Some Quick Math

Wondering what's going on in the College Counseling Office?
Let's see:
116 seniors
3 college counselors, 1 Mrs. Monahan
About 300 applications already submitted
About 700 transcript requests
After today, 6 more school days to submit the aforementioned credentials.
One hundred and twenty something juniors who we will be meeting individually and in groups beginning in January.

If we were on Glee, we would break out in the Queen classic "Under Pressure" right about now.
Published by TSM

Mail Call Round Two

I am still working on clearing my inbox. The goal is to see the bottom before we leave for break!

Colgate Profile for the Class of 2015: 7834 applications, 29.4% acceptance rate. Accepted students' SAT middle 50% 1320-1490. For Early Decision, 660 students applied and 348 were admitted (that's 44.6% of the class). Here is an interesting statistic that most colleges do not publish. For children/grandchildren of alumni 250 students applied and 116 were accepted. Also, 27 students enrolled from the wait list.

Some bullet points about WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute): It is the third oldest engineering school in the nation (founded in 1865), ranked No. 1 for student-to-faculty interaction in the National Survey of Student Engagement, and is ranked No. 4 for highest starting salaries by Payscale.com, over 90% job and graduate school placement rate.

Bucknell University Profile for the Class of 2015: 7940 applications, 27.6% admit rate. Middle 50% SAT score: 1220-1390.

From the Williams profile: 14 students enrolled from Washington DC. Williams meets the full demonstrated financial need of each admitted student.

Columbia University: They had a 6.9% admit rate last year. Wow.

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Thinking about a Gap Year?

If you are already feeling SENIORITIS coming on and thinking that you might benefit from a Gap year, there's an event coming up just for you!

NCS is hosting a fair called the NCS FORUM which will be an opportunity for you to explore Gap year opportunities. If you're not even sure what a Gap year is, this is a nice opportunity to learn more!

Here is the information that the College Guidance Department at NCS forwarded to me:

The annual NCS FORUM will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, in Hearst Auditorium (located in Hearst Hall) at the National Cathedral School from 5:30-7:00pm. This fair is a great chance for students to explore study abroad, extension, gap year and summer programs in one place. Parents are welcome to attend as well, to speak with program representatives directly. By our last count, we will have 31 programs represented this year. It’s sure to be a fun and informative evening.

We would very much appreciate if you could spread the word to your students that they would be more than welcome to attend.

We hope that a some of you will attend!

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Mail Call

We have been working like crazy to get applications out and hosted a little event called Junior Parent Night recently as well. In the meantime, my inbox is overflowing with newsletters and updates from colleges. I still have a huge stack of reading to do but here are some highlights so far:
Wheaton College - Wheaton's undergraduate students have won 139 prestigious scholarships since 2001  (among them 3 Rhodes, 4 British Marshalls, 6 Trumans, 4 Udalls, 4 Rotary, 9 Watsons, and more than 60 Fullbrights).

Bates had a 15% increase in applications last year a 2.9% increase in enrollment deposits. Bates continues to meet the full demonstrated financial need of their students.

Hamilton had a record applicant pool (5265 applicants) and a 27% admit rate last year. They continue to meet the full demonstrated financial need of their students.

University of Richmond reports a 9% increase in application numbers last year. And their men's basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16! And they hired 25 new undergraduate faculty.

NYU Poly ranked 4th among engineering colleges and 8th among all four year colleges in the U.S. in median starting salaries.

More updates to come! Happy (almost) December.

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Think Twice About Submitting "Extras"

The Univeristy of New Hampshire has put something in writing that we have heard colleges say "off the record" for many years. As part of their Common Application Guidelines mailing that we just received they say the following about Additional Documents:
Many students are submitting resumes and other documents not specifically requested as part of their admissions applications. These documents are unncessary and add little or no value to the application review process since we can read this information from properly completed admissions applications. Wherever possible, we discourage students from submitted resumes and other documents not specifically requested.

I have often wondered why students feel the need to attach a resume to their Common Application after they have filled out the activities section of the Common Application. There is no need to list information twice in two different formats. If you are not sure if or when it is relevant to submit additional information, please ask!

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Emma Hurt '11 is loving her first semester at Rice University!

I recently received an email from Emma Hurt, from the Class of 2011, offering to visit campus and meet with any juniors and seniors who are interested in Rice. Of course I invited her to contribute to the blog! She is having a fantastic first semester at Rice and has a lot to say about why it's the perfect fit for her:
Why did you choose Rice?

I went on about 20 college visits starting the summer after my sophomore year.  I was beginning to think I'd apply to a bunch and go wherever I got in because everywhere seemed beautiful and impressive: none of them stood out.  However a family friend had gone to Rice and loved it and he pitched a visit quite strongly to my mom, who then planned a trip to Houston.  I was rather skeptical ("oh yeah sure another visit whatever").  But while walking around Rice's campus (in 101 degree heat in August mind you) something dawned on me: it wasn't this ah-ha moment of "if I don't go here I will die."  It was more of...wow, well this place just seems a little better than the rest in my eyes: it feels like it could be for me.  After a second overnight visit later in the year I decided to apply Early Decision because, while I still was not 100% sure that this was where I was meant to be, I was certain that there was something drawing me closer there than anywhere else.  I also figured I had a better chance of getting in ED.  And it worked out. 

College is better than high school because:

Your way of life is monumentally different.  That was the biggest shock.  No one really can convey what a huge transition it is; for the first few weeks I was walking around subconsciously thinking I was on vacation and waiting for the party to be over.  I am now in complete control of my time, my class schedule, my extracurriculars, if/when I study, when I eat, whether I want to randomly go on a walk at midnight or take a weekend trip to Austin.  At the same time though you have no one else to blame for any problems you may find yourself in.  You think in high school (especially after you get your license) that you know what it's like to be independent: just you wait. 

But I miss _____ about Visi.

the familiarity

Favorite thing about Rice so far:

My fellow students.  There is such a natural diversity here.  Rice may have quite a reputation for engineering and medicine, but the architecture and music schools are also world-renowned, and really each program is strong.  The student body as a result ranges immensely.  The one common denominator is that you can pretty much bet that everyone has worked incredibly hard to get where they are.  I've talked to many people who turned down places like MIT, Harvard, RISD, Yale, etc to come here.  And when you ask why, it comes down to the culture at Rice.  People care about their studies here, and this makes for an intellectual student body, but they care about each other more.  From what I've seen and heard, there is no real competition.  I have had such great discussions about politics/current events just sitting at lunch. Yesterday someone explained to me how computers work at dinner.  Mind blown.  But somehow this doesn't mean we're all a bunch of stereotypical nerds.  If you looked around you'd see what one might label as lacrosse bros, skater boys, hipsters, goths, barbie-looking girls, and yes some Asian computer geniuses.  But what's awesome is that if you were to talk to them you'd find out that that bro is actually a biochemistry/bioengineering double major who is doing research with MD Anderson, that that vapid-looking blonde is in fact an astrophysics major who is did a semester abroad in Russia last spring, and that that Asian is actually a French major.  It's kind of awesome. 

