthought. We do see the behavior of people at the bar where it could lead to that—you could see the potential.”
Caleb Daniloff orginally wrote this story for BU Today, Boston University's daily news site. Caleb is a Senior Writer & Editor at BU Today and Bostonia, the school’s alumni magazine.
Photos: backseatpilot Larissa Green