Sharp Decline in Early Acceptance at Elite Schools

Getting accepted into a top college has seemingly become even more competitive during the Covid 19 epidemic.

Colleges had already been posting extremely competitive acceptance rates, with eight percent, or fewer, applicants gaining acceptance to the top tier schools, according to statistics from U.S. News and World Reports. These institutions include Stanford, Columbia, Harvard, California Institute of Technology, Princeton, University of Chicago, Yale, Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Pomona, Dartmouth, Duke, Julliard, U.S. Naval Academy and University of Pennsylvania. To increase their chances of acceptance, students frequently choose one university and apply early decision or restrictive early action. 

But the fall of 2020 saw a dramatic rise in early admission applications, making it even tougher to gain acceptance to these highly selective schools.  At Harvard and Yale restrictive early action applications rose by 57% and 38%, respectively, according to The Wall Street Journal.  The result is that, although both of these schools accepted 14% of their early applicants last year, only 7.4% were accepted to Harvard and 10% to Yale this academic year.

Students get a Second Chance at “Early Decision”

Students who have gotten bad news in recent days from their Early Decision college – either being turned down or being waitlisted – should know that all hope is not lost.  They still have another option, which could bring them exciting news and get them off the college application merry-go-round, early in the new year.

Many colleges offer Early Decision II, with a January application deadline and notification in February – close to two months prior to the typical April 1st college response date. The main advantage of applying early decision, in addition to getting an early response, is that colleges usually accept a much higher percentage of early decision applicants.  Because early decision is binding, colleges know that any students they accept will definitely attend – increasing their “yield” (percentage of accepted students who enroll). The main downfall of applying early decision is the fact that it is binding, preventing students from comparing different financial aid packages that they might receive from different colleges. 

Asking Questions to Best Identify Ideal College

Asking questions is the key to getting information in so many areas of life – including the choice of college.  The key to truly finding out what your college experience would be like at any given school is to carefully research the answers that are readily available, and then seek out the answers that may not be so obvious.

Every college hosts a website offering statistics in a wide range of categories including its number of students, the percent of students that live on campus, the most popular majors, and the sticker price to attend. The website bigfuture.collegeboard.org offers a gamut of additional information on almost every college in the country regarding average SAT scores and selectivity, diversity of the student body, sports and activities, learning support programs, and much more.

Online Surveillance in College Admission Process

While most high school students maintain an active online presence, they often have no idea that colleges are monitoring their actions and “scoring” them accordingly.  

The Washington Post reported that admissions officers at the University of Wisconsin installed tracking software on their school website that indicated when a student visited their site, which pages were viewed, and how long the student spent on each page.  Additional information profiling the student was provided, and the student was assigned an “affinity index” estimating his/her likelihood of attending the school, if accepted.

University of Wisconsin is not alone.  According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, “enrollment officers at Seton Hall University, Quinnipiac University, and Dickinson College know down to the second when prospective students opened an email from the school, how long they spent reading it and whether they clicked through to any links.”

Lifetime Salaries Can Literally Vary by Millions

As millions of students prepare to graduate from high school and head off to college, well-meaning parents often encourage them to choose the major of their dreams.  Sometimes, students have known for years the particular career that would be perfect for them.  Other times, students enter college “undecided” and end up making a decision as they move through their coursework. But few students realize the economic impact of their choices.

On average, an individual with a bachelor’s degree earns nearly twice the lifetime income of someone with a high school diploma. But just as significant – from a monetary point of view – is the choice of major that can either launch a student into a high paying career or leave the graduate struggling to pay off skyrocketing student debt. In fact, college graduates with the highest-paying majors earn $3.4 million more than those with the lowest-paying majors, over the course of their careers, according to a study by the Georgetown University Center of Education and the Workforce.

Cut 25% Off The Total Cost of a College Degree

Three million Americans over the age of 60 are still paying off student debt. Approximately 40,000 of them are having Social Security or other government payments garnished.  It shouldn’t be this way.  To avoid the likelihood of joining these ranks, parents and students need to do some careful planning well before deciding on their college of choice.

One of the best ways of reducing the total cost of a college education is reducing the number of years spent acquiring a college degree.  By taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school, taking an extra course (at no extra charge) during some college semesters, and/or taking courses at a college close to home in the summer, students can often complete their college requirements in three years, cutting 25% off what is typically a four-year college bill.

