University of California Essay Tips

The University of California's application period opens tommorrow, November 1, and closes at the end of the month, November 30. Between now and then, thousands of hopeful applicants will struggle with the most difficult part of the process: writing the University of California personal statement.

The University's personal statement is actually comprised of three essay prompts. Students choose to write short 200-word essays for two of the prompts, and a longer, 600-word essay for the third. The University system advises students to think strategically when approaching both the decision of which prompt to use as the long answer, and in deciding how to write the essays. Ideally, the three essays should help a UC admissions reader quickly understand important information that cannot be conveyed in the application itself.

If you're tackling the University of California personal statement, get an early start and aim for clarity before creativity. I also strongly recommend that you work through the excellent UC tutorial on writing the personal statement available at the UC Gateways site before you start writing.

Best of luck!

For Parents: Some Perspective

Parents: Feeling anxious? Stressed? A little teary-eyed? Welcome to the roller coaster ride of watching your child apply to college! Even the calmest parent can feel a bit of terror as they watch their child take these first steps into adulthood, so you’re not alone. However, the best way to help your child right now is to keep your wits about you and try not to panic. Here are the most common things I hear parents say year after year, and some perspective.

“My child will never finish his application on time.”

Parents have plenty of experience filling in applications for everything from jobs to credit cards. Why, they wonder, is it taking my kid so darned long to fill out his college applications? Most students work at their own speed when it comes to getting a handle on college applications. They may be uncertain how to begin, or they may be temporarily stalled by sheer panic at the monumental task of typing in their social security number. Eventually, most students get down to work and get their applications out on time (granted, sometimes moments before the deadline, but still, on time).

“My child’s application essay is horrible.”

Many parents get squeamish when they read their child’s application essays. After all, they sound so…well, like a 17-year or 18-year old wrote them! And, that’s just the point: Colleges want to read essays that sound like your child, not an adult. So, although it may be hard not to get out your red pen and totally rewrite your child’s essay for them, try to resist. Don’t worry too much about whether the topic they’ve chosen is “right.” As long as the essay is not obscene, easily misinterpreted, or likely to upset a reader, most essay topics work just fine.

“My child will be devastated if he doesn’t get into his top choice college.”

Disappointment is, unfortunately, often a part of life. While we’d all like to protect our children from disappointment, the most important gift any parent can give to their child during the college application process is a strong faith in their child’s resiliency and ability to cope in the face of disappointing news. Will your child be sad and let down if a thin envelope instead of a fat one shows up in the mailbox? Of course. But, most students recover quickly. If you’ve made it clear from the beginning that, if things do not turn out as planned they will not only survive but thrive somewhere else, they’ll be able to move on faster, and start thriving sooner.

“My child could never be happy at a college that no one has ever heard of.”
The name recognition of a particular college actually has almost zero correlation with the chance that any individual student will be happy and successful there. Instead, what matters is the fit between the student’s learning and social styles and the college’s academic and social environment. There are over 2,600 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., and you probably only know of a handful of them. Yet, not only are there happy and successful students at every single college, there are ]dozens of schools where your child could find a satisfying and happy home. Don’t limit your child’s options by focusing on a nebulous measure like name recognition.

“My child will make the wrong college choice.”

It’s very hard to watch our children struggling with such a major decision, and almost impossible to worry about the outcome. However, ultimately, parents do have to step back and trust their child’s judgment about where to apply and where to attend. The decision, after all, is the first key step into adulthood. Keep in mind that even decisions that don’t work out can be reversed – More than 30% of students will end up graduating from a college different than the one they started at as freshmen.


“My child has worked so hard. She deserves to get into a top college.”

Sorry. There is no such thing as an entitlement when it comes to college admissions. The truth is there are thousands, perhaps millions, of deserving students dashing off applications as we speak. College admissions officers work hard to try to make the best match between their institutions and applicants, but there isn’t room for every applicant, so tough choices must often be made. All students (and parents) can do is apply to a realistic mix of colleges, prepare the best possible application, and let the process work out as it may.

“My child will be rejected everywhere.”

While there are occasional stories of top students finding themselves denied everywhere, most students who have developed a thoughtful and realistic list of colleges, and treated each application seriously, end up with solid choices come April. Even if the worst happens, it is not the end of the world. A gap year can give students a much-needed chance to reassess where they would fit in best, and to re-apply with an even better application.

“My child can’t possibly apply to college without my help.”

Yes and no. Most students do benefit from parental support and guidance as they traverse the rocky road of college applications. However, parents must always be careful that they are guiding, not pushing the process. Ultimately, this is your child’s first step to adulthood, and you must let them take that first step in their own way, as hard as that may seem at times.

Hang in there, and remember: This time next year, after your child is happily enrolled in college, you'll likely to be wondering what all of the fuss you feel right now was all about.

College Financial Planning Comes Up Short

When it comes to paying for college, many parents are unrealistic and unprepared, according to a recent study conducted by AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.

The national survey of parents and college financial aid administrators found that many families' have unrealistic expectations about the amount of financial aid and merit scholarships their children will receive, and, based on those expectations, spend freely instead of saving as diligently as they should.

"Most parents are about as prepared to meet college costs as freshmen are to do their own laundry," says Jennifer DeLong, Director of College Savings Plans at AllianceBernstein. "Parents' poor college savings and infesting habits ahve been exacerbated by grossly unrealistic expectations for financial aid. It is the Perfect Storm of planning - and if they're not careful, for many families, the results will be a financial shipwreck."

