Moderator: Frank D. Sachs
Director of College
Counseling
The Blake School
Participants: Mark J. Hatch VP for Enrollment
Colorado College
Kirk Brennan Director of Admissions
U.S.C.
Mark Spencer Director of College
Advising
Deerfield Academy
Questions for each
participant to
answer:
1. Share the history of your program.
2. Why do you do it?
3. What are the advantages to your school, to the
student?
4. What are the disadvantages to your school, to the
student?
5. Please share some statistics. How many offers
do you make? How many accepts? How many
participate?
Questions for
each participant
to answer:
6. Do you do anything special for the Midyears?
7. What options do they have during the first semester?
Are they on their own or do you provide them with
information about those options?
8. Do you ever admit any of the Midyears for the fall
semester? Why or why not?
9. What feedback do you get from the students who
participate in the Midyear program?
10. Do you have one piece of advice to share with others
who are considering a Midyear program?
October 2013
College Board Forum
Approximately 8-10% of each
class (45-50 students)
Prior to 1998 it was a Summer
Start Program with 80-100
students. June start for three
Summer Blocks followed by the
fall off.
Moved to Winter/January start
in 1998 due to concerns with
June 15th Block A start date.
Historically study abroad at CC
has been 1/3 fall, 2/3 spring
Some students request a
GAP semester at the time of
application
Alumni often ask if this is an
option for their children
Some College Counselors
are proactive in working with
students and families
A few are surprised and
shocked when offered a
place but for January
What do they do in the fall?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Work and travel
Internships
NOLS
Where There Be Dragons
Study at a (local) college – as a non-degree
student
Spend time with family
Other
Why is this important to us and
the educational process?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Getting off the treadmill
Reflection
Life experience
Getting ready for college
Maturity
Ownership and authorship
SPRING ADMISSION AT USC
Kirk Brennan, Director of Admission
Once upon a time…
Steven B. Sample
Paul Rigali
Joe Allen
HISTORY
•
•
•
•
Conceived in 1998, implemented in 1999
Renewed focus on Undergraduates
Response to USC transitioning to selective
Student-centered solution to challenge of
enrolling a specific number
• We have room in spring
• Based in thinking that wait lists are not the best
for students.
PROCESS
April 1
May 1
May ~15
July 1
August 1
December ~10
January ~10
Admission
Spring Enrollment Response
Movement from spring to fall if any
Apply for housing
Commitment deposit due
Mid-Year Orientation
Start of school
ADVANTAGES
•Can allow for precision in shaping class
•It’s an answer. Students can make plans
•Eliminated the spring review cycle of
October/November
•We can say yes to more students
CHALLENGES
[How much time do I have?]
WHEN YOU GOT INTO SC
Dear [John Doe], Congratulations! You are among a select group of
students who have been admitted to USC…"
See: http://fightonsprings.tumblr.com
..for the spring
semester
See: http://fightonsprings.tumblr.com
CHALLENGES
Confusion
•Big envelope
•Feeling of second-class
•Post-admit conversation is much different, urgent
•Fall is depressing for the student
•Some tempted to double deposit
Enrollment
•Melt is higher, varies
•Some academic programs can’t support it
•New tuition stream becomes a new target
•Moving spring admits to fall can be seen as failure
•Draws out pressures/appeals
•Extensive work with campus stakeholders
•Size of pool likely smaller than wait-list pool
CHALLENGES
[Do I still have time?]
Student life
•Fall means football season, rush
•Transition seen as more difficult
•Housing is difficult to manage
•Students will engage during fall
What to do in the fall
•Students don’t want to (or can’t) enroll in community college
•Articulation pre-approvals
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE
Think it through:
•Gather buy-in from campus stakeholders
•Hold the student’s hand from May to January
•Guard value of wait-pool
Mark Spencer
Currently:
Formally:
Director of College Advising
Deerfield Academy
Dean of Admission
Brandeis University
Mid-Year
Program
• Advantages
– Balance and Pace of life supported
– Students asked to think differently about
admission
– Pursue a productive and fulfilling experience
– Study Abroad and Domestic
– More admits in class (400 at Brandeis)
– Graduate in seven semesters
• Disadvantages
– No aid for abroad programs
– Pre-med students and core classes off track
– Initial negative and/or confused perception
Mid-Year Program
• What do in First Semester?
– Anything
– Study Abroad (England, China, France,
Spain)
– Washington DC semester
– Train for a sport
– Do community service project
– Work as an EMT
– Take classes locally
– Try something new
Mid-Year Program
• Started @ 2005 to fill empty beds from
study away students.
• Thought we would get 50 in year 1, got
100
• Have admitted @400 to get 100 since
Admissions Volume Total - Mid Year
Year Entering
Admits
Deposits
Yield
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
436
424
407
427
413
87
124
117
97
107
20.0%
29.2%
28.7%
22.7%
25.9%
Mid-Year
Program
• Transitioning
to Campus
– Full week long Orientation program
– Constant communication before January
entrance
– Group bonding (100-member family)
– Understanding course sequencing ahead of
time
– Housing - together in nicer residences
• Other
– Must enter in Spring, even if defer
Mid-Year Program
• Other, including “hidden”, benefits
– Character check - Students who elect to do mid-year
show grit
– Mid-year students quickly assume leadership
positions
– Admission officers make purer decisions, move
beyond pressure for SAT and GPA numbers for US
News ranking
• From the “other side of the desk”
– Another opportunity for admission
– Another opportunity for growth
– Favors the wealthier, so counselor needs to be
creative with aid candidates and semester less tuition
Q&A
But first some comments from Frank