U-CAN: New Source For College Information

A terrific new website for college research debuted this morning. U-CAN - or the University & College Accountability Network - is a joint effort by members of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) to provide timely, in-depth information about admissions, academics, and campus life to students and parents.

Over 600 colleges and universities have joined the effort. Each college will have its own profile page where you can find the latest admit rates, median test scores, GPAs and financial aid data as well as descriptions of each college's programs.

I particularly like several things about this site. First, all of the profiles are in the same standardized format so it's easy to compare College A to College B to College C. The profiles also include multiple links direct to the relevant parts of each college's website, so, if you're looking for information on career services, you can immediately click to that section of the school's website. That's a great time-saver for college researchers. More importantly, the profiles include information that's traditionally been hard to hunt down for colleges such as which majors are most popular, graduation rates, and what happens to students after they graduate. Hopefully, the site will also make it easier for colleges to provide the most current information to students, something that is sometimes lacking in other resources such as guidebooks.

Right now, there are 440 profiles on the site, with 150 scheduled to go up soon. Only private colleges are included, but the U-CAN site is definitely a resources that EVERY college hunter should bookmark and use.

More Tips On College Applications

Seniors, get your applications in on time but don't rush so much that you send them with grammatical errors and typos. That's just some of the advice for successful college applications in an article from North Jersey Media.

That same advice was echoed by admissions officers from several colleges a presentation during the College Board Annual Forum last year. During the presentation, the admissions officers also talked about some of the other ways that applicants can unwittingly diminish the effectiveness of their applications.

So, plan ahead. Proofread carefully. And, be sure that what you are sending will put your best foot forward. When it comes to your college applications, you only have one chance to make a good impression.

The Seven Rules Of College Applications

Applying to college is a stressful time, filled with details, deadlines, and yes, even a little dread. Just like any complex endeavor, however, having some basic rules to follow can help. Here, then, are my five seven of applying to college with the least amount of stress and the greatest potential of success.

Rule Number One: Build In A Safety Net
No matter how well qualified you are, your college list needs a back up plan. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that adding more reach schools to your list is a back up plan; it isn't. A true safety net means you have at least two colleges on your list that you are highly likely to be admitted to and sincerely wouldn't mind attending. If you're going to need financial aid, your back up plan also needs to include a financial safety or two. That safety net of safe bet schools is what will help you sleep well at night between now and next April. If you don't yet have a safety net in place, get one pronto.

Rule Number Two: Get and Stay Organized
Applying to college is stressful in and of itself. You don't want to add more stress because you can't find some vital piece of information or suddenly realize at 11 p.m. that an important deadline occurs at midnight. Set up a "command central" for all of your application materials and supplies, and be diligent about keeping track of every item that goes in or out. Make a check list of all important application deadlines, and check it at least once a week. File folders can be a college applicant's best friend. Save yourself stress later: Get organized NOW.

Rule Number Three: Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Many students are surprised by how many tasks are involved in completing college applications. The job is also likely to take longer than you expect, especially when the inevitable last minute questions and snafus pop into the picture. A certain amount of procrastination time should also be built into your time estimate. And, let's face it, senior year is busy and demanding in and of itself. The bottomline: don't plan on getting started the week before deadlines are due. Give yourself as much leeway time as possible.

Rule Number Four: Never Assume
Just because one college wants something done a certain way doesn't mean all of the colleges on your list will want it done the same way. Just because your friend who seems to know a lot about colleges told you it was OK to do something doesn't mean it is. Just because your recommendation writers said they'd get your recommendations in the mail by last Friday doesn't mean they did. Never assume. Verify.

Rule Number Five: Read The Fine Print
When it comes to applying to college, the devil is in the details. Make sure you've done your homework about every college on your list. By that, I mean you've checked to see that each college offers the majors you might be interested in and know what's going to be required for graduation. Reading the fine print also means taking the time to actually read the instructions for the application before you dive headfirst into filling it out. In your rush to get things done, the fine print may seem unimportant, but it's usually where the most unpleasant surprises lurk for applicants who haven't taken the time to read it. Pay attention to the details.

