“Party Schools” – Fact or Fiction?

Written by Guest Author Vivian Kerr

Any parent about to send their child off to college worries whether they’ll truly be getting a return on investment. No one wants to fork over $100,000+ on 4 years of undergraduate just so their student can party like a rock star the whole time. But are these so-called “party schools” really deserving of their reputation?

In 2012, the Top 10 party schools are as follows according to Princeton Review:

1. West Virginia University

2. University of Iowa

3. Ohio University

4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

5. University of Georgia

6. University of Florida

7. University of California

8. Florida State University

9. Miami University of Ohio

10. Syracuse University

So where on this list is the notorious Penn State? Proof that schools, unlike leopards, might actually be able to change their spots, Penn State has dropped out of the Top 10 . You may recall Penn State’s wild ways documented on a 2009 episode of This American Life called “#1 Party School.” This year it was re-ranked as #11.

This year Penn State was also ranked as one of the top fifty universities in the world, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities in Shanghai. Its reputation for academics is stellar. Students may like to party there, but it would seem they also like to study. Check out the entire podcast from 2009 from This American Life and judge for yourself!

But what about the new Top Ten? It’s true that these schools have active social organizations, including fraternities and sororities, but keep in mind many of these so-called party school “rankings” are online, vote-based. If enough students decide their school is a big “party school,” it may unjustly get ranked as such. Each of these schools has significant “pros” besides the party school label “con.” Find out more on Princeton Review.

This is all the more reason to take tours of prospective schools with your son or daughter. You’ll want to talk to academic chairs and look at the campus itself, of course, but also consider a drive or walk around on a Friday or Saturday night during the school year. Are there a lot of students out? Drinking in public? But more importantly, does it feel safe? These party schools almost uniformly have local police and campus patrols to keep their undergrads in line. Ultimately, it will be up to your student to strike the balance between work and play.

About the Author:

Vivian Kerr: Vivian Kerr has been teaching and tutoring in the Los Angeles area since 2005. She graduated from the University of Southern California, studied abroad in London, and has worked for several test-prep companies including Grockit & Kaplan for whom she taught ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and did admissions counseling. 

What if they see that picture on Facebook?

Written By Guest Author Dawn Casey Rowe

When researching or applying to colleges, social media can be extremely helpful. Applicants can investigate majors, student life, follow athletic teams, and network with students. Colleges can engage with applicants and find out whether they might be a good fit for the university.

But social media can have a dark side, too, if improperly used.  Applicants were reporting that some universities were requesting to see into their social media beyond casual interactions, at times even requesting passwords to social media accounts. Legislators have stepped in and ruled on this practice. In states like California, New York, Michigan, Delaware, and Illinois, among others, it is now illegal for colleges to ask for social media passwords or to ask to potential applicants for access to accounts for recruiting purposes.

Many colleges use social media positively to engage with prospective students, and guidance councilors recommend that students “like” or follow colleges, stating that trends show it’s more difficult for students who “apply blind,” that is, without engaging and evidencing their interest in a university on social media. From a college’s perspective, if a student won’t follow them on social media, the applicant doesn’t seem to be a serious contender when compared to students who live and breathe the college online.  It can be perceived as a lack of commitment.

Even though several states have ruled applicants don’t have to hand over Facebook passwords to a recruiter, putting fines in place for violations, it is still a great idea to clean up social media when applying to colleges, fellowships, and jobs.

I recently signed up for Vizify, which is a great site that pulled together a bunch of information about me from the internet and displayed it quite nicely. After I set up my account, it showed all my residences, the schools I’ve attended, and all my prior jobs. The only thing it didn’t have was my newest address, and that’s only because I had moved the week before—I managed briefly to outwit the Internet.

I showed this to my seniors.

“You’ll notice some of my most common tweets.”  We studied the chart.  Things like “student,” “#satchat,” “#edchat,” “#edchatri,” “school,” “class,” “blog,” and “kids” were on my list of frequently tweeted words.

“Wow,” said one of my Twitter-loving seniors.  “My words would be “#$%,” “*&&*^,” and “@%$%!” She signed up, and sure enough, they were.

Is that the image you want to project of yourself as an applicant to a college, whether it’s legal for a university to spy or not?  Although similar laws apply to potential employers, it’s all too easy to access this information. Most of this type of personal information is readily available online. It’s best to put it in the best possible light just in case someone of future importance to your school and career goals happens across it.  A casual glance can affect an opinion. The old adage is true, “You never get a second chance at a first impression.” 

