Thanks Marlboro!

Last night, I went to a small gathering at the 8th Floor (a gallery near Union Square) to chat with alum and staff from Marlboro College in Vermont. Other than visiting campus in person, these types of NYC based events are a good way to learn more about colleges and understand better the spirit of the school and mission.

First off --- Marlboro is small. Like 300 students in the middle of the woods in Vermont small, so it isn't for everyone. But, what was clear from hearing from the alumni is that it can be life changing. For those seeking the peaceful retreat of nature combined with some serious intellectualism, it might be a perfect fit. One comment that stuck out from an alum was the observation that too often Marlboro is grouped as this very "out there" alternative education when really he experienced it as the most traditional education one can find. In other words, students think deeply on complex issues and spend time reading and studying liberal arts in a the very traditional sense of interacting with peers and professors. Many colleges we think of as 'traditional' aren't actually pursuing education in its pure form (they are using things like #2 pencils and scan trons and curves). I think the happiest students at Marlboro are probably those with interdisciplinary interests -- the integration of divergent ideas in student 'plans' was really amazing.

Thanks to Marlboro for visiting NYC!

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Davidson Tour - Part II

Downtown Charlotte, outside the art museum!

I'm back in NYC now, but wanted to add some additional comments about the rest of my time in Davidson, North Carolina. As you read in my first post, a key theme at Davidson is trust. But that word goes beyond their honor code, it also relates to the Davidson Trust, a pledge made by the school to have need-blind admissions (even for the Waitlist) and meet 100% of demonstrated need for every student. That translates into a no loan policy (unless a family feels the need to take a loan to cover the estimated family contribution) and a major commitment to making Davidson affordable for every student that is deemed eligible to be admitted. In the realm of financial aid, Davidson is also part of a small group of highly selective schools that do still award merit scholarships to about 10% of the class.

(Intrigued by the idea of schools that have no loan policies? Read more about that here)

In addition to learning more about Financial Aid, we had the opportunity to hear from a panel of students, attend a class, and have a candid conversation about the admission process. Here are the main take aways:

--- Something is working because the students we heard from (both on the panel and throughout our time there) were off the charts impressive.

--- The file reading process is deeply methodical - with counselors having a shockingly small reading load (compared to the 1800 files I used to read per year when I worked in College Admission . . . ). What does that mean? It means that they take care to pick the students they think will truly be a good fit for Davidson.

--- They really want to hear from students when there are questions or issues with the application. Parents, I know we talk about letting the student be in the driver's seat, here is an example straight from the Dean of Admission of them saying they do not want to hear from you. The applicant is the one going to college, the applicant can pick up the phone and call with questions. Don't kill the messenger.

--- Davidson is a school where ED does fill a significant portion of their freshman class. You can read more about my thoughts on ED here, but before you get nervous or upset if you don't like the sound of their stats -- think about it for a minute. This is a small liberal arts school with the highest alumni giving rate in the country. Having an applicant say they will come if they are admitted is a meaningful declaration and, for a place with such a serious honor code, it isn't the right place for everyone. One can't be surprised if a lot of the applicants they end up admitting feel it is the best school in the country for them.

Long story short - if you are thinking about small liberal arts colleges, care deeply about academic integrity, and are willing to leave the Northeast, Davidson should be on your list of places to research and visit.

Davidson Tour

As we exited a building on the tour we stumbled upon these students conducting some type of experiment. Science in action!

Back in the days before New York City had superstorms, I got a phone call from Davidson College inviting me on a counselor college tour to see the school during my February break. I said to myself, "Great! I don't even have to miss school in order to go!" Famous last words . . . .

I arrived in Charlotte today and will be here for the next 48 hours getting an in depth look at Davidson College, a small liberal arts college about 25 minutes from Charlotte. Today we had the chance to take a campus tour, attend a faculty panel, and have dinner with the opportunity to hear remarks from the President of the college and a member of the faculty.

