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College & Career: Follow The Money Or Follow Your Heart

2008-07-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

There was interesting article in the Sacramento Bee this week which discussed how many college-bound students are struggling with the choice between majors that lead to well-paying jobs, or following their hearts into majors that may lead to less certain financial rewards.

The angst really isn't new. As long as there have been college students, there have been people questioning the purpose of higher education, and wondering about their futures. Of course, as rising tuition bills and student debt collide with increasing uncertainty about the economy, the questions have taken on renewed importance for many students and their parents.

The question of whether to follow the money or your heart also has implications for college planning, and not just in terms of choosing a major and career. Will your family opt for the college that offers the larger merit scholarship, even though your child strongly prefers an institution that costs more? Is "following your heart" to that pricey "dream school" worth an extra $10,000 in student loans before you graduate? $20,000? $30,000?

Of course, these are questions that don't have a one-size-fits-all "right" answer. They need to be considered, discussed, and weighed by individual students, and individual families. The time to begin considering these questions, however, is not at the end of the college planning process, but at the start. When you know what your priorities are, you can aim your efforts more effectively. When students and their parents are on the same page, they can work together, instead of against each other. And, of course, careful planning can sometimes make following your heart and the money at the same time a reality.

College Admissions: What Do Colleges Want?

2008-07-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

To an outsider, college admissions decisions can often seem baffling. Why did the valedictorian at our high school not get into Harvard? How the heck did that quiet bookish girl who always sat in the back of the classroom get into Brown? Why did this science nerd I know get into MIT but not Cal Tech? I wrote a really great essay - why didn't I get into Stanford?

It can be dangerous to read too much into the admissions experiences of other people. While you may know a few basic facts about a particular student, unless you've had access to their entire application package, and sat in on the admissions committee's discussion about whether to admit or deny the student, you won't have the full story about why things turned out the way they did for that particular student. And, of course, what ultimately matters is not how things turned out for someone else, but how they'll turn out for you.

In finalizing your college list, it can be helpful to remember the number of factors colleges and universities use to determine which applicants to admit. By honestly evaluating how you measure up to these factors, and what you have to offer the colleges on your list, you can get a fairly accurate impression of the strength of your overall admissions profile.

Although the weight placed on these admissions factors may differ from college to college, most colleges will focus on the following factors, in order of importance:

Objectives and Needs of The College: Every college admissions office has objectives and needs to fulfill as they make admissions decisions. Topping every college's list is the need to make sure that all of the seats in the freshman class next year are filled with bright and eager students. College admissions officers are often under pressure to satisfy different constituencies, such as faculty, donors, alumni, and trustees. As a result, they may need to fill specific needs with their admissions decisions, including everything from finding students interested in majoring in a particular department to making sure the financial aid budget is balanced to improving racial, economic, and geographic diversity on campus. Many colleges also face pressure to improve the college's public standing, be it through improved rankings, a growing endowment, or bragging rights about the quality of applicants who were turned away. All of these factors can influence the way individual applicants are viewed by an admissions committee. While you can't control all of the needs and objectives the admissions committee will be facing, it's important to keep in mind that your application, when it is read, will be read in light of them. While you can't predict with certainty which institutional needs will weigh most heavily when the admissions committee meets, researching each college on your final list carefully can help you understand some of the factors that might affect your chances, above and beyond your individual qualifications. The strongest "hook" for any applicant is filling an important need or objective of the admissions committee.

Grades: In terms of individual applicant qualifications, grades are the single most important factor in the admissions decision. Colleges believe that a sustained academic effort over a long period of time is the best indicator of perseverance and academic potential, both of which are necessary qualities for success in higher education. As a general rule, your grades in junior year and the first semester of senior year will be the most important ones to an admissions committee. If your grades show consistently good performance from 9th grade on, that will be viewed most positively. If your grades have steadily improved over the years, that too will be a plus in your favor. However, if your grades have fluctuated wildly, shown consistent poor performance in one or more academic areas, or shown a steady drop over the years, you may have fewer college options. Even so, don't rule yourself out of the college ballgame: every motivated student can attend college, although students who have grade point averages below 2.0 may need to start in a less competitive environment, such as a community college.

Quality of High School Curriculum: Along with looking at your grades, admissions officers will look closely at the quality and rigor of the courses you've taken in high school. Colleges and universities want students who have challenged themselves in high school by making the most of the academic opportunities available to them. Colleges and universities look favorably on AP and honors courses, and they also prefer students who take four years of core academic courses, such as math, science, foreign languages, and social sciences. However, this doesn't mean that earning poor grades in the toughest courses is OK. While you should try to take the most challenging courses possible, your grades are important as well, so strive for the most challenging course load you personally can succeed and do well in. That will vary for each student, so plan your curriculum wisely: keep it challenging, but try to avoid setting yourself up for failure with a curriculum that is too challenging for your skill level.

Standardized Test Scores: Your performance on college entrance exams, such as the ACT and SAT, is important to most colleges and universities. Colleges consider these exams to be objective and standardized measures of aptitude and achievement. They are a tool colleges use to compare you to other applicants. However, keep in mind that grades and strength of curriculum are always weighed more heavily than test scores. It is better to have great grades, and somewhat less stellar test scores than great test scores and poor grades. Test scores alone, even perfect scores, will not get you, or anyone, into college by themselves. Test scores are just a piece of the admissions picture for an admissions committee, not the whole ball of wax. If you feel your test scores don't adequately reflect your academic potential, don't give up hope: there are currently over 750 colleges that don't require applicants to submit standardized test scores to be admitted.

Recommendations: Many colleges ask applicants to send recommendation letters from teachers and their school counselor describing the student's academic potential and personal characteristics. In teacher recommendations, colleges are especially looking for a first-hand evaluation of the student's potential to succeed in college-level work and contribute to the academic community of the college. College admissions people hope that recommendation letters will give them a sense of who the applicant is, their readiness for success in college, how the applicant compares to his peers at the high school, and the personal qualities and contributions the student might bring to the college campus. Solid recommendation letters can be a tipping point for a good candidate, but in and of themselves, they won't erase a history of lackluster academic performance.

