Blog
Hope Springs Eternal
March is the time of peeks of spring and the month that colleges start to deliver their regular decisions. It always seems to both fly by and drag on in a way time only does when you are eagerly awaiting something. Hopefully, every student and family will have some good news coming in the next few weeks. I would imagine everyone will also have some heartbreak. If each student has a balanced list of colleges, they should expect to have a little of both emotions. This year has indeed been like no other at the highly selective colleges, and this state of limbo might drag on for many. Many students applied to more colleges than ever before. It was a combination of having more colleges be test optional for the first time this year and that most students did not get to see colleges because of the pandemic. This uncertainty is not just on the part of the students. Colleges are feeling it too and expect that they will be utilizing their waitlists like never before. They are as unsure of who wants them as you are. Rick Clarke, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia Tech, describes it best in his blog post Predicting Yield in 2021: Everyone Shorts It ( Yield is the percentage of students a college admits who enroll there.)
So a few things to keep in mind, First, if you know you are not going to attend a college you have been accepted to, let them know right away. That college might be someone else’s dream, and notifying them will allow them to offer admissions to someone else possibly. Next, most colleges will want you to inform them of your decision to attend by May 1st or May 3rd for the Ivies this year. You will also have to put down a deposit. Please give yourself at least a few days to do this to avoid any problems. This is critical; you can only deposit at one college. So how do you choose where to attend, especially this year when you might not even be able to leave home?
Go back to your priorities in what you want for a college. Make a list of which schools fulfill which preferences.
Compare Cost of Attendance. Be careful to note if any financial aid is offered for just year one or all four years. Also, ask each college how much they typically raise tuition by each year. If you are having trouble understanding your financial aid offer, ask lots of questions or reach out for help. This is VERY IMPORTANT.
Go back to visit each of your top choices either in person or virtually. Most colleges will have special programming for accepted students both in person and online. Check out College Scoops for planning or to see what it would be like if you actually visited in person.
Reach out to current students and recent alumni to ask them questions about the colleges. A good free resource for that is The College T.
Google what are students like at X University? Read what they have to say on Unigo, Niche, and Induck but remember always to take what one individual student says with a grain of salt.
Try and enjoy this process. It is very exciting to get to choose where you are going to college. Please be patient if you are waitlisted somewhere you really want to attend again. We expect waitlists will move A LOT this year. That said, get excited about where you are accepted and deposit to one of those choices. A Waitlist is only a maybe. If you are waitlisted, check out this good blog post from The Dunbar team on what to do.
Best of luck to all of this year’s seniors!
Interest in Highly Selective Colleges Higher than Ever While Other Colleges are Struggling
We like to follow data and these three articles explain a lot of what we have been seeing as far as this year's admissions trends. Please take a few minutes to look at them both, as there is a lot of information.
The highly selective colleges are booming while the rest are struggling. This is not just a story of privilege but of top academic students versus average students. It also shows how students have flocked more than ever before to those name-brand universities. A lack of college visits and test optional dynamics have magnified the already common phenomena.
The Common App reports: "The larger and more competitive colleges and universities are having a good year and getting many applications. But smaller and less competitive colleges are not. And first-generation students and those who lack the money to pay for an application are not applying at the same rates they used to."
Of worthy note is that colleges like Tufts report the most diverse applicant pool they have ever received with a record high number of 17% of first-generation students and "for the first time, students of color comprise a majority of U.S. applicants: 51 percent." Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated need, as do many highly selective universities, and many of them also offer no loans under a certain income level.
While the New York Times reports, “We saw the largest declines by far among students from low-income high schools, high-minority high schools, urban high schools, who ordinarily would have gone to community colleges this fall, and who just vanished, said Doug Shapiro, the vice president for research at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, which publishes educational reports.”
A better job has to be done to ensure our most vulnerable students make it to higher ed.
Many other interesting insights include those parts of the country are attracting more students and which international students are more or less interested in studying in the US.
Lastly, "'Students are hedging their bets by applying to more colleges due to COVID-induced uncertainties and the unknowns surrounding how and if test scores are being considered," he said. "Families are also increasingly concerned about costs and value, so applying to more colleges gives them potentially more choices or more chances of being admitted to an institution they can afford.'"
What classes should I sign up for next year?
Now is the time of year many high school students are deciding which classes to take next year. What classes a student takes is often a significant factor in college admissions decisions.
