Before You List Colleges on Your FAFSA, Read This

The rules are changing this year, but the schools you list and the order you put them in can still affect your financial aid.

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You probably know that yourincome and assets are important factors in determining your eligibility for college aid. But did you know that the schools you list on the Free Federal Application for Financial Aid, or FAFSA, can also play a role?

When students file the online FAFSA, they can list up to 10 colleges that they’re interested in. Most students list them in preference order.

Statistically, students who are admitted to the college they list first on the FAFSA enroll there about half to two-thirds of the time. For the college listed second, about a third of students will enroll if they’re admitted. For the college listed third, about 10 percent will enroll if admitted.

It’s an open secret that some colleges used this insight in their admissions and financial aid decisions. For example, if a college wasn’t listed in the top three, it might just reject the student to try to improve its “yield,” which has an impact on some college rankings. That led to anomalous situations like a student being admitted to an Ivy League institution but rejected by less selective colleges. (No college has confessed to using FAFSA position in its admissions decisions because it is illegal under federal privacy rules concerning FAFSA data.)

To prevent future abuses, starting with the 2016-17 FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will no longer share your list of colleges with the schools receiving your FAFSA data. But your list will still be available to state aid agencies, and some states require that students list an in-state public college first to qualify for state aid. So the order in which you list your colleges remains important for financial-aid purposes.

Read the whole post: http://time.com/money/4124705/fafsa-listing-colleges/

Understanding the 2 Types of College Financial Aid

My family and I just returned from Charlotte, North Carolina, where my two boys competed in and won their first Jiu-Jitsu tournament.  On the ride home, one asked if he could get a college scholarship if he continued to win tournaments.

That reminded me how important financial aid is for most families. Almost all parents can benefit from understanding their options before their children apply.

Let’s explore the two different types of financial aid.

Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/understanding-the-2-types-of-college-financial-aid-cm546836#ixzz3sznVfBT3

How Divorce and Separation Can Affect Financial Aid

When students apply to college, there are many forms to complete. And if they are applying for financial aid, the FAFSA is No. 1 on the list. This form asks the obvious questions: name, date of birth, Social Security number, address etc. It also asks questions about parents’ financial information to determine financial aid eligibility.

If you are separated or divorced, this part of the FAFSA raises many questions:

• How will colleges treat the income of two separate families?

• Which parent’s income is used for determining the expected family contribution, or EFC?

• Do both parents have to report their incomes?

• What do the words “custodial parent” mean?

Read the whole post: https://www.teenlife.com/blogs/how-divorce-and-separation-can-affect-financial-aid

Why German-Style Education Is Coming To America

Minnesota State Senator Terri Bonoff gets a lot of requests to attend ceremonial openings. But when Swiss-German manufacturing company Bühler asked her to cut the ribbon at its new apprenticeship program, it sparked her interest. Based on the German dual system, Bühler’s apprenticeship program brings in trainee-hires as full-time employees with benefits, and partners with a local college to provide its trainees with classroom instruction – alongside the experience they are gaining on the job.

Health sciences is one of the four key areas in the PIPELINE project

It was the first time she’d heard about the dual system – which seamlessly combines education and real world work – but on a subsequent trip to Germany, Senator Bonoff found out more. In the German dual system, students spend a significant amount of time in the workplace before they even graduate from high school. After high school, many students transition directly into jobs at companies where they’ve already apprenticed; the result being that they enter the job fully versed in the necessary technical skills, soft skills and familiarity with the workplace culture.

Read the whole post: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholaswyman/2015/11/22/why-german-style-education-is-coming-to-america/

7 Questions You’ll Be Asked About College Over The Holidays (& How To Respond!)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the holidays! The joy will be spread amongst the world through holiday music, festive décor and (dreaded) family dinners, but there may be one thing dampening that joy: questions about college. Your family may take the awkward in-between dinner courses silence to focus on your upcoming life transition, even though there are so many other topics to cover.

It may seem awkward to have all the attention on you, and you may even get tripped up on how to answer everyone’s questions, but fear not! HC talked to Christine Logel, social psychologist and assistant professor of social development studies at the University of Waterloo, to give you all the best responses to both answer or avoid all the questions thrown at you.

