More Applications, More Rejections, and Change Ahead?

This time last year, the Common App was in the news for its botched roll-out of its new online platform.  Students were frustrated by the many problems they encountered trying to save and submit the application.  Colleges fretted over glitches and bad downloads.  Many schools pushed back their deadlines; some highly selective schools signed on with the lesser-known Universal Application.

Ironically, the Common App is getting attention this year for its ease of use.  Well, sort of.  That's part of a bigger story surrounding the increasing applications at selective colleges.  Journalists, students, and some college administrators have begun to ask about the implications of a convenient, one-size-fits-all application that seems to cater to the anxious student's need to cast a wide net.  By making it easy to apply colleges can increase their applications.  And in doing so, they can turn away more students.  

Some places like the idea of increased applications, but it leads to less certainty.  Colleges are having a harder and harder time understanding who in their applicant pool is legitimately interested in enrolling.  So the colleges hedge their bets, too.  They rely more and more on binding early decision (these are the applicants whose interest they can be certain about), which makes life difficult for students not wanting to commit early in the process.

Could a new shared application provide a solution to the uncertainty of increased applications?  Could a less restrictive application allow colleges to ask questions of applicants that would help them make better admission decisions?  Some colleges are starting to explore that idea.  I had a conversation earlier this year with a dean of admission who noted the need for his school to not just mindlessly increase apps, but rather to reach the right students.  That dean and colleagues at a number of other schools are looking to create a new application that better fits their needs.  Perhaps by this time next year we'll be talking about an entirely new way to apply to a group of schools.

Stay Classy, Future Dawgs

UGA announced on their blog that they'll be releasing Early Action notifications tomorrow. (!!!!!) ...And seniors all over Georgia freaked out.  That's my educated guess, at least, based on the reaction around HI.  So here's your reminder to keep calm, and as tomorrow rolls around, to be mindful of how different people are impacted by UGA's news.

First - about timing: decisions are typically made available online after school.  There's no point in frantically refreshing your email and obsessively checking online all day.  Trust me, I know this; I spent last week tracking a UPS package I was way too excited for.  Even tough the website told me the exact day my highly anticipated item would be delivered, I repeatedly checked the package tracker website... just to be sure.  Don't be like me!  Do your best to enjoy your Friday at school.  Involve yourself in your classes; get lunch with your friends; go about your day as you normally would.

And then, when you do check your UGA status, do it at home or in some other private place, by yourself.  I get the logic behind wanting some solidarity, wanting to feel like you're all in it together.  But no good really comes from the group check.  The whole group never gets all the same news.  Someone ends up disappointed, and someone celebrates a little too much and ends up feeling like a jerk afterwards.

Be mindful that your excitement may not be shared by some of your friends.  That means being conscious of what you put on social media, being careful of what you share in group texts, and being supportive of one another.

And if you are deferred, it's by no means the end of the road.  You'll have an opportunity to send more info - which means more work, and that's not fun; I know - but you'll get a thorough review before getting your final decision in the spring.  A deferral is not a reason to be discouraged, it's just an opportunity to show the admission folks a bit more about yourself.  Work with your college counselors in the coming weeks to be sure you feel you're putting your best foot forward in Part II of UGA's app.

In short, the moral of the story here is to handle yourself with some class over the next 48 hours.  Check your decision in private, and celebrate good news as much as you want with your family and close friends.  But be mindful that your decision probably isn't something you need to broadcast all over social media and that someone else's decision isn't really any of your business.  And if you get deferred, check in with your college counselor and we'll get to work on Part II of the app.

College Visit Notes: Washington University in St. Louis

Earlier this fall, I traveled to Washington University in St. Louis (Wash U) for a counselor program.  My visit included info on admissions, a panel with the deans of the five undergraduate divisions, a tour of campus, and plenty of time to interact with current students.  As I've mentioned on this blog before, I grew up in St. Louis.  And though I know the city well, I knew surprisingly little about Wash U prior to my visit.  Below are the main messages I took away.  More photos available on instagram.

Wash U is student-centered.  Wash U pays a lot of attention to what makes their undergrads happy in terms of environment.  Students are supported with what sounds like tons of advising, from both academic mentors and peers.  The university fosters both intellectual development and community engagement.  All freshmen live on the "South 40" - 40 acres of land with new residential and dining space.  You can live in traditional or suite-style dorms.  All freshman live in what they call residential colleges, which include some live-in faculty members.  The spaces are beautiful; Wash U's res life was recently ranked #1 by one of the publications that rank those sorts of things.  The food is also impressive.  If you want to get off campus, all students have free access to St. Louis's public transportation.  Also, the U-City Loop is a brief walk from campus and includes lots of food, nightlife, and some university-owned upperclass housing.

