AdmissionsAdvice.com

Breaking News: 2010 College Application Numbers

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:22:00 +0000

Colleges and universities are beginning to announce the number of applications they received for admission this year for Fall, 2010. Here are links to breaking news stories on various institutions:

Harvard applications up 5%

University of Chicago sees 42% increase in applications

Dartmouth applications up 4%

University of California system-wide applications 6%

University of California,Santa Barbara applications up 7.7%

University of California, Davis applications up 6.5% overall, transfer applications up 25%

University of California, Merced applications up 21%

University of California, Santa Cruz applications up 5.4%, transfer applications up 24.8%

Start Planning For Summer Enrichment

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:37:00 +0000

If you're a high school junior, sophomore, or freshman (or the parent of one), now is the time to start thinking about how you will spend your summer. While laying on the beach might sound tempting, summer is an opportunity to learn more about yourself, to explore your interests, and to try new things.

An excellent place to start exploring summer options is the Enrichment Alley website. The site's founder, Gail Grand, is a school college counselor who recognized the benefits students reap from hands-on learning and set out to compile a database of summer programs for high school students. The site has since grown to include study abroad programs and programs for college students as well. The site is searchable by interest, location, and type of program, and includes descriptions of hundreds of summer opportunities. Don't think you need to be a billionaire to participate; Grand has made a special effort to include programs that offer low cost and free programs, as well as more expensive programs that offer need-based financial aid. Another online resource for finding summer programs is the Peterson's Summer Program Directory.

Families often ask me if doing a summer program at a particular college or university provides a boost in admissions chances when it comes time for the student to apply. In some cases, the answer is yes, but it's important to understand that just doing a school's summer program is never a "back door" guarantee of admission anywhere. However, the main reasons to consider summer programs should not be to get a leg up in admission, but rather, to gain insight into who you are, where your interests lay, and what your unique talents and skils are. Those insights can be invaluabe in helping you sort out which colleges might be the best match for you, and in showing colleges why you're a good match for them.

Tough Questions About Colleges And The Economy

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:56:00 +0000

There has been a lot of media coverage recently about how the economy is affecting large public universities, like the University of California. But how are smaller private colleges dealing with economic worries?

Today's issue of Inside Higher Ed has an interesting article about a recent panel discussion on the economy at the Council of Independent Colleges conference. Participants were primarily Presidents of small, private liberal arts colleges. According to the article, many of these schools are concerned about their enrollment numbers for Fall 2010, and some are adjusting their admissions and budget plans accordingly.

Should you be worried about how the economy may affect colleges that interest you? The short answer is yes, of course. However, that doesn't mean that anyone should rush to assumptions about any particular college without getting the facts. In truth, just about every institution has been affected by recent economic events in some way and had to make some adjustments. Some adjustments have a relative minor effect on students; some have a huge impact. So, as you research colleges, it pays to do your homework for each institution. That includes asking tough questions directly of each college before making the final decision to enroll.

Some basic questions every college shopper should ask of every college:

- What is the institution's endowment? How has it changed in the past two years?

- Has the institution run a deficit in the past two years? If so, why and what steps are being taken to return the college to a position where the operating books are balanced?

--Have there been any significant changes in admissions and enrollment (i.e., fewer freshmen being admitted or enrolling, fewer upper classman returning, adjustments to admissions policies)? Why? Are any changes foreseen in the next four years?

--Have there been any significant changes in financial aid and merit scholarship policies? What are they? Are any changes foreseen in the next four years?

-- Have there been any recent budget cutbacks that have directly and significantly affected educational quality (i.e., departments being downsized, faculty being laid off, academic support staff cuts, etc.?

--Have there been any recent budget cutbacks that have directly and significantly affected student quality of life (i.e., cuts in food service, deferred dorm maintenance, shorter hours of some facilities)?

--What are the college's long-term strategic plans? How will they be dealing with the after-effects of the economic situation, or a pro-longed continuation of economic problems?

These aren't just questions that students and parents should ask during a recession, however. These are questions that should be asked in good economic times as well. Colleges is a big investment in both money and time. As with any investment, it always pays to do your due diligence upfront before committing.

Best Wishes For 2010

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:13:00 +0000

I'll be out of the office for the holidays from December 21 until January 4, but I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of my faithful readers for their continued support. May 2010 bring happiness to all, and mark the start of exciting new beginnings. See you after the holidays!

Carolyn Lawrence

Last Minute Common Application Help

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:56:00 +0000

College application deadlines are looming, but you still have questions about the Common Application. Where to get answers? Go straight to the source.

On Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time, Scott Anderson, Director of Outreach for the Common Application will be hosting a free webinar, "Making the Most of the Common Application." During the webinar, he'll answer questions from students. Register for this event here.

If you can't attend, or have additional questions, turn to the Common Application's Applicant Support Center. There, you'll find a wealth of information to commonly asked questions and problems students have with the Common Application. Still can't find the answer you need? Email the Common Application's tech support team.

But, here's a tip: Don't wait until the minutes are counting down to midnight on deadline day to email the Common Application support team. The longer you wait, the greater the chance that the support team will be unable to reply in time for you to meet your deadline. So, make sure you read through and understand the instructions now so that there will be enough time to ask for help if you need it.

Finally, every year I hear from at least one or two students who forget to submit their supplements until after the application deadline has passed. Don't let this be you! Double check to make sure that you've hit "submit" on both the Common Application and the supplement for each college where you're applying. However, if you do forget, don't assume all is lost. Contact the admissions office as soon as you realize your error, and ask what you can do to rectify the situation. Again, go directly to the source for the most reliable answers.

Best of luck with your applications!

Early Decision News Not What You Hoped? Here's What To Do Now.

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:15:00 +0000

You applied Early Action or Early Decision back in November with high hopes of being done with college applications by now. Instead of being admitted, however, you've been deferred into the Regular Decision pool or denied outright. What should you do now?

First, be kind to yourself. Your worth and value as a person hasn't changed one iota. While it stings to be turned down or deferred, you are still the same wonderful and unique person you were when you sent off your application. Don't beat yourself up for something that is truly out of your control.

If you were denied, don't dwell too long on the disappointment. Yes, your dream didn't pan out, but that doesn't mean you can't find a new dream, maybe even a better dream. As quickly as possible, turn your attention to rounding out your college list, bearing in mind that for every student there are actually MANY colleges where they can be happy and successful. Before sending out your application again, ask a trusted adult to review it with fresh eyes, and make changes or additions as necessary.

If you've been deferred into the regular pool, your first instinct may be to focus on figuring out ways to improve your chances when your application is read a second time. I'd suggest a different approach. Focus first on taking a second look at your list and fine-tuning your applications to other colleges. Then, get those applications out. After you've done so, ask your school counselor to call the college which deferred you to ask if there was anything in particular that was missing from your application. Make sure your mid-year report will be sent as soon as possible, send in any supplemental materials that you think might strengthen your case, and send a letter to the deferral school reiterating why it is still your first choice, and, more importantly, what you will contribute to the campus community. But, don't obsess too much. Give yourself permission to fall in love with the other colleges on your list.

Even if you did get good news in the Early round, you may find yourself having second thoughts now that you're committed to attending. You may wonder if you could have gotten into an even better school, or worry that perhaps the college isn't the right school after all. This is normal. It's called buyer's remorse, the tendency to second-guess a choice once it can not be reversed. If you find yourself falling into buyer's remorse, remind yourself that you had very good reasons for applying Early Decision to this particular college, and remember that the grass always has a tendency to look greener on the other side after the fence gate is closed.

What about if your Early Decisionfinancial aid office isn't what you hoped it would be? Immediately call the financial aid office, and discuss whether they'd be willing to do a second review of your family's financial situation. Be sure to ask if there is additional information you can provide for the review. Ultimately, however, keep in mind that one of the downsides of applying Early Decision is that you agree to attend if the college has met your family's demonstrated need -- but that need is determined by financial aid methodology, and may not align exactly with what your family sees as your need. Still, it never hurts to discuss the offer with the financial aid office. If the offer simply isn't workable, talk with your school counselor about how to best back out of your binding Early Decision agreement.

If you've been admitted through Early Decision or Early Action, and you are thrilled beyond belief, congratulations! May I suggest, however, that you be sensitive to those around you who may not have received the news they'd hoped for? Offer your support and friendship to them. They still have a long road before April.

Finally, while it may seem that the Early news - whether it be good, bad, or somewhere in between - is the most important event in the world, it truly isn't. No matter what the news is, life will go on. Try to find time to relax and enjoy it.

Juniors: Start College Planning From The Bottom Up

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Two types of college admissions stories break my heart. The first kind are when someone falls in love with a college that they realistically have very little chance of getting into. It's their "dream school" they'll say and, while they may grudgingly add a few more appropriate schools to their application pile, they never really look beyond that "dream school"...Until, of course, the rejection notice comes in the mail.