Strategies to Get Accepted to Colleges of Choice

 

The best way to get “Your Accepted” letters is to present yourself as an ideal candidate for each college to which you apply.  If you’re a legacy, let them know.  Many colleges favor applicants whose parents are alumni – especially if they’ve been donating over the years.  If you are the first in your family to seek a college education, let them know.  Most colleges favor students whose parents are not college educated.  If your family can afford to pay the full sticker price and not seek financial aid, let them know.  Some colleges are “need blind,” and admit students regardless of whether or not they are applying for financial aid.  Other colleges are “need-aware” or “need-sensitive,” and may consider financial need when deciding whether or not to admit an applicant.  This category includes American and George Washington universities in Washington D.C., and Tufts University, Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges in Massachusetts, among many others.

Students Get a Second Chance at “Early Decision”

Many college-bound students aim to avoid the stress of waiting all senior year to find out which colleges will accept them.  They apply Early Decision I, meeting a November 1st or November 15th application deadline, and then typically hear back from their college of choice prior to the December holiday break.  If they are accepted, the holidays are a joyful time as they and their families can celebrate that the anxiety-ridden college application process is over.

But, for those students who are turned down by their Early Decision I college, or those who failed to meet the November deadline, all hope is not lost.  Many colleges offer Early Decision II, with a January application deadline and notification in February – close to two months prior to the typical April 1st college response date.

High Schoolers: Lessons to be Learned from COVID

By observing students in the high school class of 2021 anxiously submitting their college applications, there are many lessons to be learned by those who will be following in their footprints.

Don’t procrastinate.  Many students, thinking they had plenty of time to take the SAT, ended up having few or no opportunities.  Since students are allowed to submit their highest test scores on college applications, those who started taking the test early in their high school years enjoyed a significant advantage. Even though many colleges went “test optional,” they will obviously admit – and award scholarship money to -- the most impressive applicants.

Top Northeast Schools for Aspiring Business Majors

Business has long been one of the most popular undergraduate majors, with students choosing specialties from a wide range of options.  The pandemic has not lessened its popularity but has emphasized the importance of adapting to the ever-changing business environment.

A recent Money article, “The 10 Best Business Colleges in the U.S.,” names four Northeast colleges and universities at the very top of its list.  City University of New York’s Baruch College earned first place, with its Manhattan location and “its promise of real-life training in the business world, and its commitment to making connections with potential employers.” Its estimated annual price of $4,300 (with average grant) adds to the appeal.

Tips To Know If Choosing The ACT Over The SAT Exam

As they struggle with test centers closing and exams being cancelled, some high school students are finding themselves taking the ACT instead of the SAT. It’s important to note that all colleges accept either SAT or ACT scores on their applications, and no college requires both.

Students tend to favor the SAT over the ACT, as the SAT mirrors the PSAT which many high school students take as sophomores and almost all take as juniors when it counts as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Exam. The SAT and ACT have many similarities, but there are also distinct differences that students should be aware of in advance of their test date.

Stand Out on College Apps with Personalized Essay

Most high school students who are applying to colleges start out by completing The Common Application that is accepted by more than 800 colleges.  It requires one essay, and students can choose from a variety of topics or one of their own creation.  Due to the importance of writing an interesting, grammatically correct, essay most students get help from a variety of sources. In many schools, the writing of this essay is incorporated into the English IV curriculum with teachers editing their students’ rough drafts. Often parents, relatives or friends offer their input as well. At times, a private counselor is hired to insure that an impressive essay is submitted that is likely to garner the approval of college admissions officers. The end result, according to colleges, is that most of the essays they receive are good enough to be published.  The problem: they seldom reflect the students’ independent work.

“Early” College App Deadlines Rapidly Approaching

What greater holiday gift is there for a college bound student than to receive a fat acceptance letter, or a congratulatory email, from a college of choice? But in order to have a chance of getting such good news by the holidays, students typically need to submit their college applications by the “early” deadline of November 1st or, in some cases, November 15th.

Students can apply to as many colleges “early action” as they like and, if accepted, they are not required to attend. This differs from an “early decision” application which can only be submitted to one college and binds the student to attend, if accepted.

Aside from the obvious emotional advantage of hearing back from colleges earlier, there is another key advantage to filing early applications. Colleges are well aware that many students apply to eight or more colleges. It’s somewhat of a guessing game for college admissions officers to try to figure out which students, if accepted, would actually attend.  So many colleges, including some of the most competitive institutions, accept a substantially higher percentage of their early decision candidates knowing they will definitely enroll.  To a lesser extent, colleges also tend to favor early action students who have demonstrated a strong interest in their school.

Latest FAFSA Launched to Help Determine Financial Aid

Families of college-bound students can immediately find out how much the federal government thinks they can afford to contribute to their child’s college education.  The latest Free Application for Federal Student Aid, referred to as the FAFSA, is now live at www.FAFSA.gov This is the one form that all parents must file if they hope to get any federal money for college in the 2021-22 academic year. 

