News Graphic - 08/18/2016

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EDUCATIONA8 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

Kay DahlkeEducation Editor

kdahlke@conleynet.com262-689-1544

NEWS GRAPHIC

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT■ William Birch and Rachel Gosselin, both of

Grafton, were named to the dean’s list at Carroll Uni-versity for the spring 2016 semester.

■ Steven Lecey of Cedarburg graduated with aBachelor of Science in Business Administration fromNichols College in Dudley, Mass.

■ Julia Wermuth of Thiensville qualified for thesummer 2016 dean’s list at Belmont University inNashville, Tenn.

■ Jonathan Dowling of Grafton graduated fromAdams State University, Alamosa, Colo., with a Masterof Arts degree in counseling: clinical mental health dur-ing the spring 2016 graduate commencement ceremo-ny May 14.

■ The following students graduated from Milwau-kee School of Engineering May 28: Emily Dufner ofGrafton, Bachelor of Science, biomolecular engineer-ing, and Mitchell Gieske of Mequon, Bachelor of Sci-ence, nursing, graduated with honors.

School isabout toresume withinthe next twoweeks or so.For those highschool stu-dents who willbe enteringtheir senior

year, the college application process has begun in earnest. Thismonth, I have been meeting with my clients frequently, helpingthem to refine their list of colleges, establish their applicationaccounts and (most importantly) compose their essays. Over theyears, it has been my experience that clients’ college choices areoften quite predictable. Based upon students’ GPAs, ACT scoresand, occasionally, their parents’ alma maters, the “usual sus-pects” tend to be their top choices, led often by the University ofWisconsin-Madison and followed closely by other UW Systemcampuses and Marquette. I am not here to disparage any ofthese fine institutions. UW-Madison is a premier public flagshipuniversity and the UW System as a whole deservedly holds astrong reputation nationally. Marquette and its Jesuit brethren(Loyola, Saint Louis, Creighton, Xavier, etc.) are all excellent,with a commitment to both education and service. What I amhere to say, though, is that most individuals get only one windowof opportunity to choose their college. It may likely be a life-alter-ing decision, and I truly believe that the process is incompletewithout at least exploring less-common alternatives. Rather thanjust applying to the usual list of schools in a lockstep fashion, stu-dents owe it to themselves to expand their search and, con-comitantly, their boundaries. Granted, private institutions andpublic schools in other states will have higher “sticker prices,” butfinancial aid is often readily available – especially at private insti-tutions – and the benefits in personal growth can well be worththe cost. If you ultimately choose not to take the road less-trav-eled, you would be remiss to not at minimum explore it first.

Staying with the theme of taking a unique path, allow me tosegue to the most challenging part of college applications – theessay(s). Many students will be using the Common Application.In fact, for the first time, high school seniors may opt to use it toapply to UW-Madison, although the latter still retains its uniqueUW System application platform. The writing section of the Com-mon App requires a main essay of 250 to 650 words, and appli-

cants may choose one of five essay prompts. It is worthwhile touse column space to list them:

#1: Some students have a background, identity, interest or tal-ent that is so meaningful they believe their application would beincomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please shareyour story.

#2: The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental tolater success. Recount an incident or time when you experi-enced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn fromthe experience?

#3: Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decisionagain?

#4: Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d liketo solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, anethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, nomatter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what stepsyou took or could be taken to identify a solution.

#5: Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal,that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood withinyour culture, community or family.

The amount of students who use the Common Applicationannually is approaching 1 million. It is accepted by nearly 700schools. That’s a lot of essays, and reading them can be themost burdensome of admission officers’ duties. Sure, there maybe a smattering of excellent, compelling ones, but a good major-ity of them are predictable, trite and downright boring (not tomention, poorly written). The essay can serve as the “make-or-break” factor in the admissions decision, and if a student desiresto gain the attention of readers, striving for uniqueness and indi-viduality, i.e., taking the road less-traveled, is good advice.

Referring again to the Common App’s five essay prompts,one may think that students’ choices break out rather evenly, withapproximately 20 percent opting for each one. But this is far fromthe truth. The Common App itself reports that in the last applica-tion cycle, the choice of prompts was as follows: #1-(47 per-cent); #2-(17 percent); #3-(4 percent); #4-(10 percent); and #5-(22 percent). Now, put yourself in the shoes of admission offi-cers, who must read these essays (often doing so in approxi-mately 3 to 4 minutes each) until they must insert toothpicks toprop up their eyelids. Are you better off choosing prompts #1 or#5, which collectively account for nearly 70 percent of all Com-mon App essays, or might you have a better chance to garnerattention with prompts #2, #3 or #4? The answer, I trust, is obvi-

ous, and I always advise my clients to consider the prompts“less-traveled.”

