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Broadening Options for US University Applications

Broadening Options for US University Applications. Presenter: Emmanuel Reed, M.S.Ed. Mr. Reed’s Background.

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Broadening Options for US University Applications

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  1. Broadening Options for US University Applications Presenter: Emmanuel Reed, M.S.Ed.

  2. Mr. Reed’s Background Mr. Reed is a veteran educator from New York City. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University, Master of Science in Education degree from Touro College and a diploma in Human Resource Management from New York University (NYU). Mr. Reed has been working high school students in the area of U.S. university admissions since 1995. He has helped students get into public, private and Ivy League universities throughout the United States.

  3. Presentation Agenda * Things to consider when applying to an American university • Cost, cost savings & ROI (return on investment) * The admissions process • Personal statement • What Admissions Counselors look for • Univ. of California Berekely case study * Web Resources * Q & A session

  4. Cost of Attendance discounts & ROI • Did you know that you can potentially save thousand’s dollars because of IB classes your child has taken? • Which majors offers the greatest return on investment?

  5. Private Schools COA Samples

  6. Private Schools COA Samples

  7. Public Schools COA Samples

  8. Public Schools COA Samples

  9. Public Schools COA Samples

  10. ‘Need-blind’ admission at US universities • Need-blind admission means that students are admitted regardless of their ability to pay, and that universities will only charge what they think students can reasonably afford to pay based on their parental income. • Even so, there’s no denying that for most people studying at a leading institution in the US is a massive financial commitment. • There are currently six US universities that offer ‘need-blind’ admission for both domestic and international applicants, and offer to meet full need for all admitted students: • Amherst College • Dartmouth College • Harvard University • MIT • Princeton University • Yale University

  11. Top 10 Highest Paying College Majors 10. Mechanical Engineering (ME) Starting Salary: $60,900Mid-Career Salary: $99,700 9. Physics Starting Salary: $53,100 Mid-Career Salary: $101,000 8. Computer Science (CS) Starting Salary: $59,800 Mid-Career Salary: $102,000 6. TIE – Computer Engineering (CE) Starting Salary: $65,300 Mid-Career Salary: $106,000 6.  TIE – Electrical Engineering (EE) Starting Salary: $64,300Mid-Career Salary: $106,000 5. Aerospace Engineering Starting Salary: $62,800Mid-Career Salary: $109,000 4. Chemical Engineering Starting Salary: $68,200Mid-Career Salary: $115,000 3. Nuclear Engineering Starting Salary: $67,600Mid-Career Salary: $117,000 2. Actuarial Mathematics Starting Salary: $58,700Mid-Career Salary: $120,000 1. Petroleum Engineering Starting Salary: $103,000Mid-Career Salary: $160,000

  12. Bottom 10 Lowest Paying College Majors 10. Culinary Arts Actual List Rank: 120 out of 129Starting Salary: $34,800Mid-Career Salary: $51,100 9. Exercise Science Actual List Rank: 121 out of 129Starting Salary: $32,600Mid-Career Salary: $51,000 8. Horticulture Actual List Rank: 122 out of 129Starting Salary: $35,2007. Biblical Studies Actual List Rank: 123 out of 129Starting Salary: $35,400Mid-Career Salary: $50,800 6. Special Education Actual List Rank: 124 out of 129Starting Salary: $33,800Mid-Career Salary: $49,600 5. Human Development Actual List Rank: 125 out of 129Starting Salary: $35,900Mid-Career Salary: $48,000 4. Athletic Training Actual List Rank: 126 out of 129Starting Salary: $34,800Mid-Career Salary: $46,900 3. Social Work (SW) Actual List Rank: 127 out of 129Starting Salary: $33,000Mid-Career Salary: $46,600 2. Elementary Education Actual List Rank: 128 out of 129Starting Salary: $32,200Mid-Career Salary: $45,300 1. Child & Family Studies Actual List Rank: 129 out of 129Starting Salary: $30,300Mid-Career Salary: $37,200

