Find Your Best Fit Colleges: Research, Research, Research!

With over 3,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. alone, students today have an almost overwhelming number of higher education choices to consider. When you first begin thinking about which schools might be good matches for your needs and goals, the possibilities might seem overwhelming. But if you develop a plan before you launch your research, you can minimize stress and keep your college search sane.

It's easier than ever to access information about colleges. Official websites, guidebooks, and online college resources like College Navigator, Unigo and Cappex offer many ways to learn about potential schools and explore whether they might be good fits for you.

If you have a list of things your future college must (or must not) have, such as a particular major or extracurricular, location or size) it can facilitate your search to use a search engine that will narrow down possibilities based on your criteria. The old standby, CollegeBoard, can be a good place to start.

Once you have this initial list, however, and you've narrowed it down to around 15 schools, your research should be anything but quick. It takes time and effort to learn about what a college has to offer, and even more time to reflect and assess thoroughly whether it is a place where you will thrive. As with most aspects of the college admissions process, be prepared for this step to take time--a LOT of time. Don't cut corners here, and you'll likely end up saving yourself time later on.

Your goal is to find 8-10 schools that will make your final applications list; 3 safety schools, 3-4 target schools, and 2-3 dream schools is a good mix. If possible, try to visit these campuses when school is in session to sit in on classes, check out the dorms and dining hall, and experience the unique atmosphere of each.

Be open-minded and thorough in your college search and take full advantage of the available resources in your research. It will pay off when you discover the college of your dreams.

Need suggestions about what to look for as you research? Check out these guidelines. 

College Degrees Abroad

Everyone has heard of studying abroad, which gives college students the opportunity to study in another country for a semester or a year. But what about earning your degree abroad? Growing numbers of American students are choosing to go overseas for their undergraduate educations, and while it isn't for everyone, the benefits might surprise you.

For one thing, it's cost effective. While the average tuition at a US college is currently $9,139 for in-state tuition at a public university, $22,958 for out-of-state tuition at a public university, and $31,231 at a private university, the average cost of an undergraduate degree in Europe is around $8,000. Add to that the fact that many students can complete a degree in less than four years, which further reduces costs. At some public universities, some universities are tuition free, even for international students.

But what is you don't speak a foreign language? Even in non-English-speaking countries, hundreds of European universities offer degree programs in English. They welcome American students who can enrich their student bodies and bring unique perspectives to the classrooms.

Even better, they don't all expect you to be a 4.8 student with a perfect SAT score. While you may have to meet specific requirements for admissions that differ somewhat from those of American universities, their requirements are often not as stringent, with many European universities not even requiring standardized test scores. In countries where education is considered a right, not a privilege, there is room for all types of students.

Of course, there are trade-offs, such as distance from family and the possible challenges of adapting to a new culture, but when you look at the pros (not to mention the opportunity to finally perfect another language!), earning a degree abroad might just be the smart college choice.

Want to learn more about college degree options overseas? Get in touch. 

Beyond APs

Like it or not, Advanced Placement high school classes are the new norm for college-bound students. Many believe that without a majority of AP classes on their transcript, they won't be competitive for highly selective colleges. Whether or not this is true, each year more and more kids take on more and more AP classes, often assuming workloads that cost them sleep and sanity.

AP classes are awesome. The offer academic rigor and the opportunity to study with a highly trained teacher alongside highly motivated and sharp peers. If you score a 3 or above on the AP test at the culmination of the course, you can earn college credit and, assuming a score of 5, demonstrate that you are more prepared the 80-90% of your classmates. When everyone is taking APs, are they still the best way to distinguish yourself and demonstrate that you are exceptionally well prepared to take on the challenges of college? What are the alternatives?

Community college courses are often overlooked by students, but they can be an excellent way to deepen your learning, demonstrate your initiative and intellectual curiosity, earn transferable college credit, and show that you have the skills and maturity to succeed in a college environment rather than just a high school classroom. With the approval of a high school administrator, almost every high school kid is able to register and take community college classes either to explore a personal interest or to get a head start on fulfilling lower-division college requirements. They are also a great option for kids who can't fit all of the high school classes they want to take into their schedule, who want to spread out their workload by taking courses over the summer, or who need to make up high school classes where they earned low grades or fulfill requirements they missed.

MOOCs (massive open online courses) are also an exciting opportunity for kids to learn new subjects beyond those offered by a traditional high school and to experience firsthand an actual course at Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, and many other universities. Designed to provide unlimited participation and open access to learning via the Web, MOOCs provide the chance to explore a vast array of subjects. In some cases, they can be taken for credit or a student can receive a certificate acknowledging course completion. But simply enrolling in and completing a course in a subject like Data Science (Johns Hopkins), Buddhism and Modern Psychology (Princeton), or Social Media Marketing (Northwestern) can show colleges that you are intellectually curious, self-motivated,and capable of taking on the rigors of a top university (in the often even more challenging virtual environment). You can check out the possibilities at Coursera, edX, and Udacity.

