Juniors Should Start Planning Now
High school juniors who have just watched older classmates go through the stress of applying to college might want to avoid even thinking about college right now, but that will only make things more difficult later. Some of my seniors finished their college applications by Thanksgiving and were able to enjoy their recent winter vacation, while others waited until the last minute and had a miserable winter break rushing to get their applications done by January 1.
If you will be applying to college next year, getting started now can make the process less stressful and more rewarding. Knowing what you need to do is the first step in taking control. Then you can make a plan, which further reduces anxiety.
Most students take the SAT and/or ACT this semester. If you haven’t decided on a testing schedule, this is the time to choose test dates and register. If you plan to take a March or April exam, you’ll want to give yourself two months to prepare, which means you should be starting soon.
Talk to older friends or relatives who are currently in college. They can give you great information about their school. But they also have wisdom to share about the college admission process. Ask them how they approached the college search and what they wish they had done differently when they were applying to college.
Start putting together a list of colleges that appeal to you. Read guidebooks and research colleges online. Go to each school’s website, where you can learn about academic programs and student life. You can also access most college newspapers online. This is a great way to learn about activities on campus, as well as what issues students are discussing. You can read about concerts or lectures on campus this weekend, budget cuts that will impact course offerings next year, or a recent crime wave in the surrounding neighborhood.
You get better at visiting colleges once you’ve done it a few times. So start with local colleges, even if you’re sure you want to go farther away. By visiting a small liberal arts college and a big university, you’ll get a sense of which environment feels right for you.
If you can travel during spring break, that’s the perfect time to visit colleges that are farther away. Once you have decided which colleges you most want to see, check the tour and information session schedules, which should be available on each school’s website, and make reservations where they are required. Some admissions offices will arrange for prospective students to attend a class and have lunch with a student, or even stay overnight, and this can help you get a better sense of what it would be like to be a student at the college.
Check the admissions requirements for each college you like. If you find that you need SAT Subject Tests, better to know now so you can take those exams in May or June, rather than finding out in September that you should have taken the Chemistry Subject Test when you were finishing the course in June. Researching admissions requirements in the spring also gives you time to find a summer college course or enrichment program and choose senior year courses that will enhance your application.
Learning about financial aid now will enable you to choose schools that are realistic financially as well as academically. You can also start researching scholarship opportunities by registering with a scholarship search engine.
While these suggestions are aimed at juniors, ambitious sophomores can also start researching prospective colleges and learning about admission requirements, which can help them make good choices about courses, extracurricular activities and summer plans.
November 13, 2009
Don’t Annoy the Admissions Officer
Perhaps it’s because the stakes seem so high and they are so desperate to get into a favorite school, but the stress of the college admission process seems to lead some students to do things that are really not in their interest.
Sending eight recommendations when a college asks for two will likely annoy admissions officers who already have too much to read. In addition, you are communicating that you can’t follow directions, can’t count, or have so little confidence in your application that you have to try to pump it up with as many letters as possible.
The same thing can happen with application essays. If a college asks for 500 words and you write 1500 words, do not expect the admissions officer who has been reading applications for nine hours that day and opens your file to find a four page essay to feel kindly toward you.
Calling or e-mailing your admissions officer every week to let her know how much you want to attend the college is not the way to demonstrate interest in the school. Desperation is no more appealing in a prospective student than it is in a potential date.
Applying to college is like applying for a job in many ways. Any questions about judgment or integrity can mean the end of your application. You may be tempted to exaggerate or even lie about your accomplishments, but it is best to present yourself honestly. If an application raises some question or concern, someone will investigate. A student who claims to have won an award or done community service for an organization that doesn’t sound familiar may find that award or organization being Googled in the admissions office.
In order to be taken seriously, you need to communicate in a professional manner. That means no texting an admissions officer as if she’s your BFF. An e-mail address that seems funny to a student could be offensive to an adult. While interviews are not usually a major factor in college admission decisions, you don’t want to be remembered for getting (and even worse, taking) four phone calls during the meeting.
Of course, students aren’t the only ones who can sink a college application. Parents who call and ask questions that should come from the student are not doing their child any favor. Even worse is the parent who pretends to be the student on the phone. Then there are the parents who insist on going into the interview and speaking for the student.
Annoying an admissions officer might not be reason for a denial, but if you’re applying to selective colleges, you don’t want to stand out for negative reasons. A student’s judgment and maturity can factor into admission decisions, so make sure your actions are communicating the most positive message about you.
September 17, 2009
UC Update
At the recent UC Counselor Conference, it was clear that with an $813 million shortfall this year, times are tough at the University of California.
Every campus is currently overenrolled, and UC is not getting state funding for the extra 14,000 students. The freshman enrollment target is certain to decline this year. UCLA is overenrolled by 1,700 California students. Since resident fees don’t come close to covering the cost to educate a student, when the state doesn’t fund those 1,700 extra students, UCLA’s budget is further strained.
