ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS: Comprehensive College Planning

Registration Deadline for June ACT Extended

2011-05-09T15:10:00.000-05:00

ACT has extended the registration deadline for the June ACT administration.

Originally scheduled for Friday, May 6, students now have until 11:59pm on Tuesday, May 10 to register for the June 11 ACT.

Click here to register.

If this extended deadline is missed, student may still continue to register between May 11 and May 20, but will be assessed a $21 late fee on top of the regular testing cost.

After May 20, students interested in taking the June 11 ACT, who have not already registered, must wait for that morning to attempt stand-by admission and be assessed a $41 fee above the cost of testing. Students hoping to test on a stand-by basis will be granted admission last and only if there are seats available at the testing location.

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A Thank You Upon Graduation

2011-05-09T14:39:00.000-05:00

High school graduations across the Kansas City metro are scheduled over the course of the next few weeks. Graduating seniors have sent out their graduation announcements, made lists of what they plan to buy with their graduation gift money, have made final decisions on where they will attend college in the fall, and are ready to be the little fish in a big pond again.

Most graduates have exchanged the stress and struggle of the college application process with the joys of entering the collegiate phase of their young lives, much like a mother does after enduring the pains of childbirth. Although the National Candidate's Reply Deadline (May 1) has passed and most seniors are already considering themselves college students, one last task from their college search may remain: thank you notes for letters of recommendation.

College applicants are known to log hours upon hours perfecting the essay they will submit with applications for admission and scholarship. And almost as often, the teachers those students ask to write letters of recommendation on their behalf spend an equal amount of time crafting letters that will enhance the student's application for admission and show the review committee the merits of the applicant from a teacher's perspective, both inside and outside of the classroom.

All too often, those teachers go unthanked for providing this service for their students. Writing letters of recommendation falls into that pervasive "other duties as assigned" category. Teachers have taken time, outside of their school responsibilities, to write these letters, often well after their classrooms have emptied or even while at home after putting their own children to bed.

Although teachers are not in their chosen profession for the recognition, it is important to honor how often they go above and beyond what is required in order to assist and support their students.

This thank you does not need to be an extensive letter like the one written for each student's application, but rather, just a heartfelt message on stationary or on a note card. No gift other than words need be included.

At a time when faculty are just as, or even more, exhausted than the graduating seniors, such a simple gesture of thanks is often all a teacher needs to be reminded why they come to work each day and to be rejuvenated for another year of creating positive impact on the minds, hearts, and lives of students as they prepare for their own future careers.

Don't Pay Full Price for College Textbooks

2011-05-09T14:32:00.001-05:00

Buying new text books can easily break the bank.

Graduating Park Hill South High School student, Jesse McGinness, plans to take a couple of summer classes before heading to the University of Missouri Columbia for the fall semester. One of the books he'll need for summer course work is US Narrative History Vol 1 To 1877, sold for $71.30 in the campus bookstore. Jesse works hard at a part-time job several days a week and is diligent not only in saving money in his bank account to finance his college education, but in seeking alternative avenues to make his college experience more affordable. So, after some online research, he has found the o pportunity to rent the book for $21.99 for the summer term, a savings of $49.31.

Multiply that by five classes a student may take each semester, and that is nearly $250 that can be spent on tuition, housing, personal expenses, or saved in the bank for later use instead of on textbooks.

Here are a few resources to find college text books at more affordable prices:

NEW AND USED BOOK SALES COMPANIES

www.affordabook.com
search engine that reviews books available through 20 different companies and provides a list of best prices
can search by ISBN, author, keywords, or book title
able to search by college/university
can create a "watch list" to alert you when a specific book is available at your target price
not just for college textbooks; all kinds of titles available (novels, cookbooks, etc.)
iPhone app

www.campusbooks.com

new and used text book service
can search by ISBN, author, keywords, or book title
claim up to 95% off some books
may sell or donate books via this site, too
iPhone and Android apps
CampusBooks.com on Twitter
CampusBooks.com on Facebook

www.half.com

an eBay company
click on the textbooks tab
search by title, author, keyword(s) or ISBN
ranks textbooks by condition (mint, like new, acceptable, etc.)
offers a "wizard" for getting the best value, especially on multiple book purchases
not just for college textbooks, either

