Your Crucial 1st Step Before Looking for Colleges

http://www.thecollegesolution.com/your-crucial-1st-step-before-looking-for-colleges/

If paying for college is going to be a challenge, and it usually is, it’s important that you obtain your Expected Family Contribution before your begin looking at colleges with your teenagers.
In fact, obtaining your EFC should be the FIRST STEP you take in the college process.
Here is a quick rundown of what an EFC is, why it’s important, how you can obtain this critical figure and what you should do after you’ve generated  it.

No. 1:

An Expected Family Contribution is a dollar figure that represents what financial aid formulas believe you should be able to pay for one year of a child’s college education.
Families with adjusted gross incomes of $24,000 have an automatic EFC of $0. The EFC for the average American household with an AGI of $55,000 will usually range from $5,000 to $6,000. There is no cap on EFCs so some wealthy families will have EFCs that exceed the cost of an expensive private university.

No. 2:

Determining if a student will be eligible for need-based aid requires subtracting the EFC from a school’s cost of attendance. The more expensive the school is, the more likely the student would qualify for financial assistance.


In the first example, the student wouldn’t qualify for any need-based help because the family’s ability to pay exceeds the cost of the school. In the second scenario, however, the same student would be eligible for up to $25,000 in need-based aid from the private college because the price of this institution is far more expensive and exceeds the family’s EFC.

No. 3:

Families, who discover that they have a high EFC and aren’t eligible for need-based financial aid, should look for schools that provide merit scholarships that are given regardless of need. Most schools fall into this category.

No. 4:

If your EFC is modest, you should search for schools that provide excellent need-based assistance. Far fewer colleges and universities fit into this category.

No. 5:

Families with household incomes of $60,000 to $80,000 and above typically find that they do not qualify for need-based aid at state universities, but they may qualify for need-based aid at private schools.

No. 6:

Families will usually have to pay more for college than their EFC indicates they can afford because most schools do not meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need. Consequently, it’s important to identify the most generous colleges and universities that would consider your child an attractive candidate.

No. 7:

It’s best to get a ballpark idea of what your Expected Family Contribution will be as early as your child’s freshman year in high school. Obtaining a preliminary EFC will give you a rough idea of the minimum amount that you will be expected to pay for college.

No. 8:

You can obtain your Expected Family Contribution by using the College Board’s EFC Calculator.  With this calculator, you’ll want to obtain your EFC using the federal and institutional formulas. Here is a screenshot of the calculator:

The calculator will produce an EFC using the federal methodology that is linked to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
The calculator will also produce an EFC using the institutional methodology, which is linked to the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, which is a product of the College Board. The vast majority of private and public colleges and universities only use the FAFSA while 260 mostly private, selective schools use the PROFILE.

No. 9:

When you complete the FAFSA, you will receive your official federal EFC via an electronic document called the Student Aid Report. The SAR will include the family’s Expected Family Contribution near the top of the report and also provide all the information that the family provided on the FAFSA. Parents should check for accuracy.

No. 10:

If you need to file the PROFILE, you will not receive your EFC from the College Board, which owns and operates this financial aid application. Institutions that use the PROFILE customize their aid applications by choosing from hundreds of different questions so you will end up with a different EFC for each school.

No. 11:

You should ask each PROFILE school for your EFC if the institutions do not include this important dollar figure on your financial aid awards.

No. 12:

Many schools fail to include a family’s EFC on their financial aid awards. Some institutions suggest that including the EFC on their aid letters will confuse families. More likely, schools don’t want to share EFC figures with families because parents would then be able to determine if the package is stingy.

No. 13:

Once you have your EFC and the financial aid package, compare your EFC with what a school is offering. Let’s say that the cost of a school after deducting institutional grants is $39,000 and your EFC is $28,000. That means there is an $11,000 gap between what your EFC suggests that you can pay and what the school wants to charge you.

No. 14:

Plug new numbers into the EFC calculator if your financial situation changes due to such things as a divorce, separation, death, disability, job loss or the care of an elderly parent.