Read the whole post: http://www.hercampus.com/high-school/7-questions-you-ll-be-asked-about-college-over-holidays-how-respond

Experts Weigh In On Common College Application Mistakes

A lot of high school seniors are applying for college right now, and some of them are likely making mistakes on their applications that are sending them straight to the trash.

Most colleges recommend high school students start thinking about the college application process as early as their freshman year.

“The whole college admissions process, the application process, everything has changed dramatically. A lot of people think that it’s just the GPA or it’s just the SAT score, but getting into the college of your choice goes well beyond that,” teacher Deann Scherer said.

New research from the National Honor Society finds that a majority of college admissions officers say participating in extracurricular activities gives students a competitive edge, but that doesn’t mean just sports.

They’re most impressed by students who’ve done long-term volunteer work in their community.

View the whole post: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/11/19/experts-weigh-in-on-common-college-application-mistakes/

What Is a Research University? Part I

If you are hoping that your children ultimately attend a university, the schools on your dream list are probably all research institutions

Universities with the best-known brand names fall into this category. If you look at the top 50 national universities in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, for instance, it’s likely you will recognize the names of all or nearly all of them. At the top are Princeton and Harvard and roughly 50 spots down are schools like Boston University and Tulane. You surely recognize those names too.

In contrast, it’s unusual for most Americans to recognize the names of any liberal arts colleges. Perched at the top of U.S. News’ liberal arts college rankings are Williams and Amherst colleges, which you’ve probably heard of. But the name recognition disappears quickly on this list. Schools making the top ten list include Bowdoin College (ME) and Carleton College (MN) while at the 50th spots are Denison (OH) and DePauw (IN).

It would be an unfortunate mistake, however, to assume that because research universities are better known and more popular that they will automatically be the best option for your children.

Before you can determine whether a research university is the best choice for your child, you need to understand what these institutions offer.

Read more at the original post: 