Campuses that were previously not very competitive have become more selective. The admit rate at Santa Cruz went from 74% in 2008 to 64% in 2009. Santa Cruz is expected to be slightly more selective this year, but the difference won’t be as dramatic as we have seen in recent years. Davis, which has become very popular in recent years, admitted 68% of students back in 2006, and just 46% in 2009. Berkeley did not cut enrollment last year, but will do so this year.
In the past, UC eligible students who were not admitted to more selective campuses would be referred to Riverside and Merced, even if they hadn’t applied to those schools. But this year students who are willing to attend those campuses should apply, because the referral process will be sharply curtailed.
UC Irvine used a waitlist year for the first time in 2009, and there is discussion of a possible systemwide waitlist for 2010.
There is good news for students who are Eligible in Local Context (ELC), meaning they are in the top four percent of their class. They will be again be guaranteed admission to Davis, Irvine, Riverside and Santa Barbara.
While freshman enrollment will decrease, UC will have a modest increase in spaces allotted to for transfer students.
The changes on UC campuses will go well beyond admissions. A hiring freeze on permanent faculty, fewer lecturers and teaching assistants, bigger classes, curtailed library hours, and reduced support services are some of the ways the budget crisis is impacting the UC.
While admissions directors stressed that every effort is being made to keep the cuts from impacting the classroom experience, there’s no way around it. Students may have to take classes at 8am or 5pm. Some programs and courses will be cut. Freshmen currently graduate from UC in 4.25 years on average, but that could increase if it becomes more difficult to get classes. Students will have a different UC experience than their older siblings might have had a few years ago.
The cost of attending a UC will go up, with a midyear increase and then a substantial increase for fall 2010. The amount will be set in November, but the current $26,400 average total cost could top $28,000 next year. Part of the increase in fees will go to financial aid, to minimize the impact on needy students.
I left the conference thinking I will advise my students who want to attend a UC campus to apply widely this year. Students who would easily have been admitted to their favorite UC campus in the past could be disappointed.
While their transcript is set at this point, seniors can still improve their prospects for admission by improving their standardized test scores and making the most of the personal statement on the UC application.
Freshmen, sophomores and juniors should start planning now if they want to be in a strong position to apply to the UC in the next few years.
August 15, 2009
How Parents Can Help
If you have a high school senior who is planning to attend college next year, the coming months may be an emotional roller coaster for the whole family.
The college application process can feel overwhelming, and some kids cope with their anxiety by avoiding the whole subject. They never get around to narrowing a list of schools or writing an essay. Their procrastination makes their parents feel anxious, which makes the kids feel even more anxious, and nothing gets done.
It may seem like it would be easier to just complete the applications yourself. But in addition to being unethical, taking over a child’s college application process communicates that you don’t think he’s capable of doing it himself, at a time when he needs to develop the confidence to go off to college and manage his life. It also deprives him of the opportunity to engage in a thoughtful exploration of his goals and interests, an important task for adolescents.
That doesn’t mean parents should be completely removed from the process. Most students need help getting organized. You can help your child make a chart with each school’s requirements and deadlines. Knowing what you need to do and when you need to do it makes the process less overwhelming.
If your child thinks he has nothing to write about, you can brainstorm essay ideas together. Pointing out some of his best qualities and recalling funny or interesting stories about his life can help generate essay ideas and boost his self-esteem.
You can be a valuable sounding board and supporter. Reassure your child that even though this is a stressful time, things will work out and he will go to college. By allowing him to be responsible for his college application process, you help him feel competent to manage his life.
July 20, 2009
Fall Enrollment Numbers Look Promising
Admissions deans at private colleges have been worried that the recession would mean a decrease in enrollment this fall, but according to a new survey by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, it looks like most schools will maintain or even slightly increase enrollment. Many colleges kept tuition increases to a minimum, and increased financial aid and merit scholarships, in order to remain competitive with public universities. Some schools also accepted late applications. Admissions officers at many colleges are trying to minimize “summer melt” by continuing to reach out to students who have submitted enrollment deposits, hoping that regular contact will keep them committed to the school. These steps probably account for the fact that about 74 percent of responding colleges are not projecting a decline in enrollment. The problem is that many of these schools will have a tough time continuing the enhanced financial aid/scholarships and minimal tuition increases after this year. If the recession lingers, the fears about falling enrollment will likely become reality at some colleges.
June 24, 2009
How Will Financial Problems Impact Your College?
When the wealthiest university in the country announces layoffs, it’s clear that no insitution is immune from the effects of the dismal economy. Due to a projected 30 percent drop in its endowment, Harvard will be laying off 275 staff members, and that’s after freezing salaries and taking other cost-cutting measures during the past year.
