Ashland High School
College Connection Newsletter
Provided by Donnley Fenn and AHS Counseling Office
September 2014
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 1
THE COURAGE TO TAKE A RISK
The spy novelist, John le Carré, writes in A Perfect Spy: “Sometimes, Tom, we have to do a thing in order to find out the
reason for it. Sometimes our actions are questions, not answers.” The college admissions application process is an
appropriate example of this counter-intuitive thinking. Those seniors who wait around to be bitten by the bug of enlightenment may find themselves out in the cold. Quite often, especially early in life, the reason for an action only becomes clear
after we exercise the courage to take a risk on it without knowing what it will lead to. Here is where intuition can play
such an important part. Our reasons may still be obscured by that veil which hides our subconscious thoughts, but when
our intuition signals in a flash of insight that it feels right, don’t wait around for the clarity which will eventually follow. This
is the first of nine monthly eight-page newsletters you will receive throughout the 2014-2015 school year to help you with
timelines and to provide guidelines for making that first step into the unknown. Share this newsletter with a parent or
friend and try to find a few minutes for yourself during the opening days of school to read through these pages.
FEDERAL STAFFORD & PLUS LOANS UPDATE
++College students will pay more interest on their undergraduate Stafford loans this coming school year, with the
interest rate climbing to 4.66%. Interest rates for most federal student loans are pegged to the yield on the U.S. 10year Treasury note, newly set on June 1 at 2.6%. Last
year, the T-bill rate was 1.81%. The rates for graduate
student Stafford loans will be 6.21%, while the rate for
Parent PLUS loans will increase to 7.21%.
++In August the Obama administration formally proposed
changes to the PLUS (parent loan) program that would
largely loosen the credit requirements needed to obtain them.
The proposal will clarify the current practice of considering accounts more than 90 days delinquent as “adverse
credit” that generally hurt a person’s chances of getting a
loan.?
IMPORTANT SAT INFO SUMMARY:
http://sat.collegeboard.org/
THE SAT REASONING TEST is 3 hours and 45 minutes
long and consist of Writing (questions: 35 min., essay: 25
min.), Critical Reading (no analogies, 70 min.), and Math
(includes Alg. II, 70 min.). SAT Subject Tests are administered at the same site (except for March) and at the
same time as the SAT Reasoning Test and each subject
test is one hour long. The most competitive colleges and
universities may require 2 Subject Tests, while a few require three. Some allow the ACT + Writing in lieu of the
Subject Tests. SCORES AVAILABLE ONLINE
APPROX. 19 DAYS AFTER TEST DATE AND ARE
MAILED 3 WEEKS AFTER TEST DATE! 20142015 FEES: SAT: $52.50 (includes required essay),
Continued on page 2
Using the Common Application to Apply
to Colleges & Universities
https://www.commonapp.org
Over the last 40 years, a “common” application has been developed in an effort to simplify the process of applying to college.
Today that CommonApp is shared by more than 500 universities
and colleges. Click on “Member Colleges” at the top of the home
page to see a list of all colleges and universities which use the
CommonApp. Most are U. S. private schools, but an increasing
number are international and U. S. state universities like The
Ohio State University. Member colleges also have their own
“Supplement” applications which contain specific questions
designed by their own admissions departments to “fine-tune”
their required applicant data. These can include additional essay
questions. Remember that this year, staying with the 2013-14
essay limit change, the Essay word limit and Additional Information length are strictly limited to 650 words. College supplements
can easily be accessed once you have indicated the colleges you
want to apply to. Prospective Applicants needing assistance can
reach out through the Help Center: https://appsupport.common
app.org. There you will find a comprehensive FAQ resource covering all aspects of the application. By clicking on the “Ask a
Question” tab, you can contact a member of the support team
and they will be in touch promptly.
Quote of the Month: “The definitions of ‘best’ college are essentially editorial opinions dressed up in pseudo-facts. Contrived to
sell magazines, they should not be the beginning point for your
college selection process. Don’t become blinded by these definitions of the ‘best.’ You need to arrive at your own definition of
the best that is rooted in your needs, interests and learning style.”