http://www.thecollegesolution.com/what-is-a-research-university-part-i/

FAFSA filing dates are changing, beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, and that could affect parents' finances Now that college application season has begun, it’s time for students and families to consider college costs and how they’re going to pay them. The key to college financing is the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which every school, both public and private, uses to calculate how much aid is available for a particular student and which all government student loans — for students and parents — require before dispensing any funds. “Everyone should complete the FAFSA,” Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher of Edvisors.com, a website offering advice on planning and paying for college, and author of six books on the topic. Even returning students who didn’t get any financial aid the previous year should complete the FAFSA, says Kantrowitz, explaining that changes in student assets or parents’ income could impact the amount and type of financial aid available. “You can’t get money if you don’t apply, so always apply,” says Kantrowitz. “Even if you don’t qualify for aid, FAFSA is a prerequisite for unsubsidized federal Stafford loans and federal PLUS loans, which are available without regard to financial aid.” (Related: 15 Best Paying Jobs for College Business Majors: 2015) In a far-ranging webinar on “Filing the FAFSA,” Kantrowitz laid out some tips on filing the FAFSA and updates on changes that students, their families and financial advisors should be aware of: File the FAFSA ASAP. 1. File the FAFSA ASAP. This year, that means as close to Jan. 1 as possible – the first date the latest FAFSA will be available. Even if you don’t know where your child will be going to college and haven’t filed your tax return for the previous year, file early, says Kantrowitz. “The earlier you file the FAFSA the better off you will be,” he said. You can update the income data after your income tax form is filed. There are several reasons to file sooner than later, all related to the early bird getting the worm. “Nine states offer aid on a first come, first serve basis until the money runs out, three states have February deadlines, and 11 states have March deadlines,” Kantrowitz explained. In addition, he noted, colleges get a fixed allocation for federal supplement education opportunity grants and federal work study. “When the money runs out, there’s no more.” And some colleges have two deadlines for financial aid – a preferred deadline and regular deadline. File by the preferred deadline because more money will be available then. “Students who file the FAFSA in January, February and March tend to receive more than twice as much grant dollars as on average as students who file later, and they get more money the earlier they file, in January instead of February, in February instead of March, etc.” said Kantrowitz. The final deadline is June 30. File Two FAFSAs in 2016 2. File two FAFSAs in 2016. The federal government has changed the starting date for filing the FAFSA beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, moving it back from January 1 to October 1 of the previous year. In 2016, then, families can file the FAFSA for the 2016-2017 academic year as early as January 1 and the FAFSA for the 2017-2018 academic year as early as October 1. The earlier October 1 start date reflects a change in the base tax year used in future FAFSA filings. Instead of reporting the previous year’s income on the FAFSA, families will report the income from two years ago starting with the 2017-2018 academic year. They will no longer need to update their filing with the actual data from their tax return because they will be using a tax return that has already been filed. That has implications for how parents handle their finances. Adjust income for the new, earlier FAFSA filing date 3. Adjust income for the new, earlier FAFSA filing date. Since FAFSA will look back two years instead of one, parents of high school juniors this year should try to minimize the income they report on their tax return. “Offset capital gains with losses or don’t realize any more gains that you can offset with losses,” Kantrowitz advises. “In the future don’t make changes during [your kid’s] junior year but in the sophomore year of high school” because of the new income reporting lookback. Kantrowitz also advises parents to pay down debt, maximize retirement plan contributions, defer income and retirement distributions until after your student graduates — whatever can be done to reduce reportable assets. And he warns against setting up trust funds to reduce reportable income. “Trust funds mostly backfire even if they include restricted access to principal,” says Kantrowitz. Use the IRS Retrieval Tool to report income 4. Use the IRS Retrieval Tool to report income. Not only does this save time but it also reduces the odds of delays because the numbers won’t be subject to verification, says Kantrowitz. In the meantime for the upcoming 2016-2017 academic year he advises that parents estimate income using their latest tax return filed or 2015 pay stubs, then update that data with the IRS Retrieval Tool after the 2015 tax return is filed. Get an FSA ID 5. Get an FSA ID. Before parents or students can file a FAFSA they need a Federal Student Aid ID, which can be obtained at the fsaid.ed.gov website. This ID replaces the PINs that students and parents used previously because it is not tied to Social Security numbers, birthdates and other personal data and therefore considered more electronically secure. Double-check everything. 6. Double-check everything. “Nothing will delay a FAFSA faster than errors or omissions,” says Kantrowitz. Use legal names for parents and students, check social security numbers, addresses, etc. And note that every reference to “I” or “You” refers to the students, not the parents or FAFSA preparer, if one is used. File the FAFSA Electronically 7. File the FAFSA electronically. This allows parents and students to receive results in a few days which will include the Expected Family Contribution that schools base financial aid on and that government loans require. The FAFSA can be sent to a maximum 10 schools; after that, schools can be switched out with more names. Starting in the 2016-2017 academic year, FAFSA will not share the list of colleges on a student’s FAFSA with other colleges they have applied to. That could help students qualify for admission and financial aid because some colleges have used the list of students’ preferred schools when considering their applications. Since some college ratings lists consider the percentage of accepted students who then enroll, a college was more likely to turn down a student who ranked it a low priority. --- Related on ThinkAdvisor: 15 Best Paying Jobs for College Business Majors: 2015 30 Best Paying College Majors: 2015 15 Cheapest Colleges With Best Job Value Top 13 Colleges Whose Grads Earn the Most: 2015 Close single page viewReprintsDiscuss this story Bernice Napach By Bernice Napach Senior Writer ThinkAdvisor @Think_Napach Share this story

Posted from: http://www.thinkadvisor.com/2015/10/25/college-planning-7-steps-to-filing-the-fafsa?page_all=1

FAFSA filing dates are changing, beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, and that could affect parents' finances

Now that college application season has begun, it’s time for students and families to consider college costs and how they’re going to pay them. The key to college financing is the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which every school, both public and private, uses to calculate how much aid is available for a particular student and which all government student loans — for students and parents — require before dispensing any funds.

“Everyone should complete the FAFSA,” Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher of Edvisors.com, a website offering advice on planning and paying for college, and author of six books on the topic. Even returning students who didn’t get any financial aid the previous year should complete the FAFSA, says Kantrowitz, explaining that changes in student assets or parents’ income could impact the amount and type of financial aid available.

“You can’t get money if you don’t apply, so always apply,” says Kantrowitz. “Even if you don’t qualify for aid, FAFSA is a prerequisite for unsubsidized federal Stafford loans and federal PLUS loans, which are available without regard to financial aid.”

(Related: 15 Best Paying Jobs for College Business Majors: 2015)

In a far-ranging webinar on “Filing the FAFSA,” Kantrowitz laid out some tips on filing the FAFSA and updates on changes that students, their families and financial advisors should be aware of:

1. File the FAFSA ASAP. This year, that means as close to Jan. 1 as possible – the first date the latest FAFSA will be available. Even if you don’t know where your child will be going to college and haven’t filed your tax return for the previous year, file early, says Kantrowitz. “The earlier you file the FAFSA the better off you will be,” he said. You can update the income data after your income tax form is filed.

There are several reasons to file sooner than later, all related to the early bird getting the worm. “Nine states offer aid on a first come, first serve basis until the money runs out, three states have February deadlines, and 11 states have March deadlines,” Kantrowitz explained. In addition, he noted, colleges get a fixed allocation for federal supplement education opportunity grants and federal work study. “When the money runs out, there’s no more.” And some colleges have two deadlines for financial aid – a preferred deadline and regular deadline. File by the preferred deadline because more money will be available then.

“Students who file the FAFSA in January, February and March tend to receive more than twice as much grant dollars as on average as students who file later, and they get more money the earlier they file, in January instead of February, in February instead of March, etc.” said Kantrowitz. The final deadline is June 30.

2. File two FAFSAs in 2016. The federal government has changed the starting date for filing the FAFSA  beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, moving it back from January 1 to October 1 of the previous year. In 2016, then, families can file the FAFSA for the 2016-2017 academic year as early as January 1 and the FAFSA for the 2017-2018 academic year as early as October 1.

The earlier October 1 start date reflects a change in the base tax year used in future FAFSA filings. Instead of reporting the previous year’s income on the FAFSA, families will report the income from two years ago starting with the 2017-2018 academic year. They will no longer need to update their filing with the actual data from their tax return because they will be using a tax return that has already been filed. That has implications for how parents handle their finances.

3. Adjust income for the new, earlier FAFSA filing date.  Since FAFSA will look back two years instead of one, parents of high school juniors this year should try to minimize the income they report on their tax return. “Offset capital gains with losses or don’t realize any more gains that you can offset with losses,” Kantrowitz advises. “In the future don’t make changes during [your kid’s] junior year but in the sophomore year of high school” because of the new income reporting lookback.

Kantrowitz also advises parents to pay down debt, maximize retirement plan contributions, defer income and retirement distributions until after your student graduates — whatever can be done to reduce reportable assets. And he warns against setting up trust funds to reduce reportable income. “Trust funds mostly backfire even if they include restricted access to principal,” says Kantrowitz.

4. Use the IRS Retrieval Tool to report income.  Not only does this save time but it also reduces the odds of delays because the numbers won’t be subject to verification, says Kantrowitz. In the meantime for the upcoming 2016-2017 academic year he advises that parents estimate income using their latest tax return filed or 2015 pay stubs, then update that data with the IRS Retrieval Tool after the 2015 tax return is filed.

5. Get an FSA ID. Before parents or students can file a FAFSA they need a Federal Student Aid ID, which can be obtained at the fsaid.ed.gov website. This ID replaces the PINs that students and parents used previously because it is not tied to Social Security numbers, birthdates and other personal data and therefore considered more electronically secure.

6. Double-check everything. “Nothing will delay a FAFSA faster than errors or omissions,” says Kantrowitz. Use legal names for parents and students, check social security numbers, addresses, etc. And note that every reference to “I” or “You” refers to the students, not the parents or FAFSA preparer, if one is used.

7. File the FAFSA electronically. This allows parents and students to receive results in a few days which will include the Expected Family Contribution that schools base financial aid on and that government loans require.

The FAFSA can be sent to a maximum 10 schools; after that, schools can be switched out with more names. Starting in the 2016-2017 academic year, FAFSA will not share the list of colleges on a student’s FAFSA with other colleges they have applied to. That could help students qualify for admission and financial aid because some colleges have used the list of students’ preferred schools when considering their applications. Since some college ratings lists consider the percentage of accepted students who then enroll, a college was more likely to turn down a student who ranked it a low priority.

4 Vocabulary Strategies for the Redesigned SAT

Posted from: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-admissions-playbook/2015/10/26/4-vocabulary-strategies-for-the-redesigned-sat

By now, you are likely well aware that the SAT will change in 2016. These changes will not be cosmetic – the new exam prizes complex understanding rather than rote memorization.

