The Importance of the College List
Building a college list the student ‘loves’ and a balanced list is more important than ever. While it may be difficult to convince some students to add a few colleges they don’t consider ‘top’ or colleges they may not have heard of before, it is important to open their eyes to the options available to them. When I work with my students, I strive to help them create a list which goes beyond the obvious.
As of the end of January, the Common Application reported an increase in application volume of nearly 20% and an increase of 13% in the number of single applicants from the 2019-2020 application cycle. With the increase in number of applications due to reasons such as the ease of applying to more schools via the Common Application and more than 75% of colleges in the US now going test optional or test blind, it makes sense that the acceptance rates at some popular universities are going down. But how do you explain to a student with an excellent resume and top academics that they didn’t get in to a school they have worked towards for years?
The college admissions world comes with no guarantees. Every day, I hear stories from fellow counselors of top students getting turned down from schools they thought they were more than qualified for. But there are many factors considered beyond the basic application criteria often discussed such as the geography of the applicants, number of fellow applicants from the same high school, financial need, major applied to, demonstrated interest, predicted likelihood of a student enrolling if accepted, etc.
I recently lost a potential client because I would not ‘guarantee’ them admission to the schools they suggested to me. How could I ethically do so? While I can not guarantee admission to a certain university or the award of a certain scholarship, I can give my word that I will do my best and that includes helping students find additional schools which are great fits and helping them understand the factors to consider both within our control and beyond.
Building a college list the student ‘loves’ and a balanced list is more important than ever. While it may be difficult to convince some students to add a few colleges they don’t consider ‘top’ or colleges they may not have heard of before, it is important to open their eyes to the options available to them. When I work with my students, I strive to help them create a list which goes beyond the obvious. I have had many students apply to and/or end up attending schools they had not even heard of before working with me. It is an important part of my job to help them consider ALL options available to them and help them build a balanced list of schools – a list that is not ‘top heavy’, a list which includes schools who do not turn down more students than they accept. Most importantly, I help them build a list which includes schools where the student can be successful both socially and academically, a list of schools the student is truly happy with before they hit ‘submit’.
While reading the most recent article by Brennen Barnard, I was struck by the wisdom and optimism in some of the quotes such as this: “finding the college that will help one be successful isn’t a matter of gaining admission to X school, it’s a matter of going somewhere that can take you down the path to your goals and working hard when you get there.”…“admission is a door to a path and there is more than one door and more than one path. Getting an acceptance isn’t the ultimate goal and denial (or waitlist or deferral) isn’t the ending.”
Yes, it can certainly be frustrating and stressful, but there are so many wonderful options out there if you are willing to look and open your mind to the possibility of them. And if you plan ahead and build a solid list, you will find your place. More than half of colleges in the US accept more students than they turn down. Keep your head up!
Additional Articles to Consider:
https://www.collegeconfidential.com/articles/college-applications-in-2022/
https://www.collegedata.com/resources/the-facts-on-fit/understanding-college-selectivity
https://www.ppic.org/blog/college-admissions-in-an-era-of-uncertainty/
Tips for Researching Colleges
While much of this advice applies to researching schools any other time as well, it is particularly important for today’s students to understand the many ways they can learn about schools of interest outside of an official tour. Students are choosing their final college or building college lists without having the opportunity to visit the schools, but they are not taking the time to fully learn about them. It is vital that they understand the continued importance of educating themselves on their potential colleges and universities and use the tools available to them to learn what they can.
Many campuses are now allowing tours again, but they are limited and traveling is still discouraged. Most of my students who have gone on tours recently have been disappointed with the lack of what they are able to see and do at this time. Beyond that, it is hard to get a feel for the campus culture when many students are not there or are not socializing as they normally would. While much of this advice applies to researching schools any other time as well, it is particularly important for today’s students to understand the many ways they can learn about schools of interest outside of an official tour. Students are choosing their final college or building college lists without having the opportunity to visit the schools, but they are not taking the time to fully learn about them. It is vital that they understand the continued importance of educating themselves on their potential colleges and universities and use the tools available to them to learn what they can. These include:
College Websites – The number one source of information would be the school itself. Many other websites copy the information from there or from other databases which are not always accurate. The first place to go should be the college’s website. Go beyond the basics of admissions requirements and quick FAQs. Really take the time to investigate academic programs of interest, activities and clubs, campus culture, career services, etc.