1. All students should take a challenging course load. This is especially important to do in subjects you are considering pursuing in college. While colleges like students to take rigorous courses, they also want you to show maturity and not take on more than you can handle. In general, challenge but do not overwhelm yourself. Take classes where you can get a B or higher.
2. Colleges like you to continue to take classes in all five core subjects all four years. English, Math, Science, History, and Foreign Language.
3. Take classes in subjects that interest you. Colleges like to see you dive deep into areas of interest, especially if you are considering them as a course of study in college. Also, you will always have better results in classes you want to take.
4. This is a general guide, and you should adapt this as it is right for you.
So what does this really all mean:
Most colleges would prefer to see a B in an AP or Honors class versus an A in an easier class.
The more selective the college, the more rigorous your course load should be when applying. For example, highly selective colleges like to see students with at least AP Calculus AB and Physics, even those students not planning on studying STEM fields. Business Schools want students to have taken Calculus and Statistics.
Foreign language is better if it is the same language all four years.
Sciences with a lab component are more rigorous than Sciences without.
If you really hate language and are terrible at it, most colleges only require 2 or 3 years of a language.
The last thing to remember is that what classes you decide to take earlier in high school often determines what courses you will take as you progress through your years. It is hard to jump from all regular classes to someone who will take all AP courses their last year. Try and think of your long-term goals at the beginning of high school and plan accordingly.
Please reach out with any questions.
We are very proud of our students!
While our students are still waiting on a few early decisions and regular decisions, we are thrilled with their acceptances so far.
FAFSA VS CSS PROFILE
Federal Methodology, as expressed in the form “FAFSA,” is used for awarding federal student aid. Any student who wants to be considered for federal aid must complete a FAFSA form. Applying to FAFSA is free. The FAFSA looks at students’ and parents’ (if a student is a dependent) financial information to determine what they can afford to pay, the EFC (Expected Family Contribution). They consider income, taxable and non-taxable, and assets for both students and parents and use that information to award federal and sometimes state grants and loans. This form is directed at students even when parents also fill it out. They provide some allowances for parents and students based on things like federal and state taxes paid and how many children are currently in college. There are some adjustments, but things are not dollar for dollar. FAFSA excludes many significant assets from their calculations, including but not limited to retirement accounts, equity in a primary home, and equity in a business that has less than 100 employees. FAFSA is for US citizens or eligible non-citizens.
Institutional Methodology is calculated using the CSS Profile. About 150 institutions require the CSS Profile. The list of institutions is here, but it is always best to verify with the institution: profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/. It costs $25 for the first school it is used for and $16 for each additional school unless a student qualifies for a fee waiver. It is directed at parents. It was created and is processed by the College Board. CSS Profile is used to determine what families can afford to contribute to their child’s college costs, EFC. This will not be the same EFC number arrived at by FAFSA as the two methodologies have some very different ways of calculating results. It will also consider income taxable and non-taxable assets for both students and parents and use that information to award institutional aid. It is how income and assets are considered where these two methodologies come up with different results. The CSS Profile, first of all, expects students to contribute to their education. Not only do students lose the $6,840 income allowance that FAFSA provides them, CSS Profile expects them to contribute $2,000 a year to their education. CSS Profile also gets much more into the parent’s finances. They consider equity in their primary home, annuities, and equity in a business with less than 100 employees to be assets that are important in calculating EFC. CSS also considers the financial information of both parents and potentially four parents in cases where a child’s parents are divorced and remarried. FAFSA only considers financial information from a student’s primary parent. Generally, the CSS Profile wants more information than FAFSA on your family’s financial considerations. This can both work for and against you in seeking financial aid. It can work for you in cases where the CSS profile will also consider if your family has had extenuating financial expenses. For example, loss of employment and extensive medical or dental expenses, or some schools will also consider if a family has a younger child in private school. Both CSS and FAFSA consider if a family has other children in college. CSS Profile can get filed by anyone looking to become a student at a school that uses it, including international students at most schools. CSS Profile often looks at a family’s savings and equity in their home and expects them to contribute a huge amount to their children’s education. It makes private college unaffordable for many families unless their student also receives some merit aid.
Lastly, both FAFSA and CSS Profile are open for filing as early as October 1st, but they have different deadlines that they must be filed by. FASFA must be filed by June 30 (although to be considered for anything more than loans, it must be filed with your applications), and CSS Profile has different deadlines in line with each school.
Show me the Money!
