What do colleges want?
This is a question that comes up repeatedly in the news, from parents, even between college consultants. Back in the old days (when parents applied to college) the buzzword was "well-rounded." We all wanted to be involved in a variety of activities that showed how balanced we were. Now the word is "passion." Colleges look for applicants who have explored one (or more) activities at depth. It is enough to make your head spin!
But aside from essays and extra-curriculars, colleges look at each applicant's quantitative mix. These mostly numerical scores are more important for large public universities who have less time to focus on each application individually, but they are also important for private colleges as well.
So what is this mysterious quantitative mix? Obviously, it includes SAT, SAT2, ACT, AP and IB scores. All of those numbers are factored in. Yes, they are important, but they are not the only thing(s) that colleges look at. Colleges know that standardized tests can show college readiness and ability in some but not all students. Timed testing can be undermined by anxiety and learning issues and are not a comprehensive measure for everyone.
Colleges also look closely at transcripts, and that is where the Crucial 5 come in. Successful applicants share one thing in common: they have 4 years of classes in the following subject areas: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and (one) Foreign Language. Can you get into college without all 4 years? Absolutely. But if you are looking at a competitive school, you will increase your chances by making sure you have all these bases covered. And all of these classes contribute to the mix.
More than straight As, taking the most challenging combination of the crucial 5 offered at your high school will help balance out your scores. A B in an AP class shows that you challenged yourself, and you are working as hard as you can in high school. No college wants to take a slacker or an underachiever! You don't need to take the top classes in every subject, so if you are stronger in language, and weaker in Math, don't panic. (Just make sure you get through Algebra 2, a must for college admissions). And make sure your transcript shows that you made the effort.
An old joke asks: what do you call someone who speaks two languages? (bilingual) and what do you call someone who speaks only one language (an American). Hopefully this is not true anymore, and colleges are actively looking for students who prove that joke wrong. Also, brain research has shown that you can learn languages more easily as a teenager than later on. So take your 4 years of French (or Spanish, or Latin), especially since it will probably get you out of having to take language at college, which will give you an opening for more electives once you get there.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Financial Aid for college
The article below in the New York Times (How to Get More College Financial Aid By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: April 6, 2010) and others have gotten me thinking about paying for colleges. I am not a financial aid expert, but I fill out forms for 3 students of my own every year, so I have some real-world experience. Here are some tips I have learned along the way:
Plan Ahead
The first point is the one mentioned by every financial advisor I have ever met: The sooner you start planning for college, the better. Even a small 529 is better than nothing. You don't want to leave it all to the last minute and hope for a huge financial aid package! That is like assuming that your child will become a baseball all-star because he likes little league. Too much of a gamble for my liking!
On the other hand, if your child does well academically, and has a good "quantitative mix" there is a good chance that some college will be interested enough to throw money your way. Don't assume that private schools are out of the question, just because you don't have $50K to throw around. I know plenty of families (mine included) where they have paid more for a sibling at a public university than a sibling at a private school because of scholarships and grants.
So the second "plan ahead" is to take the time to fill out those endless forms (FAFSA and CSS Profile) even if you don't think you will get much. You will also need to get your taxes done in a timely fashion. Early is better, because the sooner you are done, the sooner you can be considered.
Timing is particularly important for state financial awards. Where we live, the DC-TAG (Tuition Assistance Grant) is very important for students applying to public universities. I stand in line every year in late March to have my taxes certified by the Office of Tax and Revenue, and then head to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to get an award letter. Would I still get that award in May? Probably. But the lines are shorter, the anxiety is less, and every year they warn that they might run out of money.
Don't Make Yourself Crazy
While you are being thorough on the forms, and looking at meritaid.com and fastweb.com and studentaid.com, don't apply for everything that comes your way. The smaller grants can take just as long to apply for (even when they don't require an essay) as the larger awards. I would concentrate on aid that your child is particularly qualified for, especially if it is local. These smaller awards (high school alumni awards, military awards for those with parents and grandparents who served, church or synagogue awards) are not as well known, and are better bets. Look for those if you can. Ask some parents who have older children to see what awards they got.
Don't Be Afraid To Ask
The awards are in, and there is a gap between what you think you can spend, and what the college thinks you can pay. Most colleges offer awards to students that end up going elsewhere. It never hurts to ask for more. The worst they can say is "no."
