Welcome to The Admission Game (TAG) College Planning Blog, an ongoing discussion of the factors that impact the college planning process. This space will keep you abreast of critical planning strategies, introduce you to key resources and comment on timely issues that relate to your college planning effort. I look forward to staying in touch and seeing your comments as we progress through the college planning process together. An extensive listing of past articles as well as those written by other authors can be found in The College Planning Library, a feature of the Best College Fit Resources.
“Can’t we get a comparable educational value at a state university for much less the cost?”
Affording a private college education isn’t easy these days—even for families who would presume to have the means. As costs reach upwards of $50,000 per year, more families are understandably weighing public options instead.
The simple truth is that comparable value can be found at many places, both public and private, if you are willing to be discriminating. There are, however, risks associated with making arbitrary assessments.
Outcomes must be considered. Will the comparable “value” carry with it a comparable outcome? In terms of educational content, the answer is quite often “yes.” While each college may differ in the manner it delivers its educational experience, the value students derive from the experience will correlate directly with their respective investments in getting the most out of the experience.
However, make sure you factor in all the outcomes. How long will it take to graduate? What is the total cost involved over that period of time? What will your post-graduate options be?
The notion of “comparable value” is sweeping the countryside to the extent that state universities are feeling unprecedented pressure to accommodate deserving in-state candidates. As a result, many cash-strapped state universities are hard-pressed to provide academic programs to meet the needs of their students in five or even six years. When you crunch the numbers, tuition, room and board for five or six years at a state university may not be that far removed from costs for four years at a private college—especially a private college that offers need or merit-based financial aid.
As you visit college campuses, ask to see the data (don’t settle for conversational responses) that describes the graduation rates. And be discriminating. You might be asking about graduation rates in four years but the respondent may be telling you about graduation rates over six years! Ask to see the actual numbers.
Then, dig deeper. Ask to see the data that reflect the post-graduate outcomes for students in the degree program(s) that interests you. How many graduated in four/five/six years? Of that cohort, how many went to graduate school—and where? How many got jobs—and where? What were there starting salaries? You will be making a considerable investment of time and money in your undergraduate experience so make sure you see evidence that, if you apply yourself in a reasonable manner, you can expect desired outcomes.
Information about outcomes is readily available on college campuses. You just need to ask for it. And be an equal opportunity detective. Get the same information from private and public institutions alike. You might be surprised by what you discover.
The end of April marks the conclusion of a long search and selection journey as you find yourself on the threshold of your new college home. After years of preparation and months of speculation, admission outcomes are finally known and the decision-making is nearly complete. Soon, the enrollment “check is in the mail”—literally. Let the celebration begin!
You need to be careful, though, 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 a place in its entering class, the admission committee expects you to complete your senior year at no less than the same level of performance that 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 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 overcome 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 2010 in order to verify the data that was reported on your financial aid applications. Even if you are not receiving need-based assistance from the institution, you should complete the FAFSA application if you wish to secure un-subsidized student loans and campus work-study opportunities funded by the federal government. Most schools that award merit scholarship programs will require that you have a completed FAFSA on file as well.
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.
College planning seems to come naturally—and excitedly—to the families of talented, high achieving students. It’s the highly anticipated next step into something bigger and better academically. The dream of college is no less important, however, to families of students whose academic experiences don’t put them on the same trajectory. Everyone counts and needs to be supported in achieving his/her goals.
The following exchange I had with a parent following a presentation of “The Admission Game” might speak to some of the concerns you may have as you engage in the college planning process.
Parent: How can I relate this discussion to students that are not in the upper 1/3 of their class? Case in point, my son. You mentioned that the ‘light went on’ for your son in his junior year of high school. For my Junior, that has not happened yet.
PVB: The light goes on for each young person at a different time in life and, often, in response to very different stimuli. The problem is that it rarely happens according to the timetables we have in mind for our kids! It is important, then, that he be guided in calibrating his planning for the future in a way that is respectful of his learning path. If college is in the picture, he should look at places that will see the potential within him and demonstrate a willingness to help him develop it.
Parent: Okay, so what can we do next? What is the process for a kid who will graduate with modest grades and fair SAT scores, and has some decent community service involvement? My son has many excellent qualities—most people think he is a ‘great kid!’ He plays varsity soccer and writes for the newspaper but just doesn’t give his schoolwork the time he needs to succeed.