Wash U's academics are incredibly flexible.  Virtually every student I met was pursuing multiple, sometimes quite different, academic programs.  Interested in neuroscience, dance, and Arabic?  Fine - you can explore all of those.  Students are offered lots of advising so that they don't get lost.  It's totally possible to chart your own path, no matter how diverse your interests are.  Additionally, there are some year-long seminar courses, collaborative classes, and service-learning opportunities.  You can start the business curriculum in your freshman year, which is somewhat unique among highly selective undergrad business programs.  This includes taking a business freshman seminar class in which you work towards creating a marketable product.  The engineering college emphasizes creativity and imagination, along with problem solving.  It offers a 5-year BS/MS as well as a 5-year BS/MBA.  Students go on to business school, law school, and med school, along with those who pursue careers in engineering.  If you're interested in design, visual arts, or architecture, you can study in the Sam Fox College of Art and Architecture while continuing to take classes in other disciplines.

To me, Wash U is a great fit for someone whose intellectual curiosity pulls them in different directions.  Socially, Wash U's culture isn't dominated by sports or Greek life.  It actually sounds like the DIII sports, though very competitive, aren't much of a draw.  Instead, students seemed to have lots of varying social interests.  They also come from all over the place - lots of different types of people from highly diverse backgrounds.  The common thread was that they were all engaged in the Wash U student community in multiple ways, while at the same studying interesting combinations of majors and disciplines.

Tips for Seniors: Getting Started

Around the college counseling office, the first weeks of school mean individual meetings with seniors.  For some, these meetings are a check up on progress.  For others, the meeting is a reminder that it's time to get to work.  The earlier you get started on applications and the more organized you are in your approach, the better.  Here's what seniors ought to be thinking about right now:

• Make sure your list of prospective schools is updated in Family Connection.  Now is the time to remove any schools you're certain you won't be applying to.  

• Take note of the application deadlines for your prospective schools.  Prioritize applications (especially the writing sections) for schools with October and November deadlines.  

• Note which schools will accept the Common App.  These are indicated by this logo: .  Be sure to note whether your Common App schools require a supplemental section.  You can find this info when you add a college to your Common App profile.  

• Start drafting essays now so that you have plenty of time to edit and seek feedback.  Email your essay drafts to your college counselor and perhaps to a trusted English teacher.  Below are a few helpful links that may or may not inspire you to start writing: 

Johns Hopkins University's "Essays that Worked"

The University of Georgia's Suggestions

The Huffington Post's Do's and Don'ts

Video Advice from Boston University

Summer College Visits: California

Over the summer, I made my first return to the state where I was born - California. Southern California was home for only a few months during the first year of my life, and I hadn't been back since my family tore me away from the sunshine and beaches to instead raise me in my beautiful and exotic hometown of... St. Louis (thanks a lot, Mom and Dad).  Though the main reason for my visit was a conference in Palm Springs, I was able to spend a day in Los Angeles and a morning in Claremont visiting campuses. Below are some quick thoughts on each school I visited, along with photos.  More photos can be found on our new (!!!) Instagram account: instagram.com/hiescollegecounseling.

University of California - Los Angeles

Beautiful campus in a nice area, just slightly removed from LA.  Feels like a big state school but clearly has a different personality than many of our students are probably used to on the big southeastern campuses.  Would be a great fit for a strong HI student interested in pushing his/her boundaries a bit at a high profile, diverse, large institution on the West Coast.

University of Southern California

USC is located in the city of Los Angeles, although it isn't a completely urban campus like NYU or George Washington; there's a clear distinction between being on campus and off campus.  And campus itself is stunning, if you're into palm trees and fountains and that type of thing.  Would be a great fit for an HI student seeking the SoCal experience at a medium-sized school near the heart of a major city.  Especially strong in film and the arts, as well as business.  

The Claremont Colleges: Harvey Mudd, Scripps, Pitzer, Claremont McKenna, and Pomona

 The Claremont Colleges are 5 unique colleges (and 2 grad schools, which I skipped) whose campuses are all adjoining, though each has its own personality, culture, and academic strength.  The opportunities provided by the shared space and resources among the 5 campuses are unmatched.  If you like the idea of a liberal arts college but want some space to grow and explore beyond your small campus, you won't find a better option than one of the Claremont Colleges.  Oh, and if you're into beautiful weather, mountains, and really cool little college towns, this is your place.  But research each college individually, they aren't all a good fit for everyone because of their specific academic strengths.  Harvey Mudd is primarily focused on engineering, and Scripps is a women's college, for example.  

Congratulations, Seniors!

This past Saturday, the Class of 2014 graduated from Holy Innocents'.  Our newest alumni will head off to 58 different colleges and universities in places as far flung as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami, and Montreal.  Some will leave the US to begin college on study abroad programs or to pursue international gap year experiences.  This is the second graduating class I've worked with and the first group I counseled all the way from junior year through graduation.  It's a group with so many different personalities, strengths, interests, and quirks.  Collectively, I'll miss the Class of 2014's tremendous sense of humor.  Not shy about ridiculous costumes, quick to loudly congratulate one another (and surprised underclassmen) on having had a great day at school, and always ready to embrace a moment of silliness, this year's graduating class filled HIES's hallways with life.  Individually, I'll miss the regular visitors to my red couch - the discussions about essays and applications and where to ultimately attend college, but also the conversations about things completely unrelated to college counseling.  You all have much to be proud of, and it has been both fun and rewarding to watch your growth over the last year.  I wish you all the best as you embark on the next chapter of your young lives.  Seek opportunities for growth, have the courage to chart your own paths, don't take yourselves too seriously, and come back to visit us on occasion.  Congratulations!

