College Admissions and the SAT and ACT

1. College Admissions and the SAT and ACT Katie Rose Premium Tutor Applerouth Tutoring Services

2. ADMISSIONS TRENDS

3. Application numbers continue to rise • 1/3 of freshmen applied to 7+ institutions. • Yield rates are falling at most colleges. • The average yield rate for all institutions in 2014 was 36%, down from 49% in 2002. Chronicle of higher education Annual Survey, 2015

4. % students applying to 4-yr college Number of state residents Average cost of college State incentives to keep top applicants Expect increasing competition at state flagship universities State and Federal funding Adequate affordable options

5. Today’s workplace demands more students attend 4-year colleges • Middle class families, after decades of stagnant wage growth, struggle to pay for college The economic tension Increased demand for more affordable seats Softening demand for more expensive seats $9.8k $38.2k $48.3k $11.6k

6. To finance their education, students are borrowing much more than ever before Students now leave college owing an average of $37,172; Total US student debt approaches $1.3 Trillion!

7. 2014-2015 Public 4-year tuition Published Price $9,139 However there is a disparity between retail price and the Net price that students actually pay Grants and tax credits and deductions cover the remainder for the average full-time student. Programs like Georgia’s Hope Scholarship impact the Net price. Net Price $3,030 https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/misc/trends/2014-trends-college-pricing-report-final.pdf

8. Roughly 1/3 of private institutions didn’t meet their goals for applications, net revenue, total headcount, and yield. • 76 percent of admissions directors (especially those at private schools) think their institution is losing applicants because of concerns about student debt. • In order to fill their classes, private colleges increasingly are discounting their tuition. The average discount for first-year students at private colleges is now 46%. • 75% schools are using merit aid, which can sometimes squeeze out need-based aid. Discounting is Up! Chronicle of Higher Education Annual Survey, 2015

9. Sample Financial Aid Award Demonstrated Need - COA EFC = Greatly Reduces Family borrowing

10. Prior Prior Year: A small victory • FAFSA submission opens October 1, rather than Jan 1, using prior year’s income and tax info. • CSS Profile will also accept prior-prior year tax data • Less guesswork, fewer estimates, more informed decisions •  Some institutions are moving financial aid application deadlines (some for priority deadlines) earlier. • Some institutions accepting earlier applications will be sending out earlier financial aid awards

11. Types of Applications Early Applications: • Early Action • Restricted, e.g., Single Choice Early Action • Unrestricted • Early Decision (A Binding Commitment) • Priority Deadlines (Better odds early) • Rolling Decision (A Yes in October could become a No by December as the class fills) Regular Decision: Regular Deadlines Apply

12. Early admissions will play an even larger role for many colleges Maximize Yield! Full pay kids!

13. The Early Advantage

14. And Early is getting earlier and earlier! • October 15 application deadlines • Junior night moves earlier in the Calendar • College kickoff in November of Junior Year • Harder to have substantive meetings in January, by which time many college lists are done! Jr. Kickoff!

15. Some schools may move away from wait lists Decreased Reliance on Wait lists Increased Early Applications Enrollment Management May not use WL May not use WL Higher Yield Already closed its WL! Backup school no more

16. Academic Common Market • Leverage In-State-Tuition in Member States if a major or program is unavailable in your state

17. New Application as of 2016: The Coalition 90+ members of the Coalition. Coalition Application exclusively used by the following schools:

18. ADMISSIONS FACTORSWHAT ARE COLLEGES LOOKING FOR?

19. The admissions process Admissions Essays H.S. GPA in the context of Schedule Strength and Academic Strength of School SAT ACT Teacher/Counselor Recommendations Activities (Leadership, Depth) SAT Subject Tests Demonstrated Interest qualitative components: the packaging of the application: Is there a cohesive story? Academic Index: quantitative components How will they read your application?

20. How Most Colleges Evaluate Applicants Step 1: Academic Indexing • Applications are indexed through an algorithm that typically includes: • Course rigor • Grades in core classes • Test scores • School strength • Schools assign different weights to these factors, but core GPA and course rigor often rank higher than testing

21. Is there a compelling reason not to give an offer to these students? Top of the index The Academic Index Impacts the “Read” a Student Receives class size The real work for the admissions committee – the kids in the middle Is there a compelling reason to take a risk on these students? Bottom of the index Students at the bottom of the index may only receive a cursory read at best, looking for hooks. Academically they are riskier.

22. Step 2*: Involvement/Leadership Evaluation • Student résumé • Extra Curricular Activities • Leadership positions (depth) more important than variety (breadth) *The factors in Steps 2 and 3 are considered only if the student’s academic index justifies a holistic read How Most Colleges Evaluate Applicants Continued…

23. Step 3: Consider Other, Qualitative Factors • Adversity • Contributions to the community • Diversity • Awards and recognitions • Personality and voice • Student’s self-awareness or insights, as demonstrated through the essays or letters of recommendation How Most Colleges Evaluate Applicants Continued…

24. ACADEMICSHOW WILL COLLEGES VIEW MY TRANSCRIPT?

25. Curricular strength will be more important than ever More focus on APs and IB classes and Dual Enrollment College Level Classes

26. Balance Course Rigor and GPA Encourage students to take a challenging curriculum in the context of your school To strike the right balance, consider: • Past performance • In-school commitments • Other commitments Getting Cs in advanced courses does not constitute performance. If you are pushing into AP and IB land, As and Bs demonstrate success. More selective colleges want to see more As.

