Over the last few years there have been a few alarming trends that we in the profession have noticed when working with students and their families through their college search and selection process. What are these trends? Well … Here are a few to get the conversation started.
Photo by jrossol
You’ve done everything you were supposed to do: you have applied; you have been admitted to at least one great college/university; you have always dotted every “i” and crossed every “t”. And now you want your rightful rest. You think you have earned it, right? I’m sure you’re not considering anything unreasonable, miss a few days of school here, a few homework assignments there, sleep a little in class, stop reading the literature . . . I know where you’re coming from. Trust me. I do. This is what I have to say about the dreaded (and all too familiar) “senioritis”:
Senioritis photo by SPCbrass
Does this scenario sound familiar? You get home from school and grab the mail out of the mailbox in front of your home to bring inside. It’s the usual junk mail, catalog or two, bill for your Mom or Dad. But then you notice something different. Something addressed to you!
Let’s be honest. You are probably only used to getting a card from Grandma on your birthday and maybe a cell phone bill (but you probably get that online). Something addressed to you that isn’t one of those two things must demand your attention, right?
The next day you get home … and there are 2 things addressed to you. The next day 5. The day after 10. What are these wonderful pieces of mail I am talking about? Well if you are a high school junior or senior you know … I’m talking about the mounds and mounds of brochures from colleges that you are probably getting on a daily basis.
Photo by gerlos
One of the things I have noticed students admitted to college starting to ask is, “How many students are admitted to my major?” or “How many students do you accept each year?”. While valid questions, these answers need to be placed in the right context.
What many students may or may not realize is that the landscape of applying to colleges have changed. The University of New Haven is not alone in an increase in the number of applicants to the school. While we have seen a tremendous surge in applications over the last 3 years … many universities have seen a steady increase in applications as well.
This is a crazy time of year. Thousands of colleges around the country are reading thousands of applications for students who are putting their hopes and dreams into an envelope (well … nowadays an e-mail account) and hoping for the best.
The unfortunate downside of reviewing so many applications is often times students are either not ready, or not a good fit for some of the colleges they are applying to. This should not deter a you from applying to the school(s) you are interested in attending … in fact, it should encourage you to do your research, and prioritize your schools based on “fit” over “rank”.
Photo by satguru
Today we have a guest post from college admissions insider Gil Rogers, Associate Director of Admissions at the University of New Haven.
So you are getting ready to finalize those college applications. You have visited schools, met with counselors and students, read through every piece of mail sent to you and surfed on all of the best college search websites. You are ready to go, right? Wrong.
Filling out the application form is easy. As long as you know your name and address, chances are, that part is done. But what are you going to do to set yourself apart from all of the names and numbers on the papers going in to the admissions office at your top choice school? That is where the application essay comes in.
Photo by Valeriana Solaris
There’s a belief among some students that senior year is a time to take easy classes. Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but if you really want to go to college that’s the last thing you should do. It seems that every year the same erroneous ideas regarding applying to college manage to make their way into students’ conversations. They are part of what I refer to as “Hallway Mythology”.
Photo by Kevin Walter
Every year, more and more students choose to apply online - a trend I’m happy to see as we become more environmentally responsible. However, in some students’ minds, online applications seem to trigger a response that says, “It’s just another online form. How hard can it be?” The truth is, it’s not “just another online form”. It’s your chance to make a great first impression - or not. (more…)
As summer is coming to an end, high school seniors will begin to think about applying to college. Having worked in college admissions for over 10 years, I’ve seen my share of stupid mistakes from students in completing their college applications. While many professionals will give you advice on how to construct the perfect application, few will share the unfortunate errors with you. Today’s blog will cover the top 5 mistakes that I’ve seen. (more…)
I’d like to let you in on a little secret: I am usually assigned topics to cover for this blog and I, naturally, follow my grand-master’s guidelines to the “T”. However, this month, no such luck. I was told to write on anything– ANYTHING that I choose. I’m picturing my high school seniors who come to me saying that they’re choosing to write their college essay using the Common Application’s prompt, “Topic of your choice”. So I guess I will take the advice I often give them and “be specific”. I would like to talk about how important it is for students to become their own advocates in the college application and admission process.
