CARIBBEAN TODAY -usw^caribbeantodj..c. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6) taking a college campus road trip followed by a visit with admissions officers during a get-acquainted session at his high school. Whatever you do, don't over-function for your under- functioning student. This is their thing, not yours. THE PRESTIGE FACTOR Several years ago I attended a parent meeting in which a high school guidance counselor asked for a show of hands among those who had attended college. Most everyone raised a hand. Next, parents were asked if they attended an Ivy League school. This time, only a few hands went up. Finally, the counselor wanted to know how many people con- sidered lihLeil\L, happy and successful. Every hand in the auditorium went up. The point of the exercise: Getting into a highly selective college is not the meal ticket to fame and fortune. There are lots of other factors involved, and the brand-name schools don't have a lock on the formula. The thinking among some teens (and parents) is that the more selective a college, the better the college must be. Not so. In fact, there are hundreds of fine schools many you've probably never heard of that could provide great educational experiences. Look, I'm all for any stu- dent who has the smarts and the zeal to pursue a blue-chip dream school. But, better to choose a school after weighing its assets and drawbacks - rather than on its brand name. I've always thought the college-selection process was like shopping for a car. Kick the tires, review the pros and cons, and wait for the salesman to make you a good offer. And yes, they do need to sell you on why their school is worth the sometimes outrageous sum of money they want you to spend on your child's future. 2008 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Good advice, good data "The Princeton Review: Paying for College Without Going Broke", by Kalman Chany "Kiplinger's Financing College", from the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine "Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College That Is Best for You", by Jay Mathews "Winning the Heart of the College Admissions Dean: An Expert's Advice for Getting into College", by Joyce Slayton Mitchell. a Grenadian medical student scores top grade in science ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, CMC A Grenadian medical student has emerged with the top grade in a science examina- tion involving more than 400 students from around the world. Roggie Reason, a second year scholarship student at the American-owned St. George's University (SGU), earned the top score in the Basic Science Comprehension Examination (BSCE) at the North Umbria University in the United Kingdom. "It's nice to know that a Grenadian scholarship student who did all of his primary and secondary and undergraduate work in Grenada was number one out of 400 students taking the first year final exam," said Dr. Chirl,, Mondica, chancel- lor at SGU. "I was told that he was not number one by a point or so; he was number one by a lot Youth forum Free, one-day Jamaica Youth Forum, aimed at South Florida high school and college students, will be held on April 12 at the University of Miami. The forum, being pre- sented by the Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States, will focus on the theme "Shaping Our Future: One Aim, One DIIIIn) It will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The forum will seek to enlighten and engage young leaders in discussion relevant to their success in the U.S. and abroad. Panel discussion topics will include "Making an Impact", "Building Relationships" and "Cultural Identity". Scheduled panelists include Dr. Lloyd Cohen, pres- ident of the Jamaican Association of Miami-Dade Educators; David Mullings, co- chair of Jamaica Youth Forum and chief executive officer of Realvibez Media; and Kelliann McDonald, founder of the Jamaican-American Student Association (JAMSA) at the University of Florida. "Our local Jamaican com- munity and Jamaica's future is highly dependent on how well we nurture our future leader- ship," said Marlon Hill, Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board member. "This forum is intended to be a catalyst for this community-building goal." For more information, call 786-349-2584. 0 and we need to acknowledge." Some 416 students from around the world sat the BSCE, climaxing a year of studies, part of the Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars pro- gram to train medical profes- sionals in developing countries. The students in the program take the first year of the basic medical science phase of SGU's doctor of medicine degree at the U.K. university, which has a long record in teaching bio- medical sciences. Reason was among the first five Grenadian scholarship students in the program, which began in 2007. Street Address: 9020 SW 152nd Street, Miami, FL 33157 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6010 Miami, FL 33116-6010. Telephone: (305) 238-2868 (305) 253-6029 Fax: (305) 252-7843 Toll-Free Fax: 1-866-290-4550 1-800-605-7516 Jamaica: 654-7282 E-mail: editor@caribbeantoday.com Send ads to: ctads@bellsouth.net Vol. 19, Number 5 APRIL. 2008 PETER A WEBLEY Publisher GORDON WILLIAMS Managing Editor SABRINA HOPKINS Graphic Artist DOROTHY CHIN Account Executive SUNDAY SELLERS Account Executive JULISSA RAMOS Accounting Manager Caribbean Media Source Media Representatives TOM JONAS 353 St. Nicolas Street, Suite 200 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2P1 Tel: (514) 931-0422* Fax: (514) 931-0455 E-mail: tom@cmsworldmedia.com Jamaica Bureau MARIE GREGORY (876) 925-5640 P.O. Box 127, Constant Spring Kingston 8, Jamaica Opinions expressed by editors and writers are not necessarily those of the publisher. Caribbean Today, an independent news magazine, is published every month by Caribbean Publishing & Services, Inc. Caribbean Today is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photos. To guarantee return, please include a self- addressed stamped envelope. Articles appearing in Caribbean Today may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor. SPRInG/summER EDUCATIOn ~ A Caribbean Today advertising feature Getting real about college PROMISE FULFILLED Children from the Ecole St. Patrick primary school in Cite Soleil, Haiti, display photographs of primary schools built by the Digicel Haiti Foundation in its first year of existence. The Digicel Haiti Foundation last month delivered on a promise to build 20 schools in its first 12 months of operation, two in each district of Haiti. The schools, which are furnished and staffed with trained teachers, will provide more than 7,000 Haitian children with an education. . Holistic Care For an Optimum Lifestyle" Mow Accepting Mew Paotentsll Telephone: (305) 253-4340 AJ Wfte elocated to W d kmrndl Y 12955SW132ndl SIreet t uitldg 3, Sue t141 M mni, Fkida 3318g April 2008