The newest FAFSA uses financial information from a family’s 2019 taxes.  Most people are able to make use of a “shortcut” offered on the FAFSA, which is the I.R.S. Data Retrieval Tool.  As long as you have already filed your 2019 taxes, you can check off that you want the FAFSA to link into your previously filed taxes and automatically fill in the numbers on all of the financial questions.

Applying Early Decision May Be Especially Helpful

Students who are anxiously filling out college applications may do well to consider applying Early Decision to their top college of choice.  Students who check off “early decision” on their college application and submit it by the application deadline (usually November 1st or November 15th) will typically hear back from the college prior to the December holiday break. Students are only allowed to apply early decision to one college, and they (and their parents) sign that they will definitely attend if accepted, unless they are not awarded their required financial aid.

According to Jeffrey Selingo, author of, “Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions,” colleges this coming year will likely fill more slots than ever before with early decision applicants.  In a series of interviews with the New York Times, Selingo, whose book was just released this month, compared our current economic climate with that of the Great Recession. He said that college admission officers, both then and now, are motivated to figure out as early as possible which students will be arriving on campus and how much financial aid they’ll need.

Latest Rankings Revealed in 2021 “Best Colleges”

The 2021 issue of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” – often viewed as the bible to the college industry – is about to hit the newsstands.  New Jersey’s Princeton University is still in first place (for the 10th consecutive year) as the “Best National University.”  It’s followed by Harvard in second place, Columbia in third place, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and Yale tied for fourth place.  Other universities in the top 10 include Stanford and University of Chicago which tied for 6th place, University of Pennsylvania in 8th place, and a three-way tie for 9th place among California Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins and Northwestern.

This issue marks the 36th annual edition of the guidebook which calculates its ranking based on six categories which are each weighed differently: student outcomes (40%), faculty resources (20%), expert opinion (20%), financial resources (10%), student excellence (7%), and alumni giving (3%).

Students Who Find Their Niche Will Be In Demand

Unprecedented times offer unprecedented opportunities.  College-bound students, in the past, had their work clearly delineated: score high on the SAT, have an impressive G.P.A., get involved in extracurricular activities, and be sure to devote time to volunteer work.  Now, however, the rules have changed.

 

SAT scores, while extremely important to many colleges, are no longer required by all universities.  Grade point averages are not what they used to be, as a number of high schools are grading on a pass/fail basis. Extracurricular activities have been greatly curtailed, as have volunteer opportunities.

 

All of this unprecedented turmoil has truly left students in the driver’s seat to determine what their particular niche will be. While the specific college admission requirements have gotten hazy, the fact will always remain that colleges will choose the most competitive and appealing students from their applicant pool.

Why A College Degree Is Still Worth the Cost

Many students, and their parents, are wondering whether college is still worth the price.  The high cost of college has not been reduced at many colleges nationwide, yet the college experience has been greatly curtailed. 

According to Money, “A weak economy makes paying for college harder, but it also puts a spotlight on one of the major benefits a college degree can deliver – security.” Money cited statistics from April 2020, the first full month of the COVID pandemic in the US, indicating that about eight percent of workers with a bachelor’s degree filed for unemployment benefits.  That was roughly half the rate of those with a high school diploma or only some college experience.  The conclusion drawn was that the higher one’s level of education, the more stable the paycheck.

Road Trip May Be Needed to Take Upcoming SAT Exams

Tens of thousands of students had planned to mark the end of summer by taking the SAT exam tomorrow.  Unfortunately, the majority of these students who live in New Jersey will have to retain, for a while, the knowledge and testing skills they had honed.  More than 70 New Jersey high schools, scheduled to host the August 29th SAT exam, cancelled their proctoring plans as COVID leaves schools in a state of flux. Included are many high schools in Central New Jersey: Bridgewater-Raritan, Edison Township, Franklin, Hillsborough, Montgomery, New Brunswick, Somerville, South Brunswick, West Windsor-Plainsboro South. 

Some students, who were alerted in time, were able to change their registration in order to take the August test at another site. Others were left scrambling to register for an upcoming SAT in the near future as tests are also scheduled for September 26th, October 3rd, November 7th and December 5th. 

In order to find a testing site with available seats, students need to expand their radius on Collegeboard.org, the registration site for the SAT. Even in previous years, some families would find themselves taking a road trip to Pennsylvania, Maryland, or even Washington D.C. in order to get a seat for the very popular August exam.  This year, with the massive closure of testing sites, even more families are hitting the road.

Checklist for the Start of a Unique Academic Year

Labor Day is almost here, and in many ways it’s similar to New Years Day.  It’s the start of a new year -- not the calendar year, but the academic year.  For students, it’s the perfect time to make mental (or paper) checklists to be sure that they’re on track to meet all of their future goals.

