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What Does This Year Mean? Business as Usual
Record high applications led to record low acceptance rates at colleges throughout the country, and strong students who expected a bushel basket of acceptance letters often ended up with a peck of yeses and a pound of wait-list offers, or maybes.
The first college application deadline is months away for the Class of 2013, but after seeing what happened to this year’s applicants, two big questions loom large for the parents of next year’s college hopefuls. What does it all mean, and why is college admissions such a mystery?
The answer to the second question is easy. It isn’t a mystery.
I know, I know—college admissions officials say they aren’t looking for a minimum test score or grade point average, not everyone has to do community service, and essays and interviews may or may not strengthen a student’s application file.
But just because that answer doesn’t produce a formula predicting a student’s chances for admission, it doesn’t mean the process a mystery. In fact, it is a process very familiar to anyone in the business world.
Consider this. An executive picks up a ringing phone and hears someone sobbing on the line. “I don’t understand” the voice says, choking back tears, “I had superb scores, my letters were impeccable, and you yourself said my interview was great. What went wrong?”
This certainly is the conversation hundreds of college admissions executives recently had with students who didn’t get admitted to college, but it’s also the conversation thousands of business executives have had with applicants who didn’t get the administrative assistant’s job at their company.
An applicant had wonderful reference letters, did stellar work on the typing test, and showed great timing with the joke they made in the interview, but they still didn’t get the job.
Anyone on a hiring committee knows how awkward these calls can be, because nothing you say is all that comforting--even the truth. “We were very impressed by your energy and your skills, and it was really a tough decision. But we were flooded with more applicants than ever before, and while you would have been very successful here, we simply didn’t have room to accommodate every strong candidate.”
Read that to the nearest high school senior, and see if it rings a bell.
Comparisons between the business world and college admissions have their limits, especially when it comes to measuring success.
Still, anyone who’s ever had to look a bright young face in the eye and say “What would you bring to this company?” should be able to relate to the messy mix of college admissions decisions in a heartbeat and respect it for what it is; an effort to make the best decision for an applicant, using qualities that can and can’t be measured, while meeting the ever-changing needs of the institution itself.
Champions of the campaign to make schools more like businesses, take note. The college admissions office long ago took a page from your human resources playbook—and unlike HR, they get calls from parents of unsuccessful applicants. That alone deserves some recognition.
Finally, it’s interesting to note most of the prolonged head scratching and chest-thumping that happened this year came from the parents of high school seniors, and not the students themselves. The students who received the bad news have already fallen in love with another college they wisely applied to last fall, and they are looking forward to building a bright future there come this September.
That right there should tell you what it all really means for next year’s aspiring applicants.
Choosing a College? Now is the Time
It’s getting down to the wire for choosing a college. This Tuesday is the day you have to tell one college you’ll be coming in the fall—but like all ideas that are simple (“just hold on to the football and run that way”), the road to writing “I’m coming” in an e-mail can have many twists and turns:
May 1 means May 1 With a record number of applicants, there are plenty of students who will be happy to be called off the waitlist Wednesday morning, so there’s really no wiggle room here. Since most colleges also want a deposit along with your e-mail/postcard/letter, there is a very slight chance they’ll give you an extension if you don’t have the cash—but then again, you’ve had at least a month to work that out. Call the admissions office if money is an issue, but start searching your couch for spare change-- most likely, Tuesday really is the end.
One deposit means one deposit Colleges patiently wait until May 1 to make all kinds of plans to make their students happy—and if you’ve told them “yes”, that includes you. But if this is one of two colleges you’ve told “yes” to; if you later decide “yes” really means “no”, and if 20 students decide to do this to the college you really end up attending, both colleges can be out millions of dollars, leading them to cancel classes, lay off teachers, and cancel the gourmet food service contract, making their students rather un-happy. I’m betting you don’t want to pay $40,000 for a college where the class size is 100 and lunch consists of variations of Mystery Meat. Neither does anyone else—make one deposit, and start looking at swatches for your prom colors (note to guys—at least pretend to be interested).
Waitlisted? It’s OK to deposit somewhere else If a college has told you “maybe”, you need to treat May 1st as if you weren’t going to be called off a waitlist-- use the options you currently have, and decide what to do. If that means depositing at another college, they will understand if you call them in two weeks to tell them you’ve been liberated from collegiate limbo by the school of your dreams. If that means you’re not going to go to college, see your school counselor now. This is a great choice if you have a plan, but if you’re only doing this to punish the school that put you on hold, they will not be feeling your pain—only you will. Choose carefully.
Not going to a college that said yes? Tell them Before you head off to Burgers Is Us to celebrate your college choice, be sure to contact the other colleges that offered you admission to let them know you won’t be coming. Your note/e-mail doesn’t have to be elaborate—“Thank you for your offer of admission, but I plan on attending another college”—but these fourteen words could give life to a waitlisted student hoping to have their own college celebration. Do something nice for someone you’ll never meet—move the process along by telling the colleges your space is available.
Live the lesson In following these four pieces of advice, you will show the ability to meet deadlines, tell the truth when no one is watching, walk away from disappointment with a better sense of self, and help out someone when there’s nothing in it for you.
And you thought college was just about Frisbees and staying out late on a school night.
Understanding Financial Aid Awards
Award letters can be a little dense, and no two are structured the same way, so comparing apples to apples can be challenging. Since paying for a college education is like buying a new car every year for four consecutive years, understanding what you’re getting into is a must. Here’s how:
Start the hunt again. If your choices really don’t thrill you, wait until May 5th. That’s when colleges discover they have unexpected openings—and of course they’ll want to fill them. Getting financial aid might be a challenge, but you never know—call the admissions office, or look at the Space Availability Report at www.nacacnet.org – but remember, that may mean you risk having no school at all next fall.
Three College Admission Trends That Seem Here to Stay
Hollywood might think The Hunger Games is being released this Friday, but college-bound families know the craving for meaty college messages has been on for three months. Early returns suggest applicants will be seeing an increase in three trends that could make April fools out of student and counselor alike, unless we plan ahead. Here's what to expect when decisions come out next week:
Another Year of Increased "No's" The U.S. birth rate may suggest a decline in the number of high school graduates, but colleges are still receiving record numbers of applications. Two years ago, the University of Michigan received 32,000 applications, and that number jumped to 40,000 last year when U-M joined the easier-to-complete Common Application. Predictions of a flat 2011-2012 may fall flat themselves, if the reports of increased applications at other Common App colleges are any indication.
Since colleges aren't getting any bigger, more applications mean more rejection notices, including no's to students who would have been sure bet admits two years ago. There's a good chance one or two seniors you know will get caught in the surprise; to support them, be ready to talk about the number of applicants again this year, confident you can say it was a record-breaking year.
Waitlists Are Something More and Something Less Increased applications also means more students will be hearing "maybe" on a day when they had hoped to hear "yes." More than one student has told me that being on the waitlist of a college is actually worse than being denied, since you have no idea if your name is going to be taken off the list, *and* you still have to make plans as if you weren't going to be admitted. It's a good thing senior prom doesn't work this way; imagine how a student would feel on the dance floor when their partner points to someone across the room and says "There's my first choice."
