Apply to Valpo - it's not too late...

Are you still interested in submitting an application to Valpo? Valpo is on a rolling admission basis, so we are still accepting applications for Fall 2009. If you are interested in scholarship money (who isn't?), you may want to consider applying by Jan 15, which is our scholarship preference date. What does this mean? It means that there are some Valpo scholarships that require students to apply by Jan 15 in order to be considered for the scholarship. Some of these scholarships are:

- Allen scholarship (students preparing for professional rostered church vocations)
- Art (Art majors)
- Chinese-Japanese Studies (Chinese-Japanese Studies majors)
- Starr Scholarship (Chinese-Japanese Studies majors)
- The Hesse Engineering Scholarship (Engineering majors)
- Foreign Language (Major of German, French, Spanish, or Classics)
- Music Leadership Scholarship (Music majors/minors)
- Music Merit Scholarship (Music majors/minors)
- Physics (Physics majors)
- Theatre (Theatre majors)

You can now apply to Valparaiso University using our new WEB PORTAL! To apply, go to http://www.valpo.edu/admissions/apply. The exciting component to the portal is that once you have applied through the web portal, you may check on your application and what we have received (transcript, test scores, counselor evaluation, essay). Please allow us a few days before checking on your status, because we need to upload your information before it will appear on the portal.

With no homework, projects or studying to do, holiday break is a great time to sit down and complete your college applications. If you have questions about any of the scholarships listed above or would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me.

I look forward to reading your application!

Merry Christmas & happy holidays!

Nicole at Valpo on Facebook...

As an Admission Counselor, I work with teenagers every day, so I have come to realize that emails and phone calls are not always the best ways to contact students or for them to contact me. For those of you who prefer Facebook, I've created an account on Facebook for you all to contact me. You can find me by searching for Nicole at Valpo.

I look forward to chatting with you on Facebook...if you have any questions about Valpo or need any assistance throughout your college research process.

Best wishes!

Nicole at Valpo

Fall travel season has come to an end for this counselor...

Today starts another chapter in the life of an admission counselor. Visit days (open houses). Fall travel has ended for this counselor and I will now be spending the next few months on campus....meeting families, running around at visit days, reviewing applications, and planning my spring travel (which starts in March).

While I'll miss my travel colleagues from other institutions, I'm glad to be coming "home" to my fellow Valpo colleagues and starting the next steps in the college admission procecss: applications and campus visits.

If you are a high school senior, you may want to do the following soon:

1. APPLY!

2. ASK questions (if you can't think of any, a good one to ask colleges is "What's unique about your institution?")

3. VISIT campus (schedule a campus tour to the colleges you are considering...you don't want to "inny, minny, miney, moe" your way to a college. A visit can really help make that final college decision in the end)

If you are a high school junior, it is never too early to start looking at colleges and asking questions. If you are considering several different schools, you may want to do the following:

1. Go to a college fair

2. Schedule a campus visit

3. Get on the school's mailing list

4. ASK questions about the application process, scholarships, and deadlines (this will help prepare you for next year)

I hope you find my tips helpful. Good luck to you all!

Travel season's ending and applications are rolling in...

Six weeks on the road between September and November is a crazy busy time for an admission counselor...filled with late nights at college fairs, maps, Starbucks, fast food, hotels and getting lost. By the time November hits, we are ready to settle back in our offices and begin reading applications and meeting with families that come to visit campus.

I know many students have already applied to Valpo and are anxiously waiting for a response regarding an admission decision. If you haven't already started filling out college applications, think about doing that soon. You will want to take advantage of those scholarship prioroty dates. Everyone wants to receive the most money possible to go to college, right? Valpo's scholarship priority date is November 1.

I look forward to reviewing your application. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about your application. Good luck!

Sweet home...Michigan!

I was in Michigan (my home state) the last 2 weeks. It's always good to be home. I forgot how chilly it can get up there...unexpectedly. I had an umbrella, a light jacket and had to buy a coat while I was there. I was freezing with those cold great lake winds.

I met some great students during my high school visits and college fairs. I felt like I was literally ALL over Michigan. From Coldwater to Grand Rapids to Holland and Midland....I put a few miles on my rental car.

I will be traveling next week in the Lansing area for a brief trip.

The Kellogg Community College fair, November 3, will mark my last event in the mitten this travel season.

Where's Nicole??

Every fall I travel to several high schools in the Indianapolis area and west side of Michigan. Will I be visiting YOUR high school or attending a college fair in your area? I don't know...check out my fall travel schedule below:

Sept 22:

• Branch County College Fair (MI) 6:30-8 PM

Sept 23:

• St. Joseph County Transfer Fair (MI) 10 AM - 12:30 PM
• New Buffalo High School (MI)
  
• St. Joseph County College Fair 6:30-8 PM

Sept 24:

• SW Michigan College Transfer Day 10 AM - 1 PM
• SW Michigan College Fair 6:30-8 PM

Sept 25:

• St. Joseph High School (MI)
• Michigan Lutheran High School
• Northwood University College Fair (MI) 6:30-8 PM
  

Sept 30:

• Forest Hills Central High School
• E. Grand Rapids High School
• Forest Hills Eastern High School
  

Oct 1:

• Rockford High School
• Grand Rapids Christian High School
• West MI Lutheran High School
• Grand Rapids College Night @ Aquinas College 6:30-8 PM
  

Oct 2:

• West Ottawa High School
• Forest Hills Northern High School
• Holland Area College Fair 6:30-8 PM
  

Oct 6:

• Centergrove High School
• Franklin Central High School
• Madison County College Fair 6:30-8 PM
  

Oct 7:

• Brebeuf Prep. High School
• Pike High School
• Bishop Chatard (dropping off materials)
• Greater Indianapolis South side College Fair 6-8 PM
  

Oct 8:

• Greenwood High School
• Roncalli High School
• Indy West side College Fair @ Ben Davis H.S. 7-8:30 PM
  

Oct 14:

• Allegan County College Fair (MI) 6:30-8 PM

Oct 15:

• Barry County College Fair (MI) 6:30-8 PM

Oct 16:

• Holt Lutheran High School

Nov 3 :

• Kellogg Community College Fair (MI) 10 AM-1 PM/ 6:30-8 PM

Nov 6:

• Indianapolis NACAC College Fair 9 AM-1 PM/ 6-8 PM

Colleges & Universities.....coming soon to a town near you.

Many of you, high school students, have noticed that college admission counselors have started to trickle into your high school for college visits. Now is the time to get as much information about the schools that you are interested in while they are coming to you. Like me, I am currently traveling to high schools for college visits in Indy and western Michigan. Let me tell you from an admission counselor's perspective....we really do enjoy meeting with students at high schools. So, stop into your guidance office and sign up for the schools you are interested in learning more about. Then you can decide which onces you'd like to apply to and visit.

Indy...my second home...

I visited high schools last week down in Indianapolis, IN (my second home). Overall, it was a good trip. I always enjoy meeting students at their high schools and spreading the word about Valpo. It was interesting - travel always is - everything from showing up at the old location of a high school to getting completely lost trying to find a school you've never been to before.

I am looking forward to another week in Indy - I will be on the north side next week. I hope to see many more new faces at my high school visits. If I don't see you at your high school though, you may spot me hanging out at a Starbucks or Panera Bread (my two favorite places).

On the Road again....

I will be hitting the road again very soon. I begin my fall travel (going to high schools and college fairs in MI and IN) September 2, 2008. I look forward to meeting new students and families, visiting with guidance counselors, and seeing college admission friends on the road.