Extracurricular Activities: Colleges and universities prefer to admit students who will contribute to the campus community both inside and outside of the classroom. In looking at applications from prospective students, many schools will therefore pay particular attention to how you've contributed in the past. Have you been involved with clubs and organizations in high school and your community? Have you played sports? Do you have a special talent? However, keep in mind that quality involvement is more important than the quantity of organizations you can list on your application. Making genuine contributions to fewer activities is generally much more impressive to colleges than belonging to many organizations but contributing little to any of them. I will be talking more about extracurriculars in the next few days.

Essays: Many colleges ask students to provide one or more essays as part of their applications. Essays can help admissions people get a three-dimensional sense of who you are, what motivates you, and what you may contribute to their campus community. However, students often think that a terrific essay alone will supersede everything else in their application. Typically, however, well-written and thoughtful essays can nudge well-qualified applicants into the admit pile. I will also be talking more about essays in the coming weeks.

Personal Characteristics: In making the final decision about who to admit, colleges want to know more about you than just your test scores and grades. They will try to get a sense of the personal characteristics you may bring to campus. They may look for evidence that an applicant has overcome adversity, been a good citizen, is self-motivated, or has real intellectual curiosity through interviews, recommendation letters, and essays. College admissions officers will also look for personal characteristics that may help the college fill special needs or meet objectives, such as the desire for greater diversity, improved rankings, or a balanced financial aid budget.

Getting The Best College Deal

2008-07-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Financial journalist Lynn O’Shaughnessy is on a mission: to show families that a great college education can be more affordable than they think. O’Shaughnessy, who has written on financial planning topics for publications such as Business Week, Money Magazine and USA Today, learned the lesson first-hand, while helping her daughter, Caitlin, through the college search and admissions process. Inspired by what she learned, O’Shaughnessy set out to research college admissions and financial aid strategies in depth, and wrote a just-published book about her findings, The College Solution.

“One of my goals in writing the book was to share with families how they can find and afford wonderful schools that they might not automatically consider,” explains O’Shaughnessy. “Another big motivation was to help a greatly underserved population -- the millions of kids who DON'T attend Ivy League schools. While only .2% of teenagers end up at one of the eight Ivy League schools, unfortunately these institutions monopolize the press attention.” I recently asked O’Shaughnessy to share some tips for parents on making sure their family gets the best college deal.

Q. Part of the premise of your book is that college can often be more affordable than parents expect. What do you see as the most common misperception about the costs of a college education today?

Too many parents assume that they must pay a school's sticker price. Nothing could be further from the truth. Colleges today are priced like airline tickets--everybody is charged a different price.

My husband and I discovered that when we looked at schools with my daughter. Our goal was to pay about the same amount of money as it would cost to go to a University of California school and we succeeded in doing that. Our daughter managed to earn merit scholarships from five out of the eight schools where she applied. She boiled down her final list to Dickinson and Juniata and she ultimately selected Juniata, which is in central Pennsylvania. She had a fabulous first year. She loved all her professors and they were always available to help if she needed it. Right before finals, for instance, her calculus teacher sat down with her for a half hour to help her with a tricky chapter. Caitlin has made great friends at Juniata, which is why we ended up with six girls at our house for spring break.

Q. Why is deciding on the right college list such an important component of managing college costs?

Countless schools are willing to award fat financial aid or merit packages to applicants, but institutions will usually only be generous if they want a student. Often that means your child should be within the top 25% to 30% of the kids applying to a particular school. In contrast, if your child manages to get accepted into a "reach" school, chances are the financial aid package will be disappointing.

What's also important is making sure you find schools that represent the right financial fit. For instance, if your family won't qualify for need-based aid, it would be pointless to apply to an expensive school that awards no merit money. Unless, of course, you don't mind paying full fare. Here's an example: If an affluent teenager got accepted into Georgetown University, she would pay full price because the school only gives financial aid to needy students. However, if the student had applied across town at George Washington University, the average merit award is close to $23,000 a year. Families which qualify for need-based aid will want to look for schools that dispense more grants than loans. My book explains how you can figure all this out.

Q. What is the most important thing the parent of a high school freshman or sophomore should be doing right now? How about the parent of a student who is still in middle school or elementary school?

Parents of teenagers should be using online financial aid calculators to get an idea of whether they will eventually qualify for financial aid or not. If their expected family contribution is high, they should focus on schools that provide generous merit aid for well-off students. Families who will need lots of assistance should look for schools that provide need-based grants rather than loans.

For younger students, I think parents should encourage them to read as much as possible. For younger and older children, provide them with enriching experiences outside of the classroom and make sure they don't fall behind at school. If you detect a weakness in the academics of a school, consider hiring a tutor. That's what I'm doing for my son, who is going to be a high school junior. The math program at his school is weak so we hired a UCLA student, who lives in the neighborhood this summer to get Ben prepared for pre-calculus.

Q. In your book, you spend a great deal of time talking about the pro’s and con’s of 529 Plans as a savings vehicle for college expenses. In a nutshell, what should parents consider when comparing plans?

I would only choose a 529 plan that invests in index mutual funds because they are less expensive than other 529 plans. What's more, index funds over time will perform better than most other mutual funds. Some of my favorite 529 plans include Utah and Nevada, which both use Vanguard index funds, and West Virginia, which uses index-like funds from Dimensional Fund Advisors.

Q. As a student nears college age, what should parents be doing with their college investments and savings? When is the appropriate time to move money earmarked for college out of riskier investments?

A great way to see how you should invest your cash as your child nears college is to look at how age-based 529 plans divide up their assets. For instance, Vanguard's model 529 index fund portfolio divides up the cash this way for kids who are 16 years of age or older: 50% bonds, 25% inflation-protected bonds and 25% cash.

New Majors Constantly Being Offered

2008-07-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

If you have a particular major in mind, look beyond the guidebooks. Colleges and universities are constantly adding new majors and programs, so you may find what you are looking for in an unexpected place. Of course, when evaluating new majors or programs, be sure to ask about the resources and faculty supporting the major, accreditation, and future plans.

