A few weeks ago I filled out the forms for my TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) agreement and met with one of the transfer counselors at the Willow Center to get everything finalized for my transfer to real school; the two campuses I chose to apply to for a TAG were UC Davis and UC Merced. I intend to apply to UC Berkeley and UCLA (the top two public schools in the nation) as well as UC Davis and UC Merced, but seeing that UC Berkeley and UCLA both don’t accept TAG agreements and accept less than 30% of their applicants I figured I better cover my bases a little here( UC Davis takes a little over 70% and UC Merced takes damn near everyone). I’m attracted to all four campuses so if I get accepted to more than one it’ll make my decision much more difficult. I know that with a TAG both UC Davis and UC Merced I will be going to real school in fall 2010 no matter what!

My TAG for UC Davis and UC Merced!

The Transfer Admission Guarantee might just be one of the best kept secrets of the California Community College system. A lot of people don’t know this but all students in the California Community College system are given priority junior level  transfer consideration at all of the UC campuses, and all of them, expect UC Berkeley and UCLA, accept TAG’s from all of the California Community Colleges to guarantee students a spot as an incoming junior. I’m really grateful for the TAG’s, without them I would never be able to get into a UC using my high school grades.

I’ve been talking to my parents this last week about my transfer goals and have been asking their advice. When I sat down to talk with my Mother about my college transfer goals she start spurting off a list of college, it was kind of crazy for me because I wasn’t really expecting this much from her, I think my last 3 years of whining about college has made her numb to my nudges for help and have only made it more difficult for me to really drag her options and views out of her on this whole thing. My mother recited from memory a complete list of places she felt I should apply (including a lot of expensive Ivy League schools that don’t take transfers) she told me to apply to: UC Merced, UC Berkley, UCLA, The College and William and Mary, Norte Dame, Stanford, Yale, Brown, Santa Clara, and many many more. When she rattled off the list it felt to me almost like she had wanted to just yell all of this at me, she was very committed to the idea of me going to the best school possible so I could have the best chance at getting into law school. Sometimes I think she plans these little talks and just waits for me to come to her and ask for help as a way of catching me off guard.

My Great Grandfather William Angus Hamilton

The talk with my Father was a very different conversation, he told me that his father had gone to UC Berkley in 1918 and that his grandfather has been the Dean of the Law School at William and Mary and had founded the honor fraternity Pi Gamma Mu, and just like that he told me to apply to William and Mary. “Who knows, you might be a legacy or get a scholarship” I can always tell where my fathers goals are, my mother aims for me to go to the best school possible, my father aims for me to go to the best school possible and get as much money for free as humanly possible.

Since both of my parents independently recommended that I apply to The College of William and Mary I’m planning on flying out to the East Coast with Tarra to go to one of their transfer days in November to check the college out. I’ve always been proud to be a Californian and as of late I’ve become even more proud of my states higher educational system, but maybe I do need a change in my surroundings and atmosphere, maybe I should take a more serious look at some of the east coast schools and see what the other side of America has to offer me.

With temperatures in the high nineties and smoke permeating the air, it certainly isn’t feeling much like fall in San Marino.  But, the city is actually buzzing with fall activity.  So much of our San Marino culture revolves around our fantastic schools, and they are back in session full tilt.  Back-to-school nights are happening, sports teams are aggressively practicing, teachers are starting to give their first tests.  I woke this morning to one of my favorite fall sounds – the San Marino High School marching band practicing their music.  Fall is definitely here!

San Marino schools are best known for their excellent academics.  All one has to do is look at the college matriculation list from San Marino High School or look at the district API scores to realize that we do academics well.  San Marino Unified has been the number one school district in California for five years straight.  Yes, we have amazing and dedicated parents who lead and guide their children to be their best academically.  But, what has impressed me the most about San Marino Schools is the fantastic teachers and the well thought out curriculum planning by our fabulous administration.  Each year builds upon itself in a very holistic way.

To ensure that our children are not one-dimensional, San Marino Unified School District has really pressed forward with our athletics programs.  Booster clubs have been formed, new facilities have been built, and new coaches have been acquired.  Thanks to a group of very involved and generous families, who have really taken leadership over these programs, we have raised a lot of money to ensure that we are making athletics a priority.  In the last years our athletes have had the honor of playing on a new artificial turf football field and track, a state-of-the-art baseball field and a renovated girl’s softball field.  The energy is fabulous!

San Marino High School, winner of the Bravo Award for arts, has poured a huge investment into their visual and performing arts programs.  As a part of the District’s Strategic Plan, they aim to provide a world class education in academics, athletics, and the arts!  My daughter, who is an actress, will have the opportunity to be on a comedy sports team, try out for plays and musicals and take excellent drama classes.  While most school districts, in these difficult financial times, are stripping away these arts programs, San Marino Unified is continuing to offer their students programs in this vital and often ignored area.

