Spring and Summer are Important for College Applicants

Acceptance at top tier colleges is often viewed as a mystery. Highly selective schools boast about the number of applications received each year and the low percentage they accepted. These competitive colleges use a holistic evaluation of applicants, looking for students who will contribute to the vitality of their campuses. High grades or test scores are not enough to gain admission to our nation’s top schools.

It is critical for students to begin to build a strong college application early in high school. This will provide strong evidence of their potential on a college campus. Students who aspire to attend top tier colleges will benefit from exceeding all the recommended academic requirements and test score averages. This means advancing in college prep courses throughout high school and developing academic areas outside of class time. Admission to a highly selective college requires being a “stand out” in multiple areas. A strong college applicant must provide clear evidence of passion, initiative, commitment, responsibility, leadership and academic promise.

Your best evidence that you will succeed in college, is your high school success. Spring semester of junior year is the final semester before submitting most college applications. This is the most important semester listed on a high school transcript, when it’s being reviewed on a college application. Colleges will look at your senior course work and base admission evaluation assuming that your senior year will be completed at the same academic performance level or better, than previous grades. So essentially – the junior year grades are superimposed on your senior courses by college admission offices. If there was ever a time to “kick it in high gear” academically, it is spring semester junior year!

But top tier colleges want more than strong academic students. Students can discover where they are “weak” on a college application by simply checking one out. Since nearly all applications are now submitted electronically, visit the college admission website and look for the option to print an application. Students may complete the paper application and note which section on the application is weaker, then focus on how to improve this section. For example, the University of California has five sections for students to share information. There’s a section for academics, awards and honors, activities in and outside of school, volunteer work and employment. If students discover that they are loaded with activities, but only have one or two volunteer items to list, it’s time to find volunteer options for the summer.

Summer is a perfect time for students to gain life experiences that will increase the depth of their college application. It’s a great window to experience areas that stretch comfort zones and develop an awareness of needs outside our community. It’s a time to begin a part time job or assume a leadership role in a summer activity. Spending time studying for SAT or ACT exams can also be beneficial. Students should be cognizant that in building a strong college application requires participation to be honest and meaningful. College admissions officials can spot a resume’-builder right off, so be sure that you are sincerely interested in any activity, job, or volunteer opportunity you begin.

Appealing Denied Admission

It’s the season of celebration or commiseration, as California high school seniors began receiving notification of admission to the University of California, CalPoly and other prestigious schools across the country. With it comes the thrill of goals achieved, or the heartbreak of devastated dreams.

The University of California has nine undergraduate campuses, and all but one, are turning down more students than they accept. UC Davis received a record 70,000 applications in November; UCLA received nearly 100,000! Despite climbing costs, the University of California continues to dominate as a premium choice for students around the world. This means competition is more tough, and more great college candidates are being denied admission.

To further impact the admission status of applicants, the University of California, along with some of the CSUs have adapted a Wait List admission policy, similar to what the Ivy League schools have used for years. This is another form of admission denial, that just seems to prolong the agony of denial, and often doesn’t even provide an answer until well into summer, and long after student intent to enroll deadlines.  Waitlisted admits regularly miss housing deadlines, orientation and incoming freshmen events.

So what option does a student have if he receives a denial of admission to his first choice college? Is there any hope of appeal? What if the reply is “Waitlist?”

It depends on the college, the major and what the student has to put into the appeal or wait list reply. Most universities discourage appeals, and grant few, if any. But the University of California undergraduate admission website does give information on what will be reviewed if a student does appeal. “New and compelling information” is the only hope a student has. This is good advice for an appeal to any university.

To determine if a student has new or compelling information, he needs to first look at the original application. Is everything there that he submitted? Nearly all college applications are now submitted electronically, and frequently I find students who don’t even have a printed copy of their application sent back in November. They honestly don’t know what was on that application!

Students can access their applications on the college website. Print a copy and confirm that all courses are listed, that all the awards, activities, volunteer hours, employment, etc. are there. Verify that the student directed the College Board or the ACT to send the test scores to the college. If the college required letters of recommendation, contact the admissions office to be certain that those letters arrived and are in the student’s application file.  Review the essays or personal statements. Try to determine if the student left something important out of the application that he had intended to send, or should have sent.

