🍦 Today's Scoops: Getting your hands dirty (Nov 2)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Info Zone Refresh

2. School of the Day: University of Delaware

3. Hear from Your Peers: Getting your hands dirty

INFO ZONE
Brand new info sessions!

Here’s some upcoming school virtual information sessions. These are great opportunities to learn more about school’s programs to determine if the school is a right fit for you. It’s also great to learn more about the school’s vibe and possibly what admissions officers are looking for. All the times listed are below are already converted into Pacific.

Harvard College Information Session - Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 7:00 AM until 7:45 AM

Johns Hopkins Application Workshop: Personal Statement - Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 4:00 PM until 5:30 PM

Emory University Oxford College Student Panel - Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM

(NEW) UC Berkeley Admissions Presentation - Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM

(NEW) UCSD Triton Student Insights - Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 3:00 PM until 3:45 PM

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
University of Delaware

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Newark, DE
🎓 Student Body: 19,482 undergrads out of 24,039 total students
📊 Acceptance Rate: 74% (35,362 applicants)
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1275/29
💸 Tuition: $14,040 (in-state), $37,680 (out-of-state)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Accounting/Finance (#90), Kinesiology (#91), Environmental Science (#115) (Niche)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Business and Management (21%), Health (10%), Social Sciences (9%) (Scoir)

Located in Newark, Delaware, the University of Delaware (UD) is known for its strong academic programs, especially in business, chemical engineering, and environmental science. With a picturesque campus and easy access to major cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore, UD offers a blend of a traditional college town feel with metropolitan opportunities.

Some Positives

🧪 Renowned Chemical Engineering Program: UD’s College of Engineering is highly regarded, with the chemical engineering program consistently ranked among the top in the nation. Students have access to state-of-the-art labs and industry partnerships. Explore Engineering at UD.

🌍 Study Abroad Leader: The University of Delaware is a pioneer in study abroad programs, with a broad range of international opportunities that make global learning accessible to students from various majors. Discover UD Study Abroad.

🌳 Beautiful Campus and Arboretum: The campus is noted for its botanical gardens and green spaces, providing a serene and scenic environment for students. Learn about UD Botanic Gardens.

🏛️ Honors College Excellence: UD’s Honors College offers a more personalized education experience, with smaller class sizes, research opportunities, and unique courses designed for high-achieving students. Explore UD Honors College.

Some Negatives

🚘 Limited Public Transportation: While the campus is near major cities, public transit options are somewhat limited, making it less convenient for students who rely on public transportation for travel. Check UD Transportation.

🏘️ Off-Campus Housing Demand: With a growing student body, on-campus housing can be limited for upperclassmen, making off-campus housing competitive and potentially more expensive.

HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS
Getting your hands dirty: Romil’s tips on Environmental Science

Hear from your peers is a section we do about once a week, where we interview a fellow high school senior to understand what is going through their mind during this applications season. Here’s a great conversation we had with Romil, a senior from Fremont.

1. How has your high school experience shaped your perspective on what you want to study in college?

I’m planning on majoring in Environmental Science. I’ve been a Boy Scout for years, which meant I spent a ton of time outdoors, and somewhere along the way, I realized the environment is something I’m genuinely passionate about. Classes like AP Environmental Science showed me that science and nature could connect—and that maybe there’s a way to combine my love for the outdoors with my studies.

After doing a summer program focused on environmental science in 10th grade, I was inspired to start an environmental club at my school. Our efforts in activism and conservation really helped me solidify the idea that this is something I want to pursue as I go forward.

2. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced during the college application process, and how are you navigating it?

Choosing which school to apply to for REA/ED was definitely the hardest thing I’ve done so far. Environmental programs vary so much from one school to the next, and it’s tough to compare! I decided to make things easier by reminding myself that, ultimately, it’s in my hands to make the most of wherever I end up. I also ended up weighing my options based on which applications felt the most polished.

Figuring my Personal Statement out is also a contender for this question, but honestly, because I started early on, I was able to give it enough time to evolve.

3. How do you think your experiences outside of the classroom have prepared you for life after high school?

I actually have a specific story I want to share about this. After my first couple of environmental science programs summer programs in 9th and 10th grade, I knew for sure that it was the field for me. And because of that, before my junior year summer, I worked super hard looking for an internship or research position aligned with environmental science.

Things didn’t end up panning out and I eventually “settled” for a job that wasn’t directly related to research, and at least to begin with, my heart wasn’t really in it. But looking back it’s honestly one of the most formative experiences I’ve had. In addition to having a lot of fun, I met a park ranger who taught me a lot about different career paths I hadn’t considered, like environmental consulting. I realized environmental science doesn’t have to be all about labs; there are so many ways to make an impact, even outdoors.

4. If you could give your freshman self one piece of advice about high school, what would it be and why?

Definitely to start planning my summers way earlier. Summers are such a valuable time to show your commitment and differentiate yourself, so definitely don’t leave it until the last minute. Also don’t count on summer programs. Some are notoriously difficult to get into and make sure you always have a backup.

I see a lot of people going around thinking that they need to take part in all the top research programs but honestly, just make sure you’re not sitting at home for the entire summer. Even if it’s something small, having a plan for how you’ll spend your summer can take a lot of weight off your shoulders.

5. What are you most excited about when you think about your future in college and beyond?

Coming from a tiny high school with just 48 people in my graduating class, I’m really excited to meet new people and see a more diverse set of faces around me. I think college will give me a lot of chances to improve my skills as an environmental scientist, especially if I can dive into interdisciplinary areas like public policy. I want to harness the large college community to create even bigger impacts, and I’m also looking forward to finding internships, research opportunities, and work that connect with my interests.

LINK LOUNGE
ICYMI: Some banger links we put out yesterday!

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

Equitable Excellence Scholarship - $20000 scholarships for students who strive to be a force for good in their communities

Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) - do cutting edge research in the Bay Area’s premier pre-collegiate research institution

DabbL - free AI-powered college counseling, essay reviews, and free scholarships!

Algoverse - get published in top journals and do cutting-edge AI/ML research with industry professionals and Ph.D. researchers

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Take a break, you deserve it!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

UDub Deadline: November 15
UC Deadline: December 2

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
Have an idea for the newsletter?

Is there a question you’ve been dying to have answered related to college admissions? Or, is there something just nagging you about Scholar Scoops that you want to see fixed soon? We want to hear from you. You can submit feedback at https://forms.gle/7Rj2eBCiauEc5oNV8. Thank you so much!