Students should carefully consider their schedule for the new school year, to be sure that the courses they will be taking – whether online or in person -- will allow them to complete all of the courses they want to have under their belt by graduation day.  For example, students with dreams of attending a top college to major in engineering should be sure to get through calculus while in high school.  If they’re not on track to do so, perhaps they should double up on math this year.

Students who recognize that demonstrated leadership is an important quality to college admission officers may want to join a club or organization, of which they are particularly passionate, early in their high school years. Through dedicated involvement as freshmen and sophomores, the opportunity for leadership roles will be great in junior and senior years.

Why a College Education Is Still Worth the Price

The college experience has certainly changed during 2020.  Millions of students nationwide, who had dreamed of fraternities, football games, and freedom from the constraints of living with their parents, may find themselves still at home this fall – just replacing high school studies with college level academics.

Although the on-campus experience has considerably changed, the financial investment is as high as ever.  This leads many to wonder whether college is still worth the cost.  The answer is, “Yes.” The reason is that college graduates, on average, can expect to earn 80% more than those with a high school diploma as their highest degree. 

CNBC researched data from a number of sources, including The Hechinger Report’s Tuition Tracker and PayScale’s College Salary Report.  Utilizing its findings, CNBC recently released its annual ranking, “50 Colleges That Pay Off The Most.” The list was separated into private and public colleges and universities. 

Strategies to Score High on Upcoming PSAT and SAT

Thousands of New Jersey students are finally getting the chance to take the SAT this month, and every month throughout the rest of the year, after the frustration of cancelled exams this past winter and spring.  Thousands of other local students are looking towards the October PSAT to launch them on the college-bound path. What all of these high schoolers need to do is go into the test feeling confident and well-versed on the strategies for success.

First of all, students should be sure to answer each and every question – whether they know the answer or not. They are not penalized for wrong answers so even random guessing will, according to the Laws of Probability, give students credit one out of four times.

The Profound Impact of Covid On The SAT

The summer and fall SAT testing dates have long been extremely popular with high school students. But this year has seen an unprecedented demand from students who were cancelled from, or never got the opportunity to register for, exams in the Spring of 2020 which are typically offered in March, May and June. 

When College Board first opened registration for the August, September and October SAT in late spring, it prioritized students who had registered for the June SAT (which was cancelled nationwide due to the Covid pandemic) and for students who were entering junior or senior year and had not yet taken an SAT.  Shortly thereafter, College Board opened registration to everyone.  The problem is that the high demand for testing opportunities is coupled with a limited seating capacity at most testing sites due to public health restrictions.  So if students cannot get a seat at their own, or a nearby, high school, they may have to take a road trip with their parents to a testing site with availability.

Summer 2020 Virtual Volunteer Opportunities

When students look back on the Summer of 2020, they may be quick to remember the missed opportunities: cancelled summer vacations, terminated part-time jobs, lost opportunities for internships, camps and athletic showcases. But every cloud has a silver lining. Students who want to feel good about themselves when Labor Day rolls around, and those who want to impress college admissions officers, have many opportunities to serve others while adhering to safety protocols.

The Somerset Country Library is offering “Virtual Teen Volunteering” opportunities for those entering grades six through twelve. Students can serve as Book Reviewers, reading select books and writing reviews which are posted to Beanstack as well as to the library’s Online Public Access Catalog.  Students can also serve as Make A Difference Volunteers, performing good deeds in their community such as letter writing, mask making, and outdoor cleanup. Lastly, students can serve as QuaranTEEN Zine Contributors by creating and submitting artistic works in a vast array of media including sculptures, paintings, graphics, prints, photographs, drawings, collages, textiles and more.

An Organized Timeline Eases Student/Parent Stress

As parents and students plan for a new school year, it’s important to realize, even in times of uncertainty, that having a carefully organized timeline can help avoid the stress of an anxiety-filled senior year.

A student’s path to success actually starts during the early part of freshman year. Colleges admire students who show longevity in their activities, so the sooner students identify their clubs, sports, volunteer work, or other activities of passion, the longer they have to build a track record of accomplishments.  Freshman year is the perfect time to take on a new musical instrument or sport that might make a student particularly attractive to colleges.  A demonstrated commitment to volunteer work could earn a 50% to 100% tuition scholarship to The College of New Jersey which seeks “Bonner Community Scholars” and expects 300 volunteer hours each college year.

Parents Role in the College Application Process

Parents walk a fine line when it comes to their children and college applications.  Getting too involved will earn the title of “helicopter parent.”  Leaving everything to the student and hoping for the best – well that’s quite risky! There is a healthy middle ground. The ideal role for parents is to help with research, provide informational opportunities, and handle the financials.