What classes are you taking this semester?

--History of Modern Europe: at 50 students this is my biggest class and I love it.  My professor is this great historian who consistently brings concepts we take for granted like capitalism and freedom into perspective.  His lectures are incredibly well-structured and everything ties together (as it tends to with history).
--French 301: this is a small advanced grammar class which could easily be tortuous, but my eccentric professor makes it actually entertaining.  Grammar gets so exciting that by the end of most classes he has broken a sweat from all his exaggerated gestures. 
--History of 20th Century American Presidents: this is taught by Douglas Brinkley, a quite famous historian who knows an insane amount about America.  I love this class because it basically consists of him telling us stories about American history for an hour.  (Which we are tested on later.)
--America through French Eyes: this freshman seminar is nice because I've been able to get to know the other people in it.  The class is centered on the unique relationship between France and America and analyzing the stereotypes, anti-Americanism, Francophobia etc. that exist between the two countries and have existed since colonial times. 
--Who is (not) a Jew: another freshman seminar which I enjoy for the same reason as the other.  It's about questioning the traditional definitions of Judaism and their origins: is it just a religion?  An ethnicity?  A culture?  A way of life?  A mindset?  Not knowing that much about Judaism before, it's been a fascinating area for me to explore. 

What is your favorite place on campus?

Probably where I'm sitting right now: this great glass-walled coffee shop (Brochstein Pavilion if you feel like googling), in the middle of campus surrounded by the live oak trees that characterize our campus.  The architect designed the building trying to make sure that you don't feel separated from the open air...we call it the "People-quarium."  It's a chill place to do work (as opposed to buckling down in silence in the library), with ready access to food and caffeine, and every time I'm here I see someone I know since its such a central location. 

What sort of things are there to do off campus?

Houston has one of the highest percentage of per capita restaurants in the country.  This makes for a basically endless variety of restaurant options that we really don't get sick of trying.  (Yesterday my friend and I discovered this Greek place Niko Niko's down the street: So. Good.)  I'm a fan of art museums so I've spent quite some time in the Menil Collection, the Rothko Chapel and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston: they are definitely on par with the museums in Washington.  Houston is also known for the Galleria, this "mall of malls" that is quite an experience to go through.  There's bungee jumping and ice skating on the first floor of the mall, along with any store you can imagine, on all price points.  It should be crazy to see it decked out for the Holidays...everything is bigger in Texas.
In DC we don't hear a great deal about Houston, but it is actually the fourth most populous city in the country, is considered the "energy capital of the world," its theater district is second only to New York's in terms of concentration of seats, the Port of Houston is the US's most important receiver of international cargo, the Texas Medical Center in Houston is the world's largest (and is right next to Rice), and it also (of course...this is Texas after all) hosts the biggest rodeo in the world.  All of this combines to make Houston a fascinating place with a surprisingly international and talented population.  That we're in Texas also provides a fun dimension: a group of friends and I recently went to this bar/club called Wild West where you can go "two stepping" old-Texas style.  I was pretty skeptical at first, but it turned out to be hilarious to watch and even try your hand at. 

Best and Worst thing about having boys around?
--Best: They really do bring a different perspective to a lot of things, in and out of class. 
--Worst: The things they sometimes say that they think are funny (particularly the sexist jokes). 

Every Visi girls wants to know... What do you wear to class?

It's finally dropping slightly below the 70s now, so I'm starting to pull out the fall clothing most people in other areas of the world have already abandoned: pants, sweaters, scarves.  Yet there are still some people walking around here with bare legs.  Up until now though I've been wearing dresses, shorts and sandals.  There is no typical wardrobe here: it can range from a computer genius type (think Mark Zuckerberg in the Social Network) to someone who really takes pride in getting dressed up for class.  No one judges or cares: there's no real norm.  Also...a lot can be said for having at least 6/7 days of the week with clear skies and sun.  Yes its hot in the summer, but not really any hotter than it gets in DC.  It's just hotter for longer.  This gorgeous weather now makes it worth it . 

Anything else you want Visi girls to know about Rice?

Honestly, Rice is not like any other place I've ever seen or heard about.  I cannot stress that enough.  Research it all you want and you will be hard pressed to find a really negative word about it (I definitely tried for weeks to do so).  There's a reason the alumni endowment is as big as it is.  A residential college system replaces Greek life with Harry Potter-like dorms each with its own crest, traditions, and fierce pride.  Your college is the where you eat, sleep, and is the center of your social life.  The spirit you feel for your college reminded me a lot of Gold/White and is most definitely part of my attraction to it.  You are placed in a college randomly; each is meant to be a microcosm of the school so there is no "athlete" or "smart" college.  I'm going to tell you that Duncan College is by far the best one on campus and I'd never ever want to switch colleges, but I will also admit to you that each college is deep down just as good.  I struggled with maybe wanting to go to a larger football school with strong school spirit or going to a smaller more 1-on-1 academic college.  At Rice I found both through the spirit in the residential college system.  Also, the way the administration treats the students is wonderful.  Most exams are unproctored because the Honor Code is so reliably followed.  The alcohol policy on campus is based in trust, and it gives us the chance to be treated like adults.  Nearly all events connected to the university are open to undergraduates: last night I saw Condoleezza Rice speak on campus, tomorrow I'll see the Indian Ambassador to the US.  There are also so many ways to get legitimately involved as an undergraduate.  Last year a sophomore made an engineering proposal to fix a ventilation problem that was making a lecture hall freezing cold.  It was approved and now the problem is fixed.  There are easily 40 student-taught classes every semester (Intro to DJing anyone?  Exploring Magical Worlds?)  We have both a completely student-run coffeehouse and pub on campus.  Our President holds open office hours every week exclusively for undergraduates.  Not so many research universities give their undergraduates this level of priority.

Yes, Texas is pretty far away and sometimes can feel like a different country (...some people here actually wish it was), but college is a time in your life when you can go just about anywhere, with relatively no questions asked.  My thought was, why not explore a different part of the world?

If you would like to be in touch with Emma, as your college counselor for her contact information!
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Some Early Stats About "Early" Applications

Visitation seniors submitted about 250 applications for November 1 deadlines (a number that is consistent with the past few years). If that sounds like a lot of applications, consider what the admissions offices are sorting through:
Princeton received 3547 applications in their first year of offering a Single Choice Early Action plan.

Duke received 2716 Early Decision (binding) applications. That's a 23% increase over last year.

Hopkins received about 1440 Early Decision applications. That's an 8% increase.

Dartmouth received 1800 Early Decision applications. That's a 2% increase.