It is almost October 1st which in college admissions means it is nearly time to start filling out any financial aid forms you need. For those less familiar with the financial aid process, October 1 is the first day families can access, complete, and submit the 2021-2022 FAFSA (The Federal Application for Free Student Aid) and CSS Profile. Anyone logging in sooner will be completing forms for the wrong school year.
If you are applying for need-based financial aid, you will need to fill out a FAFSA and possibly a CSS Profile for all schools where your child is applying. Please complete the FAFSA as close to that time as possible. From the official blog of Ed.gov:
If you want to get the most financial aid possible, fill out the FAFSA form ASAP. Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and some states and colleges run out of money early. Even if it seems like your school’s deadline is far off in the future, get your FAFSA form done ASAP. The 2021–22 FAFSA form requires 2019 tax information, which you should already have—so there’s no excuse to wait!
Let’s start with what you will need for FAFSA. In most families that we deal with, children are dependents of their parents. We will assume you are too and if you are not, reach out. We can discuss how the process will change for you.
Let’s gather what we need. You and your parents will need your SSN, your Driver’s License, and your current list of schools that you are applying to. Put every school that you think you are applying to at this point. If you do not end up applying to a school on the list, it is not a problem. It is also possible to add a school later, but it is easier to put all of them now rather than add. Colleges do not see any other schools you put on the list.
Parents and Students, please sit together to fill out the FAFSA, and please set aside about an hour. In cases of separation, divorce, and non-traditional families, it may be unclear who should be listed as the parent on the FAFSA. Here are the rules: studentaid.gov/resources/fafsa-parent-text
Go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/account-info. To log in, student and parent must each create their FAFSA IDs. Students must create their accounts first. These IDs will consist of usernames and passwords that you use to log onto all Federal Student Aid websites like FAFSA or StudentLoans.gov. They will also serve as your legal electronic signature. They also allow you to save the FAFSA and log in and out as many times as you want. Please keep your FAFSA IDs safe, private, and accessible.
Once you have a Parent FAFSA ID and a Student FAFSA ID you can go to the FAFSA website (https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa) and click Start Here.
At this point, BOTH parents and students need to fill out the FAFSA.
The forms are similar and will consist of these parts: Student Demographics, School Selection; Dependency Status; Parent Demographics, and Financial Information. For Financial Information, it is easiest and fastest to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This will automatically populate many of the FAFSA's questions directly from the federal tax returns, making completion more straightforward. Under recent Department of Education guidelines, these populated fields are shielded from the filer, though the financial aid offices will be able to view the numbers. If the DRT is not selected, financial aid offices will most likely request further verification from the filer that the numbers they have entered agree with their tax returns. In certain circumstances, a filer will be ineligible to select the DRT. Here are the rules: studentaid.gov/help/irs-drt-eligibility
Next, you must sign the forms and submit them. Remember your FAFSA ID serves are your legal electronic signature. You will receive an electronic confirmation.
Usually, within a few hours of submitting the FAFSA, the student will receive an email that it has been successfully processed. Within a few days after that, they will receive another email containing instructions on accessing their Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR has a crucially essential number-the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Parents overseeing the process should tell their children to forward all Department of Education emails to them, which may also include requests for further verification and documentation.
We have included links to blog entries on filling out the FAFSA from the edu.gov website for any more detailed questions.
For Students: https://blog.ed.gov/2017/09/8-steps-to-filling-out-the-fafsa-form/
For Parents: https://blog.ed.gov/2017/09/the-parents-guide-to-filling-out-the-fafsa-form/
Common Mistakes to Avoid: https://blog.ed.gov/2019/10/11-fafsa-mistakes/
Here are a couple of other things to know.
For families who do not want to apply for need-based aid but do want to make use of the federal student loan program, the FAFSA will need to be submitted. My recommendation for these families is to check "no" on the college application, asking if the student expects to apply for need-based aid, to deposit at the school of their choice by May 1, and then submit the FAFSA letting the financial aid office know that it was submitted for federal student loans only. This way, there is no confusion over whether the student is or is not applying for need-based aid.
For families applying for need-based financial aid, the annual limit of federal student loans is usually included in the financial aid award. However, a few schools have replaced these with additional institutional grants. For dependent undergraduate students, these limits are $5,500 for first-year students, $6,500 for sophomores, $7,500 for juniors, and $7,500 for seniors. For those taking longer than four years, this $27,000 4-year total undergraduate loan limit increases to $31,000. For those borrowing for the current school year, the interest rate is 2.75%, and the fee is about 1%, making this the best loan program for those who want to borrow.
