10 tips for completing the Common Application

The Common App is used by more than 1000 colleges and universities. It is available each year as of August 1st to be submitted to schools. Early Decision and Early Action due dates tend to arrive first, as early as October 15 nowadays, but usually around November 1 and 15. Regular Decision deadline is typically around January. https://www.commonapp.org

The Common App is convenient as it allows students to apply to multiple colleges and universities at once with the same inputted information and college essay.

As convenient as the Common App may be, many students make mistakes inputting their information. Here are some tips on how to avoid typical mistakes.

1. Deadlines: The Common App goes live on August 1st of each year. So a student can start to submit any time after that especially for a school that has rolling admissions or early decision or early action. Keep track of deadlines. It is very important to not miss a deadline or you will miss out on submitting your Common App.

2. Personal Information: A student must input their personal information about basic information. It is important that the student ask a parent or guardian for any information they may need to complete this section accurately. (Typically, a student doesn’t know when their parent graduated from college, for example.)

3. Activities Section: The goal of the activities section is share with the Admissions Committee your involvement in extracurricular involvement. Activities should be organized from the most important to the least important. There are ten spots to list activities. Use these spots wisely. A student only has a limited space to describe each activity. Write your description clearly.

4. Common App Essay: The student will submit a 650 word essay answering one of the prompts listed on the Common App. Copy/paste the essay into your common app. Do not attach a document. This does not always work. The essay should be a non-fiction personal narrative. The essay should share a part of you that is not found anywhere else on the application and that only you can write.

5. Resume: Not all schools ask for a resume to be submitted but if a school does, definitely submit one. It will help explain your activities, honors and accomplishments in more detail than the activities section of the Common App.

6. Standardized Tests: Most colleges and universities have stayed test optional. But if you decide to submit your SAT or ACT score, it should be in at least the 50% percentile of what the college looks for. Average test scores have gone up due to schools being test optional so be wise about whether you submit your score on the Common App.

7. Supplemental Essays: Students will be able to review whether or not a college or university asks students to respond to a supplemental essay prompt(s). These are specific to each school. Be sure that if a school says it’s optional to submit anyway. Be as specific as possible when answering supplemental essay questions. Stay on point.

8. Proofread: Make sure to proofread your Common App answers. Have a parent, teacher or guidance counselor read through your application.

9. Email Address: Please use an appropriate email address when applying to college. If you need to create a new address, please do so. This is how admissions offices communicate with you; they will send you an email to check your admissions portal. You need an appropriate email address.

10. Last, make sure to hit submit! Some students forget to make the time to submit their Common App. Set time aside to submit your Common App. Good Luck!

New Changes to FAFSA

The FAFSA Simplification Act makes several significant changes to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) process beginning next upcoming cycle: 2024-2025 and will launch in December of 2023. Here are some important changes:

1. A Simplified FAFSA: The questions on the FAFSA form have decreased significantly. This will make it easier and faster when completing the form.

2. Elimination of (EFC) Expected Family Contribution: The EFC calculation, which determines a student’s eligibility for need-based aid, has been eliminated and replaced with the Student Aid Index (SAI). This establishes distinct criteria for determining eligibility for Federal Pell Grants.

   1. *Also, the new formula removes the number of family members in college to allow for a minimum SAI.*

3. Parents/Guardians should check with the colleges and universities their student is considering to find out what other aid may be available such as merit, scholarships and grants. By simplifying the process, the act aims to make it easier for students to access financial aid for college.

5 Trends in College Admissions

As we head into another admissions cycle, for the Class of 2024, here are 5 trends to consider when deciding on your college list, whether to submit your standardized test and how to write a great essay.

1. Applications: The volume of applications being submitted has been on the rise exponentially over the last few years. According to the Common Application, the total number of applications has risen 30% from 2019-2023. Students are applying to more schools on average. For example, Fairfield University’s acceptance rate dropped 14% in just one year (2022-2023) due to a record number of applications and New York University saw 120,000 applications in 2023, a 13% increase for a 8% admit rate.

2. Test Optional: College and universities are staying test optional. At least 80% of colleges and universities remain test optional for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. Fewer students are submitting their test scores each year, too. 47% submitted in 2023 compared to 78% between 2019-2022. Please note: this has caused the average submitted score to skyrocket. What was once a competitive score is now not necessarily in the 50% mean, check each college’s average before submitting.

3. Early Decision: Early decision round is becoming the new Regular decision round at many highly selective schools. More and more highly selective schools are also offering ED1 and ED2 rounds as well. They are bringing in close to, if not, more than 50% of their incoming class through their early decision round(s). Typically, early decision rounds have a higher acceptance rate than regular decision rounds but they are becoming more competitive. And more and more students are being deferred from ED to the regular round due to the volume of applicants.

