Selecting your High School Classes

Students often struggle when making decisions about which classes to take during their four years of high school. How do you choose?

College admission officers review five parts of an application: standardized test scores, if required; college essays; recommendations; listing of academic honors and extracurricular activities; and the high school transcript, covering grades 9-11. Without question, the most important part of that review is the students’ complete academic transcript. When analyzing the document, the reader may have to first determine that a student has met that college’s minimum course requirements: typically 3 years of math, 4 years of English, 2-3 years of social science, 2-3 years of science and 2-3 years of a foreign language/ASL. Assuming that the applicant has completed those, the primary focus will be on the strength of the coursework selected. Admission decisions rarely hinge on just one aspect of an application, such as test scores, but the overall trends in performance, challenges of coursework, and grade trajectories are all-important.

When a high school sends an applicant’s transcript to a college, it is usually accompanied by the School Report. This document provides the college with detailed information about the applicant’s placement within their overall class and the choices of coursework the applicant had available each year. Universities want to see that students have chosen to really engage in their high school experience, push themselves to take on increasingly rigorous coursework and have been successful in their endeavors. Why? Because that is exactly the type of student who will also excel on a university campus!

The School Report shows whether or not you had the option of taking an AP course or a College Prep course, as opposed to a regular course in any given subject. Admission officers want you to take full advantage of courses that are available to you.  They will never expect to see a class on your transcript that your school does not offer or require - just try very hard to shine within the range of opportunities available.

Make sure your transcript reveals your passions and interests. If you are applying as a foreign language major, have you taken the most advanced options available? If you are applying as a STEM candidate, have you taken the highest level of the math and science courses available? 

Your high school years are your way of preparing yourself for the increased challenge of a college classroom. Take classes that give you a solid foundation so you can be ready for college-level math, writing, and science classes. As you take on those tough classes, are you also engaging in activities? Think about showing consistency in extracurricular choices too. This is the balance that colleges love to see – consistency, rigor, determination, dedication and resilience. 

High school is the start of your academic journey, and is your time to explore who you are and what you want. Make your transcript a clear indication of your ongoing journey of self-discovery, your time management abilities, and your areas of academic and personal interests. Look for ways to stimulate your creativity and leadership skills, take risks and grow. Challenge yourself in and out of the classroom, try new things and maintain balance – after all, maybe you’ll find that you shine even brighter in your Calculus BC class after you’ve enjoyed painting a peaceful landscape in art class.

Effective Campus Visits

For many families, the college tour is a rite of passage. These visits are often determined by an applicant’s school schedule, parent availability, financial resources, and family commitments. Colleges offer a wide variety of visit options – Open Houses, Diversity Days, Group Information Sessions and Campus Tours. Given these many opportunities, we’ll zero in on one particular visit option, the one that you take advantage of during the school year. 

Many families lean towards visits during vacation times, on the weekend, or on holidays when, typically, people are off work. These visits do not, however, come close to giving a prospective student a real look at life on a particular college campus. This is why we strongly advocate for a visit during the school year, on a regular school day. Most high schools will allow students some time off for college visits, but if that is not an option, talk to your guidance counselor about a reasonable solution.

This regular school day visit is important for the following reasons:

If school is in session, you will get a realistic idea of regular, every day student life. You’ll see students walking between classes, eating in the cafeterias, sleeping on the green, studying in the library and just enjoying each other’s company. Ask yourself if these scenes feel comfortable and stimulating.

During the school year, it’s possible to attend a Group Information Session and participate in a campus tour with a current student. Make sure you register for these ahead of time, typically online. Each university will show off the new science building, the updated gym, or the enlarged library on this tour. You can also look at the flyers and announcements posted all over campus and pick up the college newspaper. Prior to the walking tour, there is almost always an Information Session led by an admission professional who will give you the school’s ‘big picture’, provide some valuable statistics, and answer general questions about the college and the admission process.

Meeting the experts is possible on a regular workday. There are three categories of ‘experts’ with whom you can meet during a school-year visit. 

If possible, schedule a one-on-one appointment with the admission counselor who reads applications from your school. Take a short resume with you that s/he can add to your file and be prepared to ask 3-5 questions that reveal both your strong interest in that school and give you more information about your possible choice/s of major. Important – go into that conversation alone! You are the prospective student (not your parents!) and you want to show confidence and maturity. And always send a quick thank you email after your conversation. It matters! 

When the student tour guides are introduced, check if any guides share your possible choice of major and join that tour if possible. Walk up front next to the tour guide, and ask as many questions as you want. Remember, these are students who love their school and know it well, and telling others about their college is exactly what they love to do. Share email addresses so you can ask any further questions that come to you on the drive home. 

Paying for college is a huge issue for parents and during your weekday campus visit, it is a great idea to meet with a financial aid representative, to ask your many important finance questions. Making an appointment ahead of time is usually required.

Personalizing your visit is often possible on a regular school day. You can check online or call your college’s admission office and ask if a more personalized visit is an option. During these days, you may meet with a student in your possible choice of major, attend a class, speak with a professor and for some, sleep overnight in the dorms. Some colleges offer specialized overnight programs; check the admission website for visit options.

If you have to attend one of the large open day visit programs, formulate your questions ahead of time. You may be in the company of hundreds, and you need to really review opportunities to get your questions answered. Do the tour of course, but look for specific academic presentations, class visits, student panels and make sure you eat in the dining hall - good food is important.

Talk to students! Whichever visit program you are able to attend, seek out students. You’ll see them in the library, the dining hall, walking around campus and chatting with their friends. Summon up all your courage and tap some on the shoulder – ask them if they are happy and why, where else did they apply, why did they choose this particular school, and ask them about their living environment. These first-hand  conversations can make or break your impressions of your possible new academic home far more than the weather on the day of your visit!

Paying for College: Understanding Net Price

Families often experience sticker shock when contemplating the cost of college, but it’s the net price, rather than the sticker price, that prospective students  need to consider.  Each college publishes the COA or Cost of Attendance at that institution.  The COA includes room, board, tuition and fees, along with an estimate for books, personal expenses, and travel to and from campus.  The COA is the sticker price.

Relatively few families actually pay the full COA for their child. Various grants, loans, and work-study all affect the actual net price of college.  Let’s look at the factors that affect the net price. Net price depends upon the family’s individual financial situation as computed by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the form required by all colleges. The FAFSA will calculate an Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. Your actual net price, however, may be influenced by the college’s financial aid policies that determine the percentage of need they will meet, and further affected by how much the college actually wants a particular student to enroll.  

Need is the difference between cost of attendance and expected family contribution. Some colleges will meet 100% of need, while others with smaller endowments meet a lower percentage of need. When a college strongly wants to enroll a particular student, they will offer grants to make up a larger percentage of the difference between need and COA. In addition to having excellent grades and test scores, certain applicants may be sought-after by colleges because they contribute to geographic or ethnic diversity, because they bring special abilities and aptitudes (musical, athletic, etc.), or because they have interests and skills in particular majors.

Your net price can be met in several ways. One component, the expected family contribution (EFC), might be met through the family’s assets, college savings plans, and/or loans. A second way to meet your net price is through self-help money earned through the student’s employment, and money that a student might borrow through a federal or state loan. The GAP is the balance needed beyond the EFC and self-help, which can be met from family assets, income, or parental loans.  

Merit aid is free money provided in the form of scholarships and grants because the college is eager to enroll that student. Applicants are most likely to qualify for merit aid if their GPA and test scores place them in the top quarter of accepted students. Soon after admission decisions are released, students who applied for aid will receive notification of their financial aid package. Compare these packages to determine the net cost of education to your family before making a final decision as to which college to attend.

"Elite" Summer Programs

Your student may have been impressed by the fancy mailings they’ve received notifying them that “You’ve been nominated” or “Congratulations, you’ve been identified as a strong candidate for our selective summer program.” 

Hopefully, your scam antenna is up. You are probably asking yourself why so much money is being spent on these fancy envelopes, the personalization, the multitude of enclosures, etc. Yes, you’re right, it is a marketing ploy. We often wish we could convince these companies to reduce their marketing costs and then cut the fees for these programs. 

Many of the programs are solid. Students may have great experiences, learn a lot, and enjoy being in an academic environment on a college campus away from their families - those are all points in their favor. The downside is that they are very pricey, hence elite, and are typically not very selective at all. We refer to many of them as “pay-to-play” programs. They carry little or no weight in the college admission process. 

The companies and the colleges behind such programs have typically created for-profit enterprises to benefit their company or college, even if they are offered at or by a non-profit institution. Often, they run elaborate marketing campaigns that make the programs look as if they are incredibly selective. That is usually not the case. 

