COLLEGE ADMISSION GUIDE

COLLEGE ADMISSION: A Simple, No-Nonsense Guide To Getting Into The College Of Your Choice (See inside)

COLLEGE RANKING - STANFORD NUMBER ONE

A new ranking of colleges has put Stanford at the head of the class.

MIT, Yale and Harvard round out the Top Four.

No surprises in those spots.

But the ranking, generated by the education site Niche, formerly College-Prowler, does contain a few unexpected twists.

Somewhat of a newcomer to the penthouse level, Rice ranks fifth.

Penn, Duke, Brown, and Cal Tech draw the 6 through 9 slots, while the University of Southern California takes Number Ten.

Princeton could not crack the Top Ten this year, coming in at Number Eleven.

For a look at the full list, and to see how the rankings were determined, click here

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICES CONSIDERING NEW APPROACH

 College admissions officers, deans, presidents, and other top brass from 50 or more high-profile institutions like Yale, Harvard, Michigan, and MIT have endorsed a report proposing new standards and criteria for admissions – simply put, the new approach would place less emphasis on standardized test scores, such as SAT and AP exams, and more emphasis on demonstration of community service and caring for others.

The report, springing from a project at Harvard's Graduate School of Education and announced at a press conference in New York by representatives from several major universities, makes recommendations and suggestions rooted in the belief that applicants to college have too much pressure placed on them by the current structure. Changes would aim to relieve stress.

At the moment, this announcement simply outlines a proposal. It is unclear how the recommendations will fare in the practical world of admissions, whether or not the majority of colleges, students, parents, teachers, and other participants in the process will get on board.

What is clear, however, is that good academic and extra-curricular credentials will not be going away as a prerequisite for admission to selective universities.

Concrete, meaningful changes in the admissions process will be easy to identify, should colleges shift gears on requirements to ease the stress for candidates.

Stay tuned.

For more information about the report, see the article in the Wall Street Journal here

For more information about the college admission process, see Dr. Droge's book, College Admission: A Simple, No-Nonsense Guide To Getting Into The College Of Your Choice here

JANUARY TO MAY - WHAT JUNIORS SHOULD BE DOING

So, it is the middle of your Junior year and you are getting a bit nervous about college admissions.  You have done practically nothing to date.  Many of your classmates seem to have their acts together, and you feel lost.  What do you do?

First, take a deep breath.  You have enough time to do all that is necessary.  Going into shock certainly isn't going to help. 

Next, review the list below, and schedule time to work on each item.  The best way to approach the college admission process is to see it as made up of individual parts.  The big picture may seem overwhelming, but when you look at each part, you can easily see how manageable it is.  Engage one part at a time, and remember that some parts need not be complete before you engage other parts. 

Also – and this is important – see the fun in some of this.  You really will enjoy reading about some colleges and imagining yourself there on campus.  That’s all a part of the process – researching colleges and determining which ones appeal to you. 

So, knowing that there is enough time to accomplish everything, that the process is really very manageable when broken down into individual parts, and that some of this may even be fun, begin with the list that follows:

1. Research colleges online, in school, and in the library, and build a list of those that appeal to you.  At this point, it doesn't really matter if it is a long list.  You will refine it eventually.

2. Register for the SAT or ACT and take it in the spring.  And if the colleges you are interested in require SAT Subject Tests for courses you are taking currently, register for those tests as well. TIP - take the Subject Tests scheduled at the end of the academic year and at the end of your courses - in May or June.  (Try not to wait until the fall to take these tests - you might forget the material.) (www.collegeboard.org or www.act.org )

3. Have regularly scheduled  conversations with your college counselor. 

4. Visit a few colleges on weekends or on break

5. Stay active at school – sports, clubs, other extra-curricular activities

6. Plan for summer activities or employment – intern, travel, job, enrichment course, etc.  This is your last summer before beginning the applications.  Give yourself something great to report to the colleges.