If you are interested in merit aid, a few institutions require the FAFSA and possibly the CSS Profile to be considered. There is no reliable list of these schools. It is the student's responsibility to learn from the school's website or directly from the admission office if they require any additional forms for merit aid consideration.
Lastly and very important. Students must check financial aid deadlines at all the colleges where they are applying. It is crucial that they are submitted before the earliest financial aid deadline. If a student is applying in the early decision or early action round, that could be as soon as October 15th. Missing a financial aid deadline can seriously jeopardize a student's eligibility for aid.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this Financial Aid blog on the differences between FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The Activities Section of the Common App
What is the Activities section of the Common App?
The Activities section of the Common Application (CA) is one of the places where you get to share more of yourself than just your GPA and test scores. If the CA essay shows colleges who you are, the Activities section is where you tell them how you spend your time. Both sections are critical to give an admissions committee a well-rounded picture of what you have done in high school and how you would add to their student populations in college.
When should you complete the Activities section?
I like for my students to complete this first on the CA. I do this because once you have all your activities organized, I think it becomes easier to decide which activity/interest you want an admissions committee to know more about. Then it becomes easier to think about what else you want to talk about in the other parts of your application.
What counts as an activity?
An activity is something a student spends time doing other than their school work. It should show a particular interest or passion or be something that adds value in their life and/or others’ lives. It does not have to be something that a student does at school. The CA says examples of activities might include:
Arts or music
Clubs
Community engagement
Family responsibilities (learn more)
Hobbies
Sports
Work or volunteering
Other experiences that have been meaningful to you
So that still makes it hard to decide if something is an activity or not. Let’s try some examples.
A student loves baking. She bakes brownies every week for her family. Not an activity. She follows baking blogs like Buzz Tasty, actively experiments with and tweaks new recipes, and creates divine delicacies each week. That is an activity.
A student has two dogs. Not an activity. She hikes her dogs daily, grooms them daily, buys and stocks all their food and treats, and feeds them every morning. That is an activity.
An activity is not an academic award or honor. There is a separate section for that.
How many activities should I write about?
The CA gives you space to write about ten activities. Not every student has ten activities to write about, which is okay. An admissions committee is looking for significant activities for you. They want to learn about what you do. For some students, that will be spending a huge amount of time on only one or two things, and for others, that will be spending less time on a more significant number of activities. There is no magic number of activities to write about. The thing to remember here is to write about what is important to you and important for an admissions committee to know about you and your interests.
Playing basketball (BB) for one semester freshman year may not be important to you and not an activity. Playing BB for one semester freshman year might make your list because you love BB and are a diehard fan. You have researched and memorized every BB statistic, have an extensive BB jersey collection, and are considering majoring in Sports management. This is an activity.
Example: I handed out fliers at the senior center one afternoon last summer. Nice, but maybe not significant. This is not important to you, not an activity. Every Wednesday in the summer, I hand out fliers at the senior center, and I play cards and talk with my 85-year-old friend Kay. Kay is an important friend. This is an activity.
What should I do if I have too many activities that I think are important?
This never seems to amaze me, but young people today are seriously busy and accomplished. I often find students have too many activities. The first thing to do is see if you can combine any of your activities. For example, I have a student who was very involved in Theater and Musical Theater. He acted but also stage managed and Managed Tech Crew for different shows. He also had many other activities, so he wrote one activity as Theater/Drama. Then he put “Actor, Stage Manager, Tech Director” as his Positions. Then used organization to list the different theater groups he was a part of. Then he listed various highlight shows in the please describe section. He did not get in everything, but he got in enough. If you combine activities and still can not fit all of your significant activities into 10, you may consider using the Additional Information section. This should only be used for substantial additional activities. For example, I have a student who just completed the Tufts Mini Med Program. Her final project was picked 2nd best out of 59th and is being featured on The Tufts Center for Science Education website.
How much space do I have to write about each activity?
Position/Leadership description — 50 characters
Organization Name — 100 characters
Activity description/accomplishments/recognition — 150 characters
What else does the CA want to know about each activity?
What grades were you in when you did the activity?
If you participated in the activity during the school year or on school breaks?
How many hours a week do you spend on the activity?
How many weeks a year do you spend on the activity?
If you plan on participating in the activity in college?
Please be thoughtful about if you want to do this activity in college. Remember, colleges are looking at not just who you are but how you will add to their student population. It is okay to say you do not want to continue something in college.
How do I write good activities with so little space?