How to get more financial aid
Plan Ahead
The first point is the one mentioned by every financial advisor I have ever met: The sooner you start planning for college, the better. Even a small 529 is better than nothing. You don't want to leave it all to the last minute and hope for a huge financial aid package! That is like assuming that your child will become a baseball all-star because he likes little league. Too much of a gamble for my liking!
On the other hand, if your child does well academically, and has a good "quantitative mix" there is a good chance that some college will be interested enough to throw money your way. Don't assume that private schools are out of the question, just because you don't have $50K to throw around. I know plenty of families (mine included) where they have paid more for a sibling at a public university than a sibling at a private school because of scholarships and grants.
So the second "plan ahead" is to take the time to fill out those endless forms (FAFSA and CSS Profile) even if you don't think you will get much. You will also need to get your taxes done in a timely fashion. Early is better, because the sooner you are done, the sooner you can be considered.
Timing is particularly important for state financial awards. Where we live, the DC-TAG (Tuition Assistance Grant) is very important for students applying to public universities. I stand in line every year in late March to have my taxes certified by the Office of Tax and Revenue, and then head to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to get an award letter. Would I still get that award in May? Probably. But the lines are shorter, the anxiety is less, and every year they warn that they might run out of money.
Don't Make Yourself Crazy
While you are being thorough on the forms, and looking at meritaid.com and fastweb.com and studentaid.com, don't apply for everything that comes your way. The smaller grants can take just as long to apply for (even when they don't require an essay) as the larger awards. I would concentrate on aid that your child is particularly qualified for, especially if it is local. These smaller awards (high school alumni awards, military awards for those with parents and grandparents who served, church or synagogue awards) are not as well known, and are better bets. Look for those if you can. Ask some parents who have older children to see what awards they got.
Don't Be Afraid To Ask
The awards are in, and there is a gap between what you think you can spend, and what the college thinks you can pay. Most colleges offer awards to students that end up going elsewhere. It never hurts to ask for more. The worst they can say is "no."
How to get more financial aid
Thursday, April 1, 2010
College Admissions: Waiting List Woe
Admissions letters are starting to trickle in. High School Seniors are anxiously checking their computers on the appointed day and time to see what their status is. I know one Senior who refused to visit a college offering him a scholarship today so that he can be at his computer at 5pm exactly to find out about his Ivy League responses. Will it be the dreaded rejection or the hoped for acceptance? Or will students be relegated to that purgatory that is the waiting list?
This year, even more than 2009, colleges will be relying on waiting lists to help gather together what they hope will be the optimal composition of students for their incoming classes. Some colleges will have more students on waiting lists than on the actual "accepted" roster. Why? Because admissions is a bit of a crap shoot for the the colleges as well. They may offer acceptances to a fabulous set of students (and waitlist a group of equally fabulous kids) but they have no idea how many of those students will actually accept them back. This is because way back in the fall, what looked like a perfect fit may not be as perfect today, taking into account other acceptances, parental finances, and merit and financial aid offers.
So in order for colleges to get that "perfect" mix of athletes, artists, legacies, minority students, full payers and scholarship students, they will be looking to draw heavily from their waiting lists.
It all sounds pretty much out of anyone's control, but there are a few things that a student on a waiting list can do:
Stay Positive
They want you. They do. They just didn't have room for you. You wouldn't be on the waiting list if they didn't think you were worthy and capable and fabulous. You may even be more fabulous than other people they accepted, but because they had to balance their numbers, they didn't have room right now. Wait a few weeks. That may change. Feeling sorry for yourself will not help matters.
Stay in Touch
Definitely fill out the form to stay on the waiting list if this is a school you really want to attend. Next, sit down and write a letter outlining your achievements, since you sent in your original application. Include anything interesting that comes to mind: community service, fun facts, personal bests. Achievements are not just academic. Also make sure you let the admissions staff know that if you are accepted you would definitely matriculate, but don't say it unless you mean it. And don't pledge yourself to more than one college — admissions officers from different colleges do communicate with one another! Also, if you are in a financial position to do so, let them know that you won't be applying for financial aid. Sadly, waitlists are not need-blind.