There’s been a lot of talk about how the economy has impacted admission this year, but if you’re getting ready to apply to college, it’s even more important to know how financial pressures could affect the quality of the educational experience at a college. Harvard is still a wealthy institution, but other schools may be forced to make changes that could impact your choices. If a college is increasing the size of the freshman class because it needs more tuition revenue, students could find larger classes and crowded triple dorm rooms. More classes might be taught by graduate students rather than full professors. Some courses and even whole departments could be eliminated. If you are excited about a school’s linguistics major, or the opportunity to receive a stipend for doing summer research on campus, you want to know that those programs will be there when you arrive. Colleges could also make cuts in athletic programs, academic advising or health services.
All of this means that it is more important than ever to do your research. On college visits, you can see if the buildings and grounds are well-maintained. Ask admissions officers how the economy is impacting the school. Talking to students is always a great way to learn what’s really happening on campus. They can tell you if they have trouble getting into classes, the library has started closing earlier and it takes four weeks to get an appointment with a career advisor. As always, the more information you have, the better prepared you are to make decisions about college.
June 13, 2009
UC Applications
I just returned from the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling (WACAC) conference, where I got the latest information from admissions officers. The good news for seniors planning to apply to the University of California is that the essay prompts will be the same, so you can start working on those essays now. The not so good news is that UCLA and Berkeley are likely to reduce freshmen enrollment next year. Once the state has a budget and UC knows what the funding will be, enrollment goals for next year will be set for each campus. With increasing competition for fewer seats, it’s more important than ever to submit a strong application. Berkeley received 850 appeals this year and only admitted 10 of those students, so the chance of reversing a decision is very low. It’s tough to get motivated when you’re burned out from an overloaded junior year, and it’s fine to take a couple weeks to rest, but then you need to start working on that personal statement, so that you have plenty of time to prepare your best application.
The admit rate at many UC campuses will probably drop again for the fall 2012 freshman class, when new eligibility requirements mean that more students will be eligible for admission. Younger students should make sure they’re on track with curriculum choices as well as summer and extracurricular activities that will enhance their UC application. While the 2012 applicants will no longer be required to submit SAT Subject Test scores, students who plan to apply for certain programs, like engineering, will be more competitive if they have strong math and science Subject Test scores.
June 6, 2009
Some Highly Selective Colleges Enrolling More Students
Colleges across the country saw their endowments fall over the last year, and since it’s tough to implement big tuition increases at a time when families are feeling financially stressed, some schools have decided to bring in extra money by enrolling more students. Wesleyan will add 120 students over the next four years. Amherst plans to have 180 more students by 2012. Williams will add 10 students next year and Bowdoin plans to add 10 students in each of the next five years. Johns Hopkins University plans to double the number of transfer students.
And there are plenty of parents who are eager to pay close to $50,000 a year for these schools. While other colleges are likely to see declines in enrollment as families choose lower-cost public universities, highly selective colleges will remain very competitive. Amherst and Williams have received enrollment deposits from a higher percentage of admitted students this year. Rice University has also seen an increase in the percentage of students accepting an admission offer. It may be that in a time when employment prospects are uncertain, families are willing to sacrifice to send their children to highly selective colleges in the hope that a diploma from an elite school will secure their future.
April 24, 2009
Making Your Final Decision
Just one more week till the May 1 deadline for making your final decision about college. Some of my students have been agonizing all month about which school to choose, and they don’t always appreciate it when I point out that this is a good problem to have. But if you’re having trouble deciding between two colleges, that means you really like both of them, and you can be happy at either school. Once you make a decision, you’ll invest emotionally in that school and you’ll start to feel excited about going to college.
Some students decide to double deposit in order to keep their options open, but this is considered unethical, and if colleges find out, your admission can be revoked at both schools. If you’re on a wait list, you do need to submit an enrollment deposit at another college so that you have a place to go in the fall. If you are admitted from the wait list at your preferred school, you just forfeit the deposit at the first college.
April 2, 2009
Getting A Better Financial Offer
In recent weeks, I’ve received phone calls and emails from lots of happy students who have been admitted to their favorite colleges. Many have also been awarded generous merit scholarships or financial aid packages.
That’s important, because getting into a school you can’t afford to attend is painfully frustrating. If your financial aid package is not what you expected, it is possible to appeal. If there are special circumstances, such as a job loss or death of a parent, contact the financial aid office. They may be able to improve the package. If another school has offered a financial aid package that has more grants and fewer loans, you can send a copy of the better offer and the financial aid office may match the other school’s offer. Some colleges engage in preferential packaging, where the best aid packages go to the students they want the most.
In addition to providing more need-based aid, some liberal arts colleges are increasing merit scholarships in order to make their school financially attractive. Students are in the strongest position if other, similar colleges have made better offers. You can send copies of those offers to your favorite college, which may be more likely to increase its offer this year, rather than lose a desirable student.
For students who will be applying to college in the fall, it’s more important than ever to do your research and apply to a number of similar colleges that are likely to award good financial packages, so that you can then take those offers to the school you prefer. If that school matches the offer, you have the school you want at a more affordable cost. If your preferred school does not match the offer, you can decide whether the school would provide a significantly better college experience that is worth the extra money, or whether you would be just as happy at one of the schools that will cost less.