TEXTBOOK RENTAL COMPANIES

www.CampusBookRentals.com
claim to offer books at 50 – 85% discount
free shipping both directions
tout the largest selection in the country and the most flexible rental periods
users welcome to highlight and underline inside rented books
donate a portion of sales from every book to Operation Smile
CampusBookRentals.com on Twitter
CampusBookRentals.com on Facebook

www.chegg.com
claim to offer books at 65 – 85% discount
free return shipping
search for books by school
users cannot highlight or underline inside rented books
plants a tree through American Forests for every book rented (more than 5 million planted to date)
iPhone app
Chegg.com on Twitter
Chegg.com on Facebook

www.Skoobit.com

$13.99 a month per book for 3 months
$10.99 a month per book for 4 months
shipping both directions included
search by ISBN, title, author, or keyword
2 million books in inventory
users may not highlight or underline inside rented textbooks
Skoobit.com on Twitter
Skoobit.com on Facebook
environmentally aware company with specialized shipping materials to reduce carbon footprint

www.bookrenter.com
search by ISBN, title, or author
free return shipping
okay for user to highlight and underline inside rented books
for every book rented, company makes a donation to First Book (more than 67,000 books funded to date)
BookRenter.com on Twitter
BookRenter.com on Facebook

www.textbooksRus.com

search by ISBN, author, tile, or keyword
free shipping on orders over $25 or 3-day shipping for $4.99
includes video games, not just textbooks
textbooksRus.com on Twitter
textbooksRus.com on Facebook

Kansas City Area Sophomore Regional Finalist for $15,000 Doodle

2011-05-06T14:50:00.000-05:00

Alexis Zaborac, a sophomore at Liberty High School, has been selected as a "Doodle 4 Google" regional finalist.

More than 107,000 students in grades K-12 submitted doodles for scholarship consideration. Alexis is one of only 40 students named as regional finalists; she's Region Six for Grades 10-12.

Alexis described her doodle submission by saying, "Someday I'd like to use green technology to (a)ffect not only my environment, but the entire world. Learning from the past, solving the present problems, while designing for the future."

Google employees used specific judging criteria to narrow the field from 107,000 doodles to just the 40 regional finalists:

artistic merit
creativity
theme communication
appropriateness of the supporting statement

In addition to the Google staff, there were also guest judges who reviewed submitted artwork. Included were:

Whoopi Goldberg (actress, comedian, and TV talk show host)
Jim Davis (creator of the "Garfield" comic strip)
Evan Lysacek (Olympic gold medalist and World Champion figure skater)
Michael Phelps (Olympic gold medalist and World Champion swimmer)
Paul Tibbitt (Executive Producer of "SpongeBob SquarePants")
Jeff Kinney (author of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid")
Beverly Cleary (acclaimed children's author)

For a full list of the guest judges and their bios, click here.

The contest not only provides the winner with a $15,000 scholarship to be used toward college education, but also endows the winner's school with a $25,000 grant for technological upgrades.

Google will announce the national winner on Thursday, May 19 at an awards ceremony in New York and the winning doodle will appear on Google the next day, Friday , May 20.The regional finalists' doodle submissions are posted online and a public vote will determine the winning doodle. Voting is now open and will continue through 11:59pm PST (9:59pm CST) on Friday, May 13.

Click here for a direct link to vote for Alexis' Google doodle.

Click here for a list (including doodle graphics) of the 400 state finalists.

Non-Traditional Student Hits National Scholarship Pay Dirt

2011-05-06T13:09:00.000-05:00

JR Byers, a non-traditional adult student at MCC Longview, enrolled at the community college after being laid off from his job as a corporate trainer. Since then, Byers has taken full advantage of this educational opportunity and is not only president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Longview, but on May 20, he will graduate with honors. JR has been granted admission to severalIvy League schools, with hopes of earning a degree in anthropology.

