In Case You Missed It -- Excerpt from Sunday Night Stickam (Web Chat on College Admissions)

uSphere was joined by Zach Uttich, an admissions counselor at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. Zach had a ton to say -- here's an excerpt on what Millikin looks for in their incoming Freshman class:

zuttich: and my responsiblities in the admission office include visiting high schools and college fairs, managing a territory, evaluating applications, fielding questions and concerns about financial aid and am the supervisor for student tours

zuttich: millikin really looks for a student that is well rounded, to be honest

zuttich: of course we like you to meet requirements, but there are great students who don't, so we look for a total package

zuttich: that includes involvement, aspirations, grades, test scores, extra curricular activities and potential

zuttich: millikin looks for involved students

zuttich: both with their high school and the community

zuttich: we require our freshmen to partake in a certain amount of philanthropy hours and want to make sure our recruits are willing and ready to participate

usphere: thanks - is there any way for a student to be "too involved?"

zuttich: absolutely...a resumee can only be so deep...we don't want students to just have a bunch of things listed on their application because they showed up to a meeting

zuttich: so we expect students to have the background to support their claims

zuttich: ultimately, having a rap sheet for your clubs and organizations means you had free time, we just want to know you used it constructively


So there you go from one admissions counselor...

For discussion -- students, is this what you're hearing? Do you think you're doing enough -- or doing too much?

FYI - we're planning to make Sunday Night Stickam a regular thing -- but this Sunday might look a little different...we're ironing out the tech tools at our disposal...we'd love your feedback...

Sunday Night Stickam with uSphere and Special Guests

Coming this Sunday Night, January 18, uSphere presents Sunday Night Stickam -- A Video-Enabled Web Chat with college admissions experts. And none of them trying to sell you something; they'll all be sharing their expertise on this whole "going to college" process.

Dave from uSphere will moderate the discussion and we've booked (so far) Paul Lloyd Hemphill from VideoCollegeCoach and an admissions counselor from one of our fave schools, Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. (MOre college admissions reps to come.)

The university types on the chat will be sharing tips on how they find you, how you can stand out, and what scholarship dollars and financial aid money is really out there.

My buddy Paul will make sure you know what he helps his clients with -- some tried-and-true strategies for getting in.

And about this Stickam thing? It's a mind-blowingly cool web chat tool with all sorts of ways to connect.

Students: we guarantee you'll learn something.

Parents: we guarantee your kids will learn something.

Colleges and universities: if you want to get on board, follow @usphere on Twitter and send me a note there.

Apply in July? Is it too early?

One neato Midwestern school thinks July is the right time.

Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois suggests you should apply in July...

"Because you don't want to worry about filling out applications when practice starts. Or rehearsals. Or finals. Or Thanksgiving and Christmas."

That's from the official Apply in July facebook page.

Makes your Senior Year of High School a little easier to stomach if you've already got at least one application out of the way.