This is such a serious issue that there is a newly emerging field—“personal branding” to help with just these situations. People actually pay professionals to help them establish and maintain a positive image.

Using social media correctly can be the thing that helps you get into college or to find out about schools you might like—it can make connections for you and send you in the right direction for college and careers.   Using it incorrectly makes you a liability.  As you prepare for college and later for job interviews, take some time to think about how using social media can benefit you, and let it do just that. It can make a world of difference!

About the Author:

Dawn Casey Rowe

I teach Social Studies at the William M. Davies Career & Technical High School in Rhode Island. My passions include research, writing, history, sustainability, fitness and social justice. I'd love to see tech innovations to level the playing field in education. I'm a big fan of our local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and all things natural and tasty. I blog and run in my spare time.

4 Ways to Get Free Money for College

Written By Guest Author Vivian Kerr

Who wouldn't want someone else to pay for their education? While getting a full “free ride” from a big school is getting more to be a rarity these days, it’s possible to attend even the most expensive private university with a combination of scholarships/grants, loans, work-study, and savings. Follow these 4 tips to maximize your financial aid and minimize your debt!

Make friends in the Financial Aid office. When you get your financial aid package from your school, it’s not the “final” amount. It’s just the opening offer! Remember that your financial aid package is arranged by a computer and a very few people. Those numbers can definitely change, and the people in the office do want to help you attend their institution. Don’t hesitate to contact them and ask what you could do to qualify for more money. If it’s a question of a few thousand dollars, an adjustment is highly possible.

Do extensive online research. College Board’s Scholarship Search and Fast Web are great sites which offer searchable databases of scholarships. Create an online profile and watch as scholarships are matched to you based on your gender, race, religion and field of study. There’s a number of other excellent resources on this Scholarships and Financial Aid Learnist board as well.

Get the FAFSA done early. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA) is a major requirement for most schools to apply for a Financial Aid Application. The FAFSA for the current school year is available after the first of each year online (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/).  Parents often need to estimate income for the rest of the fiscal year in order to get the FAFSA done early, so make sure you plan ahead! Students may also need to fill out the CSS Profile. CSS stands for the College Scholarship Service Profile. Schools that have Early Decision usually require the CSS Profile since the FAFSA is not available until Jan 1^st.

Stay positive! While the application process will be done in January, applying for financial aid scholarships is an on-going process that will take you well into the late spring (or even into the summer). Scholarships are competitive, so you may apply for dozens before landing one. Stay organized and keep motivated. Six months of hard work might mean you’re debt-free for years after undergrad!

Remember to keep your eyes open – in recent years there are more scholarship “scams” out there as well! If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always confirm a scholarship from multiple sources. The guidance counselors at your high school are a great resource for this!

About the Author:

Vivian Kerr: Vivian Kerr has been teaching and tutoring in the Los Angeles area since 2005.  She graduated from the University of Southern California, studied abroad in London, and has worked for several test-prep companies including Grockit & Kaplan for whom she taught ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT, and did admissions counseling.

Most Common College Admissions Mistakes & How to Avoid Them (PART II)

A few weeks ago we outlined some of the most common college admissions mistakes and how you can avoid them.  In part II of this series, we will outline a few more mistakes that can be detrimental to your applications.  Remember, if you take your time and do things right, applying to college doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems.  You should begin your applications well before the deadlines and never leave anything to the last minute.

Here are a few additional application and admissions mistakes to avoid:

Asking the Wrong People for Letters of Recommendation:  Colleges typically ask for 1-3 letters of recommendation.  In most cases, they want you to ask your academic teachers.  They want to know about your character and about your performance in the classroom.  The best teachers to ask are those who you’ve had for more than one year and in more than one subject.  It’s also great to ask a teacher who you’ve had in a subject closely related to your intended major (some colleges and/or programs actually will require this).  Do not ask a teacher that you had back in 9^th grade that you haven’t spoken to since, even if you got an A in the class and they loved you back then.  They don’t know you well anymore – they know you as a 9^th grader.  If you know someone famous, say the governor of your state is your uncle’s girlfriend’s brother’s best friend, don’t be tempted to have them write you a letter.  Typically, admissions officers don’t like this.  They really just want someone that truly knows you well, can speak to your character, and that has detailed evidence and personal knowledge of how you work as a student.