Make a commitment
Just to keep your bases covered, make the best choice you can with what you have been offered. Go to their accepted students events, and see how that option feels to you. Keep an open mind. College campuses look very different with an acceptance in your pocket, and you may feel your second choice will be a better overall fit. But remember, you don't have to make a choice until May 1, and waiting until then may give the waitlists some time to start moving. Finally, don't commit to more than one school. It is not honorable, and it can get pricey, since you must be prepared to sacrifice the registration fee if you change your mind.
Don't Bear a Grudge
There are many stories in the admissions world of students who pledged their undying allegiance, and then rejected an offer off the waiting list because it wasn't early enough. Remember to stay positive, and not take this personally! If they didn't want you, they would have rejected you. Really. And getting in off the waiting list will not make you a second class citizen on campus. No one will know except the people that you choose to tell. You would be surprised at how many students end up attending a different college in September from the one they told folks they would be going to in April.
Best Wishes, and Hang in There!
The College Lady
This year, even more than 2009, colleges will be relying on waiting lists to help gather together what they hope will be the optimal composition of students for their incoming classes. Some colleges will have more students on waiting lists than on the actual "accepted" roster. Why? Because admissions is a bit of a crap shoot for the the colleges as well. They may offer acceptances to a fabulous set of students (and waitlist a group of equally fabulous kids) but they have no idea how many of those students will actually accept them back. This is because way back in the fall, what looked like a perfect fit may not be as perfect today, taking into account other acceptances, parental finances, and merit and financial aid offers.
So in order for colleges to get that "perfect" mix of athletes, artists, legacies, minority students, full payers and scholarship students, they will be looking to draw heavily from their waiting lists.
It all sounds pretty much out of anyone's control, but there are a few things that a student on a waiting list can do:
Stay Positive
They want you. They do. They just didn't have room for you. You wouldn't be on the waiting list if they didn't think you were worthy and capable and fabulous. You may even be more fabulous than other people they accepted, but because they had to balance their numbers, they didn't have room right now. Wait a few weeks. That may change. Feeling sorry for yourself will not help matters.
Stay in Touch
Definitely fill out the form to stay on the waiting list if this is a school you really want to attend. Next, sit down and write a letter outlining your achievements, since you sent in your original application. Include anything interesting that comes to mind: community service, fun facts, personal bests. Achievements are not just academic. Also make sure you let the admissions staff know that if you are accepted you would definitely matriculate, but don't say it unless you mean it. And don't pledge yourself to more than one college — admissions officers from different colleges do communicate with one another! Also, if you are in a financial position to do so, let them know that you won't be applying for financial aid. Sadly, waitlists are not need-blind.
Make a commitment
Just to keep your bases covered, make the best choice you can with what you have been offered. Go to their accepted students events, and see how that option feels to you. Keep an open mind. College campuses look very different with an acceptance in your pocket, and you may feel your second choice will be a better overall fit. But remember, you don't have to make a choice until May 1, and waiting until then may give the waitlists some time to start moving. Finally, don't commit to more than one school. It is not honorable, and it can get pricey, since you must be prepared to sacrifice the registration fee if you change your mind.
Don't Bear a Grudge
There are many stories in the admissions world of students who pledged their undying allegiance, and then rejected an offer off the waiting list because it wasn't early enough. Remember to stay positive, and not take this personally! If they didn't want you, they would have rejected you. Really. And getting in off the waiting list will not make you a second class citizen on campus. No one will know except the people that you choose to tell. You would be surprised at how many students end up attending a different college in September from the one they told folks they would be going to in April.
Best Wishes, and Hang in There!
The College Lady
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tips for visiting colleges
Everywhere I turn these days, I see tips for students who are visiting colleges. And they all mention the same things... prepare first, visit a wide variety/as many as you can, look at the bulletin boards, etc.
So here are some ideas beyond the standard tour and info session:
Eat a meal: you will be eating on campus for at least your freshman year... see if they have food that you like!
Go to a class: Every admission office has a list of classes that are open for prospective students to attend. Pick one that grabs you and go. You will get a better sense of how you will be spending your time, and your parent's money!
Sit somewhere and read a book: Go to the student union (if there is one) or a lounge area and read. Well, not read exactly, since part of the time will be spent watching and listening to the students around you. If you are the outgoing type (or your parent is) talk to some students. They are the real experts on college life!
Most of all, enjoy! This should be fun, not a chore. Pace yourself. Too many schools in too few days is a recipe for burnout. Try to imagine what you life will be like there, and then take notes on the experience, so it won't blend in with the next college on your list.
So here are some ideas beyond the standard tour and info session:
Eat a meal: you will be eating on campus for at least your freshman year... see if they have food that you like!
Go to a class: Every admission office has a list of classes that are open for prospective students to attend. Pick one that grabs you and go. You will get a better sense of how you will be spending your time, and your parent's money!
Sit somewhere and read a book: Go to the student union (if there is one) or a lounge area and read. Well, not read exactly, since part of the time will be spent watching and listening to the students around you. If you are the outgoing type (or your parent is) talk to some students. They are the real experts on college life!
Most of all, enjoy! This should be fun, not a chore. Pace yourself. Too many schools in too few days is a recipe for burnout. Try to imagine what you life will be like there, and then take notes on the experience, so it won't blend in with the next college on your list.
Friday, March 19, 2010
What can I be doing NOW to prepare my middle schooler for the SAT’s (or other college admissions stuff)?
In our over-stressed and over-anxious world, middle school parents are often focused many years ahead to worry about things like SATs and how to pay for and help their child get into college. It's no wonder, given the constant stream of news on the college admissions front about how hard it is to get in!
Before I go into what you can do, I want to take a minute to ease some anxiety... There are 3800 colleges in the US. Most of them accept most of the students who apply. Yes, there is a top echelon of schools that receive huge numbers of applications, and as a result accept a very small percentage. And yes, parents of top students are aiming at those schools with a laser-like focus. And I get it. You want your child to have the best college education that money can buy. I do, too. But I also know that a college that is the right fit for your child, where they are challenged to learn but not overwhelmed, is going to be the best value for your money, whether or not there is a well-known name over the door. Studies have shown that going to college (and working hard) is what is important for future success, not necessarily going to a particular "big name" school. If you have any doubt, look at Loren Pope's excellent book "Colleges that Change Lives."
So you want your child to go college, and you want them to be well prepared to take full advantage of the experience. Middle school is an excellent time to start with some parenting strategies that will have long-term benefits. No, don't run out and buy a SAT-Question of the Day shower curtain (yes, they exist). There will be plenty of time for test prep later on. Besides, when you start with the prep too early, you also run the risk of early burnout.
Planned Obsolescence
The first step might seem antithetical, but you need to get out of the way and let them start taking responsibility for their homework and their school experience. Too many parents become overinvolved in the homework process, and actually take over the responsibility from their kids. As Michael Bradley (author of "Yes, Your Teen is Crazy") said recently: "If it matters to you more than it matters to your child, there is something wrong with this picture."
Believe it or not, middle school is an excellent time for your child to experience a taste of failure. If you step out of the way, and they get a bad grade, then they can develop the problem solving skills to turn it around. When they fail in high school, parents freak out about their permanent college record, and step in to save the situation, setting up their child for lowered self confidence, and a sense that they need rescuing. Not productive in the long run!
Of course you are not going to let them flunk out of school or turn your back when they need your help, but the bottom line is that our job as parents is about planned obsolescence. If you are doing it right, you are working your way out of the job of hands on parent, step by step and into the role of consultant or mentor. More on this in another post....
Take to the Road
The second thing you can do in middle school is to start visiting colleges. No, don't take the tours and the info sessions, but go to a local college and watch a theater or dance performance, root for a sports team, or just walk around the campus on a beautiful day. The idea is to subtly incorporate the idea of college as a goal, and a cool place where learning happens. Here in DC, I highly recommend taking in a basketball game at AU (Men's or Women's) as inexpensive entertainment and education at the same time.
And don't just visit one college. Visit one in the suburbs, and one in the city. One that is large, and one that is small. That way, when it comes time to think about college (sometime during Junior year of High School!) your child will have some basis for comparison, even before you start on your "official" college visits.