UVA is reporting a whopping 11,415 applications for their Early Action deadline!

We will post more stats as the news comes in!

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Here's to Procrastination

Happy Halloween Seniors!! We have received many, many questions about whether a November 1 deadline means that the application should be submitted by midnight tonight or midnight tomorrow night. I honestly do not recall having this question in previous years. Gosh, I think I would have wanted to have that application in already so I could be enjoying Halloween festivities. But that's just me. If you are toiling away right this second and could really use oh say another 24 hours, here's the scoop.


Your best bet is to check the college's website to be absolutely sure. Since so many of the questions I've received have been about the University of Maryland College Park, here is what their website says:

Does my application need to be received or postmarked by November 1 in order for me to meet the priority deadline?


In order to meet the priority application deadline of November 1, any mailed materials will need to be postmarked by the time the post office closes on November 1. Your online materials can be submitted until midnight (11:59pm EST) on November 1.


Here is the link: http://www.admissions.umd.edu/admissions/apply/FRAppFAQ.asp

Again, this is just UMCP's policy, so always doublecheck to make sure if you plan to work up until the last possible moment. In other November 1 deadline news, one of my students told me that Fairfield extended their Early Action deadline due to the storms and power outages in New England.

Keep calm and carry on!

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The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

Let's begin with something to be filed under The Best of Times:
Congratulations to the Class of 2012 on your victory!"Visilution" was hilarious and I paricularly enjoyed the rings of fire representing the College Board and AP exams as well as Mr. Kerns looking for his red coat.

Onto the Worst of Times:
It is nearly the end of October and that can only mean one thing - another transcript request deadline is upon us! This coming Monday - October 24th - is the transcript request deadline for applications due:

November 2-November 30th.

Examples of colleges with deadlines that fall during this time are St. Joseph's (11/15), Elon (November 10), and Penn State (November 30th). Many of you have already submitted transcript requests for applications due in later November (and you can always verify what you have submitted and the deadline you have given us by checking the Family Connection website) but if you have not done so, the deadline is Monday.

Have wonderful weekend basking in the glow of your big win!!! And working on applications.

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Yes You Can: Create an Alternate Version of Your Common Application

I just had a panicked student in my office who had "heard from someone in the Lodge" that she could not change her Common Application once she submitted it. Since she's submitting it tonight for an October 15th deadline, she was pretty worried.
While it's true that you cannot alter an application once it is submitted to a college (ie, when you hit the send button and send your Common app to UVA, you cannot change what has been sent to UVA) you can most certainly edit your Common Application before you send it out to other schools.

It's called Creating An Alternate Version and you can find instructions for how to do this on the Common Application website. Here is a PDF that also explains it.

https://www.commonapp.org/commonapp/docs/alternateversiontechnologyfaq.pdf

I'm so glad the Rumor of The Day has been dispelled!

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The Home Stretch

It's hard to imagine that October 10th is really the "home stretch" of college applications. Really, it's the home stretch of Early Action/Early Decision. After that first application is in, it definitely gets easier as you go. Promise! Your counselors are burning the midnight oil getting recommendations and forms done. And responding to emails. Lots of emails. And reading essays. And meeting with colleges. And writing blog posts.

If you are have a November 1 deadline, you should be

• Finishing up your Common Application or School Specific Application
• Essays should be fantastic (don't rush at the last minute!)
• Speaking of essays, I've been reviewing a few and I want to urge you to be aware of the slippery slope of ending up with a "McEssay" (remember the examples our UVA speaker gave?)

Sometimes less is more with the college essay. Don't give up and send in something now that would be better if you did a little more work on it. On the other hand, try not to wait until 11:59 on October 31 to submit your November 1 application. The system will be slow and quirky at that time. And you'll miss all the Halloween fun. Okay, back to work.

Filed by TSM

Thinking About Attending College in New Orleans?

Last week your college counselors were down in New Orleans for the NACAC Conference - try to imagine 6,000 college counselors and college admissions officers talking about the exciting world of college admissions. It's actually a very interesting conference and a great opportunity for us to learn about colleges. We made a point to slip out of the convention center and round the clock meetings to visit the wonderful students and admissions officers at Loyola and Tulane.

We were charmed by New Orleans from the very beginning! We stayed at the Marriott on Canal Street in the French Quarter and  had a wonderful time exploring the boutiques and amazing restaurants in the French Quarter. To get to Tulane and Loyola (located in uptown New Orleans in the gorgeous Garden District), we hopped on the San Francisco style streetcar to take a 15 minute ride to the universities. There were several families on the streetcar who were headed to these campuses to take the admissions tour so it was fun to chat with them about their college process. Obviously we just love to talk about college admissions!

We hopped off the streetcar and were standing directly in front of Loyola's main entrance. Loyola and Tulane are located right next door to each other, and both boast stately main entrances that face  the main thoroughfare and offer a big southern welcome. Directly across the street from both campuses is an enormous park, full of green space for exercising and socializing. There were lots of joggers out and about, and the moderate weather means lots of outdoor time year round.

We visited both campuses at a very early hour on Saturday morning so there weren't many students walking around either campus, but we certainly felt the Jesuit influence and wonderful spirit of Loyola in architecture, art, and statues around campus. It is certainly a special place! The beautiful green campuses of both universities flow seamlessly into one another. In the midst of  walking around one campus, you can easily find yourself on the other campus. As one Tulane student said, “the new dining hall at Loyola is amazing with floor to ceiling glass and the food is so fantastic that we eat there regularly.” The two schools share more than eating quarters as you can take classes at Tulane and have them transfer to Loyola and vice versa.  Speaking of dining halls… it was not lost on us that in Tulane’s student center features not only fantastic dining options and Frank Lloyd Wright style indoor waterfalls, but also an Aveda salon! Where were these things when we were in college?!

We also took a tour of Tulane's athletic center, which is an amazing facility that has something for everyone. They offer everything from Zumba to squash, and to reward yourself for finding the fitness center on a Saturday morning there is a smoothie bar in the lobby.

Here are a few pictures from our visits:

Loyola:

The Aveda salon in Tulane's student center:

Computer lab in Loyola's library:

Tulane:

Fun times in the French Quarter:

Published by:SKC and TSM

A Reminder About Early Action at Boston College

We just received a reminder from the Director of Admissions at Boston College about their Early Action policy:

Boston College respectfully requests that students applying to a binding Early Decision program not apply through our Restrictive Early Action program. They are permitted to apply to other Early Action programs, including those of Georgetown and the University of Notre Dame.

FYI, this is Georgetown's Early Action policy also. This is a good reminder that you are responsible for reading the fine print about the admissions policies at procedures at each of the schools on your list. We try to check and doublecheck each transcript request that comes in, but ultimately you need to make sure you are in compliance! If you have questions, see your college counselor.