You use your space very wisely and do not repeat any words across the position/leadership, organization name, or activity descriptions. For example, if you are the Editor of the school paper, do not say you edit the paper. Instead, say, “Manage staff of 20, write articles and copy, create layout each week for 20-page product.”
Do not write complete sentences; instead, list things.
Use strong, positive action words and fewer adjectives and adverbs
Be specific.
Quantify your involvement, use numbers, and do not spell out the word. For example, 1st out of 66 state championships.
Emphasize leadership skills.
Describe current activities in the present tense.
What is the correct order to put my activities in?
Your activities should be listed according to how important you think they are for an admissions committee to know about you. An admissions person will pay more attention to your first activity than your 10th.
What do I do this year about all my activities that have been canceled because of COVID?
It is best to write what you did in your activities section, not what you did not do. For example, if you rehearsed for the lead Maria in Guys and Dolls but did not get to perform it because of COVID, I might add, “lead Maria Guys and Dolls 20 hours rehearsals.” Or if you were supposed to be the Captain of the baseball team but had no season, I might write, “Captain Elect baseball team, spring training. “
Suppose you feel that something very significant to you did not happen because of COVID, and you were able to create something positive from that experience. In that case, you might write about that in response to the new 250 COVID word question of how COVID affected you or in the additional information section.
Who can help me brainstorm my activities or check my work?
Your parents/family are usually the perfect people to help with the activities section. They can not write anything for you but are a great help with making sure you do not forget any activities. After all, your mom and dad remember every detail of what you have ever done!
Researching Colleges and Building a College List
Get excited; this is the fun part. You are in the driver’s seat; only you get to decide where you apply. This is a great time for rising juniors to start thinking about college. For rising seniors, this is a very important time to be finalizing the list of colleges you want to attend.
Before researching specific schools for you, think about what you might like in a college.
Do you want to be close or far away from home?
Do you want to go home to visit a lot or rarely?
Do you want a big, small, or medium size school?
Do you want a specific type of weather or area of the country?
Do you want a particular major or area of study?
Do you want an urban, suburban, or rural campus?
Do you want a school with big games and lots of school spirit?
Do you want Greek life or lots of cultural events?
What activities do you want to partake in at school?
Do you want to be near off-campus stores or restaurants?
Do you want students that are competitive or collaborative?
Do you want an intense environment or a more relaxed one?
How do you feel about a core curriculum or distribution requirements?
Do you want a lot of diversity racially or socioeconomically?
Are opportunities for job experience/internships significant?
What about study abroad options?
Do you want a school with a great sense of community?
Do you want relationships with your professors? Small or big classes?
Do you need/want a school that provides extra academic support?
Do you want a politically involved student body? Liberal or conservative?
There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in this country alone. There are so many questions to consider. It is essential to keep an open mind as there are so many wonderful schools you might never have heard mentioned. I like to tell students to visit an example of different types of schools.
A really large public university
A smaller private college
A mid-size university
For this first exercise, I do not want anyone to spend money but just visit what is close to where they live. This year with COVID, of course, everything is difficult, so you can start by researching different schools online. For example, if you are a Connecticut resident, I might start by doing an online tour and information session at UConn, Connecticut College, and Northeastern. These three very different schools will give you a feeling right away of what you might or might not want in your college or university.
Now that you have some idea of what you might want for yourself, it is time to talk about your college tuition budget as a family. The best way to do this is to figure out what your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) would be according to Federal Methodology (FM), the FASFA, and Institutional Methodology (IM), the CSS Profile. More on this for another time as it is quite complicated, but families should use the EFC calculator on the College Board site as a start.
A great place to start your college search is College Navigator. Use the “more search” options button to create even more parameters for searching schools. There are many different ways to search, so you need to play around with this site. You can search by Geography, Major, Type of degree and Institution, Undergraduate Student Enrollment, Tuition, Campus setting, % of applicants admitted, Test Scores, Varsity Athletic teams, Religious Affiliation, and more. Once you have a basic list, I will send you to do more research from here. One place I like is The Fiske Guide to Colleges. You can get the new 2021 version from Amazon, or if you prefer, you can get an online version, which I like because it has pictures, here. While you are there, check out the College Countdown site for more great information on building a college list.
Next, I would suggest going to sites like Induck. Induck is a student-focused college guide providing a "detailed rendition of what happens socially, how different types of students navigate the social scene, and how they feel about it."
I also really like Campusreel, which is free to join. Check out 15,000 real videos, tours, and experiences from 300+ college campuses. Use them for further research on any school that excites you.
