Beyond the College Fair: College Admission Counseling ASCA 2008

1. Beyond the College Fair: College Admission CounselingASCA 2008 Bob Bardwell, Director of Guidance, Monson High School Jean Jordan, Director of Admission, Emory University

2. A little test…Jeopardy style The other common application • What is Worldwide Common App • What is the Universal Common App • What is the Complete Common App • What is the Only Common App

3. Here’s another question When a college tracks the number and ways a student makes contact and uses that information to make admission decisions A. What is applicant tracking B. What is demonstrated tracking C. What is applicant tracking D. What is demonstrated interest

4. And yet another question The new College Board program which allows students to choose which SAT scores to send to colleges A. What is Score Choice B. What is Score Select C. What is Student Select D. What is My Choice

5. And the final one…. The term used for applicants whose first contact with the institution is the application. A. Who is a stealth applicant B. Who is a first timer C. Who is a primary contact D. Who is a primary applicant

6. The changing admission world • A record number of 18 year olds will be graduating from high school • The majority of colleges are receiving a record number of applications • The methods in which students and admission offices communicate have changed considerably

7. The changing admission world continued • The increasing cost of higher education has a dramatic impact on college choice & selection • The current financial aid and loan scrutiny will impact access and affordability for many families • The media has a great influence on admissions

8. The Age of Technology • Online applications • College’s own process • www.commonapp.org • www.universalapp.org • Contact with applicants • Internet – websites, IM’ing, blogging • Once enrolled

9. The hiring of Independent Counselors/Coaches • Good or bad? • Do they help or get in the way? • What to look for • Affiliations/certifications/memberships • IECA • NACAC and its affiliate associations • Rates • Work in partnership, not in opposition

10. Using Data • Why is data important? • It improves our programs and the services for students and families • Students benefit from it • You probably already have it • Others are using it • Real estate agents want it • We are accountable • Why not?

11. Using Data (continued) • Tracking data • Naviance, Connectedu; myfootpath.com; www.inresonance.com • Microsoft Access • Analyzing data • www.ezanalyze.com • Reporting data • Scattergrams • Other reports

12. Counselor letter of recommendation • Should provide an overview of the applicant’s strengths and potential for success in college • Don’t repeat what is already in the application (I.e.: activities) • Reveal things that are not necessarily known to the reader • Make connections, especially with events which have shaped their goals/choices

13. Counselor letter of recommendation (continued) • Fill in the gaps • Give insights that most people wouldn’t know • Explain problems/issues (assuming you have the permission of the student) • Respect confidentiality • Be positive, yet honest • Don’t state the obvious

14. Counselor letter of recommendation (continued) • Three parts • Introduction - context in which you know the student • Body - provide specific examples and documentation; can include teacher comments, but…… • Conclusion - summary of recommendation • To show or not to show?

15. Counselor letter of recommendation (continued) • Where to gather information • From student interactions & past experiences • From faculty • From records/cumulative folder • From parents • How long should it be?

16. Teacher Letters of Recommendation • Don’t have too many; 2-3 at the most • Have different disciplines represented unless specific individuals are needed • Try to include letters from outside of the school if appropriate • Clergy • Coach • Advisor • Employer

17. Teacher Letters of Recommendation • Ideally a student should have had the teacher for at least two classes • Choose teachers from junior or senior year courses • Student should provide information sheet • What does the teacher do with it after it is written?

18. The Personal Statement/Essay • This is a personal experience; don’t talk about other people or if you do, how he/she impacted you • Be yourself • This may be the only subjective information that the reader has about the candidate • Should provide reflection about the individual’s strengths and weaknesses

19. The Personal Statement/Essay • Should expand upon the application, not repeat it • Should be your best effort, not a last minute piece • Don’t write about what you think they want to hear • Answer the question(s) • Follow directions

20. The Personal Statement/Essay • Provide concrete, vivid examples Avoid gimmicks, humor (if you’re not funny) and preaching • Avoid controversial topics • Can be used to “explain” something • Develop an outline prior to writing • Don’t use big words or thesaurus words • Make your introduction memorable

21. The Personal Statement/Essay • Demonstrate higher level thinking; make the connection • If you are going to mention the school, make sure to send the correct one • Revise & rewrite • Have others proofread it • How long?

22. Secondary School Report • Basic academic information • GPA • Rank • Strength of curriculum in comparison to others • Ratings/checklists • Statistics about placement rates • List of senior courses/grades • Transcript request • Letter of recommendation/counselor comments • Discipline/suspension issues

23. Campus visits • Are a must • Make an appointment; be sure to get “credit” for being visiting • Bring a notebook to take notes • Ask questions • Observe students on campus and in the student center • Visit a class

24. Campus visits (continued) • Don’t schedule more than two a day • Don’t schedule your first choice school first • Visit classrooms and talk with faculty • Eat in the cafeteria if possible • Take part in activities if possible

25. Campus Interviews • This is a chance for the student to get to know the campus as well as the admissions office to get to know you • Don’t schedule first choice school first • Learn as much as you can about the school before the interview • Ask questions that are not already answered in the literature • Be positive

26. Campus Interviews (continued) • Be yourself • Explain things not already found in your application • Dress neatly • Practice before going • Don’t try to bluff; if you don’t know say so • If possible, apply before interviewing • Send thank you note

27. Alumni or Off Campus Interviews • Make an appointment • Individual vs. group interviews • Have one if far from campus and can’t visit • Do it even if you have been on campus; shows enthusiasm and interest • Will give you a different perspective

28. The Common Application • Used by 320 institutions • Provides common form • May be used in lieu of the school’s application or may be the only application • Easily reproduced • www.commonapp.org

29. The Discipline Question • Has the applicant ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at your school from 9th grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in the applicant’s probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from your institution? 􀀾 Yes 􀀾 No • To your knowledge, has the applicant ever been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime? 􀀾 Yes 􀀾 No • If you answered yes to either or both questions, please attach a separate sheet of paper or use your written recommendation to give the approximate date of each incident and explain the circumstances. • 􀀾Check here if you would prefer to discuss this over the phone with each admission office.