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Early Decision Stats for 20 schools

I think Early Decision could be described as the best of times and the worst of times. I won't get on my soap box here about all of the angst that this policy creates in the admissions process for families and students. 

I had FOUR discussions with students today about ED and the question everyone wants to know is: Will applying Early Decision to a college help me get in? The answer: maybe. In my experience, Early Decision usually will not help you get into one of the highly selective "reach" schools on your list if you are not in the range of students who are typically admitted to that college (note that I said "usually" - sometimes this does work.) However, Early Decision may enhance your chances of getting into a school that is a great match for you (you have the GPA, scores, and strength of program similar to students who have been admitted in the past), but the college is so darn competitive in the Regular Decision process that all bets are off.

If you are confused, maybe this piece from The Daily Beast will help. I'm not sure how long the link will work, but the article, Top 20 Colleges Which Love Early Decision Applicants, breaks down the ED and RD acceptance rates at 20 schools. Thanks to the mom of one my seniors for sending this along!


http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2011/09/05/colleges-which-love-early-decision-applicants-photos.html

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The Award for the Prettiest Viewbook Goes to...

Sweet Briar College! One of my favorite parts of working in college admissions was working on publications! I loved working with graphic designers to develop printed materials that represted the culture of the universities where I worked. While we turn to viewbooks for information less and less, I still think it's fun to see how a college chooses to market itself.

Sweet Briar's pink and brown color scheme certainly stands out from the stacks of primarily colored brochures that are taking over our offices this fall.

To check out the brochure, or learn more about this college, see your college counselor!

Published by: TSM

Kenyon College Travel Grant Application

Are you interested in Kenyon but cannot afford the cost of a visit to campus? Kenyon offers a Trustee Opportunity Travel Grant for qualifying first-generation and American students of color that will cover up to 90% of their costs to fly to Columbus Ohio, where the nice folks from Kenyon will pick you up and transport you to campus in Gambier (about an hour from the airport).

If you are interested in applying for this travel grant, please see your college counselor!

Kenyon's mailing to us gave a one sentence summary of the college which I love: We are a traditional college with a twist - embracing American Studies as well as American History, offering a neuroscience course team-taught by a philosopher and a scientist, celebrating the intersections of fields of knowledge in every course.

You might also be interested in knowing that Kenyon's acceptance rate last year was about 33% and their middle 50% SAT scores were as follows: CR 640-740, Math 610-690, Writing 640-730. Middle 50% for the ACT composite was 28-32.

When we receive opportunities like this, we list advertise them on the Family Connections website under Updates. This site is updated daily as we clear out our inboxes so check it frequently!

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Happy First Day of School!

Well Class of 2012, it all begins today. Congratulations on finally being seniors, taking over the Lodge, and being one year away from COLLEGE! Speaking of college - clever transition, right? - here is the rundown on the next few weeks.

• We will be visiting your English classes over the next 2 weeks to go over the deadlines and procedures for college applications.
• Your parents are invited to Senior College Night on September 14th.
• You will attend an essay writing workshop led by Parke Muth, Senior Assistant Dean at UVA who has been widely published on the subject of college essay writing. He is also an incredibly engaging speaker, brilliant conversationalist, and all around nice person! We are incredibly lucky that he has agreed to lead our workshop.
• Our calendars are up! Please sign up to see your college counselor as soon as you get your back to school bearings so that we can go over your college application plans.

That's all for now! I don't know about you, but I don't mind the dismal weather today because it's not like we could be at the beach or the pool anyway.
Published by TSM.

William and Mary/St. Andrews Dual Degree Program

Thinking about studying abroad in college? How about earning a Joint degree and spending TWO years abroad?

The College of William and Mary has joined forced with the University of St. Andrews in Scotland (alma mater of Prince William and Princess Catherine) to create the St. Andrews William and Mary Joint Degree Program.

For more information about the program and application details, visit http://www.wm.edu/sites/standrews/.

This sounds like an amazing opportunity that I'm adding to my "virtual list" of colleges I would apply to if I had it all to do over again. (The list is very long).

Published by: TSM

Auburn Summer Mailing

Auburn sent us a mailing with this year's deadlines and admissions info.

Deadlines!

There is no separate application for Early Action consideration to Auburn. Students who meet the Early Action crieria will be accepted on a weekly basis from October 15th to February 1. Early Action decisions are strictly academic, based on a combination of GPA and ACT or SAT score.

Admission decisions based on criteria other than Early Action criteria are determined in three rounds beginning 11/15. First round decisions will be made 11/15 for students who complete an application by 11/1. Second round decisions will be made 12/15 for students who complete an application by 12/1. Third round and final decisions will be made by 2/15 for all students who complete an application by 2/1. THE PRIORITY APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION DEADLINE IS 2/1.

Impressive News: Auburn is ranked fifth out of 126 public institutions in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars. They are ranked 16th overall (private colleges included) out of 343 institutions where these scholars are enrolled. Wow!

2010-2011 Auburn Freshman Class Profile

Average GPA: 3.79
Middle 50% ACT: 24-30
Middle 50% SAT: 1100-1320

See your college counselor with questions!

Published by TSM

WE ARE BACK!

This week marks the end of summer vacation for the college counseling staff. We arrived back at work on Wednesday to our very steamy Fennessey offices and lots and lots of mail/email/voicemail!

If you've been in touch with us during the summer and haven't heard back, we'll be in touch as soon as we can. It's a little daunting to sort through the backlog. If you'd like to come in for an appointment this week or next, please get in touch ASAP as our schedules are filling up. We usually get lots of requests for meeting the week of August 29th when you all are here to pick up your schedules and buy your books but we are booked with faculty meetings that week. So.... see us by August 26th or sign up on our calendars the first week of school.

We will be posting about what we unearth in the mail bin here on the blog. Sign up to follow the blog for the school year so you don't miss anything! We'll be back in the saddle with the Twitter updates soon as well. I know you're on the edge of your seats.

 Enjoy the last weeks of summer and buckle down on that summer reading! And start the Common Application! And register for the SAT's! Just kidding. Sort of.

Published by TSM

Seven Seniors Headed to the West Coast

It's the last week of classes for our wonderful seniors! AP exams are over (almost), the roses are in full bloom all over campus and, unless you are waiting on news from a school where you are wait-listed, you are DONE with the college application process. Last week, college counseling presented our "State of the Union" to Visitation's Board of Trustees. In addition to the usual statistics about the average test scores, total application numbers, matriculation data, and numbers, numbers, numbers, we presented some "fun facts" about the Class of 2011's College Choices that we thought you would enjoy.

