How to "visit colleges" without "visiting colleges"

COVID has changed college admissions in every way imaginable. One tiny example is that in many cases, students who are applying to college in the coming months will seek admission to campuses on which they’ve never set foot.

It’s not imperative that students visit every campus they apply to, but it is important for students to understand broadly whether they prefer a large or small campus; an urban, suburban, or rural setting; public or private, etc. Students who planned to start their visits last spring are not even able to get a feel for basic decisions like these.

So we have to shift our focus to what we CAN do. Here are some ways to learn about colleges without having set foot on campus:

1. Many campuses have scheduled virtual conversations with admissions officers, current students, professors, and other campus professionals. You can join an already scheduled visit, or reach out to your admissions officer and schedule your own private conversation. Google the regional admissions officer at the college you are interested in and drop them an email to start the conversation.

2. Look for videos from admissions officers, administrators, campus housing departments, and even students on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and other social media platforms. Many colleges have their own YouTube channels with extensive videos and discussions about their campus, academic programs, social life, location, etc.

3. Rating sites like Niche.com and College Confidential are filled with reviews from students about what life is like on campus.

4. Ask the advice of your independent educational consultant (independent college counselor). Counselors have visited scores if not hundreds of campuses throughout their career and can provide advice or guide your search.

Should Students Study this Summer for ACT/SAT?

Testing and tutoring is another open question in the changing landscape of college admissions. How much time should students spend this summer tutoring and studying for standardized tests that will likely not happen for many months, or longer?

Most of Journey Ahead’s students are in California, which announced that high school classes will begin online in the fall. This does not bode well for standardized test sittings, which require a room, proctors, and students shoulder to shoulder for several hours.

Does it make sense for a student to spend time this summer studying for ACT/SAT on their own or with a tutor? On the one hand, they have time while stuck at home. On the other hand, adding another online task to their plate has furthered some students’ frustration and increased their anxiety.

I’ve recently changed my view of exam self-study and tutoring for students this summer. I’m advising rising juniors to wait on their prep until they have a test date in the Spring, then spend a few weeks before that date studying. Test prep is most effective when it is 4-8 weeks before the actual exam.

Rising seniors should concentrate more of their effort this summer honing the other aspects of their applications, in case they are not able to test at all. A bit of prep a few weeks before their scheduled exams is fine, with the understanding that their exam will very likely be canceled.

Colleges are expecting a slew of applications from Class of 2021 students who were never able to sit for a test, and are therefore planning their evaluations of students without scores.

So let’s all relax and take a deep breath, and do our studying and tutoring just before our scheduled exam.

To Test or Not To Test?

So much has changed in the past few months regarding standardized testing. Due to Covid, the SAT and ACT are not easily available, many colleges have gone test-optional for the coming year or longer, and students have been asking whether they should bother to test at all.

The answer is simple, really. Students who are able to test, should do so.

The entire UC and California State University systems are test-optional for the coming year. This means that students who do not submit a test will not be penalized. However, if they do submit a test, it will be considered as part of their overall application.

The same is true for many private colleges that have become test-optional as a result of Covid and the many others that were test-optional to begin with. If students submit a test score, it will be considered along with other aspects of their application.

Therefore, it only makes sense for students who are able to test to do so, and then determine later whether to submit their score once they receive it. As a general rule of thumb, if a student’s score is higher than 50% of last year’s class, they should submit. Or, if a student’s score strengthens their overall application even if it doesn’t meet the 50% rule, they should submit. If their score does not meet one of these criteria, they should not. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule!

For more information of questions about testing, please contact your Journey Ahead advisor at 619-417-9242.

Financial Matters for Parents: Before Leaving for College

There are a few legal and financial issues that should be addressed before your son or daughter goes off to college. When your child turns 18 they are legally an adult, and you lose the legal authority to make decisions on their behalf. This means you have no legal right to see their grades, manage finances (although you remain responsible for paying college tuition), or make medical decisions or speak with their doctor. So, once they arrive on campus, consider asking them to sign some documents that will allow you to continue to help.

· FERPA release:  with your child’s permission, you can speak with the college about their performance. Colleges often have their own FERPA release forms, so ask your college for a copy.

· HIPAA Authorization:  allows you to access your child’s health records and speak to their doctors about medical issues.

· Advance Care Directive for Health Care:  allows you to act on your adult child’s behalf in the event that they are incapacitated and unable to make decisions.  

· Durable Power of Attorney:  allows you to act on your adult child’s behalf regarding legal or financial matters.  

You can get the last three forms mentioned from your family lawyer.  Each of these forms can be revoked at any time, but having them in place while your child is away at college makes sense.

This is also a good time to address money management issues.

· Set up a bank account that will allow you to easily transfer money to your student’s account. 

· Health insurance:  check out options provided by the college and compare these policies with your existing family medical coverage.  

· Car insurance:  check with your agent.  If your child will not have a car at college, you may be eligible for a discount on your auto rate.