And those hopes are now more possible, at least with respect to finances associated with paying college tuition. This week, JR Byers was announced as one of 50 national recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The only winner from our area, Byers has been awarded a $30,000 annual scholarship that will now ensure the opportunity to transfer to the university of his choice to complete his bachelor's degree.

Byers is the third MCC Longview student to win this prestigious award.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship seeks the nation’s top community college students and provides the annual funding for them to complete their bachelor’s degrees upon transferring to a four-year college or university. The award is the largest private scholarship in the country for two-year and community college transfer students, which unfortunately are far less readily available than funding for first-time college freshmen.

But this announcement does prove that although money for transfer and non-traditional students is often less accessible, it is still possible to secure scholarship dollars. And Byers demonstrates that despite the realities of job loss during a down economy, the thirst for knowledge and the desire for education knows no age.

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Not Too Late for Class of 2011 Seniors to Apply for Admission

2011-05-04T23:16:00.000-05:00

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has published its 24th annual list of colleges and universities that are still accepting applications for admission. Referred to as the "Space Availability Survey," the information is submitted to NACAC directly from the campuses for release to the public the first week of May each year.

Announced this morning, the current list includes 281 four-year colleges and universities, all of which indicate that both financial aid and housing options are available for freshman and/or transfer applicants planning to enroll for Fall 2011.

The searchable chart shows the listing of:

campuses by name
school locations
whether the campus has enrollment space for freshmen, transfers, or both
if the school is a public or a private institution
approximate enrollment totals for each campus
whether or not financial aid is still available for applicants
if on-campus housing is an option for incoming students
link to contact the school regarding application for admission, financial aid, and housing

KANSAS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ON THE LIST (as of May 4)

none

MISSOURI COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ON THE LIST (as of May 4)

This list is available online to the public through July 1. Colleges and universities often update their listings with NACAC as space availability adjusts, so students and parents are encouraged to check the list regularly for up to date information about which schools are still accepting applications for Fall 2011.To view the complete list, click here.

Takes More Than Luck to Be One of 3 Local Out of 23,000 National

2011-05-04T23:12:00.000-05:00

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has announced that the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program has reviewed tens of thousands of applications and has selected 1000 graduating high school seniors to receive a scholarship, which may be used toward any undergraduate major at the college or university of the recipients’ choice, as long as the school is properly accredited.

Click here to view the 2011 scholarship application submitted by the more than 23,000 applicants nationwide.

The Class of 2011 Gates Millennium recipients represent 44 states, as well as Washington, DC and five US territories: American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The 1000 scholars will be enrolling at 334 different colleges and universities.

Out of those 1000 winners, three are from the Kansas Citymetropolitan area.

Ismael Hernandez, a graduating senior at Sumner Academy in the Kansas City, KS School District, will attendKansas State University to study architectural engineering.

Marquita Gant is a graduating senior at Hogan Preparatory Academy, a Kansas City, MO Charter School sponsored by the University of Central Missouri. This is the first time a Hogan Prep student has achieved this honor. Marquita will attend Pittsburg State Universityto study nursing or biology, with career plans to become a nurse practioner or physician's assistant.

Deanna "Dee" Oliver will study international relations at New York University upon graduating from William Chrisman High School in the Independence School District. This is the second year in a row a student from William Chrisman has won this prestigious scholarship.

The UNCF Gates Millennium Scholarship was established in 1999 to "develop the next generation of America’s leaders." The program is funded by a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and endeavors to provide low-income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, personal character, and service to their community, with the financial means by which they can not only achieve a collegiate education, but ensure a successful future, as well.

Since its inception, more than 15,000 students have received Gates Millennium scholarships and have attended more than 1500 colleges and universities. These campuses include members of the Ivy League, flagship state universities with selective admission criteria, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

In addition to much publicized financial support, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program goes beyond the dollar to also "provide its scholarship recipients with leadership training, mentoring, and academic and social support." The program enjoys a positive reputation in part because of high graduation rates among its scholars, namely a six-year rate of 90%. That percentage represents a full 45% increase over national graduation rates for all college students and is equivalent to graduation rates for college students who come from high-income families.

