The Best Advice for Selecting a College -- Do Something Scary

It was in early September that I received a panicked call from the mother of a college freshman. She was in desperate need of some advice. After two weeks at her “dream school,” Abigail was headed home.

During high school, Abigail had increasingly felt out of place. The risky behaviors of her peers had isolated her from them, and through a friend, she discovered a church community in which she felt at home. But in the classroom, among her peers, and even at the dinner table, Abigail was questioned and doubted and challenged to defend her beliefs. Her pledge to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and pre-marital sex, and her commitment to weekly Bible study, made her a unicorn in her liberal New England community.

When Abigail was ready to look at colleges, she went to the Princeton Review’s list of Stone-Cold Sober colleges, did her research, and applied to her top five. Armed with stellar grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities, she was admitted to them all.

Arriving on campus that next fall, however, something felt off. It took Abigail a short time to figure it out, for she knew that she was exactly where she wanted to be, among people who were just like her. Her classes were great, and her peers were accepting and warm. But there, Abigail wasn’t Abigail.

“I quickly came to realize that a huge part of my identity came from being challenged, from being questioned, from having to defend my worldview. I knew that I would be too comfortable there, and I knew that I would fail to grow as a person if I were too ensconced in my comfort zone.” I encouraged Abigail to tell that story in her subsequent applications, which she did.

One year later, Abigail reached out again. She was blissfully happy at her new college. She didn’t regret the journey she had taken, for she had learned a lot about herself. “I’m still in touch with my suite-mates from that first year, and they all have had an amazing experience. They’ve grown and changed in wonderful ways. It was a great school for them but not the right place for me.”

When asked what she might have done differently, she paused and then said, “My advice to students choosing a college is to do something scary. That means something different for each of us, but failing to step out of your comfort zone can become boring pretty quickly. My journey had a lot to do with faith, but doing something scary can mean lots of different things to different people.”

As college advisors, we often discuss the college admission process as a time of self-reflection. Making the final choice about where to attend is no different. We encourage our students to think long and hard about where they will feel comfortable and where they can be pushed. To us, Abigail’s advice makes a lot of sense. Think back on the times when you’ve grown, changed, and matured the most. Almost always, it has been when you were challenged and surmounted an obstacle.

As her advisor, Abigail’s wisdom was an a-ha moment for me and something that I share every year with students who are struggling to decide where to attend college in the fall. Do something (appropriately) scary!!

We have seniors looking forward to meeting new classmates with diverse perspectives or traveling abroad for their first semester (or all four years); some are selecting a school that their friends have never heard of or are embarking on academic journeys that will test them in all the best ways.

Congratulations Seniors!

Understanding Medical School Traffic Rules

As you go through the medical school application process, it's important to be aware of the "traffic rules" governing how you handle acceptances from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). These rules ensure fairness for all applicants.

For AAMC schools:

February 22, 2024: The Choose Your Medical School Tool opens, allowing you to indicate your current preference, though this is non-binding.

April 15, 2024: Narrow your acceptances down to 3 schools max, withdrawing from any others. You can remain on waitlists.

April 30, 2024: Select one remaining school, indicating either:

1. "Plan to Enroll" if you want to stay on other waitlists

2. "Commit to Enroll" if this is your final choice - withdrawing you from all other schools

Key dates may vary slightly year-to-year, and individual schools can set earlier deadlines, so stay informed.

After initially receiving an acceptance, you can hold multiple acceptances until the April deadlines, continuing to interview and remaining on waitlists. However, you must narrow down promptly and withdraw from schools you won't attend to allow others a fair chance.

The AACOM traffic rules differ slightly, so review both sets of guidance. Managing acceptances properly demonstrates ethics and professionalism essential for future physicians. Follow the traffic rules closely as you finalize your medical school decision.

Five Reasons to Love Drew!

Top 10 Theater Program

Drew’s top-ranked theatre program includes majors in Theatre Arts and Arts Administration, as well as several minor options. Drew has two on-campus theaters, two lab spaces for smaller performances, and a concert hall. Drew also offers a Scholarship in the Arts that grants $1,500 a year for qualified students.

