College Planning Blog

The end of April marks the conclusion of a long search and selection journey as most high school seniors find themselves at the doorstep of their new college homes. After years of preparation and months of speculation, admission outcomes are finally known and college destinations have been determined. The enrollment “check is in the mail”—literally. Let the celebration begin!

If you are soon-to-be high school graduate, though, you need to be careful as you celebrate. The following are points to consider as you move through this exciting transition in your life.

1. Stay focused academically. While an overwhelming sense of relief is washing over you—and all you want to do is kick back, relax, and enjoy the moment—don’t lose sight of what got you to this point. A quick re-read of the not-so-fine print on your acceptance letter tells the story. In offering you place in its entering class, the admission committee expects you to complete your senior year at no less than the same level of performance than was evident when it decided to accept you.

Many colleges, particularly those that are highly selective, will monitor your academic performance right up to the end. In order to complete your enrollment, you will need to submit a final transcript confirming your graduation from high school. If your transcript reveals measurable declines in your program or performance, you may suddenly find your enrollment status in jeopardy as colleges are known to revoke their offers—and the actual enrollments—of students whose final transcripts fail to measure up to expectations. When I was Dean of Admission, I found I had to send 6-8 such letters each summer. It was, for obvious reasons, one of the least pleasant things I would have to do as Dean.

So what does this mean for you? It doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the rest of the year. However, you do need to keep going to class! Resist the temptation to drop courses. Take final exams. Think of such actions as “insurance.” Don’t fall prey to the intellectual comas that seem to find students at the end of the senior year. The last thing you want to see is a letter from the Dean of Admission sometime later this summer informing you that you no longer have a place in the entering class at that school.

2. Commit to one college! In the face of multiple options, it may be tempting to submit enrollment deposits to more than one college in order to give yourself more time to make the final choice. Don’t do it! Hard as it might be to make the call by the May 1 Candidates’ Reply date, that’s what you need to do. Just as admission officers review final transcripts, they are also prone to comparing enrollment rosters with colleagues at peer institutions.

If your name appears on the enrollment rosters at more than one school, be prepared for the consequences. It is not uncommon for a dean of admission to arbitrarily withdraw a student’s enrollment at her/his school out of respect for the student’s commitment to another school—not the kind of surprise you want to encounter after you have graduated from high school! Imagine if the Deans at both schools took the same action!
Do the smart and ethical thing. Make one commitment and honor it. The possible exception to this well-documented rule involves the sequence of events following admission from a college’s Wait List. Should you be committed to one college when another offers you a place from its Wait List, you may accept the latter offer. In doing so, however, it is understood that you must forfeit your initial deposit at the first college.

3. Complete the financial aid process. The fact that you have received—and accepted—a need-based financial aid award doesn’t mean the process is over. You have accepted the award on the condition that you and your parents will submit tax returns for 2007 in order to verify the data that was reported on your financial aid applications. In addition, complete the FAFSA application if you haven’t done so already. Even if you are not receiving need-based financial aid, most schools will require you to complete the FAFSA in order to secure un-subsidized student loans and campus work-study opportunities.

Finally, be sure to report any scholarships you receive from community organizations to the college you will attend. These awards will be credited to the cost of attendance.

4. Be safe! Tragically, the best of times can turn quickly into the worst of times for young people as they revel in their achievements. Have a good time but take care of yourself.

The next six weeks are indeed a time for celebrating both happy endings and new beginnings. Having made your college selection, it would seem all that is left before you’re “outta here” is the pomp and circumstance of graduation. As you pause to reflect and enjoy the moment, don’t lose sight of the bigger picture that continues to unfold before you.

Congratulations and best wishes!

The countdown to college is nearing a dramatic conclusion with the approach of the May 1 Candidates’ Reply Date—the date by which admitted students make their enrollment intentions known. For high school seniors it’s almost over. Despite months, if not years, of contemplating the possibilities, though, the final choice of a college remains elusive for many. For some, arriving at a choice is a matter of reconciling practical matters such as cost and distance. Others, however, will go “down to the wire” trying to figure out which of their available options is the best.

If you are familiar with my student-centered orientation to college planning, you will know what is coming next: The definition of “best” should reflect less the name, reputation and ranking of an institution and more the qualities of an educational experience that fit you best.

Not long ago, my wife shared the following story with me. As is the case with so many parables, the author of this one is also unknown—at least to me. And, while its message may speak to each us, I was struck by its relevance to young people as they contemplate their educational futures. You may have come across this story before, but I hope you will read it again within the context of the choice of a college.

“A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups—porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite—telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and, in some cases, even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other’s cups. Now consider this: ‘Life’ is the coffee. The jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain ‘Life,’ and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.”

