Demonstrating Interest

Many families ask me if colleges really track student interest. The answer is that many colleges definitely do. What’s more, this often plays into admission decisions. The phenomenon, which I call, “The Interest Quotient” is increasingly popular on the part of colleges, primarily private schools. It is important to schools because of a concept called “Yield.” This is the percentage of admitted students who ultimately enroll in a particular college. Yield used to be one of the criteria used in the “U.S. News and World Report” rankings. The higher an institution’s yield, the higher their ranking. In recent years, yield has been removed from such rankings, however, it is still an important measuring stick for most college admissions offices. Colleges calculate their yields on a regular basis and compare themselves to their peer schools. If those yields increase, they know their market position is improving. If not, they work to make them higher.

So what does this mean to you and your child? The more interest your child shows in a particular college, the more likely they are to be admitted. I caution you to make certain your student is in fact sincerely interested in attending a school. If they are, then they should make the college aware that it is among their top choices. They should do so via campus visits, meetings – and interviews if offered – with admissions representatives at college fairs and at the student’s high school, inquiry forms on the school’s web site, and general communication – either via email or phone – with an admissions representative.

Each of these interactions should be thoughtful and honest. Students should prepare for their communication with admissions professionals. It could be the difference between gaining admission to their top school or not. If they need help in those efforts, they should contact an experienced college admissions counselor.

Parenting Your Child Through The College Admissions Process

We’ve worked with thousands of students and parents to help them navigate the often stressful college admissions process, and over the years, I realized that my job not only involves coaching students, but much of it has evolved to coach parents on this very different journey. Below, I’ve outlined the top 5 things you can do to effectively parent your child during this challenging time.

1. Realize It’s Not About You: No matter how much your children may be like you, they need to make their own observations and decisions. You are NOT applying to college. They are. This is not your chance to go back and “get into” Harvard. Distancing yourself from the emotions of the process allows you to support your child, rather than add to their stress. This is not a high school playoff game or a state final soccer match. It is a rite of passage during which your child will begin to establish their independence, You need to be a stabilizing “grounding cord” for your child.

2. Understand your grief – not theirs. You may not consciously realize it, but you may be sad that your child will soon be leaving home…for good. This could cause you to feel depressed or angry. Some parents lash out at their student or spouse. Think about it. Feel it, talk to a counselor or member of the clergy. Then, get over it. Instead of feeling sad, get ready to turn your child’s bedroom into a Jacuzzi room!

3. Understand your affordability EARLY in the process. Will you qualify for financial aid? If so, will the college meet all or only some of your need? Will your child qualify for merit scholarships? And at which schools? We help our families plan for these questions ever day. Once you have a rough number in your head, it’s incumbent upon you to figure out how you’ll come up with the money. If you cannot, then talk to your child about other options. The number 1 reason students drop out of college is because they cannot afford it. That’s why we talk about “fit” being academic, social and financial…This is YOUR job and ONLY your job.

4. Stay in the car, but don’t drive. This may be your toughest challenge. You need to be involved in every step of the process, except taking the SAT, doing your child’s applications, and writing the essay, but your child needs to be the driver. This can get tricky, so be careful. Consider hiring an experienced educational consultant. When they tell your child to write her essay, she’s more likely to do it than if you do. You will be spending lots of money, so you would do a disservice if you weren’t involved, but your child, not you, needs to own the process.

5. Remember that this is a process, not a decision. If you engage in a well informed, well researched, logical and systematic college search, the decision will follow the process. In fact, by April of the senior year, the decision will be easy. Until then, there will be a lot of uncertainty and that’s ok. Let the process unfold on its own, and don’t pressure your child for a decision. The trips to visit colleges can be a lot of fun. They may be the last time you spend quality time with your child until they become an adult. Use this time to talk to your student about life, fun stuff, anything at all. Cherish these times, and try to have fun, but don’t expect them to decide where they’re going as soon as you get in the car after a campus tour…They will likely not know until the Spring of their Senior year.

