Why you should apply for financial aid no matter your family’s situation:

• Obviously, if you qualify for aid, apply.   
• If you’re unsure whether you qualify, apply for financial aid anyway.    
• And if you’re a high-income family, apply as well. You might make yourself eligible for merit-based scholarships.   

But if you want to get into the nitty gritty to understand more about risks and rewards of applying to college and asking for financial aid, read on! 

Does applying for financial aid hurt my admissions chances? 

This is a bit of a complicated question. The actual act of applying for financial aid should have absolutely no bearing on whether a student gains admission to just about any college. Admissions officers don’t simply look at the fact that you are applying for financial aid, assume that you will need lots of it, and then deny you admission.  

Rather admissions officers review your application based on your merits. If you’re a good candidate, they put you in the “accept” pile. So, you should feel free to check that box and send in your forms! Just applying for aid will not hurt you. If the college professes to be “need blind,” then you’re likely to sail through the rest of the process at this point and be awarded the financial aid you deserve.   

The situation is slightly different if you are applying to colleges that are not “need blind” (i.e. schools that consider your ability to pay in the admissions decision). At these “need aware” schools, your financial need could impact your ability to gain admission, especially if your grades and other credentials do not stand out. Think about it: if a school has only so much aid to hand out, to whom would they be most likely to give it?  Students with the best grades, test scores, and extracurricular achievements are likely to get the most money.   

Still, the prospect of not getting into a school should not stop you from applying for financial aid. If a certain college is not going to accept you because you need financial assistance, then you don’t want to attend that college anyway. You want to go to a school that you can get in and that your family can afford. 

Run a Net Price Calculator for Every College

Colleges are required to make online Net Price Calculators (NPC) available to the public. NPCs allow prospective students to input some basic financial information about themselves and then the NPC calculates approximately how much financial aid they are eligible for and how much it will consequently cost them to attend that school – the “net price”. Net Price Calculators can be found at a college’s website, and The College Board also provides an NPC for the hundreds of colleges that utilize its NPC tool. 

Beware that the NPCs provide only an estimate of your likely cost, and sometimes a very loose one at that. The information captured isn’t as thorough as on an actual financial aid application, and the NPCs don’t take into account either special circumstances or your potential eligibility for merit aid (which is based on student performance rather than financial strength). So, the output of the NPC is likely not what you expect to receive. 

Still, by going through the Net Price Calculator process for each school on your list, you’ll get a directional sense of what the school will cost you. The bottom line is that if finances are an issue when you are first considering where to apply consider your budget, school COA, and financial aid in the calculation. By doing so, you just may save yourself a little heartache and a whole lot of money. 

Read more about calculating the real cost of college in our blog post.

If my family makes too much money, will applying for financial aid hurt my college admissions chances? 

What if your family makes a high level of income and therefore is unlikely to qualify for financial aid? Would your admission odds decline by applying for financial aid? 

No. If the student is a compelling candidate, it is actually more likely that he or she will be accepted. The evidence provided in the financial aid forms will demonstrate your ability to pay. A well-qualified applicant who can pay full price is a highly desirable one for most colleges.   

There are two more reasons why a high net worth family might complete the financial aid forms: 

• First, completing the financial aid forms could be a requirement for a student to receive merit-based scholarships. Without the forms, you might leave money on the table and not receive a scholarship that you might otherwise deserve.   

• Second, completing the financial aid forms might make your family eligible for the Federal student loan program, thereby enabling you to borrow some money (albeit a relatively small amount). Some families like their kids to take out such loans as a way to ensure that the student has “skin in the game” and appreciates the value of a college education.   

The bottom line: colleges are expensive to run, and they need students who can pay full price. If you can show that you are able to fund your education, this could tip the admissions scales in your favor. If you are in this favorable position, it won’t matter whether you fill out the financial aid forms. 

Be aware of any potential funding gap 

One of the most misunderstood aspects of financial aid is that just because you qualify for need-based financial aid doesn’t mean you will receive everything you deserve from the colleges. Without getting into the details of where financial aid comes from, just remember that colleges’ financial aid budgets are not infinite. As businesses, they must protect the bottom line. They cannot give away more aid than what is available. 

While some schools have enough money to meet the full financial need of all accepted students, other schools do not have this luxury. These colleges try to stretch their budgets by spreading the aid around more thinly. The trouble with this is that the college’s budget limitations can have a very negative impact on your own family budget. What does this mean? 

A funding gap illustration

An example can clarify:

Let’s say that according to the FAFSA, you have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $20,000–meaning that your family should pay no more than $20,000 for college. Let’s also say that the cost of attendance is $60,000, including tuition, fees, room, board, insurance, travel, books, and a bit of spending money. 

So you would expect, since you have demonstrated financial need, that you would be given enough financial aid from a college to reduce your bill to no more than $20,000. This is the expectation. But the college is not obligated to meet that SAI. The college can give you a different offer. For example, it might say, “you’re accepted, but you will need to pay $40,000 to attend.” They are giving you $20,000 dollars in aid, and you should be able to pay (according to the FAFSA formula) $20,000. But the total cost, remember, is $60,000. 

This leaves you with a “gap” of $20,000.  How will you fill this gap? Most likely it will come from taking out loans. But loans are just your money, with the difference being that you will pay it back at a later date (and more of it, with the interest payments).  

But be careful! Too many loans can be a bad thing. Owing a ton of money upon college graduation can actually reduce or restrict your future opportunities. Paying off those loans must come before you do anything else, such as rent an apartment, buy a car, or take your significant other out for a nice dinner for your anniversary.  

So, really, will filling out the FAFSA hurt my college admissions chances? 

Our answer: if you qualify for aid, apply.  You need money to pay for college, so apply. If you are denied admission, then that means they didn’t find you a strong enough candidate for that school. But if you are accepted and are offered an aid package with a significant “gap” that will need to be filled through loans, turn your attention to more generous offers from other colleges. 

And if you’re not sure whether you qualify, apply anyway.  At the very least, you’ll make yourself eligible for federal student loans, which (in small amounts) could help ease the financial burden.  

And if you’re a high-income family, apply anyway. You might make yourself eligible for merit-based scholarships. You may also get access to those federal loans should you want to avail yourself of those.  

The bottom line is that no matter who you are, there are compelling reasons to check “YES” for financial aid and apply. Colleges won’t hold the fact that you applied for aid against you in the admissions process. 

And in the long run, the outcome of this process–when based on an honest assessment of your ability to pay for college–could help you much more than it could harm you. 

Need Help with the College Admissions Process?   

If you’re ready to start the college admissions journey, please contact us for a complimentary consultation. At Great College Advice, we provide personalized college consulting focused on helping make the process of preparing, selecting, and applying to college more successful, less stressful, and more fun.    

