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Chapter 13 - Choosing a College or University

Also see FLO's web page College and Beyond

Choosing a college or university is stressful for any high school student because there are so many choices. The decision is important because, even if the student changes his/her mind and transfers to another school, it will have an effect on other important life events. The Foreign Service adds another dimension to this process. The Foreign Service experience can be helpful when applying to schools. It can also mean that the student has to be more organized and start the process earlier. This chapter is designed to give information that will be helpful to all students applying to college. It will also highlight areas where the overseas student will need to make an extra effort.

GATHERING INFORMATION

There are more than 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States: public and private 2-year and 4-year institutions, large universities, low-cost community colleges, and religiously affiliated schools. A wide variety of programs meets the needs of the many different kinds of students enrolling in college today.

The following questions can help a student determine what kinds of institutions s/he is interested in:

• What are your educational goals?
• What is your academic potential?
• What geographic location do you prefer?
• Do you prefer a rural, small town, suburban, or urban setting?
• Do you prefer a coeducational or a single sex institution?
• What will your expenses be and how much can you afford to spend? (This should not be the sole determinant, though; some higher-cost institutions have more generous financial packages.)
• Will you need financial aid? Work-study programs? Full- or part-time employment?
• Do you prefer a religious, private, or public college experience?
• Do you prefer a multifaceted research university or a small liberal arts college?
• What special programs interest you?
• What type of housing do you require?
• What type of student activities are you interested in?
• What athletic programs interest you?
• What type of social environment do you prefer?
• What type of medical and other support services are available?
• Are there many international (U.S. or other nationals) students on campus?
• Are there any organizations such as Global Nomads for students who grew up abroad?

Once the student has a general idea of the type of school s/he is interested in, the next step is to match the list of desired characteristics with the colleges that satisfy them. One or more of the guidebooks listed below can be an invaluable aid. Other good sources of information are high school guidance counselors, teachers, and professionals in the desired career field.

College catalogs are the definitive source of information about admissions, student life, academic offerings, costs, and financial aid. Visiting the campus, preferably during the school year, is important to assure an appropriate student/school match. If requested in advance, many colleges will schedule campus tours and can arrange for the applicant to spend the night in campus housing. Colleges often provide an interested student with the names of recent graduates or current students who live nearby and are willing to discuss the college.

While it is not necessary to choose a career before starting college, if often helps to become better informed about the world of work while thinking about colleges. The student can then match fields of interest with schools having strong departments in those areas. The Department of Labor's Occupational Handbook offers useful information about the best preparation for different occupations.

Note that the statistical information in the guidebooks and the data used to produce annual rankings of schools is mostly self-reported by the colleges. A Wall Street Journal article (April 5, 1995) showed how admissions offices manipulate data, particularly in the reporting of test scores, percentage of applicants admitted, and graduation rates. U.S. News and World Report announced plans to revise its rankings, placing more emphasis on academic reputation. Even if the formulas for calculating college rankings are revised, the best approach is to remain skeptical. Educators prefer that perspective students take time to evaluate college choices to find the best academic and social match for the individual.

Students living overseas must begin the college selection process earlier than their peers in the United States. As early as the 9th or 10th grade, they should begin using home leave and family vacations in the United States to visit colleges. They should also seek out alumni at post and, if possible, attend school-sponsored college fairs to gather as much information as possible.

Resources

Profiles of American Colleges - This book has a checklist that allows a student to quickly mark schools that meet her/his criteria.
Compact Guide to Colleges - This is relatively inexpensive and easy to carry. All of Barron's publications provide a more informal look at institutions.
Available from:
Barron's Educational Series
250 Wireless Blvd
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel: 1-800-645-3476
Email: info@barronseduc.com
Web site: http://www.barronseduc.com

Choosing A College: The Student's Step-by-step Decision-Making Workbook - This workbook provides assistance to students at the beginning of their college search to help find what it is they want in their college experience and where best to go to find those criteria that are important.
The College Handbook - Published annually, this is an authoritative guide to 3,000 2- and 4-year colleges. It includes information on more areas of interest than any other handbook including enrollment, freshman class profiles, campus locations, majors, special academic programs, freshman and transfer admission, tuition and fees, financial aid, student activities, athletics, housing, and an index of majors. It is particularly helpful for those interested in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports.
Available from:
The College Board
45 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
Tel: 212-713-8000
Web site: http://www.collegeboard.com

