Picking Colleges

Colleges and universities in the US do not follow a single pattern. You have real choices when picking a college. When you take the time to explore alternatives, you
• Discover exciting options that you never dreamed exist
• Understand better what suits you
• Apply only to schools you know you like
• Become a stronger candidate

Many students and parents are unaware of the richness and range of possibilities. You may think the only major differences among colleges are size, location and how hard they are to get into. Your assumptions can needlessly limit which schools you consider.

For example, do you believe
• Curriculums are basically similar. The first two years you fulfill requirements in subjects such as science, humanities, social science, and then you pick a major.
• It will cost more to go to a private school than a state school.
• State schools are very large.
• With SAT scores below 1500 there is no point applying to an Ivy League school?

Consider this!

• Many colleges have absolutely no required courses or subjects other than your major. You choose whatever you wish from the catalog, as much or as little math or history as you like, or none at all. (Check out Amherst, Vassar, Brown.)
o Some schools go even further to allow each student to design his own education. Students “contract” individual programs of study with faculty mentors. Rather than emphasize preset courses and content, you focus on independent reading, research projects, tutorials, internships or field work. (Check out Hampshire College, New College of South Florida.)

• Many private universities generously assist students from families of low and moderate income. Some provide merit scholarships regardless of financial need. Your tab could be lower than at a public institution.
o A notable example: parents with incomes below $40,000 are no longer expected to contribute to the cost of their child’s education at Harvard.

• Some state schools have fewer than 5,000 undergraduates. Among them are Fort Lewis in Colorado, University of North Carolina, Asheville, Purchase College, State University of New York, Evergreen College in Washington State.

• Admissions officers at selective, private institutions often have more discretion than their state counterparts. Rather than fill entering classes with valedictorians and students with 1600 SAT scores, they look for applicants who distinguish themselves with their accomplishments, commitments and interests, and personal characteristics.
o Your essay, resume, and interview, and recommendations can be decisive.
o Do not necessarily write off a school because 95% of students have SAT scores higher than yours!

High School "To Do" List - Junior

Junior-year tasks

* Continue your involvement in school- or community-based extracurricular activities.
* Continue exploring assistive technology.
* Focus on matching your interests and abilities to the appropriate college choice.
* Research the resources in your state to find a college preview event for students with disabilities. If your community has this type of event, plan on attending.
* Look for college campuses that have majors in which you might be interested and the kind of campus community in which you would like to live.
* Identify the appropriate academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services that you will need in the postsecondary setting.
* Keep a current list of the academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services you use in high school in your “Going To College” portfolio.
* Consider taking a course to prepare for the SAT or the ACT test.
* Research how to get accommodations on the SAT or ACT.
* Take the SAT or ACT in the spring. Consider taking them more than once.
* Establish a possible career goal (you can always change your mind).
* Think about a possible college major consistent with your career goal and your strengths and interests.
* Learn time management, organizational skills, study skills, assertiveness communication, stress management and test-taking strategies which will help you get good grades.
* Learn how to set short-term and long-term goals.
* Learn how to advocate for yourself — not everyone will understand your disability or be sensitive to your needs.
* Gather information about college programs that offer the disability services you need (you may want to add these to your “Going To College” portfolio).
* Speak with college representatives who visit your high school and at college fairs.
* Visit campuses and especially service providers to verify the available services and how to access them. Or if you can’t visit the campus, take a virtual tour on the college’s Web site. Make sure to check the disability support services section of the college’s site to understand what you need to do to receive academic services and supports.
* Consider people to ask for recommendations — teachers, counselors, employers, coaches, etc.
* Investigate the availability of financial aid from federal, state, local and private sources.
* Investigate the availability of scholarships provided by organizations, such as corporations, labor unions, professional associations, religious organizations and credit unions.
* Continue saving for college.
* Contact the vocational rehabilitation counselor who serves your school to determine your eligibility for vocational rehabilitation's services.
* Invite the VR counselor to attend your planning meeting.
* Make sure that the documentation of your disability is current. Colleges usually want current testing based on adult norms, usually less than three years old when you begin college.