Key findings from the Survey:

- Although parents understand the high costs of higher education, they have set savings goals that will only cover a fraction of the costs. The amount the typical parent plans to save for college is likely to cover only 23% of their children's undergraduate costs.

- Parents with children ages 14 to 17 plan to have an average of $12,000 saved when their child starts college, yet the projected cost of a 17-year-old's 4-year education is $54,882 for a public institution and $131,361 for a private institution.

- Yet, in the past year, 58% of parents surveyed have spent more on dining out, 49% have spent more on vacations, and 38% have spent more on consumer electronics than they have contributed to their children's college savings plan.

- To fill the gap, eighty-seven percent of parents are counting on their children receiving shcolarship and/or grant money, and more than two-thirds (68%) believe colleges will design an aid package that they can reasonably afford. On average, families planning to contribute to their children's college costs anticipate that scholarships and grants will cover about a quarter of their expenses.

- The financial aid administrators' survey, however, indicates that many parents will be in for a rude awakening. Ninety-seven percent of aid adminsitrators think that parents ahve a false sense of security that colleges will help them cover costs. Two-thirds of the financial aid administrators surveyed believe that scholarship and grant dollars are less available for the average family today than they have been in the past, and 92% say that parents overestimate the amount of scholarship and grant money their children are likely to receive.

"It's important to remember that financial aid is meant to be a last resort, not a way to mitigate college costs," says Dallas Martin, President of the Natioanl Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, in response to the study's findings. "It is critical for parents to have more realistic expectations for financial aid and adjust their savings efforts accordingly."

In addition to the link to the study above, AllianceBernstein has created a website where parents and students can access information and resources such as student loan calculators, a guide to saving for college, and other tools about college financial planning.

Last Minute Essay Advice

If you're still struggling over college essays, here's some last minute advice. William McMurray, an admissions officer and former high school guidance counselor, was the guest at a Washington Post Online Chat back in 2004. The topic? How to make the most of your college essays. Great advice, and perhaps a gentle nudge to get you late starters rolling.

Rite of Passage: College Admissions

If the tension in your house is so thick these days that you could cut it with a butter fork, take heed: there's a reason why the admissions process is so stressful, and, believe it or not, it has little to do with your or your child's chances at any particular college. Instead, it may have everything to do with parental anxiety as children prepare to leave the nest.

Michael Thompson, a clinical psychologist, wrote College Admission: Failed Right of Passage for the journal Independent School way back in 1990, but his message is probably even more true today. It's a message that may make some parents uncomfortable, but I believe that it is a critical one.

"...College admission is infected by irrational forces exactly proportional to the extent that the participants believe it is only about getting into a 'good college'," Thompson wrote. "What is really going on is the most important and most difficult transition in all of life: the end of childhood and the late-adolescent separation and individuation from parents...The launching of a child stirs up everyone in the family. For the parents it is the culmination of their child-rearing, the end of the parental curriculum...The frantic involvement of many parents in the process is, from my perspective a cover for this profound parental anxiety: Did I do a good job with this child? Did I do everything I needed to do for this child? Is this child prepared?"

Thompson notes that many of the flare-ups of family tension surrounding the college application process stem directly from these parental fears, and, as a result, many students feel additional and, perhaps, unnecessary stress as they face the symbolic rite of passage into adulthood that college represents for many. Thompson goes on to describe the different separation styles individual families may adopt to cope with the pending loss, and explains why the college admissions process may, in the end, be a failed rite of passage because it does not fully support the child in the ways rites of passage traditionally do.

I highly recommend this article for every parent who is either going through, or will be going through, the college admissions rite of passage with their child. Students can also benefit from reading it as it may help explain some of the reasons why their parents suddenly seem plum loco. More importantly, however, if you are a parent, and you see yourself in this article, may I suggest that you take a deep breath, step back for a moment, and recognize that this truly is your child's journey, not yours. We, as parents, all want to protect our children, to make sure we have launched them safely and soundly. However, in the end, the one who must make that final leap to adulthood is our child. All we, as parents, can truly do, is wish them well, and hope that we have taught them well.

Good News/Bad News on College Tuition

There's good news and bad news from the College Board today. The good news is the College Board's annual Trends in College Pricing 2006 shows that the pace of college tuition increases at both public and private colleges has slowed.

After adjusting for inflation, students are paying just 2.4% more in tuition at public colleges and 2 percent more at private colleges this year over last, the smallest increases in several years. Tuition and fee charges at public colleges will average $5,836 this year. Private college students will pay an average of $22,218 in tuition and fees this year. Add in the cost of room and board, and the average cost of attending a public college is $12,796 and a private one, $30,367.

More good news: Almost two-thirds of full time students receive financial aid grants that lower what they'll actually pay. Additional financial aid in the form of loans and work study lower the cost even more. Last year, a total of $134.8 billion in financial aid was given to students.

Now, the bad news. According to the College Board's annual Trends in Student Aid report, also released today, federal grant aid dropped last year. Low income students felt the pinch the most, with Pell Grants seeing drops in both the number awarded and the average dollar amount. Lower income students also typically don't qualify for the tax benefits middle- and upper-income families receive, furthering the economic divide.

Finally, while the College Board notes that college graduates continue to make more than non-college graduates, it's taking longer to get that degree. The average public college student takes 6.2 years to earn their degree, while the average private college student takes 5.3 years. The College Board notes that the need to take remedial courses accounts for some of the extra time, underscoring the importance of making sure you arrive at college prepared to do the work.

College News Site

If you're looking for a motherlode of articles about everything college, check out the Fox College 101 news site. Here, you'll find stories about everything from financial aid to campus safety, with some great insights into college life in general.

