MATCHPOINT
COLLEGE NEWS
A newsletter to keep you informed on college admissions.
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Greetings!
The weather forecast may say otherwise, but it's certainly feeling like fall at our offices--they are buzzing with students working diligently on submitting applications, and it's not even October! We are thrilled with how many students have finished all their college application work and have already begun to enjoy their senior year.
If your senior hasn't yet finished, keep your eye on those deadlines: October 15th and November 1st are important for many of our students, so seniors should take the next few weeks to polish their essays and finalize their applications. Then they (and you!) can relax again, having seen the fruits of their early planning and summer labors pay off.
In addition to the looming deadlines for our 2019 students, , we're enjoying getting to know our clients from the classes of 2020 and 2021 as they begin this exciting journey. Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint-and the earlier you start, the truer that is. The focus for juniors right now should be on maintaining those grades and prepping for the SAT or ACT; on the horizon is exploring your major and and defining your draft college list.
On a practical note, 2020 will be our largest class to date. If you have a student that is hoping to work with us, please touch base with us in the next few weeks as our caseload is filling very quickly.
As always, we're here to support you and your student through every step of the journey, so please let us know how we can help.
Lisa Bain Carlton, Bob Carlton & the College MatchPoint team
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Insider Tips On UT Austin Admissions
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You can read every page of a college's website, but you won't find anything nearly as valuable as the information you get from a conversation with an admissions officer. These 8 Insider Tips for Admissions at University of Texas Austin include information on everything from second-choice majors to how many test scores to submit. It's a must read for anyone applying to UT.
 Speaking of applying to UT, we're thrilled to announce our College MatchPoint Guide to Applying To the University of Texas at Austin. In it, we walk you and your student through the process of applying to UT, from picking a first-choice major to tackling each individual section of the application. The holistic review at UT Austin is a unique process, so be sure you have a handle on how it works. |
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What To Consider When Choosing A College Major
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Choosing a college major is a scary prospect: it affects so much of the student's life after they make the selection. We're here to support your student through the process, so we've compiled a list of
"5 Things To Consider When Choosing A College Major"
, which includes everything from passion to coursework to money-and beyond.
But we encourage our students to get advice from other sources too. A new
report
shows that 84% of students are getting valued advice about college majors from people with experience in the field.
While money is important, students should be careful about overvaluing data on salaries. For example, a
new study from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
emphasizes that humanities majors tend to be as satisfied with their jobs after graduation as STEM majors are.
If your student is in the process of selecting a major, we encourage them to attend our November 4 workshop,
Planning for Your College Major
. Especially for students considering UT Austin, the first-choice major is crucial. It becomes the lens through which  a reviewer evaluates each item in an application: transcript, test scores, essays, resume, and letters of recommendation. This workshop-for both students and parents-will help you home in on the right college major and strategize for gaining acceptance to that major.
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For 9th And 10th Graders: Designing Your Year
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We're thrilled to offer a new workshop for students in the 9th and 10th grades: Designing Your Year. This workshop is perfect for students who need help developing an activity plan or for those who want to expand their activity plan to match up with a potential college major. In addition to the student workshop, we will also offer a parent workshop at the same time. Spots are limited for this Sept. 22 workshop, so register today.
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How To Create A College List That's Right For You
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A college list is simple: just the names of all the schools your student is going to apply to. But getting that list finalized can be a struggle. Luckily, there's lots of information out there about how to narrow down your list. This article, from the Georgia Tech Admission Blog, reminds students to
"Ask the Same Questions, Again and Again."
Every time you ask a question, like "What's the most exciting thing happening on campus ?",you'll get a different answer. It's valuable to ask these questions from a variety of people: students, professors, alumni, admissions officers, and more.
Sean Ashburn, an admissions officer at Tufts, offers more guidance for narrowing down your list in his post
"Shaping Your College List."
He reminds students to go beyond the traditional guidebooks and try to get a more authentic understanding of what a school is really like. And while it's important for a student to consider their chances of being accepted to the schools on their list-and their ability to afford them-Ashburn reminds students to also reflect on what's worked for them in the past. Looking back on where a student has thrived, personally and academically, can help them determine the types of schools that might be the best fit for them.
This article from
Forbes
discusses how to
"'Curate Your College List For Best Results"
, borrowing the word usually reserved for museum exhibits in order to emphasize the art behind creating the college list. In his article, Willard Dix cites the qualities that each student should have in order to thoughtfully put together that college list, including everything from consistency to flexibility.
It's valuable to ask these questions from a variety of people: students, professors, alumni, admissions officers, and more.
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Understanding The Complex Beast That Is Financial Aid
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For parents of seniors, October 1 is a big day: that's when the Free Application for Federal Student Aid-better known as FAFSA-for the upcoming school year becomes available. Our article "6 Financial Aid Terms Every Parent Should Understand" will point you in the right direction, explaining everything from "expected family contribution" to "Direct PLUS. It might seem like a hassle, but the form can open the door to all sorts of grants, loans, and other financial aid opportunities. Take a look at this article to find out "Why You Should Fill Out the FAFSA (Even If You Think It's a Waste of Time)." It's certainly not a blast, but it can be well worth your time.
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Thriving As The Parent Of A Prospective College Student
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You want to have high expectations for your child, but you also worry about adding stress to their already stressful life. That's okay. This article,
"The Perils of the Child Perfectionist,"
reminds us that we are allowed to maintain those high expectations, as long as our expectations don't become unrealistic or inflexible.
As a parent of a prospective college student, it's easy to get wrapped up in your student's study habits, grades, test scores, and the like. But as their parent, you're also responsible for who they are as a human. And
this
article from the Washington Post
indicates that a student who is
kind
is more likely to stand out in their college applications. As the author states: "The students who talk about moments of genuine kindness reveal more authenticity than those who focus on other subjects." So while the numbers are important, be sure you're continuing to raise a child whose kindness and humanity will shine through in their college essay.
Last but not least, be sure that your student is giving themselves some time to breathe throughout this process. The article "Breathing Room" talks about the importance of free time and space for students during the college application process.
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Test Date
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Registration Deadline
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| October 27 |
September 22 |
December 8
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November 2
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February 9, 2019
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January 11, 2019
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April 13
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March 8
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June 8
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May 3
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July 13
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June 14
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Test Date
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Registration Deadline
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| October 6 |
September 7 |
December 1
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November 2
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March 9, 2019
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February 8, 2019
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May 4
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April 5
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June 1
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May 3
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