Take Things in Stride
The most important point, though, is DON'T STRESS, and don't stress out your kids! Parenting may seem like a marathon instead of a sprint, but ask a parent of a college student, and you will hear about how quickly they leave home! Enjoy your children, even when they are making you crazy. There will be plenty of time to worry about the SATs and a veritable alphabet soup of other tests. For now, try to live in the moment, and work on training in skills and independence that will pay off in the long run!
Before I go into what you can do, I want to take a minute to ease some anxiety... There are 3800 colleges in the US. Most of them accept most of the students who apply. Yes, there is a top echelon of schools that receive huge numbers of applications, and as a result accept a very small percentage. And yes, parents of top students are aiming at those schools with a laser-like focus. And I get it. You want your child to have the best college education that money can buy. I do, too. But I also know that a college that is the right fit for your child, where they are challenged to learn but not overwhelmed, is going to be the best value for your money, whether or not there is a well-known name over the door. Studies have shown that going to college (and working hard) is what is important for future success, not necessarily going to a particular "big name" school. If you have any doubt, look at Loren Pope's excellent book "Colleges that Change Lives."
So you want your child to go college, and you want them to be well prepared to take full advantage of the experience. Middle school is an excellent time to start with some parenting strategies that will have long-term benefits. No, don't run out and buy a SAT-Question of the Day shower curtain (yes, they exist). There will be plenty of time for test prep later on. Besides, when you start with the prep too early, you also run the risk of early burnout.
Planned Obsolescence
The first step might seem antithetical, but you need to get out of the way and let them start taking responsibility for their homework and their school experience. Too many parents become overinvolved in the homework process, and actually take over the responsibility from their kids. As Michael Bradley (author of "Yes, Your Teen is Crazy") said recently: "If it matters to you more than it matters to your child, there is something wrong with this picture."
Believe it or not, middle school is an excellent time for your child to experience a taste of failure. If you step out of the way, and they get a bad grade, then they can develop the problem solving skills to turn it around. When they fail in high school, parents freak out about their permanent college record, and step in to save the situation, setting up their child for lowered self confidence, and a sense that they need rescuing. Not productive in the long run!
Of course you are not going to let them flunk out of school or turn your back when they need your help, but the bottom line is that our job as parents is about planned obsolescence. If you are doing it right, you are working your way out of the job of hands on parent, step by step and into the role of consultant or mentor. More on this in another post....
Take to the Road
The second thing you can do in middle school is to start visiting colleges. No, don't take the tours and the info sessions, but go to a local college and watch a theater or dance performance, root for a sports team, or just walk around the campus on a beautiful day. The idea is to subtly incorporate the idea of college as a goal, and a cool place where learning happens. Here in DC, I highly recommend taking in a basketball game at AU (Men's or Women's) as inexpensive entertainment and education at the same time.
And don't just visit one college. Visit one in the suburbs, and one in the city. One that is large, and one that is small. That way, when it comes time to think about college (sometime during Junior year of High School!) your child will have some basis for comparison, even before you start on your "official" college visits.
Take Things in Stride
The most important point, though, is DON'T STRESS, and don't stress out your kids! Parenting may seem like a marathon instead of a sprint, but ask a parent of a college student, and you will hear about how quickly they leave home! Enjoy your children, even when they are making you crazy. There will be plenty of time to worry about the SATs and a veritable alphabet soup of other tests. For now, try to live in the moment, and work on training in skills and independence that will pay off in the long run!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
New College Lady Website is up and running
I welcome everyone to take a peek at the new College Lady website. It is located at www.collegeladydc.com or at www.thecollegelady.net. This blog is linked to it, and I am hoping that it will be a great place to put a variety of information and links to help parents and teens with the college admissions process. Also, the full set of Monkey See videos featuring the College Lady are available there. Let me know what you think, and don't judge me too harshly. It is not up to my graphic design standards (yet), but it is up and running. Hurray!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A Cautionary Tale in the college admissions process
A new blog post in the New York Time Education blog (http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/envelope-ferdinand-1/) reminds me of a similar experience we had... my stepson also applied late (3 days) to what ended up being his school of choice. He also wanted to go the to business school program, and had to wait until January to start. This is not uncommon, and some applicants are invited to start in January even when they do apply on time. This happens often at Middlebury, for example. The moral of the story is, don't despair. Spend your semester off doing things that enrich your education, or at a local community college. You will connect with peers when you get there, and everything will work out fine.
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