Virtual Information Session – As they have cancelled tours or limited visits, nearly every campus now offers virtual information sessions. They will give you a good overview of the school as well as an opportunity to ask questions. It is also a great way to demonstrate your interest in the school and show them you are doing your due diligence. Some schools also offer sessions focused on certain areas of study to help you dig deeper into the programs.
Virtual Tours and Student Q&As – Many schools offer virtual tours via videos or interactive maps posted on their websites. If they do not, you can find tours and videos of some campuses posted on YouTube. Also, CampusReel has thousands of videos and tours directly from colleges and students and College Scoops offers many great video Q&A sessions with students from campuses all over the US.
Alumni or Current Student Connection – Reach out to alumni or current students to get additional views of campus. While everyone has their own opinion, speaking to someone who recently graduated or is currently there will allow you to get an insider’s opinion and get some of your questions answered. You can use the various forms of social media to find them (LinkedIn is great to find recent grads) or reach out to the college and ask if they would connect you with someone. It’s also a possibility someone you know already has a connection to grads or current students from your schools of interest, you just need to ask.
Virtual College Fair – Virtual college fairs allow you to attend several information sessions from various colleges all in one day. Sign up for them online, find the sessions where your potential schools are presenting and join in. Here are some upcoming fairs to check out:
Social Media – You can easily learn more about the student culture and various organizations on campus by investigating them on social media. Check out the clubs, sports teams, organizations, etc. on Instagram for example to see what they are involved in and what kind of culture they are ‘presenting’.
Hopefully by late spring traditional campus tours will be more of an option. But in the meantime, do what you can to learn about your potential schools online and through family and friends. Outside of the pandemic, it is often not possible for all students to visit every campus they are interested in due to financial and/or time constraints. Do not rely solely on the opinions of others and do not expect your family or counselor to do all of the research for you. It is up to you to make an informed decision for YOUR future. There are a lot of valuable FREE resources out there if you take the time to use them.
Additional Resources:
Check out Bucknell University’s newest Virtual Tour experience, a great way to ‘see’ a school without traveling: https://www.bucknell.edu/news/be-here-anywhere-bucknell-virtual-experience-helps-future-students-see-campus-their-own-eyes
Lessons From Applying to College During a Pandemic: https://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/admission/blog/lessons-applying-college-during-pandemic/?utm_source=in-house&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Counselor_NL_030321
Virtual Tour Tips: https://www.cappex.com/articles/match-and-fit/virtual-college-tours
New Amazon series touring a different campus each episode: https://www.amazon.com/The-College-Tour/dp/B08QMDXR7Z
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/28/us/coronavirus-virtual-college-university-tours.html
How to Research Colleges During a Pandemic
While much of this advice applies to researching schools any other time as well, it is particularly important for today’s students to understand the many ways they can learn about schools of interest outside of an official tour.
While much of this advice applies to researching schools any other time as well, it is particularly important for today’s students to understand the many ways they can learn about schools of interest outside of an official tour. Many students are building college lists without having the opportunity to visit the schools, but they are not taking the time to fully learn about them. It is vital that they understand the continued importance of educating themselves on their potential schools and use the tools available to them to learn what they can.
College Websites – The number one source of information would be the school itself. Many other websites copy the information from there or from other databases which are not always accurate. The first place to go should be the college’s website. Go beyond the basics of admissions requirements and quick FAQs. Really take the time to investigate academic programs of interest, activities and clubs, campus culture, career services, etc.
Virtual Information Session – As they have cancelled tours or limited visits, nearly every campus now offers virtual information sessions. They will give you a good overview of the school as well as an opportunity to ask questions. It is also a great way to demonstrate your interest in the school and show them you are doing your due diligence.
Virtual Tour – Many schools offer virtual tours via videos or interactive maps posted on their websites. If they do not, you may also find tours and videos of campus posted on YouTube or check out CampusReel for thousands of videos and tours directly from colleges and students.
Alumni or Current Student Connection – You can reach out to alumni or current students to get additional views of campus. While everyone has their own opinion, speaking to someone who recently graduated or is currently there will allow you to get an insider’s opinion and get some of your questions answered. You can use the various forms of social media to find them or reach out to the college and ask if they would be able to put you in touch with someone. It’s also a possibility someone you know already has a connection to grads or current students from your schools of interest, you just need to ask.