Senior Guest Blog: Michael Henley

Michael Henley, Lela Johnson, Alyson Wright

            If I could give one main piece of advice regarding the college application process, it would probably be this: remember who you are and who you want to be. If you follow this one rule, then I believe that the whole process should go a lot smoother for you. I see so many people (many of my close friends included) who apply to a lot of schools that they don’t really want to go to. They just apply anyway, almost as if for no reason at all. Make sure you have a reason to apply somewhere. Not only will this help you remember who you are and who you want to be in the future, but it will also make things a lot easier in regard to your time management, essay writing, and decision-making.

            Personally, I ended up applying to seven different schools. While this list may appear rather large at first, it is actually a lot smaller than it was when I first started my college search back at the end of sophomore year. Originally, I wanted to apply to twelve different schools, which while it could have been done, it would have been a lot more overwhelming. Now you can see the great importance in narrowing down your college choices by thinking about why you really want to go there.

            On a different note, another piece of advice I would like to give would be to ask as many questions as possible. The college application process can be extremely confusing at times, and it is greatly important that you ask questions whenever they need to be asked. More specifically, never forget to consult your college counselor at Holy Innocents’ when you have these questions. They’re there for a reason, and they’re really really good at what they do.

            Next, as you go through this process, I strongly encourage you to stay positive. Don’t doubt yourself about the schools you’re trying to get into. In my experience, I ended up getting rejected from some schools that I didn’t think I would get rejected from, while also getting accepted into a few schools I didn’t expect to get accepted into. In this process, you never really know what’s going to happen, so keep your head up.

            Lastly, I’d like to encourage you to keep your studies up, even after you’ve already applied to college. So many students nowadays decide to ditch their grades as soon as they’ve applied to college, and this isn’t necessarily the smartest decision. Colleges are able to see your grades at the end of your second semester of senior year, and if they see that your grades have not met the same standards as when you applied, then they might have second thoughts about your college decision. That being said, you would really have to mess up for your acceptance to be rescinded, so just try your best, don’t get too lazy (because believe me, I definitely got lazy), and you should be fine.

            All right, well, I hope this helped. Good luck next year! It’s really not as bad as everyone says it is (but it might be just as stressful), and I can’t wait to see where everyone ends up! In the meantime, I’ll be starting the next chapter of my life at the University of Southern California in the fall, and I am incredibly excited. Hopefully I’ll see some of you out there next year! Until then, I wish you all the best.

Senior Guest Blog: Mary Hollis Schmidt

Hello all! 

                  Senior year was the most stressful year I’ve had to go through in high school, but also the most rewarding. My experience with applying to college was a little bit crazier than expected. I had absolutely no clue where I wanted to go to college at the end of junior year or what I wanted to study for that matter. My parents kept nagging me asking me if I wanted a large University or a small Liberal Arts College or if I wanted to go out West or up North, but I had absolutely no idea what I wanted. It made the process a little bit more difficult.

                  I had friends at Sewanee: The University of the South and University of Georgia and I visited both schools. After these two visits I knew I wanted a rural setting because I didn’t like all of the hustle and bustle of a college town and also that I wanted to move far away from home. That narrowed it down, but not quite enough. I am much more of an English/History person, so my parents suggested looking into Liberal Arts schools. I looked everywhere from Pitzer College in California, to Ithaca College in New York; Lewis and Clark in Oregon and Colorado College, and I loved all of these schools. They were small, outdoorsy and far enough away from home. I really appreciated the colleges that did not look strictly at test scores and GPA, but really took into account the holistic view of the applicant. For example, I applied “Test Optional” to three out of the eleven schools I applied to, and I also chose to do an interview with these schools.  If you are very outgoing and a people person you should definitely consider an interview. If your school isn’t close enough to visit campus, most schools conduct phone interviews. This interview gave me the chance to speak a little bit about my high school career and explain my accomplishments in a way that wasn’t quantitatively calculated. 

                  At the start of senior year I had it narrowed down to around fifteen schools (not very narrowed down)… I began to start my applications and realized this process was going to take a lot of essay writing. That being said, I really enjoyed writing my essays. It was very personal and I opened up in my writing. I strongly suggest writing about something you are passionate about. It can be something minuscule and not significant to the people around you, but something that affected your life in a major way. Colleges really do appreciate when you are able to “bleed on the page.” Also, do not wait until the last minute. I decided two nights before the deadline to apply to Sewanee and they had five essays on their application… Let’s just say those two nights were filled with lots of coffee and not a lot of sleep.

