Tip Sheet – From Admissions Officers

Whether students are applying to a small, private college or a large, public university, there are some universal missteps that college applicants make year after year, much to the dismay of the institution’s gatekeepers who decide whether the student should be admitted.

Tips Include:

Start Early
College “Fit” Goes Both Ways
Do Your Research
We’re Interested in Who You Really Are
Mind the Deadline
Keep in Touch
Parents Need Not Apply
Choose Wisely

Detailed tips and full article from The Choice here.

Checklists for International Students

Juniors: College Checklist for September

Beyond balancing the increased academic expectations of junior year with extracurricular leadership, it’s hard not to notice that your senior friends are immersed in college applications. You may be wondering what your college list will look like this time next year. With months on your side, you’ll be well prepared a year from now. Continue reading here….

Seniors: College Checklist for September

Senior year should be a meaningful, culminating experience that holds many fond memories for years to come. With good forethought and planning in September, the college selection process can become not only a manageable part of that experience but also a time of self-discovery that prepares you for the exciting opportunity that the college years can and should represent. Continue reading here….

Source.

Four-Year Public College Tuition Continues to Rise

Four out of the five that made it on to the top-five list are western states – California, Arizona, Nevada, and Washington. Just another reason why bigger (and public) isn’t always better or, more so now than ever, more affordable.  Though public college tuition for the most part is still less for in-state students, with increased competitiveness within the in-state market (especially in states like California) looking out of state, at both public and smaller private institutions, is becoming an increasingly more viable option.

Read more about rising tuition costs here.

Junior Year Prep

How to spend Junior year preparing for college from Julie and Lindsey Mayfield @ Twice the Advice.

1. Contact the high school counseling office

2. Schedule an SAT or ACT exam

3. Keep grades up

3. Compile a college list

4. Earn AP or junior college credits

5. Meet college admissions representatives

Read the full article here.

August Timeline – Juniors

From Sarah Graham @ The Choice.

Keep Perspective

Relax! You are not behind. You can, however, start taking active steps now to make the admissions process as smooth as possible. Take a deep breath, and try to keep in mind that there really is a great college match for everyone.

Develop a Plan for This Year

Planning now will reduce anxiety later. Map out some key dates now before the pace of the year picks up. Devote a calendar solely to the college process. Decide when to tackle some of the bigger admissions tasks for this year. For example, plan to take the SAT and/or ACT at least once this year, as well as SAT Subject Tests, if they are required by the schools you’re considering. Take some time to review what each test covers, and decide how to prepare. Make a note of registration deadlines on your calendar.

Also, figure out when you will be able to visit colleges this year to block off the time and plan those trips well in advance. Aim to see many different types of schools at first (large, small, urban, suburban, etc.) to get a sense of what’s out there.

Find Out What Support Your High School Offers

The students who are most successful in the college admissions process are proactive and take advantage of the resources available to them. Don’t just wait for information to come to you: take the initiative and find out what services your high school provides to guide you through the college admissions process.

Ask how often you should expect to receive messages from your guidance office and how they communicate information. Make note of coming presentations on your calendar. Find the guidance office’s bulletin board, and check it often.

Thoroughly read e-mails and newsletters that counselors send, and pay attention when they make announcements. (Parents, this applies to you, too.) Too often, students have so many resources at their fingertips but fail to realize that until it’s too late to take advantage of them. Likewise, families often spend big money on college admissions services when they can get the same (if not better) information for free.

Also, when you meet with your counselor, go prepared with a list of updates about what you’ve been doing in regard to the college process, as well as a list of questions.

Reflect on Your Activities

Now that you’re halfway through high school, it’s a great time to reassess your extracurricular activities. When I worked in admissions and read applications, I loved to see students who were excited about what they did outside the classroom. Communicate that enthusiasm by taking on more responsibilities in the activities you love and by seeking to develop those interests to the fullest.

Set some goals for this year: Aim for quality and not quantity in your activities. Love the things you do, and take on more leadership in those areas. No time? Consider cutting back on one or two activities you don’t like as much to make time to pursue others in greater depth.

Keep the Focus on Academics

As you gear up for junior year and the new tasks it will bring, remember your studies still need to come first. The story that your transcript tells about you as a student will be the most important part of your college application. Also, working hard, meeting with teachers for extra help and developing knowledge of how you study and learn best will help make you a more successful college student.

Start to Research Different Majors

Take some time now to read about majors that sound appealing to you, and gain a sense of what’s involved when studying towards those majors. Most students change their minds about a major when they get to college (and that’s fine), but it’s still a good idea to start getting a sense of what’s out there. Your focus now should not be on choosing a major definitively but on learning more about your options. More information about majors and careers can be found online, like the College Board’s Big Future Web site. For more detailed career information, students often enjoy the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Savor the Rest of the Summer

While I recommend you follow up on these action items, please also take some time while the weather’s warm and the days are long to enjoy a few more ice cream cones with friends, take a long walk at sunset and rest up to start the new academic year rejuvenated. Sure, it may be a busy year ahead, but you’re ready for it!

 

Source.