Waitlists may not be new, but their function took a big turn a couple of years ago, when more Duke applicants were waitlisted than admitted. Now most colleges use the waitlist as both an economic necessity and a kind of beauty prize for applicants who would have been admitted just a couple of years ago.
Students know this, but still hope against hope they'll be called off one of the six waitlists they may be on. Make sure they come back from their journey to the World of What If long enough to put a deposit in at a school they will love, just in case all six "could be" schools turn in to "could have been" schools.
July-Applying Juniors If you think all of next week's action will involve only seniors, think again. Hundreds of juniors will see the solemn faces and quiet tears of their role models and decide they know how to make sure this doesn't happen to them -- they'll just apply earlier. Even the most morose senior would tell them this logic is faulty, if they were asked. But it's likely juniors won't be asking anyone about this "discovery;" they'll just act on it on their own.
The college application process is certainly starting sooner, but there are very few reasons to apply to a college in the summer, and many good reasons not to. Mayan predictions aside, make sure the temptation to apply in July doesn't lead to the end of a junior's college world; steer them to a counselor, who can explain why it's better to wait.
March 19 The Best Advice When a College Says NoLast week's column invited you to test your college knowledge. The eight questions may seem to be pretty obscure, but the answers-- and the ideas behind the answers—give high school students something to consider as they build their college lists, and think about the purpose of college in the first place….
…and here they are:
1. What one skill must every graduate of the University of Chicago possess? Like many colleges, Chicago requires all students to pass a swim test. Some say this requirement makes sure alumni are more likely to give money to their alma mater than drown; others incorrectly assume this mandate is based on a gift given by the parents of a deceased student who drowned while pledging to a fraternity. Chicago says it’s just a long standing requirement for graduation.
What you should consider Some colleges have graduation requirements, including specific core academic courses all students must take, while others have no core requirements at all. Make sure you know the expectations of every college on your list, and think about how much flexibility you want or need in your college experience—and remember, less structure isn’t always a good thing for everyone.
2. Colorado College and Cornell College offer something few other colleges can. What is this special quality? Students at these two colleges take only one class at a time. Each class lasts a little over three weeks; after a day or two to rest and reflect on what that class offered, students begin the next class.
What you should consider This “one at a time” approach can be a huge help to students who want to focus their energies on one subject, and it certainly keeps homework plans organized. This is one reason why some colleges offer a “4-1-4” calendar, where you can focus on one class in an intense January term, while taking 15-week classes in the fall and spring.
On the other hand, some students need more time to let ideas sink in; if that’s you, you’ll probably want to look at colleges that have a traditional 15 or 16-week calendar, rather than an intense study period, or perhaps even a 10-week quarter system. Give this some thought as you build your college options.
3. Berea College and Cooper Union are attractive to students for the same reason. What is it? Berea and Cooper Union are both tuition free. While there are other costs to consider (room and board, which may be covered for students showing financial need), the idea of a private college being tuition free for all students makes everyone stop and think twice about what they might be able to afford.
What you should consider Be careful not to let the sticker price be the deal breaker for any college. Private colleges often have additional sources of income that can make them as affordable as public colleges, and since every college now has a net price calculator, it’s easier than ever to get some idea how much a college will really cost you. Additional information can be found at College Navigator, and by calling the financial aid office of any college. Like everything else in education, the only bad question is the one that goes unasked—if you don’t know, make the call.
4. The One O’clock Lab Band is one of the most prestigious college jazz bands in the nation. Where is it located? Hepcats on either coast will be amazed to know The University of North Texas hosts this elite musical group, which has been nominated for six Grammys. This is just one of a number of jazz bands at UNT, which has a music program most people look right past, since it’s not a conservatory or housed at a large university.
What you should consider Make sure you ask around about college options. I’ve been a college counselor for 26 years, but I found out about UNT from the owner of a local music store. There can be a wealth of college information from artists, musicians, teachers, business professionals and more—again, all you have to do is ask, or check on the web sites of various professional associations. Your counselor can help you make sure you aren’t just getting the personal advice of an alumna/ae who is crazy about their college, but it’s still better to find out and learn how to sort out strong advice from weak.
5. Name the one attribute Agnes Scott College, Hope College, and Goucher College have in common. These are three colleges listed in the excellent guide Colleges That Change Lives by Lauren Pope. A distinguished education journalist, Pope spent a long and productive retirement telling students and parents what to really look for in a college. He wrote a book praising the exceptional work of a few dozen colleges where student learning clearly came first.
What you should consider CTCL colleges are smaller and focused on the liberal arts -- but read the book even if this isn't what you think you're looking for in a college. You'll develop an outlook on the real purpose of college that will let you see qualities -- both good and bad -- in any college you wouldn't be able to see without the book. CTCL is the key to personalizing a college search -- well, after reading College is Yours 2.0 as well. (You can get a taste of this perspective by viewing the CTCL website.)
6. Many colleges offer a study abroad program, but only two colleges had every 2010 graduate participate in study abroad. Name them. Goucher College and Soka University of America get the nod for full study abroad participation, but the entire list of colleges with high rates is worth a close look.
What you should consider No matter where you head to college, ask ahead about study abroad opportunities. Many colleges offer study abroad as an option, but may be part of a college consortium that offers joint programs. This could expand the number of places to visit, but limit the number of students from your college that can attend. Also, ask if study abroad is covered in the tuition costs, and if participating will put you behind schedule for graduating in four years. The travel may be worth the extra time and money, but the time to know that is now.
7. National Merit Scholars need to know about The University of Alabama and Wayne State University. Why? These two schools offer full tuition scholarships to all National Merit finalists. Other schools have similar offers -- check here.
What you should consider You don't have to be a National Merit finalist to earn great college scholarships -- many colleges will offer big financial incentives to students based solely on grades and/or test scores. Merit Aid is a great place to begin this search -- just double check with each college to make sure the offers will apply after next year.
8. Bates College, Lawrence University, and Wake Forest University are only three of hundreds of colleges that offer an important option few students know about. What is it? These are three of the growing number of colleges that don't require any test scores at all (SAT or ACT) for admission for all or most of their applicants.
What you should consider Most students don't know test optional colleges even exist, while others think these colleges must be only so-so at best. The FairTest list not only proves they're real, but they're also really good -- and Lawrence is still taking applications for next fall! It's probably still wise to take the tests, but a look at the list should easy any test stress -- no matter how you score, great colleges want to hear from you.
February 22 So you Think you Know Your Colleges?
This is the time of year most juniors begin their college search, the quest to find the next school experience that will help them realize their career goals, expand their understanding of what the world is all about, and make sure they have something to do on Friday nights.
