Clark Atlanta University!!

“When we as parents or teachers try to give you [students] guidance, you feel like we don’t want you to live your lives. That’s not it- we want you to be better than us!”

These were the words we walked in on by Clark Atlanta University’s Senior Admissions Counselor, Mr. Robin Reid. This pre-tour welcome was exactly what the students needed to be motivated to properly prepare for college. Mr. Reid was truly captivating as he told us about CAU and its 4 colleges: Arts and Sciences, Education, Business, and Social Work; Arts and Sciences being the largest. Clark Atlanta is an NCAA Division 2 school and is a part of the SIAC Conference. The university has over 80 clubs and organizations, all of the Divine 9 organizations and excellent marching band, and is located very close to Spellman and Morehouse Colleges. Although Clark Atlanta is a private school, it is one of the least expensive private schools in the nation. Also, Clark Atlanta University is the most filmed university in the nation, having been featured in Stomp the Yard, Stomp the Yard 2, Drumline, and School Daze!

CAU FACT CARD

• Established on July 1, 1988 by the consolidation of Atlanta University, founded in 1865 and Clark College, founded in 1869. CAU is a Private, Doctoral/Research-Intensive Institution with a comprehensive curriculum.
• The student to faculty ratio: 17:1, 47% of students live in one of seven residence halls
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Georgia Department of Education; University Senate of the United Methodist Church
• Enrollment: 3,800 plus students at the undergraduate and graduate levels from 44 States and 10 Foreign Countries
• School Colors: Red, Black, and Gray
• School Mascot: Panther
• Atlanta Attractions: Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Martine Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center, Zoo Atlanta and Fernbank Museum of Natural History
• General Requirements: 4 units of English, 3 units of Mathematics, 2 units of Natural Science, 2 units of Foreign Language, 3 units of Social Science, 3 units of Electives
• Undergraduate Admission Criteria (for freshmen)
• GPA: 2.5 on 4.0 scale
• Test scores: 900 SAT (Math and Verbal only); 19 ACT
• Scholarship Deadline: February 1
• Priority Application Deadline: March 1

Mr. Reid had the following key points of advice for our students:

• Stay focused
• Surround yourself with positive people
• Stop blaming others for your shortcomings

Mr. Reid concluded his welcome with a few choice statements that were sure to have a lasting mark on many of our students.

“Your opportunities are greater than the ones [your parents] had… take advantage of them!”

“Pick. Your college. Wisely.”

“Learn where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going.”

“Education is fun! It’s in the way you look at it!”

“Stop crippling one another.”

“Here at Clark Atlanta, we do more than just educate. We prepare you with a global experience.”

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I Have Never Let My Schooling Interfere with My Education!

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education”

-Mark Twain

 

Florida State University!!

At first glance, the Florida State University campus is jaw dropping and stunningly beautiful! The students oooh-ed and ahhh-ed as our bus made its way to the university’s Visitor Center– the rest of the campus definitely held up to the first impression. Since we were early for our tour we decided to do some shopping and looking around in the Seminole Sports Shop. A few of us couldn’t resist the fun and inviting FSU pride paraphernalia! Take a look at the pictures to see!

Our tour began at the football stadium which seats about 83,000 fans! Our executive director as well as a couple of students were in awe of the idea of actually being able to sit in a stadium that you’re used to seeing on television all the time, and to be so close to the field at that! As our tour guide briefly commented on the neighboring academic buildings, the tour students diligently took notes and asked questions.

As we continued on our tour we passed by the Tully Gym (mostly used by the women’s volleyball team), the FSU bookstore (located underneath one of the campuses 5 garages), the FSU Circus tents (used for the university’s student-run, student-staffed circus), as well as other buildings and structures on campus.

As we sat around the Traditions Statue (a statue depicting the university’s first African-American to wear an FSU athletic uniform, first African-American Homecoming Princess, and first African-American undergraduate student admitted to the university), the students asked their final questions and began to prepare for our long ride to Atlanta, Georgia. A few students expressed new interest in Florida State and even more still commented on how much they enjoyed the tour!

After a long day we are off to bed in Atlanta, Georgia! Stay tuned and see what we’re up to tomorrow!

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Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University!!

Day 2 started off with a pleasant surprise! The students came down truly dressed to impress and we have the pictures to prove it! After a quick breakfast at the Comfort Inn, we were on our way to visit the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (also known as Florida A&M, Fam-U, or Fam for short).

