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Happy New Year!
Just in case a high school senior in your family was deferred in the early application process, I have written a special blog for Huffington Post on exactly how to turn a deferral into an acceptance. You can have a look through this link:
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/bad-news-you-were-deferre_b_2378552.html
In the meantime, Happy, Happy New Year! I hope 2013 is a great one for you and your family.
Tell-em You Love Them, but DON'T Fall in Love Yourself!
This is my final blog before Christmas vacation. You can have a look at
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/college-demonstrated-interest_b_2281891.html
I think you'll get a kick out of this one. Even more, though, it really speaks the truth about the increased emphasis on showing colleges you love them (aka, demonstrated interest) and making sure that you don't get totally involved in wanting just one school.
If you know of a student who got rejected during the early admission process, there is also some good, practical advice about how to deal with this. You might pass it along.
Hope all is well with you all. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
5 Last Things You Should Know About Completing College Applications
My latest Huffington Post Blog, "5 Last Things You Should Know About Completing College Applications" has just gone up. You can have a look at this link:
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/college-application-process_b_2231479.html
While much of the blog is for current seniors, there is one item that will (or should) be of interest to juniors, sophomores and freshman (and their parents). I offer new information from the National Association for College Admission Counseling's 2012 State of College Admission Counseling Report, which cites exactly what schools are now looking for in college applicants. I was very surprised myself.
Seven Really Smart Things to Do When Filling Out College Applications
HuffPost just posted my new blog on "Seven Really Smart Things to Do When Filling Out College Applications." You can access it at:
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/college-applications_b_2115374.html
For seniors and their parents: I think you'll find this very practical, ready to use advice. For other students, it's not too early to get an idea about what completing an application is all about.
Making friends with college admissions reps is a very good thing
If it's Wednesday, there must be a new Huffington Post Blog out by Marjorie. Well it almost seems that way.
This week my blog is about the importance of making contact with college admissions reps for all the colleges to which you apply. I just came upon a study from the University of Rochester that says when students do this, they actually end up with more merit money. What more do you need to know than that?
Actually, there are a lot more reasons, including how making connections with college reps can increase your chances for acceptance.
Have a look at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/college-admissions-reps_b_2007584.html
My new Blog on Video Games
A blog on video games is the last thing I ever thought I would write about; but then I had never heard the remarkable Jane McGonigal speak. Her one, short, 30 minute talk at the National Association for College Admission Counseling absolutely blew my mind.
Yes, I had read about what wonders the Ipad is doing for autistic kids, but my knowledge of what positive things happen with everyday kids (who don't have developmental, autistic spectrum or learning issues) as they play more and more video games was zilch. McGonigal is unbelievably convincing when she identifies the skills students gain as they play the likes of Botanicula, Fez and Starhawk, and how these skills translate into useable, marketable talents. There are also a host of positive personal/social emotions that video gamers develop.
My blog, "Video Games Can Actually Be Good for Kids," just appeared in the Parents Section of the Huffington Post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/video-games-good-kids_b_1974015.html
Within a few minutes of the posting, there were 10 Facebook, 10 Tweet, 1 email mentions, as well as one Comment. Of all the posts I have put up, this is the one that has received the most early responses.
Who would've thunk it?
The Top Ten Ways of Driving Your Professors Crazy
Well, I'm back in the Huffington Post saddle again, after taking some time away to attend the college admissions convention (NACAC) in Denver. As promised in the last blog post about making positive impressions on college professors, this one is about how to make (and therefore avoid) negative impressions; i.e., some real examples about what drives professors crazy!
This is written for college students, particularly freshmen, but it also applies to high school students.
Here is the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/the-top-ten-ways-of-drivi_b_1953467.html
Just so you know, my sources are Dr. Alan Schneider, UCSD, Dr. Sam Popkin, UCSD, Jon Reider, formerly at Stanford and my husband, Dr. Morton Shaevitz, formerly at UCLA, Michigan, UCSD and even now teaching at the UCSD med school.
I really had fun with this one. If you have thoughts or anecdotes of your own, please chime in on the Comments section.
Hey Freshmen! This Is How to 'Win Friends and Influence' Professors
Many of my college freshmen students have been emailing me for advice about how to handle their new lives.
I just put up a blog to answer some of their questions. It takes advantage of all of those years I spent helping students at Stanford, UCSD and the East West Center get the most out of their first year in college. Based on my recollections and also conversations with current-day professors, I write about how to make a good impression on professors and what very positive things can come of that.
The "Hey Freshmen! This Is How to 'Win Friends and Influence' Professors" blog can be found at:
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/college-professors-relationships-_b_1914621.html
Next week, I'll write about what NOT to do. If you have any good stories about that, please pass them along.
By the way, this is also advice that high school students can use with their respective teachers.
So I made the NY Times 6th floor blog this morning
As the Subject Line above happily announces, Maya Lau, a former student client of mine who went to Vassar and now works for the NY Times Magazine has quoted me rather extensively for "Past Forward: Why Students Still Want to Get Into 'Hot' Colleges". You can have a look at:
www.6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com
College Week Live
Just in case you're interested, on Thursday, September 20 from 6-7 pm (PDT), I will be on College Week Live (an online college fair and admissions event programmer), for a live keynote talk on "The Top 5 Things to Know in Applying to College" (including how to be just a little bit different and just a little better than the competition) and a Q and A for any admissions questions you might have.
So if you've been just itching to ask me something about a college, an application, a college visit, an upcoming college interview or an essay, this is the time and place to do it.
The program is free, but you do need to sign in www.collegeweeklive.com
College Visits Can Make a Real Difference
So many students and parents have been asking me for advice about what to do on a college visit that I decided to write my next Huffington Post blog piece on that. "College Visits Can Make a Real Difference; 'Do It' if You Can, can now be seen at
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/college-visits-can-make-a_b_1877061.html
In this blog, for students in every grade, I deal with when and how much time to spend visiting a college, what to see and do, and especially why it's important to connect with the admissions office. I hope you learn something new from this piece.
Just so you know, the next HuffPost blog won't go up until the last week in September.
More Mistakes to Avoid When Completing College Apps
Last week I offered a Huffington Post blog on "Four Mistakes for College Applicants to Avoid When Completing Their College Applications." I received more emails about this blog than anything other. I obviously hit a nerve. Most email messages said, "We want more!"
So this week I'm offering a kind of "Son of" Mistakes to Avoid When Completing College Apps," five additional mistakes to avoid. It is available at:
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/college-essay-advice-_b_1859489.html?utm_hp_ref=college
Just so you know, I will be giving a second free talk on "How to write a unique and impressive application essay" at the La Jolla Library this coming Saturday, September 8 at 1 p.m. Two former students will offer their experiences in writing essays that got them into Wesleyan and Williams respectively, as well as other colleges.
The library is located at 7555 Draper, right off of Pearl Street. Hope to see you there.
Four Common, but avoidable, college application mistakes
I just posted another Huffington Post blog:
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/four-common-but-avoidable_b_1837189.html
This blog has particular relevance to current applicants by helping them avoid some very annoying, yet predictable mistakes. When you read the blog, among other things you will see exactly which PC and MAC Operating Systems and Browsers students need to have on their computers so that they can handle all the college applications.
Think You Know Everything about Colleges and Admissions? Wait 'Til You Read This!
What fun I had pulling the new Huffington Post blog together and finding relatively unknown and new programs to bring to adMISSION POSSIBLE students and parents. If you're interested in schools that don't use letter grades, the colleges that accept the ACT in lieu of SAT AND Subject Tests, as well as many colleges that are now test optional, you're going to like this blog.
Also find out about two new programs for college students interested in medical school and getting into the Harvard MBA program early. You can see this at:
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/think-you-know-everything_b_1774345.html
Let me know if you like this kind of "stuff."
Getting Others to Sing Your Praises in College Application Recommendations
Everything is important when it comes to college admissions — test scores, grades, the application, and the essays. But there is one place where students can really shine: Letters of recommendation.
You can read about how to get others to sing your praises in the new blog I posted on Letters of Recommendation:
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz/recommendation-letter-advice
Hope this helps!
Do's and Don'ts of Writing College App Essays
Rising seniors are beginning to think about essays they will be writing for their college applications. Just so you know, here are the Common App questions many will be answering.
A. Short Answer: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below or on an attached sheet. (1000 characters with spaces maximum.)
B. Personal Essay: Please write an essay (250-500 words) on a topic of your choice or one of the options listed below. This personal essay helps us to become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.
C. Additional Information: Please upload a document here if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application. (No word count)
Take a look at a blog on Huffington Post I just wrote about THE DO's and DON'T's in Writing College Application Essays. You might be surprised what you find. If you're interested, here is the link.
Rising College Freshmen
I have written two Huffington Post blogs for rising college freshmen (and their parents) about what to do to get prepared for college NOW, the summer before they leave, and then what to do once they arrive. You can have a look at both of these blogs:
July 12, 2012
10 Things Rising Freshmen Can Do to Be Totally Ready for College
and
July, 17, 2012
GET READY! GET SET! GO FRESHMEN! How to Get a Running Start when You Arrive at College
If you have questions or comments, please let me know on the Comment section of the Huffington Post blogs. I will get back to you immediately and also add any new information to this blog.
Just in case you are in the San Diego area, I will be giving a talk on "Everything You Need to Know about College Admissions (that you are NOT afraid to ask)" at the La Jolla Library, Tuesday, August 7 at 6:30 pm.
Would love to see you there.
The Most Ridiculously Thorough, Detailed College Shopping List You’ll Ever See
What to Bring to College and What to Leave at Home
Where you go to school and how you get there (whether a car, train, bus or plane ride) and the housing you have (whether a residence hall, fraternity/sorority house or an off-campus student apartment) will determine whether you physically bring filled boxes of your belongings in the family car or whether you send boxes by UPS, US Post Office FEDEX or some other means.
This list is not meant to suggest that you bring ALL of the following items; please pick and choose. We merely offer this list to help you decide if you want to bring them.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
Bathroom & Toiletries
• Bath mat
• Bath towels & washcloths
• Bed raisers
• Blow dryer
• Body wash/soap
• Cotton balls
• Deodorant
• Flat iron
• Floss
• Hair brush/comb
• Hair products
• Lip balm
• Lotion
• Mouth wash
• Nail clippers & file
• Q-tips
• Robe
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Shower caddy
• Shower shoes (flip-flops)
• Soap & soap dish
• Suction hooks
• Sunscreen
• Tissues
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Toothbrush case
• Travel bag for toiletries
For Men:
• After-shave
• Electric shaver
• Razor/s
• Shaving cream or gel
For Women:
• Bobby pins
• Curling iron
• Face wash
• Feminine hygiene products
• Hair ties and clips
• Makeup
• Makeup removing wipes
• Moisturizer
• Nail polish & remover
• Tweezers
Bedding
• 2 sets of Extra-long sheets
• 2 sets of pillow cases
• Comforter or duvet and cover
• Electric blanket
• Lightweight blanket
• Mattress Pad (extra-long)
• Pillows
Cleaning Supplies
• Glass cleaner
• Hand soap
• Lysol wipes
• Mini-vacuum and/or hand vacuum
• Rags or towels (at least 2) to clean up messes/dry dishes
• Shower cleaner
• Sponge & dish soap
• Stain remover
• Swiffer hand duster
• Swiffer sweeper, wet & dry cloths
• Toilet bowl cleaner & brush
Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
(If you’re going to either a warm weather or cold weather location, you might want to wait to purchase new clothes until you get there. You’re more likely to get more appropriate styles, have a greater supply available and find it less expensive)
• Baseball hat(s)
• Bathing suit
• Belts
• Flip-flops
• Gloves
• Jackets/coats
• Jeans
• Leather boots
• Pajamas
• Rain boots
• Rain jacket
• Running shoes
• Sandals
• Shorts
• Slippers
• Socks
• Sunglasses
• Sweaters
• Sweatpants
• Sweatshirts
• T-shirts (long & short-sleeved)
• Tank tops
• Ugg boots
• Underwear
• Vest
• Watch
• Winter jacket
• Workout clothes
For Men:
• Blazer or jacket
• Dress shirts
• Dress pants
• Dress shirts
• Mittens
• Suit (if you have one)
• Ties
For Women:
• Blouses
• Bras
• Clutch/wristlet for going out at night
• Dresses
• Heels (at least 1 pair of classic black for dress up occasions)
• Jewelry
• Leggings
• Purses
• Scarves
• Skirts
• Tights
Cooking & Kitchen
(If you have a kitchen as a part of your living arrangement)
• Can & bottle openers
• Chip clips
• Coffee pot (auto shut off if permitted)
• Coffee & filters
• Cups
• Funnel
• Knife
• Magic Bullet or other type of small portable blender
• Microwave (if permitted & not provided by school)
• Microwaveable plates, bowls, etc.
