Weekly Update: April 8
BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK
MY DREAM CAME TRUE!!!!!!
UT Austin will be on the 2022-2023 Common App!!!! Yay!!!!!
If you have ever dealt with the nightmare that is ApplyTexas, you will understand why I am celebrating!!!🎊🤠👏🌮
UCLA JOB POSTING FOR $0 SALARY
Yes, you read that right - UCLA posted an adjunct position for a Ph.D.-holding biochemist and offered no compensation. While UCLA removed the posting after backlash, the unfortunate fact is that arrangements like these are not uncommon in academia, which often expects Ph.D. students and adjunct professors to work for little or no pay. And right now, 70% of college faculty are untenured, part-time, or adjunct faculty with little job security. This is a concern not only for those working in academia, but for undergraduate students taught by overworked and underpaid professors who usually cannot give them the mentorship and relationships that they need.
THE TEEN DC COUNCIL CANDIDATE
Henry Cohen, an 18-year-old student at Jackson-Reed high school, is running for representative on D.C’s council. Cohen argues that young people do not have enough representation in local government, and is actively campaigning in Ward 3. Kind of cool to see young people getting involved in local politics at this level!
VARSITY BLUES CONTINUES WITH MARK RIDDELL SENTENCING
Mark Riddell, the “proctor” in the Varsity Blues scandal who was accused of taking SAT and ACT exams in the place of students, will be sentenced in federal court today in Boston. He is expected to serve a lighter sentence, as he has been cooperating with authorities since pleading guilty in 2019.
MASK MANDATES ARE BACK
Following the latest spike in coronavirus cases, Georgetown and Johns Hopkins both reinstated their indoor mask mandates this week. Students returning to Georgetown after Easter break later this month will also be required to test negative before returning to campus. Having struggled with this ourselves as we’ve contemplated returning to in-person work with students this summer, we hope that the mask mandates are no longer necessary very soon!
BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK
MIT made the argument last week, when it reinstated standardized testing, that the tests actually made the process more equitable, rather than less, for students that have not had as many academic resources. In an Atlantic article this week, the author explores this argument, concluding that MIT is correct to say that rather than causing inequity in the admissions process, the SAT merely reveals educational disparities that are already there.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again - a top tier university is not the right fit for every kid! While we love helping our academic high-flyers pursue their Ivy League dreams, we also know that the ultra-competitive process isn’t for everyone. This article explores how parents can help their students revise their expectations and focus on the college that is right for them - not just the one with the biggest reputation. This is so important for kids to hear, especially now after receiving their decisions!
Finally, we are starting to see how the students who spent much of their high school careers learning remotely have been performing in college. The answer is - not great. Especially in classes like math and science, where material is directly built off of what students have learned in high school, college students are struggling. In addition to the challenges of online learning, pass-fail grades at many schools meant that students were able to “pass” challenging courses without actually mastering the material. We expect that we will continue to see these types of issues as students make the transition from high school to college over the next few years.
OFFICE HAPPENINGS
Know a teen of “outstanding character” in McLean? Nominate them for the McLean Citizens Associations’ Teen Character Awards. This award is meant to recognize teenagers who have made an impact on their community, whether by leading a service project or caring for a younger sibling or elderly relative at home. A nomination application is available here - Application - Outstanding Character Award for Teenagers. Make sure to get those nominations in by the Friday, April 22 deadline!
Have a great weekend and enjoy the sun!