PVB: Have you asked him what he wants to do? I often find that asking a young person point blank: “Why do you want to go to college?” helps provide a beginning point for the conversation. One of the most humbling experiences of my professional life took place when my daughter asked me (very sheepishly) what I thought about the possibility that she might not go to college right away! Suddenly, it occurred to me that I had been working with my agenda for her rather than checking to see what she might have in mind!
I have no doubt that your son is a great kid AND that he will find a direction that enables him to do a lot of wonderful things in life. He may just need a little space (and support) to figure that out on his own. If you go that route (of providing space), be prepared for the possibility that college may not be his first/best option right out of high school. And that’s okay. Admission officers agree that a “gap year” (or two) can be an incredibly healthy and productive choice for an 18-year old. Besides, you wouldn’t believe the number of kids who are wasting their parents’ money in college these days! Oh, they’re having a good time, but they don’t really appreciate the opportunity (to become educated) that is at their fingertips. Rather, they’re in college because they figure that’s what they’re supposed to do after high school!
If your son does articulate a desire to pursue college right out of high school, consider having him look at local community colleges or universities where he can test the water (and build his confidence) one step at a time. I’d also urge him to talk with someone (teacher, counselor) who can objectively lead him through the reflective aspects of self-awareness before helping him to think about possible college destinations. If you focus on a student-centered orientation to college, you’ll be amazed at how well this can turn out!
Parent: That’s helpful. It appears, though, like every college we look at online only admits kids above a 3.0 GPA or a very small percentage below that.
PVB: Don’t be misled. Many colleges are reporting mid-points—not cut-offs—for testing and GPAs. By the way, I recommend using online college search mechanisms that will give your son an opportunity to enter information about himself (academic and personal) that is in turn used to identify prospective colleges for him. Again, a student-centered orientation…
Parent: How is the process different if you are applying to transfer after a successful freshman year at a less selective school or even a community college?
PVB: First, you must realize that the more selective schools only offer transfer admission on a space availability basis. In some years, that may mean there is little or no transfer activity. That said, the process is basically the same except the focus academically now rests on the college experience. The high school record, including extracurricular activities, has less impact. I would also observe that the “playing field” is not level with regard to money. Kids who don’t need assistance have a much better chance of getting in as transfer applicants. Finally, if he wants to transfer, he definitely needs to make the case for himself IN PERSON! An on-campus interview is a must!
Parent: This is encouraging. Many people I know who are very successful admit to being C+ students in high school and you seem to be saying there are colleges that can see a kid’s potential and not get hung up on stats.
PVB: You got it! Your son will be fine. He just needs to find his way. Your support and patience will mean a lot as he explores his options.
I trust you find this type of exchange useful. If you find yourself in need of a friendly voice in the college planning process, please contact me at Peter@TheAdmissionGame.com.
If you are 16-17 years old and you don’t know what you want to do for the rest of your life, you are—NORMAL!
I see a lot of evidence that students are hung up on the college search process because they don’t know what they want to do—as though having a major (and a career) all sorted out is a prerequisite to going to college! Guess again. Figuring out your direction in life is what a college education should do for you!
While it is easy to understand that families want some tangible evidence of their likely “return” on dollars invested in education, the reality is that most kids simply aren’t ready or well enough informed to make career decisions when they are seventeen! If you are contemplating your college options, consider these statistics:
You will probably change your major in college! Most students (about 65%) change their minds about their majors at least once while they are in college. Half of them change their minds twice.
Many colleges report that 80-90% of the people who graduated more than 25 years ago are now in careers that did not exist when they graduated.
About 85% of the parents I survey indicate they are no longer in the careers they intended to pursue when they were 18 years old!
What does this say about the importance of “knowing what you want to do for the rest of your life” before you start college? Hopefully, the data gives you pause and allows you to relax. It also reinforces the need to find colleges that fit you best.
Look into colleges that offer strong programs that meet your needs. The good news is that there are hundreds of great places that welcome students who are undecided about their futures! These are the same places that produce doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, accountants, curators and business executives from among the thousands of undecided students who enter their doors each year.
So, if you are still searching for some direction, don’t worry. You’re normal. It’s difficult to know at any age what you’ll do for the rest of your life, so relax. Seize the opportunity to explore. Turn your indecision into an opportunity that opens doors to learning at colleges that fit you well. Moreover, know that you’ve got a lot of time to figure out what the rest of your life will look like.
