Admissions Offices and the Campus Visit

The Information Session is an integral part of the campus visit experience.  In essence, this is the “dog and pony show” of the admissions office.  Each college runs these a bit differently.  Sometimes you’ll have to sit through a slick marketing video (which is probably available off the college’s website, too).  Sometimes, a student panel will offer their impressions.  Sometimes it’s more of a lecture by an admissions representative.
Whatever the format, very little of the information you receive in this information session is different or even more useful than the things you get off the college’s website.  These presentations are often heavily scripted, and admissions folks are coached to “stay on message.”  Still, most information sessions are worth an hour of your time, if only because information you already have will be reinforced and reemphasized for you in a new way.  More information is always better than less–as long as you just keep in mind that these are also sales pitches.
Here are some elements of the presentation you are likely to hear:
Student-to-faculty ratios.  These are useless statistics that supposedly prove that the educational experience is intimate and high quality.  Read this post on student-to-faculty ratios to learn how bogus these statistics really are.  Make sure they tell you about average class sizes, and the percentage of classes that enroll fewer than 25 students.  Also ask how many lecture halls on campus accommodate more than 100 students.
Chances of admission.  You may here things about “average GPA” and “average test scores” in the presentation.  Take these with a grain of salt. These are aggregate statistics and they have little or no bearing on your individual chances of admission.  Your chances may be much better…or much worse.  If you want to ask questions that may give you a better indication, ask things like, “what percentage of your acceptances go to children of alumni?” or “what percentage of your acceptances go to recruited athletes?”
Bazillions of Clubs.  Every college inflates the number of clubs, and then also tells students that if they want to start up a new one, all they have to do is ask.  These aren’t lies.  But the number of clubs is usually inflated because the admissions office never culls the list of clubs or ensures that their figures reflect the number and kinds of clubs being administered by the Student Affairs office.  Thus you will find that a bunch of the clubs on the list have been inactive on campus for five or six years.  Of course, this is not a problem, unless you are an juggler and you see that there is a juggling club, and then you matriculate to find that there is only one member of that club:  you.  Don’t be impressed by the numbers and variety of clubs.  Be impressed if they have an active group of students that cares about the things that interest you.  So inquire as to the health and strength of the clubs that attract you the most.
We are a Community. Every campus wants you to feel welcome; that you will be loved and appreciated; that you will fit in.  So they will stand up and talk about how warm and friendly the place is.  Some people are better at delivering this message than others.  I have students who return from campus tours who have been lulled into a stupor by admissions folks who do a great job of delivering the “we are a happy family” speech.  I’m not saying that this message is untrue.  I’m only pointing out that this is a part of every college’s marketing message.  And it will be incumbent upon you, the visitor, to figure out whether or not you will feel comfortable and welcome in that community.  Don’t take some admissions representative’s word for it!
In the next installment, we’ll explore the importance of visiting the area surrounding the campus.
You may also want to check out earlier posts on general considerations for campus visits, the practicalities of a college visit, and tips for taking the campus tour.
Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant
 
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Student Finds Perfect College With Help of Expert College Counselor in Denver

It’s so fun to hear from students who have successfully found the perfect college…a place that really fits their academic and personal interests and abilities.

This short video was created by one of my former students who is now at Hope College in Holland, Michigan.  His family hired me as their college counselor to help this young man figure out what he wanted.  After several  months of getting to know one another, of exploring various options, and pulling together essays and applications, he was able not only to get into a great college, but win some scholarship money, too boot!

Perhaps I should just let him speak for himself.

If I can help you or someone in your family find the best college for them, please send me a shout.

Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant in Denver

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Recommended Educational Consultant in Denver, Colorado

Dartmouth College Baker LibraryWho doesn’t love a compliment?  Yesterday afternoon I received a nice note from the mother of one of my clients who was accepted early to Dartmouth.  He’s smart, talented, and fun to hang around.  I enjoyed working with him on his essays.  Apparently, he felt good about the experience, too.
Here’s what his mom had to say:
Subject: Thank you!
Dear Mark,
I just wanted to say thanks for helping Alex achieve his goal of attending Dartmouth.  He is very excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to get on with the next step in his life.  Your help was invaluable in this achievement.
Alex enjoyed his meetings with you and I know he listened to all your great college advice.  I appreciate how the two of you handled everything so smoothly.  I am feeling lucky that I ran across your name on the internet.  I know other families would benefit from your services. I will give you the highest recommendation when the subject of college apps comes up with the folks I talk to.
Thanks again for helping us out.  I know Alex will always remember you as I hear him speak of you often.
Sincerely,
MJR
 
Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant
 
 

Average ACT Score Unchanged Despite Growing Numbers of Test Takers

A report released yesterday by ACT, Inc, indicates that the average national score on the college entrance test has held steady, even though the number of students taken the test has increased.

The national average score on the ACT is 21.1 on a 36 point scale. The test contains four components: math, science, English, and reading. The test also has an optional writing portion that is scored separately.  (The main competitor to the ACT is the SAT.  See our article for more on the differences  between the two tests.)

An article in today’s Chronicle of Higher Education (registration required) explains that the number of students taking the ACT has increased by 25% since 2005.

Much of this increase can be attributed to the fact that five states now require their high school students to take the exam. Those states are Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, and Wyoming.

So it’s interesting to  note that while more and more students are taking the ACT exam–especially in the five states above–not all of these students are flocking to college.  While the average ACT has gone up in Colorado, for example, the percentage of high school graduates going to college (and graduating!) has not gone up all that much.

Further, it’s interesting that with more people taking the test, the average has not fluctuated much.

You can also read about the ACT report in Jacques Steinberg’s article in the New York Times.


Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant


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Educational Consultant Helps Student Prepare for College Admission

Different students need different sorts of help as they navigate the college admission process.  In this short video, one of my clients explains that individually tailored college planning helped him to identify some schools that he was really excited about, and then gave him the tools to bring out the best in himself.
The result?  A very happy camper–with a Dean’s Scholarship!





Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant

An "AMAZING" Educational Consultant

As my seniors are gearing up for their freshman year, I sometimes get letters from parents thanking me for helping their kids through the college admissions maze.  I received this note the other day.  Sure is nice to hear that I made a difference.

I made the very wise decision to hire Mark Montgomery to assist my son, Alex, in his college search.  We did not start the college search until the fall of Alex’s senior year. The whole college search and application process was overwhelming.  I felt like helping Alex choose a college could become a full time job and I already had one of those.  Alex new he wanted to attend a college out of state, preferably on the East Coast.  Stymied by all the choices, I hired Mark to help Alex narrow the options and choose schools that fit his goals and abilities.

Our experience with Mark was AMAZING!  He is very professional, and he listened and analyzed Alex’s desires in developing a list of prospective schools.  He kept Alex on track and I did not have to be the one holding Alex to the admission deadlines.  I simply got to enjoy the process and help Alex make his final decision.

As a wrestler, Mark encouraged Alex to use his sport as a back door to some of his “stretch” schools.  Mark helped Alex develop letters to the coaches and pushed him to get them out in a timely manner.  Alex needed to raise his ACT scores and Mark lead us to a tutor that helped Alex raise his score 4 points!  Mark truly mentored Alex through the college maze and I think they will have a friendship for years to come.  I could write a lot more, however, in summary Mark’s services are worth every penny!  Alex has been accepted to Lehigh University with the bonus of a Dean’s Scholarship, and can hardly wait to start the next chapter of his life.


Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant


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College Fit: How Does the Shirt Look on Me?

Shopping For Colleges Is Like Shopping For Clothes: You Gotta Try Them On

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Ten College Planning Tips For Tough Economic Times

I’ve received a number of questions from readers, clients, and friends about how to navigate the college admissions and financial aid process in tough economic times.  By far the biggest worry on everyone’s mind is finding the resources to pay for college.

