STUDENT-CENTERED SOLUTIONS FOR COLLEGE PLANNING

In my last posting, I introduced Jean and her growing concern about her competitiveness at the colleges to which she had applied. She had applied Early Action to one of them and a subsequent deferral letter had shaken her confidence. This led to an examination of the factors or potential landmines that may have influenced the admission decision and could, if not corrected, prove to be problematic with her other applications as well.

In Jean’s case, when the admission officers asked, “If we admit her, what do we get,” nothing jumped out at them. They saw a good student with solid involvement outside of the classroom who didn’t present a compelling reason to be admitted into the class. She had failed to project herself as a potential contributor to the athletic program or make a convincing statement about the relevance of her leadership.

What’s worse, because she had not visited the school’s campus, admission officers could find no evidence of her interest in their school when they asked, “What is the likelihood that she will come?” Uncertain of her level of interest and likely contributions, it is reasonable to assume that the next question of Jean—should she demonstrate need as a financial aid candidate—would be, “Is this someone in whom we are prepared to make a financial investment?”

By the way, I need to clarify a comment made in my last post. In assessing the manner in which Jean presented her application, I intimated that indicating an interest in financial aid on the application for admission could be prejudicial to the outcome of the application. Checking “Yes” to the question, “Do you intend to apply for financial aid?” should not hurt students in the admission process as that response alone is not an accurate indicator of the student’s financial need. If and when colleges discriminate on matters of family contribution and/or financial need, they do it at the back end of the process when they can compare the academic and financial credentials for all potentially admitted students.

It wasn’t long before Jean and her parents began to see the logic of the decision-making process at the selective schools to which she was applying. They could now rationalize the EA decision. More importantly, the despair that had hovered over the start of the conversation gave way to an excited sense of possibility as she began to develop a new “To Do” list. Even at this time of the year, Jean realized that it is not too late to get on the radar screens of the schools to which she had applied. Specifically, she saw the need to eliminate the perception that her interest in a given school is random while conveying a sense of the passion and talent within her that would set her apart from the rest of the competition.

Jean made immediate plans to visit the campuses of the “high priority” schools on her list and to attempt to introduce herself to the person(s) responsible for recruiting in her region. Moreover, she is making sure they have her most recent grades as well as documentation of a couple of honors that have come her way since she submitted her applications. She also took heart in the possibility that she could still contact the coaches at some of the smaller colleges on her list and make sure they got the DVDs of her athletic performance.

I admire Jean for her response to the situation. Rather than feeling that all is lost with regard to her college future, she is taking steps to affect the outcomes. Realizing that applying to college is a process and not an event, she is asserting herself. In doing so, she will eliminate the randomness that might otherwise be associated with her application.

Will this new-found self-advocacy assure Jean admission to her favorite schools? Not necessarily. It will, however, give her the chance to compete that she deserves. At the very least, the schools on her list now have reason to pause in considering her possible contributions to the communities they are building. Now, they will have a better idea of what they get should they admit Jean—and they’ll have more confidence that hers is a serious interest that could result in her enrollment if accepted. And, if they value her for what she has to offer, they will be more likely to invest in her with financial aid and/or scholarships.

Like Jean, you need to be honest with yourself about the nature of the competition as you apply for admission and take charge of the process. Don’t assume that because your credentials might match those on the academic profiles of the colleges to which you are applying that your admission is assured. Rather, reach out (appropriately) to decision-makers (admission officers) at the schools that are important to you and be sure to tell your story. Give the admission officers every reason to want to include you in the communities they are building as they admit their entering classes!

Two days ago I found myself talking with Jean and her parents about her college future. Jean had submitted six applications including one for Early Action consideration. Now, however, a deferral letter from the EA school had shaken her confidence. While she wasn’t hysterical, it was clear that Jean was questioning herself. Would she get in? Could she get in? And what about her chances of finding admission to the other, equally selective universities to which she had applied?

These were all good questions. While Jean possesses the academic credentials to be competitive for admission at any college or university in the country, the deferral letter had left her wondering what it would take to get in and had she done all she could do. I couldn’t find fault with the schools she had chosen nor the process she had followed in choosing them. On the surface, they all made sense for her—they were good fits. Digging deeper, however, I was able to uncover potential landmines or factors that might have influenced the outcome of her EA application. If not addressed, they would certainly have an impact on the outcomes of her other applications.