A complete listing of the Class of 2011 Gates Millennium Scholar recipients is available alphabetically by last name or by home state.

Colleges & Facebook (Part Seven) - Baker University

2011-05-04T23:04:00.000-05:00

Part seven of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

Out of all of the local colleges and universities profiled in this series so far, Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas certainly has the fewest number of Facebook pages dedicated to its campus. But this small campus, home to 4000 students total from its main campus and five satellite adult program locations, is quite vested in the mechanics of social media.

Most of the Baker University social media offerings, outside of the website, are directed toward current students, but as noted in previous articles within this series, those viewable interactions can be the most honest and informative communication a prospective college student will encounter when learning about a possible future campus home.

Baker University may only have a handful of active Facebookpages, but they also extend their electronic presence to its constituents via Twitter, You Tube, podcasts, and a blog series.

Here is a list (with links) of Baker University's Facebookpages, followed by information (again, with links) leading prospective students to the alternate means by which to investigate the campus community of Baker University:

Baker University (Official)

The Baker Orange

Baker University Sorority and Fraternity Life

Baker University Student Senate

Baker Wildcats Athletics

Wowzer Baker University's Mascot

Baker University Dance Team

Baker University Softball

Baker University Continuing Education

Baker University Wichita

Baker University also has an extensive blog presence online with thirteen students who regularly post information and photos from campus under more than 22 tagged categories about "Wildcat LIfe and Beyond."

They also have a relatively extensive library of podcasts, "What's Shakin and Bakin at Baker," via The Baker Orange on a variety of topics important to current students.

Or you can follow Baker University on Twitter and Baker Sports on Twitter.

You can also find Baker University on You Tube!

Colleges & Facebook (Part Six) - Rockhurst University

2011-04-28T11:19:00.000-05:00

Part six of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

The response to this series of articles has been incredibly positive. Social media has certainly become a way of life for most people and utilizing it properly can absolutely enhance the college search for prospective students and their parents. Most colleges and universities have embraced the opportunity to communicate with prospective students, current students, alumni, sports fans, and donors via this revolutionary platform.

For students with an interest in a particular campus, following that school's various Facebook pages can provide a vivid look at "a day in the life" of that institution and allow a prospective student to engage in the community even before visiting, applying, being admitted, enrolling, or moving to that college or university.

While the Rockhurst University approach to social media is much less cohesive than most of the other local schools profiled so far, the resources and Facebook pages are available; it just takes some searching to find them. Several pages are noted on the main Rockhurst University page on Facebook, but nowhere near all. Entering "Rockhurst" in the Facebook search box will help reveal additional pages.

Here is a list (with links) of some of the pages that make up Rockhurst University's presence on Facebook:

Rockhurst University

Rockhurst University Financial Aid Office

Rockhurst Housing

Rockhurst University Bookstore

Rockhurst University Gervais Learning Center

Rockhurst University Greenlease Library

Center for Service Learning

Rockhurst University's Helzburg School of Management

Rockhurst Hawk

Rockhurst University - Class of 2015

Alpha Sigma Alpha; Zeta Eta Chapter at Rockhurst University

Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Missouri Delta (MoDelta) - Rockhurst University

Rockhurst Sentinel

There does not appear to be a Facebook page for the Rockhurst University Office of Admission, however, prospective students do have the opportunity to "friend" their designated admission representative. Here are a few examples:

Lane at Rockhurst

Mitch at Rockhurst

Nate at Rockhurst

Stefanie at Rockhurst

Mallory at Rockhurst

Annie at Rockhurst

You can also follow Rockhurst University on Twitter.

And Rockhurst University is on You Tube!

