Students Filing College Apps May Want to Choose ED

Students who are anxiously filling out college applications may do well to consider applying Early Decision (ED) to their 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.

Students who are hesitant to make such a big commitment can apply Early Action to as many colleges as they like and, if accepted, they are not required to attend. They, too, must meet the “early” November deadline.

Strategies to Score High on the SAT Exam

Students planning to take a PSAT or SAT exam in the fall should go into the test with knowledge of the key strategies so they can reach their potential on these all-important tests.  Many top public high schools in Central New Jersey report average SAT scores above 600 in both Evidence-based Reading & Writing and Math. A couple of high schools even reached or topped 1500 for combined scores. So the bar is set high for local students.

The current SAT exam focuses on three areas: critical reading, grammar, and math. A key strategy, that is relevant on all areas of the test, is for students to answer each and every question (whether or not they know the correct answer) as there is no longer a penalty for wrong answers.

Is A College Education Still Worth the Investment?

The average list price of a four-year public university, including in-state tuition, fees, room and board, is now about $22,000 a year, according to The College Board.  Average annual costs at four-year private, nonprofit colleges are well over twice that amount. The question many families wonder is whether their child’s college degree will pay off.  

A recent article in The New York Times, reporting on findings from a public policy group, stated that graduates from almost two-thirds of the 26,000 bachelor’s degree programs in the study were able to recoup their educational investment within ten years of graduation. Of course, a student’s field of study matters greatly. Students in higher paying fields like engineering or health care were able to pay off their educational debt quicker than those in the arts or religion.

Overall, the conclusion of the report was that the vast majority of students who earned bachelor’s degrees, regardless of their major, were likely to earn more money than they would have without a college degree.

Strategies for Writing Effective College Essays

 

Most high school students who are applying to college start out by completing The Common Application that is accepted by more than 900 colleges.  It requires one essay, and students can choose from a variety of topics or one of their own creation. 

A recent article in U.S. News & World Report offered essay writing advice from college admissions experts to help students get started on this somewhat intimidating task.  “Students should narrow their focus and write about a specific experience, hobby or quirk that reveals something personal, like how they think, what they value, or what their strengths are,” according to an admissions expert.

“Many memorable essays focus on ordinary topics, including fly-fishing, a student’s commute to and from school, and a family’s dinner conversations,” added another counselor.” Additional writing tips emphasize the importance of being concise, coherent, congenial, honest, and accurate.

It’s Time to Mentally Prepare for New School Year

Labor Day is rapidly approaching, 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 electronic) checklists to be sure they’re on track to meet their future goals.

Students should carefully consider their class schedule for the new school year, to be sure that the courses they’ll be taking 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.

Strategies to Help High Earners Pay College Fees

As college costs continue to rise, it’s not only families with financial struggles that are worried about paying the bill.  Even high-income families can be caught off guard when they realize that the costs of many top colleges now exceeded $75,000 a year for tuition, room and board – not including expenses for travel, a social life, and other amenities.  Schools in this category include Amherst College, Brown University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Georgetown University, University of Chicago, and University of Pennsylvania.

A recent Money article gave advice for families that are stuck in the middle, earning too much money to qualify for need-based aid but not enough to pay out-of-pocket. These families are encouraged to file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) even if they feel they will be denied need-based aid. The reasons are many. First of all, the FAFSA is the only way to access low-cost federal student loans.  In addition, to apply for many state and private scholarships that are not need-based, a FAFSA must be filed.  A completed FAFSA is also helpful if a family’s situation changes in the midst of an academic year due to job loss, medical expenses, or other sudden hardship.

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.