Healing loss through helping others

picture by Einar Einarsson Kvaran

Anita and Nathan Weedmark suffered a parent's worst nightmare -- the loss of their 19-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. A Mesa College student, Elizabeth died in a car accident in 2006 while driving to San Francisco to visit friends. Anita and Nathan plunged into despair, but eventually came to terms with their loss. Nathan: "In a way, you don't want to lose your grief because you don't want to lose the memories." Anita: "And I just started sobbing, and I thought, 'Oh no, is this what's going to happen? I'll just forget about her?' But I'm not going to forget her. I talk about her practically every day."

Anita and Nathan Weedmark transformed their pain to start an annual event called "Lizfest" in honor of their deceased daughter and raise funds to help children through music. A Couple's Brave Journey Through Heartbreak appeared in the "U-T San Diego" on December 17, 2013.  

CSU San Marcos proposes fee increase

picture by Thomas

Will raising fees encourage students to graduate faster and create more room for admission? CSU San Marcos apparently thinks so. Even after the passage of Prop. 30, this college is sending these proposals to their Board of Trustees: institute a per unit supplement fee of $372 for students with 160 or more units, inititate a $91 per unit fee for repeating a class, and a $182 per unit fee for students taking more than 18 units (this discourages enrolling in more units than needed in order to drop them later). What's your take on this as a student?  Cal State University Seeking New Fees Next Fall was forwarded by counseling support staff supervisor, Megan Soto. It was published in the LA Times on Nov. 8th, 2012.

picture by Neon Tommy

Fear not! Governor Brown to the rescue! The governor voiced his opposition to proposed fee increases on the part of UC and CSU universities after the passage of Proposition 30. His reasoning: "This is not the time to be raising fees of any kind," he said. "Voters gave us billions in new revenue, now we have to use that judiciously." CSU, UC Postpone Plans to Hike Fees, Tuition appeared in the "U-T San Diego" on Nov. 14, 2012.

Choosing a Major

Choosing a Major
by Kelli Turpin

When I was publishing my last post (the one about Catalog Rights), I realized that we hadn’t yet talked about how to choose a major.  Since I brought it up, I get to talk about the process of choosing a major.  The things I get myself into!



 



Before you start thinking about a major, think about your career.  You’re in college for a reason, right?  Many times, career choice dictates major choice: you can’t be an engineer without an engineering degree.  Even for those careers that don’t have connected majors, knowing your end goal will help you maintain your motivation, which will in turn keep your grades up, which will improve your chances of getting into the university of your choice, which should lead to graduation and a real job. 

Best Careers in U.S.

What careers have top pay, excellent employment growth, flexibility, and good job satisfaction? Here are the top 10 careers according to CNN Money and the reasons they're the best. The article appeared on Yahoo on Nov. 1, 2012.

Spring schedule and registration



picture by Anita Martinz

Here are some key dates for spring forwarded by counseling support staff supervisor, Megan Soto:

• Nov. 8th -- The spring class schedule is available online.
• Nov. 15th -- Last day to apply for spring and receive a priority appt date for registration by e-mail.
• Nov. 16th -- Registration date/time available for viewing on Reg-e.
• Nov. 26th -- Registration by appt begins.
• Nov. 30th -- Last day to apply for spring and receive a registration appointment after Dec. 14th (Note that students who apply after Nov. 30th will need to register for classes after Jan. 7th).
• Dec. 17th -- Last day of the fall semester.
• Jan. 7th -- Open registration begins.
• Jan. 8th -- Last day to submit a petition to re-take a class in the spring semester.
• Jan. 28th -- First day of spring classes.
• Feb. 8th -- Add/drop period for semester-length classes.
• March 2nd -- Best priority for FAFSA submission to receive financial aid.
• March 4th -- Pass/No Pass option deadline for semester-length classes.
• March 22nd -- Deadline to petition for fall reinstatement after a 3rd disqualification.
• April 1st -- Deadline to petition for a certificate/AA/AS degree and have your name in the program. Start of 2nd 8-week classes.
• April 11-- Career Fair 10am to 1:30 in Gorton Quad. 
• April 12th -- Withdrawal deadline for semester-length classes. 

Private Colleges



Amherst College


Where are the best values in private colleges? Which school is offering free tuition? Read this Kiplinger article to find the best bets in private colleges.

Also, here's a resource for info about private colleges.

USD info



photo by Chris Palmer

Here's some info about University of San Diego from Erik Castillo, their Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions and forwarded by Counseling Support Staff Supervisor, Megan Soto:

       

   http://www.sandiego.edu/admissions/undergraduate/visit/upcoming_events.php

for more information on upcoming events.