College Wait List

In making admissions decisions, colleges generally have three options. They can accept a student, deny the student or put the student on a wait list. If a student is placed on a wait list the college is telling the student that they are not admitted but if not enough students who have been accepted decide to attend, then the student on the wait list may be accepted. In the past, the wait list was generally very limited and used for strong students who the college felt were strong students but not quite as strong as those students who were admitted. Recently, however, colleges have been putting more and more students on a wait list thus in effect putting the students in limbo. The colleges have been doing this in large part because the increase in applications has made it more difficult for the colleges to know which of the students they admit will actually attend the college. By having a large wait list, the college has more options available if too many of the students they admit decide not to attend. So what do you do if you are one of the students placed on the wait list for a college you wish to attend?

First, before deciding what to do with the wait list, review the colleges that have accepted you and decide which would be the best choice for you. Even if you decide to have your name put on the wait list there are no guarantees and you need to make sure you have confirmed attendance at one of the colleges that have accepted you.

Second, review your options before deciding on whether to put you name on a wait list. It may be that your best choice is one of the colleges that accepted you. In that case, don’t worry about getting on a wait list. If you decide that you would like to consider the option of attending the college that put you on the wait list, then go ahead and notify the college that you wish to be on the wait list.

Third, if you put your name on the wait list, how do you improve your chances of acceptance? If there have been any improvements in your grades or any new honors be sure to inform the wait list college of this new information. If the wait list college is your first choice college if accepted, let the college know that fact. If a college accepts students off the wait list, they prefer to accept students who are likely to accept their offers. Students will sometimes want to visit the college again to show their interest in attending the college. Usually, this is a waste of time unless the college requests to interview you or has some other reason to come to campus.

What do you do if placed on multiple wait lists? You certainly can put your name on multiple wait lists. The problem with accepting multiple wait lists is the issue of telling a college that they are your first choice if accepted off the wait list. While many students will tell multiple colleges that they are the first choice if accepted, this really is not ethical. It is better to decide what your first choice college is and accept the wait list for that college. If you want to accept another college’s wait list, do so but don’t tell them they are also your first choice if accepted.

The bottom line to wait lists is to accept the reality that most colleges have many more students offered a wait list position than they would ever have the opportunity to accept. For example, last year Amherst College offered wait list spots to 1261 students of which 565 accepted a spot on the wait list. Only 2 of those students were admitted off the wait list. Some colleges have more students accepted off the wait list and some colleges don’t accept any off the wait list. If you want to know about the college you are considering, ask the college how many people were offered a position on the wait list and how many were accepted off last year’s wait list. That should give you some estimate of how competitive the wait list is at that college.

Shouldn't You Get What You Pay For?

College: America's Most Overrated Product

In my job and working with thousands of students trying to better themselves and find a career I've often heard the words, "I'm paying good money for" ...

Colleges hold teenagers hostage. Because young adults need that piece of paper, colleges know students will come to them no matter how slipshod an education they provide. Employers increasingly demand a college diploma for anything above a McJob.

That insatiable demand for their pieces of paper allows colleges to sometimes provide a mediocre education without fear of losing students. And most colleges, especially prestigious ones, do provide a mediocre education because they are more interested in conducting research than in teaching undergraduates. So, for example, colleges heavily use the cheapest, least-effective method of instruction: herding hundreds of students into an auditorium to listen to a lecture by a professor whose main interest is an esoteric research area, not the basics that undergraduates need to know. Small classes are taught mainly by graduate students, often teaching for the first time. Residence hall life is rarely the living-learning environment so often advertised in colleges’ brochures.

It is ironic that the most prestigious, most expensive colleges are the ones most likely to provide a poor undergraduate education. They can only get away with it because of the institution's designer-label (acquired from its research, not its undergraduate education), and because the students are bright enough to create an interesting experience despite the college's neglect. How obscene to charge $30,000 a year and shortchange our nation's best and brightest.

How to Change it? ...

Helpful Website for Your College Planning 4 of 5

Planning for college can be overwhelming. Where do you even begin? Here are some helpful websites that should make planning for college a little easier.

NCAAClearingHouse.net

The NCAA Clearinghouse is an organization that clears athletes for initial eligibility in NCAA division I and II athletic programs. If you are a student-athlete who wants to compete at collegiate level, you must complete registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse. Review the eligibility brochure and then visit ncaaclearinghouse.net. Click on the link for prospective student-athletes and follow the directions for registration. This section will list steps that you need to take throughout high school in order to compete in athletics at the collegiate level.

For more information about planning for college, please contact your high school counselor or an expert, like me.