Then there are the people who build a list solely of what I call "lottery schools." These are schools like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford where the acceptance rate is so ridiculously low that no matter how good your grades and test scores are, getting in is never a sure bet. Unfortunately, like the "dream school" people, folks who build a list solely with "lottery schools" often have blinders on. Often, they've been told by parents, teachers, or a guidance counselor that they are a shoe-in for these schools because they are so unique and special. So, they never really look beyond "lottery schools"...Until, of course, the rejection letters start coming in the mail.

These two stories illustrate why I believe that college planning should be "bottom-up" rather than "top down." Bottom-up planning means taking a realistic look at yourself and your stats and beginning your college search by identifying several schools where you have a good bet of acceptance and - more importantly - where you'd be happy to go. These are the schools where your stats put you in the top of accepted students, or schools that accept a large percentage (more than 50% is my standard on this) of applicants. Once you've fallen in love with at least one good bet school, you can safely move on to more selective schools and, yes, even some lottery schools.

Let's take a look at how this might work in the real world. Paul is a straight A student, scored 750 math, 750 writing and 800 on critical reading on the SATs. Paul wants to major in biology and go on to medical school after college. His high school teachers love him, his parents love him, his friends tell him he is destined for glory. Surely, he only needs to apply to Harvard, Yale, Princeton and maybe Stanford as a back up, right?

Wrong. Those are all lottery schools and, good as Paul might be, he needs to keep in mind that those schools turn away many people who are just as good. If Paul is as smart as his grades and test scores suggest, he'll pick 3-4 good bet schools and 3-4 match schools to investigate before he even clicks open the Harvard website. I'd suggest, for instance, that Paul look at schools like the University of Rochester, the University of Michigan, Case Western Reserve and possibly the honors college of his state university first. Then, perhaps he can check out schools like Emory, Johns Hopkins, and Rice. Once he has narrowed his choices of good bets and matches down to 5-6, he can move on to those extremely competitive colleges with a clearer sense of what he is looking for beyond just a name that everyone reconizes. And, by the way, Stanford is never a back up school for anyone.

However, bottom-up planning isn't only for top students. Average students should also always start with good bet and match schools before adding reach schools to their list. Sarah, for example, works hard but her GPA is just barely hitting 3.5 and her test scores are 580 math, 620 writing and 600 reading. She's thinking about a major in international relations and she's heard that Georgetown U. is the best school for that major. While Georgetown is a terrific school, it is a high reach for Sarah --- she's not even on the charts when it comes to Georgetown's stats. I'd suggest that Sarah put Georgetown aside at first and focus on finding some of the other excellent schools for international relations out there. Some good bet schools for her to check out would include the University of Denver, Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Butler University in Indiana, American in D.C. and Beloit in Wisconsin. All would be good bets for Sarah.

Stepping up a notch, she could then check out schools like Boston U, Dickinson in Pennsylvania, and George Washington in D.C. as good match schools. All of these match and good bet schools have strong international relations programs but chances are that Sarah may never of heard of them if she stopped looking at Georgetown. So, should Sarah not apply to Georgetown? That's the beauty of bottom-up planning: now that she has a solid list of schools that she has a good to excellent shot of getting into, she can add a few reach schools such as Georgetown, Tufts, or Colgate to her list knowing that she's building on a solid foundation. She may not get in to those reach schools, but she'll know she'll be happy with the other schools on her list where she probably will get in.

So: If you're working on your college list, don't start at the top. Use a realistic bottom-up approach and you'll be able to start writing your applications knowing that ALL of the schools you're applying to, including your "safety" schools, are ones where you can be happy. Happy hunting!

Time To Prepare For Financial Aid Applications

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:02:00 +0000

For most high school seniors, December is often "push month" for finishing up college applications. In the rush to meet application deadlines, however, don't forget that financial aid deadlines will quickly follow. Here are five things you should be doing this month if you will need financial aid to attend college:

1. Make certain your college list includes at least one financial safety. A "financial safety" is a college that you would both be happy to attend and that your family is almost certainly going to be able to afford, either because of its overall cost or because the college's financial aid policies are likely to work in your family's favor. Not sure if you have a financial safety on your list? Start by reading this article which includes a list of important questions to ask every college.

2. Plan ahead. Each year, I hear from students and parents who have missed important financial aid deadlines because they didn't look at what was required until it was too late. Don't let this be you! If you haven't already done so, take a few minutes this month to put together a list showing the financial aid deadlines and application paperwork required for each college on your list.

3. If your parents are divorced or separated, let each parent know what to expect. Divorce and separation can add an extra layer of complexity to the financial aid process. If your parents are divorced or separated (or you're a parent who is divorced or separated), make sure you understand how divorce and separation can affect financial aid and have a clear understanding of the policies of each of the colleges on your list. If your non-custodial parent needs to submit financial information to a college on your list, now is the time to let them know, not the day before the college's financial aid deadline.

4. Get your FAFSA PIN now. Although you can't submit your FAFSA (the application required by most colleges) until after January 1st, you can apply for FAFSA Personal Identification Numbers now on the FAFSA PIN website. You'll need a PIN for both the student and a parent.

5. Get organized. The process of applying for financial aid will go smoother if you have all of the information you'll need on hand. Here's a list of most of the information you'll need for the FAFSA and the CSS Profile - but, check with each college on your list as well, since some colleges ask for additional information.

- Your social security number
- Your driver's license (if you have one)
- The student's 2009 tax return OR 2009 W-2 Forms and other records of other money earned by the student in 2009.
- The parent's 2009 tax returns OR 2009 W-2 Forms and other records of other money earned by parents in 2009. (Note: For the FAFSA, financial information for the custodial parent and step-parent is required; for the CSS Profile, financial information from the non-custodial parent is often required as well).
- 2009 untaxed income records for parent(s) and student, if applicable, including veterans benefits, child support, and worker's compensation.
- Current bank statements
- Current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records, if applicable
- Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

Three Websites For College Research

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:48:00 +0000

I am constantly amazed at how little real research some students do about the colleges where they're applying. Often, a student will tell me that they "know enough" about a particular institution because "my friends all say it's a good school." Yet, when I ask them about how they think their grades, class rank, and test scores stack up against the typical admitted student, what's unique about the school's academic program, the college's application process, or the availability of much-needed financial aid, their eyes tend to glaze over. "Finding out all that stuff is too hard!," these students tell me.

Don't let this be you.

Whether you're a senior already slogging through the application process, or a junior (or sophomore) just getting started thinking about your college options, the decision of where to apply - and attend - college is too important to leave solely up to the advice of friends. You must do your own research.

Luckily, finding the facts, information, and data you need to make well-informed decisions doesn't have to be too time-consuming or difficult. You just need to know where to look. Here are three websites where students and parents can get quickly get up to speed about individual colleges and admissions policies:

1. The College Portrait. This is the place to go if you're looking for reliable information on public colleges and universities. Sponsored by two nonprofit higher education organizations - the Association of Public and Land-grant Colleges and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities - College Portrait offers detailed information on the admissions statistics, academic programs, and financial aid opportunities at more than 325 public colleges and universities. The website will be adding new profiles regularly over coming months.

2. U-CAN Network. U-CAN is the private college equivalent of the College Portrait website. Sponsored by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, this site offers detailed profiles of over 800 non-profit private institutions. This site is a terrific resource for quickly comparing facts and data in standardized form.

3. College Navigator. The U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator website is designed to give students and parents a quick and easy method for quickly gathering and comparing data on every institution of higher education in the United States. In addition to data about admission rates and average test scores, College Navigator provides useful information about institutional financial aid, disabilities services, graduation rates, and even campus crime. You can even pinpoint data on the number of majors in different disciplines. The College Navigator site also has useful links to Federal government sites for financial aid and career planning.

Of course, don't forget that colleges all have their own websites, which can provide a wealth of information and insights to students who look beyond the pretty pictures on the admissions website. No college website visit is complete without searching for at least these three items: the freshman admissions profile for the most recent freshman class, courses required for graduation beyond your major, and the student newspaper.

Good luck in your college information hunt!

Seven Rules For College Admissions Success

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:29:00 +0000

Applying to college is a stressful time, filled with details, deadlines, and yes, even a little dread. Just like any complex endeavor, however, having some basic rules to follow can help. Here are seven rules to follow for college application success:

Rule Number One: Build In A Safety Net Every college list needs a back up plan. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that adding more reach schools is a back up plan; it isn’t. A true safety net means having at least two colleges on your list that you would sincerely like to attend and which are highly likely to admit you and be financially possible for your family. That safety net is what will help you sleep well each night between now and next April. If you don't yet have a safety net in place, get one. Pronto.

Rule Number Two: Get and Stay Organized Applying to college is stressful enough as it is. You don’t want to add more stress because you can't find some vital piece of information or suddenly realize at 11 p.m. that an important deadline occurs at midnight. If you haven't already done so, make it a priority to set up a "command central" for all of your application materials and supplies, and be diligent about keeping track of every item that goes in or out. Make a checklist of all important application deadlines, and check it at least once a week. File folders can be a college applicant's best friend. Save yourself stress later: Get organized NOW.

