Students Still Want the Real College Experience

There is so much uncertainty in the time of COVID-19 and news outlets are proclaiming the end of college as we know it. But the reality is that most families are still committed to the traditional college experience for their students. They understand the benefits of on-campus learning: the connections you make, the confidence you gain, the learning that takes place outside of the classroom.

So don’t panic! Things will return to normalcy. There may very well be some corrections (less money spent on lazy rivers and climbing walls would be OK with me), but corrections can be a good thing.

Online college is OK. But real college still matters!

Is Getting a Job Really the End Goal?

The message often received in high school is that you have to work hard to get a job. The problem is, I’ve seen plenty of people get jobs, but then what? Is that it? Of course not. I know people in the working world who can’t manage multiple tasks. I know teachers who struggle to communicate with their students. I know people who are in leadership positions and fail to lead. All these people have high school diplomas and college degrees. So what’s the problem?

Many high school students see the diploma and the job as the final destination. The truth is the diploma and job are just the beginning of a lifetime of learning. Most people end up getting that first job, but many don’t do the job well or don’t enjoy the work. They feel confused about which city to live in, how to make friends in that city, and whether living in that city really makes financial sense. Climbing up the academic ladder is a series of planned out steps. You take the SAT and climb up a rung. You get into college and climb up another. You graduate from high school. Your professors give you assignments and exams. With each one you complete, you make your way to the top of that ladder until graduation day. Now you’re at the top of the tree when all of a sudden, the ladder gets removed from under you, and you have to figure out a way to get down. There are no more rungs laid out for you. There’s no next graduation or homework assignment. There’s no moving on to the next grade. Professors and advisors aren’t telling you what to do anymore.

That’s where those skills from school—critical thinking, organization, communication, grit, self-reflection—come in. They help people to keep learning and to figure out what the next best steps for them are. People have to get truthful with themselves and think about what actually gets them excited and motivated. They have to create the path for themselves for the first time instead of letting others create it for them. They do this process again and again for years and decades. To say the end goal is the first job is foolish because it’s actually when the real learning begins.

Colleges Still Accepting Applications

Didn’t end up with the college choices that you were aiming for? There may be good news.

Every year, after the May 1 decision date, the National Association for College Admission Counseling polls institutions to determine which still have space and would consider an application at this time.

Appearing on the list does not mean that they will take anyone. Applicants must meet the general qualifications to be considered. Take a look. You might just find the perfect school for you!

Should I Choose Pass/ Fail?

COVID-19 has made everything more complicated!!

Q: My high school has given us the option of going pass/fail this spring, in light of the coronavirus. Should I do it?

A: Many districts have made a unilateral decision; they will be adopting a Credit/ No Credit or Pass/ Fail grading policy this spring for all students. If that is the case for you, breathe easy. We have not come across a single college or university that will penalize a student for not having letter grades this spring — large research universities, small liberal arts colleges, the most selective institutions, and your regional state affiliates are all going to be adaptable.

One of our favorite statements is from Tulane University: “Whatever your school does, we’ll support it. If you have only P/F in the second semester, we’ll totally understand. It might mean we put a bit more emphasis on your first semester, but we’ll also completely understand your circumstances. If you’re currently on an upward trend, we’ll make the assumption that that trend would have continued in the second semester. We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt in every single way we can. Tulane just announced that students can opt to take their classes Pass, Minimal Pass, Or Fail, so we get it. Go to your online classes, do the best you can, make your presence felt, try your hardest. We’ll notice, trust me.”

So what if you have the choice like Tulane is offering their students? P/F or grades?

Our advice to students is to opt for the letter grade unless you have:

• Health challenges in your family (physical or mental)

• Technology and connectivity issues

• Significant family responsibilities taking time away from schoolwork

If any of the above apply to you, a simple explanation on your application will be enough for a college admission officer! And if you have a nagging concern, reach out to us — we’ll be happy to reassure you!

For the rest of you, we recommend plugging along and doing your best with online learning, getting the best grades that you can! You’re developing skills that will serve you well in the future: time management, self-motivation, and grit. You can do it!

How to Choose a College When You Can't Visit

Most colleges have cancelled spring admission events. How do we choose?

Q: I was planning on going back to visit several colleges before deciding where to attend. But now that everything's closed due to COVID-19, how can I choose by May 1?

A: It certainly is an anxious and unpredictable time! Even more so for high school seniors who are awaiting final decisions and feeling the pressure of the impending deadline to select a college.

There is some good news. Over thirty colleges and universities have extended their enrollment decision date to June 1, and we hope that others will follow suit.

That still doesn’t address the question of how to choose a college if you can’t get there to visit. While we understand that the situation is not ideal, there is a lot you can do.

• Participate in virtual events. Many colleges are hosting virtual visit days for admitted students. You’ll be able to interact with faculty, speak with current students, and view some of the facilities.

• Talk to a current student. If you don’t know someone from your high school or hometown that attends, call the admission office. They’re happy to make a connection.

• Reach out to faculty in your area(s) of interest. Most faculty are happy to answer the questions of admitted students. And if they won’t make themselves available, well, that tells you something too.

• Join the admitted student group online. These could be your future classmates. Do you like what you see and hear?