Often students feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start the college process, so parents should help identify colleges that may be an ideal match.  The best way to start is by discussing what major might be of interest. Many students don’t know exactly what career they want to pursue, but they will likely know whether or not they are interested in science, business, engineering, education, or the arts, for example.  This knowledge alone will help to narrow down the research process. Together, parents and students can look up potential majors in College Board’s Book of Majors. Or they can visit www.collegescorecard.ed.gov which will identify every college that offers each major, as well as the average cost of attending the school and the average salary of its graduates.

The Valuable Role of a Private College Counselor

High school guidance counselors are the first resource of college bound students who need advice on so many topics:  how to prepare for the PSAT and SAT, when to take these standardized tests, how to identify best-fit colleges, how to assess the likelihood of being accepted by a particular college, how to write an effective essay, and how to file successful college applications. 

While high school guidance counselors typically address all of these issues with college bound students, they are often stretched very thin. The average student-to-counselor ratio in New Jersey is 358 to 1, according to the American School Counselor Association. To make matters worse, public high school counselors, with a multitude of other responsibilities, reportedly spend only 23% of their time on college admission counseling with the average student receiving 38 minutes of personal college counseling over four years.

More Than 900 Colleges Now Accept The “Common App”

Back in 1975, administrators from fifteen colleges got together and decided to create one application that students could use to apply to any or all of their colleges. This was the birth of “The Common App” which continuously increased in popularity and, as of 2020, is accepted by more than 900 colleges and universities across the United States. Colleges popular with New Jersey students that are new to the Common App this year include Auburn, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Texas Tech, and University of Georgia. Typically, more than one million students a year use the Common App to file more than four million applications.

The Common App is an online application that asks a series of questions in several categories, including parents’ educational history and current employment, students’ SAT/ACT/AP test scores, senior year courses, high school activities, and intended college major. There is also an essay of 250 to 650 words that is required by the majority of Common App colleges. Students this year have a choice of seven essay topics, one of which states, “Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.” So the topic options are truly limitless!

Use Down Time to Pursue Interest or Develop Skill

Create a “Shopify Store” and build your own online business. Gather the short stories or poems you’ve been writing and self-publish your own book via Amazon.  Launch a podcast and share your passion for any topic at all.

Millions of students are finding themselves with something they’ve previously only had in their dreams – free time.  With school, sports, and virtually all activities on hold, many young people have the opportunity of a lifetime to actually choose what they want to focus on for an extended period of time. Using it wisely can prove very beneficial to students and can also impress college admissions officers when the time rolls around to file applications.

If it were up to Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, students would use their time to learn coding. “This is a language that you can use to express yourself to seven billion people in the world,” stressed Cook. Statistics back up Cook’s emphasis on the importance of coding skills. The job search platform Glassdoor reports that more than a third of the highest paying jobs in the U.S. require some familiarity with computer programming.

SAT Exam Needs To Be More Accessible To Students

The good news for high school students is that registration is now open for the August, September and October SAT exams. The bad news is that the demand is exceeding the supply. Many students and parents who logged into CollegeBoard.org as soon as registration opened ¬¬¬reported that the process took hours, and many were initially unsuccessful in their attempt to register.

Last year more than 2.2 million students took the test, recognizing its importance for college admissions, scholarships, class placement, and more. Anticipating that high demand for testing opportunities would be challenged by a limited seating capacity due to public health restrictions, College Board has asked testing sites (primarily high schools) to maximize their testing capacity. But there’s a simpler solution.

August SAT Registration Is Now Open But With Limited Availability

After months of waiting, certain students can finally register for an upcoming SAT exam.  College Board is currently offering priority registration, until 8 pm on Wednesday, June 3rd, to students who had been registered for the June 6th SAT or Subject Test and didn’t cancel their registration and to students in the high school classes of 2020 or 2021 who do not have prior SAT scores.

At 8 pm on June 3rd, registration will open up to all high school students for the August 29th, September 26th and October 3rd scheduled exams. 

Students should register as quickly as possible as there will likely be an extreme shortage of seats since the last test administered, in much of New Jersey, was back on December 7th, 2019.  The high demand for testing opportunities will be coupled with a limited seating capacity due to public health restrictions.

Any Student Can Study with a Princeton Professor

Students who dream of taking courses with professors from the most elite universities around the world can make their dreams come true – at no cost.  The most prestigious universities in our country -- including M.I.T., Georgetown, University of Chicago, Notre Dame, and every Ivy League institution -- offer online courses for free.  So, too, do many prominent international institutions including the Sorbonne in France, Oxford in England, and the University of Hong Kong.

