July 28th, 2010 by Joe Connell
As students visit colleges, prepare for their upcoming year of high school and enjoy the final moments of summer, the question that looms is where should I apply to college?
This is an individual question that is based on many factors that have been covered in previous blogs; particularly, I invite you to read “Where should I attend (or apply) – Choosing a college is about fit!” Once you have an idea of what you are looking for in a college [i.e., cost, location, size, academic programs (your major), extracurricular activities, graduation rates, etc.], I recommend applying to three types of colleges – safe schools, target schools and reach schools.
Safe Schools: These are the schools that students know based on their academic background (SAT score, GPA and high school classes) will accept them. A student’s academic background should be stronger than the Middle 50% (consists of ranges of SAT/ACT scores and GPAs/Class Ranks) of students who attend this college.
Target Schools: These are the schools that students believe based on their academic background (SAT score, GPA and high school classes) should accept them. A student’s academic background should be around the Middle 50% of students who attend this college.
Reach Schools: These are the schools that students consider based on their academic background (SAT score, GPA and high school classes) to be a significant stretch to accept them. A student’s academic background will be lower than the Middle 50% of students who attend this college. A student applying to a reach school may be accepted based on their unique talents, such as music, sports, service or other life experiences. More importantly, they can work to improve their comparison to the institution’s Middle 50% by increasing their SAT/ACT scores and GPA.
If you’re looking for a “magic number” of colleges to apply to, I recommend six, which provides two each of safe, target and reach schools. However, I do not recommend that every student apply to six schools – I encourage each student to take this advice and make it their own.
Joe Connell has been helping high school students transition to college for the last nine years through positions in admissions, new student orientation and retention. Currently, Joe is the Director of Academic Services & Testing at Dutchess Community College (NY); he has previous work experience at William Paterson University (NJ), Marist College (NY) and Miami University (OH). Joe has presented on issues related to college students' transition and success at both regional and national levels and has taught both SAT preparation and college courses for the past eight years.
July 21st, 2010 by Joe Connell
During the summer months, many students visit colleges to see what campuses look like, to hear college presentations from admissions counselors and student tour guides, to feel the atmosphere of the institution, to touch the residence halls, classrooms, dining halls, laboratories and quads of campuses, and to try to taste what it would be like to be a student at the school. These college visits are a key part of a student’s decision-making process during their senior year of high school as they decide where to apply and ultimately where to attend. To make the most of these college visits, I recommend students follow “Four P’s:”
- Plan: What do you want to get out of your visit to a particular college?
- How much time do you want to spend at a school?
- Do you want to visit several nearby colleges in one trip?
- Who do you want to see at a college (e.g., faculty, members of clubs/teams, etc.)?
- Do you want to attend a class? If yes, which class?
- Do you want to stay overnight with a student?
- Prepare: What questions would you like to have answered?
- What are the requirements for admission?
- What are the retention and graduation rates?
- What majors and career opportunities are available?
- What is class size?
- Where do students live? Is the school more residential or commuter?
- What scholarships/grants/loans/other financial aid packages are available?
Tip: Look at the school’s web site before you go, so you can ask specific questions.
- Pay Attention: Look for details that provide a sense of what the college values.
- How clean is the college?
- Who are you introduced to? Are students interacting between classes? Who does your tour guide greet during the tour (students, professors, staff, etc.)?
Tips: Pick up a newspaper to see what the important issues and interests are on campus. Pick up a calendar of events to see what cultural, athletic, musical and other events are planned.
- People: Gain multiple perspectives of the college by talking to as many people as you can.
- Introduce yourself to others besides your tour guide and admission counselor.
- Try to gain a broader picture of the college through conversation. Eating lunch in the dining room is a great way to do this.
Ultimately, the college visit is about you, the student. You may travel with your mom, dad or some other key adult in your life, and you will hear their opinions and those of the colleges. However, I encourage you to ask yourself these questions when your visiting is done: Where do you see yourself for the next phase of your life? What place do you want to call your “home away from home” for the next four years? What place will allow you to grow into the adult you are becoming?
To get the experience and perspective of a father and daughter who went on a college road trip together, I recommend the following Newsweek article from 2007 that was written by Howard Fineman and his daughter Meredith.
Joe Connell has been helping high school students transition to college for the last nine years through positions in admissions, new student orientation and retention. Currently, Joe is the Director of Academic Services & Testing at Dutchess Community College (NY); he has previous work experience at William Paterson University (NJ), Marist College (NY) and Miami University (OH). Joe has presented on issues related to college students' transition and success at both regional and national levels and has taught both SAT preparation and college courses for the past eight years.
July 14th, 2010 by Joe Connell
Most students who attend college apply by a college’s regular decision deadlines, which commonly range from December through March. Some schools do not have decision deadlines and review students’ applications on an ongoing or rolling basis. Other colleges, particularly community colleges, offer open admissions and allow students to apply and register almost until the time classes begin.
Regular Decision
Regular decision is a non-binding decision, so students are encouraged to apply to several colleges through regular decision. Regular decision deadlines often vary by college (frequently December or January); therefore, students have the responsibility to know and follow them. At some colleges students who have been denied early decision or early action, can be considered again for regular admissions. Students generally find out about their acceptance from regular decision applications from mid-March through April 1.
Rolling Decision
Rolling decision is a non-binding decision and, in a sense, blends regular decision and early action policies. Rolling decision applications usually are submitted from the summer before senior year through spring of the senior year. Rolling decision informs students of their acceptance in a timely fashion after they apply as determined by the college. Students can apply to multiple colleges by rolling admissions.
Open Admissions
Open admissions institutions, often community colleges, can require students to follow application deadlines. However, these deadlines typically are very close to the start of the academic year.
A major difference between these application decision types and early decision/action types is that students have the opportunity to add more information to their admission “portfolio” from the fall of their senior year. For example, SAT and ACT scores taken throughout the Fall Semester, including in December, normally can be taken into consideration, as can a students’ initial senior year grades. Adding these factors together gives students a final opportunity to improve their admission “portfolio” and increase their chances of acceptance. In addition, through regular and rolling decision students have the flexibility to learn more about themselves and their future career and personal plans, before making a college decision.
Joe Connell has been helping high school students transition to college for the last nine years through positions in admissions, new student orientation and retention. Currently, Joe is the Director of Academic Services & Testing at Dutchess Community College (NY); he has previous work experience at William Paterson University (NJ), Marist College (NY) and Miami University (OH). Joe has presented on issues related to college students' transition and success at both regional and national levels and has taught both SAT preparation and college courses for the past eight years.
July 7th, 2010 by Joe Connell
In the fall of senior year, students will learn that some of their friends are applying to colleges by November 1 or 15 and finding out whether they are admitted in December. These early application periods are called early decision and early action. It is important for students to be familiar with the similarities and differences of the terms as described below. For both early decision and early action, students should take their final SAT and ACT exams early in the fall of senior year (preferably by October).
Early Decision
Early decision is a binding decision to attend one college made at the time that the student applies. For example, if a student applies to College Z and is accepted early decision, the student has agreed to attend College Z upon receiving the acceptance. For students and families considering early decision, they need to be certain that the college they apply to early decision is the right college for them academically, personally and financially. From a financial perspective, families have to know that regardless of the final financial aid award the student receives (often not provided until spring of the senior year) that they can afford to pay the cost of attendance.
Of note:
- A student can only apply to one college early decision.
- Early decision can benefit a student who is completely certain of where they want to attend college, but may not be certain of their admittance to that college. Early decision shows the student’s strong commitment to attend a particular college.
Early Action
Early action is a non-binding decision to attend one college made at the time that the student applies. For example, if a student applies to College Z and is accepted early action, the student indicated strong interest in attending College Z upon receiving the acceptance; however, the student has no obligation to attend. Early action provides the opportunity to receive the early peace of mind that early decision provides; however, it does not hold the same commitment for the student.
Of note:
- A student can apply to multiple colleges through early action.
- Early action benefits students in finding out their acceptances earlier in their senior year without forcing a commitment at that time. Early action shows a student’s strong interest in attending a particular college(s).
Colleges may slightly vary their early decision and early action procedures, so students should review each institution’s process before applying. Remember, it is the student’s right to have clear information and the student’s responsibility to be aware of his/her growing knowledge of college admissions criteria.
Joe Connell has been helping high school students transition to college for the last nine years through positions in admissions, new student orientation and retention. Currently, Joe is the Director of Academic Services & Testing at Dutchess Community College (NY); he has previous work experience at William Paterson University (NJ), Marist College (NY) and Miami University (OH). Joe has presented on issues related to college students' transition and success at both regional and national levels and has taught both SAT preparation and college courses for the past eight years.
