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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