 

Florence Italy by Marius Fiskum



Recently Added Majors:

• Behavioral Neuroscience major (2012)
• Italian Studies major (2012)
• Biophysics major (2011)
• Architecture major (2010)

USD in the news

• Ranked 1^st in the nation for the percentage of our students who study abroad. Over 71% of USD students have had at least one international experience. (Institute for International Education)
• Recognized by Ashoka U as a Changemaker campus, an honor that affirms our commitment to social entrepreneurship.  There are only 14 other Changemaker campuses. Read more at http://ashokau.org/about/what-we-do/
• USD is the first university in the West Coast Conference to win the Commissioner’s Cup for 5 years consecutively. This recognizes the best overall performance in conference play.
• One of three universities to host the Dalai Lama during his visit to San Diego in April 2012.

Admissions Facts:

• Total undergraduate enrollment is 5,493
• 48% of total student body is from CA
• 46% of total student body is from out-of-state

·         6% of total student body is international

• 31% of total student body identify as a person of color

Catalog Rights - by Kelli Turpin

Many of the terms that you hear from City's faculty and staff are unfamiliar.  In order to be sure that you've completed all the requirements for an associate degree, you need to know a) what your major is, and b) what your catalog year is.  This post aims to help you understand your catalog rights and how to determine catalog year.  (What if you don't know what your major is?  Stay tuned.  I have a feeling that we're going to cover that at some point in the near future.)

First, some background:

An associate degree requires 60 units, or 20 classes.  A well-prepared full-time student usually takes 12 (or more) units (4 classes) each semester and finishes in 5 (or fewer) semesters (approximately 2 ½ years).  If a student cannot take 12 units a semester, then the same degree will take longer to finish.  (For those of you who like numbers: If our hypothetical student takes one class a semester, then that student will take 20 semesters to finish a degree.  Given the lack of summer school in our district, that translates into 10 years.  Two classes a semester = 10 semesters = 5 years.)

The requirements for each degree program are published in the College Catalog each academic year.  The catalog is the official document that establishes each program’s requirements.  Each department has the responsibility to update and revise its section of the catalog each year.  When technology, employment needs, or transfer requirements change, the affected departments change their programs accordingly.

Scholarships available!

Scholarships for non-citizens and AB 540 students forwarded by counselor Edwin Hiel:

http://www.latinocollegedollars.org/
http://www.salef.org/
http://hs.houstonisd.org/debakeyhs/Departments/counselors/Undocumented.html
http://www.nygearup.org/collegesense/students/scholar_undoc.htm
http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/undocumented.phtml
http://cacesf.org/   
 

SDSU nursing changes and other info

SDSU has changed their nursing admissions procedure. Transfer students to their generic BSN program will no longer be able to apply for spring semester because this program will only be open for fall transfer. All nursing prerequisites must be completed by the end of fall 2012 for fall 13 admission to the generic nursing program. Students interested in nursing are encouraged to attend a group advising session at SDSU. This info was provided by Jason Ramirez, Undergrad Program Coordinator of SDSU's school of nursing.

Also, effective fall 2012, SDSU is no longer accepting students to the Physical Education emphasis under Exercise Nutritional Sciences due to "budget and lack of student interest." They expect to discontinue the emphasis according to Manuel Sanchez, articulation officer at SDSU. The above info was forwarded by counseling department chair, Cathi Lopez.

Here are links to the SDSU GPA requirements by major, the advisors contact by dept, their TAG, and the local admission area community colleges.

CSUs and UCs are strapped for money

Picture by Nehrams 2020

Okay, if you're a college student in CA, breathe a sigh of relief that Proposition 30 passed. What might've been the fallout if voters had gone in the other direction? CSU Board OKs Tuition Increase -- Good Only If Prop 30 Fails was published in the "LA Times" on Sept. 19, 2012.

Also, the UC system is considering increasing enrollment of out-of-state and international students to help during this time of funding shortages from the state. These students pay higher tuition and this brings in more money to the UCs. However, it hurts California residents who hope to realize their dream through a UC education. Hall: In-State UC Enrollment Faces Diminished Future appeared in the "U-T San Diego" on Sept. 21, 2012.