  13. Applications • Visit the University website for info you need to have on: 1. International students (non US Citizens and non-Residents) 2. Financial Aid 3. TOEFL Information 4. University / College code (to submit with SAT) • Make yourself a List of paper work required for each University • Transcripts • Standardized tests • Recommendations • Quality of writing / essays • Achievements, extra-curricular involvement Those that accept Common Application, some require Supplemental Application (each is different)

  14. Admissions Counselors look at • Academic Record • Rigor of School record • Test Scores / Essay ( talent / ability ) • Geographic Residence • Racial / Ethnic status (optional) • Volunteer work • Work experience • Overall rounding (Math, Science, Humanities, Language) • Institutional Need

  15. Sample of What Colleges Ask For: “We give the greatest weight to your academic transcript. The rigor of the courses you’ve taken, the quality of your grades and the consistency with which you’ve worked over four years give us the clearest indication of how well you will do... Standardized tests also play an important role in helping us evaluate you in comparison to students taught in very different secondary schools. Recommendations, the quality of your writing, and extra-and co-curricular talents also help the Admission Committee draw distinctions among very Talented applicants. • Standardized Tests – Sat reasoning test ,with essay Plus two Sat subject exams; or – Act (with essay recommended)

  16. Timing • Identify the Criteria important to you • Browse and Select several (10, 15, 20 or more) possible Colleges / Universities and quantify those criteria • Visit Websites and Shortlist those that fit • Discuss criteria with Parents, Counselor, Teachers, Alumni • Revisit your Priorities – Shortlist again • Build a Profile on each of your Top choices • If time and opportunity allow – Visit the Campus • Download and fill in applications before Sept 1 • (during summer; earlier is better) • Somewhere within above process start the Personal Statement / Essay • Target Completion of Essay (give yourself a deadline) • You may want to show draft or final to Counselor or Teacher • Give “Recommending” Teacher an idea of how you are presenting yourself

  17. Tips – Things For You to Consider In Short-Listing • Academic rating of College • Enrollment (Size of school community - Undergraduate) • Teacher / Student ratio • Is Teacher Interesting / Accessible • Percent of classes taught by a Professor (versus graduate student) • School Environment (village, town, city, metro) • Previous year’s SAT score “Median” (50%) – Reasoning, Math, Writing • International Student population (% of total enrollment) • Quality of Life rating (some college books rate out of 100, or give student testimonials) • Is a Major offered that interests you? (see website) • Number of requirements for that Major? (# of courses to take to get in) • Can you get into Required classes? (competition to register) • Flexibility of Requirements – Can you substitute courses?

  18. Identify Some Specific Goals • Academic Goals: Areas of interest – Asia, Europe, Africa – Sciences, Literature, Computers, Languages – Drama, Music, Sports • Activities of Interest: You’d see yourself being involved in – Campus Clubs or Societies, Campus Newspaper, – Sports Teams, Singing Groups, Drama, – Research Assistant, Office Assistant • Some Admissions Counselors will be most impressed by – a purposeful vision of your life or goals – intellectual commitment – desire to make a meaningful contribution • If you plan to participate in a sport – See website, some colleges suggest register/contact with coach.

  19. Essay • The word limit is usually a guideline; consult the application. If not specified, use good judgment and stay close to suggested limit • Essay is not only a writing test. It’s the place in the application where they look for your ‘voice’ – who you are, what drives you, what’s important to you, what makes you tick.

  20. Essay In addition to the essay you’re asked to write as part of the Common Application, colleges often require a second essay (250-500 words). Some Colleges do not offer interviews as part of the application process. However, your essays provide you with an opportunity to speak to them. One Example: Respond to the Following Quotations. Please keep this in mind when responding to one of the following quotations. It is not necessary to research, read, or refer to the texts from which these quotations are taken; we are looking for original, personal responses to these short excerpts. Remember that your essay should be personal in nature and not simply an argumentative essay.

  21. Personal Statement / Essay • Be Informative • Be Accurate • Focus on your: • Study goals • Future goals • Expectations of University (List them for yourself) • Focus on your uniqueness and specific contributions or achievements • Not all U.S. Universities require a Personal Statement • some have other essay questions in lieu of. e.g. “ How do you feel about Wednesday?” (real question) • Good idea to tailor your Personal Statement / Essay to relate to the Specific University / College you are applying to. Include a line or two about something ‘that’ University that shows them that you know about their program.