This is a pretty big step, and there are many factors to take into consideration when putting a college list together—location, quality of academic programs, cost, size, distance from home, and more. Students can get a good start on their college search by using an online college tool like the ones on Zinch and College Board to create a list of colleges based on personal interests…
…but before you create the list, this little quiz can help expand your understanding of all of the possibilities that are out there. Some of the answers are well-known, and others are harder to find, but all of them point out new ways to look at what college is all about, and offer approaches to the college hunt that can help you personalize your search.
A college search can help you make sense of the menu, but the answers to these questions can help you decide what you’re hungry for. See how many you can do without research, and post your answers to my blog on Huffington Post—on Monday, I’ll come back with the answers, and why they could be important to your college choice.
1. What one skill must every graduate of the University of Chicago possess?
2. Colorado College and Cornell College offer something few other colleges can. What is this special quality?
3. Berea College and Cooper Union are attractive to students for the same reason. What is it?
4. The One O’clock Lab Band is one of the most prestigious college jazz bands in the nation. Where is it located?
5. Name the one attribute Agnes Scott College, Hope College, and Goucher College have in common.
6. Many colleges offer a study abroad program, but only two colleges had every 2010 graduate participate in study abroad. Name them.
7. National Merit Scholars need to know about The University of Alabama and Wayne State University. Why?
8. Bates College, Lawrence University, and Wake Forest University are only three of hundreds of colleges that offer an important option few students know about. What is it?
February 16 Tenth Graders Getting College Mail?
“Excuse me, Dr. O’Connor?”
“Yes, uh---“
“Jason. I’m in the tenth grade.”
“Of course. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. It’s just that I’ve been spending so much time with—“
“The seniors. I know, but I wanted to ask you about all of this college mail I’m getting.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. I checked a box on the PSAT, giving them permission to tell colleges about me, and I guess they did.”
“I see. And how much mail have you received?”
“In the last month, about one hundred pieces.”
“A hundred?”
“Letters, post cards, magazines, and one really big refrigerator magnet. This doesn’t count the e-mails I’ve been getting.”
“About a hundred of those, too?”
“Probably double. Some ask me to e-mail back if I’m interested in their college, others give me links to sites where I can explore my majors or my careers.”
“Wow. That’s a lot of information.”
“And that’s why I came to you. Do I really have to respond to all of these requests?”
“Uh, I don’t think so.”
“But some of these colleges are pretty persistent. One sent me an e-mail on Monday, and a second one on Tuesday that said ‘Hey, you didn’t respond to our e-mail yesterday.’”
“Really?”
“They sent me two yesterday, one titled ‘Is Anybody There?’ and the other one from a student titled ‘Dude, How’s Your Pulse?’ I’m kind of afraid to open my e-mail account now.”
“I can see why, Jason.”
“Will the colleges be mad if I don’t answer? I mean, when I’m a senior, will they come back and say ‘Sorry, you didn’t respond to the twelve postcards we’ve sent you in the last two years?’”
“No Jason, they won’t. They’re only sending you all of this to see if you’re interested in their college, and to try and be one of the first colleges to contact you.”
“Do they think I’m more likely to go there if they keep sending me things?”
“Students will often see a college as special if that college contacts them early. Some students will return the postcard just to get the college off their backs.”
“But won’t that encourage the college to send even more materials?”
“Right.”
“Wow. This is more complicated than parallel parking. So what should I do?”
“Jason, are you an artist or an athlete?”
“No, not really.”
“Then take all of that college mail and put it in a grocery bag. Keep the bag in a closet, and when you’re a junior, bring it in to my office, and we’ll see what might be of interest to you.”
“What about the e-mails?”
“If you’d like to take a look at some of the programs to help you find possible careers or majors, knock yourself out—just remember, the results are suggestions, not orders.”
“I won’t lose out on a scholarship or anything if I ignore them?”
“Nope.”
“So I should just hold off on college for now?”
“It would be wise to visit three or four campuses by the start of junior year, just so you get a feel for what makes colleges different from one another. Other than that, this is really time to focus on high school.”
“Why did you ask if I was an artist or athlete?”
“Some of those materials tell artists what to put in their portfolios as part of their admission requirements, and other mailings tell athletes when to contact colleges. Since you aren’t either of those, this is way easier than parallel parking.”
“Word, Dr. O.”
February 10 Colleges and Financial Aid-- What to Know
We’re still in the middle of financial aid season, so we’ll take a look at some frequently asked questions about receiving aid from colleges.
Remind me again. What’s the
What do colleges do with this number? They use your
My
How do colleges help me pay for college? Most colleges offer three kinds of financial aid: Grants, or money you are given that you don’t have to pay back under most circumstances; Work study, where you take a part-time job at the college to pay off part of your tuition; loans, where you’re offered a low-interest loan you usually don’t have to start paying off until you’re out of school.
Will my financial aid be mostly loans? Over the past ten years, more and more colleges have been giving loans as a part of financial aid, while other colleges have eliminated loans all together. If loans are part of your financial aid package, ask the college about the terms of repayment, and make sure you look at other options besides loans.
Like what? This is where private scholarships can be a big help. If you win a $500 scholarship from your local chamber of commerce, you should report it to your college. Most colleges (that’s most colleges)
Do I have to accept an entire financial aid package, or can I just take the grants and work study? You have the right to take, reduce or turn down any part of a college’s financial aid offer. Students often turn down the loan portion, or accept only part of it, and decide they
Do colleges have to meet all of my aid? Unfortunately, many colleges don't have enough money to meet 100% of the financial needs of all students, and other colleges don't meet all of your need as a strategy to see is you can't pay more of your own way. Many colleges will advertise they meet all need as an incentive for students to apply; if you don't know, ask.
February 3 A Good Reason to Go See Your Counselor
February 6-10 is National School Counseling Week, and before you go rushing down to the mall to find the perfect card, let me save you the trip. Try as you may, you will find nothing between the Valentine’s Day cards and the Mardi Gras cards (Mardi Gras cards?) that best expresses your feelings for your school counselor on the inside, with a picture of Snoopy, Hoops and Yo-Yo, or even Maxine on the outside—even though many suspect Maxine was a school counselor in a previous life.
This lack of commercial interest in National School Counseling Week is completely understandable, since no one really seems to know what school counselors do. As a result, Congress won’t be adding another national holiday to February any time soon, especially since they already make Abraham Lincoln and George Washington share one day in February for their birthdays.
National School Counseling Week may not have anything on the Super Bowl, but there are still plenty of reasons to thank school counselors for all they are doing, and to thank them this week:
The number of students they work with is far too high. Christopher Tremblay at the University of Michigan-Dearborn estimates there are 459 students for every public school counselor, far above the recommended caseload of 250 students per counselor, and far more than the 225 or so students some high school teachers work with.
They teach more than one subject. Considering teachers help students in only one subject (like English) and counselors help students with academic advising, personal counseling, career counseling, crisis management, college counseling, and getting to class on time, it’s understandable if they don’t have time to tell us what they do—they are too busy trying to do it.