Academic Renewal

ForestWander Nature Photography, www.ForestWander.com

Want to raise your GPA? Here's how to do so without retaking classes. You can renew up to 12 units of substandard coursework (D's or F's) or 1 semester of substandard coursework (below 2.0 GPA). Conditions: One year has elapsed since the most recent courses to be renewed, you've completed at least 15 units with a 2.0 or higher GPA at a regionally accredited college since the courses to be renewed, and official transcripts from all colleges are on file. See a counselor for the petition.

According to Jennifer Atkins of UCSD, a course taken at a UC college for a substandard grade should only be retaken at a UC campus. This can be through cross enrollment or summer session, but not through Extension. If you receive a grade of "F" in a UC course and retake it at a non UC campus, both grades will be averaged. If you get a grade of "D" in a UC course and retake it at a non UC college, the repeated grade will be disregarded. Students who are not in good standing at a UC aren't eligible to attend another UC, but an exception can be requested. This info was forwarded by counselor Rudy Zamora.    

Student Spotlight

Jose B. is a 20-year-old City student who has seen more than his share of obstacles. He was born in LA and moved to Tijuana with his family when his grandfather passed away. Jose lived there until he was 15, and his parents told him to come back to the U.S. for the opportunities. He moved to San Diego and eventually became the first in his family to go to college, but it wasn’t easy. As the oldest in his family, Jose had to work two and three jobs to support his four siblings. He often commuted from TJ to San Diego and rode the trolley to get to City College.  

Jose is working as a peer mentor in First Year Experience (FYE), a support service that helps new students adjust to college. He relays his experiences to students he works with. “I didn’t know about financial aid, the bookstore, and programs like EOPS, MESA, and Puente. When I was in school, nobody told me about that.” Now he utilizes the resources; he is an EOPS student and appreciates the guidance and support. Jose wants to let students know what’s available. His advice to new students: “Some students know a lot about college. Find someone who’s going to guide you and help you with their experiences or knowledge. If you need help, you should ask.”

Counseling schedule



picture by Jkadavoor



The counseling appointments have been filled for the fall semester. We hope to start scheduling appointments again on Jan. 7th, 2013.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

8-9 am	Appointments
9-10 am	Walk-In Counseling
10-11:30 am	Appointments
11:30 am -1:30 pm	Walk-In Counseling
1:30-5 pm	Appointments
5-6 pm	Walk-In Counseling

Non-Peak Daily Schedule, Friday

8-10 am	Walk-In Counseling
10 am - 12 pm	Appointments

What If You Can't Get Into Classes?

The following post was made for the fall 2012 semester, but the info is just as relevant for spring 2013. The add deadline was August 31^st for full-term fall classes, and if you had a hard time getting the classes you needed, you’re not alone. Many students found it difficult to crash classes this semester. Due to California budget issues, we had to cut courses. Because of the economy, more people are going back to school. Fewer classes being offered and more people needing to take them means that it’s challenging to find classes – and given that reality -- you may not be able to get into school this semester. However, you can still be productive.

New students:  

• Contact First Year Services in Oct. or Nov. for spring semester (L-206   619-388-3998)
• Assessment test
• New student orientation and online new student orientation
• Financial aid referral
• Career and educational guidance
• Peer mentoring

If you’re new to college, check into First Year Services to see if you can receive counseling and support for next semester. They can help you sign up for an assessment test and new student orientation, part of the matriculation process that gives students a better registration priority. Career planning, educational guidance, referral to financial aid, and peer mentoring are part of the comprehensive services available to many first-time students. This will prepare you for next semester.

Jobs Employers Can't Fill

What careers are employers having a hard time filling? This slideshow details a number of careers and explains why bosses can't seem to find employees in these fields. City College offers training for: machinists, nurses, accountants, and administrative assistants. This slideshow/article appeared on CNBC.com.        









College Info

Best colleges: "US News and World Report's" 2013 annual poll of the best colleges is here. Check out the top 10 national universities and 10 best liberal arts colleges.


picture by Carlos Overstreet


UCSD expands its Jacobs School of Engineering: this "U-T San Diego" article details the 83 million dollar expansion and which components of research will be housed there.

Parking added at City! There is a new parking structure for City students, staff, and faculty available now. Here is a link to info about it. Keep in mind that all student lots require a valid SDCCD parking permit.


picture by Nehrams2020

Also here is a link to SDSU's TAG requirements for fall 2013. The link was provided by City counselor Anne Nelson.

Every Thursday, from 9am to 11:15am, you can get fresh vegetables grown at City's Urban Farm. The farm stand is at Curran Plaza at the junction of 14th and "C" between the Saville Theatre and the LRC, and students get 1/3 off the price.