Colleges & Facebook (Part Five) - Park University

2011-04-25T11:19:00.000-05:00

Part five of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

Park University, with its home base in Parkville, part of Kansas City's Northland community, is a unique institution in that it has a main campus hosting traditional students, but also has multiple satellite campuses not only in other parts of the Kansas City metro, but on military bases across the country, as well as an extensive online course and degree offering. In addition, Park Universityis known for its international population, with students attending the University from countries all over the world.

With all of these campus components to juggle, it is no wonder that Park University is heavily invested in communicating with its constituents via social media, both Facebook and Twitter.

In fact, although Park University was already on the list of campuses to highlight as part of this series, two tuned-in campus administrators had learned, via Twitter, of these articles about how local colleges are utilizing social media and made contact to inquire if their campus initiatives would be included. Absolutely!

Following a college or university on Twitter or "liking" pages of interest on their Facebook accounts provides immeasurable access to the campus and its day to day interactions with everyone who comes into contact with that particular institution. The information made available through social media far outshadows the prepared and much edited web content or viewbook material that prospective students only had opportunity to see previously. Be part of the social media revolution and take advantage of its ability to enhance the college search and selection process.

Here is a sampling (with links) of Park University utilizing both Facebook AND Twitter to reach out to the vast population of prospective students (locally and abroad), current students, alumni, athletics fans, and donors:

FACEBOOK

Park University

Park University Admissions

Park University Athletics

Park University Alumni Association

P ark University Alumni Connections

Park University Bookstore

Park University International Student Services (ISS)

Park University Hauptmann School for Public Affairs

Park University International Education & Study Abroad

KGSP 90.5 FM Pirate Radio

Park University School for Education

Pirate Grounds

Park Warrior Center / Success for Veterans Program

Park University at Whiteman AFB

Park University at Fort Leonard Wood

Additional Park University pages on Facebook include those for many other military bases across the country at which Park offers degree programs, as well as individual sports teams and, of course, student clubs and organizations.

TWITTER

Park University

Park University President Droge

Park University Professor Steven Youngblood (currently working on a peace and journalism project in Uganda)

Park University Alumni

Several Park University students, specifically from the Communications Arts Department, are also active on Twitter.

And...Park University and Park Athletics are on You Tube!

A special thank you to Erik Bergrud, Senior Director for Community and Government Relations in the Office of University Advancement and to Steve Wilson, Park University Sports Information Director, for reaching out about inclusion in this series.

Colleges & Facebook (Part Four) - Northwest Missouri State University

2011-04-21T13:57:00.000-05:00

Part four of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

Just like the three local institutions already profiled in this series, Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville also has an extensive list of campus related Facebook pages to support its endeavor to effectively engage prospective students, current students, alumni, athletics fans, and donors.

In addition to the standard pages available at many colleges and universities, Northwest Missouri State University has also introduced fan pages for high impact campus personnel, including one for President Jasinski and another for Bobby Bearcat.

Again, taking advantage of the social media revolution is not only advantageous for the colleges and universities, but serves as an excellent venue for prospective students and their parents to access day to day information about schools in which they have an interest. Glossy viewbooks and carefully orchestrated websites are one thing, but to see everyday life, as well as posts from students and alumni, really says a lot about the school.

Here is a small sampling (with links) of the Facebook pages Northwest Missouri State University has created:

Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest Missouri State University Admissions

Northwest Missouri State Alumni

Northwest Bearcat Athletics

Bobby Bearcat

President Jazz (Dr. John Jasinski, University President)

Northwest Missouri State University Library

Northwest Missouri State University Student Support Services

Northwest Missouri State University Residential Life

Northwest Missouri State University Office of Student Activities

Student Activities Council

Northwest Student Senate

Northwest Missouri State University Greek Life

X-106 KZLX-FM

Additional Facebook pages that have been created by Northwest Missouri State University include those for Individual residence halls, specific sports teams, campus clubs and organizations, and the satellite campus centers.

The social media administrators also host "Feedback Fridays" on the main Northwest Missouri State University Facebook page, seeking input on what information constituents want to see included. T-shirts are the prize for solid suggestions for improvement. This is another way to not only engage the Facebook users, but to also continually improve service to the student and alumni base.