Take advantage of your college years to become educated about a lot of things including yourself and the world around you. In doing so, learn how to learn. Even if you have pretty firm ideas about a career, your ability to process information and think critically will put you in good stead wherever you might find yourself in life.
Finally, if you want to have some fun, ask your parents to talk about their career aspirations when they were your age. The odds are they had vastly different ideas back then about what they would be doing at this point in their lives! Find out what influenced their thinking if and when they discovered new interests. What, if any, changes would they make? Just as most people of your parent’s generation followed pathways to success that they couldn’t imagine when they were your age, you need to be flexible in finding and following your path. A good college “fit,” then, is one that will encourage you in this direction.
The odds are that you will receive admission decision letters in the coming days that bear the curiously encouraging message, “We are pleased to offer you a place on the Wait List.” If you receive such a message, you might find it puzzling. You can’t find the word “congratulations” anywhere in the letter, yet the school is “pleased to offer you…”—what?
Rather than a polite denial, the Wait List offer is a “definite maybe.” Whether you knew it or not, you were on the competitive “bubble” at the college in question. Though you were certainly qualified—deserving of consideration in a close competition—you were not a shoo-in. When it came time for the admission committee to make very fine distinctions, it chose others over you. By offering you a place on the Wait List, though, the committee is really saying, “We like you. Since we might not get the enrollment we need from the initial round of acceptances, we might be able to admit you later.”
The explanation may not feel very reassuring as you read it the first time but, in truth, you may well have options before this whole thing is over. Hang in there. Most of the selective colleges in the country will admit students from the Wait List every year in numbers ranging from half a dozen to well over 100.
Information about Wait List status and movement is closely guarded. Sensitive to negative inferences that are made about the “need” to go to the Wait List, colleges prefer to be discrete about the extent of their reliance on it for enrollment. That said here is what you need to know—and do—in order to give yourself a competitive edge.
Wait Lists will be active because colleges are constantly gambling that their yield on initial offers will be better than expected. They are usually wrong.
When they go to the Wait List, admission officers have efficiency in mind. They want to fill their empty seats as quickly as possible. Rather than mailing offers of admission to hundreds of students, most will call or email candidates one at a time until they receive the number of commitments they need.
Make sure the school knows it is your first choice. Write a letter confirming your interest. Visit. Send new grades. Provide new insight into your performance as well as evidence of recent accomplishments that might not have appeared on your initial application.
Stay on the radar screen of the staff member who recruits in your area. Make sure that person knows you are available and ready to accept an offer of admission. Continue to show your interest without becoming a pest.
Be sure to provide evidence of your potential “hooks.” Colleges re-define their needs as they go to the Wait List. For example, they may have acquired plenty of tuba players, but now have a need for an oboist.
Be clear about what your family can afford to pay. Your need of assistance could well be a determining factor. Movement from Wait Lists prior to May 1 will probably be limited to students who do not need financial aid.
Many Wait List offers will come after the May 1 deadline for submitting enrollment deposits. If such a call comes, you need to be prepared to decide quickly (often in 24 hours) whether you want to forfeit an earlier enrollment at another school in order to take advantage of the acceptance from the Wait List.
Don’t allow yourself to become so preoccupied with the Wait List situation that you lose track of your more immediate options. If the Wait List offer doesn’t come, you need to be ready to happily embrace one of your other options.
So, take heart. The enrollment opportunities from the Wait List are very real. In fact, competing for admission from the Wait List is like playing in a contest that has gone into overtime. If you assume the game is lost, you can’t win. Keep “playing,” then—hard and smart—to give yourself a chance for a happy outcome.
Within the next few days, the annual college admission lottery will finally be played out. By the time all of the mail is open and the admission decisions are in, you should have options—quality options. If that’s the case, congratulations! Your hard work has paid off and you get to make the final choice of a college destination.
Choosing well, however, is critical to the experience you will have once enrolled. Now, more than ever, you need to be attentive to the details. As you enter the final phase of decision-making, start by rechecking your priorities. What was important when you initially constructed your list of colleges? Has anything changed? Why? The answers to these questions will be your compass bearing as you make decisions in the coming weeks.
The elements of a good college fit apply now more than ever. Even the “best” college (by acclaim) won’t help you reach your goals if getting through four years at that school is likely to be a struggle academically. Choose wisely. Stay within your ability to comfortably embrace the academic programs and achieve the educational goals you set for yourself.
