Applying to College 2010

1. Applying to College 2010

2. The game is changing….

3. What hasn’t changed

4. Questbridge • Only apply if you fit the profile – LOW INCOME is key. • Ask your school what their criteria for using QB is… • For example Williams can only accept you from QB if you EFC is ZERO. You would have been better off applying ED.

5. Where to begin? • Close to finalize your list by early October. (see Ms. Smith’s “How to Read College Profiles”) • Reach / Likely / Possibles • Work backwards – recruiters / grad school feeder • There is no such thing as a safety school anymore. • Put your money where your mouth is- DEMONSTRATE INTEREST (mailing lists, regional visits, schedule interviews, etc.)

6. Next Steps • Research, finalize school list (October) • Sign up for mailing lists, Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, etc. for colleges you are interested in. • SAT? SAT II? ACT? • Attend local/regional open houses • Talk to someone about your choices • Secure recommendations and prepare forms for recommenders (October) • Draft and edit your personal statement(s) • Do your apps! • If you need help, GET IT (fee wavers, etc.) • Schedule interviews • Be sure your parents are going to file taxes in January. If you are nervous about this, start telling them NOW.

7. Stack the Deck • Schools with a good “fit” – your academic criteria is in line with their admissions profile • Private schools with money in/out of region • Public schools OUTSIDE your region (merit aid) • Local options – Rutgers, TCNJ, etc. • Schools with special programs/ initiatives that line up with your DEMONSTRATED talents (ex. Smith

8. Secure your recommendations soon • Recommendations more important than ever • Dynamic – academics / fit within a community • Needs to know you as a student and person • “Voice”/authenticity more important than style

9. Organize and Advocate! • You must stay on top of deadlines/paperwork and people assisting you with your package • Clean up your public face (Facebook, Twitter) • Find ways to connect in a genuine way to admissions staff (they won’t know if you don’t tell)

10. Time to Get Real Every situation is different – The Admissions Office must: Admit students who can fill the various academic programs (not too many pre-meds and no art history students) Create a community, not just fill classrooms Carry out institutional objectives

11. Tiles in the Mosaic – A Balanced Community • Academic interests / majors • Regional distribution / states & countries • Athletics!!! (Div I, II, III) • Extra-curricular interests • Community building (How do they define their character? Do you fit?) • Economic diversity • Ethnical/ Racial / Religious / Nationality • Initiatives supported/created by college (ex. Questbridge, local recruiting, etc.)

12. How Williams Does It Panel of 14 (11 on staff) Doesn’t matter, mail vs. online submission Sorted into piles Academic 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… Academic 1- grades, rank, 1500+ Sat , 3 SAT Iis (only 50% of Academic 1s accepted in 2007, 25% of Acad. IIs, they dipped as far as into Acad. 5s) Academic Criterion: Took most challenging courses available (via school profile- is online) Read in alpha order by piles Each folder read by several readers (academic vitality, diversity, talents, leadership, “bridge building,” comm. Involvement)

13. Each folder given a rating of 1-9 on academics, 1-5 on non-academics Some folders get 2-4 reads Small group of 3-4 readers weed out weaker apps Teacher recs and guidance recs begin to play bigger role as the pool narrows (more specific is better) Essay: Describes and defines your values and what is important to you. Talk about yourself. Give anecdotes. They expect polished writing. It is read aloud.

14. Extras are OK… make it count“The thicker the folder, the thicker the student” • No fluff, just good stuff: • Letters explaining extreme circumstances • Resumes • Tapes/slides/taped performances or monologues, headshots • Taped games/ recs from coaches • Published writing • Research (as in scientific research) Often this info gets passed on to profs., academic departments, coaches, etc.

15. Wait List • Too hot to handle – ex. a legacy kid with a drug problem, college can’t outright say no • They aren’t sure you will say yes, can become a de facto second round of admissions • You were just shy in some major criteria • There are just so many more applicants this year is a way to insure they didn’t admit too many (gives them a cushion to calibrate nos.) • Wait list isn’t first come first served – they balance the class out selectively from the wait list • Often NONE are taken off wait list at Ivies • Is being used more than ever

16. A chiasmus: Fair is not always equal, equal is not always fair.

18. http://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2009/09/10/new-rankings-college-economic-diversity.htmlhttp://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2009/09/10/new-rankings-college-economic-diversity.html US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT created a new ranking based on how many students in their school qualify for Pell Grants.. You can use this data to see how diverse the current population is. OR You can use this data to see which schools NEED economic diversity. (Generally income of $60,000 or less) Pell Grant Calculator (for a rough estimation) http://toolkit.collegepayway.com/pellgrantweb/default.aspx

19. “Affirmative Action” is more than race Colleges are looking to create a balanced community – gender, ethnicity, nationality, spiritual beliefs (or, non-beliefs!), economic status, etc. All levels of education are looking to close the achievement gap, diversity programs in college admissions are one of the solutions.

20. Why might different considerations be fair? Does every child get an equal opportunity to learn and achieve in America? Do circumstances, perhaps historical or political, prevent some children from having a home environment, parental involvement in school, economic status, access to good nutrition and healthcare that would allow them to succeed? Is the playing field really even? Do current institutions (student body, government, jobs, positions of leadership) reflect the diversity of people in the US?

21. Two truths: 1. The face of America is changing, but is mostly among a younger demographic. 2. Your [school] life is not average.

22. http://www-atlas.usgs.gov/articles/people/IMAGES/age_fig4.gifhttp://www-atlas.usgs.gov/articles/people/IMAGES/age_fig4.gif

24. Number % Total population 281,421,906 100 White 211,460,626 75.1 Hispanic or Latino 35,305,818 12.5 Black or African American 34,658,190 12.3 Some other race 15,359,073 5.5 Asian 10,242,998 3.6 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific 398,835 0.1 Two or more races 6,826,228 2.4 American Indian and Alaska Native 2,475,956 0.9 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Redistricting (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, Tables PL1 and PL2.

25. SATs • 1.5 mil. students out of Class of ‘09 took SAT • 40.0% (an increase from 38.0 percent in 2008 and 29.2 percent in 1999) • F=53.5% of test-taking group; M=46.5% • Group Mean/Avg Scores: 2009 Male Female Total CR 503 CR 498 CR 501 M 534 M 499 CR 515 W 486 W 499 CR 493

26. SAT – Average by Percentile National / NJ 75th CR580 M600 W570 / 75th CR570 M600 W570 50th CR500 M510 W490 / 50th CR490 M510 W490 25th CR420 M430 W410 / 25th CR420 M430 W420 Top of the Top National: (M=697,500 F=802, 500 ) 700–800 CR Male 36,243 (5%) CR Female 36,768 (4.6%) M Male 61,885 (8.8%) M Female 35, 411 (4.4%) Writing Male 27, 392 (4%) Writing F 36,141 (4.5%) GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK! Your SATs are pretty good.

29. Breakdown of AP Scores by Subject, Score and Ethnicity http://professionals.collegeboard.com/data-reports-research/ap/data