4. Video Submissions: Video submissions are on the rise at schools such as Brown, Tufts, WashU and Bowdoin. It is a great way to introduce yourself in a more informal manner to the admissions staff. And with ChatGPT, it may become more prevalent across college admissions.

5. Business, engineering and computer science majors: These majors are the most competitive majors in college admissions. Make sure you take the appropriate courses in high school to prepare for these majors in college. Also, make sure your college list is the right combination of likely-target-reach schools for a balanced list.

Finding your updated Grade Point Average

Summer is here and school is out! High schools should have your final grades for the year and you should be able to look up your final grades. But you should, also, look up your most updated grade point average (GPA). If your high school uses Naviance or Scoir, you should be able to find it there, if not, contact your guidance/school counselor and inquire as to where you can find your most updated GPA. Sometimes it can be found on your official transcript which you can also request from your guidance/school counselor as well.

Some high schools use a weighed GPA, some use unweighted GPAs and some calculate both. Which one does your high school use? It is important to know as you will need to input your GPA (weighted or unweighted or both) into your college applications.

Weighted GPA means that the high school factors in the level of difficulty of each core class (history, foreign language, science, math, English). Unweighted GPA does not factor in the level of difficulty of each core class. Typically, IB (international baccalaureate) , AP (advanced placement) and Honors courses are weighted more than CP (college prep) courses in high school.

It is especially important for rising high school seniors to look up their most updated GPA, after their junior year of high school ends because this is the GPA they will use to apply to college.

How to parent through the college admissions process…

Many parents reach out to me seeking guidance and advice on how to navigate parenting through the college admissions process. Here is what you, as a parent, can focus on.

1. If you are positive about your teen, then your teen will be positive about themself. Focus on helping guide your teen, not tell the, what they need to do, should do, or must change to become a valid applicant to a reputable college. How you talk to your teen, talk about your teen in front of them and how you react to your teen’s mistakes directly effects how they feel about themself. Your teen is not an outcome or trophy. The student is a human.

2. If you attempt to be too involved in the college application process, then your teen will feel like they are not capable of handling it themself. Don’t be a snowplow parent. Do not ask too many questions and nag. You are not applying to college, they are. Do not re-write their essays. Let them write. Admissions representatives can certainly tell if a 17-year old or a 50-year old wrote the essays.

3. Assist your teen in creating a balanced college list with equal number of likely, target and reach schools. This will give them the best opportunity of having multiple options to choose from once decisions arrive. A list with too many reach schools is unrealistic and does not work.

4. Do not read social media ‘college admissons’ accounts on Facebook. That’s like falling down a rabbit hole of wrong information. It will cause you added stress which will then cause your student stress too.

5. Don’t make every conversation about college admissions. Enjoy your last year with your teen at home. Enjoy senior year and let the college admissions process happen naturally.

6. Help your teen create a calendar so they have their time organized for when to do everything in a timely manner. Timelines help both the parent and teen feel grounded.

7. Let your teen make mistakes. He needs to learn how to build character, problem solve and build self-confidence.

8. When your teen lands on a college campus, he will inevitably face new problems in life. How will they have the needed skills to problem solve, deal with homesickness and/or approach a teacher about a question if they never had the chance to do so in high school? There is no perfect teen. There is no perfect applicant. There is no perfect parent.

The NEW SAT or the ACT: which standardized text to take?

The chart (see below) will show the differences between the new SAT (effective January 2024) which is now 2 hours and 14 minutes in length (down from 3 hours) and the ACT exam (2 hours and 55 minutes in length). Students should consider taking both the PSAT or a practice SAT and a practice ACT either during their sophomore or early junior year.

You can find free online practice exams at https://www.suzannelagemann.com/helpful-links.

Some Key concepts to keep in mind while taking practice exams:

• ACT is an achievement test and SAT is an aptitude test.

• ACT has more Geometry and SAT has more Algebra.

• You have less time per question on the ACT than on the SAT.

• ACT has a Science section (4 sections total) SAT only has two sections (Reading/Writing and Math).

• The SAT is taken on a digital device and is adaptive. ACT is hand-written on paper.

• You can use a calculator on all math sections of both exams.

This will help you do the following:

1. By taking the practice exam for both, you will be able to get ‘a feel’ for each. They are different (see chart). Use these practice exams for the sole purpose of assessing which you’d prefer to pursue taking.

   By doing this, you will not be concerned with you score (as much as you may think you need to) and can focus on which test you’d want to take.

2. After you receive both scores, decide which is the best test for you. Then do the following:

   1. Timeline: Research test dates on either the College Board www.collegeboard.org for the SAT or the www.act.org for the ACT exam. Discuss with your parents which upcoming date would work best with your schedule. Outline your school year: when are you more busy? Do you play a fall sport? Perform in a winter musical?

      1. After you identify a test date, I recommend that you prepare for the exam. There are a number of ways to prep for the test. Take the exam during your Junior year of high school.