August Timeline – Seniors

From Chris Teare @ The Choice:

Do the Summer Reading

Over 30 years, the students I’ve seen get the best results out of the college process are the ones who take care of business one day, one class, one assignment at a time. They’re not flashy; they’re steady. When I coached lacrosse, I said, “Pick up the next groundball.” Little things add up. Stop texting, log off Facebook, turn off your cellphone — and read. Not the SparkNotes. The book.

Pick the Right Courses

Selective colleges often start their review with your transcript, and strength of program is the first criterion of selection. Make sure your final transcript will include four years of the “five basic food groups”: English, math, history, science and foreign language. If you substitute from elsewhere on the curricular menu, select a course of equal or greater rigor in an area that better suits your abilities and interests. Make sure senior year is at least as challenging as junior year.

Keep Testing Under Control

By now, I hope you know whether you like the SAT or ACT better. Focus on the exam that works for you; if you prepare well enough, you’ll be likely to receive your highest score on the first or second attempt. Take your SAT II Subject Tests, if you must, whenever you’ll know as much as you can. Then forget bubble tests. Your scores are what they are. Stressing won’t raise them. Say the Serenity Prayer. Go test-optional. Focus your energy on classes, activities, and applications.

Keep Extra-Curricular Activities in Perspective

Remember that the hyphenate is extra-curricular. Even if you are being recruited for a talent in athletics or the arts, you must find a good deal of time to hone that skill set. You are no good to anyone if you run yourself into the ground by trying to do too much. Breathe. Eat. Sleep. Chill now and then.

Start Your Applications

If you haven’t already done so, create accounts. Use the Common App. Invest increments of time early on: When you have a little time, fill out the simple stuff. When you have a little more, add your activities and work experiences. When you can carve out still more, start drafting your activity paragraph and essay. Start on the supplements. Good writing usually takes time. Accept advice. Show what you have to your counselor or best teacher.

Create a List of College Fits

Shop for value: Figure out the program, size, type, location, personality, and likely final cost of the colleges that best suit you. Then list colleges that you might get into, some that you should get into, and two that you will get into.

Make more decisions up front. Be realistic. Make sure you can cover the cost. I like lists of six colleges. I understand nine. Beyond that, you’re denying reality, deferring decisions, and making the spring harder, via too many rejections or too many offers. Save yourself time, angst, and your parents’ money.

Source.

The Dos and Don’ts in Writing College Application Essays

I come across a ton of posts on this topic, most of which present no new information. Nonetheless, take a look at this recent article from MHS on Huff Post’s College section. Solid set of dos and don’ts here – and I would place extra emphasis on the note about the weight of the essay and its ability to turn the tide toward acceptance. A stellar essay can, and in fact will, bump an application that could go either way up into the pool that gets moved forward toward being an admit. Test scores, GPA, grades….not memorable, as most applicants look similar in this regard. But the essay, this is where you can really make yourself stand out from the crowd!

Girls, Girls, Girls…

Girls are getting tons of press lately; unfortunately, some of it’s not so great. The “unhooked girl” argument is making its way into the media and talk surrounding college admissions….I have a feeling this topic will be one that fades fairly fast.

Read more here.

Trends to Note

Once again, increases in early decision applicants – > record-breaking low acceptance rates  – > increased number of students on waitlist. One of many article found here for your reading pleasure. This seems to be becoming the norm – and as a result, preparing for the process early on will continue to be invaluable. Start now!

Hey College Board….Who Do You Really Aim to Serve?

The College Board’s new college planning website is up and running. It has received both praise, and some flack – needless to say improvements will be made to it in the short and long-term. Despite some flaws, it is an improvement over the previous site. The College Board hopes the site ” will help a wide range of students, including first-generation college students who may not know much about the college admissions process”……. which, when I think about BigFuture in the context of my current dissertation research, begs me to raise this question: What about students who don’t have access to computers, and on top of that the internet?

Many that fall into this group are first-generation students, low-income and ethnic minority students, groups well-known to be underrepresented in higher education.  Think about it – there are precursors to making this site even remotely applicable for such a wide range of students and families – and therefore initiatives that dovetail and fill this gap should also have been launched alongside of BigFuture.

An example from my neighborhood: According to Mayor Nutter, only 10% of homes in the Kensington section of Philadelphia have Internet access while in Society Hill, the number is beyond 90%. I can’t speak for Society Hill, but the students, as well as educators and families in Kensington are in  need of the information and resources provided by a site like BigFuture. Not only do many of these students, and their families, not have computers and or internet access at home – but to make matters worse sometimes the schools they attend don’t have computers either. No computers = no internet = no BigFuture…or FAFSA, Common Application, etc. for that matter.

So where does that leave these students in the BigFuture equation? There are initiatives in Philadelphia in particular aimed at alleviating the digital divide, but more needs to be done. It bothers me this site touts that it hopes to help “first-generation college students who may not know much about the college admissions process.” It is true, this group may lack knowledge of the process, but one would think the College Board would be a bit more knowledgeable regarding some of the harsh realities of the population this site claims to aim to serve.