Propel Smart

In order to make your dreams come true, it's best to start with small steps. Time to dream big! What is your dream? What small step can you take this week towards your dream?

Duquesne University Announces New Student Apartment Building

Duquesne was under construction when I was there in July. It looks like that will continue as they expand for future students.

Duquesne University Announces New Student Apartment Building A new 11-story student apartment building will be constructed on Forbes Avenue as the result of a public-private partnership between Duquesne University, Harrison Street, and Radnor Property group. The three partners announced their plans to build a new 556-bed student apartment building on Forbes A...

Freshmen, you have the fun goals! OK, working hard academically might be less fun, but your future self will thank you. Other than that it's time to explore! Learn more about what is out there, try something new, think about how your interests could possibly work into a career. Have fun with this and we'll start focusing more on college next year.

It's your turn, sophomores! Remember, leadership opportunities are best when they're in an activity you're excited about and already enjoy. How can you expand on those activities and possibly care for others in those areas?

Juniors, here are the areas for you to focus on right now. It's also a good idea to create good bonds with your teachers this year. You'll need strong letters of recommendation for your college applications and generally those letters come from your junior year teachers.

Kicking off the New Year with some goals for each class year. Let's start with our seniors!

Here at Propel we wish you all good health and happiness this New Year!

Propel Smart wishes you a very happy holiday season! ☃️

Having other people to work with can help you stay focused and accomplish more. Unlike the horses, it's not exactly competition, but it plays on some internal assumptions. When other people are working near you (in an office, a coffee shop, or at home), you tend to assume they are working hard, so you want to be productive and work hard too. You don't know what they are doing, but you unconsciously believe they're getting a lot done, which motivates you to do the same. We call it body doubling. Use this as a way to get through more challenging tasks.

Sending good vibes to our students who are taking the ACT in a few hours! ✏️

Once again this year, a huge congrats to our students at Quince Orchard for winning state! 🏈

Purdue University to require SAT, ACT scores for 2024 admissions

I expect to see more schools make the same announcement for upcoming admissions cycles.

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2022/Q4/purdue-university-to-require-sat,-act-scores-for-2024-admissions.html?fbclid=IwAR0TF8HlMYZ8oWuxtq2XtPcF-AtcZdrPGtzl_GNowdU7rUzLcJnszFEyX_o&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Purdue University to require SAT, ACT scores for 2024 admissions Purdue University announced Tuesday (Nov. 29) that it will resume requiring SAT and/or ACT test scores for admissions applications, beginning with students who apply for Fall 2024 admission to Purdue. The resumption was recommended by university administration and endorsed by the board of trustees.

November events you won’t want to miss

If you haven’t explored Pittsburgh schools yet, go!! It’s such a fun area and home to University of Pittsburgh, Point Park University, Carnegie Mellon University, & more!

November events you won’t want to miss Honor veterans across Pitt’s campuses, attend jazz concerts and hop on some light-up seesaws this month.

SAT Dates and Deadlines – SAT Suite | College Board

Registration for the spring SAT has opened. As a reminder, test prep is available through Propel!

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/dates-deadlines?fbclid=IwAR2hJKxZldMVmvWuEzu3O0bbMEGmFV6qlr4LIloafj4D7IfnEv9rVPiu0M8

SAT Dates and Deadlines – SAT Suite | College Board Official SAT test dates and registration deadlines to help you plan. All deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. ET, U.S.

If you can relate to this, now is the time to sign your freshman, sophomore, or junior up as a Propel student. 😉

(Comprehensive packages are the same price regardless of when a student joins, so younger students have access to support sooner.)

Christy McGarry & Megan Stahl Smith are both members of IECA and know colleges and applications inside & out. propelsmart.com

This is one of my absolute favorite parts of visiting CMU. This photo doesn’t do it justice. It’s so inspiring in person!

The Walking the Sky sculpture is always a campus standout.

Welcome to Propel! Let us help you propel your future.

And…this is why we handle all things college planning and admissions for you. 😆 (Accepting grades 8th-11th)

Welcome to Propel! Let us help you propel your future. We are educational coaches that work directly with families to help students meet their educational goals. Students of all ages learn executive functioning skills within group and individual coaching sessions to prepare them for a lifetime of success.

Champ, ‘Elite’ Puppy-In Training at UVA Athletics, Is the Ultimate Mood Lifter

From Champ to the 20 therapy dogs who often roam the halls of The Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh, dogs are making their way through campuses nationwide to reduce student stress.

Champ, ‘Elite’ Puppy-In Training at UVA Athletics, Is the Ultimate Mood Lifter At 14 weeks old, the retriever mix is winning hearts as he trains to be a service dog.

Last month, I was privileged to sit in on a planning meeting between the School of Communication and the Conservatory of Performing Arts. They’ll be launching a new, joint program this year that gives students an opportunity to leave the school ready to tackle anything from the stage to…the 🌙. Point Park University

The 15 Best-Designed University Dining Halls Around the World

Forget about drooling over food! I’m drooling over these dining halls!

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/best-designed-university-dining-halls?fbclid=IwAR1ckhuq_9uIzgqNgPLVaHXAxBx-eMXeUD9rMhXnNIbTg__VTqHJ5RzXppQ&fs=e&s=cl

The 15 Best-Designed University Dining Halls Around the World You’ll want to spend more than just meal times in these stunning spaces

The Common App has officially shutdown for the reset & will reopen on August 1st. I will see my seniors next week once it’s finished inevitably glitching on Monday. 😉

Sharing again after hearing an admissions counselor at the University of Pittsburgh tell prospective students yesterday that (despite rolling admissions) they should have their application submitted in August or September! Plan, plan, plan!

