SAT and ACT Free Practice - April 22-23

Students Can Benefit From This Test Drive

Take a free proctored exam online or in-person and get a detailed score breakdown, access to strategy sessions, and a custom study plan. Students who get anxious about the big test(s) can benefit greatly from the confidence that familiarity brings.

Free SAT & ACT Practice Tests April 22-23

Learn More

What’s Included:

Exclusive online Strategy Sessions for students to learn key test-taking strategies before the practice test.Free online and in-person SAT and ACT practice tests, detailed score reports, and an online session to help students understand their practice test scores.Testing Timeline webinar and a private phone consultation for parents to help create the most effective prep plan for their student.Once students secure their spot, they’ll automatically be enrolled in free online strategy sessions led by an Applerouth tutor. They will help students learn key test-taking strategies and help parents build a custom prep plan.

SAT Strategy Session Tuesday, April 18 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT

Intended for: Students

ACT Strategy Session Thursday, April 20 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT

Intended for: Students

Building Your Student’s Testing Timeline Tuesday, April 25 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT

Intended for: Parents

Understanding Your SAT/ACT Scores Thursday, April 27 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT

Intended for: Students

Everyone’s testing timeline is unique.

Let Applerouth help your students find the test, timeline, and prep plan that are perfect for them!

Start Here

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Schedule a 15-minute call with a Program AdvisorShare with Students & Families

 

Warner Bros. Discovery’s Techwood campus in Atlanta, GA - Leadership Academy

We’re inviting high school sophomores, juniors and current seniors to join 21st Century Leaders and apply to our Warner Bros. Discovery Youth Media Summit!

The application deadline for our Warner Bros. Discovery Youth Media Summit is THIS FRIDAY, March 31st. Even if students have applied to one of our summer leadership institutes, they are welcome to also apply for the summit. Students may attend an institute AND the summit, if accepted.

About the summit:

• Date: Thursday, July 13th, 2023

• Location: Warner Bros. Discovery’s Techwood campus in Atlanta, GA

• What: A one-day summit to explore media hands-on with networking, learning from WBD employees, interacting with a media workplace and more!

• Cost: There is no cost to attend, and lunch will be provided

• Who: Rising high school juniors and seniors, and graduating seniors, with an interest in media

Apply online HERE by March 31st.

Looking for school-year leadership opportunities? Students in any grade level of high school can enroll in our online learning platform, Leadership Connect (LC). Lessons in LC are self-paced, gamefied, and cover our core leadership competencies, social and emotional intelligence, diversity, equity and inclusion, and life skills across three levels. Plus, learning is incentivized with gift card drawings, special event tickets, and rewards.

 

How to Watch Out for Scholarship Scams

From: CollegeData

Fake scholarships can be a real problem. Here are some telltale signs of private scholarship scams and what to do if you fall victim to one.

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported losing more than $5.8 billion to fraud in 2021, an increase of more than 70 percent over the previous year. Who reported the most incidents of fraud? People aged 19 and younger, followed by people aged 20-29.

 

High school and college students in these age groups can easily fall for scholarship scams — and may end up losing money, wasting time, and giving away sensitive personal information to scammers who may later use it for identity theft.

Here are some things to be aware of as you search for scholarships to help you avoid falling for scholarship scams.

Types of Scholarship Scams

The Better Business Bureau publishes a list of typical scams students should watch out for:

Phishing websites: “Phishing” websites look like legitimate websites, but their sole purpose is to get information — your personal information. An advertisement for a scholarship on social media, for example, might lead you to one of these phishing websites — and to an online “application” that asks for personal information, such as your Social Security or credit card numbers.

Fake checks, invitations, and fees: You might receive a personalized invitation to apply for a scholarship – or an email or letter announcing that you have won a scholarship – you just need to pay a processing fee first. Some scammers send phony checks to students and ask them to send payments for tax or other administrative services.

Free seminars: Another type of scam invites you to a free financial aid seminar to learn more about grants and scholarships — but the seminar is really a sales pitch for a paid scholarship search service. When you sign up for the service (and pay in advance), you may never receive any scholarships, or you’ll be given a list of scholarships to apply for on your own — a list you could have in some cases researched yourself.

How to Tell if a Scholarship is a Fake

The FTC has outlined several signs of a scholarship scam. Be wary of statements like these:

"This scholarship is guaranteed, or your money back." No one can guarantee that you'll get a scholarship or grant. If the company promises to refund your "processing fee" if you don't receive a scholarship, you will probably have to jump through impossible hoops to get it.

"You can't get this information anywhere else." Most scholarship information is not secret and is available for free. Your high school counselor or college financial aid office is one free resource. There are multiple websites that list scholarships, such as CollegeData’s free Scholarship Finder.

"I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship." If you hear this, it is time to hang up the phone, delete the email, exit the chat, or otherwise walk away. Never share account numbers or passwords for bank accounts or credit cards or provide your Social Security number when applying for a scholarship.

"We'll do all the work." "All the work" could be a few minutes of searching that you could do yourself. Even if a company finds potential scholarships for you, they usually don't fill out the scholarship applications, which is the more time-consuming part.

"There’s a small fee for the scholarship." No legitimate scholarship charges a fee to apply or to receive scholarship money. Take the FTC’s advice: “Never pay to apply for a scholarship. If a company promises you a scholarship or grant in exchange for a ‘processing cost,’ ‘redemption fee,’ or other upfront payment, walk away.”