• Mugs
• Paper towels
• Reusable water bottle
• Salt and pepper shakers
• Small refrigerator (if permitted & not provided by school)
• To-go coffee cups – hot & cold
• Tupperware containers
• Utensils
• Water pitcher with filter
• Ziploc baggies
Desk & School Supplies
• 3-hole puncher
• Backpack or book bag
• Binders
• Blank CD's
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Cell phone
• Cell phone charger
• Computer (laptop or desktop)
• Cord organizer
• Cup/container for pens & pencils
• Desk chair seat pad
• Envelopes
• Erasers
• Ethernet cable
• Expanding file folder
• External hard drive to back up work/data
• Extra printer ink
• Flash drive
• Folders
• Ipad
• Index cards/flashcards
• Laptop carrying case
• Laptop lock
• Lamp & light bulbs
• Loose-leaf lined paper
• Mouse & mouse pad
• Noise-cancelling headphones for studying
• Notebooks
• Paper clips
• Pencils, pens, highlighters etc.
• Pencil sharpener
• Planner
• Post-it notes
• Printer, paper, & ink
• Rubber bands
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Sharpies
• Stamps
• Stapler & staples
• Stationary or cards
• Sticky tabs
• Surge protectors/power strip
• Tape – scotch, masking, & duct
• Thumbtacks
• Waste basket
• White out
• Wireless internet router/modem (unless provided by school)
Entertainment
• Books
• Camera
• Deck of cards
• iPod/MP3/CD player
• Headphones
• Movies
• Speakers
• Sports equipment: Basketball,
Boogie board,
Frisbee,
Football, Roller-blades,
Skateboard,
Surfboard,
Tennis racquet
• TV & DVD player
• Video game system & games
Laundry Supplies
• Detergent
• Dryer sheets
• Fabric softener
• Iron & small ironing board
• Laundry basket/bag (one with wheels makes large loads easier to transport, pop-up bags store easily)
• Quarters for washers and dryers
• Sewing kit
• Tide-to-go stain removing pen
Health, Medications, Emergency & Safety Items
• Acne treatment
• Alcohol (rubbing, not drinking)
• Antibacterial ointment (like Neosporin)
• Bandaids
• Birth control
• Contact lenses, case, and solution
• Cough drops
• Emergency contact information
• Eye drops
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight
• Hand sanitizer
• Health insurance card
• Hydrogen peroxide
• OTC medications (Advil or Tylenol,
Benadryl,
Nyquil,
Pepto Bismol,
Vick's Vapor Rub)
• Pepper spray
• Prescription medications
• Prescription glasses
• Retainer & case if applicable
• Social Security card
• Thermometer
• Vitamins
Miscellaneous
• Batteries
• Beach towel
• Bicycle & U-Lock
• Bug spray
• Checkbook
• Debit/credit cards
• Ear plugs
• Extension cords
• Extra phone charger
• Foot stool
• Housing information
• ID/driver's license
• Keychain
• Lap desk
• Mini-reading light
• Safe (who brings a safe to college??)
• Safety pins
• Shoe inserts (ball of foot & heel for girls wearing high heels)
• Sleeping bag & air mattress for retreats, guests, etc.
• Student ID card
• Tape measure
• Tool kit with hammer, nails, screwdriver, screws, duct tape, pliers
• Umbrella
Snacks/Food
• Cereal
• Crackers
• Easy Mac
• Granola bars
• Honey
• Instant coffee
• Oatmeal packets
• Peanut butter
• Popcorn
• Microwaveable soup
• Nutella
• Powder coffee creamer/creamer cups
• Powder drink mixes, i.e. Crystal Light
• Ramen
• Sugar packets
• Sweetner packets
• Tea / Coffee
Storage & Stuff for your Room
• Air freshener
• Alarm clock
• Baskets for small items, hair stuff, etc.
• Cork/bulletin board
• Dry-erase board and pens
• Fan
• Full-length mirror
• Garbage bags
• Hangers – plastic & felt to keep blouses/dresses from slipping off
• Hanging closet storage
• Landline phone
• Message board for door
• Photos
• Pictures
• Plastic for wrapping
• Posters
• Poster putty
• Rug
• Shoe racks
• Small mirror to put on desk/dresser (removed "for makeup and hair")
• Sticky hooks & over the door hooks
• Tap lights for closet
• Tree-style floor lamp
• Under-bed and in-closet storage bins
Things You Would Probably Forget Without This List
• Cable cord
• Duffle/overnight bag for short trips
• Dish bin to carry dirty dishes/utensils to sink
• Drying rack for hang-dry clothes
• Garment bag to protect dressy clothing
• George Foreman Grill
• Hanging jewelry organizer
• Lint roller
• Memory foam mattress topper – makes a huge difference on dorm beds!
• Space bags to store out of season clothes
• Workout DVD's and equipment
Optional/If Permitted & Necessary Items
• Christmas/Hannukah lights
• Microwave
• Mini fridge
• Plants (real or fake)
• Recycling bin
• Swiss Army knife
WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME
(Don't even THINK ABOUT bringing this to college with you)
• Air conditioner
• Candles
• Chemicals
• Cinder blocks
• Expensive electronics
• Family heirlooms
• Flammable liquids
• Firearms
• Fireworks
• Halogen bulbs/lamps
• Hotplates
• Incense
• Large microwave
• Large fridge
• Lighters
• PARENTS
• Pets
• Waterbeds
Besides knowing what to bring to college (and leave home), go to
"10 Things Rising Freshmen Can Do to Be Totally Ready for College,"
just posted by Marjorie on Huffington Post.
Five Ways To Get Your Kid On The 'Right' Educational And Career Track
Most of my life I have worked with adults and teenagers around school, career and life balance issues. I know about the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory, information interviews and the like. College major and career choices have always been on people's minds, but usually took a back seat to everything else. After all, there were plenty of jobs, especially for college graduates. People sensed that somehow, someday everything would just work out.
Then everything changed.
As of the 2008 recession, parents began asking me what courses and activities their high schoolers should choose to get admitted to the "best" colleges and be graduate school- or job-ready. Now in 2012, even eighth grade parents are beginning to ask those same questions.
Regardless of socioeconomic background, many parents are worried about employment opportunities for their children and want to know what can be done to make sure kids are prepared. Young people are also concerned. Given current predictions about the future of the U.S. economy, an uncertain, changing employment reality is likely to remain a major concern for many years to come.
Because of budget cuts, high schools now rarely provide career counseling for students. Coast Community College's Many Ways to Win says that, "...teens look to their parents, not their teachers or counselors, as their top influence when making career decisions." Obviously, it is up to parents to provide children with whatever they need to find the "best" colleges and careers.