Several members of the Class of 2011 will attend colleges that have not enrolled a Visi student for as long as we have been keeping electronic records. Those schools are:
Belmont University
Ursinus College
San Diego State University
Gonzaga University
Loyola Marymount University
A few others where "it's been awhile."
Georgia Tech (last Visi grad who attended was the Class of 2003)
Kenyon College (last Visi grad who attended was the Class of 2002)

In addition to the seven seniors headed to the west coast, three girls will attend college in Texas, two are headed out of the country for college, and one senior will to a Gap year. We are so proud of the Class of 2011 for their independent spirit! It is wonderful to add new schools to our matriculation list in addition to the usual suspects from previous years. Your choices reflect the serious attention you gave to finding the right fit and keeping an open mind. Well done!

The Hits Just Keep On Coming

In the mail from Duke today - their summary stats for the year:

Total apps this year - 29,689. If you are keeping track, that's 2900 more than last year and almost 10,000 more than three years ago. They admitted 3094 students in the Regular Decision pool plus 645 in the ED pool, for an admit rate of 13%.

And from Louisiana State University - Their Faculty Senate voted to make a change to the academic core requirements necessary for admission to the university. Beginning next year, applicants to LSU need to have the following high school courses - 4 English, 4 Math, 4 Natural Science, 4 Social Science. Some juniors consider dripping Math and/or science as seniors so we wanted you to be aware! We are hearing from many colleges that 4 years of all core academic subjects (including foreign language) is important.

I'm surprised we haven't received more of these updates, but it's still a little early. Once the colleges have finalized their freshmen classes, we will typically get a pile of newsletters with final numbers. We will try to post those here.
Published by TSM

Seniors, You're Almost There

Things are starting to wind down for the year. Here are a few things coming up...

Tomorrow is the last of the three Transition Assemblies! Anne Kjeldgaard (Class of 2009) and Katie Heffernan (Class of 2010) will be here to talk about their freshman and sophomore year at Georgetown University. They attended their own Transition Assembly as seniors, so they remember being in your shoes and can answer questions about the upcoming changes.

The May 1st deadline to commit to a college is fast approaching! Remember you can only deposit at one college. If you are on a waitlist, you still need to deposit somewhere by May 1st. Once you have decided, make sure to let your college counselor know - we are excited to hear your decision! College Board has some suggestions for things to think about for your next steps once you have made that final choice.

Finally, your APs begin on May 2nd - so we want to wish you good luck as you prepare for these exams. You are in the final stretch - only 18 more days of classes until your Final Exam week! The only thing that remains is selecting your graduation shoes!

Cleaning Out My Inbox

As Admissions Offices assess how things went for the 2010-2011 application process, they have been updating us about their year. Here are some highlights...

Connecticut College had a 33.2% acceptance rate this year - 26% of applicants did not submit test scores with their applications (this is a test optional school). They will open a brand new science center on campus in the Fall of 2012.

Hamilton College sent us information that did not provide statistics, but was sure to inform us that this was the most selective year on record.

Looking for scholarship money? Auburn University sent a mailing about their numerous freshman scholarships. There are various levels of scholarship money available (including full tuition for four years), beginning with a minimum GPA of 3.25 and SAT's of a 1250 (critical reading + math) SAT.

Colgate University accepted 28.9% of their applicants this year. The average SAT I scores are 695 Critical Reading, 704 Math (1399 out of 1600). Average ACT composite is 32. Admitted students included 57% women and 43% men.

Rice University reported that their applications were up 12% and their acceptance rate was just 19%.

Georgetown University accepted 18% of their applicants this year.

DePaul University will not require standardized test scores next year. This new test optional policy puts emphasis on GPA and strength of program.

Filed by TSM

How Do You Turn Down A College?

It's a delicate dance isn't it? Many seniors have been coming up this week to ask us about the polite way to tell a college that has accepted them, "thanks, but no thanks." Unlike when you are accepted to a college Early Decision in the fall and you have other active applications in at other schools, and you must withdraw immediately for fear of being viewed as a two timing violator of the ED Agreement, you don't actually have to do anything right now. Colleges are aware that many students receive multiple acceptances and they will assume you will not be attending their school if they do not receive your deposit by May 1. If a college has given you a quick and easy way to let them know you will not be attending (a postcard, a web link, etc.) it's a nice gesture to go ahead and let them know when you've decided to go elsewhere. Otherwise, you really don't need to worry about it. In the old days when students applied to only a few colleges and there weren't 67,000 pieces of paper and 21,000 emails clogging up the admissions offices' mail rooms and inboxes, we would suggest you write a nice note. These days, your nice letter is unlikely to be read and processed before Labor Day. So, while it may feel strange not to break up with a college in a timely fashion, they will move on without you come May 2.

It's A Big Week!

Can you feel the excitement in the air? There are three big events for juniors this week.

• The Independent Schools College Fair on Wednesday night. You should have received a list of the colleges that will be represented at the fair in your college counseling group. We've also mailed one home just in case. This fair should help you to expand your list of colleges and get more information about the schools that are already on your list.


• Career Day! Your Career Day Ambassadors and the Counseling Department and the Alumnae Office have been working hard to put together a fabulous day for you. You will hear from over 30 Visitation alumnae in the morning, and college admissions officers in the afternoon. AND breakfast and lunch are on us!


• Ring Ceremony. This a lovely event. It's all about class unity and...moving on to senior year. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you will eat cake and take pictures. Congratulations on reaching this milestone!

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UNC Wilmington - great location, great programs!

Our last stop in North Carolina was UNC-Wilmington. While we were hoping for the warm beach weather that Wilmington is known for, it was unfortunately an unseasonably cool day. Despite the cooler weather, you could still see sand on campus, students biking to and from classes, and shorts and flip flops as far as the eye could see. There was that low-key vibe that goes along with a beach town and the relaxing pace was a lovely break from the frenetic pace of DC. Here are some highlights... The Watson School of Education is housed in a unique building with state of the art technology. When you walk in, a Maya Angelou quote is predominantly displayed: "Nothing will work unless you do." A few cool features - The Media Production Lab, distance learning classroom that connects UNCW with others around the world, and assistive technology classroom with technologies for teaching students with disabilities. This is one of the most impressive Education buildings we have ever seen on a college campus. The Cameron School of Business has a Financial Trading Markets Room that allows students to follow the NY Stock Exhange. Another unique feature is the Cameron Executive Network (CEN) which matches motivated undergraduates with retired and active senior executives. Mentors come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including firms such as AT&T, Screen Gems Studios and Lockheed Martin. CEN mentors work one-on-one with students to help them develop a stronger understanding of the business world and polish their professional networking and interviewing skills. The mentoring program is very successful because many CEO's own property and/or retire in communities near the Wilmington beaches. Who knew?Since Wilmington is the third-largest film production center in the U.S., which is home to EUE/Screen Gems Studios, the largest film studio outside of Hollywood, the Film Studies Department offers a lot of great opportunities to budding filmmakers. You may have seen the campus in WB favorites - Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill since both shows filmed on campus. Some students we ate lunch with told us that "The Rock" had been on campus recently filming an upcoming movie - and students are often asked to be extras in movies! This is an extraordinary place to study film. As we listened to the Chair of the Creative Writing Department describe the curriculum, Mrs. Maglio began filling out her application to their graduate program. The inspirational description about having the opportunity to "make something out of nothing" had us all ready to sign up! Before you panic - she's not going anywhere. Whenever we visit colleges, it seems like a really good idea to go back to school. Do you know how lucky you are to have the college experience AHEAD of you?!