Resume Tips

If you're creating a resume, check out 7 Things Every Resume Needs in 2012. The article was published on August 6, 2012 in "AOL Jobs." It was forwarded by Public Information Officer, Heidi Bunkowske.

What Counselors Do Seven

This is part seven of a series of roles that counselors play at City College.  Feel free to add to the list!  

Humorist (Ray) – Sometimes we need to step back and enjoy a good laugh. It may be the only thing that gets us through the day. Added benefit – we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

Interpreter (Kelli) – Academic Babble: the jargon that academics use to confuse everyone else into thinking they’re smarter than they actually are.  Sometimes we forget that you’re not steeped in the jargon, so I interpret and translate into plain English.  Occasionally, you’ll notice me frowning at the words on the page, trying to figure out what exactly the author actually meant when they wrote that. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikbenson/6834976246/sizes/l/in/photostream/
by Buster Benson

What Counselors Do

Intro

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Avoiding Student Loan Debt

Author Ellie Kay believes it's possible to get through school without a lot of student loan debt, and her article Tips On Paying For College With Minimal Debt tells you how. The column appeared in the "U-T San Diego" on August 5, 2012.

What Counselors Do Six

This is part six of a series of roles that counselors play at City College.  Feel free to add to the list!  

Advocate (Ray) – Someone who’s on your side. This can take the form of a letter of recommendation for a scholarship, application to a university, or explaining to the VP of Student Services why a petition for re-admission from disqualification is justified.



Hedy Lamarr of "The Conspirators"

Conspirator (Ray) – Your parents want you to become a doctor, and you can’t stand the sight of blood. Let’s conspire to find something that’s a better fit.

What Counselors Do

Intro

Two

Three

Four

Five

What Counselors Do Five

This is part five of a series of roles that counselors play at City College.  Feel free to add to the list!  

Puzzle-Assembler (Kelli) – This usually happens with students who have unique situations.  (I know, you’re all unique individuals, but most situations are more similar than they are different.)  The puzzles I assemble usually start with either “I have 60-plus units.  Am I eligible for a degree?” or “I want to transfer to State as a <insert major here>, but I have all these units from out of the area.  What do I do?”  Those are pretty straightforward.  The fun ones, though, start with, “I want to open a halfway house for at-risk teens.  I don’t need a specific degree because I’ve got qualified people lined up to do the counseling/social work part and I have no interest in a business degree, but I want a degree from City.  How can I do that?”  This type of student knows exactly what their project needs (or is willing to do the research to find out), so we go over types of classes that would fulfill those needs and see if there’s some degree that fits, or if there isn’t, I help the student put together a justification for a “Selected Studies” degree, which are designed for occasions just like this one.



picture by Sage Ross



Brainstormer (Ray) – Turn off the toxic voices, the doubts, the insecurities, the “I can’t because…” statements. Let your imagination run wild for a while and let’s see what comes up.

Cartographer (Kelli) – How do you get from here to there?  Which classes do you need to finish to be admitted to X University with Y Major?  This is the academic planning piece.  I can either give you an overview of everything you need or work with you to plan each semester.  Your call.

What Counselors Do

Intro

Two

Three

Four

College Accreditation

You might've heard the term "accreditation" in reference to colleges and universities. Ashford University has run into problems with accreditation, and this can have consequences for students who earn a degree from this college. What exactly does the term mean and why is it important? Keys To College Accreditation will tell you what you need to know about accreditation. The article appeared in the "U-T San Diego" on July 11, 2012.

Bridgepoint Education's Ashford University, a for-profit college, will lay off 450 admissions counselors in an attempt to address accreditation issues. Bridgepoint Cuts 450 Jobs appeared in the "U-T San Diego" on Sept. 24, 2012. 

What Counselors Do Four

This is part four of a series of roles that counselors play at City College.  Feel free to add to the list!

Researcher (Kelli) – When you come in to see me, chances are good that we’ll spend at least part of our session (no matter how long or short that session is) on the internet.  Contrary to popular belief, I don’t know everything.  I’m pretty good, however, at finding the stuff that I don’t know, using the tools at my disposal.  That said, you’re not off the hook.  If it’s a complicated question asked in a ten-minute walk-in, I’ll find you a source or two, then send you off to do more research yourself.  Why?  It’s your life – if you’re not interested enough in the topic to type it into the Google search box, then you’re probably not going to enjoy it in the classroom.

