Wednesday, March 21, 2012

What if Your Child Has Been Waitlisted?


Spring is in the air, the flowers are blooming, and we all know what that means (well at least those of us with high school seniors do) -- college decisions are arriving daily.  What if your student has been waitlisted at the school of his or her dreams?  Here are some tips for your teen:

  • Find out if the wait list is ranked and if so, what your position is.
  • Ask what percent of students have been accepted from the wait list in recent years. 
  • Ask about the college’s policies regarding financial aid and housing for students admitted from the wait list.  Will these services be available later on?
  • Try to find out what your application was lacking.
  • If you want to remain active on the wait list, return the reply postcard indicating your intention.  (You should not be asked for a deposit at this time.)
  • Write a letter to the dean of admissions affirming your desire to attend.  If it is your first choice, say so.
  • Include any significant new information in your letter, such as grades, awards, activities, or anything else that addresses areas that might have been initially lacking.
  • Ask your counselor to send a similar note conveying your enthusiasm and desire to attend.
  • Consider sending an additional recommendation from someone who knows you well
  • Don’t overdo it – restate your strong interest and provide relevant data, but don’t harass the admissions office.
  • Send your end-of-year grades if the wait list has not yet been closed.
  • Make sure you send a deposit to one of the colleges where you have been accepted to secure your spot. 
 
Typically, students are not notified that they have been accepted from the wait list until after May 1.  This is why you must send a deposit to another college or university.  This also means that if you are accepted from the wait list, you will most likely lose the deposit you already made to the other school.

Please note that the rate of acceptance from a wait list is often relatively low.  To see the wait list statistics for a particular school, visit CollegeBoard.  Search for the school, and click on the tab labeled “Applying.”

Remember, even if you are not admitted to your “dream” school, there are plenty of opportunities to have a great college experience!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Smart Phone Apps for College Bound Students


Are you or your student looking for college search or prep tools you can use on-the-go?!  If so, here are 3 mobile phone applications that will help you continue your progress even when you are away from your home computer or laptop.

ACT College Search App:  This smartphone app allows you to search over 2,000 colleges and universities. One of the features is a college search filter that enables you to create a college list based on such factors as location, type, major, size, admission requirements, and cost. Students can view basic information about each school, link to each school’s website, and save “matches” in a “favorites” file.

You Visit:  This smartphone app offers students and parents the opportunity to “visit” college campuses around the country without traveling.  In addition to virtual tours, you have the opportunity to learn about each school’s academic programs.

ACT Student App:  Much like their online test prep program, the ACT Student mobile app allows users to practice different portions of the ACT exam wherever they are.  Students can also view ACT registration and score information.

More and more colleges and universities are developing their own mobile apps to reach prospective students.  Some schools already have apps that allow students to contact the admissions office, get news, schedule campus visits, find other information, and even submit applications from their smartphones.  This is certainly a trend that is only likely to grow.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Spring Break is a Great Time to Visit Colleges



Does your teenager have a spring break coming up in March or April?  This is a great time to visit colleges and universities.  Your student doesn’t have to miss school, the weather is generally mild, and most colleges are still in session. You can incorporate some fun activities and excursions along the way, too.

To figure out where to begin, here are some tips on how to start developing a college list. 

College Search Engines

You can begin to identify potential schools with federal college search engines like College Navigator.  This is a massive database that allows you to search for schools based on certain criteria.  You can also look up information about a particular school, such as admission requirements, cost, financial aid, graduation rates, and more.  Other helpful search engines for creating a college list include CollegeData and CollegeBoard.

Special Lists of Colleges

Some colleges have been singled out for their ability to provide a unique approach to education.  Try Colleges That Change Lives and Colleges of Distinction for some ideas.  Inside College provides numerous lists based on a variety of characteristics. For a list of schools that provide a good value, check out Kiplinger’s Best College Values.

College Rankings

Although all rankings must be taken with a grain of salt, they do provide a starting point and can be used as one of many reference sources.  You have probably heard of the US News and World Report Rankings.  Another ranking list that uses a completely different methodology is Forbes’ list of America’s Top Colleges.

Student Reviews

You or your teen can get the inside scoop by reading reviews by actual students.  The two sites I recommend most are Unigo and College Prowler.

Searching by Major
 
If you or your teen want to know more about a particular major, or have a major in mind and want to find colleges and universities that offer a program of study for that major, try College Majors 101MyMajors, or CollegeBoard.  You can also consult the Book of Majors, published by CollegeBoard.

Guide Books

 A lot of great information can be found within standard reference guides such as the Fiske Guide to Colleges, Princeton Review’s Best 376 Colleges, and The College Handbook, which is published by CollegeBoard.  Your high school guidance office may have these books, or you can purchase them in bookstores or online.

About College Visits

Once you decide where you would like to visit, make sure to sign up in advance.  Some schools have limited spaces on any given day. Find out what visit options are available – information session, student-led tour, interview, open house, attend a class, or overnight stay with a student.  If you know someone who attends the school you are planning to visit, reach out for a personal tour or a conversation over coffee.   Think ahead about what questions you will ask.  If possible, look up the name of the admission representative for your high school and either introduce yourself when you are there or send a quick note after your visit.  And finally, have fun exploring the campus and surrounding community!