Here are just a few new majors that have recently been launched at colleges across the country:

Music, Media and Enterprise: Ohio State University

Journalism: University of Michigan (Flint), Goshen College (broadcast journalism and public relations)

Polish: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)

Environmental Science/Studies: Drew University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of California-Davis

Animation: DePaul University

Interior Design: New Jersey Institute of Technology

Digital Design/Multimedia Computing: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Western Washington State

International Studies/Global Politics: Carnegie Mellon University, University of Rochester, New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Entrepreneurship/Enterprise Development: Carnegie Mellon(innovation, entrepreurship, and economic development), New Jersey Institute of Technology (Enterprise Development),

Applied Physical Analysis: Creighton University

Viticulture and Enology (grape growing and winemaking): Cornell

Neuroscience: College of Wooster

Exercise Science: Bethel University (MN)

Sports Management: Bowie State University (MD)

Mathematical Biology/Applied Mathematical Sciences: Colgate (Fall, 2009, University of California-Merced

BioInformatics: Franklin & Marshall College

Social Work: Mary Baldwin College (VA)

Middle East/South Asia Studies: University of California-Davis

Business Information Management: University of California-Irvine

Musical Theater: University of California-Irvine

Literature/Cultural Studies: University of California-San Diego

Mathematics, Probability and Statistics/Applied Mathematics: University of California-San Diego, Bryant University (Applied Mathematics)

Cognitive Science: University of California-Merced

Materials Science and Engineering: University of California Merced

Museum Studies: Walsh University (OH)

African American Studies: University of Connecticut

Construction Science: University of Texas-San Antonio

Albright College Joins Test Optional Bandwagon

2008-07-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

Albright College in Pennsylvania has become the latest four-year college to join the test optional movement. Submission of test scores will be optional for applicants to the liberal arts college, beginning this fall. "Our extensive research confirms that there is very little correlation between test results and first-year grade-point averages or graduation rates, and that high school preparation is a much stronger predictor for student success,” said Gregory E. Eichhorn, vice president for enrollment management in a press release.

Eichhorn noted that test scores have traditionally played a small role in admissions decisions, adding that "test scores do not measure creativity, motivation, intellectual engagement or potential – all things that a liberal arts college values."

For a list of other test-optional colleges, visit the Fairtest website.

"Virtual College Fair" To Provide Financial Aid Insights

2008-07-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for insights into financial aid, and would like to connect with dozens of college admissions officers, mark July 10 on your calendar. That's the date of the next College Week Live "virtual college fair."

The focus of this week's presentations will be on financial aid. Speakers will include Mark Knatrowitz, founder and publisher of FinAid.com, Dan Barkowitz, MIT Director of Financial Aid, and Edward Flores, from UCLA's financial aid office. If you can't make the "live" presentations, you can sign on to the College Week Live website at a later date to view them.

Also on hand, will be admissions officers from many colleges and universities. You'll have a chance to ask them questions about their colleges, as well as admissions and financial aid, over the Internet. A list of participating colleges is available at the College Week Live website.

Putting The WOW! In Student Service

2008-07-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

Have trouble waking up for school in the morning? At High Point University, you'll never have to worry about missing an early morning class. Just ask the University to give you a wake up call. They'll be happy to oblige. After class, flag down the University's ice cream truck for a free cone, then maybe head on over to the giant hot tub that sits in the middle of campus.

High Point's president, Nido R. Qubein, believes that customer satisfaction is his school's number one priority. So, he's gone above and beyond in terms of keeping the University's students happy. According to a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, High Point has a full-time director whose job is devoted to coming up with ways to please current and prospective students.

The perks include the ice cream truck that circles the campus letting students choose from over 500 free treats, live music in the cafeteria (and classical music piped into the walkways between buildings), a conceirage desk where students can drop off their dry cleaning and get restaurant recommendations, and snack kiosks around the campus which offer an endless supply of free bananas pretzels and drinks. But, that's not all. On their birthday, each student receives a birthday card signed by the president, with a Starbucks gift card inside, and balloons. Birthdays aren't the only time High Point students get gifts. High Point makes sure gift baskets of snacks and drinks are dropped off at student rooms when they return from breaks, and sometimes "just because" so that students know the school is thinking about them. In fact, High Point maintains a database of each student's preferences in movies, candy bars, and sodas just to make sure students get exactly what they want. While the snazzy extras are nice, High Point is also investing in its faculty and facilities, updating buildings, and adding new ones.

Qubein's passion for customer service is paying off. This year, the 3,000 student university expects its largest freshman class in history to enroll. High Point offers an interesting mix of traditional liberal arts subjects with some more unusual career-focused majors, including programs in international business, interior design and furniture marketing, sports management, and athletic training. The University offers an honors program, and a host of merit scholarships as well. For students looking to be treated like stars, High Point may be worth a look.

Comparing Your ACT and SAT Scores

2008-07-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

You've taken both the SAT and the ACT. Now, you're stumped. How do your scores compare to each other? Is one score higher than the other?

The College Board and the ACT recently completed a joint study comparing the scores of students who took both the "new" SAT (launched in 2006) and the ACT. As a result of the study, they have prepared a Concordance Chart which shows how scores on both tests line up with each other. The Concordance Chart, and some brief cautions about intepreting and comparing scores, can be found here.

A question students often ask me is which score they should send if they have taken both the ACT and the SAT. While the new Concordance Chart can give you an idea of how your scores compare, it's important to keep in mind that colleges and universities want to use the score that puts you, the applicant, in the best light. Therefore, if your SAT and ACT scores are fairly similar, there is no harm in sending both sets of scores, and letting the admissions committee decide which is a more positive reflection of you. On the other hand, if you scored significantly lower on one test, it is probably best to just send the highest equivalent score.

2008-2009 Common Application Goes Up Tommorrow

2008-06-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

The 2008-2009 Common Application will go live online tommorrow, with some interesting new changes and additions.

