Monthly Notes, February 2020
College Admissions Updates for Parents & Students
In the Headlines

  • Grades better predictor of grad rates than test scores, study shows


  • Common App essay prompts to stay the same for 2020-2021 season.
What Colleges Look For in Students
Do grades or test scores matter more? How much weight will that impressive rec letter be given? Does it matter that you don't have a million activities? While every college evaluates students differently in terms of how much weight certain application pieces are given, some generalities govern the process. Every year, IECA (the leading professional organization for educational consultants) publishes the results of a survey detailing the most critical factors in a student's application. Once again, a rigorous course load and a high GPA are the first things admissions officers are looking for. You can view the rest of the  admissions criteria hit list  here.
Seniors--No Time to Slack!
Even if you already got into the college of your choice (congrats!), the spring of senior year is no time to quit all of your activities and start skipping class. Since colleges can (and will!) withdraw their admission offers for certain infractions, it's crucial to keep up your grades and stay out of trouble. To quote the Director of Admission from Tulane in a recent blog post on how to stay admitted, "don't let your grades take a huge hit, ask yourself if a bad decision you are about to make is worth it, and then... just be nice."

For a student who spent their high school career focused on getting into college, post-admit time can feel like the end of a road, making it hard to keep focus or engagement. Take time to reflect on how your high school experience has developed your interests as well as how college will help further your goals and foster your passions. Remember to view education as part of a lifelong journey instead of a series of items on a checklist. But speaking of lists, here are a few items seniors should attend to this semester:

  • Evaluate college offers and financial aid awards carefully
  • Complete any final rolling admissions applications, if needed
  • Revisit campuses--many schools will offer spring open houses just for admitted students
  • Write appeal letters, if appropriate
  • Respond to all colleges by the deadline (typically May 1)
  • Study for AP exams to eke out all the college credit you can

Most important of all, celebrate all you have accomplished and know that no matter where you go to college, your journey is just beginning. Congrats!
College Cost: Beyond Sticker Price
With private college tuition rates averaging more than $36,000 per year (not including room and board), the affordability factor can often trump fit when it comes to developing a college list. The sticker price listed, however, doesn't factor in variables such as financial aid, institutional aid, merit aid, and scholarships. To get a better idea of what any given school may actually cost you, visit a school's financial aid webpage and look for the Net Price Calculator. Recent tax returns and information about parental assets will be handy; some schools will also ask for information about student GPA or test scores. A few caveats: these net price calculators (while mandatory for schools to include on their websites) do not all follow the same formula to calculate results, and they do not factor potential aid for talent-specific awards. And while schools with standard GPA- or test score-based scholarships may include these awards, merit aid is frequently also generally not factored into a net price calculator result. (Tip: many schools use the College Board's net price calculator, so signing in with your College Board account can save you time if you want to compare results from multiple schools)

The FAFSA4caster is another tool that students and parents can use to see how much federal aid (loans, Pell grants, work-study, etc.) you may be eligible for--keep in mind that this form doesn't include any aid that a school will give you in the form of grants or scholarships. Another feature of this tool is that it provides the EFC, expected family contribution, at the very end of the report. This number (which is not official until you complete the real FAFSA in the fall of senior year) is the starting point colleges use to develop their award packages for students.

Yes, college is expensive, but a number of factors will influence the final cost of attendance, from parental assets and income to the strength of a student's application. Some research (and help from a professional!) can help you determine schools that are a better financial fit than you may have thought! 
Early Action and Early Decision, Explained
Once you have determined where you want to apply, you will need to consider when to apply to each school. Here are some admission options:

Early Decision: Early Decision is a binding choice, as this type of application requires you to commit to one school if you are accepted. Not only will you learn about your acceptance earlier (generally mid-December), but these applications are also due earlier--so be prepared to start the application process in the summer at the latest. You must withdraw all other applications upon acceptance, so you will not have the benefit of comparing financial aid offers or taking more time to determine which college might be best for you. The major upside for students who have a very clear first choice school (and the finances) is that acceptance rates for ED applicants are generally higher (sometimes much higher!) than the regular acceptance rates, particularly at elite schools. You can apply to one ED school only.

Early Action:  Early Action is another early application option that will let you hear back from colleges early (again, usually December) without being locked into any one school. You will still have until May to make a decision, giving you time to compare award offers and make additional campus visits before you commit. These applications are also due earlier than Regular Decision, so they are not ideal for students who may need to show another semester's worth of grades to colleges or sit for a late fall ACT/SAT.
Note: Some schools have "Preferred" or "Priority" early deadlines, which, while not official Early Action dates, may provide access to certain merit awards or honors programs. Keep an eye out for these!

Regular Decision:  The most popular admissions option, these deadlines tend to fall in early January but may extend until early February. They allow students to complete testing or another semester of grades to show improvement or growth.

Other types of applications include:
  • Early Action II: same as EA but with a later deadline
  • ED II: again, a second round of ED with later deadlines
  • Rolling Admission: every application is evaluated as it comes in; generally no deadline listed, but applications are only accepted until all spots are filled so applying early still better here!
  • Restrictive Early Action/Single Choice Early Action: a non-binding application where student agrees not to apply to any other colleges early (some exceptions made for public colleges)

Hiring professional help to determine a strategy for application timing--and for getting all those essays and applications done on time--can alleviate stress for everyone. I'm currently accepting juniors for the 2020-21 application season, so reach out if you want to discuss how I might be able to help your family!

Upcoming Test Dates

March 14, 2020 (Register by Feb 14)
May 2, 2020 (Register by April 3
June 6, 2020 (Register by May 8)


April 4, 2020 (Register by Feb 29)
June 13, 2020 (Register by May 8)
July 18, 2020 (Register by June 19)
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