Recommendations for College Applications

It's not too early to begin organizing the supplemental components to college applications. This includes high school guidance counselor and teacher recommendations.

There is no better time than the present to reach out and get in touch with individuals who have agreed to provide a college recommendation letter. If the recommender has not received a copy of the student's most current resume, the student should make a concerted effort to get a copy to them as soon as possible. The resume gives the recommender an expanded overview of who the student is while also providing a document to reference when they begin to plan what to write.

As the most compelling recommendation letters are personal, specific, and insightful, it is a good idea for the student and recommending individual to meet and have a discussion. This discussion provides the recommender with an opportunity to ask questions while giving the student the opportunity to share any strategic plan for the college(s). Proactively discussing which elements are critical to share, and the preference for how that content should best be presented, is beneficial to all parties.

Rising High School Seniors Getting Busy!

If you are a rising high school senior you should be immersed in preparing for your college applications. If you have not finalized your list of schools for application by now, then a concerted effort toward establishing the colleges that will comprise that list should be a top priority.

Determining the application format (options include specific college website online forms, Common Application, Universal Application) that will be used to apply is an important step. It is not recommended to submit a paper application as the colleges prefer electronic submissions. Once the application format has been determined you can then begin to build a plan to create and submit the required elements.

Which application deadline options are offered at each college you are considering? The range includes Early Decision 1and Early Decision 2 (these are binding admissions contracts), Early Action 1 and 2, Restrictive Early Action (this is a restrictive admission process in certain circumstances), Regular Decision and Rolling Admissions. Rank your prospective colleges in order of importance to you. Use a calendar to plot your specific college application deadlines, backing into each deadline with the required and supplemental elements necessary in order to submit each application component in a timely fashion. A prospective candidate's file is not considered "complete" until all required documents have been received by the college admissions office.

There are other things to determine and add into the application completion mix. Do any of your prospective colleges require and recommend an interview? Are you able or encouraged to submit supplemental documents for consideration by admissions? How many letters of recommendation or reference are required or allowed? Determine which ACT, SAT, SAT Subject test scores you will be submitting, if your college requires they be submitted.

Staying organized and on-task is the name of the game!

Social Media Is A Powerful College Admissions Tool

Colleges care that a prospective student demonstrates interest in them and many go to great lengths to measure interest. FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram, to name a few, are programs that allow easy access to information promoted by the college in order for a prospective student to stay updated on current events. Following any variety of academic or extra-curricular offerings a college may provide also enables a student to demonstrate interest in ways that are highly valued and tracked by many colleges.

The admission process is all about determining "fit" from both the college's and prospective student's perspective. Students who use social media tools to promote their passions can have a big leg-up on their competition. Tactfully sharing one's passions and experiences allows followers to better understand who you are and how you may be uniquely qualified for a particular college environment.

A Few Summer To-Do's - Rising High School Seniors

With summer in full swing and the school year behind, rising high school seniors should be fully engaging in preparing for college applications and narrowing down your list of prospective colleges. Since you will soon be a college student you need to start thinking like one!

Visit college campuses. Although the best possible scenario would be to visit a college when classes are in session, making the most of your summer campus visit just takes some planning and proactive coordination with the college. For many, summer is the last opportunity to visit a campus and evaluate things like the setting (urban, suburban or rural), geographic proximity (to airports, grocery stores, urban areas, home), Greek life community, academic learning environment and whether you will flounder or flourish.

"Needs vs. Wants". Evaluate what you "need" to have at your target schools and what you "want". For instance, colleges offer cafeterias and meal plans. Do you have a health or dietary need that must be accommodated? Are you the kind of student that "needs" to drive through your preferred coffee vendor in order for the gears to get moving in the morning? Are you on the fence regarding your major and, for now, "undecided" will suffice or do you require that your future college have a specific accredited undergrad program in your specific specialty area?

Use your summer time wisely and begin to familiarize yourself with the Common Application or other college specific applications. Additionally, many colleges have made their essay prompts available. Starting your essay prep work early in the summer allows time for the important pre-work of brainstorming your topics and thinking through life events or elements to support the points you want to convey about yourself or your subject matter. Multiple rough drafts and honing your message takes time but is critical to a quality end product. Most important is to revisit the prompt request often to ensure your essay response is on-point.

Conservatory Considerations

While many high school students transitioning to college follow the traditional four-year path, many have a passion in the performing arts or music realm and choose to follow the more unique conservatory experience.

When considering pursuing a conservatory education experience, it is prudent to consider the following:


1. Admission is competitive! The better schools have more difficult audition requirements as well as more applicants per available position.

2. A student who did not perform well in a particular high school class can avoid these subjects at the conservatory. Having said this, if the conservatory requires any liberal arts credits be taken, these courses can be taken at a local college with the additional benefit of not being forced into, for example, a math or science class to fulfill requirements.

3. You are surrounded by an exceptional talent pool of people who are like-minded.  Leave your ego at home. There is a lot to learn from them as you grow in your craft.

4. Your alumni network will be strong. Conservatories are proud to promote the names of famous individuals that graduated from their programs. Checking the list to see what names you recognize and admire gives you a sense of the kind of contacts one would gain after graduating - not to mention an automatic incentive to succeed.

5. A big draw-back is that if your 'Plan A' does not pan out, there is no 'Plan B'. A traditional four-year college allows one to double major or change majors, provided you can coordinate schedules. It is not uncommon for people who do not "make it" in their craft to return to a more traditional college education in order to get a degree that transitions in the business world.

6. "Expensive" is the best term to describe conservatory educations. They rank among the schools with the highest PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) loan debt in the U.S. Generally speaking, the endowments at conservatory schools are smaller, so scholarships are negligible at best.

College Graduation Rates - Pick Wisely!

It is important to compare apples to apples when considering graduation rates. In an article by NPR Ed, it was noted that a school's graduation rate is an important criteria to consider. Additionally, the quality of entrants or level of resources are two notable contributing factors to graduation rates. When considering schools and comparing data, remember that a cash-strapped public university is likely to have a lower graduation rate than a private college with large endowment backing. As the article suggests, make sure to compare college graduation rates from schools within a similar category. Read more here NPR Ed.

You Are Special!

Throughout the academic year, high school students receive unsolicited mailings from organizations informing them of a nomination for inclusion in a special honor society or an invitation to attend summer leadership and community service programs. I’d like to offer the following tips for consideration as you review any options: 

1. You should never have to pay for a credential. True honors are earned and will rightfully be bestowed upon you.

2. Community service is not only personally rewarding but generally highly valued by colleges in the admission process. Remember that true community service involves selfless activity as opposed to programs where the benefit is a self-fulfilled agenda. Choose community service opportunities that stretch the comfort zone and challenge learning and growth. 

3. There is not an admissions advantage when attending summer programs at a specific college or university. College is a business and filling spots on campus over the summer helps the college's overall bottom line. If you do choose a program, do so because it has particular meaning to you.