Our first sight upon arrival at FAMU was their basketball arena where we were introduced to our tour guide and were given a brief history of Florida A&M. FAMU was established in 1887 as the State Normal College for Colored Students. The campus sits on the highest hill in Tallahassee and is the only historically black university in the State University System of Florida.

It quickly sunk in that we weren’t in South Florida anymore as we trekked across FAMU’s campus which involved lots of stairs and lots of hills! We could barely catch our breath after the first flight! The campus was worth the hard walking work, though! We were able to see a remembrance wall of the university’s first 7 presidents, the Rattler’s Den, Greek plots, and more. Here and there the tour students would stop random university students and ask them questions about their personal experiences at FAM.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Florida A&M campus was Carnegie Library. Formerly a plantation owner’s home, sitting on the highest peak of the campus, the library now serves as a collection of unique and original memorabilia, as well as a wealth of knowledge, of rich African-American history. Unfortunately we were unable to take any pictures, but the experience itself was still priceless and much appreciated.

After enjoying lunch with the Rattlers in one of their campus buffets, we loaded the bus and headed right across the way to visit the Florida State University. The tour continues!

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Develop A Passion for Learning. If You Do, You Will Never Cease to Grow!

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”

-Anthony J. D’Angelo

 

University of Florida!!

Our second stop of the day was in Gainesville, Florida to visit the University of Florida, home of the Gators, founded in 1853. A very special thank you goes out to Rosanna, president of the RCP Movement (Respect Yourself, Check Yourself, Protect Yourself– an HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention organization) who so graciously took the time out of her day to give us a great, enthusiastic, and personal tour of her beloved campus! The students were quite intrigued and inquisitive in regards to the University of Florida and what the institution has to offer, never tiring of asking questions. A few students even took the initiative to stop random passersby and actually interview these students asking them about their perspective of the school! It was truly amazing to see the students so engaged and taking an active interest in furthering their understanding of UF and its campus =)

During the tour, the students were involved in discussions about UF ranging from the school’s 750+ clubs and organizations, to admissions procedures, and from personal freedoms and responsibilties to how many championships the school has under their belt! Overall, the students absolutely enjoyed themselves! Check out the Twitter profile (@YTour2012) to see bonus pictures and read about specific goingson while touring UF!

*UF FACTS*

• The University of Florida encompasses 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers
•  UF admitted 1,551 International Baccalaureate students for the 2008-2009 academic year, more than any other university in the world
• The University of Florida is a member since 1985 of the Association of American Universities, the prestigious higher-education organization comprising the top 63 public and private institutions in North America
• UF is one of only 3 totally comprehensive universities in the US offering virtually all of its academic and research programs on one campus
• In the past four decades, more presidents of the American Bar Association have come from the UF Levin College of Law than any other US law school
• UF partnered with Spain to create the world’s largest telescope in the Canary Islands. UF researchers use the telescope to search for new planets and solar systems
• UF serves 50,000 students and is among the nation’s most academically diverse public universities
• 17 UF faculty members belong to the National Academies of Science and Engineering and the Institute of Medicine
• Hispanic Business named UF’s College of Engineering 5th in the nation for engineering schools for Hispanic students
• UF faculty attracted $574 million in research and training grants in 2008-2009, placing it in the top 20 public institutions nationwide in sponsored research funding
• UF has 331, 500 living alumni in all 50 states and 137 foreign countries
• UF’s 50,000 students come from all 67 Florida counties, all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries
• UF consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in royalty income
• UF placed second on the 2009 Kiplinger Personal Finance “Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges”
• UF’s Florida Museum of Natural History houses the world’s largest butterfly and moth research facility
• The University of Florida is the top-performing public institution at transferring its research to the marketplace, according  to a major study by the prestigious Milken Institute

Take a look at our adventures at the University of Florida!

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University of Central Florida!!

Day 1 of the Lauderhill Community YMCA College Tour 2012 started off well! Students and parents arrived bright and early this morning to embark on a journey that will no doubt make a difference in all of these student’s lives! After checking in and loading the bus, there were a few housekeeping rules to go over and then parents, students, and champions linked together hand in hand in prayer for safe travels and many blessings. Then? Following goodbyes- some teary, some cheery- we were off!

3 and a half hours later we entered the “City Beautiful” Orlando, Florida where lies the 2nd largest university (based on enrollment) that is the University of Central Florida! UCF was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University with colors of Black and Gold and a myriad of mascots before settling on the Knights as the institutions atheletic mascot. Often times you will find the university associated with the popular academic logo– the Pegasus.

Courtesy of UCF’s Progress Energy Welcome Center we started off the campus adventure with a video presentation and a question/answer session followed by a brief campus tour. While walking the beautiful campus of UCF we were able to visit some of the hot spots including the Student Union, John T. Washington Breezeway, Memory Mall, and the vast Recreation and Wellness Center. The University of Central Florida is definitely a sight to see!

Admissions Information

-Application deadlines:

• Fall: May 1st
• Spring: November 1st
• Summer: MArch 1st

-Application Requirements

• Completed application (online or paper)
• $30 application fee
• Composite ACT/SAT scores
• Official high school transcripts
• Counselor’s recommendation letter (suggested but not required)
• Writing sample (suggested but not required)

-How Competitive is UCF?

• UCF’s total enrollment is 58,000 students
• Mid-range GPA: 3.6-4.1
• Mid-range SAT scores: 1180-1310
• Mid-range SAT (with writing) scores: 1730-1920
• Mid-range ACT (composite) scores: 25- 29

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The Whole Purpose of Education is to Turn Mirrors into Windows!

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” 

– Sydney J. Harris

 

Tomorrow is the BIG Day!!!!!

The 2012 YMCA College Tour starts tomorrow!! Parents and students please remember to arrive at the Lauderhill Community YMCA promptly at 5:00AM! We can’t wait to see you! =) 

 

Message from your Executive Director

Message to our Y Students!

Congratulations on making one of the best decisions of your life!  Studies indicate that continuing your educational pursuits beyond high school drastically increases the opportunity for life-long success, and by taking this first step in exploring those opportunities on this tour show that you are committed to your goals.  Understand that not only does attending post secondary education increase your chances at a better financial outlook in the future, but the life lessons gained socially and emotionally will offer higher quality of life experiences.

Lifelong learning is the key to your success, and you’ve proven through your participation and enthusiastic approach to this trip that you are committed to making an investment in yourself.  I trust that you will continue to approach this tour with an open mind to meet new people, have new experiences and explore new interests!  I applaud each of you for your leadership amongst your peers and taking charge of your life to ensure an even greater future for yourself.  Never be satisfied with being average…because you were born to be GREAT! 

 Message to our Y Parents!

The Y of Broward County would like to thank you for trusting us with your most precious gift.  I acknowledge that letting go for a week and allowing a dedicated group of individuals was not an easy decision to make, but we are ecstatic that you have chosen our Y village to aid you in moving your child to the next phase in their adult lives.   

This is only the beginning as it will take a tremendous amount of future support and direction from you, extended friends and family to ensure your child’s continued positive progression.  And although studies may indicate that the rising cost of college attendance makes it unreachable, you will discover that through this process and early exposure puts your family in a prime position to plan ahead financially, academically and emotionally in order to attain your collective goals.  I truly believe that all parents genuinely want their children to succeed, and you have proven that you are willing to go the extra mile and take the necessary steps now to actualize that success.

Message to our Y Champions!

Thank YOU for answering the call!  There are many places you could be and things you could be doing this week, but instead you elected to spend your time making a difference in the lives of young people.  What a wonderful and necessary gesture!

I believe that each of your unique and individual attitudes, talents and views make this group rounded, highly productive and without a doubt, the best assembled champion core I have had the pleasure of working with.  Together we will push each other when we slow down, cheer each other when our spirits are low and lean on one another when we get tired to make sure that we not only “make” it through the week, but more importantly that we demonstrate teamwork and the type of positive attitudes that we seek our young people to develop. 

Today I ordain you as an ASSET BUILDER…..ready to embark upon this five day journey across two states with the tools to lift up, encourage, support, listen to, ask questions of, laugh with, smile at, speak to, expect more, challenge, set boundaries, maintain boundaries, exhibit positive behaviors, be open, value, and empower our young people.  I am counting on you, our parents are counting on you, we are counting on one another, but more importantly our children are counting on US.  Get ready to make a change and be changed…..forever!

Your partner in Youth Development,

Jocelyn A. Boyd, Executive Director

Lauderhill Community YMCA