First, although Jean and her parents had been evaluating college options since her 9th grade year, she hadn’t visited any of the campuses in the last eighteen months. More specifically, she had never formally visited the school to which she applied EA. Despite her passion for the place, its admission officers had no way of knowing about her interest.

Second, she had not sufficiently established her “hook”—the credential that might set her apart from her peers in a tight competition. A student leader and two-sport athlete with aspirations for playing in college, Jean had not made contact with college athletic recruiters in her sports.

Finally, Jean had indicated on her application for admission that she would be a candidate for financial aid—a factor that could complicate things even at an institution that is reputedly “need blind” in the admission process.

As I talked with Jean, I wanted her to understand how the EA university might have reacted to her application. While she is a great candidate academically, admission officers at the schools she is considering can afford to look for more as she competes with thousands of others who look just like her. In making its decisions, the admission committee is rarely asking: “Is she good enough?” Rather it makes a series of value judgments: “Who among these great candidates do we value most? What does this candidate bring us as we attempt to build a new community?”

In my next posting, I will reveal the steps Jean took to make sure these questions were adequately addressed in her applications.

(Editor’s note: This week I’m happy to post a guest blog by Terry Cowdrey, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at St. Lawrence University.)

As someone who has always believed that carrying an umbrella will prevent rain, I am concerned about the number of high school seniors who apply Early Decision to their first choice college and don’t formulate a Plan B. Perhaps they worry that having a contingency plan will somehow jinx their admission to the school of their dreams—that college admissions karma will question their real commitment—that somehow declaring a school as their top choice is not adequate because the Early Decision school should be their only choice. The reality is that Early Decision (ED) good news or bad news will come regardless of whether the student has a Plan B. The bad news is a lot more difficult to deal with, however, when there is no alternate plan.

Many ED candidates who hope for the “big envelope” in December are sorely disappointed. Lots of them get letters that tell them that the college is not yet able to make a decision on their application. Their ED applications have been deferred and they will be considered with the rest of the applicant pool in the spring. The letter encourages students to send updated academic information and assures them that their application will receive full consideration later in the year. Students wonder what more they can do to demonstrate their talents and commitment. Still, there is a glimmer of hope for admission to “First Choice College” making it hard for some students to look beyond and make alternate plans.

Yet other students who set their hearts on one college as ED candidates will receive a letter of rejection in mid-December. There will be no reconsideration of the application in this case—the admissions office is clear in saying that “First Choice College” will not be a college choice for the student whose Early Decision application is rejected. Although the temptation may be to give in to self-pity and to imagine no college in one’s future, the more productive reaction is to put the disappointment aside, try to remember that everything happens for a reason, and get additional applications submitted as quickly as possible. Now is the time to put your best self forward—to be sure that applications are completed thoughtfully, thoroughly, and on time.

Although it may be hard for some high school seniors to believe, some of the most successful, happiest college students are those who were not admitted to their Early Decision colleges and were forced to look more deeply at other schools, ultimately finding places that were better matched to their interests and talents.

So if you are a high school senior who has declared your love for a college through an Early Decision application, and you are waiting to hear whether you have been embraced or rebuffed, get out that proverbial umbrella. If you are not admitted Early Decision, you will need to be ready to move quickly because many Regular Decision deadlines will be only a few weeks away. Make sure you have applications ready to be submitted to other colleges that you have identified as good matches. And make sure you have had conversations with your guidance counselor and teachers so that the documents they need to send in support of your applications are ready to go if needed. Don’t worry about what you will say to your friends and relatives whom you told so proudly about your decision to apply Early—you can always tell them that you have had second thoughts and are relieved to have more time to consider other colleges—the more you say it, the more you will believe it.

And remember—you might get good news in mid-December. If you do, enjoy it—wear your college sweatshirt with a smile. But remember how attractive gratitude is. Thank your counselor, your teachers and your parents for their support through the process. Commit yourself to doing your best work for the remainder of your senior year. Getting admitted to college is an accomplishment of which you should be proud. Now, it is your responsibility to prepare yourself for the opportunities and challenges that college will bring.

Terry Cowdrey is the vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid at St. Lawrence University. Her career in college admissions spans three decades and includes experience at Vanderbilt University, the University of New Hampshire, and Wesleyan University.

With the first round of Early Decision deadlines looming, there is a lot of talk among students about finding an “ED school.” Getting into a “reach school” any “reach school” has become the priority and the assumption is that the best chance of getting in is to apply ED.

By the numbers, this assessment is on the mark. ED does provide a statistical advantage for applicants at most schools. However, the rush to ED often means that good judgment is set aside in favor of the potential to score a big prize. You might get in but, after the euphoria wears off, the chances are good you’ll have second thoughts about the commitment you just made.

This came home to me when, as my son was preparing to apply to schools, the Early Decision question was raised in a slightly different context. It was clear that one school had emerged as his first choice. While his credentials for that school were good, they were not great. His best chance of getting in would be as an Early Decision candidate. When I asked whether he was considering an ED application to that school, his response surprised me.

“While I really like that school in November, I can’t be sure I’ll feel the same way about it in April,” he said. He chose not to apply ED.

While he didn’t get into that school, I was proud of the wisdom he displayed in making the decision. Had he said “yes” to ED, there is a very good chance he would have been admitted to the school that had been his first choice at the time. Today, however, he is certain he ended up at the school that was the best fit for him.

My advice: don’t game the ED option. Don’t put yourself in the position of seeing momentary elation give way to regret over a misplaced commitment.

The application process isn’t about winning a “prize.” Instead, focus on establishing a short list of schools that are good fits. Think about it. The best schools for you are those that value you for your accomplishments and for your potential to achieve in college. If one of them emerges as a strong, unequivocal first choice, then-and only then-consider applying ED.

Important Note: If you know that you will require need-based financial aid in order to enroll at a college, DO NOT apply ED without getting an early estimate of your expected financial aid and an example of the need-based financial aid you would receive if admitted from the college itself. If the college cannot or will not offer such information, then you should not apply ED.

As another year winds down, it seems only appropriate to take stock of a college going process that continues find its course amidst the news of the day. I would like to comment on a number of hot button issues that continue to drive conversations as they relate to access and choice.

1. Despite the difficult economy, there are affordable college opportunities for everyone. They just may not be where you at first want to find them. Target schools where your odds of gaining admission are at least 50:50 and put yourself in situations where you are likely to be embraced for what you have to offer. Schools will continue to give financial assistance, both need and merit-based, to the students they value most.
2. Resist the temptation to load up on “reach schools.” There is no basis in fact to support the notion that applying to more will give you a better chance of getting in.
3. Your ability to pay the full amount has never been more of a credential than it is now. Colleges everywhere are eager to take on as many qualified “full-pay” students as they can.
4. Early Decision (ED) remains a viable option if a clear first choice college has emerged for you. Many selective institutions extend ED Round II options to their applicants. If you have a clear first choice and affordability is not a factor, contact the school to find out how you can compete in the ED Round II admission process. I will discuss your various college application options, including ED Round II as well as the impact of financial need on the ED commitment in the first segment of “Web-Side Chats” for Best College Fit(tm) Members on January 12 at 7PM. (For a description of the Best College Fit(tm) Membership program click here.
5. I am hearing from a lot of students who are still stressing over their essays. If this sounds familiar, relax. Find your voice. Tell your story. One of the biggest mistakes students are making is that they are trying to anticipate the style and content that will appeal to an admission officer. Frankly, admission officers want to see you as you really are.
6. Essay editing tip #1: Make a conscious effort to reduce the word count of your final drafts by 10%. Engaging in this type of exercise will force you to examine both your word choice and the construction of each sentence. More is not always better.
7. Essay editing tip #2: Read your final draft out loud. Your mind can play tricks on you as you proofread silently and it is easy to overlook missing or misused words. Read your essay out loud, preferably to someone, so you can hear how the words sound. Do you hear yourself talking in those words or someone who is reading from a script?
8. Make sure you feel comfortable in your own skin! Don’t let the process of finding and getting in colleges change you or the way you see yourself. If a standardized test score or admission outcome doesn’t match your expectations, it’s not the end of the world. Be happy with who and what you are—and, more importantly, what you can become.

Life as a high school student can be incredibly draining, especially if you are meaningfully engaged beyond the classroom. The next six months won’t be any less chaotic. So, during this holiday season, take time to relax, de-stress and enjoy your time with family and friends.

Happy Holidays!