College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the Best School For You - This publication has interactive worksheets to help students discover personal and academic needs and how to find colleges that meet those needs.
Available from:
Octameron Press
PO Box 2748
Alexandria, VA 22301
Tel: 703-836-5480
Fax: 703-836-5650
Web site: http://www.octameron.com

Peterson's Guide to Four-Year Colleges - Published annually, this book spans majors in 435 fields and the colleges that offer them. The information is arranged in two sections. The first contains detailed factual profiles of colleges including background facts, enrollment figures, faculty size, admission and graduation requirements, expenses, financing, special programs, career services, housing, campus life and student services, sports, majors, and degrees. That information is provided by college admissions directors in response to Peterson's Annual Survey of Undergraduate Institutions. Schools pay to be in the second section of the book. It focuses more on quality of life, including campus environment, student activities, and life-style. Each two-page description is prepared by officials of the school it covers.
Available from:
Peterson's Guides
P.O. Box 67005
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Tel: 609-896-1800; 800-338-3282; 609-896-1800, ext. 5660 (for ordering)
Email: customerservice@petersons.com
Web site: http://www.petersons.com

America's Best - This is a special section of the magazine published annually in October. It describes the top 125 schools rated by student selectivity, faculty quality, and academic resources. Schools are ranked as national universities, national liberal arts colleges, comprehensive colleges, small comprehensive colleges, and regional liberal arts colleges. You can order reprints of the most recent article.
America's Best Colleges - This annual separate publication reprints stories from the special report as well as including a comprehensive directory of more than 1,300 schools across the nation.
Available from:
U.S. News and World Report
2400 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20037
Tel: 202-955-2000

Money Guide: Best College Buys - An annual publication from the editors of Money Magazine, this guide analyzes the costs and programs at 1,010 four-year schools.
Available from:
Time, Inc.
P.O. Box 30626
Tampa, FLA 33630-0626

Check your library or bookstore for the following books.

Comparative Guide To American Colleges, by James Cass and Max Birnbaum - This guide takes a slightly different approach to college selection based on original research and data from student leaders, college presidents, and deans of students. Contains often quoted "Selective Index" as well as specific information on current costs, scholarships and loans, admissions requirements, academic opportunities and special programs, intellectual, social, and cultural environments, computer programs, facilities, and religious and racial composition of student body.

The Fiske Guide to College, by Edward B. Fiske - Compiled by the former educational editor of The New York Times, this book presents a broad picture of life on campus of more than 300 colleges and universities. It ranks institutions on a scale of 1 to 5 on academics, social life, and quality of life. It is updated annually.

The Insider's Guide to the Colleges, by the staff of the Yale Daily News - Students from coast to coast tell what their colleges are really like, particularly the social setting; readers must remember, however, that these are subjective opinions. Includes advice on how to impress interviewers, how to score points on the essay, and how to make an application stand out. It is best used in conjunction with a more standard guidebook.

Lovejoy's College Guide, edited by Charles T. Straughn and Barbarasue Lovejoy - This book provides an index to majors and entry requirements at 2- and 4-year colleges plus information on 500 careers that correspond to university curricula, sports scholarships, and SAT score profiles. Contains a good selection on financial aid, including where to write for the most up-to-date information on government student loan programs.

THE COLLEGE SEARCH SERVICE AND INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS

The College Board's Student Search Service (SSS) provides colleges with the names of students whose academic background and interests match the ones that colleges want. The service is free to students who answer the appropriate questions when taking the PSAT/NMSQT, the AP exams, or the SAT I or II. Colleges using the SSS specify the characteristics they seek in prospective students -- intended major, high school grade average, ethnic background, test score ranges, and/or geographic location. The names and addresses of students identified by the services are sent to the college, which then informs those students directly about the opportunities offered by the college.

Many high school guidance offices have computerized college search services to help college-bound high school students identify which schools most closely match the criteria they are seeking. Inexpensive software for use on a home computer is also available. In either case, a participant completes a personal profile and rates the many factors of her/his ideal college. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the profile is that it forces the student to consider aspects of college life such as type of dorm, student activities and sports, visitation rights, holidays, and even school policy concerning use of alcohol and other drugs. The student's preferences are compared with profiles of institutions around the country, and the student receives a list of colleges along with brief sketches about each school.