Using your priorities as a guide, take another look at the colleges that accepted you. You have until the end of April to choose one of them. Return to their campuses where you can immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and overall culture of the places. How do they feel to you? In doing so, try to accomplish the following:
Spend a weeknight in a residence hall, eat at least two meals in the dining facilities and go to two classes in different disciplines including an introductory first-year class.
Talk with professors from the academic departments that interest you as well as the appropriate pre-professional advisor for those programs. Do you see a home for yourself in those environments?
If you are a recruited athlete, visit with the coach as well as members of the team. These folks may be your support system for the next four years. Where will you fit best?
If you have academic support needs, talk with the person on campus who coordinates the Special Needs Support Center or the Writing Center. Look for evidence that you will get the support you require.
If you have financial concerns, make an appointment with the financial aid office. Take copies of your financial aid application as well as any relevant tax returns for reference. Don’t assume that troubling financial differences will be worked out later.
Hang out. Watch people. Listen to them talk. Ask them what they think about campus life, politics, sports, religion, or whatever is important to you.
Inquire about safety information, crime statistics and campus escort programs.
Use good judgment as you explore the social scene. Know your limits…
In other words, take in as much as possible. It might be tough because you’ll also have to juggle academic and social demands at school. On the other hand, the choice of a college is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. In the end, you can only choose one college! Do what you can to make sure you get it right the first time.
Most students who emerge from this process acknowledge that much of the decision-making comes down to a gut feeling. Let your gut go to work for you. Make sure the college you choose fits comfortably and feels good before you commit yourself.
Finally, a word of caution: Much of the stuff that goes on in the weeks prior to your enrollment decision is staged by colleges for your benefit. You’ll be invited to parties and open houses in your honor. Prominent alumni will call to wish you well. Some schools may even offer to fly you to their campuses for the weekend. In the midst of all the ego food being tossed your way, however, you need to stay focused. Do your own detective work and remain true to your priorities. Sort through the excitement to find evidence that the school in question truly values you for what you do well.
Getting into a “good” college is a big deal these days—so big that many families are investing thousands of dollars into a range of credentialing experiences for their students with the expectation that somewhere, somehow, there is a competitive “edge” to be exploited in the admission process.
Chief among these investments is the engagement of private consultants—folks who offer fee-based assistance to families outside of the high school environment. Such assistance can come in the form of private tutoring, test preparation, reflective self-assessment, college list development, essay editing, dedicated “advocacy” in the admission process, and planning support for students with special needs. It’s a long list and there are some incredibly gifted people who provide high-quality services. There are also a lot of imposters so “buyer beware!”
I’d like to offer a few observations and suggestions in the event you are considering the involvement of a private counselor.
Don’t overlook the fact that a lot of high schools, public and private, feature highly trained college access professionals and offer an abundant supply of college planning resources. Explore them first. They’re already part of the educational environment of which your student is a member and they will be integral to the presentation of his credentials.
Manage expectations. It is more important that you help your student find and get into colleges that are good fits for her than it is to try and “shoe-horn” her into a place that will satisfy your social urges, but not her educational needs.
Despite their pedigrees or prior work experiences, private counselors don’t get students into college. They can help students calibrate the process and prepare effectively to compete for admission, but it is the student who must carry the day in the admission process.
Engage private counselors for the right reasons. Ask yourself why you want or—more importantly—need the help. Is the college counseling available through your student’s school truly deficient? Does your student have specific needs that need to be addressed? Or do you simply want the peace of mind of having access to an expert who can interpret the process for you as you move forward? Many consultants are experts about specific areas such as learning differences or family relocations or financial planning. Make sure you know what you need.
Make sure the student is regarded as the lead client. To the parents, that means, “pay the bill and then stand back.” I see far too many situations in which the parents are engaged with the consultant as though the student isn’t even present!
Get referrals and ask for references. If you are considering a consultant who lives near you, make sure your student meets with that person before “signing on.” Ask to see evidence that s/he is well educated (former admission officer, college advisor, Certified Educational Planner, etc.) about the college admission process and has been actively engaged in professional development activity over the last 2-3 years. Look for honesty, sincerity (don’t buy what you don’t need!), accessibility and compatibility with your student. This exercise won’t work if your student isn’t buying into the concept or the person delivering it.
Consider cost and the projected time commitment. You shouldn’t have to pay more than 20% of the cost of one year at the colleges your student is considering for qualified assistance (you can often get what you need for less). And working with a consultant should not detract from your student’s ability to do the things that are important to her/him.
