As college admissions counselors, we stress to our students that their applications are pieces of a whole.  Strong grades in rigorous classes, demonstrated devotion to their extracurricular activities, recommendations from teachers who know them well – all are factors that help them feel empowered because ultimately,  they have some sort of control.  And then there are the standardized test scores.  Nothing seems to provoke anxiety as quickly or acutely as the SAT.

We would be lying if we said these scores don’t matter, because they do.  They are really the only component of an application that “levels the playing field.”  However, the playing field is about to get some new rules.

The College Board recently announced that the structure of the SAT would undergo “sweeping changes” in the spring of 2016 (CNN, March 5, 2014).  For decades, the SAT has been the iconic standardized test;  however it is now being outpaced by the ACT, it’s only competitor.  Here again is more proof of the changing college admissions landscape.  According to Dr. Dean Skarlis, President of the College Advisor of New York, “We’ve been advising students to take the ACT for almost 15 years putting us ahead of this recent trend. The SAT has a fundamental bias; it focuses more on strategy than on curriculum – that is a problem.  Ultimately the best predictor for a student’s collegiate success is their high school transcript. Because the SAT is not curriculum based, students struggle with the structure and their scores often do not reflect their true academic ability. The ACT, on the other hand, is directly tied to high school curricula across the United States.”

We’ve steered hundreds of students struggling with the SAT towards the ACT with excellent results. The announced changes to the SAT will “make it more like the ACT” (New York Times, Tamar Lewin, March 5, 2014). There are multiple factors that set the ACT apart from the SAT.  These include students not being penalized for guessing and an optional essay.  The 2016 SAT will adopt both of these.  Other changes to the SAT will include:  a revamp of the vocabulary section, scoring will revert back to the 1600 point scale (it has been 2400 since 2005 when the writing section was added) and the essay will now have a separate score. The math section will be updated and only allow calculators for certain problems, each exam will have a writing section based on “source documents and a reading passage based on one of the nation’s founding documents . . .” (New York Times, Tamar Lewin, March 5, 2014).  Big changes in an attempt to keep pace with changing times and competition.

And there are more reasons for the College Board to take notice.  For the first time last year, the ACT was taken by more high school students than the SAT.  Also, the rise in “test optional schools” is nothing to sneeze at.  A recent study by William Hiss, former Dean of Admissions of the prestigious Bates College, finds that there was “virtually no difference in grades and graduation rates between test submitters and nonsubmitters.” (NPR, Eric Westervelt) And every year more schools become “test optional” for the very reason we cited above; a child is more than their test scores.

So where does this leave you as a student?  At the College Advisor of New York we administer what we call a “Diagnostic” during either sophomore or junior year, depending on the student.  This allows us to get an overall picture and focus on where a student might have a weak spot.  We then partner them with our test prep company, Prowess Test Prep, to give a student the best chance of preparing for whichever exam we believe will better display their academic “prowess.”

Whether it be the SAT, the ACT, or both, standardized tests aren’t going away.  Stay tuned for more as information will continue to be released about the new SAT.

We all have been told at one time or another that “patience is a virtue” and it’s certainly part of life.  No time exemplifies this adage better than the months that follow hitting the submit button on college applications.  Initially, there is a huge relief for all: parents, students and even college admission counselors.  Months (often years) have gone into that one moment; studying, taking standardized tests, visiting campus after campus, writing the very best essay. . . and then it all comes down to submit . . .and wait.  And that’s the hardest part.

We have somewhat of a “post application lull” here at our office.  It always coincides with the holidays.  Our students and parents have done their “due diligence” and we’ve watched, guided, and prodded them through the process to application submission.  But now what?  Calls from parents start coming in right about now – mid February. . .and you can hear the return of anxiety in their voices.  They wonder when they might start hearing back from schools and those who already have received acceptances wonder when (and if) financial aid decisions or merit awards will come in the mail.  Unfortunately, there is no tried and true formula.  It sounds trite to say, but every school is different, and it’s true.  However, here is a rough guideline on how things “normally” unfold in the months after application season.

First – an important note to ALL students in the process of applying and we CANNOT stress this enough:  Once you have submitted your application you should ALWAYS follow up with the school to which you have applied and inquire “is my application complete?”  I can’t tell you how often we hear that something did not make it, whether it is transcript from a guidance office, a recommendation, a financial aid application, or SAT/ACT scores; quite a few things must come together to make an application complete.  Do NOT leave this to chance; it only takes a few minutes to follow up!  And who should follow up?  If you’ve read our blog in the past you know the answer:  the student, not the parents!

The EA and ED decisions will come in first, normally by early January (some as early as Christmas).  But that doesn’t mean the financial aid decision will soon follow, so the waiting is often not over.  The filing of the correct forms is crucial for the schools to send out awards and loans; this is a great reason to rely on an admission counselor familiar with what financial data schools require from you.