Rule Number Six: Don't Be Shy About Asking For Help
Many students seem to feel they need to shoulder everything themselves. Others simply don't want to appear dumb by asking questions when they're confused. You should, of course, make sure that your application is, in the end, your work alone. But, don't be afraid to email admissions offices if you have a question or don't understand something about the application process. Don't be shy about asking a teacher or school counselor to proofread your application one more time before you send it in. And, if your parents are looking (maybe begging) for a way to help, don't think it's a sign of weakness to assign them some pesky clerical duties such as tracking deadlines for you, buying the stamps and envelopes for your recommendations, or making copies for you. This is a big, complex task, and nearly every student will need help or advice at some point. Ask for help when you need it.

Rule Number Seven: Don't Let The Process Consume You
Everyone applying to college will feel stressed at some point. It's a normal part of the process. However, the process shouldn't consume your life. Take things seriously, but also build in a little rest and relaxation along the way. Remember: you're not going to be applying to college forever. This too shall pass.

Best of luck with your applications!

Advice for the University of Calfornia Personal Statement (And Other Essays!)

Last week, I attended the annual University of California conference where UC admissions people discuss admissions issues. One hot topic of conversation in many of the presentations were the new University of California personal statement prompts. The presenters had some excellent advice for students applying to the UC system this year, some of which is applicable for writing any college essay. I'll review the more general advice first, then move on to specific information on the new UC Personal Statement prompts that students.

Great ideas for any student writing college application essays:

-- Allow plenty of time. Don't start writing your college essays the week before the admissions deadline. A good essay requires thought, revision, and careful proofreading. The more time you allow, the better your essay is likely to be.

-- The essay is only as good as the application it completes. Before you begin writing, complete the rest of the application. Then, review it and your transcript through the eyes of an admissions officer. If you were an admissions officer reading this application with this transcript, what information would you have about this student after reading it? What patterns would you see in this student's academic choices and performance? In his or her extracurriculars and personal data? What inferences would you draw about this applicant? What questions would you ask about this student before you read his or her essays? What additional information would you hope to learn about this applicant from his or her essays?

-- Next, ask yourself: What do I want my essays/personal statement to add to my application? What is the most important thing about myself I hope to convey that supports and adds to the picture the rest of my application will create in an admissions officer's mind? What topics might best convey that information? Will my essay topic align with the rest of my application materials? What is most important for a reader to understand about me after they read my essay or personal statement?

-- Focus, focus, focus. Don't try to do too much in your essay or personal statement. At the same time, go beyond the superficial. Don't just provide factual information in your essay. Dig deeper to show the reader the personal meaning and significance of the events, facts, or experiences you're discussing in your essay.

-- Ask for feedback from a teacher or another adult who knows you well. However, don't just give this person your essay to read. Give them your entire application and your transcript so they can put your essays in proper context. Ask this person to comment on your ideas and the level of persuasiveness of your essay, not grammar.

-- Rewrite and polish. Then, ask an English teacher or another person familiar with strong writing skills to proof your final draft for grammar.


Advice for students working on their University of California Personal Statements:

-- The UC application this year will include two prompts for freshman applicants and an additional information section. The two prompts for this year are:

1. Describe the world you come from - for example, your familiy, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

2. Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplshment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?


-- Students have 1,000 words to answer both prompts. A little longer (say 1050 words) is fine, but the online system will not accept over 1100 words. You can divide up the 1,000 words between the two prompts however you think is best, but the University of California admissions officers stressed that they believe that answers should be a MINIMUM of 250 words in order to convey enough information for the UC readers to gather enough information to make an admissions decision.