Wherever you are in your journey toward college, be sure to keep the “coffee” in mind as you think about what is best for you. After all, you are consuming the experience, not the place. If you become too focused on the “cup” you will lose sight of the factors that define the quality of your life. Be true to yourself. As you work on your own “brew,” focus on your priorities—the factors that have guided you through your college search—and concentrate on identifying the best fit. Choose well and make the best of your experience. Enjoy the coffee!

For families of students recently admitted to college, the weeks immediately following the arrival of the “thick” envelope are a time to re-focus on the final choice of a college. With a May 1 enrollment deadline looming, important decisions must be made. After months, if not years, of researching options and “shopping” for the best “fit,” it is time to determine which opportunity represents the best investment. It is also a time when the cost of attending comes more sharply into focus. The following, then, are thoughts to ponder as you engage in a cost/benefit analysis of your college options.

The first thing you need to do is revisit your priorities. Why are you going to college? You know it is going to happen–the only question is “Where?” In order to figure that out, you need to make sure you know what you expect to get out of your college experience. Specifically, what are the three things you want to accomplish by the time you graduate from college four years from now? Use these priorities to guide you further in choosing among the colleges that accepted you. Which of them provides the best opportunity to achieve your goals?

Next, you and your parents need to determine what that opportunity is worth. Start by looking at the price tags. What is the comprehensive cost of attendance at each school? This number is important if you expect to be a full-time, residential student as it will include room, board, and related fees–on top of tuition. Many schools will report the cost for each semester. Be sure to calculate the total for the year if that hasn’t already been done for you. Does the value that is attached to achieving your educational goals justify the cost of attending a given institution? In answering the question, be careful not to correlate price with the quality of the opportunity, as in doing so, it is easy to lose sight of your priorities.

If you applied for financial aid, sit down with your parents to compare the various financial aid awards or “packages” you have received. Your first question should be: “What will be my family’s degree of financial exposure at each school?” How much do we need to come up with out of pocket and can we manage it? The second question must be considered within the context of each college: “Will my experience as a student and the likely outcomes (earning potential) merit this level of financial exposure?” In other words, what is the value proposition for you in attending that school?

If you are fortunate to have received scholarships or financial aid from any of these schools, subtract the amounts of the gift aid (you don?t need to work for it or repay it) from the cost of attendance for each school. The remaining balance is your expected family contribution (EFC). The award letter may even include references to possible sources of these funds (cash from earnings and savings, educational loans, campus work study jobs, etc.).

You need to be discriminating in your evaluation of the award letters. Some may present seemingly generous packages that are much less robust when you subtract the amount of self-help (loans or work study) you will need to assume. It is important that you compare the actual EFC for each institution. Resist the temptation to compare financial aid awards or the amounts of scholarships received. Taken out of context–without regard to comprehensive fees–a relatively large scholarship at one school may still leave a greater EFC than is the case with a smaller scholarship at a school with a lower price tag.

Ideally, each college would respond to you with the same financial aid. That is not likely to be the case, though, because schools work with different pricing scenarios. For example, you may receive substantial assistance at a high-priced private college but not be eligible for much assistance at a lower priced state-supported university. Or two private institutions that appear similar to you might provide financial aid awards that are very different in terms of the amount your family is expected to contribute as well as the composition (scholarships or loans) of the awards themselves. Remember, each institution will direct its resources toward the students it values most.

That said, if you are confused by your financial aid letter or you see dramatic discrepancies between awards received from different schools, now is the time to seek clarification. While financial aid officers are not inclined to negotiate financial aid awards, they are usually willing to hear appeals based on new information. A few will even offer to match the offer of a competitor. While there are no guarantees associated with the appeal process, you have nothing to lose by asking.

Note to Parents: Most successful appeals are driven by data, not emotions. If you initiate an appeal, remember that you are seeking clarity and fair treatment. You cannot, however, expect or even insist that your student is entitled to anything more or less.

Stick to Your Priorities
In assessing relative value, then, look at each college option within the context of what you are getting in exchange for your investment of time and money. Be careful not to confuse the prestige or ranking of an institution with the strength of the academic opportunity you are seeking. Your success in life beyond college will hinge much more on how you take advantage of your undergraduate experience than on the name of the institution you choose to attend. Again, stick to your priorities. If you have been diligent about searching out learning environments that fit you well–a program that meets your needs, a style of instruction that is consistent with the way you like to learn, and a degree of rigor that is commensurate with your ability and preparation–you will find the best educational investment value for you.