At one time, teachers and tutors could reasonably recommend that a student study for the SAT by memorizing arcane vocabulary words. This is no longer a winning strategy. Instead, the redesigned SAT emphasizes the importance of words in context. Here are four prep strategies to help you prepare for this new challenge.

[See if you can separate SAT and ACT fact from fiction.]

1. Strengthen your understanding of the questions: Consider the sample vocabulary question that appears on pages two and three of this informational bulletin. The question, which concerns a topic that will one day be relevant to test-takers, asks readers to choose the best definition for "intense" given the context of the passage.

All four options are valid substitutes for "intense," but B is the correct answer.

Why is this example important? It demonstrates the redesigned SAT's commitment to using words that students will often encounter in college classrooms, and it emphasizes the use of context clues over memorization. Given the shift in structure, it is crucial to use up-to-date study materials. 

[Check out eight sample questions from the new SAT.]

2. Update your vocabulary lists: Words like "intense" are tier two words – that is, they are words that are commonly used by mature speakers and writers. Tier three words, which the College Board previously drew from for the SAT, are those that have limited or narrow applications.

There is insufficient space in this blog post to provide you with a set of tier two words to review prior to your exam date, but a brief Internet search will uncover a number of terms that can guide your studies. Once you compile a list, create flashcards that include all possible meanings for each word.

Next, write sentences that use each definition appropriately. Keep your list handy as you write papers for your classes, and try to incorporate these words into your assignments.

Writing can help you set the words in your mind, which may make them easier to recall under stress. As an added bonus, you will also have an impressive arsenal of vocabulary words to deploy if you register for the optional SAT essay.

3. Read often: The redesigned SAT did not just change its vocabulary terms. It also changed the kinds of texts that they appear in.

The texts will include literary works, as well as historical and scientific documents, some from the 19th and 20th centuries. Unless your high school is uncommonly rigorous, or you are preparing for AP exams in American history or literature, you may have limited exposure to such writings. 

[Focus on building analysis skills for success on the new SAT essay.]

The best way to prepare, then, is to simply increase your familiarity with these works. Choose a book from an earlier era, such as "The Great Gatsby," and mark any words that are unfamiliar to you.

Better still, mark any words that look familiar, but that do not quite fit the context. Look these words up in a dictionary, and write down the sentence in which you encountered the word. You can then use that sentence when studying.

4. Practice identifying context: As you complete various practice problems, keep context in mind. The redesigned SAT will not just ask for definitions, it will also ask you to select a portion of a passage that supports your answer. In other words, it is not sufficient to determine the meaning of a word – you also have to be able to justify your answer.

One way to approach this difficult project is to write justifications for the correct answers to sample problems, as well as arguments against the other answers. In the question cited above, for example, you could note that "emotional" is not correct since the passage is dispassionately discussing trends in employment.

Don't Ghostwrite College Application Essays

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-joseph/dont-ghostwrite-college-application-essays_b_8191866.html

Recently, I have traveled to schools, college fairs, libraries, and many homes to help kids with their college applications, including their college application essays and/or personal statements. While I brainstorm essay topics with them and provide some guiding questions for their drafts, I do not write or rewrite the essays for students. I view the brainstorming, drafting, and revising process as a part of essential self-awareness development for sixteen to eighteen year olds. This process truly works, and the non-ghostwritten essays that result are truly reflective of their capabilities as thinkers, writers, and ultimately successful college students.

All students, regardless of socioeconomic status, struggle with this process. It is not natural, and it is often the first time they have had to advocate for themselves in writing. For many students, rather than accept the necessity of the drafting process and their parents desire for the "perfect essay," they often turn to tutors, parents, or older siblings.

These essays stand out--but for the wrong reasons. They not only reveal language unnatural to today's teenagers but also indicate a thought process, writing structure, and self-awareness that come only with adulthood. These essays put admissions officers on alert, as they can immediately identify ghostwritten essays.

So here is my plea to those working with teenagers on college application essays.

1. Their discomfort in writing college application essays is a natural part of the application process. They have rarely if ever been asked in or out of school to write first person narratives advocating for themselves. This process is initially awkward for many kids, especially since they live in an increasingly superficial world, where they share every surface moment with pictures, videos, or group chats. We need to help them understand the application process is a way to explore their deep unique passions, accomplishments, and goals. Learning how to write these essays is challenging, yet powerful.

2. Application essays are part of a larger process. The essays alone will not get an applicant admitted to colleges and/or scholarships. They are part of a larger process that requires applicants to present a full picture of who they are and what they offer a college. These essays should complement their applications. They should share and reflect stories about their unique qualities and experiences that will help colleges learn even more reasons why they belong on their campuses. Any non-applicant who writes or re-writes an applicant's essays needs to realize that the essays must match their applicants' grades, activities, recommendations, other application essays, and yes, test scores.

3. Colleges want authentic essays or personal statements. Several times a year I present with college admissions officers on college application essays. Time after time, they share their desire for student-written pieces. They often share ineffective pieces -- the majority are adult written. Colleges have worded their prompts to help guide students. Many post sample essays and tips on their websites to help students and families understand what they are seeking. What you see is a plea for applicants to write their own essays that share unique stories.

4. Rather than write or re-write essays, spend your time with helping to prepare resumes and brainstorming. Students need more help with realizing what they have accomplished and the different kinds of stories they have to share. Every applicants needs a resume as they never know when someone will ask for one. Often preparing these resumes leads to great essay topics. In addition, conversations about their leadership and impact help students identify their own power and potential.

5. Great essays are specific, not general. As kids write the essays, they need to realize most prompts ask for specific stories and examples and then reflect on them. Please ask kids to make sure their essays are so specific that only they could have written it. Students need to include specific examples and to focus on the major implications--specific, recent, and positive.

6. Great essays take time and drafting. We need to allow the kids to learn how drafting is essential to great writing. Each draft, which I now term layers, helps them increase the clarity of their story and its implications.

7. These essays are not formal analytic essays. College application essays are personal narratives, not the typical analytic papers they write in high school. They need to explore this process and learn that application essays use specific visual examples to reveal universal themes about the applicants. While they should have a beginning, middle, and end, they do not need formal introductions or conclusions. Rather they often can start in the middle, and then work their way to bigger picture, in a process, I term: Into, Through, and Beyond. Students need to learn this writing form as they will be asked to write this way in college, often in freshman writing classes.

8. Use essays as an opportunity to teach students how to advocate for themselves. Essays and personal statements need to show specific ways college applicants have made a difference already in their lives and in their communities. Applicants need to "humble brag" about themselves. Often these essays are the only written texts an applicant may present to a college. They need to learn to advocate for themselves, and what better way through these essays.

Ghostwriting application essays devalues the entire process. College application essays offer a great process for seniors, especially those who are very busy, to learn more about themselves, what they offer colleges, and ultimately what colleges offer them. Let them draft and re-draft. Let them layer in key qualities and reflections. Then watch as great authentic essays emerge.

The One Big Danger of Applying to College Early

http://time.com/money/4037378/danger-college-early-decision/

It might make it easier to get in—but harder to pay the bill.

You know the adage about the early bird and the worm. It holds true in college admissions too.

Applying early can boost your odds of acceptance by up to 30 percentage points, roughly the same as scoring 100 points higher on the SAT, according to research by Harvard professor Christopher Avery, co-author of The Early Admissions Game.

But while an early application might make it easier to get into college, it could also make it harder to pay the bill.

There are two main ways to apply early: early decision (ED) and early action (EA). With ED, which is considered a binding contract if you’re accepted, you apply to just one college, usually in November. You’ll get a yes or no sometime in December, a couple of weeks before the regular admissions deadlines.

EA, which isn’t binding, lets you apply to multiple schools. You’ll hear back in January or February but don’t have to commit until later in the spring.

EA won’t have much impact on your acceptance or aid prospects, but it might make sense if you can’t bear the tension of waiting to hear. So the more important question is whether it makes sense to apply ED. Here are some guidelines.

Apply early if …

• You’re pretty sure you’ll qualify for ample financial aid. One problem with early decision is that your aid offer could come months after your acceptance letter. If the aid package doesn’t meet your needs, you can be released from the contract. But that could leave you scrambling to apply to other colleges.

For an estimate, use the net price calculator on the college’s website. Bear in mind that your actual aid could swing a couple of thousand dollars in either direction, says Kathy Ruby, director of financial aid at College Coach, an advising service.

If you know how much you can afford to pay, your dream school’s net price is in that range, and you aren’t concerned that another one might make you a better offer, applying early decision can make sense, says Robert Massa, vice president of enrollment and institutional planning at Drew Universityin New Jersey.

Some colleges will provide more definitive estimates for students considering ED, says Chris Hooker-Harris, dean of admissions and financial aid at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. So it’s worth asking. About half of potential ED applicants at Muhlenberg decide to go through with it after getting this “early read” on their aid, Hooker-Harris adds.

• Money is no object. If you can afford your dream school regardless of aid, go for it. Early decision might improve your chances, although probably not by 30 percentage points except at certain elite private colleges. At most schools, the difference is closer to 10 percentage points. To get an idea of the potential advantage, ask about the school’s early acceptance rate and how much of its freshman class is filled that way.

But wait if…

• You’d be happy at any of several schools. Applying ED means you’ll lose the opportunity to compare aid offers from different schools or to use an offer from one as a bargaining chip with the others. “If the primary driver of the decision is ‘Who is going to make me the best deal?’, then early decision may not be the best route,” Hooker-Harris says.

• You want more merit money. If you’re hoping for merit aid, you could be better off waiting. Every school hands out its non-need based aid differently. Some colleges hold back a portion of their merit aid until spring to use as an extra incentive for students who are still undecided.

College Admissions: 5 Majors You Need to Choose Before You Apply

http://www.golocalprov.com/lifestyle/college-admissions-5-majors-you-need-to-choose-before-you-apply

Cristiana Quinn, GoLocalProv College Admissions Expert

If you want to major in the Health Sciences, you would be smart to make that decision before you begin applying to college. Photo: Emory University

While many students will apply to colleges with a major designation of “undecided”, there are pitfalls to doing that. In larger universities, it can be VERY difficult to switch from the colleges of arts and sciences into the business or engineering college. Other times, a major like nursing or physical therapy may be filled and not have openings after freshman year. Occasionally, students will not even think when they are applying to a college that the school does not offer some of the majors that they may want to pursue. For instance, very few colleges have architecture at the undergraduate level. Thinking all of this through is critical before you finalize your college selections and fill out your apps. Here are some of the majors that usually require you to apply as a freshman or you will miss out.

Engineering

Engineering is usually found at full service universities as opposed to liberal arts colleges, so targeting the right schools is important. Most universities have a specific college of engineering to which you must apply as a freshman. Many will allow students to enter as an undecided engineering major and then determine an exact discipline after taking the introduction to engineering class.  So, while you usually don’t need to know if you want to specialize in civil, mechanical, electrical, biomedical or industrial when you  apply, you do need to know that you want to be an engineer. Math SAT scores and GPA are very important in the engineering admissions process. Most programs are also looking for students with calculus and strong biology, chemistry and physics grades. Some programs also require SAT II Subject Tests.

Architecture

Undergraduate architecture programs are few and far between. So, if you think you may want to pursue architecture, your college list needs to be focused on those colleges. Many of the programs require a studio art portfolio and prefer high school calculus and high SAT Math scores. Sitting for the AIA exam does require a Master’s degree today, and some universities offer a 5-year streamlined program.

Health Sciences

If you have aspirations to become a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist or pharmacist, you usually need to decide that before you apply to college. While you may be able to pursue these professions later at a Master’s level, most undergraduate programs require that you apply as a freshman. It is usually very hard to transfer into one of these majors once you have matriculated at a large university. Most programs in these areas are highly selective and look for strong math scores on your SAT. Some require a math and/or science SAT II Subject Test. Keep in mind, that many of these professions (with the exception of nursing) require a Master’s degree, and some universities offer combined programs which can shorten the total number of years you spend in school. Check with each college before you apply to understand the duration of the program, the degree you will receive and your total costs.

BFA Programs

If you want to major in studio art, music, theatre or dance, there are two options, a BA or BFA program. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is considered a terminal degree whereas a Bachelor of Arts degree is often followed by an MFA (Master of Fine Arts). BFA programs are very rigorous and are typically more selective than BA programs. They usually require an audition or portfolio review for acceptance. Students audition or submit portfolios during the admissions process, and the exact requirements vary from college to college. This means that students need to hone their craft for several years before applying, create an artistic resume of their accomplishments, and spend the summer after 11th grade putting together audition or portfolio materials.

Business

Larger universities usually have a college of business. While some allow students to transfer in after freshman year, others have very few spots open sophomore or junior year. That means that your best chance to pursue a business degree is by acceptance to that major as a freshman. Keep in mind that many business colleges within a large university are more selective than the college of liberal arts.  Admission committees are usually looking for a higher GPA, high school calculus and strong SAT scores.

Cristiana Quinn, M.Ed. is the founder of College Admission Advisors, LLC which provides strategic, college counseling and athletic recruiting services for students.www.collegeadvisorsonline.com.

3 Ways U.S. Colleges Evaluate Applications

​"It was confusing." 

That's how Rinat, a third-year gender studies student from Almaty, Kazakhstan, described his experience preparing applications to U.S. universities. "Every university had different applications, different deadlines, different things I had to send to them."

Rinat's impression of the U.S. university application process is not unique to international students. U.S. high schools students can also be confused by the differing requirements and processes involved in a college application. The complexity of applications, and the processes that universities use in reviewing applications, is as varied as the nearly 4,000 institutions of higher education in the U.S. 

[See the 2016 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings.]

It can be helpful to understand why applications can differ so much from one university to the next. Typically, a university admissions office tries to answer a key set of questions when reviewing an application.

​First, they want to know that there's evidence that the student has the academic readiness to undertake studies at that school. Second, they want to know that the student's educational and growth goals are aligned with the missions, goals and ethos of the particular university. Finally, the university tries to determine if the student's presence on campus will provide a positive contribution to the university's learning environment and ​community.

These factors are extremely specific to each institution, and universities in the U.S. have developed several admissions models to help answer them.

There are three common models of admissions employed by U.S. universities: open admissions, threshold admissions and holistic admissions.​

Open Admissions Model

The open admissions model does not require standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT. Nor does this model ask applicants to submit personal statements or recommendation letters. This admissions model is most commonly used by community colleges in the U.S.

"Open admission exists for those institutions with a mission to provide equal access to a variety of educational backgrounds," says Dawn Wood, director of international programs at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa.

Woods points out that colleges with open admissions models provide higher education opportunities to students who may require additional academic preparation, students who are seeking vocational or technical education, or students interested in reducing the costs of a four-year degree through transfer partnerships with bachelor's-degree-granting universities.

[Watch out for five college admissions mistakes international students make.]

Threshold Admissions Model

Universities which use threshold admissions models are those who publish very clear standards of admission. They tend to provide a minimum required GPA, SAT or ACT score for admission, but will likely not request a personal statement, essay or letters of recommendation. This admissions model is used by many U.S. colleges and universities, and is common among public institutions.

Chuck May, director of admissions at the University of Missouri, believes that transparency in the admissions process is the hallmark of threshold admissions. "We are a selective university, and in making our admission criteria very clear, we're able to be open with students as to their likelihood of admission, from the start of our communication with them."

May says this model allows his admissions team to begin to explore whether or not the university is a good fit for a prospective student at a much earlier point in the college search process, "because we are most likely to receive applications from students who have already researched our academic standards for admission, and know where they fit in relation to those measures." 

[Take this quiz and see if you're ready to apply to U.S. universities.]

Holistic Admissions Model

Selectivity is also a tenet of the holistic admissions model. Where this process is employed, a university is more likely to provide the average academic profile of the previous year's admitted class. This gives some insight into what GPA and standardized test scores may be competitive for admission.

Additionally, holistic admissions will often require that applicants provide an essay and recommendations from teachers, counselors or other community leaders.

Seth Walker, associate director of international admissions at Indiana University—Bloomington, feels that the holistic admissions approach allows the school to consider the broader experiences of an applicant. "When we read an application, we hope to get a sense of what's brought that student to where they are today."

Walker says this model allows their admissions team to compose a class that is both strong in academic ability and diverse in experience.

Students can get a sense for which model of admissions will be used to review their application by visiting the admissions website of a university. It's important to know that many universities will employ some combination of these models.

Rinat offers this wisdom he received from his uncle, who suggested he think of his college applications like going on a date: "You ask questions, they ask questions, in the end you both have to decide if it's a match."

Rinat says that was the best advice he received.