Myths and Truths

What has changed in college admissions?

Help your student figure out who they are!

What should I be looking for in a college?

What are colleges looking for in me?

Demonstrated interest

SAT/ACT -- To Do’s

Naviance

Updates on the UW application

This summer and next steps0

Class of 2019- Action Plan

Myths in College Admissions 1) There are only a handful of amazing colleges.

2) The more selective the school= the better the college is for my student.

3) There is some secret strategy or code to get my student into the college of their choice.

4) Students must be sure about their college major/career choice at 17 years old.

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Truths in College Admissions 1) There are hundreds of colleges out of the 2000+ in

the US that would provide a top notch education for a student. There is not just one “great fit” school.

2) Selectivity is about the number who apply and what the school’s needs are. It is not a measure of the educational experience that a student may have.

3) College Admission does not have a secret code or one path for success. Most all information is available to anyone who looks for it.

4) Over 50% of college students change their major at least once. Many jobs do not require a specific major.

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What has changed? 1) Technology: In 1998, the Common Application

started. (First versions were on paper). This allows students to apply to many schools at one time using one single application template.

More than 20 million students apply to college in the US every year. Over 25 percent submit 7+ applications. Some very “popular” schools are getting flooded with applicants. A huge rise of popularity among a small group of extremely selective schools has made the college admissions process seem very difficult.

Most schools admit more than 50% of applicants.

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What has changed? Globalization: A large number of students attended

colleges within 100 miles of where they lived. Today students have more access to out-of-state information and apply to more schools far away from home.

If you were to ask a student what the best schools are in the country they will typically name the same 20 or 30 schools.

Rankings came into existence with the popularity of magazines like US News and World Report.

Baby Boomers: Their kids have now graduated from college, so there are fewer applicants but more applications (due to technology). 4

What are colleges looking for?

GPA (along with appropriate rigor/balance of class work)

Test scores – SAT or ACT

Some schools are test optional now

Intellectual Curiosity – eager to learn

Intellectual Vitality – take an interest in something and run with it

Diversity – Colleges want a freshman class that is full of unique students in order to create a rich campus community.

Leadership

Special talents or abilities

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What are colleges looking for? Students who get involved AND make a difference

in the school and greater community

Self-discipline – complete your homework before socializing.

Persistence/Mastery – learn to know, not just “get it done.”

Essays –common app prompts

Supplemental essays- “Why this college?”

Letters of Recommendation

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Great tip for college research Google: Common Data Set + Name of College

Use the Common Data Set: Describes the key elements that each college is looking for in an applicant

Other information found here includes:

Academic Offerings

Annual Expenses

Financial Aid

Student Life

Admission Breakdown (admitted, enrolled, waitlisted)

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Self Analysis Know yourself first and foremost- don’t just follow the crowd! Use Naviance and take the Do What You Are assessment 16 Personalities – www.16personalities.com Listen to some amazing TED Talks

“Quiet” The Power of Introverts “Grit” by Angela Duckworth

College Match self-survey and qualities worksheet www.schoolbuff.com

Mymajors.com Your learning styles Extra-curricular activities & social life Influence of family & friends What problems do you like to solve? What is the real reason you are going to college? 8

What should you be thinking about in the college search?

Consider the Characteristics Costs may be the MOST IMPORTANT factor

Majors & Educational Programs (undecided is ok)

Accessibility of faculty & advising

Location & Size (do not compare to high school)

Mission statement

Religious affiliation

Admissions Policy

Campus Activities/Student Life

Support Services

Retention, Graduation Rates

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“Fit”…What does that mean?There are three components

1) Admission Fit: Can the student be admitted? If the college will not admit you, then it is not likely a good fit

2) Financial Fit: Can you afford the tuition costs? Have you looked at the net price calculator on each college website? Have you looked at possible merit scholarships? Does your college offer them? If you are a strong candidate for the school, are you more likely to get merit money?

3) Emotional Fit: Will you have a feeling of belonging at this school? Do people “like me” go to this school?

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The college application list:By the end of the summer , students should have 5 to 10 colleges

under consideration. This allows for some flexibility in choice of major, career plans and

potential financial aid or scholarship options.

3 tiers of Selectivity/Balance these in the college list:

1-2 Reach/Dream Colleges (Wild Cards)

3-5 Probable/Hopeful/Target Colleges

2-3 Confident/Highly Likely to Admit Colleges

7-10 total colleges is an average number to apply to

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Target Schools & Safety Schools Target: Schools that tend to admit over 30% of

applicants, but maybe less than 75% of applicants. Your GPA and test scores fall within the average range for that particular school.

Safety Schools: Schools that tend to admit over 75% of applicants. Your GPA and test scores are above the average range.

Remember, many colleges consider other factors such as recommendations, rigor of course load, essays, interviews and extra-curricular activities.

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Dream or Reach Schools One or Two schools

These are often the top choices, but ones that are less likely to admit the student. The student's qualifications exceed, match or fall slightly short of the college's average, and the competition for the limited places in the freshman class is intense.

These tend to be schools that admit less than 20% of applicants. These are often referred to as “wild card” schools.

Most of these schools are so selective that you cannot be confident that you will be admitted regardless of your test scores & GPA.

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Demonstrated Interest Demonstrated interest is the degree/ways to which the

student shows a college that they are sincerely interested in enrolling. It can be a subtle tool that helps colleges target a specific number of students to enroll each year.

Remember…college admissions is BIG BUSINESS. Colleges may use this to predict how many students will actually say YES to their offers of admission.

Colleges need to fill classrooms and dorm rooms, but they have to be careful to not admit too many or too few students.

Supplemental Essays are also a cue to the college about how much the students knows/cares about attending. 14

Demonstrated Interest The more selective the school…the less “demonstrated

interest” factors into admission decisions.

Some ways to show interest:

1) open e-mail from schools that you are interested in 2) campus visits 3) hotel presentations 4) Get to know your college reps! Connect with them and make it authentic.

Some studies have shown that up to half of the colleges in the US use demonstrated interest.

How do you know? Simply GOOGLE Common Data Set and the college the student is interested in.

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Taking College Tours Plan ahead

Reserve your spot on the daily campus tour. Get out of the car!

Meet with an admissions counselor

Attend a class or go when school is in session

Meet with a professor from a department of interest

Walk the halls & read the walls

Talk with students & faculty

Visit during the school year (summer is not ideal because most students are not on campus)

Send a thank you note

* So important: Would you buy a $60,000 car without driving it? Kick the tires and look under the hood of potential colleges too! 16

College Visits @ Interlake College Reps visit our school!

Come prepared with specific questions about their school

Come prepared to learn something new

Be open minded and meet at least two reps from schools you have not heard of previously.

Demonstrated interest – Yes, this can be a great way to build a connection with a rep from a school. Remember, most of the reps went to that college and are recent graduates. They have good insights about the college.

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SAT and ACT Your responsibility to register:

www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org

Register EARLY to secure 1st choice testing location

We have reminded Juniors to sign up for May, June, or July testing.

There are Fall options as well for seniors.

See counselor for fee waiver if you have free/reduced lunch

SAT free prep options – Naviance, Kahn Academy, Collegeboard website, ACT website and many local companies offer free practice length tests.

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SAT Subject Tests Subject Tests are one hour long (can take 3 max in 1 day)

Subjects include History, Math, English, Science, World Languages

Required by some schools Usually selective private universities

Specific majors in STEM

Take when class is completed--June or in the Fall

Note: Research each possible school individually as the requirements may change from year to year or with individual majors.

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University of Washington • New application deadline – 11/15/2018

• New application format - Coalition Application

A few other public and private universities are also using the Coalition Application

• Don’t rely solely on the advice of current or former UW students – this will only be the second year using this system

• START EARLY!

• Application will likely open Sept 1, 2018

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UW personal statement A. Personal Statement (Required) Maximum length:

600 words. The UW will accept any of the 5

Coalition prompts.

Here are some examples:

1. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience

that either demonstrates your character or helped to

shape it.

2. Describe a time when you made a meaningful

contribution to others in which the greater good was

your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of

making your contribution.

3. Has there been a time when you’ve had a long

cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did

you respond? How did the challenge affect your 21

This summer focus on: Self Awareness of Strengths and Challenges

SAT or ACT prep

Initial college list in Naviance

FAFSA preparation

Rough Draft of the Common app essay or UW essay

Compile a comprehensive list of your activities & achievements

Letters of Recommendation: Decide which teachers to request to write

Open Common App account

Clean up social media/email account

Finish 40 hours of community service or summer job 22

Naviance To Do’s

• Complete your personal profile

• Make & manage your college list

• Scattergrams– this will help to know Reach, Fit, Likely schools

• Individual college data

• Links to Common App/Naviance: they speak to each other

• Request Teacher Letters of Rec

• Counselor Reports & Letters of Rec

• Request Transcripts be sent for ALL 4-year colleges23

What to expect in Sept/Oct College application

guidance presentations in Senior Social Studies classes.

Individual Blitz appointments with each senior with school counselor.

College Corps: trained volunteers who help with applications and essays.

Over 100 college admission representatives will be on campus from September through November.

Super Wednesday: College Essay help with English teachers, school counselors and College Corps volunteers.

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Ways your school counselor can be helpful…

Academic/Career Planning

Graduation requirements College planning (Spring of

Junior year) and applications (Fall of Senior year)

Course selection (Spring) Naviance support Summer School Letters of recommendation

Social/ Emotional Support

Family struggles Communicating with teachers Mental Health support Peer/social concerns Connect to outside mental

health resources

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