MARCH MADNESS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-20753-DC-College-Admissions-Examiner~y2010m3d16-March-College-Admissions-Madness

Article from Examiner.com

Is getting into college harder than it was a decade ago?
Use of the Common Application grows as local colleges see huge application increases
What drives college enrollment decisions?
Once again, colleges have begun the process of rolling out admissions decisions. The time-honored tradition of waiting beside the mailbox for a "fat" envelope has largely been replaced by runs to the computer lab or a mad dash upstairs for a look at results flashed on a computer screen.

And this year has been pretty much of a puzzle for college admissions prognosticators. Because no decision could be taken for granted, students hedged their bets by submitting increased numbers of applications. The ease of online applications may have facilitated the process, but anxiety drove it.

Then there are the lingering issues of how colleges will view “full pay” candidates and what strategies will be used to distribute scarce financial aid resources as colleges establish priorities somewhere between merit and need.

Seniors may be experiencing the madness first hand, but the underclassmen who are "on deck" should be taking note.

So here is some advice: the real key to surviving the next few weeks is to not let any admissions decision define you. The college admissions process for some schools has become nothing short of a crap shoot. No one, not even college admissions staff, has a clear rationale for why certain students are admitted and others are not.

Harvard’s dean of admission, William Fitzsimmons, regularly reminds groups of high school students that his office could go through the application screening process, carefully select a class, and then chuck it all out, start again and still have an equally competitive freshman class. It’s just that arbitrary sometimes.

And when all is said and done—does it really matter? Study after study has shown that it’s not where you go to college that counts as much as what you do once you get there. Success is all about hard work and perseverance and has very little to do with credentials or prestige.

As the trickle of decisions slowly becomes a flood over the next few weeks, it will become apparent that students who took the time to research colleges and determine which represented the best possible “fit” will realize the best results. Those who used the US News and World Report rankings as their primary guide to colleges probably will not do as well.

So, take joy in good news and don’t dwell on the bad. Offer support to friends and continue to weigh your decisions carefully before eventually settling on the offer you accept. Pursue waitlists if you want, but look carefully at what you’ve already got before spending too much emotional energy in that direction.

Between now and May 1st, you’re in the driver’s seat with schools that admitted you, and they will work hard to “earn your business.” Keep that in mind and enjoy the moment.

Summer Opportunity for High School Students

During the high school years, teens often find that planning out their summers with productive and meaningful experiences provide them with an opportunity to grow, build self confidence and develop important life skills. This is the time of year to start thinking about what interests you — and researching to find out more about what is out there.


Interesting summer projects can allow a teen to:

• Explore or further pursue a passion or interest

• Live away from home to increase independence

• Delve deeply into an academic or language subject not possible during the year

• Challenge him/herself in a new area of opportunity

• Take on a leadership role

• Improve in a particular subject

• Explore possible college majors and careers

• Experience a potential college they are considering attending

It seems fitting, on the heels of the horrific earthquake tragedy in Haiti that has touched all of us, to start a College Corner Teen Summer Program Series of posts with a focus on community service.
I interviewed a few students from the local area on service programs they completed over the past summers. They attend Millburn High School or Columbia High School in Maplewood; one student graduated Millburn High School and now attends Oberlin College in Ohio.

Seniors, It's Time to Apply for Federal Financial Aid

Seniors, besides merit scholarship options, there is also another way for you to finance your college dreams. Apply for federal financial aid. If your parents make less than $150K in combined income, I would advise you to at least submit your application for federal aid.

If you plan to attend a private four year school, the retail cost of your first year of college could be as high as 60K. This estimated cost includes the total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, travel and incidental expenses. The average cost of a private four year school for the 2008-2009 year was approximately $36,000.00 (collegeboard.com). At a public four year university, the average cost for a first year student was approximately $16,000.00, with only $6,600.00 for tuition and fees. The room and board cost for students is estimated at $8K a year. However, this cost will greatly vary based on dorm options and food plans. (It is recommended that most first year students live on campus in university housing, unless there is limited housing on campus and there are safe housing alternatives nearby campus.)

