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For the upcoming class of 2011, if you’re like me, the same thoughts that are rushing through my head are rushing through yours.  The time is drawing near when future college decisions are crucial.  Most likely, your parents have been asking you questions along the lines of, “What majors are you looking into?” and “What colleges do you want to tour?”  All of these questions and thoughts can be very stressful, but the best time to start looking at colleges is this summer.

The transformation from high school to college is not easy.  Thoughts run through your head such as: fitting in, class size or even just navigating through campus. Can’t high school just be a bit longer?  Well, although some of us may not be ready to turn the page and graduate from high school, a lot of us are.

A perfect opportunity to look at a few of the many private colleges St. Paul an Minnesota has to offer is during the Minnesota Private College Week, which is coming up on June 21st through June 25th.  This week is dedicated to let college-seekers check out and gain helpful information on seventeen colleges!  Go with your parents or friends, and take a road trip to any private college of your choice!  Now don’t worry, this week is totally chill and is very hands on.  There are campus tours and general information sessions.  They are offered twice daily, so don’t stress if you’re late.  They last for about three hours each.

If you visit http://www.mnprivatecolleges.org, you can not only learn about the academic programs, international study opportunities, student organizations, athletic programs, but you can also register online to let the colleges know you’re coming!  They give as scheduled visits and our job is to just show up!  How easy can it get?  Click here to check out their Facebook page!

The colleges in St. Paul that you can visit are:  Hamline University, Concordia University, Macalester College, St. Catherine University, Bethel University, College of St. Scholastica, and University of St. Thomas.  A recent visit to  St. Thomas as part of  a Junior College Tour Day was a very pleasant experience.  It is prominently located in the residential area of Summit Avenue.  It is Minnesota’s largest independent university and has a great overseas study program.  How cool would it be to take a semester in Rome or Paris?  The campus seemed very collegiate and reminded me of being  in the East Coast!  Also, the student body was quite helpful and thoroughly answered any of my questions, no matter how many!

Congratulations to all new high school graduates and good luck on exploring your future college.  It may seem overwhelming at first, but an exciting new challenge that will pay off in the end.

Wood-Corset by Renalie Bailey

Every year, more and more talented fashion designers seem to be coming from the College of St. Catherine’s apparel design program. Last year’s annual senior line show debuted lines by Maritza Ramirez (whose current spring collection was a highlight of last month’s Voltage: Fashion Amplified), Renate Adjei and Jenny Carle – all of whom are now carried by taste-making boutique Cliché. In 2007, St. Kate’s introduced us to Emily Weich (another Voltage ’09 designer), and the year before Amanda Christine, who is arguably the most successful local designer to hit the scene in the past few years.

Ribbon Dress by Renalie Bailey

This Saturday at St. Kate’s annual senior fashion show Katwalk, we’ll be introduced to a few more up-and-comers, and based on past history, it’s probably not the last we’ll see of them. Seniors Renalie Bailey, Britta Feurerhelm, Ashley Busch and Amanda Chaffin and junior Emilee Kuznar are said to be the ones to watch, according to some of St. Kate’s alumni.

Of her collection, Ashley Busch says, “It was inspired by my mother’s first communion dress and vintage athletic couture.” Amanda Chaffin, who has interned with Amanda Christine, says her collection is “inspired by the Moab desert in Utah.”

If there’s senior to keep your eyes on, it’s artwear designer Renalie Bailey. She seems to have the most inspired perspective of the designers, working with unusual materials to create new silhouettes. For her senior collection, she worked with a wood-worker in California to create wooden corsets, which she’ll be showing with metal skirts. (She’ll also be showing some of her art-inspired work at next Friday’s GO LIVE III event at 526 Salon Spa Gallery in St. Paul. Stay tuned to this blog for more on it next week.)

Runway beats will be provided by DJ Real Talk Radio (aka Ken Hannigan of Minneapolis t-shirt design company Anthem Heart) with choreography by prolific event producer Richard Moody. (7:30 p.m. Sat. $5-8. Rauenhorst Hall at College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph Av., St. Paul. 651-690-6669. Click HERE for the Facebook invite.