College Admissions Information Night

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College Admissions Information Night

• Kim Cullen, Guidance Counselor
• Tuesday, February 3, 2009

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• The Ivy League consists of eight prestigious
  learning institutions in the northeastern United
  States Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell,
  Columbia and Brown Universities, the University
  of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth College. Seven of
  these were established before the American
  Revolution. Which one was founded last?
• Brown
• Princeton
• Cornell
• Dartmouth

3

• Cornell
• Cornell University was founded April 27, 1865, in
  Ithaca, New York. Senator Ezra Cornell offered
  his farm as a site and half a million dollars as
  the initial endowment for the school. He also
  gave the school its motto "I would found an
  institution where any person can find instruction
  in any study". Incredibly, Cornell was the first
  Ivy League school to enroll women, beginning in
  1870.

4

• Which Ivy League school, established in 1754, was
  originally named King's College, after receiving
  a Royal Charter by King George II of Great
  Britain?
• Yale
• Princeton
• Brown
• Columbia

5

• Columbia
• The school was renamed Columbia College in 1784
  and Columbia University in 1896. It is located in
  the borough of Manhattan, in New York City. The
  American Revolution was not friendly to Columbia.
  All programs were suspended from 1776-1783 as
  control of the area changed hands, and the campus
  was used as a military hospital by American and
  British forces during these years. Former U.S.
  Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano
  Roosevelt attended Columbia but did not graduate.
  Barack Obama is the first President of the United
  States to graduate from Columbia University.

6

• Computers are an integral part of a university
  student's life. Which Ivy League school made it
  mandatory for every student to own a personal
  computer in 1991?
• Dartmouth
• Harvard
• Cornell
• University of Pennsylvania

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• Dartmouth
• Dartmouth prides itself on its high level of
  technological advancement. In 2001, it became the
  first Ivy League institution to offer complete
  wireless internet access in all buildings and
  most outdoor spaces, providing over 1,400 access
  points. "Blitzmail", is an e-mail network created
  by Dartmouth. On campus, there are over one
  hundred terminals in place for Blitzmail use. The
  students use it for communication just as much as
  cell phones.

8

• Liberal arts colleges are small institutions
  focusing on teaching undergraduates that are not
  well-known to the general public. What three East
  Coast institutions were the three top liberal
  arts colleges in the United States according to
  U.S. News World Report's "America's Best
  Colleges - 2007"?
• Williams, Amherst, and Swarthmore
• MIT, Stanford, and the U. of California -
  Berkeley
• Princeton, Harvard, and Yale
• Reed, Oberlin, and Sarah Lawrence

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• Williams, Amherst, and Swarthmore
• Liberal arts colleges are four year colleges
  which generally have few if any graduate programs
  or professional degree programs. Princeton,
  Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, and the University
  of California - Berkeley are in the National
  University category in U.S. News and World
  Report's college rankings. Reed, Oberlin, and
  Sarah Lawrence are all excellent liberal arts
  colleges with politically liberal student bodies
  but did not rank among the top three.

10

• Many excellent schools are not well-known by the
  general public. What were the three top
  engineering programs at institutions without
  doctoral programs in the United States according
  to U.S. News World Report's "America's Best
  Colleges - 2007"?
• MIT, Stanford, and University of California -
  Berkeley
• Grinnell, Oberlin, and Macalester
• Ohio State, Michigan State, and University of
  Florida
• Harvey Mudd, Rose-Hulman, and Cooper Union

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• Harvey Mudd, Rose-Hulman, and Cooper Union
• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
  Stanford University, and the University of
  California - Berkeley were cited as the three top
  engineering programs at universities that offered
  doctoral degrees.

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Where is

• Gonzaga University
• Spokane, Washington
• Baylor University
• Waco, Texas
• Emory University
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Vassar College
• Poughkeepsie, New York

• Rollins College
• Winter Park, Florida
• Duke University
• Durham, North Carolina
• Vanderbilt University
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Naropa University
• Boulder, Colorado

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Did you know?

• Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University
  is based on Nalanda University. Nalanda
  flourished in India from the 5th to the 12th
  centuries. At Nalanda University, Buddhist
  philosophy and the discipline of meditation
  provided the environment in which scholars,
  artists and healers from many Asian countries and
  religious traditions came to study and debate.
  Nalanda is known for its joining of intellect and
  intuition, and for the atmosphere of mutual
  appreciation and respect among different
  contemplative traditions. This was the
  inspiration for the development of Naropa
  University.

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• John Adams was the second President of the United
  States. He was educated in the field of law at
  this Ivy League university.
• Harvard University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Yale University
• Princeton University

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• John Adams was the second President of the United
  States. He was educated in the field of law at
  this Ivy League university.
• Harvard University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Yale University
• Princeton University

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• One of the actors starring in 'Friends' graduated
  from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Science
  degree in Biology.
• Courtney Cox Arquette
• Jennifer Aniston
• Lisa Kudrow
• David Schwimmer

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• One of the actors starring in 'Friends' graduated
  from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Science
  degree in Biology.
• Courtney Cox Arquette
• Jennifer Aniston
• Lisa Kudrow
• David Schwimmer

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• John F. Kennedy studied at all of these schools
  except one.
• Harvard University
• London School of Economics
• United States Military Academy (West Point)
• Princeton University

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• John F. Kennedy studied at all of these schools
  except one.
• Harvard University
• London School of Economics
• United States Military Academy (West Point)
• Princeton University

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• Hollywood star Brad Pitt attended the University
  of Missouri, where he studied this.
• History
• English literature
• Philosophy
• Journalism

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• Hollywood star Brad Pitt attended the University
  of Missouri, where he studied this.
• History
• English literature
• Philosophy
• Journalism

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• At first Condoleezza Rice's plans were to become
  a pianist. However, after she attended a course
  on international politics taught by this person,
  she changed her mind and at age 19, Rice earned
  her bachelor's degree in political science from
  the University of Denver.
• Josef Korbel
• Henry Kissinger
• Noam Chomsky
• None of these

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• At first Condoleezza Rice's plans were to become
  a pianist. However, after she attended a course
  on international politics taught by this person,
  she changed her mind and at age 19, Rice earned
  her bachelor's degree in political science from
  the University of Denver.
• Josef Korbel (Madeleine Albrights father)
• Henry Kissinger
• Noam Chomsky
• None of these

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• Before altering the course of his career towards
  drama, this actor received a master's degree in
  chemical engineering from the University of
  Sydney, and was eventually awarded a prestigious
  Fulbright scholarship to MIT.
• Sean Connery
• Dolph Lundgren
• Clint Eastwood
• Nicolas Cage

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Celebrity Alma Maters

• Before altering the course of his career towards
  drama, this actor received a master's degree in
  chemical engineering from the University of
  Sydney, and was eventually awarded a prestigious
  Fulbright scholarship to MIT.
• Sean Connery
• Dolph Lundgren
• Clint Eastwood
• Nicolas Cage

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College Admissions Information Night

• Kim Cullen, Guidance Counselor
• Tuesday, February 3, 2009

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Guidance Office/College Counseling

• Kim Cullen
• Upper School Guidance and College Counselor
• kimcullen_at_asmadrid.org
• Anna Pointing
• Upper School Guidance Secretary, CAS Coordinator
• UCAS support
• annapointing_at_asmadrid.org
• Juan Ortiz
• Director Técnico (Selectividad, LOGSE)
• juanortiz_at_asmadrid.org

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The goal

• As a college-preparatory school ASM Guidance
  Office focuses on helping to identify those
  colleges or universities that most closely match
  the individual students interests, needs,
  abilities, and potential.