In the end, this is your child’s process, not yours, but some kids may not be ready to fully engage in it, so tread carefully, and assess where you and your child are at each step…Good luck!

The Hyper-Competitive World Of College Admissions

For the Fall, 2011 freshman class, Harvard University accepted only 6% of its applicants. This was the lowest in the Country. Yale, Princeton and Columbia followed close behind, each admitting only 7% of its applicants. To emphasize how difficult it is to be admitted to one of these schools, it’s important to note that 95% of Harvard’s incoming class ranked in the top 10% of their high school class, and the middle 50% of admitted Harvard students’ SAT scores was 2080 to 2370. That means that a student in the 25th percentile of the admitted Harvard class (the bottom quarter) scored in the top 6% of the 1.6 million students who took the SAT last year. Those in the middle, an “average” Harvard applicant, scored within the top 2% of all SAT test takers world-wide.

These numbers are no surprise to an experienced college admissions consultant, but they may shock an unsuspecting family entering the process. A family with whom we recently worked was astonished by the fact that their son was not admissible to Harvard despite the fact that both parents and 2 of his 4 grandparents graduated from Harvard. The student in question had better grades and higher test scores than both of his parents! And this hyper-competitive environment has filtered down through the universe of public and private colleges throughout the nation. This all begs the question: Why is college admissions so competitive these days? There are 3 primary reasons:

1. Today’s American students are competing against a global student body. Twenty five years ago, few international students sought admission to America’s colleges and universities, but with the rapid population growth in China and India, not to mention many other countries, more students are seeking entrance to U.S. colleges, which are considered by most to be the best in the world.

2. There are more students in the pipeline. While the overall population of American high school students has stabilized, it’s still at its highest level in more than 15 years. More importantly, the percentage of high school graduates who go directly on to college is at its highest point ever, about 70%, according to the National Center For Education Statistics.

3. Finally, more kids are applying to more colleges than ever before. Online applications, like the Common Application, make this much easier than ever before. The average student applies to approximately 6 colleges, compared to only 3 twenty years ago.

So, with more applicants, more applications and the same number of colleges as there were two decades ago, the admissions process has become much more of a numbers game. This means that good grades in college prep courses, strong SAT or ACT scores, a powerful essay, solid extracurricular activities, and strong teacher recommendations are critical for admission to the Ivies and many other schools. The most important action students can take is to study hard, and do well in high school!

Not Your Father’s College Admissions

The old commercial by General Motors went something like this: “The new Oldsmobile is not your father’s Oldsmobile…” Within a decade of that advertisement, the Olds line was abandoned. Such is the case with college admissions. It’s quite literally not your father’s admissions game. Instead it’s much more competitive, complicated, not to mention, significantly more expensive. Below I’ve outlined several of the most poignant differences between old and new.

Highly Competitive: When I applied to college in the 1980s, only 6 out of 10 high school students went directly from high school to college. Today, that number has increased to 7 out of 10. To make matters worse, colleges are now recruiting internationally, so kids are being compared to students not only across the U.S., but around the world. Factor in that because of online applications, kids are now applying to more schools (an average of 7 as compared to only 4 just 15 years ago), and you’ve got many more applicants, many more applications and the same number of colleges as there were 25 years ago. That all leads to a dramatically highly selective environment.

Test Prep and Grade Inflation: With the significant growth of the test prep movement, more students are focusing on SAT and ACT preparation, so scores for high performing students have increased over time. In addition, grade inflation has crept into our high schools like never before to the extent that today, a “B” is much closer to what a “C” was when parents were in school. Because grades and test scores are among the most important factors in the admissions decision, especially at the highly selective colleges, this adds to the highly competitive nature of today’s process.