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.  

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With over 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other. 

The post Does Applying for Financial Aid Lower Your College Acceptance Odds? first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

A college education will probably be the first or second most expensive purchase that an individual will ever make over the course of his or her entire lifetime. Yet, most people will select an institution and either completely ignore the cost or not be aware of what the true cost of that school will be. Then, once they get accepted and have their heart set on one school or another, they find that the cost of education is far more than they expected. 

While it is true that a college education has gotten incredibly expensive for almost anyone, a huge contributing factor to skyrocketing student debt is that students are choosing to attend schools that they simply cannot afford. Students and families are compelled to take on significant loans to pay for these high-cost educational choices. And then find themselves in very challenging financial situations upon graduation. 

Instead of taking the “fire, ready, aim” approach to choosing a college, families should be much more measured with their tactics if they want to avoid being overwhelmed by college costs. 

How do I calculate the cost of college?

• Know your budget;
• Explore a lot of different colleges;
• Calculate the all-in cost of each school;
• Research the financial aid generosity of each college;
• Determine the likely financial aid package you’ll receive based on your income and assets.

How do I calculate the cost of college as an admissions factor?

Step 1: Know your budget 

Before you even consider applying to college, take stock of your family’s financial situation. Ask yourself, how much do I have available to spend for a college education, and how much am I willing to spend and sacrifice? Consider the future. What if something happens and you have a lot less money coming in once the student has started college (e.g., you lose your job, an expensive health issue crops up, etc.)? Will you still be able to fund college? Are there other family members who will also need to tap into the family’s finances in the future? 

Step 2: To assess the cost of college: Cast a broad net, initially 

Identify a number of schools that fit the student’s interests and academics. Don’t just choose one or two; find several. Even if the student thinks he or she knows the exact college where he or she wants to go, expand the search. First, there’s no guarantee that the student will get admitted to that school. Second, there’s no guarantee that the school will fit your budget. By finding many schools that could be a good match for the student, you will increase your chances of putting together a list of schools that you can afford. 

Step 3: Explore the fully loaded cost of college 

You cannot assume that the price of college will be “about the same” irrespective of where you attend. From one college to the next costs will vary tremendously. Where do you find information on school costs? What is meant by “fully loaded” costs? Schools will generally provide tuition information on their websites. Many schools will include what is called an estimated Cost Of Attendance (COA), too. 

The COA represents an approximation of your fully loaded cost, and will usually include: 

• Tuition 

• Room and Board 

• School Fees 

• Books and School Supplies 

• Travel 

• Personal Expenses 

Visit each school’s website that your child is interested in, and if the school provides an estimated COA use it as a starting point to calculate your costs. You need to figure out what your actual outlay is likely to be based on your own individual circumstances. Schools use an average number to figure costs like travel and personal expenses, but you should try to be more exact.  

For example, if the student will be bringing a car to campus, the school will not add car-related expenses into their COA calculation. But you should put it into yours. In short, project how the student will be living while attending college and tally up all the costs associated with that lifestyle. 

Step 4: Investigate the financial aid generosity of each school 

Not all schools are created equal when it comes to their financial aid generosity. Some will meet full financial needs while others won’t. Some schools will be very generous with merit aid for those who don’t meet the criteria for need-based aid. And others will only provide merit aid to a select few. 

To figure out just how generous a school is with their aid, a good source is College Data. Click on the College Search tab where you can search by a specific school name which then presents a Facts & Information page for that school. Click on the Financials tab of this section which reveals what percentage of financial need was met at that college, how much it provided in need-based and merit aid, and how many students were awarded aid for the most recent year available. 

By looking at this information for each of the schools of interest, you can get a good sense of how generous a school is and whether you might have a shot at getting some aid. 

Step 5: Assess your likelihood of receiving financial aid to reduce the cost of college 

You know your budget. Also, you know what your finances look like. You know what the cost of college is. You know the typical aid packages offered by the schools on your list. But, you still don’t know what each college on your list is actually going to cost you.  Will you qualify for financial aid and bring down the COA? While you can’t get a definitive answer about your costs before you apply and actually get admitted to a school, you can get a reasonable approximation of how much a college education will cost you at a given school. 

Colleges are required to make online Net Price Calculators (NPC) available to the public. NPCs allow prospective students to input some basic financial information about themselves and then the NPC calculates approximately how much financial aid they are eligible for and how much it will consequently cost them to attend that school – the “net price”. Net Price Calculators can be found at a college’s website, and The College Board also provides an NPC for the hundreds of colleges that utilize its NPC tool. 

Beware that the NPCs provide only an estimate of your likely cost, and sometimes a very loose one at that. The information captured isn’t as thorough as on an actual financial aid application, and the NPCs don’t take into account either special circumstances or your potential eligibility for merit aid (which is based on student performance rather than financial strength). So, the output of the NPC is likely not what you expect to receive. 

Still, by going through the Net Price Calculator process for each school on your list, you’ll get a directional sense of what the school will cost you.
The bottom line is that if finances are an issue when you are first considering where to apply consider your budget, school COA, and financial aid in the calculation. By doing so, you just may save yourself a little heartache and a whole lot of money. 

Need Help with the College Admissions Process?  

Figuring out the likely all-in cost of college at specific universities can be very complex. As part of our comprehensive packages, we help families assemble a well thought out college list that takes into account any financial aid considerations. So, please contact us for a complimentary consultation. At Great College Advice, we provide personalized college consulting focused on helping make the process of preparing, selecting, and applying to college more successful, less stressful, and more fun.   

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.  

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With over 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other.

The post How to Calculate the Cost of College first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

Almost always, the college will quote a higher rate of acceptance for Early Decision. This higher acceptance rate certainly makes Early Decision seem like a more favorable path for a student to take. But sometimes, the admissions officers leading the information session will try to explain why it’s actually NOT easier to get into Early Decision. How can this be?

Should I Apply Early Decision? It depends…

Well, it depends upon your interpretation of what “easier” means. And for whom. And of course, every school has a slightly different way of explaining it.

The explanation I’ve heard most frequently is that schools do not lower their admissions standards for Early Decision candidates. So, if you wouldn’t be qualified for admission as part of the Regular Decision pool, then applying early won’t give you a leg up on getting admitted. What do I mean by qualified? Some combination of GPA, course rigor, activities, and essay quality that is at least comparable to a typical applicant.

To put it bluntly, an unqualified ED candidate is the same as an unqualified RD candidate. Neither will gain admission.

ED Acceptance Rates Can be Inflated

Some schools will also explain–when pressed–that the  Early Decision acceptance rate is somewhat inflated. This is due to the fact that recruited athletes tend to appear in the ED applicant pool. So some smaller schools with a high percentage of recruited athletes (like Amherst or Bowdoin, for example), may accept large numbers of athletes in the early decision round, which then pumps up the acceptance rate for ED in a way that does not reflect the chances acceptance for the non-athlete.  