Psychologists Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihaly founded a new branch of psychology called Positive Psychology that focuses on what goes right in people's lives, rather than what goes wrong. The goal is to help individuals thrive by finding and nurturing their own natural predilections and talents to make life more fulfilling and happy. Harvard professor Daniel Gilbert's research indicates that true job satisfaction does not depend on one's salary; rather, it comes from enjoying your job. When you act on your predilections and talents and enjoy your job, you are more likely to work harder, be more creative and advance more quickly, regardless of the job content.
Following the lead of these out-of-the-box thinkers, here are some things you can do to help your child find a satisfying educational and career path.
1. Self-knowledge is the first step toward creating a satisfying, happy personal life and career.
• Throughout your child's life, help him or her become aware of what interests, talents, skills and strengths he or she has. E.g., early on you might say, "Hey, Charley, I love that you are so into Lego. You're great at building things." Or, "Lacy, you're a great story teller. I am so impressed with how you express yourself."
• Help your child find activities and classes that relate to his/her interests, talents, skills, etc.
2. Being aware of likes and dislikes is a key to expanding knowledge about who you are and what you enjoy doing.
• At the dinner table, talk with your child about his/her likes and dislikes. It's equally important to know both.
• Starting in middle school, encourage your child to notice likes and dislikes about classes, activities, tv programs or movies, causes, books/magazines/newspapers, food, music, travel, what's fun, and different kinds of people and why. Keep notes on this.
3. Having access to people whose jobs might tap into a child's interests is very informative and useful.
• Starting in high school, take your kid to visit friends' or relatives' workplaces and/or invite good contacts out for lunch or dinner to talk about their work.
• Set up information interviews with different people doing what your teenager thinks he or she might like. E.g., "Lacy, I know you really like to write. Would you like to talk with Mary, a writer for the local newspaper, or Joan, a novelist, or Emile, a woman I know who writes a lot for a P.R. firm?"
4. Acting on your interests, talents, skills and strengths through volunteering and part-time jobs is a good way of discerning whether specific jobs and fields are good career alternatives.
• Whether a one-shot deal or longer, help your teen find real work experiences that tap into who they are and what interests them.
• Some jobs and volunteer programs are limited to 16-year-olds and over. If your teen is younger, service-learning experiences are a good alternative.
5. Based on all the information gathered, junior year is an excellent time to identify possible majors, colleges to attend and/or career possibilities.
• Look on the Internet and in local newspapers for when career and college fairs take place. Invite your teen to attend the fair with you.
It is never too early or too late to begin helping your child become aware of who he or she is as a real person.
For a look at this and other blogs written by Marjorie, go to
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz
How to Combat the Dwindling College Resources for Underserved Students
Definition of Underserved Students: Low income, first generation, foster youth, and underrepresented students of color
The Problem
At the last National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) national conference, Mark Sklarow, executive director of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, presented very disturbing information about the availability of college admissions counseling to public high school students. Then, I did my own research, some of which follows:
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) says "an optimal student-counselor ratio is 250 to 1"; however, actual student to counselor ratios in the U. S. are much higher.
• According to ASCA, the national student to counselor ratio is 459 to 1.
•
In California, the ratio of students to counselor is nearly 1,000 to 1, ranking California last in the nation. Twenty-nine percent of California schools, usually low income schools in urban and rural areas, have no counseling programs at all.
The Implication
The lack of college admissions counseling for underserved students is nothing short of appalling. At a time when critical information, resources and support are needed for a successful transition from high school to college, there is little or none available. Students who receive no or perfunctory admissions counseling are less likely to:
1. Go directly to college after high school
2. Make good choices about the college they attend
3. Have critical information about financial aid. The lack of financial aid is the #1 reason for underserved students dropping out of college.
Seventy percent of students who fail to go on to college come from households where parents have not gone to college themselves. Young adults who fail to complete college are much more likely to come from families from poorer income groups and lower levels of education.
The California Department of Education says inadequate or nonexistent school counseling programs lead to the unanticipated stratification of low income and students of color. Students who need college admissions information and counseling the most are the ones who get the least.
With every year of education and/or training beyond high school, a student increases his/her overall income level throughout life, decreases the chances for being unemployed, has greater access to health insurance and even extends his/her life.
The Decision to Try to Do Something about This
After the NACAC conference, I couldn't get these statistics out of my head. I wanted to do something about the dearth of information available to the underserved. Having counseled students about college admissions for more than twenty years, developed a free website about college admissions for students and parents, and just written a book, adMISSION POSSIBLE®: The "DARE TO BE YOURSELF" Guide for Getting into the Best Colleges for You, I know what people need to know and do about college admissions.
Underserved students with whom I work on a pro bono basis use libraries as a workspace, mostly because there they have access to functioning computers (which they often don't have at home) and an environment in which they can concentrate. I thought about what I might do with the San Diego library system. I first called Catherine Greene, head librarian of the La Jolla Public Library, to discuss my idea. We talked about using her library as a demonstration project for the rest of the 34 libraries in San Diego. I then spoke with Deborah Barrow, director of the San Diego Public Library system and suggested the following:
The Vision
To make the San Diego library system the "go to" place for underserved students to have access to the latest, best information about college admissions, as well as to working computers that they can use to complete college applications. This could be accomplished by the following:
• Set aside a clearly marked library area dedicated to college admission with the best, most up-to-date college admissions books available
•
Have immediate access to bookmarked, most useful Internet admissions resources on library computers
•
Offer one-page handouts that provide information and easily implementable instructions about what to do and say in five important admissions areas:
1. How to choose extracurricular activities
2. What different admissions tests are, when and how to best prepare for and take them
3. How to write a college essay
4. How to complete college applications that stand out
5. What students and parents should know about financial aid
Provide free ongoing talks for ninth to 12th-graders about how they can prepare for college
The beauty in providing admissions information is that it is relevant to ALL students, not just underserved students.
I am pleased to report that this is actually happening in the San Diego Public Library system right now, thanks to some remarkable, forward-thinking librarians.
For a look at this and other blogs written by Marjorie, go to
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz
'What? Are You Crazy?' Starting to Work on Your College Applications in June
In early May, I received a call from Bob (not real name) asking me to help him with his Common Application for next fall. My first reaction was, "Uh-oh, either this kid is already freaked out about college admissions or he has a parent who is."
I was wrong.
Turns out that Bob has a lot going on in his life this summer and fall, so working on his Common App in June makes sense.
The Top Six Reasons Why a Student Would Start Working on a College Application VERY Early
With shades of a David Letterman To-10 List, here are the top six reasons why Bob did as much as he could on his Common Application:
6. He wants to apply Early Decision to his favorite college
Early Action, Restricted Early Action and Early Decision deadlines tend to be the first or 15th of November, which means you need to have the Common Application completed, including three essays; the school's supplement (sometimes more essays) finished; and have your recommendation letters, test scores and transcript sent by the due date.
5. He is a very good student and will be taking two AP courses senior year
AP courses take more time and work than regular courses. Even so, college admissions officers don't want students to slough off during their senior year. They expect you to maintain a healthy course schedule and get good grades, in addition to your class work and activities.
4. Football practice for his school starts at the beginning of August - depending on how well his team does, the season could last past Thanksgiving
Everyone knows that high school sports require practices every afternoon and games during the week and/or weekends (and workouts during the summer). Some fall sports last almost to December, which takes a huge chunk out of your time available to work on applications.
3. His school is out in mid-May
Whether your school is out in May or June, if you have a lot going on during fall semester, taking a week or more during the summer to work on college applications is smart. The idea is that what you complete in the summer will take off pressure in the fall.
2. He has nothing scheduled for the first two weeks of June
Rising seniors need to have time during the summer to relax. On the other hand, come this fall you will be so grateful that you took summer time (when things are less hectic) to get a jump-start on your applications for the fall (when so much is going on).
1. At the end of June, he is going to Chile for a month-long Spanish language immersion program
Whether it's time in another country learning a language, a family vacation, or a week or two set aside to just play, students also need to calm down and relax. Be sure to set aside some time for this.
Individually and together, the above are all excellent reasons for a student to get a jump-start on his or her college applications during June or July.
As Bob and I went through the Common Application, we came up with some information that is useful for students to know.
• On Friday, July 13th at 11:59 pm EST, the 2011-12 Common Application online will shutdown. The 2012-2013 online Common App, as well as individual college supplements, will be available on August 1.
• Right now, the Common App people have made a preview version of the 2012-2013 Common Application form available as a pdf. You cannot type in answers on the form, but can print the form and complete it by hand.
• The Common Application essay questions are the same next year as they were for the 2011-2012 form. They are the following:
Common Application Essay Questions
A. Short Answer: Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below or on an attached sheet. (1000 characters with spaces)
B. Personal Essay: Please write an essay on a topic of your choice or one of the options listed below. This personal essay helps us to become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself. (250-500 words)
C. Additional Information: Please upload a document here if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application. (No word count)
Just so you know, Bob has filled in all of the data on the 2012-2013 form, has written and edited his essays. Bob is neither uptight, nor badgered; he's just crazy... like a fox.
I hope this information helps you decide when to get started with your applications.
For a look at this and other blogs written by Marjorie, go to
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz
Finding and Choosing Colleges You're Going to Love
NOW is the time for rising high school seniors to find and choose colleges they're going to love!
• As of this week, school is over for most high school students. Hip, hip, hooray! For rising seniors, this is probably the first time you feel free from school responsibilities in a year.
• There is one thing you can do that will save you a lot of hassle later in the summer and especially when school gets started: Put together your college list. You can find how to do this in a blog I wrote for The Huffington Post:
NOW Is the Time for Rising High School Seniors to Find and Choose Colleges They're Going to Love
The directions are easy easy to follow, so just follow along. My extra words of wisdom are to have a really good time doing it! Reading about colleges is actually quite fun and it's even cooler to get out and visit them.
For a look at this and other blogs written by Marjorie, go to
www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-hansen-shaevitz
One Surprising, Over the Top Admissions Essay– The Fun, Lighter Side of Admissions
The topic for this article, One Surprising, Over-the-Top Admissions Essay: The Fun, Lighter Side of Admissions, may seem a long time away for many students, even juniors-about-to-be seniors.
But there is an important message the whole family should heed: how to have fun during the college admissions process.
You can see the new article at Huffington Post.
Just in case you live in Chicago, on May 31 I will be speaking a number of times on college admissions topics at the Sourcebooks booth during the New York Times College Fair at Navy Pier. Here is a link to The New York Times College Life Fair fair.
Why Daring to Be Yourself Is the Best Approach to College Admissions
My second article, "Why Daring to Be Yourself Is the Best Approach to College Admissions", is now up on Huffington Post.
Among other things, I explain how college admissions officers want high school applicants to present themselves in the most genuine, real and authentic way they can.
Stay tuned. Another blog is going up soon that describes how to have fun during the college admissions process.
Top 5 Things to Know When Applying to Colleges and Universities
adMISSION POSSIBLE friends:
Just a note to let you know that I am one tiny step closer to my goal of getting free, quality information and advice about college admissions to every student in the country, regardless of their family background, financial resources, geographic location or attendance at public or private school.
Huffington Post has just asked me to be a regular contributor to the Education and College area of HP and the first blog was published on May 10th. If you are know of a high school student who could use this kind of information, here is the link to "Top Five Things to Know When Applying to Colleges and Universities."
Part III: Applying to College When You Have a Learning Disability
How to alert colleges about your learning issues
Since the passage of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, on their admissions applications, colleges may not ask if a student has a learning disability. Therefore, students are responsible for informing colleges about their learning issues.
Each college handles information about learning disabilities based on their own individual policies and procedures. If you have a learning disability and are applying to colleges, the first thing you should do is find out how each school on your college list handles learning issues. You can get this information on their respective websites.
There are three levels of learning disability support at colleges.
1) Some colleges offer very comprehensive learning disabilities programs, which include trained staff people and a very high level of support and services. Other colleges offer
2) learning services, which include varying levels of support and services. Many other colleges offer
3) accommodations for learning disabilities, and students must take responsibility for arranging them. See Midge Lipkin's The College Sourcebook for Students with Learning and Developmental Differences for an explanation of the different levels.
As noted in Part I, "not to disclose your learning issues can be a 'set-up' for disappointment and/or failure in college admissions." Here are some reasons why:
1. To receive a fair and adequate review, you as an applicant need to provide colleges with a clear understanding of how your learning issues have impacted your ability to learn and perform academically, including
• a description of your disabilities and how long you have been aware of them
• what challenges you have faced as a result of having these issues,
• how you deal with and/or overcome your challenges, including what you have done on your own (such as putting in a lot more time than other students), getting educational tutoring and/or taking medication
• what you have learned from the your ld experiences
• what kind of accommodations, if any, you might need in college
This explanation can be in the form of an answer to an application essay question or an addendum to an application or a separate hard copy letter to the admissions office. Colleges want to know how well a student understands his or her learning issues.
2. Explaining your disabilities is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your positive attitude and coping skills
3. Students are not penalized for disclosing their learning issues; in fact, disclosure is likely to help admissions officers understand less than stellar grades and/or test scores, and especially the discrepancy between a student's abilities and intelligence and his/her GPA and test scores.