                  When it was all said and done I applied to three large Universities and around six smaller ones. I applied to all schools Early Action mostly because I had all of my essays written, but also because I wanted to hear earlier from schools in January rather than April. As the acceptance letters started to come in, I had to make a final decision. I decided my top schools were Ithaca College, Lewis and Clark College, Colorado College, and Denver University. The best advice I have to all of you is to go and visit the college. You need to get a feel of the campus and get to know some of the students to fully understand if you are going to fit in there. On paper they can make it sound great, but you don’t actually know if you are going to like it or not until you have visited.

When I visited Colorado College I knew it was right for me. They have a unique learning system based on the Block Plan where you take 1 class for three and a half weeks and then have a block break for four days. This allows travel and exploration, but also allows me to focus on one class at a time. When I went up there for admitted student weekend I felt a connection and was completely at ease with my decision. I cannot wait to spend the next four years there! 

                  My best advice for you youngsters is to start writing essays early, there is nothing more stressful than having schoolwork AND an essay deadline all in one week. Also talk to people; don’t be shy. Everyone loves talking about the school they go to, so ask them questions and even go and stay with them. It will definitely help you narrow your choices. It’s the first big decision you are making on your own and it’s emotional for everyone. Last thing: do not be afraid to apply to different types of schools. I am so glad I applied to a wide selection of schools because it gave me options that I was extremely happy about in the end. 

Senior Guest Blog: Robert Beeland

L to R: William Boor, Robert Beeland, and Patrick Hayes

            From the very beginning of my college search process, I knew that I wanted to go to a small school. I have always especially appreciated the close relationships I’ve made with my teachers and classmates at Holy Innocents' and couldn’t imagine experiencing anything else in college. I also had family ties to small schools – one in particular. Both of my parents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins attended Sewanee: The University of the South, so my upbringing was strongly rooted in adoration and fondness of the small Tennessee liberal arts school.

            Whether it is actually true or not, I like to consider myself a free spirit of sorts – and as my college search process kicked into gear, I decided that I was not going to allow myself to be pigeonholed into a state of resignation where I assumed that I would attend Sewanee: my parents’ alma mater and a seemingly logical choice. No! I would venture off to some distant land to experience the joys of higher education. I compiled a list of schools from Maine and Vermont to California and Washington. All of a sudden, my sophomore year arrived and I realized the true mediocrity of grades freshman year (those of you who are freshmen reading this: take note). It was probably time to take Harvard off of my list. Also, I realized that I wanted to stay in the Southeast. I liked the idea of being able to drive rather than fly to college. Also, I didn’t think I’d be able to stand the cold of a school in the northeast. I felt at home in the South.

            The next step was to go out and visit schools. Luckily for me, my experience with visits began with my HIES classmates on the school sponsored college tour. The first school we visited on our tour happened to be Sewanee. I had visited many times before with my parents to visit friends or stay for the holidays, but never as a prospective student. This time, seeing it for the school rather than just a place, I fell completely in love. Everything just seemed to click. From that point on, I found myself comparing every school I visited to Sewanee. I had to be careful not to dismiss other schools, though, so I made an effort to keep an open mind and see schools that I would have otherwise not considered. I had great experiences at places like Chapel Hill, Davidson, and the University of Richmond. After much thought, though, I ultimately decided that I wanted to attend Sewanee.

            I ended up applying to Sewanee, The University of Georgia, and Rhodes College (I’m not sure why). During the application process I tried my hardest to focus on what I thought could make the most difference (as obvious as that may sound). I figured that I had already done just about the most I could with regards to my GPA and standardized test scores. It was too late to do anything about the C’s I made in Geometry and Honors Biology that first semester freshman year, so I focused on the areas where I could still make a difference. I applied to Georgia under the Early Action deadline, which only required my GPA and test scores, so I didn’t have to do much there. For Sewanee and Rhodes, however, I had ample opportunities to bolster my application. I tried to make my essays as personable and natural as possible without sounding too casual. I also made every effort I could to visit representatives for both schools when they were in Atlanta. I was able to interview with a representative from Rhodes, which I thought helped give my application more personality, rather than it just being a set of my academic records.

            My best advice for the search and application process, as silly as it may sound, is to just be yourself. It will allow you to find what you’re actually looking for at schools rather than what your goody-two-shoes tour guide has to say about the a cappella group or the library. Every school has an a cappella group, so pay attention to what you really care about. If a school you’re interested in happens to not have one, you might just be the one for the job of starting one. Also, write your essays like yourself. Be creative and your own voice will come by itself. Finally, try to relax. The whole process can really be overwhelming and stressful, but you’ll get through it and everything will work out.

Senior Guest Blog: Jack Hackett

Photo Courtesy of Roy Mitchell

I had twelve schools I was going to apply to in the beginning.  Soon after I started, I realized that twelve schools was way too many.  I picked eight out of the twelve and went to work.  One of the schools I removed from my list was Columbia University for one reason.  One of the essay questions was “Why Columbia?”  I had no answer except “my dad wants me to apply.”  I didn’t care about Columbia, and I don’t think Columbia cared about me, so I deleted my application.  There are many schools that have questions like that, and they are never easy to answer.  This is the one question you really have to research, otherwise you are left looking like a fool by only talking about the weather and location.