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Guidance Office

• Assists students and parents to develop a
  reasonable list of colleges, based on students
  interests, needs, abilities, and potential.
• Assists students through the college application
  process transcripts, records, recommendations,
  essays.
• Coordinates SAT and ACT testing.
• Advocates for the student, through the
  recommendation letter, and ongoing contact with
  the colleges and universities.
• Serves as a sounding board for both parents and
  students when questions or concerns arise through
  the application process.

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Purpose of tonights presentation

• Preview the college admissions process
• Get students to start thinking about where you
  might like to go to college, and what you might
  like to study
• Highlight what is in the College Admissions
  Handbook
• Encourage parents and students to begin working
  with the Guidance Office on college-career plans
• Answer questions

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The importance of fit

• The degree to which the student and their choice
  of university match is crucial in making the
  college experience positive.
• Dr. William Scott Green, Dean of Undergraduate
  Education at University of Miami says
• There are two things in life you cannot take
  back
• your criminal record, and your academic record.
  
• Finding the right fit will enable you to flourish.

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Self-Assessment

• Do you want to go to College?
• Why?
• What do you hope to gain personally and
  professionally?
• How do you learn best?
• Do you want to study anything that requires
  special facilities or programs?
• What are your extracurricular interests/needs?
• Alternative Options
• Gap year, Community service, Work

33
Characteristics of US Colleges types

• University vs. College
• Liberal Arts College
• Junior College
• Engineering or Technical College
• Specialty Schools (for example)
• Nursing
• Military
• Hotel Administration/Tourism
• Business
• Special interest groups (Historically Black
  Colleges Universities single sex schools)

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Characteristics size

• Small usually under 2,500 students
• Medium generally 2,500 to 10,000 students
• Large any campus over 10,000 students.

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Characteristics selectivity

• Very Competitive
• Accepted students general do not have lower than
  a B- in any course
• SAT scores between 525 and 575
• Admissions rates between 50 and 75

• Most Competitive
• Accepted students have an A average
• SAT scores between 625 and 800
• Admissions rates under 30

• Highly Competitive
• Accepted students have a B to A average in
  most difficult classes
• SAT scores between 575 and 625
• Admissions rates between 30 and 50

• Competitive, Less Competitive, and Non-Competitive

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What do colleges look at?

• Transcript
• Quality of students course selection
• Quality of high school program
• Standardized test scores (if applicable)
• How they compare with the typical profile of
  accepted students
• Recommendation letters
• Typically English/Math, also Humanities/Science
• Short answers and essays
• Activities and interests
• How a student presents him/herself

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Standardized Testing the tests (US)

• Standardized testing is an important factor in
  admission of using new procedures at most
  colleges and universities, however, they
  generally count less than the curriculum and
  grades.
• SAT Reasoning Measures aptitude and potential
• SAT Subject Many schools require three SAT
  Subject tests
• English, Math IC or IIC and a 3rd of your
  choice
• ACT Measures actual learned knowledge
• TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language
• required of international students by a large
• number of universities

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Standardized Testing which test?

• Different philosophies
• Some colleges have made standardized testing
  optional (Bates, Bowdoin, Dennison, Dickinson,
  Drew, Franklin and Marshall, Goucher, Guilford,
  Lake Forest, U Miami, Mount Holyoke, Providence,
  Saint Johns, Union).
• Some will not require SAT or ACT if you submit
  SAT Subject Tests (Connecticut College, Hamilton
  College, Middlebury College).
• Most schools will give you a choice SAT or ACT.
• Some scholarship programs will require specific
  SAT or ACT.
• For more information on which schools have made
  SAT/ACT optional, see www.fairtest.org/university/
  optional.

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Standardized Testing which test?

• It doesnt hurt to take both.
• If uncertain take each one once, then retake
  the one you like better.
• Remember
• SAT Reasoning measures aptitude
• ACT measures acquired knowledge
• Many students who do not test well on
  standardized exams may do better on the ACT.
• Compare school success with success on the SAT.
  If you are an A student but scoring in the lower
  500s on the SAT, you might consider taking the
  ACT as well.
• You can always elect to take the ACT and not send
  your scores.

