Ask the Consultant: College Closure WARNING

Mt. Ida, Green Mountain College, Hampshire College have all recently been in the news: struggling to stay afloat or closing completely!

Q: I’ve seen recent news stories about colleges closing. How can we make sure that we don’t choose a college for our child that won’t be here five years from now?

A: Of course, there is no guarantee that a college will be here five years from now. But there are a few things that you can do to assess the financial health of the colleges you are considering.

Each year Forbes compiles College Financial Grades for four-year institutions. In 2017, they gave Mt. Ida a D-, the lowest grade assessed. Hampshire College, however, seemed about average and less of a concern.

It should be no surprise that the most highly selective institutions generally have the largest endowments and, therefore, are the most financially stable. But there are exceptions!

Moody’s gives credit ratings to colleges and universities on a yearly basis. This past year, Moody’s estimated that only 11% (or 500) institutions have the financial stability to stave off demographic, economic and technological shifts. And several well-known universities have credit ratings far below what one would expect. Georgetown University? UMASS Amherst? Baa2!

So, when on campus, ask about the credit rating, how is all that new building being paid for, how tuition-dependent is the school, what is the endowment. It won’t give you a perfect answer on financial health, but it’s a good start.

What Courses Should I Choose to Maximize College Chances?

It’s all about finding the right balance. Choose challenging courses where you can find success!

Q: It’s course selection time at my school. What should I think about?

A: The question that we always seem to get when we sit down with a student to discuss course selection is, “What do colleges want to see?” We meet with hundreds of college admission reps each year on campus, at conferences, and in our office. So, we ask them! There are definitely some commonalities to their responses.

• Identify your goals. The level of rigor you take on should be directly proportional to the selectivity of the institutions you are targeting. I was once at an Ivy League college information session and a parent asked if it was better for her son to take an AP course and get a B or take a college prep course and get an A. The answer: “If you want to be considered here, take the AP class and get an A.” Enough said!

• Appropriately challenge yourself. College admission reps want to be assured that you will be ready for the rigors of college, which will be a step up from high school. A student with straight A+ grades and less rigorous courses can appear as if they are afraid of challenging themselves.

• Build a foundation. Yes, high school is a foundation for college-level material. For this reason, colleges generally like to see four years of English, math (through pre-calculus), and foreign language. The also like to see a good background in science (biology, chemistry, and physics) and Social Sciences.

• Choose electives that interest you. We know that those students that have a course load like the one outlined above often do not have a lot of room for electives. So when you do get an open spot in your schedule, fill it with something that you’d love to learn!

• Be consistent. If you are a STEM kid, your rigor should be in math and science. Love to write? English and social sciences. Admission officers admit that they get suspicious when they see a student transcript that has honors or AP classes jumping around from subject to subject. Are they just choosing the easy ones?

• Assess your limits. How hard are you working now? Do you have more in the tank or does your current course load seem right? Only you know how much you can reasonably take on. Be honest with yourself and those guiding you in this process.

Computer Science: The bugs in the system

The number of undergraduates majoring in computer science has more than doubled from 2013 to 2017. We have seen this trend in our practice as more and more students are expressing interest in a career in tech.  At the university level, the number of students interested in studying computer science is outpacing the supply of professors, and students are starting to feel the impact of this imbalance.  From an admissions perspective, it is getting more competitive to get accepted as a computer science major.  Colleges are trying to manage the increase in demand but are finding it difficult to attract faculty when salaries in the private sector are more lucrative.  Some colleges have made computer science a limited enrollment major meaning they are only allowing a certain number of students in.  Other universities are limiting the number of courses computer science majors can take in their major in order to open up space to others in the department who are trying to fulfill their requirements.  And, many colleges are facing issues of overcrowded classes, and have started using lottery systems to allocate coveted spots.  

 As it relates to high school students thinking about applying into computer science, realize that it has gotten more competitive and building your resume to show your experience and commitment to the subject will help.

How to Rock Your Midterms!

You’ve got this!

It’s midterm time at many high schools, an anxious time, to be sure. What can you do now to get ready to rock them?

1. Alter your perspective. Students who view midterms as an opportunity, rather than fear them, tend to consistently do better on their exams. Why? The power of positive thinking.

2. Organize. Take the time to make sure that you have all of the materials you need. Study guide? Reading materials? Index cards?

3. Summarize. Take a tip from the Cornell Note-taking Method. Read through each page of your notes and summarize what is there. What is important to remember? What connects to other class material? What is likely to show up on the exam?

4. Recharge. Make sure that you give yourself time to refuel. Even ten minutes of a study break can help you refocus your energy.