 

In some ways we have a perfect storm a-brewing.  As personal savings and college funds shrink, colleges are tightening their belts, and are likely to be stingy with financial aid.

 

So where does that leave the student who will graduate this spring or next?  What strategies does he or she pursue in order to get the best education at the best price?

 

Here are ten tips for weathering this storm.

 

1.  Don’t panic.  Keep a cool head.  Do your homework.  Get help, if you need it.  While the statistics look bleak, you are not a statistic.  Use every resource at your disposal to plan, prepare, and get the best deal for yourself.

2.  Whether the market is up or down, good students always have more options than poor students. Good students with good grades and good test scores should not dampen their ambition or lower their sights.

3.  Remember that if your assets and income have gone down, your federally-calculated financial need will go up.  Come January, you will complete the FAFSA forms, which will calculate your family’s “Estimated Financial Contribution” or EFC.  This is the amount the government calculates that you should be able to pay toward a college education–given your financial picture today.

4.  Pay close attention to financial aid statistics reported by colleges, with special emphasis on the percentage of financial need that college has met in the past.  Even in good financial times, many colleges have been unable to meet all of their student’s financial need with the usual combination of grants, work study jobs, and federal loans.  Most rich, well-endowed colleges and universities can meet 100% of their students’ financial need.  But some colleges have met only 80% or 65% or less of their students’ needs.  These are the colleges that have relied heavily upon the willingness of students and families to take out huge loans on the private markets.  As these loan markets have dried up, these colleges are the most panicked by the economic downturn.  Yet even financially strapped colleges may offer big bargains to some students (see tip #6 below).

5.  Redefine what a “stretch” or “reach” college will be for you.  It’s not simply about getting accepted to college–it’s about being able to pay for it.  The tougher it is for you to gain admission, the less likely you will receive adequate financial aid to attend that same school.

6. Develop a “top 25%” strategy that will help increase the likelihood you will get the aid you need.  While there is a great deal of variation in financial aid policies, most colleges shower their best financial aid packages on those students in the top 25% of their incoming class. Colleges routinely report the average ACT or SAT test scores by identifying the “middle 50 percent” range of scores of admitted students.  So if  Elmer Fudd College reports an middle 50% ACT range of 22 to 26, this means 25% of students scored lower than 22, and another 25% scored 27 or higher.   An applicant to Elmer Fudd College with an ACT of 29 has a much better chance of receiving a solid financial aid package than the applicant with a 22.

7.  Remember that not all debt is bad debt.  Racking up tens of thousands of dollars on a credit card is not the same as taking out a Stafford loan.  The former is a drag on current and future spending, and high interest rates on credit cards lead to wrack and ruin.  But a student loan is an investment in your future.  The relatively low interest rate on these loans will allow you to increase your earning potential tomorrow by making it possible to get a good education today.  The average student loan debt for graduating college senior is about $20,000, which is an acceptable amount for most students.

8.  If you plan to take out a loan to partially finance an education, start shopping for that loan now.  Do not wait until admissions decisions are made. Learn what loans are available (or not) so that you can make a realistic plan for how much you can borrow.  This knowledge will make it easier to compare financial aid packages later when they are finally announced.

9.  Don’t assume that your in-state colleges and universities offer you the best deal. As an example, see my post here about cost comparisons for a Colorado student considering University of Colorado vs. Montana State University or the University of Wyoming.

10.  Students with less-than-stellar academic records in high school should consider getting their start at community colleges.  Most states now have guaranteed transfer agreements between their community colleges and flagship universities.  Go to community college, pay less, do well–and you can still graduate from a top-notch university.  In fact, you have a better chance of getting accepted as a transfer if you do well in those general education courses at the community college.

 

Mark Montgomery

Educational Consultant

 

 

 

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