Some of the schools I applied to had really fun essay topics that allowed for tons of creativity.  UChicago had one of the best essay topics ever:

“The mantis shrimp can perceive both polarized light and multispectral images; they have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. Human eyes have color receptors for three colors (red, green, and blue); the mantis shrimp has receptors for sixteen types of color, enabling them to see a spectrum far beyond the capacity of the human brain. Seriously, how cool is the mantis shrimp: mantisshrimp.uchicago.edu What might they be able to see that we cannot? What are we missing? (One to two page response)”

If you took a super scientific approach to it, then you might be really hurting yourself.  Almost every single thing I stated in my essay was made up.  I talked about how the mantis shrimp can see music, the map on the back of the Declaration of Independence, and dead people.  Essays like this are fun because you can just let loose and write almost anything you want.  Another one of my favorite essay topics came from UCLA’s Alumni Scholarship:

“You've just written a 200 page autobiography. Send us page 165.”

What I wrote for this essay became my favorite thing I have ever written in my entire life.  I turned on some Nirvana and let the creative juices flow.  These two essay topics really allowed me to show off my creativity and originality.  So if you ever run into one of these topics, push it to the limit.  Walk along the razor’s edge.

All of the essays you write, unless otherwise specified, allow for creativity.  So let your voice come out in the writing.  You want to stand out in the crowd.  Hence, I wrote just like how I talk.  There is no manufactured thesaurus nonsense going on.  If I don’t understand what I’m writing, I wouldn’t expect the people in admissions to understand it either.  Also, every essay I wrote had multiple drafts.  The small ones would go through three drafts, while the big ones could have eight drafts.

Then after you are done with all your essays, you send in your application and hurry up and wait.  All you can do is relax and let fate take its course.  You might not get in some of your top choices. 
Rejection sucks, especially if its from one of your favorites.  One piece of advice I’d like to pass on is to not be bitter.  Getting into many of these schools is very competitive, and many people are in the same boat as you.  In the end, wherever you end up is where you’re supposed to go.  If you are really upset with your choices, then just transfer.

Senior Guest Blogs

It's springtime, and our seniors are wrapping up over a year's worth of work dedicated to finding the right college to attend next year.  I thought it might be interesting to hear, in their own words, what that experience was like.  The next few posts will be a series of guest blogs from current HIES seniors.  In an effort to balance authenticity and professionalism, I've given them some general guidelines and worked with them minimally on edits.  But I've told them that these are to be their reflections on the process; I'm allowing them to use the space as they wish.  I hope the posts create an account of what it's like to navigate the college admission landscape.  I also hope the exercise might allow our seniors a moment to pause and reflect on the past year of their lives in a way they might not otherwise make time for.  If all goes well, I'm hopeful this could become something I can ask the seniors to contribute to the blog each year. 

Some Advice for Handling Admission Decisions

A college's decision letter does not define, validate or negate who you know yourself to be as a young person.  Seniors would do well to remind themselves, especially this week, that you're no better or worse than anyone else because of where you go to college. 

A colleague I admire puts it this way: "college admission decisions aren't character indictments."  And he's right.  Colleges make admission decisions based on all sorts of reasons.  These institutions' priorities are complex, changing, and largely out of your control.  Having a strong academic resume may only get you through the first part of the review.  Maybe the school needs a goalie for the women's soccer team this year; maybe they need the seemingly always-in-demand bassoon player (seriously, why doesn't anyone play the bassoon?); maybe the school is trying to grow the profile of their theater department; or maybe the basketball team just had a killer year, putting the school on the national radar and bringing in more applications, thus increasing the competition for admission.  Not being offered admission to a college simply means they didn't think your application fit in that particular entering class, based on the qualities the admission office was trying to recruit that year - it's not an indictment of your character. 

Rationally, that all makes sense.  But people tend to be emotional before they're rational.  So if you aren't admitted, come back to what's above when you're ready.  On an emotional level, the reality is that rejection feels awful.  Plain and simple.  It stings.  It hurts.  That's all normal.  But if you let the pain of rejection linger too long, it can turn to bitterness.  Once you've acknowledged the natural sadness you might feel, you have to do your best to let it go and move on.  Among all the complex emotions you feel about graduating and going to college, this really is a time for celebration.  Try and embrace all the positive things happening to mark your completion of high school.  If you feel yourself losing perspective on the other positive things happening as you conclude this chapter of your life, you're always welcome to see your college counselor to talk through it. 

Likewise, celebrate your good news with grace and humility.  You likely weren't the only person who applied to that school that admitted you, and some of your friends may have received different decisions.  Support them in the ways you can.  Be compassionate to how sensitive a time this is for many seniors.  And no matter how excited you might be to take that next step, don't allow yourself to get so wrapped up in what's beyond graduation that you forget to pause and enjoy your last few weeks as a student at HIES.

In short, remember that no college admission decision defines who you are now or the person you might become.  Whether admitted, denied, or waitlisted, support the people around you and take time to enjoy these last moments of high school.  Keep things in perspective and aim to close this chapter of your life the right way; you can't go back and do it over. 

