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THE COLLEGE PLANNING NEWSLETTERtm OCT 2007

The College Planning Newsletter(TM)
October 2007 Issue

    Welcome to The College Planning Newsletter, a monthly newsletter dedicated to helping college applicants find and get into the colleges that make sense for them. Each issue of The College Planning Newsletter provides an inside look at the admission process as it unfolds, giving you–the applicant–insights and tips as you prepare to encounter the maze of deadlines and requirements. It also sheds light on elements of the “hidden agenda”- little-known factors that often influence admission outcomes at many selective colleges and universities. Use this information to prepare well for the competition. Whenever a college can say “no” to any its applicants, The College Planning Newsletter will increase your odds of hearing “yes!”

In this Issue:

  • Invest in a Positive Outcome
  • Arriving at a Short List that Makes Sense
  • Straight Talk!
  • Considering the Early Decision (ED) Option?
  • Early Action (EA)
  • ED/EA Data Available
  • Early Decision Do’s and Don’ts
  • Coming Events
  • Letters of Recommendation: Help Them Help You
  • Scam Watch
  • Notes from the Annual NACAC Conference
  • Q&A

Invest In a Positive Outcome
Think about the following statistics: slightly more than half of the students who begin their college experience each year will eventually graduate from college-and even fewer will graduate from the institutions at which they start. Folks, these are not a good numbers. Given the time and money invested in the college going process by many families, a transfer or early departure from college represents a lost opportunity at the very least and a poor return on their investments.

So, why do so many young people struggle to finish what they start? Frankly, there are lots of reasons why students transfer or drop out. Most of them are related to environments that turn out to be ill-fitted to their academic needs, learning styles, social expectations or financial constraints. While many students land on their feet at new schools, they still wrestle with feelings of frustration and failure. They also have a sense of lost opportunity–a loss of time and money–to an experience that wasn’t meant for them.  

Avoid becoming a statistic.  The extra time you put into an honest assessment of your needs, within the context of what each college has to offer, will pay dividends. Investing in a college that is a “good fit” for you is an investment in a positive outcome.

Arriving at a Short List that Makes Sense
If you are a high school Senior and you haven’t done so already, it’s time to narrow your college selections to a short list that makes sense for you.  How many should that be?  Six is a good number–there is certainly no need to go higher than eight. If you find that you are sending out more than eight applications, it is likely that you haven’t been as discriminating as you need to be in reviewing your options.  

You have heard this before but it really is true that the schools to which you apply really should be places that are good “fits” for you–not your parents or your friends or the court of public opinion! Reflect on your core priorities-what are the two or three things you want to be sure you accomplish before your cross the stage at your college graduation–and then determine how each of the schools on your list will help you achieve those objectives. Add affordability into the mix as well.  The best schools will be those that are the best “fits” when all things are considered.

Between the Lines:  You hear a lot of talk about applying to schools that fit the categories of “reach,” “competitive” and “safety.” I don’t really subscribe to this notion as it encourages students to submit applications that don’t make sense. (I’ve heard of kids who apply to a dozen or more “reach” schools on the assumption that they are increasing their odds of getting into at least one or two of them–WRONG!) Remember to put yourself on the right competitive playing field each time you apply and you should find success without having to send out lots of applications.

Straight Talk!
Last month, I added an exciting new feature to the program offerings associated with The Admission Game(R).  The “Straight Talk About College Admission” teleseminar series takes you behind the scenes of college admission where I am joined by co-host and former director of admission at the College of Wooster, Sam Barnett, to give you insight into how the process works. “Straight Talk” premiered on September 19 with a great discussion of “College Rankings: What They Mean and How to Use Them.”

Join us for the next seminar, “The Biggest Mistakes Made in Applying to College,” on October 17, 2007 at 9:00 PM ET.  Go to www.TheAdmissionGame.com for more information and to register for this FREE introductory seminar.

Considering the Early Decision (ED) Option?
Many of the nation’s more selective institutions offer opportunities for students to declare their enrollment intentions early–ahead of the often more intense competition associated with the regular admission process. According to the rules for early decision (ED), you may submit one ED application to your first-choice college. In return, that college will give you a decision within 30 days. If you are admitted, you are expected to withdraw all other outstanding applications and enroll at the college that has admitted you ED.