However, some universities, like Notre Dame, are asking their athletes not to apply early, but to apply in the regular decision round. Thus non-athletes applying in the restrictive early action round are not competing for slots with athletes.  

And at Georgetown, everything seems to be backwards:  the Early Decision round is purported to be more competitive and admissions more selective.  So it’s actually more difficult to get in if you apply ED to Georgetown.

The fact is that the answer to the question, “is it easier to get in if you apply Early Decision?” depends a lot on which college we’re talking about, and whether you are a desirable candidate for that school both generally (do you exceed the minimum sort of profile of accepted students?) and specifically (Do you have a hook? e.g., are you a fencing recruit?). 

This is always a problem with using statistics as a guide for calculating your chances of admission.  Statistics aggregate all candidates and give you an average acceptance rate for the entire pool of applicants.  The statistic does not measure YOUR individual chances of admission. 

If you’re a qualified candidate, will it be easier to get in if you apply Early Decision?

Does applying for Early Decision help you? Applying Early Decision tells a college that it is your top choice school. This certainly won’t hurt your candidacy! The college knows that it can count on you to be part of their student body. And this helps them to manage their overall admissions numbers.

The more students they know are coming based on the Early Decision option, the more sure they are that the incoming class will be full. Colleges have budgets to meet, and ED applicants are paying customers who make a promise to attend. Colleges like this predictability.

Therefore, schools are more and more inclined to admit a larger percentage of their incoming class from the Early Decision pool — as long as they are qualified! The greater the number of students who are admitted to Early Decision, the fewer slots are left for Regular Decision applicants. Given the astronomical application numbers at some of the more popular colleges and universities, ED can give you slight edge if you are a qualified candidate.  

If you’re applying for Regular Decision, and the number of spots is limited because so much of a class has already been admitted to Early Decision, then it stands to reason that your odds of acceptance may not be as great as if you had applied ED.

Early Decision and the manipulation of admissions statistics

Colleges know that many parents (and students) care about the perceived selectivity of a school. Many view a low admissions rate (again, the percentage of applicants who receive an offer) and high yield rate (the percentage of those accepted who actually attend) as proxies for the quality of a college, rightly or wrongly.  

Yield rates historically have varied considerably.  Harvard’s yield rate hovers around 85%, meaning that the vast majority of those who are accepted choose to attend (but note that 15% of accepted students decide to go somewhere else!). Other colleges and universities have had much lower yield rates.  About 10 years ago, Tulane had a yield rate of around 25%, meaning Tulane had to accept four students just to get one student to attend. 

But then Tulane got smart. The admissions folks calculated that if they accepted the majority of their class in the early decision round–in which the “yield rate” is 100%–then they could push that statistic higher. Today, Tulane’s yield rate is around 40%.

Now many other colleges are following suit by accepting larger and larger percentages of their incoming classes in the Early Decision rounds.

Early Decision 2 complicates things further

Colleges have approached the marketplace with yet another strategy to help them improve their statistics.  By implementing a second round of early decision, they can continue to lift their yield rate and drive down their overall admissions rate.

Many private colleges now have a second Early Decision round that allows students who are unsuccessful at their first choice college to give the same sort of promise to attend to their second choice college. Some universities (like Tulane) play the game of encouraging qualified RD applicants to enter into the ED2 pool. 

And the colleges win. They manage their budgets more easily, they drive up their overall yield rate, and they drive down the acceptance rate in the Regular Decision round–all of which serve the interests of the colleges.

Whether it serves the interests of an individual student sort of depends on your perspective.  

In any case, how should you–as an applicant–play this game?

So, is it easier to get in if you apply Early Decision?  

Kind of. Sort of. Maybe. Maybe not. If your credentials aren’t up to snuff for the school, then whether you apply Early or Regular Decision will make no difference. While miracles do happen, they happen extremely rarely. If you don’t have the grades, don’t have the academic rigor, and don’t have the test scores, then the marginal benefit of applying early won’t help you . You’d be better off applying early to a school where you are squarely in the middle of their accepted student profile. 

On the other hand, if you’re an excellent candidate for the school, then applying Early Decision may increase somewhat your odds of being accepted, though by how much is impossible to predict. Much depends on the admissions practices and priorities at individual universities. 

Where do you stand? How many applicants are you up against? Are you more or less qualified? It’s difficult to know. 

The bottom line is that you should not apply Early Decision to a school simply because you believe it will improve your chances of acceptance. Go early only if the school is by far your top choice.

Ask yourself, “If I got in everywhere else that’s on my list, would I still choose to go to this school?” If you can answer “yes” to this, then Early Decision is for you.

Need help deciding if you should apply Early Decision or Early Decision 2?

Are you still struggling to calculate your chances of getting in Early Decision? Are you unsure whether applying early is a good strategy for you? The expert counselors at Great College Advice routinely help their students navigate the complex application deadlines to tailor decisions that make the most sense for each individual student.  It’s one thing to get some general advice. But if you want some Great College Advice that takes your personal interests to heart, then contact us for a free consultation.  We’d be happy to talk to you.

Andrea Aronson
Educational Consultant, Westfield, NJ

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.  

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With over 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other. 

The post Is It Easier to Get In If You Apply Early Decision? first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

A good or bad alumni interview alone may not seal your fate with respect to college admissions. However, it can be the thing that tips the scale one way or the other if the admissions office is unsure of your candidacy. The more selective college receive tens of thousands of applications from qualified applicants each year, and they only have a limited number of spots to fill in their freshman class. 

What this means is that they are looking for reasons to deny applicants. So, you want to put your best foot forward in every aspect of your application, and that includes the alumni interview.

After years of alumni interviewing, talking to kids from various parts of New Jersey, I’ve seen it all. And, let me tell you, sometimes it ain’t pretty! Some students have left me incredibly impressed. While others have left me wondering why they were even bothering to apply to my alma mater.

Interviewing is an art, but it’s an art that can be learned with some common sense and practice.

So here is our insiders guide to the alumni interview do’s and don’ts:

• Don’t blow off the interview;
• Be on time;
• Dress appropriately;
• Make eye contact with the alumni interviewer;
• Be energetic and positive;
• Research the school ahead of time;
• Prepare questions;
• Write a thank you note

Here’s a list of alumni interview do’s and don’ts to help you prepare

Don’t blow off the interview

Even though you may think that the alumni interview isn’t an important piece of the application. If an alumni interviewer reaches out to you to arrange an interview, go for it. And, once arrangements have been made, be sure that you show up! I once had confirmed an interview with a student, and then the student never appeared. He didn’t call or email me to explain. 

