JULY 2022
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THE BRIDGE TO COLLEGE

What is “Education” and Why Does “Fit” Matter?

By Robert LeVine

For some professions, a degree in higher education is essential to obtaining a license. For some people, a name-brand college feels necessary to career success. However, neither of those “needs” has anything to do with learning.

In fact, education has very little to do with classes, curricula or professors. It’s not the teaching that matters. It’s the learning that matters. Education is what a person absorbs and understands, not what is (or is not) being thrown at them.

The truth is: college is merely a collection of resources, which you either use or don’t use. It’s up to you – not the school – to maximize your experience. Motivation is heavily influenced by factors you cannot control.

Have you ever tried to do something when you’re exhausted? Fatigue limits focus and performance. Have you ever tried to function when upset, depressed or anxious? Emotional status is important to success. Have you ever been bored and disinterested by things that seem to have no relevance? Been someplace where it felt like there was nothing worth doing? Wanted “more” from your environment?

Education is all about how a person learns, and obviously learning is dramatically affected by environment. Although brand names are great, school “fit” is all-important to educational success.

But what is “fit,” and how do you identify what works for you?

At UCA, we identify college fit upon three factors: (1) the structure of the curriculum; (2) the culture of the campus; and (3) off-campus opportunities.

When considering academics, look away from reputation, prestige, and perceptions of caliber and quality. Although some schools (and professors) may be less challenging than others, coursework is merely the foundation of what you can learn in college. In a place that houses the world’s greatest educational resources, taking classes is just the bare minimum of what is possible. If all you’re doing is eating what they feed, you’re nothing more than a baby in a highchair being spoon fed.

Instead, understand the way each school presents academics. How many courses do you take? How many of those courses are required by your major? Within the major, look at the number and variety of electives you can choose. Beyond the major, what are the school’s “distribution” requirements. Is it a Core, General Education or Open curriculum? Are kinesthetic and experiential learning opportunities such as internships and co-op programs available for course credit? Can you take classes from the university’s graduate programs? Can you take classes at other colleges? Where can you study abroad, and for how long?

The variety of academic structures in our country is breathtaking, perhaps the greatest advantage of the U.S. education system over all others. Yet in picking a college, students and parents seem to ignore this critical component. Because you are investing significant time and money in a learning environment, you should understand what you’re getting and whether it is optimal for your education.

A second “fit” factor is campus culture. If you are in a place that inspires, stimulates and feeds you, then you will succeed in a way that will not occur in the wrong environment. In what kind of campus environment should you spend four years?

At some schools, intercollegiate athletics are indispensable; at others, sports are not important. On some campuses, drinking alcohol is a prideful part of the college experience; at others, partying is not paramount. At some schools, faith is a foundation for integrity; other schools emphasize different values in different ways. Clubs, service and extracurriculars are a huge part of the experience at Harvard, but at MIT, academics is the thing that students seem to enjoy most.

Finally, consider what is available off-campus, for inspiration and for education. If you like the outdoors, maybe NYU – in the best part of Manhattan – is not the place for you. If you prefer cities, a college town may not offer enough opportunity for growth. If you want to learn about business, internships and after-class jobs are not available on campus, so you’ll want a city that offers what you need. If you are interested in politics, consider Washington, D.C., or a school in a state capitol. If you love country music, Nashville is a great place to recharge. If you want to travel, is there an international airport nearby?

Education is a critical key to achievement, and your education will be better in a place with the attributes that help you learn. The entire environment in which you immerse – not just some classes – will forever mold, shape and influence you. For lifetime success, seek a school that fits you, not just your resume.

Robert LeVine is the founder and CEO of University Consultants of America, an independent educational consultancy assisting students around the world with applications to colleges, universities and graduate schools. For more information, call University Consultants of America, Inc. at 1-800-465-5890 or visit www.universitycoa.com


FAMILY MATTERS

Independence at Any Age

By Anu Varma Panchal

I’ve found my new binge watch.
It’s not an intense crime series, epic period piece or clever comedy. But it’s made me panic, gasp, marvel, cheer and laugh more than any of the above. Because what could be cuter or more uplifting than an unscripted reality show about adorable toddlers doing errands on their own?

If you haven’t been watching “Old Enough” on Netflix, you’re missing out.
The Japanese reality show has been a Nippon Television regular since 1991, but only came stateside this year when Netflix picked it up. Each short episode (10-20 minutes) features toddlers or preschoolers running errands by themselves.

In one episode, two 3-year-old friends must buy dumplings from a shop and then climb to an uphill temple to procure an amulet. A toddler’s assignment is to deliver her father’s apron to him at work and pick up her mother’s watch from a repair shop, while another little boy must run home and make juice to bring back to his parents in the fields.

The babies are not really alone, of course. Camera crew follow them, and an encouraging and heartwarming set of neighbors and storekeepers are in the know. But the errands are real.

Watching these little children bravely walk blocks away out of their parents’ sight, remember their instructions, cross busy streets, engage with strangers, hand over money, collect change and bring back their items … for a mother who never even let her kids walk the couple of blocks home alone throughout elementary school, it was nail-biting tension.

Sota, a 4-year-old boy, was sent to a fishmonger and a store to buy apples. When his apples kept falling out of his bag and rolling downhill, I worried he’d either burst into tears or get run over by traffic chasing them. Though clearly upset, not only did he persevere and labor up the steep path home, but when he arrived, also presented his mother with a crushed dandelion that he had plucked for her. My heart exploded.

My favorite was the toddler who absentmindedly walked past the clock shop from where she was supposed to pick up her mother’s watch. When she reached home and realized she had not completed her errand, she burst into tears. Her mother tried cheering her up with ice cream, but she refused. Instead, she went back to finish the task and return triumphantly with the watch – and then enjoyed her ice cream.

The show is delightful, but also eye-opening. Responsibility can be assumed at any age; even these little ones knew enough to be proud of their contribution to their families.

It may be just a reality show, but for me, this ode to independence came at the right time. Because this is the year my daughter began to drive on her own.

Remember that first nerve-wracking drive home from the hospital with a newborn carefully strapped into the car seat? For me, the world took on a sheen of menace that day. Every speed bump, orange light and dark intersection presented a threat to this new little person for whom our heart now beat. But that tension doesn’t compare to the nervousness I feel 17 years later now that that baby is in the driver’s seat, adjusting the rear-view mirror and loading her Spotify playlist.

The day she got her license, she insisted on driving to her piano lesson by herself. Of course, I wanted to follow her in my car, but she wouldn’t let me. Unlike those calm and trusting reality show parents, I am terrified at the notion of my child being out there. It seemed to me that the minute she got her license, the roads began to overflow with careless, sleepy, distractedly-texting drivers.
Letting go might be my least favorite parental act, but it’s a necessary one. After all, nearly 30 years ago, my parents let me get on a plane and come to the United States as an international student. We didn’t know a single person in the city I was heading to, and this was when communication consisted of hand-written letters and Sprint phone cards. Now that I am a parent, I understand what a scary thing that must have been for them to do, and I am grateful for their bravery that allowed me to grow.

So, if they could do that, and if Japanese 3-year-olds can go and shop for dinner on their own —who knows? One of these days I might even let my daughter drive on I-4 without surreptitiously following her. Until then I’m going to need some help easing off from my helicopter instincts, so I’ll turn to the most adorable teachers I’ve seen: the tiny toddlers of “Old Enough.”

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