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Standardized Testing the TOEFL

• A note about the TOEFL
• Increasingly, the more competitive universities
  will want international students to take the
  TOEFL no matter what independently of whether
  the student has studied in an English-language
  school since kindergarten, or whether the student
  is in IB HL English.
• Students are encouraged to take the TOEFL before
  the end of 11th grade. This will take off some
  of the pressure in 12th grade.

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Standardized Testing SAT Prep?

• Should you take an SAT Preparation course?
  Consider the following
• Is the SAT optional?
• How competitive is the university?
• How did you do on the PSAT?
• Add a 0 to your PSAT score to get a rough idea
  of how you would do on the SAT
• 50/50/50 on the PSAT would be more or less
  equivalent to 500/500/500 on the SAT
• Several options
• ASM-based SAT Prep course Alpha Review
• Spring session leads to May exam.
• Fall session is intensive and leads to October
  exam.
• Outside SAT Prep course e.g. Kaplan, private
  tutoring

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Typical Testing Plan

• 11th grade
• ACT with Writing April 4, 2009
• SAT Reasoning May 2, 2009
• SAT Subject June 6, 2009
• TOEFL offered monthly take before end 11th
  grade

• 12th grade
• SAT Reasoning October 2009
• SAT Subject November 2009
• SAT Dec 2009/Jan 2010
• ACT with Writing December 2009
• TOEFL monthly

You can take the ACT without writing, but if
you will likely be submitting only the ACT and
not the SAT, you should plan to take the ACT with
Writing.
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Final notes on standardized testing

• HOW MANY TIMES CAN I TAKE THE SAT?
• No more than 4 times, typically 2 Reasoning tests
  and 3 different Subject tests taken only once
  each.
• WHICH SCORES WILL THE COLLEGES SEE?
• Default All scores for all sittings are sent,
  and colleges will pick the highest in each
  sitting for each subject area
• e.g. May 09 590 CR 650 M 630 Wr
• Oct 09 650 CR 620 M 680 Wr
• NEW Mar 09 Score Choice Allows you to select
  the scores from a particular sitting
• e.g. May 09 590 CR 650 M 630 Wr
• Oct 09 650 CR 620 M 680 Wr

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The College Search Process

• Catalogs in Guidance Office
• Online
• Alumni Network
• College Visits

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The College Search Process

• Catalogs in Guidance Office
• Advantage compare and contrast schools
• Disadvantage printed books can become quickly
  outdated.

Online www.asmadrid.org/guests/departments/guidanc
e/guidance_home.htm www.collegeboard.com
www.princetonreview.com www.usnews.com/usnews/ed
u/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php
www.petersons.com https//connection.naviance.co
m
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The College Search Process

• Alumni Network
• College Connections Program
• Allows ASM student to contact ASM alumni at many
  different colleges and learn more from the unique
  perspective of the ASM graduate.
• http//www.asmadrid.org/alumni/subpages/programs.h
  tmCOLLEGE_CONNECTION_PROGRAM
• College QA Alumni Panel Program

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The College Search Process

• College Visits
• Visits to ASM from college representatives
• Students should attend as many of these as
  possible.
• Visits to college campuses
• Students who have the opportunity to visit a
  campus have a much better idea of the kind of
  school they want.
• There are organizations that offer tours, such
  as The Princeton Review, and College-Visits.com
• Virtual Tours
• www.campustours.com free online
• www.ecampustours.com free online
• www.collegiatechoice.com (walking tours, 15 per
  video)

Neither ASM nor the counselor have experience
with these organizations. The names are provided
merely as resources that parents may want to look
into.
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Where to apply?