They can’t do a lot of counseling. From scheduling to testing to discipline to being a last-minute sub for a Math class they aren’t certified to teach, counselors’ days are filled with activities that have nothing to do with helping students understand more about themselves or the world around them. Try to cook 3-minute eggs in 30 seconds, and you’ll have some idea about a counselor’s typical day.
They don’t get enough training. Recent studies show counselors themselves admit they were poorly trained for the work they’re supposed to do, especially when it comes to college counseling and career advising. They try and learn these skills on the job, but too often, they just don’t have the time. This is changing, but it has a long way to go.
They don’t get enough thanks. Students applying to college never tell counselors when they get admitted, parents asking for advice never call back to tell them what happened, and students wanting personal advice are too busy looking forward to thank those who kept them from moving backwards. Teachers see student progress in grades, but students don’t get graded in the counseling curriculum, since it’s tough to put a grade on a changed life.
Since a greeting card is out, what’s the best gift to give a caring counselor? U-M’s Christopher Tremblay says if you have a spare 5 billion dollars, you could hire enough counselors to get the country to that dream caseload of 250 to 1—for a year. If not, think about dropping an e-mail or note at the office, thanking the counselors for all they do, and asking what you can do to help. That may not seem like much, but you’d be amazed what a few words of encouragement can do at the right time.
Just ask a school counselor.
January 31 Applying for Financial Aid? Do Your Homework
It's no surprise that financial aid is a big part of a student's decision where to go to college. The good news is that the federal government and private resources are offering more money than ever to meet this growing need. The challenge is to understand where to look for financial help, how to apply for it, and what to watch out for.
Your first step is to contact the financial aid office of your new school. A Web search will show you the steps you need to take to register for financial aid, and one of them will almost definitely be to apply for federal college money by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You should fill out the form online -- it's faster that way -- and you'll need some basic information about your income and any savings accounts or other investments. If you can gather all of the information you need to fill out your taxes, you'll be all set, and if you need help filling out the form (and almost everyone does), call your college.
Once you submit the information to the government, you will get a Student Aid report, or SAR -- this will explain if you're eligible for any student financial aid from the United States government. While many people qualify for federal help, not everyone does -- but you still have to apply for federal aid before most colleges will decide if they will help you pay for college. Don't be discouraged if the government says they can't help you. Instead, call the financial aid office at your college and ask them what you need to do next -- and be sure to have your SAR handy when you call. They may want you to fill out another form, and while the idea of filling out yet another form may be a little frustrating, remember that this may be the form that can help you get college cash. Take a deep breath, complete the form, and ask for help if you need it.
If you're applying to technical or trade schools, there's a good chance they will ask you to fill out the FAFSA as well. Some tech schools might ask you to fill out forms for other government-based programs; if this is the case, be sure to check the website of these programs to make sure they're legitimate.
Once you qualify for money for college, it's time to ask some very important questions. Some scholarships or grants require you to pass all of your classes, or to keep a certain grade-point average -- if you don't, you might actually have to pay that money back. If you get a loan, you REALLY want to check out the terms of the loan -- find out what the interest rate is, when you have to start paying it back, and how long you'll be paying it back. Student loans are very serious business, since they can impact your credit rating -- so if you don't have to take a loan, don't.
Some programs offer work study opportunities, where you pay off part of your education by working at the school. This can be a great deal, but remember you have to have time to study, be with your family, and maybe work your regular job, too. Before you finalize your financial aid plans, talk them over with a counselor -- they can help you see the big picture, and understand exactly what you're committing to.
January 19 The Wrong Story (Again) on Applying to College
Your school may see an uptick in anxious college students this week in grades 9-12. NBC Nightly News recently ran a piece on college essay writing, and since the title was “Cracking the Code”, you can probably sort out it was not intended to be a soothing, reassuring, in-depth discussion on the purpose behind college essays and the quirky questions some colleges ask.
To be sure, there were some helpful bites of advice in this two minute (!) story. One college admission officer talked about the college’s need to see students in a three-dimensional way—and creative questions bring out a side of the student test scores and grades can’t convey. This same officer was later quoted as saying “Relax. Be yourself”, another sage piece of counsel students should cling to.
Instead, most parents and students are focusing on the mayhem portrayed in the two minutes of mashed-up quotes and out-of-context comments that surrounded these two very sane ideas: The college association official who saw the questions as degrading; the stressed-out parent who felt the response length of the question required their child to write a general answer, not a specific one; the well-meaning counselor who said the real purpose of such essays is for colleges to discover the next Bill Gates.
Combine this in a series of four-second quotes, and it would be easy for a viewer to feel like they just got off a roller coaster—a sensation that could be seen as helpful to students, since Emory University’s quirky question asks students to describe their favorite ride at an amusement park.
But to those who are investing more than just two minutes into the college selection process—and that would be student, parents, their counselors, and college admissions officers—the NBC piece was more of a hindrance than a help. Since the deadlines have passed for most colleges requiring these essays, the story is so forty-three seconds ago. Because the tempo of the story created a whirl of impressions rather than a substantive discussion, it’s easy to think the producers of the story wanted to create that effect and affect, since they feel applying to college must certainly make students feel the same way—but how does that help anyone?
It would be easy for students and parents to cave in to the conventional wisdom that college admissions is either a code to be cracked or a recipe to be followed; the only problem with these conclusions is they are wrong. Applying to college is all about what’s next in student’s lives, the building of a plan that will lead them to a larger sense of self, increased opportunities in the world, and more chances to give back to a culture that has given them so much.
Stories like this might lead everyone to want to throw in the towel, but all of those stressed-out students looking for answers means they know the NBC story is wrong, and they are looking for what’s right. It’s too bad the media has once again offered the wrong message about college admission, but this creates an opportunity for students and parents to reach out to your counselor to remember what’s real—believe me, this story is irritating counselors enough to want to tell everyone the truth. It isn’t the best motivational method, but let’s see where it can take us.
So now, one more time, let’s remember with newfound purpose—“College admission is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.”
That, my friends, is the real headline news.
January 12 Holiday Leftovers Impacting your College Plans?
It’s January, time for some of you to think about semester exams, most of you to think about basketball, and many of you to think about the Sadie Hawkins Dance.
In the middle of this great fun, however, some of you aren’t looking ahead— instead, you’re looking back at the holidays, and seeing the damage they may have done to your college plans.
Consider the situations these students had to deal with:
“My aunt came in from Fresno and said I’d never make anything out of my life if I don’t take Algebra I by eighth grade.”
“My brother came home from college and laughed at me for wearing a varsity jacket. He wore the same thing in high school!”
And my all-time favorite:
“My parents got a little carried away with the whole ‘Peace on Earth’ theme of the season, and decided colleges want me to help the poor. What can I do?”
It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the opinions of others, but that usually leaves you walking down their path, not yours. If you have a friend looking in the rearview mirror, get them to face forward with these approaches:
-- Auntie may have meant well when she decided to share the academic advice she heard on talk radio, but this really didn’t help, since students are perpetually worried about who they are and how they compare to others.
What to say? Try this:
“So, if you were taking Algebra I now, what grade do you think you’d have?”
Assuming the student answers something like D, F, or Q, respond by saying:
“So your aunt really thinks that would impress a college?”
That’s really all you need to do.
-- There’s an excellent chance the student who needs the real help is the big brother who’s back at college, not the little brother who wore no jacket at all to school today. Chances are you’ll be a true friend by saying this:
“Dude, that doesn’t look like your brother’s jacket. That’s yours, right? You earned it, right? Then I guess you have the right to wear it with pride, just like everybody else on the team
And that will probably be the end of that.
-- I’d need a week to articulate my dismay over the parental attitude of “go help the needy—it will help you get into college.” Sure, colleges like students who care about the world and want to make it a better place—but if you’re volunteering at the local soup kitchen just to get into college, you’re looking right past the people who need a smile, some encouragement, or the feeling of how cool it is that someone in high school is talking to them—and don’t underestimate how much that means to adults.
Since you (or your friend) now realize community service is about a difference you can make, not a medal to be displayed, it’s time to share that outlook with the parents. Ask your counselor or Honor Society adviser (hey, they won’t bite you if you’re not a member) for a list of community service projects. That list should then be presented to parents with this comment:
“Here’s a list of activities we can do as a family in our community—I’d really like to do this with you, so we can make a difference together.”
See, remember what I said about how adults think hanging with high school students is cool? It’s especially true for your parents.
December 18 One More College Essay to Write
Seniors, I have some news-- college is going to have to wait. You’ve been drafted.
With this economy, Santa and Hanukah Harry have had to consolidate their workshops. Banks aren’t sure the merger will work, so the pre-holiday line of credit they need for inventory is being withheld, and the Federal government has refused to intervene. The globe’s gift-giving leaders are offering community service credit for anyone willing to pitch in and close the gap—and what college in their right mind is going to look past a letter of recommendation from the Big Two?
You’re busy with college applications, but helping out SC and HH won’t take very long—in fact, you don’t even have to leave your keyboard. Put your college essays aside for a second, and start a new document; the gift you need to give is heading to your high school counselor.
OK, now look—language like that is going to move you to the top of the Eternally Naughty list. I know it’s not all that cool to come out and ask for a present, and while this isn’t an easy thing to do, your counselor deserves this. I know some of you think they haven’t been all that much help with your college plans, but if you had 435 kids, I bet you’d have trouble remembering their birthdays, let alone where they’re applying to school...
…and don’t worry if you don’t know what they want—I have that all covered.
Vacation’s coming up, and with buddies home from college and family in from out of town, you may have to make some choices that were clear in Health class, but less so when they’re right in front of you. What your counselor wants this holiday season if for you to stick to your guns; college or no, you’ve got a future that will only be possible if you’re around to live it, and knowing you’re willing to do your part will make your counselor’s holiday.
The gift comes in two parts. First, copy and paste the following few lines, fill in the blanks, and e-mail it to your counselor (their e-mail is on the school Web site, just in case it’s not on your address list):
“Dear Counselor (putting their name in would be a nice touch, but do what you can):
Just so you know, I’ll take care of myself over the holidays. When I hang out with my college and high school buddies, I’ll use my head, and I’ll make sure somebody sober drives me home—same thing with family events. In fact, if Brad and Angelina split, and one of them pulls to the curb in a Porsche and asks me to go clubbing with them, I’m checking their BAC first—while I get a phone photo of me leaning on the Porsche, of course.
I hope this helps you sleep through the night over break. I’ll see you in two weeks.
Sincerely,
(sign here)”
I can see Santa and Harry smiling already—better yet, so is your counselor
Oh, right—the second thing you have to do? Mean it. They may not know your favorite color, but counselors didn’t go into this profession to do paperwork, and some of the work they’ve done to create opportunities for you is work you’ll never know about. Your school counselor may not be up there with Santa and Harry, but they’ve kept an eye out for you in their own way; think of this as their milk and cookies for the holidays, and we’ll all be better off.
Especially you.
December 15:
All That Work for Nothing? Think Again
Word is, a student on a TV show got bad news this week from her dream college. She applied early (action?) and she was rejected.
I hear she took it badly, which clearly means her counselor forgot to tell her quite a few things:
In case you find yourself in the same boat, or perhaps deferred, I have one word of advice. OK, it’s actually a number.
850.
No, this is not the high score on some new version of the SAT. 850 is the number of valedictorians recently rejected from one of America’s most prestigious colleges. True, this was in the regular applicant pool, but still, these students represented the best in their high schools; they did everything they were “supposed” to do—and yet, they didn’t even get to the wait list.
At this point, you’re probably thinking one of two things:
It had to be hard to be turned down by a school they loved—but did all of that preparation really lead to nothing? Given everything these students had learned, the many ways they had grown, and how they overcame adversity and embraced creativity in making Plans B, C, and Q, did they really get nothing out of it?
If so, they have every right to be unhappy, but not with the college. They should be unhappy for letting the sun rise and set 1307 times from the first day of 9th grade to the day the college said no, never once appreciating all that each of those days had to offer.
They should hang their heads a little to realize, just now, the difference they’ve made to their classmates, their teammates, and the people they served in the soup kitchen.
And if they look back with a little regret on the many times they blew off a compliment from a parent or a teacher because the goal of college wasn’t realized just yet, that’s more than OK. They now know it was at that moment that the goal of fully living each day was conquered with a flourish—and understanding that will make each day all the richer at the wonderful college that had the good sense (and room) to take them.
What about you, and the colleges you’ve applied to? They’re looking for great students who have done wonderful things with their lives. That goes beyond test scores and class rank—it goes to who you are, what you care about, and how you see the world. Problem is, they run out of room before they run out of highly qualified applicants.
The thing to focus on then, is not who told you no, but who tells you yes. If a college wants you but runs out of room, that’s their fault; if they don’t see you for who you really are, well, maybe that’s not the place for you after all. Either way, your contributions will be greatly admired, and badly needed, by the college that has the good sense to tell you yes—which means any no, from any college, simply cannot touch you.
Next time you’re in Hollywood, pass that along to our femme fatale.
December 8th:
College Decisions Come Out Next Week. Are You Ready?
The first round of early college decisions will be released next week, and things look especially tense for two reasons. A number of bizarre articles cropped up online this fall, telling students the best thing they could do to improve their chances of admission at top notch schools was to apply Early Decision. Based on percentages, the articles said, students stood a much better chance of getting in by applying ED.
That’s all well and good, except the article didn’t say students admitted as ED applicant have to attend that college and agree to withdraw all other college applications immediately.
Oops!
The same increase is happening with Early Action applications, where admitted students have until May 1 to make their choice—the only advantage of Early Action is that students hear early. Because a handful of college increased the number of EA students they admitted last year, the word in the senior hallway was that all colleges “liked” students to apply EA. The result? A record number of EA decisions are also expected, including more early admits—after all, if more students are applying early, it makes sense to take more applicants early.