27. GradeTrends are Essential • It is nevertoo late to improve your grades. It may be tough to change your cumulative GPA first semester senior year, but an upward trend can help with admissions -- especially if you can explain the change with a compelling narrative.

28. A 3.5 CGPA can tell different stories Freshman Year Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year (Easier to forgive) (The Big Show) 3.5 late bloomer consistent 3.5 struggling 3.5 Approaching college level of difficulty Upward grade trends are your friends: And typically Core GPA has the most weight.

29. College Admissions Essay • The personal statement is the single most important essay most students will write in high school • Students often need specific help with essay writing instruction

30. Why the Essay Matters • Offers the student a chance to come alive as a human being and share something not found anywhere else in the application • A well-crafted essay can turn an application reader into a vocal advocate in committee For students on the margin, the essay can be a deciding factor in the admissions decision.

31. Tips to Write a Better Essay • Write the essay only you could write. • Write in your own voice. • Keep the scope narrow; focus on a “thin slice” of life. • Be specific. • Hook your reader. Use a dynamic introduction or cut the intro altogether. For some additional thoughts on the college essay, go to www.applerouth.comResources- Experts Corner- Jed Said- Writing the College Essay

32. ACTIVITIESSHOULD I JOIN EVERY CLUB IN SCHOOL?

33. How Do Activities Factor into Admissions? • Admissions officers look for continuity, depth, and contribution • Doing the activity consistently over multiple years is key; do not switch every year. It’s good to have involvement beyond sports, if possible. Admissions officers are asking, “what will this student bring to campus?”

34. DEMONSTRATED INTERESTWHY SHOULD I GO ON COLLEGE VISITS?

35. Demonstrated interest helps college manage yield. • Demonstrated interest is a plus, but it’s not essential for low SES students. • DI doesn’t factor into the decision for the Ivies, or other super-high yield schools, who are not remotely worried about filling their classes. Demonstrated Interest May Improve Admissions Chances Interact with college admissions officers, even if you cannot visit their schools.

36. College Visits Demonstrate Interest and More • May help you clarify your interest level and help you narrow your list • Can inform your application (why Oberlin?) • May provide a chance for an on-campus interview

37. Building a College List • College Fairs (NACAC), visits from college Reps and virtual tours online • College Visits, particularly local ones, help you identify categories of schools that may interest you (e.g., big state school, football school, small liberal arts school, city, burbs) • Think about fit and financial fit • Get all the non-negotiables on the table early so there are no surprises • Using guide books (Like the Fiske guide) to build overlap schools

38. Some good resources

39. Getting more help • Leverage your school counselor • Consider hiring an Independent Educational Consultant

40. TESTINGWHAT TEST IS RIGHT FOR ME?

41. We will see more Test-Optional schools 800+ and counting Going test optional gets an immediate admissions bump (more students apply) & increases average reported test scores (lower scores disappear). 41% of admissions directors feel tests should be optional. Chronicle of Higher Education Annual Survey, 2015

42. When highly selective colleges receive 40,000 applications for 1,500 spots, they need an efficient form of screening. Assessments can be most useful here. However, many admissions officers want to keep testing as a valuable selection tool 40,000 1,500

43. SAT/ACT Geographic Origins Berkeley, CA. First ETS branch 1948 Princeton, NJ. ETS HQ 1947 The SAT was first on the scene.

44. SAT/ACT Geographic Origins 1959 Iowa City, IA ACT HQ 1948 Berkeley, CA. First ETS branch 1947 Princeton, NJ. ETS HQ The ACT claimed the Heartland.

45. Today the SAT and ACT are universally accepted Colleges will accept either test without prejudice.

46. The ACT is dominant

47. The Redesigned SAT appears to be a more rigorous test than the current ACT Critical Thinking Reading The Redesigned SAT raises the bar for students, emphasizes rigorous standards and critical thinking and puts a greater emphasis on reading skills in every section.

48. But the ACT is beefing up its content to counter the surging SAT Science Math ACT has been revealing harder math and science in recent tests and in its ACT guide released in late May

49. SAT ACT Reading Reading Structurally the two tests appear nearly identical Writing English 3:00 2:55 Math Math No Calculator Math Science :40 :50 Optional Essay Optional Essay Testing Time 3:50 3:35 The ACT’s stand-alone science section is one of the key differences

50. The amount of time allocated per question is a profound difference. The ACT is a speed test; the SAT less so Extended time SAT over ACT! Many of our students prefer the SAT, merely on the merits of its more forgiving timing.