• United States
• Flexible education that allows you to decide as
  you go
• Outstanding educational opportunities at all
  degree levels
• Financial aid is readily available
• Common application (1 application for many)
  www.commonapp.org
• Spain
• Students must pass either the IB diploma or the
  Selectividad exam
• Public university options are reputable and
  inexpensive
• UK
• More European in approach
• A great option for European citizens who wish to
  continue their studies in English less
  expensive than US
• Common application (1 application for all)
  www.ucas.com

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Where to apply?

• Canada
• Very strong education system comparable to the US
• Significantly less expensive than US schools
• American Colleges Overseas
• College that use the American style of education
  with locations all over the world.
• Offer either full degree programs or 2 year
  bridge programs
• Other options
• Some students go back to their home country
  (Japan, Korea, Sweden, The Netherlands, India)
• Some students want something different e.g.
  veterinary school in Hungary
• ASM will work with these students individually,
  as needed.

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Where to apply?

• When choosing where to apply, you must face the
  toughest question of all Will the college
  choose you? Assessing your own academic record
  and the colleges statistics will enable you to
  apply appropriately.
• The average number of colleges to which ASM
  students have applied is around 6 (with a range
  between 1 and 18). We like to recommend students
  limit their choices to 10.
• It is recommended that you apply to /- 3 in each
  of the following categories
• Reach Schools
• Probable Schools
• Prudent Schools

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Where to apply?

• Reach Schools
• Colleges where your chances of admission are less
  than 50/50
• Probable Schools
• Colleges that possess the significant features
  you desire and at which the probability of
  admission is 50/50 or better
• Prudent Schools (formerly safety)
• Colleges that have most of the features you
  desire and at which the probability of admission
  is highly likely to certain. It is important
  that you would be willing to attend one of these
  schools.

52
Admissions Plans - USA

• Early Decision
• BINDING agreement between the student and school.
  Students admitted under this plan are obligated
  to attend and MUST withdraw all other
  applications. Decisions issued mid December.
• Early Action/Priority
• This is a non-binding plan which allows students
  to keep other applications active. Decisions
  issued 4 to 6 weeks after submission of
  application.
• Regular Decision
• Most common plan. Admissions decisions are
  generally issued end March/early April.
• Rolling Admission
• Universities will accept applications at any
  time, and will review candidates based on space
  available. Admissions decisions are generally
  issued 6 to 8 weeks after receipt of application.

53
Financial Aid - USA

• Financial Aid is money for education that comes
  from sources other than the family. It is meant
  to supplement what the family can contribute.
• Merit/Based
• Aid given to a student in form of grants and
  scholarships and is typically based on
  performance/talent.
• Need/Based
• Aid made available to families who cannot pay all
  of the post-secondary education costs on their
  own. Frequently includes loans and work-study
  opportunities.

54
Financial Aid - USA

• For U.S. universities, Federal Financial Aid is
  available to U.S. Citizens and green card
  holders.
• The important forms are
• The FASFA (Free form for Federal Student Aid)
• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• CSS/Profile
• www.collegeboard.com
• Applications for Financial Aid for students
  attending university in fall 2010 can be filed no
  earlier than January 1, 2010.
• U.S. Federal Tax return (1040) is required for
  financial aid.

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International Financial Support - USA

• Financial aid for internationals is not as
  readily available, but it is not impossible.
• International students apply for aid directly to
  the college/university.
• International applicants must demonstrate their
  ability to pay all tuition, fees and living
  expenses for the first year of study.
• If you require financial aid go where the money
  is.
• For more information on financial aid for
  international students, see ASMs Guidance
  website.

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British Universities

• Great option for European Citizens
• Costs As a EU Citizen, tuition fees are
  equal to those of British citizens.
• Proximity Most British Universities are easily
  accessible by rail or bus to international
  airports.

57
UCAS

• What is UCAS?
• University and Colleges Admission Service The
  central application service for full-time
  undergraduate courses in the United Kingdom.
• All students applying to the UK must apply via
  UCAS
• www.ucas.com
• UCAS allows students to apply to 5 different
  universities or programs with a single
  application.

