Ask the Consultant

Q:  How do we tackle the college admission process for an underachiever?

A:   I often ask parents of freshman and sophomore students to think back on all of their child’s report cards and tell me the common themes.  “Does not work up to potential” is not an infrequent reply.  If that is your answer, you are not alone.

The first thing we need to discover is the cause of the underachievement.  Is this the type of student who “rewards” a favored teacher by getting an A and “punishes” a teacher they don't connect with by getting a C?  Is the student not as mature as their classmates?  The only way to “turn around” an underachiever is for the student to begin to recognize the patterns and proactively learn to avoid them.

When working with underachieving students, we like to start planning for college as early as the sophomore year.  We spend a considerable amount of time discussing their learning style and how they are unique.  We call this “discovering your greatness.”  Many times a visit to a college helps the student to see the long term goal more clearly.  If maturity is the issue, we may consider a postgraduate or gap year.

For the underachiever, the college fit is critically important.  Small classes with interesting and caring professors can make all the difference for some; others need hands-on immersion in an area of great interest.  So don't give up!  After all, these students do have great potential!

Ask the Consultant

Q: I applied single choice early action to my dream school. I just got an email from an alumna requesting an interview. I'm super excited. This a good sign, right?

A: I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but it most likely just means that they received your application. Most of the Ivy league caliber universities such as Princeton, Cornell, Brown, Stanford, and Harvard attempt to have an alumni interview every applicant. 

Don't buy the sticker for the back of the car just yet!

Some of these alumni interviews are informational, and some are evaluative. So an outstanding evaluative interview may indeed help you stand out from the pack. But we have also heard many, many stories from seasoned alumni interviewers who are shocked and confused to learn that the candidates they raved about were rejected in lieu of other, less dynamic applicants. That being said, if you are offered an alumni interview, make sure you accept. Blowing it off will certainly send a message to an admission office--and not a good one! 

Know Your EFC

Many families make false assumptions when it comes to their ability to pay for their child’s college education.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, “There is no way we will qualify for financial aid based on what other parents have told me.” Or, “Of course we'll get money - how else can anyone afford to pay full price?”  The reality is you may be surprised either way.  Ultimately, however, it is never a good idea to go through the college process uninformed. 
 
When determining your eligibility for need-based financial aid, colleges examine the assets and income of the parents and student to calculate what they think your family can afford. This number is called your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).  While the EFC calculated by the college may differ from what you think, or what you want to pay for your child’s education, it is still important to know what that number is.  When formulating your college plan, understanding what the colleges expect you to pay will help you to map out a plan.  Maybe you need to look at colleges that are generous with merit money (non-need based financial aid) or colleges that have a lower price tag (and yes, there are options other than your in-state university). Sometimes it means finding colleges that will give an edge to a student who can pay the full price.  In any case, knowing your EFC is critical to building a sound college plan.

Ask the Consultant

Q:  I was deferred from my early action school. What should I do now?

A:  For many students, deferral seems like being in limbo – “do they want me or not?” Deferrals, however, can provide a second chance for those who understand the process. 

When a college informs you that your application has been deferred, they are often saying, in effect, that they’d like more information before they make a final decision. This presents you with an opportunity to give them more reasons to accept you.  The first and most important reason would be improved grades in challenging courses. Be sure that your senior year grades reflect your hard work, and ask your school counselor to send updated marking period grades to them as soon as they are ready. Secondly, ask another teacher to write a letter on your behalf if this teacher can comment positively on your continued growth and achievement. Also, confer with your educational consultant about the advisability of calling the admission office to determine their concerns so that you can address these issues directly.

Next, send updates of significant new achievements that occur during your senior year: perhaps a copy of an article you wrote for your local newspaper or honor or award you received. 

Finally, review the list of colleges to which you applied. Check to be sure that your list is realistic and that you’ll have choices in the spring… and remember that for every student, there are many schools that offer a perfect fit.

Congratulations, You’ve Been Nominated!

It arrived in a beautiful envelope, looking very much like a wedding invitation.  Expensive card stock, double envelope, the works.  “Congratulations Lucy, you’ve been nominated for,” it began.  She had been nominated by a teacher that knows her well and praised her academic abilities.  Wow, what an honor!  The only problem, Lucy was only two years of age and was a Labrador retriever.

Who’s Who in American High School Students and the National Honor Roll will include the student in their publication for free, but there is a significant cost to purchase the book. The National Youth Leadership Council and National Leadership Youth Forum offer week-long programs at college campuses for “outstanding young leaders.” The programs sound wonderful; interesting guest speakers, field trips and acknowledgement of your participation in the local paper.  Are they worth the money?

You don’t necessarily get what you pay for.

While having their name printed in a leather bound volume may boost a student’s self-esteem and a cushy summer program may be a lot of fun, college admissions officers agree that these programs do little to enhance a student’s candidacy. While some outstanding summer programs exist, parents and students are best to proceed with caution before investing a significant amount of money. For most students getting a job, doing volunteer work or exploring an activity about which they are passionate will be much more beneficial on their resume.

So how did Lucy get her nomination? Certainly not from obedience class. Most likely her name was pulled from a scholarship search in which I used her name. And, no, we didn’t buy the book!    