5. Ask for help. Attend study sessions with your teacher, organize a study group of peers. Ask a parent or friend to quiz you on the material. It’s great to have that other perspective on the progress that you are making.

Should I Consider a Women's College?

Q: Why should I consider a women’s college?

A: When we begin to put together a college list for a high school junior, we always ask if they are open to considering a single-gender institution. Most young women say the same things: I don’t want more girl drama! I want to have fun in college! What about the male perspective? It’s not the real world!

The reality is that students at women’s colleges report that they feel tremendously supported in the classroom. They are far more likely to do research with faculty, be leaders, graduate in four years, and attend graduate school, especially in STEM.

The feeling of empowerment that is fostered in women’s college students is carried with them outside of the classroom and beyond. Once they find their voice, they use it.

And the male perspective? You’ve got the rest of your life to live that!

On the Road Again

The Johnston Center for Integrative Studies at the University of Redlands is an experimental living/learning community where students set their own course of study. Students contract with faculty for their academic coursework and receive evaluations rather than grades. And you can’t beat the location!

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At College Matters, visiting colleges, meeting with admissions professionals and talking with students and faculty are very important aspects of what we do. 

These visits allow us to give our students insight about colleges… before they go themselves.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you and your family a restful holiday and a very happy 2019!

Betsy, Sarah, Marcy, Katie, Becky and Jennifer

Early Decision NO! What to Do?

Q: My son was just rejected by his early decision college? I’m trying to stay calm for his sake, but every time I get into my car to drive to work, I panic. Any tips?

A: First of all, give yourself a pat on the back for being a good parent. What your son needs right now is your reassurance, not your doubt.

We’ve seen some parents take their disappointment out on their kid, berating them with I told you so. “I knew that B+ in AP Chemistry would ruin your chances!” “You should have spent more time on your essays!” “I told you that you didn’t have enough community service!!!”

Others lash out at the unfairness of the system, or even their student’s classmates that were admitted. “She’s totally undeserving!!!”

Rejection is hard! And we’ve found that it’s often harder on the parent than it is on the child, especially when they’ve worked hard to achieve a particular goal. For many high achieving teens, a college admission “no” is their first failure. So it is a particularly important time for parents to watch what they say and do. Remember, even as teenagers, they are watching and learning from you. You are modeling for them how they will react to future setbacks… and achievements. Trust me, the achievements will also come!

So here are a few tips:

• Be positive. Nothing can be gained from ruminating about the past.

• Don’t throw blame. The biggest loser in the equation is the college! They’ve missed out on a terrific kid!

• Celebrate the achievements of others. You’d want others to do the same. And they will!

• Have a plan.

At this time of the year, we work with new families to our practice who need a second look at an application, list of colleges for subsequent applications, and admission essays and supplements. Give us a call and ask about our Second Look Assessment. We can help!

Trinity’s New Financial Aid Policy Increases Much-Needed Transparency

Trinity College recently announced that it will provide low-income students with a four year financial aid package, rather than require students to file for need-based aid each year.

“Our goal is to remove the anxiety, confusion, and complexity from a process that discourages low-income students from applying to and persisting at institutions of higher education. Knowing how much college will cost over a four-year period will also allow students and families to make better decisions about enrollment and financial planning. The requirements to apply for financial aid continue to become more complex, and for the lowest income students, the process serves as a constant reminder that they are poor. Trinity College is taking this step to help students focus their energies on academic and social success, rather than burdensome administrative processes.

Any student who is Pell-eligible and whose family has an adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less will be presented with a four-year financial aid package, with first-year financial aid accompanied by estimates for future years. Because Trinity already meets 100% of a student’s demonstrated need, Trinity will maintain its commitment to keep the family’s net price consistent for four years regardless of changes in the availability of federal or state aid. Finally, additional financial wellness opportunities will be provided for these students through a partnership with the Office of Student Accounts, Center for Student Success and Career Development, and the Office of Financial Aid.”

Way to go Trinity!!

Dear Applicant...

This work of satire comes from our colleague LaToya Franklyn, author of College as Reality

Dear Applicant,

I really like you. You're smart, funny, beautiful, and just all-around amazing. But I'm just not ready to commit to you. I think there may be someone else out there that I like more than you.

I don’t know for sure, but I'm going to wait and see. So check back with me in a couple of months and I'll let you know if I've found someone I'm more into. But who knows, maybe I won't. Maybe you will be the one. But most likely not because I'll be dating A LOT of people between now and then.

What should you do in the meantime? Well, you can just wait and wish and hope I will eventually like you enough to commit. Or you can spend that time finding someone else who will love you for exactly who you are, as you are right now. Either way, I'll be fine so do whatever you think is best for you. Ok ttyl

Sincerely,

Defer