Bottom Line

Hey, my name is Risa and I’m a college counselor with Bottom Line in New York.  Back in September I had my first trip to Buffalo. The rumors are true: it is really close to Canada! It’s also dark at night and has exceptional wings.

 Just like all Bottom Line college counselors, I visit my college students on campus monthly to meet with them one-on-one. Sometimes we problem solve (think “I don’t have my books!” or “My bill is incorrect!”), sometimes we prepare for the future (think “What classes should I take?” or “Can you help me edit my resume?”), and sometimes I’m just a familiar face from home with a handful of Jolly Ranchers, ready to listen.

 This year, I have the privilege of working with students from New York City College of Technology and Buffalo State College. After my first month of campus visits, I’d like to share some things my students have learned (and I agree with!) about transitioning to college.

 Five Ways to be Successful in College

 1. Get involved. Living in a 10′ x 10′ room with a total stranger is not easy and no one expects it to be! Join a club, volunteer, and attend activities on your floor or campus. Drag friends or roommates with you before you feel comfortable going alone (and then go with them to the clubs they are interested in). Becoming active on campus isn’t only a great way to make new friends, but it also helps many students feel like they’re part of the campus community (especially for commuters), and it helps with homesickness.

 2. Meet your professors outside of class. There’s a reason professors put their office hours on their syllabi: they want you to go to them! Lots of professors spend their entire lives studying what they’re teaching you in class and would love to answer your questions or chat about a subject you’re excited about. Hey, it doesn’t hurt for the professor to know your name (in a good way) when final grades come out.

 3. Try new things. What’s the worst that can happen? For many students, college is a time for reinvention. So what if you weren’t the type of student to participate in class in high school? Who cares if you never imagined yourself taking a dance class? Try it – you never know what may come of it if you don’t give it a shot.

 4. Start a study group. Or join one that someone else in your class created. Not only can you better understand the material if you’re reviewing it with classmates, but it’s a great way to make friends. And, teaching someone else something you already know is a great way to study for exams!

 5. Share your culture. Being away from home (physically or emotionally) can be tough. Some students who leave the city for college find a surprising lack of diversity in their new homes. Some students who graduated from small high schools and commute to college are suddenly a small fish in the proverbial big pond of NYC. Sharing parts of your home life with your college friends can help ease the transition. Have your new friends never seen a plantain? Cook it for them. Have they never heard about the Labor Day Parade? Show them pictures. Interested in vegan food and urban farming? There’s probably someone else at your school who is too! Use the opportunity to learn from others and teach others about yourself.

Each month we will be profiling a new Bottom Line alumnus/a.  Meet Soane Mertelus!

Soane Mertelus works at State Street Bank as a Custody Specialist Associate.  She attended English High School and then Salem State University where she worked with her Bottom Line counselor, Amy.  While at Salem State, Soane worked extensively with the residential life office where she developed many events for undergraduates!  She majored in International Business and is considering attending grad school in the future.

High School: English High School

College: Salem State University  Graduation Year: 2011

Job: Custody Specialist Associate at State Street Corporation Bank

If I could send a care package, I’d fill it with: chips, popcorn, a Bottom Line sweater, movie tickets, soup and a “You Can Do It” card.

Why I stay involved with Bottom Line: I love Bottom Line.  They did everything for me.  I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have Bottom Line in my corner.  Throughout my years in college Bottom Line made sure I was on the right track with my classes and financial aid- my mom and dad had no clue how I made it through.  I want to give thanks to Bottom Line because they were there to support me and make me feel like I can do it.  I will do my best to support Bottom Line!

People would be surprised to learn that I used to: be a cheerleader at English High School, eat ketchup for breakfast, dance during the Celtics basketball games with my crew from middle school and constantly eat Snicker’s bars!

The BEST part of being a college graduate is:  That I DID graduate.  I have new friends and had a great time and now I have a degree.  Next stop, grad school! Thanks to Bottom Line I feel like I can go on and on without fear of being a failure.

The HARDEST part about being a college graduate is: Looking for jobs and finally being in the real world that mom and dad talked about!