Two of the most notable sites for online education are edX and Coursera.  Eight years ago, edX.org was founded by Harvard University and M.I.T. as an online learning destination to offer high-quality courses from the world’s top universities. It now offers more than 2,500 courses from 140 institutions.  The courses are offered for free and have enrolled students from every country in the world. Those seeking a certificate (to boost college applications or resumes) are charged a nominal fee ranging from $40 to $160.

College Scorecard Shows Actual Salaries of Alumni

Choosing a college can be a daunting experience, especially when it comes time to figure out the financing. Families often wonder which college will be the most cost effective, and which will likely launch the student into a well-paying first job.

It’s not a secret that students can expect to earn different salaries based on the college they attend, the degree they earn, and the field they choose for their future career. But now, thanks to the “College Scorecard,” these numbers are concrete and not an abstract concept.

Still Time to Change College Plans for Fall 2020

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) releases a list, in early May of each year, of colleges that still have room for students seeking admission for the upcoming fall semester. May 1st is the national response deadline for most colleges in the U.S., although many have postponed that date to June 1st for this year.  By that date, students must choose the college they will be attending in the fall and send in a deposit. Since most students apply to a multitude of colleges, it’s impossible for colleges to know for sure how many students will actually enroll until the reply deadline rolls around. After the response deadline, colleges that have not met their target enrollment are anxious to accept additional students in order to bring in the tuition money necessary to keep on budget.  

Often, even well-qualified students are not accepted to the college of their dreams.  Other times, students change their minds.  As the time to leave home for college approaches, students sometimes wish they had chosen a school closer to home.  Some students fall prey to basic procrastination and find themselves approaching high school graduation without a plan for the fall. This year brings a whole new set of concerns, as students make their college decisions without really knowing whether or not they will be able to live on their chosen college campus and attend classes in person. 

Fortunately, the NACAC has just released a list of more than 600 colleges that are still accepting applications for the fall semester of 2020. Included are 16 New Jersey schools that have openings for both incoming freshmen and transfer students and are still offering housing and financial aid. The public NJ universities are Montclair State, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rowan, Rutgers and Stockton. The private NJ colleges and universities are Bloomfield, Caldwell, Centenary, St. Elizabeth, Drew, Fairleigh Dickinson, Felician, Georgian Court, Monmouth, Rider and St. Peter’s.

There are an additional 51 schools in Pennsylvania accepting applications (with the possibility of housing and financial aid), including Penn State, St. Joseph’s, Susquehanna, Temple, and University of Scranton. 

Students seeking a New York education will find opportunities at more than 50 schools including Adelphi, Hofstra, Pace, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John’s, Syracuse, The Culinary Institute of America, and several campuses of SUNY. 

The key, at this point, is to act promptly. Students who are interested in any particular college should immediately contact its admissions department to find out exactly what materials need to be submitted. Students should also inquire about the availability of merit-based and need-based financial aid. After meeting all requirements, as quickly as possible, students should follow-up with an admissions officer and reiterate their strong desire to attend that particular college. An acceptance letter may appear in their mail (or email) sooner than expected!  

Susan Alaimo is the founder of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362

August 29th SAT Exam Will Be Extremely Popular

Students who missed out on the March, May and June SAT exams (due to cancellations caused by the Coronavirus) will likely be scrambling for a seat, once registration opens this month, for the August 29th SAT exam. Ever since the August test was introduced in 2017 (after a 40-year hiatus), the seats available locally have filled up quickly and many families have found themselves taking a road trip to a distant testing site. This year is likely to produce an even greater frenzy as many rising seniors have not yet tested at all and rising juniors and sophomores are anxious to get a baseline score.

Summer is a popular time for students to prepare for the SAT, without the pressures of school and homework. By taking the exam in August, students have the opportunity to put their newly acquired SAT strategies and skills to the test without waiting for the fall testing dates which, this year, will be September 26th, October 3rd, November 7th and December 5th.

It’s Now Decision Time for High School Seniors

Many colleges and universities have now postponed, from today (May 1st) until June 1st, the deadline for accepted students to formally enroll and submit their deposit money to join their college community.  That gives students a bit more time, but not very much, to analyze so many factors that have suddenly come into play.

Since so much is still unknown, and will be for some time, students have to honestly weigh their priorities.  They need to consider whether they are still thrilled at the prospect of being a part of their intended college community even if they will be attending their first semester classes online from home with absolutely no collegiate social life (football games to attend, sororities and fraternities to join, hundreds or even thousands of new people to meet).

Consequences of the Cancellation of June SAT Exam

Don’t throw out your SAT prep book just yet.  While College Board has now announced the cancellation of the June 6th SAT exam, it has also clarified its plans for the future.  The SAT will be offered on August 29, September 26, October 3, November 7 and December 5.  

Students should not be lulled into complacency by announcements from some colleges that they will not be requiring SAT scores from the next applicant pool.  Colleges are concerned with getting the greatest number of applicants as possible and will therefore do whatever they need to do to get on the radar of college-bound students.  The more applications a college receives, the more competitive it can be in selecting its next incoming class.  Those students who submit impressive scores will certainly have a leg up on those who choose to skip the exam.

Six Years is the New Four, Students Sadly Find Out

“What is your four-year graduation rate?” This may be one of the most important questions that college-bound students and their parents can ask when considering a potential college.  An article in Money magazine stated, “the failure to graduate students in four years has become so commonplace that schools are now showing you their six-year graduation rate.” Unfortunately, that fact often is not very evident.

The “Best Colleges” Guide by U.S. News & World Report, considered a top resource of college information, lists the graduation rate as one of its key criteria in ranking hundreds of colleges and universities.  Readers may assume it indicates a four-year graduation rate. But buried on page 62 is a sentence indicating that it is actually a six-year graduation rate.

May 1st College Decision Day Is Fast Approaching

April 1st has passed. That’s the deadline day for most colleges to let students know whether or not they’ve been accepted.  Now the ball is in the student’s court!  Many students find themselves with a pile of acceptance letters (or emails).  How should students make this pivotal decision?

First of all, remember the purpose of college.  It’s certainly intended to make students more educated, in general, and more aware of the world and the issues surrounding them.  But, more pragmatically, most students attend college with the goal of preparing for a career that will support them for the rest of their lives.  So the best choice college is often the one with the strongest program in a student’s intended field of study.  A little research will reveal the mid-career salary of alumni from all of the colleges under consideration, as well as the acceptance rate at medical and dental schools, law schools and graduate programs.

Students Can Get Started Writing College App Essay

Most high school students start their college application process by completing, online, the Common Application that is accepted by more than 800 colleges.  It requires one essay, and students can choose from a variety of topics or devise one of their own creation. 

Although the Common Application “goes live” on August 1st of each year, students can actually start working on it as early as they want as the vast majority of answers roll over onto the updated application when it changes in mid-summer. As for the 250-650 word required essay, sometimes the prompts change.  But this year they will stay the same. So students who find themselves with some extra time, while quarantining at home, can get a head start on their essay as it is the most time-consuming part of the application process.

Don’t Let Coronavirus Slow Down College Planning

The schedule has certainly been turned upside down for high school Juniors, preventing them from taking the March or May SAT exam, touring potential colleges over spring break, and meeting with guidance counselors to launch their college application process.

But there is much that can be done by Juniors who want to keep on track to experience a successful college application process.  College-bound students should visit the websites of some large universities such as Rutgers, Penn State, and the University of Delaware, and click on the list of majors – which will be extensive. Students should identify those that sound appealing, and then read up on the list of required courses and the careers for which they would be prepared.

360-Degree Virtual Tours of 1,000 Colleges

Universities closing their campuses, bans on large group congregations, and the need for social distancing have all ruined the plans of college-bound students and their families who hoped to spend their spring break touring potential “good fit” schools.

But the national health crisis we are all experiencing these days does not need to put a halt to the information-gathering process that is so vital to a successful college search.  While potential students can no longer walk college campuses, go on official tours, or attend information sessions, the tools of technology offer many options. 

Campustours.com offers video tours, interactive campus maps, and mobile walking tours of more than 1,700 colleges and universities. Likewise, youvisit.com, provides 360-degree virtual tours of colleges worldwide, sharing the academic, cultural and social experiences offered on more than one thousand campuses.  Not only are these tours offered in English, but in Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, Hindi, and Spanish as well.

Strategies To Raise Test Scores Not Anxiety Levels

Whether preparing for an upcoming SAT exam or a regular high school test that is looming ahead, students should follow some time-honored study strategies.

First of all, students should always set a study plan in advance, and adhere to its details.  Setting aside specific dates and times to study, and keeping those times sacred, is key to staying on schedule.  There are absolutely no advantages to last-minute cramming, but many disadvantages including sleep deprivation and increased anxiety.

Personalization Is Key To Successful College Applications

The existence of The Common Application, which is accepted by more than 800 colleges nationwide, has resulted in many high school students applying to ten or more colleges.  This has significantly impacted the college admission process.  Colleges and universities are all concerned with their yield – the percent of accepted students who actually enroll – as this greatly impacts their rankings.  It is therefore only natural that colleges will favor applicants who display a strong interest in their school and indicate, in some way, that they will likely enroll if accepted.

The key to standing out from the hundreds, or even thousands, of other applicants with similar SAT scores and GPAs is to personalize all applications.  Let colleges know exactly why you are particularly attracted to their school and the specific ways you would contribute to the campus community.

Local One-Stop Shopping for Hundreds of Colleges

Where should students start the information gathering process in their search to find the perfect college? The answer may be very close to home. 

Hillsborough High School is hosting its 15th annual College Fair on Wednesday, March 25th from 6:30-8:00 pm. Representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities, many in the NY/NJ/PA area, will be hosting tables filled with materials and will be available to answer individual questions on any college-related topic. All local and neighboring high school students and parents are welcome to attend.

The following week, Mercer County Community College will hold a similar fair on Tuesday, March 31st from 6:00-8:00 pm. Typically, more than 200 colleges and universities are represented at this regional fair.

Are Advanced Placement Courses Really Necessary?

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses offered to high school students. There are currently 38 AP courses in the Arts, English, History & Social Science, Math & Computer Science, Science, and World Languages & Cultures, although not all are offered at all high schools. The curriculum for each of these courses is written by The College Board – the same folks who bring you the SAT exam – and there is an exam for each course in May.  Students who score 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) are offered college credits by many of the nation’s colleges and universities. Last May, close to three million students nationwide took more than 5 million AP exams, and their scores were reported to more than 3,300 colleges and universities.

Parents and students often ask, “Are AP courses really necessary?”  The answer is both yes and no – depending on the student’s ambitions and college goals.  When students apply to college, they are basically in competition with their peers.  Most colleges want a geographically well-rounded student body. So college admissions officers will compare all of their applicants from the same high school and favor those with the most impressive academic record based on SAT scores, GPA, and competitive course load.  While there is no college in the country that outwardly states a requirement for AP courses, students are well aware that these higher-level courses, that indicate an ability to successful complete college level work, are viewed most favorably by college admission staff.

Start Planning Now for a Productive Spring Break

Spring break is highly anticipated by all students. It’s an escape from the academic pressures of the school year.  It’s also the ideal time to visit colleges and start to identify which schools may, or may not, be potential “good fit” colleges.

Typically, colleges schedule their spring breaks in early March while high schools hold them in late March or April.  This provides the perfect opportunity for high school students to tour college campuses while classes, activities, and college life are in full swing.  By doing so, college bound students can get a good feel for a college and assess whether it meets their academic, social, and lifestyle preferences.

Choosing Impressive Course Schedule for Next Year

A key criterion evaluated by college admission officers is the competitiveness of an applicant’s high school transcript. Colleges want to see students stretching to take more rigorous classes over the course of their high school years, typically advancing from the “college prep” level to honors and ultimately to AP (Advanced Placement).

When choosing the particular subject areas in which to take more competitive courses, students should certainly take into account their talents and interests. Students who plan to major in a science-related field in college should strive to take AP Biology, AP Chemistry, or both while in high school.  It will ultimately boost their college applications and will impart knowledge that will later be helpful in their college studies.

Difference Between Public Ivies and Original Eight

When considering the most prestigious colleges in the United States, the eight Ivy League schools, all located in the northeast, most often come to mind. The first of these elite schools was Harvard, founded in 1636, with Yale following in 1702.  Five more of these institutions were established in the mid-1700’s (University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Brown, Columbia and Dartmouth) while Cornell was founded in 1865.

But the term Ivy League wasn’t coined until 1954 when the NCAA athletic conference for Division I was formed.  Since then, these elite schools have certainly maintained their athletic rivalries. But a sense of academic competitiveness thrives as well, with many of these institutions claiming bragging rights for the number of U.S. presidents they’ve educated.  Harvard: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, George W. Bush, Barack Obama. Yale: William Howard Taft, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush. Columbia: Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Barack Obama. Princeton: James Madison, Woodrow Wilson. University of Pennsylvania: William Henry Harrison, Donald Trump. (Several presidents attended more than one school.)

Tips To Know If Choosing The ACT Over The SAT Exam

More students in the last graduating class than ever before took the SAT exam –more than 2.2 million.  Still, many others (nearly 1.8 million) chose the ACT as an alternative exam for college admission.  

It’s important for students to realize that all colleges accept either SAT or ACT scores on college applications, and no college requires both.  So it’s best for students to choose one test, and then carefully prepare.  

Just like the SAT, the ACT has one Reading section and one English section (although it’s called “Writing and Language” on the SAT).  The main difference is that the SAT has two Math sections, while the ACT has one Math and one Science section.  Both tests offer an optional essay.