7. Obtain a Common Application and other specific applications of interest to survey exactly what will be required.  (www.commonapp.org )

Build a List of Colleges:  These are the colleges you may apply to eventually.  Begin to think about what you may enjoy learning about in college.  Also, think about your preferences in terms of geography, size, and type (e.g. public or private).  You are not locking yourself in here;  you are simply trying to figure out what kind of college will make you happy. 

Begin to research colleges to see which ones appeal to you.  Of each college, ask yourself if it offers what you are interested in?  Does it have the majors and programs that you want to take?  Will it prepare you for the next stage of your life after graduation – such as going to graduate school or getting a job?

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For a more complete look at the college admission process, with insights and strategies, see Dr. Droge's book, COLLEGE ADMISSION

Click here

COLLEGE ADMISSION GUIDE

College Admission : A Simple, No-Nonsense Guide by Dr. Droge

College Admission - click

College Admission

BEST FINANCIAL AID - IVY LEAGUE

It used to be that a leading reason for not applying to Ivy League colleges was the cost.  But many savvy applicants and their parents these days know that cost is no longer an obstacle, due to the generous financial aid philosophy that most Ivies have.

Granted, Ivy League institutions do carry big sticker prices.  In fact, if students were to pay the full cost for a four-year degree - tuition, board, fees, etc., - the bill could total a quarter million dollars - or more.

But a fair number of students do not pay the full sticker price.  Not even close.  And many, indeed, pay zero tuition - repeat, zero.

Several years ago, with Yale and Harvard leading the way, Ivies began to offer free tuition to students whose family income did not exceed certain thresholds.  In other words, simply put, if your family did not have more than, let's say, $100,000 in income, you received a free ride.

Thresholds vary from school to school, and the policy is not limited to just the eight Ivies in the East.  Stanford, for example, has quite a generous package to offer.  (IMPORTANT - Interested applicants and their parents should be sure to check with the individual colleges for the specifics of their financial aid policies - details may vary from institution to institution.)

Getting admitted to these very selective colleges, of course, remains a challenge.  But these days cost should not deter qualified candidates from applying.
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For a more complete view of the college admission process, and strategies to use when applying to the Ivies and other institutions, see Dr. Droge's book: College Admission - click here

WHAT TO DO IF DEFERRED

First, if you have been deferred from a college, here is what not to do: nothing.

The advice is essentially the same for deferrals from "early" applications or wait-listed from regular applications.

This is no time to be sitting around merely worrying and hoping. This is a time for action. It is not too late. The goal of every college application should be to stand out in a positive way. That goal does not change after a deferral. If your application is just sitting in a pile somewhere, chances are that it is not going to stand out. You can do something about that. Try one or more of the following:

-- It has been several months since you sent in your application. Have you had any positive news since then? Have you won any awards, or had a poem published, or become captain or editor? Let the admissions office know.

-- If you have no news to share, make some. Sign up for an elective term course. Submit poems to newspapers, magazines, and contests. Try to get elected or appointed to a leadership position in an extra-curricular activity. Volunteer for a charitable activity outside of school – at a hospital or nursing home or Habitat for Humanity or the like. In some way, add another activity or appointment to your schedule. When you do, let the admissions office know.

-- Call the admissions office and let them know that you care enough about your candidacy to get in touch and to update your application. Tell them about what you have been doing and what good things have happened since your application was submitted. Let them know what you have to offer them and why they will be glad that they accepted you. Let them know that they are number one, that if you are accepted, you will attend. Give them a voice to attach to the name on your application, a personality, a life full of good cheer, a basketful of reasons to put you in the “admit” pile. If possible, speak with the representative who covers your area. In whatever way possible, make that rep your advocate.

Again, the goal is to stand out. The overwhelming majority of deferred candidates will do nothing. They will not call. They will not update their application. They will not show in any conspicuous manner – other than what they said in their initial application – that they care about getting admitted. You can be different…you can stand out…you can show that you really care. Start by sharing your good-news update.

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For more information about the college admission process, see Dr. Droge's book, COLLEGE ADMISSION click here