Want to share a memory or say hi to Soane?  Write a comment on this blog post!

Want to be profiled in next month’s Alumni newsletter and on the blog? Email Jen at JScherck@bottomline.org

Since the start of the school year, our Success Counselors have traveled to 20 campuses across Massachusetts to meet one-on-one with all of our 1,300 students. Liz Hood, a second-year Success Counselor, reflects on a busy month of the school year…

In the month of September, I had ninety-one campus meetings and traveled a total of four hundred and thirty-two miles to visit students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Boston College and Wentworth Institute of Technology. Despite that seemingly never-ending stretch of I-90 between Worcester and the exit off to Amherst (I went to Smith College and the Pioneer Valley will always hold a place in my heart) one of the things that I enjoy the most about being a Bottom Line Success Counselor is the ability to support students on campus and in person. A standard meeting that takes place in September is the first year check in meeting. This forty-five minute meeting addresses issues related to academics, campus life, financial aid and anything else that may arise.

Last month, I met with all of my first year students on their own campuses.  By being on campus I am able to more effectively connect students to the resources that are available to them and encourage them to advocate for themselves. First year students are often times intimidated by the idea of asking for help. The other day I met with a student who had an unresolved issue with her bill and she did not know where to go or what to ask.  We discussed her bill issue and acted out the conversation in a quick role-play, and I walked over with her to the bursar’s office.  She was able to resolve the issue on the spot. Another student I met with was struggling in Chemistry class, but did not know where to go for extra help.  We went to the tutoring center together and he signed up to meet with a tutor once a week.

I really enjoy working with first year students; I get to watch as students see the world opening up to them.  There is so much optimism and excitement as they begin to figure out who they want to be and what they want to do. I strongly believe that campus visits play an integral role in strengthening counselor-student relationships and demonstrate to students that Bottom Line is really invested in their success and wants to see them excel.

Liz Hood

Bottom Line Success Counselor

As Bottom Line starts its new school year, we have a larger staff that is larger than ever! Here in Boston we have hired 11 new full-time members of the program staff, allowing us to expand our Success and Career programs while continuing to serve our 500 high school seniors. Bottom Line carried out an intensive 8-week training process this summer to prepare new staff to help our students overcome challenges getting into college, staying on track to graduate, and finding a job upon graduation.

 Throughout this time, new staff got overviews on programs and history specific to Bottom Line as well as background information on student demographics, the high schools and colleges that we work with and much more. New counselors also get trained to meet with their students by watching meetings conducted by experienced counselors, by doing “mock meetings” amongst each other, by conducting their own student meetings with assistance from an experienced counselor and then by holding meetings with their students they felt prepared enough to do so. We call this the “apprenticeship model” and while it takes a long time, it is very thorough.  As a result our staff is fully prepared to help our students overcome any challenges or issues that arise.

 As a busy season full of visiting college campuses, filling out common applications and writing essays kicks into gear, our new staff is enthusiastic and ready to take on all the challenges that come their way! For me, this is the best time of year because I can see all the hard work done over the summer leads to strong results we are able to achieve with our students.

– Miriam Rubin

Dear Friends and Supporters of Bottom Line,

Each month we will be profiling a new Bottom Line alumni.  Meet Hung Le, on his way to become a physical therapist!

          Hung Le is currently a graduate student at MGH Institute of Health Professions (Class of 2014) and has his B.S. In Exercise Physiology at UMass Lowell. His goal is to work as a Physical Therapist after graduation. He originally came from Vietnam when he was fifteen and has been in America for 10 years.  He enjoys playing many sports. However, he enjoys playing soccer the most. His plan is to finish his education and stay close to his friends and family in Boston.

High School: Madison Park

College: UMass Lowell

Graduation Year: 2011

Job: Physical Therapy School at MGH

Bottom Line Memory: My counselor Miguel used to come and visit me at my dorm- I remember having to run around and get rid of all my clothes and dishes just so he’d have a place to sit!

If I could send a care package, I’d fill it with: Coffee mugs and lots of candy!