Essay Struggles? Here's Some Help

If you're still struggling with your college application essays, you're not alone. While it may seem like everyone you know already has their essays written, the truth is that many students are still slogging through them just like you. Of course, this isn't an invitation to sit back and relax. With the first deadlines looming in just a few weeks, it's important to keep plugging along (or get started if you haven't already!) even if you feel like tossing the whole applying-for-college idea in the trash right now.

Many students that I work with complain that they feel stuck right about now. "I can't seem to get it just right!," they tell me. Other common problems are being bogged down with too many ideas - or no ideas at all. If any of these complaints resonate with you, take a deep breath and try to keep the essay in perspective. While it is an important part of the application, it is not the only part of the application. Don't waste time trying to find the "perfect" essay idea - it doesn't exist. Instead, look for the events, experiences, and stories from your life that say something important about who you are, right now, at this moment.

Keep in mind, however, that your topic doesn't have to be about something earth shattering. Sometimes sharing small pieces of your life can have just as much impact. One of the best college essays I have ever read revolved around the thoughts the author had while weeding his vegetable garden. The essay was memorable not because of what happened in the essay, but because of what it revealed about the student. For some other great ideas on writing a memorable essay, do a search of this blog for "essay" and you'll find many resources. You may also want to read this recent article on the topic.

Finally, here's one tip just for parents of struggling essay writers: This really is something your child must do on their own. You can help them brainstorm some ideas, make suggestions, and proofread the final version, but, ultimately, the choice of essay topic and how to handle it should be your child's, not yours. When you do read their final draft the question you should ask is not "Will this essay get my child into College XYZ?," but, rather, "Does this essay sound like my child?" If it does, point out any glaring grammatical errors so they can correct them, then tell them they've done a great job, and hope for the best.

Good wishes to all of my readers applying to college this year!

Smart Planning To Maximize Financial Aid

I've talked before about how financial aid leveraging and enrollment management plans can influence the financial aid package you're offered by different colleges. An informative article by "Scholarship Coach" Ben Kaplan sheds more light on the subject, explaining some of the ways to increase your chances of receiving a "preferential" financial aid package.

SAT or ACT?

If you're a junior, trying to decide between taking the SAT I and taking the ACT this year, you might consider joining the increasing number of students who are giving both tests a shot. The SAT I is designed to measure student problem-solving and reasoning skills, while the ACT focuses on measuring subject knowledge in typical high school classes. Both now have writing sections.

Some students find there is little difference in their performance between the two. Other students, however, find that they perform better on one test or the other. Most colleges will now accept either test, and if you submit both, will use the test that you performed best on for admissions decisions. Additionally, a number of schools which require SAT Subject tests for students taking the SAT I will accept the ACT in lieu of Subject tests. An excellent summary of the pro's and cons of each test, as well as a handy overview of individual college policies, can be found at Compass Test Prep.

So, if you can fit both tests into your schedule, there really is nothing to lose from giving both exams a shot, and perhaps something to gain.

Another School Drops SATs

Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, has become the latest college to announce that it will make submitting standardized test scores optional. Nazareth joins a growing list of test-optional schools, and admissions insiders are predicting several additional colleges will make similar announcements in the coming months.

Penn State Admissions

If you're thinking of applying to Penn State, an interesting article in this week's Business Week is a must read. Although of particular interest to those looking at Penn State's Smeal College for Business,there's enough general background information here about Penn State's overall admissions processes to make it valuable to any potential applicant, regardless of future major. For instance: According to Smeal College Dean Jim Thomas, notes that high school grades are heavily weighted, accounting for about two-thirds in admissions decisions. And: Apply early. Last year, Penn State received a record number of applications and expects to top that number this year. As with all rolling admissions schools, the earlier you apply, the better your chances of snagging an open spot.

Are You Ready To Apply Early Decision?

The first deadlines for Early Decision applications are on the horizon. If you're considering applying Early Decision, however, I strongly recommend making sure it is the right decision for you now. Every year, I hear from a number of Early Decision admits who are consumed with doubt about the binding commitment they've made. Don't let this be you! Here's a quiz to help you decide if you're truly ready to apply Early Decision.

Answer Yes, No or Not Sure to the following questions:

1. Have you made an official admissions visit to the Early Decision school?

2. Have you made official admissions visits to several additional schools?

3. Have you done an overnight stay at the Early Decision school?

4. Have you sat in on at least one class at the Early Decision school or had personal contact with at least one faculty member?

5. Can you list at least ten strengths and ten weaknesses of the Early Decision school?

6. If you need financial aid, have you and your parents used an online EFC calculator to see what your family will likely be expected to pay?

7. If you need financial aid, have you and your parents researched the typical financial aid package at the Early Decision school, including the typical debt of graduating students?

8. If you need financial aid, are you and your parents willing and able to live with a similar financial aid package?

9. Regardless of whether you need financial aid or not, have you and your parents considered all financial implications of applying Early Decision -- not just whether you can afford the school, but the opportunity cost of giving up the chance to compare financial aid and merit scholarship offers from other schools?

10. Have you asked admissions and the financial aid office about the percentage of students admitted Early Decision who receive merit scholarships, and how it compares to the percentage admitted Regular Decision receiving merit scholarships?

11. Have you asked admissions and the financial aid office what the average merit scholarship amounts are for both those admitted Early Decision and those admitted Regular Decision?

12. Have you evaluated your chances of receiving a merit scholarship at several other colleges you've considered?

13. If the Early Decision school suddenly became less prestigious, or its US News Ranking dropped 50 points, would you still want to apply?