Then the student should evaluate what new information he has to tell the college that is germane to admission. Being named a National Merit Scholar or class valedictorian might be considered new information, but keep in mind that at a highly selective university, these kinds of honors will be common, so that alone won’t be helpful. New information might include a new, higher SAT score or a community college course you forgot to list. Achieving some kind of talent recognition such as being named to an Olympic team, a Regional Ballet Company or winning a National level speech contest, would be considered new information, if it happened since you submitted the application.

Compelling information is the other option for students to submit an appeal. Each year I find myself astounded at what a high school senior thinks is compelling information. The fact that you have always wanted to go there and that you will be a fourth generation to attend the highly selective college is not compelling. Compelling information must be just that – compelling the admissions office to reevaluate your application because of this information.

Compelling information is that you are homeless, but you’re still getting straight A’s; and you just found out that you have free housing a few blocks from their campus. Compelling must be serious, related to your application or college plans, and above all it must be something truthful, that you can document.

As students struggle with college dreams shattering with the click of an opened an email, I believe it’s important to deal with the feelings of disappointment… for 24 hours.  An appeal is the first thing a student considers when being told “no.”  But appealing is risky and usually results in a second denied offer of admission, so it’s imperative that college-bound students who appeal, make plans to attend a college where they have been admitted, while they wait for the appeal answer.

I think students (and often parents) need to take those 24 hours to mourn for the loss of  their dreams. After grieving for a day or so, everyone needs to “get over it,” and move forward. Students must begin to focus on the college admission offers they have received and begin a successful college experience that is just a little different than they had imagined.

For more information on how to appeal and a sample appeal letter, visit our website https://sites.google.com/site/rhsccc/college-application-window

Awards You Pay For

It's that time of year, when many of our students are invited to become members of national award societies, or to attend various summer leadership conferences across the country. The invitations and “awards” look very impressive and allude to the great honor it is for the student to have been included. Prices range from $60 for a “one time membership fee,” or $500 to as much as $5000 for a conference fee that usually doesn't include travel expenses. Some are “free” to put your name in a book, but then, when they have all your information, pressure parents to buy the book along with other memorabilia at extraordinary prices.

Parents often ask if these are legitimate awards for their students. They also want to know if we think students should attend these conferences to give them a competitive edge with college or scholarship applications. And they want to know who nominated their students in the first place.

The answers to these concerns are complex – here are "Frequently Asked Questions" on this topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will attending or joining this society, conference, camp, summit, etc. help my child get into college?

College admissions officials and scholarship selection committees have told us they are not impressed with awards or honors that parents purchase. Hundreds of thousands of students are nominated each year for honors, memberships, conferences and leadership training.

College and Scholarship competition is much more powerful if students have received awards that mark them above the norm in something they have actually earned, such as the Rocklin High Distinguished Community Service Award.

Paying for a conference might provide a beneficial experience, but it should not be considered an award.

This conference is at my son’s first choice college. Will it help him get accepted there? 

Probably not. Beware that many summer offerings held on college campuses, actually have no affiliation with the college. Some organizations rent college facilities to hold their conferences, and loosely use the college name with promises of earned college credits or admission recognition.

Did the school send in the nomination?

Your school probably did NOT submit a nomination for your student – that’s against most school confidentiality policies.

How was my student nominated?

Students may have been invited or nominated simply because they registered for the SAT, ACT, applied for a scholarship, or something similar.

An issue to consider is that once you have registered with a conference, society or “award,” you can expect to receive a plethora of mailings, since these organizations often sell their mailing lists to similar vendors.

My student really wants to attend. Is there a way to check it out?

Contact the registration office for the event and ask for local references (names and phone numbers) of Rocklin students, who have attended previous conferences. See if they can get a previous camper to contact you. Find out things like: Did someone meet your student at the airport? Were the meals good? The rooms clean? Did you feel safe? How did you get back to the airport? What other costs were incurred that were not outlined in the brochure? Do you think it was worth the expense?

Should we spend the money?