I got waitlisted. Now what?

As we near the end of March, regular decision applicants are beginning to hear the results of their applications.  Some will be told to wait even longer for a definitive answer; they'll be placed on waitlists.  So what do you do if you find yourself invited to a college's waitlist?

First, understand why the waitlist exists and you'll have a better idea of what to expect.  Selective colleges admit a group of students knowing that not all of those admits will choose to enroll.  The number of total students to be offered admission is carefully scrutinized, planned, and set based on previous years' data and fairly complex projections - all in an effort to forecast how many admitted students you need to have in order to make the class.  This is the idea of "yield."  Let's say you want to enroll a freshman class of 900 students, and you typically yield about 30% of those you admit.  Then you need to admit 3000 students to enroll your 900.  But it's nearly impossible to be that exact, and most schools don't want to over-enroll.  If you're shooting for 900 because that's how many freshmen your campus can hold, and 1100 enroll into the freshman class, you have to figure out where to put those extra kids.  Rooms that are meant for two get turned into triples or suites.  Study rooms are sometimes partitioned off into makeshift dorm rooms.  Additional sections are added to classes, sometimes with additional instructors hired to teach them.  Over-enrolling creates a campus-wide problem. 

So if most colleges don't want to over-enroll, they have to be a bit conservative in their projections.  They hope to hit the target enrollment right on the numbers.  But if they're a few dozen students short, they can go to the waitlist to fill the rest of those spots.  And that, dear waitlisted students, is where you come in.  You're a valuable piece of the enrollment management work these admission offices do.  It's a rare year that a college doesn't have to go to their waitlist for at least a few students.  Here's what's important for you to remember:

• Don't expect to be called from the waitlist until after May 1.  You're there to complete the class after the school has an idea of how many admits they've yielded.  Since enrollment deposits aren't due until May 1, a school usually doesn't know how many students have committed to the freshman class until then.  

• That means you'll have to deposit somewhere else by May 1.  Let's say you've been admitted to Duke and waitlisted at Emory, though Emory is your first choice (good choice by the way; go Eagles!).  You would have to deposit at Duke and plan on going there.  If Emory were to then call you at the end of May and offer you a spot off the waitlist, you would deposit at Emory and sacrifice that non-refundable deposit at Duke.  Of course you could always turn down the offer at Emory and stick with your plans to attend Duke (disclaimer: as an admittedly biased Emory alum, I would give you all sorts of good-natured ribbing for this).  

So there's the down side.  You most likely won't hear about waitlist offers until after May 1, and you'll have to eat the deposit you've already sent if you accept a waitlist offer elsewhere.

Here's your strategy for improving your chances of coming off the waitlist:

• If the school asks how long you are willing to stay on the waitlist, pick a date as far into the summer as you can.  You never know, they may not be able to call you until June 15.  But if you've said you're only interested in staying on the list until June 1, they'll respect that.  They'll call someone else who is still active on the waitlist.  Some schools even keep an extended waitlist into July.  At many schools, the longer you are willing to sit on the waitlist, the better your chances of being called.  

• Before May 1, demonstrate some interest in coming off the waitlist.  Many schools don't rank the waitlist.  Even if they do, they want to call students they're confident will accept their offer.  They know you have other options and have deposited somewhere else.  And perhaps you've completely moved on - that's totally fine.  But most schools don't want to call people who aren't likely to accept their offer of admission.  So if you're really hoping to come off the WL, dig out our regional rep's contact into (or ask me for it) and let them know.  Include any updates you have about your life since applying.  Be positive, be honest, and plan on staying in touch with our rep.  An email before May 1 and another couple before June to check in or say hello are plenty.  Be in touch but don't be too desperate.  Sending love notes, flowers, food, photo-shopped images of yourself on campus, or to-scale architectural models of campus buildings won't help (all true examples from my time in Emory's admission office).  Don't go overboard. 

The SAT is Changing

The College Board announced yesterday that the SAT is undergoing a facelift, with a new version of the test to be released in 2016.  The last time the SAT changed (2005), the scoring moved from a 1600-point scale to the 2400 point scale we now know and love (or don't love).  The extra 800 points came from the new, required writing section.  So perhaps the biggest change for 2016 will be that the scoring returns to a 1600-point scale and the writing section will become optional.  A number of other changes are coming to the content of the test. 

This news comes on the heels of a recently published (and well-publicized) study by test-optional schools which reaffirms what most college counselors, college admission officers, students, and parents already suspected: high school grades are a more important predictor of your success in college than a standardized test score.  Between the push for test-optional admission (there are now 800+ schools that don't require the ACT or SAT), ACT's overtaking the SAT in popularity, and the multiple reports of bias in the SAT, one can't help but wonder if the new changes to the SAT are being made an effort to stay relevant. 

