It may be a little late to regret your early decision application to college (it is October 31, after all), but for future college applicants, this is worth reading. You will also find a link to another article - Early Decision: Better for Colleges Than for Students.
Students who apply ED should be 100% sure that this is the right school both academically and socially and not apply early just because they think they have a better chance of getting in. Yes, your odds of acceptance are greater at some schools, but if's really not a good fit for you, what's the point? I have seen many students who, after getting accepted early, start to have doubts, especially when their friends have several options to choose from.
There are also financial considerations. Although you can still apply for merit and need-based scholarships, you are basically telling an institution that you want to go to that school, no matter what. Your parents have to sign off on this decision, as do your college counselors. We don't take that lightly.
So before you take the early decision plunge, think through your decision very, very carefully. And then think through it again. And then maybe one more time.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Too Many Articles, Not Enough Time
It's almost November 1, and if you're a student applying early decision or a college counselor trying to finish all those recommendations, there's not much time left to read and write about the articles that are just asking for comments.
So, since I'm still writing, I want to offer these recent articles for your consideration.
Using FAFSA Against Students (this isn't fair!):http://bit.ly/1aU0lGS
What's Trust Got to Do With It (a very good article that does deserve some attention; perhaps I will get back to it next week): http://bit.ly/17tn5lW
How to Navigate the Burnout Zone: This one's for all my stressed out (November 1, anyone?) students...it's written more for professionals, but there's some very good advice in it that you should adopt. Moms and dads: you might want to read it too! http://bit.ly/HqxSkP
The Growing Popularity of Lists That Rank Colleges: I'll just you read this one, but read carefully. Rankings really aren't what they're cracked up to be.
We'll be blogging up to speed next week!
So, since I'm still writing, I want to offer these recent articles for your consideration.
Using FAFSA Against Students (this isn't fair!):http://bit.ly/1aU0lGS
What's Trust Got to Do With It (a very good article that does deserve some attention; perhaps I will get back to it next week): http://bit.ly/17tn5lW
How to Navigate the Burnout Zone: This one's for all my stressed out (November 1, anyone?) students...it's written more for professionals, but there's some very good advice in it that you should adopt. Moms and dads: you might want to read it too! http://bit.ly/HqxSkP
The Growing Popularity of Lists That Rank Colleges: I'll just you read this one, but read carefully. Rankings really aren't what they're cracked up to be.
We'll be blogging up to speed next week!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Abbott and Fenner Scholarship Program
Abbott & Fenner Business Consultants are pleased to be able to continue with
their scholarship program for the 7th year.
They will be awarding up to $1,000 to
the winner(s)!
Scholarship Deadline - June 14, 2014.
Application Process
Students will submit an essay on the topic
that appears on the scholarship page of their web site: http://www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm
Full details are available on the site.
Common App Problems...continued
If you are using the Common Application this year, you already know that it has been plagued with problems. We have been fortunate, however, because we submit most of our materials via Naviance, and while there have been a few problems with that system, they are nothing compared to what people have experienced on the Common App site.
Our students, on the other hand, are submitting their application through Common App, so we have a few suggestions for them.
1. If you have a November 1 deadline, DO NOT wait until Friday, November 1 to submit your
application. The earlier in the week you can take of this, the better. Even if you're college has
extended their deadline, do no wait until the last minute to submit.
2. You might want to avoid submitting your application during the peak hours of the day. It may be
9:00pm in Chattanooga, but it's 6:00pm on the west coast, and traffic is still heavy. A better
alternative might be first thing in the morning when the rest of the country is still asleep. It's a
small step, but it might work.
3. Follow the Common Application on Facebook. They are posting daily updates on problems and
solutions. Reading about all the problems others are having might make you nervous, but it is
better to be aware of what is going on than to be in the dark.
4. Before you panic, come see your college counselor. There is always a solution, and we'll help
you figure it out.
Lastly, I know it's easy for me to say, but take a deep breath and try to relax. Everything is going to work out. Your part of the college application process will be over soon.
Our students, on the other hand, are submitting their application through Common App, so we have a few suggestions for them.
1. If you have a November 1 deadline, DO NOT wait until Friday, November 1 to submit your
application. The earlier in the week you can take of this, the better. Even if you're college has
extended their deadline, do no wait until the last minute to submit.
2. You might want to avoid submitting your application during the peak hours of the day. It may be
9:00pm in Chattanooga, but it's 6:00pm on the west coast, and traffic is still heavy. A better
alternative might be first thing in the morning when the rest of the country is still asleep. It's a
small step, but it might work.
3. Follow the Common Application on Facebook. They are posting daily updates on problems and
solutions. Reading about all the problems others are having might make you nervous, but it is
better to be aware of what is going on than to be in the dark.
4. Before you panic, come see your college counselor. There is always a solution, and we'll help
you figure it out.
Lastly, I know it's easy for me to say, but take a deep breath and try to relax. Everything is going to work out. Your part of the college application process will be over soon.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Panic Applying to College
It's happening here a little earlier than it normally does, but it's not uncommon at all. I call it "panic applying," and it's simply this: a student thoughtfully makes out her application list but then suddenly, without rhyme or reason, starts adding colleges to that list. From what I can tell it happens for a couple of reasons.