There are too many extra-curricular activities to mention, but I think it is fair to say that our San Marino students are not bored.  There are ample opportunities to grow and develop, whatever your interests and whatever your age.  I feel blessed to have had the privilege of sending my kids through the San Marino schools and look forward to an excellent year in all respects.

If you would like to join our community, I would love to help you with all of your real estate needs.  Check out the Benuska Group website for contact information!

Go Titans!

Parents Picks 2009 voted Johns Creek Arts Center as a top pick  for “Best Art Class in Atlanta”.

Johns Creek Arts Center offers summer camp programs and really cool classes on drawing,
mosaic, portrait and figure, ceramics and theatre arts classes.  Fun programs for children and adults! 

Johns Creek, Georgia, was recently incorporated in 2006 and is the 10th largest city in the state.  It is located  in the northeatsern tip of Fulton County and about 20 miles south of Lake Lanier.  John Creek features premier golf communities such as Country Club of the South’s Jack Nicklaus golf course and the Bobby Jones Atlanta Athletic Club which is the site of the 2011 PGA Champoinship.  Custom built luxury homes in gated neighborhoods, outstanding parks and recreation and top schools attract many families to Johns Creek.  

For more info:  City of Johns Creek website  and  Johns Creek Arts

The Newsweek annual list of the 1500 Top High Schools in America is out. And the Top 10, measured by IB and AP Placement are -

The list represents the top 6% of schools in the US.

Great video here about 5 of the schools.

I remember reading these guides when I was looking for an affordable college. Thank god I found Sonoma State University (which was just 5 minutes from my home).

Here’s a quick look at the Top 20:

1 – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2 – University of Florida
3 – University of Virginia
4 – University of Georgia
5 – College of William and Mary
6 – SUNY Geneseo
7 – SUNY Binghamton
8 – New College of Florida
9 – University of Maryland, College Park
10 – University of California, San Diego
11 – University of Washington
12 – University of California, Berkeley
13 – University of California, Los Angeles
14 – University of Wisconsin – Madison
15 – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ.
16 – Georgia Institute of Technology
17 – Florida State University
18 – North Carolina State University
19 – University of Texas at Austin
20 – Truman State University

From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine:

Of our 100 top schools, led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, fewer than two dozen cost more than $20,000 a year for in-state students; the University of Florida, ranked number two, keeps total in-state costs below $12,000. In contrast, private colleges have lately averaged about $33,000 a year, and some have reached a heart-stopping $50,000.

But the deals on our list aren’t restricted to in-state students. At Binghamton University (SUNY), which takes the top spot in value for out-of-state students, non-New Yorkers pay $22,260, only about one-third more than in-state students, to enjoy the can-do culture of this young research institution. UNC-Chapel Hill charges $30,629 a year to out-of-state Tar Heels. That’s not chump change, but it’s cheap compared with the $50,000-plus sticker price at Duke University, a top-tier private school (and UNC competitor) in nearby Durham.

These schools have established a consistently firm footing at the top of our rankings. But you should also admire the up-and-comers, such as the University of Maryland-College Park, which catapulted to number nine from number 28 last year, thanks to a lower student-faculty ratio and a big jump in graduation rates. West Chester University of Pennsylvania wins the “Most Improved” award: It leaped a whopping 40 slots, from 93 to 53, after boosting graduation rates and offering more need-based aid. George Mason University, in Virginia, climbed from 77 to 46 as a result of improving its test scores and moving more graduates across the stage in four and six years.

Here’s a link to the full Top 100.

18 Leading Online Universities

So many options are available for distance learning that many universities have started to offer online degree programs. There are many degree granting schools offering programs at all levels including: associate, bachelor, master, and doctorate.

18 featured universities are listed below

1. University of Phoenix
2. Walden University
3. Norwich University
4. Penn State University
5. Kaplan University
6. University of Massachusetts
7. American Military University
8. Capella University
9. Central Michigan University
10. Arizona State
11. Regent University
12. Utica College
13. University of Saint Mary
14. Seton Hall University
15. Columbia Southern University
16. Drexel University
17. University of Maryland University College
18. Excelsior College

A few of these schools fall into the typical “brick and mortar” category, but they do such volume online they could be considered an online university. If you are looking to fulfill you dreams of earning your degree in Marketing, Finance, Business, or more, then check out one of these universities. I encourage you to do a very detailed review of any university before making a choice. Make your own decision and do not be persuaded by opinions of others.

In an effort to get more college-aged women and tween wannabes to buy more pink bras and tinsy thongs, Victoria’s Secret announced it would be teaming up with 33 schools across the nation for a line of “exclusive” college gear.

Basically, PINK tops and bottoms with said school’s mascot and name branded on them surrounded by girlie graphics.