No. 15:

Don’t be surprised if your EFC figures seem too high. The financial aid formulas as flawed and aren’t designed to accurately measure what you can actually afford to pay for college!

Countdown to College: 6 Tips to help make the final college decision

Just ask any family that is struggling with making the final college choice how envious they are of the families where it was a slam-dunk decision. It’s that time. A final college decision needs to be made and a deposit check needs to be received by May 1.

Here are some tips for families suffering through sleepless nights, pros and cons lists, self-doubt and the agony of indecision.

▪ Eliminate the colleges where the all-in price (tuition, room/board, expenses) makes you gasp loudly, where you just feel uncomfortable.

▪ Compare the financial aid packages of the remaining colleges on an apples-to-apples basis by creating a spreadsheet with the following headings: tuition, room, board and expenses (include travel and entertainment) equals Total Cost, and then grants and work-study with separate line items for subsidized loans and unsubsidized loans.

Remember, loans are just deferred payment, and no one wants to saddle young graduates with a lot of debt. Make sure the grants are applicable for all four years, because some colleges attract students with generous merit aid that is only available for their freshman year.

▪ Network socially. Join Facebook groups for admitted students, read reviews and/or chat with current students on College Confidential, speak to friends and neighbors who have children or relatives attending the colleges you’re considering.

▪ Compare the soft stuff. The emphasis on sports matters, whether the dining hall food is palatable matters, the culture of the campus and the surrounding area matters. Remember you’ll be living there four years.

▪ Evaluate the academics. Which companies are recruiting on campus? What is the grad school acceptance rate for your anticipated area of study? What is the depth and breadth of your major?

▪ Think beyond the workforce or grad school. Your college years should teach you how to think critically. Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., and author of “Beyond the University: Why Liberal Education Matters,” says: “Your college education should prepare you to thrive by creating habits of mind and spirit that will continue to develop far beyond one’s university years. Thriving means realizing your capabilities, and a liberal education should enable you to discover capabilities you didn’t even know you had while deepening those that provide you with meaning and direction.”

He also share his thoughts on making the final decision, “Your college choice isn’t just about ‘fit’ and ‘comfort’; and it certainly shouldn’t be reduced to the prestige of the school or the amenities if offers.

“Your college choice should reflect your aspirations, where you can imagine yourself discovering more about the world and your capabilities to interact with it. The college you choose should be a place at which you can thrive, finding out so much more about yourself as you also discover how the world works, how to make meaning from it and how you might contribute to it.”

Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte. Send questions to: lee@collegeadmissionsstrategies.com; www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com

"D" Day for College Is May 1: Four Steps to a Wise Choice

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-kaess/d-day-for-college-is-may-1-four-steps-to-a-wise-choice_b_7110638.html

We just passed "tax" day, but if you're a college-bound senior - or the parent of one - "D" day looms on May 1st. That's when students "decide" which school they'll attend, sending an official acceptance letter - with a "deposit" to hold space for the fall and reserve housing. Despite media hype, many students gain admission to their school of choice. College has also become the "default" choice for young women; according to a recent survey of roughly 60,000 households by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 72.7 percent of 2014 female high school graduates enrolled in college versus 64 percent of young men.

But what if you still have doubts?

Choosing the "wrong" school carries risks. Students happy with their choice today could see things differently in six months, because the reality of college life may prove a far cry from the marketing hype. It could be tough to make friends, or after a year you learn how rough it really is to get into the major or program that brought you there in the first place. And with college costs running over annually $42,000 for private 4-year schools and nearly $19,000 for in-state tuition, those choices come at a high price. Dropping out, starting over at a new school, or losing credits in a transfer compounds the hit.

The good news is that whether you attend a public or private school, attending--and most importantly -- graduating from college remains a smart choice. Overall, college graduates earn considerably more than those with a high school diploma, and have muchlower rates of unemployment throughout the economic cycle. And according to a recentstudy by the Pew Research Center, Millennials could become the most highly educated generation to date - with twice as many female college graduates compared with their grandmothers (known as the "silent" generation).

So let's break down the decision into four parts - the school, the package, and you -- with extras for those still seeking options.