You can also follow Northwest Missouri State University on Twitter.

Colleges & Facebook (Part Three) - William Jewell College

2011-04-21T13:50:00.000-05:00

Part three of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

William Jewell College, located in Liberty, just north of Kansas City, is proving that an institution of higher education doesn't have to be a traditional media darling to be a powerhouse in social media utilization, extending communication efforts to potential students and to other important constituents such as current students, parents, alumni, and donors. Like many larger campuses,William Jewell has also begun creatively posting to a series of Facebook fan pages to more effectively engage those with an interest in or a connection to the "Jewell Journey."

The pages are open for anyone to "like" and for high school students and their parents, can serve as an additional tool to explore Jewell, its campus community, and its alumni base.

Here is a small sampling (with links) of the Facebook pages William Jewell College has created:

William Jewell College

William Jewell College Alumni

William Jewell College Athletics

William Jewell College Bookstore

William Jewell College Class of 2015

WJC Greek Life

Service Projects with William Jewell College

William Jewell College Student Senate

Harriman - Jewell Series

The Edge: William Jewell College's Online Radio Station

Center for Justice and Sustainability

Charles F. Curry Library - William Jewell College

Department of Music at William Jewell College

Academic Achievement Center, William Jewell College

Other Facebook pages associated with William Jewell College include those for individual sororities and fraternities, academic departments, and other student clubs and organizations.

In addition, prospective Jewell students can "friend" their assigned admission representative via Facebook. Even Clint Chapman, Dean of Admission, has a page!

You can also follow William Jewell College on Twitter.

Colleges & Facebook (Part Two) - UMKC

2011-04-12T17:23:00.000-05:00

UMKC Facebook Page Profile Picture

Part two of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

The University of Missouri Kansas City has also taken to social media to connect with prospective students, current students, athletics fans, alumni, and donors. Through a series of Facebook fan pages, UMKC is providing a forum for sharing information, as well as engaging the community in conversation about the campus.

The pages are open for anyone to "like" and are one more resource for prospective students and their parents to determine if the University of Missouri Kansas City is the best fit campus for furthering their studies.

Here is a small sampling (with links) of the Facebook pagesUMKC has made available to its fans:

University of Missouri Kansas City

UMKC Kangaroos

UMKC Alumni Association

UMKC University Libraries

UMKC Bookstore

UMKC New Student Union

UMKC Activity & Program Council

UMKC Career Services Center

UMKC Fraternity & Sorority Affairs

UMKC Conservatory of Music & Dance UMKC Women's Center

UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management

UMKC School of Medicine

In addition, more schools and academic departments at UMKCcan also be found on Facebook. When on a fan page, always check the left column for the "likes" and click "see all" for a listing of other UMKC related pages.

You can also follow UMKC on Twitter.

Colleges & Facebook (Part One): University of Kansas

2011-04-12T17:12:00.000-05:00

KU Facebook Page Profile Picture

Part one of a multi-part series on how local colleges and universities are utilizing Facebook...

The University of Kansas, like many colleges and universities, has immersed itself in social media in order to connect with prospective students, current students, athletics fans, alumni, and donors. In particular, the campus has created a series of Facebook fan pages; a great way for the University to provide valuable information to its constituents, as well as to create a sense of community among those with similar connections to or interests in the school.

The pages are open for anyone to "like" and serve as an additional tool for prospective students and their parents to explore the University of Kansas, its campus community, and the spirit of its alumni.

Here is a small sampling (with links) of the Facebook pages KU has made available to its fans:

The University of Kansas

KU Info

KU Alumni Association

University of Kansas Athletics

KU Bookstore

KU Endowment

University of Kansas Honors Program

The University Daily Kansan

University of Kansas: Hawk Week

New Student Orientation

University Advising Center

University of Kansas Medical Center

In addition, those interested in discovering KU via Facebook can find a multitude of other pages for individual KU sports, for specific schools and academic departments at the University of Kansas, for annual KU campus events, and more!