Types of Postsecondary Schools

There are a variety of postsecondary schools to choose from when you begin your college search. By researching the different types of schools, you will be able to make an informed decision about which one is right for you. Here is an overview of the various kinds of postsecondary schools:

Universities

Universities tend to be large schools with a wide variety of programs. They may have several undergraduate and graduate schools, colleges, departments, or faculties (School of Engineering, College of Business, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Science, etc.). Universities have undergraduate divisions that award bachelor's degrees and graduate schools that award master's degrees. Some universities offer professional schools that award doctorates. Universities tend to have research facilities and an abundance of social opportunities (fraternities, sororities, sporting events, clubs, etc.). Universities may be public or private.

Colleges

Colleges tend to be smaller than universities, but they still have a variety of programs. (Please note: Although colleges do tend to be smaller than universities, there are still some colleges that are just as big or even bigger than a university.) Four-year colleges offer bachelor's degrees. Graduate degrees may or may not be offered. The size of classes and types of social opportunities will vary from college to college. A college may be public or private, an independent institution or part of a larger university.

Community Colleges/Junior Colleges

Community colleges and junior colleges are two-year institutions that award associate's degrees and sometimes certificates in certain career-related subjects. These two-year colleges usually have less strenuous admissions standards and tend to be less expensive than four-year colleges and universities. Because of this, some students choose to attend a two-year college first to earn an associate's degree, and then they transfer to a four-year school to receive a bachelor's degree. If this is done, taking courses that can be transferred is highly recommended. Community colleges are public and non-residential, while junior colleges are private with students living on campus or in the surrounding community.

Technical/Vocational/Proprietary Schools

Technical, vocational, and proprietary schools emphasize preparation for specific careers, such as accounting, cosmetology, computer technology, culinary arts, health care technology, real estate, etc. Some schools specialize in only one area, while others provide a wide variety of programs. They award diplomas, certificates, licenses, and sometimes associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees. Although receiving accreditation from these schools will usually grant employment, students may or may not be able to transfer credits to traditional academic degree programs. The entire course of study at a vocational or technical school is often two years or less, although some can be three or four years long. Some of these schools are privately owned and operated, while others are public.

Public vs. Private

• Public postsecondary schools are supported by state funds. Tuition for a public school is usually less expensive than that of a private school. Moreover, public school tuition for an in-state student is much less expensive than for an out-of-state student.
• Private postsecondary schools are supported by tuition and donations. They are not tax-supported. While private school tuition tends to be higher than public school tuition, private schools can sometimes offer more financial aid to students for better affordability.

When it comes to choosing a postsecondary school, it is crucial to pick one that fits your personality and educational goals. After you have decided on the type of school you would like to attend, you can then narrow your selection down to more specific schools.

What is a Good SAT Score?

Question: Are My SAT Scores Good Enough?

What are good SAT scores? Do you have the SAT scores you need to get into your top choice schools? This article explains the relationship between college admissions and SAT scores.

Answer: SAT scores are just one of many criteria used by colleges to make admissions decisions. Nevertheless, their importance shouldn’t be underestimated. As much as admissions officers say they take an open-minded and holistic approach to their decisions, SAT scores can make or break an application. And let’s face it -- it’s easier to compare numerical data than it is to decide whether a semester in France should be ranked higher than a state soccer championship.

Also, schools usually make their SAT data public, and they know that their reputations depend upon high numbers. A college won’t be considered “highly selective” or “elite” if its students have an average SAT math score of 470.

So what is a good SAT score? The exam consists of three parts: Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing. The scores from each section can range from 200 to 800, so the best possible total score is 2400. The average score for each section is roughly 500, so the average total score is about 1500.

Very few students get a perfect SAT score, even those at the country’s top colleges. The list below shows the middle range of SAT scores for different schools. The middle 50% of admitted students fell within these numbers. Keep in mind that 25% of students who were admitted scored below the lower numbers listed here.