What does all of this mean if you applied early? Here goes:
-More early applicants means more early denials. Colleges may like to take students early, but they aren’t going to take everyone who applies early—and unlike five years ago, more colleges are simply going to say no to those who don’t get in, rather than give them a second look with the regular applicants in January.
-Since more colleges are taking early students, those seniors getting a “no” next week are less likely to get admitted to any college that has an early program. More early admits means fewer regular admits, so these students will be competing for fewer spaces at many selective colleges come January.
Combined, this one-two combination means you should do your best Santa imitation, and get out your list and check it twice. If every college on your list has some kind of early program (and most of the highly selective ones do), you may want to find two or three colleges that either don’t have early programs, or aren’t quite as selective.
If it turns out you end up with a few “yes” decisions next week, all is well; if the increased early applicant pool finds you on the deferred list, you’ll be able to send off those extra apps in plenty of time to meet the January 1 deadline—and perhaps be considered for some merit scholarships to boot.
Once that’s done, it’s time to touch base with any college that deferred you from their early applicant pool. Deferral isn’t as great as yes, but it isn’t nearly as bad as no; deferral is the college’s way of saying “tell us more.” If all you do is send back the postcard to ask them to keep you on the list, you’re really not telling them much at all; instead, send them a three paragraph letter, where you tell them:
- you’re disappointed you didn’t get in;
- you still want to go there;
- you’ve been busy doing great things since you applied, and here’s what they are.
Once you bring them up to speed on what you’ve been doing and how much you still love their college, get back to the books. Nothing shows greater college interest than great senior grades, and since they’ve asked for them, now is the time to rise to the occasion.
November 15 How Much Will College Cost? A Better Way to Know
The first college acceptance letters are in the mail, hitting many homes just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. This puts college-bound seniors in the happy position of being able to share their good news with the right mix of humility and glee, but it also puts their parents at risk of having to face the kitchen conversation when Aunt Teresa pulls them aside and says:
“Great school—but can you really afford that?”
While parents had to previously make up an answer to this query, the US government is giving them a reason for more thanks this year. Part of a larger package of educational reforms, the Net Price Calculator was created by Congress a little while ago. It gives parents a reasonably good estimate of what they would actually have to pay for their child to attend a specific college; every college must have a Net Price Calculator on their financial aid Web site as of October, 2011.
If it delivers on its promise, the NPC not only gives you fodder to respond to Aunt Teresa; it also gives you a tool you can take to your tax planner or financial adviser and say “OK, here’s what it looks like—how can we pull this off?”
The best way to fully understand an NPC is to look at one—and there’s a dandy one on the Web page for Albion College, found at http://www.albion.edu/admission/scholarships-and-financial-aid/net-price-calculator Give it a spin, and as you do, keep these points in mind:
If used correctly, the NPC can be the gravy on top of a Thanksgiving meal of gratitude, since it can tell you the college that just said yes is affordable to boot. Just proceed with caution, and if you have questions, ask.
November 11
College Applications are Up, Bringing the Power of a Magnum Force
In honor of the debut of J. Edgar, this week’s column is dedicated to actor-director
Clint Eastwood.
The Good College applications are up, and that is excellent news. Following a long-standing trend, more students are applying to college, and these students are applying to more colleges. For the most part, this means students are interested in building a better future, and are willing to consider more colleges in creating that future.
The Bad College applications are up, and that can be distressing news for those who applied. More applicants means colleges have more students to choose from; it can also mean a college that readily admitted students with a B average last year can now choose from many more students with a B+ average this year. Counselors always tell students every year is different, and that’s clearly the case this year.
The Ugly Because many of these applications were submitted through Early application programs, more students will be getting the word in mid-December that their application has been deferred or denied. Either way, “maybe” or “sorry” isn’t “you’re in”, leaving many students to wonder what’s next.
The deluge of pre-December applications leaves students with three choices:
- Ask yourself “what now” when you have the time, resources, and opportunity to do something about it, even though you’re not sure what the December mail might bring.
- Wait to get the e-mail/letter/text message in December that is something other than “yes”, then ask yourself the same question.
- Decide everyone else who applied has lower quality grades, scores, and essays than you do, and isn’t averaging 21 points a game, and hope better news comes along in April.
From a counselor’s view of the world, these options also pay homage to Clint. The first option is clearly the good one; pull out your college list, take it to your counselor, and ask if the sure fire admit you applied to in September still looks like a sure thing. If there’s any doubt, it’s time to find another college to apply to; many have merit scholarships for those who apply early, many have strong programs that would leave you challenged and happy, and many can still turn around an application before December break.
The middle option has significantly bad risk, especially this year. Waiting to apply could mean you lose out on scholarship consideration, it definitely puts you behind all the seniors who decided to plan ahead and do something today, and you risk rushing the application to your counselor, only to find you are Student 140 in the application line, and yours won’t be heading out until January, leaving you further behind.
Option 3 is where things just get ugly. I know Rory Gilmore only applied to Harvard, Princeton, and Yale with no state or national honors and one lone extracurricular. I also know Rory Gilmore is a fictitious person whose well being was up to the person who created her; unless your parent is a dean of admission, you aren’t as fortunate, and this year’s class is big and bright.
Like life, applying to college is the right mix of head and heart, of thinking big and taking a million small steps that add up to that big. The early application rush is no reason to give up either one; expect the best when the mail comes in a month, but walk the tightrope now that makes sure you know what one of those letters will say. This is no time to feel lucky, senior—keep your options open, and it will make your day come December.
November 4
Your Essay Limit Just Got Lowered. OK.
College applicants received a cold blast from the East this weekend, and I’m not talking about the snowstorm that created power outages across New England. This cold front was delivered by the New York Times, which had an article in its Sunday edition on the stress college-bound seniors were feeling.
Common Application, the non-profit that allows students to apply to hundreds of colleges with one uniform basic application, had reinstituted a word limit on the essay seniors can write this year. The limit was lifted last year, but colleges complained the essays were too long. Common App obliged them by putting the limit back on, and the Times piece focused on students in angst over having to scale their 800 word essays down to something reasonably close to the stated limit of 500 words.
Before you say “so what’s the big deal”, it’s important to know Common App has said all along that the 500 word essay isn’t being enforced, at least by them. If a student really wants to send an 800 word essay, they can; based on comments from Common App colleges, the Times piece suggested some of them would take notice, and possibly umbrage, with students who went much past 530, but if the student wanted to roll the dice, that was up to them.
OK—now I’ll say it with you. What’s the big deal?
Don’t get me wrong—it’s easy to see why students would be confused and a little adrift with the announcement that Common App’s essay had a limit that wasn’t being enforced by Common App; to a 17 year-old, that’s like a school having a tardy policy, when the teacher takes attendance at the end of class. Mix in the idea that a college may enforce the limit in some unknown way with the general tumult of applying to college, and the potion for problems is ready to serve…
…unless, of course, you just follow the rules.