Detective (Ray) – Learn to investigate. It’s a skill that will take you far. Investigate the kind of career you want by info interviewing (talking to people who do the work), job shadowing (can I watch you work?), internship (let me earn some college credit for learning on the job), volunteering, or just plain snooping around. Investigate the major at the school by touring the campus, chatting with students and faculty, going to the department to ask questions. Investigate a prospective employer by finding out about their mission, their culture and values, how they treat employees, the kind of people who work there, the possibilities for advancement and promotion. Investigate instructors before selecting the class by looking at their books, talking to other students, or speaking to instructors.  

What Counselors Do

Intro

Two

Three

What Counselors Do Three

This is part three of a series of roles that counselors play at City College.  Feel free to add to the list!  

Enforcer (Kelli) – Every entity has rules; occasionally my job is to enforce them.  Mostly, these are the rules pertaining to academics: To remain in Good Standing a student must complete 61% of the courses they attempt with at least a 2.0 GPA.  When you don’t, we need to figure out how to fix it.

Problem-Solver (Kelli) – This goes along with Enforcer.  If a student is having issues academically, I always ask “Why?  What happened during that semester that caused those bad grades (or withdrawals)?”  The answers usually fall into one of a few categories: too much work (AKA money problems which then turn into time problems), lack of Financial Aid (AKA see above), family problems (AKA time management or emotional turmoil), health problems, and boredom (AKA lack of motivation).  Then we talk about how to fix that situation, if it hasn’t already been resolved.  Sometimes, students come to me with these types of issues before they get in trouble, which is always a good thing.  These are not the only problems I solve, just the most popular.

What Counselors Do
Intro
Two

What Counselors Do Two

This is part two of a series of roles that counselors play at City College.  Feel free to add to the list!  

picture by Jkadavoor




“Daydream Believer”(Kelli) – Sometimes I think the most difficult part of college isn’t the classes.  Show up, participate, do the work, and the grade follows.  The hardest thing is walking into an office with a total stranger and sharing your “Dream.”  You know what I mean.  You want to become a nurse, or an actor, or a therapist, or a doctor.  Your family and friends would think you’re crazy if you told them, so you haven’t. They think you’re going to college just to get a better job.  A huge part of my job is to take your dream seriously.  I believe that you can do it.  Make no mistake, I’m going to ask probing questions and force you to face reality – you need to know what you’re getting yourself into – but I’m not going to laugh at you or tell you that you shouldn’t do it because it’s not practical.

Prober (Ray) – This goes with daydream believer. You want to be a business major. What does that mean? Let’s look closer. Do you see owning a business? Going into marketing and advertising? Accounting? If you want to run a business, what kind? What does it look like? What kind of product or service? This isn’t to be nosey. It’s to help you get a clear idea of your vision. And if you’re not clear, then I assign research and detective work.

Sounding Board (Ray) – You know what you want; you just need to say it to someone who’s really listening.

What Counselors Do
Intro

What Counselors Do Intro



picture by Alvesgaspar









Summer session (minus the classes!) is fully underway at City College.  All the new students are taking their assessment tests and attending orientations.  Continuing students are dropping by the Counseling Office for help in deciding which classes to take next semester.  Or are they? 

Recently a student told us that other students avoid the Counseling Department. Students, he said, could be lazy, or they feel there’s some kind of stigma attached to looking for help.  And anecdotal evidence may support that. 

Student loans

Photo by Treaclewell

The Senate's Democratic and Republican leaders have indicated they've reached an agreement that would stop student loan interest rates from doubling this year. The provision still needs to go to the House for approval, but if finalized, the agreement would benefit 7.4 million students who take out Stafford Loans to help pay for college. Senate Leaders OK Student Loan Deal appeared in the "U-T San Diego" on June 27, 2012. 

SIFE Students Tackle Bullying

SIFE Tackles Bullying

The brochure pictures for City College’s “Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) -- Don’t Be A Bully” conference are haunting, the faces and names of youths ages 10-18 who committed suicide. A column shows dates of birth and death followed by the manner of suicide. They could be yearbook photos, but it’s not a yearbook. They are students whose lives were cut tragically short by bullying.

According to the National Education Association, 60% of American teens see bullying in school every day (http://www.nea.org/home/19535.htm). Bullying can make students afraid to attend class, use the bathroom, or ride a bus. It can take place in the playground, while walking home, or online. In the most serious cases, it can result in death.

97-year-old graduate



Picture by Cary Bass



This story doesn't have a City College tie, but we can all use some uplifting news. Ann Colagiovanni of Ohio received a high school diploma at the age of 97. Read about the oldest member of the class of 2012. 97-Year-Old Gets High School Diploma appeared on "Yahoo! News" on June 7, 2012.