(Peter Van Buskirk, “The Admissions Game”)
The College Connection Newsletter
Continued from page 1
IMPORTANT SAT INFO SUMMARY
— LATE REG: $28— SAT Subject Tests: Basic Fee.-$26.00
+ each Subject Test-$16, Lang. W/listening/Nov only-$26),
COLLEGE SAT REPORTS (first four reports when registering are free)-$11.25 each, CHANGE DATES, SITES$28 (must be 2.5 weeks before test date). You can wait
until the second Monday after the test to send scores to
four schools for free. If you want to wait until you view
your final online scores (approx. 19 days after the test) to
send scores, you will have to pay $11.25 for each school
report.
Many colleges now allow score choice, including Subject
Tests. Read the SAT Score Choice policy for each school,
then check with colleges’ websites if still unclear about each
college’s policy for reporting scores.
GREAT WEBSITE FOR
COLLEGE ADMISSION RESEARCH
http://www.unigo.com Wall Street Journal: “Unigo is a
college resource built for the age of YouTube and
Facebook.” USA Today: “”Millions of students have used
Unigo to assist in their college search.” Simply fill in the
name of the college and enough identifying info to put you
in touch with counselors and current students who schedule their time to talk with you.
IMPORTANT ACT INFO SUMMARY:
http://www.actstudent.org
All four-year colleges or universities will accept EITHER
the SAT I or ACT test results for admission. It’s a good
idea to take the ACT at least once. If you score higher, the
school will accept that score as best. See: http://
www.berkeleytutors.net/conversion chart to compare
scores. The ACT is more of a memory test, rather than a
reasoning test like the SAT. It tests more about what you
know. It includes a 40 question science reasoning section,
covers English grammar, and includes some trigonometry.
It is advised that students planning on majoring in a field
related to math and/or science also take the ACT. Many
schools requiring the SAT Subject Tests will accept the
ACT+ WRITING results instead, but you must check with
specific schools to be sure. Scores will be available online
FREE about 16 days after the test date. ACT ALSO INCLUDES AN OPTIONAL 30 MIN. ESSAY WRITING
TEST.
2014-2015 FEES: Registration: $38 + Writing Test:
$16.50 more (refundable if you change your mind on test
day) Late reg.: $24 Change dates, test center: $22 Sending scores to colleges after test: $12 each school (4 schools
= free before test date).
BEWARE OF FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID FORM (FAFSA) RIP-OFF!!!
Applying for federal help to pay for college is supposed to be free. It’s right there in the name of the form students fill out to qualify:
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. But at least two websites — FAFSA.com and FAFSA-application.com —
charge almost $80 to fill out essentially the same form the Education Department offers for free. The official and FREE website is
https://fafsa.ed.gov/ (Make a note of it.)
MAKING BEST USE OF NET PRICE CALCULATORS (NPC)
The U.S. Education Department now requires every college and university to provide Net Price Calculators on their
websites to help families evaluate how much yearly cost they would be responsible for, based on the family financial
assets and income. The problem is that there is no uniform template for creating these NPC’s. The more competitive
schools also ask for such date as GPA and test scores to evaluate chances for merit scholarships. Your evaluations of
your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on need, may vary greatly from school to school. Before beginning your
frustrating journey through NPC cyberspace, try using the well designed and easy to understand NPC from the Wellesley
College (all female) website, even if you don’t plan to apply there. By answering simple questions, you will get a quick
idea of what you would owe (without merit scholarships) for one year at an expensive, elite private school. For a more
precise EFC, you can direct your search to the more thorough Wellesley NPC website, which asks many more questions
based on the FAFSA and CSS Profile questions. In addition to the FAFSA, the most competitive schools also require the
CSS Profile. You can find a list of these schools by searching for “CSS Profile Participating Schools.” For the more
complete assessment of your financial aid possibilities, you can either enter as a guest or sign in with your Collegeboard
login info and save your entered data in your collegeboard.com account, so you can use it again and again to calculate
your net price at other colleges of interest. Wellesley College has also released a new version of its groundbreaking
college cost estimator, My inTuition. Wellesley’s Quick College Cost Estimator asks just six basic financial questions
before providing a personalized estimate of an individual’s college costs; it’s free and available en Español at
www.wellesley.edu/estimadordecostos or in English at www.wellesley.edu/costestimator.
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September 2014
The College Connection Newsletter
SENIOR CHECKLIST FOR SEPT./OCT.
Make a list of test names, dates and fees, registration dead lines,\
college application deadlines, and financial aid applications (including scholarships) and deadlines. (Most Schools accept scores from
the December SAT, for regular deadline applicants.)
Prepare resume and listing of interests, strengths and goals to give to
teachers, counselors and employers for letters of recommendation.