First, students start to worry that they're not going to get in anywhere, and consequently they think they need to add more schools to their list. But more often than not, they don't give as much thought to the schools they are adding, and their list becomes quite random. They forget about what they were looking for in the first place. Second, some students start adding schools after listening to their friends. It's the "grass is always greener" effect. Their best friend(s) is applying to seven colleges, and their list looks better to you than yours does. So they start changing their list or adding to it.
Sometimes panic applying doesn't happen until second semester. By then the student starts second-guessing her college list. Maybe she doesn't really like "that college" after all. Maybe it's too big, too small. Maybe it's too far away, too close. Fortunately, an additional visit to campus usually reminds her why it was a good fit to begin with, and she can relax. But not always, and then she feels the urge to apply to just one or two more schools.
No matter the reason, it happens every year. So if you feel the need to add more colleges to your list, talk to your counselor and your parents. Carefully review your criteria and see if it makes sense to add an additional school. Sometimes it might, but more often than not, you might just be "panic applying."
First, students start to worry that they're not going to get in anywhere, and consequently they think they need to add more schools to their list. But more often than not, they don't give as much thought to the schools they are adding, and their list becomes quite random. They forget about what they were looking for in the first place. Second, some students start adding schools after listening to their friends. It's the "grass is always greener" effect. Their best friend(s) is applying to seven colleges, and their list looks better to you than yours does. So they start changing their list or adding to it.
Sometimes panic applying doesn't happen until second semester. By then the student starts second-guessing her college list. Maybe she doesn't really like "that college" after all. Maybe it's too big, too small. Maybe it's too far away, too close. Fortunately, an additional visit to campus usually reminds her why it was a good fit to begin with, and she can relax. But not always, and then she feels the urge to apply to just one or two more schools.
No matter the reason, it happens every year. So if you feel the need to add more colleges to your list, talk to your counselor and your parents. Carefully review your criteria and see if it makes sense to add an additional school. Sometimes it might, but more often than not, you might just be "panic applying."
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Common App Woes
The most frustrating things about the college application are the things you cannot control. The Common Application is a good example. You may have seen a few stories about the Common App this year: it's a new version, and it has experienced a lot of problems. For some it's been difficult to submit a payment. For others, there have been essay formatting issues. Both students and counselors have had trouble submitting documents. And I'm not even counting the day that no one could log into the site.
The good news is that the Common App people are well aware of the problems people are having, and they are now sending daily updates on the resolution of those problems. Colleges are responding, and in many cases, they are extending their early decision/early action deadlines. Anyone can follow the Common App on Facebook and Twitter and follow their progress. Most important, if you experience any problems with your application, please go see your college counselor.
One more word of caution, however. Don't wait until the last minute to submit your application. Let's be honest. If you wait until the last minute, you're probably not putting as much thought into your applications/essays as you should have. You're more likely to make careless mistakes (and I can't proofread your application at 11:30pm). And you're more likely to encounter some of the problems mentioned above. Just because the deadline is 11:59pm on November 1 doesn't mean that you should wait until 11:58pm to submit your application. There's a lot we can do to help you on the front end, but there's not much I can do on the back end.
The good news is that the Common App people are well aware of the problems people are having, and they are now sending daily updates on the resolution of those problems. Colleges are responding, and in many cases, they are extending their early decision/early action deadlines. Anyone can follow the Common App on Facebook and Twitter and follow their progress. Most important, if you experience any problems with your application, please go see your college counselor.
One more word of caution, however. Don't wait until the last minute to submit your application. Let's be honest. If you wait until the last minute, you're probably not putting as much thought into your applications/essays as you should have. You're more likely to make careless mistakes (and I can't proofread your application at 11:30pm). And you're more likely to encounter some of the problems mentioned above. Just because the deadline is 11:59pm on November 1 doesn't mean that you should wait until 11:58pm to submit your application. There's a lot we can do to help you on the front end, but there's not much I can do on the back end.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Do the rankings mean anything?
Before you decide that you have to go to a "name" college, whatever that means to you, take a minute to read this article. It's about Forbes' "30 for 30," the annual list of people under thirty who are the movers and shakers of their generation - the new "it" people, if you will. What this article points out however, is how many of them did not attend one of those brand name colleges, and I suspect you know which colleges I mean.
In fact, they attended schools such as the University of Iowa, Drexel University, Arizona State, the College of Charleston, Indiana University. One other school they mention is the University of Maryland Baltimore, one of the best places to go if you're interested in STEM. Obviously the point I'm trying to make is that the rankings really mean nothing. Smart, creative, inventive, interesting people go to all sorts of colleges and universities, and you can too.
In fact, they attended schools such as the University of Iowa, Drexel University, Arizona State, the College of Charleston, Indiana University. One other school they mention is the University of Maryland Baltimore, one of the best places to go if you're interested in STEM. Obviously the point I'm trying to make is that the rankings really mean nothing. Smart, creative, inventive, interesting people go to all sorts of colleges and universities, and you can too.
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