He was a complete no-show! Needless to say, the student wasn’t admitted. He finally did contact me after admissions decisions came out and asked me why he hadn’t been admitted. I didn’t have an answer for him because, truly, I didn’t know. Alumni interviewers aren’t privy to the rest of the student’s application. But, I do know that blowing off the interview with me didn’t help his cause!

Be on time

I can’t tell you the number of times that a student has shown up tardy to one of my interviews. This is not only rude, but it gives the interviewer a negative impression of you from the start. Alumni are volunteering their services to interview you, so you should be respectful of them and their time. You probably have a grace period of about ten minutes after the start of your interview time to show up. If you are going to be much later than this. CALL the interviewer to let them know that you are running late and give them an approximate time of when you will arrive.

Dress appropriately

When going to your alumni interview, you don’t need to wear a suit and tie if you’re a male or fancy outfit if you’re a female (though you may want to dress in this fashion for an on-campus interview), but you should dress neatly and conservatively. This means no flip-flops, no t-shirts, no jeans, and no tank tops. Think business casual. 

While not all interviewers will have an issue with a more “relaxed” outfit, some certainly will, and you just don’t know whom you’ll be talking to. By dressing appropriately, you’ll show your interviewer that you are taking the discussion seriously.

Looking for questions that might be asked in the alumni interview? Click here.

Make eye contact with the alumni interviewer

More than likely, you will be somewhat nervous when you go in for your interview. But this shouldn’t mean that you spend your time talking to the floor, or the window, or the table! By making eye contact, you will show the interviewer that you are engaged in the discussion and that you have the poise and maturity necessary to attend their school.

Want to learn more about how you can nail the college admissions interview? Watch this video.

Be energetic and positive

Attitude and mood are infectious. If you are upbeat and have lots of energy, your interviewer will feed off of this, and you will have a better interview. Remember that nobody likes a whiner. Even if you have nothing good to say about a subject that you are discussing with your interviewer, find a nice way of discussing it. For example, don’t say how much you hate the kids in your high school because they’re all a bunch of idiots, and you can’t wait to get the heck out of the school. 

Instead, talk about how much you’re looking forward to going to college and meeting up with new people who have common interests to yours.

Think about what you want the school to know about you.

Don’t go into your alumni interview cold. Give some thought to what points you want to make during your interview, and then figure out a way to introduce those things during the course of your discussion. Prepare by making a simple list ahead of time, and by looking at possible interview questions (see my earlier post here) and coming up with some possible answers. Thinking through your story ahead of time will help you to be more at ease during the discussion.

Research the school ahead of time

Before you head into the alumni interview, know what the school offers and why you want to go there. I’m not talking about general stuff, like where it’s located or how big it is. I’m talking about programs of study and what makes that school unique. By being able to show the interviewer that you’ve done your homework and that you have a real reason why you want to go there besides the school being a “brand name,” you’ll be three steps ahead of most interviewees.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve asked a student why they think that my alma mater is the right place for them, and they respond. “Because Hanover is beautiful, and I really like the outdoors!” Shallow responses lead me to believe that the interest in my school is pretty shallow, too.

Prepare questions 

Hand in hand with researching the school, be sure to come into the interview with some meaningful questions for the interviewer. A caveat about alumni interviews:  most alumni to whom you will be speaking will not have attended the school for many years. That means that they may not know much in the way of current information about the school. Asking them questions about that new, cool double major that’s just been introduced will probably not get much of a response.

Instead, you can always ask alums about their experience at the school. What was their favorite aspect of their time there?

Don’t be arrogant

Even if the school for which you are interviewing is not your top choice, don’t ever let the interviewer know it. Alumni interviewers volunteer their time because they are loyal to and love their alma maters. They don’t want to hear that their school is your “safety”. On the other hand, you don’t need to tell them that it’s your top choice, either (though you can, if it is). You simply need to be enthusiastic about the prospect of going to their school if you get accepted. After all, if you’re not enthusiastic, then why are you applying there in the first place?

Write a thank you note

In the age of email, it’s easy to write an immediate thank you to your interviewer before the alum even gets a chance to write up their recommendation about you. Yet, most students neglect to take this simple step in the alumni interview. A thank you note is not only a common courtesy that will be welcomed by your interviewer. But it’s another opportunity to “sell” yourself and reinforce to the interviewer why you want to go to their alma mater and why you are a good fit.

In your note, you should reference part of your conversation to help to further personalize the message.

No doubt, an alumni interview can be scary and intimidating. But with some preparation, you will find that it can actually be an enjoyable experience!

Andrea Aronson
College Admissions Counselor
Westfield, NJ

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.  

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With over 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other. 

The post How to Prepare for the College Alumni Interview first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

Because of the increasing number of applicants, more and more colleges are starting to tap their network of alumni to conduct prospective student interviews in place of on-campus interviews. As an alumni interviewer for my undergraduate alma mater — Dartmouth College — for many years now, I want to provide you with a first-hand peek into the process. This post gives you a full list of alumni interview questions. 

I’ll start by saying that every college prepares its interviewers slightly differently. Some give loose guidelines about how to approach the discussion with the student while others provide far greater specificity in what the interviewer is supposed to do and ask. 

Further, depending on the location in which you are interviewed, the volunteer alumni interviewers may have more or less training in how to successfully interview candidate for admission. 

In all cases, however, the goal of the interview is to humanize the application process. Understanding what makes a student unique can be very difficult to glean from the black and white pages of an application. The interview can shed light on how a student thinks and interacts thereby presenting the real, whole person, not just words on a page. 

Need more info on how to prepare for the alumni interview? Click here. 

How does the interviewer get to understand the whole person during the interview? By asking lots of questions, of course! Interviewers may try to explore many different aspects of the student’s world from academics to extracurriculars to personal life to future plans to level of interest in the college. 

So, what kind of alumni interview questions can students expect when they sit across the table from me? Here are some examples: 

Alumni Interview Questions About Academics/High School Experience 

• Tell me what courses you’ve taken and if you have a favorite or least favorite one. If you do, why is it your favorite/least favorite subject? 

• What do you think are the strengths/weaknesses of your high school? 

• If you had to go back and do your high school experience all over again, what would you change and why? 

• Do you have a favorite teacher? If so, why is he/she your favorite?  What makes the teacher good? 

• Have you encountered a particular academic challenge during your years in high school? If so, what was it and how did you handle it? 

• Is there something that you will always remember from your high school experience? 

• If you could create your own course in high school, what would it be and why is it of interest to you? 

• Tell me about a particularly “hot” issue that has arisen in your high school and your thoughts on it. 

• If your teachers were to describe you to me, what words would they use? 

• Can you discuss a project or paper that you were particularly proud of during your high school career? 

