Common Application 2014-2015: Essay Prompts to Remain the Same!

After much uproar last year about the changes in the Common Application 2013-2014, the 2014-2015 version will retain the current set of first-year essay prompts. And despite numerous complaints from both counselors and students, the essay will continue to be capped at 650 words.  While the more specific questions and word limits do make the writing of the essay more challenging, the prompts are broad enough that, if students are creative, they can make most topics answer one of the questions.  The word limit requires students be succinct and critical about every word choice--a good thing!  The prompts are:

           -Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity

              that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this

              sounds like you, then please share your story.   

            -Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure.  How did it affect

             you, and what lessons did you learn?

            -Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted you

             to act? Would you make the same decision again?

            -Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.  What do  

             you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

            -Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your

              transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or

              family.

So if you are a junior, should you start writing?  NO! It is too early. However,  I do encourage my students to begin keeping a notebook with possible topic ideas.  And if they feel inspired to write a description of an experience or anecdote, go for it.  Having some ideas on paper before beginning the process more formally can take the pressure off and help students avoid writer's block!

Imitation is the finest form of flattery?

In a major overhaul announced last Wednesday by the College Board, the SAT will become more like the ACT.  The writing portion of the test will become optional (and unlike the ACT longer--50 minutes versus the current 25 minutes), students will no longer be penalized for incorrect answers (previously students lost 1/4 of a point for an incorrect response), and perhaps most importantly, the test will be more "accessible, more straight forward, and grounded in high school curriculum."  Gone will be the "trick questions" which favored those who could afford the best test prep tutors as well as archaic vocabulary testing of words like Phlegmatic, occlusion, and punctilious. 

Sound familiar?  Yes, it sounds a lot like the ACT.  The scoring will also change, although not to the 1-36 scale the ACT uses, but back to the traditional 1600 point scale (200-800 on two sections:  Critical Reading and Writing and Math).  In addition, despite long arguing that test prep does not work, College Board will team up with Khan Academy to provide free test prep.

Why the change?  College Board would argue they are updating and improving the test.  Skeptics might point out that the SAT has lost market share to the ACT.  While the SAT has been long been more popular on the coasts, today there is no college in the country that will not accept either test.  Since 2012, more students have chosen to take the ACT instead of the SAT.  In addition, more and more colleges have gone "test optional." (Blog on that topic to follow soon)

What does this mean for students?  Probably not much.  Students will continue to stress over these tests, parents will continue to hire the best tutors they can afford, and most colleges will continue to use them as a key element in their admissions process.  However, given the change, I am advising my students tin the Class of 2016 (the first class to be impacted) to prepare for the ACT.  We know what to expect with the ACT.  Tutors are familiar with the types of questions and the content covered.  It is tried and true.  No one wants to be the SAT's guinea pigs.

The Waitlist

"We would like to offer you a place on our waitlist."  Just what do those eleven words mean?  They can mean three things:

1. The admissions committee likes you and would love to admit you – they just have too many similar, qualified applicants.

2. The admissions committee likes you but thinks you are going elsewhere so they do not want to waste an acceptance on you.  They likely feel you have a lack of interest in their school.

3.  The admissions committee wants to reject you, but they are concerned such a decision will cause problems (with your high school because they admitted another student with weaker academic credentials but with a desired talent or ethnicity, with your college counselor because s/he advocated strongly for you, or with your parents because you come from a long line of graduates).  This is what is called the "Courtesy Waitlist".

The waitlist is the college's safety net.  Each year they must accept many more students than can possibly attend because they know students apply to several colleges and many will attend those other options.  Colleges use a complicated mathematical formula to figure out just how many admitted students they can expect to matriculate – some years they end up with too many (hence triple freshmen dorms), sometimes too few.  When they end up with too few, they go to the waitlist to make sure all beds are filled. 

The waitlist can vary greatly from school to school – some colleges invite 200 students to be on their waitlist, others over 1000.  Some years some colleges have taken over 100 students off their waitlist, in other years colleges take none.

So if you are offered a waitlist spot at your dream school, what should you do?