Rule Number Three: Give Yourself Plenty of Time Most students are surprised by how many tasks are involved in completing college applications. As a result, the job almost always takes longer than students expect, especially when the inevitable last minute questions and snafus pop into the picture. A certain amount of procrastination time should also be added into your time estimate. And, let's face it, senior year is busy and demanding in and of itself. The bottomline: don't plan on getting started the week before deadlines are due. Allow as much leeway time as possible.

Rule Number Four: Never Assume Just because one college wants something done a certain way doesn't mean all of the colleges on your list will want it done the same way. Just because your friend or a stranger on an internet discussion forum who seems to know a lot about colleges told you it was OK to do something doesn't mean that it is. Just because your recommendation writers said they'd get your recommendations in the mail by last Friday doesn't mean they did. And, just because you hit "send" on your application, doesn't mean that everything has arrived safely and been put into your admissions folder at a college. Never assume. Verify.

Rule Number Five: Read The Fine Print When it comes to applying to college, the devil is in the details. Before you dive in and begin filling out applications, read ALL of the instructions and information carefully. In your rush to get applications finished, the fine print may seem unimportant, but it's usually where the most unpleasant surprises lurk for applicants who haven't taken the time to read it. Pay attention to the details.

Rule Number Six: Don't Be Shy About Asking For Help Some students seem to feel they need to shoulder everything themselves. Others simply don't want to appear dumb by asking questions when they're confused. You should, of course, make sure that your application is, in the end, your work alone. But, this is a complex task and nearly every student will need help or advice at some point. And, here's an important point to remember: your school counselor, your teachers, your parents, and even college admissions and financial aid people want to see you succeed, and that includes being willing to help you find the answers you need. There is always someone you can ask for help! Ask for help when you need it.

Rule Number Seven: Don't Stress (Too Much)! Everyone applying to college will feel stressed at some point. It's a normal part of the process. However, don’t let college application stress consume your life. Take the process seriously, but also allow time for a little rest and relaxation along the way. Remember: you're not going to be applying to college forever. This too shall pass.

Best of luck with your applications!

Advice for Writing the University of California Personal Statement

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:44:00 +0000

If you're planning to apply to one of the University of California campuses this year, be sure to spend a few minutes watching the a new video from the University of California about writing the personal statement.

The video is filled with excellent advice from UC admissions officers and currently UC students on how to write effective personal statements. Some of the highlights:

Don't procrastinate! Writing an effective personal statement takes thought, time and effort. Admissions readers can tell when a student has written the personal statements the night before the deadline.

Focus on "adding clarity, richness and meaning" to the information in the rest of your UC application. Don't just repeat the same list of extracurriculars you have provided elsewhere; add depth.

Review your accomplishments. Think about the accomplishments you're most proud of, and how you can bring them to the forefront in your personal statements

Be true to yourself. It's called a "personal" statement for a reason.

Keep things in perspective. "No student is admitted or denied based on the personal statement alone," says a UC admissions officer in the video.

The University of California application period runs from November 1 to November 30. If you're planning to apply to one or more of the UC's, you should already be working on your personal statements.

One last tip: It's not uncommon for the UC application system to experience "technical difficulties" on November 29 and November 30 due to the volume of applications students are trying to cram through the system at the last minute. Take this into account, and, if possible, plan to submit your UC applications a few days before the deadline. After all, you really don't want to spend Thanksgiving weekend writing your UC personal statements do you?

Best of luck!

Link: Video: Writing the University of California Personal Statement

How To Answer "Why This College?" Essay Prompts On College Applications

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:43:00 +0000

One of the most perplexing essays for many students is the one that asks the most important question of all: Why do you want to attend this college? Here are some tips for handling this essay.

First, let’s talk a bit about why colleges ask this question in the first place. These days most colleges, especially highly selective ones, get many more applications than they have places for in their freshman class. Obviously, the admissions office does not want to waste an admittance on an applicant who is not likely to attend – and they also want to make sure that every student who does attend next fall has thought through their reasons for wanting to be there. In short, they are looking for evidence that you didn’t just toss in an extra application on a whim, but that you truly are interested enough to have thought through your decision to apply.

They’re also looking for clues to your personality, interests, and goals, and how you will contribute to or participate in all that the college has to offer. So, this question isn’t just about why the college is a fit for you, but why you’re a fit for the college. It’s a subtle but important difference to keep in mind as you work on this sort of essay. Don’t just tell the college why they are right for you – also tell them why you are right for them.

Here are some tips to help you tackle “Why This College?” essays:

1. Brainstorm before you start writing. Make a list of the five or ten most important things you are looking for in any college, not just this one. Next, write a list of your most important goals and interests. Then, brainstorm how this particular college might meet those needs, desires, and interests.

2. Do your homework. Learn everything you can about the college and its programs. If you’ve visited, think back over your visit and jot down anything that particularly struck you during the visit. Try to remember conversations you had with faculty or students, and places on campus that particularly resonated with you. What made you decide that this college was worth considering during your visit?

College websites are also loaded with information. Use them! Ignore the pretty pictures and catchy slogans in the admissions section this time around. Read the descriptions of departments you’re interested in, explore a few faculty bios, find out the details of graduation requirements and advising for freshmen, examine the school’s mission statement, read the online archives of the student newspaper, and scroll through recent press releases issues by the college news office.

Then, refer back to your list of what you are looking for in a college and match up the data points you’ve uncovered in your research with the most important things you’re seeking in any college. What makes this school a particularly good match?

3. Make it personal. Don’t write about things that any applicant can say about the school. Tell the admissions committee why everything you mention relates specifically to you. Instead of “I like University XYZ because it has a wonderful science program” say “I have a lifelong interest in zoology and the opportunity to work in University XYZ’s on campus primate research center in Professor Smith’s undergraduate research program will allow me to get hands on experience working with chimpanzees."

4. Don’t comment on the obvious. The admissions office already knows they have a beautiful campus, a world-renowned faculty, rank high in U.S. News & World Reports, and are located in an exciting city. If you keep it personal, and focus on why this college or university and you truly are a match, your essay will stand out.

5. Be specific. Don’t just say, “I was impressed with your library when I visited.” Look up the name of the library, and tell them exactly what impressed you (beyond, of course, the coffee bar in the lobby.) Sometimes little details can speak loudly. I once read an excellent essay from a student which began, “When I entered the drawing and painting studio on the third floor of Smith Hall, felt the warm sun streaming through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, and smelled the pungent aroma of fresh turpentine, I knew that I had found a place where I could not only create art, but live it.” Here's the litmus test to know if you've been specific enough: Try changing the name of the college in your "Why this college?" essay. If you can drop in the name of a different college, and the essay still makes perfect sense, it's a sign that you've written too generic of an essay.

Finally, if you find yourself struggling with explaining why this school is a unique match for you, it may be time to sit down and consider whether this college or university is truly a good match for you. If, after doing some additional research and thinking about your college expectations and dreams, you still can't explain why you want to attend this particular college, you might want to think twice about applying.

College Admissions Scams To Avoid

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:39:00 +0000

U.S. News & World Reports' education blog has a great article today about 6 scams that target college students. Actually, four of the six don't just target students who are already in college, but also students (and parents) who are still in high school.

Those four are:
- Fake scholarship scams
- Dodgy student loan offers
- Untrustworthy counselors
- Diploma mills

The article is worth reading, but here are three more scams that wise high school students and their parents need to be on the look out for during the college admissions season:

Essay writing services. You're busy. You're stressed. You have no idea where to begin when it comes to writing your college application essays. While searching the Internet for ideas, you stumble across a company that promises to write your college application essay for you, for a fee of course. Sounds great - no more stress, no effort on your part. But, if there's one piece of advice I can give you it's this: don't let anyone else write your college application essays for you. No matter how busy, stressed or clueless you feel, YOU are the only person who should write your college application essays. By reading your essays, colleges are hoping to get a clearer picture of who you are, what matters to you, and why you are a good match for them. If you buy an essay, the "you" part of the personal essay will be lost. Worse, there's a good chance that the essay you buy will be very familiar to college admissions people. Several admissions officers have mentioned to me that it's not all that uncommon for them to not only easily pick out the essay-writing service essays, but also that they often get several applications from different students with the same essay from a service. So, while you might be busy, stressed, and clueless, don't waste your money buying someone else's essay. Write your own.

Misleading test prep firms. Some test prep firms serve a very real purpose: they can give you a good overview of the test and some strategies for preparing. But, not all test prep firms are cut from the same cloth. If a test prep firm promises you a 100+ point increase on your SATs with a minimum amount of effort on your part, be very cautious. Preparing for any exam - not just the SAT or ACT - can't be done for you; YOU have to put time and effort into preparation. And, no test prep company or tutor can guarantee a specific point increase on the day of the exam. Period.

