Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

It is just about April 1^st, and almost all college decisions have been mailed out. From what I am seeing, it looks as if it has been another super competitive year for students at colleges across the country, especially the highly selective ones. Although we hope all students have some good news to focus on, I know that most students have their share of denials and waitlists. If you were denied from a school, at least you went for it, as the only thing worse than a denial is the regret of never applying to the school in the first place. Also, if you are still in love with the school, you can always apply next year.

If you were placed on the waiting list, hang in there…it could be a long time before or if you hear from the school. Here are a few tips if you find yourself on this list:

·         When third quarter grades are available, ask your counselor to send the grades to these schools

·         Make sure you alert the schools that you intend to stay on the waitlist

·         Email your admissions counselor at the college and ask him/her if there is anything else you can do to help with your candidacy

·         Unless you are advised by the school, do not send additional letters of recommendation

·         Most likely, you will not hear a decision until May 1^st. Make sure you deposit at your top choice, where you were accepted. If you are eventually taken off the waitlist, you can always pull-out of the other school (but most likely will not receive the deposit back)

For those schools you have been accepted to, congratulations! Now it’s time to decide where you will be attending for the next four years. Make sure you continue to do your research, including visiting the schools again. Review the financial aid and scholarship packages and make an informed decision. Do not rush this choice! You should choose the school that is the best fit for you academically, personally, and financially!

From March 29^th to April 3^rd, I will be in the Pacific Northwest visiting numerous colleges near Seattle and Portland. Please visit my blog in the coming weeks for personal feedback and pictures from my trip!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

Waitlist Tips

Waiting on the waitlist is never a fun time during the college application season. Students have worked so hard, and have already waited so long for a decision, just to hear that…they have to wait a little longer. However, if you have been put on the waitlist at your dream school, it is not the worse news in the world, as it is better than being straight-up denied. There are a few important things you should know about the waitlist, also known as the purgatory of college admissions…

1) Put a deposit elsewhere! You will not hear back from the waitlist until after May 1^st, as this is national deposit day. Schools will see what percentage of the students they have accepted will be attending their school. If the number reaches their goal freshmen enrollment, schools will not go to their waitlist. However, if they are low, they will move to their waitlist and start notifying students they have now been accepted. Unfortunately, since this is after May 1^st, the student must put a deposit elsewhere, to ensure he will be attending college somewhere!

2) Even if you put a deposit elsewhere, you can still attend the school you were waitlisted at, if you are pulled from the list. Most deposits are non-refundable, so you will lose out on the $500 deposit, but if that is your dream school, and you are chosen from the waitlist, you can still attend.  

3) If schools ask you to complete various assignments to be placed on the waitlist, do them! Some schools will just ask for a yes or no if you want to be placed on the waitlist, but others will ask for additional writing samples, updated grades/scores, and even interviews. This is their opportunity to filter the students that are serious about attending their school from the not-so-serious.

4) Do not put all of your time, energy, and sanity into the school(s) you were waitlisted at. Chances are there are plenty of other fabulous schools that have accepted you, and want you to be a part of their incoming freshmen class. Focus on those schools and see which one is the best fit for you. If you come off the waitlist, great, but chances are you will not. Do not put yourself through the agony of checking your virtual mailbox every day to see if you have been chosen. Begin moving on and focus on the positives!

5) Do not pester the admissions office for an answer! A great way to get pushed to the bottom of the waitlist is to call the admissions office for a daily update. If you have followed their instructions, they know you still want to attend their school. It will depend on the numbers that year for who will get pulled off the list. Calling them to investigate the process will not give you an advantage!

6) Let your counselor know if this is still your number one school. Your college counselors have relationships with colleges, and we would be happy to contact them on your behalf. We can give them support for your acceptance and talk to them about all of your positive qualities. Just let us know, and we will try our best to help!

-Joe Korfmacher, MA

College Visit Questions to Ask

College visit season should be kicking off now for most juniors. Colleges are in session for only 2 more months, and it is best to visit while students are still on campus. As I have mentioned before, college visits (if possible) are one of the most important parts on the entire search process. Student cannot duplicate the experience of walking the campus, sitting in classrooms, eating the cafeteria food, and much more other than actually making the trip to potential colleges and universities. Most people would never think about buying a car without seeing it, taking it for a test drive, and asking the dealership questions. So if you wouldn't do this with a car, why would you even think about doing it with a college?

So it is obviously very important to see the schools first-hand, but make sure you have questions ready to go for admissions counselors, professors, and students…yes even current students! One of the best things you can do while visiting a school is to walk up to a random student and ask them about their school. Most students are happy to talk about their college, and those who aren't may be just as important, as it could be a bad sign about that school.

With all of this said, take a look at the following sample of questions you may want to ask when visiting a school:

·         What is the freshmen-sophomore retention rate?

·         What is the on-time graduation rate?

·         What is the job placement/graduate school admission percentage?

·         If applicable, what percent of student who apply, are accepted into medical school?

·         What percent of financial need is met for students?

·         Is housing guaranteed for all four years?

·         What percent of students commute?

·         Do you have campus police/patrol?

·         How is the food selection? How are the living quarters?

·         Is there a core curriculum? If so, what is it?

·         Do you have study abroad opportunities?

·         What do students do on the weekend?

·         What tutoring opportunities does your school offer?

·         What is the student to professor ratio?

·         Could you tell me some features of the school that makes it unique?

·         What percent of students are accepted from Early Action/ Early Decision?

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

The Waiting Game...Being Emotionally Prepared to Hear from and Leave for College

As of now, the majority of students have applied to at least one college, and many will hear decisions in the next couple of weeks. The waiting game can be extremely nerve-wracking and happens during senior year, which is already stressful all around. At the beginning, students scramble to complete their applications while balancing busy extracurricular and academic schedules. They worry about their choice of college essay topic, their list of schools, and whether or not their applications have arrived safely in the admissions offices. As second semester begins, though, most of the applications are out, midterm grades are finalized, and a period of waiting ensues. Many schools will not send out decisions until April, and so students wait, in a state of uncertainty about the vast next step of their lives.

There is so much activity and so many stressors during senior year that we sometimes forget that it is a crucial period of transition, not only for students, but for parents and families as well. As graduation approaches, there are many conflicting emotions at play. For students, it is certainly an exciting time, but also a continuous reminder that they will soon leave behind their high school, their friends, and their families in order to graduate to the next phase of their lives. It is a time filled with uncertainty and ambiguity. Students may not realize that their parents are also experiencing a great deal of conflicting emotions, as they prepare to see their child off into a new environment.  Whether a student is moving away to college or living at home, graduation from high school is a huge symbolic move towards adulthood.

Both students and parents are reminded that it is perfectly normal to see emotional ups and downs during this time. There may be some shifting in the dynamics of the relationship between parent and child, as they both prepare for the student to take on new roles.

In conclusion, some advice: Parents, trust in the work that you have done in raising your child to be an independent, competent decision maker. Be open to dialogue with your child, and don’t hesitate to bring these issues up for discussion. Students, remember that it is totally acceptable to be experiencing a range of different emotions. Graduating from high school is exciting, daunting, joyous, and saddening all at the same time. You are always welcome to contact your counselor for any advice you may need.

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA