I am often asked by students whether or not they should send their AP scores to the colleges to which they will apply. As with most of my answers, this one follows along with the “it depends” response. For the sake of this discussion, I will give the answer that applies most often, with the disclaimer that some colleges may have a slightly different answer (ie Test optional schools, top tier elite schools etc) So for our purposes, here is the answer:

Most colleges do not ask you to send an official AP score report. However, applications may ask you to self-report your scores. In this case, it is best that you only report the higher scores. For the most part, your AP scores do not carry a lot of weight in the admissions process. Generally speaking, high scores, especially 5s may be a positive factor while low scores (1s and 2s) may be a red flag to selective institutions. So with this said, you can see that reporting 5s is a good idea while reporting 1s and 2s may NOT be a good idea. Check with your counselor to see if AP scores are reported on your transcript. If so, you really need to strive for scores no lower than 3. 

So why bother to take an AP course if the scores do not matter that much? Well there are lots of reasons why taking AP classes is a good thing. 

• It will show up on your transcript. Colleges want students to challenge themselves and taking AP classes is a way to do that. They will look to see that you have taken the most demanding courses offered by your high school. 
• You may be able to get college credit and skip prerequisite classes. This is usually a good thing, but sometimes there may be a class you would like to take but you can’t because you already got credit through AP. 
• Taking AP courses can help prepare a student for the rigor they will face in college. This is always a good thing!
• If you score high enough on multiple AP Exams, you may earn the title of AP Scholar. And while there is no money or scholarship attached, it is nice to report on your application/resume to show that you did well on several AP exams. Oh! And did I mention that you get a certificate? Nice for you, but really won’t have much impact on the admissions process.

So the bottom line is this: Take as many AP courses as you can handle. Colleges like to see that a student is challenging him/herself academically. Get good grades in the AP classes. Remember that your transcript, standardized test scores and GPA matter most.  Aim to score no less than a 3 on each test. Self report your best scores (especially 5s) and pass on the 1s and 2s unless the college specifically asks for ALL scores. Be sure you know the college policy on AP credit. And then don’t sweat it!

Did you know that eighth grade is not too early to start college planning? Did you know that eleventh grade may be too late for some students? There are lots of reasons to hit the ground running in the 8th grade! Before you know it, college will be here and understanding what lies ahead is important to understand BEFORE you start high school. So what do you need to know?

Grades and Test Scores: First of all, you need to understand that grades and standardized test scores (ACT/SAT) rule when it comes to choosing your college. The better your grades and the higher your test scores, the more choices you will have. Higher grades and test scores also equate to more financial aid as well. So start early to get into good study habits for high school. Be consistent with your study habits. Stick to the schedule and follow a calendar of things you need to be doing. 

Rigor: Always take the most challenging courses that you can handle. Although the more challenging courses are more work, the payoff is worth it! These courses will help you develop college level writing skills, problem solving abilities, time management skills, good study habits and self discipline. But you must develop these skills beginning in middle school. If you take AP courses in high school, not only will you get a GPA “bump up” but you also have the opportunity to take the AP Exam and earn college credit. That can be a time and a money saver. Colleges want to see that you challenge yourself academically and they will look at your high school’s profile to see if you have taken the most challenging courses available.

Involvement: Colleges like students who have been deeply involved in activities for their entire high school years. It is best to pick your favorite activities and get deeply involved.  So if you can begin to develop your interests and activities in middle school, and sustain them throughout high school, you will improve your portfolio for your college applications. So join clubs; volunteer; participate in sports; get involved in music or art; donate your time to others. Have fun in high school and discover your interests and passions in middle school! 

By the time you hit 11th grade, your path is set. If you have bad grades, you cannot go back and fix them. If you have not been involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer work, it is almost too late to get them started since the colleges want “sustainability”; that is, the same activities all 4 years of high school. If you have not developed good study habits and an intellectual vitality in high school, it will be hard to do so in college. 

So get started early so you can set your course! Embark on your journey to an incredible 4 years of high school, college, career and life! Go for it! 

You have been hurrying to get your applications finished and now you are just waiting and waiting and waiting.  You are almost ready to make one of the biggest decisions of your life. But first you have to wait to see where you get in. A few reminders for you while you are waiting: 

Keep working hard to maintain your grades. I had a student once who got into Cal Berkeley. Once he got in he decided to drop his physics class. When Cal got his transcript and Physics was not on his transcript, they withdrew his admissions. Don’t let that happen to you! Senioritis not allowed!

Make sure your file is complete at each school you applied to. If you were prompted to set up a portal then do so. Sometimes you can see if there are any missing documents-like SAT or ACT scores, transcripts or letters of recommendation.  If you aren’t sure, call the school.

Check your email! I cannot emphasize this enough.  This should be a daily habit. If the college sends you an email that you do not read, the results could be disastrous. I had a student once who did not check his email carefully and missed an early deadline for the CSS Profile since she applied Early Action. As a result, she was given NO financial aid and so was not able to attend her #1 choice.

Continue to show interest in the school. Call. Visit. See if you can interview.  Just do your best to let the college know you are interested in their college.

Apply for scholarships if applicable. Remember that private scholarships could negatively impact any need based aid you might get. If you are unsure about this, call the college financial aid office and ask them how they treat private scholarships. If you do decide to apply for these scholarships, remember that they are usually for 1 year only. Apply for scholarships that require essays. There is less competition! And feel free to recycle essays you have already written. Just be sure they match the prompt!

Continue researching your career of interest.  The more you know, the less likely you are to be shocked when you learn more later. Then you are more likely to finish college on time with a major you are genuinely interested in. 

Soon you will start receiving acceptance letters. Do not make a decision until you get the award letter. Remember that you would not buy a car without knowing the price. So don’t commit to a college until you know your cost.  Also, just a note: your acceptance letters often include notes about scholarships you will receive. This is NOT an official award letter, so don’t make your decision based on that, and remember that you have until May 1st to decide.  During the meantime, just hurry up and wait!

Parents of seniors are probably beginning to feel the fear of having to pay for college. Many are frantically seeking private scholarships to help out. Understand, first of all, that only about 5%-7% of the college money comes from private scholarships, so before you go all out in an anxious scholarship search, there are some myths you should know:

Myth #1: I am a top student (or best athlete) and should get a full ride scholarship to college. Not true. There are very few full ride scholarships available to students. The only full ride athletic scholarships go primarily to D-1 football, basketball and volleyball athletes. Other athletes get small athletic scholarships that are not guaranteed from one year to the next. Only about .3% of college students receive a full ride for any reason. So do not count on a full ride!

Myth #2: If I do not get enough need based aid, maybe I can make up the difference with scholarships.  The problem with this thinking is that because of federal rules, colleges must take outside scholarships into account when giving financial aid. Therefore, if you are awarded $10,000 in need-based aid from your college and then get a $2000 Rotary scholarship on Award Night, after you report the $2000 scholarship to your college (and you are required to do so) the college will reevaluate your $10,000 and likely only give you $8000. Hopefully they will reduce your loans, but it is always best to call the school and ask them how they treat private scholarships. Oh and did I mention that the freshman year usually sets the amount of financial aid you will get for the next 4 years? 

Myth #3: There are lots of large scholarships out there just waiting for me to apply! Well, there are some large scholarships, but they are extremely competitive and odds are against getting one. If you want to apply for scholarships, it is usually best to apply to the smaller ones that require an essay, or a portfolio of some type. They will be less competitive.

So what can you do to offset the ridiculous cost of college? Students can help by getting good grades and high test scores. So perhaps it would be more financially beneficial to spend time studying for the ACT/SAT instead of writing scholarship applications. Students should also apply to schools where they are in the top 25% academically. Colleges tend to give the majority of their merit scholarships to those top students; so pick the right college! Colleges like leaders who give back to their community, so students should take some leadership initiative and also volunteer. This can also improve odds of getting more money from the college. Still want to apply for private scholarships? Try these websites: fastweb.com; collegeXpress.com; collegeboard.com; and scholarships.com. And by the way, the colleges will not take away merit money if you get a private scholarship!