Finally, be wary of individuals who make guarantees. Consultants do not get kids into college! They should not manage the process nor should they write essays or complete applications for them. Students must take ownership of the process and the required tasks.
On the other hand, good consultants can help young people find the most appropriate colleges and they can provide assistance in gaining perspective on how a student might best present him/herself in the admission process. Make sure the consultation is student-centered and you won’t go wrong!
In my February 23 blog, “Senior Year Course Selections that Make a Difference,” I wrote about the importance of making appropriate course selections for the Senior year. The basic message was this: “Take courses that present reasonable challenges for you academically, do well in them and choose colleges that value you for your efforts.”
The following are questions I have received since that might speak to issues you are confronting.
Question #1: “If I know that I don’t want to pursue sciences in college, would it be okay to drop science (probably AP Physics)? I have gotten B+’s in science so far but I have to work real hard in those classes to get the grade.”
Answer: The answer depends on two things: the course you plan to take in place of the science course you are dropping, and the colleges to which you want to apply. As a rule, it is best to replace a dropped course with another that would provide the same level of challenge. Generally speaking, dropping AP Physics for a survey course in government or economics won’t reflect well on you.
That said admission officers at highly selective schools are watching to see what you do when you think the pressure is “off”—when you don’ think you have to push yourself any longer. They’re looking for the slightest reasons to turn students down. Dropping the science course without adding a suitable replacement gives them a reason to say “no.” Less selective schools, on the other hand, are not likely to view your course selection as critically.
Question #2: “How do colleges feel about online courses?”
Answer: Admission officers are accustomed to seeing a range of academic experiences as the range of educational opportunities available to students continues to grow beyond the traditional classroom. This is true not only of online courses but dual degree coursework and college courses offered (for college credit) on high school campuses.
Documentation is important, as you want to eliminate the guesswork that is otherwise bound to emerge in evaluating your credentials. If you plan to submit grades achieved in a “non-traditional” high school classroom setting, make sure your application includes a description of the course, a syllabus (if possible) and information about the accreditation of the school or program from which you received the grade.
Question #3:“I am taking AP Calculus AB as a Junior and our school doesn’t offer any higher level math classes. What should I do next year?”
Answer: If you like and do well in math, you might explore advanced coursework at local colleges. This is especially true if you are considering math/science/engineering academic tracks in college, as you will need to demonstrate proficiency at the highest levels possible in math when you apply for admission. In that case, proceeding without math next year will be problematic.
If math is not central to your future academic directions, then you may have more latitude within your school’s curriculum. For example, statistics is a highly utilitarian course and an Honors or AP Stats class could prove to be very useful regardless of your intended major.
The selectivity of the colleges under consideration comes into play when it comes to substituting courses. If you are considering more selective schools, it is better to replace rigor in one discipline with similar rigor in another.
Question #4:“My problem is that AP Spanish conflicts with orchestra next year. I have played the cello forever and am first chair. I hate to give it up. Will it hurt me if I drop Spanish to stick with orchestra?”
Answer: Believe it or not, this is a fairly common dilemma for students who are accomplished in the performing arts. In most cases, dropping a high level academic course to continue involvement with orchestra (in this case) will not hurt your competitiveness IF you explain the situation in your application (in an interview or note attached to your application). You might also explore the potential to take the AP Spanish class online or at a local college. Regardless, you need to make sure college advisor corroborates your explanation.
Question #5:“My daughter is planning to take three APs and two honors courses next year. I’m concerned that it might be too much with all of her other activities and the stress of the application process on top of it. Should I encourage her to switch from AP English Literature to an honors course instead?”
Answer: Remember my earlier advice: It’s important to step up academically. While the senior year should be fun and memorable, there is every reason to believe it should be challenging as well. At many colleges, especially those that can be very selective, admission officers are watching to see how talented students respond to the challenge. My advice is to let her follow her instincts. If she believes she can handle the challenge, she should go for it!
Final note to students: Each of these questions, as well as others like them, might also be directed to the persons on the admission staffs at schools of interest to you. Those persons can be key resources as you look for information and/or guidance in anticipation of the application process. Articulate your question in a brief email and see what happens. If you receive a thoughtful response you will have gained the information you need and you will have begun a conversation—and a relationship—with someone who will likely review your application at some point.
