First, please follow THIS link to read how the College Admissions race is going. The story is in the New York Times and captioned:
“A Great Year for Ivy League Schools but Not So good for Applicants to Them.
And as a footnote to that article, please view the following video on Teacher Tube.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=799aaa845e1c2e8a762b
Like it or not – these days, and perhaps from now on, college admission is and will become even more competitive. At the recent STEP Student Conference in Albany, I regretfully found myself spouting off to some of my colleagues from local programs about our responsibility to students to provide rigorous academic challenges. This year, I said, I had been disappointed with the low number of posters, (which I was told was due to restrictions placed by the hotel on use of space) and the level of performance by the students presenting.
Very few posters/projects impressed me as being unique and having the scientific rigor I have come to expect from this conference. Yet there were many winners of huge trophies for projects that could have easily been presented by fifth graders. The standard seemed to plummet this year like entrants in an egg-drop competition. I remember discussions about moving completely up and away from “literature review” posters to authentic science research. To allow our students to dig deep within themselves to uncover their interests, talents and most importantly, their passion, we should be raising the standards toward a level of investigation and research methods comparable with the Westinghouse Science Research competition.
For at least two years I have refused to take students to the conference who have not developed suitable research projects with faculty mentors in science labs. After all we are a medical research institution and students have all the resources they need here. But they first have to become curious about something, go with the flow of their natural curiosity, use the library to read background literature on their topic of interest, prepare to interview a faculty member which will be facilitated by me (but only after this preparation), and get their foot in the door which will then take them who-knows-where. The destination is not as important as the journey.
I am constantly walking around with an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach about the calibre of students graduating from our programs. Some years we strike gold with the type of student who develops into a scholar, using his curiosity and initiative to pursue an interest, or design a project, or investigate a question that he just refused to let go. Or we get some students who do the homework investigating ideas, and opportunities which would provide them with a summer experience that then opens up a nest of other ideas or a new network of people to teach, mentor or encourage them in a project or a career field that they would not have discovered themselves. They then take off and run with these new opportunities and uncover talents and interests and academic skills that fuel a passion for learning.
My colleagues all but rolled their eyes at my insistence that we raise not lower the standards for these students. Although I always promise myself not to do this, I find myself always complaining about lack of rigor, about our students not being challenged enough. My colleagues probably wanted to say some pretty harsh things to me, but they were very polite. They wanted me to remember that not all schools or programs have the resources for students to produce this kind of science project. I argued that the students should be required to use their street savvy, their initiative, and their networking skills to find ways to do it -if they really were interested in doing research. I came away from the discussion feeling like Sister Theresa, the strict nun of the convent.
But the bitter pill that we refuse to swallow is – while our children have been praised and rewarded for doing the bare minimum, their peers -both in this country and around the world have been stretching themselves almost to breaking point, but nonetheless, growing in academic stature. Its not only about science, its about developing a passion for acquiring knowledge. The college admission competition and yes, the college completion challenge, has been ratcheted up several notches. If we continue to pat our students on the back for doing mediocre work, or worse, for doing no work at all, we may as well close our doors because we have failed them.
8 responses so far ↓
1
Ken Schwarz
// Apr 6, 2007 at 4:57 pm
I could not agree more that our standards should be raised. The notion that, when students have trouble meeting existing standards, they should be lowered, would be fatal to programs such as STEP. Throughout the USA and the world students will be reaching for higher and higher standards. To accept anything less is to delude ourselves on what we are achieving. My former law partner, Herman Badillo, has long talked about the education of disadvantaged students. Although he was derided, his position has always been that we are doing such students a great disfavor when we lower our educational standards for them. Who knows, maybe for some students their non-reactions are the result of our standards being too low, not too high. Maybe the challenge is not great enough.
2
Desiree Khan
// Apr 7, 2007 at 1:38 am
During the weekend of March 30th to April 1st, I attended the annual STEP conference in Albany. When I was offered the pleasure of attending, I was unaware of the beneficial and satisfying experience I would endure. I was also surprised to find out that there is so much to learn, not only about myself but others as well.
While at the conference I was exposed to other individuals my age who were serious about their futures and wanted to lead their own lives. I was surrounded by success, determination and a need to challenge one’s self. This was truly the place where each person could use their talents in a way that would represent their program and give the audience an idea of who they really were.
While at this conference, I was exposed to many types of people. Many nationalities were present and gave me a sense of the real world. We must learn to work with people other than who we may be used to. We also must learn to define ourselves even in the strongest and most potent crowds. We must learn to stand out.
Although this was already a good lesson, we were also expected to attend workshops that would broaden our horizons and open doors which were kept locked or undiscovered for so long. I found myself learning terms, strategies, and ways to improve how I accepted new materials and lessons. I continuously gained during my time at this conference. It increased my appreciation toward the efforts of others.