Demonstrated Interest is a term used by colleges to determine the level of interest a student actually has in a particular college. How a college uses this information varies from college to college. Some colleges, usually top tier, do not factor in Demonstrated Interest, and other colleges rank it right behind the essay (personal statement). As a matter of fact, there are colleges that actually use CRM (Customer  Relationship Management) software to track student interest.  

So why does it matter? Colleges are interested in “yield”. Yield refers to the percent of students who enroll in the college after being admitted. For example, if a college sends out 1000 acceptance letters and 900 students enroll, their yield is 90%. Low yields may result in low enrollment, budget woes, cancelled classes…you get the picture. Colleges want/need high yield. Students who show a high level of interest (Demonstrated Interest) are more likely to enroll. Get the picture?

So how can a student show demonstrated Interest without becoming a stalker? First of all, it is important that you are authentic. Perhaps the best way you can show your interest is to make a campus visit. Now this does not mean going to visit a friend for the weekend. It means actually taking a campus tour. When you sign up for a tour, they have your name and will document the visit in your file. Sometimes visiting a campus is not possible.  If this is the case, do some virtual tours and study the website. Find some questions that need answers, and then call or email the admissions office with your questions. Give them your name and where you are from, then let them know that you cannot make a formal visit but that you are very interested in their campus. Then ask your question. Be sure it is not something you could have easily found on their website. If you email, be sure to use good grammar and punctuation! It will make a better impression than a poorly written email. The best emails are well thought-out. The content may just provide an update on your achievements. Try to send it to the admissions officer who will handle your application. 

You can also meet your admissions rep at College Night, request information from the college, or schedule an informal interview with your rep. Another great way to demonstrate interest is to apply early. Early Action shows a higher level of interest, but be careful when applying Early Decision since it is binding. That means if you are accepted you must attend. As you demonstrate your interest, be sure you do not become a pest. And for goodness sakes, do not have your mom make the call for you.

Although Demonstrated Interest will not gain admission for a student who is otherwise not qualified, it can certainly make a difference to a student who is “on the bubble”.  So get busy and demonstrate your interest!

What the heck is an EFC and why should I care when it comes to college? Simply stated, the EFC is the Expected Family Contribution which tells the college the minimum amount you should be able to pay for college. It is clear that the Feds have not kept up with the economic times since the EFC for most people is almost always more than they can realistically afford. 

So why does knowing your EFC matter? By knowing your EFC before beginning the college search, you can estimate what kind of college you may be able to afford. Since all colleges are not created equal when awarding financial aid, this can become very important! 

So first of all let’s walk you through figuring out your EFC. Google “College Board Big Future EFC Calculator”. (https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator). Follow the steps provided. Although this is a very rough estimate, it will put you in the ball park. 

Once you know your EFC you can calculate your approximate cost for each college. To do this, take the Cost of Attendance (COA) of the school (that includes everything including tuition, room and board, transportation, personal expenses, etc). Each college has estimated that amount. Subtract your EFC from the COA and it will give you an estimated “need”. Depending on how generous the school is, it will provide you with some % of your need. Once again, you can find this info on the Big Future website. If you want a more detailed estimate, each college will have a “Net Price Calculator” that is specific to that school. Some of the calculators are good and some are not so good, but either way, you can get an estimate of how much college will cost. Oh! And did I mention that this estimate is per year? UGH!

Once again we ask, “Why does this matter?”. Okay, so follow this: 

A: If your EFC is $10,000 and the COA is $55,000, you will have a financial need of about $45,000. This can be awarded as grants and/or loans. 

B: If your EFC is $50,000, your financial need will only be $5,000. You won’t get much help here.

For student A, it would make sense to apply to the school that costs $55,000. For student B, it might not. It should also be noted that colleges do not typically meet 100% of your need and some are more generous than others. 

One more point to make: If your EFC is high, it does not mean you will not receive any financial aid. Many private colleges are very generous with merit aid which is based on the student’s qualifications, and not family income and assets. To get merit aid, the student should have great grades, top ACT or SAT scores and be involved in some meaningful activities. And remember that top scores at Stanford are not the same as top scores at most other schools. So shop around. Know your EFC. You wouldn’t walk onto a car lot and choose a car without knowing what you will have to pay for it. So don’t pick a college without any idea how much it will cost! 