Students will now be able to access a search engine to help students sort and compare the 347 colleges which are Common Application members. With a few clicks of the keyboard, you can identify colleges that are a set number of miles from your home, in a specific type of campus setting, or that offer particular majors. After you've identified colleges, you can then compare up to three institutions at a time based on admissions criteria, academics, costs and financial aid, and student body characteristics. You'll even be able to print out a map showing the locations of various schools for future campus visits.

This year's Common Application will also include a small handful of questions that students can answer differently for individual schools, within the Common Application itself, rather than having to create an alternative version before each submission. The questions that can be changed inbetween submissions to different schools include: academic and career interests, entry term, intent to apply for financial aid, and the admissions decision plan (i.e., Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, etc.) However, in order to make any other changes between submissions, students will need to follow the Common Application procedures for creating an alternative application, which last year caused confustion for some students.

Colleges themselves will be able to "supress" certain answers. For example, a test-optional college may tell the Common Appliation to supress all self-reported standardized test scores. Colleges will also have the option to supress social security numbers and answers to disciplinary questions on the Common Application. It is not clear yet, however, how the Common Application or individual colleges will convey whether the answers to these questions are being supressed at individual schools. I would advise students to ask the colleges they are applying to directly about these issues if any are of concern to applicants.

Other changes to this year's Common Application include: the addition of a space for reporting IB scores, a more detailed format for the sections on academic honors and extracurriculars (although it appears that the number of honors and extracurriculars a student may report may be more limited than in the past), and the ability to upload formatted essays to the main essay section. In previous years, formatting was lost in the uploading process. Finally, selected high schools will be piloting a program this year that will allow for the electronic submission of Common Application recommendation forms.

If you're a rising senior, it is a good idea to spend a few minutes sometime over the summer registering for the Common Application, reading its FAQs so you understand how it operates, and playing around with some of the features. Doing so now, will give you plenty of time to get any possible questions answered before submission deadlines start hitting this fall.

Rising Senior? Here's Your Summer "College To-Do List"

2008-06-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

School's out for summer...but if you're a rising senior, the summer before senior year can be a good time to start laying the foundation for your college applications.

However, before I give you some suggestions on things you can do over the summer to prepare for the application crunch, I want to take a moment to give the parents of rising seniors some advice first. Simply put: Don't expect your child to have all of their essays written, their applications filled out, and their college list finalized by September 1! While there's certainly nothing wrong if your child decides, on their own, to jump start the process over the summer, chances are, it ain't gonna to happen that way in your house. And, really, that's fine! Regular decision deadlines don't start full force until early January, so there is plenty of time for your child to get into the swing of college applications. So, don't stress if your child still seems to be in the "what me worry?" phase of college applications. This too will pass. Keep repeating that phrase until you believe it. It will serve you well in the months ahead.

OK, with that said, back to any students who may be reading this blog. Here's a "To Do" list of five things you can do over the summer to help smooth the process next fall.

1. Make time for self-reflection. The process of applying to college, when done correctly, is really a process of self-discovery. Unfortunately, in the hysteria that has built up around college admissions in recent years, self-discovery often gets lost in the mad dash to accumulate the most AP classes, the highest test scores, the best grades, and the "right" extracurriculars. Too few students take time to think about who they really are, beyond their list of accomplishments, or to evaluate what really matters most to them, beyond "getting into a good college." That's truly unfortunate, because if you don't have a clear sense of self, you will have trouble making the many important decisions that lie ahead, not just in senior year, but in life. So, spend some time reflecting on the ways you've grown and changed over the past few years, the experiences that have shaped you into who you are today, and the person you hope to become as you venture forth into your future.

2. Play with the possibilities. You already know that your parents and guidance counselor will be bugging you come September 1st for your "final" list of colleges. It may be tempting to take the easy way out, and just list five or ten or twenty colleges that you know they'll approve of simply to appease them. But, don't sell yourself short. This summer is a time to play with the possibilities. Instead of making a list of college names, let yourself dream about what you'd like your life at college to be like -- what qualities and characteristics would your "dream college" really have? What would it be like to spend four years living in different parts of the country? Think outside the box. There are over 2,400 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. Chances are you can probably name only 30or 50 of them. Investigate some schools that haven't yet crossed your radar, and play with the possibilities.

3. Have the "money talk" with your parents. Some families are squeamish about discussing how financial matters might affect college choices. Other families immediately assume that certain colleges will be out of reach and set premature limits on the college search. And, sometimes families put off learning about how financial aid and merit scholarships work until it is too late. Do some research on the money side of things (I have provided many resources in this blog) and then ask your parents to sit down and have a heart-to-heart honest talk about where you and they stand when it comes to paying for college. Even if your parents don't seem interested, it is important to also educate yourself about the financial side of going to college. Summer is not too soon to get started.

4. Get organized. Although most students apply online, you'll be surprised at just how much paper you'll still accumulate and need to keep track of as you move through the process of applying to college and for financial aid. Set up a "command central" space in your home and stock it with whatever organizational materials you think will help you stay on top of things. Some essentials to get now: stamps, envelopes, storage folders, and a safe place to keep all of your college application materials. Remember: applying to college is stressful enough; you don't need the extra stress of madly searching for that missing application piece at Midnight the night before deadline day. And, here's another important part of getting organized: take a few hours to write down all of the pertinent information about yourself you're likely to need when applying to college. Which extracurriculars have you participated in and when were you involved? What did you contribute to the organizations and clubs you participated in? What awards have you won since ninth grade? What hobbies do you have that might be of interest to an admissions committee? What's your social security number? What are your passwords for the College Board and ACT websites? What's your high school's address? Your counselor's email? Use a spiral bound notebook to start tracking this, and other, information you'll need again and again as you apply to college.

5. Have fun and try to relax! Applying to college is a marathon, not a sprint. You'll need plenty of energy to tackle everything involved in applying to college over the coming year. While you shouldn't entirely blow off the college application process this summer, it is OK to allow yourself to have some fun and relaxation. In fact, this summer is a good time to start developing save and smart stress-reduction methods for the inevitable anxiety you'll feel at some point during the college admissions process. A little fun and relaxation now can go a long way towards helping you deal better with what lies ahead --- so, even if you are one of those rare kids who will have their college applications finished and ready to go come September 1st, make sure you also enjoy the summer!

