Eye on the Storm: The Official Undergraduate Admissions Blog of the National Leader in Experiential, Hands-on Learning

As prospective and incoming students, you’ve all heard it before – college is different from high school.

I’ve heard it as well. I saw several PowerPoints, read several online lists/blogs (just because I was a nerd and way more exited about college than I should have been), and I even received handouts regarding the issue. But seriously, of course college is different from high school. It’s a whole new world.

But these resources only outlined the academic differences. And all of these differences made college seem so intimidating. As an avid learner, I felt that I could handle those challenges, and I have handled them so far. But what about stuff other than academics?

Yes, college life. You’ve seen it everywhere from John Belushi in Animal House to the hit TV series Greek. Fortunately, there are a lot of (good) things that make college life different from high school that only first hand experience can really let you in on.

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College. With that one word images come to mind of books (expensive ones). Exams. Papers. Long, late-night study sessions. Group projects. Research. Scholars. Academics.

This image is so true on one level, but it does not evenly represent all their is to college. Especially as an incoming student, you may be wondering, “How can I not put on those so-called ‘freshmen 15′? Oh please, let not my belly be tempted; let the powers that be have mercy!” Or you might be a student interested in athletics. Whatever your interest in fitness, Keuka College has a variety of options to satisfy all your needs (and yes, you can eat that ice cream without packing on the pounds)!

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As an incoming freshman or transfer student, or someone thinking about coming to Keuka, you must have heard the term “Field Period.” No doubt, it is one of the most unique opportunities at Keuka College.

But what does it mean? How does it work? Surely, you must have seen some examples of previous field periods. Some take place locally, such as in nearby school districts, and others take place in more exotic locations, such as Costa Rica. As far as the Field Period goes, there is a wealth of information on campus and online concerning the program’s benefits, past experiences, how to set one up, and how to make the most of it; however, this valuable information is somewhat scattered. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to consolidate this information into a simple outline that will be understandable to people who are yet unfamiliar, or still becoming acquainted with the whole Keuka College culture. Read the rest of this entry »

I was more than thrilled to step back onto campus after a long summer of work and little play. I couldn’t wait to mingle with friends and walk down the Point Neamo, watching as leaves turned from green to gold.  Yet, like many other students, I was not fully prepared to jump back into the swing of things – AKA academics.

I have heard from many students that the past month has been one of the toughest academically. Of course, we hear this year after year and semester after semester. However, I personally have never experienced such a tough beginning to a semester. From classwork to organizing club functions – the past month has been a whirlwind of absolute craziness.

So, what do we do when we don’t have enough time to breathe in between classes?  How can we find enough time to sit back and read a book or watch a good movie?  The truth is – we are at school for a reason and academics do come first. Yet, if we jump ahead of the workload and get as much done as possible, we will find time to socialize and relax.

Here are some things that have helped me become more organized during the past month:

HOMEWORK HANGER. Make a board out of cardboard or paper that has all of your classes and clubs listed on it in boxes.  Use post-its and put assignments on them, placing them in the sections desired.  Make sure this is above your desk or somewhere you see often so that when the homework is finished, you can rip off the post-it contently.

USE A PLANNER.  Many people start off the school year with a planner, but the sensation usually fizzles away within a month or so in. Keep the planner with you at all times and use bright colors or highlighters to grab your attention when you open it.

AN HOUR FOR YOU. This is an aspect of becoming less stressed that many push to the side.  We all need time for us, but how come we don’t always do just that?  For just one hour out of the day or week, put all the books and homework away and watch a movie, support a KC team or relax by the lake.  Take a moment to breathe and focus on yourself.  This is by far the most difficult issue to deal with, but it is one that will help in the long run.

With the changing of the leaves, the Fall Semester at Keuka College has brought plenty of new and exciting faces. Aside from the largest freshmen class to date, a number of new faculty members have brought their talents to Keuka. Professor Amanda Harris left the Organizational Communication department at the end of last semester with some big shoes to fill, but Mr. Robert Berkman, who was selected as the worthiest candidate last semester after a rigorous selection process that involved communication students and faculty, will by no means find too much wiggle-room in those shoes.

