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As seniors enter their final semester of high school, they may be tempted to coast to the finish line. After a busy fall with college applications, I understand the need to catch your breath. At the same time, don’t let your academic performance falter. We have had students whose offers of admission have been revoked due to a dramatic change in grades. Although not common, it can (and has) happened. You have worked hard to get this far, don’t trip up at the finish.
Despite the colder temperatures, it is not too early to start planning your summer experiences. Many students use their summer to explore a possible career path, volunteer, get a job, further their foreign language skills, or explore an interest, to name just a few. Keep in mind that many summer programs have deadlines in the winter or early spring. It would be unfortunate to find the perfect opportunity only to realize you missed the deadline. So, dress for winter but start thinking about summer.
Now is a great time for high school juniors to create or review their testing plan for college admission. Assess what you have taken and what's left to take. Have you taken the SAT? Are you satisfied with the results? Take the time now to consider your options:
According to the Washington Post, the most recent federal data reveals that 1.3 million applications were submitted for fall 2016 undergraduate admission to the 50 state flagship universities. That is up 79% from ten years earlier. What is driving this trend? Out-of-state applicants, both domestic and international, have risen dramatically over the past ten years. Many public universities look to these out-of-state applicants paying higher tuition to offset shortfalls in state funding. In addition, more in-state students are turning to their public institution as a more affordable option. We will continue to examine the private colleges’ and universities’ response to this trend, if any, as well as how to advise our current families in response to this increasingly competitive environment.
The Common Application announced today that the essay topics from which students can choose will remain the same for the graduating class of 2019. Want to get a peek?
It takes only three years to earn a typical full-time bachelor's degree in the United Kingdom (not Scotland, however). In addition, students dive head first into their major right away - and focus exclusively on that subject.
"What are distribution requirements?!?!"
International student numbers are down - by more than 7% - with universities in the midwest feeling the sting of lost revenue the most!
Don't pack your bags quite yet -- there is planning to do!
Q: My junior's PPT is coming up soon. Is there anything specific we need to address to prepare for the college years?
A: Yes! Junior year planning is very important, particularly for a student with a learning difference. There are several main areas that a college-bound student with an IEP or 504 plan needs to consider: learning style, self-advocacy, accommodations, and documentation.
Leaning style: Hopefully, by junior year in high school, the student has a decent idea of their academic strengths and weaknesses -- and we all have them. This is a good time to assess: How do you learn best? In what types of classroom settings are you the most successful? What accommodations are you utilizing? Are there any others that you might need in college?
Self-advocacy: The most important attribute of a successful college student with a learning difference is self-advocacy. College students must take charge of asking for accommodations! This includes self-identifying as a student with a learning difference and notifying professors themselves. So, in setting goals for the rest of high school, focus on self-advocacy!!
Accommodations: We like to tell our students to think about the move from high school to college accommodations as a shift from entitlement to equal access. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that a K-12 student is entitled to receive services to prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. Colleges must comply with the Americans for Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act but are not bound by IDEA. They must provide equal access to education, leveling the playing field for a student with a disability.
Documentation: College learning support offices ask students to provide updated documentation of their disability (neuro-psychological testing, medical diagnosis, etc.). Usually, they want this to be done within the last three years, so requesting updated testing during the junior year makes a lot of sense.
Unfortunately, junior year also tends to be the one in which many students are guided to or independently decide to exit the special education system, especially students that are finding success academically and are good self-advocates. And while it is tempting to see college as a clean slate, that is rarely the case. Getting accommodations for things like high stakes standardized testing and college courses requires that a student is utilizing the accommodations that they have been given. Remember, you bring yourself with you to college, so why not give yourself every opportunity to find success?
Q: I've been deferred from early decision to regular decision. Can I apply ED2 to my second choice?
A: Yes! When a college does not accept you via a binding early decision plan and places your application in the regular pile, you are no longer bound to attend if admitted. Therefore, you are able to shift gears and make a second early decision choice.
One thing to remember, however, is that you will most likely hear back from your ED2 school well before you will hear from any of your regular decision schools -- and if you are accepted, you have committed to withdrawing all other applications. So you will never know if you would have gotten into that ED1 school. If you're OK with that, go for it!!
Law school is hot! According to the Law School Admission Council, the number of people applying for fall 2018 admission is up 12% as compared with last year. This is the first increase of significance in many years.