College bound athletes applying to Division I or Division II schools
need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center for Certification in
order to play college athletics. WEBSITE: http://www.eligibility
center.org.
When registering for SAT or ACT, if you mark the code 9999 as one
of your college or scholarship codes, your scores will be sent automatically to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Narrow your list of colleges to five or six. Consider fall campus
visits. Browse through campus catalogs and brochures located in
your school’s Career Center and check out college websites.
Attend college visitation meetings at your school
Work hard to keep your grades up. Admissions committees will
closely review the first semester of your senior year.
Register @ http://www.collegeboard.com/ for October 11 SAT Deadline: September 12, 2014 (Late deadline-9/30); November 8 SAT - Deadline: October 9, 2014
Register @ http://www.actstudent.org for October 25, ACT.
Deadline: September 19, 2014. *** If you register for the October 25, 2014 national test date, you are required to submit a
photo of yourself for identification purposes. The photo will
be printed on your ticket and on the score report ACT sends to your
high school. Your photo will be valid for two years.
Start working on the first draft of your admissions essay(s)
Listen to morning bulletins for local, state and national scholarships
for which you might apply. “Deadlines usually range from November 1, 2014 to May, 2015”
If applicable, prepare applications for early decision. These deadlines begin November 1. Know the difference between “early decision” and “early action”.
Checkout commonapp.org to see a list of the 500+ schools which
now accept the common application (see article on p. 1 )
EXCITING HIGH TECH VIRTUAL
CAMPUS TOUR WEBSITE
An online company that specializes in college tours is demonstrating the wider
potential of immersive virtual reality. YouVisit of New York has designed
Oculus Rift tours of 12 colleges, including Yale University. Facebook-owned
Oculus Rift is developing goggles that cover the wearer’s eyes, while motion
sensors detect the direction the wearer is looking, completing the illusion of
being in a different location. You can take free YouVist tours at youvisit.com.
YouVisit of New York has designed Oculus Rift campus tours for over 1,000
colleges. Click on any of the 12 schools with “Full Tours” to get an idea of the
thoroughness of the tours OR write in the name of your favorite school to
access “preview” tours of other campuses. Eventually Oculus Rift goggles
will be available commercially, and then this website will reach its full potential.
September 2014
COLLEGE NEWS
++American universities are suspending
programs in West Africa in light of the
Ebola outbreak, and taking measures to
ensure that no one comes back to campus with the disease.
++Bryant University’s (RI) 2014 graduating class was all smiles for the crowd
to see, but not for their iPhones to capture. Bryant officials banned its graduates from taking selfies while they accepted their degrees at the podium.
++The Cooper Union (NY) admitted 373
first year students to its fall freshman
class, a 25% increase to allow for a larger
class of engineering students, as well as
to compensate for a yield that may be
smaller due to the reduction in the full
tuition scholarship to 50 percent.
++As a perk for its “malodorous” agricultural students, in 1925 Davidson College (NC) built its own laundry and since
then has washed, dried, folded and ironed
students’ clothes for free. That perk will
end a year from now.
++Both the SAT and the ACT tests will
be optional for high school applicants to
Wesleyan University (CT) starting this
fall.
++Hampshire College (MA) has announced that it will become the first college that will be “test-blind,” meaning that
it will not look at SAT or ACT scores even
if applicants submit them.
++Rather than reach into a nearby neighborhood and buy up dilapidated houses
for demolition and redevelopment, Providence College (RI) has pledged $750,000
over three years to the Smith Hill Community Development Corporation, which guts
and restores homes and then rents them
back, at a discount, to low-income families.
++Harvey Mudd College (CA) made
school history in May when it awarded
56% of the degrees for its graduating engineering class to women at its commencement ceremony.
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The College Connection Newsletter
COLLEGE NEWS
++Berry College (GA) has opted to
change the site of its proposed football
stadium in an effort to leave enough room
for its now-famous eagles’ nest.
++Starbucks will provide a free online
college education to thousands of its
workers, without requiring that they remain with the company, through an unusual arrangement with Arizona State
University.
++AT&T and Udacity, the online education company, have announced something
called the “NanoDegree.” For $200 a
month, it is intended to teach anyone with
a mastery of high school math the kind
of basic programming skills needed to
qualify for an entry-level position at AT&T
as a data analyst, iOS applications designer or the like.