This is a reminder for the parents of college-bound seniors to submit their online FAFSA in the next few days. Parents need to keep in mind financial aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis from “pools” of money; waiting to submit the FAFSA may be harmful to your son or daughter’s potential for receiving significant need-based financial aid awards.


To complete the online FAFSA:

Average SAT Scores for Students Entering State Universities are on the Rise

Average SAT scores for students entering state universities are rising, and nowhere as much as at the University of South Florida. In 10 years, USF scores have soared by 84 points, from 1067 to 1151.

Other state universities have seen similar gains. University of Central Florida's average score rose by 81 points, to 1225. At the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, the average went up by 74 points, to 1199.

But for anxious students and their parents, rushing to retake the test or get into a test-preparation course isn't the answer. State university admission directors say that getting into the school you want requires one thing above all: making the grade in tough high school courses.

SAT and ACT scores matter, but not as much as they once did.

SAT scores and grades for new students are rising at state universities for one reason, said USF admissions director Bob Spatig: competition.

The universities have had more applicants every year, but not more openings.

What To Do If Your Early Application Is Deferred

Many students who applied either Early Action or Early Decision this year are finding they have been neither accepted nor rejected, but deferred to the regular admissions pool. If you’re in this position, know you’re not alone. Because a surprising number of colleges and universities experienced an uptick early applications, it stands to reason that unless acceptances increase, you have lots of company—mostly disappointed.

Keep this in mind: just because you’ve been deferred doesn’t mean you’ll never get in. Consider it a kind of holding pattern. Colleges are sending a signal that they need to know a little more about you before making a final decision. You can either respond or withdraw into a tiny shell of self-pity. I recommend responding. And here’s how:

1. Don’t crash. There’s no question this is a setback. It’s normal to feel disappointment, but don’t let it be crippling. This is not the time to slack off or otherwise jeopardize your GPA and class standing. Most importantly, don’t let this minor bump in the road delay completion of the rest of your applications. Finish those essays and try to submit your applications a couple of weeks in advance of their due dates.

2. Contact Admissions. Try calling the admissions representative for your area. He or she most likely read and is familiar with your application. Remember that it’s an incredibly busy time of year for admissions, but if you’re lucky you might be able to get more personal feedback and a sense of how your application stacked up against the rest of the early application pool. You might also get some ideas on how to improve your candidacy by clarifying misunderstandings or by submitting additional test results, information, or recommendations. Do not give in to the temptation to complain or badger the staff.

3. Update your application. Although colleges generally require mid-year grades sent by your high school, take the initiative to forward a copy of your most recent report card with a cover letter addressed to the Dean of Admissions and copied to your area representative. In the cover letter, restate your commitment to attend if admitted—only if that’s truly the case. Include reference to any new and improved standardized test scores, any new leadership positions in a group or team, new membership in an organization, any specific events or community service activities in which you have been involved, and any special awards you have received. If appropriate, send supplementary materials such as an additional writing sample or essay. Remember that colleges are looking for an upward trend in grades and really only want to know what’s happened since you submitted your original application.

Score Choice - Will It Help You or Hurt You?

BACKGROUND
Score Choice is a new option for students to report SAT and Subject Test scores to colleges. It allows students to select the scores they send to individual colleges — by test date for the SAT, and by individual test for Subject Tests. The College Board says the goal of the program is to reduce stress for students by giving them more control over their scores. Some counselors and admissions officers, however, are concerned that Score Choice will actually confuse students and increase anxiety about testing.

THE QUESTION
What advice do you have for students about using Score Choice?

WORD FROM THE EXPERTS

My advice to students is send all of your scores. Most colleges will only consider your best scores so you are not disadvantaged in any way by releasing them all. In fact, many colleges prefer to see all of your scores, so this is a good strategy. The best part for you is that it is simple. You don't have to think about which scores to send to which colleges and when to do it. Applying to college is stressful enough, so take advantage of this one small way to remove a bit of pressure from the experience. If you feel very strongly that you wish to control what colleges see and when, then by all means release only those scores that you wish. After all, those scores are yours. Just stay on top of it so you don't disadvantage yourself by forgetting and missing important deadlines.

Madeleine Rhyneer
Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid
Willamette University
Salem, OR