14. Have you researched the graduation requirements of the Early Decision school?

15. Have you read back issues of the Early Decision's student newspaper, and can you describe several current issues affecting students?

16. Can you write a 300-500 word essay describing why you want to attend the Early Decision school?

17. Can you write a 300-500 word essay describing why the Early Decision school should admit you?

18. Do your grades and test scores make you a solid candidate for the Early Decision school, even if you applied Regular Decision? (i.e., you are in the 50th to 75th percentile or higher for test scores of admitted students)

19. Do you have a solid list of other schools that you would be happy to attend if you are not admittted to the Early Decision school?

20. Would you still apply Early Decision to this school if your chances of being admitted Early Decision were the same as if you applied Regular Decision?

21. Have you and your parents read the Early Decision contract several times and agreed to be bound to its requirements?

22. Do you and your parents understand that the only reason you will be able to get out of your Early Decision contract is if the school is unable to meet your financial need?

23. Do you and your parents understand that the school's version of meeting your financial need may differ from your family's version (i.e., they may offer more loans than you wish to take)?

24. If you're accepted Early Decision, will you be happy for your friends when they are announcing multiple acceptances in the spring?

25. Are you applying to the Early Decision school solely because it is your clear first choice, not because you believe that you must not waste the "Early Decision boost"?

Give yourself:

1 points for every "Yes" answer
0 points for every "No" or "Not sure" answer

If you have scored between 20-25 points, you're ready to apply Early Decision - You've done in-depth research on the Early Decision school and other colleges, and have made a well-thought-out choice to apply Early Decision to this particular school.
If you have scored between 10-19 points, you are not quite ready to apply Early Decision. Take the next few weeks to do some more research and to mull over your decision.
If you have scored below 10 points, you are not ready to apply Early Decision. Review the questions, do more research, and re-take the quiz again. If you can not score in the 35-40 point range, you may be better off not applying Early Decision.

Which Extracurriculars Are Best?

It's a common question: Which extracurricular activities are going to best help me (or my child) get into college? Take a step back and look at the big picture, suggests Nancy Federpiel, an independent college counselor. She suggests that, rather than picking activities solely because they might look good on college applications, that students should focus in on what they truly are passionate about. She also cautions against trying to predict which extracurriculars might be "hot activities" and planning your or your child's life around a futile effort to game the admissions system. And, most important, remember that "...Colleges are not measuring a candidate's worth by the length of his or her activities list...What an astute college admissions officer is really looking for is an activity list that shows dedication to a few activities with depth."

Some Colleges Cutting Merit Scholarships

Hoping to land a hefty merit scholarship from one or more of the colleges on your list? You may have a tougher time doing so this year and in years to come.

Although the use of merit scholarships as a tool to lure students from competiting colleges has grown in recent years, many colleges are starting to reconsider their use. Merit scholarships can be costly, and there's growing criticism that merit scholarships disproportionately benefit students from wealthier families, pulling rsources away from need-based financial aid.

According to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, $7.3 billion in merit scholarships were awarded in th 2003-2004 academic year, up from $1.2 billion just ten years before. Private institutions aren't the only ones using merit discounts to attract top students. A recent College Board study shows that public colleges and universities are also increasingly using merit scholarships instead of just need-based financial aid. "I think higher education has lost its way, frankly, when it comes to the management and distribution of financial aid," William E. (Brit) Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland has been quoted as saying. "Institutions have been investing disproportinately...in merit-based aid at the expense of need-based aid.

Now, some colleges are looking at ways to reel in the use of merit scholarships in favor of increasing need-based aid. Not only are individual institutions reevaluating their use of merit scholarships, but private college associations are weighing whether to ask the Justice Department for permission to discuss joint action to reduce merit aid.

Still, many colleges and universities, such as Baylor in Texas and Wilkes College in Pennsylvania, have no intention of slashing merit scholarship budgets any time soon. They see merit scholarships as an effective tool to attract students in a hyper-competitive market.

What does this mean to you, the college shopper? Simple. It's more important than every to look at the financial side of the equation when building your college list. Be sure to do your homework about your eligibility for need-based aid, and include financial safeties on your final list that don't hinge on merit scholarships. Don't assume that just because you've heard stories about someone getting a great merit award at a particular school in the past that you will get one also. If you're hoping for merit money, ask each school directly if their merit award policies have changed, and double check the requirements for merit award consideration. Finally, don't count too heavily on merit money smoothing the way at schools you can't afford. While many colleges may still be generous with some students, fewer and fewer are likely to be generous with most students.

SAT Test Day Tips

Are you taking the SAT tommorrow? If so --- best of luck! Here are some tips from the College Board to help you do your best on test day.

Two More Colleges Go SAT Optional

Two more colleges have announced that they will make submitting standardized test scores optional. Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania will institute the policy next fall, as will Mitchell College in Connecticutt. The number of colleges and universities with SAT optional policies now stands at 731, according to FairTest.

New Rankings: The Fittest - And Fattest Colleges

Men's Health has issued its own hefty college rankings system which ranks colleges by student physical fitness. The magazine's choice for the top five "fittest" colleges? Brigham Young, the University of California-Santa Barbara, Boston University, the University of Vermont, and Northwestern. Top five in the "fattest" category? The University of Louisiana-Lafayette, the University of New Orleans, Mississipi State, Southern Illinois University, and Portland State University.