      2. Here are some ideas:

         1. Online Test Prep: Princeton Review, Applerouth Tutoring Services, Khan Academy just to name a few.

         2. In-person 1-on-1 or group tutoring: There are a number of private and group tutoring businesses to choose from, depending on your location. Reach out to me for referrals.

         3. Online/Textbook test practice: This would be for a student who feels they just need to practice.

         4. Testing Accommodations: For students who are eligible for testing accommodations, please review the process at these sites:

            1. https://www.collegeboard.org/students-with-disabilities/eligibility

            2. http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act-educator/accommodations.html

3. Practice: Regardless of what type of tutoring route you choose, practicing and practicing for a few weeks/months leading up to the test date is needed for every type of student. Practicing the test taking strategies taught by a tutor/class is the KEY to eliminating getting tricked.

4. And remember:

   1. Stick with one test.

   2. And take the test no more than 3 times over a span of time. 2 is typical and ideal.

   3. Using solid and positive test prep strategies will work! You’ve got this!

What is Demonstrated Interest?

Demonstrated Interest is a factor that some colleges and universities use to gauge your interest in the school as they weigh your level of interest in the admissions decision. In other words, they are trying to decide if you will attend if you are admitted. Here are some tips on how to show demonstrated interest to a school.

1. Now more than ever, colleges and universities are tracking demonstrated interest through their websites. Make sure you register your email address with each school you are interested in. The student’s email address NOT the parent’s email address.

2. Start to ‘follow’ and ‘like’ college and university social media accounts. Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram all have college and university accounts for different schools and departments. Start to follow them. But remember, you should always be professional in ‘liking’ their posts and reels.

3. Respond to and click on university emails; If a school sends you an email message make sure to open it and respond to it, if need be. Always be professional in your communication.

4. If a school visits either in person or virtually be sure to attend. Attend college fairs and sign in with your QR code.

5. Complete an in-person tour on campus or virtual tour to show demonstrated interest.

6. Apply Early Decision or Early Action if the college or university offers these options; especially applying early decision shows demonstrated interested because it is binding if you are accepted, you must enroll and attend.

7. Complete an interview if offered. If the school offers admissions interviews, definitely sign up early for one either with an admissions rep or with an alumni.

8. Say thank you. If you visit a school say thank you to the tour guide, admissions reps and anyone else you meet with.

9. If you are unsure if a school tracks demonstrated interest, ask! They will let you know if it is considered as part of the admissions criteria.

The importance of the School Profile in College Admissions

One important piece of your student’s college application is the School Profile. It is submitted by your school/guidance counselor along with their letters of recommendation and high school transcript. Why is it so important? Let me break it down.

1. High Schools across the country vary tremendously. Some are focused on math and science, others are focused on the performing arts and some are private or public. They all vary. The school profile gives a summary of the high school and what it offers to its students: course selection, size of student body, location, size of faculty, etc.

2. The School Profile also gives insight to course selection at the high school by listing every course offered at the school. This is very important for an admissions committee to see so they can see whether or not an applicant has taken full advantage of what is offered at their school. How many AP courses, IB or vocational offerings are listed.

3. The School Profile will summarize the average SAT and ACT scores for the student body and compare it to the national average.

4. It will usually also describe what percentage of students go on to a four-year and two-year college.

   The School Profile is a very important piece of the application. If you want to see your student’s high school profile, you can usually find it on your high school website on the guidance department page and, if not, email your guidance counselor for a copy.

Honors Colleges and Programs

There are numerous strong honors colleges and programs offered at mostly public universities and at some private ones. Here is a general breakdown of the differences between honors colleges and honors programs.

• Size: Honors colleges tend to have a larger average enrollment than honors programs. But their student ratio to faculty is better.

• Staff: Typically honors colleges have more staff members per student because they tend to be larger programs.

• Structure: Honors colleges have more structure with honors-only seminars and honors programs could be more department-based.

• Average class size tends to be the same at both.

• Housing: Honors colleges tend to offer more suite-style dorms to honors students than honors programs.

  Please remember that these are typical characteristics and many honors colleges and programs across the country may feature different characteristics.

• For more information go to:

  https://publicuniversityhonors.com

Brag Sheets: the do’s and don’ts

Each Spring, high school guidance departments request that each rising senior and his parent(s)/guardian complete their own brag sheet. These brag sheets help the guidance counselor write his own letter of recommendation for the student . The brag sheets can be very helpful. Here are a few tips on how to complete it.

1. Be descriptive: Use as many adjectives and nouns as you can to describe yourself or the student throughout the brag sheet. Tell specific examples of how and why.

2. Do not describe your weakness or biggest struggle. This will be used if you write it so leave it out. Only use positive stories and description about the student.

3. Do not list awards, honors or accomplishments. This can be found in a resume or on the application. It should not be duplicated in a letter of recommendation.

4. Do not pigeonhole yourself by mentioning a major unless you are 100% sure you want to major in that field.