What's the rush?

Recently I tweeted an article about the disadvantages of being the first one to submit a college application.  Since then it has occurred to me that some further explanation might be needed.

First, if one of my students is applying to a state university like Auburn, the U. of Tennessee, Ole Miss, or any college with a rolling admissions deadline, there's nothing wrong with getting the application completed as soon as possible.  As I often tell students, there's nothing quite like that first acceptance letter to help you breathe again.  But even with those schools, students are sometimes in such a rush to "just get it done," that they make careless mistakes or perhaps even more important, don't take advantage of every opportunity to illustrate who they are.

Sure, some applications only want biographical information and the name of your high school, but many of them offer some opportunities to say something about yourself. It may be in the form of an optional personal statement, or it may be the chance to upload a resume.  Why wouldn't you take advantage of these opportunities?

We've barely finished two weeks of school, so rather than racing through your college applications, take a deep breath (and that includes mom and dad) and slow down.  Submit a thoughtful application, one that showcases your best self.  Regardless of the outcome, you will know that you did everything you can to gain admission.

Talking about the risks of campus life

If I had a nickel for every time I heard a parent say "That's not going to happen to my student," I could probably retire.  I've been a college counselor for too long however, and I know that things can in fact happen to "your student."

Perhaps that's why I appreciate the article "For Freshmen, Campus Life Poses New Risks."  Even the best of teenagers make mistakes sometimes, especially during the first weeks at college, and that's one of many reasons why it is so important to have an honest conversation with them before they go. Even more important, that conversation needs to continue, because as the article states, the research shows parents still have at least some influence over their children's decisions.

Use your influence while you can and start the conversation (long) before they go.

Change is in the air!

It's hard to believe that in just a few short weeks students and faculty will be returning to campus (we start school early in the South!).  Every new school year has its challenges, but for the Class of 2017, there are several changes that will impact their college admissions process.

I will address these changes one by one over the next few weeks, but today I want to talk about the 2017-18 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Beginning this school year, the FAFSA will begin accepting applications on October 1, 2016 rather than the traditional January 1.  Ideally families will be able to get their financial aid information much earlier, thus allowing them more time to compare financial aid packages.  At this point, we do not expect college application deadlines to change nor should you expect all colleges to make financial aid offers at the same time.  This is a new system and a new process, so most likely nothing will be uniform.

One of the major benefits of the earlier deadline is that families will be able to input their 2015-16 tax information rather than wait on their 2016-17 information.  That may not benefit everyone the same, but at least you will be able to use your completed tax info instead of speculating on what it might be.

For your information, I am attaching a fact sheet published by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), but we also hope you will join us for our Financial Aid Program on Monday, September 12 at 6:30.  Our speaker, Michael Morgan, Director of Financial Aid at Rhodes College, will go over the new FAFSA changes and answer your questions about the application process. We particularly hope that seniors and especially their parents will attend!

Stay tuned for more information regarding the FAFSA and other college application changes.

Summer Reading

These books may not be your typical beach read, but if you're looking for a few good educational books, I suggest you start with these three.

1.  Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni
2.  Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions Into Adulthood by Lisa Damour
3.  There Is Life After College by Jeffrey J. Selingo

Don't fly through them; rather, let the ideas sink in and take root.

College Interviews

Before she headed into summer, a junior stopped by the other day to ask me about an upcoming college interview.  I think I covered most of the typical questions, but this article from Fastweb Scholarships, (if you're not following them on Twitter @PayingForSchool, you might want to start), lists not only the questions but also the rationale for asking and a suggested approach to each one.

Obviously you don't want to come off as having canned responses, but preparing and practicing ahead of time is a great idea.  You will become more comfortable talking about yourself and your goals, but it will also give you time to actually think about the most meaningful and insightful things you want to say.

Even if you don't have an interview scheduled soon, thoughtfully considering how you would answer the questions can help you when you're completing your application, and of course, it might be helpful for summer job interviews.

The Class of 2016

One of the GPS traditions I love the most is the posting of the Where O' Where's, otherwise known as the list of colleges that our seniors will attend. For some reason, once that list goes up, it suddenly seems real to the girls and to us.  Next fall the Class of 2016 will head off to some familiar schools like Tennessee, Georgia, Rhodes, Sewanee and Georgia Tech, but some of them will continue their education farther away, places like Santa Clara, Tulsa, and Evergreen State.

I read once that something strange happens to a graduating class as they are pulled in many different directions: friends move on and memories fade. But I've never found that to be true for GPS girls. For most, the friendships they have formed here last them a lifetime.  Our girls keep up these long-distance relationships and long after they graduate and start the next chapter of their lives, they remember Mr. Wells' rant in senior English, the AP Euro exam question about Dutch shipping, or the time they played "kick the shoe," and their shoes got stuck on the scoreboard.

Truth be told, I'm a little envious.  The Class of 2016 has received an amazing education (I really do believe I would have been a good math student had I attended GPS), and they will forever be connected by the friendships and they have formed and the experiences they have had.

It's an impressive group, the Class of '16.  I cannot wait to see what happens next.

A Kinder, Gentler College Admissions Process

You may or may not have heard about "Turning the Tide," a report published by the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  Basically it says what we all know: the college admissions process has jumped the shark (my description, not theirs).  Some students are driving themselves to the brink with way too many AP classes and a list of activities that would put most of us in a hospital.  Enter "Turning the Tide." It recommends that students limit their APs and put more energy into meaningful contributions to others.  The report concludes that admissions offices should be encouraging young people "to become more generous and humane in ways that benefit not only society but students themselves."

On the surface it sounds wonderful!  But this opinion piece - The Myth of Kinder, Gentler College Admissions -  says it's just not going to happen.   I have to admit that I'm also skeptical.  I'd like to believe that AP courses won't be so important in the future, but I still have my doubts.  One thing is clear: the system needs to change.  It remains to be seen however, whether or not "Turning the Tide" will start a movement.