College 'advice' from Internet discussion forums. If you've spent much time looking for college admissions information on the Internet, you've undoubtably stumbled upon a college admissions discussion forum or two (or more!). On the surface, these forums seem like a great place to get advice and information --after all, here's a whole group of people who are just as panicky and scared about college admissions as you are! What could be better? The trouble is that very few college discussion forums are moderated for accuracy, so mis-information and misconceptions abound. More importantly, in cyberspace, no one really has to tell the truth about their (or their children's) grades, test scores, and extracurricular accomplishments, so it's easy to get a very skewed perception of what it takes to get into college from reading these boards. That only serves to ramp up student and parent anxiety at a time when stress levels are already high. Finally, would you trust a stranger on the Internet to give you advice about what to wear, which house to buy, or whether you'll be a good candidate for a job opening? Then, why trust strangers who don't know you and who don't have your application in front of you to "estimate" your chances of admission? While crumbs of good information can be found here and there on college admissions discussion forums, they should be visited sparringly. And, don't let the information and "advice" on discussion forums replace doing your own research, talking to colleges directly, and seeking advice from your school counselor and other adults who know you personally in "the real world."

Help! My Parents Are Driving Me Crazy About College Applications!

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:55:00 +0000

A few years back, at just around this time of year, I received an email from a young woman asking a very important question: What is the best way to go about the college application process without getting into huge arguments with my Mom? I know that it is a very stressful time for both of us and especially me, but the fighting is not helping my stress level at all.

Since I know that other students (and parents) are probably asking themselves the same question again this year, I thought I'd re-post the response I wrote to her here in this blog. By the way, all turned out well for this young woman. She was admitted to almost all of the colleges she applied to (and yes, she DID get her applications in on time). Here is my reply to her question:

I laughed out loud when I read your email just from imagining how hard my daughter will laugh when I tell her someone asked me for advice on getting along with your parents during the college application process. My daughter and I have always had a great relationship, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that at this time in her senior year, we were both really annoyed with each other a lot of the time. There was an evil word lurking between us, the "A word": Applications. I was convinced she was doomed to a life of failure if she didn't get them done right this minute, and she was convinced she was doomed to hear me nagging about them for the rest of her life. And, it wasn't even October yet!

A very strange thing happens to a lot of parents - especially mothers - when the time comes for their children to apply to college. Maybe it's that we can see the door closing on our being needed as our kids prepare to leave the nest, or maybe it's that we have this burning Mom (and sometimes Dad) drive to want to protect our babies from the sting of rejection, or maybe it's just our menopausal hormones going wacky at the same time our babies are applying to go. But a lot of us go plumb crazy for a while.

Of course, this is totally unfair to you kids. You're facing what is the first major step in your adult life. It's normal to feel scared and excited and just a little doubtful about how it will all turn out. The last thing you need is this crazy woman (or sometimes crazy man) hovering over you as you try to stretch your wings and find the courage to fly. It's no wonder that a lot of kids go plumb crazy for a while too.

What helped at our house was that, in early October, my daughter sent in her first application, to a rolling admissions "safe bet" college. Seven days later, she was admitted. Now that we knew that she could definitely go somewhere the following year, she made me swear - and I am not making this up! - that if I mentioned the "A word" again, I would eat nothing but Cheerio's for a week. I hate Cheerio's, so this was no idle threat. With the threat of the Cheerio's diet hanging heavy, I gradually learned to keep my mouth sh...uh...thoughts to myself. It wasn't easy. The large carton of duct tape I bought for my mouth helped a bit though.

Seriously, the best advice - aside from invoking the Cheerio's diet yourself - is to try to separate out the fear, anxiety, and unhappiness of the application process itself from the feelings you have towards your mother. Sure, your Mom may be trying to help too much, and no one likes to be nagged, but she isn't the source of your true anxiety, and realizing that might make it easier to step back and respond calmly when she is keyed up herself.

Moms also need LOTS of reassurance when they're half-insane. Keep her in the loop, let her know that you are working on your applications (assuming you are), and tell her that you definitely will need her help for some things. One thing my daughter assigned to me is addressing and stamping all of the recommendation envelopes. She even had me write out postage paid cards from the post office with her name and address on them for the schools to send back when the recommendations arrived. It was a very simple thing but it made me feel like I was contributing in some way and that got me off her back for a few weeks at least. So, try to find some simple things like this to make your Mom feel like she is helping you out and relieve some of her anxiety about letting you control the process. We parents really do need to feel needed, so the more "dumb" tasks like that you can give us, the better we'll behave. (Making copies at Kinko's can burn up time too!)

And, try to find some time to do something fun together that doesn't involve the "A word." Go to the movies, go shopping, go out to lunch. Feel free to invoke the Cheerio's diet if necessary.

Anyhow, hope this helps with your question, even if just a bit. Just remember, this too will pass. If you and your Mom generally get along, you will get along just as well once the applications are in the mail. Just take deep breaths when she's really driving you nuts, try to keep your sense of humor intact, and feel free to tell her to email me if she needs to vent some anxiety. I've been there. I understand. I will stock up on the Cheerio's.

Now, I need to go call my daughter. It will be great to hear her laugh.

Haverford makes "small change" to its standardized test policy

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:41:00 +0000

Jess Lord, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, has announced that Haverford is making what Lord referred to as a "small change" to its standardize test score requirements. All candidates will now have the option of submitting the results of the SAT Reasoning test and two SAT Subject exams OR the ACT with writing. Students who choose the ACT option will no longer be required to submit two Subject exams. A few other colleges have made similar changes to their policies in recent years.

Are You Ready To Apply Early Decision?

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Yesterday, I answeredsome of the most common questions students and parents have about how the Early Decision admissions process works. However, since Early Decision is a binding commitment to attend if admitted, it's important to make sure that you also answer the most important question of all, namely:
Is applying Early Decision the right choice for me?

Here’s a self-quiz to help you decide if you’re ready to apply Early Decision.

Answer Yes, No or Not Sure to the following questions:

1. Is your main reason for applying Early Decision that you have decided that one particular college is your clear first choice?

2. If the college you're considering for Early Decision suddenly became less prestigious, or its ranking dropped 50 points, would you still want to apply Early to this particular college?

3. Would you still want to apply Early Decision to this college if your chances of being admitted Early Decision were the same as if you applied Regular Decision?

4. Have you visited your prospective Early Decision college at least once, and did your visit include taking a formal admissions tour rather than just walking around on your own?

5. Have you visited several other colleges, including taking their formal admissions tour rather than just walking around on your own?

6. Have you had some form of personal contact with the admissions office at your prospective Early Decision college?

7. Have you had some form of personal contact with a current student at your prospective Early Decision college?

8. Have you done an overnight stay at your prospective Early Decision college?

9. Have you sat in on at least one class at the Early Decision college, or had some form of personal contact with at least one faculty member there?

10. Do you understand the academic distribution requirements for graduation at your prospective Early Decision college?

11. Do you understand any entry requirements for your prospective major at this college?

12. Do you understand the graduation requirements for your prospective major at the Early Decision college?

13. Can you describe this college's academic mission and approach to education?

14. Do you know what the average class size of introductory courses is at this college?

15. Do you know what the average class size of courses in your prospective major is at this college, and how many majors typically graduate in that department each year?

16. Can you explain what some of the strengths and weaknesses of this college's academic approach or curriculum requirements might be for you personally?

17. Can you explain what some of the strengths and weaknesses of the department where you hope to major might be for you personally?

18. Do you strongly believe that this college will be an academic fit for you?

19. Have you read back issues of the Early Decision college’s student newspaper (often available online), and could you summarize some of the key "hot button" issues for students from your reading?

20. Do you feel that you will fit in socially at the Early Decision college?

21. Can you list both five potential strengths and five potential weaknesses of the Early Decision college?

22. Do you know what the average GPA, class rank, and test scores of students admitted students to your prospective Early Decision college were last year?

23. In comparing your grades through the end of junior year and your current test scores to those of last year’s admitted class, do you believe you are a solid candidate for admission, regardless of whether you apply Early Decision or not?

24. Do you know how the percentage of students admitted last year through Early Decision at this college compares with the percentage of students who were admitted in the regular decision round?

25. Do you feel confident that you will be able to effectively complete all of the elements of an admissions application (essays, recommendation letters, standardized testing, etc.) before the Early Decision deadline?

26. If asked, could you describe in detail why the Early Decision school is right for you and why it is your top choice over other colleges?

27. If asked, could you describe in detail why you are right for the Early Decision college?

28. Do you already have a list of other colleges that you plan to apply to and would be happy to attend if you are not admitted to your Early Decision choice?

29. Have you begun your applications to other colleges besides your Early Decision choice?

30. Do you know if your Early Decision college is need-blind in admissions and guarantees to meet the demonstrated financial need of all admitted students?

31. Have you and your parents used an online EFC calculator to determine what your family’s Estimated Financial Contribution is likely to be?

32. If you need financial aid, have you researched the financial aid policies and application procedures of your Early Decision college to get an idea of what the college might expect your family to pay?

33. If you need financial aid, have you researched what the average amount of student debt students at your Early Decision college typically graduate with, and would you and your parents be comfortable if you ended up with a similar amount of student loans?

34. If you need financial aid, are you and your parents fully comfortable with the idea of not being able to compare other financial aid offers if you’re admitted Early Decision?