Helpful tip for finding KU related pages on Facebook: Go to any of the KU pages listed above and look on the left-side column for a section called "Likes." Click on "See All" to a view a list of related KU Facebook pages. The main University of Kansas Facebook page has the most related pages listed.

UMKC Health Science Summer Camp - Deadline Extended

2011-04-12T17:06:00.000-05:00

The University of Missouri Kansas City has extended the application deadline for its Hospital Hill Health Sciences Camp. Interested high school students may now submit their application through May 2, 2011.

The Hospital Hill Health Science Camp is a week-long summer academy designed to introduce high school students to careers in the health care industry; specifically nursing,dentistry, and pharmacy.

While the program aims to attract students from minority and underrepresented populations, all Kansas City area students who meet eligibility requirements are invited to apply for and participate in the program.

The 2011 Hospital Hill Health Science Camp is slated forSunday, June 12 through Friday, June 17. The camp, hosted at UMKC’s Hospital Hill campus (2464 Charlotte, Kansas City 64108), boasts a curriculum that includes:

education about multiple professional paths in the health industry
experiential learning activities
hospital tours
academic enrichment in the sciences and math
cultural and community discussions related to both the participating students and to the healthcare profession

Click here for the application.

Applicants must:

have an interest in one or more of the designated health care professions
be entering the sophomore, junior, or senior year in fall 2011
have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0

A complete application includes:

application form with signatures
typed paragraph about why the applicant has an interest in dentistry, pharmacy, or nursing
copy of most current high school transcript (official copy is not required)
letter of recommendation from a school counselor, teacher, or other community member

There is a $25 non-refundable fee to reserve a space in the camp, however, there is no additional cost to students to participate in the Hospital Hill Health Science Camp.

For questions or for additional information about this UMKCsummer opportunity for high school students, please contact Onekia Franklin by phone at (816) 235 8838 or via email.

Lights, Camera, Summer Theatre Action!

2011-04-04T12:16:00.000-05:00

Camps and workshops are not just a way to occupy students while they are out of traditional classrooms during the summer months. Many of these programs are offered on college campuses, allowing students the chance to eat in a cafeteria setting, stay in residence halls, meet other students with similar interests, and get a small glimpse of what higher education may look like in their future.

When a student has discovered a particular passion, these summer opportunities are also the optimal means to delve further into that interest area, to determine feasibility as a collegiate major or potential profession, and to hone skills that will hopefully lead to admission, if not a scholarship, as well.

Here is a fantastic local prospect for Kansas City metro students with an interest in theater, both on stage and behind the scenes…

Students in grades 7 through 12 are invited to participate inSummer Drama Camp, hosted in the Goppert Theatre on the campus of Avila University (11901 Wornall Road, KCMO 64145).

The two-week program, July 25 through August 6, isproduced and directed by local performance professionals and Avila University theatre professors and students in partnership with Mission, KS based Theatre for Young America.

The rigorous program will delve into key aspects of the theatre experience, such as:

audition techniques
set construction
costume design
stage and house lighting design
rehearsal process
an actual performance

In addition, participants will enjoy daily coursework designed to “help students increase their ability to communicate verbally and physically, to think imaginatively, to concentrate, to feel and understand emotions, to co-operate in groups, and to seek solutions.”

The workshop is from 9am to 5pm each day:

9am to 10am…stagecraft
10am to 12noon…performance studies
12noon to 1pm…lunch (bring sack lunch or money to purchase meal on campus)
1pm to 5pm…rehearsal

Summer Drama Camp will culminate in the performance of “The Time Machine” by HG Wells on Saturday, August 6 at 2pm.

COST FOR SUMMER DRAMA CAMP

$295 per student (includes all workshop materials and supplies)
A discount of $29.50 ($265.50 per student, all inclusive) is available to Avila University employees, Theatre for Young America season ticket holders, or any family enrolling more than one student in the workshop.

To register, please click here.

For more information about the Summer Drama Camp atAvila University, please call (816) 460 2083.

Avila University on Facebook

Avila University on Twitter

Theatre for Young America on Facebook