ED programs are very popular at selective colleges and are often strategic elements of the enrollment management process. The reason is that colleges need only admit one student to enroll one student through ED. Quite often they must admit five to get one through Regular Decision. As a result, there is an unspoken premium on ED enrollments at many places.  Don’t be surprised, then, if you should hear something like the following in your conversations with admission recruiters: “If you really want to be here, your best chance of getting in is through ED.” And now you know why. At most schools, the odds do indeed favor the ED applicant.

That said, do NOT apply ED–unless your passion for a college is true and unconditional. Has the college in question passed the “certainty” test? Is it truly the very best “fit?” Are you ready to make a commitment? Or, is ED simply the easiest route to admission at a “hot” school? If the latter is the sole reason for considering ED, the risk of disappointment is greater. While you might get in, there is a greater chance that you will find that you have acted in haste as you become better acclimated with the place over time.

Between the Lines:  Before applying ED, sleep on the possible commitment. Not for a day, or a weekend, or even a month. (That may mean having to wait to apply ED at a Round Two deadline in January.) During that time, take a serious look at 2-3 other colleges that you like as well. Test your conviction. If the passion for a place is just as strong after two months as it was at the start, then ED probably makes sense. Go for it! There are no guarantees of admission, but if you get in, the chances are in your favor for a happy and productive four years.

Early Action (EA)
Whereas Early Decision programs are contractual in nature, Early Action programs offer a bit more flexibility. When you apply EA somewhere, you are stating your first-choice interest in that school. In return, the school will take action on your application earlier. You are not committed to enroll if admitted, nor are you obligated to withdraw the applications you have submitted to other colleges.  

Many EA schools have established a practice of “single choice early action.” This means that a student choosing to apply early action may do so at only one institution. Make sure you are familiar with the rules and deadlines for applications at each of the schools on your list.

ED/EA Data Available
For more information about the advantages and disadvantages of ED/EA as well as a directory of the 378 colleges and universities that offer ED/EA options, visit the website for the National Association for College Admission Counselors (NACAC) at: www.nacacnet.org/memberportal/ForStudents/

Early Decision “Do’s and Don’ts”

  • Do be sure to visit multiple college campuses before choosing to apply ED. Give yourself a good perspective from which to choose appropriately.
  • Don’t apply ED to more than one school at a time.
  • Do ask for an “early read” of your financial aid application before you apply ED if you have concerns about affording that college’s costs.
  • Don’t apply ED if you feel it is important to compare financial aid offers.
  • Do make sure that you are “in love” with a school before applying ED. It will be the place you call “home” for the next four years.
  • Don’t apply ED simply to “beat the odds.” Chances are that you will get in-and then find yourself in an unhappy situation at a school that really isn’t for you.
  • Do understand what the institution’s rules are with regard to ED/EA submissions.
  • Don’t succumb to the temptation to let your other applications “ride” after you have been admitted ED somewhere. Not only is it unethical, the chances are you will get caught–and lose all of your potential offers and/or enrollments!

Between the Lines: It should be clear by now that colleges are very strategic to the way they enroll their classes.  Admit ratio (percent of applicants admitted) and yield (percent of admitted students who enroll) are carefully studied and applied concepts. As a result, continue to be attentive to your relationships with colleges on your short list and make sure there can be no doubt about the sincerity of your interest. In a tight competition, persistent and unanswered questions about the likelihood of your enrollment (“Will he come if we admit him?”) may cost you a place in the class.

Coming Events…
Do you want to know more about how to get from where you are to where you want to be educationally? Are you puzzling over how and when to get started in college planning? Or are you still trying to get your arms around the application process? Maybe I can help. Check http://www.theadmissiongame.com/event_schedule.php to find out when I will be presenting programs that address such questions at schools or bookstores near you.

Letters of Recommendation: Help Them Help You
As you pull together your applications, remember that the teachers who have agreed to write on your behalf are doing you a favor.  Be considerate of their time and attention.  In most cases, they are using their own time to craft statements that will help you and any other students who have asked for recommendations.  Moreover, they will be championing your cause.