When it is time to start college applications,  many do not even know where to start. It is never too early to start anticipating what you will need for your college applications. So let’s take a look at some things you can be doing. 

1. Activity List: beginning your freshman year, keep track of all the activities you do. Keep track of awards, volunteer hours, special projects and books you read (besides assigned books). Don’t wait until you are filling out the application to try to think of your activities. Start a list now. Include grade level you did it, how many hours a week you participated and how many weeks a year you did it. This takes awhile.
2. Affordability: Parents need to know how much they can afford before students choose their school. After all, you wouldn’t let them pick a Lamborghini if you couldn’t afford to pay for it. Knowing your Expected Family Contribution will help you with this. You can calculate yours at: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator. Every college also has a net price calculator. This will give you some idea about how much a specific school will cost.
3. College List: Students should start researching colleges. When they get ready to apply, they should make a list make a list of 8-10 schools they want to apply to. Some private and some public. After all, sometimes the private schools actually cost less than the public schools. The student should find a good fit; weather, size, location, major, academics, etc. Research required!
4. Essays: The summer before the senior year,  students should start working on their essays. This is quite an overwhelming task and these essays are not like the typical high school essay. They are more of a biographical narrative in most cases.
5. Letters of Recommendation: These are only required by some colleges. If you are a senior, give your teachers plenty of time to write these. Provide them with some information about yourself in the form of a resume or “brag sheet”. 
6. Financial Aid: File the FAFSA in October of the senior year!
7. Do not procrastinate! Try to get all your applications done early. You will do a better job if you focus in the Fall. Treat it like an interview, and make sure you know your deadlines!

Well that is it in a nutshell! As you are reading this article, you should begin making a plan to get your applications started. In order to present your “best self” you must dedicate some time to the process. Don’t miss out on your dream school because you do not do a good job on your application. Start early!

The University of California has changed their ways! That’s right! They have changed their essays! Actually, they no longer call them essays. They call them questions, and they want answers! This is the first revision to the application in 10 years. The UCs felt that they were not learning what they needed to know about their applicants and felt that part of the problem was due to their personal statement prompts. 

So now, the old, two personal statements, totaling 1000 words is gone, and instead, freshman applicants  will have 8 “personal insight questions” which will ask about leadership, creativity, special talents, educational opportunities, challenges, favorite subject, community involvement and unique qualities. The students will choose 4 of the eight questions to answer, with a maximum of 350 words each for a total of 1400 words. Each question will be weighed equally, so the student may choose the topics that are most relevant to their personal situation. (Transfer students have a slightly different requirement)

The good news about this is that students will be able to choose questions that are more personally applicable and the UCs will be able to learn more about the student.  The two prompts from previous years often failed to reveal what the UCs were seeking to learn about the student. With more direct questions, they hope to get more direct answers about the student  instead of a lengthy essay about  the student’s grandfather (as the admissions officer stated at a recent conference I attended). With over 200,000 applicants to the UCs, the admissions office is looking for ways to get to know the students better as they make the “yay or nay” decision with students’ lives. 

Although the variety of questions seems like an improvement, there are a couple of disadvantages as well.  Students can no longer adapt their personal statement to other college application prompts. In the past, many essays could be “recycled” and adapted to various prompts. No more! So now, much to the angst of the applicants, they will have to come up with 4 topics that will likely be unusable for other college essays.  For most students we work with, this seems to be the most challenging task when crafting the essays: “What shall I write about?” Besides requiring more topics, they will write up to 400 more total words. 

And by the way; there is a new application beginning in 2016. It is the Coalition Application…a real different bird!

As the college application process becomes more and more competitive, the colleges are looking for ways to learn more about their applicants. It is hoped that these new questions (not essays, according to a UC panel) will draw out information about the student that relates closely to the UC comprehensive review criteria. Summer is a great time to get started on these new “Personal Insight Questions”, so if you have not started them yet  and you plan to apply to the UCs, then you better get started!