Mr. Berkman, who previously taught for fifteen years as on online educator for the New School in Greenwich Village, NYC, brings with him not only experience as a professor, but plenty of knowledge from the field. Aside from working as an editor and starting up many publications, he has also published several books, two of which are titled Find it Fast and Digital Dilemmas. When asked what the most exciting part about his field of expertise was, he said that the field of communications and publishing was exciting because of all the new media.

“The way we communicate and share knowledge has big implications to how we work in the world,” he explained. “The field is always changing and growing, and it’s exciting to be a part of those changes.”

He hopes to bring a focus to emerging media as a platform for publishing and communication to his classes so that students can take advantage of the opportunities that these changes present and help shape the way the field is changing. To capture the truth of these sentiments, Berkman related a quote by Management Guru, Peter Drucker: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Aside from the huge asset Mr. Berkman is to the communications department, and the college, there are many ways in which his time at Keuka will help him grow. Already, he has expressed his delight in being able to work with such creative students, particularly in his Desktop Publishing class. Professionally, he hopes to develop as an educator by learning what it is like to be a college student in the early 21st century. He believes that this will allow him to be more sympathetic and empathetic when dealing with his students, and he hopes that he will be in a better position to help students’ writing more capable of dealing with technical and social problems that the millennial age presents.

Stepping aside from his credentials and professional outlook, Mr. Berkman, as a a member of the Keuka College community fits right in. His favorite location on campus is the deck above the boathouse. He loves it so much that he held his Media Writing class there one afternoon. He also loves the small community feel of the campus. “It’s so easy to get around. Everything is close-by,” he said, “[and] I was delighted that my office had a window.” Not only does he fit well into physical campus, but he also brings with him a spirit of fun. When asked what one of his most memorable moments from his college years were, he fondly recalled that, on the last day of his management class, his presentation focused on a fictional beer brewery. “This was back when the drinking age was 18 and up,” he explained. After his presentation, he invited all his peers and professors out on the lawn for a keg. It was a big enough event to land him a spot on the front page of his school’s news publication.

Altogether, there is a lot that we can look forward to from one of the newest additions to Keuka College’s excellent faculty. Of all the hats Mr. Berkman wears, his role as a faculty member and adviser is probably the most important. He is a resource, like all faculty, for his students. “Take advantage of your adviser. Talk to your teachers as much as you can. Never be afraid to ask questions in class -it’s how you learn,” he recommended. But the most important piece of advice? “Don’t get so stressed out that you don’t enjoy yourself; take time to have a good time.” As members of the Keuka College community, we can all look forward to some very good times in and out of the classroom.

Congratulations seniors on your graduation! The admissions staff wishes you a fun and relaxing summer!

Before you know it, August will be here, and that means packing to move to campus. We get lots of student questions about what to pack this time of year, so here is a list of suggestions for things to bring, and not to bring, for your dorm room. Don’t forget to talk to your roommate about what you are bringing, and what things you agree on that you can share!

Do Bring

• Notebooks
• Bedding, Pillow
• Throw rug
• Telephone
• Stereo/radio
• Snack food
• Small refrigerator
• Power strips with surge protectors
• Stapler
• Window fan
• Pictures
• Memo board
• Cable ready TV
• Backpack
• Desk lamp
• Wastebasket
• Laundry detergent
• Dishes/utensils
• Posters
• First aid supplies
• Shower caddy
• Plants
• Computer
• Pens/pencils/highlighters
• Alarm clock
• Clothes hangers
• Toiletries
• Towels/wash clothes
• Iron/ironing board
• Shower shoes/flip flops
• Small microwave
• Pots/pans

Do Not Bring

• Candles
• Halogen lamps
• Incense
• Holiday lights
• Answering machines
• Space heaters
• Hot plates
• Toaster over/toaster
• Air conditioners
• Coffee pots (except those with automatic shut off)
• Pets (except fish in a task of 20 gallons or less)
• Extension cords

Any questions? Contact your admissions counselor.

I can speak for everyone in the admissions office that we are all looking forward to the summer weather! A little sunshine and warmer temperatures will do us all good.