UNC Wilmington is also known for it's strong program in Marine Sciences. If I had known I could "study" by traveling to the Galapogus Islands - I would have checked out these majors too! Majors include marine biotechnology, biodiversity, oceanography, coral reef ecology, fisheries biology, coastal ecology, and marine mammals.

We hope our highlights of our whirlwind tour of three UNC schools will encourage some of you to look at these schools. All three could be a great fit for the right Visi girl.

Published by KMH and TSM

The Best Kept Secret in NC - UNC Greensboro!

The next stop on our "First Flight" Tour in North Carolina was UNC-Greensboro. The Admissions staff, professors, and students gave us an incredibly warm welcome and were the epitome of southern hospitality. Here are some highlights...

• Our first night on campus, we were treated to a performance by a Percussion Ensemble from the Music Department. UNCG has a wonderful performing arts program - including majors in Dance, Drama, Design and Theater Technology, Technical Production, and Theater Education.


• We learned that Greensboro is the third largest city in North Carolina - and is part of the Triad area which includes Winston-Salem and High Point. The area has ten other four-year colleges and universities in the immediate area!


• UNCG offers an unique major through their Arts & Sciences Program - Interior Architecture. This is kind of a hybrid between Interior Design and Architecture. Students work to plan and design space and furniture. The student design space was filled with creative projects and works in progress - and the wood working studio allows students to bring their brainstorming and drawings to life. If you have ever dreamed of being one of the people who designs the rooms in the Pottery Barn catalogue, this could be the major for you!


• Two students who are members of the Lloyd International Honors College talked about the opportunities to travel as one of the most exciting bonuses of this impressive program. One student had just returned from a study abroad experience in Asia and was preparing for a trip to Japan next semester.


• Undergraduate enrollment here is about 18,000 students on campus - with about 27% minority enrollment. And the student population definitely seemed diverse as we were walking around campus. Students also seemed laid back - UNCG sweats appeared to be the outfit of choice on this cool, rainy day. The gorgeous Student Union houses the University Bookstore - where Mrs. Maglio and Ms. Hosmer procured their own UNCG sweatshirts. There's also a Starbucks, where we purchased lattes.


• We had lunch with current students - and they described campus as a place where students are involved in a variety of activities and clubs. Learning Living Communities were described as making a school that is relatively large feel like a much smaller school. There is a sense of Spartan Pride as students described the strong sense of community.

• We asked a few of the girls about the male/female student ratio on campus (34% male/66% female) - but the young women said they don't really notice the descrepancy - and they assured us that their social lives were going strong!

We really enjoyed our time in Greensboro and for students looking for a mid- size college, a gorgeous campus, strong academics combined with a laid back culture and great weather, this could be your school! Best of all, we could really feel a strong sense of community between students and faculty.

Published by KMH and TSM

We're in the South Y'all!

Well, we are at it again – Mrs. Maglio and Ms. Hosmer are out visiting schools in North Carolina. We are traveling with 15 other counselors from all over the country. Initially, only one of us was offered a space on the tour – but fortunately a space opened up on the waitlist – and so we hit the road! Our first stop was NC State and here are some highlights…

-After arriving on NC State’s campus, we were welcomed into the shiny new Visitor Center and treated to NC State Creamery’s Howling Cow Ice Cream – yum!

-Then we took a tour of the Arboretum. A beautiful 75 degree day - gorgeous!

-The College of Design - where you can study art and design, graphic design, architecture, industrial design or landscape architecture- included a project that looked just like the set of Project Runway. -The space age Library had a ton of high tech gadgets – including the Tech Toolbox that housed a huge screen that worked like a giant ipad. We wish the Library would have been this much fun when we were in college. -The Parks Scholars program offers full scholarships to high achieving students – impressive program! -There are 6000 undergraduates in the School of Engineering. If you are wondering where the boys are – 80% are men. There are the usual engineering majors – but also many unique programs including biomanufacturing science, game development, paper science and engineering and the Ben Franklin Scholars Program that combines the humanities with engineering studies. -If you want big time sports – look no further. We had a behind the scenes tour of the Wolf Pack’s gorgeous football stadium and the sports medicine facilities – including an underwater treadmill. Mrs. Maglio even hung out with thier mascot. If you are considering UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State is another one to add to your list – especially if you are interested in engineering or design. Great school…great location…and they would love more out of state students! If you're not convinced yet, here's one more interesting fact - the average annual snowfall in Raleigh is 2.4 inches.

Published by KMH and TSM

April Is A Cruel Month

Seniors, the college odyssey is coming to a close for most of you. If you are one of the thousands of high school seniors in the country who is disappointed about your college news, I am sorry and I know how you feel. Trust me, I know. I've got the tissues on my desk and the battle scars of many years of talking to disappointed parents and students from the admissions side and now the high school side. I know from experience that there is absolutely nothing I can say to make you feel better. If you are willing, take a peek at Natalie Perry's post about going through what you might be feeling right now (she didn't get into her top choice school and truly didn't even have a second choice that she was happy about). You know how this ends: she is incredibly happy and hasn't looked back at That School That Was Ridiculous Enough Not To Admit Her. Their loss. http://lifeaftervisi.blogspot.com/2010/11/natalie-perry-08-on-tufts-and-why-plan.html And perhaps yesterday's NPR audiofile will help you to not take all of this so personally. http://lifeaftervisi.blogspot.com/2011/03/its-not-you-its-me.html

Finally, in this month of disappointment for many, there were two bright spots in my office yesterday that I'd like to share.

• A father of a current senior (who had emailed me over break, disappointed about his daughter's recent wait list news from one of her top choice schools) emailed me to say "please don't tell my daughter, but there's a Big Envelope from (school will remain nameless) in the mailbox!" He was so obviously happy for his daughter and couldn't wait for her to arrive home and open the envelope. This reminded me of receiving my own college acceptance a million years ago. The letter was in a thin envelope and my mom and I opened it together. We called my dad before we opened the letter and he was in the car. He was so nervous that he had to pull over.


• Also yesterday, a senior rushed into my office with her Mac open to a college's admissions portal. She had not received a decision letter from this school, but suddenly she had the option of clicking a link to "accept admission" and "pay deposit." She was desperate to know if this meant she was in. I was nervous. I have seen this happen to students before and it ends up that there's some kind of strange computer glitch. Without an official acceptance letter or email, you can never assume anything! And so we called the school (one of her top choices), and she is IN! We jumped up and down and we hugged it out.