• What are you doing to challenge yourself either in school or out of school? 

• Name a book you’ve read recently outside of school. Did you like it/dislike it? (Note: this is one of the most common alumni interview questions). 

Extracurriculars and Interests 

• What are your most notable interests and hobbies, and how are you pursuing them? 

• What activities are you involved in at school? Which are the most important to you? 

• What have you personally gotten out of your involvement in your activities? 

• Do you have what you would consider to be any particularly unique interests? 

• Are there any accomplishments that you are particularly proud of with respect to your activities? 

• How have you spent your summers while in high school? 

Alumni Interview Questions About Personal Life 

• How would you describe your hometown? 

• Tell me about your family. 

• What words would your friends use to describe you? 

• What is your most embarrassing moment? 

• Tell me what 3 books I’d have to read to get a better sense of who you are. 

• Talk about an ethical dilemma that you’ve faced and how you’ve handled it. (Note: This is one of those alumni interview questions that also can appear as an essay question on the application). 

• If you had one year and unlimited funds, what would you do? 

• How do you want people to remember you? 

• If you had a weekend with absolutely nothing scheduled, how would you spend your time? 

• What’s your opinion on (a current event)? 

• What would you change about yourself? 

• Do you have a “bucket list”? What are some things about it? 

• Do you have a hero/heroine? If so, who and why do you hold him/her in such high esteem? 

College/Future Plans 

• How would you contribute to life on a college campus? 

• What are you looking forward to most about college? 

• Do you have an idea about what you would like to major in? 

• What would you like to do after college? 

Alumni Interview Questions About School Interest 

• If you were standing in front of the admissions committee, what would you tell them to convince them to admit you? What makes you unique? 

• Describe the kind of college environment you are looking for. 

• Why are you interested in my school? 

• Why do you think that my school is a good fit for you? 

• What have I not told you that you want to know about the school? (a.k.a. What questions do you have for me?) 

While you can’t anticipate every question that an interviewer might ask, the questions above give you a good sampling of areas that your interviewer might explore. Spending some time pondering these alumni interview questions can go a long way to preparing yourself before you have your interview. 

Andrea Aronson 

College Admissions Advisor, Westfield NJ 

Ready to get started with the college admissions process?

The team at Great College Advice has deep experience in guiding students along the road from high school college. We provide individually tailored, one-on-one advising to help students achieve their college dreams. If you’d like more information about our services, contact us for a free consultation. Or just pick up the phone and call us at 720.279.7577.  We’d be happy to chat with you.

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.   

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With nearly 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other. 

The post What to Expect in Your College Alumni Interview first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

If you are going through the college application process, more than likely you are encountering supplemental essay questions asking you to elaborate on why you want to attend that institution. The question takes many forms: Why are you a good fit? What will you bring to our campus? What is it about our school that makes you want to attend? But, ultimately, it’s really the same question just asked in a different way: “Why this college?” 

In my line of work as a college advisor, I read a lot of these essays, and I can say that I see many weak attempts at answering this question. Students seem to fall into the same “traps” every time. So, in this article, I’m going to cover the do’s and don’ts of writing a great response to the “Why our college?” question. Follow my advice, and it should lead you to an essay that will stand out to admissions officers.

Do your homework and research schools in advance and take notes. Your ‘why this college?’ essay should contain the following:

• Take clues from how the question is asked: some may focus more on your major or may focus on leadership;
• Explain why you want to spend the next 4 years of your life being involved in intellectual and academic pursuits;
• Discuss how and why you fit at that school;
• Give examples how you plan on getting involved;
• Be specific.

Getting Started: Do Your Homework 

“Why do you want to go to this college?” I ask. 

“I dunno.” 

You’d be surprised at how often I engage in this little snippet of conversation. Often young people settle on a college choice without much thought. Maybe it’s close by. Maybe it’s famous. Or perhaps Mom and Dad have pushed the college. Maybe it’s where your friend attends, or where your boyfriend wants to go. 

But this essay forces you to really think about why you want to go—and to present your reasons in an essay. 

So the first thing you must do before you start writing is to know the answer to the question: “Why this college?” 

One of the ways to do this is to sort of reverse-engineer your choice. You need a list of criteria that drives your college choice. So if you find yourself at a loss to come up with solid, rational reasons, perhaps have a look at this article about how to choose a college based on such criteria.  

Once you have this solid list in hand, then you can begin to craft your response to the “Why this college” essay. 

Construct a template for the Why This College essay 

If you have carefully thought through the basic criteria for all the colleges to which you will be applying, and if you have carefully selected colleges that fit those general criteria. Then you can begin to build a generic framework for answering this question. 

What follows is a list of “dos” and “don’ts” for answering the “Why this college” essay prompt. 

The Why This College Essay DOs: 

DO take clues from how the question is asked 

Since these questions all fall into the same category of “Why do you want to go to our school?”, it’s easy to simply just answer it with that particular question in mind. But you should read the question carefully because each college will have a slightly different angle on it. You want to be sure that you are answering all aspects of the question. Sometimes, colleges will give you clues as to what they are looking for in how they phrase the question, and this can help you develop ideas on how to answer it. 

DO explain why you want to spend the next 4 years of your life there being involved in intellectual and academic pursuits 

While this tip may sound like a no-brainer, you’d be amazed at how many students forget to mention the academic reasons that attract them to the school. Instead, they focus on all kinds of other things: awesome sports teams, a beautiful quad, or a killer climbing wall. But aren’t you going to college to get an education, first and foremost? 

Think about and research the educational opportunities that are offered at the school. Why are they an academic fit with who you are, how you learn, what you have done, and what you are interested in pursuing? Think about the general curriculum of the degree, the structure of your intended major, and other academic resources that attract you (e.g., specific research facilities, academic centers, specialized libraries, and/or study abroad). 

You don’t have to know what you want to major in to include this in your essay. In fact, if you are undecided, it’s okay to talk about that, but then consider: what does that school have to offer you to help you explore and decide? 

DO discuss how and why you fit at the school 

Schools want students on their campus who are going to be happy and successful. Just as every student is different, so is every college, and admissions offices want to be sure that you understand what their school is all about before you land on their campus. After all, if you get there and you don’t fit in, you’re not going to be happy. 

What do I mean by “fit?” For example, say you are applying to a school with a student body that is known to be significantly involved in community service. And this is something that you yourself have been a part of while in high school. Talk about that. What if you are looking for a school with a lot of spirit? Because that’s something that you didn’t have in your own high school experience? You can discuss that. Whatever aspects of a school are attractive to you, be sure to back them up with personal reasons. 