Blog Takes Readers "Behind the Ivy"

If you're applying to one of the Ivy league schools, or are just curious about the "hidden" side of the Ivy league, check out the new blog, IvyLeak. Filled with juicy gossip, links to campus papers, and an irreverant view of Ivy-goings-on, the IvyLeak blog proves there's more to Harvard, Yale, et. al, then just picturesque ivy. It's great fun for Ivy-watchers - but caution: If you want to believe that the top-ranked schools in the nation are "perfect," reading IvyLeak might give you heartburn.

Financial Aid Tips

When you're putting applications together, don't forget what comes next: Applying for financial aid. An article in the Tonawanda News (NY) has a nice overview of tips to help with the financial aid process. When you're done with the article, click on the like to the "Financial Aid Tips" video to see a short segment that includes interviews with a guidance counselor and students.

The Importance of Showing Interest

You know those mailings from colleges you receive? According to an article in this week's Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required), some universities buy up to 100,000 to 250,000 student names from data sources such as the College Board and ACT to target with mailings.

Admissions offices then sort those names into two or more groups. Typically, one group will be "high priority" students, those who have the best test scores and grades. Another group is usually "bread and butter" students -- those who have lower scores and grades but are likely to make up the main pool of applicants.

After the mailings go out, colleges track response. Students who respond, or show other demonstrated interest such as visiting campus, emailing or calling admissions, interviewing, or attending local presentations, receive a higher "interest rating" from the school than those that don't.

Colleges now use sophisticated statistical analysis tools to figure out which students are most likely to attend, and to fine tune their marketing efforts to more closely match the interests of prospective students. Wilkes University, for example, discovered that students who skiied were more likely to decide to attend than those who didn't ski -- and changed its marketing materials to include shots of students on nearby ski slopes.

More importantly, the same statistical models allow colleges to sort through applications and admissions decisions to predict final results -- and adjust accordingly. "It's like balls running through a pinball machine," said Union College's director of admissions in the Chronicle article. "We put in our picks and run the model to see what the head count looks like, and if it spits out a number that's higher than our financial-aid target, or has too many engineeers, or whatever, we have to go back and take some people out and put others in."

What does this mean for applicants? It is more important than ever to let every college you apply to know that you are enthusiastic about attending. Campus visits, replying to mailings, contact with admissions - even those pesky "Why This College?" essays need to convey the message that you are serious about each school. While you may not ultimately be able to control every factor of the admissions process, strong interest is one that you can and should actively demonstrate if you are serious about attending a particular college or university.

New College Search Engine Launched

eNotes.com has launched what it terms the "next-generation College Search engine". The eNotes search engine allows college applicants to search through profiles of 1,500 schools and then save, sort, tag and rate the schools in their My Colleges page. Other students can then see who is applying where and get suggestions based on others picks. The information for the profiles comes from Barron's, and includes useful breakdowns on SAT scores, number of valedictorians enrolled, and number of National Merit Scholars. Access to the profiles is available to anyone, but you must register to use the other parts of system.

Answering “Why This College?” Essay Questions

One of the most perplexing essays for many students is the one that asks the most important question of all: Why do you want to attend this college? Here are some tips for handling this essay.

First, let’s talk a bit about why colleges ask this question in the first place. These days most colleges, especially highly selective ones, get many more applications than they have places for in their freshman class. Obviously, the admissions office does not want to waste an admittance on an applicant who is not likely to attend – and they also want to make sure that every student who does attend next fall has thought through their reasons for wanting to be there. In short, they are looking for evidence that you didn’t just toss in an extra application on a whim, but that you truly are interested enough to have thought through your decision to apply.

They’re also looking for clues to your personality, interests, and goals, and how you will contribute to or participate in all that the college has to offer. So, this question isn’t just about why the college is a fit for you, but why you’re a fit for the college. It’s a subtle but important difference to keep in mind as you work on this sort of essay. Don’t just tell the college why they are right for you – also tell them why you are right for them.

Here are some tips to help you tackle “Why This College?” essays:

1. Brainstorm before you start writing. Make a list of the five or ten most important things you are looking for in any college, not just this one. Next, write a list of your most important goals and interests. Then, brainstorm how this particular college might meet those needs, desires, and interests.

2. Do your homework. Learn everything you can about the college and its programs. If you’ve visited, think back over your visit and jot down anything that particularly struck you during the visit. Try to remember conversations you had with faculty or students, and places on campus that particularly resonated with you. What made you decide that this college was worth considering during your visit?

College websites are also loaded with information. Use them! Ignore the pretty pictures and catchy slogans in the admissions section this time around. Read the descriptions of departments you’re interested in, explore a few faculty bios, find out the details of graduation requirements and advising for freshmen, examine the school’s mission statement, read the online archives of the student newspaper, and scroll through recent press releases issues by the college news office.

Then, refer back to your list of what you are looking for in a college and match up the data points you’ve uncovered in your research with the most important things you’re seeking in any college. What makes this school a particularly good match?

3. Make it personal. Don’t write about things that any applicant can say about the school. Tell the admissions committee why everything you mention relates specifically to you. Instead of “I like University XYZ because it has a wonderful science program” say “I have a lifelong interest in zoology and the opportunity to work in University XYZ’s on campus primate research center in Professor Smith’s undergraduate research program will allow me to get hands on experience working with chimpanzees.”

4. Don’t comment on the obvious. The admissions office already knows they have a beautiful campus, a world-renowned faculty, rank high in U.S. News & World Reports, and are located in an exciting city. If you keep it personal, and focus on why this college or university and you truly are a match, your essay will stand out.