Please be sure to share your news - good and not so good. If you are staying on wait list, we want to know about it. Email is okay, but we always prefer to see you in person!

Published by TSM

It's Not You, It's Me.

This is a fantastic "inside view" of an actual admissions committee meeting at Amherst College. I would hope that any senior feeling low about not getting into a school would feel better by listening to this clip. It truly demonstrates that not getting into college isn't anything that you should take personally or lose sleep asking, "why?" Most of the time, there is no "because." It's a process that's neither fair nor objective most of the time. And it's completely beyond your control. What is in your control? For juniors: choosing where to apply. For seniors: choosing which school is lucky enough to receive your deposit on May 1.

Here is the link: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134916924/Amherst-Admissions-Process

Published by TSM

Another One Bites the Dust

News flash for juniors - The University of Southern California will join the Common Application next year.

You may be interested to know that there is a lot of spirited conversation/debate about the Common Application in the college admissions profession. For a quick primer about the history of the Common Application and why the newsflash above is more than just a point of information, read this excellent article from the Chronicle of Higher Education.

http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/the-gravitational-pull-of-the-common-application/27090

Do you feel smarter now?

Filed by TSM

Kelly Maloney '06 - Getting ready for Pilot training!

Here is Visitation alumna Kelly Maloney, Class of 2006, in front of an F-15 after her familiarization flight. As a graduate of Embry-Riddle, Kelly is off to pilot training with the Air Force. She is making Visitation proud! If you have any questions for Kelly about Embry-Riddle, meteorology or the military, just ask your college counselor for her contact information.




What was your favorite class at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University?


My favorite class was TV Weathercasting in which you learn how to be like the meteorologists on the news. You learn to produce your own forecast and every day you get up in front of a green screen and camera to give your forecast. The studio is just like professional studios and your professor records quality videos of some of your forecasts to use for job interviews. In the advanced class you have the opportunity to record forecasts used on local radio and TV stations.

What was your major at Embry-Riddle?
I majored in Applied Meteorology with a concentration in Research Meteorology. I chose to do the Air Force ROTC program and I was selected to be a pilot. Embry-Riddle focuses on aeronautics such as aviation (pilots, air traffic control, etc.), aerospace engineering, meteorology, safety science, homeland security, etc. ROTC is very common at my school, but the majority of students are not military.

What are your plans for next year?
I just arrived at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi a few weeks ago and am waiting to start Undergraduate Pilot Training. Pilot training lasts for about a year and I will not find out what aircraft I will be flying until the end. It is decided by what aircraft are available and how well I do in my class.

When you were a senior at Visitation, did you know this would be your path or did you change your major during your four years?
I had no idea this is what I wanted to do until senior year when I first was introduced to the school and the thought of being an Air Force pilot. I decided at the end of my senior year to try it out and see if I liked it. Luckily, I LOVED everything about flying and the Air Force so it was a perfect fit.

What is your favorite Embry-Riddle memory?
My best memory is what AFROTC calls “Big Week”. During this week Headquarters releases the names of those selected for pilot training which is extremely competitive. Everyone in AFROTC gathers into the auditorium cheering as loud as they can and the Colonel announces the pilot selects one at a time. When he called my name it was the best moment of my life thus far. As I tried to make it down the stairs to accept and salute the Colonel, everyone stood up to cheer me on, congratulate me, and hug me, because they understood that it was the moment that I worked so hard for and that my dreams finally came true.

What is there to do on the weekend?
Embry-Riddle is in Daytona Beach so of course everyone goes to the beach which is warm enough almost year-round. It’s nice to get a group together to play volleyball on the beach and grill out.

Many of the students have their private pilot license so you can just rent a plane, go flying, and maybe grab lunch at a small airport nearby.
One of the close airports is world famous for skydiving so if you are up for even more adventure, join the skydiving club on campus and get discounts when you skydive.

There are also a lot of big events hosted in Daytona every year like Biktoberfest, Bike Week, the Daytona 500, the Rolex 24, the Wings and Waves Airshow hosted by our school, and of course the visiting spring breakers during March and April.

Were there any resources on campus that advised you about the possibilities after college?
My school has a really good career center with lots of opportunities on campus such as career expos twice a year, help with resumes, and job interview practice. I never used any of the services because I was contracted with the Air Force, but I know that most companies try to hire Embry-Riddle students because our school is renowned for our specialty in aeronautics.

Do you have any tips for current seniors about keeping things in perspective? Any advice you would offer from your current self to your 17 year old self about to apply to college?
Just make sure the school you pick is a place where you will be challenged and will fit your personality. Don’t just pick a school because of the name or because that is where everyone else wants to go/is going. Oh and just remember that you have a leg up on everyone else because Visitation taught you how to manage your time and how to write without sounding like a fifth grader – most college graduates don’t have either of these skills.


Filed by KMH

Scattergrams Got You Down?

Hey Juniors! By now, you have all received your login information to access our Naviance program with the oh- so- talked- about scattergrams. As I watched my counseling groups log in for the first time, I noticed that many of you looked at the scattergrams while peeking out from behind semi-covered eyes, similar to when watching a scary movie and you want to look, but you don’t want to look. While we understand this trepidation – seeing all that data in red and green can be intimidating – we want to encourage you to keep your heads up!

First, there is way more to you than just numbers! The scattergrams are just one tool among many to help you create a well balanced list. They offer you some Visitation specific statistics to complement the national stats found in books like the Fiske Guide or web resources such as collegeboard.com. While the numbers are an important part of the process, GPA and test scores don’t tell the whole story. Colleges will look at your personal qualities reflected in essays and recommendations and other subjective qualities like student leadership, interest, and co-curricular involvement.

Another important point to remember is that you are still in progress! Your Naviance profile shows Junior year PSATs from way back in October (you took that test before Fall Gold-White - think about how much more you've learned since then) and only 5 semesters of grades. That means you are comparing yourself to past Visitation applicants whose numbers represent the HIGHEST SAT scores achieved by seniors over several sittings plus SEVEN SEMESTERS of grades. What does this mean? This is just a starting point for you, something to help predict a possible trend, but it is not the end all be all for determining if you will get into college!

So don’t be afraid to use these scattergrams to help guide you in the beginning of your research – but talk to your college counselors to help you interpret the information and to help calm those nerves. Happy researching!

Filed by KMH

You Heard It Here First

We here at Life After Visi love to report on breaking college admissions news! Princeton and Harvard eliminated their Early Decision and Early Action deadlines back in 2006 (for students applying for the fall of 2007). Since then, they have both offered only one Regular Decision deadline.