The big question is, “Will these programs help get you into college?”

Colleges may be happy to see these programs on a student’s resume because they may indicate the student has intellectual/personal interests and commitment, but they also generally indicate that the student is from an upper-middle-class background and can afford a $3000-$10,000+ summer experience.

So, if the biggest reason you’re considering one of these programs is because you think it will seal the deal to gain acceptance at your dream college, think again. These programs won’t hurt you, and if your family can afford it, they can provide great learning experiences and exposure to professors and other motivated students. 

Another motivation to attend might be to “test-drive” a college campus or a city to see if it represents a good fit; if that’s the case, then these programs can be incredibly valuable on a variety of levels. You may have assumed you wanted the hustle-bustle of a city, but the reality of noisy streets and a more impersonal campus and student body may not jibe with what you anticipated for your college experience. How wonderful to learn that now, while you’re still in high school, instead of finding that out freshman year! 

The most important thing to do this summer is something that matters to you; show a college what you care about, what you’re curious about, what motivates you, what makes you different. Use your summer wisely. 

University vs. Liberal Arts College - Which is Right for you?

Before we dig deeper into this fascinating question, let’s first clarify and define the options:

A university is an educational institution that is typically larger than a college, and offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Some universities also have professional schools in law, medicine and business. Universities are typically divided into smaller academic units, often called ‘colleges’ or ‘schools’. Examples include a College of Arts and Sciences and a College of Engineering. The title of the college clearly defines the range of majors found within those units. Others offer a School of Business or a School of Nursing. A university may also have a strong focus on research with opportunities for undergraduates to participate in faculty-led research.

LAC is the abbreviation for a Liberal Arts College. Because a college is usually smaller than a university, smaller class sizes are the norm and a strong focus on student/faculty mentoring and academic relationships is typical. Undergraduate education is at the forefront with less emphasis on research, but this does NOT mean that research has no place in an LAC; many have very strong and robust research programs. They may not, however, offer professional track undergraduate degrees such as engineering, business or nursing.

Some colleges offer graduate and professional degrees but have not changed their name because of tradition. These include The College of William and Mary, Dartmouth College, and St. Joseph’s College in New York. Others maintain the college name simply because a university already exists with that same name.

For students seeking a tightly knit academic community, one where you are probably going to walk to class and see someone you already know, enjoy small group seminar classes and discussions and are unsure about a final choice of major, a liberal arts college might offer you a better experience. But, if you are someone who loves to meet new people on the way to class, are happy to be part of larger classes, have a strong sense of independence and resilience, and already have a good idea of your academic goals, you may find the size of a university more to your liking.

You will note, I’m sure, that I have just made some sweeping generalizations. It is just as possible to be seated in a senior class of 8-10 students in a university as it is in a college. You’ll make friends in so many ways, on any type of campus, through clubs, organizations, academic groups, and residence hall activities. The overall size of the student body won’t impact you, if you don’t want it to, so keep an open mind to both options. You must always start with knowing who you are and what you want. Then, when visiting a campus, seek out answers to those questions of fit, ethos, opportunity, and academic choice. Analyze the latter very carefully. Are there sufficient choices of major in your areas of interest? Review the numbers when it comes to both average class sizes overall and average classes with fewer than 50 students – how do you learn best? What about academic support? How important is the student/faculty relationship to you?

Students thrive when they are surrounded by engaged students and faculty who nurture and encourage students in all aspects of their undergraduate experience. You may find that this relationship will be key to your success and you may feel more connected in a smaller LAC, but more actively engaged in research in a larger university. Both colleges and universities offer career guidance. This will be of far greater import as you move further and deeper into your major. Some universities offer internships to students in their likely field of employment, on a broader scale and with more choice than a small college. Colleges, however, thrive on the very close relationships they build with their alumni, and these connections can often lead to internships and/or first jobs.

The social scene also matters when it comes to your final selection. Knowing that your small college has limited options may be comforting, but the huge array of opportunities at a larger university could be just what you need to propel yourself forward, learn more about yourself and grow in so many ways. Don’t be swayed by rankings, your parents’ hopes and dreams, or your fears – know what you want for yourself. Costs may well be lower at your state university, but colleges may offer more financial aid; having the option of studying abroad may be high on your list but a diverse campus community may be just what you need from a larger institution.