Choice of School: If you have a "short list" of colleges that have accepted you, ask what attracted you to each one? Was it a "safe" school, a "party" school, or close to (far from) home? What percentage of freshmen drop out and how many finish in 4 years or even 6? What are the housing options and alternatives if they don't work? How secure is the campus for students in general and women in particular? Does the school help students find internships, outside programs and jobs?

Let's talk money. Forget the headline cost of tuition - look at the aid package offered to you - also called the "net price". The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has standard "shopping sheet" that breaks down costs clearly and explains basic terms - nearly 3,000 colleges and universities have adopted it since 2012. They also have an online comparison tool that helps families evaluate a few schools at once. And the outcome might surprise you. For public schools, the CUNY (City Universities of New York) system has some of the lowest "net prices" in the New York metro area and the country; at the other end of the scale, Stanford University recently announcedthat students from families earning below $125,000 generally won't pay tuition at all (this doesn't include room and board).

Chart Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

What about you? Do you believe you'll get into the program or major you want? Are you an artist looking at colleges majoring in Big 10 sports and Greek life? Does the campus have people who look like you and are there activities that reflect your culture? Will you be OK with the weather and does the surrounding area interest you? And how will this school or university help you graduate in a timely manner if you change majors?

If you're still happy with your original choice - congratulations! Now you can focus on finishing your senior year with solid grades and start the roommate selection process.

Other options: Still dissatisfied? Get ready to act immediately after "D" day. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) releases a Space Available list right after May 1st and updates it regularly through mid-June. This list will mention whether a school has seats available for incoming freshmen, and whether financial aid and housing is still available. You must act quickly and know you're starting from scratch; schools will likely make a decision within six weeks.

But buyer beware - during this period colleges may focus on students who fill specific holes in their roster - students who apply for a less popular major, or accept diehard future engineers or business students to fill spots in those departments. They may also accept students who require less financial need or those willing to attend but not in their first choice of major. If you truly want to attend a specific school, speak up and let the admissions office know you really want one of those slots.

If none of the above works, community college might be the best bet while you improve skills, get focused, or go for a two-year Associates degree. If you plan to apply to another college afterward, explore whether those credits are transferable generally, or only to in-state schools. Failure to do this research can be as costly as choosing the wrong four-year school.

Yes, even for those on the cusp of adulthood and ready for freedom, that annoying question still rings true: have you done your homework? The choice is yours.

Would You Pay $47,000 for the University of Oregon?

http://www.thecollegesolution.com/would-you-pay-47000-for-the-university-of-oregon/

Last week at the exercise boot camp that I attend on Sunday mornings, I saw a mom who hadn’t been coming to the workouts for several months. The mom is divorced and is trying to support herself as a manicurist.

Her son is a high school senior so I had been giving her some college advice before she stopped showing up on Sundays.

When I saw her, I asked her if her son knew where he would be attending school in the fall.

She frowned and said, “He wants to go to the University of Oregon.”

I was stunned. “Oregon! Are you kidding me?”

I was not optimistic when I asked, “Did he get any money from Oregon?”

I wasn’t surprised when the mom said that her son’s package consisted entirely of loans for a school that will cost a nonresident at least $47,000.

The San Diegan teenager, who was attracted to Oregon because of its tremendous football success (!!!) is not dissuaded by the price tag.

Eighteen-year-olds seem immune to large price tags when loans can temporarily keep them from dealing with harsh financial realities. Making matters worse, the teachers at this teenager’s school are encouraging him to go to Oregon! Ryan’s dad is exploring how to make this work which would include a huge debt.

Universities Charge More When They Can

The steep price that Oregon is charging Ryan illustrates a classic supply-and-demand phenomenon. Public universities that are extremely popular with their own residents, as well as teenagers from other states, don’t have to offer much of a financial enticement (if any) to attract outsiders to their campuses. This same phenomenon is played out among private colleges and universities.

The Oregon flagship not only has a successful football program, but it is located next to the nation’s most populous state that doesn’t have enough capacity to educate its own college students. So many Californians are attending the U. of Oregon that it’s been called the University of California at Eugene.