With so many ways to take your learning beyond the high school classroom, there's no reason to limit your learning to the AP curriculum. Take advantage of the AP classes that are right for you, but open your mind to the world of opportunities that are there for the taking.

Need help finding enriching learning experiences that don't involve an AP exam? Get in touch. 

Understanding the New Coalition Application

The Coalition Application is the brainchild of over 90 colleges and universities (including many elite and top-tier schools) who want to improve access to education for all students. This application, which encourages kids to be working on their colleges applications throughout grades 9 - 12, offers tools you won't find on the two existing private school applications, The Common Application and the Universal Application, such as the opportunity to collect classwork, art and music samples, and other materials to support future applications in an online "locker." Though all of the features of the application are still rolling out, the "locker" and essay prompts are now available.

It's likely that over 100 colleges will accept the Coalition Application as an option in the Fall of 2016, and some, including the University of Washington, will use it exclusively.

What are the pros and cons for students?
For some kids, the Coalition application process will be an opportunity to highlight their unique talents and educational accomplishments. It also might encourage the planning process throughout high school and enable them to demonstrate their interest in particular colleges earlier and with more detail.

On the downside, for kids who already feel like their entire high school experience is nothing but a breakneck race to college, the Coalition application might just be one more task to manage and one more thing to stress about. This might be especially true for kids in grades 10 and 11, who could feel like the game board they were beginning to understand was just upended beneath them: Should I use the Common Application or the Coalition Application? Do colleges (as they say) really have no preference? What if I don't have work saved from grades 9 and 10 to add to my locker? Will not doing it mean I can't get into (fill in the blank)?

There also seems to be no real plan for training high school counselors in using the Coalition application. Many of them are already busy trying to support students and families in using Naviance, another college planning tool which many high school have purchased to help families navigate the college process. And speaking of Naviance, will the new application interface with Naviance features like storing and uploading teacher recommendations (as it does with the Common Application), or will kids and teachers need to go though yet another process to add recommendations for Coalition schools?

It's early days and there are still many unanswered questions. Our hope is that the new application truly will improve access for underrepresented students and support all students in having a kinder, gentler application process that lets them truly show colleges who they are and what they have to offer. But at least for the near future, his new application will raise questions and, no doubt, stress levels, for students and the parents, teachers and counselors who are working to support them.

Understanding Financial Aid

No question about it, college is expensive. While there are still ways to make a college degree very affordable, these options are often impractical or undesirable for students and families, many of whom are looking not just for a college degree, but also a "college experience". For a lot of families, high college expenses translates to the need for financial aid. 

Financial aid comes in two main forms: Scholarships (based on merit or need) and loans (for the student, parents, or both). Families with lower incomes may also be eligible for federal grants.

For those at or above the middle-income threshold, scholarships are usually the best option to offset college costs. These days, the majority of scholarships that carry significant award amounts are given by the colleges themselves. Typically, students are considered for scholarships just by applying for admission. In some cases, colleges offer additional scholarships that require separate applications, so it is important to explore what is available. 

Outside scholarships are also available, though they usually carry smaller award amounts. Still, they can be worth applying for; if it takes an hour to write an essay for a $1,000 scholarship and you get it, you've just made $1,000 in an hour! Keep in mind, though, that many colleges reduce the amount of the loans and scholarships they offer if you receive outside funds. Check with the financial aid offices of the colleges you've applied to to learn about their policies. 

If you are applying for financial aid (and, in some cases, if you are hoping to receive just merit scholarships) you will need to submit the FAFSA, CSS Profile, or both. Check the financial aid pages of each school's website or contact their office to learn what is needed. Deadlines for these documents vary by college, but are usually in late January to mid-February. It is crucial that deadlines be met!

If you have a complex financial situation or feel more comfortable with professional financial aid guidance, there are many certified financial planners who specialize in financial aid. Most families, however, are able to navigate the process with a basic level of support. 

You can also find workshops and support in your community, often through your student's school or at the local library. Online webinars and resources are also available, including an upcoming series by Fred Amrein, a financial aid specialist who provides training to professional organizations for college consultants. Learn more here. 

Have questions about the financial aid process? I'm here to help. Get in touch and let's create a strategy to get the most out of your college dollars. 

Financial Aid Resources
Scholarship Search Engines

Fastweb

Cappex

Scholarship Monkey

Scholarships.com

College Board


Financial Aid Information

FinAid!
Forbes 2017 Guide to College Financial Aid

What You Don't Know About Financial Aid (But Should)

Tips for Successful Supplement Essays: The Why Us? Question

Carleton College

College application deadlines are coming...and they'll be here before you know it. If you're applying to private colleges and universities, by now you've probably finished the main Common Application essay and are facing (or trying not to face) the dreaded college supplements. Specifically that oh-so-difficult question so many colleges want the answer to: Why us?

