🍦 Today's Scoops Sep 11: Your guide to CSUs

How do I apply? What are the pros? cons?

Author

Scholar Scoops Admin
September 11, 2024

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

  1. School of the Day: Brown University

  2. Admissions Blueprint: Your guide to the CSUs

  3. Essay of the Week: UC PIQ #1 Example

LINK LOUNGE
Key Resources & Scholarships

Every Wednesday, we update the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Wednesdays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

Robertson Scholars - This merit-based scholarship by the Julian H. Robertson, Jr. Fund provides around 25 students admitted to Duke or UNC Chapel Hill with full-ride scholarships. Application for high school seniors is open now and is due November 15. The only requirement to apply is that you are applying to either Duke or UNC.

Hemingway App - This app can help you simplify and clarify your writing, ensuring your college essays are clear and impactful. It has a very easy-to-use interface but also has quality feedback.

NACAC’s College Admissions Decoded Podcast (Apple Music, Spotify) - NACAC, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, runs this podcast to help break down the facts, myths, and rules of engagement for today’s college landscape.

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
Brown University

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: Providence, RI
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 7,639
📊 Acceptance Rate: 5.1%
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1530/35
💸 Tuition: $65,146
📅 Admission Options: November 1 (Early Decision), January 3 (Regular Decision)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Public Health (#2), Computer Science (#9) , Biology (#13) (Niche)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Computer Science (15%), Quantitative Economics (13%), Applied Mathematics (10%) (US News)

Brown University is one of the Ivy League’s most unique institutions, famous for its emphasis on student autonomy and interdisciplinary learning. If you’re someone who wants to chart your own academic path, Brown might be the perfect fit.

Pros:

🎨 Open Curriculum: One of Brown’s hallmark features is the open curriculum. There are no required core classes, meaning students are free to design their own education, taking courses that genuinely interest them. Whether you want to mix art and neuroscience or pursue an entirely self-designed major, the flexibility here is unmatched! This makes Brown a great place for academic explorers. Learn more about Brown’s open curriculum.

🔍 Personalized Concentrations: If none of the existing majors fully fit your vision, you can create your own! Brown allows students to craft individualized concentrations, ensuring they get the most out of their learning experience. For example, a combination of philosophy and computer science or global health and media studies can be entirely possible. Check out the process for creating your own concentration.

🗣️ Pass/Fail Grading Option: Brown offers a unique grading option: students can take classes on a Satisfactory/No Credit basis. This system allows them to explore more challenging or unfamiliar subjects without fear of damaging their GPA. More on Brown’s grading policies.

Cons:

💸 Financial Aid Gaps: While Brown does offer financial aid, it may not meet the full financial needs of all students. Their aid packages might not be as competitive as other Ivies, leaving some students with unmet financial needs. Read more about Brown’s financial aid.

📈 Highly Competitive Admissions: Brown’s admissions process is among the most competitive in the country, with acceptance rates hovering around 6%. The open curriculum and personalized approach make it a magnet for ambitious, high-achieving students, so standing out in the applicant pool can be tough. Visit Brown’s admissions page.

ADMISSIONS BLUEPRINT
Your Guide to CSUs

What are CSUs? 🤔

California State Universities (CSUs) are a system of 23 public universities across California that offer affordable, high-quality education. Known for practical, hands-on learning, CSUs prepare students for careers or further education. Some notable campuses include San Diego State University, Cal Poly SLO, and CSU Long Beach.

What to Expect at a CSU 🎒

  1. Affordability: CSUs are more budget-friendly than UCs or private schools.

  2. Diverse Campuses: Campuses range from large and urban to smaller, community-focused settings.

  3. Hands-On Learning: Many programs emphasize internships and real-world experience.

How CSU Admissions Work 📋

  1. Eligibility: Applicants need to meet the A-G course requirements (details here).

  2. GPA: A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for residents (3.0 for non-residents). Competitive campuses may have higher requirements.

  3. Test-Optional: CSUs are test-optional, though submitting SAT/ACT scores can strengthen your application.

  4. Application: Apply through Cal State Apply by November 30.

Impacted Majors and Campuses 🚩

Impacted majors and campuses have more applicants than available spots. For example, San Diego State and Cal Poly SLO are highly impacted. Popular majors like nursing, computer science, and engineering often require higher GPAs. More info on impacted programs is available here.

What’s Next? 📅

In the coming weeks, we’ll spotlight individual CSUs in our School of the Day section. Stay tuned for in-depth insights on what makes each campus unique!

ESSAY OF THE WEEK
UC PIQ #1

In this week’s Essay of the Week, we looked at UC PIQ #1, Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

CAPITALISM CAUSES EXTINCTION! NUCLEAR WAR IS IMMINENT!”

Initially, debate seemed nonsensical: lambasting opponents while arguing improbable scenarios. But over time I’ve learned that it’s more than competition that drives me to stay up all night looking for evidence: I love learning about the political and ideological underpinnings of our society and the way they shape us.

On an easy debate tournament weekend, I research foreign diplomatic agendas and synthesize the information into coherent debate evidence. When tournaments become more hectic, however, I delve deeper into the works of philosophers and social critics and translate the knowledge into debate argumentation. While researching foreign policy, critical theory like Heideggerian phenomenology and constitutional details, I’ve developed an ability to critically analyze argumentation, make sense of the world around me and creatively express myself in an academic setting.

My hard work has paid off. In the past four tournaments, I’ve received a Top 10 speaker award for the varsity division consisting of about 50 debaters. This trend has increased my credibility in my debate league to such a level that my partner and I were invited to participate in a series of public debates at LA City Hall to defend the water policy for the drought. The opportunity allowed me to actually impact the public’s awareness and accept a larger responsibility in the workings of my community.

More importantly, however, debate has taught me to strategically choose my battles. When I prepare my arguments, I know that I can’t use all of them in the end of a round. I have to focus. I’ve learned to maximize my strengths and not try to conquer everything. Moreover, I’ve learned to be responsible with my choices. A wrong argument can mean losing if we can’t defend well. Not only do I now know how to zoom in from a bigger picture, but I also know how to pick the right place to zoom in to so I can achieve my goal.

Debate has turned me into an responsible optimizing, scrutinizing and strategizing orator.

This essay did a great job of showing and not just telling. The author is able to share some broad values all throughout and make wider conclusions in the final paragraph while also giving specifics about her experience in debate. Being able to show don’t tell is something that the UC’s are especially looking for in their PIQs. This is a great example from which you can learn to not overdo your essays, and instead focus on just getting across who you are.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
ACT this Saturday!

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!

September ACT: Saturday, September 14
University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline: October 15
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

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

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
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