Forgetting to Send Test Scores: Don’t forget that sending your test scores to your prospective colleges is your responsibility.  This is done separately from the application.  If you have SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or AP scores to submit, you send your scores through CollegeBoard.org.  If you have ACT scores to submit, you will do this through ACT.org.  This is a very important part of the application process; don’t assume that your guidance counselor or someone else will submit your scores on your behalf.  Look into the testing policies of your potential schools.  Most schools want you to submit all of your test scores and will only take into consideration your highest ones.  Additionally, some schools will require SAT Subject Tests and some won’t.  Make sure you know the exact testing policy of your colleges.

Applying Early Decision When It’s Not The Right Choice:  Be careful, here.  Don’t apply Early Decision only because you think it will be your ticket for admission.  Early Decision is a binding agreement that must be taken seriously.  If you are accepted through an Early Decision agreement, you are legally required to attend the college.  Typically, schools that offer acceptance through Early Decision will not give out generous financial aid packages because they know that you are obligated to attend.  And, you are unable to compare financial aid offers from other schools before making your decision.  Also, many students will change their minds about their college preferences throughout the process as they do more research and go on visits.  For these reasons, we typically do not recommend Early Decision.

Not Proof Reading Application & Essay:  The revision process (of both the application and the essay) is a critical part of the application process.  Spelling and grammar mistakes do not belong anywhere on your application.  It’s a huge pet peeve of admissions reps reading your application.  Steer clear of any text-lingo, too.  It can be habit when you are used to texting, but it has no place on your college applications.  Ask someone with a fresh set of eyes to proof read both your application and your essay before you submit.

Rely on Rankings in Magazines:  Do not confuse college rankings with quality.  Just because a magazine says that a particular college is number one on their list does not mean that it’s a good fit for you.  You may even find that the college of your dreams is ranked number 1 or number 10 or not at all depending on which list you’re looking at.  Colleges can be ranked very differently on different lists due to the different criteria used, not the actual characteristics of the school itself.  Ultimately, be careful.  College rankings can be a good starting point for researching different colleges and can even help you to discover schools that you haven’t heard of.  However, make sure not to confuse rankings and/or selectivity with quality.  You need to do your research and spend some time on campus to decide if it’s right for you.

Remember, the more you know about the process and the more research you do, the better off you’ll be. Using tools like our Admissions Assistance component or our Student Positioning component can make the process a breeze and really help to eliminate unnecessary stress. Take our advice here and you’ll be well on your way to admission as your top choice college. Until next time, best of success!

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 Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Boston College and a Master’s degree and license in School Guidance Counseling.  She also holds a certificate 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

Do We Need College?

Do we need college?

This is a question that many are asking these days. The cost of college has risen over 1200 percent in the past thirty years, bringing it far out of reach for many families.   Often, families without means struggle to send their high-achieving students to the best universities despite the sacrifices they must make, and financial difficulties can often prevent these students from graduating.

As a teacher, I find myself in the midst of the reality of this firestorm.  I firmly believe that a college education can set people apart in their career, when done right, but when students do not consider all the options, they can end up with a lifetime of crippling debt that cannot be forgiven with bankruptcy.  Many experts feel that the student loan bubble will be the next strain on the nation’s economy.

This is why it’s so important for students and families to truly understand the college admissions process. As with any other major life decision or purchase, colleges and universities must justify their value to you.  You must consider the return on investment. 

All too often, students bring me letters that seem like honors and awards, but they are really thinly veiled predatory loans masked in beautiful marketing.  It’s college application season now.  I see people prepared to saddle themselves with fifty to sixty thousand dollars of debt a year if they don’t get aid.  Does that sound like you? That’s the price of a house if you graduate in four years. The trend today is to take five years or more, and while high schools collect statistics about graduation rates, getting penalized if they’re low, colleges do not get punished. In fact, the longer you stay, the more money they make. 

Students are encouraged to study areas of interest, take semesters off, and go where the heart leads them. While this is good advice in the realm of learning, it often leads to heartbreak when choosing an expensive university and a career path that cannot pay back those loans. At graduation time, students find themselves in the position of having to chase the dollars to pay back the bank anyway.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately, as I watch parents and students warm up their pens to sign huge loans that will become their best friends for years to come.  I wrote a post on my blog called “College or a Ferrari?” because I feel it’s critical for students to really analyze their college choices once the aid packages are delivered, and to think about the return on investment for each potential major.  Also, students must commit to maximizing the benefit of college. Sure, you should have fun, but if you’re not ready to hit the books, consider taking classes at a local community college, or enlisting in the military--who, by the way, will pay for your college while you serve your nation. It’s the school of life, and it’s very effective. 

I made a Learnist board dedicated to helping families make these decisions. You cannot make a decision which has the potential to cost $200,000 based on emotion--you must consider the facts… college can be worth the investment, but the decision is no different from buying a house or a car. I've recently done both. There were things I would have loved, but they were just out of reach and not practical for the lifestyle I lead. In the end, I got a practical car that can handle the potholes my area that will never be fixed, and a house where I can live simply and get off the grid, like I've always wanted to do. No mansion. No Ferrari. And I’m just as well off for it. 

If you are going to college next year, do your research, work hard in school, and get your ducks in a row. And when the mailman comes with all your acceptance letters--and hopefully your financial aid, don’t forget to really think of colleges that will serve you for a lifetime, not just four or five years.  

About the Author:

Dawn Casey Rowe

I teach Social Studies at the William M. Davies Career & Technical High School in Rhode Island. My passions include research, writing, history, sustainability, fitness and social justice. I'd love to see tech innovations to level the playing field in education. I'm a big fan of our local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and all things natural and tasty. I blog and run in my spare time.

Interested in Conquering (and Maximizing) Your Financial Aid Awards?

Our New, FREE video workshop will unveil little known financial aid secrets to help you get the most out of your applications!

We here at the College Resource Center realize this is a hectic and often stressful time of year. As if holidays, get-togethers, cooking and shopping frenzies weren't enough? Now college financial aid deadlines are quickly approaching, and those complicated, money-saving applications are not to be forgotten either. Overwhelming? To say the least! 

Whether you are currently applying for aid, or will be in the years to come, we are making available a FREE video workshop on managing financial aid applications that will help you understand the full process and what you need to do to keep focused and get the job done right the first time! 

This workshop will provide insight into:

·         Why "the early bird gets the worm" concept applies for maximizing awards.

·         How to understand the "lingo" and avoid common mistakes that could cost you.

·         Why clearly understanding the whole process will help you get the job done.

·         How you can to gain control over your awards offers. 

We hope that you will take advantage of this timely resource that will make your financial aid applications (and maybe even your holidays) a little less stressful!

Click here to get access to these helpful college financial aid strategies!

Pass it on! If you know anyone who might also benefit from this information, feel free to share it!

Planning Ahead Can Save Thousands On College Expenses (Part II)

Author's note: Are you the parent of a student either currently enrolled in college - or who is planning on attending a post-secondary school next fall? You don't have to be told that college is expensive and planning is time consuming.  This two-part series, designed for parents and employee assistance (and other) professionals who are assisting them in this often-difficult process, can really help!

In part I of this two-part series, I outlined some of the issues that are just the "tip" of the college planning iceberg influencing whether today's "modern" family will be able to actually afford a 4-year college.  In this post, I will go over more key points.

Most EFC calculators pivot off a handful of data points- our calculator actually pivots off close to 20 significant data points that provide a more accurate picture of what your expected family contribution (EFC) might be. By knowing this number ahead of time,  you can create a more efficient plan for how best to pay for college. While EFC is mostly “income”-driven in nature, our work with families has uncovered additional “peripheral” areas, like assets, that can influence what a family’s “true” EFC looks like. Did you know that assets held in a student’s name can often be assessed as high as 26% in some formulas? 

This is because assets that are held in a student’s name typically do not have an asset protection allowance. There is over $150 billion in financial aid available each year if you know how to get it and with the competition for admissions becoming increasingly competitive, students need to know how best to present themselves to their targeted colleges.

If you are like many of the thousands of families who feel they are not receiving the kind of attention from their high schools that is needed during the college application process, take a peek at some of the various web-based tools that we have launched to help simplify this process. (www.smarttracktoolkit.com).

Be sure to monitor deadlines (both admissions and financial aid) for each college you are applying to.  Believe it or not schools often have different deadlines for their admissions applications versus their financial aid applications.  For students applying to state schools, did you know that different states have different deadlines for families to submit their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms? States like Kentucky, Tennessee and Vermont award aid on a first come, first-served basis so its critical to have your forms submitted in January (as a general rule of thumb) before most of the available aid disappears by late spring.

If you are a parent of a senior in high school or you have kids who are currently in college and are applying for financial aid, you can get a head start by using our College Funding tool to actually submit all of your financial aid forms on time (including the FAFSA & CSS Profile forms) and be entitled to a professional review with one of our experienced college funding advisors. 

Remember to use the promo code: “Impact” to receive 20% off when you purchase any of our 5 components and feel free to contact me with any questions you might have: jay.robie@smarttracktoolkit.com or 800 863-9440 ext. 277. Good luck!