We are excited to announce our summer visit days as July 9th, 21st,and 26th.

Although you may visit any day during the summer, these summer visit days are a lot of fun, and include a campus tours, interviews with admissions counselors, and financial aid informational sessions. We’ll also be serving up lunch right on Point Neamo (our private beach front area) for all guests. Our very own dean of admissions and marketing, Fred Hoyle, will be grilling up hot dogs and hamburgers, and as you can see, summer is a great time to visit Keuka College and enjoy all that our lakeside location has to offer!

To schedule your visit, please call 800-33-KEUKA. We look forward to seeing you this spring or summer!

7:15 AM: Wake up, get showered, get ready, pack my stuff for class.
8:30 AM: Head on down to the cafeteria (a.k.a. the Geiser) for some breakfast.
9:05 AM: Computer Applications Class.
10:00 AM: Work on computer lab assignments and organize materials for Public Speaking speech outline on Dream Interpretation.
11:55 AM: Stop in at the Geiser again, grab a tuna wrap for lunch and a grilled cheese sandwich for Devin.
12:20 PM: Wellness Class.
1:15 PM: College English II.
2:30 PM: Punch in at the Office of Communications for my Work Study.
3:55 PM: Run up to “The Barn” (the campus center for theater arts) for rehearsal (reading for Book of Days), realize that I forgot to punch out, run back to Communications Office, punch out, run back to the Barn.
4:10 PM: Arrive late, but jump right in.
6:30 PM: Head on down to chorale after rehearsal with Matt and Johnn.
7:15 PM: Senate meeting.
8:00 PM: Peace Club meeting.
8:45 PM: Back at the room, eating Pizza Hut leftovers, finishing my speech outline and reading chapter 7 of Communication Mosaics.
2:30 AM: Bed. =]

Ok, when you look at this outrageous schedule, you may be shaking your head and laughing. “That’s nuts,” you might say.

Well, that’s about right. That was probably the most hectic day I have ever had here at college. Any gap I did have was spent working on my outline for my Public Speaking class. Sunday night, I winced at the thought of what I would have to do the next day. Two days later, I just smile and think to myself, “I did it. I got through it.”

“Ok,” you must be thinking, “so there must be some point to all of this. Well, what could it possibly be? That college is a frenzied, crazy hassle which leaves you no time to yourself? If I had to do that, I couldn’t even think straight!”

Trust me, I couldn’t think straight either—I have an agenda for that.

However, the real point of me telling you this is that, while college is at times a frenzied, crazy hassle, and it may seem as if you have no time for yourself, college can be the other extreme. You may have days, most likely weekends if you don’t go home, where you can sleep in (or if you don’t have morning classes), play on Facebook, read a good book, go to a CAB (Campus Activities Board) event, maybe think about writing that paper due next week … watch a movie with your buddies on the first floor, and maybe go out and grab a bite in town.

Now, in either of these two extremes, there comes a vital lesson, and that is this: College isn’t all about being busy with studies, classes, meetings, clubs, and work studies till you want to tear your hair out, and it isn’t all about partying it up and never getting anything accomplished. Instead, college is a fine balance of many things that will, over time, help you grow and develop into the professional you want to someday be.

This statement may not always seem true. Some days, as you have already seen, can be extremely unbalanced. But the beautiful thing about college? You can choose for yourself just how hectic or laid-back your schedule will be. College is what you make of it. That’s the exciting thing—you can tailor your typical day in the life to fit your own personal interests, goals, and needs. You can make it work.

Sometimes, however, this may be a bit overwhelming. There are always so many exciting things to be involved with and do (despite what some people may tell you). Do you enjoy being the “clown?” Do you want to exercise more? Do you want to share your love of art? Do you want to be involved with other people inside your major? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, there’s a club for you on campus. If there are other interests of yours, there are over 30 clubs on campus, and more are added each year. Don’t see what you’re looking for? It’s very easy to start your own.

