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.  How should they 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. 

When deciding between several colleges, students should seek some key information from each. What percent of students with one’s chosen major are employed or attending graduate school within six months of graduation? What is the median salary, one year after graduation, of students with one’s chosen major? What is the college’s acceptance rate to medical or law school (if that is a future goal)?

College Admissions Officers Favor Specialization

The highly acclaimed book, Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, famously proclaims that it takes 10,000 hours to gain mastery of a skill.  While children don’t have that kind of time to devote to a favorite activity, the premise is certainly thought-provoking.

When parents choose activities for young children, they often seek a well-rounded schedule balanced by sports, music lessons, and an academic activity such as coding or math club.  Early exposure to a wide range of activities is ideal in order for children to identify their natural talents and areas of interest.  But once that’s been determined, a popular school of thought recommends specialization. 

Specialization means choosing an activity where one is committed to putting in the effort required to becoming as proficient as possible. It’s a concept strongly recommended by Dr. Kuman Mehta, author of The Exceptionals: How the Best Become the Best & How You Can Too.

“Test Optional” College Facts In 2022

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently announced that applicants must once again must submit SAT or ACT scores. MIT joins a roster of colleges that have now rescinded their temporary “test optional” policy, including the public universities in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina which are often favorites of New Jersey students. 

Test optional means that SAT or ACT scores are not required of applicants.  It does not mean that they are not important. All colleges will look at test scores, if submitted, with the exception of a limited number of schools that are “test blind,” most notably the University of California.   

The reason so many colleges went test optional for the high school graduating class of 2021 was that COVID caused the mass cancellation of SAT exams.  It was important for colleges to attract as many applicants as possible, so they could be as selective as ever when choosing who to admit or deny. 

It’s important for college bound students to recognize that submitting SAT or ACT scores routinely increases their chances of being admitted to college, receiving more scholarship money, and placing out of remedial and introductory courses -- even at test-optional universities.

Strategies for Financing Your Child’s College Education

Parents hoping for any kind of need-based financial aid need to file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  The FAFSA goes live on October 1st of each year and is filed during a child’s senior year.  The FAFSA uses tax information from two years prior. FAFSA information is shared with each college to which your child applies. When filing the FAFSA be sure to check “yes” to work study, so if the perfect opportunity presents itself, like doing research for a favorite professor, your child will be eligible to do so. (Some 300 colleges also require the CSS Profile, which is a much more intrusive financial aid form.)

Have your child apply to colleges one tier below where they can likely get accepted.  For example, NYU has a fabulous business school, STERN, but it is expensive ($75,000 +).  If your business-oriented child applies to a college one tier below NYU, he/she may get a good-sized scholarship along with a fabulous education, particularly if you identify a school that specializes in your child’s specific area of interest.  St. John’s University in NY has a fabulous program in Actuarial Science and Risk Management.  St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia is known for its business program in food services. Penn State excels at Supply Chain Management. 

Have your child visit the high school guidance office which has applications for all local scholarships.

Parents and students should touch base with all organizations with which they are affiliated (religious organizations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H, and so on) to inquire about scholarships.

10 Tips for Impressive College Applications: Part 2

Part 1 of this column listed five of ten tips for filing impressive college applications. Students were urged to: clearly express to each college why it’s a great fit, earn a top GPA (while taking an impressive course load) and post impressive SAT scores, write a resume to include on college apps, develop a “passion project,” and engage in volunteer work.  Additional tips include:

6) Write an impressive essay.  Most students start out with the Common Application, which is accepted by more than 900 colleges. It requires one essay between 250-650 words in length.  The goal of an effective college essay is to show insight into one’s admirable character, a sense of direction for the future, and a thirst for knowledge and opportunities in the next stage of life.

7) Recognize that “optional” really isn’t optional. If colleges ask for something – even if they say it’s optional – do it, and do it to the best of your ability.  This comes up frequently in the form of supplemental essay questions.  Realize that other applicants – your competitors – will be doing everything requested by the colleges, and you don’t want to be at a disadvantage. 

10 Tips for Impressive College Applications: Part 1

1) Know why you are applying to each specific college, and clearly express those reasons. Does the college have a great program for your intended major? Does it offer impressive internships, or have a high acceptance rate to med school? Does it host a study abroad program in a particular country that would benefit your academic interests?  Let each college know the specifics as to why it’s a great fit, as colleges strongly favor applicants whom they believe will attend their school, if accepted.

2) Cover the basics – which means earning a great GPA while taking a competitive course load and posting impressive SAT scores.  Many high schools in New Jersey offer twenty or more AP courses, and colleges consider how competitive a course load you took based on the options you were provided.  As for SAT scores, the “average” SAT score at several New Jersey high schools, including Montgomery, Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro North and South, all topped 1,300.  So the bar is set high for students who want to stand out among their peers.

Match Your Passions with College Program

College-bound students often choose their college major based on fields that are popular at the time and offer promise of a rewarding career. These days, business and STEM-related fields seem to top the list. But students should also consider the activities that bring them joy, as the pastimes that they engage in for recreation and relaxation can often lead to rewarding careers.  

Students who love drawing – and are talented in the field – have several options for turning this passion into a profession.  If they also are attracted to the sciences, a career as a Medical Illustrator may be enticing.  A bachelor’s degree in this field is offered at Rowan University (NJ), Arcadia University (PA), Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) and Cleveland Institute of Art (OH).  Other illustration options include a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cartooning from The School of Visual Arts, and fashion-related programs at the Fashion Institute of Technology, both located in Manhattan.  The renown Rhode Island School of Design offers courses in Editorial Illustration, Journalistic Illustration, and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Illustration.