30. Confidentiality • Counselor expectations • FERPA • Student expectations • Follow SPGP guidelines • Be sure to get student permission to send anything or make contact

31. Standardized Testing • To test or not to test • What scores are needed and who wants them? • Why even use test scores? • Do they predict college success?

32. ACT Assessment • Formerly called American College Test • Includes World-of-Work Map • $30.00 basic fee • 4 areas • English • 75 question, 45 minute test; 2 subscores • Usage/mechanics • Punctuation (13%) • Grammar and usage (16%) • sentence structure (24%)

33. ACT (continued) • Rhetorical skills • Strategy (16%) • Organization (15%) • Style (16%) • Mathematics • 60 question, 60 minute test • Pre-algebra (23%) • Elementary algebra (17%) • Intermediate algebra (15%) • Coordinate geometry (15%) • Plane geometry (23%) • Trigonometry (7%)

34. ACT (continued) • Reading • 40 question, 35 minute test; 2 subscores • Social studies (25%) • Natural sciences (25%) • Prose fiction (25%) • Humanities (25%) • Questions ask to derive meaning by referring to what is explicitly stated and reasoning to determine implicit meanings

35. ACT (continued) • Science Reasoning • 40 question, 35 minute test • Data representation (38%) • Research summaries (45%) • Conflicting viewpoints (17%) • Includes biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space sciences • Measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning and problem solving skills required in the natural sciences

36. ACT (continued) • Writing Test • Optional • 2 additional scores • Combined English/Writing score (1-36) • Writing subscore (2-12) • Scored holistically by 2 readers (1-6) • 30 minute test • Writing prompt with two viewpoints • $44.50

37. PLAN • Practice test for sophomores • Similar to ACT but less time and fewer questions • English - 50 questions, 30 minutes • Mathematics - 40 questions, 40 minutes • Reading - 25 questions, 20 minutes • Science Reasoning - 30 questions, 25 minutes • Can be given at any time from September through December • $9.30 per test depending upon # of tests to score

38. SAT Reasoning Test • Formerly called Scholastic Aptitude Test • $45 Basic registration fee • Mathematics, critical reading and writing sections • Scores range from 200-800 • 1 point for every correct answer; no points for omitted questions; lose a fraction of a point for each wrong answer • Calculators permitted on math sections

39. SAT Reasoning Test (continued) • Critical reading • 3 sections; 2 @25 minutes and 1 @ 20 minutes • Reading comprehension • Sentence completions • Paragraph length critical reading • Math • 3 sections; 2 @25 minutes and 1 @ 20 minutes • Multiple choice • Number and operations; algebra and functions; geometry; statistics, probability, and data analysis • 10 student produced responses

40. SAT Reasoning Test (continued) • Writing – 2 sections • 35 minute multiple choice • Identifying sentence errors • Improving sentences • Improving paragraphs • 25 minute essay • Always the first section of the test • Scored from 1-6 by two readers online • Equating section - math or verbal 25 minutes • not included in your score

41. SAT Subject Tests • Formerly called SAT II’s • 20 individual subject tests; $20.00 basic registration fee + $9 per test (Language w/listening $20) • Listening tests are only offered in November • Should be taken at the end of the course • 1 hour long; can take up to three in one day • Not offered in the March/April administration

42. SAT Subject Tests (continued) • Required by more selective colleges • Will indicate if specific tests are required • Will usually want 2 or 3 tests • English literature • Math • Third in an area of intended study, in an area of strength or an area of extended study • New SAT Reasoning test has caused colleges to change their requirements

43. PSAT/NMSQT • Preliminary SAT • Given the Wednesday after Columbus Day or 3rd Saturday in October at high schools nation wide • $13.00 per test, although administrative fees can be charged • Normed for juniors although some sophomores take it • Should this be encouraged?

44. PSAT (continued) • Register directly with the high school; online registration not available • Very similar to the new SAT, except • No Algebra II will be included • No essay • Try to emulate the SAT as much as possible

45. Standardized Testing • Comparison from SAT I - ACT • Can be used to predict scores on the other test • Based upon scores from previous test takers who took both tests • May find different tables depending upon data used by an individual institution

46. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) • Most countries, including US offer internet based test • $150 - $185, depending on where you take it • www.toefl.org • Measures proficiency in reading, listening, speaking & writing • Approximately 4 hours long • Score is based upon on how well you answer the questions (0-120)

47. College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) • Over 2900 colleges grant credit or advanced standing for satisfactory scores • 90 minutes long • $55 • Composition & Literature - 6 • Foreign Languages - 3 • History & Social Science - 12 • Science & Mathematics -7 • Business - 5

48. Advanced Placement • 34 subjects offered • Art History & Studio Art • Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics B & Physics C • Calculus AB, Calculus BC & Statistics • Computer Science A & AB • English Language & English Literature • Music Theory

49. Advanced Placement (continued) • Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, European History, Comparative Government & Politics, U.S. Government & Politics, Human Geography, Psychology, U.S. History & World History • French Language, French Literature, German Language, Latin Vergil, Latin Literature Spanish Literature & Spanish Language • Coming soon – Italian, Japanese and Chinese Culture and Literature

50. Advanced Placement (continued) • Tied to standardized curriculum • Earn credit or waive courses in college • Tests are given in the first two weeks of May of each year; set schedule • Scores range from 1-5 • Exposed to college level material