Do you want to get a job working as a lifeguard on campus? Do you want to share your love of Keuka College and be a student ambassador? Do you want to work in an office setting related to your field of interest (Campus Security, Campus Life, G.S.U., a.k.a. Gay Straight Union, International Affairs, or the Women’s Center)? Do you want to work at the library? Do you want to work at the Terrace (Keuka’s mini-mart, grill, Subway, a fly place to go on campus) and get free food from the grill? Again, you are presented with a laundry load of possibilities. (Keuka’s online job board, Storm Tracker, is excellent for making connections and finding work-study jobs. Many students on campus are employed at some sort of work-study.)

And then of course, are your classes. The best part is that your faculty adviser is an excellent resource for planning out what classes you will need to take and when you will need to take them, no matter if you just have one major, or two. And when you attend your classes? Chances are, you’ll know at least two, if not three people or more right off the bat! Yes, they are nice and small, so, no you won’t feel like just a number, and yes, you can get more individual attention from your professor.

As for my personal choice of classes, work-studies, and clubs, it all comes down to what I want to do with my future career, what I enjoy doing, and what I can do. I can’t do it all, so I have to trim off what I can’t fit. But I can do most of what I want. I can still sing in chorale, lifeguard on Tuesdays and Thursdays and work at the Communications Office on Mondays and Wednesdays. I can still be involved in Peace Club, Drama Club, and Art Club, while keeping up on my coursework. I even ended up wanting to switch my major, and luckily, I had the flexibility to do that without adding an extra semester of study (I was able to make my decision that my organizational communication major wasn’t the best fit for me my freshman year, thanks to my Field Period).

And you know what? I can find the balance. Yeah, I still have room to improve. But I can do all this, and I still have time to pop by my buddy’s room and have a nice chat. I still have time to waste time with my roommate, watching funny cat videos on Youtube. I still have time to watch a movie on a weekend, go home to see my boyfriend, do a community service project with a club, or just relax. Sleep longer, finally finish that book, make some mac and cheese, or see a campus entertainer (I did a couple of weekends ago, a hypnotist came, and I got to be hypnotized, along with about 14 other people).

To close my exciting, possibly daunting, and endless-possibility filled description of “A Day in the Life” at Keuka College, I would like to tell you that all of these possibilities can be yours. This is your time to step outside of your box, try something new, learn how to time-manage effectively, and make some of the best memories of your life. You may trip a little along the way, but you can always get right back up and think, “It’s ok. Tomorrow’s a new and brighter day, and the possibilities are endless…”

Peace and Love,

Erica

So Experiential Learning really works!! I landed myself a job at Hillbrook Detention Center where I completed my semester long internship.  This is a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.  I know most of you seniors are getting, “What are you doing after high school.”  Well I was getting “What are you doing after college.”  I can now say I am working for Hillbrook Detention Center as a Detention Home Aide. 

Keuka has really helped me gear up for what happens next in my life.  I went to the Center for Experiential Learning and they helped me with revamping my resume.   Keuka also helped me by pushing me do get out into my field of study and complete internships.  As a criminal justice student, I completed 4 Field Periods and one semester long internship.  I have a ton of experience which has prepared me for the “real world.” 

In 52  days I say goodbye to Keuka College.  I am really grateful I picked this college.   I have learned so much and will never forget my time at here at Keuka.

It’s spring break this week for students at Keuka College, and for many of you high school students out there, your spring breaks are coming up in the next several weeks. Spring break is a great chance for you to catch up on sleep, have fun with your friends, and relax, but it’s also the perfect time to take advantage of having some free time during the week to visit colleges.

You’ve probably been hearing this from your school counselor, your parents, your friend’s parents, your teachers, and now ME, but the truth is, the spring and summer before your senior year is a great time to start your college road trip. We invite you to come visit Keuka College over your spring break.

Come with a parent or grab a buddy from school, and participate in a campus tour, info session with a financial aid counselor, and interview with your admissions counselor. If you’d like to sit in on a college class, meet with a professor or perhaps a coach, let us know and we will try to accommodate your special requests. And- one added perk- we’ll give you an application fee waiver for visiting! This will come in handy next fall as application fees start to add up. Coming to campus for a visit is absolutely the best way for you to figure out if Keuka is the right college for you to pursue your college education at!

To schedule your visit during spring break, please call the Admissions Office at 800-33-KEUKA.