35. Regardless of whether or not you need financial aid, have you researched merit scholarship opportunities at both your Early Decision and other colleges?

36. Regardless of whether or not you need financial aid, are you and your parents willing to forgo any merit scholarship opportunities that you might have at other colleges if you're admitted Early Decision?

37. Regardless of whether you need financial aid or not, have you and your parents considered all financial implications of applying Early Decision -- not just whether you can afford the school, but the opportunity cost of giving up the chance to compare financial aid and merit scholarship offers from other schools?

38. Have you reviewed the Early Decision contract with your parents and school counselor?

39. Do you and your parents understand that Early Decision is a binding commitment, meaning you are promising to attend if admitted, except in the case that the college is unable to meet your demonstrated need as determined by the college’s financial aid policies?

40. If you are accepted Early Decision, will you feel any jealousy or doubts when your friends are receiving multiple acceptances next spring?

41. If you are accepted Early Decision, will you have any regrets about your choice of college?

42. Are you 100% certain that you will attend this college if you are admitted through Early Decision?

Give yourself:

1 points for every "Yes" answer
0 points for every "No" or "Not sure" answer

Are you ready to apply Early Decision? If your score is…

Over 35 points: you appear to have done your research about both the Early Decision college and other college options, and have made a well-thought-out decision. You are ready to proceed with an Early Decision application.

Between 25 and 34 points: Early Decision may be right for you, but you need to do more research and thinking. Over the next few weeks, carefully weigh whether Early Decision is right for you and your family’s circumstances.

If you scored below 25 points: You are not ready to apply Early Decision, or may be applying Early Decision for the wrong reasons. You should do more research on both the Early Decision process and your college options, and only then consider whether a particular college is a good Early Decision choice.

Should You Apply Early Decision?

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:50:00 +0000

With the first Early Decision deadlines a month away, many students (and parents) have questions about whether Early Decision is the right choice for them. Today, I'm going to answer some of the most common questions students ask about applying Early Decision. Tommorrow, I will post a self-quiz to help you decide if you are truly ready to commit to Early Decision.

What is Early Decision? Early Decision is an application plan offered by some colleges that allows students to apply and receive an admissions decision early in the year. When you apply Early Decision, you will sign a contract promising that if you’re admitted you will attend the college and immediately withdraw all of your applications from other colleges.

Who should apply through Early Decision? The best candidates for Early Decision are students who have carefully researched a variety of colleges and decided with certainty that one particular institution is their top choice. Additionally, since colleges will only be considering your grades through the end of junior year, students considering Early Decision should have solid grades and test scores by the Early Decision deadline.

Will applying Early Decision make it easier to get in? It depends. Early Decision isn’t a “miracle cure” for students who have lackluster grades and test scores, or grades and test scores far below the average of the typical admit for the college where they are applying. If you wouldn’t be a good candidate for the college during the regular admissions cycle, it’s unlikely that you will get admitted simply because you apply Early Decision. However, students whose grades and test scores put them within the range of the college’s previous admitted students can sometimes have a better chance of admission during the Early Decision cycle. Keep in mind that the acceptance rates for Early Decision vary greatly from college to college. At the most selective colleges, the acceptance rates for students applying Early Decision are still very low. No student should apply Early Decision simply because they’re hoping for an admissions advantage – the main reason to apply Early Decision should always be that the college is your top choice.

I’m 100% sure that my Early Decision school is the only college for me, and I’m pretty confident that I’ll be admitted. Do I still need to make a list of other colleges to apply to? Absolutely. In fact, no one should apply Early Decision unless they also have a list of other colleges where they would be happy to attend, including some “safe bets” where you are highly likely to be admitted. You should spend just as much time researching the other colleges on your list as you do your Early Decision college, and you should also give the application process just as much attention at those schools. While your Early Decision college may be your “dream school,” everyone needs a backup plan.

Additionally, since there is very limited time between when Early Decision replies are sent out and the deadlines for applying to other colleges, it is never a good idea to wait to prepare your applications until you hear from your Early Decision college! Use the time between sending your Early Decision application and the response date to complete your other application materials, so that they are ready to send as quickly as possible if you don’t get the news you’re hoping for from your Early Decision college. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

Will applying Early Decision affect my financial aid package? If you’re admitted to a college via Early Decision, you’ll typically receive the same financial aid package that you would have received if you applied in the regular admissions cycle.

However, one of the main disadvantages of applying Early Decision is that if you’re admitted in the Early Decision round, you’ll be unable to compare financial aid offers from other colleges. You won’t know, for instance, whether another college may have offered you less student loans, or whether you might have received a significant merit scholarship elsewhere. Because you’re giving up the opportunity to compare other financial aid offers if you’re admitted Early Decision, you and your parents should ask the financial aid offices of a number of colleges some hard questions before making the Early Decision choice. If you ask for it, some colleges offering Early Decision will also provide a preliminary financial aid estimate to families who are considering Early Decision.

What if I am admitted Early Decision, but the financial aid package they offer isn’t enough for my family? If this happens, you should immediately talk to the admissions and financial aid departments of the college. In some cases, colleges may be willing to work with you and your family to adjust your financial aid offer. However, it’s important to note that your family’s definition of what you can afford to pay may differ from the college’s definition of what your family can pay. If an agreement can’t be reached, this is the sole instance where the binding nature of the Early Decision agreement may be broken.

Can I apply Early Decision to more than one college at the same time? No. You can only apply Early Decision to one college at a time. However, for colleges that offer Early Decision II programs, once you’ve been rejected during the first Early Decision I round, you can apply to a different college during Early Decision II. This is one of the reasons why it is important to have a backup plan should the news from Early Decision not be what you hope.

Can I also apply Early Action at other colleges if I have applied to one college through Early Decision? In many cases, yes. However, some colleges have a requirement in their Early Decision agreement that prohibits Early Decision applicants from applying Early Action to any other college. Additionally, some colleges offering Early Action plans prohibit Early Action applicants from applying early anywhere else, whether through Early Decision or Early Action.

What if I change my mind about attending the college after I’m admitted through Early Decision? Early Decision is a binding agreement between you and the college. In exchange for receiving your admissions decision early, you are promising that you will not change your mind about attending the college if you’re admitted. Colleges take this promise very seriously, and reserve the right to rescind their Early Decision admissions offer if they discover that a student has not withdrawn their other applications from other colelges. So, it is very important to be absolutely certain that you won’t have any second thoughts if you are admitted in the Early Decision round.

Tommorrow: Are you ready to apply Early Decision?

Tips For Getting Started With College Essays & Other College Questions

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:26:00 +0000

If you're struggling to find just the right topic for your college application essays, you might want to check out the tips for writing college essays put together by members of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), a professional association for college admissions consultants. HECA members have also compiled suggestions for paying for college, researching colleges, and finding the right college.

Thinking about working with a college admissions consultant? Be sure to also read HECA's advice on what to look for when hiring a college admissions consultant.

Another College Goes Test Optional

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:19:00 +0000

Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania has
announced that it has made submitting standardized test scores optional in its admissions process. With the addition of Washington & Jefferson, there are now 839 colleges and universities on the list of colleges that are test-optional. A complete list can be found on the FairTest website.

Tips On Teacher Recommendations For College Applications

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:24:00 +0000

"Please write whatever you think is important about this student, including a description of academic and personal characteristics, as demonstrated in your classroom. We welcome information that will help us to differentiate this student from others." -- 2009-2010 Common Application Teacher Evaluation

Which of your teachers will answer this question for your college applications? What insights will they share about you with college admissions officers? How convincing will their words be?

If you haven't yet thought about the answers to these questions, now is a good time to do so, especially if you are planning to apply Early Decision or Early Action. Teacher recommendations are a valuable opportunity to give an admissions committee a deeper glimpse into your potential to contribute and succeed on their campus, both inside and outside of the classroom. A strong recommendation can support and even uplift your entire application while a luke-warm one is an opportunity lost. In the worst case scenario, damning words from a teacher can raise just enough doubt in an admissions committee's mind to get your application tossed into the "deny" pile. So, in choosing who to ask to write your recommendations, it pays to choose wisely.

One common misconception students have about teacher recommendations is that they should focus on the student's extracurricular accomplishments. While it is fine for your teacher to briefly mention some of your activities outside of the classroom, colleges can already gleam most of that information from the rest of your application. What they're really hoping to uncover in teacher recommendations is who you are inside the classroom. How strong are your writing and analytical skills? Do you make valuable contributions to classroom discussions? Are you a creative thinker or someone who just dutifully parrots back information? How do you react when a subject is particularly challenging to you? Do you work just for the grade, or out of the sheer joy of learning for learning's sake? What is your intellectual potential? Will you be able to handle college level work?

To get at the answers to these questions, most colleges either require or strongly prefer recommendations from teachers who have had you in class in either 11th or 12th grade and who have taught you in core academic subjects: English, math, science, history, or foreign language. While your broadcast journalism teacher might have fabulous things to say about how comfortable you are in front of the camera and your P.E. instructor may be able to wax poetic about your speed on the track field, colleges mainly want to know how you perform in the classes that most directly relate to your readiness for college.