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: Jay Robie is the VP of Business Development in the Corporate and Education channels with the College Resource Center, LLC.  Jay has previous work experience as an Admissions Counselor at St. Lawrence University and Boston College as well as the Director of the Corporate Internship Program at Notre Dame High School.  Jay also has consulted for Road to College as an Admissions Planner.

Planning Ahead Can Save Thousands On College Expenses (Part I)

38 minutes. The average length of time a high school guidance counselor is able to spend with a student discussing college-specific items. 476:1 The national average ratio of high school students to guidance counselors. $1 trillion in student debt that has eclipsed credit card debt for the 1^st time in history.. College costs that rise 6-8% on average per year. A larger and more competitive applicant pool.  These issues and averages are just the “tip” of the college planning iceberg influencing whether today’s “modern” family will be able to actually afford a 4-year college. 

Much of this information has been penned already by many other authors, so I do not want to rehash something that has already been “beaten” senseless into the American public but rather highlight a few pointers that might help folks to mitigate some of their anxieties and fears. Our firm, the College Resource Center, has worked with thousands of families over the years on creating viable plans for how best to pay for college without going broke and while each family’s situation is different, there is a common link amongst them- they are all very concerned with how best to approach what can be an overwhelming process. 

Have a plan. If you don’t, your plan will arrive in the mail when you receive your 1^st tuition bill.  Determine what your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) will be. This is one of THE most important figures to know and basically lets a college know how much per year you can afford to pay to have your son or daughter attend that fine institution.

To get started, you can use our EFC calculator at Free Trial to register for a free trial and learn not only what your personal EFC is, but how much it potentially could be lowered by. (Your free trial will also give you access to an eCalendar to help you keep track of important dates and deadlines in the college admissions process)

Use the promo code: “Impact” to receive 20% off when you purchase any of our 5 components and feel free to contact me with any questions you might have: jay.robie@smarttracktoolkit.com or 800 863-9440 ext. 277. Good luck!

COMING NEXT: More on EFC calculators, admissions deadlines, and more.

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: Jay Robie is the VP of Business Development in the Corporate and Education channels with the College Resource Center, LLC.  Jay has previous work experience as an Admissions Counselor at St. Lawrence University and Boston College as well as the Director of the Corporate Internship Program at Notre Dame High School.  Jay also has consulted for Road to College as an Admissions Planner.

Common College Admissions Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Applying to college can be a complicated process. But, the reality is, if you take your time and do things right you can get through it. Applications should not be completed overnight and the entire college search and application process should begin well before the fall of your senior year. The keys are planning and organization.

Even if you’re careful though, there are many different mistakes you might make that could ruin your chances of being admitted into your top choice college. We’ve come across a lot working with our students. Here are a few common application and admissions mistakes that we hope you won’t succumb to…

Forgetting Supplements:  Every college has a general admissions application. In addition, some colleges will also ask for a Supplemental Application, or Supplement. On the Supplement, your college may ask additional questions about your family, intended major or even housing preference. They may also ask you to write an additional essay.  Make sure that you do not forget to submit this! Missing a supplement means an incomplete file, and incomplete files have no chance for admission.

Missing Deadlines:  Whatever you do, do not miss an application deadline. Colleges are not flexible with this. Most applications will become available in August before senior year. If you can, make sure to have everything submitted to your colleges at least two weeks prior to the deadline. This will ensure that the college receives everything in time. Missing deadlines shows that you are irresponsible, not an attractive quality for a prospective freshman student.

Not Managing Social Media Accounts Properly:  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, you name it, social media is everywhere and no one is more adept at it than teenagers. Unfortunately, it is also teenagers who most often mismanage their accounts. Students should not assume that colleges won’t see your Facebook page, Twitter feed, or other accounts. Admissions staff may not have the time to actively seek out all of their applicants to check their Facebook pages.  However, if there’s a red flag on your application or something questionable about you, they’ll check it out for sure.  You should expect that if there’s anything public, it’s possible that admissions may see it and you should do everything you can to clean up your profile before you get into the admissions process. 

One admissions rep at a recent event shared the story about how a student had been admitted to their college and he had posted on his Facebook about how he had gotten in and about all the drugs and alcohol he would engage in over the next four years.  Someone at the school saw it and notified admissions.  They rescinded his application.  Colleges are trying to create safe and supportive residential communities, so anything that would be concerning to the community well-being is a huge issue.