Elite flagships are recruiting high-income students

U. of Michigan

When students contemplate the possibility of attending college outside their own state, they often put prominent state flagships on their dream lists. A major reason for this is because the typical teenagers and their parents unfortunately know of very few colleges and universities.

If you aren’t rich, however, I’d suggest that you not fall in love with name brand schools like the Universities of California, Michigan, Virginia, Texas or that are located in desirable geographic areas such as the University of Colorado and University of Vermont (both near mountains) and the University of Arizona and Arizona State (both temperate weather).

These schools and others with strong brand names are hungry for outsiders who can bankroll an education that can cost more than $200,000.

Some of these institutions, such as Michigan, provide token merit scholarships –  $5,742 is the average – but that won’t go far when you will be paying private school prices for state educations. Some prominent state universities, such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, don’t  award any merit scholarships to outsiders.

Getting Into a Flagship

It’s easier to gain admission into prestigious flagships as an outsider now because these institutions need the extra cash. Finding out-of-state sugar daddies is one way for these schools to attract new dollars. And it’s easier to entice rich students to their campuses than for these institutions to get serious about making meaningful structural changes.

I wrote a story for my college blog over at CBS MoneyWatch a few years ago about a dad, who works at Columbia University, whose daughter had planned to attend the University of Michigan. She attended the new student orientation in the summer before her dad noticed that he had misread the bill. He thought the tuition was going to be a total of $19,000, but that was the price per semester. Now the school’s tuition is $4,000 a year more.

Affluent students are the ones attending these popular schools because state universities almost never give need-based aid to nonresident applicants who can’t afford the tab. And that’s why I never would have recommended that Ryan apply to Oregon. The most he could have hoped for would have been a token scholarship and that would have barely made a dent in the cost.

As these flagships attract more higher-income students within their own borders and beyond, low and middle-income residents are getting less access to these institutions. In essence, these mighty institutions are becoming privatized.

State Schools Off the Radar

Unless you can afford to pay private-school prices for an education at a public university, I would suggest throwing a much wider net. If you look beyond the most popular flagships, plenty of state universities offer significant discounts to nonresidents.

The New York state universities (SUNY’s) , for instance, represent some excellent values. Unlike many states, New York state has continued to support its public universities at levels other state legislatures have long abandoned.

Another potential great buy is the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, which is a bargain compared to Michigan. I once asked a teenager why he thought that the University of Michigan is so much more popular than the U. of Minnesota, which is located in the Twin Cities. “Minnesota is cold,” he replied. I mentioned that Michigan is hardly a temperate climate. My theory is that Michigan has enjoyed a long and storied tradition of success in the Big 10 athletic conference and the Minnesota Gophers have not.

University of Utah

The scholarships for nonresidents can be more generous and prices much lower to begin with at schools that have to work harder to attract nonresidents. University of Arkansas, for instance, has tons of scholarships for nonresidents. A huge plus at Arkansas is the tremendous amount of internships for students because of Walmart’s proximity. Walmart requires major corporations to maintain an office in Arkansas so there are hundreds of corporate outposts in the state.

The University of New Mexico has impressive scholarships even for students with a 3.0 GPA and it’s located in a city (Albuquerque.) I am hoping that a daughter of a family friend, who is a gifted dancer, ends up at the University of Utah’s modern dance program, which is considered as good, if not better, than Julliard’s.

I could go on and on about the opportunities at state universities beyond the popular ones, but I think you get the picture.

Bottom Line: 

If you want to lock in better prices, you need to be more imaginative when looking for schools. You can’t continue to fish in the same pond as everyone else!

7 things high school juniors can do to prepare for college

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/la-grange/lifestyles/ct-dlg-mash-college-prep-tl-0423-20150417-story.html

Now that seniors are committing to colleges and firming up plans for the year ahead, it's time for juniors to get serious about the future. But it's easy to feel lost and overwhelmed when trying to get ahead of the game. We consulted everyone from college experts to teens who just went through the process themselves to figure out the seven things every junior should do this semester to get the ball rolling on senior year.