Additional tips for assessing value among your college options:

• If you have been offered a merit scholarship, make sure you are clear about the criteria for renewing it after your first year.
• Find out how each institution will apply the credit associated with any community-based scholarships you might receive to your cost of attendance. Some schools will reduce the amount of scholarship they are offering; others will reduce the amount of self-help (loans or work-study) in your financial aid award.
• Get a review of your potential college credits (AP, IB, courses taken on college campuses) as collectively they have the potential to reduce graduation requirements and, as a result, your out-of-pocket expenses.

“But I don’t want to go there!” Such is the all too frequent response of a despondent high school senior as s/he is reminded of the colleges that have admitted him/her. Despite the best of plans, when outcomes don’t match expectations in the college admission process you may be left feeling like your life has gone into a hopeless tailspin. The reality is that things are rarely as bad as they seem.

In this posting, I will address some of the scenarios you may be encountering now that all of your admission decisions are in hand.

Scenario #1: While you have been admitted to a number of very interesting schools, your absolute first choice college has offered you a place on its Wait List. Now, you find yourself in an awkward position. Do you hold out hope that you will be moved from the Wait List or do you begin to invest emotionally in the options that are real?

As you may have noted in my March 31 posting, “Gaining Admission from the Wait List,” Wait Lists are likely to be active at most institutions. The only question is when and for how many students. The key to getting in rests in the decisiveness of your response. If you want to compete for a place in the class from the Wait List, you must get on the “radar screen” of the admission committee at that school. Let them know you will enroll if accepted. In addition to sending updates of grades and achievements, visit the campus and interview if possible. Make sure the person who recruits in your area knows of your interest and knows how to find you. Wait List calls often come without warning and will leave you with little time to react, so be ready.

The trick in this scenario is to maintain a balanced perspective. While you want to do everything possible to enhance your chances of admission from the Wait List, be careful not to under-value the options you do have in the process. After all, you are holding offers from places that are presumably good “fits” for you. Make sure you invest the requisite time and energy in preparing to choose from among them if the Wait List situation doesn’t pan out.

Scenario #2: You didn’t get into any of your top choice colleges, but you have been admitted at a couple of your “safety” schools. Unfortunately, they don’t hold the same luster that is associated with the places that turned you down. As “back-ups,” they we were fine—perhaps because you didn’t think you would ever really have to consider them. Besides, now that your friends have been admitted to some of the places that turned you down, the schools that are left may not seem nearly so exciting. You feel stuck. If this is the case, what can you do?

If you find yourself in such a situation, re-assess the options you do have. They weren’t so bad when you decided to apply. Rediscover them. Find out why they made it to your list in the first place. They may not carry the same cachet as the places that turned you down, but the academic opportunities they present are probably every bit as good as those you would have found at the other schools.

An alternative is to apply somewhere else as a late applicant. This is easier said than done, though, as most schools are reluctant to entertain late applications from students with whom they have little or no history. Your best chance in this instance is to find a college or university with an active Wait List and hope it will see your credentials as competitive with the students it is considering from its Wait List. This is not likely to be the case, though, at places that are as selective as those that turned you down earlier.

Scenario #3: Finally, you might have received an offer of admission that is contingent upon your participation in a remedial program over the summer. If a college likes what you have to offer (it is excited by the way you answered the “what do we get” question!) but is concerned about the degree to which you are prepared to find success, it might refer you to a series of pre-enrollment courses designed to bolster your academic and study skills. In this scenario, it is clear the college values you and is investing in your success. You need to be realistic, though, in your assessment of the situation and make sure you are prepared to do what is necessary to make good on the opportunity.

A variation on this theme involves offers of January admission. You’re in, but there is a catch. You can’t start the first semester. Such offers typically encourage, if not require, you to pursue other off-campus programming during the first semester as a non-enrolled student. You must understand, though, that you are not being offered admission for the fall semester and, in most cases, will not be given the opportunity to enroll in the fall even if the Wait List becomes active. If you really like the place and such a scenario is agreeable to you, go for it. It may represent your best chance of getting into that college.

Finally, if you are uncomfortable with the range of options that lie before you, consider stepping back from the educational treadmill. Take the year after high school “off.” Don’t go to just any college just to be there. The last thing you want to do is waste your time and your parents’ money on an experience that means little to you.

Instead, get a job. Travel. Get involved in community service. In short, take the opportunity to write a new and different chapter in your life. A “gap year” of this sort can be very healthy and productive to your personal development if you use it well. Besides, you are then afforded the opportunity to reapply a year or so later when you are ready to embrace a new educational opportunity. I have yet to hear of an institution that doesn’t see the investment in a gap year as a positive development.

For a compelling perspective on the subject, I would urge you to read “Don’t Worry About College, A Letter to My Granddaughter” by John Taylor Gatto. The article can be found on page 24 of the March/April issue of Life Learning Magazine: http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/0804/index.html. On the right side of the page, click on “Download a PDF version” for free.