Tam’s Tips for the New College Student
Okay. Now you are actually in college and at college. You have moved in. Met the roommate. Gone to a couple of parties and met some other students. Awesome, dude. But there is another side to college…it is called learning.
Tam’s Shark Week: Great White Adventures
Check out my blog on Dallas Moms Blog! All about our family’s trip to Guadalupe Island to cage dive with Great White Sharks!
Work Week/Polish Week
WEEEEEELLLLLLL I’m BAAAAACCCKKKK!!!
I’m happily moved into my brand spankin new room at the Alpha Phi house in the grand ole city of Austin, TX and quite frankly, I couldn’t be more pleased! We had to come back to school 2 weeks early for work week/polish week (when we finalize and practice everything for rush and get all settled in before our PNM’s come down to rush! (potential new members) (more…)
The Cost of Studying Abroad: it’s not just the money
Studying abroad is expensive. It’s a cruel fact. I went to a country that has a slightly favorable exchange rate ($1 = $1.10-1.18AU, it depends on the day) and it’s still sucking me dry. Beer at a decent bar $6-8AU. Pretty bad. (more…)
Remembering Tracy Fisher with TRACE PLACE
Tracy Fisher was a former student of mine, and a blogger for College Adventures. The day before her 19th birthday Tracy suddenly passed away while at college. Tracy has gone from us, but her happy and joyous spirit remains. Tracy’s parents, Mark and Laurel, are heading an effort to name a portion of the Jewish Community Center’s new Natural Outdoor Playground after Tracy, and I encourage you to support them in rememberance of Tracy. (more…)
Oh, Australia: going to “uni”
In Australia, “uni” means university while “college” means you live in a specific dorm on campus with its own traditions and culture. At my end of campus there’s Basser, Baxter, and Goldstein colleges and we all share a Hogwarts-esque dining hall. Since I go to Basser, I sit only with Basser kids in a column of tables at the far end of the dining hall. There isn’t any animosity between the “colleges” beyond what is typically fostered by some simple competition (there are inter college games of soccer, Australian rules football, and rugby; of which there are apparently two versions… it’s a big enough difference to spark debates but slight enough to be completely undetectable by the untrained eye). (more…)
Seniors: Finalize that List!
If you are a rising high school senior of the Class 2011, July and August is the time to finalize your college list! Most students will begin classes during August or early September, and having a finalized list of colleges that you plan to apply to will help the application process flow smoothly. Your senior year is NOT the time to be researching schools! Your junior year and summer is best utilized for college research. (more…)
Want to go to college? What classes should you be taking?
Tam Warner Minton, MS
What should you take during your high school career in order to be ready for (and acceptable to) college? Most colleges and universities have a minimum number of <strong>required</strong> courses that each student should take. The State of Texas minimum graduation requirements do not always match the minimum requirements of many colleges and universitities. Make sure your four year plan includes a <strong>minimum </strong>of the following: <!–more–>
4 years of English (some schools do not accept ESL or Special Education as substitutes for four years of English). 3-4 years of Math. Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry are absolutely required. Pre-Algebra rarely counts. 4 years History/Social Studies (US History, World History, World Geography, one semester of Economics, one semester of Government.) 3-4 years of a Lab Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics. Some colleges do not accept IPC, Physical Science, oceanography as lab sciences.) 3-4 years Foreign Language (3 years of the same language) 1 year of Fine Art includes choir, theater, band, art, speech, debate, drama, etc 1 ½ years of PE or an off campus sport, or a waiver Colleges and universities differ on their requirements, so be sure to check the schools you are interested in before you blow off a year of science, math or foreign language!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL TYPES OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES! Workshops, seminars, camps, travel programs, Honors courses, AP classes….do as much as you can to challenge yourself! Colleges will go for the student who has opted for challenge. Don’t spend your summers laying around the pool. Get a job, travel, do community service, take courses, do something interesting! Colleges want interesting and vibrant students, not couch potatoes!
Oriented
I’m pretty tired. About a week and a half ago, my parents dropped me off at LAX (headed to Australia for study abroad) and waved goodbye while I walked towards check-in. It was probably a bit before 6, a little after at the absolute latest. It was a lifetime ago at this point. (more…)
FACEBOOK: It is PUBLIC!
Check out my newest blog on the Dallas Morning News Moms Blog at http://momsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/07/teaching-kids-not-to-post-inap.html!
Long time, no see
Alright. I haven’t written a blog in a while. By a while, I mean a pretty long time. A really long time. Whoops.
Have no fear, dearest reader. You see, it has been the summer for many weeks and I have done practically nothing. I’ve run stupid errands (grocery shopping, taking the dog to the vet, etc.), seen old friends, attended a funeral, gone to the courthouse for a ticket and jury duty, traffic school, and even made a lady friend. All before I head off to Australia this upcoming Thursday. (more…)