In the end, you should be comfortable letting anyone (your mom, your grandmother, an admissions officer, potential employer) see your page. You don’t want the reason you were denied (or application rescinded) to your number one school to be because of a status you posted or a picture you were tagged in.

Not Applying to Reach or Safety Schools:  Don’t limit yourself unnecessarily by only applying to schools where you are on target with their requirements. Apply to a variety of schools. This means safety schools, target schools, and reach schools. Safety schools are colleges where you have a very good chance of getting in because your academic profile is clearly stronger than most of the applicant pool.  Safety schools make for a good “Plan B” and are likely to award Merit-Based Aid since you will be a sought after applicant. You also shouldn’t limit yourself by not applying to reach schools. Reach schools are schools where your academic record and profile may be weaker than what the college is typically looking for. But, there’s not always a guarantee you won’t get in. Some schools look at special qualities and certain characteristics when admitting students (like a legacy student).  Or, if you are a highly recruited athlete, a first class Cello player, and it just so happens the college needs to fill the spot of lead Cellist, they could come to you. You just never know. Even if your GPA and test scores aren’t as high as they need to be, a spectacular and moving essay could blow the admissions officer away. Astound an admissions officer during an interview, too, and those test scores being low might not matter anymore. Keep your options open.

Using The Wrong College Name in the Application Essay: This one kills me.  If you write an essay for a specific college (usually in the Supplemental Application where you are allowed to name a college by its name) and decide to copy and paste the essay to use for another college (which you shouldn’t in the first place), remember to change the college name!  Unfortunately, many students will just copy and paste the essay and use it for another college and forget to change the name… so the essay with the line, “I can’t wait to join the rest of the freshman class at UMass Amherst in the fall” goes to UNH.  Admissions officers hate this.  It shows that you aren’t truly interested or invested in the college, not enough to write a separate essay for that college and not enough to proof read your application or re-read your essay before submitting.

Admissions applications aren’t always easy, but it doesn’t mean that they have to be difficult. The more you know about the process and the more research you do, the better off you’ll be. Using tools like our Admissions Assistance component or our Student Positioning component can make the process a breeze and really help to eliminate unnecessary stress. Take our advice here and you’ll be well on your way to admission as your top choice college. Until next time, best of success!

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 Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Boston College and a Master’s degree and license in School Guidance Counseling.  She also holds a certificate 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

7 Surprising College Financial Aid Facts That Could Save You Thousands

Although college costs continue to skyrocket in the face of our economic woes, proactive – even affluent - families will pay less than “sticker price” because they learned how the financial aid system really works. Here are seven facts that could help you pay “wholesale” for college:

1. Some Colleges Have More to Give Than Others. Although most schools use the same financial aid formulas, they differ significantly in how much they award in grants, scholarships and other financial aid. Example: the older, prestigious colleges – Ivies and other private universities– offer significant amounts of aid thanks to their large endowments. Public universities offer very little financial aid as they rarely have endowment money worth mentioning. 

2. High Sticker Price Colleges Can Cost Less Than “Cheaper” State Schools. One year at a state university can run around $20,000-35,000 (tuition, fees, room and board, etc.). A private college can cost more than $55,000. But frequently, the more expensive college is cheaper! How? Private colleges and universities use their endowments to meet 90%, 95% or more of financial need. State colleges meet roughly 50-65%. 

3. “Forgotten Middle Class” Families Receive Generous Grants, Scholarships and other Financial Aid. Recently, colleges and universities have publicly courted upper middle class families – regularly awarding five figure sums to parents with six figure incomes. DO NOT pass on filling out the financial aid paperwork if you think you won’t qualify. One study showed that 53% of eligible families did not bother applying – leaving millions on the table. 

4. Grades Have Little To Do With Financial Aid Awards. Many parents assume that their child must have good grades to qualify for grants and scholarships. This is inaccurate. Most colleges award a majority of their grants based on financial need, not merit. Merit scholarships comprise less than 2% of the total “pot.” Although it’s fun to talk about merit scholarships around the office water cooler, the big money - more than 98% - is in the need-based financial aid system. 

5. Two Families Can Have the Same Amount Saved - But One Will Receive Far More Financial Aid Because of Where They Saved. An examination of the financial aid formulas reveals that some assets count against you more than others. And some don’t count against you at all. In general, money saved in a student’s name will penalize you more than money held in a parent’s name – strange but true. You could be better off shifting assets out of your student’s name, perhaps into an asset class that’s entirely exempt (such as retirement accounts, insurance, some annuities, and some business assets).