Well, May 1st has come and gone, so most seniors have made their final decision and have donned their new school colors and purchased the school pennant to hang in their room; they might even have a cool tee-shirt with their college name on it. A few words of advice: Have fun; stay focused; give it a year if you are not sure you made the right choice; get good grades; meet new people; experience new things; and did I mention have fun? This is the best advice for seniors. For now, finish high school strong and prepare to step into your future. By the way, if you do not finish strong, your college could change their mind about your admission!

So now juniors, it is time to get busy. You have to decide which colleges you will apply to. Where will you fit in academically, socially and financially? This is probably one of the most difficult parts of your task, if done correctly . Research is necessary! We recommend choosing 8-10 colleges to apply to; public, private, in state and out of state.  Some of these should be “safety” schools; that is, you are quite sure you will get in based on grades and test scores. A few should be “match” schools where there is a high probability that you will get in. There can be a small number of “reach” or “dream” schools on your list if you insist. These are schools that accept less than 10% of their applicants and so are very difficult to get in (Yale, Harvard, Stanford, University of Chicago, etc)

While researching your schools, through self assessment and career guidance, you should be sure you are matching your major and career goals to schools on your list. There is nothing more devastating than to find that something you want to study is not offered at the school you choose! Once you decide on your schools, you will have applications to fill out and essays to write. This is an extremely time-consuming process. Some applications are short (CSU takes about 4 hours), and some are very long. Your application is like your interview. You must prepare and do a good job if you want to be accepted. Do not wait until the last minute to do this. There are multiple application-types to do: CSU Mentor (among the simplest), UC applications, Common Application, the new Coalition Application,  Apply Texas, and many other proprietary applications. Overwhelming!! These applications may be short or they may be extensive. (USC has a 650 word personal statement, a couple of 250 words supplements as well as a plethora of short answer questions). Some may require educational background and future plans, personal information about your family, activities in which you have participated with descriptions, a resume, information about your school, citizenship, test scores, transcripts, and essays. Whew! These take HOURS! The University of California is requiring 4 essays beginning this year (Personal Insight Questions). Overwhelming! 

Best advice? To get the most and best opportunities to get into the college of your dreams, start early; be thorough and thoughtful; research; study for the ACT/SAT; seek help if you need it.  And for goodness sakes, keep your grades up!

Colleges like to create an eclectic group of students for each freshman class that they admit. Every year the makeup of the class is likely to be different. Colleges like to see students who have a passion for something that they do. Many students have a passion for something but they haven’t figured out what it is yet. It is important for students to create their passion and they do this by learning and exploring the things that interest them most.  Developing a passion takes time, effort and an emotional investment.  

Usually a passion comes from something we are good at. It is much more enjoyable to do something where you experience success than when you continuously fail or succeed only with way too much effort.  It does not have to be something common. As a matter of fact, when it comes to the college application, something uncommon that makes you unique is better. Sometimes an aptitude test can help uncover things you are good at. 

Once you figure out something you enjoy, you must be willing to invest time. If you love taking pictures, study how to take even better pictures. There is ALWAYS more to learn. Set goals. These goals should be specific. There should be daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. Continuously reevaluate your progress and continue to grow your passion. Read, take classes, research on the Internet, hang out with others who may have a similar passion.  Finding your passion is like many things in life; you get out of it what you put into it. Passion gives us happiness. 

Busy students may have trouble making a commitment to something like this with all of the other responsibilities they find as a student. But trust me when I say that the time spent in finding and developing your passion will pay off in your future. It can give you a lifelong activity that brings joy, and satisfaction. At best, it could evolve into a career. At worst, it can be a lifelong hobby. 

Don’t know your passion yet? Think about what you love. Maybe you like to read political information on the Internet. Do you believe everything you read? How about becoming a political “Fact Checker”?  This is definitely more unique than loving robotics. But be careful not to limit yourself; successful people typically combine more than one skill.

Colleges want students who are passionate about something and have stuck with this passion for a long time. It might be riding dirt bikes or fly-fishing. It does not have to be related to school activities. Students share their passion through their application and essays. Step out of your comfort zone. Think “out of the box”. Nothing is too unusual for you to invent when it comes to developing your passion.  Passion will motivate you to work hard at something because you love it. Passion will make you a leader. Find your passion early. And if you haven’t found it yet; keep looking!