5. Be specific. Don’t just say, “I was impressed with your library when I visited.” Look up the name of the library, and tell them exactly what impressed you (beyond, of course, the coffee bar in the lobby.) Sometimes little details can speak loudly. I once read an excellent essay from a student which began, “When I entered the drawing and painting studio in the art building, felt the warm sun streaming through those large floor-to-ceiling windows, and smelled the pungent aroma of fresh turpentine, I knew that I had found a place where I could not only create art, but live it.”

Finally, if you find yourself truly struggling with explaining why this school is a unique match for you, it may be time to sit down and consider whether this college or university is truly right for you. Think about your college expectations and dreams, do some additional research, but if you still find yourself unable to express why you want to attend beyond general platitudes, think twice about applying.

Important Questions for College Visits

Prospective students have a million questions when visiting college campuses: What are the dorms like? How's the food? Who will be teaching me? However, one question that often doesn't get asked is: How much drinking and other drug use is happening on this campus?

The U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center has put together a nifty list of questions prospective students and their parents should ask. Why does this matter? "If you end up at a campus where many students drink heavily, you're much more likely to suffer unwanted consequences due to their behavior. Do you really want to baby-sit a drunk roommate or have your property destroyed because of intoxicated dormmates?" asks the fact sheet. Additionally, every year approximately 1,400 college students die from unintentional alcohol-related injuries, and substance abuse is involved in 500,000 unintentional injuries, 600,000 assaults, and 70,000 cases of sexual assault and date rate among college students. Clearly, even if you don't plan to party yourself, the party climate on campus can have an effect on you.

Asian Students and College Admissions

Is there an "Asian bias" in admissions at research universities? That question was recently discussed at the annual convention of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC. According to one published report of the NACAC panel discussion, many Asian students and parents feel that they need to have higher grades and test scores to gain admission to the country's most selective insititutions than applicants in other racial categories.

Panelists admitted that some high school guidance counselors and teachers to reinforce, perhaps inadvertently, Asian stereotypes in their recommendation letters in an attempt to set individual students apart from them. And, many counselors reported they have little doubt that admissions officers hold some bias against Asian applicants.

Part of the problem highlighted in the discussion was the tendency of Asian students and parents focus primarily on the same set of research universities when applying to college. With many Asians applying to the same colleges, it becomes very difficult for individual Asians to stand out in the applicant pool. One panelist referred to research conducted by Stanford University's admissions office that showed that white applicants were "significantly" more likely to be admitted than their Asian counterparts.

Asian students and parents often overlook excellent colleges in their focus on the same set of research universities. In a sense, "Asian stereotyping" goes both ways, with Asian parents and students stereotyping other types of schools, such as liberal arts colleges, as inferior without even considering what they have to offer. That's unfortunate, as many liberal arts colleges offer stellar undergraduate teaching, research opportunities, and an excellent education -- and many are also eager to recruit Asian students.

Of course, college stereotyping isn't a problem exclusive just to Asian families. As I've discussed here many times, some find it very difficult to branch out beyond the "name brand" schools and investigate a wider range of options on the mistaken belief that a "name brand" is always an indicator of quality. Wise college shoppers, however, know otherwise, and look beyond the name on the label for the best personal fit.

Union To Go SAT Optional

According to a published report in the Chronicle of Higher Education today, Union College will be joining the ranks of colleges that make submitting standardized test scores optional. "High test scores have never been a deciding factor in getting a student into Union, and low test scores have never been a factor keeping them out. With this policy change, we can broaden the reach of students we recruit without lowering our admissions standards," Daniel Lundquist, Union's vice president for admissions and financial aid told the Chronicle.

Union's announcement came during the annual meeting of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC)last week in Pittsburgh. During the meeting, NACAC's members, comprised of college admissions officers and high school guidance counselors, also agreed to change the NACAC's rules covering deadlines for early admissions programs. Colleges and universities will now be prohibited from offering admissions to any any student before September 15. Althletes, however, will be exempt from the new rule. The NACAC also approved a rule limiting colleges from setting application deadlines before October 15.

Should Gay Students "Come Out" To Admissions?

Should gay or transgendered students openly admit their sexual orientation in their applications? That was the question discussed during a session at the National Association for College Admission Counseling's (NACAC) annual meeting in Pittsburgh last week.

Many at the convention were surprised to hear Middlebury College's associate director of admissions, Shawn Rae Passalacqua, admit that the liberal arts college flags the applications of students identifying themselves as gay in the same way it does for applications from members of ethnic minority groups, athletes, alumni children, and other special admissions groups. Passalacqua said Middlebury believes gay students bring "a unique quality" to Middlebury's commitment to diversity. He also noted that Middlebury also looks favorably on candidates who he called "straight allies" of gay students.

Other admissions officers noted that it no longer hurts gay students to refer to their sexual preference in admissiosn essays - even at Jesuit schools - but they should not feel pressured to do so.

Gay, lesbian and transgendered students, however, do still need to consider their potential fit at colleges and universities, just as all students do. There are an increasing number of resources available to help them sort out gay-friendly options.

Does Class Rank Matter in Admissions Chances?

How much does your class rank in high school influence your admissions chances? The answer varies says an article published today which notes that many factors play into the admissions decision. Although some colleges may downplay class rank, at others - especially highly selective schools where many applicants have similar academic achievements - a candidate's rank in high school can help sort out the strongest candidates.