I never tell parents how to spend their money. There is absolutely no way to guarantee this is a good value.
If students are ready to navigate a national airport in a strange city on their own, and will benefit from the program, make your decision to attend based on as many facts as you can gather.

What have other Rocklin High students said about these opportunities?

Over the years many Rocklin High students have attended these kinds of conferences; some of them thought it was a great experience while others thought it was a “rip off.”

Celebrate the New Year with FAFSA

Everyone wants the kind of financial aid that you don’t pay back. In college planning, we call it "gift aid."

Gift aid includes grants, merit awards, and scholarships. Filing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the most comprehensive way to access merit based gift aid, entitlements, need based awards, work study and student loans. If students and parents choose to borrow money for college, federally subsidized loans are usually the best choice, since repayment and interest do not begin until the student leaves college.

Filing for federal and student aid for college (need based and/or merit based) begins with filing the FAFSA; and the FAFSA filing period begins January 1st.

The FAFSA (www.fafsa.gov) is used to calculate the federal government’s idea of how much the family must pay toward education.

The formula is something like this: Cost of Education - Family Contribution = Need

The cost of the education is determined by many factors including tuition, fees, housing, books, supplies and even travel expenses. Based on the methodology of how need is determined by the feds, sometimes students actually pay less out of their own pockets if they attend a higher priced school. This is why it’s so important to file a FAFSA regardless of income, family size or neighborhood rumor.

The family is the parent or parents with whom the child lives. In shared custody, it’s the parent with whom the child spends the most time. The family income of the parent must include the spouse’s income. The family size includes children and step-children in the home where the student lives. Unmarried parents do not include non-related members in the household.

Need is demonstrated once the family contribution has been calculated by a formula called the Congressional Methodology. Families are expected to pay school costs equal to the family contribution. The demonstrated “need” becomes the basis for need-based aid.

Don’t disqualify yourself! Regardless of your family’s financial success it is wise to file the FAFSA form.  FAFSA information is used for work study jobs, subsidized loans and sometimes even college merit awards (money given based on something other than financial need) begin with information on the FAFSA.

The federal government offers a variety of funding possibilities, and California students also have access to Cal Grants, offered by the State of California. Students apply for both federal and state money with the FAFSA. Cal Grants require a supplementary grade point verification form, which must be completed by the school registrar. Cal Grant filing periods are January 1 through March 2 of each year, so while the FAFSA can be submitted after the March 2 deadline, California kids should always submit the FAFSA and the Cal Grant g.p.a verification form prior to March 2nd.  I always recommend that students set a FAFSA filing deadline of Valentine’s Day. This gives us plenty of time to resolve any questions or issues that might arise in filing. We all love money – so Valentine’s Day is a great way to remember to file on time.

The FAFSA is available January 1st each year on-line www.fafsa.gov . Be certain you are on the official FAFSA website, since at the dawn of the internet years ago, some very clever entrepreneur purchased fafsa.com  which is a for-profit site that files the FAFSA for you, (after you’ve filled it out) for about $100! Always remember the first word in FAFSA is FREE!

To file a FAFSA takes about a half hour. You’ll need your 2012 income tax forms, your social security number, the names of the colleges where you gave applied, and a personal identification number for your electronic signature, which is issued on the FAFSA website. Parents, who have more than one child in college, will file the same information for both children, but on different forms; and be sure it’s the same information!

Your children must also file FAFSAs individually. Students will need their 2012 income tax forms, their parents’ and their own social security numbers, and an electronic signature PIN number. Students and parents must file a FAFSA for each year of college.

After filing, students will receive a Student Aid Report which tells what kind of aid they qualify for. Following that, the schools where students have been accepted will send financial aid offers which include a list of different types of aid. Students can then compare which college is actually the best value as they decide where to attend.

So if you’re a future college student, or parent of a future college student add one more item to your New Year’s resolution list - Get started on the FAFSA.

www.fafsa.gov            Filing period January 1 – March 2, 2012

College applications are still being accepted across the U.S.