Virtual College Fair – Virtual college fairs allow you to attend several information sessions from various colleges all in one day. Sign up for them online, find the sessions where your potential schools are presenting and join in. Here are some upcoming fairs to check out:
NACAC is hosting four college fairs this Fall with more than 600 colleges and universities participating https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/attend-virtual-college-fairs/students/
The Coalition is hosting a 2 day fair August 26-27 with more colleges and universities participating https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/august-virtual-college-fair
Private Tour – If you feel comfortable traveling and have the resources to get to campus, many schools are offering on-campus alternatives to the traditional tour and information session. This may include driving tours in which you use your own car and are given the audio and map to guide you or you are provided a live guide via Zoom. Some schools are also offering private in-person tours if you schedule them ahead of time. Check out their websites for more information. However keep in mind that the current campus situation is much different than usual with most students having online class and many social activities cancelled. If you want to get the true ‘vibe’ of the school, now is not the time.
Social Media – You can easily learn more about the student culture and various organizations on campus by investigating them on social media. Check out the clubs, etc. on Instagram for example to see what they are involved in and what kind of culture they are ‘presenting’.
Hopefully by Spring traditional campus tours will be more of an option. But in the meantime, do what you can to learn about your potential schools online and through family and friends. Outside of the pandemic, it is often not possible for all students to visit every campus they are interested in due to financial and/or time restraints. Do not rely solely on the opinions of others and do not expect your family or counselor to do all of the research for you. It is up to you to make an informed decision for YOUR future. There are a lot of valuable resources out there if you take the time to use them.
Choosing a Major (or not)
About half of students choose a major on their college application, but many times they make the decision without much research or thought. Here are some helpful steps students can take both before and after arriving on campus to aide in making the decision of what to study:
About half of students choose a major on their college application, but many times they make the decision without much research or thought. Even if they have put thought into it, how many 17 year olds truly know what they want to do? Nearly 1/3 of students who actually declare majors end up changing them within 3 years of enrolling. For most colleges, entering as a freshman undeclared is not viewed negatively, yet students feel pressured to choose a major before they apply. Here are some helpful steps students can take both before and after arriving on campus to aide in making the decision of what to study:
Career and Personality Assessments: students should complete career and personality assessments while in high school to help them consider careers and majors which align with their personality traits, interests, aptitudes and abilities. There are many different assessments available, but completing 1-2 will at least get you thinking about what may be a good match. Often, they open students’ minds to careers they had not considered before and at least get them thinking about it.
Job Shadow: students often pick careers based on what someone in their family does or what they hear pays well versus on actual personal experience. Participating in a few job shadows while you are still in high school is a great way to get in-person experience in a job without committing your future to it. It may only take a few minutes or hours to confirm or cancel a job interest. At the very least, it will gain you better insight to the career and give you possible connections for mentoring and career advice.
On Campus Advising: finding an advisor who is familiar with your academic programs of interest and career goals is very important once you get on campus. If you do not know what you want, having an advisor to help guide your exploration is also important. They can make sure you stay on track with taking classes to graduate on time and make suggestions to help you refine your choices. Often, they have valuable personal experience to offer insight on potential careers and connections for further development. Research your potential colleges and make good advising a MUST HAVE on your list.
Major Exploration Programs: while building your college list, consider schools which have programs that allow students to explore their options more freely. Many colleges do not make students actually declare a major until end of sophomore year. Brown is particularly well known for its ‘open curriculum’ as students do not have to declare a ‘concentration’ until their 4th semester. They have much more flexibility to take classes in a variety of subjects before deciding what they want to focus on. Ohio State offers several pathways for students who are undecided such as the University Exploration program which allows students to sample a variety of classes and gives them academic counselors to help them make their choice. At Cornell, all students who enter the Engineering program are ‘undeclared’ and do not have to select a specific Engineering major until sophomore year. They are able to spend their first year exploring the various engineering fields and can get advising to help them decide. These are just a few examples of options available to students who need more time to decide and are important to research before choosing your college.