After these three places, you should have narrowed down your college list to 25 colleges or less; I would recommend going onto each school's website and booking a virtual official tour and information session. This is the MOST IMPORTANT way to learn about a school. If you have any questions, reach out to your regional admissions representative. Each school assigns an admissions representative to your area of the country or specifically to your high school. You should be able to find this on a school’s website. Obviously, you do not want to be annoying and contact your representative a lot, but asking a couple of thoughtful questions about a school is an excellent way to gain better insight and show a school good demonstrated interest.
With COVID restrictions and social distancing, many schools are not doing any in-person tours or information sessions this year. Some are significantly smaller schools in low-risk locations that can offer personal, safe one-on-one tours with masks. Look at each school’s website for guidance in this area. As another resource, I have created a list of almost 500 college students at over 200 colleges and universities who are happy to discuss their experiences with prospective high school students. We are working on getting this online to help even more people but for now, just email us to be connected.
In the end, you will want to create a list on average of between 10-14 schools that you will have a mix of chances of getting admitted. This is not about finding the hardest school to get into or the most prestigious schools. It is about finding the best “fit” list for you. Schools that you will be proud to attend, that your family will be happy to invest in, and moreover, one where you will be successful. List building is part art and part science. There is no way to generalize it for all, but there is one vital thing to remember, ENJOY this. It should be fun to think about where you might want to go to college.
Summer Timeline Part 1: Ask for Recommendations
It’s Summer—time to relax, soak up the sun, and play. Yes, to all of that, but if you are a high school senior, it is also time to get valuable work completed for your college admissions journey. This blog post is the first in a series on what you should be doing this summer for college admissions.
“Senior fall” is always a very busy time for students, but this year with COVID 19, it will be busier than it has ever been. Why:
- Many students have not been able to take the SATs or ACTs yet, and those students will be still trying to test this fall. Some will try and take multiple test dates this fall.
- Many students have not toured any colleges or universities in person, and it has yet to be determined if they will have an opportunity this fall.
- Fall grades will take on even more importance than ever before. This is for all students because last spring’s semester was so disrupted by the forced switch to online schooling with COVID 19. This is especially important for those students whose grades were pass/fail in the spring and/or those who will not be submitting test scores.
So here is the first thing on your admissions journey summer timeline:
Before schools completely shut down for the summer, all students should first make sure they have asked two teachers to write them college recommendations. Recommendation letters are always critical, but this year, with spring grades interrupted and many schools going test optional, they will take on even greater importance than ever. You should ask two teachers to write you recommendations, and generally, it is best to have one teacher be a Math or Science teacher and one be an English or History teacher. You should pick teachers whose class you did well in, who like you and know you well. Ideally, they are your junior year teachers. Reach out to ask questions if you are unsure who to pick. I usually like students to ask their teachers in person to write them recommendation letters. Since students can not do that right now, I would encourage you to ask on phone or zoom, and you should send an email like this one first...
Dear Great Teacher,
I hope you and your family are healthy and staying safe at this time. I really miss school and seeing everyone, including you. I want to ask you something. I realize you are busy, and since I can not do it in person, I was hoping to speak to you for just a quick few minutes by phone or Zoom. Please let me know if that would be possible sometime in the next couple of weeks? I really appreciate any time you could give me. Thank you so much.
Your Super Star Student
Some things to keep in mind… You need to be hugely appreciative and respectful of the fact that teachers write your recommendations outside of their normal working hours, so; they do not get paid to do this. Once your teacher has agreed to write you a recommendation, you should draft a follow-up email to them. You should include a note thanking them, and depending on how well they know you; you should offer to include some extra information about yourself that could help them with their recommendation. Some things to provide your teacher:
Your full name:
What name do you go by:
Your grade:
Your preferred email:
Your transcript, if you have it (unofficial is acceptable)
Weighted GPA:
Unweighted GPA:
Classes you plan to take for Senior Year:
Any test scores if you have them:
If you think your academic record does not provide your teacher or a college with an accurate representation of who you are, here is the place to tell your teacher anything that you think might have had a significant influence, positive or negative, on your academics.
Most importantly, please share details of your performance in that specific teacher’s class. Any stories or particular assignments you can reference that would remind your teacher of your class performance or relationship are good to add. Everyone forgets things and could use a well-placed reminder.
Some Personal Information:
1. What are 5 words or phrases you would use to describe yourself? (Choose words with connotations (compassionate, intense, whimsical) rather than words that would describe most people you know (like honest, pleasant, interesting.)
