Post-Tribune

Computer science skills valuable in all fields

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:07:34 -0500

Dear Students: I recently wrote a column recommending that all college students should consider adding classes in computer science as a part of your major field course selections. I feel confident in saying that if you take these classes you will not be among the thousands of graduates facing unemployment or underemployment in what is becoming an increasingly technology-driven job market. This is not to say that if you do not take computer science courses you are headed down a dead-end street. But spending $100,000 in tuition and fees on a state college diploma to get a $12-per-hour job is …

Ivy League education has some advantages

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:50:35 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw, I grew up in a working-class family and while I did not graduate from an Ivy League school I did graduate from an elite state college. I turned down Princeton for a full scholarship to a top state college that paid for most of my undergraduate expenses. I now feel that the full scholarship was a double-edged sword. On the one hand I saved money by going to a state school. On the other hand it took me nearly a decade longer for me to gain a top management position than it did for a number of …

Get early start on applications to highly selective colleges

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:09:30 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw, I am applying to several Ivy League colleges this fall as well as several other highly selective schools. My projected academic profile reads as follows: I will graduate first in my class of 500 and my GPA is 5.089 (weighted) on a 4.0 scale. I have an SAT score of 2350 and a 35—36 on the ACT. I have taken nine advanced placement classes and completed the Yale Global Scholars Program in the summer of 2012. I am wondering what the admissions rates are for each of the colleges on my list and what you think about …

Enthusiasm important in college interviews

Mon, 06 May 2013 06:11:05 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw: I am applying to several colleges next fall that require an interview by an alumnus. Can you share with me what kind of information they look for in an applicant? Signed: Student Dear Student: This should help. Here is an alumni report I wrote for a successful applicant to Harvard. I’ve changed her name to protect her identity. *** As the admissions committee can see from her “Extracurricular” sheet, Jane is an unusually talented person. She is prodigiously bright and accomplished. Her awards and academic honors alone merit close scrutiny. I found Jane a pleasure to talk …

Test scores do matter to colleges

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:43:19 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw: My guidance counselor told me that SAT and ACT scores are not as important as they once were in the college admissions process. She said some colleges do not require test scores, or that they are optional. My older brother is a junior at Notre Dame and he says that test scores are extremely important in admissions decisions. Please advise. Confused Student Dear Student: I receive a lot of emails asking the same question. The bottom line is that when colleges choose to lower or drop admissions requirements, they are trying to attract more students. Listen to …

Beat the competition, show ‘who you really are’ on college applications

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:05:51 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw: I am a junior in high school and I am concerned about ethnic “quotas” for admissions at top colleges. I am an Asian American, and my Asian friends tell me that many top colleges have quotas. Several of them who were rejected had nearly perfect test scores and grades. How can I escape the same fate when I apply in August? Student Dear Student: It has been said that ethnicity-based admission standards — implicit or explicit — exist at many top colleges. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has examined complaints that Ivy League schools …

Career goals count on college apps

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 06:14:10 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw: I am a junior in high school and I know I will face a very competitive class of applicants when I apply to college next fall. I have a 4.125/4.250 GPA and a 2250 SAT score. I participate in a number of extracurricular activities including football and wrestling, and I am the editor of our school’s literary magazine. There are 500 students in my class and most of the students who are in the top 5 percent have similar achievements. I am applying to most of the Ivies, Stanford and Berkeley. Is there anything I should know …

Four classes that enhance any field of study

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:18:51 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw — I am an early admit to the University of Chicago, but I want to be sure and take classes as a freshmen and sophomore that will help me, no matter what my future course of study is. Since I have not chosen a major, what classes would you suggest I take as a freshman and sophomore? — Undecided MajorDear Undecided — You are wise to start thinking about your academic direction before signing up for classes in the fall. Your course selection is serious business, and a decision should not be left until you arrive on …

Bradshaw: Investigate edX to start online classes

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:19:09 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw — I am a high school student in Hong Kong and want to take an online class from an American university. Is there a program you can recommend? Dear Student — It does not matter if you live in Hong Kong or Dallas, the advantages of taking online classes are many, and access is easy. As a general rule, there are no restrictions based on geographical location or educational background. I suggest you look into course offerings at edX (www.edX.org). This program, sponsored by Harvard and MIT, gives students a chance to take classes online that are …

Advanced degree considerations

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:15:35 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw: I am a sophomore at the University of Chicago and in the process of deciding on a career in law or business. What are the job prospects for each of these professions given the current state of the economy? A master of business administration program takes two years and law school takes three years to complete. I hear horror stories about students graduating with thousands of dollars of debt and weak job prospects. If I don’t go to graduate school, what are my chances of finding a good job? Student Dear Student: You do have options. If …

76 percent of freshmen get in first-choice college

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:19:49 -0500

In the hours before New Year’s Eve, many teens and their parents will be concerned about completing their applications before the Jan. 1, 2013 deadline. The last-minute rush usually comes down to completing a plethora of essays designed to distinguish the applicants in some unique way from one another. Writer’s block turns into writer’s nightmare. But hold on. There is good news to report. The majority of applicants are getting admitted to their first-choice college and I recommend that everyone simmer down and look at the statistics. When I queried parents about what percentage of seniors they think get accepted …

Personal essays vital to admission

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 06:18:57 -0500

Mr. Bradshaw — I have been putting off writing my college essays, and now it is getting to crunch time. It is not so much writer’s block as it is that I just can’t find anything interesting about myself about which to write. I am not sure what to say or how to say it. Please help. — Stumped Student Dear Student — First, it’s important that you understand the essays are a hugely important part of your application. If nothing else, let that fact prime the pump and start the adrenaline flowing. Almost every college applicant Must write an …

Four classes that enhance any field of study

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:18:51 -0500

Bradshaw: Investigate edX to start online classes

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:19:09 -0500

College rankings worth considering

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:57:48 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw — I am applying to 10 or more colleges, and I came across the latest college rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. How important are these rankings in getting a job after graduation, and how should I evaluate them? — ApplicantDear Applicant — College rankings can be important for several reasons. The most obvious is, they indicate the quality of the faculty and student body. In a nutshell, the best colleges draw the best students and professors. Competition among schools is fierce, and the rankings serve as a measure of their success. For example, the …

Build learning skills at early age

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:46:27 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw — Our son just started seventh grade. He is an excellent student, and we want him to continue to do well so he can apply to a top college. When should we start thinking about hiring a consultant or tutor to make sure he stays at the top of his class? — ParentDear Parent — The sooner you have an expert evaluate your son’s academic achievements, the better. Many companies provide tutoring services and suggest the best way to prepare for colleges. There are well-known tutoring companies with offices in Northwest Indiana. Many parents have found their …

Teen sets bar high — Silicon Valley career

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:11:44 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw — I really want to be located near the center of technological innovation when I go to college. I am a junior in high school and have been looking at colleges that offer business and engineering programs. My question is, which schools are the best for helping to get a job in Silicon Valley? Not everyone can get into Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley. What makes the Bay Area so attractive to so many technology companies? — StudentDear Student — The center of the universe. Brilliantly interesting people. Creativity. Money. These are frequently used phrases …

Leadership, service projects vital

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:29:29 -0500

Dear Mr. Bradshaw — I still am mystified that my neighbor’s child was denied admission to all the top colleges he applied to last year. He is a brilliant student with an outstanding academic record. My son is a sophomore, and I don’t want that fate for him. Tell me, what are colleges looking for in an applicant? Is it more than just good grades and test scores? We have asked many people, and no one seems to have an answer that would account for an excellent student not getting in. I hope there is still time to adjust my …