Northeastern’s Application
Some schools do not ask students to choose a major on their application or only ask them to choose a division within the school. If they do ask, entering undeclared is OKAY aside from a few exceptions. Top business programs, computer science and engineering are particularly notorious for being hard to switch into for students who originally chose something else. In those instances, I would highly recommend declaring the major and at least giving yourself a chance to explore it. Sometimes students are afraid to declare a competitive major as acceptance to these programs is often much more difficult than others, but do you really want to go to a school where you risk being denied access to the major and courses you want?
Whatever you decide to declare (or not), make sure you are choosing a college which offers most if not all of the potential programs you are interested in. Do your research on the advising offered, opportunities for exploration, and variety of programs of study available. It can vary significantly and you want to do anything you can graduate on time and eliminate the possibility of needing or wanting to transfer.
Additional Resources
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/08/24/study-finds-students-benefit-waiting-declare-major
Free Career and Personality Assessments
https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip
https://www.princetonreview.com/quiz/career-quiz
https://ucango2.org/publications/student/Career_Interest_Survey.pdf
The Decision Season Panic
As admission decisions continue to roll in, some students are celebrating while others are unfortunately beginning to panic. What has become clear so far this year is that most if not all 'upper level' schools are increasingly difficult to get into and the number of early applications has once again significantly jumped. The unpredictability of it all has become more evident than ever. Highly qualified students are shocked to find out they did not get into their colleges and are beginning to worry that they will not get in to any that they want. While it is perfectly normal and reasonable for the students to be concerned about not getting into their favorite schools, there is a lot which can be done to get these students into a more stable situation during this confusing college application season.
As admissions decisions continue to roll in, some students are celebrating while others are unfortunately beginning to panic. What has become clear so far this year is that most if not all 'upper level' schools are increasingly difficult to get into and the number of early applications has once again jumped. The unpredictability of it all has become more evident than ever. Highly qualified students are shocked to find out they did not get into their colleges and are beginning to worry that they will not get in to any that they want. While it is perfectly normal and reasonable for the students to be concerned about not getting into their favorite schools, there is a lot which can be done to get these students into a more stable situation during this confusing college application season.
Make a BALANCED List They LOVE - an idea that is by no means revolutionary, but still not entirely understood. Students continue to make very top heavy college lists. Even worse, they are putting back up schools on their list which they would not be happy with. It is worth the time and effort to do the research early on and establish a list which is balanced and which does not include schools the student merely added to have a safety. They need to understand that nothing is a guarantee and a safety school should still be one they would be happy to attend. As with any of the schools on their list, it would be even better if the student has had the opportunity to visit their safety schools and know what they are like before including them on their list. The last thing anyone wants is to end up only getting in to the 'mystery' school they added in a moment of panic. If students make a balanced list they love, they will be able to get through application season with less anxiety over the possibility of not getting in anywhere or only getting into a school they are not even interested in attending.
Understand the Options – students need to have a clear understanding of the application options and what they can do with the decisions they receive. This plan should be established before application season, not after the decisions are already coming in. Students should be aware of the true meaning of applying ED and EA and have a plan set in place for the possible denial from those schools. (Check out my previous post for tips on what to do with the decisions for how to handle deferrals and waitlists.)
Stop the Comparison – as mentioned, the unpredictability of college admissions is more evident than ever. The stories of highly qualified students getting turned down while their counterparts get accepted are countless. Students with nearly identical credentials are getting very different responses. Although easier said than done, students, their parents and counselors need to stop the comparison and big name game. One's college acceptance is not a determination of their future success or in many instances, an accurate assessment of the work they have done thus far. There are so many factors which have to do with enrollment quotas, diversity, distribution of financial aid, and massive increases in the various application pools that make the admissions system much more complicated and difficult to predict or even understand. Being a top student is no longer an automatic in and there are so many great schools which may not be well known, but nevertheless provide top notch education. Students need to understand that they can forge their own paths to success at any college they choose, and not getting into a top school does not make them any less of a person.
While not getting into a top choice school may be a shock and of course a disappointment to any student, we can all play a part in reducing the stress, anxiety and panic surrounding college applications and decisions. We have to assume the admissions counselors are making the best decisions they can with the time, demands and resources they have. We can not begin to try to understand the reasoning behind each decision they make and need to prepare our students for any response they may receive.