Know what you need to meet your academic and personal needs and review answers to your questions after visiting both a small college and a large university, and remain open to both options.

Receiving Accommodations on SAT and ACT

A majority of colleges still require standardized test results as part of the application process. For students with documented learning differences, the College Board and the ACT offer specific accommodations with similar requirements. Colleges are not told that an applicant has received testing accommodations, so there is no downside to submitting a request.

Students must provide detailed evidence of their disability. This includes a disability diagnosis by a credentialed professional, and evidence of the impact the disability has had on the applicant’s school performance. Ideally, students and parents should meet with their school coordinator in the spring of their sophomore year to review the entire process, but no later than fall of junior year. Here are the basic steps to follow:

COLLEGE BOARD – SAT, SAT SUBJECT TESTS, & AP EXAMS: Applicants complete the Student Eligibility Form. This detailed and complex form may negate the requirements for the lengthy evaluation or school-based accommodations plan. Approval may take from 1-5 weeks, or longer.

Apply in early fall and you should receive a decision by December. The decision letter indicates which accommodations have been approved, and students must enter the SSD code, provided with the decision letter, when registering for all official test dates. This approval covers all College Board testing for all future testing dates. Accommodations requested can include Braille, large-print exams, use of a computer, extra breaks or a quiet room. Students should bring their SSD Eligibility Letters with them on test days.

ACT:

Students must first register for an ACT test date online. During the registration process, students indicate which type of accommodations they are applying for and after submitting their registration, the ACT will send an email with detailed instructions on next steps.

The student’s school coordinator, together with the applicant, will submit the detailed online request through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA). The form is far less detailed than the College Board’s form, and students should assume that they will need to submit all their documentation – the evaluation and school-based education plan – for the complete ACT review process.

The ACT accommodations review process typically takes about 6 weeks. Approval for National Extended Time is indicated on the registration ticket. This approval covers all subsequent test dates and must be supplied during the registration process. The coordinator also receives the Special Testing decision, and will work with the student to make the appropriate arrangements. There are appeal processes in place if a request has been denied for either test.

Cutting the Cost of College

As financial aid packages begin to arrive, families are faced with just how much college will cost. At many schools, self-funding is up and gift aid is down. That means that colleges are offering less in the way of tuition discounts or grants, and expect families to assume a greater part of the college financial burden. Parents may pay expenses from savings and salaries, students through part-time employment, and both parents and students may meet some expenses through loans. No wonder families are eager to find ways to cut college costs. Here are some ideas:

• Graduate from college on time or early. In order to earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, students need to choose appropriate classes and stick with them. Dropping a class may leave you with too few credits and lengthen the time required to earn your bachelor’s degree. Changing majors or double-majoring may also add to the length of your stay at the school. The net effect: increased cost and lost income.

• Get a jump on credits through AP classes or CLEP exams. Passing scores on AP exams taken in high school may lead to college credit, while high scores on the College Level Examination Program can shorten the time you need to earn your degree. Check out www.collegeboard.com for a list of schools that award credit through CLEP exams.

• Consider taking some of your credits at a nearby community college during high school or summer breaks. Community college classes are generally inexpensive. Make sure that they’ll be accepted by your college before registering for outside courses. And, some colleges will not accept community college courses taken after graduation from high school, and may even nullify students entering as a freshman if they have community college credits.

• Get a job. Part-time employment (aim for a maximum of 10-12 hours/week) provides extra structure to the college student’s day and extra money to meet expenses. Students who qualify for work-study programs may find on-campus employment that fits well within the student’s class and study schedule.

• After freshman year, consider applying to be an RA (Resident Assistant). Resident Assistants help to develop community among dorm residents and counsel students regarding problems or concerns. In return, the RA generally receives free room and board.

• Buy used books whenever possible or explore digital options for study materials.

Start your Applications this Summer

Journey Ahead students begin their college applications in the summer before their senior year, because this takes the pressure off of busy students in the fall.

Students can start the Common Application, UC Application, and CSU Applications during the summer, filling in demographic information, reviewing essay/personal insight question prompts, consider essay topics, and generally get a start on this time-consuming process.

Students’ Common Application accounts roll-over on August 1. The UC Application is available on August 1. The CSU Application opens Oct. 1, and requires much less work than the UC Application and the Common Application, as there are no essays or activities to report.