Finally, you'll see that some school profiles in your college search will include the critical reading and math scores, but not the writing scores. This is because the writing part of the exam is still new, and many schools do not yet use it in their admissions decisions. We're likely to see that change in the next couple years as colleges figure out the relationship between the writing score and academic success.
Auburn
• Critical Reading: 520 - 620
• Mathematics: 550 - 650
• Writing: 520 - 620

Duke
• Critical Reading: 690 - 770
• Mathematics: 690 - 790
• Writing: 680 - 780

Harvard
• Critical Reading: 690 - 800
• Mathematics: 700 - 790
• Writing: 690 - 780

MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
• Critical Reading: 660 - 760
• Mathematics: 720 - 800
• Writing: 660 - 750

Pomona
• Critical Reading: 690 - 760
• Mathematics: 680 - 760
• Writing: 680 - 760

Stanford
• Critical Reading: 660 - 760
• Mathematics: 680 - 780
• Writing: 670 - 770

UCLA
• Critical Reading: 570 - 680
• Mathematics: 610 - 720
• Writing: 580 - 690

How Some Colleges Deceive Students and Parents

As fall begins, two million students and their families start to make one of life’s most critical decisions: picking a college.

Alas some colleges, even some reputable ones, don’t make the process easy.

DECEPTION: BURIED INFORMATION. Some colleges hide such information as their full published cost of attendance or their four-year graduation rate. The unfortunate truth is that the median four-year graduation rate at four-year colleges is just around 40 percent. The rate at many colleges, including some well-known public universities is even under 10 percent!
SOLUTION: Every college’s 4- and 6-year graduation rate and other key information are at http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator.

DECEPTION: OFFER MAJORS THAT APPEAR TO LEAD TO A COOL CAREER. For example, some colleges offer enticing majors such as journalism, but fail to mention
that students may only enter the major after their sophomore year and, even then, competition may prohibit some students from being admitted to the major. Or a college withholds the fact that most of that college’s graduates never earn enough from journalism to even pay back their student loans.

SOLUTION: Contact the college’s career center and ask, “If I am admitted to the college, am I admitted to the major?” Also ask, “What percentage of graduates in (Insert major) are professionally employed within six months of graduation?”

DECEPTION: LIE WITH STATISTICS #1. For example, the University of California proclaims that half its classes have 20 or fewer students. The problem is that few students take those small classes, for example, Advanced Greek. The commonly taken classes typically have 100 to 500 students.

SOLUTION: Don’t sign on the dotted line until you’ve asked students or at least the admissions office, “How many students are in commonly taken classes such as calculus or 20th century literature?”DECEPTION: LIE WITH STATISTICS #2: Be wary of colleges that say things like, "Ninety eight percent of qualified pre-med students get into medical school." A college may well only “qualify” those students who are a sure bet for admission, with the vast majority of pre-meds being deemed “unqualified.”

SOLUTION: Ask the program’s department chair: “Of every 100 students who start out pre-med (or pre-law) what percent end up actually attending medical (or law) school?”

DECEPTION: THE GLOSSY BROCHURE: Beware of colleges that have fancy brochures or web pages touting their, say, pre-med program. A slick presentation does not a good department make.

SOLUTION: Sit in on an advanced class in that program. After class, ask the students how they liked the program.

DECEPTION: THE SCHOLARSHIP SCAM: A college gives you a scholarship. You say, "Wow, I'll go there; they want me." In actuality, most or all freshmen may have received the same scholarship. Many colleges reduce the sticker price of attendance for most students in hopes that students are lured to the college by the "honor" of receiving a scholarship.

SOLUTION: When you receive your financial aid packages, compare the cash dollars you’ll have to come up with and the amount of loan you’ll have to repay. Those are the only numbers that count.

DECEPTION: THE DRUG-DEALER APPROACH TO FINANCIAL AID. A college gives a student a big discount in the first year, but thereafter, knowing the student is hooked, raises the price. A college may even guarantee “the same amount of aid for four years,” but fail to mention that more of the aid will be loan not grant, or that the aid won’t be increased to reflect the inevitable cost increases during the four years. Not to mention what would happen in years five or six?

SOLUTION: Before agreeing to send your child to a college, ask the college's financial aid officer, “If our family’s financial situation stays the same, in years two through four, and if necessary year five, can we count on getting the same percentage of our unmet need met and in the same ratio of grant to loan?” Get it in writing.

DECEPTION: THE WAITLIST SCAM. A college deliberately admits too few students and puts many students on the waitlist. It's human nature to want what you don't yet have, so waitlisted students who are subsequently offered admission are more likely to accept a weak financial aid package. Colleges with insufficient on-campus housing use the same technique, offering admission to waitlisted students who would be willing to live in substandard housing.