An Overwhelmingly Complex Process: Applying to college used to entail writing an essay, completing some basic paperwork, and mailing the packet to the 2 or 3 colleges to which you sought admission. The Common Application, and other competing applications, promised to change all that. The idea was that you would do one application which would enable you to apply to any combination of 500 colleges who use that application. The problem is that the Common App is not very user friendly. It’s less than intuitive interface also has several additional pieces, called supplementals, that are specific to each school. As a result, instead of writing one or two basic essays, many students have to write more than a dozen college essays, depending on the particular schools to which they apply. Even submitting the applications has become time consuming. In many cases, you submit once, but you have to pay 10 times! And what if your college does not use the Common Application? Then you have to search, register for, complete and submit that many more applications at the college’s own web site. For many, this is a dizzingly challenging process which is why we recommend starting EARLY during the summer before a student’s senior year of high school.

Paying Less For College When You Don’t Qualify For Financial Aid

Only 47% of all undergraduate college students received federal financial aid in 2008. So how did the rest pay the $200,000 bill at private colleges and the $70,000 at in-state public schools? The answer is that most of them did not pay the sticker price at their college of choice. Below I’ve identified 3 ways you can cut the cost of college even if you don’t qualify for financial aid.

1. Go To A School You’ve Never Heard Of – Learn how to find, visit, apply to and attend a college at which you’re an appealing applicant. Typically, these are schools that are not brand names. By that, I don’t mean Harvard, Yale, and the rest of the Ivies, although those certainly qualify. Instead, I mean schools like Villanova, Boston College, Amherst, Northwestern, and many others of similar ilk. Why? By virtue of their brand names, and the resulting public awareness, these schools are incredibly popular, which makes them receive more applications, be more selective, and therefore better able to shape their enrollment with strong academic students and diverse applicants of all types. By attending a good college with a lesser name brand – what I call “finding the right fit” – you inherently increase your appeal as a candidate, thereby increasing your scholarship chances. An experienced college admissions consultant can help you identify such schools, but the point is: Find schools you’ve never heard of, and if they seem to be a good match, apply to them.

2. Become an R.A. – Once you’re enrolled in your no-name school, find out what it takes to become a Resident Advisor. Most colleges pay either your room and board, or a provide a stipend. Not only will you cut your costs by $5,000 – $12,000 per year, you’ll learn a lot about leadership and interpersonal skills, not to mention the fact that you’ll enhance your post college resume.

3. Work Hard During The Summers – Most college students are out of school by early May. This means they get a jump on all of the high schoolers who are searching for similar summer jobs. If they work every day for 3 months every summer, they should be able to earn and save several thousand dollars each year for spending money, books, and maybe even a small portion of tuition. And every little bit helps!

Approaching college tuition strategically, can shave precious dollars off the most expensive investment many families will ever make.

Three Tips For A Great College Essay

Writing college application essays is one of the most dreaded tasks of college applicants. We work with students all summer to help them craft their essays so they understand how to authentically show college admissions professionals a facet of their character and personality. Below, I’ve identified three key pieces of advice that will help kids manage the process so they don’t get too stressed.

Start Early. For high school juniors (rising seniors), time is your biggest ally. Most of you will not submit applications until November 1 at the earliest, some will submit later…so take the time this summer to begin working on your piece. Half the battle is determining your topic. Once you do so, begin to write. Even if you’re unsure of what or how to write, just get something on paper now. Once you find a good topic and begin writing, you’re more than half way done!
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have had a traumatic event in your life to write a good college essay. Instead, write a big essay on a small topic. The key is to find a compelling way to show how unique you are. Sometimes picking a small, symbolic event that represents “the larger you” is an effective way of communicating your message. My high school AP English teacher taught me that the best literature is “unique, yet universal.” This is a great way to think about the essay. It needs to show who you are, why you’re unique, and it needs to be written in a unique, first person voice, while appealing to a wide (universal) audience. This is easier said than done, but once you get it, the essay will be much more manageable.
Write and re-write. We suggest that our students take 3 drafts to craft their piece. Like anything else, the more time you spend on your college essay, the better it will be.

