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Starter Barbie

by Tamara McKee

I'm not normally prone to endorsing dolls, however, my daughter simply loves her recently gifted Easy for Me1-2-3 Barbie. Created for younger girls aged three and up who are just beginning to practice dexterity skills, Easy For Me delivers easy-to-dress clothing and easy-to-handle accessories, When my daughter was a pre-schooler, her Barbies were often in a state of undress, much to her older brothers' chagrin. They named these dolls "Naked Barbie". Easy for me 1, 2, 3 circumvents this modesty issue with painted undergarments. No more 'Naked Barbie'. Packaging too is easy to manage, no inbearable twist ties! At a retail price of $9.99 at most retailers this makes an ideal new back-seat toy for the long car trip. For ages three and up.

posted 10.07.07

The importance of a university tour

By Heather M. O'Connor

"If this is what university life is like, I'm in.' That was my 16-year-old's enthusiastic response to her first look at university digs. Anne and I had decided to stay in residence at University of Ottawa for a soccer tournament rather than opting for a hotel like her teammates.

That choice ultimately shaped her post-secondary plans. She sampled, for the first time, a taste of dorm living and campus flavour. The experience reduced her feelings of anxiety about leaving home for the first time. Anne could see herself living in Ottawa, even though it lay four hours from home.

Our timing was perfect. She was, after all, just two years away from graduation and a year away from narrowing down her post-secondary choices. We subsequently booked tournament accommodations at a university or college whenever possible; though Anne continued to check out her options, University of Ottawa never left the top of her list.

A year later, when we took our UOttawa university tour, I insisted we also check out Carleton. One look at the Carleton's beautiful field house, suburban setting and healthy cafeteria changed my young athlete's mind forever - her second home would be Carleton. She's never looked back.

Many students identify the campus tour as the biggest single factor in selecting a university or college. Essentially, they are deciding how and where to live for their first taste of independence. You'd never dream of purchasing a home sight unseen. Why should selecting a university be any different?

And like selecting a house, the top three factors to consider are location, location, location. Downtown city action or small town comfort? A self-contained campus or one threaded through the city? Green space and biking trails or concrete and highrises? For someone whose decisions have historically, in the main, been made by their parental units, it all boils down to a feeling, not a checklist.

Too many choices
Students must shortlist three to five universities by Christmas of their graduating year. A tour helps students make wise decisions earlier and difficult decisions more easily. Bryan Dalby of Oshawa applied to several universities: he was accepted at all of them. He was already warm to Carleton University after speaking to a student ambassador at a university fair. The campus tour helped him to make up his mind. "I heard that the program was great and I just loved the atmosphere. It felt like somewhere I could stay for four years or more."

The tipping point
Jeff Macnab, assistant registrar for University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) says, "For many students, a campus tour reinforces the decision they may have been leaning toward. There's no question about it: it plays a significant role. Some students tell us the tour is the 'tipping point' in their decision. "I think one of our roles as admissions and recruitment officers is to emphasize how important it is to physically spend some time on campus. When you take a look at students who haven't done well, when you probe that, it's usually a version of 'I really didn't know what I was getting into.'

Seeing is believing
"There's a real move to virtual tours but I don't think you can replace walking around with a tour guide. Physically getting on campus is as important as it ever has been. A lot of students live in an almost virtual online world, with Facebook and MySpace. The campus tour makes it real for them. "On the tour, they see everything from residences to lecture halls, the library, the athletic complex, study space. We're wireless - Ontario's only laptop-based university - so they're interested to see how all that shakes down. They begin to picture themselves on campus - inside the class, outside the class. "Fundamentally, they just want to walk around and get the feel of the place. It's an emotional decision." Postsecondary education is a teen's first great stride to independence. That stride is stronger and more confident when the destination is familiar.

Helpful Hints
Are you being served? Let's face it - nothing replaces mom's home cooking. Nonetheless, it's a smart idea to try out the dining hall. This is especially important for junk food junkies, vegetarians and picky eaters. Even though teen-friendly food, healthy choices, vegetarian options and international fare usually make the menu, a year is a long time to be dissatisfied with the meal plan.

Have it your way Customized tours may be offered, geared to arts students, journalism majors or engineers. If you're considering varsity sports, book an appointment with the coach. Ask if you can sit in on a class or meet with a professor. Most universities and colleges are happy to oblige.

See for yourself Most university and college residences do double-duty from May to August as economical accommodations, ideal for family vacations, sports tournaments and dance competitions. Traditional dorm rooms are available; so are apartment-style residences, with two to four bedrooms, a sitting area, kitchen and private bathroom. Several colleges have banded together under the Residence and Conference Centre banner. Prospective students wishing to book a stay can enjoy two-bedroom guest suites with kitchenette, private bathroom and continental breakfast for only $59.95 per night.
www.checkintothecentre.com For an overnight stay at other universities or colleges, search the institution's website for 'residence and conference services.'

10.07.07