TaborTalk Blog

Tabor is in the midst of its third full week of distance learning, and I feel the weight of just how much has changed since we all departed for spring break.

It was day two of the 2019 NACAC conference in Louisville, Kentucky and I knew the session “Early Decision: Who Really Benefits” was going to be packed. I, along with my colleagues from high schools across the country, grabbed a few last chairs, eager to hear what Kirk Brennan, Director of Admission at the University of Southern California and Jeff Schiffman, Director of Admission at Tulane University were going to say about the role of Early Decision in college admission. Given that this is one of the most controversial topics in the sphere of college counseling and admission, I knew there would be some thought-provoking information to gather. I was not disappointed.

Let’s roll the calendar back 19 years to the summer of 2000. That summer found me eagerly anticipating my freshman year in college. As I awaited my mid-August departure, I remember questions running through my mind -- “What will it be like?” “What classes will I take?” “How difficult will my professors be?” and, most importantly, “Who will be my roommate?”

Once upon a time in the middle of Iowa’s cornfields, a young woman in her senior year at Grinnell College accepted the position of Senior Admission Fellow in the Office of Admission

Did you know there are over 5,000 institutions of higher education in the United States? I was reminded of this fact during the recent college tour through the Mid-Atlantic. On this trip, 14 Tabor students, along with Chris Rorke, college counselor, and yours truly, had the chance to see seven different colleges over the course of three days. A whirlwind trip to be sure, it served as an introduction for the students (and welcome reminder for me) of the plethora of options available in the United States. Students also learned about the importance of finding the institutional type that will best fit and support their unique personalities and academic/extracurricular aspirations. It was a productive start to the summer for all of us.

Hashtags. Tweets. Likes. Instagram. Twitter. Facebook.

There is no denying that social media is everywhere, infiltrating virtually every facet of our society. Want the latest news the minute it's happening? Check Twitter. Trying to reconnect with a childhood friend? Do a quick Facebook search. Eager to see what your favorite athlete or celebrity is up to? Follow their Instagram account. Given the rapid development of social media platforms over the past decade, and the frequency with which many of us monitor our respective accounts, it is not surprising that colleges, universities, and yes, even high school college counseling offices have jumped on the social media bandwagon.