Now that Hurricane Earl has passed and school has belatedly opened, students and parents engaged in the college-selection process have a busy week ahead.
In the coming days, great opportunities will be available to meet college admission officers in person (and over the airwaves on Radio One), hear an expert on finding scholarship money, and prepare for the SAT and ACT.
From Wednesday through Friday, college admissions professionals from seven stateside universities—Bryant, High Point, Johnson & Wales, Johnson C. Smith, Northeastern, Rider and Tampa—will be visiting V.I. high schools. All of these universities have visited us in recent years.
They are back in times of tight budgets and limited travel because they sincerely want to recruit V.I. students.
If they care enough to get here, it’s well worth turning out to meet them.
Students should check with their school counselors to learn when the representatives will visit their campus. In addition, parents who want to learn more are welcome at evening events hosted on St. Thomas (Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. in Prior Jollek Hall at Antilles School) and Thursday on St. Croix at at 6 p.m. (contact your counselor for the location).
No RSVP is necessary for either event; each will enable students and parents to hear brief presentations, followed by questions and answers with admissions officers.
Located in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, North Carolina and Florida, these universities offer a range of programs, with business a particular strength of each one.
Those who want to learn more before deciding whether to attend one of the evening programs are urged to tune in to Radio One, AM 1000, at 4 p.m. Wednesday, when I will interview a number of these admissions professionals live. Listeners are urged to call in with questions at 774-8255.
Also invited to appear on the show is Marianne Ragins, a guru in the art of finding scholarship money for college. She has been invited back to work with students, parents, and high school counselors, after a visit last spring that was very valuable but not particularly well attended.
Given that Ragins was herself able to win offers of more than $400,000 in scholarship aid—and has since then spent years writing and speaking on how to find money for college—I do hope students and parents will take advantage of this marvelous opportunity this Thursday, Sept. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at UVI-St. Thomas, or on Friday, Sept. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at UVI-St. Croix.
Those interested in attending are asked to please register in advance, if possible, at www.scholarshipworkshop.com/uvi.
Finally for this busy week, SAT and ACT prep classes are starting after school Tuesday at Antilles School.
With the SAT coming up on Oct. 9 (the regular registration deadline is this Friday, Sept. 10 at www.collegeboard.com) and the ACT on Oct. 23 (deadline is Sept. 17 at www.actstudent.org), seniors may want to prepare in advance.
The five-week, 12-session courses cost $500, or $300 if the student has demonstrated financial need. Call 776-1600 x235, and leave your name and email address, spelling each slowly and clearly, if you would like more information. Or call Radio One, AM 1000, at 774-8255 between 4 and 5 pm this Wednesday, Sept. 8, and I’ll help you there.
Chris Teare is Director of College Counseling at Antilles School on St. Thomas (www.antilles.vi)
