I carefully examine the student folders for the girls enrolled in those two courses.I carefully examine the student folders for the girls enrolled in those two courses. Because the courses are survey in nature, the enrollment is high and I have numerous candidates. I eliminate the commuters - I want a girl living on campus, away from nosey parents. I also reject those with an erratic academic record in high school - I want the young scholar who has never failed a course. Being on Financial Aid or a scholarship is a plus in my selection, because of the added pressure to perform well in college. I often eliminate the obviously wealthy student, because she has grown up learning that a short phonecall to Daddy can usually resolve a problem in her favor, and I don't want my little selectee to feel she has any easy solutions. I prefer an oldest child, or even better - an only child, so that their older siblings haven't "shown them the ropes" about college. By the first day of class, I have a pool of six to ten "possible" girls in each of the two classes, and I am ready for the first face-to- face meeting. |