The essay is meant to be a window into an applicant’s char-acter and soul. The prompts are chosen with the purpose ofencouraging candidates to reveal and show (not tell) how theirpresence will contribute to the campus community, whether it beintellectually, socially, academically, athletically, etc. Individualityand risk-taking (within limits) are valued, and what better placefor applicants to reveal these attributes than through the essay. Ihave had clients choose such topics as disparate as declining tobe confirmed in the Catholic Church, purchasing a pregnancytest kit for a friend, questioning a religious education teacher onthe biblical account of the age of the Earth and the struggle toestablish a Gay-Straight Alliance organization at their school.These topics, of course, barely scratch the surface of possibili-ties, the number of which is endless. Strive to make your essayan “inch wide but a mile deep” (not vice versa) and look for waysthat display your uniqueness. That is also sound advice for yourcollege choices as a whole, for it may very well be a smootherride on the road with less traffic.

Tom Tonnesen is the director of College Admissions Pathways(CAPs) and works with students and their families on the entire col-lege search, admissions, test preparation and financial aid process-es. He is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. tonnesen@caps2college.com; 262-377-0302(home/office); 262-389-4588 (cell); or www.caps2college.com.

THE INS & OUTSOF COLLEGEADMISSIONS

TOMTONNESEN

Take the road less-traveled

Studentnews?

Share it with our readers.

Email items tokdahlke@conleynet.com

Five area students have had their work acceptedby the Photographic Society of America’s YouthShowcase annual contest. The society, an interna-tional society for amateurs and professionals,runs the contest to encourage young photogra-phers of high school age to enter both print anddigital images through their school, and is open toyoung people around the world. The images will bepresented at the international conference in SanAntonio.

Kathleen Z. Braun, a Grafton resident who is thedirector of this international Youth Showcase,said that these images were chosen from 1,197entries with 134 schools participating. Only 25 per-cent of those entries receive recognition. Thesethree area schools continue to be successful in thiscontest each year.

“Every year,” said Braun, “I’m impressed by theimages produced in these local schools, includingwork that does not make the top 25 percent.”

Sara Schmidt’s “Lonely Boots” was accepted in the Architec-ture category. A Port Washington High School student, Sara’steachers are Katie Feyerisen and Pam Higgins.

Port Washington High School student Ben Cowart earnedacceptance for his digital image, “Confetti.”

“City View” by Cassidy Nichols of Grafton High School was accepted in the Scapescategory. Her instructor is Marcia Gorra-Patek.

“Revealing Within,” a digital image created by Madeline Schultz ofGrafton, earned acceptance in the contest. Madeline attends GraftonHigh School.

“Wood” by Hannah Yurske, a student ofDeb Mortl at Cedarburg High School, wasaccepted in the Color Choice category.

Showcase of youth artArea student artists shine in

Photographic Society of America’s annual contest

Images submitted

247980039

jeh@constcpa.com gmh@constcpa.com

TAX STRATEGIES AFTER RETIREMENTWhen there is less money coming in (in earnings), there is extra interestin paying out less money in taxes. It takes planning—some in advance—but some retirees have been able to move into a more comfortable lowertax bracket, where capital gains are taxed at 0 percent.

One early-planning idea is to move a small percentage of one’s IRA or401(k) into a Roth over a number of years. The tax bite each year is nothuge, but eventually moving a chunk of capital into a tax-free Rothmeans a lower tax burden later. It’s often an effective way to leave moneyto heirs, too.

More ideas: spend down the traditional IRA first—even some taxableinvestments—and delay taking Social Security (you get more if youwait). Or make charitable contributions directly from the IRA; it countsas part of the required minimum distribution, but you pay no taxes onthat money.

Need more good ideas to keep taxes low? Talk to the tax experts at

With five locations in Wisconsin:

Mequon, Waukesha, Fond du Lac, Mayville & Juneau(262) 236-9806 Mequon | (262) 574-0374 Waukesha

(920) 921-3356 Fond du Lacwww.vanderbloemengroup.com www.gibcpa.com

A-1 FenceAndrew ConstructionJerry & Marcella BellBell PlumbingUncle Jeff Bell &

Aunt LindaBig Joe’s Gas

& ConvienceBoehlke HardwareCedar Beach HolsteinsCedarburg Creek

Pumpkin FarmBev DepiesTom Didier Real Estate

Draft SpecialtiesFredonia VetHartmann Sand

& GravelDr. Michael Kim DDSKlas Club LambsLarson LawLetters & SignsMark MatterNathan & ChristieMatterBeth OhdePaul FamilyKen & Elaine Riemer

Remington 4Sandwood HillsSaukville Feed SupplySaukville Vet ClinicDeanna SchubertJudd SchubertMark Schubert FamilyTesker FarmsTexansWerner FabricationsMichele Wester

Special Thanks to our Auctioneers – Rich Rathke,Linda & Royal Boehlke and Cassie Hanson

to the buyers at the 16 th Annual Blue Ribbon Small Animal Auction

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