Advice From A Parent Who's Been Through The Application Process

2008-06-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

If you're the parent of a high school student getting ready to apply to college in the fall, it can help to learn from parents who have already been through the process with their children. Catherine Mallette, a Texas journalist, has written a great article about the ups and downs of helping her son through college applications this past year. The article is packed with good advice, and should reassure parents who are starring into the abyss for the first time that they too, can make it through without going nuts.

Update: The above link is now inactive. You can still access the article at:
this article cache

Thanks to reader Karen for finding the cache article for me!

Pinpointing The Elements of a Solid Program In Your Major

2008-06-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

In response to my last post about what you should consider when choosing colleges, Marilyn asked: "How do you recommend students and parents go about finding an answer to your question "What are the elements of a good program in the student's potential major?" Is there a good reference for a wide range of majors or is it something that takes a lot of research to determine?"

This is a very good question, Marilyn. Thank you for asking it. I find that most people start with the question, "Which schools have the best programs in my potential major?" The problem with that approach is that if you ask five people that question, you're likely to get five different lists of colleges, and still not have the tools necessary to actually compare the differences between programs. While it may take a bit of sleuthing to understand what constitutes a solid program in a particular major, the effort pays off by allowing you to ask the right questions and make informed decisions as you research college options.

Here are some sources of information that can help you gain insight into factors to consider when evaluating programs in your potential major:

Educators: Many students overlook their teachers as a source of information about what to look for in college-level programs in a particular subject. Yet, high school teachers typically can advise students about what factors to consider in choosing programs. School and independent college counselors can also frequently be good sources of information about what to look for when evaluating programs in specific majors. Additionally, whenever possible, try to talk with faculty in your intended major as you visit and contact colleges. They are almost always willing to discuss the factors students should be considering when comparing programs.

Published sources: There are many books and websites that provide insights into what to look for in specific majors. I’ve covered many such websites here on my blog, so start by doing a search for your potential major. The College Board’s website has a major and career profile section that can help students get started. Each profile offers a list of questions to ask colleges about their program in that major. The College Board Book of Majors is another excellent resource for students doing research on a variety of majors. It offers a deeper look at a wide variety of majors, and includes lists of schools offering each major. If a student has a particular career in mind, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which is published by the U.S. Department of Labor, can often be a useful starting point. Finally, try googling using the term “undergraduate education in (major name)” and see what turns up.

Accrediting agencies: Some majors have accrediting agencies, which set standards for programs in the major. While all departments offering the major may not be accredited, if you can get a hold of the standards set by the accrediting agency, you will typically find you have a useful template for comparing departments. For example, the National Association of Schools of Theater has a handbook describing its accrediting standards. It suggests that theater classes should not exceed 16 students, that classroom instruction be divided between lecture and studio in a ratio of 1:2, and that faculty members and teaching assistants have both earned degrees in the field and professional experience in the discipline they are teaching. Two good sources to check to see if your major has an accrediting agency are the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs and Council for Higher Education Accreditation. If you can't find an accrediting agency for your particular major on these sites, it is useful to also do a google search for the name of your major, plus "accreditation" to see what turns up.

Professional Associations: Professional associations can be invaluable sources of information about what to consider when choosing programs in particular majors. Often, they publish articles and guidebooks for students considering majoring in the field. Some professional organizations also offer mentoring programs that can connect students with professionals. Professional organizations for faculty who teach in a particular major can also be useful sources of information on undergraduate education. For instance, the Modern Language Association often discusses how foreign languages should be taught at the undergraduate level, and publishes updates on its website. To track down professional associations related to your major or career goals, try googling the name of your major and the word "association." In addition, look for trade publications related to your major, which often discuss undergraduate preparation as well.

Related Links: Here are some links to past articles here at AdmissionsAdvice.com discussing factors to consider, and ways to research specific majors:

How can I determine if a school is strong in a particular department

More Suggestions for weighing specific departments

What are the best colleges for my major?

What’s a good college for...?

Great Websites for science majors

How to find information about unusual majors

What Should You Consider When Choosing Colleges?

2008-06-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

In thediscussion forum a member asked a very good question: what students should consider when comparing and deciding between college options?

There are probably hundreds of individual reasons why students make their final choice of where to go to college, but there are certain factors that should be considered by every student and their families. Here are some of the questions I try to get my students to consider before they finalize their college list:

The student's admissions profile: What does the student have to offer to colleges? What type of colleges might be most interested in what the student has to offer, and why?

The student's personal learning style : how do the student learn best? What are their strengths and weaknesses in the classroom? How does their learning style fit with the college's approach to instruction and curriculum? What type of instructional and curriculum approach would be the best fit for them? If the student has a learning disability, what types of accommodations will he or she need in college?

Financial considerations: How much can the family afford to pay? How much is the family willing to pay? How much does the family have saved to pay for college? How do the student and the family feel about student debt? Is the student eligible for merit scholarships at some colleges? How important is merit money to the student and his family? Will the family be willing to pay more for certain types of schools? If so, what are the characteristics of those schools?

Potential major What are the elements of a good program in the student's potential major? How do various programs compare on these elements? What other subjects is the student interested in studying? If the student changes his/her mind, do the colleges being considered have strong programs in other academic areas of interest, and will the college still be a fit for the student in other ways? What type of advising in the student's major is available? If the student changes their mind about the potential major, what advising is available to help them decide on and plan for a different path? Are internships available? What types of employers recruit on campus for students who have majored in the student's intended major?

Social considerations: How comfortable does the student feel being around people who are very different from him? What types of people might make the student uncomfortable? What types of people did the student hang out with in high school, and is she hoping to have similar types of friends in college, or branch out in a different direction? How does the student react in new social situations? How does the student hope to spend their free time in college? Does the student hope to live on campus all four years, just in freshman year, or would they prefer to live off campus all four years? What do they picture themselves doing on a Saturday night while they are in college? How does the student feel about student drinking and drug use? What are the extracurricular activities they have participated in during high school that they would like to continue in college? What new activities would they like to try? How important is a sense of "school spirit" to the student? Is the student interested in joining a fraternity or sorority?

Other personal considerations: How often does the student expect to visit home during the school year? Does the student mind flying? What parts of the country has the student visited? What parts of the country does the student prefer? Is it important to the student to have access to certain types of religious activities while at college? Does the student have health issues that might need attention? Are there family issues that might influence the student's choice of college?

College Admissions: A Family Affair

2008-06-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

Many families are surprised at the emotions and conflicts that can arise within the family when a child is applying to college. Perfectly sane parents find themselves reacting in ways that, on the surface, don't seem to make much sense, while their children complain about feeling more pressure from home than from the process of filling out applications. Old family tensions resurface, and new, unexpected ones suddenly emerge. For many families, the process is similar to being on an emotional roller coaster at times.

According to Steven Goodman, an independent college counselor, and Andrea Leiman, a clinical psychologist, there's good reason for the turmoil. The process of applying to and leaving for college is a major milestone for families, marking the student's passage into adulthood and a new role for parents. Yet, while there are thousands of books on applying to college, very few even mention some of the landmines that can unexpectedly crop up as families adjust to this transitional period for families.

In their excellent book, College Admissions TogetherGoodman and Leiman tackle the issue of family dynamics during the college admissions process head-on. They note that parents and students often bring different world views to the table. "What makes the admissions process maddening for many families is the intersection of a teen's incomplete knowledge with his newfound need to be an active decision maker in plans that will affect his future...," they write. "Having greater real-life experiences, however, is only one reason why your worldview will differ from your child's. What makes you comfortable may be completely different from what makes your son or daughter comfortable."

Goodman and Leiman discuss many of the potential pitfalls that can cause families to stumble during the admissions process. Families often have ingrained decision-making styles, and clear lines of authority. As children begin to make tentative choices for themselves, some family members may feel threatened. Parents also face a mix of pride at their child's accomplishments, and anxiety about how their parental role will change as the child steps into adulthood. By recognizing these, and other, issues, and consciously adapting to them, parents can ease the transition for both their child and themselves. "The goal...is to find that balance between you and your child where you can treat one another in an adult, caring, mutually supportive, and respectful manner."

The book is jammed with excellent advice and helpful exercises to help parents reach that goal. For example, Goodman and Leiman suggest a role-reversal exercise to help families begin the college discussion. Each member of the family should independently prepare a list of twenty colleges that might be a fit for the child and another list of college characteristics they think are most desirable. Then, they should meet, exchange and consider each other's lists, and each attempt to defend the other's college positions. "Through the role-reversal, students and parents are forced to see the strengths and weaknesses of their own views and the intensity with which other family members agree or disagree," note Goodman and Leiman.

While the book does discuss some of the steps of the admissions process, the real value of this superb book lies in its discussion of how family communication and decision-making styles can affect the admissions process. It also lays the groundwork for helping parents divide responsibilities during for admissions areas so that the child remains the driver of their application process while the parent serves as a guide.

College Admissions Together is one of the best books on the college admissions process I've come across. Every parent whose child will be applying to college in the next few years will be well-served by reading this book early in the process, and taking its message to heart. It is a book that should be on every parent's college bookshelf.

Dan Rather Reports On College Admissions

2008-05-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

College admissions will be the focus of a special edition of "Dan Rathers Reports" on HD.net. The show will air live on the cable channel on Tuesday, May 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET, reairing at 11 p.m. ET for West coast viewers. The program will also be available for download from HD.net's website beginning tommorrow.

According to a press release about the program, Rather will go "inside the process of college admissions. The program will bring you a seldom-seen look into an admissions committee meeting and Rather speaks with university presidents, guidance counselors, and students from two very different high schools."

Experts Discuss Admissions Online

2008-05-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

In March, an organization called CollegeWeekLive offered a "virtual college" fair, allowing students and parents to talk live with representatives from numerous colleges, and hear experts discuss the college admissions process. Although the fair is now over, the CollegeWeekLive website is still worth adding to your college resources. After registering, you'll be able to sign in and listen to some excellent presentations in the presentation hall on topics ranging from preparing for the SAT, financial aid, finding your best fit colleges, and preparing the most effective applications possible. You'll also be able look through information on the colleges and universities that participated in the live event in March. CollegeWeekLive plans to offer more virtual college fairs in the future, so be sure to sign up to receive an email notification of future events.

Wake Forest Goes Test-Optional

2008-05-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Beginning this fall, Wake Forest University will no longer require applicants to submit the SAT or ACT for admissions. In an press release announcing the new policy, Wake Forest Provost Jill Tiefenthaler, the university's chief academic officer whose office oversees admissions, said “While many top-tier universities are increasing their reliance on standardized testing in the admissions process, recent research suggests that standardized tests are not valuable predictors of college success.” Tiefenthaler also cited Wake Forest's desire to recruit a more racially and economically diverse student body as influencing the decision.

Wake Forest is the first university in the U.S. News Top 30 to move to a test-optional policy. Wake Forest joins over 750 other colleges and universities with test optional policies, according to FairTest a non-profit organization pushing for the elimination of standardized testing.

Will Wake Forest's move encourage other highly selective universities to join the test-optional bandwagon? That depends on how well other recent attempts to recruit low income students pan out. If measures such as Princeton and Harvard's decision to end their Early Admissions plans, and the revamping of financial aid at a number of institutions, are proven to do the job of adding diversity, then test-optional policies at top universities will probably not gain a foothold. However, it's a safe bet that going test-optional has already been discussed at some selective universities besides Wake Forest, and no one should be surprised if more institutions follow Wake Forest's lead.

Federal Government Will Bail Out Student Lenders

2008-05-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Federal Government announced plans yesterday that will rescue student loan companies from economic turmoil for at least the coming school year. The government's proposal is expected to avert what some had seen as a pending crisis in the availability of student loans for the 2008-2009 school year. Major lenders, including Sallie Mae, immediately promised to remain participants in the Federal student loan system after threatening in recent weeks to quit the system.

A major component of the plan would allow loan companies to sell the government packages of loans that they were issued at the end of the coming academic year. The government will also pay loan companies the amount owed by the borrower on the loan, along with a $75-per-loan fee and a 1 percent reimbursement fee. The government will also issue low interest loans to lenders, using their current student loan portfolios as collateral, so that lenders can write new loans for students.

The net effect of the proposal will be to keep liquidity in the student loan industry, which will insure that students seeking government-backed student loans will be able to find lenders willing to write them. Interest rates on Federally-subsidized student loans will not rise in the coming year. However, the proposal will not fix what many say are long-term inefficiencies in the student loan marketplace.

"We want students to be able to concentrate on their studies rather than worry about disruptions in the student loan market and whether they will be able to obtain federal loans to help pay for school. We hope families will be reassured that the U.S. Departments of Education and Treasury are acting to ensure loans remain accessible," said Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings in a press release . "At the same time, while offering these short-term solutions, we can also consider this a teachable moment that speaks to broader, long-term flaws in our complex and outdated financial system. This system has been crying out for reform for years, and especially in light of the ever-increasing cost higher education, students and families are counting on us to provide it."

Related Links:

Administration Unveils Plan to Protect Student Lenders, Washington Post

Education Agency’s Plan Shores Up Market For Loans To College Students, The New York Times

The Government Gets It Right, Inside Higher Education

Learn More About Financial Aid

2008-05-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

Knowledge is power when it comes to making sure you get the best financial aid possible. Yet, sorting through the jargon and terminology surrounding the process of applying for financial aid can be confusing. One resource for learning more is an online financial aid presentation produced by GetCollegeFunding.org. The hour-long presentation walks viewers through college costs, the methodologies that colleges will use to determine need, and some strategies for planning ahead to maximize your financial aid. One note: Although GetCollegeFunding.org is a non-profit organization that partners with schools and churches, it does provide some services for a fee. Watching the online presentation, however, is free, requires no registration, and there is no obligation to buy further services.

Smith College Adopts Test-Optional Admissions Policy

2008-05-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

Smith College had become the latest institution to adopt a test-optional admissions policy. Beginning with next year's applicants, students can choose not to submit test scores for admission. Smith joins over 700 colleges and universities which have already adopted test-optional admissions policies. A complete list of test-test optional colleges and universities can be found at Fair Test.

Parents: Good Advice For Steering Your Child Through College Admissions

2008-05-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

It's often said that the best way to prepare for an experience is to talk to someone who's already been through it. If you're a parent wondering how you'll manage to guide your child through the college application process, two recent articles, both written by parents, can help you gain some perspective about what lies ahead.

Catherine Mallette, a reporter for the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram just finished sheparding her son through the college admissions process. She shares what she learned along the way and provides some excellent advice for the parents who will be following her.

In another article "College Admissions Crisis Not A Crisis After All, Sharon Johnson, the mother of a college freshman, shares the ups and downs her family shared as her son recieved his college application decisions. The painful rejections by all the Ivy League schools he applied to stung. But, now, Johnson sees the blessings that lay in the sting of rejection: "Now, one year later, we know for sure what we were too raw and bitter to see then: the schools that denied our son admission cleared the way for other schools where he was more likely to thrive. As it turned out, they were right."

Marching Lock Step Off The College Admissions Ledge

2008-05-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

With all of the media hype and student anxiety surrounding college admissions these days, it's tempting for students to believe that the only way to get into a good college is to send out as many applications to as many colleges as possible, hoping one will "stick." I call this approach to college planning the "dartboard" method.

While I can understand the dartboard method's appeal, in reality, the secret to better admissions results doesn't lie in more applications, but a better college list. Building a solid college list is a lot like building a house. Before you even start building a house, you need a clear blueprint that takes into account the lay of the land. It's the same with college planning. Before you can begin building a good list, you need to do an honest self-assessment. What type of college environment do you need to be successful and happy? What are you bringing to the table as an applicant that might be attractive to a college? Which colleges are most likely to need and want what you have to offer most?

Just like building a house, a good college list should be built from the ground up, not the top down. A house needs a solid foundation and a sturdy structure before you put on the roof, and so does your college list. A lot of students who fall prey to the "dartboard" approach do so because they've jumped right into building the "roof" of their college list, loading it down with more and more schools in a certain group, rather than diversifying and putting a good solid foundation and sturdy structure in place first.

Ron Fletcher, an English teacher at Boston College High who writes a regular column on eduation for the Boston Globe, touched upon the importance of diversifying in his column this week. A mother wrote to ask for advice about helping her son apply to college next year. While noting that students in the class of 2009 may have it a bit harder than in previous years, Fletcher made an astute observation: "Too often students gravitate with little reflection toward the same old schools." He suggested that students consider "moving against the grain when putting together a list of potential colleges." That is very good advice.

The Greenest Colleges

2008-05-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

Do you care about environmental issues? Want to attend a college that shares your concerns? If so, check out Carleton, Dartmouth, Harvard, Middlebury, the University of Vermont, and the University of Washington. All six colleges were recently cited as "College Sustainability Leaders" in the College Sustainability Report Card 2008. The Report Card is an annual effort of the Sustainable Endowments Institute, a Massachusetts non-profit organization focused on advancing environmental sustainability in campus operations and endowment practices.

This year's Report Card gave 1 in 3 of the 200 colleges and universities studied a grade of B- or higher on a combination of factors such as administration commitment to sustainability, transportation, green buildings, food service, and use of renewable energy. Sixty-eight percent of the schools studied were cited for improving their commitment to sustainability over the previous year. The Institute's website provides individual environmental report cards for the 200 colleges and universities studied.

By the way, if you're interested in studying environmental issues in college, the University of Washington just announced plans to create what it says will be the largest environmental college in the world. The new College of the Environment at the University of Washington will merge five of the University's existing environmentally-related programs under one roof, and have a $60 million budget.

