socal78
Well-known member
Here is my summary of notes on a presentation I attended on early college preparation, as requested by ChasingRainbows. Sorry it took so long. I have had little free time.
Grade School Rep
* Strengths Explorer by Naviance. Starting to be used by schools. Can be taken in 7th but should wait until 8th because results get locked in.
* Research finds that strengths and results do not change as a person gets older. That is why the results are locked.
Community College Representative
* 6 state universities offered guaranteed admission to community college students.
* Every student should apply for financial aid whether they think they would qualify or not. www.fafsa.gov
* K-12 Special Admission available through counselor / principal permission. Under age 13 ok.
Breanne Boyle of College Wise
* Take tours while college is IN session. Do an official tour. Leave your child by themselves for a bit because the college kids will act differently when parents are not around.
* There are approximately 2,000 colleges in the U.S. About 30-40 are competitive. The rest admit everybody. It is not a race.
* 25 = Average age of admissions reps. Working at their alma mater.
* Write your essays accordingly. Remember that they are being read by these 25 year olds who are deciding your child's future. Remember that they are much closer in age to your child than to you.
* Show your academic side and your personal side. These 25 year olds want to know if you would be a cool roomie or not.
* Some high schools do rankings, some do not.
* Grades are more important than G.P.A.
* It is better to take harder classes and get a lower grade than an "easy A".
* They want to see that you are challenging yourself.
* Classes > ranking > grades > tests (SAT, ACT, AP/IB, etc.)
* Encourage trying electives in 8th / 9th / 10th
* Personal side: Activities. Take a class at C.C. in the summer. "Go deep in one or a couple particular interests."
* Not many schools require interviews
* Fun fact for your next cocktail party: Ivies do not give merit aid, just need-based aid. So, if somebody says, "My daughter got a full ride to Harvard," they are either lying or it was need-based. They don't give out scholarships because you are awesome.
Paul Kanarek - Founder of The Princeton Review, CEO of College Wise
* All colleges are good at teaching. Find the best cultural fit.
* Community colleges offer some of the best instruction. I.e. you may get a much better English class at a community college than at UCLA.
* UCLA is not known for the best teaching. They are known for research and for fame.
* Paul went to C.C. before moving on to a 4-year school and had a wonderful experience.
* The highly competitive colleges presume academic excellence. They are looking for leaders. Those who lead in high school will lead in college.
* Where you go as an undergrad in America has no impact on the money you will make, unlike other nations.
* That is why people from other nations are interested in a handful of well-known universities.
* Graduate school impacts the money you will make.
* Engineering is the #1 most valuable undergrad degree. Computer Science is #2.
* Both college grads above will make more than a kid graduating from Yale with a different major.
* 8-12 is the average number of colleges applied to by a student nowadays.
* Curry, Simmons, etc. do provide special ed for students now that ADHD, Autism, etc. are more in the forefront of education than they used to be.
* "PSAT 8-9", "PSAT 10", "PSAT" is for 11th. Different tests.
* PRSA is a mock test for 9th.
* Everyone assumes that everyone else is taking "A.P. Everything". That isn't the case.
/End
Grade School Rep
* Strengths Explorer by Naviance. Starting to be used by schools. Can be taken in 7th but should wait until 8th because results get locked in.
* Research finds that strengths and results do not change as a person gets older. That is why the results are locked.
Community College Representative
* 6 state universities offered guaranteed admission to community college students.
* Every student should apply for financial aid whether they think they would qualify or not. www.fafsa.gov
* K-12 Special Admission available through counselor / principal permission. Under age 13 ok.
Breanne Boyle of College Wise
* Take tours while college is IN session. Do an official tour. Leave your child by themselves for a bit because the college kids will act differently when parents are not around.
* There are approximately 2,000 colleges in the U.S. About 30-40 are competitive. The rest admit everybody. It is not a race.
* 25 = Average age of admissions reps. Working at their alma mater.
* Write your essays accordingly. Remember that they are being read by these 25 year olds who are deciding your child's future. Remember that they are much closer in age to your child than to you.
* Show your academic side and your personal side. These 25 year olds want to know if you would be a cool roomie or not.
* Some high schools do rankings, some do not.
* Grades are more important than G.P.A.
* It is better to take harder classes and get a lower grade than an "easy A".
* They want to see that you are challenging yourself.
* Classes > ranking > grades > tests (SAT, ACT, AP/IB, etc.)
* Encourage trying electives in 8th / 9th / 10th
* Personal side: Activities. Take a class at C.C. in the summer. "Go deep in one or a couple particular interests."
* Not many schools require interviews
* Fun fact for your next cocktail party: Ivies do not give merit aid, just need-based aid. So, if somebody says, "My daughter got a full ride to Harvard," they are either lying or it was need-based. They don't give out scholarships because you are awesome.
Paul Kanarek - Founder of The Princeton Review, CEO of College Wise
* All colleges are good at teaching. Find the best cultural fit.
* Community colleges offer some of the best instruction. I.e. you may get a much better English class at a community college than at UCLA.
* UCLA is not known for the best teaching. They are known for research and for fame.
* Paul went to C.C. before moving on to a 4-year school and had a wonderful experience.
* The highly competitive colleges presume academic excellence. They are looking for leaders. Those who lead in high school will lead in college.
* Where you go as an undergrad in America has no impact on the money you will make, unlike other nations.
* That is why people from other nations are interested in a handful of well-known universities.
* Graduate school impacts the money you will make.
* Engineering is the #1 most valuable undergrad degree. Computer Science is #2.
* Both college grads above will make more than a kid graduating from Yale with a different major.
* 8-12 is the average number of colleges applied to by a student nowadays.
* Curry, Simmons, etc. do provide special ed for students now that ADHD, Autism, etc. are more in the forefront of education than they used to be.
* "PSAT 8-9", "PSAT 10", "PSAT" is for 11th. Different tests.
* PRSA is a mock test for 9th.
* Everyone assumes that everyone else is taking "A.P. Everything". That isn't the case.
/End