March Madness most commonly refers to that pretty big NCAA basketball tournament that catches our attention for a few weeks, but it can also describe this time of year in college admissions. The last two weeks of March is generally when most colleges send out their decision letters to anxious, yet hopeful seniors, dreaming about celebrating acceptances to their top choices. However, over the years, as more and more students apply to colleges with the ease of the Common Application and Coalition, not to mention an increase of international students, many colleges have become much more competitive. Schools that would have been a slam dunk admit in years past, are becoming as tough to get into as sinking a half court shot.
Because of this, and looking towards the future, knowing that it will most likely continue to become more and more selective, it is essential to find colleges that are less selective, but still have everything you need in a college to be happy. When crafting a college list, it is ideal to have about 8-10 schools on there. Of those schools, at least three of them should be schools that you are certain to be accepted into...but you would love to attend! In today's world of college admissions, schools that may be in your target range or those that are reach schools, are becoming less and less likely to work out. It is not because you aren't a great student and super involved...it is purely a numbers game. Colleges are receiving thousands and thousands of additional applications than in years past...but still accepting the same amount of students, therefore, driving down admissions rates.
In addition to securing three "likely" schools, always remember to show every college you apply to some love. Make sure their admissions counselors know you would absolutely love to attend, and give them some school-specific reasons why their college is the best fit for you. Really showing your interest could help in the end, especially if you are a borderline admit. With all of this said, I want to share with you the most recent admissions statistics for 2018 at a handful of schools. Although the colleges range in selectivity, one thing you will notice is that all of their applications are going up and their admissions rates are going down:
Boston College: This year, BC received over 31,000 applications for just 2,300 freshmen seats. This is an increase of 9% in applications, and they offered admission to just 8,400 applicants, which decreased their admissions rate to 27%. Their average SAT score for admitted students was a 1448 and the average ACT was a 33.
Duke University: This year, Duke received 33,300 Regular Decision applications, just about 3,000 more than last year. They hope to admit about 2,400 of these applicants, which represents a 7% admit rate...whereas their Early Decision admit rate this year was 22%.
Georgetown University: Last year, Georgetown had about 21,000 total applications...but this year that number increased to 23,000, and 3,312 of those students were accepted, representing a 14% admit rate.
UNC-Chapel Hill: UNC received a school record 43,000 applications this year, which is up from 6% last year.
Northeastern University: Northeastern, who continues to amaze us with their numbers, received over 62,000 applications, and will be offering admission to just 19% of their applicant pool.
Providence College: Providence College received just over 11,400 applications this year, and will be admitting 48.9% of those students. 34% of the Class of 2022 has already been enrolled to PC through Early Decision I & II.
University of Richmond: Richmond has their largest and strongest applicant pool in university history, with nearly 12,000 applications. Of those applicants, only 29% were accepted...who boasted a middle 50% SAT of 1360-1490 and ACT of 31-34.
Villanova University: Villanova isn't just dominating the NCAA tournament, they also had their best year ever in college admissions. They had a record high number of applications, with 22,727, which went up 7.65% from last year. For the first time ever, they offered Early Decision, and 24% of their freshmen class will be coming in through ED. The overall admit rate was 28%, which is down from 43.2%, from just two years ago! Their middle 50% for the SAT was 1380-1490 and for the ACT was 32-34.
Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech saw a historically large and competitive applicant pool with over 32,000 students applying for just 6,200 available freshmen seats. Although the last few years, VT's admissions rate was around 70%, this year it dropped to 56%.
Wesleyan University: Wesleyan received 12,788 freshmen applications, which is the largest number in school history, a 3% increase from last year. Just 1,779 were offered admission, just a 14% admit rate.
Joseph D. Korfmacher
Making the Case for a Liberal Arts Education
As a college counselor, I have the privilege of hearing about the goals and aspirations of young men and women, and trying my best to launch them to the next level of their educational journey. I often hear my students say that they must major in engineering, accounting, or business to land a “good” job after college. While these majors may be the right choice for some, I want to make the case for a liberal arts education, and the importance it holds in the job marketplace today and will continue to for years to come.
As a graduate of a liberal arts college, Saint Joseph’s University, I would not change anything about the courses I was able to take or the overall education I received. I have always loved learning about societies, groups of people, and how everyone interacts with each other, so I decided to major in Sociology, and it was an incredible experience. I am a strong believer in taking advantage of our fantastic American collegiate education, and that all students should pursue an education in a field or area they are passionate about. Not only is a liberal arts education crucial to developing well-rounded thinking and experience, it also prepares students for careers in almost any professional field. Contrary to popular belief, many employers actually actively seek students with a liberal arts background, as it signals creative, communicative, and problem-solving skills, which transcend all types of careers.
