The purpose of College

Recently, a group at the University of Chicago has started a movement for increased casual sexual activity amongst the students there.  The website is http://www.uchicagohookups.com/index.php.

This begs the question  - what is the purpose of going to college?  Does casual sex along the way contribute to the accomplishment of one's goals and achievement of one's aspirations?  Or does it distract?  Does it result in increased business at the local Planned Parenthood clinic?  Heartache for students, particularly women, whose hopes for permanence or meaning in such an intimate encounter are dashed, repeatedly?  Does this sort of behaviour improve the quality of campus life, the caliber of the education, or the true happiness of the student body at a university?  Do parents really spend $40,000 + /year think this sort of diversion is helpful to their children's education?

U of Chicago, in particular, is the training ground for lawyers, doctors, scientists, social scientists.  In short, for many professionals.  Will it help them to have this sort of legacy?  Will professional organisations consider this helpful?  Especially when they already see the disruption to productivity that divorce, affairs, and the like cause their businesses?

College Selection: Best Friend's U

Many kids choose their school based on where their friends are going.  It may be a boyfriend or girlfriend, a buddy from a team or club, etc.  It doesn't matter - they are choosing the school because of this other student, not anything about themselves or the school.

Now they are at Best Friend’s U. As they get the lay of the land at their new home, they find that their favorite club isn't on campus, and the kids they've met are not the kinds of kids they were hoping to meet. The classes are too big, or too small or too hard or easy. Their grades slip and you finally have a talk over Spring Break. Only then do you discover that their enthusiasm for this school was because their buddy loved it and raved about it. They have seen that buddy a few times on campus but s/he is busy with all the classes and activities they love -the reasons they liked the school. But your child is miserable. Now you are scrambling to figure out how to transfer, where to transfer to. There are deadlines, requirements, courses the other school won't accept, etc. Often you are looking at an extra semester or two - your child is now on the 5 year plan, is discouraged, and won't be able to start working for an additional year. Heavy costs for the lack of planning.

Working with a professional, certified college planner like myself ensures that the schools on your child's list will be excellent choices for him or her, specifically. Such guidance significantly reduces the chances that your child will be on a five or six year track for a Bachelor's degree, saving you around $60,000 in costs, as well as getting your child working two years sooner, bringing in $60,000-70,000 on average.

 

Selecting one's target colleges is not a simple process.  A great engineering school may have a lousy writing program.  A school with a terrific lacrosse team may not even have an international business management major.  Schools with huge campuses are great places to explore for some while they make others feel lost and insignificant.  There are many, many aspects of prospective schools to be considered.  At the same time, all your regular family activities are happening - team practices, homework, vacations, ortho visits,the works.  It's a $100,000+ decision - get help.

What to do if you are wait listed

Wait list means they’ll offer you a spot if not enough of the accepted kids choose to go there.  The schools do this so their classes are full.  It is natural to be disappointed or upset.  However, all is not lost.

If you are sincerely interested in the school which wait listed you,  let the admissions office know – by letter or email – that you are still interested.  Find out who the regional rep is and contact him/her.  Explain why this school is a great fit for you – be specific – I have done research on X and am eager to work with Professor C who is working in this area…  Also provide updates on what you've done since you sent in your application.  Hopefully there is something significant you can report.  Often it might just be little, but important things, like pulling a grade up from a B+ to an A.  You can follow up with additional updates when you have things to report – so have things to report!  Apply for internships, enter contests, get a job, do significant leadership with your groups, etc.  You can also enlist the support of teachers and counselors who can call admissions on your behalf.  They need to be able to add to the information included in your application – things like being the only/one of the few seniors who actually sent a thank you note for all the help provided…

So, if you are seriously interested in your wait list school,  stop moping and let them know.  Do not be a pest but advocate for yourself, so you are at the top of the waitlist pile.

A Note on Getting Rejected

Getting a rejection letter is tough for everyone.  However, it may have had nothing to do with you, strange as that may sound.  Therefore, do NOT take it personally.  Every year all schools do not admit well qualified students. In order to have a well balanced class, they set various guidelines for the class. Consequently, you may be rejected because there was an abundance of applicants from your state or for your major, for example.  Clearly neither of those reflects any lack on your part.  Luckily there are many schools to choose from, so all is not lost!  And, remember, there are some good schools who have rolling admissions, in the unsettling event you are rejected by all of your schools.

ADMISSIONS STRATEGIES

If money is not too much of an issue, and your first choice school has Early Decision (ED), apply ED.  The admit rates are much, much higher ED than Regular Decision.  Remember that you will be committed to that school, however, so be sure it’s the right school for you. 

Acceptance rates are also higher for Early Admission (EA) applicants.  These applicants benefit from the “early bird gets the worm” philosophy.  Although they must complete their application sooner, they also have the reduced stress of knowing they have been accepted much sooner. 

It is easier to get in EA or ED, period.  That doesn’t mean it is easy to get accepted by these schools – it is just easier for qualified candidates to be accepted when they apply EA or ED vs. applying RD (Regular Decision).  Put together a strategy to take advantage of all your options!

Four Ways to Apply to College

Celtic College Consultants

COLLEGE CON

Early Admission (EA) has early deadlines. Students are notified of acceptance quite early also. Students may apply to as many EA schools as they wish. They are not bound to enroll at that school. In fact, they have until May 1st to notify the school whether they will enroll or not.

Early Decision (ED) also has early deadlines but also includes a binding contract stating that accepted students MUST attend that university.  Students may only apply for one school’s ED program.  Some schools have single choice ED policies which mean you can only apply to their early program.  Reading the fine print is essential.

Regular Decision is the one we are all are familiar with.  This is the typical admissions process. Please note that many schools only offer regular decision. The more competitive schools tend to offer the EA and ED options.

Rolling Admissions is the process some schools use.  They accept applications all year round. This means all is not lost if you are not accepted at any of your schools – rolling admissions schools count on being students’ back-up plans. The other implication, however, is, if one of your desired schools has rolling admissions, the sooner the better is the application strategy you need to employ. It is tempting to procrastinate since they have no deadline. However, once the class is filled, there is no room for additional students. And the financial aid office will have less money to give you the later you are accepted.

Ivy League Hope Restored!

Yesterday, Harvard and Princeton both announced that they would be reinstating their Early Action application programs. This is TERRIFIC news for students!  The acceptance rate of early action applicants is higher than regular decision applicants.  The trick is, of course, being ready, willing, and able to apply early.

Working with a college planner is immensely helpful with this.  Teens (and their parents!) are not known to be the best time managers.  Having a planner on their side gives students a game plan and accountability, not to mention encouragement and the occasional pointer/course correction.

Harvard and Princeton both cited inclusion of minority applications (that includes low income students) as part of the rationale for both ending and restarting this program.  No matter the truth of the matter, there is a definite opportunity for these student populations.