DO give examples of how you will get involved at college and have an impact on campus 

Colleges are all about building an academic community. with the key word being “community.” That means that they don’t just want students who are going to go to class, go home, and not contribute to the life of the campus. Colleges and universities are just pieces of real estate: it takes people to animate them and give them the vibrancy that probably attracts you. 

College admissions people are looking for givers. They are looking for individuals who will enliven the campus. So, tell them how you plan to get involved. 

Think about the activities you enjoy. How will you continue those activities on campus? Show the admissions committee that you envision yourself in that same activity once you get to college. For example, if you enjoy making ceramics, give them a vision of how you—as a political science major—will spend time in the pottery workshop firing your work in the university kiln. 

Also, think about the activities you’d like to try. Explain why this new activity interests you and present a detailed vision of how you’ll get involved. For example, perhaps you live in Florida but your chosen college is in a snowy locale. Give an image of yourself rollicking in the drifts and engaging in winter sports wearing a puffy parka. Show the admissions folks that you are excited by the possibilities of your new “home.” 

DO be specific 

I cannot stress this enough. Above, I suggested topics that you should try to cover in your essay. With each of these, you must get specific, specific, specific. And did I mention that you have to get specific? So, discuss some classes that intrigue you. Find a professor who focuses on your area of interest and mention her work. Talk about particular clubs and activities where you could see yourself contributing. Name the academic center or the name of the swimming pool. 

Highlight things that impress you about the campus and make you want to go there. Touch on interactions that you make with students, staff, or alumni of the school. Name names. Let the college know that you are really interested in attending their particular institution by showing them that you know about and are interested in specific things. 

As I said before, you need to do your homework and tailor your essay to each college. While the structure of the “Why this college” essay may be the same from college to college. The substance of the essay must be highly specific to each college on your list. 

DO your research 

Before you ever start typing your response to this essay question, know what you are talking about. Spend some time on the college’s website so that you truly understand what the school has to offer you. And why you really should want to go there. Check out what the college prides itself on. Look at the course offerings. Be clear on how the curriculum works. Educate yourself on the extra-curricular opportunities. The only way you can get specific (see bullet point above!) is to do your research. 

The Why This College Essay DONT’s: 

DON’T focus on superficial aspects of the school 

Oh, how many essays have I read that have talked about how great the food looked in a college’s cafeteria? C’mon. Is that really a reason that you want to go to a certain school? Even if it is, that shows a shallowness of thought that you probably don’t want to reveal to the college of your choice. You must gear your essay to discuss more meaningful aspects. Common pitfalls when it comes to these more “superficial” topics are: 

School Setting and/or Geographic Location 

Students spend a good chunk of their essays focused on a school’s setting or geographic location. They simply talk about the location without either making it about the school or about themselves. (“And the University of XYZ is located right in the heart of ABCity, which I love so much!”) While the setting is, of course, an integral part of the school, when the student makes this the crux of their reason for attending. It sounds like the student just wants to get to that location. 

Regardless of the school itself, it’s perfectly fine to talk about the location and have that be a reason. But as with any other aspect of your essay, you need to make your discussion personal and relevant to you. (“I love the fact that the University of XYZ is located in the heart of ABCity because I’m a musician myself who loves listening to all types of music from show tunes to jazz. I would really enjoy getting a chance to go to the many different types of musical performances that I’ll find there.”) 

College Reputation 

A college’s reputation is NOT a good reason to say you want to go there. That says nothing about you nor why you are fit for it. On the other hand, if you can back it up with specific examples of why that reputation was earned, and its relevance to you, then go for it. For example, you could say, “I’m excited about the prospect of studying engineering at U of XYZ, which has attracted top-notch faculty, such as Prof. Prizewinner who teaches engineering in my area of interest.” 

DON’T just compliment the school 

“U of XYZ is by far the best place on earth! It has the most intelligent and motivated students anywhere! Your study abroad programs are like no other!” Most colleges are proud of their institutions, and they should be. But, let’s face it, none of them is a utopia. Unfortunately, you sound completely fake when you make sweeping, superlative statements about the school without also being able to support your claim. 

While you absolutely should be enthusiastic and think very highly of the schools you are applying to, and you should tell them. So, a better approach is to complement the school in the context of yourself. 

For example, if you want to study abroad, and the college has a strong offering in that area, that can be one of the main reasons that you are attracted to it. Then discuss a particular program they have that might appeal, And, explain why it excites you and why you feel it’s so top-notch. Remember, specificity is always best. 

DON’T waste words telling them what they already know 

Often, when students do get specific about particular courses, programs or activities that they are interested in at a given school. They spend the majority of their writing focusing on describing and explaining it. Well, guess what? The school already knows what that class, program, or activity is all about because it’s their class, program, or activity! Don’t waste your precious words. Spend your prose making it personal. Discuss how those courses, programs, or activities fit with who you are and what you want to accomplish. 

Yale changed its ‘Why Yale?’ essay prompt for this very reason, so applicants would write more about themselves rather than Yale.

DON’T write a “Plug and Play” essay 

A “Plug and Play” essay is one where you submit the exact same essay to each school that asks the question. Then you only change up a couple of small details, one of which is the college’s name. If you are applying to several schools, the “Why Our School?” question is one that you will probably have to answer multiple times during your application season. So the appeal of doing a “plug and play” is obvious. I do not, however, recommend this approach. 

Experienced admissions readers know a mostly generic “plug and play” essay when they see one. And it does not cast a favorable light on the student. It leaves the impression that the student didn’t have enough interest in the college to take the time to understand the school or to write an essay that was based on the unique things about that institution. 

It’s okay to reuse the same themes about yourself from one essay to the next so that you don’t have to completely reinvent the wheel. But you absolutely should tailor the essay to the individual school that you are writing about. Also to be genuine about the reasons that you are interested in that particular institution. 

DON’T go too broad when you have only a few words 

The length requirements for the “Why our college” essay cover a range. Some ask for just a few characters, while others have no restrictions. The most common maximum length requirements, however, seem to be in the 150-300 word range. I’ve recommended a lot of things that you should consider covering when you write this essay. But how do you do that when you only have a little bit of space to do it in? 

In a word: focus. Don’t try to do it all. Instead, pick one or two things that appeal to you about the school. Then drill down on just those things. Better to go deep than wide so that you can really make the argument, at least on one level. Why you and that institution are the right fit. 

Conclusion – the Why This College Essay 

Combining the dos and don’ts of writing the “Why our college?” essay will help you to strategically approach developing a truly strong piece of writing. While trying to incorporate all of these strategies into your writing may seem a little scary (and, of course, we are always here to help!), remember that the goal of any piece of writing that you do for a college application is to allow the admissions office to understand more about you, who you are, and what makes you tick. 