If a college offers rolling admissions, is there any reason to still apply early? YES!!

1. Early applications and decisions give you more time and freedom as you choose which school to attend. Rolling admissions schools may have a late deadline to apply, but many other schools require a decision by 5/1.

2. Scholarships don’t come from a bottomless treasure chest. When they’ve been given out, they’re gone.

3. Housing is also FCFS. We’ve seen freshman among others scrambling for housing when a school has filled their dorms.

To avoid these and other hiccups, plan early and apply early.

Bucknell to Construct New West Campus Apartment-style Residence Halls

I’ll definitely ask about this when I visit on Wednesday!

Bucknell to Construct New West Campus Apartment-style Residence Halls Four new apartment-style buildings with enhanced outdoor recreation amenities will replace the 50-year-old residential units known as ‘The Mods’ by fall 2024.

This campus is just gorgeous! From the historical buildings to the beautiful hydrangeas and surrounding grounds, there are so many reasons to love the Penn State campus!

Tickets and more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/find-your-essay-gold-tickets-367540532627

Next week I hit the road for college tours! By visiting them ahead of my Propel families, I save them time and money by knowing just which schools are a good fit!

Before Heading to College, Make a Mental Health Checklist

One of the most stressful times in a student’s life is also their first time without their parents. Talk about how important mental health is before they head off to college.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/well/mind/mental-health-college-students.html?fs=e&s=cl&fbclid=IwAR1F3Bzw_eFamI2OC5-S-lYBWh7_V5qHGTCpIBUrAkhWMu-nJA9c66ZYzew&fs=e&s=cl

Before Heading to College, Make a Mental Health Checklist Students should not wait until they are on campus to begin thinking about how to protect their emotional well-being, experts say.

If a college offers rolling admissions, is there any reason to still apply early? YES!!

1. Early applications and decisions give you more time and freedom as you choose which school to attend. Rolling admissions schools may have a late deadline to apply, but many other schools require a decision by 5/1.

2. Scholarships don’t come from a bottomless treasure chest. When they’ve been given out, they’re gone.

3. Housing is also FCFS. We’ve seen freshman among others scrambling for housing when a school has filled their dorms.

To avoid these and other hiccups, plan early and apply early.

Hot off the press! USC will be offering EA admissions this year with a deadline of 11/1.

Tulane admitted two-thirds of its class early this year

It's so important to strategize when to apply. ED, EA, REA, RD...
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2022/06/27/tulane-admitted-two-thirds-its-class-early-year?fs=e&s=cl&fbclid=IwAR1WLTimcSDzEWKSSQWAPdquA09s-hYFpjwdJR9HQRwWcF2g1o0FXx1EtT4

Tulane admitted two-thirds of its class early this year It admitted only 106 students (for a freshman class of more than 1,800) via regular decision.

Johns Hopkins summer programs canceled as some students are en route

So awful for those affected. I'm hoping that none of our students' programs at other schools face the same fate this summer.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/27/johns-hopkins-cty-canceled/?fbclid=IwAR0rKOtNc-LhQ7Rj-I_VWeqYHiZIIMjiRIpVACSAUBS4STuQWjx6UpmnzAU

Johns Hopkins summer programs canceled as some students are en route At the last minute, Johns Hopkins University’s prestigious Center for Talented Youth informed hundreds of students that their summer programs were canceled.

Check out our newest article about a college you may very well be sleeping on and don't want to miss learning about! https://www.propelsmart.com/articles

Congrats to our Propel Smart & College Audition Pros student!! She’s dancing her way towards a bright future!

Congratulations, Emily on your nomination for best choreography at the Cappies!!

Did you know that R.L. Stine went to Ohio State? My daughter is on my work trip with me and pretty sure he’s their greatest alum. 😉

Stay tuned next week, when I recap my visit to Case Western Reserve University.

6 Ways to Show a College Demonstrated Interest

Sharing an article from a colleague detailing how to show demonstrated interest. Some colleges even formally track interest, so send some love to any schools you’re interested in.

https://www.road2college.com/6-ways-to-show-demonstrated-interest-to-colleges/?utm_content=208210075&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-225892960904485&fbclid=IwAR1RE3PSv3kndGWT2GhiTQxbdDfizm7kxWkuQWUV9UMc_gFCA5wiFdLKv7M&fs=e&s=cl

6 Ways to Show a College Demonstrated Interest Showing demonstrated interest is an important part of the college admissions process to some schools. But it does not only mean visiting a college in person.

UVA No. 1 in Software Engineering, Topping Standard-Bearers Stanford, Cal-Berkeley

UVA is the leader in software engineering.

https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-no-1-software-engineering-topping-standard-bearers-stanford-cal-berkeley?fbclid=IwAR0oE6kHq3FtCMkWIzEEZusXIxewnd-WJvFXKo4q-oTeoYgBDcDP8matPm8&fs=e&s=cl

UVA No. 1 in Software Engineering, Topping Standard-Bearers Stanford, Cal-Berkeley A new report says UVA engineering students outperformed those from other schools, too, including Carnegie Mellon and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.