Why I stay involved with Bottom Line: Miguel and Bottom Line have supported me to continue my education and I want to give back. I went to UMass Amherst for 1.5 years and decided to transfer-  I wanted to my closer to my family and UMass Lowell had my major-  Miguel supported me through all of it.  I’m participating in the 2012 Rodman Ride for Kids and fundraising for Bottom Line. I enjoy biking, but I haven’t done it a lot.  I’d really like to volunteer at other events.

 People would be surprised to learn that I used to: be very very shy and quiet during high school.  I didn’t think I’d survive in college!

The BEST part of being a college graduate is:  Moving on after college and looking to continue my education.

The HARDEST part about being a college graduate is: I have so many responsibilities now.  With my career, for example.  I’ve had to really develop critical thinking and time management skills.  Bottom Line really helped me to be successful throughout the years. 

Support Hung Le and Bottom Line in the Rodman Ride for Kids. Donate to Hung’s page here>>

 Want to share a memory or say hi to Hung Le?  Write a comment on this blog post!

Want to be profiled in next month’s Alumni newsletter and on the blog? Email Jen at JScherck@bottomline.org

On August 14 and 15, hundreds of students in Bottom Line’s Success Program celebrated the beginning of their college careers at Success Send-Off events in Worcester and Boston. On the 14th, 75 Worcester students gathered at Hanover Insurance’s national headquarters to get to know their new college classmates and participate in team-building exercises. On the 15th, over 200 Boston students converged on Hill Holiday’s high-rise offices for a night of celebration and reflection.

Two future Framinham State Alumnae

At the Boston Send-Off, Robert Lewis, Jr., Vice President for Program with The Boston Foundation, gave a rousing speech encouraging students to live up their potential and to work with their Success Counselors.

“Knowing that you have someone from Bottom Line here, knowing that you’re coming here with other great students that are your support network…the shot you have to succeed is great,” said Mr. Lewis.

At the Worcester Send-Off, Yuisa Peréz Chionchio, Advanced Placement Coordinator for Worcester Public Schools and member of Bottom Line Worcester’s Advisory Board, stressed how college can help students become America’s future leaders.

Students left the Send-Offs energized and hopeful. And, when they need support, as Mr. Lewis reminded students, “Bottom Line is only a phone call away.”

See video of Robert Lewis’ speech>>

See video of Yuisa Perez Chionchio’s speech>>

Students who plan to attend one of 20 popular Massachusetts colleges are invited to join our Success program and participate in summer transition programming. This June and July, several hundred students attended 7 training camps in Boston and Worcester. Rising freshmen participated in teambuilding activities and learned useful college survival skills like planning their course-load, navigating a syllabus and engaging in college classes.

Students appreciated learning insider knowledge from counselors. An incoming Boston University student remarked, “I learned that financial aid isn’t always provided for summer classes.” After completing the time-management workshop, a student noted, “[in college], opportunities are constantly thrown at you and it’s better to plan your schedule ahead of time.” Most importantly, students left prepared to tackle their first few days of classes with confidence: “There are so many resources on campus!”

What college survival skills do you wish you had as a first-year college student?

For Class of 2012 high school seniors, the past month has been full of college decisions. After months of hard work and waiting, students finally get to survey their options and choose a college that suits them. At Bottom Line, we spend a lot of time talking about “finding a fit” – meaning a college that meets a student’s academic, financial, career, and personal needs. Affordability is an integral part of this discussion. By enrolling in a college that meets their financial needs, a student can complete a degree without accumulating an excessive amount of debt. In many cases, Bottom Line advises students to enroll in full-need schools, such as College of the Holy Cross and Tufts University, or state schools, such as UMass Boston and Worcester State University, which have a low cost of attendance.

Ariana Campos of University Park Campus School in Worcester (below) is just one student who, we are proud to say, has found her fit! After getting accepted to all 9 of the schools she applied to, and after looking over her award letters with Bottom Line, she was glad to find out that she can graduate debt-free from Harvard University. We are excited to help all 785 seniors from Massachusetts and New York choose a school in the coming weeks.