Today, all of the pieces from the erudite collaboration can be purchased online. Each school gets a tote, hoodie, t-shirt, and capri sweat bottoms emblazoned with their colors.

If one were to purchase all of the pieces it would probably cost $200, which is kind of funny considering most (if not all) of these garments can be found at each and every one of these universities gift stores for much cheaper and probably in less obnoxious forms.

Except, of course, you can’t get the PINK insignia on your heather gray sweat top back on campus. Look. I fault no one who is giddy about repping their alma mater on their backside, but for fifty bucks? Am I the only student who’s college doesn’t pay them to be walking advertisements?

The PUSD curriculum council is examining math this year. At this afternoon’s meeting there will be a presentation of the results of a survey comparing Piedmont’s offerings to those of comparable school districts. Here is the powerpoint to be presented: Presentation slides. And here is some additional material.

This information will no doubt spark some interesting discussion as Piedmont’s offerings and pathways appear much more restricted than the districts surveyed.

Higher education will definitely get you ahead in today’s world. In this post, we have compiled listings of top undergrad universities and selected grad programs. Rankings are based on US News & World Report 2008 data. 

Top 10 Undergraduate Universities

1. Princeton
2. Harvard
3. Yale
4. Stanford
5. University of Pennsylvania
6. California Institute of Technology
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
8. Duke
9. Columbia
10. University of Chicago

Top Law Schools

1. Yale
2. Harvard
3. Stanford
4. New York University
5. Columbia
6. University of Chicago
7. University of Pennsylvania
8. University of California, Berkeley
9. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
10. Duke

Top Business Schools (MBA)

1. Harvard
2. Stanford
3. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
5. Northwestern University (Kellogg)

Top Med Schools

1. Harvard
2. Johns Hopkins University
3. University of Pennsylvania
4. Washington University in St. Louis
5. University of California, San Francisco
6. University of Washington
7. Stanford
8. Duke
9. Yale
10. Baylor College of Medicine

Top Veterinary Medicine Schools (DVM)

1. Cornell
2. Colorado State University
3. University of California, Davis

Top Education Programs

1. Teachers College, Columbia
2. Stanford
3. Harvard
4. Vanderbilt (Peabody)
5. University of California, Los Angeles
6. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
7. Northwestern University
8. University of California, Berkeley
9. University of Washington
10. University of Wisconsin, Madison

Top Clinical Psychology PhD Programs

1. University of California, Los Angeles
2. University of California, Berkeley
3. University of Wisconsin, Madison

Top Nursing Programs (Master’s)

1. University of Washington
2. University of California, San Francisco
3. University of Pennsylvania

Top Pharmacy Programs (PharmD)

1. University of California, San Francisco
2. University of Texas, Austin
3. North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Top Public Health Programs (Master’s)

1. Johns Hopkins University
2. Harvard
3. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Top Social Work Programs (Master’s)

1. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2. Washington University in St. Louis
3. Columbia

Top Engineering PhD Programs

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Stanford
3. University of California, Berkeley
4. Georgia Institute of Technology
5. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaigne

Top Economics PhD Programs

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. University of Chicago
3. Harvard
4. Princeton
5. Stanford

Top Sociology PhD Programs

1. Wisconsin, Madison
2. University of California, Berkeley
3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Top Political Science PhD Programs

1. Harvard
2. Stanford
3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Top Computer Science PhD Programs

1. Carnegie Mellon University
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. Stanford
4. University of California, Berkeley

To view rankings for other programs, visit US News & World Report at http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/about/weight_brief.php

Here are the Universities and links to their official homepages.;)

Many apply to the nation’s top colleges. This is how the few get chosen.

How to Get into the Top Colleges is the definitive resource for students determined to stand out from the increasingly crowded and competitive field of applicants and join the ranks of the chosen few at America’s most prestigious schools. This in-depth guide targets what students must do to make the grade at the nation’s leading private and public colleges, by taking them step-by-step through the entire application process.

How to Get Into the Top Colleges is available at Amazon for $18.25. To Order click here
Amazon Product Pages contain a lot of other details on this product as Customer Reviews, Sales Ranking, Special Offers, Alternate products that customers are going for and much more.Want to read these details? click here

Want to get some other Format / Binding / Version? You can search for them from here

Other Products of Interest

• A Is for Admission: The Insider’s Guide to Getting into the Ivy League and Other Top Colleges
• Fiske Guide to Colleges 2008 (Fiske Guide to Colleges)
• Acing the College Application: How to Maximize Your Chances for Admission to the College of Your Choice (Acing the College Application)
• On Writing the College Application Essay: The Key to Acceptance and the College of your Choice
• The New Rules of College Admissions: Ten Former Admissions Officers Reveal What it Takes to Get Into College Today (Fireside Books (Fireside))