Great College Advice Guide to Supplemental Essays

• See our guide to why supplemental essays are important;
• See our post with tips on the college supplemental essay about your academic interests;
• See our recommendations on the ‘community’ supplemental essay;
•  See our guide to the ‘Extracurricular or Activity’ supplemental essay.

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With nearly 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other.

The post How to Write a Great ‘Why This College?’ Essay first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

There are lots of reasons why applicants might want to submit more than one version of the Common App.  

However, there are many situations in which you do NOT need to make an entirely new version of the Common Application.  Let’s look at those first.

Don’t make a new version of the Common App because you made a mistake 

If you submit a version of the Common App to one college and then you discover that you made some sort of error on that application, you don’t need to completely start over with a new version. Email the college to which you sent the mistake and explain what happened and ask–very nicely, without whining, and with great humility–if the admissions officer can simply update your file with the correction. Everyone knows that mistakes can happen, and admissions officers are generally fairly understanding in this sort of circumstances. It’s always better for you to catch your own mistake and alert the admissions office of it.  To leave the admissions office to discover the mistake would leave a question in their minds, especially if the boo-boo was big one.  Once you’ve sent the Common App to a school, you cannot correct it.  But you don’t have to start over with a completely new version of the Common App.

If you want to make changes for different colleges, you don’t need a new version of the Common App

Sometimes you may want to provide slightly different answers to some of the Common App questions for the different schools on your list.  One of the most common is to change the career interest you have identified on the Common App. Another example is changing the order of your activities or honors to present a slightly different strategy from one college to the next. Or, you may want to shift around your answers in the “Additional information” section so as to make it more specific to a particular university, major, or program. However, you don’t need to create an entirely different version of the Common App to make these changes.  Simply make the change, then submit the completed application–with changes–to the next college on your list.  Once it is submitted, you can then go back and change the answers to questions or reorder the lists, as you wish.  

The one thing to keep in mind ,however, is that making multiple versions of the Common App can cause you to make even more mistakes.  If you are making multiple versions, be sure to proofread over and over again–and to use the “preview” function of the Common App–to make sure that you are submitting the appropriate version to each particular school. Recall that the Common App was created in order to submit identical applications to all the schools on your list. By tailoring each application to each school on your list, you are creating headaches for yourself that require you to pay close attention to which version goes to which school.

If you write a new version of your essay, you don’t need a new version

Some students write a complete essay for the Common App, and then decide to completely throw it out and start over.  This can happen between the time one submits Early Action or Early Decision applications and the deadlines for the regular admission round.  Or they decide to revise it heavily based on feedback they have receive from a teacher, parent, or college essay consultant.

Not so long ago, the essay was the one thing you could not change on your Common App once you submitted the application to one college. Now, however, you can send a different version of your Common App essay to each and every school on your list.  But why would you do that?  The whole point of the Common App is to allow you to create a single essay that you send to all the schools on your list.  So we advise that you try to keep it to one version.

However, sometimes we discover new ways to improve the essay–so make those improvements when you can.  And if you decide that your current essay just isn’t a good representation of who you are and you want to go back to the drawing board, do it. You can always submit a new version of your Common App, if you really need to.

The 20-College Limit

Over the past two decades, students have gradually been applying to more and more schools.  There are lots of reasons for this–which we won’t go into here–but more and more students are considering applying to more and more schools.

As a result, some are trying to impose some limits.  Some secondary schools will not support more than 10 applications:  the college counselors will not send out more than 10 transcripts. This forces students to make tough decisions.  

The Common App, for its part, limits the number of applications you can submit to 20. But what if you want to apply to more than 20.  You have to make a new version of the Common App!

How do I make a new version of the Common App?

The Common App imposes their limits by making it impossible to have two Common App accounts with the same email address.  So if you want to create an entirely new version of the Common App, you have to create an entirely new account with a different email address.

Easy peasy.

However, as mentioned before, creating lots of different versions of the application leaves greater room for error. Further, you need to be sure that your school counselor will support more than 20 applications and will send all your transcripts and recommendations to however many schools appear on your list. 

Summary

The whole point of the common app is that is “common” to all schools. This should be a benefit to most applicants who will not have to make more than version of the Common App before submitting the application to each of the colleges on their list.  However, if you make mistakes or need to make some strategic adjustments to your application, you can do so without making an entirely new version.

However, if you plan to apply to more than 20 colleges, you will need a second version of the Common App that is linked to a different email address.  

But beware the administrative risks in juggling different versions of the application.  While the freedom to make changes puts you in control, you also bear more risk in making some sort of mistake.  So be careful, and good luck in the college application process.

And if you’d like more assistance with how to approach your applications, contact Great College Advice a call and let us help you out.

Andrea Aronson
College Advisor
Westfield, New Jersey

The post Can I Make More Than One Version of the Common App? first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

It’s hard to know. What’s risky and positive to one admissions reader, might be in poor taste to another. With essays ranked by college admissions officers as the most important non-academic feature on an application, taking a significant risk can be a very scary thing! While I can’t account for every admissions reader’s personal preferences, here are some tips for how much risk to take with your college essays.

Tips on whether or not to write a risky personal statement

If you pick a controversial subject, be sure that you have a well-reasoned argument

Putting your opinions into your Personal Statement for something that you feel strongly about can say a lot about you as a person. And this is a good thing when it comes to college admissions. But, be sure that you have good and personal reasons why you feel the way that you do. And these are clearly reflected in the essay. Arguing a point of view without having any kind of personal connection to the issue will not be perceived well by those who read it. Especially those admissions officers who may happen to disagree with your opinion!

Don’t use an inappropriate topic

You don’t want your admissions reader to come away from reading your Personal Statement with the thought, “TMI!” So, stay away from highly personal and revelatory topics and explanations that would make the majority of people who read the essay uncomfortable. While this might work for some readers, it certainly won’t work for all.

Don’t end negative

While writing about a heavy and serious topic is no problem and even a good thing, you still want to leave the reader with a positive message in the end. How did you evolve as a result of a negative experience? Why was this negative experience a positive force? Put yourself in the reader’s shoes. Who would you rather admit? The depressing student or the uplifting student?

Never play the victim

Nobody likes a whiner, and admissions officers are no different. As you craft your essay, be sure that you don’t blame others for bad things that may have happened to you. For example, if your essay is on how you got cut from the varsity soccer team, and you perceive that this happened because of politics or the fact that the coach didn’t like you for some reason, don’t throw the coach under the bus in your essay! Life is full of unfair situations, and your ability to rise above it, move on and take personal responsibility will be what admissions officers want to read about.

Tell a story that is unique to you

Think how many times college admissions officers have had to read an essay about “the big game and the power of the team”, or the church community service trip that a candidate took. These types of topics are used and reused a lot. Find something different. Remember, the topic that you pick for your essay does not have to be about a major experience or hardship in your life. In fact, the subject that you choose to write about can be something quite small.