I would guess that the people most interested in the College Board's announcement are the expensive test-prep providers and tutors.  One of the complaints of the current SAT format is that a student with the resources to afford test prep can get an advantage.  A good tutor can indeed help teach effective test-taking strategy, potentially advantaging the privileged students who can afford this extra help.  The new SAT hopes to mitigate those effects by partnering with Khan Academy to offer free online prep videos.  It will be interesting to see how prep providers respond and if the online prep is actually an effective replacement for private tutoring or formal prep classes. 

I'm interested to see what the new SAT will look like and how colleges will respond.  How many will require the optional writing section?  Will colleges continue to join the list of test-optional schools, regardless of the changes?  Will students continue to flock to test prep companies?  We'll see what happens come 2016.  But in the meantime, it seems the College Board has taken some proactive steps to test the type of content high school students can be expected to learn and actually apply to their college experience. 

Some Snow Day Reading

Snowpocalypse Part II is upon us here in Atlanta (Atlantarctica?).  Anyway, two midweek snow days and a postponed college tour have allowed me to catch up on some reading.  I thought I'd go ahead and share a few interesting articles:

Student commits to college soccer team before starting 9th grade

A data-driven look at how liberal arts grads fare in terms of long-term employment and compensation prospects

Costs and benefits of college attendance

Why do admission offices care so much about "leadership?"

Rising tuition?  Not everywhere...

Common app announces they will keep the current essay prompts next year

• However, that doesn't mean Juniors should start writing now

Notes from the Holy Innocents' Deans and Directors Panel

Last Thursday, we were fortunate to welcome enrollment managers from four universities to Holy Innocents'.  Our panel of experts gracefully shared their wisdom and expertise, as well as a bit of humor - a good reminder that the college research and application process has plenty of room for lighter moments.  Many thanks to the students and families who attended.  For those who couldn't make it (or for those who want to revisit what was said), below are notes I took during the program.  Because they are fairly detailed, I'll start with the closing statements which did a nice job of capturing some of the big themes.  Think of them as the cliff notes.   

Our Panel

• Lee Ann Backlund, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Sewanee: The University of the South. 

• Rick Clark, Director of Undergraduate Admission at Georgia Tech. 

• Barbara Hall.  Currently consulting at Arcadia University, formerly served as Director of Financial Aid and Career Services at Sewanee, Associate VP for Enrollment Services at Georgia Tech, and Associate Provost for Enrollment Management at New York University.  

• Byron Lewis, Associate Dean of Admission at Southern Methodist University.  

Parting Wisdom

• Plan ahead for the investment of college; have tough conversations early; thoroughly research.  Finaid.org is a very helpful website. 

• Students - take ownership of this process.  You have a say in what classes you pick, how hard you study, and where you apply.  Maintain a sense of humor, manage stress, and don't forget to enjoy your senior year.  

• Stay open to what's out there; allow for your interests to adapt and change as you grow.  Make the most of college when you get there.  

• Remember how much your parents care about you and want for you to succeed; don't let the application process tarnish that awareness.  

• You are not a fundamentally better person because of any college that admits you.  You are not a fundamentally worse person because of any college that doesn't admit you.  

Complete Questions and Responses

When should students begin the college search, and how should they build a list?
Start thinking about college early and prepare to build a list of schools to consider in your junior year.  Keep an open mind initially and don't be afraid to look at places outside of your comfort zone.  Remember that starting your college list starts with learning about yourself.

Liberal arts college vs. research university...
Larger research universities may offer more resources and have relatively limited requirements outside a student's major, meaning academic experiences can vary.  Liberal arts colleges tend to require a broader curriculum outside of a student's major, with an emphasis on preparing critical thinkers and well-rounded learners.  Research universities may offer more in the way of research or hands-on experience.  Liberal arts colleges tend to boast smaller classes and more personalized attention from professors. 

What are the benefits of a women's college?
 At a college solely made up of women, it is women who hold all leadership roles on campus.  That presents an opportunity for young women to become vocal, active members of their community.  Academically, more women persist to earn degrees in the STEM fields at women's colleges than mixed gender schools.

How does regional diversity affect admission decisions? 
Some state institutions are subject to legislative limitations on the number of out-of-state students they can admit.  At especially popular schools, this can make out-of-state admission more difficult.  Most colleges, private and public alike, are interested in creating campus diversity by bringing together people of different backgrounds, experiences, cultures, etc.  Geographic diversity is considered in this, and at some schools a student from Georgia might offer a different, valuable perspective.

How is a group of applications from the same high school considered?
Applications are evaluated individually.  School groups are then later reviewed as a whole to make sure decisions make sense within the group.  There are no quotas or limits on admits from specific high schools.

How important is it to know what you want to study before you apply?
It is not terribly important to know exactly what you want to study.  From time of application to the time they enroll, 1 in 4 GA Tech students will already change their mind, without having even taken a college class.  40% switch after freshman year.  And that's OK.  Have an idea of the types of things you might want to study and find schools that will accommodate your various interests.  Remember that just because you're good at something doesn't mean you have to major in it.

Do essays really matter?
Yes.  And essay writing is a good time for parents to step aside.  It's the student's voice the college wants to hear.  Remember to answer the question; simple can be OK; authenticity is important; stick to your strengths.  If you're funny, it's OK to be funny (if you're not, don't try).  You can take a bit of a risk to sound like yourself.