You can be helpful by making sure that they have the necessary information and insight about you that will enable them to write well-balanced letters. Set up a meeting after school or during lunch when you can talk one-on-one with each of them about your college planning. Create a resume that you can leave behind that details your accomplishments.  And if things haven’t always gone well for you in the classroom, you probably have a story to tell. Let them help you tell it. Their perspectives on such matters can be remarkably helpful.

Scam Watch
At some point in the last few months, there is a very good chance you have heard from financial planning companies that offer to help you “maximize your financial aid and scholarship potential.” Be careful. If such offers sound too good to be true, they probably are! Many of these outfits will end up charging you a substantial fee for information and support you would have gotten regardless through the financial aid offices at the colleges where you are applying.

The National Association for College Admission Counseling provides information on its website that allows you to access scholarship scam information. For more information, go to: www.nacacnet.org/Memberportal/ForStudents/ScholarshipScams/

Notes from the Annual NACAC Conference
Every year, the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) invites college counselors and admission officers from around the world to its annual conference and business meeting. The 2007 meeting just concluded in Austin, Texas, where more than 4,000 individuals gather to share information and network with each other.

I presented a workshop to a sold-out audience of college advisors entitled “Hotspots, Hooks, and Hidden Agendas“ that provided insight into how colleges make admission decisions and manage their enrollments and signed copies of my book, Winning the College Admission Game, at the Conference Bookstore.

Visit www.nacacnet.org/Memberportal for links to stories that relate to the Conference and college admission in general.

Winning the College Admission Game is in bookstores and available on-line!  Winning the College Admission Game features additional tips about writing a winning essay, telling your story and much more insight into the admission process. I wrote this “flip-book” expressly so that parents and students might find a common ground for approaching the college planning process. Book reviews and a schedule of book signing events can be found at The Admission Game website (www.TheAdmissionGame.com).

The Admission Game (TAG) Q&A–straight answers to important questions from readers of The College Planning Newsletter about the admission and financial aid processes.

Dear TAG,
My school doesn’t report a class rank. I have done really well and have a good GPA but I’m not sure that colleges will understand without a rank. Will that be a problem?    
Sincerely,   Wondering if they will know where I stand

Dear Wondering,
The lack of a class rank should not be an issue for most colleges. In fact, colleges that are very selective and must make fine distinctions will spend a lot of time trying to understand your academic performance within the context of your school’s academic environment. They will utilize profile information provided by your counselor as well as the letters of recommendation from your teachers to determine the strength of your program and your ability to function in it.  Believe it or not, nearly half of the high schools in the country don’t rank their students, so you are in good company!   TAG

Dear TAG,
I want to study international politics and have been told that the best place to do that is in Washington, D.C. Is that true?
Sincerely,   Looking for guidance

Dear Looking,
While Washington, D.C. is certainly a major hub of international relations, it is not the only place where you can study international politics. Many colleges that are well removed from Washington are able to sponsor superb internship and semester study programs in D.C. In fact, any college that is well networked electronically can give you virtual experiences when you want them. And don’t forget, most of what you will learn about international politics during your undergraduate experience will be derived from critical analysis of events past and present. Look for schools that have strong library resources and faculty who are able to engage and inspire you in your own process of discovery. You’ll get to Washington soon enough!  TAG

Dear TAG,
If I apply Early Decision, what will happen to my chances of getting in and receiving the financial aid I need?
Sincerely,   Worried About Money

Dear Worried,
It is hard to tell. Some schools prefer not to award financial aid until they have seen applications from all of the candidates who need assistance. They may defer your application in order to consider it later with the regular decision candidates. Others may reward your ED interest with a more generous award in order to secure your commitment. Yet others may admit you and offer less aid because of your presumed commitment (“He’ll come regardless of what we give him.”)   Unfortunately, you’re not likely to get clear indicators on the latter. Most schools, however, will award aid to admitted ED candidates in much the same manner as they would regular decision candidates. This is a topic we will discuss in further detail during the November 20 “Straight Talk” teleseminar, “To ED or Not ED: The Pluses and Minuses of Early Decision.”   TAG

Questions for The Admission Game (TAG) Q&A in upcoming issues can be directed to Peter@theadmissiongame.com.

Copyright (c) 2007, The Admission Game(R)

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