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Tag: college counseling

A Scholar’s Transition to College

Written by Lee Overton on . Posted in Main Blog, Scholar Blog. Leave a Comment

Now that society has started to return to normal, there’s been a lot of interest in how students experienced the earth-shattering changes of the pandemic, from Zoom lectures to online quizzes to hoping that you and your classmates can find a way to hang out together after your last Zoom ends. And you definitely understood your history teacher’s glitchy lecture on Reconstruction, right? But it was also a huge leap to go from remote classes back to normal, in-person classes as the pandemic eased up. For me, I had to do it in my last year of high school as a year one Chicago Scholar.

At the start of my senior year, the world was still testing the waters when it came to opening back up. All school buildings were open to students and faculty, but at any sign of COVID, they would shut down and go fully remote again. Extracurriculars were back, but they could be canceled in a heartbeat. Until second semester, we had to wear masks in the classroom. As a senior, I could never be sure that I’d have all the traditional milestones other classes enjoyed.

The hardest part was the stress of college applications. I had organized myself when preparing for college applications, but I was nowhere near ready as I thought. I had planned to meet with college admissions reps at Onsite, but had to face the reality of those meetings being virtual. This meant that I had to work especially hard on all materials I submitted. It was a demoralizing challenge to say the least. I would look at admissions reps that were willing to meet with me over Zoom, doing my best to smile and be professional while on the inside, I was freaking out because there was no one at home to help me stay calm.

Thankfully, as a year one Scholar, I had resources to help me get through these difficulties. My cohort mentors kept me motivated with my applications and didn’t interrogate me about whether any decisions were made. On top of that, Chicago Scholars offered workshops in our monthly meetings to practice Zoom etiquette and how to best get organized and feel confident when we eventually pressed that submit button.

Now that I’m in year two attending Columbia College, where normalcy has officially returned and is encouraged to students, I look back and reflect on the support I had to guide me through the challenging year. It is a bittersweet reflection, though, because I can’t help but think about the 8th grade students that transitioned into high school at the same time I was exiting it. I had that moment before the pandemic struck, and it was difficult for me. I can only hope that they had a support system similar to the one I was lucky enough to have, to remind them they aren’t alone in the stressful transition. Many students can attest to that.

Don’t let your dream school distract you from the right school

Written by Kyle Williams on . Posted in Main Blog, Scholar Blog. Leave a Comment

It’s hard to believe that I was still deciding where to attend college four years ago. The entire process gave me anxiety: even though several schools admitted me at Onsite. I was happy to receive the admission letters in October, but the financial aid packages were minimal.

I come from a one-parent household, so securing a robust financial aid package was paramount for me to attend college. Knowing that, I decided to apply for outside scholarships to help bridge the gap, but the scholarships weren’t renewable other than the one given to me by the Chicago Cubs. I didn’t have a favorite school throughout the process, because my dream schools were out of reach.

Knox College was a school that I applied to without knowing much about the institution. It didn’t have a journalism major, only a minor. For me, that was already a red flag, so I didn’t research the school further. They didn’t give me an admissions decision at Onsite and eventually rejected my application. I met with my Chicago Scholars counselor, Monique Moore, and she said I should apply again after I received my second-quarter grades. She told me about Knox’s academic reputation. She didn’t allow me to take the first response as the only response.

Around mid-January, I received an acceptance from the small liberal arts college in central Illinois. There wasn’t any jubilation or tears of joy, just indifference. I didn’t believe I was going to attend the school. I was so adamant about not going to Knox that I didn’t even visit. (Note to Scholars: that was a big mistake, don’t do what I did).

Fast forward to the last week of April when I decided to attend Columbia College Chicago. I visited the downtown campus, talked with alumni and professors, and fell in love with the program. I worried about not receiving the full college experience as a commuter, but commuting allowed me to save money.

On the Thursday before decision day, Knox’s financial aid award letter was delivered to my home. It was the best package I was offered, and it turned out that my best friend was also planning to attend.

If you’re a stellar student, I know you have your dream school in mind, but don’t close your mind to other schools. Do your research and weigh your options. What might look like your “dream school” might not be the great fit that you initially thought. Ms. Moore’s help was unquantifiable; I couldn’t have gone through the college process without her guidance in the college process. She helped me write letters and find realistic options. She always told me the truth, even if I didn’t want to hear it. Looking back, I wish I had taken advantage of those counseling sessions more. Ask questions, even if the outcome seems final. If your session is almost over, ask if you can schedule another time. Today, I’m a first-generation college graduate in large part due to the foundation set from my time as a Chicago Scholar and the resources available to me.

Making Up Time

Written by Rashad Alexander on . Posted in Main Blog, Scholar Blog. Leave a Comment

It still feels like March of 2020 just wasn’t a real time. One day I’m on spring break, listening to Lil Uzi Vert’s new album “Eternal Atake;” the next, I’m finding out spring break is going to be extended for another week. The next thing I know, I can’t see any of my college friends for the next five months and my freshman year is essentially over.

It was already difficult adjusting to college, especially as a first-generation student who wasn’t 100% sure what I want to do with my degree in journalism. And just when I started getting settled into the college lifestyle, it felt like I had to start all over once my sophomore year arrived. Things weren’t getting any easier as I was struggling to find an internship because of the pandemic restrictions. It just didn’t feel like things were going my way when it came to getting by in college. But when I realized the handful of resources I truly had, it changed my outlook on things.

I always knew that I would still be a Chicago Scholar throughout my four years of college, but I never knew how helpful the program would be for me after high school graduation. Along with the mentors and cohorts provided from the first day, Chicago Scholars allowed me to learn about various opportunities and connections through the program that would allow me to succeed. Whether it would be the ELD funding grant, or their seminar events, there are many ways to help you succeed with Chicago Scholars, as that’s their overall goal.

Once I was more tapped in with Chicago Scholars, I was inspired to become even more involved at Marquette. I joined the student media organization, which eventually led me to a leadership role as the music director for Marquette Radio. I also joined a mentorship program at Marquette and was matched with an alumnus who was in a similar field. I even joined boxing, which I never thought I would enjoy, but it connected me with more students and gave me a way to relieve stress.

The pandemic took so much from my college experience, but I was able to salvage what was left of my time at Marquette. With less than two months left in my undergraduate journey, I can say that I made the right decision to stay at Marquette. The moral of my story is when you use your resources around you, it can make your life a whole lot easier. And while there were things I wish I could have changed, I am grateful for all that I learned and who I am able to bring myself around. With the help of programs like Chicago Scholars, I’ve been able to make the most of my college experience and make things easier for myself. I even met one of my closest friends at Marquette because we found out we were both Chicago Scholars. The program helped open so many doors for me within college, and I’m forever grateful for submitting that application during my junior year of high school.