Don't automatically assume that your recommendations must come from the teacher who gave you the best grades, however. In some cases, it may be better to ask the teacher in whose class you struggled for a "B" but who knows and respects your determination to succeed than the teacher who gave you an easy "A" but probably won't have much to say about you beyond that. You may also want to consider the teacher's teaching style. Sometimes a teacher who encourages class discussion and uses a great deal of originality and creativity in the classroom can have more to say about your performance than the teacher whose class is taught by rote. In all cases, however, do think about which teachers seem to be the most thoughtful and to write best -- they are likely to also be the ones who will take the job of writing your recommendation most seriously.

In many schools there are one or two "popular" teachers who everyone asks to write their college recommendations. If a teacher like this is on your list of possibilities, do make sure to verify that they will have enough time to devote to each recommendation, and that they have valuable and important insights into your academic performance. In some cases, you may be better off asking that less popular teacher down the hall who never minds if you stop in to chat about a topic that intrigued you, then the "popular" teacher who knows you only superficially. If you are truly stumped about who to ask, consider brainstorming with your school counselor or parents.

Whoever you decide to ask for recommendations, approach your teachers in a polite and tactful manner. A good question to ask is, "Would you feel comfortable writing my college recommendation?" If you sense any hesitation, don't be insulted. Just move on to another teacher who is immediately enthusiastic about writing your recommendation.

Make your recommendation writers' jobs as easy as possible. First, give them plenty of lead time. You know how hard it is to write an essay or paper -- don't expect your teachers to be able to write a thoughtful and thorough recommendation for you the day before application deadlines. A good rule of thumb is to get everything they need to them at least six weeks in advance of the deadline.

If you're applying to Common Application colleges, teachers can choose to submit their recommendation letters online. Some teachers, however, still prefer to send recommendation letters by mail. So, when your teacher agrees to write your recommendation for a Common Application college, it is a good idea to ask which method they prefer.

If your teachers prefer to submit electronically, you will need to provide their name and email on the Common Application. The Common Application will then send your teacher an email with instructions for submitting their recommendation. The teacher can still decide to send paper recommendations, however, so even if one teacher decides to submit electronically and the other one wants to use mail, you will be OK. An important note: if you are planning to send your Common Application by mail, all of your recommendations must also come by mail.

If your teacher indicates a preference for sending recommendations by mail, don’t just drop a bunch of forms on their desk and expect them to do a good job. Provide a folder or envelope that has everything the teacher will need to complete your recommendations including a stamped envelope addressed to each college. One tip: put four sheets of paper in the envelope you plan to use and ask your local post office to weigh it and tell you the exact postage necessary. While you’re at the post office, purchase post-paid postcards. They will be blank on each side, except for the postage. On the postage side, write your own name and address. On the other side, write something similar to this: "Dear XYZ College Admissions: Please drop this card in the mail when you receive this recommendation. That will allow me to track whether all of my application paperwork has arrived safely. Thank you."

Finally, many students ask me if it is OK to send additional recommendations beyond the number specified by each individual college. Supplemental recommendations should be used sparingly, if at all. They should not merely repeat what the main recommendations say about you, but, rather, add important information or insights that the main recommendation writers cannot. For example, if you are applying as a studio art or music major, sending a supplemental recommendation from an art or music teacher that discusses your talent, or from your direct supervisor at the job you've held for the last two years, may, at times, provide useful insights for an admissions commitee. However, supplemental recommendations from people who barely know you, additional recommendations from teachers beyond what the college asks for, or from alumni of the college who have never met you but know your grandmother, will not add much, if anything to your application, and may, in some cases, backfire. Keep in mind that college admissions officers are busy, with thousands of applications to read. Each additional piece in your application file dilutes the amount of time that can be spent on the pieces that matter most. So, before you add a supplemental recommendation, make sure it is going to say something important enough to risk taking the focus off of the main recommendations from your teachers.

Making Conversation: How To Ace Your College Interviews

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:14:00 +0000

Students spend hours writing college application essays, worrying about college lists, and putting the final touches on their college applications. But, many students overlook the important role college admissions interviews can often play in admissions decisions. I recently asked interview coach, Peggy Wallace, founder of Making Conversation, LLC, for some tips on preparing for successful college interviews.

What’s the most important thing students need to know about college admissions interviews and their role in admissions?

The college interviewer wants to like you! The interviewer is looking for the undiscovered "gem," the student who will "complete" their class and come to their school. It is a mutual sale, i.e., they want to sell you on the school and you want to sell them on you.

In-person or webcam interviews put a face to the paper application. A phone interview will add a person's voice to compliment the written application. It is harder to say "no" to someone with whom you have met and established rapport, especially if you liked them. View the interviewer as your advocate in front of the admissions committee. They are looking for reasons that they can use to persuade the committee to accept your application. Even if nothing new or supplemental is discovered, the very fact that you made the effort to interview (and hopefully to prepare) indicates interest. Admissions offices are concerned about yield. If they accept you, will you select them? Show them that you want them!

What are the most important steps students should take to prepare for their college interviews?

Prepare, prepare, prepare and then, prepare some more. Practice with family, friends, an objective adult or an interview coach. You want your responses to be well-considered, clearly thought out, responsive to the question asked and most certainly not memorized.

You may be uncomfortable talking to a stranger about how terrific you are, but realize that they don't know about anything about the real you, unless you tell them. Informing them is not boasting. Be grateful that your hard work has paid off! Pretend that you are your best friend telling someone else about you.

A good interview feels like a good conversation. It is an easy exchange of information; one person supplies sufficient detail to get the ball rolling, and the ball rolls back and forth, making sure that one does not steamroll the other. Practice becoming a better conversationalist and an active listener. The ability to "make conversation" can be learned. Chat with new people each day so you become skilled in "winning with words." An interviewer does not want be placed in an adversarial position, "pulling teeth," or getting responses on a "need to know" basis.

Take the college's perspective. What might they be looking for in an applicant? What qualities do you bring? How did you affect your high school/community and how will you benefit their school/community?

Have some memorable "strengths" stories about yourself ready - actual examples which show your attributes, interests or activities told in clear, concise, effective, persuasive and relevant stories. Know yourself. Spend time understanding what your unique selling attributes might be. If you were a brand, how would you market yourself? What are your talking points? It is a campaign to help someone understand you and why you would benefit their school.

Research the school. Don't ask questions that are obvious. "How far are you from Boston?" or too obscure, "How late is the gym pool open weeknights?" (Yes, I was asked.) Ask questions which show that you have given serious thought to being a student there next fall.

Are there any social etiquette rules that students need to keep in mind for college interviews?

Social etiquette is essentially showing respect for the other person. It can be as simple as waiting for someone where you can be easily located, i.e. not facing a wall, making eye contact, smiling or standing up until they sit down.

Be an active listener showing that you are "in the moment," totally engaged in the conversation. Respect the value of the interviewer's time. Be on time, which means a few moments early. Or, better yet come 5-15 minutes early so you can go to the bathroom, get a sip of water etc.

Finally, write a thank you note. Send it by e-mail or snail mail, if you have the time and want it to land in your application file. Make specific reference to the topics discussed during your interview. Use the thank you to confirm your interest and refresh their recollection of your "fit."

How should students dress for college interviews?

Dress as if you were attending your conservative grandparent's birthday party at a nice restaurant: men, collared shirts and nice shoes; and women, avoid those plunging or questionable necklines and short skirts. Nothing you wear should detract from your message. If you are squirming or pulling at what you are wearing, most interviewers will get distracted by the motion and lose track of your content. Road test your clothes beforehand: sit, stand and check yourself out in a full length mirror. Of course, if you are applying to an arts or fashion school, showcase your personal style.

Some colleges only offer interviews for "information purposes" or say that they are optional. How should students approach these interviews?

Every contact with the school is an opportunity to make a good impression even if the school says interviews are only for information purposes or that interviews are optional. Remember, it is optional that you get admitted to the school, their option. Even if they don't offer interviews, the student tour guide could be asked by the admissions office (responsible for the tours and making the tour guides feel what they offer is of value), "How was the tour? Any good ones?" If you impressed them, your name (and maybe even the reason why) will become familiar to the admissions office and you can always correspond with the student tour guide later on.

Again, if they meet you in person (or even through G-talk or Skype, which some schools now do for interviews), it benefits you. Take the plunge; take a chance on yourself. Seek out the interview opportunity.

Do you have any other tips for dealing with the stress so many students feel about college interviews?

Relax and enjoy the opportunity to meet new people. Divert your nervous energy into positive enthusiasm. Show your excitement about this momentous step. If not now, when? The thank you note is a bit too late to express your enthusiasm.

They really just want to find out all about wonderful you. So get yourself a rousing theme song and psyche yourself for the interview! Establish a routine to relax your body, and clear your mind except for your key talking points. Then, Focus!

Oh, and get a good night's sleep the night before! Yawning in front of empathetic people is contagious and you don't want them thinking that they are bored, or worse yet, that you are!