6. Graduation Rates Differ – More Than You Realize. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked heavily against getting in and out of college in four years. Take a look at the four-year graduation percentages at your local state university (www.collegeresults.org is a good site). You’ll likely see that about 50% of full-time undergraduate students get out in four years! Why? The answer may surprise you - it’s because kids can’t get classes they need to graduate – not because they’re “slackers”.  Private colleges do a better job at getting kids through school in four years – a typical four year rate is 85% or higher at most prestigious private schools. 

7. The Financial Aid Office may not be your Best Resource …. Most people don’t understand why you’ve got a better shot of seeing Paris Hilton inducted into MENSA than getting meaningful help from a financial aid office. The reason you won’t is related to the nature of higher educational institutions themselves – they are BUSINESSES. I’ll wait for you to recover…yes, I know that they’re ivory-towered, institutions of higher learning. However, they have bills to pay – six figure salaries to pay to most University Presidents, upgrades to their facilities, high wages to pay to tenured professors. So the university has bills to pay and it maximizes its income which can limit your chances for Free money. That’s why asking an employee of that institution for help may be like calling the IRS and demanding that they reveal all their latest loopholes so you can pay less in taxes.

Murray Miller is a financial educator devoted the college planning space for over a decade.  Murray is the President and CEO of the College Resource Center, LLC.  You may contact him by emailing info@smarttracktoolkit.com or by calling 800-863-9440. For more information, including a schedule of free college workshops, visit www.SmartTrackToolkit.com.

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.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

Preparing Applications

The Common Application vs. College Applications 

 

Will you use the Common Application?  This question often echoes in the minds of high school seniors as deadlines to submit their college applications approach.  The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that provides a single admission application form students can submit to any of the participating colleges (current 450+).  Currently, many of the nation's most selective institutions accept the Common Application.

With the Common Application, a student applying to six different participating colleges can, in theory, fill out one single application and send it off to all six schools with one click of the mouse.  The purpose of the Common App is to make it easier for students to work on their college applications. Yet, as the intensely competitive race to get into a good college heats up, some students worry schools will favor applicants who fill out the school's own application over those applying via the Common App.
Some colleges that accept the Common App have other requirements, such as Supplements, that need to be submitted in addition to the Common Application. Be sure to read the application requirements carefully.

View the Common Application Website here.

Think Ahead and Stay Organized

1.      Start your success file. Start a file where you collect and/or note your work history and experiences, successes, interests, awards, leadership activities, community service, etc. The earlier you start, the easier it will be to come up with your achievements later on in the process. Freshman year isn't too early to start!

2.      Prepare for your SAT/ACT. Start as early as possible to prepare for any tests that may be required. Advanced preparation can help improve your scores. Last minute cramming won't.

3.      Talk to your guidance counselor to make sure you are taking the courses you need to meet your college admissions requirements. If appropriate, look into AP courses and/or placement tests to help boost your impression on admissions officers.

4.      Fill out forms required by your high school.  Many high schools have their own protocols when it comes to teacher recommendation requests, transcript requests, counselor recommendation requests, and so on.  There will probably be high school specific forms you will need to fill out and a certain amount of time before your applications are due.  Many schools are now going “paperless” when it comes to college applications, so make sure you know the correct protocol for requesting and submitting all of the related paperwork.

5.      Use a planning calendar. Keep track of all the application requirements of your potential colleges and write down all of the deadlines on a planning calendar. Work backwards from each of these deadlines to figure out when you need to take care of each component of the application. For example, jot down on your calendar when you'll need to start your essay in order to have it edited, re-written and completed on time. Figure out when you'll have to call and schedule your admissions interview, leaving time for any travel arrangements and scheduling issues you may encounter.

6.      Don’t forget to send your test scores.  Standardized test scores are a crucial part of your application and entirely your responsibility.  You will need to self report your scores on your application, but you will also need to send your official test scores through CollegeBoard (SAT & SAT II) or ACT.org (ACT).  Make sure that you don’t forget this critical part!

7.      Apply as early as possible. Getting your application on an admission officer's desk before most other students puts you at the head of the line for an admission offer and shows that you are a diligent and punctual person. 

Quality is Key

1.      Use a word processor, such as MS Word, to type your writing samples before cutting and pasting or uploading them into the online application.  It is much easier to edit and review your work and to catch spelling and grammar mistakes.