1. Build relationships with teachers

It's a great time to take stock of the teachers you've connected with, build new relationships and strengthen existing ones. When senior year begins, consider asking those teachers for recommendation letters.

"Request letters from teachers who you know well and who have a positive impression of you," said Jennifer Cox Bell, national director of programs and partnerships at College Advising Corps, a nonprofit that aims to increase the number of underrepresented students entering college.

Following this advice will give you more confidence when asking for recommendations or advice. Make sure to continue connecting with these instructors so it's not a surprise when you ask for a favor.

2. Fight early-onset senioritis

You're not a senior just yet, so don't fall victim to a slow second semester.

8

"Good grades in high school are critical for college admissions—including junior year," Bell said. "Take rigorous courses. Don't be discouraged from applying to college if you have some lower grades on your transcript though. It's never too late to make academics a priority, and colleges accept students at all GPA ranges."

Remember that boosting your grades now will pay off later. And don't forget to check in with your dream schools to ensure you're fulfilling admission requirements.

3. Start researching colleges now

Yes, now. Get familiar with sites like collegeboard.org, studentaid.ed.gov andcommonapp.org. Before the year ends, reach out to admissions officers at your favorite schools and inquire about upcoming visits and campus events.

"Many high schools also schedule field trips to local colleges, so be sure to ask your school counselor or teachers about those opportunities," Bell said.

While you're at it, ask your college counselors if and when admissions officers will be visiting your school. Don't miss out on those super personal opportunities.

4. Slay your ACT, SAT and/or AP exams

Preparation is the key to success with big tests you'll take this year and next. First, figure out which tests you'll need to take to get into your dream schools. If you don't know, check the admissions requirements and talk with your college counselor.

Some schools will let you submit either an ACT or SAT score. In that case, figure out which test best suits your strengths and evaluate your options.

7

"Study a lot before the ACT," said Kenwood senior Jenna Washington. "Find out your weaknesses and the score you need to attend your dream school. If you don't get the score you want, you can always retake it."

5. Hit up a college fair

Attending college fairs and events can really help you get to know your options. They give students an opportunity to talk with the people who work at the school and know it best.

Before you go, check out which colleges will be attending so you have a better idea of which booths you want to visit.

"It is a great first exposure," said Lianne Musser, college center coordinator at Lyons Township. "This is a great place for juniors to understand how much schools cost and what money is available from schools. These fairs will help students understand what questions to ask."

6. Take your senior schedule seriously

Next year is the best time to branch out from those run-of-the-mill classes and focus on what actually interests you. Find out if your school offers an independent study program, where you can dive into subjects like Russian literature or microbiology.

"Try to take AP classes you're sure you'll pass or take college bridge classes," said Brent Bradford, a freshman at Tennessee State University. "Taking those classes will help to get the necessary college requirements and obviously the field of work you're interested in."

If that's not an option, check out advanced courses in the subjects you enjoy most and might consider for a college major. These specialized classes could help land you an internship or put your application over the top in the admissions process.

7. Start looking for scholarships

After you take the ACT, you might think it's time to sit back and take a break from college planning. Sorry, but you've still got work to do. Toward the end of the school year and throughout the summer, start applying for scholarships that will put you ahead of the curve and ease some of the financial struggles you'll face senior year. Your future self will be very proud of you.

"Research your dream schools and know when you are eligible for scholarships," Musser said. "Lots of schools have a priority deadline in the winter, which you must have applied by to be eligible for any money they give. Make sure to look up those deadlines on school websites and keep them in mind."

This story was previously published in The Mash, a Pioneer Press sister publication for Chicago-area high schools and students. One of the authors, Claire Quinlan, is a senior at Lyons Township High School in La Grange.

College Admissions: 5 Admission Factors You Can’t Predict

 http://www.golocalprov.com/lifestyle/college-admissions-5-admission-factors-you-cant-predict

As the last few colleges release admission decisions this week, many families are puzzled by outcomes. Their child had GPA and SAT/ACT scores that fell within range for a specific college, participated in an array of extra-curricular activities, and spent hours perfecting applications and essays. Still, he/she was rejected from their top choice college while another seemingly similar student was accepted the very same school. What happened?
The reality is that college decisions are predictable in some ways, but unpredictable in others. A certain GPA and SAT/ACT scores won’t guarantee a student admission anywhere. There are several criteria that parents and counselors simply can’t factor, and they can affect decisions immensely.