· Discuss credit card dangers:  college students are besieged with credit card offers—discuss how the misuse of credit cards can affect their ability to get credit in the future. Look into debit card options or provide your offspring with a card in your name that can be monitored.

Mastering the Dreaded College Essay

Writing your college essays can be either a drudge or a wonderful time of self-reflection and creativity. Understanding what colleges are looking for is the key to your selection of topics, and the way to figure that out is two-fold – first, know yourself and what you are looking for and second, know the mission and ethos of the colleges and what kind of applicant they are seeking to join their campus community. 

Unfortunately, many applicants do themselves a disservice by taking on topics that don’t resonate well with the admission readers, thus giving a false or incorrect impression of the writer. The focus, or topic, of the essay must engage the reader from the very first sentence, share a positive, optimistic, and truthful picture of the applicant, and allow the reader to feel confident that this particular applicant fits their profile. Here are some overused and unhelpful topics that students are encouraged to avoid. 

A laundry list of accomplishments that sounds both arrogant and boastful and fails to share anything substantial about who you really are. Don’t exaggerate your achievements because it will probably show through in your writing and that lack of authenticity breaks all the requirements for a solid and original college essay.

Sports essays are far too frequent. The overused “I scored the winning goal and it changed my life” is a boring story that again fails to tell a personal story. Admission readers have read more than a lifetime of stories about the ‘thrill of victory and the agony of defeat’ – please don’t add to the list. Enough about how you value teamwork and hard work - it’s so overrated. Instead, tell more about some aspect of your sport that has given you a deeper insight into who you are and what you want. If you must write about sports, personalize your experiences.

Given the current state of polarization in many parts of the world, it is best to avoid topics such as politics, abortion or religion; remember, you don’t know who is reading your essay. Be careful about being too controversial in your essay, and avoid any descriptions of illicit behaviors, profane language, drugs or alcohol. Don't try to shock your reader as a way to be memorable; it will likely backfire horribly.

Many students participate in community service and, for those lucky enough to have significant resources, may complete international travel with a volunteer component. These essays can also prove to be a big snore to the reader because they fail to share anything personal about these wonderful opportunities. Don’t write another laundry list of ‘what I did in Costa Rica to save the green turtles’ – write about a local volunteer whom you connected with, someone doing work important to you, and from whom you learned an important life lesson. Keep the focus on what you learned about yourself, about the world around you, and how hard you worked.

The classic essay that is way too often brought into play is the one about someone else! That’s right, not about you but about your grandmother/father/sister/neighbor/coach – you get the idea. This one always falls flat because, invariably, the reader comes away thinking that they would love to meet your grandmother, and not you!

Many students dig around for some kind of challenge they have had to overcome. Some are real, such as  death and divorce, but others are manufactured and must be avoided. This might include the pain of an ingrown toenail or the fury at not being given a car for your 16th birthday! Yes, those are real topics chosen by applicants in recent years. Keep it real, and keep the focus on you, honestly.

Be honest, authentic, original and real. Make your admission readers smile, jump up from their chair and share your essay with colleagues. Let them know the real YOU!

How to Pay the College Invoice

Paying Your Child’s College Bill

A few months before your student starts college, you’ll receive a bill for the first semester (or quarter) expenses.  The college will deduct any financial aid or scholarships, and the bill will show the amount you – the parents – will need to pay before school starts.

If you have enough on hand to pay the full amount, simply write a check and send it in by the specified date. If you can’t pay the full amount, or need to break the bill down into smaller payments, you have several other choices. Here are two common options, along with their pros and cons.

Installment Payment Plan. Many colleges offer deferred payment plans that let parents spread payments over the course of the school year. A typical plan divides payments over nine or ten months.  Before signing up for an installment payment plan, read the fine print carefully. Most plans include a service fee, which is usually under $100. Some plans may also tack on interest, and there may be added fees for late payments or for paying by credit card. 

Parent PLUS Loan:  Parent PLUS loans are federal loans to help parents pay college costs. Parents may borrow up to the total cost of attendance, minus any other financial assistance received by the student. Repayment begins 60 days after the loan is disbursed, although some parents may qualify to defer payments until after the student leaves college (note—interest continues to accrue during deferment).

The current interest rate on PLUS loans dropped recently as a result of Covid. There’s also a loan origination fee that is a percentage of the amount borrowed. To apply for a PLUS loan, your family will need to complete the FAFSA financial aid application. Some colleges require additional paperwork.

Although the interest rates on PLUS loans are usually lower than a loan from a bank or credit union, the interest rate is higher than for federal student loans. In general, it’s smart to let your child accept the maximum amount of any federal student loans they’ve been offered before taking on PLUS loans for yourself. Used wisely, parent PLUS loans can help families finance their child’s college costs.

Summer Planning and Covid

For most students, the plans they envisioned are not going to pan out this year due to Covid. In-person opportunities have mostly dried up, which has left students wondering how to best use their time this summer.