-- In the first prompt, the "tell us about your world" prompt, the UC admissions people are not looking for details about every part of your world. They don't want to hear about your school AND your family AND your community. Instead, they hope applicants will focus in on the part of their world that has been most responsible for shaping the applicant's "dreams and aspirations." Make sure the essay doesn't waste too much space describing "your world" -- this is a Personal Statement, and readers are looking for information about YOU not detailed descriptions of your neigborhood, school or family. Be sure to explain how your environment has shaped and changed you.

-- In the second prompt, don't merely repeat information that the admissions reader can find elsewhere in your application. Dig deeper than the factual data you've already provided -- tell a UC reader why this particular accomplishment or achievement matters to you, how it reflects who you are, and why you are proud of it (i.e., what challenges did you face, what did you learn about yourself, etc.)

-- The additional information section, which allows for 500 words, is the place to discuss any administrative or factual information that you could not include elsewhere on your application. For instance, if you were unable to take a fourth year of foreign language due to a scheduling problem beyond your control, indicate it here. If there is specific information about your family situation that you believe is important but which you didn't cover in the two prompts, note that information here. However, the UC admissions officers stressed that they are not looking for a third essay in this section, and they do not expect every student to write something in this section.

Good luck with your Personal Statements and essays!

No Fee College Applications

I've mentioned the Free College Applications website in the past, but as this year's seniors get ready to start sending out applications, it deserves another mention. At $50 or $60 a pop, application fees can quickly add up. That's why a college student has gathered a list of colleges and universities that offer free application deals. Some of the colleges listed waive fees for applying online, some give breaks to siblings and legacies, others let you apply for free if you meet a certain deadline. This is a handy way to check to see if you can save a bit of cash on your college applications this year.

Liberal Arts Group Promises To Stop Promoting Rankings

In a joint statement issued last Friday, 19 liberal arts colleges - including several that are top ranked in the U.S. News & World Reports' rankings - have agreed to stop using rankings for promotional purposes. While this statement is not as strong as previous calls for rankings reform, I believe it is a step in the right direction for one important reason: The group also said that "the data we make available to college guides will be made public via our Web sites."

I am assuming that this means that the colleges signing this agreement will now start making their full Common Data Sets available to students and parents. The Common Data Set is the standardized information form used by colleges to report admissions, enrollment, and educational statistics to publishers. Although some colleges provide their full Common Data Set to prospective students, the vast majority of colleges either do not make it available to the public, or hide it deep in the bowels of the "institutional research" departments.

If more schools will be making their Common Data Sets easily available, I see that as a positive for college shoppers. One college that does make its Common Data Set available, and has ever since it stopped participating in the U.S. News Rankings, is Reed College in Oregon. In a recent editorial, a Reed faculty member discussed the benefits of doing so. Students and parents don't need information that has been filtered by a guidebook publisher or a rankings producer; Students and parents just need MORE information. Families are fully capable of making comparisons between colleges when the information is available, and, ultimately, knowledge is power. So, yes, this may be a "watered down" version of the statements made by other groups of colleges about the rankings in the past few months, but anything that offers more information to families as they sort out college options is a step in the right direction.

Related Link: Watered Down Call For Rankings Reform

Even the "Experts" on Financing Can Face Doubts

Kathy Kirstof writes a personal finance column for the Los Angeles Times. She's also written a book about financial planning for college. But, even she has found that paying for college is loaded with minefields. In today's LA Times Business section she echoes a common quandry faced by parents: whether to stick with the best laid financial plans for college or adjust to the reality of your child's revised college list. Tommorrow, at 1 p.m. Pacific Time, Kirstof will also be hosting a live chat about college financial planning on the LA Times site.

Good Advice For Parents

Many parents, especially parents of seniors and high school, are feeling a little tense right around now. They're worried that their children are falling hopelessly behind in the college admissions game. There must be some way, some secret, some trick, to molding their children into the perfect college applicants. Just gotta find where it's hidden.