Besides being educated to a further extent, I was given the opportunity to see what students my age occupied their time with. I found myself exploring through my own ideas as I listened and watched students with their posters. Of course, some sparked my interest more than others, but they all definitely told me something. They clarified the fact that all adults try to instill into their children. We are the future and I realized that as time moves on, students get more and more competitive. It is up to me to “STEP” up and do my best. I am living in a time period where standing around is not acceptable. If you wait for someone to tell you what to do or who to be, you will get left behind.
At this point, STEP was truly defined beyond what it stood for. It was transformed into not only a place of encouragement but a way of life. A way to get ahead and succeed.
As I come to a closing, I would like to point out that STEP is a place that encourages, and is positive. We have all the materials we need in front of us. All we have to do is figure out how to use them. We can have help, but in the end, its up to us to complete what we start.
3
Richard
// Apr 8, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Very good interview with Chef Yusef!
From this interview, you now have the opportunity to do some independent research and form your own opinions on the Muslim faith (Islam).
D’Andre, I hope this is the first of many contributions to come from you, since I am sure there are many more people in and around your community who would also make for interesting interviews.
Congratulations to STEP for this initiative.
4
msrich
// Apr 8, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I’ve copied Richard’s comment and placed it under other posts relating to D’Andre’s interview.
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Miriam Lovett
// Nov 5, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I think that whoever wrote the comment about increasing our standards at STEP should be an actual classroom teacher. It is THERE that the standards should be raised. Our students at STEP don’t seem to take the program as serious as they might their classroom courses and don’t push themselves as they might do in their own school environment because STEP is not holding them accountable. Why work hard to get an “A” in STEP when you can put all of your efforts in your school work to get the “A’s” that actually get written in your transcript, and will be seen by potential colleges of your choice??? This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t push our students to utilize their brains to their fullest potential (and then push some more). I feel knowledge is power and wherever there is an opportunity to learn we should be there front-row and center. But to get our students to spend all of their “free time” doing scientific research on a topic, perhaps unrelated to their regular classroom studies may be expecting a bit too much out of some – but not ALL – of our students. As my daughters get older, I’m seeing this more often. They become so involved in trying to become the complete package:
1. a HIGH honors student – (regular honors is not competitive enough) you must also take various AP or Advanced Placement courses as well, and still achieve the HIGH honors status,
2. the captain of VARIOUS varsity teams – playing one one team is no longer enough
3. NUMEROUS hours of community service and volunteer work – before, during and/or after school,
4. class PRESIDENT or any other ranked officer of their class
5. become involved in various clubs within the school and attend all their meetings, (perhaps even be an office of the club!)
etc, etc, etc, ………
Again, I’m not saying NO to pushing our students to their fullest potential. I think MOST of our children haven’t even reached it yet. But I haven’t given up on them and I never will. I DO push them because I want them to achieve whatever is their heart’s desire and I try to do my part by teaching them through my own personal experience, or I push them in the right direction. We are blessed to live in a time where the world is truly our oyster and they MUST take advantage of it!! It’s not always easy or sometimes it’s not even fun. But the benefits of their achievement fast outweigh any complacent attitude on their part.
6
Richard
// Nov 15, 2007 at 1:55 am
I read Miriam’s comments and note its content.
As a father looking for the answers I refer you to the colleges web sites and click under ‘prospective students’ and you will see that being in the top 10% of your class, captain of the soccer team, 20 hours of community service, 2000 SAT scores 6 AP subjects, may not be enough for acceptance to the college of your choice.
This is where STEP comes in. The exposure at STEP varied as it is, silent as observed, cold as described, interaction with other students could tip them over the edge for acceptance. Their application inclusive of their essay and comments for the ’supplemental applications’ is a give away for the STEP student that can make a meanful contribution to the college and themselves. We will continue to search….regards always Dad of two STEP students.
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Rosemarie Moreno
// May 5, 2008 at 8:28 pm
To All Parents of Juniors:
Richard is correct when he states that a student needs more than just great grades, outstanding SAT scores, sports and community service hours! Students need research and special programs like S.T.E.P. to give them an edge.
I have to say that attending both the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Program (CTY) in 5th and 6th grade and S.T.E.P. at the New York College of Medicine made all the difference when it came to getting accepted into the college of his choice. As a “Little Ivy”, Hamilton College has a 25% acceptance rate and only has 1775 students in the whole school. They compete with Amherst, Bowdoin and Williams for top students. The students who get into these schools have an edge. S.T.E.P. can give a student the edge they need to compete on the Ivy level.
My advice to parents: Start early with developing intellectual curiosity and enroll your students in research based and academic programs like S.T.E.P. and/or CTY to get the edge your student needs!
Rosemarie Moreno
S.T.E.P. Alumni Parent, ‘05
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Miriam Lovett
// May 12, 2008 at 5:44 pm
AMEN! Well said from both of you. I stand corrected.
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