It’s true each college has their own rules, so keeping track of all of them can be confusing, but there’s a way to do that (did you read College is Yours 2.0?) It’s also true there are some “rules” most colleges will let you bend, like sending one extra letter of recommendation, as long as it really says something different than the others (did you read College is Yours 2.0?)
It’s just as true colleges will be happy to read a 530 word essay that’s great, and they will be less happy to read a 250 word essay that isn’t great. (Well, there is one exception to this rule—but you’ll have to read College is Yours 2.0)
This last rule has been around forever, and the Times is telling you it’s back. So write what you have to say and edit it down to around 500 words. It makes for a better essay (really), it sharpens the editing skills you’ll need in college, and it brings you one step closer to learning which rules are real, and which ones have some flex. If it bothers you to think someone else is sending in a 750 word tome, think about how they’ll feel when the college rep reading it says, in their own way, “hoo boy.”
College is supposed to broaden your view of the world, and if it’s done well, so should applying to college. Plan A is now Plan B, and it’s going to help you get into college, not get in your way— in other words, little darling, I see the ice is slowly melting.
So aim for 500. It’s all right.
College Apps Going Nowhere? Try This!
The real challenge for a college counselor is how to help students whose first sense of application panic comes on a fall Saturday morning, when they bring a pen or laptop to the breakfast table, throw a last handful of Cocoa Doodles in their mouth, decide it’s time to take on that first application—and they freeze on the line that says “Name.”
In other words, they are coming out of the “College is Crazy” hype, and thinking about what they really want out of college for the first time in a long time, or for the first time ever.
I’m sorry I can’t be at your breakfast table when there’s nowhere to run to—if I could be there, I would tell you to go to your room.
Most students balk at filling out college applications because they view it as the first step towards leaving home. That’s easy to see; this is the place where you listen to your music, text message long after your parents have gone to bed, and think about your life. The world outside has changed and challenged you, sometimes in ways you didn’t like or didn’t completely master—but you always had home to sort out what it all meant, and looked forward to what came next. Giving this place up won’t be easy.
The good news is the colleges that are right for you will feel just like home. It may be in the dorm rooms, it may be at the library (hey, it happens), it may be the whole campus—but somewhere at those colleges, there is a spot waiting for you to reflect on the challenges of life, wonder about the possible, and text your BFFs til dawn. Once you think about college as your next home, completing the applications will be as easy as taking the written exam for your driver’s license, because both are just the paperwork that leads to a greater sense of freedom. In the end, going to college isn’t about leaving home—it’s about taking home with you.
The second thing I would do is replace your earbuds with soundproof headphones. The application to a college a student loves often heads to the shredder when a well meaning neighbor asks “Where is that college?”, or Uncle Bob reports the college is nowhere to be found in the recently published rankings. If it turns out no other student at the local high school is applying to this college, this can become a trifecta for trauma.
When this happens, I encourage students to make the mature choice and be selfish. By fall, college-bound students know who they are and what they want in a college. Knowing what you know about college and yourself, it’s important to keep the well-meaning insights of others in perspective—some may know you, some may know colleges, but very few (except your parents) will know both as well as you do. With self knowledge and college knowledge, everyone gets a best college, even if what’s best for you is different than what’s best for everyone else.
At this time of year, it’s easy to think it’s gonna take a miracle to get into college. You’ve worked too hard to believe in things that you don’t understand—instead, remember what home means to you, stay focused on what you’ve learned about college and yourself, and your college applications will go flying out the door so quickly, you’ll realize the miracle is you.
So pick up the pen, and pass the Cocoa Doodles. You can do this.
October 14, 2011
A Better Way to Write a College Essay (for Some)
“Excuse me, Dr. O’Connor?”
“Hey, Matt. What’s going on?”
“Lisa and I were talking about your college essay workshop, and we had an idea.”
“Great. What were you thinking about?”
“Well, remember when you told us essays for college applications really weren’t supposed to sound like speeches, and they were more like conversations on paper?”
“I do.”
“That really helped clear things up for me—I felt like I could write the way I would talk if the college rep were in the room. At one point, I was thinking about starting with ‘Zero score and about seventeen years ago, Matthew Brown came into this world’, but now I can see that’s not really the way to go, at least for me.”
“That really doesn’t sound like you, Matt.”
“Right, and that’s the thing. Lisa and I were talking about everything we got out of the workshop, but we were talking to each other through Fussbook.”
“Fussbook?”
“Oh—yeah. Fussbook is where you invite your friends to talk to each other on the Web. You know what the Web is, right Mr. O’Connor?”
“That newfangled thing all you youngins are using?”
“Yeah, that’s it. Anyway, we’re having this back and forth conversation, and Lisa finally has to go do her Math homework. For some reason, I went back and re-read our online conversation, but I just read the parts I typed in.”
“Really?”
“It was pretty amazing. Once I took out the ‘ums’ and ‘yeahs’ and the ‘LOLs’, what I had really written in little bits was a pretty good start to a college essay.”
“Wow. That’s pretty interesting, Matt.”
“Then I went back and looked at Lisa’s comments, and once you clean up the spelling, hers was pretty good too—except she’d really have to watch that ‘u’ for ‘you’ rule you talk about.”
“Colleges aren’t that keen about seeing text language in a college essay most of the time.”
“Right. And since we were discussing college essays, I knew I couldn’t really use that as a topic, since you said colleges weren’t crazy about a college essay that talks about writing a college essay.”
“Too many students have tried that topic and not used it very well, so it’s best to try something else.”
“Actually, I did. I was so excited about this idea, I stayed up last night and cranked out this college essay. I would type a sentence or two, think about what Lisa would type back if we were on Fussbook, and then type some more.”
“You did this last night? But the workshop was only yesterday.”
“And I know you tell us not to write essays during the week, because writing an essay after doing your homework means the essay will be kind of lame.”
“Matt, I think I said those essays are usually not as strong as they could be.”
“Yeah, Mr. O’Connor. That’s adult code for ‘lame.’
“I see.”
“Anyway, here’s the rough draft. Can you take a look, and I’ll come by at lunch so we can talk about it?”
“That would be great, Matt. Just looking at your first few paragraphs, I really like the tone. There are a couple of sentences that need some tweaking, and I’ll scan it to make sure your essay is free of ‘BFFs’.”
“Thanks. Um, Mr. O’Connor?”
“Yes Matt?”
“I can tell you right now there are no ‘BFFs’ in my essay. Most kids today usually see that expression of friendship as not as strong as it could be.”
“Got it. Is it hard keeping me up to date, Matt?”
“Give it time, dude.”
Using the Write Stuff on College Essays
Last week, we talked about lining up your college applications—what to do first, which ones can wait, when to send test scores, that kind of thing.
This week, we look at what most seniors see as the hardest part of the application—the essays. Essays are given a full-blown treatment in College is Yours 2.0, so it’s a good idea to get the book (just sayin’), but here are a few highlights:
Watch out for the “Why Us?” question. Online applications make it easier than ever to apply to one college or a million. That’s good news for students, but colleges want to make sure applicants do at least a little homework about the school before choosing to hit Submit.
What’s the best way to do this? Ask each student what they know about that particular college. “In 150 words, tell us how you found out about Our College, and what you’ve learned about us that makes it special to you.”
This question does two things. First, it’s one more essay question, and that can be enough for a casual applicant to say “no thanks” and move on. Second, it means serious applicants have to think back to when they visited campus or dig into the college’s Web site and think about what separates this college from all the rest. The successful answer to this essay can’t be used to describe any other college; if it can be, it’s time to re-write.
The other trick with this question is the length. Too often, eager students who really want to go to Our College put little thought into this question because the word count is so small—this leads them to think “How important can it be? They don’t want me to say all that much.”
And that would be the point. Since you only have 150 words (or sometimes, 150 characters), you really have to work at putting together a serious essay. This is sometimes the deal breaker in your application—it’s worth the effort.
Look for essays with minimum word counts. Another new trend in essays is asking students to write at least 500 words on the given topic. This is a real change from the typical limit where colleges want essays in 500 words or less.
So what are the colleges up to here? Two possibilities come to mind. One, they are trying to give you a break. They know it takes time, energy, and creativity to write these essays, so they don’t want you to lose sleep about which of your perfect paragraphs to purge from a 700 word essay. Two, they want to test your editing skills and self-control by seeing if you’ll take full advantage of the rules and write a college essay that rivals the combined length of the Harry Potter series.
My hunch is it’s more of the former, but a little of the latter. If colleges mean it when they say your essay is your voice, making you edit that voice is kind of like telling you to be quiet after they’ve asked you to speak up. Still, a 2000 word essay sends a message about what you may do with the freedom college brings. See what you can do with 800 words, and be sure to show it to someone else.
No more Twilight essays. Admission reps really do want to hear your voice, but not about this series—and they tell me the Harry Potter essays are getting a little tiresome as well. Proceed with caution—it could come back to bite you.
September 30, 2011
Applying to College? Get Organized
The college application season is about to shift into high gear, finding many students in front of a computer screen on Saturday morning, but looking at something other than classic cartoons and Angry Birds.
With so much information and so many applications to take on, it would be easy just to pick an application and jump in, but that college strategy can turn out to be as effective as the Red Sox approach to the pennant race.
The goal at this point is to keep as many college options open as possible, and you can do that by taking 15 minutes to put some order in a process that could otherwise leave you with Chaos State as your only college choice:
Put together a list of every college you want to apply to. Some folks will use a computer program to put this list together; others will use a spreadsheet, and some will simply find the back end of a yellow pad from their parents’ desk. Any and all of these will work, but you have to have a list of every college that’s up for consideration—even if it’s a long shot or an “I’m not sure”, it goes on the list.
Check their Web sites for three pieces of information. The search is on to discover:
-- Which tests the college requires
-- How many letters of recommendation each one requires
-- The date each application is due
Don’t touch that keyboard. Before you leave each Web site, check to see if the college admits students on a rolling basis, or on a rolling admissions schedule. This is important, because rolling colleges are first-come, first-serve; the sooner you apply, the sooner you will hear back, and the better your chances of admission. A college may say they’ll accept applications until February 1st, but applying to a rolling school on January 31 can mean tens of thousands of students have already applied and been admitted, leaving only a few slots for a lot of students. If the Web site isn’t clear, call the college and ask if they’re rolling—they will know what you mean.
Put your colleges in order by when the application is due. With all of this information, you work on the applications based on when they have to be in. As a rule, rolling apps are worked on first, since most colleges with a firm deadline give you until December or January to complete their paperwork.
If you’re still thinking “Shouldn’t I work first on the application with the most essays?”, go back and read the last paragraph again. Working on Essay 3 for a college that doesn’t need it until January may knock you out of consideration for a rolling admissions college that will receive 4,000 applications in the next two weeks, and the goal is keeping options open. Sort your colleges by deadline, and all will go well.
Send your test scores now. It takes about 3 weeks for ACT and SAT to get your test scores to your colleges, so make sure you order results ASAP to get the ball rolling. It’s OK if they get to campus before your application; colleges will hold onto the scores through next spring.
Touch base with your letter writers. You should have asked teachers last spring for letters of recommendation. If you did, now is the time to remind them of your deadlines; if you didn’t, now is the time to beg for mercy and ask for a letter.
That’s enough for now. Come back next week, and we’ll see how things are going.
February 6-10 is National School Counseling Week, and before you go rushing down to the mall to find the perfect card, let me save you the trip. Try as you may, you will find nothing between the Valentine’s Day cards and the Mardi Gras cards (Mardi Gras cards?) that best expresses your feelings for your school counselor on the inside, with a picture of Snoopy, Hoops and Yo-Yo, or even Maxine on the outside—even though many suspect Maxine was a school counselor in a previous life.
This lack of commercial interest in National School Counseling Week is completely understandable, since no one really seems to know what school counselors do. As a result, Congress won’t be adding another national holiday to February any time soon, especially since they already make Abraham Lincoln and George Washington share one day in February for their birthdays.
National School Counseling Week may not have anything on the Super Bowl, but there are still plenty of reasons to thank school counselors for all they are doing, and to thank them this week:
The number of students they work with is far too high. Christopher Tremblay at the University of Michigan-Dearborn estimates there are 459 students for every public school counselor, far above the recommended caseload of 250 students per counselor, and far more than the 225 or so students some high school teachers work with.
They teach more than one subject. Considering teachers help students in only one subject (like English) and counselors help students with academic advising, personal counseling, career counseling, crisis management, college counseling, and getting to class on time, it’s understandable if they don’t have time to tell us what they do—they are too busy trying to do it.
They can’t do a lot of counseling. From scheduling to testing to discipline to being a last-minute sub for a Math class they aren’t certified to teach, counselors’ days are filled with activities that have nothing to do with helping students understand more about themselves or the world around them. Try to cook 3-minute eggs in 30 seconds, and you’ll have some idea about a counselor’s typical day.
They don’t get enough training. Recent studies show counselors themselves admit they were poorly trained for the work they’re supposed to do, especially when it comes to college counseling and career advising. They try and learn these skills on the job, but too often, they just don’t have the time. This is changing, but it has a long way to go.
They don’t get enough thanks. Students applying to college never tell counselors when they get admitted, parents asking for advice never call back to tell them what happened, and students wanting personal advice are too busy looking forward to thank those who kept them from moving backwards. Teachers see student progress in grades, but students don’t get graded in the counseling curriculum, since it’s tough to put a grade on a changed life.
Since a greeting card is out, what’s the best gift to give a caring counselor? U-M’s Christopher Tremblay says if you have a spare 5 billion dollars, you could hire enough counselors to get the country to that dream caseload of 250 to 1—for a year. If not, think about dropping an e-mail or note at the office, thanking the counselors for all they do, and asking what you can do to help. That may not seem like much, but you’d be amazed what a few words of encouragement can do at the right time.
Just ask a school counselor.