  22. Personal Statement – cont’d THIS is the PICTURE you give about • Your “achievements-to-date” • Your potential to benefit to the College’s program • Ability to succeed in a “Rigorous” and “Broad – Based” program • Your “Leadership” qualities – (this can mean many things) • Team Leadership • Individual initiative to start and complete a project • Creativity and action • Demonstrated social involvement – Collective action • Your Ability to write and articulate (powerfully & persuasively, with honesty, clarity (and wit – if you can pull it off! BE CAREFUL !!) • Your Intellectual Curiosity Give a picture of your Engagement in School or Community.

  23. Personal Statement(helpful hints) MAKE LISTS TO CHOOSE FROM • Things you • Love • Are good at • Hate • Have done • People who impacted your life and why? • Events that have impacted your life and how? • Your unique attributes • Examples of leadership Choose the points/parts that, when woven together, paints the picture of you!

  24. University of California at BerkeleyCase Study(adapted from the New York Times) Student A A HIGHLY qualified student, with a 3.95 un-weighted grade point average and 2300 on the SAT. He had perfect 800s on his subject tests in math and chemistry, a score of 5 on five Advanced Placement exams, musical talent and, in one of two personal statements, had written a loving tribute to his parents, who had emigrated from India. Student B A second engineering applicant, a Mexican-American student with a moving, well-written essay but a 3.4 G.P.A. and SATs below 1800. His school offered no A.P. He competed in track when not at his after-school job, working the fields with his parents. 

  25. Things to Consider… • Both students were among “typical” applicants used as norms to train application readers like myself. And their different credentials yet remarkably close rankings illustrate the challenges, the ambiguities and the agenda of admissions at a major public research university in a post-affirmative-action world. • “To better understand stressors, I was trained to look for the “helpful” personal statement that elevates a candidate. Here I encountered through-the-looking-glass moments: an inspiring account of achievements may be less “helpful” than a report of the hardships that prevented the student from achieving better grades, test scores and honors. • IN personal statements, we had been told to read for the “authentic” voice over students whose writing bragged of volunteer trips to exotic places or anything that “smacks of privilege.” • Fortunately, that authentic voice articulated itself abundantly. Many essays lucidly expressed a sense of self and character — no small task in a sea of applicants. The assistant director’s words — look for “evidence a student can succeed at Berkeley” — echoed in my ears when I wanted to give a disadvantaged applicant a leg up in the world. I wanted to help. Surely, if these students got to Berkeley they would be exposed to all sorts of test-taking and studying techniques. • But would they be able to compete with the engineering applicant with the 3.95 G.P.A. and 2300 SATs? Does Berkeley have sufficient support services to bridge gaps and ensure success? Could this student with a story full of stressors and remedial-level writing skills survive in a college writing course?” Ruth A. Starkman

  26. End Result of Case Study Student A • Student A was not among the top-ranked engineering applicants to the University of California, Berkeley. The reason our budding engineer was a 2 on a 1-to-5 scale (1 being highest) has to do with Berkeley’s holistic, or comprehensive, review, an admissions policy adopted by most selective colleges and universities. In holistic review, institutions look beyond grades and scores to determine academic potential, drive and leadership abilities. Apparently, our Indian-American student needed more extracurricular activities and engineering awards to be ranked a 1. Student B • Accepted

  27. Web Resources http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/education/edlife/lifting-the-veil-on-the-holistic-process-at-the-university-of-california-berkeley.html?pagewanted=all http://college.usatoday.com/2014/05/01/4-signs-of-a-scholarship-scam/ http://college.usatoday.com/2014/05/28/students-take-advantage-of-degree-in-three-concept/ Colleges and Universities That Do Not Use SAT/ACT Scores for Admitting Substantial Numbers of Students Into Bachelor Degree Programs http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional www.fastweb.com http://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/4267-10-highest-lowest-paying-college-majors http://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/3162-mastering-summer-college-visits http://www.america.edu/top_20_catholic_colleges_and_universities_in_america.html http://www.hercampus.com/high-school/applying-college/should-you-go-college-close-home-or-far-away http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/best-value

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