undefined

Watch, read, learn: Acing your college visits

 

 

facebook
twitter
LinkedIn

ACING YOUR COLLEGE VISITS

 

Campus visits are tremendously helpful in making that all-important decision: which college to attend? Showing up for a tour can also signal your interest to schools. But before hitting the road, it’s well worth the effort to make sure that each campus visit rates an A+.

 

You’ve read all the brochures. You’ve explored the websites. You’ve talked to friends. But how will you ever decide? Many high school counselors recommend college campus visits. College admissions officers echo that advice. There’s really nothing like seeing and experiencing firsthand what a college has to offer. If you’re going to invest your time and money in a college visit, how can you make the most of it?

 

Do Your Homework First

 

A productive college visit begins before you leave home. The school’s website provides important information about signing up for official campus tours and other options for applicants. Some schools will let you sit in on classes, spend the night in a dorm, or visit with a professor. If you don’t see these options listed, contact the school as they can often be arranged. Ideally, you’ll be able to visit the school while it’s in session so there will be lots of activity on campus. Once you have a date scheduled, check the school’s social media to see what will be going on while you’re there. Perhaps you can attend a play, sporting event, or lecture.

 

One more piece of homework: develop a list of questions. Be prepared to talk to other students, admissions and financial aid staff, and professors. Even if you don’t have scheduled appointments, opportunities may present themselves. Show them you’re ready!

ON TOPIC

Joshua Parker, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama

 

Joshua Parker, Native Hawaiian, is a junior at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, where he is on the Principal’s List and participates in varsity basketball and track and field (ranking no. 3 in Hawaii in the pole vault). He is also the winner of the 2019 AISES Energy Challenge. Here Parker shares what he’s learned so far from his visits to several college campuses.

 

What is your experience with visiting college campuses?

As of June 2019, I’ve visited the University of Southern California and Stanford, Columbia, Princeton, and Duke Universities.

 

How will these visits influence your decision on where to spend your college years?

Each experience was unique and will play an important role in my decision on which colleges I want to apply to and which I ultimately attend. Prior to the visits, I had thought of going only to either USC or Stanford because of their proximity to my home (Hawaii) and my familiarity with those areas and schools. However, my interest in going to a school on the East Coast grew tremendously as a result of actually experiencing the different campuses and lifestyles that various colleges there have to offer. Without visiting beforehand, I don’t think that I would have been comfortable applying to colleges so far away from home.

 

What time of year did you visit?

I visited during the spring, summer, and fall. Because most students were on break during summer, I was unable to experience the daily life of colleges I visited at that time.

PRE-COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES

 

Denver Indian Center/University of Colorado Denver

This free four-day camp is designed for middle school students interested in architecture. Twenty-five spaces are available! Students begin each day at the Denver Indian Center. Sign up now for the July 23–26 session.

 

Smoke Signals Culture Shop, San Diego

Our vision is to inspire and empower at-risk, low-income, urban or geographically isolated middle school through high school students on a path toward higher learning, individual growth, and broader social change.

 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Denver

Students 18 and older interested in wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship are encouraged to apply for a paid internship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Thirty internships are currently available across the country. In addition to getting paid, students will gain knowledge and experience working with the largest conservation system in the world.

 

The National Inventors Hall of Fame is celebrating Women’s History Month by putting out a call for nominations for the 2020 Class of Inductees. If inducted, you or a colleague could join the ranks of world-changing innovators.

 

Smoke Signals Culture Shop, San Diego

We believe that by supporting Native students in a way that ties their own cultural roots into their daily lives, tribes can help grow stronger communities — one student and one school at a time. By working together with you, we believe we can inspire, empower, and motivate students to achieve their fullest potential through higher learning and individual growth for broader social change.

 

UNDERGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES

 

First Nations Development Institute and The Henry Luce Foundation

In 2020, First Nations will award 10 fellowships of $50,000 each to outstanding Native Americans engaged in meaningful work that benefits Indigenous people and communities in reservation and/or urban settings. This fellowship is intended to support Native knowledge holders and knowledge makers as they advance their work and significantly move forward their field in ways that will ultimately lead to broad, transformative impacts for Indigenous communities.

 

Wells Fargo, Minneapolis

The Junior Leaders Conference is a three-day program designed to increase your understanding of financial services and the various businesses and career paths at Wells Fargo. During the conference, you will develop a deep understanding of Wells Fargo’s unique culture and values, which you will experience firsthand in your interactions with our highly talented team members. You will have the exclusive opportunity to interview with hiring managers for summer internship positions across the enterprise before our spring 2020 recruiting season commences.

 

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Angeles

The ACM SIGGRAPH Diversity and Inclusion Summit has a roster of informative and impactful speakers from a range of backgrounds and disciplines that demonstrate how our diversity makes us stronger. We invite you to join us for captivating discussions as we examine the pressing issues and relevant topics facing the computer graphics and interactive techniques community.

 

DISH Wireless

DISH Wireless will provide new ways to interact and connect through the Internet of Things (IoT). The DISH IoT Ambassadors – Tribal Outreach initiative is designed to enable students to gain experience in the telecommunications industry through hands-on fieldwork and real project assignments that drive business initiatives. We consider interns a long-term investment. Those who display DISH’s core attributes of curiosity, pride, adventure, and winning will be considered for full-time employment following the internship.