58
Oxbridge ? Oxford and Cambridge

• Application Deadline
• October 15th Deadline for applications to
  Oxford or Cambridge.
• Students apply to Oxford or Cambridge through
  UCAS. In addition,
• Oxford applicants must fill out a separate Oxford
  application card.
• Cambridge applicants need to fill out a
  Preliminary application form.
• Students may not apply to both Oxford and
  Cambridge

59
Specializations in the UK

• Medicine (including dentistry and veterinary)
  application deadline October 15
• Because of the early deadlines students need to
  research their university choices carefully and
  make note of all registration deadlines for
  testing.
• Students interested in the medical fields must
  sit the BMAT and/or the UKCAT.
• http//www.bmat.org.uk/index.html
• http//www.ukcat.ac.uk/
• Law students must take the LNAT
• http//www.lnat.ac.uk/preparation/practice.html
• History at Oxford students must take the HAT
• http//www.history.ox.ac.uk/prosundergrad/applying
  /hat_introduction.htm

60
Calendar Important Dates

• Spring Junior Year
• Schedule appointment with College Counselor to
  discuss plans ASAP
• SAT Test Preparation?
• Attend Naviance and UCAS workshops
• Register for May June SAT tests
• Work on your resume
• Consider a summer program alternative to the
  beachside/poolside summer
• Before Summer Vacation
• Discuss college essay with your English teacher
• Consider which teachers you might to ask for
  recommendations from, and give them a heads up.
• During Summer Vacation
• Summer Program?
• Visit colleges, if possible.
• Fill out one college application a week for each
  school to which you plan to apply. This makes
  your senior year MUCH easier!

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A Note to Athletes

• If you intend to play sports at the collegiate
  level Division I or Division II
• Spring 11th grade
• Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse
  www.ncaaclearinghouse.net
• Personally contact each college coach to express
  interest and ask for information
• Videotape your games
• Ask your local coach to make contact with the
  college coach
• Summer, if possible
• Visit colleges
• Throughout 12th grade
• Maintain contact with coaches to show that you
  are really interested.

62
A Note to Artists/Performers

• If you intend to apply for specialized programs
  in music, art, theater
• Spring 11th grade
• Contact universities to find out specifically
  what kind of portfolios or auditions are needed.
• For music/theater, CD recordings are usually
  acceptable.
• Portfolios are usually acceptable on CD,
  however, you may be asked to send a few original
  drawings as well.
• Throughout spring, work with your teachers to
  begin preparing your work
• Summer, if possible
• Visit colleges, do live auditions
• try not to do your first audition at your 1st
  choice school!
• Throughout 12th grade
• Maintain contact with the universities to show
  that you are really interested.

63
Last but not leastBE AWARE OF DEADLINES

• App deadlines US/Canada
• Usually December 31 or January 1, 10, 15 or
  February 1, 15 for Regular Decision
• Usually November 1 or 15 for Early Action or
  Early Decision
• ASM deadlines US
• The Monday before Thanksgiving (November 23,
  2009) for Regular Decision
• October 5 for Early Decision/Early Action

• App deadlines
• UK
• October 15 for Oxford, Cambridge, Medical
  Specializations
• Usually December/January for the remainder
• ASM deadlines UK
• October 5 for October 15 deadlines
• October 30 for regular deadlines

• Standardized Testing deadlines for US and UK
• SAT/ACT/TOEFL registration deadlines.
• UKCAT/BMAT/LNAT/HAT, IELTS, etc.

64
Next Steps

• Students
• Naviance Students will be introduced to
  Naviance
• Moodle Upper School Guidance class
• SAT Preparation or not?
• UCAS workshop later in the spring
• Prepare subject specific materials (arts, sports)
• Students and parents
• Make an appointment to meet with me during the
  months of February and March
• Assess needs, interests, talents, types of
  colleges
• Develop plan for preparation and testing
• Together
• Formulate initial college list by spring break
  (!!)

65
Questions?