Even if a school is your hands-down favorite, addressing this question can be daunting. It can be downright intimidating if the school is one you like but have never visited, or have just heard about through friends or relatives. So how should you respond when the colleges ask why?

First of all, understand why they are asking. It's not to hear about how awesome they are (because they know that already), but because they want to find out why you believe you and their college are a good match. They want to know what you're going to bring and what you expect them to give. To do this effectively, you need to research the college...and yourself.

If you've been able to go on a campus visit, great: you have a lot of material to draw from as you pull together your ideas. Even if you haven't, you can glean a wealth of information about a college on their website. Check out all kinds of things--the academic departments, special programs, campus life, sports, clubs, student publications, campus happenings, current research--and make notes about the things that genuinely excite you or that seem like things you need or want to have a successful, satisfying college experience. If you can come up with even three things that really speak to you, you've got enough to write your essay.

Next, think about who you are. Given what you've learned about the school in your research, can you really see yourself happily spending four years there? What do you think will get you jazzed or challenge you? What about you "fits" with the school and its culture? How can you see yourself being a part of its community?

When you start writing, be authentic. This is your chance to share what you know about their school in the context of who you are. Let your personality come through. It's perfectly fine to mention quirky things that appeal to you, as long as you are genuine in your discussion.

What should you avoid? Don't write about how beautiful the campus is. They know that. Don't write about how they offer an exceptional education. They know that, too. Don't write about their fabulous reputation. You get the idea. Your job isn't to kiss up to the schools by mirroring their wonderfulness back to them. It's to show them that the two of you are right for each other.

The why? questions are challenging, but they're also a great opportunity for you to really think deeply about why you are applying to the schools on your list. In the process, you may find that some go up on your list of preferences, and that others go down (or even drop off). The whys are a lot of work, but they're one more way (and an underrated one) to ensure you're making a great choice...and at the end of the college admissions process, that's really what it's all about.

2014 Top 12 Strengths & Experiences Colleges Look for in High School Students

The Independent Educational Consultants Association, IECA, today released the results of its annual survey of college admissions officers and professionals aimed at helping make the admissions process more transparent for students and families. The list is in keeping with the advice I give my clients: Work hard in rigorous classes (but don't fall prey to the "8 AP courses" insanity); pursue a few activities passionately and pursue leadership opportunities in those activities; be curious about life and learning; form connections with teachers who can speak to your strengths, challenges and intellectual curiosity in recommendation letters; write an honest, intriguing, kick-ass essay that no one else could ever have written; and don't be afraid to let colleges know how much you'd like to be part of their community.

In this morning's Webinar for IECA members to learn the details of the survey, some interesting new points were also made. For example:

Legacy is less important in admissions than it has ever been before. Even if your parents, your uncles, your aunts and 15 cousins all attended University of X, it won't get you in unless the colleges feels you are are good match for them and they are a good match for you.

Social media and electronic communication are viable ways to demonstrate your interest in a college. You might not be able to visit a campus or meet with an admissions rep in your area, but everyone can like their top colleges on Facebook and take the time to open the emails they send you. The downside of social media and college admissions has been highlighted in recent years, but apparently there is also an upside: They may be watching when you post unsavory photos of a keg party on your page, but they're also watching when you give them a "thumbs up".

Colleges are more interested than ever in your intellectual curiosity. Take every opportunity to show them the genuine interests and ideas that turn you on. Show them what inspires you by committing to related activities in depth and over time, by addressing interests in your essays, and by asking teacher and counselor recommenders to make this topic an element of their letters (assuming you have real, live intellectual curiosity for them to talk about).

See what else colleges and admissions professionals from around the world had to say:

2014 Top 12 Strengths & Experiences Colleges Look for In High School Students

SAT or ACT? Which Test is Best?

Like it or not, standardized test scores remain a factor in the admissions decisions of many colleges. Unless you are applying to "test optional" schools, you'll need to sit for either the ACT or the SAT as part of the admissions process.

The question is, Which test is best for you to take? Colleges are clear that they have no preference as to whether applicants submit the SAT or ACT (or sometimes scores from both), so how does a student decide? Will one land you a higher score than the other?

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New Common Application Essay Prompts

There's been a good deal of speculation, controversy and confusion about the Common Application's decision to change their essay topics and word limits. For several years now, the  six prompts, including an open-ended "topic of your choice" option, and unlimited word count have remained the same.

The waiting ended yesterday when the Common Application released its new essay prompts as well as the news that essays written for the 2013-14 admissions season and beyond will now be subject to a 650 word maximum, after which the essay will be cut off. The essay may be no shorter than 250 characters.

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Tips for Completing the Common Application

The 2012-13 Common Application went live on August 1. While the deadlines for most private colleges aren't until fall or early winter, the best time to get started on your application is right now. The following tips can help you complete your Common App accurately and with a minimum of stress.

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