Beyond EA and ED there are two other types of admissions decisions: Regular and Rolling.  Regular decisions “should” be in by mid-March and Rolling are just what the word says . . .they roll through the process as they arrive in admissions offices.  So, the applications they see first are decided upon first, and so on.  There are schools that will accept applications right into early June, although this is rare.

Whichever application you submitted, there is waiting to be done.  The best way to assure your wait isn’t agonizing is to have been well prepared and submitted the best application on the correct timeframe with the correct documents, both academic and financial.  Don’t leave this to chance.  College admissions counselors know the roadmap and the timeframe and are here to help and alleviate worry and stress.  It’s the biggest decision a student will have ever made with a price tag to match, and we are here to help!

The following post was written by our Director of Client Services (and mother of 2 college and 1 high school students), Deb Coco. 

What is a College Advisor?  It’s one of the first questions you ask a new acquaintance  . . . “what do you do?”  And when I reply “I am a college admissions counselor” I often get a puzzled look.  The next question is always “do you work for a school?” and that leads into a discussion about what we at the College Advisor of New York actually do.

I understand the initial query because we are somewhat of a new kid on the block.  My memory of being a high school student involved only my high school “guidance” counselor and my parents navigating me through the admissions process.  However, as we’ve said in previous posts, the landscape has changed.  Parents phone us now, often overwhelmed and confused by a system with which they feel uncomfortable, and they are searching for help.

That’s where we come in.  We help families find the “right fit” school for their students.  By “right fit” we mean academically and socially for the child and financially for the parents.  This used to be easy and the stakes weren’t nearly as high.  My first tuition bill is now the equivalent of what my daughter’s books cost per year.  . . this is no joke.  Families who begin the college search on their own often quickly realize they are in over their heads.  Common questions include “Will my child be a competitive applicant?”;  “What type of student gets into an Ivy now?”; “How do we prepare for the SAT?”; “What is the timeline for the application process?”; “Will we qualify for need based aid?  How about scholarships?”; and the all too real “Did we save enough?”

These are all important questions and we have the answers.  We shepherd families from the beginning of the process right through to the final decision.  For students, we offer major and career counseling, a customized school list based on a series of unique assessments, essay coaching and editing and application guidance and review.  We empower students to take ownership of the college admissions process.  For parents,  we “have your back” so to speak, and often provide a cushion between parents and students when emotions run high.  We help parents understand their unique parenting role throughout the process.  In fact, we often spend as much time coaching parents as we do their kids!  What sets us apart from other counselors  is complete guidance through the financial aid and scholarship strategy process.  For many of our parents this is our most valuable service.  Many families will not qualify for need based aid, but they have no idea how to come up with the extra $55,000-$61,000 yearly tuition, room, board and fees (yes, those figures aren’t a typo).  We help parents plan and strategize early on in the process, submit the correct financial aid forms, maximize aid and scholarships, and then guide them in making the best family decision in the end.

The college search process is often an emotional transition for families.  It’s with a heavy heart that we send our children off into the world, and it becomes even more stressful when we feel out of our element.  We can help, because ultimately, knowledge is power.  And we help you understand that you have the power to make the best college decision.

 The following post was written by our Director of Client Services, Deb Coco.

What makes a student an appealing candidate?  The answers might surprise you . . .and it’s a very good reason to hire an independent college admissions consultant!

There was a time when  good grades (and I mean just “good”), solid SAT scores and a sport created a competitive college applicant.  Add legacy status to the equation and a solid student  becomes a “shoe-in.”  Those were the good old days.  The landscape has changed.  Applicant numbers are higher than ever before (not to mention costs) and the criteria for being a top candidate is not only more competitive than ever, but the list of what admission committees are looking for has shifted.

According to the IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association), the number one reason to hire a college counselor is that every school is looking for something different  . . . there is no one recipe that satisfies every college admissions professional.  And to complicate the strategy, some items that used to carry weight no longer matter as much.   The top factors that diminished in importance: being a legacy and having a huge array of extracurricular activities.  This comes as a shock to many families!  So what do they want?   It’s actually back to basics.

1.  Strong grades in a rigorous high school curriculum.  Still the most important factor.  The classes should, if possible, include AP or IB, (if students can handle them) and grades should always show an upward trend as a student progresses through high school.  If AP or IB courses are not available, then Honors courses are a must.

2.  Strong standardized test scores; this means the SAT and SAT subjects tests.  The ACT is still foreign to some families, but has become recognized by more and more schools.  It is often accepted in lieu of SAT, and it is important to note that students who don’t see stellar results on their SAT scores (but have high GPA’s) will often see a better result on their ACTs.

3. A well written and compelling essay.  This is another solid reason to work with a college counselor.   It is important to note the value of this component increased significantly over the past several years.  Even students who excel at writing struggle with this essay;  it’s entirely different from anything they will ever have written and is a far cry from a research paper.  Heed this warning to not rely on an English teacher’s critique of this crucial piece of writing.

4. Passionate involvement in a FEW activities.  This is another change. For years student were  told to be involved in “anything and everything.”  Schools are now very suspicious of clubs joined in senior year.  They want students with “authentic passions” who are leaders in whatever passion they pursue.

5.  Strong teacher recommendations.  These should come from teachers in core classes who know you well.  We always advise that students stick to the number a school requests – don’t overdo it with multiple letters from everyone you know!  Here, it is quality over quantity.  If they ask for two, give them two from teachers with whom you have built a strong rapport in your top classes.

There you have it.  Now get busy on each of these 5 factors, and you’ll have some excellent college options!

Many parents ask me how to increase their child’s chance for admission to selective colleges.  What follows below is advice on exactly how to do so.

First, what is “demonstrated interest?”  Because colleges are concerned with their yield (defined as the number of admitted students who ultimately enroll), it helps them to understand which applicants are seriously interested in attending. Students who show serious interest in a school are more likely to be admitted.  So how do you “demonstrate your interest?”

1.  Respond to and request info from the colleges on your list.  If you receive a brochure or a letter from a college in which you’re interested (you’ll probably receive thousands), complete the reply card, go online to the web site, call or write to the school and express your interest.  Ask for additional information about an academic program or athletic team in which you’re interested.

2.  Contact an admissions representative or coach.  Seek out these individuals on the school’s web site, and ask a question or seek additional information.  Athletes should be initiating contact with coaches in their junior year of high school.  Talk with representatives at college fairs and at your high school.  Make personal contact with them, get their business card, and thank them for their time.  Continue to be in touch with them via email, U.S. Mail and phone.

3.  Reach out via social media.  “Like” the college’s Facebook page, and visit it from time to time.  Follow the school on Twitter, and re-tweet things that you think are interesting.  By doing these two things, you’ll end up learning much more about your top choice colleges which will help you make a more informed decision in the end.  One cautionary note:  Make sure your social media presence is a positive one.  This is critically important as many schools are now checking student profiles.

4.  Visit campus.  This is the MOST important way to demonstrate interest.  Nothing replaces a campus visit.  Even if your best friend or sibling is already enrolled at the college, and you think you understand the place, you should still go visit the college and decide for yourself whether it’s a good fit.  When you do go, make certain the college knows you were there.  It’s not enough to drive or walk through campus on your own.  You MUST do an official visit and meet with an admissions representative or a tour guide at the very least.

By employing these strategies, you will increase your chances of admission at many colleges.  So be assertive, and make your interest known!

The following post was written by Kate Burkart, one of our Admissions Coaches and Application Expert Extraordinaire.

The old adage: “The Early Bird Catches the Worm” is crucial when working on the Common Application.  As if visiting, researching, and deciding where to apply isn’t stressful enough, the launch of the new Common Application (CA4) hasn’t made this year’s application process any easier.  Fraught with technical issues from the launch on August 1st, the support personnel working for the Common Application have not able to keep up with the technical troubleshooting demand. With 517 colleges and universities now accepting the application, it’s no wonder that without proper technical support, families, secondary schools, and colleges are feeling the burden.  Common App staff are working hard to eliminate problems with a recent statement of commitment to their clients promising to work on reliability and service.  Students can now follow the Common Application’s live feed on both Facebook and Twitter for the most current updates.

Given this chaotic situation, my best advice is:  Start your application early!  Become familiar with the application, and don’t rush through any section to simply “get it done.”  The Common Application is a tool to make the college admission process easier, so take advantage of putting the time into this one application that will be submitted to many colleges on your list. Read, re-read, critique, and scrutinize every question and essay, regardless of how mundane it may appear. You want to present your best self to every college for the greatest chance of acceptance.

Most importantly, I urge you to avoid traffic jams!  Try to work on your Common Application during non-peak hours, and avoid heavy traffic times such as weekend afternoons and the day leading up to a major deadline (November 1^st, November 15^th, and January 1^st). Many colleges are extending their Early Action and Early Decision deadlines to accommodate the current glitches. However, this does not mean you should wait until the new deadline; plan on submitting applications at least 3 days prior to a school’s deadline. There have been reported issues with the payment feature, potentially taking up to 48 hours to process a payment, and double charging some applicants. The take home message is:  the earlier the better! Take your time to carefully review all aspects of the application by using the print preview function once your application is complete. We suggest printing out a hard copy of your application prior to submission for your records, just in case.

The key to success with the Common Application is early and consistent progress, as well as paying careful attention to detail!  Good luck!