My college counseling community and I have compiled a list of online research and volunteer opportunities for students to consider. Check this site for other cool stuff to consider. These may spark some ideas, but you can come up with your own thing too!

While previous cohorts of students have tried to maximize their summers to gain some experience, in part to present their best selves in their college applications, families should know that colleges understand the extraordinary situation we are in. They do not expect students to jump through millions of hoops, or put themselves or families at risk right now.

However, students who are creative and enterprising may find engaging and interesting things to do this summer, and their activities will, of course, enhance their applications.

Think outside of the box. How can you volunteer right here in your community? If you plan to study business, have you created an online presence for yourself or others? What can you do to express your individuality and creativity from your computer? Most importantly, do what interests YOU.

Check out this list of options to see if something sparks your interest.

A Letter to my College Coach

(This email was sent to Lisa in April, from her student Ellen H., who will attend UCLA in fall 2020. It was published in Medium. For more information about how Journey Ahead can help your family, call 619-417-9242.)

Hi Lisa!

Since the large bulk of my college admissions journey is over, I wanted to thank you for all the help you’ve provided me throughout this process. I first signed up to receive a ScholarMatch mentor out of boredom, and didn’t expect much from it. When we were first paired up, I was pretty nervous for our first call and didn’t know how I should act. As the days went on, and you sent me all of the online quizzes and portals to assess which career path and college would be the right fit for me, I began to enjoy the process a lot more. I was constantly impressed by the tools that you had at your disposal, and just how helpful they were.

Ellen grew up in Los Angeles, CA. At her high school, she serves as captain of her school’s Academic Decathalon and holds the record for the highest score in a competition.

I knew from the start that applying to college would be very confusing, and yet I was still shocked by just how complicated some of the technical application questions were. I didn’t know what the Common App was asking half the time, but you were always there every step of the way. Looking back on the college selection process, I don’t even know how I would’ve decided which colleges to apply for. I knew absolutely nothing about researching different college programs and majors, and without you, a lot of my choices would have been ill-informed. You made me consider factors regarding college life that I never would’ve even thought of, such as the size of the school itself. All the college tours you sent me were very fun and helped me realize that I see myself on a larger campus (although I’m sure I’m going to complain about all the stairs at UCLA).

Even when I tried to give up, multiple times, you didn’t let me and I’m incredibly thankful for that.

During the summer when I received my SAT score, it hadn’t gone up by a single point (1250). I simply didn’t want to study for the damn test anymore. I figured that with a test score like that, I wouldn’t have much of a chance to get accepted to a university I’d actually like to attend, and wanted to throw in the towel. I was very scared to tell you, because I knew that you’d convince me to continue working and that deep down you were right.

I still remember when I was sitting in my best friend’s room, and you asked if you could call me to talk about it. After that call, I told my mom what you said and she agreed with you and told me that I’d regret it later on if I didn’t at least turn in the applications and see what happens. So I got up, and I gave it another shot. Even then, I felt like you did just as much work as I did, with finding me a tutor and continuing to assess what type of environment I’d like to spend the next four years in.

Later on, as I was trying to sort through the college profiles you sent me, I became disillusioned with the search for the perfect college list and felt as though every college was the same. When I finally told you how I was beginning to feel, you called me within the day and offered some helpful solutions. You didn’t let me take the easy way out, even when I really, really wanted to. I never wanted to make you feel as though I didn’t appreciate all your help, and that was a strong enough motivator to follow through with all the assignments you gave me. I know that there were times I’d accidentally make you worry about me — like through that entire FAFSA situation — and I’d continually be surprised at just how deeply you cared. You constantly went above and beyond for me. You’d call me at 9 pm out of worry, when you should be enjoying your leisure time, and you text back so quickly that I’ve began to think of you as my friend and role model, rather than my mentor.

Whenever I’d open one of my acceptance letters, I always wanted to tell you the good news first.

Your praise when I was accepted to UCLA rivaled that of my parents’, since you understood more fully just how difficult it is to get into a school that’s classified as a “reach” for everyone. Even though my name might be on the acceptance letter, it belongs to you just as much as it does to me. Without your kind words, helpful advice, and general companionship, I never would’ve been able to earn as many acceptances as I did. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have listened to any counselor at my school if they told me to take pre-calculus, but I was willing to listen to you, and I’m thankful that I did. Words truly can’t express the full measure of my gratitude and appreciation for all your help. Even now, you send me resources that I can use in the future.

What started as registration for this program out of boredom turned into one of the best decisions I’ve ever made :) Once again, thank you so much, for putting up with me, and for helping me get to where I’ve gotten.

Sincerely,

Ellen H.

Ellen is a high school senior from Los Angeles, CA who will begin college at the University of California, Los Angeles in Fall 2020 as an intended Philosophy major. In the 2019–2020 academic year, Ellen participated in the ScholarMatch/CollegePoint virtual college advising program for high-achieving, low- and moderate-income students. Lisa was her coach.