One crucial reason a liberal arts education can often be more helpful than a more specialized degree is because industries are constantly changing. As Director of Admissions at Seattle University, Melore Nielson told me recently, “A liberal arts education provides graduates the creative and critical thinking skills that will help them adapt to a changing world and economy, prepares them to communicate with individuals with diverse perspectives, and lays the foundation for making informed and ethical decisions.”
The intellectual curiosity within students with a liberal arts education is key for educational and professional growth, and their desire to think outside the box and draw thoughts from diverse schools of thought is what can make these students so attractive to employers. In a recent discussion with the President of Franklin and Marshall College, Dr. Daniel Porterfield, on the value of a liberal arts education, he discussed the importance of individuals who are willing to go this route in college, and why our society depends on it. He said, “The great problems and great opportunities of our era – from climate change to global security and from biomedical discovery to advances in technology – require well-educated minds who are agile enough to think imaginatively and respond to change. Liberal arts education promotes intellectual empowerment and freedom. It’s an American tradition of education that helps the one and the many.”
When it comes time to decide which path to take in college, there is no one right direction. That’s the beauty of American education. And though a STEM or more specialized degree may be the right fit for certain students, they are not the only option. If you don’t want to follow a specialized degree path or you’re still unsure which of your passions you’ll ultimately want to pursue, a liberal arts education can be a freeing and exhilarating option…and very often, will pay off in the end!
Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA
Understanding the New PSAT Scores...Plus Free SAT Prep
The PSAT scores are finally in, and though a month late, it's important to understand how to see the scores and decipher what they actually mean! In the past, the PSATs had four main scores: the critical reading section, math section, writing section, and a total score. The highest one could score on each section was an 80, with a highest total score of 240. That was simple enough...throw simple out the door, as everything is different now!
As of January 7, sophomores and juniors who took the PSATs in October should have received an email from the College Board alerting them that their scores were available. If you missed this email or never received it, students can login to their College Board account. If you never created a College Board account, you can do so by going HERE.
OK, so once you are in the system, select the PSAT/NMSQT scores (make sure it is for 2015) or if that doesn't work, try searching for Missing Scores. If this still does not locate any scores for you, most likely you need an ACCESS CODE. You can receive this from your guidance counselor. This should do the trick, and your brand new 2015 PSAT scores will be there for you to see...and understand...maybe.
Once you finally access your scores scores, there will be a lot of information on the page to digest in order to understand them. You can also visit the Princeton Review website for another clear breakdown of what the scores mean and the "Understanding Scores" page on the College Board site also does very well explaining scoring. Finally, the "Scores Resources" page the College Board website also ha tons of resources on getting your scores and understanding them.
There are 3 main scores, just as there will be on the new SAT: Reading/Writing, Math, and a Total Score. The score range on each section will be 160-760, meaning the highest possible score someone can receive is 1520 (not 1600). The website will clearly show your score on each section and where you stand against the rest of the country, so everyone can see what they need more help on.
In addition to the three main scores, there are nine (yes, nine) sub-scores. Honestly, I would not worry too much about these scores, but it may be helpful to look through them once or twice and see what academic areas you are acing, and which ones you may need more practice. Seven of the nine sub-scores range from a total score of 1-15, except for your History/Social Science Score and your Science score; these each have a score range of 8-38. The College Board website makes it fairly easy to see these scores and understand how your fair with each one by using a color coded system, and of course, green is good! The score report will also show each question, your answer, the correct answer, and the difficulty of the question.
If you have made it this far, and you're head isn't spinning, then you are ready to hear about next steps! After all of this, what is the real purpose of the PSAT anyway? Colleges will not see this, and the only actual value it has is if the student scores extremely high, they may have a chance at scholarship money through the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The real value of the PSAT is to help students prepare for the college entrance exams which are the SAT and ACT. Students need to start thinking about which test is best suited for them, and begin making of schedule of which test that will take and when...then preparing for those tests.
There are countless SAT/ACT test prep programs and tutors out there, but I want to finish this blog by alerting you of a brand new FREE program. Khan Academy and the College Board have teamed up to offer students official SAT test prep for free. Students will have access to thousands of SAT questions, and four full tests for free. Khan Academy will also develop individual learning programs for each student to help. In order to register for this, follow these instructions:
- Login or create a Khan Academy account
- When time, agree to linking Khan Academy and College Board accounts
- Sign in or create a College Board account
- When time, click "Send" to authorize account linking
- You're ready to begin free SAT prep!
I hope this information can help you all as your college process continues!
Take care,
Joseph D. Korfmacher
Early Action and Early Decision Results Are In...Now What?
It's that time when seniors are receiving decisions for their Early Decision and Early Action applications. But what comes next? Here are some tips for what to do as you begin receiving decisions from colleges:
- If you have been accepted to a school through Early Decision, you should withdraw your applications from any other colleges you have applied to or were planning on applying to. Remember, with Early Decision, you, your parent, and school counselor all signed an agreement, that if accepted this would be the school you would attend.