Did you just say "transfer?"

It is not uncommon at this time of year to get a few calls from clients who are freshmen in college. These are usually students who have experienced the normal homesickness in the first six to eight weeks of college but have settled into campus life, have begun to make friends, and are getting a handle on the workload. Just when their parents let out a sigh of relief, winter vacation comes around, and their child comes home and sees all of their high school friends. 

Once they get together with their high school friends, the back-and-forth may begin to sound like two shoppers discussing the great buys they got at a clothing sale: one-upmanship prevails. No matter what your child may be saying about the positive aspects of their college experience, their friends seem to have it better. Having no reason to doubt their friends or suspect exaggeration, they believe what they are told and develop a sense of dissatisfaction with their own college. Suddenly, the transfer drums begin to beat. 

This scenario frequently generates great angst on the part of the parents who begin to question their student's choice of a college in the first place. The options were well-considered and researched. How could they have gotten it wrong? 

Should this situation present itself, it is important to remember that much of the anxiety is due to the sudden realization that old friends miss each other.  Try to get your child to realize is that simply being on the same campus will not bring back the glory days of high school.  

Remind your child about the reasons they chose their college in the first place. Emphasize the positive aspects of their experiences to date. Ask them what they have shared on social media and with friends and family about college so far. Most likely, it's been crisp fall days, tailgates, and smiles - just like their friends! No college experience is perfect; it's what you make of it that matters. 

If the nagging doubts persist, allow your student to explore transfer opportunities on their own, only guiding the process. If that responsibility is thrown in your lap, the desire to change schools is not a serious one. And even if the transfer process does come to fruition, by May, students are often deeply entrenched in campus life and will choose to stay put. 

I’m Not Sure College is For Me

While I agree that college isn’t always right for everyone, I also believe that your college experience doesn’t have to be a repeat of your high school one.  I’ve worked with students whose struggles with the high school learning environment made them question whether or not college was the right path for them. For those students it was important to take a hard look at what worked well in high school environment and what did not, and build those factors and resources into their college plan. Thankfully, college is a time to make adjustments - so don’t automatically count yourself out.

Ask the Consultant

Q: When do we set up college interviews? What should I do to prepare?

A:  Early on, it is a good idea to take a look at the interview policies at each of the schools that you are seriously considering applying to.  Why?  Not all interviews are “counted” as a part of the admissions decision.  "The Fiske Guide to Colleges" spells out each college's interview policy.  For example: “Campus interviews: recommended, evaluative.  Alumni interviews: optional, informational.”  This tells you that if you do an on-campus interview, the interviewer will take notes and put them in your file.  If you interview well, this can help you in the process.  You can also interview with an alumnus in your local area, but, in this case, these interviews are only to provide you with information on the college.  In an informational interview, nothing about the interview will be used in the decision-making process, with the exception of the knowledge that you had an alumni interview. 

Also, know the timing of interviews.  Generally, the more applications the school receives, the more restrictions that they will have about interviews.  Some large state universities do not interview at all.  Many of the elite and Ivy League colleges will only interview students who have submitted an application, or at least the first part with the application fee.  Many schools only offer interviews to prospective students between April 1 of the junior year and January 15 of the senior year.  After that, they are reading applications and making decisions. 

Ask the Consultant

Q:  My junior has always been so conscientious about school, but I can’t get him engaged in the college process.

A:  “What’s the rush, Mom?”  Procrastination about beginning the college search process is normal for many juniors.  While they are excited about the prospect of college, they are held back by fear of failure and trepidation about leaving home. 

Parents, understanding the competitive nature of the college admissions process, may focus too much energy on this upcoming transition by talking about it daily. Try making a deal with your student; we will only discuss college planning on the weekend or Wednesday nights.  A few hours of good communication is much better than daily resistance.

Because many students take direction better from almost anyone other than their parent, an educational consultant can help by setting goals and assisting in meeting deadlines.  We can also brainstorm and proof the essay, and make sure that all the applications are complete and submitted on time. 

So take a deep breath and try to relax.  The SAT will get taken, the college visits will be made, and the applications will get submitted.  It may not be on your timeline, but they do tend to get it done.

Fall is College Fair Time

Each year, as the leaves begin to turn, college admissions representatives hit the road.  They visit high schools and man college fairs, whipping students and families into a frenzy to apply, only to reject a majority of those who do.  Some are recent graduates, still green, while others are marketing masters. Students often ask if it is worth their time to attend a college fair or take time out of class to meet with one of these reps at their high school.  When it comes time to award “demonstrated interest” points, a campus visit and interview are indeed valued more, but many colleges keep track of any contact with the admissions office.  So, it may be worth your while.

Hopefully, by fall of the senior year, students have visited most of the schools on their list and have researched them all.  As you begin to fill out applications, you may realize that you don't know as much about the schools to which they are applying as you thought.  Have all of your questions been answered or do you have a few more?  A college rep visit or fair may be the perfect time to get those questions answered, as well as get one last "touch" with the admissions office. 

 As a supplementary essay, many colleges ask: “Why do you want to attend Prestige University?”  Students who have done their research on the school often have an easy time picturing themselves on the campus and writing about it.  Others may need to do a bit more data gathering.  These visits can be your opportunity.