++Duke University (NC) will once again
call East Residence Hall by that original
name, stripping it of the 1914 name of
the former North Carolina governor, Charles
B. Aycock, who had outspoken white supremacist views.
Free Full Service College
Admissions Website
http://www.wisechoice.com
Following a brief registration which either
parent or student can do, there is immediate access to such pages as: Get your student personality report and personalized
advice for college; Find out which schools
are the best fit; Learn about financial aid
and see how much you might get at each
college; Find and apply for scholarships
(free money you can use at any college);
Explore colleges and see what current students say about them; Learn some basics
about college life and admissions (short
video tutorials). Colleges are filtered with
such questions as: Do all schools require
an essay? Which ones conduct interviews?
What about recommendation letters?
“Each college has a unique set of application requirements, and we’ll help you keep
it all organized and on track.”
Page 4
ACT Exam Will Include New Writing Scores
and Readiness Indicators
ACT announced in June that starting next year, students who take the ACT
will receive more information about their readiness for college and careers.
The test results will include a “STEM Score,” representing a student’s performance on the mathematics and science portions of the exam, and an
“English Language Arts Score,” which will combine the student’s performance on the English, reading, and writing sections. The exam also will
include new indicators that will show whether a student is likely to understand the kinds of complex texts he or she will take in college. The ACT’s
optional writing test is also changing. Currently, the prompt for the 30-minute
essay asks test takers to argue one side of an issue, such as whether high
schools should require students to wear uniforms. Although samples of the
new prompts were not yet available, Edward R. Colby, a spokesman for
ACT, said the questions would be more nuanced. “It won’t be ‘this side or
that side,’” Mr. Colby said. “The question will ask students for multiple
perspectives and support. It will be a more-complex prompt than what we’re
delivering now.” The essays will be scored in four categories: ideas and
analysis, development and support, organization, and language use. Most
colleges (88%) do not require applicants to submit ACT writing scores. 17
states now require all high-school juniors in public schools to take the ACT
as part of a statewide assessment program.
COUNSELOR’S CORNER
Free Pocket Guide to Choosing a College
High school counselors may request up to 1000 free pocket guides per
year. Additional packs of 100 are $12 each. For consultants and other
non-educational requests, copies are available for $25 per pack of 100.
No postage is charged on free copies. There is a shipping charge of $10
on all orders exceeding the free amount. You can also view the mobile
version or use a QR code to access a streamlined mobile version. Published by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). Website:
http://nsse.iub.edu/html/pocket_guide_order_form.cfm
How to Prepare for College During High School
Student Education does not happen by osmosis. As ehow.com advises:
“Make your voyages of self-discovery (and academic mistakes) during
your high school years while your teachers care about your personal
growth.” For excellent ideas on getting ready for the rigors of college
academics: http://www.ehow.com/how_2181132_college-as-highschool-student.html
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/education/edlife/index.html – If you
don’t read the Sunday edition of the New York Times, bookmark this link
for the occasional special issues of Education Life, which contain interesting and up-to-date articles covering the college spectrum.
September 2014
The College Connection Newsletter
SCHOLARSHIPS & CONTEST LISTINGS
COCA-COLA SCHOLARS PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP 2,000 Semifinalists are selected in mid-November and notified by email around December 1. Semifinalists must then complete a secondary application due in
mid-January, including essays, official transcripts, and two
letters of recommendation. Semifinalists learn by late January if they will be one of 250 regional finalists. Regional
finalists schedule regional interviews either in person or
via video conference to take place in early February. 150
regional finalists will be named Coca-Cola Scholars and
receive awards of $20,000 each. The remaining 100 regional finalists will be awarded educational stipends of