Related link: Making Conversation, LLC

College Essays: Advice From Real Admissions Officers

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:40:00 +0000

Struggling with your college essays? Here's a repeat of an article I previously published here on AdmissionsAdvice.com about what real college admissions officers are hoping to find when they read your essays:

Admissions officers from Yale University and Kenyon College spoke about what they look for in successful college essays during the annual College Board Conference last weekend.

“We’re looking for a match between the student and the college as much as anything when we read essays,” said Beverly Morse, Kenyon’s Associate Dean of Admissions. “Students need to use their own voice in order to let us find that match. We don’t expect Pulitzer Prize winning essays or essays that sound like they’ve been written by adults. Perfection is not necessary, but having your own voice come through is. It’s called a personal statement because we want it to be personal.”

Jeremiah Quinlan, Yale’s Director of Outreach and Recruitment, agreed. “I’m interested in this person as a 17-year-old. The best essays are not the ones with perfect punctuation or that cool Ayn Rand quote that they think makes them sound like an intellectual, but ones that are honest and real because that’s how we get a sense of who the student is.”

“Yale receives over 21,000 applications. Of those, 14 or 15 thousand have high grades and high tests scores,” noted Quinlan. “We know most of our applicants can do the work. However, great test scores and a terrific GPA only put you in the pool. What separates you out is personality, and one of the major ways we find out about your personality is through your essays. Unfortunately, many times the student’s personality gets edited out, especially if they have too many people read and comment on their essays.”

Students don’t have much time to stand out with Yale admissions readers. According to Quinlan, Yale admissions readers can read 50 or more essays a day, six days a week, during the admissions season. However, Quinlan was careful to note that Yale admissions officers “always start with the transcript. If the student isn’t a fit academically, we won’t spend much time on the essay.”

Quinlan suggested that students ask themselves three questions before sending off their essays. “First, ask ‘who am I?’ The essay has to be about you, and convey your personality. In order to do that you have to have a sense of yourself. They should also remenber that we don’t want to read about who you were or what you did back in eighth grade. We want to find out who you are now.”

The second question? “Does this essay resonate with the rest of my application? Students should ask themselves what their activities will say about them, what their recommendations will say about them, even what their high school grades and course choices will say about them, and then make sure that the essay resonates with everything we’ll read elsewhere in their application. This doesn’t mean that they should only tell us things we already know, but rather, they should make sure that the essay doesn’t make us wonder just who their teachers were talking about in their recommendations.”

As an example, Quinlan used an essay about a student’s first voting experience, relating it to the political situation in Dafur. “I would expect that that student’s teacher recommendations would talk about her concern for others, her leadership skills, or her passion for politics, and that her extracurriculars might highlight similar things. If the teachers don’t mention any of these things, and her only extracurricular is some minor club, the essay wouldn’t resonate with the rest of her application.”

A second example was a humorous and off-beat essay about the student’s family. “We’d expect the recommendations to talk about the student’s great sense of humor, or how much other students enjoy his presence in class, how he’s an out of the box thinker with excellent writing and speaking skills. If we didn’t pick up on any of that in the recommendations or elsewhere in the application, the essay wouldn’t have that same resonance.”

Finally, Quinlan suggested that students ask themselves if the essay is reflective. “We’re looking for evidence of growth and resolution, a sense of how they’ve come to be who they are, or why they believe what they do.”

Morse suggested that students start with some pre-writing exercises before they begin to write the actual essay. “Write down six or seven adjectives you would use to describe yourself. Then write down something that you’ve done in the last six months or so that has made you proud or surprised yourself. Merge these ideas and just start writing. Don’t edit too much at the beginning. Just let your ideas flow.”

Morse highlighted some pet peeves of admissions readers. The number one peeve? What Morse called the “overblown” essay. “Don’t use big words just because you think they’ll impress us. If you don’t normally write or speak that way, we won’t learn who you really are.”

Quinlan picked up a similar theme. “We get a lot of essays about music and drama because kids and parents think, ‘It’sYale, they like music and drama there.’ Well, if you love debate, telling us about music and drama misses the chance to tell us about what really matters to you.”

Both admissions officers stressed that students should be cautious about getting input from others, especially, in some cases from parents. “Parents want to protect their children. They want to hold their hands and make sure that the child doesn’t fail,” said Morse. As a result, parents can often try to “fix” essays, destroying the student’s true voice in the process. “Sometimes, when I’m reading essays, I wonder who the real writers are because they don’t sound like a 17-year old wrote them.”

Is there a “wrong” essay topic? “There really isn’t,” said Quinlan, with a caveat. “As long as the essay shows growth and resolution.”

Morse, however, noted that some topics are better than others. “Students should remember we’re looking at both the academic and social fit. If an essay makes us think that a student is just going to hole up in the library and not be a part of the Kenyon community, we’re going to think he isn’t a match.”

Divorce Can Complicate College Financial Aid

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Children of divorced parents sometimes face some thorny issues when it comes to financial aid. If your parents are divorced – or you’re a divorced parent – it’s particularly important to understand the process of applying for financial aid and how it may affect your situation.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the main application for financial aid asks students to supply information about the household income and assets of their custodial parent. For FAFSA purposes, the custodial parent is the parent you’ve lived with the most during the past 12 months. If you’ve divided your time equally between each parent, the custodial parent is the one who has provided the most financial support to you. The FAFSA asks for household financial information, which means that if your custodial parent has remarried, the income and assets of your stepparent as well as your custodial parent will be considered for financial aid purposes, even if your stepparent has no intention of contributing to your college expenses.

Many private colleges also require the CSS Profile. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile asks for financial information about both parents, and it’s here that many students of divorced parents run into trouble. Non-custodial parents are often leery about providing information about their income and assets to their ex-spouses, yet that information is required to complete the CSS Profile. For this reason, many colleges ask the non-custodial parent to complete a form called the Noncustodial Profile (NCP) that gives the parent an opportunity to use a unique password to ensure that his or her information remains private. Still, there are times when the non-custodial parent refuses to comply, leaving the student unable to complete the application. In other cases, the student may no longer be in contact with the non-custodial parent and therefore be unable to complete the information. Some colleges are willing to grant waivers for non-custodial information in certain circumstances; others will not.

Here are some tips for avoiding potential financial pitfalls if your parents are divorced, or you are a divorced parent:

Start early. Don’t wait until financial aid deadlines are looming to identify and address potential issues for your family.

Get educated. The more you know about how the financial aid process works, the less likely you’ll be to run into surprises. Websites like the Student Financial Aid Portal, Finaid.org, and the College Board website are good places to start. Pay particular attention to potential financial aid application issues that might arise for your family. Once you learn and understand the basics, research the financial aid policies of every college you are considering. Do not hesitate to contact financial aid offices with specific questions about how their institution's specific policies. It is better to know upfront what colleges require and how your family's circumstances might affect your financial aid package, then it is to apply blindly hoping everything will somehow miraculously work out on its own.

Try to keep the lines of communication – and information – open. While it may be impossible for some divorced spouses to communicate openly and honestly, making the effort can help smooth the financial aid process. Even if students can’t get their parents to talk with each other about college planning and financial issues, they can talk with each parent individually about paying for college and the financial aid application process. If you’re a divorced parent, try to put your personal feelings aside if you can; there’s never been a better time to be civil to your ex.

Get help. School counselors and financial aid offices are a valuable resource. Use them. If your non-custodial parent is refusing to provide necessary information, ask your counselor to call them and explain why it is necessary. Again, don't be shy about calling college financial aid offices and asking about their policies regarding uncooperative parents. Some colleges will simply ask you to supply whatever information you can provide, and others may waive certain requirements if you can provide additional documentation, such as a letter from your school counselor certifying that you no longer have contact with a parent.

Admission Matters: Surviving College Admissions

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:28:00 +0000

Back in 2005, I interviewed Sally Springer, who had just co-authored an excellent book about the college admissions process, Admission Matters. Over the years, I have repeatedly recommended this book to students and parents looking for common sense advice on college planning, so I was delighted to hear that a new edition of Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting into College was being released. This time around, Sally Springer and her original co-author Marion Franck teamed up with Jon Reider, director of college counseling at San Francisco University High School and a former admissions officer at Stanford University. Recently, I asked Jon to share his advice for students about college applications, essays, and surviving the college admissions process.

Over the next few months, high school seniors will be finalizing their college lists. Any advice for them on how they can determine if their list is realistic?

The key thing in a college list is having what I call “likelies,” schools where you are likely to be admitted and which, most importantly, you actually like, rather than are resigned to going to. This is why I avoid words like “backup” and “safety.” They are demeaning to the schools. I think in the book we call these schools “Good bets,” but I don’t like the gaming theme that suggests, so I actually prefer “likely.” If you have the right likelies, anything else is OK. But you should also not have too many difficult schools. Kids do get into the most selective schools, but if you have too many, it becomes brutal at decision time. It’s hard to limit yourself because you want to think that your odds are going to be better if you just add one more, but the truth is they aren’t. Prudence is a real virtue at this stage.