The end of November brought a collective sigh of relief from California high school seniors, as the CSU and UC closed application windows for Fall 2013. Hundreds of thousands of applications were sent to California public universities and now the wait begins for applicants to see who will be admitted to which schools. But just because the CSU and UC deadlines have passed, doesn’t mean seniors are out of options for college. CSU Bakersfield and Cal Maritime have extended their deadlines and UC Merced is offering an appeal to apply late.

The CSU and UC are not the only place to get a good education. Most of the private colleges and hundreds of public out-of-state colleges are still accepting applications for Fall 2013. These include, but are not limited to: University of Nevada Reno, Arizona State, University of Arizona, Oregon State and University of Oregon, University of Hawaii and many others across the U.S.  

The fastest way to find a college admission website is to use Google or a similar search engine. However, be sure you’re on the official college website that ends in “.edu” to confirm you are applying at the official website. It’s also important to confirm that you are applying for the undergraduate level of admission. Complete the on-line application before the deadline. Follow that up by submitting official transcripts and test scores. Then open the portal account on the college website for further directions or requirements.

If you elect to apply to a school who is offering an extension after the normal deadline, be advised that extended deadlines can end without notice. So do not delay if you are choosing an extended deadline option. Follow those applications up with an official transcript and be sure to request the testing agency to send your official SAT and/or ACT scores.

Students who submitted applications to colleges should expect to receive confirmation from the college that the application has been received. This is usually in the form of email. The email will contain important information such as the student’s identification number for the college. Most colleges are now providing all communication after the initial confirmation through a portal account the student must set up on the college website.

This portal account will contain critical information regarding the application status. There is usually a “to do” list for students that is updated regularly with information the college might want to verify or have the student attend do. Students who fail to follow through with the “to do” list, can have their applications cancelled, so it’s very important that students check their portal accounts – at each of the colleges where they have applied – frequently, and follow up with anything on the “to do” list. Common mistakes for follow up are failure to have official test scores sent to the college by the testing agency, submitting payment for the application or failure to submit a transcript if requested.

College admission continues to be highly competitive and all students are encouraged to have a “backup plan,” just in case they are not accepted into their first choice schools. If your backup plan includes a community college, it is important to follow all the steps for admission to your community college of choice, including assessment, counseling and orientation.

How can I get into a good college?

“How can I get into a good college?” It always makes me wonder if students think that I might recommend a “bad” college. How a student defines a “good” college, is often from the perception of the family or influential friends, and rarely on the specific post-college goals of the student. Frequently I have students aspiring to attend top tier colleges, when a small liberal arts college is a better fit for their career plans. Many times students apply to a college based on the success of the college football program, with no research on their chosen majors.


I am always willing to help students who aspire to attend a top tier school with suggestions for planning the high school career. It’s a daunting task, particularly when the preparation must begin early in high school, before most students understand the process. Schools like Stanford, Duke, Notre Dame, UCLA, Harvard, etc. could fill every seat with an AP laced transcript and an overloaded grade point average. Strong academics are a “given” expectation for a highly selective campus. High school students should enroll in the most challenging courses they can handle when planning for a top tier school. But a 4.0 grade point average won’t make you stand out when applying to a highly selective college.


“How do I stand out?” To be admitted to highly selective schools, students must be respected for more than just academics. To stand out among other highly qualified college applicants, candidates need to be respected leaders beyond their high school or home town. For most students, this isn’t easy. It will take initiative and a willingness to get outside of their comfort zones.


Seeking out leadership roles or creating them can get the attention of an admissions office, but the student should be truly interested in the organization or its cause on more than one level. Admissions officials are experts at gleaning mistruths and exaggerations regarding leadership, honors and activities. In the area of activities, it’s depth, rather than breadth that will impress. Students who are active in one or two areas at an intense level, will be more impressive than someone who claims membership in 20 clubs.


“What looks good on a college application?” Admissions officials regularly make statements like, “Find your passion – and follow it.”  I agree. Avoid activities based on what, “looks good on an application,” and instead choose your activities based on what “looks good on you.” This will give your college application depth, substance and showcase your strengths.