1.  Immediately send back the card and accept the spot on the waitlist.  Then, of the schools to which you were admitted, decide on the one you would most want to attend.  Send in your acceptance and deposit to that school.  If you are lucky enough to get off the waitlist of your dream school, you will lose your deposit but that other college will release you from your promise to attend.

2.  Write a personal letter or email to the admissions representative responsible for your school or region (ask your school counselor, look on the website, or call the admissions office to find out whom that would be).  Assuming the college decides to take people off their waitlist, that person will need to be your advocate, so you want them to know (1) everything about you that could help your case, and(2) that you’re extremely interested in that school.  First, provide an update on your accomplishments since you applied.  You’ll obviously want to highlight any new awards and provide an update on your grades (assuming they help your case), but also think creatively.  You might include your plan to study for your 3 AP exams, your work in organizing the graduation activities, or even information about your upcoming summer internship.  Next detail why you want to attend that college.  Be very specific especially about the academic reasons you are excited to attend.  And finally, assuming it is true, be sure to state that if you are accepted you would definitely attend.  If it is not true, do not write it, instead say that the college "remains at the very top of my list”. 

3.  Share your news with your high school counselor and ask for his or her help.  Ask if s/he would be willing to call or write another letter on your behalf.  Assuming they are good, ask to have your 3rd quarter grades sent to the college.

4.  Get an additional letter of recommendation from a senior year teacher who can report that you are continuing to work your hardest into the spring of your senior year.  Alternatively, you could ask an employer, the volunteer coordinator at your community service site, a club advisor, or a coach to write an additional letter to make sure the college knows about the depth of your contribution. One additional letter is plenty and ideally it say something that was not already detailed in other letter or other parts of your application. This letter should be in your file before May 1.

5.  Do steps 1-4 ASAP and then move on!  Get excited about the college to which you have been admitted and have agreed to attend!

Timing?  Waitlists begin to move in the first week of May – after students have sent in their enrollment deposits for the May 1 deadline and colleges have had a chance to sort out their numbers.  Who gets off the waitlist typically depends on the college’s needs and how the class has shaped up (i.e., are there enough boys, do they need another kid from the Midwest, do they need a Center on the football team?).  Unfortunately, there is often no financial aid for students who come off the waitlist.  If a college does accept students off their waitlist, they often call students personally to offer them a spot in the class.  They have been known to say, "If you were offered a spot, would you attend?"  If the student does not say yes, s/he is likely not to be offered a spot.  Often these offers have a short time window (2 days-1 week) – they want to fill the class, if you don't want the spot they will go on to the next student.

Waitlists are highly unpredictable and vary greatly from year to year. The best thing you can do is to bond with the college to which you have been accepted.  And remember: there is no perfect school – your experience and future depends much more on how you take advantage of what is offered at the institution you attend than the sticker on the back of the station wagon!

Great article on College Rejection by Brian Harke, Huffington Post

The "March Madness" is upon us.

Each year high school seniors spend the month of March in a nail-biting, gut-churning, adrenaline-fueled state of anticipation. It's the anxiety that each March brings as thousands wait for their college acceptance letters.

Like many associated with college admissions departments, I have started to receive dire calls and emails from potential students hoping for an early indication of their admittance status. As I reflect on these communications, I realize how controlling we have allowed the college admissions decision to become.

Yes, getting into your first pick college is important, but let's keep it in perspective. Being accepted by your first choice college is certainly something to celebrate, but it's not the end of the world if it doesn't work out exactly as you'd hoped. Too often I see students who don't get admitted into their first pick college beat themselves up, think they did something wrong, or succumb to the belief that they weren't good enough. I've heard of friendships that end because one student got admitted to the college and the other didn't. To add to the drama, parents often take the admittance or denial as a personal victory or defeat. Some wear it as a badge of pride while others blame themselves and see it as failure. It isn't!