SOLUTION: Don’t accept a too-low financial aid package. And before signing on the dotted line, ask what housing you will be guaranteed, and for how long. Get it in writing.

We tend to view colleges in awe, as beneficent nonprofit icons. Alas, too many of them act like businesses, sleazy or not... That’s called Academic Capitalism, and it is a subject for another day.

The Best Ways to Learn About a College

1) Read about them in one or more of these guides:

-- The Fiske Guide to Colleges
-- Barron’s Guide to the Most Competitive Colleges
-- Barron’s Best Buys in Higher Education.

2) Read some issues of the college newspaper—often available at the college’s website or at http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/College_and_University/Newspapers/

3) Ask the college to send you a copy of their most recent student satisfaction survey and visiting team accreditation report (My favorite tools for evaluating a college).

4) When visiting to check out a prospective college, never leave a campus without talking with at least seven students that the admissions office did not put in front of you.

5) A good way to assess the quality of teaching at a college is to walk down the halls of a busy classroom building and stop in front of five or ten open doors. Would you like to be in that class?

In making your final choice, yes, a brand-name college offers advantages, but lesser known colleges also have advantages. Pick the college that is right for you. Ultimately, you will be happier and more successful.

Common Problems in Choosing a College

So you decided that you do want to go to college? Great, now you face the real problem, deciding where to go… This can be troublesome depending on what kind of a student you are, what kind of career you want, what kind of environment will allow you to thrive and succeed.

Most students would do well in one of a handful of colleges that will meet all of their desires and requirements. Even so, there are some colleges that are unique (or at least unique in that region of the country). Whatever your case may be here are general responses to the most frequent concerns about choosing a college. Of course, a specific response depends on the particular student I’m talking with, but I hope these generic responses can help you.

Concern: All the colleges seem alike.

They do tend to be quite alike. Most college offer similar classes, extracurricular activities, residence halls, and have pretty campuses. Their key differences usually boil down to two things: the student body and the location.

- Student body: Some colleges have mainly A students, others B students, still others C students. Most colleges have a mix of all types of students, but other colleges have predominantly artsy, athletic, religious, preppy, conservative, liberal, activist, and/or studious students.

- Location. Some colleges are in the frozen wasteland; at others, you can wear shorts in February. You also need to decide whether you want to be within quick driving or “laundry distance” of home or move to the farthest place you can think go.

Unless there’s something unusual you’re looking for in a college, such as vegan cafeteria food or a major in entomology, chances are, if you choose your college based just on student body and location, you’ll be satisfied with your choice.


Concern: My girl(boy)friend is going to ______ College.

Affection and romance can be a powerful motivator. It can even make a student go to an inappropriate college just to be with his or her significant other. Of course, if your sweetheart is going to a college that’s also well-suited to you, okay. But fact is, most high school romances don’t last beyond a semester or two of college – there are too many new people to meet and new experiences that make one of you realize that maybe you weren’t so perfect for each other, after all. It would be a shame if you risked your college experience on a relationship that ended soon after you got to college. If your relationship is that perfect, even if you attend different colleges, frequent visits, e-mails, and big phone bills will keep the relationship thriving.

Concern: My parent(s) is(are) pushing College X.

My question is always: why are they pushing College X? Is it because it’s their alma mater? Or because they would like to go there? Or because they want you close to home to avoid their being lonely? Or because they have a rational reason for thinking it would be a great fit for you?

Don’t accept nor reject their recommendation without seriously considering their rationale. Perhaps they’re right – after all, they probably know you pretty well.

Note to parents: I’d feel guilty about pushing my child toward low-cost colleges. But perhaps there really is no reason to feel guilty. The research shows no correlation between college cost and quality. Besides, either way one of you will be paying for that college degree, if it is you, you have a right to spend wisely, if it’s your child, then don’t put them in a situation to increase debt and “waste” money. Therefore, focus on finding a low-cost college that is well-suited to your child.

Concern: I still have no idea where I want to go.

If you’ve tried to figure out where to apply and still are utterly confused or overwhelmed, then think about the following questions:

1) What do you want to study? Make a list of a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice majors – make sure all the schools you apply to have all three.

2) What size do you want? Do you picture yourself in working in small seminar classes at college that is smaller than the typical high school? Or do you want so many activities and choices that a student body in the thousands interests you?