2. Think of a story you can share with your teacher that might show your motivation, independence, originality, initiative, special talents.
3. Tell your teacher about your favorite extracurricular activities. Why is it your favorite? Provide them with a copy of your resume if you have one.
Future Plans:
Do you know what you want to study in college? If so please tell your teacher what and why?
Do you have a dream job post college or dream place to live? This is easy for those students who already know what they want, like a premed or musical theater student. If you have a job you have always been interested in so somewhere you would love to live please share it with your teacher here.
If you know what colleges you are applying to already please share. If not maybe share the types of colleges you are interested in with some you already know.
If you know the application deadline of your first application due please let your teachers know. This is of particular importance if you plan to apply early anywhere.
Lastly anything else you can think of that might help your teacher write you a GREAT recommendation.
Next to do this summer Build Your College List: research schools; online school visits and information sessions; figure out who your admissions reps are and how to reach out to them. Look for this in part two of this summer timeline blog.
The Differences Between UCAS and The Common APP and the Guidelines for Writing a Great Personal Statement for UCAS in the UK
In order to write a great UCAS personal statement one has to understand a little about UK college admissions and what UCAS is. US and UK universities evaluate applicants quite differently. In the USA we practice holistic admissions which means while colleges look primarily at your grades and test scores they are also concerned with the whole student and consider your extracurriculars and accomplishments as well. The Common App reflects that interest in holistic admissions by including an extensive activities section and by phrasing their essay prompts to get students to show something of themselves that goes beyond academics. In the UK, admissions are for the most part program based. So what is UCAS? UCAS stands for the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. It is the UK organization that’s main job is to run the application process for undergraduate UK universities. In that respect it is similar to the Common App and its function in the US. There are lots of differences between the two as well.
As a side note you can use the Common App to apply to over 20 UK schools. If you do, your application is tailored to that school to include what course you are applying to and your limit of how many UK schools you can apply to is still 5. Both the Common App and UCAS ask you to write an essay as part of your application. More differences:
Reveal and tell are the operative words here. Revealing requires creativity more like writing a good story. Telling requires facts, more like writing a good CV and cover letter. Both are trying to convince a university to admit you but if you want to think of it in a fun way, the Common App essay is more like trying to get someone to go on a date with you and UCAS is more like trying to get hired for a job. Common App essay is an admit me because of the person I am. UCAS personal statement is admit me because my experience, skill set, accomplishments and goals make me worthy. So what makes a great UCAS personal statement? First you need to research your course selection and really know and understand what you are applying for at each College/University. The same subject can vary greatly from College to College and you need to write a personal statement that will cover those similarities and differences and show that you fully understand what you will be studying. Next let’s cover the requirements. I think the best personal statements are usually 3 parts where the middle is the most important and twice as long as the other parts.
The first part:
- should show you understand the course you are applying to study
- should show your suitability, enthusiasm and passion for the subject or in other words why the subject is important to you
- should show why you want to study that particular course
- Should tell them about your goals/ambitions as they pertain to the course
If you are International: You should include here why you want to study in the UK and if you can why that course in the UK. You can tell them what about being an International student appeals to you. Also if you are from a non-English speaking country this first part is the place to tell them your qualifications for studying in English.
The second part: Academics
- should tell them why you are a good candidate for studying that course/subject
- you should provide evidence of your skills, experience, passion for that subject and/or any extra knowledge you have in that subject
Information to include here:
-any pertinent to the course significant studying you have done inside or outside of school
- any extra reading you have done outside of class-be specific and use names
- any work experience volunteer or otherwise , or job shadowing that is pertinent to your course subject
- any club, sports team, interest, or extracurricular activity that is pertinent to your course subject
- any trip, lecture, or exhibition that you experienced that is pertinent to your course subject
- should tell them what you and your experiences will add to the classroom discussions on your subject
The third part:
- should tell them what you will add to their universities as a whole- you should share appealing personal information about yourself
- discuss extracurriculars that might be outside of your course subject that will also show transferrable skills and state how those skills will relate back to your subject. Also discuss how those extracurriculars will add to the university as a whole, like playing on a sports team
Things to keep in mind:
- Avoid clichés
- You should start and finish with strong sentences- Be specific but be concise. You only have 4,000 Characters
- Remember that this is the same statement for every College/University you apply to so do not mention a particular university
- Never lie or copy someone else’s work- Constantly be linking every point back to why you want to study that course or why you want to study in the UK
- Writing a great personal statement takes time. Expect to write several drafts before you are done. So write this first on your computer and then copy and paste it into UCAS
Here are a couple of links of sites you might find helpful:
How to write a great personal statement from the University of Birmingham
Thinking about a GAP year
Here is an excellent article from Inside Higher Ed on the complexities of thinking about a GAP year because of COVID 19 and a worry that colleges will be online in the fall.