• Read the college newspaper. Most college papers are online and searchable. What events intrigue you? What are students complaining about? Is the general vibe activist, collegiate, intellectual, humorous?

• Ask for more time. If a college does not extend their enrollment deadline, call and ask if they will extend to give you time to make a decision.

But don’t double deposit!! Sending in two deposits is a violation of the NACAC guidelines and could result in you having both acceptances revoked. At the end of the day, you will need to go with your gut and choose. And if you’re really undecided, it’s probably because you are choosing from among several schools that are outstanding choices. And, most likely, there is no bad choice!

College Matters is Open... Virtually!

The College Matters team will be working remotely until April 15th (or beyond if necessary). For over a decade, we have worked with many families remotely, so you can count on the same great experience you have come to expect from our team.

In the meantime, stay healthy, stay calm, and, most importantly, be kind to one another!

The Pressure to Commit to a College

They’ve made a complex process even more complex!

Q: I was admitted to several colleges through early action. I keep getting emails and phone calls asking me to commit to attending. I’d like to hear back from my regular decision schools and compare merit scholarships but I’m worried. Am I making a mistake?

A: Over the summer, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) settled a dispute with the Department of Justice, changing their Code of Ethics and Professional Practices. Citing antitrust concerns, the DOJ questioned a “restraint of trade” among colleges and universities in their recruitment of students. Begrudgingly, NACAC members voted to alter certain policies and eliminate certain restrictions.

One of the most significant changes is that colleges may now offer incentives to students to commit to a college or university before the universal decision date of May 1, when students must let a college know if they will be attending or not. Almost immediately after the change, we saw colleges dangling preferential housing, free parking, earlier class registration, and even additional merit scholarships to students.

So what’s a student to do?

• Wait until you’ve received all of your decisions before committing! We’d hate to see a student miss out on a better opportunity simply because they were feeling the pressure to commit.

• Don’t double deposit. NACAC guidelines still prohibit students from sending enrollment deposits to more than one institution.

• Call! Ask the college if they will give you more time. Most will!

Are you interested in the other changes made by the DOJ inquiry? See them here.

It's School Counselor Week

Thank you school counselors, for all that you do!

At College Matters, we’ve been incredibly lucky to have our own children supported in a variety of ways by caring school counselors! These dedicated professionals made scheduling changes, wrote letters of recommendation for colleges and scholarships, reassured both our student and us as parents when things seemed unsettling, advocated and cheered them on, and most importantly, were there to counsel and support in times of crisis. For all of that, we thank you.

Reality Check: Prepare for a Denial Ahead of Time

You’ve worked hard, researched colleges and demonstrated interest, conscientiously prepared your applications.  One more thing:  keep in mind that you will most likely be denied by at least one of the schools you really want to attend.

The best responses come with preparation.  Everyone – with very, very few exceptions – will be denied by at least one school to which they apply.  Often the denial comes from one (or more) of the “reach” schools at the top of the list, but sometimes from one (or more) of the “target” or even “safety” schools. Often, the student is qualified to do the work there, but isn’t among the strongest applicants or doesn’t meet a specific enrollment profile that the college is targeting that year. In an increasingly competitive landscape, many selective schools are denying more students. Preparing mentally and emotionally for this reality ahead of time can help ease the pain and reframe your response so it is healing and more productive.   

Being denied by a college you really want to go to hurts and it’s hard to not take it personally.  When it happens, take some time to feel disappointed and process the pain.  Do something that makes you feel better: punch your pillow, cry, eat chocolate or ice cream, go for a run and scream.  Then remember that that “perfect” college isn’t perfect.  There is no “perfect” place.  Each college has strengths and weaknesses and you will find what you are looking for at another school.  Most students who are devastated go on to “love” another school.  Ask the tour guides when looking at colleges and older siblings and friends.  Many don’t enroll at their “first choice” schools and end up sincerely saying they are happy where they are and are glad things worked out the way they did.  So, mentally prepare yourself for some disappointment and be ready to pivot to another option. 

Research shows that students who thrive in and after college are those that engage in their community fully.  Take measure of the relationships you’ve built in high school, in your community, through your family and other activities.  If you actively engage in learning and are building connections in the college community you become part of, you will find rewards, support, enrichment, and success.

Resilience and the ability to adapt are like muscles to flex and strengthen and they come into play in important ways in the college application process.  Preparing now for the possibility that you may have to pivot to the next best option will set you up for an easier path emotionally as colleges release admissions decisions. 

So, keep in mind this preparation for when you are denied at a favorite school:

1.)   Take time to process the disappointment, it does stink

2.)   Try not to take it personally – it’s a numbers game – there is no shame in it

3.)   Pivot to another option remembering there’s not just one “perfect” college

4.)   Embrace that new community when you get there (holding a grudge or being that person who can’t move on and complains that this wasn’t their first choice won’t serve you well)

5.)   Recognize that being adaptable and resilient is a necessary lifelong skill and doing it well will help to guarantee your future success!

BREAKING: Use Your 529 to Pay Off Student Debt

In December, new provisions were signed into law that will affect all families with 529 college savings accounts. Until now, withdrawals from 529 savings plans for the purpose of paying off student debt were subject to income tax on the earnings portion and a 10% penalty on the entire withdrawal. Now, up to $10,000 can be withdrawn tax-free towards payment of qualified education loans.