Related article: America’s Greenest Colleges, Forbes

Great Websites For Future Science Majors

2008-05-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

One of the most important parts of any college search is learning which questions to ask as you look at and compare colleges. What are the characteristics of a "good" program in your intended major? What types of courses will you need to reach your career goals? How can you be sure that your intended major or career is even right for you?

Prospective science majors have it lucky. The Internet provides a wealth of information about science education and careers in science-related fields. In fact, the amount of information can sometimes feel overwhelming. To help students get started, I've identified some of the best resources for potential science majors on the Internet. A few hours spent browsing these websites will put students interested in science on the right path towards asking the right questions as they search for colleges.

I've mentioned the Sloan Career Cornerstone website before, but it bears repeating. This site is probably the best site out there for students interested in science, technology and math. Here you'll find detailed descriptions of science-related careers, including excellent discussions on educational requirements. I particularly like the extensive list of links to other resources, such as professional and accreditation organizations, provided for each science and technology area. Smart college shoppers will follow those links to learn more about educational programs and careers in their area of interest.

Two other resources can also give potential science majors great insights into science careers. The Science Careers website from the Journal Science and the National Institutes of Health Office of Science Education website both offer wonderful information on careers related to science, including some you may not have thought of, such as science journalism, biostatiscian, and surgical technologist. Explore Healthcare Careers is another terrific site for those considering careers in health fields.

Prospective biology majors should check out the research and resources of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, one of the leading organziations supporting biology and medical programs in higher education. Anyone looking at college biology programs should read the Institute's report on undergraduate biology education, Beyond Bio 101. The online report discusses the qualities that distinguish excellent undergraduate biology programs, and profiles some of the best undergraduate biology departments. Wondering about the differences between biology programs at liberal arts colleges and research universities? The Institute's report on science education at liberal arts colleges is also worth reading.

Want to major in neuroscience? The best resource for tracking down colleges that have undergraduate majors in neuroscience is the the Directory of Undergraduate Neuroscience Departments maintained by the Association of Neuroscience Departments and Programs.

Fascinated by chemistry? The American Chemical Association's career and education website is a wonderful resource for prospective chemistry majors. The ACA accredits undergraduate chemistry programs, and the site maintains a list of accredited programs. Even if a school you're considering isn't accredited by the ACA, reading through the standards for accreditation will give you plenty of questions to ask when comparing programs.

Prospective physics majors should check out the resources provided by the American Institute of Physics. Start with the website's very good article on careers for physics majors I'd also strongly recommend that future physics majors read the excellent article, "Does It Matter where I Go To College? which compares outcomes for physics majors from large and small departments. Finally, the AIP site also has a descriptive list of degree-granting undergraduate physics programs in the United States with links to each department's website. If you're looking for profiles of specific physics programs, the American Association of Physics Teachers National Task Force on Undergraduate Physics has compiled detailed profiles of the physics programs at about 15 colleges.

Are you interested in earth sciences? The Enviromental Education website is a great college search resource. You'll find a searchable database of colleges offering programs in earth sciences, from agriculture to zoology. If you're interested in geology, the American Geological Institute offers a website with information on careers and links to undergraduate programs. If weather is your thing, check out the American Meteorological Society's Career Center. Finally, for a list of colleges offering programs in atmospheric, oceanography, and related sciences, see this website.

Who's Reading Your College Applications?

2008-05-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder who's in charge of making college admissions decisions? The Chronicle of Higher Education recently surveyed 461 senior undergraduate admissions officers at colleges across the country. The results of the survey provide some interesting insights into who may be reading your college applications.

Of the senior admissions officers responding, 89% were white and 61% were male. Seventy-five percent were 40 to 65 years old and 28% said they were graduates of the institution where they worked in admissions. They're not leading a life of leisure: nearly three-fourths reported that they worked 50 hours a week or more. Sixty percent said they worked over 60 hours a week.

While students may picture senior admissions officials doing little but reading applications and making admissions decisions, the survey found that other tasks take up a far larger percentage of time for top admissions officers. Seventy percent said they spent a "very high" or "high" percentage of their time communicating with other campus offices, including financial aid and development. Supervising and training admissions staff took up a similar amount of time for 67% of respondents. By contrast, 20% said they spent a "very high" or "high" amount of time communicating with prospective students.

By and large, senior admissions officers enjoy their jobs, with 80% reporting they were "mostly satisfied" or "extremely satisfied." The most common complaints admissions directors had were scarcity of resources, unrealistic expectations, dysfunctional offices and the difficulty in predicting admissions results. In a Chronicle article on the survey results, one officer wrote, "My success is determined by the decision-making prowess of 17-year-olds."

Asked to name the most common misconception the public has about admissions, 37% of those surveyed cited a lack of understanding about the admissions process, including how officials evaluate applicants, and the importance of various admissions criteria. "There is a misconception that the process is complicated and it's hard to get into universities," one admissions officer wrote on the survey. "That may be true for highly selective institutions, but for the vast majority of higher-education institutions across this country, the process is straightfforward and clearly stated." Respondents also listed confusion about the cost of college and how financial aid works as common public misconceptions.

While the job may have its frustrations, most senior level admissions officials are generally well-compensated. A third earned $60,000 to $90,000 a year, and 22% reported they earned over $130,000.

The survey also provides some clues as to the differences between types of institutions that might help prospective students better target their college lists. For example, if you're hoping for grants and merit scholarships, your best bet may be a religiously-affiliated institution. Asked about the discount rate (the proportion of grant aid relative to the total amount of gross tuition and fees) at their institutions, admissions directors at religious institutions reported an average discount rate of 37%, compared to 35% at private non-religious institutions and 19% at public institutions.

What do top admissions officers worry about most? Respondents cited concerns about how projected declines in the number of high-school graduates will complicate their efforts to maintain their enrollments. Forty-four percent of the admissions directors also cited that their institution had a "high" or "very high" need to increase the enrollment of ehtnically diverse students, and 45% said they had a "high" or "very high" need to recruit more high-ability students.