A few things stand out to me as I reflect back on the day. With about 2,000 students (about four times the size of ElRo) Davidson is the kind of school that one should only explore if you want to be an active learner in the classroom. If you don't know what I mean, let me put it this way: the largest classes at Davidson are capped at 35 students. I repeat, the LARGEST classes at Davidson are capped at 35. As in only one more student per class than the current ElRo class size limit. No huge weed-out lab science lectures. No darkened auditoriums with 500 seats. 35 students. Attendance at class matters. Participation in class matters. If you want to be a passive sponge with the chance to repeat back facts from powerpoint on a multiple choice mid-term, this is not your school. However, if you like the idea of stopping by your professor's living room ever other week or getting back the first assignment of the term without the instructor needing you to tell him your name (because he's memorized the faces from the school ID cards that appear on his roster), keep reading.

Honor Code signatures

 I feel that a key aspect to Davidson's identity is its Honor Code. The Honor Code isn't some archaic list of rules that students believe in in spirit but forget to use in practice - it is a living and breathing spirit on campus that students pledge not to cheat, lie, or steal from one another. Tests are often scheduled by the students and given without supervision. Bikes are all over campus but I didn't see a single one with a bike lock. Trust is paramount. I was impressed to see the halls of a main campus building lined with row after row of 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper, each one filled with signatures of each enrolled student, a visual reminder of the pledge each student takes when they arrive on campus.

Professor Alexander

Tonight at dinner, we heard from President Carol Quillen who is, herself, a relatively recent addition to Davidson's campus. I get the sense that the faculty, staff, and students are eager to see how her vision can come to life and they have great faith in her ability to reach her goals. One of my favorite parts of the day consisted of remarks shared by Dr. Chris Alexander, a professor of Political Science. Holy cow, give this man a TED talk already. He spoke about the interesting phenomenon that studying abroad has become more popular than ever with American students, but that these experiences have actually decreased in length as they have become more common (foreign language fluency has also decreased over time). Begging the question of whether studying abroad has become more about checking a box on a resume building quest and less about international understanding, exposure, and growth. A staggering 83% of Davidson students have some type of international experience during their 4 years - over 60% of which are credit bearing experiences. Professor Alexander shared anecdotes about how Davidson is working against the grain to emphasize meaning through international experiences. It was a pleasure to hear him speak. 

It is hard to summarize all that we've seen in just one day - but I'll do my best. One theme that the faculty panel really stressed was access. A small college like Davidson can give students unparalleled access in all senses of the word (financial aid leading to access, physical access to campus resources, small class size, faculty and staff access, etc). 70% of faculty live in the area immediately surrounding campus. The liberal arts education at Davidson means intellectual dexterity that can prepare students for the world of work in a way that a pre-professional major at a Research I university just can't.

Speaking of things you won't find at a large university: students get two loads of drop-off laundry per week included as part of tuition.

OMG the new essay topics!!

I literally squealed when I opened the email from the Common App announcing the new essay topics for the Common App 4. The NACAC session this fall (where I got to sit on the floor) really built up the anticipation for the new essays - most notably the end of the 'choose your own topic' choice and the enforcement of a new hard cut off in terms of word count. So, here is the deal: essays now must be between 250 and 650 words. And the essay prompts are:

• Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

• Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

• Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

• Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I'm in love. **Attention overeager Juniors -- do not start drafting your essay now. It is too early!**

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Juniors: Ready, Set, Go!

Last Wednesday marked the first ever Junior College Kickoff - a new approach to the college process that meant jumping right in! (In the past, students got a slow introduction to the process over a series of weeks). THANK YOU to the Class of 2014 for truly making this afternoon presentation a major success. Over the course of two hours, students heard a presentation about the ins and outs of the college process, got a crash course in the Naviance website, got registered on their Naviance accounts, filled out paperwork for me, and took home important forms that will be used to schedule their Junior College Meeting.

I have posted the powerpoints that were presented on the ElRo College Office Website under the 'Juniors' tab. Students were also given their hard copy of the College Office Handbook. This Handbook should be the first place you go to look when you (or your parent/guardian) have a question about the college process.  The next year might be stressful, it might be overwhelming, but very few parts of it will involve a question that doesn't have an answer that can be found in that handbook. Read it cover to cover. Take notes in it. Share it with your family.

Over the next semester, I will meet with each student individually for a one on one meeting. This first of two meetings will mostly focus on getting to know you and brainstorming the qualities you are looking for in a college. Other tasks for juniors this semester include taking standardized testing and starting to visit colleges over weekends and breaks. Remember, students shouldn't turn in their junior meeting request form until AFTER they have completed their Junior Survey in Naviance.