Admission Matters devotes an entire chapter to explaining how college admissions people make decisions. You’ve worked on both sides of the desk, as both an admissions officer and a school counselor. What is the most important thing that students need to understand about what goes on in the admissions office after their application is received?

Students need to realize that admission officers are human. They have families, often including teenage children, in fact, and the younger ones were teenagers themselves not very long ago. They come in different shapes and sizes, with different values, so don’t try to write for a particular admission officer, even if you have met the officer responsible for your geographical area. There will always be other people reading your file too. In the end, you have to write for yourself.

What role do essays play in the admissions decision? Do students over or under estimate the importance of essays? What are some common misconceptions students (and parents) have about college essays?

Essays can play a vital role in distinguishing you. It is through the essay, most often, that the file comes alive, and the admission officer decides she really likes you and wants to fight for you in the committee. They won’t fight because you have a strong transcript or super test scores. They fight for you because they like you for some reason.

At the same time, a great essay cannot rescue your file if your numerical credentials are not competitive for the college’s applicant pool. Among the common misconceptions are that there are good and bad topics. In reality, any topic is OK, even summer camp, or the church mission to Mexico. It is the honesty of the treatment than matters more than the topic. In the end, there are no original topics. They have read them all before, even the shocking, tragic, and funny ones. Polishing is vastly over-rated too; the essay needs to be correct and easy to read but it doesn’t have to be an imitation of Dickens or Philip Roth. It is common to see overwritten essays where the purple prose draws attention to itself as writing and away from the subject: you.

Do you have any tips for students to help them get started with brainstorming ideas for their college essays? Are there any essay topics you suggest that students avoid?

What is the first thing you would tell a new Pen Pal in Paraguay about you? (The alliteration is intentional. You will remember this phrase.) When did you learn something very important about yourself or the world, the exact moment? Don’t write an introduction – just dive in. Or talk it out with a teacher or friend, to get the juices flowing, and then write down what you were saying. Avoid being critical of your parents; avoid sex; be very careful with humor – it is in the eye of the beholder, and doesn’t always transfer from your witty mind to the reader’s. Do not use vulgar language – respect your reader’s possible values.

How important are recommendation letters in the college application process? What’s the most important factor students should weigh in deciding which teachers to ask for recommendations? Do you have any tips on how students can help their school counselor write a better recommendation letter?

99% of recommendation letters are wholly positive, but not much more than that. So they often don’t matter much. But when they are exceptional, they can help a great deal. It is not getting a good letter that matters, but one that enhances your case. Too often, kids just ask a teacher who they think likes them. That is a minimal but not a sufficient condition. Have you shown this teacher your best stuff in class, whether it is in class participation, writing, problem-solving, independence in lab work, helpfulness with other students, asking for something extra to work on, or anything that shows your mind at work? You can’t tell a teacher what to write, but you can tell them how much their class meant to you in retrospect. Be genuine about this; too much apple polishing gets corny, but you should be able to be honest about this.

What do high school juniors and their parents need to know about making the most of the coming year in terms of college planning?

Take it a step at a time. It is not a race, and you can overplan too much in the beginning by picking a first choice college too early, for example. This is not a race. Don’t be swayed by brand names; be aware that colleges are to a great extent businesses and a lot of their admission work is not that different from selling cars or toothpaste. Be alert that you are being marketed to.

Recent economic events have added to the anxiety and stress many families feel about college admissions. What questions should students and parents be asking, both of themselves and of colleges, in light of concerns about the economy?

How much is an education worth? Not an easy question to answer. Except for a house, it is the biggest ticket item you will purchase. Yet, what is more important than education? It never goes out of style and never wears out. Sure, you will forget what the professor said about mitochondria or the Gettysburg Address, but you won’t forget your love of science or history, so it is always a good deal in that sense.

In light of the recession, you should ask colleges how they have adjusted to leaner times. What programs have they trimmed or cut? This will give you a sense of their priorities and values.

Do you have any advice for this year’s seniors and their parents about keeping their stress levels down during the college admissions process?

Where you go makes much less difference than what you do when you get there. Keep your eye on the goal, and the bumps on the road will seem much smaller. In particular, play down having a clear first choice, even if you decide to apply early. I wish I had a nickel for every student who didn’t get into what was supposedly their first choice early on and then comes back to see me much later and tells me how happy they are at their third choice.

Above all, keep a sense of humor. The whole process has become so ridiculous: wasteful, lengthy, and tedious. It is hard not to laugh at it. How can so many smart people mess this up? You can’t change that, but you can change your attitude. You don’t have to let it get to you. The most important thing about where you go to college is the eye color of your future children: i.e., it is likely to determine whom you will marry. In the long run, happiness matters most. A college can’t provide that; the rest is up to you. Be of good cheer, and go get it.

Organize For College Applications Now To Avoid Stress Later

Carolyn@admissionsadvice.com (Carolyn Z. Lawrence) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:31:00 +0000

If you're a high school senior or the parent of one, now is a good time to get organized for college applications, even if you are still finalizing your college list. As the fall prgresses, the pace of life will quickly pick up steam, and between school work, extracurriculars, and dealing with applications, so can stress. A few minutes now spent getting organized for the college application process will pay dividends in terms of reducing stress later.

Every student will have their own way of doing things, of course, but here are six suggestions to help you get started:

1. Designate a spot in your home as your "College Center." This will be the place where you keep everything related to your college applications so you can find them quickly and easily. You could use a drawer in a file cabinet, a bookshelf, an expandable file folder, or even just a cardboard box. What your College Center should not be, however, is the bottom of your backpack.

2. Gather application information and supplies. You'll need to use the following information again and again when filling out college and scholarship applications: your social security number, your school address and phone number, your counselor's email and phone number, and passwords for sites like the College Board, the ACT, and the Common Application. Write all of this information down now, and keep a copy in your College Center to avoid having to search for it every time you need it. Stock your College Center area with the following supplies: a calendar marked with important deadlines,envelopes and stamps, thank you cards, pens, and postage-paid blank postcards (available from your local post office.)

3. Set Up a College Filing System. As you add colleges to your final list, start a separate folder for each school. Put the name of the school on the folder, as well as contact information for the admissions department: address, name of the admissions officer for your region, their email, and the admission office phone number. Also list each college's admissions and financial aid deadlines, and their application requirements (i.e., do they ask for one teacher recommendation or two?). A number of colleges now require or recommend that recommendation letters and transcripts to be sent electronically, so be sure to verify each school's requirements for this as well.

4. Start a College Calendar. Although you'll note the important deadlines for each college on your files, it is helpful to have a calendar where you can quickly spot what is due and when. A calendar is also useful for plotting when you'll find time to work on your applications and essays in between school assignments and extracurriculars. Some families decide to also make spread sheets showing all deadlines and application requirements. If this is your choice, my advice is: keep it simple. There is enough to do with applications without worrying about keeping a complex spreadsheet up-to-date as well. Often, just noting deadlines on your College Center calendar can be enough to keep you on schedule.

5. Register for electronic application accounts. If any of the colleges you plan to apply to use the Common Application or the Universal College Application, register for an account at those websites as soon as possible. If the school uses its own application, register now if necessary. Download a complete copy of all application materials -- the application, any supplemental materials required, and teacher and school recommendation forms. Place a copy in each file. Spend a few moments reading through the essay prompts for each school and adding to your information list. Tip: If you will be using the Common Application, once you have entered your name and some additional information, the system will allow you to print out teacher and school recommendation forms with all of your identifying information automatically included.

5. Check with your high school on their policies for sending transcripts and recommendation letters. These policies vary from school to school, and to avoid delays and mixups, it is important to know and follow your school's policy to the letter.

6. Make your recommendation writers' jobs easy. For each teacher who will be writing recommendations, as well as your high school guidance counselor, purchase an expandable file folder with individual storage sections. In the first section, put a copy of your transcript, a description of the schools you are applying to and why you have chosen them, a list of your activities, and any other information you feel will help your teachers and counselor write your recommendations. Label the other sections for each college, and include the relevant recommendation forms, a sheet listing the application deadline and address of the college, and, if your recommendation writers will be mailing your letters of recommendation, a stamped envelope addressed to the college admissions office. Tip: to make sure you have put enough postage on the envelope, put a copy of the recommendation form, plus two sheets of paper in the envelope and ask your local post office to weigh it for you.

To make sure that your mailed recommendations arrive, you may also want to include a postage-paid blank postcard in each envelope. These can be purchased from your local post office. Write your name and address on the postage side of the postcard. On the other side, write something similar to the following message: "Dear College X Admissions Office, I want to make certain that all of my application materials have arrived. Please drop this card in the mail when you have received this (teacher/school) recommendation. Thank you." Place the card in each of the envelopes.

7. Set aside "College Time" each week. At the beginning of each week, spend a few moments at your College Center reviewing your calendar and setting your priorities. While it may seem like there's plenty of time before deadlines loom, working just a bit on your applications each week will break the process into smaller, more manageable chunks and hopefully help avoid the stress of missed deadlines, misplaced items, and last minute scrambles to find important information.