Tagged: college visits RSS Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • collegepete 6:08 pm on July 28, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , college visits, , , , , , , , , ,   

    A School For Everyone: The College Tour Recap 

    After a long and very hot week touring Notheast colleges, I am thrilled that this message is coming to you from my cozy, air-conditioned office in Weston.  Jill and I toured 4 colleges in 4 days (Cornell, Ithaca College, Skidmore, and Vassar), and yes, we were pretty tired at the end of it.  But it was worth it.  There is simply no substitute to being there, and after meeting with Admissions and Business officers,  I have a few very important pieces of information to share with you regarding how you should be planning for college.

    • There is a great college for every student, and if you map out your admissions and funding strategy together and before your child begins applying, you will greatly improve the odds that s/he will pick and get accepted to schools that you will be able to afford.  Discounting is not a random exercise and it is no longer an afterthought.   Colleges strategically and intentionally use both need-based Aid and merit-based (or non-need based) aid   — though certainly not in equal measure — to induce students to attend their institution.  Without a doubt, the largest source of free money is in need-based aid (more than $150 billion worth – yes, I said billion).  It is a legitimate source of college funding for forgotten middle class families, and choosing schools that offer substantial need-based grants should be a critical component of your admissions strategy.
    • More so than ever, networking and the ‘Little Things’  can move the needle on admittance and funding offers.  Despite technology (or pehabs because of it), standing out today often requires showing up. Get out there and visit colleges!  Schools want to see you and want to know that you want to go there.  Nothing demonstrates interest like your visit to their campus.
    • Students with specialized interests such as Art or Drama should consider liberal arts schools that offer majors or minors in the specialized field.  We saw amazing theater and art programs at places like Skidmore, Ithaca, and Vassar.  At these schools and many like them, you’ll find great students, great professors, small classrooms, and a diverse student body with a wide mix of interests.  Oh, and they are MUCH more generous with financial assistance than any specialty school.
    • Just because a school has a need-aware admissions policy does not mean that it isn’t generous.  A school like Skidmore does not hide the fact that they are need-aware, but if you get admitted then they guarantee they will meet 100% of demonstrated need.  So for the students who do get in, they are awarded handsomely.  Many other schools follow the same principle.
    • And though I hate to admit it, there can be an admissions advantage to applying early decision.  This was confirmed by the officers I met with and by the numbers. However, don’t let your student apply Early Decision unless you are sure you can pay the bill.   If you apply early decision, you are ‘locked in’ and bound to attend that college – you’ll have zero leverage when seeking a tuition discount.  The student, the parents, and the high school guidance counselor must sign a contract and confirm that the Early Decision rules are understood.

    I’ll be elaborating on these and other conclusions, as well as sharing money-saving tips to help families pay the college bill, during my upcoming LIVE webinar on August 9.

    Topics we’ll cover include:

    • Why now EVERYONE, regardless of income, should apply for financial aid without exception
    • Accessing the precious and disappearing grant and scholarship dollars
    • Why it takes students 5+ years, on average, to graduate from college and how you can buck this trend
    • Dollars and Sense – how to successfully overlap your child’s admissions strategy with your ability to pay
    • How some assets can penalize you 5x, whereas other assets don’t count at all
    • How to get admissions officers to fall in love with your student

    If you are the parent of a 10th, 11th, or 12th grader, and you are stressed about the entire college process, from admissions to financing, then you should tune in to this LIVE webinar.  If you are too busy for the webinar, you can catch me in person on August 25 down in Pinecrest.  Click here to register for either event.

    Best,

    Peter

     

  • collegepete 7:04 pm on July 20, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , college visits, , , ,   

    Skidmore College: Location. Location. Location. 

    Check out this short video with a summary of my trip to  Skidmore College.   Skidmore is ’at the center of it all’, one of 16 schools in the region,situated in the foothills of the Adirondacks and on the outskirts of  cute, yet bustling Saratoga Springs, NY - 30 minutes from Albany and Stratton Mountain,  – and just a three-hour drive from three major cities (NY, Boston and Montreal).   It’s easily accessible from South Florida, with nonstop flights from Ft. Lauderdale daily.

    Skidmore is a small, competitive liberal arts college with an all-undergrad population of about 2,500 students, a 9:1 student-faculty ratio AND a wide variety of pre-professional curricular options, including busines, exercise science and education (among other offerings).   A generous, but need-sensitive school (see video for an explanation), Skidmore should be on the short-list of every aspiring art student, as well as those desiring a small, competitive, liberal arts college.

     

  • collegepete 4:01 pm on July 18, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , college visits,   

    The Quintessential College Town – Stop #1 on College Pete’s College Tour 

    Peter with Lisa Searle, Ithaca College admissions counselor

    Greetings from Ithaca, NY – home to Ithaca College and Cornell University, and the number one rated College Town in America (according to USA Today).  No question there’s a palpable college vibe here.  In fact, I’m writing this from the Ithaca Commons, one of the two pedestrian malls where you’ll find both a great mix of cafes, laundromats, bars and restaurants AND an eclectic mix of  PhD’s, street performers and students mingling about and taking advantage of the free wifi.

    We spent today at Ithaca College (IC) where I was treated to a great tour led by Joe Alfano, Class of 2013 — and then graciously hosted by Rich Wong (Assistant Director, Admissions) and Lisa Searle (Admissions Counselor).

    IC is a relatively small school (6,000 undergrads) with a cosmopolitan feel!  It’s known for its first-rate, personalized academic approach and a practical, experiential learning environment.  The average class size is just 17 students and the student faculty ratio here is 12:1. As you’ll see in Joe’s video, If you blow off a class at IC,  you can expect to be called on it!  IC is unique in that it’s liberal arts at its core, but has highly rated programs in Music (as Mr. Wong said, “… Here’s where you come to see tomorrow’s Broadway stars”) and theater, a school of Health & Human Services and a Business School with a real-time trading room and the highest CPA pass rate in NY State, not to mention it’s world-renown Park Communications School, which includes a Pace-maker awarded (= to Pulitzer prize) student paper, the only local new broadcast and a satellite campus in Burbank.  It boasts many famous alum including Robert Iger, President/CEO of Disney.

    Students at IC can take classes at Cornell (and vice versa) and more than 97% of IC grads are gainfully employed or in grad school within a year of commencement.   It is the only school that I have seen that has made the Career Center a scheduled stop on the tour!   

    Also,

    • 85% of IC students receive some sort of tuition discount.  In fact, IC automatically considers each applicant for one of three merit-based scholarships (President’s, Named and ALANA) — and then offers three additional merit scholarships including the Park Scholar Award that covers the full cost of attendance at the Communications School for all four years!  In all, IC awards more than $150 million in need and non-need based aid every year.

    -IC takes a holistic approach to Admissions.  Counselors are encouraged to spend as much time reading an applicant’s file as necessary (by comparison, some schools limit the amount of time to as little as 7 minutes per applicant).  As Mr. Wong said, “We are looking for reasons to admit, not to deny!”

    -Lisa Searle told us to tell our students to please ‘Be boastful … we want to know what makes you great, or why you stumbled.  If you don’t tell us, we won’t know!”

    • We also learned than only 35% of students come from outside the Northeast  — and that puts our South FL students at a great geographic advantage and that Ithaca welcomes AP credits (3 or better gets credit) and college credits from dual enrollment programs.

    Overall, Ithaca College is an outstanding choice for good students who want a residential, engaged campus life, a hands-on educational experience in an experiential, pre-professional environment with a liberal arts core.

     

  • collegepete 10:16 am on July 1, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , , , , college visits, , , , , , , , , , ,   

    Stanford’s Top 20 

    Summer is a great time to get working on that college essay.  Students often have more difficulty with the essay than any other part of the college application process, including the SAT.  Sure, most student’s hate taking the SAT almost as much as the rest of America hates the Miami Heat, but after 3 hours and 45 minutes the SAT is over, done with, and probably behind you.  The essay, on the other hand, has no time limit.  It’s never really finished, and even when you think it’s finished, there is always another tweak you can make here or there to marginally improve it.  And while the SAT (or its fraternal twin the ACT) is one of the primary components of a student’s application, it’s the Essay that actually provides the ‘texture’ and context that can sway a borderline candidate from a ‘maybe’ to a ‘yes’!

    The most important part of the essay might just be the opening sentence.  Think about it.  Admissions officers quite literally read thousands of essays, so the opening line had better grab, melt resistance and create enough interest to keep them reading.  That’s a very tall order for one sentence!

    Stanford’s admissions office was recently asked about their favorite opening lines.  Here are my Fave 5 from that list:

    When I was in eighth grade I couldn’t read.

    Cancer tried to defeat me, and it failed.

    I have old hands.

    Some fathers might disapprove of their children handling noxious chemicals in the garage.