- If you have been deferred from Early Decision or Early Action to regular decision, do not get upset, as you still have a chance. For ED, you are no longer committed to attending the school, even if you are accepted through regular decision, so more options have just opened up. To be deferred means the college liked what they saw in your application, but they need a little more information and time before potentially accepting you. For these schools you should send them updated senior grades, new standardized test scores, revised résumés, and continue to demonstrate your interest with the school. Most schools will acknowledge that you applied ED/EA when they review you again for regular decision, but it will help to continue to let admissions know how much you want to attend their school.
- If you have been accepted to any schools through Early Action, you do not need to tell them your choice on attending or not until May 1st.
- If you were denied through Early Action or Early Decision, unfortunately you cannot apply again for regular decision…you would have to wait until the following year to apply.
- Make plans to visit those schools you have been accepted to, especially the ones you have yet to see in person!
- Keep track of those scholarships offered by each school you have been accepted to. It is helpful to create an Excel Spreadsheet to compare the cost of each school after scholarships and eventually financial aid are factored in.
- If your college requires the CSS Profile, make sure you are getting that done as soon as possible. Also, remember the FAFSA is available on January 1, and complete that within the first few weeks of January if possible.
- Most of all, keep calm while decisions are coming out. You most likely will not be accepted to every school, and this is OK! You will end up where you belong and at the school that is a great match for you.
Have a fabulous and relaxing break, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!
Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA
New Medical School Partnership with Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a medium-sized school of just under 6,000 students in South Orange, NJ. It is a Catholic university with terrific majors in nursing, business, engineering, and much more. In January, Seton Hall began its quest to add even more to their school, by signing a memorandum of understanding with Hackensack University Health Network to form a new, four-year school of medicine. If all goes well, when this is finalized, this partnership will establish the only private medical school in the state of New Jersey. The location on this campus will be in Nutley and Clifton at a state-of-the-art biomedical facility.
In an email sent from Seton Hall's President, Dr, Gabriel Esteban, he estimates that by 2020, there will be a shortage of 2,500 physicians in the Garden State. He goes on to state that "HackensackUHN and Seton Hall's joint venture to create a premier academic institution will help combat the physician shortage by providing key educational, research, and career opportunities to incentivize the next generation to pursue a career in medicine". It is Dr. Esteban's hope that the future school will be "committed to educational and healthcare excellence, cutting-edge research, high quality care, and the advancement of medical and health science educational imperatives".
This is a fabulous opportunity for individuals looking to go into the medical field and stay close to home. Please follow Seton Hall's progress with this new medical school, which should open in the next 3 years.
-Mr. Joseph D. Korfmacher
In an email sent from Seton Hall's President, Dr, Gabriel Esteban, he estimates that by 2020, there will be a shortage of 2,500 physicians in the Garden State. He goes on to state that "HackensackUHN and Seton Hall's joint venture to create a premier academic institution will help combat the physician shortage by providing key educational, research, and career opportunities to incentivize the next generation to pursue a career in medicine". It is Dr. Esteban's hope that the future school will be "committed to educational and healthcare excellence, cutting-edge research, high quality care, and the advancement of medical and health science educational imperatives".
This is a fabulous opportunity for individuals looking to go into the medical field and stay close to home. Please follow Seton Hall's progress with this new medical school, which should open in the next 3 years.
-Mr. Joseph D. Korfmacher
The Richmond Guarantee Program
The University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia has started a new initiative that will certainly help students during their summer breaks. Richmond is now guaranteeing all students will be given $4,000 for a summer research or internship experience. This is called the Richmond Guarantee, which will help all students have the “opportunity to pursue the internship, research experience, creative project, or service learning opportunity that best complements their academic pursuits - in any field of endeavor, and in any part of the world.” Richmond is a terrific school with great academics, and is often in the top lists for most beautiful college campuses. Only 5 ½ hours away from New York City, it is a perfect distance for students who want to get away, but not be too far from home. With just under 3,000 students, the school offers an abundance of majors, with business related degrees being their most popular. Richmond has always been a school worth considering, but the Richmond Guarantee makes it even more of a must-see college!
-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA
Reduced Tuition at MSU for Children of Veterans
First of all, I just wanted wanted to extend a special thank-you to all active duty and Veterans of our country's armed forces. Thank you for all you have done and sacrificed and will continue to do so to protect our freedom. On Veteran's Day, I thought it would be appropriate to inform you all of a new initiative Michigan State University has started. They are now offering in-state tuition price for out-of-state residents who have a parent that is a Veteran or is active-duty in the armed forces. This takes the overall cost of attendance from $44,230 per year to $22,450 per year...quite the difference. This is also before any additional merit scholarships or financial aid comes into play for the student. If you feel you may qualify for this, and are interested in Michigan State University, make sure to indicate this status on your MSU application. Also, be sure to look into any other schools that may have similar opportunities. As always, happy searching!
Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA
Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA