Location, location, location

Did you know Simmons scores a whopping A+ on "Local Atmosphere?" It's true!  Simmons is located right in the heart of Boston, which as the ranking states, opens up a sea of opportunity for students.

Check out what students on College Prowler have to say:

"It’s Boston, the atmosphere rocks. Everyone goes everywhere, and everyone is friendly to one another. Since it’s one of the largest college towns, there are other college students everywhere [ed. note: especially guys! ;)]. No matter where you are, you see them, and it’s comforting to know that in such a big city, there are others in your position."

"Boston is by far the best college city ever. Within ten minutes, I can walk to seven other colleges. Simmons is two blocks from Fenway Park and tons of restaurants."

"Luckily, Simmons is located in the best city on earth—Boston... The other important population for Simmons students is the many young professionals who are often overseeing us in our internships and networking with us after college."

"Boston is the greatest college city ever! The Colleges of the Fenway line our road, with nearby Northeastern and BU. There are so many art museums, stores, cinemas, Fenway Park—everything imaginable!"

All of these things are what make Simmons so appealing to so many students.

It's not a school in the middle of the woods.  Instead, it's a school in the middle of a vibrant city.  Oh, did I mention the added benefit of a charming residence campus (gated!) AND a gorgeous park across the street... you know, just in case you need some peace & quiet every now and then.

You have to see it to believe it!


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Give us a holler

Click here to watch an interesting video about whether or not the amount of contact you have with an admissions office affects their decision to admit you.

As mentioned in the video, every school looks at this differently. So, I spoke directly with the counselors here to find out what they think.

Their response was unanimous: We want to hear from you!  Often!

The counselors love one-on-one time with every single student who applies.  It's not always about grades, or test scores, but more importantly it's about you, as an individual.  The more counselors know about you, the whole you, the better - it's the best way to determine if you're a good fit.

Communication is key.

It's strongly suggested by each counselor that you have as many contacts with the college as is necessary.  Email, phone call, visit (definitely visit!), IM, Facebook, etc.  Its a personalized process, and counselors will even contact YOU (usually by email, but definitely indicate your preference) about every two weeks just to make sure you're on track with everything you need.
 
Of course, as with everything, moderation also is key.  One guy mentioned in the video that a student obsessively contacted the school and it got a little crazy.  Don't make your counselor have to join the witness protection program!

If you submitted your application, but haven't talked to admissions yet, give them a ring!  See what's up with your app, or tell them something interesting you forgot to mention in your essay. The counselors will remember who you are from the first time you say "Hello," through the time you graduate.  That's what's so great about applying to a small college.  It's like "Cheers"... where everybody knows your name!

Playing the waiting game

As I mentioned in my last post, big envelopes (or those icky small ones) from college's are starting to arrive - especially if you've applied early decision.  This is the time of year when mail carriers across the country are being stalked daily while students rush home after school to be the first to grab the mail.  Most of you are waiting on that one fat envelope from your top choice, but of course, are only receiving responses from your 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th choice schools.

Oh, the agony!

But don't let that discourage you.  There's a lot to be said for being accepted to any college - even your so-called safety.

So, since no one likes to wait around, here are a couple things you can do before your letter finally comes:

1.  Get to know your other choices!  You already know all about your first choice - right down to the water pressure in the dorm showers.  But have you taken the time to really learn about the schools that are lower on your list?  Check out their websites, talk to the admissions counselors, schedule an overnight visit, or for a more candid, insiders look, check if the colleges have profiles on social networking sites - it's the best way to talk with current students, professors, alumni, and staff who can answer your questions on pretty much anything!  Who knows, you might discover something you love about the school that you missed the first time around.

2.  Choose a major.  Many colleges let you apply without declaring a major.  If you've been undecided, start thinking about what you're most interested in studying.  By comparing which of your offers has the best program, the decision on where to attend becomes easier.  Shameless plug:  Nursing, communications, and psychology are all top majors at Simmons!  It's OK, though, if you still want to wait on it a bit.  Liberal arts colleges give you the option to check out a few courses first and will allow you to wait until your sophomore year before officially choosing a major.  Inter-disciplinary study does have it's advantages!

3.  Apply for financial aid.  This is, perhaps, the most important.  Once you've been accepted to your schools, it's time to start thinking about how you're going to pay for it.  For the majority of you, I'm sure your parents have already started hounding you about the paperwork.  Sometimes a decision rests on which school will give you the most aid, so the sooner you apply, the sooner you'll know which class of 2014 you'll belong to.  Even if you don't think you'll qualify aid, still, absolutely, 100% apply because you never know.  Also, start looking into grants and scholarships from local organizations in your community (fire stations, rotary clubs, libraries, etc.).  They may only offer small amounts, but any money helps and textbook expenses can add up.  At Simmons, you already have a counselor who can walk you through the process - even if you haven't yet applied.

Hopefully now you have some ideas to keep yourself busy.  It should distract you long enough to stop you from peering through the curtains, at least.  My guess is maybe you already received your envelope after all!