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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What the Top Colleges are Looking For

Harvard. Yale. Stanford. MIT. Just the names of these colleges and universities conjure images of elite learning, rich traditions, and exceptional opportunities. Many people believe a degree from a highly selective school is the ticket to a successful, rewarding life and career; as a result, competition to gain admission to these schools is, to put it mildly, fierce.

If you apply to a school with an acceptance rate below 20%, your application will land in a pool along with those of thousands of other kids who boast GPAs above 4.0 and SAT scores that are north of the 2000 mark. Apply to schools with acceptance rates below 10%, and you're being considered alongside other kids who appear to be more or less, well...perfect.

So, assuming you've got the exceptional  grades and test scores to put you in the running, what else are highly selective colleges looking for in potential students? How can you start preparing to be a competitive candidate long before it's time to complete those applications?

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Tips for Researching Colleges

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.

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Make the Most of College Campus Visits

All too often, prospective students and families invest time, money (and sometimes torturously long journeys) to make college visits, then leave having gained little more than knowledge of the campus map and the dining hall menu. Make the most of your campus visits and get the information you need to make informed decisions about whether or not a school is the right fit for you by planning ahead, taking advantage of campus tours, and then venturing off on your own.

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