Getting the Most Out of Summer

As the school year ends and summer is upon us, these next few months represent a significant opportunity to enhance college applications for rising juniors and seniors.   Many students go into the summer months unsure of how to most effectively balance their time between being a teenager enjoying the beach or pool and showing college admissions offices that they are serious about their academic and career interests.  While this may seem difficult, the reality is students can achieve both over the summer without one infringing upon the other.  

There are many great options to consider that do not require students to spend their entire summer break focusing on what’s best for my college applications.  Many opportunities can be done on a part-time basis, online or completed on your own schedule.

Here are few ideas:

•  Volunteer / Community Service – Choose an experience that is meaningful to you but   also  purposeful to your academic and career goals.
• Internship – Internships come in all shapes and sizes, many organizations need interns to work on those important “summer projects” that they don’t have time to work on throughout the year.
• College Class – Colleges and universities offer a number of classes over the summer in a condensed term schedule both in person and online. 
• Coursera Course – Coursera offers thousands of courses on diverse topics.  Courses vary in length and commitment with some even being offered for free.
• Get a Job – As novel as this might sound in today’s world, a summer job shows commitment and dedication.

Regardless of which of these options you choose, your summer can be filled with fun extracurricular activities that will get the attention of college admissions’ offices.

Writing “Your” Admissions Essay

The college admissions essay has triggered fear and procrastination in high school seniors for decades. Where to start, what to write?  To me, the essay offers a distinctive opportunity to provide the admissions committee with information not found in the application, transcripts or test scores.  The 2017-2018 Common Application has seven essay prompts providing each student the opportunity to select a topic that is both meaningful and personal. 

The essay offers students the chance to show the committee your personality through a story that is uniquely yours.  Given this opportunity, your writing style should follow a few simple rules.   

·         Be clear and concise

·         Simple is better

·         Edit yourself

·         Tell the story in your voice

Specificity, clarity, and brevity are your keys.  Now write it, revise and write it again. 

Considering a College Consultant?

One of the more frequently asked questions that I receive over the course of an initial consultation is “Why should I hire a college consultant when our high school’s guidance counselor already provides these services?”  Quite simply, many high school counselors are not able to provide comprehensive college services due to the scope of their responsibilities coupled with their large caseloads. 

A typical high school guidance office offers a wide array of services including individual personal support, crisis intervention, drug and alcohol intervention, academic advisement, course selection, schedule adjustments and career and college planning.  When you factor in all of those responsibilities, there is not a lot of time left over for individualized attention for each student’s college search process.

As many school districts have grown, the ratio of students to counselor has also increased.  Counselors are now responsible for a larger number of students which has precluded them from providing the individual care and attention that the college search process warrants.  According to federal data compiled by the US Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics, more than 20 percent of high schools do not have any school counselor.  In some states, including California and Arizona, there are more than 800 students for every one high school counselor.   In New Jersey, the ratio is approximately 350 students per counselor while the Pennsylvania ratio is closer to 380 students per counselor (1).

When making the decision to hire a college consultant, students and parents should assess the type of assistance they are receiving from the guidance counselor and whether it is adequate enough to make well informed decisions about college choices.  These answers will inform your decision about whether a consultant is a good investment.

(1)   Data Source:  https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/public-policy-faqs-and-documents/2013-counselor-to-student-ratio-chart.pdf?sfvrsn=2

What Type of School is Right for You?

One of the first questions I normally ask someone about their college search is “What is important that a college offer you?”  This is a tough question and often requires some reflection.  Colleges and universities come in all shapes and sizes and I truly believe that there is a right fit for each student provided you are able to articulate what means the most to you.

Begin with formulating a list of schools appropriate to the student’s abilities and goals. Consider these questions when reviewing a school:

Does my educational background meet the admissions standards?

Does this school have my major?

How does the size and location of the school factor into my decision? 

These questions are a great starting point and the answers will give you reason to add or subtract a school from your list.

Once you know whether a school offers your major and you are comfortable with the size and location, begin to refine your list by considering other factors such as: faculty teaching, i.e. who is actually teaching undergrads, internships/co-op program, student life, dormitories and career service assistance to name a few. 

This week, the annual US News & World Report college rankings were announced. While being ranked highly is an indicator of a quality institution, students and parents should use not the rankings as the primary factor in their decision making.   Additionally, do not fall in love with the amenities, Wi-Fi may be requirement but a 24 hour on-site recreation center with a Pilates studio isn’t necessary.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to be honest with yourself about your abilities, what you are looking for and what’s really important to you in a school. 

Getting the Most Out of Your College Visits

So, you’ve scheduled a visit to ABC University next week. Here is what to expect and how to make the most of it with a few easy tips.

At many colleges and universities across the country, the daily visit programs generally includes a presentation from the school’s admissions office featuring a highly produced video and a slide deck complete with all of the important facts and figures designed to impress students and parents alike.  After the presentation, a campus tour led by a student ambassador will take you through the newest and most impressive academic buildings and dorms on campus.  This has been the standard formula for years.

While this structure may be the most effective for a busy admissions office, it’s not always particularly helpful for students armed with questions about how the school may be the right fit for their individual academic and career goals.  In order to maximize your time on campus, especially if you are traveling a distance, follow these simple instructions:

·         Call the admissions office beforehand and ask for 30 minutes with an admissions counselor prior to or after the visit.

·         Reach out to the academic department of your intended major and ask to meet with an advisor, faculty member or students.  If time permits, ask to sit in on a class.

·         If you are interested in specific student organizations, athletic team or other campus groups, contact them to see if they can discuss their organization with you.

A campus visit is the single best way to determine if an institution is the right fit for you, while you are there, make the most of it.

Financial Aid 101

One of the most frequently asked questions that I have received over the past 15 years working in admissions is… “We love your school, but how do we pay for this?”  For many students, the answer includes some combination of scholarships, grants, loans and direct payments to the institution. 

Let’s start with the basics.   The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the FAFSA is the tool that will determine a student’s eligibility for federal grants, federal loans, work study, and state grant programs.  All institutions will use this information as a foundation for their institutional aid packages. Schools may also require the student to complete a supplemental institutional aid form.  Once the FAFSA has been processed, the student will receive their Student Aid Report (SAR) which will include the student’s Expected Financial Contribution (EFC). The EFC is the dollar amount that the student is expected to contribute to the cost of their education.  At the same time, the institutions listed on the FAFSA will receive an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) containing the student’s EFC.

Financial aid offices use this information to determine eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. If the student is determined eligible, the institution will assemble a financial aid package from federal, state, institutional and private sources. The financial aid office, then, sends a financial aid letter to the student to provide information about the financial aid package awarded to the student.

Most financial aid award letters (or notifications to view an award letter on the college’s portal) arrive either simultaneously or shortly after the student receives an offer of admission.

What do you need to file the FAFSA?

Filing is easier if you have gathered everything you need before you get started. If you are a dependent student you will need the following information for yourself, as well as your parents. If you are married you will need this information for your spouse also.

• Social Security Number
• Student’s driver’s license (if applicable)
• Tax return from the prior-prior year
• Bank statements, records of investments, and records of untaxed income (such as veteran’s non education benefits and child support)
• An FSA ID (The FSA ID is the username and password you use on federal student aid websites to electronically sign the form).  Students and parents will each need their own FSA ID.

Welcome To the New School Year

Today was the first day of school in my hometown of West Deptford, NJ. It was only fitting that we decided to publicly launch our new practice today.  On this day, we would like to offer some advice to students and parents on what they should be thinking about related to college admissions.

Freshmen and Sophomores

“They” say it’s never too early to begin the college search process and “they” would not be wrong.  During your freshmen and sophomore year, students and parents should begin to review course selections, extracurricular activities, summer options, and early college test (PSAT) options.  Students should think of these two years as the foundation of your post-secondary educational plans.

Juniors

Eleventh grade is the year that teachers and counselors will inform students that this is their most important year and it is in many ways related to college admission.  During your junior year, students should begin to review past academic and student experiences, clarify future educational goals, take standardized tests, formulate a list of colleges, and develop strategies for successful college visits.

Seniors

The time is finally here to begin your college applications, write your essays, gather teacher recommendations, take the standardized tests one last time to boost your scores, and present yourself as a worthy candidate for admission.