$1,000. http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/
applicants/ Deadline: October 31, 2014. In April the
150 Coca-Cola Scholars attend Scholars Weekend in Atlanta, GA.
UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM
Entering high school juniors and seniors may obtain a
USSYP application through their high school principals,
guidance counselors and social studies teachers OR they
may inquire directly to their state selection contacts on the
website. Application deadline dates vary by state (9/
20 to 11/4). Click on your state on the left for details. The
53rd Anniversary program will be held in Washington, D.C.,
from March 7-14, 2015. Two student leaders from each
state will spend a week in Washington experiencing their
national government in action. All transportation, hotel and
meal expenses will be provided. Each delegate will also be
awarded a $5,000 College Scholarship. Requires 300 word
essay with choice of four topics. http://www.hearstfdn
.org/ussyp/
2015 HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS 106 National Scholar awards of $22,000 each
and a variety of state scholarships are available. For
example Oregon offers six $7,000 scholarships. Applicants
who demonstrate critical financial need ($50,000 or less
AGI) and having overcome adversity will be eligible for
awards. The Personal Statement (50-200 words) requires
that you select and read several biographies of listed, wellknown Horatio Alger Association Members, such as Maya
Angelou. Choose a member and explain how and why you
have and how you intend to apply in your own life the virtues exemplified in the member’s life story. Use real life
examples from your own experience. Application Deadline: October 25, 2014. https://www.horatioalger.org/
scholarships/sp.cfm
2014 WENDY’S HIGH SCHOOL HEISMAN
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Must be a high school
senior, participating in at least one of 27 eligible schoolsponsored sports, with a 3.0+ GPA and be a leader in school
and in the community. Application deadline: October
3, 2014. Twelve National Finalists, one female and one
male, from each of the six geographic regions will receive
a $2,000 award donated to the winners’ high schools in the
students’ names. Two National Award Winners will receive $10,000 award donated to the winners’ high schools
in the students’ names. You will need to ask a school official to review your application by above deadline. http://
www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com/about/whos-eligible/
VOICE OF DEMOCRACY COMPETITION
A
National Audio Essay Scholarship open to high school students, grades 9 – 12. It consists of a 3 to 5 minute recorded essay on the 2014-2015 theme: “Why Veterans
are Important to our Nation’s History and Future.”
Each state winner is provided with a five-day all-expense
paid trip to Washington, D.C., plus the opportunity to compete for National scholarships totaling over $130,000. 1st
Place Winner: $30,000. Other scholarships range from
$1,000 to $16,000. Entry must be sent to the local participating VFW Post listed on website: http://www.vfw.org/
VOD. Deadline for entries is November 1, 2014
GOOD TIDINGS FOUNDATION COMMUNITY
SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP Twenty $5,000 awards are
available to seniors who have served their community in
the Greater San Francisco Bay Area by
volunteering. Scholarships are based on greatest service
and financial need. Application deadline: November
10, 2014. http://www.goodtidings.org. Click on “Education” under “Programs”. Eligible counties are listed at
bottom of application.
SCHOLARSHIPEXPERTS.COM
MONTHLY
SCHOLARSHIPS Each month one $1500 scholarship
will be offered. The September scholarship (9/30/14 deadline) is the “Shout It Out Scholarship”. You must submit an
online written response (250 words or less) for the topic:
“If you could say one thing to the entire world at once,
what would it be and why?” For list of all monthly scholarships: http://www.scholarshipexperts.com/our-scholarships. Application requires registration.
September 2014
RON BROWN SCHOLAR PROGRAM
A minimum of 10 four year renewable awards for $10,000 per
year are available to African American high school seniors who plan to attend college full-time. Scholarship is
based on Financial Need, Academic Achievement, Essay,
Extracurricular Activities, Leadership Experience, Community Service, and Recommendations. Deadline (to be
considered for the Ron Brown Scholar Program and also
forwarded to a select and limited number of additional scholarship providers): Postmarked by November 1, 2014.
Click on “Apply” http://www.ronbrown.org
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The College Connection Newsletter
SCHOLARSHIPS & CONTEST LISTINGS
THE EMERSON PRIZE This is one of the most
prestigious awards for high school history students. Although
worth no monetary award, winning one of the annual six
laureate prizes for best essay opens college doors at the
most highly regarded schools. First you must have your
essay, ranging from 4,000-6,000 (or more) words published
in the Concord Review. For submission form and essay
requirements: http://www.tcr.org/tcr/submissions.htm.
Requires a $40 entrance fee.
DAVIDSON COLLEGE (NC) BRYAN SCHOLARS
PROGRAM Offers $30,000 per year for four years to one
male and one female scholar athlete in each freshman class
in the eligible sports listed on their website. Requires a
Nomination Form, signed by a school administrator. Deadline: September 21, 2014. To be considered for the Bryan
Scholars Program, the entire Davidson College admission application is due by October 15, 2014. Because
of early deadlines, call the Davidson Admission Office at
(800) 768-0380 to express your interest. http://
www2.davidson.edu/admission/admis_bryan/
NATIONAL YOUNGARTS FOUNDATION
YoungArts is a national program to recognize the achievements of high school seniors and other young artists 15-18
years old (gr.10-12) on Dec. 1 in areas of Dance, Classical Music, Jazz, Theater, Visual Arts, Photography, Film &
Video, Voice and Writing. Award amounts vary but can be
as high as $10,000. Application deadline is October
17, 2014, which includes all submission materials.