What matters is that the story that you tell gets to the essence of who you are as a person. Writing about something small and unexpected is a lot riskier than writing about the same tried and true topics that all those thousands of other applicants are writing about!

Do you need help deciding how much risk to take with your college essays?

The expert college admissions consultants at Great College Advice can help you brainstorm topics, develop your ideas, structure your essay, and edit it to perfection. If you need help in crafting a risky college essay–but one that is not too risky–give us a call or contact us via our website.  We’d be happy to talk to you. 

For more tips and information about writing your essays, check out some of our other recent blog posts on the topic:

Our Guide to the Common App personal statement

What do colleges look for in an essay

The perfect college essay: Focus on You!

Andrea Aronson
College Admissions Consultant
Westfield, NJ

The post How Much Risk Should You Take with Your College Essays first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

College admissions checklist

When you’re applying to college, there are so many moving parts that having a checklist of what you need to send in the college application process is critical.

• Applications? Check.
• Supplements? Check.
• Counselor recommendations? Check.
• Teacher recommendations? Check.
• Application Fee? Check.
• Standardized tests?  

But, wait! Don’t check off those boxes too soon. While you may have made arrangements to send all of your important documents to your schools, and while you may even have verification that those documents were sent to the school (e.g., Common App notification, SAT or ACT order receipts), that doesn’t necessarily mean that the school has received them in good order. 

In recent weeks, my students are now submitting their college applications. I have come across many errors in various schools’ processing of their applications. In particular, I’ve found problems with schools properly receiving standardized test results.

For example, one student checked the student portal for one of her schools and discovered that the test scores that she had sent in September had not been received by the school in November. When she contacted the school, she found that somehow her birthdate had been input improperly into the college’s database (it registered her as being born in 1900!), and though the school had her scores it couldn’t match them to the rest of her file. A simple phone call cleared things up, but if she hadn’t checked the portal and contacted the school her application would never have been processed.

Another student who goes by two last names had a similar problem with several of his schools. His applications were processed under one last name, but his test scores were under another. His schools couldn’t match them up until he called and notified them of the error. The bottom line is that even if you do everything that you need to do to get your application materials done properly, mistakes can still happen.  

Check Your College Portal to Stay Updated

So, when your schools send you portal information where you can check to see what your application status is, use the portal!

Some students who aren’t used to checking their email frequently will often not even be aware that they’ve been given login credentials for a school portal. Still, other students are inclined to dismiss the use of the portal until they need it for decision time.  

Don’t do this! Remember that many schools won’t notify you of your application status. They will expect that you will be responsible and proactive and check the portal. So, look for and save that login information somewhere where you can access it easily and regularly.

If the school doesn’t use a portal for its students. Then you may receive some kind of email or regular mail notification that your application is complete. If you don’t receive some kind of notice about your application being all set either by portal or otherwise. You have checked everything off your list, you should contact the school to ensure that your application is, in fact, complete and ready for evaluation by the admissions committee.

Remember, it’s your responsibility to know that not only have you sent everything that needs to be sent. But also that everything that you sent has been received, too. Otherwise, don’t check it off your list!

Need help with the college admissions process?

The expert admissions counselors at Great College Advice can not only assist with developing a standardized test plan but also help with high school course selection, extracurricular activities, researching colleges and overseeing the college application process.

Contact us today for your complimentary consultation.

Andrea Aronson
College Admissions Consultant
Westfield, NJ

The post Be Sure to Check Your College Portal first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

Orientation

Freshman orientation usually takes place a few days to a week before classes start. It’s a time to get some administrative stuff done. Help students meet each other and settle in, and figure out where they’ll need to go for classes and meals. This probably isn’t optional, so make sure you plan to be there on time!

Shopping for Dorm Gear

In this day and age, the easiest way to shop for dorm gear is by doing it online. Amazon likely has everything you need (and more!). And you can schedule a delivery right to campus or have it delivered to your home if you plan on driving to campus for move-in day.

Be sure to coordinate with your roommate who’s bringing what! That way, you’re way less likely to have doubles of things you only need one of or miss something essential. Remember, too, that you can always order things you find yourself needing once you’ve settled in.

Money Management

While most things you’ll need to pay for can be covered by using your student ID card, it’s still a good idea to make sure you have a bank account set up for the things that can’t. Consider a bank that’s close to campus. Having it close by can help if you need to go in and talk to someone, or if you have to make an in-person transaction. Look into things like bank fees and the option of opening a student account.

It may be worth considering getting a credit card to use while at school – either apply for one separately or have your parents issue a card linked to their account. Some credit card companies may offer a “starter” credit card that will give you a smaller line of credit that will allow you to build your own credit profile.

Planning Your Involvement

Many campuses have an astonishing amount of clubs, organizations, sports, and activities that you can be a part of. It’s a good idea to have a game plan before you arrive so you don’t get overwhelmed by all the choices. Try not to limit yourself! If there’s something you’re curious about, sign up for it. You can always pare your list down as the semester goes on.

Legal Considerations

Once you turn 18, you’re legally considered an adult. Which means that your parents no longer have the legal authority to make decisions for you medically, legally, or financially. There are some legal documents to consider that will allow your parents to be involved. Especially in the case of an emergency:

1. Health Care Advance Care Directives:

This is a document that lets a parent make medical decisions for their adult child if something happens to make that child unable to make their own decisions. It will allow parents to access their child’s medical records and health information, which would otherwise not be available now that the child is past the age of 18. A separate Advance Directive for Mental Health Care is also advisable. College can be emotionally challenging on many levels, and this document will grant parents the ability to make mental health care decisions should it be necessary.

2. HIPAA Authorization Form:

This form allows a parent access to their child’s medical records regardless of whether or not they’re ill.

3. Power of Attorney:

If the student is incapable of dealing with their financial or legal matters whatever the circumstances may be (e.g., sick, traveling abroad, just too busy to deal with stuff, etc.), this document gives a parent “permission” to act on their behalf.

4. FERPA Release:

The FERPA Release allows parents access to grades and school performance records. You’ll need to request this directly from the school if it’s something you and your parents want.

Communicating with Home

College is a big adjustment for new students and also for their families. It’s important to figure out how communication is going to work for the whole family. Are you going to have a weekly FaceTime or Zoom chat? Are you going to text after class on certain days? When will a phone call be expected? While this might sound like over-management of something relatively simple, it’s important to share what’s expected and to balance students’ desire to dive head first into their life on campus with parents’ desire to know what’s going on.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but they’re some of the things that we here at Great College Advice think are important to consider. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and get ready and excited to start college in the fall!

Andrea Aronson
College Advisor
Westfield, NJ

The post 6 Tips for the Transition to College first appeared on College Admission Counseling.