What if your high school doesn't rank? You're not alone. According to the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, 40% of high schools no longer rank. However, keep in mind that your high school will probably still provide information in the school profile they send to colleges that will allow schools to get a fairly good idea of just where you stand in the class, even though they technically do not rank. Some school profiles give a spread of grade point averages, showing the highest and lowest. Others indicate the spread of grade point averages by decile (i.e., "The top decile of our students typically have GPAs of 4.5 and above.")

It is worth asking your guidance office for a copy of your school profile to get a sense of how colleges might look at your GPA and grades compared to other students in your high school. Taking a close look at your school profile can also give you an idea of how your school describes its curriculum, student body, and average test scores, all of which will be taken into account, at least on some level, by admissions offices. Remember - colleges like to make decisions in context, and your high school profile provides important information that will be used to assess your qualifications, so previewing it can help you evaluate how your application might be viewed in the context of your high school.

The SAT Optional Debate Rages On

As college admissions officers meet this week for the annual convention of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, the debate on the value of the SAT in admissions decisions rages on. During a convention session, colleges that have already made submitting the SAT optional pointed to their experiences as evidence that the SAT and other standardized exams do little to enhance admissions decisions. At least a dozen admissions officers in attendance admitted that their school is considering following suit. Other admissions officers are not yet convinced. As with Harvard's decision to drop early admissions, it will take a critical mass of selective colleges getting behind the SAT optional bandwagon to make a huge change in the admissions landscape.

Changing College Admissions

When I read Peter Van Buskirk's opinion piece on the college admissions landscape in this mornings Inside Higher Ed, I nodded my head in agreement with many of his points. Van Buskirk points the finger at colleges, parents and the media for getting caught up in the frenzy.

Van Buskirk especially took college president's to task, noting the have the power to make change happen but "reform is simply not a practical consideration for presidents. Institituional self-interest and an obsession with being viewed as the best have propelled their institutions head-long into directions designed to ensure success in the fame game," he writes. He acknowledges what often goes unsaid: decisions about admissions and financial aid policies and processes are business decisions, not altruistic ones.

But Van Buskirk believes colleges aren't the ones who have created the current admissions mess. He points to a culture "that values the best appliances, the best cars, the best vacations - and the best colleges, often at the expense of good values that would be more appropriate choices...Families are eager to buy what colleges are selling, especially at colleges that hold the right amount of cachet."

Van Buskirk also points the finger of blame at the news media for feeding on student and parent anxieties, and focusing mainly on top-tier schools.

While I agree with his assessment of how all of these forces are driving today's admissions hysteria, Buskirk fails to mention a fourth culpable party: the college prep industry. This is particularly ironic, because Buskirk himself works for just such a firm: Peterson's, a firm offering college test prep, counseling services, and guidebooks to students and parents desparate for an edge. Although there are certainly many wonderful members of the college prep industry who truly want to help students and parents make the right decisions, none of us in this industry can fully claim to be without blame.

Still, Buskirk raises some important points to ponder. All of us, ultimately, from students and parents to colleges to members of the college prep industry, need to weigh how we are contributing to the frenzy, and consciously decide to contribute to the demise of such hysteria.

Can't Wait For April? Try "Immediate Admissions Decision"

With all the news lately about early admissions programs, the ultimate "early admissions" program hasn't received much mention. Although most seniors are still struggling with applications, some savvy seniors already have at least one college admissions in the bag. How? They've applied through "Immediate Decision" programs that provide an on-the-spot admissions decision.

Here's how these programs work: The college invites potential students to bring a completed application with them when they visit campus. The admission staff reviews the application immediately and renders an instant decision before the student even leaves the admissions office. Some colleges set aside special "Immediate Decision" or "Express Decision" days. Others offer the option to any student who visits campus with a complete application. In some cases, students are pre-screened before the event.

New Jersey's Ramapo College offered an Immediate Decision day last week. Forty high school seniors took advantage of the opportunity to interview and receive their admissions news within a few hours.

Other schools who've offered Immediate Decision programs in the past include:

William Patterson
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Bard College
Southern Oregon University
Kettering University
Eastern Michigan Unviersity
Central Connecticut State University
Fordham
University of Minnesota
Buffalo State
Wayne State
Florida International
Montclair State

However, this list is not all-inclusive (and some of these schools may not be offering the same program this year), so be sure to look closely at the websites of any colleges you're interested in to see if they might offer a similar program.

Seniors: Don't Slack Off Once Applications Are Sent

Seniors, if you think that you'll be walking on easy street once your applications are sent, think again. While it may be tempting to slack off and not worry about your grades for the rest of senior year, colleges and universities do expect seniors to keep up the pace they set during the first three years of high school. In fact, many colleges make it clear that they will rescind admissions offers if grades dip too far in the second half of senior year.

The University of Washington, for example, takes a tough stance on senior slackers. Last year it adopted a policy of reviewing end of year transcripts from all admitted students and withdrawing acceptances from those who showed "extreme downturns" in their grades. Twenty-three students in that category received a letter from the university that started: "After reviewing your final high school transcript through spring term 2006, I am sorry to inform you that your University of Washington Seattle offer of admission for autumn quarter 2006 has been withdrawn..." The university also sent letters to 180 other students warning that it had considered revoking their admissions and suggesting that they pull their acts together immediately.

The University of Washington is not alone. Schools ranging from the University of California Berkeley to Pomona have been known to look closely at mid-year and end of year transcripts and take action on students who've slacked off once they'd been admitted.

Bottomline: Don't let an admissions offer turn you into a slacker. Keep up your grades in senior year!

