New College and Career Center

The new College and Career Center (CCC) opened on March 12th. Five T.C. Williams students were chosen to perform the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Adina Bhatti, the president of Project Discovery. After a brief intermission for refreshments, Robert Massa, the vice president of enrollment at Dickinson College, made a speech titled “Selective College Admission Process: What Contributes to Success.”

The CCC was created to provide students with information about standardized testing and preparation, career choices, financial aid and scholarships, colleges and summer opportunities. Open every school day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the CCC will sponsor the College Summit, Career Coach, Building Better Futures, Pathway to Baccalaureate, Project Discovery, LEAP (Latinas Empowered to Achieve Their Potential), and the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria programs. Representatives from colleges will come to the CCC to talk to prospective students throughout the year. Students are encouraged to visit the center before and after school, as well as during lunch. Parents are welcome to visit the CCC by appointment.

Robert Massa’s speech was very similar to the information colleges and college advisors tell students. Massa made several good points, including the fact that the most selective colleges do not neccesarily provide the best education, and that students need to know their learning styles before beginning their college search. It is also important for the students to choose the college best for them, because they are investing four years of their life. (Go to www.learning-styles-online.com to discover your learning style!). He also suggested that students go through university websites and take notes in order to ask interesting questions during campus visits. After applying, Massa suggested students write a letter to the person in charge of their application (the regional representative), which will certainly help them stand out.  The CCC will help students determine important criteria for colleges and guide them through them search toward their school of choice.