Photo by theparadigmshifter
With another school year down and a new one just lurking around the corner, it is important for high school seniors to begin their college application process now. No, we’re not doing this to fuel the fire of competitive college admissions. And we’re certainly not doing this to pile on more stress and anxiety to the already-hectic life of a teen. What we’re doing is actually trying to alleviate some of that by planning — creating a timetable of sorts to make your life more orderly. Let’s face it, the junior year was tough because that’s what the junior year is supposed to be. Your senior year is equally as difficult in the classroom. Do you really want to add to that by doing nothing the summer before? So let’s figure out what you can do now that will save you time and worry during your last hoorah in high school.
Last week I attended the RMACAC conference in Colorado Springs and attended a presentation given from college admissions insiders from three different selective colleges across the country. Jared Cash, Associate Dean of Admissions, Bates College; Todd Rinehart, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Admission, University of Denver; and Abby Noel, Assistant Director of Admission, Vanderbilt University shared some inside information about how they determine who is accepted or denied admission to their colleges. This is what I found out……..
Photo of the University of Denver by Velotech
While college applications have been submitted and most schools have stopped accepting new applicants (though some still continue to accept applications indefinitely), you are wondering what can be done to alleviate your anxiety, right?
As the application season begins to pick up for the majority of high school seniors, there’s always a few stories that fall directly into the “they did WHAT?” category of failed applications. So as the cold of January rolls on, let me share a few of the more humorous moments our consultants have heard about from admissions offices. Don’t try these yourself, because it’s a guarantee you won’t get in.
‘Day 79 - f o c u s’ courtesy of ‘margolove’
One of the more anxiety-inducing and stressful parts of the college application process is standardized testing, namely the SAT or the ACT. Getting a good score is a crucial part of a successful application packet, which only adds to a student’s stress. However, with proper preparation and a focused approach to studying, the tests become much less of a roadblock and more of a step upwards to a successful admit. Today I’ll share with you some common tips that our consultants pass on to our college application clients.
Test takers, courtesy of hyperscholar
Today we have a guest post from social networking guru and higher ed professional Jessica A. Krywosa:
Facebook: It’s an obvious place to connect with friends but it’s no secret that many college admissions offices – and employers! - use it to check out applicants. The flip side is that it’s also a great tool to research colleges by talking with admission counselors, keeping up on deadlines and events, and connecting with other potential or current students.
So, how can you keep your information private and avoid pictures or comments from coming back to haunt you? Below are five tips to keep your information private on facebook.
It is that time of year, when holiday decorations go up, the temperature drops, snow starts to blanket the outside world in a white wonderland and holiday panic ensues. It is also the time of year for the majority of high school seniors to start burrowing into dens and bedrooms, huddling over laptops as they prepare college applications. Ah! The admissions season is getting underway and news stories abound with dire warnings of the slim chances applicants face in getting into their desired colleges.
104/365: 1985-1986, courtesy of hyperbolic pants explosion
During this time of economic volatility, we are all beginning to realize that life as we know it will forever be different. But that doesn’t change the ever-present questions on the mind of most high school seniors: What are my college options? What colleges should I apply to? Do I want my parents to foot the bill for an expensive education?
So what exactly should you do to gain access to the best college opportunities during this uncertain time?
If you’re a high school senior, no doubt you’re hip-deep in the college admissions process. This crucial time of decision-making is just the beginning of your journey. The admissions process consists of many things: completing the activity sheet, surviving the interview, gathering the teacher recommendations, and writing the essay. It’s a lot to do. And inevitably, along the line somewhere, many unsuspecting college hopefuls make a fatal mistake that keeps them from the college of their dreams. These common mistakes are made by thousands of eager applicants every year.
three women, courtesy of Marcio Eugenio
So how can you avoid them? Simple. Know what they are. Let me share a few common pitfalls I’ve seen in my years as an admissions consultant.
This is a very controversial topic. Even within my own mind, I have a conflict on this subject. On the one hand, it is so obvious that there is very little determining value on the scores one receives on his/her SAT or ACT. On the other hand, there must be some objective factor weighted in the admission process and it seems that the standardized tests are that element. So, as much as I would love to see all colleges and universities abolish the tests in their admission decisions, I am here, as one highly opinionated, education-focused person, saying that these tests - contrary to what this New York Times article says - will, in some form, live on in infamy.
