Trends in Test Optional Admissions

More and more colleges are taking standardized scores – for the SAT or the ACT – out of the admissions equation by transitioning to “test optional” admissions reviews. With this more “holistic” approach, the focus stays on grades, activities, essays and recommendations. In most cases, the colleges opting out of the SAT and ACT as admissions criteria are small to mid-sized liberal arts colleges, but there will always be exceptions. Every college and university will include information on testing policies as part of the admissions section of the website and you can find comprehensive information about college testing policies at www.fairtest.org.

2013-2014 Common Application

The 2013-2014 Common Application -- with a record 517 member colleges -- is now available. Colleges will continue to add supplements, but this is the time to create an account, invite recommenders and research colleges.

The Benefits of Summer Reading

Some high school students think that their annual summer reading assignments are no more than busywork – a plot by their English teachers designed to disrupt a blissful summer vacation. Not so.

Not only does continuing to read over the summer reinforce last year’s material and help you return for the new school year in “learning mode,” pacing yourself to get work done over a period of time is great practice for college academics.

High school students are accustomed to teachers assigning work as it is due. For long-term assignments – like term papers – deadlines are announced and reminders are generally provided at intervals. College assignments – usually for the full term – are distributed or posted before the first class of the semester as a “syllabus” and students are expected to keep track of reading, papers and tests on their own. 

So even though September seems a long way off when school ends in June, it’s nearly August. Is your summer reading done? There’s still time to finish the book and build a new skill.

Making the Most of a Campus Visit

How to Make the Most of a Campus Visit

Thanks to the internet, students are now able to do “virtual visits” to find preliminary information about the colleges on their lists. Many colleges have online videos, web-based tours and blogs for communicating with students and staff.  Students will visit colleges and not apply and will apply to colleges that have not visited. Still, before making a decision and sending a deposit, it’s important to really get to know the college by visiting in person.

·         Make an appointment for a tour of the campus. It’s almost impossible to show yourself around effectively.
·         Arrive with questions about the things that matter to you. College tours offer a comprehensive overview, but may not address the things that are important in your decision-making.
·         Remember that you won’t always be a freshman. Look at courses, housing and parking for sophomores, juniors and seniors.
·         Take notes and take pictures – you’ll need them once you get home
·         Get to campus the way you would as a student to see what the trip will really be like. If you won’t have a car on campus, travel by bus or train.
·         Try to imagine yourself as a member of the campus community. What classes and clubs seem most interesting? Which group would you want to join on the quad? Which table of students in the cafeteria would you like to sit with?
·         If you’re visiting more than one college, evaluate them using the same criteria. In other words, look for the same things everywhere you go
·         Ask questions about what your experience there would be like. Are students in groups or pairs or are most students alone? What’s the town/city/neighborhood like? Does it matter? Is the campus the focal point of the area? What is there to do on the weekend?

Before leaving the campus, step away from the tour and explore on your own. Most of all, enjoy the visit as part of your college journey.

AP Program Information

AP scores were released last week and brought with them the usual jubilation and disappointment. AP teats are different from the other tests -- classroom-based, SAT, ACT -- that students take in terms of content, structure and length and these differences make the process stressful and can sometimes lead to unexpected results.

Throughout the college process, some things are constant and others vary from institution to institution.   High schools set their own policies regarding AP classes and exams and it's important that students understand the policies of their own schools. 

Can anyone register for AP classes or are there grade requirements? Are students who take an AP class required to sit for the exam in May or do they have a choice? Do AP scores appear on the students' official transcripts? What preparation and support is available within the school? Can students take AP exams without having been enrolled in the course?

Contact your school's college counseling office for information on specific school policies and visit www.collegeboard.com for general information about AP courses and exams.