Fill out an ARTS application at the ARTS website: http://
www.youngarts.org/apply. Pay the $35 per discipline fee
(fee waivers for low-income students) and receive an
ARTS ID# which is required.
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA: DOLLARS FOR
SCHOLARS + MORE
Are you a student or family
looking for scholarship aid? Go to website:
http://scholarshipamerica.org. Many legitimate scholarships are listed. Click on “Open Scholarships” under “Students & Parents”. Download the free Scholarship Coach
Ebook.
Univ. of Calif. Application Is Now Open
The fall 2015 UC application for undergraduate admission is now available! The UC App has opened earlier this year to
give students more time to complete their applications and to take some of the stress out of the October-November time
period. Students can start filling out the application online today. Make sure to check the top right hand corner of the page,
next to your name, to confirm the application is for fall 2015. Keep in mind:
++Applicants can still only submit the application between Nov. 1 – 30.
++Application sections and personal statement prompts are the same as previous years.
++Early preparation and submission of the application do not impact admission decisions.
++Application resources have been updated to help guide students through the process, such as quick-start guides for
applying to UC for freshman (California, out-of-state) applicants.
++To create an application account, go to: https://admissions.universityofcalifornia.edu/applicant/login.htm?
++For info on the UC Personal Statement, go to: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/personalstatement/
University of California SAT Subject Test Admission Policy
Since the fall 2012 term, SAT Subject Tests are no longer required and students who do not submit subject test scores
are not penalized during the review process. Some majors at some campuses, however, recommend particular tests.
Home-schooled students should still submit subject test scores as part of a “comprehensive review” process much the
way they do now with Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate scores.
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has redesigned its webpage for accessing
parent and student resources regarding the college selection process. You can download pdf guides under “Publications”
for such topics as: “Applying for Financial Aid in 7 Easy Steps” and “A Guide to the College Admissions Process.” Scroll
to the lower part of the page to find guidance for Freshmen through Seniors. http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/
Pages/Default.aspx
New Princeton Review rankings lists 379 top schools in 62 categories based on surveys of 126,000 students. You can
identify the top 20 schools under such headings as Great financial aid; Most religious students; LGBT friendly; College
City gets high marks; Jock schools; Most politically active; Best college dorms; Most beautiful campus, Lots of Greek
Life. http://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings.aspx. Must register for access to website.
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September 2014
The College Connection Newsletter
Looking for Private Schools
That Don’t Require Test Scores?
A Guide to What College Rankings
Don’t Tell You
Furman University (SC) is among the highly selective private
liberal arts colleges now giving applicants the option of submitting standardized test scores or choosing not to include SAT I or
ACT test results as part of their application credentials for the
2015-2016 academic year. Several top independent colleges, including Lawrence University (WI), American University (DC),
St. John’s (NM/MD), Goucher (MD), Marist (NY), Denison University (OH), Middlebury (VT), Bowdoin and Bates (MI), and
Smith Hampshire, Clark and Holy Cross (MA) have strengthened the movement. Furman has also joined Hamilton, Bard, and
Union Colleges (NY) and Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg and
Dickinson (PA) in offering some form of test-optional admissions alternative. The only 3 western schools are Lewis & Clark
(OR), Pitzer (CA) and Whitworth (WA). Two very good schools
in Illinois are Knox and Lake Forest. For the full list of nearly 850
schools go to: http://www.fairtest.org/univ/optional.htm
http://www.whatwilltheylearn.com/
WHAT WILL THEY LEARN?
That is the simple question the American Council of
Trustees and Alumni asks on this website. They do so by exploring the state of general education, those courses designed
to give college students a firm grounding in the areas of knowledge they will use for a lifetime. Specifically, they evaluate
whether major colleges and universities require seven key subjects: English Composition, Literature, Foreign Language, U.S.
Government or History, Economics, Mathematics, and Science.
Begun in 2004 with a study of 50 colleges and universities, the
project has grown to include over 1,000 institutions. In addition
to the unique information, it provides about general education
requirements in higher education. You will find at-a-glance information on graduation rates, tuition costs, and other key data.
