For the good of the class, comment the links to college applications below.

Youniversitytv.com offers virtual tours of universities around the country.

Commonapp.org—One application, 390 universities.

In lieu of a final this session, we’ll kick off the college search with a few applications to get you comfortable with the process. Fill out the OU and OSU applications to the best of your ability–we’ll look over them tomorrow and I’ll give you some feedback. Also, bring three other applications from universities of your choice.

In case I don’t say it enough in class:

Visit colleges this summer.

Get a group of your friends (and a parent or two) and hit the road. Integrate college visits into your vacations. Talk to people back from college for the summer. Talk to the people with the job you dream about.¹ The College Visit is a rite of passage; dive in.

Last thing:

I know a number of you signed up for the Senior Visit Day at TU; if you didn’t, there is still time.

1. Honestly, there are many vocations out there that do not require a regular degree. Find someone successful and see how they got there. [↩]

I’m not a big fan of playing the numbers game when it comes to your educations. This game draws attention toward the numerical value of assignments¹ and away from the stuff you want to know. This is why you cannot do extra work to raise your grade, but are welcome to re-work anything (read: master the material and make an improvement). This is why your practice essays are not in the grade book. This is why your multiple choice tests are not in the grade book. In turning your backs on the (potentially) high-anxiety grading system in favor of one that promotes self-reflection and improvement, you have made great strides in your writing.² By taking risks and viewing all of your work as steps toward mastery, even if you falter occasionally, you have become true students.³

However, even with that polemic against the current number-centric grading system…

I couldn’t be more excited about those three title numbers. Why, you ask?

The middle column is based on your previously discussed multiple choice scores. The right column is based on your MC scores from today. Whereas before, the 5 would have been out of your average² reach, based on the current evidence of your mastery, I’m confident that you will all pass this test with flying colors.

In the past few weeks we have blown through several exams worth of multiple choice questions, learning new vocabulary, reading/skimming skills, and (ugh) test-taking strategies. And it has paid off.

</hypocrisy>

More important, though, you have become engaging writers and skeptical readers. You have the skills to continue learning about arguments, to create your own, and to improve upon those of others. This is a great achievement. I hope you will move forward with these skills and learn with an unceasing eagerness.

Good work, guys.

1. We’ve discussed the “how many points do I have to score on the final to get an A” game before. [↩]
2. I realize I’m committing my second least-favorite teacher offense by lumping you all together, but this proud moment wouldn’t be happening if you all hadn’t made some progress. [↩] [↩]
3. L. studere, “to be eager, diligent” [↩]