And we're off!

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Demystifying Standardized Testing

Source: socyberty.com via Lindsey on Pinterest

Thanks to everyone who attended last night's Demystifying Standardized Testing event here at ElRo. I think those who came would agree that you came away with lots of great information about college admission testing. Thank you to Kaplan for generously offering to present and share so many good tips.

Couldn't make it last night? Here are the general take aways:

-- Students should explore both the ACT and SAT to determine which exam they are naturally better on. Then take that exam two times using whatever preparation method works best for them. For some people, that will just mean taking a few free practice tests, others will take a group prep class, others still will opt for one on one tutoring.

-- All colleges take both the SAT and ACT - there is no advantage to using one test or the other. Pick the test that is best for you.

-- The ACT has a science section, but it is really more of a reading and graph comprehension section. Don't let it scare you if you think you aren't a science whiz.

-- The SAT has many short sections and is a longer test. The ACT has fewer sections, but each section is longer.

-- The SAT is out of 2400 points and the ACT is out of 36 points. Compare your performance on the two exams by clicking here. 

-- Some colleges (usually the most selective schools in the country) require Subject Tests in addition to the regular SAT or ACT. Most students at ElRo are better served raising their main SAT/ACT score than worrying about these extra tests - BUT for students that notice they are consistently earning top grades and breezing through their ElRo classes, taking a subject test might be something to explore. Extra bonus -- many colleges that ask for Subject Tests will also accept the ACT with writing in place of the SAT and subject tests - so one ACT can be submitted instead of three (the SAT and two subject tests).

-- If you do decide to take a subject test, it is best to take it at the end of the school year when you finish that subject (so for world history, for example, that might be the end of sophomore year when you finish global).

-- The ACT or SAT should be taken at least once in the spring of Junior year (usually between the months of March and June). They can be retaken for a second time as late as November of Senior year.

Happy New Year!

Source: lavieboston.files.wordpress.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Happy New Year from the College Office!

Senior students and their families - don't forget, the FAFSA goes live tomorrow - gather your documents now and go to www.fafsa.gov tomorrow. Haste makes waste though - so don't rush through the form. Call the help line if you get to a question that you don't know how to answer. Use last year's taxes and the final paystub from 2012 to complete the form now. Then resubmit later in the year once your taxes are complete. 

'Tis the Season

 

As 2012 winds down, I'd like to send out a gentle reminder that the end of the calendar year is a great time to take a minute to thank the teachers that wrote you letters of recommendation. I can speak from personal experience when I say that writing letters is something I just don't have time to do during the school day. Every letter represents time taken out of my weekend to advocate for an ElRo student. A teacher, who shall remain nameless, commented how nice it would be if students would say thank you - not with a gift - but with a card or email. I encourage you to make a habit, as you get older, of thanking those that have helped you along the way. Take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work the teachers have put in to help complete your application. Good karma is real, pass it on.

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PSAT Scores

After tomorrow, all 10th and 11th grade students will have received their October 2012 PSAT scores. I spent time presenting to the 10th grade students in small groups and the 11th grade in a grade-wide assembly to make sure that the score report is as transparent as possible. Here are the key things to remember:

-- The PSAT is a normed test not a "percent right" test - so the scores are distributed among test takers with very few people scoring at the lowest and highest possible scores and most of the people scoring the middle. This means that often times the more meaningful thing to pay attention to is not the actual score, but the percentile. For example, a 60 out of 80 (the high score on each section is 80) sounds like you missed 20 points. But a 60 may represent the 88th percentile for that section, an indication that you actually did pretty well compared to your peers (since only 12% of them did better than you).

-- PSAT scores are correlated to real SAT scores (meaning you can usually predict your range of performance on the real thing based on the PSAT) but they are not perfect. You can definitely end up with a different final score on the real exam. At ElRo, our average PSAT score for juniors most years is a 164 (or about a 1640 on the real SAT) but our average SAT score is about an 1800 - an improvement of about 150 points.

-- Some people are ACT people. Don't fight it. If you are better on the ACT, take that test for submission to colleges.

-- Some people are not testing people. Again, don't fight it. Find some testing optional schools that you are interested in, honor your strengths and find colleges that will too.

-- No one sees your PSAT score besides you, your parents, and me. Colleges don't see it and it won't play a role in your college application.

Want more information about Standardized Testing? Join me for 'Demystifying Standardized Tests' an information session for students and families on Wednesday, January 9 at 5 pm in the auditorium.

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Financial Aid Wrap Up

 

This week there were two Financial Aid related events taking place at ElRo. On Tuesday, I presented an assembly to the senior class (their last college assembly ever!) to explain the basics of the financial aid process. Then, last night, Anthony Becker returned to our school to explain to parents and guardians how to fill out the FAFSA form (completed in January of the student's senior year).

Here are some highlights from both presentations:

-- Financial Aid consideration is like a big conveyer belt - you want to get on as soon as you are able and you want to stay on by completing the forms correctly and on time. The early bird gets the $$$.

-- For any student looking to get any sort of financial aid (including both merit aid and need based aid) they will need to complete the FAFSA in January of their senior year. Then, some schools also require the CSS Profile in order for the school to get a more accurate glimpse of your family financial status. Neither form actually gives dollars - both are just a tool used by financial aid offices to determine your family's estimated family contribution (EFC). Then, each college can use their own algorithm to create a personalized financial aid package for you.

-- WAY too many people enter the college process expecting for aid to cover the entire cost of college. Don't hold your breath. Just like any other $20,000 to $200,000, purchase most families are going to HAVE to change their lifestyle in order to accommodate that type of spending in their budget. Loans are going to be a reality for most families. The key is making sure those loans are minimized as much as possible ($5,000 a year in loans? Pretty reasonable. $25,000 a year in loans? Avoid, start over, pick a different school, you will regret it.)

-- The FAFSA should be completed in January using income totals from the last pay stub of the year and estimates from the family taxes the year before. Don't wait to submit the FAFSA for the first time until your taxes are complete. Submit in January, then amend and resubmit later in the year when the taxes are prepared.

-- Different schools are going to offer different packages - and your EFC may or may not be a number you feel your family can actually afford. That is why having a wide range of schools on the list is essential so you can compare the costs and weigh the pros and cons before picking a school.

-- When in doubt, read the directions. ALWAYS double check your FAFSA answers and don't rush. The FAFSA can feel overwhelming, but most questions are pretty straightforward (ie - they tell you what line number to look at on your taxes). Don't let yourself feel pressured. Have all your paperwork in front of you and never guess on things like social security number or legal name - that will bump you off the conveyor belt - a big no-no. Questions? Use resources like the FAFSA help line or the college's financial aid website and office staff to understand the process and forms.

-- If the parents of the student are divorced, the household where the student lives the most is what goes on the FAFSA (including any step parents and their income if the parent is remarried). The CSS Profile goes one step further and asks for the non-custodial parent's household income information, so in that case both parents information will be required. Even if family relationships are strained, this is not the time to dig in your heels. Come together for the sake of the financial aid package and be cooperative and cordial. It will pay off - literally - in that it will keep the child's financial aid application 'on the conveyor belt.'

Anthony is a Certified Financial Planner.  While the FAFSA is free to file (always use www.fafsa.gov NEVER .com) some families benefit from working with a financial planner to adjust their assets in order to qualify for the most legal amount of aid. These appointments are best had BEFORE the child is a senior. But, sometimes adjustments can me made though even as late as December of the senior year - so if you think your family needs help and can afford to work with a professional (rates for the meeting run between $250 and $300 for a meeting) it is worth it to make an appointment. Anthony's number, should you want to schedule an appointment, is 914 722 1777 - or feel free to speak with your own financial planner. The families that usually benefit most are those in the middle income range, who make too much to qualify for much need based assistance but still have a household income that prevents them from paying for a private school tuition out of pocket. A financial planner probably won't make tuition free, but it might knock off a few thousand a year, which adds up over time.

The good news? Most families do NOT pay the sticker price for college and way more qualify for aid than think they will (including those with 6 figure incomes). Don't let a price tag be the factor that removes a school from your list. Having a wide variety of selectivity ranges and cost ranges as a part of the college list will be the best way to make sure that you have the most options to choose from.

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