Early Decision vs. Regular Decision: The Divide at Dartmouth

When Harvard, Princeton and the University of Virginia decided to end their early admissions programs last month, all three schools cited the fact that such programs are under-utilized by minorities and low-income students as a factor in their decisions. An interesting article in Dartmouth's student newspaper this week gives some insight into the divide between early decision and regular decision applicants at Dartmouth and the University of Virginia. The newspaper reports that data obtained from Dartmouth's office of admissions shows that 38% of students admitted last year through early decision received need-based financial aid, compared to 57% of those admitted in the regular admissions round. Additionally, 19% of those admitted in the early decision round were racial minorities, compared with 40% of those admitted in the regular pool. The newspaper indicates that the numbers were even more striking at the University of Virginia, with low-income students accounting for just 2% of those admitted through early decision last year.

To Worry or Not To Worry, That is The Question

Can you hear it? That kind of low level hum of nervous energy spreading across the land? Every year around this time, as millions of high school seniors and their parents move ever closer towards sending out college applications, college application worries seem to grow and multiply at exponential rates until some students - and parents - find themselves up late at night, consumed with anxiety.

While there are definitely some aspects of college applications worth worrying about, some worries can safely be packed away if kept in the proper perspective. Here's my list of five things worth worrying about -- and five things not worth worrying about.

College Application Stuff Worth Worrying About:

1. Whether or not your college list is built on a solid foundation. If your college list is comprised exclusively of "dream schools" that reject 70% or more of applicants, that's worth worrying about. More importantly, it's worth doing something about. It's not too late to find some safer bets to add to the mix. Remember, there are 2,600+ four year colleges and universities out there to pick from - don't focus just on the most selective schools!

2. Proofreading your applications. While a small typo here or there likely won't kill your chances, you want to make certain that you've put your best foot forward. Proofread your applications before they go out. If you're submitting electronically, be especially diligent about printing out a copy and checking for mistakes. Ask your parents to give it a second look.

3. Meeting application deadlines. Sure, you can send applications over the Internet in a matter of seconds these days. But, that won't help you if you've already missed the deadline. Not only that, but last minute computer crashes happen nearly every year. Mail gets lost or delayed. Files get misplaced. To avoid any of these scenarios, try to get your applications out well before the deadline.

4. Making certain your applications are complete. Once you've dropped your applications in the mail, or hit send to submit them electronically, don't assume that your job is done. Follow through to make absolutely certain that every piece of your application has been received by the colleges on your list, and filed in the appropriate folder. If in doubt, call and check.

5. Applying for financial aid. As you're working on your applications, don't forget that your application really won't be done until the money side of things is completed as well. It's easy to get so caught up in the process of sending out applications that the process of applying for financial aid falls through the cracks. As you send out applications, make a point of continuing to learn about the process of applying for financial aid (a good place to start is Student Financial Aid Portal). Make a list of the financial aid application deadlines for each school on your list, and also make sure you understand which forms are required by each school. Sign up for your FAFSA pin now, and encourage your parents to start pulling together the information necessary to complete financial aid paperwork in January.


College Application Stuff Not Worth Worrying About:

1. The aesthetics of your application. Don't waste time wondering if you should print out your applications on fancy paper or use some exotic type font. If it's neat, readable and accurate, it's fine.

2. That "C" you got in tenth grade or other past matters that can't be changed. What's done is done, and can not be changed. Don't waste time worrying about past grades, extracurriculars you never did, or whether colleges would be more impressed if you'd taken Latin instead of Spanish.

3. Getting rejected from every college on your list. If you've built your college list on a firm foundation (see above), and done the best job possible on your applications, the chances of this happening are slim. And, even if the worst does happen, it is not a life or death situation. You'll just learn from the experience, pick a more realistic list of colleges, and apply again.

4. What others think of your college list. It doesn't matter what your best friend, your uncle Joe, or the mailman think of your college list. Really. All that matters is that you feel happy at the thought of attending the colleges on your list. If you find yourself stressing about what others think, just stop talking about it. If asked where you're applying, smile, shrug, and say, "Oh, I've applied to a few schools. We'll see what happens." Then change the subject.

5. Whether you've applied to the right colleges. Repeat this mantra: There are no perfect colleges. Every school has its strengths and weaknesses. And, it's possible to be happy at many different places. You've considered your options and made a well-reasoned list of colleges. Don't worry about possibly missing one that's better, or different, or higher ranked. You can only attend one college at a time, but you can transfer if you end up unhappy with your ultimate choice.

In short, worry about the big stuff, but don't sweat the small stuff or things you can not change. This time next year, you'll be at college, looking back at this year and wondering what all the fuss was about.

UCLA Adopts "Holistic" Admissions Approach

Last week, UCLA announced that it is revamping its admissions process to allow for a more "holistic" review of applications, starting with applications received this year for next year's freshman class.

Previously, applications were divided into sections, with each section reviewed separately by different university admissions readers. Under the new process, each application will be read as a whole and scored as a package. Academic achievement will still be given the greatest weight in making admissions decisions, but the university hopes the new system will allow admissions readers to more effectively consider that achievement within the context of a range of factors.

"It will allow us the opportunity to have applications reviewed in their entirety so that all of a student's achievements - from academic performance to leadership skills and community services - can be looked at in the context of their life experiences," said Jenny Sharpe, chair of the faculty Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools.

The change is at least partly driven by concerns over declining enrollments of African American students at UCLA. African American students made up just 2% of this year's incoming freshman class.

UCLA is still ironing out some of the details of how the new process will be implemented, such as the need to hire and train additional admissions readers to review applications.

Related link: UCLA Agrees to 'Holistic' Approach to Admissions, Los Angeles Times