On the heels of UVA's announcement that they will offer an Early Action plan last year, Harvard and Princeton have both announced that they will offer Single Choice Early Action to students next year (EASC for short). Under this plan, students can apply by November 15th and receive a decision by December 15th. The catch? Because of the "single choice" language, students will not be able to file any other Early action or Early Decision applications. Note that you will not be committed to attend Harvard or Princetion if admitted under the EASC plan, but you are prohibited from applying elsewhere until the Regular Decision round.

Your college counselor will not only help you create a balanced list of colleges, but will spend a great deal of time advising you about the "best" and most strategic deadlines for your college applications. You will soon see that colleges have a dizzying area of "decision plans" (EDI and EDII, EA, EASC, Priority, Interim, Rolling) and they do not always give clear information about which students are best suited for which deadline. Do not fear...we will help you sort it all out. Are we having fun yet?

Filed by TSM

An Exciting and Unique College Experience!

Thinking about Columbia University? Thinking about studying abroad? Thinking about applying to colleges outside of the USA?

We had a visit yesterday from an Admissions Representative from the Dual BA Program between Columbia University and Sciences Po (one of Europe’s most distinguished universities). She filled us in on an opportunity for a global undergraduate experience - an opportunity to experience French Culture and take advantage of all that New York City has to offer. You would begin your studies in a small, close-knit college in France and then spend your last 2 years fully immersed in the General Studies program at Columbia. The best part is that you will finish with two bachelor’s degrees and will be guaranteed admission to a Sciences Po graduate program! You might be thinking to yourself, "but I don’t speak any French." No problem! For dual degree students, courses at Sciences Po are taught in English with additional instruction provided in French.

This is a great opportunity to study at two world-renowned universities and be prepared to engage in the global community as you enter the workforce! For more information, check out www.gs.columbia.edu/sciences-po or talk to your college counselor.

Filed by KMH

6 Things For Juniors To Look Forward To

I ended with a preposition didn't I? Don't tell the English department.

I know that February seems like a long, cold month so let's count the exciting programs coming up for juniors this semester!

• College Night on February 17th! We've put together a panel of terrific college representatives who also happen to be incredibly witty and clever speakers. We promise you will enjoy this evening. Hope to see you all there!
• Jesuit College Fair on March 10th. This is a rare occasion when the colleges come to YOU. We will host a mini college fair of excellent Jesuit colleges during lunch on March 10th. The colleges represent a range of geographic locations (doesn't California seem nice right now?) and selectivity. Even if you are not considering Jesuit schools, we hope you will attend this fair to practice the art of talking to a college representative.
• Spring Break - can't come soon enough.
• April 13th - This is the big one. The Independent School College Fair at American University is your chance to meet and impress lots and lots of college reps (usually over 100 schools are represented).
• April 14th - Career Day and Ring Ceremony. This duet is one of the best parts of the spring semester for juniors. And not just because you don't have to wear your uniform.

Let's look out the window and imagine April for a moment. Okay, back to work!

Filed by TSM

A Friendly Note From Duke University

Not to be cynical, but I thought I would just fill you all in a friendly postcard Duke sent in the mail today. The front of the card is a gorgeous picture of Duke in the spring, and it says "Admissions Update: Spring 2011."

On the back is a friendly four paragraph note from the Dean of Admissions about the number of applications they have recieved and what sounds like an early apology for the low number of acceptances.

Here is paragraph two, "We'll end up with over 29,500 applications this year - over 3,000 more than last year and almost 9,000 more than three years ago.Our entering class will include just over 1700 students, 640 of whom have been chosen already in our Early Decision process. That leaves roughly 28,000 applications for fewer than 1100 places in the class."

A quick note on that last sentence. Please remember that whenever you hear colleges reference the number of applications vs. places in the class, they are not telling you how many students they will accept. While there are only 1100 places in the class, Duke (and all colleges) have to accept many more students than they have room for. Even at a college as excellent as Duke, not every student they admit will select them, so colleges typically accept at least twice as many students as they have spaces for (some will admit three or four times the number of spaces they have in the class.) It would be much clearer if colleges would publish information that tells you: We have 47,000 applications, and we will accept 10,000 students (even though there are only 2200 places in the class).

Juniors: I am giving you this information to help you make sense of the mind boggling statistics that colleges will throw at you during information sessions. Also, it's an FYI if you are planning to apply to Duke next year.

Seniors: I am just passing along what's on my desk to your desk.

And so it begins

Well, hello juniors. We first welcomed you to Life After Visi here:

http://lifeaftervisi.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-new-year.html

but that was in honor of our Junior Parent Night and we are just now getting around to meeting you in person! Junior college counseling groups began last week and, while second semester lacks the same wide awake back to school energy that September does, we hope you are excited to begin the college process. Okay, maybe "excited" is the wrong word. How about...curious?eager?ready? Maybe we should settle for "a college counseling class is better than a root canal."

In all seriousness, our goal is not to add pressure or to add one more thing to add to your "to do" list. Our aim is to teach you everything you need to know about the process and how to find your dream school. That way, when you come back to see us next September, you just have to fill out some forms and write a few essays (do I hear snickering from the senior lodge?). I think that second semester junior year is truly the best part of the college process. There are no looming deadlines and no decisions that have to be made right this second. Think of it as an extended shopping excursion. I know that you have logged hours searching the internet for the perfect dress or pair of shoes. Now is the time to shop for the perfect college! We can't wait to help you.

Published by: TSM

Mail Call

A stack of college newsletters awaited Team Fennessey after break. They are mostly updates about Early Action and Early Decision review and one important update regarding mid-year grades. Here are some highlights:

• Georgetown University received 6600 Early Action applicantions, and offered admission to 17% of the candidates. Average class rank of these admitted superstars? Top 3%. Mean SAT Critical Reading and Math 680-780 on each section. They do not consider the Writing portion of the SAT.
• Rice University received over 1,000 applications for their Early Decision program, and offered admission to only 298 students. They anticipate over 13,000 applications after the Regular Decision deadline.
• Boston College received 6200 Early Action applications (a 7% increase from last year) and admitted 43% of them. Last year, about 20% of the students who were deferred Early Action were admitted in the Regular Decision review process.
• UNC Chapel Hill received over 14,000 applicants for their first deadline. Important: If you are a UNC Chapel Hill applicant who is admitted during the first deadline or has applied for the second deadline, you are required to self report your midyear grades online. Most colleges ask us to report your grades, so this is different than what is expected from most colleges.
• Ah, Stanford. They received a record-breaking number of Restrictive Early Action applications (5929), an increase of 6% from the previous year. They admitted a whopping 754 of these applicants. Do the math - that's a 13% admit rate. Ouch! Adding insult to injury, only 9% of the students who weren't offered admission were deferred to the Regular Decision process. Everyone else was denied admission.

Good luck finishing up your applications and studying for exams!

Published by TSM