RISE Program

Drew’s Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti give students the opportunity to work one-on-one with scientists and researchers in the field. Students are able to build a network of professional scientists and industry leaders that can help them as they pursue internships and careers.

Commitment to Sustainability

Sustainability is one of Drew’s core values, and can be seen on campus in the number of organizations dedicated to environmental education, research, and action. The Drew Environmental Action League promotes engagement through events like Fern Fest, a reforestation initiative on campus. Drew’s dining hall even uses homegrown ingredients!

Diversity

Just walking around campus at Drew you can feel how inclusive the community is. The student body is diverse and largely artistic/creative. Posters all over campus encourage students to engage in clubs centered on feminism, LGBTQIA+ rights, etc. This campus community is welcoming to everyone regardless of background, religious affiliation, identity, etc. Drew has Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programming dedicated to helping students learn how to tackle these types of issues in the real world as well as on campus.

Access to the Outdoors

Drew’s campus is full of green spaces for students to enjoy between classes. There are so many quads and study spaces full of adirondack chairs for students to gather with friends. Drew also has a brand-new Outdoor Club for students who are looking to be a little more adventurous and get off campus to participate in activities like backpacking, camping, rock climbing, etc.!

5 Reasons to Love Quinnipiac!

1. Collaborative Workspaces

All across campus you will find students working in one of the many collaborative workspaces. These are found everywhere from academic buildings, to residence halls, dining facilities, and even outside. To add to the appeal of these common spaces, in many you will find fireplaces (or outdoor fire pits). Talk about a cozy study environment!

2. Green Space and Access to the Outdoors

Quinnipiac prides itself in the beauty of its campus. This is evident in the immaculate buildings, and perfectly maintained green spaces all around campus. If you take a stroll through Mt. Carmel, you will find several ponds, fountains, quads, and fire pits. Right across the street from the Admissions building, you will find Sleeping Giant State Park - a popular hiking spot with views of the surrounding area from a “castle” at the summit! 

3. M&T Bank Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Quinnipiac has its very own Shark-Tank-like program in its M&T Bank Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship! Students are encouraged to bring forward entrepreneurial ideas and present them to faculty, who can choose to back a student’s project, and help them see it through to fruition. They even have a Pitch Competition, where students put their projects up to a panel of judges, and can win funding to pursue their endeavors.

4. Career Development Services

Career preparation is a big focus at QU! There is a career development office within every School. The Career and Experiential Learning Lab helps students write resumes, practice interviews, and find a best-fit career path. Quinnipiac is partnered with Handshake, which is a networking program specifically for college students, where businesses can recruit students for internships and full-time jobs.

5. Three Campuses

Quinnipiac is composed of 3 campuses: Mt. Carmel, York Hill, and North Haven.

The main campus, Mt. Carmel, is specifically for underclassman students. Upperclassmen find their housing at York Hill, which is just a 5 minute drive from Mt. Carmel. Graduate programs are housed at the North Haven campus.

There are shuttles from Mt. Carmel to York Hill about every 5 minutes, and from Mt. Carmel to North Haven every hour. Students are also able to shuttle into North Haven on the weekends for all of their shopping needs.

5 Reasons to Love Seton Hall!

1. Brand New University Center

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.The brand new University Center opened in 2023 and is the student hub on campus. Within the University Center you can find multiple dining options including Starbucks and Jersey Mikes. There are multiple lounge areas for studying or spending time with friends. Student organizations are housed here. Many social events such as concerts and plays take place here as well.

2. ESports Team

Seton Hall’s varsity esports team competes in the Big East division and has multiple championships in League of Legends and Rocket League. Seton Hall has a dedicated Gaming Lab for the team to practice, but it is also available for students who want to play casually as well! 

3. First 56 Days

During the first 56 days of the fall semester, the officers and organizations on campus host events every day and night to engage students and help foster a sense of community on campus. These events may include things like workshops, games, and trips to explore South Orange and nearby NYC.

