Happy Thanksgiving!

We are very thankful for all our wonderful students and families!

Seniors, congratulations on submitting your first round of applications! We've put together some tips for what to do after you submit below.
And Juniors, please click here to schedule your College List PNA meeting, so we can begin working on your preliminary list of schools.

What Keeps Admissions Professionals Up at Night

NJACAC Fall Workshop 2023


Lisa attended the New Jersey Association of College Admissions Counselors (NJACAC) last month with admissions professionals from the University of Delaware, Princeton, Rutgers, Villanova, and TCNJ. They had a lively discussion about trends in college admissions including the impact of the SCOTUS affirmative action decision, Chat GPT, and the long-term impact of Covid on learning. Here are her key takeaways:

SCOTUS Impact on DEI


Rutgers worried somewhat that students won’t apply to the same schools but the general consensus is that the Supreme Court decision will not materially impact the way they admit students and form a class. Many institutions use Landscape, a tool offered by the College Board, that provides socio-economic data including, parental college attendance, crime, stability of a household, income, etc. Princeton confirmed that their commitment to diversity is the same.


Some schools, including VIllanava, changed their essay to capture a student’s lived experience and its impact. Princeton made a point of saying that they purposefully ask about lived experiences to make it inclusive of all applicants. 

Chat GPT and Essays


None of the colleges reported having detectors lined up for this admissions cycle. They warned against using it, not because they would catch you, but because it can produce a sameness to the essays and why give up your opportunity to share your unique voice. However, the University of Delaware did say they would ask students to rewrite their essay if they detected it was generated by Chat GPT.


They also said, “We have read everything! So don’t worry about being unique or writing what you think we want to hear. Just tell your story.”


They all agreed, however, that in the future AI can be beneficial to increase efficiency in recording the quantitative part of an application. 

Impact on Covid and Test Optional Admission on Loss of Learning


Overall the panelists concurred that the faculty was not seeing the same level of preparedness among students, particularly in math, even with higher grades. To combat this, Princeton introduced a pre-calculus class, which students still find hard, and the University of Delaware offered a summer math course.  


Rutgers said that since so many students apply test optional, they pay close attention to students’ grades in their math and English Classes. Villanova noted that the ACT scores are the lowest since 1991 with a record proportion of students not reaching academic milestones. The panel speculated two main reasons:


  • The difficulty of learning math online, which set students back
  • Not as many students are preparing for standardized tests, which in turn reduces the amount of time they review and relearn or learn math concepts.


Based on this anecdotal information, we encourage students to prepare for the SAT and ACT even if they end up applying test optional. 

And What Keeps Admissions Professionals up at Night?


The two main themes were the margin of error to hit the numbers and come in on budget, and the scrutiny of the work they do from the Trustees to the President to the outside world and campus community. 

What's on our Minds

THE SAT IS GOING DIGITAL: HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOU?

Rob Pollak from Pollak Tutors guides us through this change.

Click here to read the rest of this post and detailed changes.
Become an Application Stalker
A Tale of Two Interviews
Some colleges and universities require interviews during the application process. What are some tips you should know before you interview?

We Have an Official FAFSA release date! And Financial Aid for ED/EA Applicants

We finally have an official release date: December 31st, 2023!


We are also sharing this information below again this month as it is critically important to stay on top of deadlines! Requirements vary, so you must check and follow the policy set by each individual school. Some colleges require that you file the CSS PROFILE as early as the application deadline. BUT most schools have expressed they will be flexible and understanding about the FAFSA since it is not opening until the last day of the year.

 

If you cannot find the information on the school website (Admissions page, Tuition and Fees, or Financial Aid page), call the Financial Aid office directly.


And here is an incredible guide that our colleagues have provided:

Big J's Very Brief Guide to the FAFSA and CSS Profile (2024-2025)
Advantages and Tips for MBA Deferred Admission Programs
The traditional pathway to getting a Masters in Business Administration has changed over time and applying to top US MBA programs as a college student has become an increasingly popular option. Many schools offer a deferred or early admission program for talented college seniors--and it's not just an option for business majors: MBA programs want diverse classes in terms of academic focus and student demographics.

However, the competition for a top 10 MBA program is high, the essays can be quite demanding, and it's critical to avoid doing a rush job!

A Wonderful Resource: CollegeData
CollegeData is a helpful resource that provides information and statistics on admissions, financials, academics, campus life, and students for colleges of interest. It even shares what factors are important to the application process for specific schools such as demonstrated interest, interviews, etc.


What We're Reading

College Admissions- Middle 50%, Test Optional (… and Country Music?) by Rick Clark

The Final Frontier for Helicopter Parents by Juno DeMelo

College Visits!

Case Western Reserve University


Click below to hear about Stefanie's recent experience visiting Case Western.


Case Western Reserve University Visit

What's Happening Now
Seniors:  
You are doing a great job--keep up the momentum until all applications are submitted.
 
Juniors: 
Please schedule your "College List PNA," so we can begin working on your preliminary list of schools.  Click here to schedule a "College List PNA" under the "College" dropdown.

Sophomores and Freshmen:  
Keep up your grades and decide which activities you want to delve deeper into.


Follow the journeys of eleven students as they navigate the college application process and search for the right fit schools. Getting into their heads as they make decisions about which extracurricular activities to pursue, which schools to apply to, and which topics to choose for their essays will help you think about your own process in a more strategic way. Order Here.
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