Good luck!!

Hidden Gems

As I speak with groups about the college admissions process, I often ask: “How many of you have heard of Villanova University?” Typically, 29 out of 30 hands are extended. I follow up with: “How many have heard of Ursinus College?” Usually, 14 of 30 hands go up. The difference is astounding, considering the fact that both schools are less than a 5 hour drive from the Capital Region of New York – and within about 20 miles of each other! When I ask why so many know Villanova and not Ursinus, most everyone says because of basketball, as in NCAA March Madness.

It’s fascinating to me how an institution’s brand often determines how many students apply every year, as well as its selectivity. Villanova admits about 44% of its applicants. Ursinus admits 70%. I call Villanova a “name brand” school, which often has little to do with the quality of education at a particular college. In fact, Villanova is an excellent university for the right student, but then again, so is Ursinus. Ursinus is one of the “Colleges That Change Lives – www.ctcl.org. Check it out. It’s an excellent fit for many students, but it doesn’t have the brand name cache of Villanova in the eyes of the public.

Ursinus is one of dozens, if not hundreds of hidden gems across the country that many students and parents should consider, but they don’t simply because they don’t know about it. The goal of the college admissions process is to find best fit colleges socially, academically, and financially. Looking past the brand name, goes a long way in the college search. It could be a much less expensive option, and it could, literally, change someone’s life.

Three Reasons You Should Begin The College Search Early

Many people ask me when students should begin the college search/planning process, and the answer often depends on the particular student. Last week, I met with a young woman who is finishing 9th grade. She needed some advice on course selection for next year. She was also confused about possible careers. This student was goal oriented, and sought advice. We had also worked with her older brother, so she knew we were available to help.

But for most kids, 10th or early in 11th grade is the best time to begin the process. Why so early? There are essentially 3 key reasons:

1. It gives you plenty of opportunity to select colleges, and most importantly to visit. This is the most critical reason for starting early, because we suggest that most families visit 12-14 colleges. And we recommend that you do so while school is in session, so if you start this toward the end of the junior year, you won’t have much time to visit before application season in the fall of senior year.

2. It gives you a chance to assess your family’s college affordability at least 2 years before you get your first bill. That means you still have time to plan. You’ll be able to determine whether you’ll qualify for financial aid and scholarships, and you’ll have the chance to save more money, not to mention bracing yourself for the significant college expense that will be coming your way.

3. The fact is that the more time you put into any project, the better the outcome. College is a life shaping, significant investment of time and money. The more you approach it strategically and thoughtfully, the better the decision will be. You wouldn’t decide on a home to buy based on visiting two houses in two different neighborhoods over a month long period, especially if you were moving to a new city. Instead, you would take your time, and think hard about all the elements you want and need in a home, neighborhood, school district, etc…You should take the same approach to helping your child through the college planning process.

The bottom line: Start early, take your time, and think thoughtfully and strategically about which colleges will be a great fit for your child. Doing so will ensure that the college search will be fun and fruitful.

Three Ways to Cut The Cost of College

With the cost of college reaching $60,000/year at some schools next year, finances are on every parent’s mind. To reduce what you pay for college, here are three factors to consider:

1. Scholarships for B students: Even if your child is not an A student, he or she can get scholarships. The trick is to figure out which colleges want your child. Maybe they want or need athletes (even Division 3). Perhaps they’re looking for musicians, or a pep band participant. With a sport such as cross country, go to the athletics page on the school’s website and compare your child’s performance to posted statistics. It gets more difficult with a sport like baseball, but that’s where a coach can help you understand which schools might need you. Know who wants your child in terms of academics by looking at the college’s average grades and understanding where your child fits in. Some schools offer tuition discounting to try to entice certain students to enroll.

