Page 18 - Abacoa Community News - March '25

Page 18, Abacoa
Common Mistakes Students Make

When Applying To College

By Peggy Forgan, M.Ed., risk of missing deadlines, submitting incomplete Applying to a limited number of schools can also limit
College Planner materials, or rushing through tasks. This can lead to your options; while applying to too many can lead to
Applying to college can errors like typos, poorly written essays, or incomplete burnout and make it harder to tailor each application. A
be a stressful process but recommendation letters. To avoid this, start early. Create balanced approach is essential—apply to a mix of reach
avoiding a few common a timeline with clear deadlines and allocate time to review schools, match schools, and safety schools. Focus on
mistakes can make a big each application component—essays, transcripts, and quality over quantity by investing time and effort into
difference in a student’s recommendations. each application to ensure it’s the best representation
best chances of success. Another common mistake is underestimating the of your abilities and fit with the school. By avoiding
One of the most frequent importance of college essays. Many students mistakenly these common mistakes, you’ll increase your chances of
mistakes is waiting until treat the essay as an afterthought, focusing more on submitting a standout application.
the last minute to submit their test scores and GPA. However, the essay is a key Class 101 North Palm Beach is holding a free
applications or gather part of the application, offering a chance to showcase information session on March 15 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss
necessary documents. Procrastination increases the your personality, values, and uniqueness. A generic or how to stay ahead of the college application process.
poorly written essay can fail to set you apart from other Donuts and coffee will be served, and door prizes will
applicants. Take the time to reflect on your personal be given.
Science On The Cutting Edge from page 17 experiences and how they align with the school’s values. To register call or text Peggy Forgan at (561) 418-7897
Your essay should be authentic and show who you are or email pforgan@class101.com. Our website is Class101.
beyond academics. Don’t forget to revise and seek com/northpalmbeachfl.
feedback to refine it.

Science Meets Music Event One-to-One College Planning

Showcases The Intersection

Of Neuroscience Grades 9-12

The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience All inclusive college services
(MPFI) hosted another inspiring edition of Science
Meets Music, a signature event blending groundbreaking Test prep, essays & resumes,
scientific research with world-class musical performances.
In this first event of the Applications, deadlines,
three-part lecture series, scholarships, & more.
the audience enjoyed a
compelling lecture by Dr.
Elisabeth Binder, scientific Free consultation.
director at the Max Planck
Institute for Psychiatry, Class101.com/northpalmbeachfl/ • 561-418-7897
alongside stunning musical
performances by soprano
Joy Berendt and pianist Dr.
Patricia Izbicki.
How Stress Gets Under
The Skin
Dr. Binder’s lecture, “How Stress Gets Under the
Skin,” explored how both traumatic events and genetic
factors can have an impact on resilience and mental health.
Binder shared that everyone responds to traumatic events
in their own ways, but that she and her lab have identified
a specific genetic marker, FK506-binding protein 51
(FKBP51), that is a significant predictor of whether
trauma will lead to mental illness. The identification
of this marker has important implications for potential
treatments and screenings for conditions like PTSD,
anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
Additionally, stress is a physical phenomenon that
affects us at the cellular level. In her research, Dr. Binder
has shown that stress hormones from pregnant mothers
can affect the genetic makeup of their children, changing
the way they respond to stress later in life.
The evening was also a celebration of music’s power
to inspire and heal. Joy Berendt and Dr. Patricia Izbicki
performed a beautiful selection of pieces, including
Puccini’s O mio babbino caro, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
Think of Me, and the timeless classic You’ll Never Walk
Alone. Their performances provided a harmonious
counterpoint to the scientific discussion, demonstrating
the deep connection between art and the brain.
Prior to the event, MPFI hosted a special reception
honoring its supporters, whose generosity makes programs
like Science Meets Music possible. In attendance were
Dr. Elisabeth Binder; Dr. David Fitzpatrick; Kleper De
Almeida, M.D.; and Vivian De Almeida, guests including
John and Jackie Hannon, Arnie Utzinger and Darlene
Mulock, Gary and Amy Ma, Bill and Nancy Schneider,
Beverly Caruso, Nasser Kazeminy, Yvonne Kazeminy,
Dr. Lin Tian, and Dr. Robyn Woo-Finkbeiner.
The event was generously sponsored by The
Honorable David Fischer and Mrs. Jennifer Fischer.
Join Us For The Next Science Meets Music Event
MPFI invites the public to its next Science Meets
Music on February 19, 2025, featuring a lecture by Nobel
Laureate Dr. Stefan Hell on “Optical Microscopy: The
Resolution Revolution,” with a musical performance by
Ilya Vakushev, piano. Learn more about the event and
register today.
For more information about upcoming events and
MPFI’s research, visit www.mpfi.org.