Can I Bring My Dog (or Cat) Too? More Colleges Say "Yes" to Pets

June 6, 2010

It is either a sign of the Apocalypse or a positive trend, depending on your view, but more colleges are allowing students to bring their pets to live with them at college. Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, is renovating a dorm into "Pet Central" to accommodate the 30 incoming freshmen who have requested to bring their pets. And Stephens is not alone. Approximately a dozen colleges specifically allow for pets. For instance, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) allows cats in some dorm rooms, as does SUNY-Canton. Eckerd College and Washington & Jefferson College both allow dogs, cats and other animals to live with their student-owners. Eckerd even allows snakes, as long as they are under six feet long and nonvenemous. Some say that pet-friendly policies are becoming necessary as part of the heavy competition for students. Others argue that it could be a symptom of a greater separation anxiety for the student leaving home for college, could slow the transition to independence and provide a mechanism that students could use to avoid contact with other humans. Hmmm, an interesting psychological dilemma. But it's not all fun and games for the student/pet owner either. Stephens, Eckerd and W&J have all established Pet Councils (students and faculty are members) to enforce a pet code of conduct, which can include a ban on loud barking. Violations are punishable by removal from the dorm. So, if bringing Fido to college has been your dream, there is a college out there that will welcome both of you - just make sure he doesn't bark too loud.

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Early Action and Early Decision Deadlines are Approaching!

This should not be news to those of you who are in the final throes of completing your EA or ED submission - deadlines are approaching!! Make sure all your ducks are in a row, your SAT or ACT score reports sent, your school forms submitted with pre-addressed envelopes and return address labels, your teacher recommendations all set. Most of all, make sure that your guidance counselor and recommenders know of the deadline, whether it is November 1, November 15, or December 1. And most of all, good luck!!

Did You Know?

With the number of applicants now using the Common App and the ease of submitting an online application (in the 2010-11 cycle, 1.8 million applications were submitted as of January 1, 2011), admissions officers are looking for more than just an application to make admissions decisions - you need to demonstrate a genuine interest in the school.  The best ways to do this include visiting the campus, having a campus interview if offered, attending college fairs and completing the intake form for schools you are really interested in, attending any local events in your area sponsored by the college, and emailing the admissions counselors with specific questions about programs that interest you.  These steps can help to differentiate you from the herd of "stealth applicants" who use the Common App as their sole contact with the school.

News

Way Back When College Was a Buyer's Market
March 31, 2011
Oh to be interested in attending Harvard University in the late 1860s. Harvard and other schools like Vassar and Columbia actually advertised for students in newspapers, and any required freshman entrance exams could be taken on the weekend prior to the start of classes. How times have changed. Read More>>
Ni Hao! - NYU to open Shanghai campus
March 27, 2011
New York University announced plans to establish a degree-granting campus in Shanghai. NYU's president was expected to sign an agreement on March 28 with Chinese officials to seal the deal. This move signals a continuing trend for American universities. Read More>>

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