4. If your learning disabilities were not diagnosed until your junior or senior year, college admissions officers should be alerted to any positive changes you made after the diagnosis.
5. In elementary, middle and high school, parents are their children's advocates regarding learning differences. Once you are a college student, everything that happens around these issues has to come from you, including getting accommodations, connecting with the college learning disabilities center and taking responsibility for any medication you take. You need to learn to self-advocate about your learning disabilities before you leave for college.
It is very useful to have the educational psychologist who provided your educational testing to write a letter to the admissions offices of the colleges to which you are applying summarizing his or her findings.
Also, if you have the opportunity to personally visit different colleges, while on campus make sure that you stop by each college's learning disability center to find out who they are and what they offer students.
If you are interested in finding out more about what kinds of programs different colleges offer and also how to deal with admissions as a learning disabled student, here are some of the best resources available on the topic:
Kravets, Marybeth, M.A., and Imy F. Wax, M.S. K & W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities, 10th Edition (College Admissions Guides) New York, Princeton Review, Random House, 2010. A book filled with advice to learning disabled students about what to say and do about their learning issues in the college admissions process. Also provides the names of colleges that provide learning services and what you can expect from them.
Lipkin, Midge, Ph.D. Colleges With Programs or Services for Students With Learning Disabilities (3rd ed.) Westford, MA, Wintergreen Orchard House, 2009. By far, the most comprehensive book on what colleges and universities provide students who have learning disabilities.
You can read Part I and Part II of this article on the blog for more information.
Applying to College When You Have A Learning Disability Part II
Why and when should a student be tested for learning disabilities?
Given that about a third of the students with whom I work have learning issues of one kind or another, different admissions colleagues often come to me with questions about students with whom they are working. For example, not long ago I received this email question:
Based on a long conversation with a mother on the phone the other day, I am thinking that her kid might have some learning issues. According to mom, he is an A student, but is a slow reader, has difficulty focusing on work, takes more time than others to complete homework, has particular problems with foreign languages, almost always underestimates the amount of time that it takes to complete tasks, and often doesn't finish tests and other things that have time restrictions. The mother wants to know if I think she should have her son tested so that he can get extended time for the SAT and other tests.
What I said to my friend was that based on what she told me about the student's symptoms (albeit third hand), I would suggest that the mother at least consult an educational psychologist about whether her son might benefit from some testing, regardless of whether the information would lead to extended time for tests. I explained that it is very important for students (and their parents) to sort out any kind of learning deficiency while students are still in high school. The earlier, the better, because if learning disorders are found, there is still time (and while the parents have some control over their children's choice of actions) for students
• to learn how to compensate for their learning issues and/or
get educational therapy and/or
• special tutoring and/or
• possibly begin using prescribed medications to control their symptoms depending on what the educational test findings are.
It is very important for parents to choose a highly qualified, very experienced, positive psychologist to do the testing, who writes clear, articulate testing reports and who has the ability to explain those reports in writing to college admissions and/or learning services.
• Sometimes educational testing results lead parents applying for an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan for their child from a school, which allow for services and accommodations that help the child to succeed in school. However, a student does not need to have an IEP or 504 Plan in order to have his/her learning disabilities to be taken into consideration as a part of the college application process or to gain access to college learning services.
• Both the College Board Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) and the ACT Services for Students with Disabilities require documentation (testing) by a qualified licensed diagnostician (usually an educational psychologist) in order for a student to qualify for extended time and/or other accommodations.
• Students also need to have a formal diagnosis of a learning disability by a qualified, licensed diagnostician within three years of applying to a college in order for that information to be taken into consideration as a part of the college application process.
Applying to College When You Have A Learning Disability Part I
What are learning disabilities?
• Definition of Learning Disability (LD, also called a learning disorder, learning difficulty or learning difference):
A learning disability is a neurological disorder…that results from a difference in the way a person's brain is "wired." (Students) with learning disabilities are as smart or even smarter than their peers. But they may have difficulty reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and/or organizing information if left to figure out things by themselves or if taught in conventional ways.
A learning disability can't be cured or fixed; it is a lifelong issue. With the right support and intervention, however, (students) with learning disabilities can succeed in school and go on to successful, often distinguished careers later in life." (LDonline)
You might be interested to know that many famous people have had learning issues, including Pablo Picasso, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Whoopi Goldberg, John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney, Robin Williams, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Justin Timberlake.
There are different kinds of learning disabilities, including:
Attention disorders (Attention Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADD and ADHD are brain-based disorders characterized by poor attention, distractibility, and/or hyperactive, impulsive behavior.
Auditory and visual processing disorders
Two common learning disabilities are auditory (when a person has difficulty making sense of or analyzing information taken in through their ears) and visual (when a person has difficulty making sense of information taken in through the eyes) processing disorders.
Dyslexia (Reading Disorder)
Dyslexia is a learning disability in which a person has difficulty reading and/or understanding written words.
Dyscalculia (Math Disorder)
Dyscalculia is a learning disability in which a person has difficulty learning and understanding mathematical concepts and solving mathematical problems,
Dysgraphia (Writing Disorder)
Dysgraphia is a disability in which a person has difficulty forming letters, keeping them within a confined space and expressing thoughts in writing.
Nonverbal Learning Disorder
Nonverbal learning disorder is a developmental disability, which is characterized by such symptoms as getting lost, forgetting to do homework, being unprepared for class or tests, having difficulty following directions, misunderstanding teachers and peers, having problems with fine motor skills. (Adapted from LDonline)
If a high school student has a learning disability, it is important for him or her to disclose it to college admissions offices, in order to receive a fair assessment by admissions people. In fact, not to disclose your learning issues can be a "set-up" for disappointment and/or failure in college admissions and then in college.
College Fair Tips from College Admissions Counselor
To all juniors, sophomores and freshmen: Spring is when the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) offers its college fairs in cities across the United States.
Although, not all US colleges will be at the fairs, many will be. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet face to face the college reps assigned to your school.
HERE IS WHAT TO DO AT THE FAIR:
1. Before you go, identify the colleges you want to visit.
2. Bring a copy of your Fiske Guide to write down notes on the college page of each school you visit. (It will also be very useful for you to have highlighted what you like and don't like about each school should the college rep ask you why you are interested in his/her school)
3. Once you arrive at the Convention Center, get a listing of the colleges and mark which ones you want to visit. Note the locations of where they are on the College Fair map.
4. When you arrive at a booth, start off with: "Hi, my name is ____________ and I am a junior (sophomore) at _________________ High School. As I have researched colleges, I found that I am very interested in your school. I'm wondering if you have a minute to answer a few questions."