• The geographic, ethnic and gender mix that the college is seeking. Many colleges are striving to increase the number of minority and first generation students they enroll. Some schools are struggling to keep a balance of male and female enrollees (since women are going to college in higher numbers and men are dropping out more frequently). Additionally, colleges always like to have students on campus representing a wide variety of states and countries. In the last few years, we have seen Ivy League universities launch massive marketing campaigns to attract inner city, low income students. Some colleges, like College of Charleston, are pushing to enroll more young men to balance the male: female ratio. And the long running joke among elite northeastern colleges is that South Dakota is the best state to hail from, if you want a geographic advantage in admissions.
• Teacher and guidance counselor recommendations. While we all would like to think our child is adored by teachers and administrators, not all are. Certainly, we hope that teachers and counselors would not say anything negative about a student in their recommendation, but they sometimes do. It’s not common, but I have seen situations in which both top ranked and struggling students have been thrown under the admissions bus by a negative recommendation that was completely unexpected. More often, the recommender uses lackluster adjectives or certain code words that can trigger concerns with an admissions committee. In some cases, teachers and counselors send in form recommendations that a particular college sees over and over again. And sadly, they just can’t stack up against an effusive letter of praise by a teacher who espouses the student’s true, individual attributes. 
• What admissions officers want to see in student applications. Since admissions committee members vary from year to year, and a college’s values can shift, there is no predicting what will attract their attention on decision day. One year, the college may desperately be seeking French horn players, and the next they may place a high value on leadership roles in a community service organization. One admissions rep may connect with an essay that a student wrote on his/her sister with Autism. Another may be drawn to the detailed scientific explanation by the student who re-engineered his/her car computer system. Still another reader may gravitate toward a student who sees the lighter side of life through the eyes of a puppet they manipulate in a children’s theatre. There is no crystal ball for these sorts of situations.
• The applicant pool for various majors. It goes without saying that the competition in science and business majors is often fierce among elite university candidates. However, some schools pay more attention than others when they are considering the major (or undeclared status) you selected on your application. Some may be seeking classics majors one year to keep the doors open on that department. Other years, the number of psychology or political science majors may be overwhelming. Engineering schools may want more female candidates, and education departments may want more men. In other cases, colleges may not really care what major you applied under; they feel students switch majors and the pools in each department will balance out in the end.
• How an interviewer perceived the student. Not all colleges offer interviews, and even those that do may not use them in the admissions decision. For those that do: some 17 year olds have the social skills and intellectual savvy to ace the interview, others aren’t there yet. A student and interviewer may simply not “click." And, there are times when the admissions rep or alumni interviewer may simply feel that the candidate is not the right fit culturally or academically for the institution. You really have no way of knowing what was written about the student when he/she left the interview.

It’s often difficult to fathom why one student is accepted to a college and another is denied admission. The sharp pain of rejection can be brutal for students and parents. However, it’s critical to remember that there are a multitude of great schools in the U.S., and a student’s success is not predicated on attending one particular school. After all, less than 10% of Fortune 500 CEO’s went to an Ivy League college, and the doors to success are indeed open to students from all colleges.

Horror Movie: Watch These Distracted Teens Drive Right Off The Road

http://www.forbes.com/sites/maureensullivan/2015/03/29/horror-movie-watch-these-distracted-teens-drive-right-off-the-road/2/

A teenager drives along a two-lane road, her eyes firmly cast downward at her phone. Six long seconds tick past. The road curves right but she drives straight—over the yellow line, into the oncoming lane and then onto the shoulder. She stops chomping her gum and looks up only when she’s about to plow into a road sign.

And this teenager, like the others in each of the 12-second videos, knew they were being watched.  Their parents had agreed to place cameras in their cars as part of a driver-training program. The results of the new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety were worse than expected: 58% of teen accidents were attributed to driving while distracted. That includes chatting with friends, cellphone use, singing and putting on makeup.
“Access to crash videos has allowed us to better understand the moments leading up to a vehicle impact in a way that was previously impossible,” says Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the foundation. “The in-depth analysis provides indisputable evidence that teen drivers are distracted in a much greater percentage of crashes than we previously realized.”
AAA points out that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had previously estimated that distraction is a factor in only 14% of all teen-driver crashes.
Recognition errors (inattention and inadequate surveillance) and decision errors (failing to yield right of way, running stop signs and driving too fast) were the most common errors made by young drivers, according to the study, which detailed 1,691 moderate-to-severe non-fatal crashes. Researchers from the University of Iowa analyzed the videos. The drivers were all between the ages of 16 and 19 and from the Midwest.
By age 16, some teenagers have already been driving for two years. Six states allow kids to get their permits when they turn 14. Only nine states, mainly in the Northeast, make kids wait until they are 16 to get behind the wheel.
State legislatures are constantly updating their laws to crack down on cellphone use. Arizona and Montana are the only two states that haven’t banned texting and driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The AAA Foundation study used in-vehicle event recorders from Lytx, a San Diego-based company. The DriveCam system collects video, audio and accelerometer data when a driver triggers the device by braking hard, driving too fast around corners or making an impact that exceeds a certain g-force.
Some key findings:

• Male drivers were involved in 52% of the crashes and females in 48%.
• More females than males were involved in vehicle-to-vehicle crashes (53% vs 46%).
• More males than females were involved in single-vehicle crashes (56% vs 44%).
• Drivers were not wearing their seatbelts in 7% of crashes.
• Passengers were present in the vehicle in 36% of crashes.
• Drivers were much more likely to use their phones if they were alone in the car.
• The driver was found to have been driving too fast for conditions in 79% of single-vehicle crashes.

Driver’s education, once a standard class in high schools across the country, has been eliminated in many places. In 1976, 96% of New Jersey high schools offered driver’s ed, often with cars from the local dealerships. By 1986 it was down to 40%, according to a study by H. M. Simpson.  And in the schools that do offer training, it’s often no longer free or eligible for academic credit. Commack High School in New York, for instance, charges $500 for a 16-week after-school course.
“Conventional wisdom holds that Driver’s Education produces safer drivers, but little research supports this,” the AAA foundation said in a report last year.  It is “unclear whether this is because it doesn’t ‘work,’ or because the evaluations themselves are flawed.”
Insurance companies such as Liberty Mutual offer a discount on automobile policies when parents pay to have their children take an online course. The company says that teens who complete its teenSMART program have up to 30% fewer collisions one year after training than teens in matched control groups that didn’t take the training.

Attention Juniors - 2015-2016 Common App Essay Prompts Released

2015-2016 Essay Prompts

Posted on 03.31.2015 in Admissions and Access, Essay Prompts

We are pleased to share the 2015-2016 Essay Prompts with you. New language appears in italics:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

The changes you see reflect the feedback and consensus of nearly 6000 individuals who responded to our recent survey. Among the survey highlights:

• 197 individual Member responses representing 110 Member institutions
• 5667 constituent responses (64% school counselors; 14% students; 11% independent educational consultants; 4% parents; 2% community based organizations; remainder = other)
• 82% of Members and 90% of constituents agree or strongly agree that the current prompts generate effective essays on the whole
• 62% of Members and 48% of constituents believe the “story/background” prompt is the most effective
• 76% of Members and 44% of constituents would like to see the “place where you’re content” prompt replaced
• 35% of Members and 30% of constituents feel that analytical ability and intellectual curiosity (as a combined percentage) are most the difficult attributes to convey through the current prompts
• 85% of Members and 82% of constituents feel the prompts should be left open to broad interpretation
• 3% of Member respondents suggested Topic of Your Choice as a new prompt
• 6% of constituent respondents suggested Topic of Your Choice as a new prompt, with the breakdown as follows: independent educational consultants (47%), community-based organizations (7%), school counselors (5%), parents (2%), other (2%), students (<1%)