From the
parents of Nick Shebek:
To me, Ivy
League Connection is achieving its objective in expanding the horizons of
talented students in WCCUSD. Living in California these last 30 years,
literally in Berkeley’s backyard, tends to make families and students
complacent about college opportunities. With the state’s gridlock over
increasing taxes versus cutting expenditures, California’s wonderful public
colleges and universities are losing their luster. Stanford admission rates can
intimidate the best and brightest, and the concept of four years with brutal
winters can discourage the more adventurous WCCUSD students.
Having the
opportunity to experience college life at an Ivy League campus is a life-changing
event. Visiting universities like Northwestern en route to Ithaca made Nick
appreciative of the appeal of being close to a metropolitan area and impressed
by a quarter schedule that is so well suited to students still exploring their
focus of study. After his brief visit at Northwestern, Nick wondered if college
in a rural area would satisfy him. With three weeks at Cornell, he realized
that campus life itself is rich and fulfilling.
The meals
with admissions officers at the various colleges provided Nick with a
perspective not available to students whose views are limited to an admissions
presentation, or experiencing a tour given by an enthusiastic undergrad. It is
the goal of admissions officers to attract students that will add to their university
programs and environment, and to do it as efficiently as possible. Identifying
student groups that are well prepared to succeed at their school is a way to
achieve that efficiency. Introducing top-rated universities to Ivy League
Connection students makes admission officers understand the rigorous
expectations of the program. Consequently, ILC alumni should over time, have
higher admission rates to those universities. Moreover, those universities will
want these talented students to consider their programs, so the dinners provide
an opportunity for the admissions officers to understand our individual
students’ concerns, and address them in an informal setting. With both Cornell
and Northwestern, the admissions staff highlighted the areas where their
programs suited Nick’s interests, skills and concerns.
People might
not realize that the selection process for participation in ILC builds skills
as well. The essay requirement for the ILC helped lay the foundation of what
would lie ahead in their Cornell class. The formal interview assessed Nick’s
ability to think on his feet, a skill that would be needed to be an efficient
contributor to his discussion group. Don Gosney did a thorough job in making
sure that students would be technologically and practically prepared. We got to
observe Nick’s writing skill improve through his blogging; and appreciated
knowing what he and his cohorts were going through. We came to understand that
blogging and sleep were higher priority than checking in with us, and glad that
Nick was making reasonable decisions about how to manage his time. For a
parent, seeing a blog about a headache or stress elevated your concern; you
were proud your student was taking it seriously and later impressed to know he
was working through the stress on his own.
Nick would
have never considered applying to Northwestern before his ILC summer, but now
it is a university with tremendous and potentially realistic appeal. Cornell
sounds even better than before. We are so appreciative to the Ivy League
Connection donors, the volunteers who interviewed, photographed and prepared
the students, the teachers and counselors who encouraged Nick, the board
members who had the vision and dedication to create and support the program,
the district staff that managed the logistics of the trip, and the chaperones
who gave their time, energy, and guidance to the cohorts.
Thank you,
Karen and
Pete Shebek