College admissions officials can spot a “resume’ builder” or a parent-driven application at first glance. A high school resume’ that looks too “adult” will work against you, not for you. Students often inquire about which school activities, clubs, sports, performing arts, community service or employment will impress a top tier admissions office. College admissions counselors value high school sports for leadership, teamwork and commitment. But clubs, performing arts, activities, service projects, jobs, etc. can offer the same depth of leadership and meaningful experience. All selective colleges will want to see evidence of a successful, significant, satisfying high school career on your application – not a blue print toward impressing their admissions office.

 
It is wise to begin thinking of lofty collegiate goals early in high school. But as you plan, don’t lose sight of why you are planning to go to college. A quality education is available at hundreds of colleges that do not have national rankings or NCAA Division I football programs. As selective college admission continues to increase in competition each year, it’s critical that everyone have a “back up plan” and apply to a college where they can meet their goals and are certain to be admitted. If you are one of the thousands of highly qualified students who are not admitted to your first choice, highly selective college, your academic life is not over; you can still achieve a respected undergraduate degree.


And if your heart belongs to a particular college football program, you can probably buy their sweatshirt at Target.

Even if you're not ready yet - apply now

Most high school seniors will admit they are not quite ready to head off on their own at college, just yet. But it’s time to put a college plan into action. November 30th is the University of California application deadline, and also the California State University priority admission deadline.  Students across the Golden State have just a few days left to submit their applications to both of their public education options for four year colleges.


Applications to both college systems are submitted on-line. The California State University application is filed at www.csumentor.edu a comprehensive sight that allows students as early as middle school, begin to plan for a college education at any of the 23 CSU options.  CSU Mentor allows students to apply, one school at a time, by entering their high school courses and test scores. The good news is that once a student has submitted a CSU application, when he returns to apply to a second or more, the application is already pre-populated with the information entered the first time.  CSU Mentor is also an option for having SAT scores sent by the College Board. By submitting SAT scores to CSU Mentor, all 23 CSUs receive the scores. Students may share their ACT score with all CSUs by sending the ACT score to just one CSU.


The University of California offers on-line application at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions where with a click of a mouse, students can submit the same application to any or all of the nine undergraduate universities.   The UC application is far more comprehensive than the CSU. Like CSU Mentor, the UC application will ask students to complete their high school course history, and SAT or ACT test scores. But it will also inquire about a student’s history in high school activities, awards, recognition, volunteer work and even employment. The UC also requires two application essays, fondly referred to as “personal statements.”  The prompts are specific and students are well advised to think carefully about what they have to say to the UC within the context of the prompt. Both SAT and ACT scores are shared among the nine UC campuses by submitting them to just one campus.

The UC does not require a transcript until after graduation and they do not accept letters of recommendation. Most of the CSUs do not require a transcript as part of the application, but students should check their individual college web pages for their admission “to do list.” There are a few of the universities with in the CSU that are requesting an official transcript this year, and students need not worry that their application is “suspect” if a college asks for a one.


Private and independent colleges have a variety of application deadlines. The simplest way to determine a private college deadline is to simply “google” the college name and undergraduate admission. Applications are filed on-line and require a comprehensive application. Many private colleges offer priority admission deadlines, with later deadlines also available. The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities has a very comprehensive website http://www.aiccu.edu/    which will assist students with more application information on dozens of private schools.


As fees have risen dramatically at our California public universities, interest in out of state colleges has also risen. Out-of-state schools will have various deadlines, requirements and some often factor the gpa differently than California systems. Deadlines range from early November to “rolling” which means right up until fall semester begins. Public universities in the Western U.S. states sometimes offer California students tuition discounts through the Western Undergraduate Exchange program (WUE) which significantly lowers the tuition for an out-of-state student. WUE discounts are usually contingent on application deadline, gpa and sometimes major. Be sure to confirm that a WUE school is “friendly” with California, as some colleges who participate in the program with other states, do not participate with California. http://www.wiche.edu/wue


Over the past 20 years, I’ve made the observation that while seniors in November are not ready to move away from home to attend college; something magical happens to them by June. Students often become more mature, focused and the idea of living independently appeals to them on many levels by spring. I strongly encourage students to submit an application now, even if they are nervous about going out in the world. There is no penalty for not accepting an offer of admission, and students who are looking at the future today with a bit of trepidation, may be thrilled to have options to take bold steps toward college by graduation.