5. Ask questions that you really want to have answered, e.g.,
• Can you tell me something about the campus atmosphere at your school? What happens during the day, evenings, (during the week and weekends?)
• What kinds of students tend to go to your school (serious academics, athletes, techys, party goers, environmentally conscious people, preppies, funky/unconventional people)?
• Do most students live on campus? If no, where do they live?
• What are the dorms like?
• What do student like most about your college? What do students tend to complain about?
• What is the usual class size? How accessible are professors?
• Ask for a list of majors that you can look at when you get home. If you have a particular major you are interested in, ask about it
• If you have a particular activity you're interested in, ask about it
• If you have a learning disability, ask what kind of learning disability services the college offers
• Ask anything else about which you want to know.
6. Thank the rep before you leave his/her booth. Ask for his/her business card and make sure that you have signed the guest book.
7. When you get home, send a thank you note to each of the reps you met. It might say something such as:
Dear Mr. ______________:
Just a note to thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me at the San Diego College Fair. I so enjoyed hearing about _______________ (name of college) and especially about _____________________ (something specific you heard from the rep).
I am very interested in ______________ and look forward to sending in my application next fall. Please let me know if/when you plan a return visit to ____________ (your home town). Sincerely, Your nameYour school Have a good time!
Sincerely,
Your name
Your school
Have a good time!
What to Look for in a Community College to Increase Your Chances for Success
Jennifer Gonzalez of The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that some community college practices can increase student retention and graduation rates. Some of these include:
1. Providing and requiring remedial education for students who need extra work in reading, writing and math.
2. Offering experiential learning, that is, learning from experience rather than (or in addition to) from textbooks and lectures.
3. Requiring new students to attend orientations, including how to use the library and academic and support services.
4. Providing and making sure students take advantage of test preparation materials and resources.
5. Encouraging students who work and/or have dependent children to consult faculty about how many courses to take.
6. Offering student success courses that teach such things as time management and good study habits.
It seems that students who take advantage of these services are much more likely to graduate from a community college. Not only should colleges try to implement such offerings, but students, particularly first generation, underserved students, should look for them as they make choices about where to go to college.
February and March Admissions Checklist for Seniors
Here are some suggestions about how to deal with your college acceptances:
Deciding Which College Is The Best One For You
• General Information: Some acceptance letters have conditions tied to them: be sure to check for this.
• Deciding On One: It is always useful to spell out the pros and cons of attending each college that you are considering. The process for deciding on one college includes:
√ Identifying what you want in a college
√ Examining the financial aid packages
√ Re-reading your notes about the different colleges
√ Consulting with good sources
√ Attending pre-admit days or receptions
√ Rating each school on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 = No way!, 10 = The best!)
√ Deciding based on what your head and heart tell you to do
Even if you make a decision about a college that you later regret; it's not fatal. You can always transfer to another college.
For more information about what to do to decide on just one college, you can read my chapter on this subject here: The End Of The Admissions Road. There is also a lot of useful information about Dealing with a Wait List, Appealing a Denial and what to do if you want to Take a Gap Year.
Timeline
• May 1 is the deadline by which colleges want to hear that you accept their invitation to attend their college. You also need to fill out any housing forms you have been sent.
• Do it and celebrate!
Important! Many colleges pay close attention to second semester grades. Don't even think about slacking off: keep your grades as high as you can. Keep in mind that colleges do rescind acceptances if student grades precipitously drop second semester, senior year.
Let us know as your acceptances come in! We can't wait to hear.
Juniors College Admissions February 2012 To Do List
Here is a February 2012 admissions checklist for juniors, that we recommend you review, personalize it, and share with your classmates and friends. : )
BEGIN PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR COLLEGE LIST. With a list in hand, start researching colleges by reading the various guidebooks, including The Fiske Guide, The Insider's Guide, and/or Colleges That Change Lives. You can also go online to see what students have to say about colleges on www.unigo.com and www.collegeprowler.com.
SIGN UP FOR THE SAT I, SUBJECT TESTS AND/OR ACT TESTS that will be given in March, April, May and June. Be sure that you are prepared for any test before you take it. If you haven't already, make arrangements to get some admissions test tutoring. Many test sites fill up for these dates and some students end up having to drive far away from their home because close-by test locations have been filled. Visit the College Board and ACT sites for more information.
BEGIN MAKING PLANS FOR THIS SUMMER. Believe me, it's not too early. Colleges are very interested in what students do with their time when they are not in school.
PUT TOGETHER A FIRST DRAFT OF YOUR ACTIVITIES RESUME.
For a sample resume, go here.
Recently, some assorted pieces of information have come to my attention recently through the National Association of Admissions Counseling (NACAC):
1. FACEBOOK
While there are wildly differing practices among colleges, apparently admissions officers at some schools (e.g., the University of Wisconsin) are open to searching MySpace and Facebook for information about applicants to their respective colleges. Students should take precautions to make sure their privacy is protected on these sites:
√ Go to the privacy settings of your Facebook to make sure that only people you want are selected.
√ Create groups of friends that have access to different levels of information, such as your photos, posts and profile info.
√ NACAC listserv counselors recommend that if a student is going to post information about him or herself, "…it should pass the Grandma test…if you don't want her or an admissions officer, future employer, scholarship committee, high school principal, etc. to see the information, don't post it…"now or ever."
√ Also, NACAC counselors also suggest that you take a careful look at your email address to make sure that it doesn't give the wrong impression.
2. NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY VERSUS NATIONAL HONOR ROLL
Students often get information from bogus organizations that make it seem like they are being honored by another legitimate one. For example, National Honor Society is a highly regarded organization that recognizes high school students who demonstrate excellence in areas of scholarship, leadership, service and character. National Honor Roll, on the other hand, is a group similar to Who's Who Among High School Students, membership of which carries no weight in the admissions process. While not exactly bogus, just about anyone can join, and the ultimate goal is to get the student (or his/her parents) to buy their respective publications in which the student is listed.
Attention Juniors: The Common Application Essay Questions for Next Year's Application
The Common Application has just announced that the essay questions for the 2012-2013 application will be the same as this past year. This is good news, because you can start thinking about what you want to write for these essays any time from now on.
A. SHORT ANSWER:
Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below or on an attached sheet. (1000 characters with spaces maximum.)
B. PERSONAL ESSAY:
1. Please write an essay (250-500 words) on a topic of your choice or one of the options listed below. This personal essay helps us to become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.
2. Your Common Application essay should be the same for all colleges. Do not customize it in any way for individual colleges. Colleges that want customized essay responses will ask for them on a supplement form.
C. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Please upload a document here if you wish to provide details of circumstances or qualifications not reflected in the application. (No word count)
Application essay writing should first start with the question you are answering and also pay close attention to the character and/or word count you are given. College admissions people are very picky about your answering their specific questions and following their directions. In a future blog piece, I will tell you how to collect personal stories that will make great content for your application essays, as well as step-by-step directions for how to make essay writing easy, effective and even fun.
Sophomores and freshmen should know that there will be a completely new Common Application, including new essay questions, beginning 2013-2014.
I also posted a college admissions to do list for Juniors so be sure to check that out. And please let me know if I can help create a to do list for something specifically related to College Admissions.
College Admissions Advice: To Do List for Sophomores and Parents (January 2012 – June 2012)
IN GENERAL
• Begin thinking about what you want to do this coming summer. Colleges are just about as interested in what you do outside of school and with your summers as they are in your academics. Make sure you choose something you really enjoy.
• During school breaks and while on vacations, swing by any colleges that are nearby just to have a look at what different colleges are like.
JANUARY
• Take stock of how you are spending your time in and out of school. Is there anything you want to add or eliminate from your schedule? Make sure that everything you do is either something you enjoy or "counts" academically.
• Decide whether you want to take any Subject Tests for advanced classes in which you are enrolled. The possibilities are:
English, History & Social Studies
Literature
US History
World History
Mathematics & Science
Chemistry
Biology E or M
Math Level I
Math Level 2
Physics
Languages
Chinese w/ listening
French
French w/ listening
German
German w/ listening
Italian
Japanese w/ listening
Korean w/ listening
Latin
Modern Hebrew
Spanish
Spanish w/ listening
* All language with listening tests are given only on the November test date. Here are when the regular Subject tests will be given in 2012 that might correspond with your taking AP Tests.
Subject Tests 2012 : May 7,
June 4
Just so you know, starting with freshman applicants fall quarter 2012, UC will no longer require two Subject Tests. They will still review them if applicants choose to send them and some majors at different UC campuses will still require them. Many other colleges continue to require or recommend 2 Subject Tests. No college requires more than 2.
FEBRUARY / MARCH
• Begin researching and making contact with the best test tutors in town so that you will have a place with one of them next year. If you want recommendations, let me know.
• Make sure that you are signed up for AP tests that are given at your school in May if you happen to be taking an AP course right now.
APRIL
• Attend the National Association of College Admissions Counseling college fair at the San Diego Convention Center March April 26 or in the city in which you reside.
MAY
• Finalize your summer plans.
• Carefully choose your next year classes, taking into consideration the rigor of the program and balance in your life.
• Take the AP test for any AP class in which you are enrolled.
JUNE
• Ace your Finals.
I also posted to do lists for Juniors and Seniors, so please share with your classmates. And please let me know if I can help create a to do list for something specifically related to College Admissions.
College Admissions To Do List for Juniors and Parents (January – June 2012)
IN GENERAL
• Because a number of colleges ask for a writing sample as a part of their applications, save some of your best English, history, and other papers from this year.
• Every once in a while stop by to say hello to your high school counselor. You want to make sure that this person knows who you are as he/she will be filling-out your application School Report forms, something to which admissions officers pay a lot of attention.
• Also, take extra time to "make nice" with teachers who you might ask to write recommendations for you.
• Stanford University has just announced its summer institutes for middle and high school students. Click here to learn about Stanford Summer High School programs.
• Here is a link to a web page that provides information about other great summer programs. The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth website also lists many cool things to do. Be sure to click on the other links listed on the site.
JANUARY
• Take stock of how you are spending your time in and out of school. Is there anything you want to add or eliminate from your schedule? Make sure that everything you do is either something you enjoy or "counts" academically.
• Decide when you are going to take the different college admissions tests, making sure that you complete all by June of this year.
Here are when the College Board and ACT tests will be given in 2009. Sign up now, even though it seems like a long time away.
SAT and Subject Tests 2012: January 20, March 10 (SAT I only), May 5, June 2
ACT 2012: February 11, April 14, June 9
FEBRUARY
• Begin putting together a list of colleges in which you are interested; start reading about them in the various guidebooks.
• If you haven't already, make arrangements to get some admissions test tutoring. It is said that students who don't get tutoring underscore by 200 points.
• Begin thinking about what you want to do this coming summer; colleges pay particular attention what applicants do the summer before senior year.
• Put together a first draft of your activities resume.
MARCH
• Remember that junior year grades are very important, especially Spring semester.
• Make plans for summer activities, including applying to programs that interest you.
• Consider using Spring Break as a time to visit colleges.
• Make sure that you are signed up for AP tests that are given at your school in May.
APRIL
• Attend the National Association of College Admissions Counseling college fair at the San Diego Convention Center (April 26), or in the city in which you reside.
For students living in a city other than San Diego, click here to learn about fairs in other US cities.
• Continue exploring and narrowing down your college list.
MAY
• Ask favorite teachers if they will write recommendations for your college applications.
• Finalize your summer plans.
• Carefully choose your senior classes, taking into consideration the rigor of the program and balance in your life.
• Take the AP test for any AP class in which you are enrolled.
JUNE
• Have your college list narrowed down to the colleges you like best.
• Ace your Finals.
Next week, I will be posting College Admissions January 2012 To Do for Sophomores so come back for more college admissions tips and advice.
College Admissions January 2012 To Do for Seniors and Parents
For some of you, all of the college applications are done and gone. Yippee! For others, there are a few left to do. What a wonderful feeling that is! Besides letting one college know that "they are the one" before May 1, here are some things to do.
1. Students with Early Decision acceptances need to say yes to their schools.
2. For students who applied Early Action, Early Decision and/or Regular Admission, complete the top portion of the 2010-11 Midyear Report form and make sure your high school counselor completes his/her part and submits it to every college on your list.
3.
Make sure that each college to which you have applied receives an updated copy of your school transcript that includes first semester grades.
4. For colleges that provide you with application information on-line, check the respective websites to make sure they have received everything. Follow-through appropriately. If a college does not provide online information, make a call and ask them if they have received all of the required application materials. If the answer is yes, say thank you. If the answer is no, find out what is missing and immediately act to get them the missing material.
5. Because a lot can happen between the time you fill out an application and the beginning of the new year, update colleges with a written note addressed to the College Admissions Committee with any new information, including recent awards, athletic achievements, volunteer efforts, etc.
Later this week, I will be posting College Admissions January 2012 To Do for Juniors and Sophomores so come back for more college admissions tips and advice.
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