Do extracurriculars and summer activities matter? 
Yes, but there is no magical collection of activities that adds up to an admit.  Depth is more important than being a "serial club-joiner."  Find the things you like, and do them at the highest and most committed level you can.  Not everyone will be well-rounded; it's ok to be angular. 

What is demonstrated interest?  How much contact is too much?  
Some schools, especially selective schools, try to look for enrollment predictors (of the kids they've admitted, how many are likely to actually enroll?).  Have you visited campus, attended a visit at your high school, been to a local reception?  Those things can sometimes break the tie between you and a similarly qualified student who has demonstrated little or no interest.  Just don't be a stalker!  No daily emails.  If you have questions about whether or not a particular school will value demonstrated interest, ask your college counselor. 

What is the importance of a rigorous high school curriculum?
You compete against what your school offers and are reviewed only in the context of your school. What have you done vs. what was available to you?  Push yourself, especially in the classes you are good at or enjoy.  For most colleges, a B in the AP or honors class is preferred over an A- in the standard level class.

What is the parents' role in the application process? 
Talk to your kids about boundaries - cost, distance, etc.  Once those boundaries have been set, let your child drive the decision about where to actually enroll.  Let kids soak in their visits and form their own opinions and reactions.  Try to set aside your preconceived notions about schools; places change.  Set aside time to talk about college.  Don't make it the subject of conversation every moment you have with your kids.



 

Fish, Ponds, and Malcolm Gladwell

Our college counseling survey asks juniors a question about how they prefer to find themselves in relation to their peers: would they rather be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?  Some prefer the perceived anonymity of a big pond; others thrive when leading the school (literally, but also figuratively if we're sticking with the fish analogy).  A few outside-the-box students have responded that they like the idea of being a medium-sized fish in a medium pond.  That's not really what we asked, but OK - fair enough.  At a basic level, I think our question is trying to parse out the size of a student population our student seeks in their college experience.  And I think that's usually how it's interpreted and answered. 

But there's something else it could imply.  Namely, how do you wish to see yourself in relation to your peers, based on ability?  What happens when you interpret the question as asking if you'd rather be struggling at the bottom of an intellectually elite class or dominating (intellectually speaking) in a less competitive class?  Taken this way, I wonder if our students would rethink their answers.  Would you rather be at the bottom of your class at Harvard, or at the top of your class at a less elite school?  Does it matter?  Malcolm Gladwell thinks it might.

In short, Gladwell argues that how students see themselves in reference to their immediate peers trumps the more universal truths about their abilities.  A struggling student at Harvard, for example, may see herself as inept though in reality she is enormously capable compared to all other college students.  But since her self-perception is tied not to that universal comparison but instead only to how she stacks up against her Harvard peers, she may not persevere through a particular Harvard class or major wherein she feels inadequate.  Gladwell doesn't mention this (and I digress), but I wonder if this is even more prevalent among students at the most selective, elite colleges.  Think of the shock of being told you were the best, the brightest, the most brilliant all your life and then struggling through college classes, seemingly outmatched by other bests, brightests, and most brilliants.  You might back out of those classes or stay away from entire majors, as Gladwell suggests is happening, specifically in the STEM fields.  Want to set yourself up for success?  Find a place where you can be one of the brightest students relative to your peers, suggests Gladwell.  Rather than attend the most selective school to which you are admitted, attend one where you'll be among the top students in your field of interest.  This makes you more likely to succeed within that field.  Basically, go where you can be one of the big fish. 

It's an interesting idea: set yourself up to be highly successful in what you want to study, and ignore the perceived prestige of a place.  I think it makes sense in the short term.  If you want to study engineering, you're probably better off going somewhere you're likely to actually complete the engineering curriculum.  And that seems more likely when you're the big fish in the small pond; when you can outshine most of your peers.  But in the long run, if employers and grad schools still place value on the perceived prestige of a place, might one be rewarded for persisting as a mediocre or below average student at the more prestigious school?  Most colleges don't rank their graduating classes, much less report who their top students are to prospective employers.  How does the hiring manager at a graduate's first job tell whether she was the big fish in the small pond?  Might that student still be passed up for one whose resume boasts a fancier-named pond?

I think for Gladwell's advice to be really valuable, there would need to be a way to somehow indicate to the people who will be evaluating you for placement in a job or grad school that you were the big fish, and that your big-fish status should outweigh your school's name.  And perhaps honor societies and named scholarships can accomplish this.  Or maybe it's ok advice to attend the most prestigious school where you can actually persist through your academic field of interest and earn the degree.  After all, it doesn't do you any good to fail out of your STEM major at Harvard.  But maybe scraping by at a prestigious school is at least as good as dominating at a lesser-known place - at least until employers and grad schools find a way to determine how big of a fish you were.  Or maybe, no matter how informed we are, most people will always find it very difficult to ignore the prestige of an institution, even if it would be in their rational best interest to do so.  After all, Gladwell himself couldn't resist the allure of Google.