Things to consider:
- You must be approved to take a GAP year.
- What will students be approved to do for their GAP year if COVID 19 prevents lots of things from happening?
- Online internships or isolated domestic experiences might be your best GAP options this year.
- Students at more selective institutions might have an easier time getting approved for a GAP year and extended time to make a decision.
- Most colleges will not allow you to take many courses, if any, elsewhere during a GAP year.
- Students less concerned about "getting in" to their school again might be more inclined to not commit to any school and just decide on a community college closer to home for a year and then transfer.
- Currently, the US is not processing any visas for International Students, and it could possibly be until September before they do.
- Many colleges can not afford to let many students take a GAP year, and they might limit the number of students they give permission to.
Summer thoughts for our students
I truly feel for our college students in the times of COVID 19. Most of them went from living on their own with their best friends to living at home again with their families. That is one thing but then put on top of it not leaving their homes, practically ever, taking online classes, with for many minimal directions, and then the colossal worry that is a global pandemic. It is hard enough for us parents to understand, and we have had many more years of experience in learning to cope with life’s challenges. Everyone is worried about how our young people are coping and also concerned about getting them active and thinking about the future. I keep hearing from friends how their children have turned into vampires, only awake at night. It’s funny, but it is not.
What happens once classes are over in the spring? Most of our children’s summer plans have been canceled. What are these young people going to do? What happened to high school summer programs and college internships? Now is when we have to get creative. It does not matter if your child is in high school or college; people will want to know what they did during this time. Colleges will look at high school students and say is this someone I want on our campus? Did your child sit home watching Netflix all summer eating Ben and Jerry’s, or did they do something creative and productive? Future employers are going to ask the same question of your college students. Some of you will ask why can’t we just let them be? You can, but I genuinely feel if your child spends some of their time doing something helpful, they will serve their future better and feel better in the present. This is a very hard time, and what each of us does determines how hard it will be. So what are some things they can do?
I am working with one student who is a beautiful singer. She and others have been singing outside of nursing homes. I am sure it does as much for their psyche as it does for the seniors who gather at their windows to see and hear those beautiful, healthy young people. I heard another story of a California friend’s high school student whose robotics club used their 3D printers to create shields as PPE for their local health care workers. That is true genius and an amazing use of time. Parents, please help your child think of their skill set and what they can do to be both productive and valuable right now. I guarantee it will not only help others but also make them and you feel a lot better.
SUMMER PROGRAM/INTERNSHIP INFO FOR COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
7 Tips to Transform a Cancelled Summer Internship due to Coronavirus into a Career-Building Opportunity Article in Thrive Global By Meghan Pasricha, Co-Founder & CEO at Global Youth H.E.L.P. Inc.
What to Do Now That Your Summer Internship is Cancelled: Article from Forbes listing online summer options for students to think about.
Opportunities for Volunteerism from Home: List of virtual volunteer opportunities for students to consider.
iXperience: Innovative summer programs that teach in-demand skills blended with internship experience, online or abroad.
Internship Status for 2020: Crowd-sourced list of the hiring/internship status for hundreds of national and global companies.
Unemployment Fears: A COVID-19 Job Search Webinar for 20-Somethings: April 28th webinar providing tangible job-search strategies for young adults furloughed/recently notified of a job loss brought about by COVID 19.
Coronavirus is upending summer internships — how to make your mark if your internship is now virtual Article from Marketwatch on what to do when your summer internship is canceled. It will come down to creativity
50 Awesome Extracurricular Activities You Can Do At Home A blog post from College Vine for high school students.
Also, please check out our new website page of higher education resources during COVID 19.
What Colleges are thinking about opening up in the fall.
Interesting OP ED in the NY Times today about the need for students to return to college and un,iversities this fall. I do not know what others are hearing, but I have heard everything from schools shutting down until January, to classes online, to both classes online and in person, to schools being open but not allowing any of their students to study abroad, to most schools still in a holding pattern.
Here is a great thread from Twitter that complies statements from different colleges on what they are thinking for the fall.
It is a crazy world right now. What do you want your college to do in the fall?