Listen up, parents. Patrick O'Connor, a veteran college counselor, is about to reveal the top secret voodoo that every parent needs to know...and believe...in order to help their child through the college admissions process.

It all boils down to one word:

Relax.

"The stress of applying to college is not lost on me," O'Connor writes in a great article in the Christian Science Monitor. "But unlike running from a burning building or scoring a Harry Potter book at midnight, stress doesn't help the college selection process."

O'Connor suggests that the best way to keep stress under control is to consult "two important college experts." Namely, your high school senior and your child's school counselor. He recommends that, rather than nag your child daily about college applications, you both agree to have a 20-minute weekly meeting to talk about how things are going. O'Connor also provides an excellent list of questions that parents need to ask their child's school counselor.

O'Connor recognizes that most of us can only absorb so much information at a time before our heads explode. So, he's written a book of advice for students and parents called You're Going to College in 600 Words or Less. Each chapter of the book is a short 600-word summary of the most important things students and parents need to know about applying to college. O'Connor's message is worth listening to, especially now.

Getting Ready For College Interviews

Most students feel some apprehension about college interviews. That's perfectly normal. After all, it's not every day that you're asked to sit down face-to-face with a total stranger and talk about yourself. However, college interviews, when offered, also provide a golden opportunity to add an extra, more personal dimension to your application.

Here's the first, and perhaps most important thing, you should know about college interviews: the people conducting interviews sincerely enjoy meeting and getting to know young people just like you. Interviewers are not looking to trick you into revealing some serious character flaw about yourself, and they won't laugh at you if you happen to say something that sounds like a 17-year-old instead of a Noble prize winner. In fact, college interviewers are looking for reasons to like you, not reasons to dislike them. They're also hoping you'll walk away from the interview feeling good about both yourself and the college.

That doesn't mean you should just turn up for an interview without any preparation, hoisting an "I don't care" attitude. College interviews are a little like a first date: you do want to be yourself, but you also want to put your best self forward so your date will walk away hoping there will be a second date.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for a smooth college interview:

- Know yourself. How can you explain to another person who you are if you don't know yourself? Before you interview, spend some time reflecting on the experiences, people, and interests that have helped shape you. What do you feel strongly about? What key characteristics are central to your personality? What do you enjoy? What challenges you?

- Know the college. Learn as much as you can about the college before the interview. But, don't just focus on the facts and figures. What is the school's main mission? What seems to be their educational philosophy? Why are you and this college a good match for each other? Even if you're not yet sure that this is "The" college for you, come prepared to explain why you're interested enough to interview.

- Anticipate what the interviewer might want to know about you. Interview questions tend to fall into two categories: those that can be asked of any applicant (example: what do you do in your spare time?) and those that are specific to the applicant (How did you start playing the ukelele in your spare time?). Before your interview, ask yourself, if I was this interviewer, what types of questions would I ask me? What would I want to know more about, or have clarified?

- Be ready to talk. If all you say in the interview is "yes," "no," and "I don't know," the interviewer won't know much more about you at the end of the interview than he did at the beginning. If you tend to have a hard time talking about yourself, try jotting down a few key stories or points about yourself before your interview. However, don't try to memorize a speech or canned response. Remember, an interview is meant to be a conversation, not a performance.

- Practice can help. Mock interviews before the real thing can be helpful. However, choose your "interviewer" carefully. Parents are often a poor choice. They know you too well to look at you from an outsider's perspective, and they tend to be either too soft or to critical in mock interviews. Instead, ask a teacher or another adult that you feel comfortable with to be your mock interviewer.

- Get off to a good start. On the day of the interview, dress neatly but comfortably. Try to avoid wearing anything you might fiddle with during the interview out of nervousness. Allow plenty of time to find the interview location - nothing adds stress faster than panicking about being late! When the interviewer comes to greet you, shake their hand firmly, think positively, and, most important, smile!