4. Student Success Team

Every student at Seton Hall is matched with three advisors:

-Student Success Advisor: supports students with logistical situations such as course selection and registration

-Academic Advisor: assigned from the college in which the student is enrolled and helps in developing an academic plan

-Career Advisor: supports career planning and helps students participate in internship and work experiences while completing their undergrad coursework.

Freshmen are also matched with a peer mentor who is their “first friend on campus” who can help guide them through the transition to college.

5. Partnerships

Seton Hall has unique partnerships with organizations including Hackensack Meridian Health, Stevens Institute of Technology, and the United Nations. Students in related academic fields will have the opportunity to take classes and apply for internships with these institutions, giving them excellent real-world experience that will help them as they are applying for jobs and entering the career field.

INTERVIEW: How You Can Prepare For Your Nursing or Healthcare Major

As part of our Student to Student video series, College Matters reconnected with its former student Molly, who is studying nursing in college. She explains which extracurricular activities she did in high school, what she considered when applying to nursing programs, and shares other helpful tips for high school students.

What is a Good MCAT Score?

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized test used by many medical schools in the United States and Canada as part of their admissions process. The MCAT is scored on a scale from 472 to 528, with a median score of 500.

A competitive MCAT score is one that puts an applicant in a strong position to be considered for admission to medical school. However, what constitutes a competitive score may vary depending on the specific medical school and the applicant pool in a given year.

Generally, a score of 510 or above is considered competitive for many medical schools. However, some highly selective medical schools may expect applicants to have scores in the 515-520 range or higher.

It is important to note that while a high MCAT score is an important factor in the admissions process, it is not the only factor. Medical schools also consider an applicant's undergraduate GPA, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and other factors when making admissions decisions.

Overall, a competitive MCAT score is one that is well above the median and puts an applicant in a strong position to be considered for admission to medical school. However, it is important for applicants to research the specific admissions requirements and expectations of the schools they are interested in applying to in order to determine what score would be considered competitive for that particular school.

Top Tips to Completing Your FAFSA

CEO Betsy Morgan sat down with WFSB’s Eric Parker to talk about the new FAFSA

As predicted, the new FAFSA launched right before the end of the year -- December 30th to be exact. The Education Department is calling it a "soft launch," meaning that they will continue to tweak, make corrections, and fix issues that arrive for at least the month of January, if not beyond. 

Families are reporting being unable to access the site or being kicked out after doing so. We suspect that multiple issues are at play: the site is overwhelmed by traffic, and when issues arise, they are taking it down to address them.

But forms are beginning to be filed, so that is good news.

Here are our suggestions:

* Make sure that you have an FSA-ID account for the student and parent(s) before you start the FAFSA. 

* Gather all the required documents that you will need to file. These include bank statements, tax returns, 529 documentation, social security numbers, etc., for the student and the parent(s). Have them with you so that you can get through the FAFSA as quickly as possible. 

* If any schools require the CSS PROFILE (list here), it may be easier to complete the CSS first and have a printed copy of that for reference, as it is a much deeper dive than the FAFSA.

* Try filing later in the evening or early in the morning when website traffic is less. 

* Be mindful of each school's deadline to file. Check their website to confirm. However, if you run into trouble and are worried about meeting those deadlines, contact the colleges themselves and let them know. Financial aid officers are well aware of what is going on and share your frustration! 

The Education Department has stated that they will not begin processing FAFSAs until the end of the month at the earliest. This means that you may not get a confirmation email, and your student's applicant portals will still list the FAFSA as missing. Keep checking at the end of the month to ensure that it does go through. In addition, you will not be able to file any corrections to the form (including adding additional colleges) until the first form processes, so make sure that you have all of your schools listed the first time around! 

Any questions, let us know!

Should I Have a LinkedIn When I’m Applying to College?

Each year, students are applying to increasing numbers of colleges, driving admission rates lower than they’ve ever been, and raising the question: what can I do to stand out?

