The College Admissions Process Centennial HS Sophomore Night Katie Rose Communications Coordinator and Premium Tutor Applerouth Tutoring Services
ADMISSIONS TRENDS applerouth 2
ADMISSIONS FACTORS WHAT ARE COLLEGES LOOKING FOR? applerouth 3
The admissions process Admissions Essays H.S. GPA in the context of SAT Teacher/Counselor Schedule Recommendations ACT Strength and Academic Activities Strength of (Leadership, Depth) School SAT Subject Tests Demonstrated Interest qualitative components: Academic Index: the packaging of the quantitative components application: How will they read Is there a cohesive story? your application? applerouth 4
How Most Colleges Evaluate Applicants Step 1: Academic Indexing • Applications are indexed through an algorithm that typically includes: – Course rigor – Grades in core classes – Test scores – School strength • Schools assign different weights to these factors, but core GPA and course rigor often rank higher than testing applerouth 5
The Academic Index Impacts the “Read” a Student Receives Is there a compelling reason not to give an Top of the index offer to these students? class size The real work for the admissions committee – the kids in the middle Is there a compelling reason to take a risk Bottom of the index on these students? Students at the bottom of the index may only receive a cursory read at best, looking for hooks. Academically they are riskier. applerouth 6
How Most Colleges Evaluate Applicants Continued… Step 2*: Involvement/Leadership Evaluation • Student résumé • Extra Curricular Activities • Leadership positions (depth) more important than variety (breadth) *The factors in Steps 2 and 3 are considered only if the student’s academic index justifies a holistic read applerouth 7
How Most Colleges Evaluate Applicants Continued… Step 3: Consider Other, Qualitative Factors • Adversity • Contributions to the community • Diversity • Awards and recognitions • Personality and voice •Student’s self -awareness or insights, as demonstrated through the essays or letters of recommendation applerouth 8
Life-Time Education Spend • Most Financial Aid is allocated to undergrads • Graduate Study (MBA, JD, MS), most everyone is full pay and must assume debt • Better bang for the buck to work the financial aid piece for undergrad Terminal Degree Typically most important to Masters/Advanced your career Vastly diminished chances Undergraduate for aid; most students piling on the loans at this point Best chance for value and significant discounts (grants, scholarships, merit aid) applerouth 9
Sample Financial Aid Award Estimated Tuition and Fees $46,000 Estimated Room & Board $13,000 CO Miscellaneous Costs (e.g.,Books, travel) $4,000 A - Cost of Attendance: $63,000 EFC = Estimated Family Contribution $14,000 Demonstrated Need Deans Scholarship $15,000 College Grant $15,000 Greatly Subsidized Direct (Stafford, *3.76%) $3,500 Reduces Federal Work Study (varies) $3,500 Family Unsubsidized Direct (Stafford, *3.76%) $2,000 borrowing Parent PLUS Direct Loan (*6.31%) $10,000 $49,000 applerouth 10
Merit money is not going away anytime soon • 44 % of admissions directors strongly agree and an additional 36% agree that merit scholarships are an appropriate use of their institution’s financial resources. Chronicle of Higher Education Annual Survey, 2015 applerouth 11
Skillful use of Merit Money can transform institutions • Hope Scholarship has turned UGA from a back- up to a reach school. Using money to lure talented students is now a widespread strategy • Alabama system: 3.5 GPA + ACT thresholds equals discounts all the way to free tuition. • Mississippi: 3.0 GPA + 26 ACT = In State Tuition. • More colleges will use their resources to applerouth recruit scholars who will enhance the student 12
ACADEMICS HOW WILL COLLEGES VIEW MY TRANSCRIPT? applerouth 13
Curricular strength will be more important than ever More focus on APs and IB classes and Dual Enrollment College Level Classes applerouth 14
Balance Course Rigor and GPA Encourage students to take a challenging curriculum in the context of your school To strike the right balance, consider: - Past performance - In-school commitments - Other commitments Getting Cs in advanced courses does not constitute performance. If you are pushing into AP and IB land, As and Bs demonstrate success. More selective colleges want to see more As. applerouth 15
Grade Trends are Essential • It is never too late to improve your grades. It may be tough to change your cumulative GPA first semester senior year, but an upward trend can help with admissions -- especially if you can explain the change with a compelling narrative. applerouth 16
A 3.5 CGPA can tell different stories Freshman Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior (Easier to (The Big Show) Year Year 3. forgive) 5 consistent 3. 5 3. Approaching college level of 5 difficulty Upward grade trends are your friends: And typically Core GPA has the most weight. applerouth 17
College Admissions Essay • The personal statement is the single most important essay most students will write in high school • Students often need specific help with essay writing instruction applerouth 18
Why the Essay Matters • Offers the student a chance to come alive as a human being and share something not found anywhere else in the application • A well-crafted essay can turn an application reader into a vocal advocate in committee For students on the margin, the essay can be a deciding factor in the admissions decision. applerouth 19
Tips to Write a Better Essay 1) Write the essay only you could write. 2) Write in your own voice. 3) Keep the scope narrow; focus on a “thin slice” of life. 4) Be specific. 5) Hook your reader. Use a dynamic introduction or cut the intro altogether. For some additional thoughts on the college essay, go to www.applerouth.com Resources- Experts Corner- Jed Said- Writing the College Essay applerouth 20
ACTIVITIES SHOULD I JOIN EVERY CLUB IN SCHOOL? applerouth 21
How Do Activities Factor into Admissions? • Admissions officers look for continuity , depth , and contribution • Doing the activity consistently over multiple years is key; do not switch every year. It’s good to have involvement beyond sports, if possible. Admissions officers are asking, “what will this student bring to campus?” applerouth 22
DEMONSTRATED INTEREST WHY SHOULD I GO ON COLLEGE VISITS? applerouth 23
Demonstrated Interest May Improve Admissions Chances • Demonstrated interest helps college manage yield. • Demonstrated interest is a plus, but it’s not essential for low SES students. • DI doesn’t factor into the decision for the Ivies, or other super-high yield schools, who are not remotely worried about filling their classes. Interact with college admissions officers, even if you cannot visit their schools. applerouth 24
College Visits Demonstrate Interest and More • May help you clarify your interest level and help you narrow your list • Can inform your application (why Oberlin?) • May provide a chance for an on-campus interview applerouth 25
Building a College List • College Fairs (NACAC), visits from college Reps and virtual tours online • College Visits, particularly local ones, help you identify categories of schools that may interest you (e.g., big state school, football school, small liberal arts school, city, burbs) • Think about personal and financial fit • Get all the non-negotiables on the table early so there are no surprises • Use guide books (Like the Fiske guide) to build overlap schools applerouth 26
Some good resources applerouth 27
Getting more help • Leverage your school counselor • Consider hiring an Independent Educational Consultant applerouth 28
TESTING WHAT TEST IS RIGHT FOR ME? applerouth 29
We will see more Test-Optional schools 800+ and counting Going test optional gets an immediate admissions bump (more students apply) & increases average reported test scores (lower scores disappear). 41% of admissions directors feel tests should be optional. Chronicle of Higher Education Annual Survey, 2015 applerouth 30
However, many admissions officers want to keep testing as a valuable selection tool When highly selective 40,00 colleges receive 40,000 0 applications for 1,500 spots, they need an efficient form of screening. Assessments can be most useful here. 1,50 0 applerouth 31
SAT/ACT Geographic Origins 1959 Iowa City, IA 1948 Berkeley, CA. ACT HQ 1947 First ETS branch Princeton, NJ. ETS HQ The ACT claimed the Heartland. applerouth 32
Today the SAT and ACT are universally accepted Colleges will accept either test without prejudice. applerouth 33
The ACT is dominant SAT ACT Gap 1,186,25 2005 1,475,623 1 289,372 1,206,45 2006 1,465,744 5 259,289 1,300,59 2007 1,494,531 9 193,932 1,421,94 2008 1,518,859 1 96,918 1,480,46 2009 1,530,128 9 49,659 1,568,83 2010 1,597,329 5 28,494 1,623,11 2011 1,647,123 2 24,011 1,666,20 2012 1,664,479 9 -1,730 1,799,24 2013 1,660,047 3 -139,196 applerouth 34 1,845,78 2014 1,670,000 7 -175,787
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