3) How much does location matter? Do you want to be close to home? Would you mind living in a new climate? Are you aware of the local attractions or dominate political views? With that information in mind there are various free services and search engines that can help you narrow down your choices. My favorite is College Navigator, because it was built for students and parents to use (and has some cool advanced features for counselors).

Remember 95% of colleges need you more than you need them – because most colleges never fill all their slots. Be picky!

Areas of College Prep (& When to Focus on Them)

This a rough guideline for the main focuses for college preparation, readiness, and the application process. Each of these areas will be discussed in great detail in the coming weeks and months. As always, suggestions, comments, questions, and concerns are appreciated. That said, here we go:

Homework and Study Skills: (7th – 9th Grade)

A thorough understanding of the value of at-home reading and study skill development is critical to any student’s success, especially the college bound student. Understanding this area gives both parents and students the tools they need to identify different learning styles, develop and instill efficient and effective study habits or routines, and enhance academic skills including reading, writing, mathematics, as well as general study principals that will apply both to school and a future career.

It is essential that parents are provided with key strategies to assist with homework and become more effectively involved with their children’s education and academic development. Students need to learn that there are practical solutions to common problems and a wealth of suggestions depending on each student’s individual methods and styles (or personalities and interests) are out there.


High School, The Plan: (9th – 10th Grade)

Maximizing the student’s high school experience is a critical first step toward success in college admissions and readiness. Counselors, teachers, and parents should be available for and able to provide a complete guide to planning an appropriate academic program, standardized test calendar and preparation materials, extracurricular agenda and list of summer activities. Many of the resources are becoming increasingly available online and through organizations such as the Bing Foundation. Parents should also make an effort to ensure that they receive an overview of the college admissions process. Many parents now have either been out of school so long that they cannot remember what to do and when, or as I increasing find more common, parents never went to college. There should be a focus on including a detailed timeline and a comprehensive introduction to the specific components of an application.

Paying for College: (11th – 12th Grade)

According to some parents, including my own father, financial planning by both the student and the parents is invaluable to the family of any college-bound student. Financial aid options should be explained in-depth by someone with recent knowledge, preferably a financial aid specialist (many school districts have them now) or by a specialize college or career counselor. They should cover such topics as scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs as well as how to find, qualify, and apply for each. Remember that when it comes to money timing is always of the essence! Be aware of the deadlines, file your FAFSA as soon as possible, and whatever you do, never wait until 12th grade to look for funding... Families should be introduced to options they may have otherwise overlooked and gain a thorough understanding of how to effectively negotiate with financial aid offices, that’s right, I said negotiate. We’ll get to that later.

Selecting the Right College: (11th Grade)

Every student is different. Each individual has distinct desires and interests, skills and challenges. It is vital that the aspiring college student understand that every single college is different. There are 5000 colleges in the United States alone. Don’t even ask how many possible majors there are, you would believe me if I told you. What does this mean, there are options… and now there are ways to match each student with their interest, major, ideal school size, cost, preference for public or private, rural or urban, etc. Check out College Navigator (developed by the US Department of Education).

You should establish key criteria to identify colleges that are a strong fit for each student’s interests and qualifications. Parents and students can now access parameters that allow them to examine the student’s high school record, activities, and “extras” like a professional and objectively determine the strengths he or she may have within a given pool of potential applicants.

Preparing College Applications: (12th Grade)


Obviously, this is not something that is relegated only to seniors. But that is the label that it receives and here is why. Each college aspiring student (and parent) should make a strong, exerted effort to stay on top of all the deadlines, continue in relevant (and not fluff) classes (see the last post), routinely update their timeline, look for last minute options, apply for early decision, take the SAT/ACT, and manage everything else teenagers do as they near completion of their secondary school career. I advise all students and their families to make and follow a thorough, detailed, and practical guide to the 12th grade year and producing a successful college application. After gaining a thorough understanding of how an applicant’s file is ultimately reviewed, parents and students must carefully and thoughtfully complete their applications.

Always remember that there are essential strategies for crafting an engaging essay and developing a unique personal theme that will help them stand out from the crowd. Resources such as these should not be ignored. Essays should be edited and re-written, letters of recommendation should be found, and all the applications filed, paid, and sent to the correct place. Follow that guide. Follow the timeline. Don’t make a mistake if you can avoid it.