 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver

Students 18 and older interested in wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship are encouraged to apply for a paid internship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Thirty internships are currently available across the country. In addition to getting paid, students will gain knowledge and experience working with the largest conservation system in the world.

 

The National Inventors Hall of Fame is celebrating Women’s History Month by putting out a call for nominations for the 2020 Class of Inductees. If inducted, you or a colleague could join the ranks of world-changing innovators.

 

Science Publishing Group, New York

We invite scholars and researchers to submit papers to the journals or to join the editorial board or reviewer team.

 

College Park, Md.

Physics and physical science departments at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) or community colleges can apply for a $1,000 grant to bring guest speakers to their institution for colloquium or seminar presentations. This is a unique opportunity for students to gain exposure to the breadth of physics research. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis.

 

Rockville, Md.

Scholarship applications for fall 2019–spring 2020 will be accepted starting May 31. The deadline for applications is July 1. Late applications or those that do not contain all required information will not be considered.

 

GO PLACES WITH AISES

 

Scholarships cover costs like conference registration, economy-class round-trip airfare, and lodging. Ground transportation, baggage fees, most meals, parking, and incidental expenses are the recipients’ responsibility. Travel dates are Oct. 9 and Oct. 13.

 

Calling all middle school, high school, undergraduate, and graduate students as well as professionals. Present your STEM research! Receive a 100% registration discount when you submit by July 1.

 

Chapters in good standing are eligible to participate, and may apply to no more than two award categories: Recruitment and Retention, Fundraising and Marketing, Outreach and Community Service, and Professional and Chapter Development.

 

AISES appreciates the time, effort, and dedication of chapter advisors and encourages chapter members to nominate their chapter advisor for this award.

 

Nominees must be experienced Indigenous professionals who have made significant contributions in STEM. AISES membership is not required.

 

Do you know a tribe or tribal enterprise that is exemplary in business development, philanthropy, support of education, STEM knowledge, or overall corporate values? Complete a five-minute online survey and nominate it for the 2019 list, to be featured in the fall issue of Winds of Change magazine.

 

Early-bird registration ends July 15.

This one-of-kind event focuses on educational, professional, and workforce development.

SAVE THE DATE

 

Oct. 10–12

Milwaukee, Wis.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

 

Can’t make it to all of your desired campuses? provides numerous links to college video tours, including this one of .

RESOURCES FOR AISES MEMBERS

 

Check for a list of schools with AISES College Chapters.

 

ONLINE RESOURCES

GRADUATE/POSTDOC OPPORTUNITIES

 

First Nations Development Institute and The Henry Luce Foundation

In 2020, First Nations will award 10 fellowships of $50,000 each to outstanding Native Americans engaged in meaningful work that benefits Indigenous people and communities in reservation and/or urban settings. This fellowship is intended to support Native knowledge holders and knowledge makers as they advance their work and significantly move forward their field in ways that will ultimately lead to broad, transformative impacts for Indigenous communities.

 

The Science for Public Good Fund administers grants for financial support of up to $1,000, to be used for advocacy actions or related events to promote the role of science in public policy, with an emphasis on understanding and addressing local impacts. If you want to host a community forum about climate impacts in your state, organize a letter-writing or call-in campaign to preserve chemical safety protections, or hold meetings with local policymakers, the UCS Science Network wants to support your work.

 

This program provides funding for American Indian/Alaska Native graduate students conducting scientific research under the supervision of an academic mentor. Financial support is awarded on an hourly basis (maximum of 20 hours/week) until completion of the research (not to exceed 1,000 hours). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

 

Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.

Harvard University’s Administrative Fellowship Program is one of the cornerstones of our diversity and inclusion efforts. We seek to attract talented professionals, and in particular members of historically underrepresented groups, to promote leadership opportunities and careers in higher education. The Administrative Fellowship Program offers a 12-month talent management experience complemented by a professional development program.

 

DISH Wireless

DISH Wireless will provide new ways to interact and connect through the Internet of Things (IoT). The DISH IoT Ambassadors – Tribal Outreach initiative is designed to enable students to gain experience in the telecommunications industry through hands-on fieldwork and real project assignments that drive business initiatives. We consider interns a long-term investment. Those who display DISH’s core attributes of curiosity, pride, adventure, and winning will be considered for full-time employment following the internship.

 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver

Students 18 and older interested in wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship are encouraged to apply for a paid internship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Thirty internships are currently available across the country. In addition to getting paid, students will gain knowledge and experience working with the largest conservation system in the world.

 

The National Inventors Hall of Fame is celebrating Women’s History Month by putting out a call for nominations for the 2020 Class of Inductees. If inducted, you or a colleague could join the ranks of world-changing innovators.

 

Science Publishing Group, New York

We invite scholars and researchers to submit papers to the journals or to join the editorial board or reviewer team.

 

College Park, Md.

Physics and physical science departments at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) or community colleges can apply for a $1,000 grant to bring guest speakers to their institution for colloquium or seminar presentations. This is a unique opportunity for students to gain exposure to the breadth of physics research. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis.

 

Rockville, Md.

Scholarship applications for fall 2019–spring 2020 will be accepted starting May 31. The deadline for applications is July 1. Late applications or those that do not contain all required information will not be considered.

 

 

 

 

 

OUR MISSION: The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) is a national nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, First Nations, and other Indigenous peoples of North America in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers.

 

Paths to Opportunities and Winds of Change are published exclusively by AISES.

 

Problem viewing this email? to view the online version.

 

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please .
Higher Logic