You’ve probably heard your parents, teachers, and counselors say:

“Be careful what you post on social media.”

“Make sure your accounts are set to private.”

“If you wouldn’t want your grandma to see it, don’t post it!”

But could using social media actually benefit your college application? Some social media experts are saying “yes.” Here’s the scoop.

Thousands upon thousands of students are applying to schools all over the country. While admissions officers can (and occasionally do) search for students’ social media accounts, more often than not, that’s an extra step they don’t have time for. However, if a student includes a link to their social media account in the application as an invitation for admissions officers to take a look, there’s a good chance they will.

Are you an aspiring photography student with an Instagram account dedicated to your work?

You’re a TikTok singer looking for a degree in music?

You’re a future engineer with a passion for 3D printing who sells your work on your Business Facebook page?

Maybe you want to consider encouraging colleges to take a look.

While most social media platforms are designed for sharing day-to-day life with peers, LinkedIn is specifically designed for you to be able to market yourself professionally to adults who may not know you. And yes, colleges are on LinkedIn too! A well-curated LinkedIn account can allow colleges to get to know you in a way your application might not. It is a great space to create a resume, share articles related to the topics and issues you are passionate about, demonstrate interest by interacting with the colleges you are applying to, and showcase yourself as a serious candidate. 

So, do you need to have a LinkedIn account when you’re applying to college? In short, no. Not having a LinkedIn profile is not going to hurt your application. Inviting colleges to look at a mediocre profile that doesn’t show you off as an excellent candidate might. But if you have an account that you’ve really put thought and effort into, that shows you off in a way your application can’t, and gives colleges insight into what you are going to bring to their campus community, then by all means, share it!

How to Deal with a Deferral in Five Steps

You've been deferred -- and no matter what anyone says to try to lessen the disappointment, it still feels lousy! Your parents are vacillating between trying to be comforting and hitting the panic button. You're staying off of Facebook to avoid all of the "Class of 2028!!!!" posts, even though you are genuinely happy for your friends. Some call it limbo; others call it purgatory. Here are five things you can do to right the ship and get cruising along once again.

1. Take some time for yourself. Just like the bereavement process, you need some time to grieve. That's OK. Go for a hike, binge-watch a series on Netflix, sob with your best friend, devour a pint of Ben and Jerry's "Chocolate Therapy."

2. Reassess. Once your mind is clear, it's time to move forward. We recommend that students take the "you're dead to me" approach to that deferring college until all the rest of their regular decision applications are submitted. Make sure to meet with your college advisor to take a look at your college list one more time. Do you have enough safe options that you genuinely like? 

3. Know the numbers. Traditionally, Yale defers around 50% of those that apply early action, while Vanderbilt defers almost no one. Therefore, a Vanderbilt deferral has a much better shot at acceptance in the regular decision pool than the Yale deferral. Many colleges will post these numbers on their website or in an article in the college newspaper. If you can't find them, call the admission office and ask.

4. Move on. Many students find that the "you're dead to me" mindset endures. It is fine to say: if you didn't want to accept me early, I'd rather not go. For others, it's still "I can't get you out of my head." Colleges know this, and that is why we see very few regular decision acceptances after a deferral for students who do not reiterate their interest in attending. 

5. Plead your case. Pull out of the trashcan and uncrumple the deferral letter. Read what it says. Many colleges ask that you stay in touch and update them with new information to enhance your candidacy. These can include senior year grades (hopefully with more As), another teacher letter of recommendation, higher test scores, additional honors and awards, or enhanced extracurriculars. Other colleges ask that you not send anything else. You want to follow this request. If they give you the opportunity to add to your file, do so. Send a letter professing your love of the school and your desire to attend if admitted. Ask one of your senior year teachers to write you a new rec. Keep your grades up! Stay involved! 

Finally, don't let a deferral define you. Most seasoned admission officers are careful to say that they accept, reject, defer or waitlist a file, not an applicant. To them, you were just a stack of paper -- a stack that they likely reviewed in under ten minutes. So try not to take a deferral or rejection personally. They let a good one get away!