You can directly compare what students will learn at different
colleges and universities, with a letter grade assigned to each
school based on the strength of their courses in the seven key
subjects. Only 21 schools comprise the A List. Also check out
“Hidden Gems” in addition to your favorite schools.
One Hidden Gem: BROOKLYN COLLEGE, “Brooklyn, NY, Grade:
A: Tuition: In-state, $5,051; Out-of-state, $10,411. Brooklyn
College has been called ‘the poor man’s Harvard’—and deservedly so. Brooklyn has an impressive record of keeping tuition
affordable for all students, and its rigorous, integrated core
curriculum earns it an ‘A’. It is renowned for the number of its
graduates who have gone on to earn doctoral degrees.”
Many college guides and ranking systems measure
institutions’ prestige and reputation, but no guide has looked
at what students are actually required to learn.
Colleges That Change Lives - This website began as a
book by Loren Pope, the now deceased, former New York
Times education writer. His goal was to highlight colleges
that best represent what college is all about. Now collegebound families can get the best of the book online for free.
The site includes detailed information on each of the CTCL
colleges. http://www.ctcl.org/
http://www.admissionpossible.com Highly informative
website with everything you need to know about finding,
applying and getting into the best colleges for you.
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF ACCEPTANCE
As you consider your chances of acceptance to the schools you most wish to apply to, the first step in assessing your
“competitiveness” is to compare your hard data (transcript/test scores) to the profile of accepted freshmen from the
previous year. What you won’t see on that profile will be the answers to the question asked around admission tables
once an applicant makes it through the first cut. The question: “What do we get?”. How well do your essays, letters of
recommendation and resume indicate how you could contribute to the life of that campus? This answer could affect
your acceptance and eventual financial aid. For example, how likely are you to: Engage as a critical thinker in the
classroom? Emerge as a creative influence in the arts? Contribute to the success of the theatre program? Write for the
student newspaper? Bring unusual talent to the music or athletic programs? Give of your time and talent to those who
are less fortunate? Affect change through thoughtful and energetic leadership? Show curiosity and tease ideas into
inventions? Challenge others to see the world differently? Be sure to target colleges where you will be valued for what
you have to offer—places where your credentials will answer the “What do we get?” question in a big way! The two
best ways to ensure that your colleges get to know your strengths for making a difference on their campus is to: 1)
Discuss with your evaluating teachers what strengths, similar to the ones mentioned above, you would like them to
highlight. 2) Make use of the 650 word Additional Information section on the Common Application to expand in
detail on the activities you have listed, explaining why you have chosen that activity, what it has done to contribute to
your growth, and the degree of your intention of continuing it in college.
September 2014
Page 7
The College Connection Newsletter
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING STYLE WHEN CHOOSING A COLLEGE
(“Bestcollegefit.com”, July 9, 2014)
The U.S. boasts a broad array of more than 3,000 colleges and universities dedicated to providing post-secondary educational opportunities. Although common in mission, their personalities, curricula and institutional cultures vary as greatly as
3,000 sets of fingerprints!
Perhaps the most underestimated element of the college selection process is finding that “academic fingerprint” that can
make the best difference in your eventual success as a student.
The process begins with identifying places that provide the academic program you seek and a style of instruction that is
most comfortable for you. Students process information differently, and colleges offer different styles of instruction. Some
colleges will teach Biology in seminars that include 25-30 students. Some teach it in lecture halls of five hundred! Yet
others will attach labs to the instruction or offer research opportunities. How would you function in these different
environments? What sort of interaction do you want to have with the information that is being presented? How do you like
to be engaged with learning? Who or what inspires you? Under what circumstances are you most likely to produce your
best work? The more you know about how you like to learn, the easier it will be to make critical distinctions among the
learning environments of different colleges. Consider the following questions as you try to identify your learning style.
· Who is your favorite teacher—and why?
· What is your favorite class right now—and why?
· In which type of classroom setting (i.e. large group lectures, seminars, etc.) are you most comfortable—and why?
· With what kinds of people and personalities do you enjoy exchanging ideas—and why?
Then look for colleges that mirror these characteristics. If, for example, your approach to learning is to take good notes,
read diligently and prepare carefully—all in the relative anonymity of the large lecture hall, then you are more likely to
function comfortably in a larger, more expansive instructional setting. However, if you like the engagement of a small
classroom where you can ask questions—where you can challenge and be challenged—then the seminar format will be
more productive for you.
Page 8
September 2014