2. Understand early whether you’ll qualify for need-based financial aid, and get a sense for how much. By early, I mean when your child is a high school sophomore. As long as you understand affordability early in the process, you will know what the bill will be and can possibly restrict the list of schools to a certain segment. Go to collegeboard.com to find a calculator. Search under “college planning” and then “pay for college.” Keep in mind that different schools calculate your ability to pay differently. For example, some colleges assess your net home equity in their formula, and others do not. Some schools provide a larger allowance for certain assets, and others do not. If you take time to examine this issue early enough, you can implement strategies to qualify for more financial aid.

3. There are hidden gems. Kiplinger, a publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, compiles a list of best college values. One is SUNY Geneseo, another is Binghamton. Siena can be a great value for the right student. And Hartwick College offers a three-year degree program, which can cut the cost of college by 25 percent. But there are hundreds of other gems out there that you probably have never heard of. Don’t presume that a public college will be your least expensive option. This is often not the case. Consider consulting with a college advisor to help you identify which schools will be a good fit for your child.

College Decisions: The Right College At The Right Price

It’s that time of year again. By Tuesday, May 1st, all college bound high school seniors must submit their deposit to the college of their choice. For some it’s a difficult time; for others, it’s a time of joy, but for all it’s the beginning of a new chapter.

For the parents of this year’s high school sophomores and juniors, it’s instructive to learn from others’ mistakes. To illustrate this point, consider a family we advised this year. Let’s call them the Joneses. They let their child, Jenny, handle most of the college search. They chose only to work with a college advisor at the end of the process – for help on the applications and essays. They figured their daughter could select the best school for her. Jenny was a bright student who had a 94 average and a 2010 combined SAT score (1280 – Reading and Math). She applied to only 5 colleges, four of which were stretch schools. The other was a safe, Providence College. She was accepted in January to Providence. This proved to be very trying for her, because she wasn’t thrilled with the choice, but at least she knew she was admitted to one college. On the plus side, she did receive a scholarship of $8,000/year. She didn’t hear from any of her stretch schools until April 1st. That was 3 months of waiting and hoping, When she did finally get her letters, she was admitted to only one, Wake Forest University, and was not admitted to Boston College, New York University, and Colgate.

This scenario posed a dilemma for Jenny Jones. She had visited Wake Forest once last April. At the time, she loved it. But a year in the life of a teenager is a long time, and by the following April she realized that North Carolina was a little far for her and her parents. As for Providence, it was really just a placeholder in her mind. Everyone told her she needed a safe school, so she found one and didn’t think much of it. She had visited Providence the summer of her junior year, and while she liked it, the major she ultimately decided on – 8 months later – was not offered there.

The second problem was even bigger: cost. This family, like most of the clients we work with, did not qualify for need based financial aid, yet they could not really afford the $58,260/year, or more than $230,000 over four years at Wake Forest. Providence proved to be not much less expensive at $55,600, minus the $8,000/year scholarship. This would total $47,600/year or just under $200,000 over 4 years. These numbers are not typos. College really is that expensive.

In the end, Jenny chose Providence due to proximity to home and price. This was not a choice, however, she was pleased about. Nor were her parents. They had saved less than $50,000, so they were faced with taking out more than $150,000 in loans. This is a situation I would advise against.

So, the bottom line for Jenny was: She didn’t have enough viable options because her college search was not systematic, strategic, and well informed. A professional, ethical college advisor would have helped the family understand fit, expand the student’s options, and would have prepared Jenny more for admission to her stretch schools. They would have also advised the family about safe and probable schools, so that they had options at the end of the process. Some advisors, like The College Advisor of New York, also help students maximize scholarship and financial aid opportunities as well, thus lowering the net cost.

Some families can navigate the college admissions process on their own, others choose to hire an advisor. Chances are, a college counselor can help save you time, angst, and money, while guiding your child to a college that’s a great fit for them, socially, academically, and financially. I urge you to consider hiring a college counselor for your child’s college search.