Here are some things to keep in mind if you receive a denial letter from your first pick college:

• The process is very subjective. Forget about your GPA, SAT score and all the advance placement classes you took. Yes, the numbers are important, but when compared to other's scores they are just that: numbers. Looking at applications through a quantitative lens, one would think that the highest scores should get accepted. Oh, if it were that easy. There is a qualitative component that makes getting admitted to college much more subjective than most students and parents realize. Subjectivity comes into play as application reviewers contextualize what you have submitted in comparison to what they have reviewed in the past. Reviewers have their own take on things and there is no black and white with subjectivity. It is out of your control.

• As hard as it is, don't take denial personally. Someone at the college just didn't think you were the right fit at the time. Try to trust that they know what's best. As much as you wanted to get into the college, chances are pretty good that the admissions team did you a favor. If they didn't see you as a good fit, you'd probably end up disliking the college had you gotten in. There is a lot of thought about "fit" and student success when making the decision to admit students. Sometimes the shoe just doesn't fit no matter how much we think we love them.

• You are not a failure. Too many students assume they are a failure by not making it into their top pick college. Nothing could be further from the truth. Remember subjectivity? It is really out of your control. There are so many variables in making the admit decisions that I could write books and books on the topic. You are still the same successful person you were before you got your admit or denial letter. Don't forget that. The sting of a denial will go away.

• Celebrate the colleges you do get into. Whether it is your first choice or third, any college you get into is something to celebrate. For every college you get into, someone else didn't. Keep that in mind and be humble. It is an incredible accomplishment.

• There is always a transfer option. I recommend students go to the college they got into, and after a year if they are still not happy, try to transfer. However, if you go to a college with the intent of transferring, you will never give the college a real try. You'll avoid settling in and experiencing the true nature of the college. Most who go this route end up staying at the college they were admitted to. They figured out that the admissions team from the college that denied them did them a favor.

• Parents: give your students a break. The selection process belongs to them, not you. You've had years to learn how to deal with the rejections life often throws our way. This may be the first major rejection many students experience. Be supportive and find the good in the situation. There is always good.

I've included other helpful links and articles for incoming college freshmen here.

The bottom line: You are a success regardless of the college you get in to. Don't let a college admittance letter take that away.

So, stop biting your nails and worrying about your life crashing down if you don't get into your first choice college. Whatever your future holds will unfold as it is supposed to. Trust me, I was one of those students who didn't get into their first pick college. I did OK and so will you.

 

Follow Brian Harke Ed.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Brianharke

Ten Tips for Parents beginning the College Search and Application

1.  College chat with your child: Limit college-related discussions to once or twice a week and not at the dinner table.  Don’t bug your child every minute about the application process; instead set up specific times to discuss college-related items.  Do not allow the process to take over your life, your student's life, or your relationship with your son or daughter. 

2.  College chat with other parents: Avoid the temptation to compare notes with other parents – there are always lots of horror stories that parents love to pass around.  Often they are not true or parents don't know the full story. Talk to your school counselor or seek professional advice elsewhere (see IECA) but do your best to stay out of the cocktail party/soccer game frenzy.

3.  The parent’s school of choice: If there is a school you really want your son or daughter to like (perhaps your alma mater), keep your feelings to yourself; the more you push the less likely they will be to like it.  Also plan your visit to that particular school (or any school!) with care – don’t visit a college on a Saturday morning (when students are typically in bed) or as #6 on a long college trip.  Instead, opt to tour on a Friday afternoon so you can see and feel the energy and excitement in the students.

4. Money:  Talk honestly about money.  Figure out what you can realistically afford, educate yourself on the financial aid process, and share your limits with your student.  The saddest cases are when a student gets in to a first choice school but then the parent is not willing to pay the bill.  And there are very few colleges (if any) that are worth graduating from with thousands of dollars of debt.

5. Essay:  Don't edit your students essay – colleges can smell an adult's hand miles away.  Let them write and offer to lightly check for grammatical and spelling mistakes or offer to get professional help.  College admissions officers will know the student's English grades and will have access to his or her Writing sample on the ACT/SAT.  Too good can be too bad!