2.      Edit your work! It may sound elementary, but be sure to carefully review all portions of your application for spelling and grammar mistakes. Have a parent or teacher review your paperwork also. Sometimes the little things (spelling errors or omitted information) can make the difference between acceptance and rejection.

3.      Get EXCELLENT letters of recommendation from outstanding people in your community. Letters of recommendation are a vital part of the college admission application and should be treated as such. Make sure to ask for recommendation letters far in advance. The last thing you want to do is rush the people who are doing you a favor. Be sure to share your interests and aspirations with them to help your letter be as effective as possible. We suggest you prepare a resume/profile to help jog their memory and help them be more specific. Your high school may also have additional forms you will need to fill out.

4.      Essays are Essential. Start thinking about topics early, and see if you might be able to use the same essay topic for more than one application. Be personal, concise, watch your spelling and grammar, and seek multiple opinions for feedback. 

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 College Planning Strategies, 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 CPS and The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

What you should be doing NOW to prepare for college

As college planning experts, we know that it’s never too early to start preparing for college.  You don’t want to be scrambling your junior and senior year trying to find a college that’s right for you.  Here are some things we think you should be doing right now, even if you are only a freshman or a sophomore.

Develop relationships with your teachers and your counselor:  It is very important that you develop and maintain positive relationships with your teachers and with your guidance counselor.  The better your teachers and your counselor know you, the better letter of recommendation they will be able to write about you.  You will want teachers who know you well and are able to speak about your character.

Teachers - This isn’t the time to sit in the back of the class. You need to be assertive and ask questions. Don’t rely on a good grade to result in a good letter of recommendation. Personal relationships are worth far more. Reach out and get to know the people around you, especially if they are on your “letter writing radar”.

Counselors – This can be an incredibly instrumental letter writer – often the most important one. Unfortunately, in most cases, the counselor will have had very little face time with a student – particularly at a public school. Therefore, the student needs to work on and maintain this relationship. Students should approach their counselor early on in the process. Ask them what their school’s protocol is for letters of recommendation. Is there paperwork that needs to be filled out? Then, students should briefly check-in with counselor at least once a month (I call this “drip marketing” yourself) so that the counselor can see that you are a serious student and get to know you . Asking your counselor in the middle of admission season, if they have never seen you before is a “recipe for disaster”.

Engage in self-exploration and career exploration:  This is the perfect time to engage in self-exploration and career exploration.  You need to begin to get to know yourself, what you like to do, what you are interested in, and what careers are out there that you may enjoy.   Ask your guidance department if your school uses any college readiness tools, such as Naviance or Discover, that have personality inventories.  These types of programs help you evaluate your strengths, interests, and career options. Research-based assessments of work-relevant interests, abilities, and values help people explore career options that are a good match for them. These types of programs provide guidance and information to help people make important career and educational decisions.

Keep your grades strong:  At the beginning of freshman year, you have a blank slate in terms of your grades and your GPA.  Once you take your first quiz or test, you are just beginning to form your GPA.  You need to start getting serious about school (if you haven’t already) and really put some effort into studying for tests and acing your projects.  You have some control over your GPA at this point.  However, the farther along in high school you get, you lose this control.  Starting off right is critical.

Read often:  Read as much as you can.  Read the newspaper, magazines, online articles, read anything that interests you.  The more you read, the faster you will become and the more your vocabulary will improve.  This is essential in acing your college admissions tests (SAT/ACT) as well as having a successful high school and college career.

Begin visiting colleges:  Even if you have no idea what you want in a college, go visit some colleges in the area to get a feel for what they are like.  Go see a big school, a small school, a private school, and a public school.  Once you see a few different types of schools, you will have a better idea of what you want in a college and what will be a good fit for you.

Become (and stay) involved in extracurricular activities:  Colleges want students who will be valued contributing members of their community.  They want to see that you are involved at your high school.  You don’t need to be involved in 15 different activities.  Colleges want to see that you are involved in a couple of things and that you’ve been committed.  They’d rather see that you’re involved in 2 or 3 activities (clubs, sports, organizations, etc) and have been involved for all four years than having a list of 20 different clubs you’ve joined but just bounced from one to another throughout high school.

Discuss career and college options with your guidance counselor:  Again, you will want to develop and maintain a positive relationship with your guidance counselor.  Check in with them every so often to discuss colleges, career options, your interests, etc.  They are there to help you and you should speak with them MUCH more often than just to plan your class schedule.

Try to get a job or internship in a field you may be interested in: A job or internship 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 even have to work for free at first, but it might be worth it.

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 College Planning Strategies, 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 CPS and The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege