The Academic Perspective

When applying to colleges, we suggest you consider four different perspectives and weigh them each accordingly:

• Academic Perspective (40%)
• Financial Perspective (30%)
• Social Perspective (15%)
• Campus Perspective (15%)

This week we’ll discuss the most important perspective to look at when considering where you are going to apply to college – academics. After all, you are going to college to earn an academic degree in order to acquire the knowledge and skills you need to get a well-paying job in your intended career field after graduation. Let’s not forget that!

Safety, Target, Reach: If you haven’t heard these terms before, you will.

• Safety schools are schools that you have a really good chance of getting into. Your academic profile (GPA, SAT/ACT scores) is stronger than most of the other applicants. For example, you have a GPA of a 3.7 and the mean GPA for admitted students is a 3.4. We suggest you apply to about 2-4 safety schools so that you have a back up plan in case you don’t get into your top choices. We also suggest you apply to safety schools because most schools that will give you merit-based financial aid awards will be your safety schools. You will be a very strong applicant at these schools and colleges will be very interested in you.

• Target schools are schools that you have a decent chance of getting into because your academic profile is average for what those colleges typically accept. For example, if you have an SAT score of 1800, the mean SAT for incoming freshman at that school is an 1800. You are right on “target” with the school’s standards. We suggest you apply to about 3-5 target schools. While you have a good chance of being accepted, don’t forget that your academic profile will look almost identical to thousands of other applicants. You will need to do something to set yourself apart in your applications. You will need to work hard on your admissions essay and consider scheduling an admissions interview.

• Reach schools are colleges where it would be a stretch for you to be admitted. Your academic profile is weaker than most candidates. For example, if you have an ACT score of 21, these colleges may require ACT scores of about 28 or even higher. Now, we would never tell you not to apply to a reach school. Your chances are limited, but you never know. You could write a stellar essay or have an amazing interview. But don’t forget that even if you get in to some of your reach schools, you will want to ultimately pick a school that challenges you but that is not TOO challenging. We want you to be stretched, not stressed. Just because you got in doesn’t mean you can handle the work once you get there. We suggest you apply to 2-4 reach schools.

Depth vs. Breadth of Courses Offered: When making your college list, you will want to consider what you are interested in and potential majors and career fields. If you know exactly what you want to major in, for example engineering, you will want a college with a depth course catalog for engineering (ex. – chemical, mechanical, aeronautical, etc). However, if you are unsure of what you will major in and will go in undecided and declare your major later, you will need to make sure that you have a breadth (wide variety) of courses and majors to pick and choose from so that you’ll have options when you learn what you want to do.

Special Programs: When looking at colleges, you need look into any special programs that you will want your future school to offer. Do you want an honors program? What about a cooperative or internship program? Are you looking to study abroad? Do you want to have distance learning options? If you are interested in a special program such as one of these, you need to make sure that your colleges offer them.

Graduation Rates: According to College Board, the national average for graduating college in 4 years is a staggering 44%. Some colleges do a lot better than others in getting their students to graduation in four years. Some colleges offer great academic counseling and advising and additional support and others don’t. Search for your colleges on CollegeResults.org and see what the graduation rates are. On your visits and tours, consider asking why the rates are what they are. Taking more than four years to graduate means two things: wasted time and money. Be sure you have the resources you need to get through college in four years.


Alumni Network: Alumni networks can be very helpful at colleges. Some colleges will connect you to alumni in your chosen career field who will be available to answer your questions and even connect you to other professionals. This is a great networking opportunity and they can even help you with your job search during and after college.


Employment Stats of Grads: In this economy, you will want to research the employment statistics of graduates of the colleges you are looking at. Are most of them able to get jobs right after graduation? Is there any kind of program at the college that helps or even guarantees students jobs after graduation? Most of these statistics you can find right on the college’s website. However, if they aren’t exactly up to par, you may have to dig and do additional research to find them. Also be sure to look into the college’s career services. Do they have a career center? What services do they provide? Are they accessible? Go in with the end in mind and make sure that you have the best chances possible to have a great job after you graduate.

Remember, college research takes a lot of time to do well and to truly find the best fit college for you. Start early and take your time. Gather input from people who know you well – parents, teachers, counselor, coach, friends. You’ll need to visit your schools and ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. Ultimately, you really want to find a school that will value you for what you do well and somewhere where you will be happy. This is not an overnight decision. Don’t wait until the last minute!

Any additional tips to share? Leave your comments!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a degree in Human Development from Boston College and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in School Guidance Counseling. She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling. Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of the College Resource Center and The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us
http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit
http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

Why It's Important to Explore Career Options Early

You may be wondering: Why focus on planning my career while I'm still in high school? Can't I make the decision later? The colleges I'm considering won't make me decide upon a major until my sophomore year in college.

Exploring Career Options Early Helps You:

•  Choose the best college for the career(s) that interest you.
• Avoid having to extend your time in school. When students switch to a new major later in their college career, it may require taking additional courses and extending the time, and often the money, you must spend on college.
• Make sure you enjoy the career you choose. Imagine spending four years studying for a particular career only to find once you start working that you hate it!
• Make contacts that could help you later on with internships, jobs and recommendations.
• Open possibilities for career-based scholarships, such as those promoting science and technology.
• Improve your impression on college admissions and scholarship committees.
• Be happier. Being well-matched in the right school and major makes the whole college experience more enjoyable.

You can always make a final career decision later. It's important to at least begin to explore your interests, abilities, and values and to weed to out the careers that you are not interested in or that may not be suitable for you. Many colleges specialize in specific areas of study. For example, one school may have a world-renowned engineering program, but have very little to offer in the areas of languages or performing arts. Therefore, it is important to have an idea of your interests before starting your college search.

If you make the decision to major in a particular field after you are already in school, you may be forced to change schools in order to accommodate the educational requirements of your newly chosen major and/or career path. Chances are high that not all of your class credits will transfer, and you will end up having to take additional courses. Not to mention the hassle of physically moving to a new location and getting used to a new school. This would cost you and your family a lot of valuable time and money. Depending on the situation, it could add as much as year or two to the time it takes to graduate!

Ways to Explore Your Options Now

Get a job or internship in a field you may be interested in. This gives you an opportunity to try on a career and investigate an industry. It also gives you marketable skills and experience, making you more attractive to both employers and colleges. You may have to work for free at first, but it might be worth it.

Interview people with interesting jobs. You'll learn a lot about various career options, and you'll make contacts that may help you with a job or internship later. Not only that, but the more you know about a particular field of study, the more educated a decision you can make later on.

Develop your hobbies and talents. Try new things. Explore what you love to do, and get out and do it! Not only will life be more enjoyable, but you just may find a career that you love. Also, you'll be improving your attractiveness to colleges and scholarship organizations.

Utilize career assessments to help you identify your strengths and opportunities.  Research-based assessments of work-relevant interests, abilities, and values help people explore career options that are a good match for them.  It provides guidance and information to help people make important career and educational decisions. Ask your guidance counselor if your school offers any of these types of assessments to their students.

Research the trends of various fields - economic, demographic, geographic, etc.   You'll want to know which fields out there are growing with many new opportunities, great income potential, in your favorite locations, working with people you enjoy as opposed to a declining field where your choices and opportunities will be limited and there would be a large chance of facing unemployment and returning to school to be trained in a new career.  You won't know this unless you do the research!

Attend career fairs. It's a good way to build new contacts and explore career options. Check with your guidance counselor and in the job section of your newspaper for a schedule of upcoming events.

Any additional tips to share?  Leave your comments!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with The Smart Track™ Toolkit. Laura has a degree in Human Development from Boston College and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

How to Get the Best from Your Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation may be the most overlooked component of the college application. Most college-bound students spend the bulk of their time stressing about their GPAs, doing loads of test prep (which is not at all a waste of time), and meticulously crafting their personal statements. Among the “big four” of college application, the letters of recommendation are generally neglected, but they still constitute an important part of the admissions process. Here are a few tips to get the most out of your letters.

 Your Writers Should Know You

Most of us have a sense of our presence in any given class. Some classes provoke our participation, others induce slumber. Even if you received high marks in a particular class, make sure that you made a lasting impression on your teacher. College admissions officers look to letters of recommendation to get a sense of your classroom presence and special academic strengths, especially those that cannot be communicated through grades and test scores. Make sure your letter writers know you for the great college student you can be.

Your Writers Should Be In Your Field

For the few of you who know your major going in to college, make sure at least one of your letter writers teaches a subject related to your major. For example, if you apply as a Biology major, aim for at least one letter to come from a science teacher; by all means, though, do not neglect to request a letter from that English teacher who can write stellar letter on your behalf. The quality of your letters does indeed trump relevance, but just remember that admissions officers will want to know how you perform in the kinds of classes you’ll be taking as an undergraduate.

Grades Shouldn’t Necessarily Determine Your Writers

It might seem ill-advised to request a letter from a teacher who did not give you an “A,” but remember, good letter-writers are those who know your strengths best, not necessarily those who give you the best marks. Perhaps you initially struggled in an unusually challenging class and then showed great determination by raising your grade to a “B.” Such a momentous improvement should not go unnoticed simply because your final grade could be higher.