    On a hot Hollywood evening, I sat on a bike, sweltering in a winter coat and furry boots.
    These lines get your attention without being ‘gimmicky.’  They keep you interested, and they make you guess and wonder what comes next. By themselves they evoke wonder and passion, surprise and suspense, and we can only assume that they introduce a compelling story. And that’s what makes for an interesting essay – telling a good story.

    There are 17 other openers in the Stanford survey (and tons more from my previous students), all of which I’ll share at my 4th Annual ‘Thick Envelope Magic’ Admissions and Application Boot Camp on July 9.  This day-long event is not just about the opening line of the admissions essay, though an entire class certainly could be.  ‘Thick Envelope’ also covers everything a rising 12th grader needs to know, ask for, do and complete to apply and gain admissions to a great college.  Students who attend will be able to complete (and submit) their college applications before school starts.

    This event is open exclusively to rising 12th graders.  Past attendees gave it rave reviews, and the curriculum has been updated to reflect all of the changes to the process (e.g.,, the essay now has a word limit), and  is even better this year.  If your student is a rising 12th grader and is home for the summer, there is no excuse to miss this event.  You’ll want to register them by clicking here.

    Most college applications can be completed as early as August 1, including the University of Florida.  Give your student a head start and an edge on what can be a stressful application process.  My July event has 14 registered students, so I have room for 6 more.  I look forward to seeing your child there.

     

  • collegepete 1:44 pm on May 10, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , college visits, , , , , , , ,   

    Oh, The Thick Envelope! 

    Do you want to receive the ‘Thick Envelope’ in the spring of your student’s 12th grade year?  It’s the Thick Envelope that comes with a letter of admission, along with other forms for housing, orientation, deposits, payment, and perhaps even financial aid.  Often you can determine whether your student is in or out just by looking at the envelope’s thickness.

    For an inside track to receiving the Thick Envelope, do yourself a favor and watch this brief, 10 minute video on Top 7 Insider Admissions Tips.  These are valuable nuggets that you and your student should follow to improve your admissons chances.  I cover these tips and MUCH MORE during my 4th Annual College Pete’s ‘Thick Envelope Magic’ Admissions and Application Boot Camp.

    • This event is for rising 12th graders during the summer before senior year.  Along with these insider tips I also cover
    • The all-important application essay
    • Key strategies on visiting colleges
    • interviewing strategies that make a strong, positive impression
    • The right way to ask for teacher recommendations so that they’ll THANK YOU!
    • Researching and selecting colleges so that you maximize your chances for admission
    • Doing the little things to improve your chances at admission

    Last year’s attendees had the following to say about my event:

    “You actually explained things to me that I’ve never heard from my guidance counselor or anyone else.”  C.H.
    Accepted to: Hope College, Alma College, Muhlenberg College, Denison College, USF, University of Tampa

    “I now know how to prepare for the essay and what to do about the interview process.”  S.R.
    Accepted to/Headed to:     UCF  Full Ride

    “I was so relieved with the schedule prepared for us and learned a lot about the process, how to fill out the forms and my responsibilities.”  D.L.
    Accepted to:     UF (Full Ride), Colorado College, Emerson College

    “I’d recommend this event to every senior.”  V.V.
    Accepted to:     George Washington University, Boston College, Boston University, UF, FSU, University of Miami
    Attending: George Washington University with $32,000 in aid

    For more information or to register for the event, go to http://www.thick-envelope.com.  The price is $247, but if you act before June 1 you can save $50 of the fee.  Give your student a head start this summer!

    Best,
    Peter

     

  • collegepete 3:49 pm on March 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , college visits,   

    WARNING: What Happens When What Happens On Spring Break… 

    … Winds Up on Facebook

    In a recent Kaplan study, 80% of College Admissions Departments admitted that they checked their applicants’ Facebook pages prior to granting acceptance. A similar report conducted by Harris Interactive found the same was true of potential employers… and further, the study found that 35% of hiring managers had actually decided NOT to offer a job to a potential candidate based on content they found on that candidate’s social networking site. For the record, I’ve even heard (though I can’t confirm) that the FL Bar is culling social media for potential red flags.

    So, if you’re in graduate school or college, or a student planning to apply to college in the next few years, consider yourself forewarned and comport yourself accordingly. This Spring Break, be safe. Be smart. And have fun – but don’t say or do anything you wouldn’t want your mom to hear you say or see you do!

    Best,
    Peter Ratzan

    P.S. A great way for High School families to spend Spring Break is to do a mini college tour. Check out my earlier blog post on 10 Tips for Visiting Colleges.

     

  • collegepete 9:52 pm on March 2, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: college visits, , ,   

    10 Tips for Visiting Colleges 

    Just 9 days till Spring Break (not like I’m counting)… And while the break is a time to enjoy some well-earned down time, it’s also a great time to make college visits. For starters, it is much better to visit colleges during the academic year, when you can sit in on classes, eat in the dining halls and meet with actual students and faculty. It gives you a chance to think about whether you’ll fit in academically and socially. Take note – are the students walking around wearing shoes, for example? If they’re not, are you ok with that? Are the professors wearing shoes, and if they’re not, are you ok with that? You get the idea – checking out schools while they are in session gives you a far more accurate sense of the college experience. That said, here are 10 other ways to maximize your time on campus.

    1. Plan Ahead. Make an appointment on Destination U’s website in advance. School visits are well-choreographed marketing efforts by the admission’s officers and most schools have entire sections of their websites dedicated to ‘prospects.’ This is when the school is most interested in impressing you so this is your chance to ‘interview’ them. Take advantage of that opportunity by:

    2. Arriving early, about an hour before you’re expected. This will give you the chance to get a feel for the place without the tour guide’s personal spin. Grab the campus newspaper and a cup of coffee at the campus center. Behave like a student… try to get a sense of what other students are reading, talking about and doing.

    3. Interviewing on campus (if offered) – it will demonstrate that you are a motivated and legitimate candidate.

    4. Sitting in on the Q&A. There’s often an ‘information session’ before the tour. Don’t blow it off. And you could treat these sessions like a pseudo-interview. In fact, keep in mind that whenever you are in the Admissions office it is an opportunity to make an impression. That doesn’t mean that you should dominate the conversation or make the conversation personal… it just means it’s a chance to stand out in a more informal setting.

    5. Taking the tour. These are usually conducted by students and it is the best time for you to gather information about the social life on campus. You do not want to ask the Admissions officer about the Fraternities or the open canister policy. Direct those questions to student representatives, privately.

    6. Ditching the tour (and maybe the parents). After you’ve seen the school through the school’s eyes, you should do your own recon. If possible, audit a class. If you wind up in a small class, it’s polite to let the professor know that you are there, but you don’t have to do that in a large lecture hall. Take a walk without your parents so you can feel like a college student. Let’s face it, walking around a college campus with your parents just screams HIGH SCHOOL!

    7. Eating at the school. Partly to determine if the food is edible… but more importantly, it’s another opportunity to be where ‘real’ students congregate.

    8. Asking for positive and ‘negative’ feedback about the school. Find out what the students like about the school and what they don’t like so much.

    9. Making a ‘Specialty Appointment’. If you are in your high school band, make sure you meet the college’s band director. If you like theater, make sure you meet with someone in the performing arts department. On the swim team, meet the swim coach. And so on. These folks are going to help you get in; they can be your advocate and ally both with admissions and eventually, with financial aid. The more ‘inside’ support you have, the better!

    10. Visiting the CAREER Center. Now this is an area that is not likely to be on the ‘usual’ tour. I know it seems crazy, but you want to know in advance what sorts of resources are available for you (a) while you’re a student and then (b) in your senior year when you may be looking for a job.

    One final thought, your school visits should be well thought out, not haphazard. If you are doing a whole bunch of schools in a short time, make sure that you bring a notebook and/or your favorite handheld device and TAKE NOTES in real time. Trust me – after the first few days, things start to blur and you want to make sure you capture your initial impressions and feelings as they are happening. And finally, make sure that you send a handwritten thank you note to each and every individual whom you have met within a ‘reasonable’ time frame. Nothing you do will go further to help you stand out from an increasingly competitive and abundant applicant pool!

    If you have any additional questions about your campus visits, please feel free to email us and we’ll try to respond promptly. In the interim, enjoy the trip!

     

    • Leonel Loss 12:47 am on March 5, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      Awesome share! Thank you very much

    • Del Going 12:33 am on March 6, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      You actually make it seem really easy along with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something that I believe I would never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and very vast for me. I’m looking ahead to your subsequent publish, I will try to get the hang of it!

c
compose new post
j
next post/next comment
k
previous post/previous comment
r
reply
e
edit
o
show/hide comments
t
go to top
l
go to login
h
show/hide help
shift + esc
cancel
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.