6.  Medium-sized schools in big cities: Practically every student who comes to me today says he or she is looking for a "medium-sized school in a big city." What students don't realize is that they will likely not have the money nor the time to take advantage of all the offerings of a city.  And schools in more obscure and remote locations (think Colgate or Colby) actually tend to have more unified student bodies as students stay on campus and make their own fun.  And while 2000 students may be the same size as many high schools, in college 2000 plays much bigger: students are much more likely to get to know students in all four years.  I love to ask senior girls how many freshmen boys they hang around with in high school:  "none," but in college that might not be so unusual.  Focused and self-driven kids tend to do well at any size school.  I do not recommend huge schools for kids who are not pretty independently driven.

7.  Graduation from Harvard does not guarantee success and happiness:   A student's ultimate success and happiness will depend on how they take advantage of the many opportunities at whatever college or university they attend.   Look for colleges where students will have opportunities: opportunities to get to know professors, opportunities to get involved and hopefully ultimately lead clubs and activities, opportunities to do research, opportunities to get good internships, opportunities to make life-long friends.  Students need to make use of what comes their way – there are many routes to success and happiness.  I always warn that the number one factor that will determine whether or not a student is happy as a freshman is his or her college roommate.  A student saddled with a wacky roommate will have a tough time whether at Harvard, Haverford, or Hillsdale.

8.  Time-Off: Not everyone needs to go directly to college.  Think seriously if your student is ready, interested, and prepared to do the work.  A year of employment or volunteer work may help him or her to appreciate the gift of college!

9.  Begin the college process early:  By the time you get to the junior year, there is too much stress and pressure to devote the necessary time to the college process.  If you begin the discussion sophomore year (students need freshman year to adjust to high school), students still have the opportunity to make changes and can begin thinking about visiting various schools.  Two tips on visiting schools: Don't visit schools in summer when schools aren't in session and try to give northern schools a chance by not visiting in the dead of winter.

10.  Have fun with the process!  This is one task you and your child can work on together!  See it as a collaboration – laugh about the awful tour guide, make fun of your own crazy ideas, and appreciate that even though it does not seem like it when you are going through it, the process does sort itself out.  If you’re realistic and honest about your options, every student will end up success when it comes to the college process!

Sophomore To-Do: Step 2--Make a Test Prep Plan!

Once you decide which test makes the most sense for you, you need to decide how you will prepare.  While test prep is not "rocket science," it does require familiarizing yourself with the test, doing lots of practice problems, and reviewing areas of weakness.  There are three main options when it comes to test prep: (1) self-study, (2) group classes, and (3) individual tutoring.

Self study. Some students have success by preparing for the exam on their own with a test-prep book or computer program.  Some of my students’ favorite options include:  The Official SAT Study Guide with DVD from College Board and The Real ACT Prep Guide.  While there are many options out there, I strongly recommend purchasing a book published by the test makers (College Board and ACT) as opposed to a third-party provider.

Group classes. Most students, however, (even those with the best intentions) do not have the discipline to work through the test-prep books on their own and need more structure.  Social students often do particularly well with a test-prep class, especially if they are able to take that class with several of their friends. Investigate options at your high school, local colleges, and test prep companies such as KapTest, Princeton Review, or Revolution Prep.

Individual tutoring. Many students are so busy and stressed with their high school courses and activities, that individual tutoring is more effective.  Individual tutoring can be self-scheduled and can hone in on the student's area of weakness.  While an English teacher can certainly oversee practice problems, try to find someone who has had a fair amount of experience working specifically with these tests.  The tests are not just about knowing the content, they are also about understanding the test.  A tutor experienced in that particular test will be able to help the student with both content and test  strategy.  Ask your guidance counselor for recommendations, talk to older students who have been through the process, and research online.  The key to making individual tutoring work is the fit; if the student does not like and respect the tutor, this option does not work.

The student's personality, time constraints, and family budget are all critical to finding the best test prep option.  Solicit input from the student and make a plan.  It is not so important which option you decide on, but rather the fact that you choose one option and follow through with it (and most importantly: don't wait until senior year)!

Sophomore To-Do List: Figure out Which Test (ACT vs SAT) Better Suits your Strengths!

While for most students the junior year is the critical year for standardized testing, sophomore year is the time to start planning and make a standardized testing schedule.  Each individual is unique and requires a different plan of action to be successful when it comes to testing. 

While each year there are more and more colleges joining the Test Optional Club (see www.fairtest.org), the majority of students will need the SAT or the ACT to apply to their list of potential schools. Traditionally, the SAT had been favored by East Coast schools and the ACT aimed at Midwestern students, but today THERE IS NO SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY THAT WILL NOT ACCEPT EITHER THE SAT OR ACT!  Therefore students should determine which test best suits their strengths and then focus their efforts on doing the best possible job on that one test.  Spending time prepping for two tests limits the amount of time a student can focus on either one thereby hurting his or her potential performance on both exams. 

Step 1:  Figure out which test, the SAT or ACT, better suits your strengths.  Twenty-five percent of students favor the SAT, twenty-five percent favor the ACT, and fifty-percent show no preference. If students have taken the PSAT and the PLAN (a pre-ACT exam) as a sophomore, it is possible to compare the scores on the two tests and figure out which one is preferable.  If the student did not have the opportunity to take these tests, however, then the thoughts below may be helpful in determining which test will be a better fit.  If the student and family is eager to take a more scientific approach to determining which test is best, there is the option to take Princeton Review's free SAT and ACT Tests and see where the student scores better.  Both are offered in person and online (see www.princetonreview.com).

In general.  The ACT is more straightforward, is based more on school curricula, and attempts to measure mastery of key concepts.  The SAT, on the other hand, tends to be a bit trickier and tests more general reasoning skills. In addition, many test prep tutors report that the ACT is more test-prep friendly.  Very bright underachievers often do better on the SAT while extremely conscientious students tend to favor the ACT.  In general, boys do better on the SAT, girls better on the ACT. 

Random Guessing. The ACT does not penalize for wrong answers (thus students should be advised to take a stab at all questions), whereas the SAT subtracts a fraction of a point for wrong answers requiring some strategy on the part of the student for when to guess versus leave an answer blank.

Timing. Timing is more challenging on the ACT; students have four longer sections (Reading, Math, English, Science) that they work on one at a time.  The SAT, on the other hand, has 10 shorter sections mixed up.  Students do a little math, then a little reading, then a little writing, etc.  Slow processors tend to do better on the SAT; they can get get bogged down and run out of time more easily on the ACT.

Reading/English.  Good readers and students with strong vocabularies tend to do well on the SAT.

Math.  The math on the ACT is more advanced.  The ACT includes Algebra 2 and some Trigonometry, whereas the SAT focuses on Algebra 1, Geometry, and a little Algebra 2.  The math questions on the ACT progress from easy to difficult, whereas the SAT questions are all mixed up in terms of difficulty.  In addition, the SAT has a grid-in section where students have to come up with their own answer versus choosing among five multiple-choice options.

Science.  The ACT has a Science Reasoning section while the SAT does not.  While labeled as Science, this section is really more about reasoning (reading graphs, interpreting data) than real science.  Therefore, students who have not had strong science backgrounds can still excel if they read, comprehend, and reason well.

Writing.  Both tests offer a writing section, in which students must respond to a prompt and write an essay but this section is mandatory for the SAT and optional for the ACT.  The Writing section comes first on the SAT and comes last on the ACT.  In addition, the prompts differ somewhat on the two tests.  SAT test prompts tend to be more intellectual (i.e., is popular culture the strongest influence on a young person's identity? is money the key to a person's happiness?), while the ACT prompts seem to be more practical (i.e., should students be able to choose their reading materials for English class? should high school start times be moved back to better accommodate high school students' circadian rhythms?).  Because most selective colleges require the optional ACT writing section, the ACT will likely not allow students to avoid writing an essay.

If there isn’t a clear winner between the ACT and SAT for a student, don’t fret.  The important thing is not which test the student decides to take, but rather that he or she makes a decision to focus on one, putting his or her foot forward on that one exam.