"You've been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship." If you hear that you won or are a finalist for a scholarship that you don't recognize, be suspicious. If you don't remember contacting the organization or entering the contest, you probably didn't.

"You can win unclaimed scholarships." The scholarships that supposedly go unclaimed are mostly awards with very specific criteria that few people are eligible for, such as scholarships intended for the children of the sponsoring companies' employees.

Other Ways to Spot Shady Scholarships

Official-sounding names and offers too good to be true. Watch out for organization names that include words like “Federal” or “National,” or web addresses that sound as if they are related to the federal government. Also, beware of guarantees no one could possibly fulfill — or zero eligibility requirements. As several consumer safety websites warn, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Membership fees. Be wary of "honor societies" with prestigious-sounding names. Sometimes these organizations recruit students (and parents) with the lure of exclusive scholarships—for the price of membership. While this may seem tempting, your time and money might be better spent looking for awards you are more likely to get — for free.

High-pressure tactics. If someone contacts you by phone, or you attend a "seminar" on how to win scholarships or increase financial aid, don't allow yourself to be rushed into a decision or payment. Be skeptical of “limited time” offers or "testimonials" from others in the audience. They may be actors.

Missing contact information. Legitimate scholarships will provide an email, a mailing address, a phone number, and often the name of someone to contact if you have questions. If these items are missing from a website or application, be careful.

No eligibility requirements. Some scholarships don’t require applicants to write essays or achieve a minimum GPA. But a legitimate scholarship usually has some way to distinguish its recipients. It could be the state you live in, a club that you or your parents belong to, or the major you plan to study. Learn some unusual ways to qualify for scholarships.

How to Avoid Scholarship Scams

In addition to staying aware of some of the tactics scholarship scammers use, do your own due diligence whenever you search and apply for scholarships.

• Google the name of the scholarship or the scholarship sponsor. The FTC recommends searching for the name of the company or organization followed by the words “scam” or “complaint.” If you see multiple complaints, it’s a red flag.
• Ask good questions. If the company or organization is reluctant to answer your questions about eligibility requirements, the application process, or anything else, you might want to think twice about applying.
• Avoid paying for scholarship information. Again, most information about scholarships is available for free. You should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship or to receive scholarship money.

How to Report Scholarship Fraud

If you encounter a suspicious or fraudulent scholarship, it's important to report it right away. 

• File a complaint with your State Attorney General’s office.

• Report the incident to the FTC and to the Better Business Bureau.

Applying for scholarships is a lot of work. Investigate any scholarship you apply for — and trust your instincts. If something about the scholarship or organization doesn’t feel right — it probably isn’t.

To learn more about scholarships for college visit Scholarship Central on CollegeData.

Class of 2024: Tip for Getting Ready for College

Class of 2024, as you get ready for college admissions, here are some simple tips from a college expert on how to get to your name out to the college admissions representatives and build a relationship with your admissions officer!

 You can do this by following 5 simple steps:

• Send an introductory email. Attach your resume and reference any upcoming college visits to the college campus.
  

• Stay in touch with your admissions officer and ask good questions. Try to write or call once a month until you apply.

• Interact with the college’s social media channels.

• Meet with the admissions officer at college fairs and events hosted by your high school or in your local community.

• Follow up each interaction with your admissions officer with a Thank You note.

 

Dean Stuart Feldman Summer Science Institute for Pre-Pharmacy - Deadline to Apply - April 3rd

Are you interested in STEM and spending a week during the summer at UGA.

The Dean Stuart Feldman Summer Science Institute is looking for rising High School juniors and seniors. 

The new deadline is April 3, 2023. 

The cost of the week long residential program is $350 and need-based financial is available. 

Summer Science Institute - College of Pharmacy UGA 

About the Summer Science Institute The Dean Stuart Feldman Summer Science Institute is designed to provide an introduction and overview of the many career opportunities available in the pharmacy profession. 

Click here for more information: rx.uga.edu

Common application mistakes – 5 big ones and more to come…

by Lee Shulman Bierer

I know you’re rushed, you’re sleep-deprived, and you’re anxious, but, please try to avoid the following application mistakes:

1. MISSED DEADLINES: It’s easy to miss a deadline when you’re juggling so many different applications and supporting documents. Get the ball rolling early for letters of recommendation, test scores and transcripts to make sure that these documents make it into the right hands at the right time. Also, be aware of hidden deadlines; we call these “stealth” programs and deadlines, i.e., you only find out about them if you click certain boxes. This frequently happens with Honors College essays and scholarship opportunities.
2. EXAGGERATING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Admissions counselors are wary of the star athlete who is also a musician and community volunteer and fits the exact mold of the well-rounded college applicant. Colleges aren’t looking for the old laundry list of a dozen clubs where you just showed up, they’re looking for commitment and impact. List the extracurricular activities that are most important to you and the length of time you’ve been involved in them. The goal is to communicate that you’re devoted to a particular pursuit and excel at something.
3. GAMING EARLY ADMISSIONS PROGRAMS: Some application advisers see an advantage in applying for early admission, since it indicates commitment to a particular school. But college counselors caution students against using the policy as an admissions strategy. If you’re only. doing it because you think it will give you a leg up, don’t do it. Early application designations can also trip up well-meaning applicants; before you apply for an early admissions program, make sure that you understand whether your acceptance is binding.
4. FARMING OUT YOUR PERSONAL ESSAY: Be yourself; yes, of course, it’s challenging, so don’t pretend you’re “the ideal college applicant.” Colleges aren’t likely to believe you. This important work of original writing is the place to express your hopes, dreams and experiences — not your parents’. Admissions counselors read so many of these essays, they’re good at spotting those that have been crafted by parents, or worse, bought online.
5. SABOTAGING YOUR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Many students make the mistake of targeting high-profile recommenders, rather than choosing the mentors that know them best. Name-dropping will get you nowhere, say admissions counselors. Opt for a solid, enthusiastic recommendation from a teacher who knows you well. Waiting until the eleventh hour to request a favor doesn’t usually sit well with stressed Counselors and teachers.                                                                                                                    College admissions are more competitive than ever. Your application is an opportunity to showcase your talent and hard work. Take care to avoid these 5 mistakes, and you may improve your college admissions outcomes. More mistakes to come in the next few weeks.

Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte. Send questions to: lee@bierercollegeconsulting.com; www.bierercollegeconsulting.com

 

Want to Transfer to UGA?

From Dr. David Graves, UGA Admissions

Deadlines

Our most up to date deadlines for all of our applications can be found on our deadlines page, but here are some details about the transfer deadlines (for the Athens campus):

• Summer/Fall term transfer deadline – March 1 for both applying and for all materials to be submitted.
• Spring term transfer deadline – August 15 for both applying and for all materials to be submitted.

The deadlines, especially the Summer/Fall March 1 deadline, are set at that time so that UGA admissions can review the transfer files in a timely manner and get decisions out to applicants early enough for students to both make plans for the future and attend orientation. If we had an application or materials deadline in June, we would not be able to turn around decisions until close to the start of the fall term. As well, if we had a later deadline in June, the consideration levels for admission would have to increase dramatically, as we would see an extremely large increase in applications, and we have limitations on how many transfers can enroll in the Summer/Fall. UGA only has space to enroll approximately 1,800 transfer students for the Summer/Fall term, and as such we need to control the size of the transfer class. We generally enroll about 1,000 or so transfers in the Spring term, as space opens up on campus (classroom space, parking, etc.) due to a substantial number of students who graduate in December. As such, Spring term admission is possible for a large number of applicants who might not meet the semester hour requirement/consideration levels for Fall term.

Timelines

• Generally, we begin our review of transfer files in early February, with Summer files being looked at first and then Fall files due to the timing of enrollment. Both Summer and Fall applicants are reviewed in the same way and using the same consideration levels, so we suggest applying for the term in which you actually want to start. We will begin releasing decisions on Friday March 10 at 4 pm EST, and the initial decisions will be a large mix of summer and fall students. We release decisions in the late afternoon on Fridays, and after the initial transfer decision release, we will then release decisions every Friday afternoon until we are finished with the transfer files (with the only exception being March 16, a Thursday, to avoid overlapping with the final Freshman decision date on March 17). We will generally look at applications based on when the file is complete (application is submitted and all transcripts are received for the student), but some files are more complicated than others and make be looked at later in the process.
• While we can give a rough projection on the timelines for decision releases, we cannot guess about individual decision dates. Even students who applied on the same date might have different decision dates due to when their transcripts came in, how many people applied around that date (roughly 1,200 people applied in the first few days), and how challenging the transcripts are to review.

Transfer Review Process

• When UGA reviews a file for transfer admission, we are focusing on two areas for the most part; How many hours of transfer work has been completed and is on a transcript, and what is the GPA that UGA calculates for the transfer work. All grades/hours that will be reviewed must be on a transcript by the application deadline. Advanced placement (AP/IB) credit listed as specific courses with specific hours and college course titles and course numbers on a college transcript may be transferable. UGA requires official transcripts from all colleges attended, even if the work is from dual enrollment courses, transient work at another college, etc.
• UGA Admissions requires at least 30 semester hours of completed transfer work from another college to be submitted on an official transcript by the deadline. If a student is below the 30 hour threshold, we will deny the application due to not meeting the requirement. We also have set up our application to give a warning to all applicants who list less than 30 hours of transfer work completed to let them know of the situation.
• UGA does not look at in-progress work when making decisions, so all materials must be submitted to our office by the stated deadline.
• UGA requirements state that a student must have completed 30 transferrable hours by the application deadline (this can include AP/IB credit listed as coursework on an official college transcript), and that the student must have been out of high school for a year prior to the start of their initial term at UGA. As such, a student with a large amount of dual enrollment could not apply to UGA as a transfer for the fall after they graduate from high school (they would apply as a freshman). For transfer applicants, we want to see at least a full year of college work post high school to make a good determination about admission.
• We have a Transfer FAQ with more details about some specific transfer questions, and it also goes into detail about how courses transfer into UGA.

 

Waitlisted! Now What?

CollegeData

When your top-choice college puts you on a waitlist, it can feel like a denial. While the suspense can be difficult to bear, you still might have a chance of getting in. Learn how to estimate the odds of getting admitted off a waitlist, campaign for your admission, and determine your next steps.

What does “waitlisted” mean?

College waitlists include qualified students who might be admitted if room in the class becomes available. Why do colleges use waitlists? Because colleges know that some students they admit will turn them down. If more students say "no thanks" than they expect, the college turns to its waitlist to find more qualified students.

What are your chances of being admitted off a college waitlist?

According to a 2019 survey from the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), 43 percent of four-year colleges reported using a waitlist in 2018. Of all the students who accepted a position on the waitlist at these colleges, 20 percent were admitted. However, of the students who accepted a waitlist position at the most selective colleges (those admitting less than 50 percent of applicants), only 7 percent were admitted.

Waitlist statistics for 2020 and 2021 have not yet been released by NACAC. However, college admissions consulting firm College Kickstart reviewed a sample of waitlist statistics from 100 public and private institutions and found that on average, 29 percent of students accepting a place on a waitlist were admitted in 2020, up from 18 percent in 2019.

Your waitlist letter might include how many students the college has in the past admitted off the waitlist. If it doesn’t, go ahead and ask. CollegeData’s college profiles include waitlist statistics for the colleges that report them. You can find these profiles using CollegeData’s College Search tool.

What to do right away if you are waitlisted

1. Submit your enrollment deposit to a college that accepted you and that you want to attend. This guarantees you a spot and gives you breathing room to consider your next steps.
2. Mentally commit to the college you accepted. Even if you stay on the waitlist at your first-choice school, your chances of getting admitted may be low. It’s important that you have a spot at a college.

How to decide if you should stay on a waitlist

1. Find out where you rank on the list. Your waitlist letter may say you are in the first pool of students to be considered for admission.
2. If not, contact the admission office and find out if there is a priority list, or if the list is ranked. Ask where you are on the list, and whether there are any financial aid limitations for students admitted off the waitlist.
3. Do you need financial aid from the college? If you are waitlisted and need financial aid, be aware that the college may have exhausted its aid allotment for that year.

How to improve your chances of admission off a waitlist

• Keep communication open. If you really want to attend a school that waitlisted you, communicate that message to the admissions office as soon as possible. 
• Write a letter or email and ask that it be included in your file. You should state in no uncertain terms that if you are accepted, you will without question attend. It's important to mention specific reasons why you continue to believe the school is the best fit for you. See nationally recognized college admissions advisor Sara Harberson’s blog post about how to write a good waitlist follow-up letter.
• Arrange for a new recommendation letter (if the college will accept one). Ask someone who hasn't already written a recommendation letter for you and who can add new insights into your character or academic achievements that your other recommenders didn’t mention.
• Don't be a pest or appear desperate, even if you feel that way!

Don't get trapped in waitlist limbo

If you were not admitted to any of the colleges on your list. or into any colleges that you want to attend, it’s important to consider a back-up plan. This might include taking a gap year or attending community college and transferring later to a four-year school.

Otherwise, start planning your new life at the college you have accepted and enjoy your senior year. If the college that waitlisted you gives you the nod, terrific! If not, embrace the school you will be attending in the fall, knowing it’s a school you applied to for good reasons and one that wanted you all along.

 

UGA Admissions - A Note from UGA Admissions

We plan to make the final wave of freshman decisions available today, March 17th, at 4 PM EST. For those of you who have been admitted to UGA, here is a post for you and a chance to comment.  Please remember that this is not a blog where you should post statistics or throw fellow students under the bus. These types of comments will be deleted.

Congratulations to all of the freshman who were admitted and we look forward to you becoming part of the Bulldog Nation.  The next steps for a new student can be seen in the flyer in your admission packet, so please go ahead and review what you need to do next.  In addition, there will be a great deal of information you can access off of your Status page.  When you have the time, please review this, as there is key information in the Next Step materials.  Please remember a small number of students will be admitted to start in January 2024.  You will find specific information on your Status page and in your admissions packet, and it is stated very clearly so there is no confusion.

Here are some rough statistics on the Entire Freshman Admitted Class for 2023 – November, February and March waves, where we have admitted 15,340+ students total, which is somewhat below last year’s offers of admission (I do not have separate data on just the final March group, sorry):

Total Applicants:  15,340+ Accepted for Fall out of roughly 43,700+ total applicants.

• Total GA Resident Applicants – 18,464, with roughly 8,800 admitted GA residents. Total Non GA Residents/International Student Applicants – 25,237, with roughly 6,500 Non-GA admits.
• UGA is the flagship institution for the state of Georgia, and as such our goal is to enroll a class that is roughly 80% Georgians. This is an enrollment number, not an admission offer number, but it does mean that our admission offers are more heavily Georgian than non Georgian. Please remember that admitted student information is different from enrolled student information, as we know that a much larger percentage of Georgians will accept our offer than non-Georgians due to cost, distance, etc.
• I will not break down the academic data into GA/non-GA accepted students, because overall the academic information is very similar, with the only difference of note being that test scores are somewhat higher for non-GA accepted students.

UGA Calculated Grade Point Average mid-range/average:  4.06 – 4.33, with a 4.19 average

• Please remember this is not the GPA students see on their high school transcript, but rather the GPA that UGA recalculates for everyone based on the core academic courses taken in high school and looking at the actual grades posted on the transcripts. Roughly 91% of the HS core grades were A’s, and 8+% were B’s, thus showing the academic strength of the accepted group.

AP/IB/Dual Enrollment course mid-range/average: 8-13 courses, average of 10+

• We determine academic rigor based on all core classes a student has taken (CP, Honors, Advanced, AP, IB, DE, etc.) as compared to what is offered in the school/community. This is not based simply on the number of AP/IB/DE courses, but instead we look at the overall coursework over four years in the core areas and the progression of rigor over the years. The AP/IB/DE information is the most specific data I can give on it, but the numbers do not cover all of our curriculum review.

SAT Total mid-range for students: 1270-1470

• This data is based on admitted students where the SAT was the strongest score if both SAT and ACT were submitted or if the SAT was the only test taken and sent.

ACT Composite mid-range for students:  29-34

• Remember, UGA focuses on ACT E and M. For reporting purposes, we give out the best score overall ACT score, but the ACT E and M are very similar to the overall score.
• This data is based on admitted students where the ACT was the strongest score if both SAT and ACT were submitted or if the ACT was the only test taken and sent.

For the 2023 class, the biggest academic factors were still a student’s grades and course rigor, as these are the best indicators of future success in the UGA classroom. While almost all of our decisions are made without taking residency into consideration, we do have a small group of students in this final decision group where we did use GA residency as a part of the review.

For the small group of Spring 2024 admits, this decision is final. We are not able to change students to Fall and we are not able to consider them as Wait List students. An email will go out explaining the Spring offer in more detail.

The Housing and myID pages may need a few business days before your information will be available.  Please be patient with these sites. I am guessing you will not be able to sign up for Housing until at least Monday. In addition, the Office of Student Financial Aid plans on sending out Estimated Offer Letters to newly admitted students next week.

A majority of our scholarships will also go out today, and we will finish the scholarship awarding process in late March/early April. When we are done with our scholarship awarding, we will communicate by email that the process is done. During our final scholarship reviews and awards, we will be offering scholarships to a wide range of students who have been admitted during any of our decision dates (November, February or March). In addition, the Honors website has indicated that the final group of Honors decisions will go out in early April. 

You have until May 1 to submit a commitment deposit in order to hold a spot in our freshman class.  We hope the next stage of the admission process is a little less nerve wracking than the decision process.  As you celebrate, make sure to be considerate of others in your school who may not have been admitted.

Good luck in the next stage of the college admissions process.  Go Dawgs!

Colleges—About Those Rejection Letters

by Patrick O'Connor, Ph.D.

I offered my condolences to the father of a student turned down by their dream school. The father seemed to be taking the news in a calm, but disappointed, manner.

 

But his goodwill had its limits, which was clear when he talked about the letter his child had received. “The second half of this letter is absolute nonsense” he said. “It says, ‘You have a great deal to offer as a student, and we know your future will be bright.’ What is that all about? If he has so much to offer, then why didn’t they take him?”

 

Rejection letters are tricky things, to be sure, and it’s wise for colleges to offer as much support as possible when communicating a no. At the same time, these letters need to consider the cognitive domain of the reader as well as the affective domain. If all you have to offer is a hug after just saying no, that’s not going to confuse everyone—it’s going to anger them, which is what the colleges wanted to avoid in the first place.

 

What would have helped this rejection letter? Well:

 

Data Once a student is told they weren’t admitted, it’s pretty reasonable they’d like to know why. This is where a few basic numbers can be a college’s best friend. “We saw an increase of 14% in our applicant pool over last year, which meant we had to turn down many students who would have otherwise been admitted.” “The average high school GPA of our admitted students this year was a 3.7, a significant increase over past years.” Anything along these lines gives the student some idea as to where they stood, and why they landed where they did.

 

Institutional priorities Every college has its own quirks in the admissions decisions each year, and they aren’t always the same. A lack of engineering applicants increases the chances that students who wanted engineering are more likely to be admitted, while an increase in History majors means a smaller percentage of them are going to get a Yes. Some of these priorities are established at the start of the year, while others are shaped by the applicant pool. Either way, it’s not unreasonable to share them with applicants whose hopes have been dashed, since it provides context.

 

Encouragement to apply again This year’s applicant pool may be record setting, but that may not be the case next year. Following up a little bit of data with the suggestion they consider applying again, either as an incoming freshman or a transfer student, drives home the idea that the college really did think the student had possibilities. And with a big drop in high school seniors coming up, it’s not a bad idea to build next year’s applicant pool now.

 

That said, there is one thing that should never go into a rejection letter. Suggesting that the student wasn’t admitted because the college sensed the student didn’t align with the college’s mission or values statement is nothing short of insulting. Sure, oboe majors shouldn’t apply to engineering school. On the other hand, saying a student isn’t admissible because of some philosophical divergence is pretty cheeky. Would this student really not have been accepted if the applicant pool had dropped by 20 percent?

 

It’s commendable that colleges want to support students when they hear bad news, but support suggests a framework that lifts them up, not one that leaves them with more questions, or hurt feelings. Keeping it real is the key to an effective No letter, and the best way to respect a student’s intelligence.

 

The Legal Documents You Need When Your Child Turns 18

by Helene Wingens | May 18, 2021

Before your 18-year-old heads out the door, ensure you have the legal documents to protect her. Accidents and illnesses happen to everyone, including young adults, and you want to be able to speak to healthcare providers, keep informed and help make decisions for your teen once they leave home. 

Here’s what you need to know when your teen turns 18. Three forms facilitate the involvement of a parent (or whoever is designated) in an emergency or other situation.

What You May Need In A Medical Emergency

1. Health Care Proxy (also referred to as a healthcare agent or medical power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, or durable power of attorney for health care)

This authorizes someone to make medical decisions on your teen’s behalf, giving you access to your medical records and the ability to converse with their medical healthcare providers. By signing a healthcare proxy, your teen is appointing you to act on your behalf in making medical decisions in case you cannot make those decisions for yourself.

Each state has different laws that govern the execution of a healthcare proxy (state laws differ on whether a medical proxy has to be notarized or merely witnessed). And, therefore the legal form you sign will be specific to the state where it will be used. In many states, HIPAA authorization is rolled into the standard medical proxy form. In addition, a healthcare proxy can include a Living Will, or you can execute a separate document stating your wishes for end-of-life medical treatment.

2. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) authorization (also called a HIPAA release)

This is a more narrow document in that it permits healthcare providers to disclose your teen’s healthcare information to you or anyone they specify.

This document alone will often suffice to get information from the healthcare institution treating your child. In a HIPAA authorization, young adults can stipulate that they don’t want to disclose information about sex, drugs, mental health, or other details that they prefer to keep private. As with the broader healthcare proxy, a HIPAA release can include a Living Will.

3. Durable Power of Attorney (Durable POA)

This enables a designated agent (in this case, a parent) to make financial decisions on the student’s behalf. The POA can provide that power vests in you immediately after signing the document or only if your child becomes incapacitated.

The POA enables the designated agent to, among other things, sign tax returns, access bank accounts, pay bills, make changes to your child’s financial aid package, or figure out tuition problems. Durable POA forms vary by state. In some states, the medical POA (or, as we called it, the healthcare proxy) can be included in the Durable POA.

Each state has variations on these forms and how they can be combined, so you MUST consult your state’s laws or speak to a local attorney who practices in this field.

As parents, we always hope that we won’t need these forms, but it’s always better to be prepared in case you do.

When Should You Get These Documents?

You should prepare these documents ahead of time because it may take time to get everything in order, including notarization (although not every state requires notarization.) Once kids take off for school, it may be hard to get their attention, so be mindful of that.

What Else Changes When Your Teen Turns 18?

When your teen reaches the age of 18, even though you may still think of them as children, under the law, they have now achieved adult status. That status allows them to vote, serve in the military, serve on a jury, sign a contract, and get married without their consent. Although they still can’t do certain things, like drink alcohol or rent cars, their legal status is decidedly different than it was at 17.

1. All males with US citizenship (with very few exceptions) must register for the selective service upon reaching 18.
2. Although not required, this is an excellent time for your kids to register to vote.
3. When your children turn 18, you no longer automatically have the authority to make healthcare decisions for them. And this is true even if they are still covered by your health insurance, and you are paying the bill. If your child has an accident or illness and is temporarily disabled, you may need court approval to act on their behalf or even inform them of their medical status.
4. Even though you are paying for their education, the FERPA law says you no longer have access to your child’s grades once they turn 18. That’s right, you can call the registrar and ask to see your 18-year-old’s transcript, and they will not share it with you even though you’re signing the tuition checks.
5.  You can no longer manage money for your children once they turn 18.

 

 

I'd Like More Financial Aid, PLEASE!!!

By CollegeData

What if your financial aid package just isn't enough? Don't give up. You've got options. Here's how to ask for more financial aid.

Before you abandon the college of your dreams, consider having a discussion with a financial aid officer at the college. Here are some guidelines for making a financial aid appeal.

Take Action as Soon as Possible

By the time admission letters go out, most colleges have used up their financial aid, especially grants and scholarships. So, timing is crucial. If you think you have a good case to present, contact the financial aid office immediately upon getting your aid offer.

Correct Any FAFSA or Profile Errors

You can make corrections to your FAFSA on the FAFSA website. Your FAFSA provides a "snapshot" of your financial situation on the date you originally signed it, so your corrections must be valid as of that date, not afterward. Corrections due to a change in circumstances after filing the FAFSA are done through the college (see below).

If you submitted the CSS Profile, you cannot submit changes online. You must update a hard copy of your Acknowledgement Report or the CSS Profile Form you submitted, and send copies of it to all the colleges on your list. Be sure to contact the financial aid offices at your prospective colleges to confirm the process they would like you to follow and to let them know you have submitted corrections.

Report Financial Changes and New Information to the College

To report changes in financial circumstances or to provide information not included on aid applications, you must appeal directly to the college. Check with the college to verify its procedure for submitting and documenting this information.

Often, the college will ask you to submit a financial aid appeal letter. The letter should explain how your circumstances have changed and include documents supporting your claim, such as medical bills or layoff notices. 

Financial aid offices are likely to consider the following circumstances:

• Disability or serious illness

• Divorce, separation, or remarriage

• Birth of a sibling

• Care for an elderly parent

• Unemployment or lowered income

• Moved or sold home

• Tuition for private school for a sibling

• Increase in child care expenses

• Siblings attending college

• Changes in the number of dependents in a household

Ask for More Gift Aid

The aid that reduces college cost is gift aid (scholarships and grants). Aid officers may be open to discussing an increase in gift aid if you are a desirable candidate for admission, have a strong case, and make your appeal early.

Ask for a Change to Your Cost of Attendance

The standard cost of attendance (COA) used in your aid calculation may not take into account costs that apply to your situation. For example, you might have higher transportation expenses if you live far from the college; purchases may be required for your major, such as a computer; or there may be costs to accommodate a disability. The financial aid office has the authority to increase the COA for your situation, which increases your financial need. If the college has aid available, they might increase your aid package.

Tips for Working with the College

• Know the procedure for filing an appeal. You can usually find general guidelines for filing an appeal on the college's website. If you can't find this information online, contact the financial aid office directly.
• Decide whether you or your parent should contact the aid office. Aid officers say they are impressed with a student who takes the initiative to make the call. In many situations, however, the parent is better prepared to discuss a family's financial situation.
• Be prepared to provide documentation. The financial aid officer is likely to ask for documentation of the circumstances that have changed your financial picture. This could mean an official letter from your mom's company confirming that she was laid off or financial records for the past six months that show a steady loss of income.
• Know how attractive you are to the college. If you believe you are a desirable student, explore the possibility of getting or increasing merit aid from the college. Merit-based aid may be handled by the admissions office. If you have been in touch with a professor or coach, they might be able to put in a good word for you as well.
• Wait until you have other offers in hand. You will have more leverage with a college's financial aid office if at least one other college has accepted you and offered you a better financial aid package. If another college has offered a more attractive package, say so.
• Don't challenge the college with an ultimatum. Explain how much you really want to attend that college, but that the cost is holding you back.
• Say please and thank you. When asking for more gift aid or simply updating your eligibility factors, approach the parties holding the purse strings in a calm, professional, and reasonable manner. You're more likely to come out ahead.

 

What’s in a Financial Aid Award Package?

CollegeData

When a college offers you financial aid, it's important to understand exactly what it is offering you — especially before you sign on the proverbial dotted line. Here's how to decipher your financial aid award letter and see just how much it reduces your college cost.

Once a college admits you — and crunches the numbers you provided on your financial aid applications — it will offer you a "financial aid package" (sometimes called an award). In this package are different types of aid intended to meet all or part of your financial need for one academic year. The size and makeup of a financial aid package is, for many students, a major factor in determining which college to choose.

What Should Be In Your Financial Aid Award Letter

Your award letter will list the types and amounts of aid being offered. Aid may be a grant, a scholarship, a loan, work-study — or a combination of these aid types.

The award letter should also include:

• A breakdown of the college's cost of attendance (COA)
• Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• The amount of your financial need the college is meeting
• The deadline for accepting the aid offered
• How and when the money will be disbursed
• The academic period the award covers
• The process for accepting or declining aid
• Any additional documentation needed

Read the Award Letter Carefully

The content of award letters can vary dramatically from college to college. It may not contain all the information listed above. Award letters may use terminology and acronyms that you do not recognize. Before accepting any aid, be sure to ask the financial aid office for missing information and clarification of anything you don't understand.

Identify Aid That Reduces College Costs

Although your aid package may seem to cover most or all of your financial need, not all aid actually reduces your college cost.

• Gift aid (scholarships and grants) reduces your college cost because you do not need to repay it or work for it. Look for words like "scholarship," "grant," "discount," and "award" in your award letter.
• Self-help aid (loans and work-study) does not reduce your college cost. Self-help aid simply makes it easier for you to pay for college out of your own pocket. You will need to pay back this money or work for it.

Don't rely on the college to identify gift aid and self-help aid. Do the analysis yourself. In particular, some awards are not easily recognizable as loans. When in doubt, call the financial aid office.

Figure Your "Net Price" to Attend

Your actual cost to attend a college (your "net price") is simply the COA minus your gift aid. The resulting number is the dollar amount you will have to cover from other sources. If an award letter provides a "net price" figure, look at it closely. It may treat loans and work-study as aid that reduces your net price, when in fact these types of aid add to your net price.

Compare Aid Packages

Comparing aid packages from different colleges can be tricky because there is no standard approach to award letters.

• Be sure the COA contains the same elements for each college. The major components are tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, local transportation, and personal expenses. If anything is missing, ask the financial aid office for a full COA breakdown.
• Identify the gift aid and the self-help aid on each award letter. Then, for each college, separately total up all gift aid and all self-help aid.
• Run the numbers for each college. Subtract the gift aid from the college's COA to see your net price. Ultimately, you may not choose the college with the lowest net price or the college that will put you in the least amount of debt, but the information can be invaluable when making your final college decision.

Before You Accept Your Aid Offer

• Check the loan terms and conditions. Check the interest rate, fees, years to repay, whether the loan is a student or parent obligation and whether interest is subsidized or unsubsidized. Make sure that you or your family can afford to make the payments. For help, visit the Department of Education's Loan Simulator to estimate your future federal loan payments.
• Find out what happens after the first year. Your aid award is good for only one year. Find out if the college typically offers less gift aid and more loan aid after freshman year. Also, find out if your scholarships are renewable for subsequent years and what the requirements are for renewal.
• Identify any strings attached. Many scholarships and grants require students to maintain a certain GPA and take a specific number of course credits to remain eligible for the aid.
• Find out the college's policy on outside scholarships. Your college will require you to report any outside scholarships you win. Some colleges apply the scholarship to any unmet need, some will reduce your loans, and others will reduce your gift aid.

Accepting and Declining Aid

You don't have to accept all of the aid listed in your award letter. Accept or decline each aid offer as soon as you are comfortable and certainly before the acceptance deadline.

Taking Care of Your EFC and Unmet Need

If your total award does not meet your full financial need, or you need help covering your EFC, you have options. You may be able to take out a private education loan. Your parents may qualify for a PLUS loan. You can ask the college about staggered payment plans. You can also review your situation with the financial aid office. If your financial circumstances have changed since you filed your FAFSA, the office may be able to adjust your package.

 

How to Build a Strong Profile for College Admissions - Countdown to Fall 24

By Katie, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor

Most savvy college applicants these days are finely tuned into the fact that it takes a lot more than being an accomplished, high-achieving student to gain a coveted acceptance to the nation’s top institutions. But how exactly do you develop the best applicant profile? What can you do over your four years of high school to define your niche, find that hook, and, most importantly, become the best version of yourself that colleges will be excited to snatch right up?

A lot of developing your profile is hard work on your part as the student: to give 110% to the things you love and are passionate about, to identify and pursue your interests with excitement and enthusiasm, to take the most challenging classes you can while maintaining high grades, and so on. It’s a tall order to develop a profile that colleges will jump on, but here are a few key items to focus on that will help you work towards developing the best profile.

Start Early 

Begin getting active and involved as early as possible. It’s okay if your interests shift and change as you navigate high school, but admissions officers love to see longer-term, sustained, and continued commitment to activities, interests, and endeavors. While you might not see how being involved with Model United Nations or playing a sport all four years of high school will factor into your overall profile when you apply, they’re still valuable. You might not be angling to be a college-level athlete or an international delegate, but don’t underestimate the value admission officers see in you committing long-term to an activity, showing up for practice every day, working hard, contributing to group efforts, and navigating challenges — all great qualities that colleges look for in their prospective students.

Be Intentional About Academics and Testing 

To be given serious consideration by the most highly selective universities out there, you need to have succeeded at the most rigorous and challenging curriculum available to you. Grade inflation, coming out of the pandemic, is pretty rampant across the U.S. While a lower grade or two across your four years was easier to look past or explain away during the pandemic, this is no longer true. This is less applicable to international education systems, as there is not the same degree of grade inflation in the British, French, German, Chinese, or other systems.

This is tough, and I wish there was more room for bumps in the road in the process. But the process is competitive for so many schools these days, so without another significant hook, one low grade or taking fewer AP courses compared to other top students at your high school can be an easy reason for an admissions officer to punt your application to the “no” pile.

I offer the same caveat around test scores. Although so many schools have remained test-optional, optional still means strongly recommended. The one caveat with this is that if your test scores are below the middle 50% of admitted students, it does not benefit you to submit test scores and give the college a reason to deny you. Better to try your odds test-optional.

Make an Impact in Extracurriculars and Activities

There still is no magic combination of activities that a college is looking for, but being active in your school community, finding ways to make an impact on the world around you, and participating and contributing to group efforts are all things that help make up your extracurricular profile. Colleges want to admit students who will be active in their student government; write breaking news stories for the school paper; or contribute to university-wide initiatives around diversity, equity, and inclusion. The best way to gauge who those students might be is to look at what they do with their time after school, on weekends, and during the summer.

As a 9th grader, cast a wide net — join a bunch of things and figure out what you like. Then as you progress into 10th and 11th grade, cull the things you don’t really love and put your time and energy into those things that bring you joy. But equally important to being part of these activities and endeavors is thinking about the impact you want to leave. How will the club sustain itself after you graduate? How are you leaving things better than when you joined? What can you do to improve or contribute to group efforts?

Plan Productive Summer Breaks

I often have conversations with students and families about what the “best” thing is to do over the summer. There is no one endeavor or activity that is better than another. It’s okay to pay to go to a program, and it’s okay to spend the summer working as a camp counselor. What is crucial is what you take out of the experience, how you reflect on it, and what you do as a result of that experience. The key thing is to be deliberate and purposeful in what you do. Serve as the camp counselor, but look for ways to connect your role to your academic interests. For example, if you’re interested in environmental science and climate change, look for ways to implement more sustainable practices at the camp. Or, if you hope to go into business, ask to spend some time shadowing the business manager to learn about the operations and financial side of the camp.

Use the summer (when you aren’t bogged down by academic work) to dive deeper into the subjects that intrigue you. Read books, listen to podcasts, take an online class, explore the topics and problems that captivate you, and become as much of an expert on the subject as possible. Writing and speaking with conviction on the ideas, issues, and topics that interest you will only help you come across better in the application process.

Build Strong Teacher and Counselor Relationships 

Nurture the relationships in your life, such as the teachers you see on a daily basis, the club moderator, or your parent’s friend who happens to work in an industry that interests you. Share your interests, passions, or struggles to find what you love with those trusted adults. Every twist and turn my life has taken, both educationally and professionally, has been helped along by the relationships I’ve found along the way. Don’t underestimate the connections these relationships can help you make to opportunities that further your interests or even just having a mentor to bounce ideas off of as you are thinking about how you want to spend your time.

The other side of nurturing these relationships is that being well-liked, respected, and known by your teachers and school community can go a long way when it comes to how your personality and presence are talked about in your letters of recommendation. It can be challenging for the all-around awesome students who have done all the right things in terms of academics, extracurriculars, and developing their profile, but don’t necessarily check a box as an institutional priority (unique academic interest, diverse background, legacy, special talent or skill — like an athletic recruit or the tuba player that the marching band needs) to make the cut. The students in this category I have seen admitted over the last couple of years, however, are those whose personal qualities jump off the page, from their essays to the way their recommenders describe them and their impact on their communities.

Undoubtedly, being a high school student today and developing a compelling profile with your sights on the nation’s most selective institutions is akin to a full-time job. The key is finding the things you love and pursuing them wholeheartedly. Have fun doing this, but don’t just do things for the sake of doing them. Take the time to be reflective and think about what brings you joy in the things you are doing, what you are good at, and how those two facets come together in a way that can contribute to making the world a better place.