Independent college consultants are particularly helpful for prospective college students who are problematic. They provide an independent perspective to your child's strengths, weaknesses, and needs, and help cut the parental involvement, both time and emotional, in the process. Consultants can guide students to appropriate options often unknown to parents. Their services range from limited advisory service of 5-7 hours to complete service assistance including review of applications, advice on essay-writing, and coaching on interviews. Some also specialize in financial aid or career planning. In the Washington area, college consultant service costs between $400-$1300; nationwide the fees are higher. Parents who use these advisors like the personal attention and the consultant's ability to make sense of the confusing range of choices.

The Education and Youth Officer in the Family Liaison Office will provide referrals to private educational consultants upon request. Lists of qualified consultants can also be obtained from Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) or Association of Consultants and Counselors for Educational Services and Support (ACCESS). Contact the Family Liaison Office for more information. flo@state.gov

COLLEGE ADMISSION TIMETABLE

The College Board recommends the following timetable, for the student in the United States. Overseas students must begin each process earlier (see p 20 below), taking advantage of home leave or other U.S. leave to begin visiting campuses. Consider purchasing a loose leaf notebook with dividers and pockets for each of the time periods below.

Before Junior Year:

• Plan high school schedule. Guidance counselors and the College Board's Academic Preparation for College: What Students Need to Know and Be Able to Do (see Chapter 12) can assist.
• Decide which extracurricular activities you want to participate in.
• Take SAT II (formerly Achievement Tests) and Advanced Placement Tests as soon as possible after completing the last course in the subject. Keep SAT II dates in mind and plan accordingly.
• Decide exactly what name will be used on all test and application forms. Be consistent.
• Use your Social Security number on college and financial aid applications.

Junior Year:

• Develop lists of interests, educational priorities, special talents and abilities, social and cultural preferences, and personal qualities. List what you would like to do in college, ranking the items in order of importance.
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT. Be sure to sign up for the free Student Search Service.
• Obtain dates and places of local college fairs; try to attend at least one fair and talk to college representatives.
• Start saving college money through part-time work. Most colleges expect students receiving financial aid to contribute to their freshman year expenses in addition to what their parents provide.
• Begin to identify possible colleges based on size, type of school, location, fields of study, academic quality, cost, social environment, and special opportunities.
• As soon as you identify a college, request an application package and information about visiting the campus. If possible, call or fax rather than write.
• Begin thinking about college costs and financial aid. Use Chapter 15 as a guide. Talk to your parents to set realistic expectations. A favored college, however, should not be discarded because of high tuition. Many private institutions have potential for strong financial aid packages. Investigate private student aid and scholarship programs, but note that many private programs have earlier deadlines than major government programs. Check newspapers to find out which civic, cultural, and service organizations in your area award financial aid. Start a file.
• Register for AP and CLEP tests if applicable.
• By April, develop a preliminary list of colleges. If possible, arrange to visit each school. If the school requires an interview, make arrangements. Review the discussion of interview suggestions on page 19 of this chapter.
• Learn how to calculate your grade-point average or ratio, how your school determines class rank, and where you stand.
• Identify teachers, administrators, and other adults who could write letters of recommendation. If you are leaving the U.S. or an overseas post, get letters before leaving and/or teachers' forwarding addresses. Try to make college visits in conjunction with any summer/holiday travels.

Senior Year:

September

• Reduce your college list to 5-10 schools. Make sure you have current catalogs, application forms, and financial aid information for each. At a minimum, consider three schools: a stretch, your first realistic choice, and a safety.
• Decide if you wish to apply for special admissions (see pp 25 and 26).
• Make a checklist of test names and registration deadlines, fees, test dates, college application deadlines, and applications and deadlines for financial aid.
• Plan to take the SAT or ACT admissions tests 6-8 weeks before you must submit scores to the colleges.

October

• Write college essays. The essay is a crucial part of most applications and deserves special attention. Give yourself enough time to develop an outline, write, and revise until you are satisfied. This is a good opportunity to draw attention to your application by emphasizing your overseas experience.
• Ask appropriate teachers and other adults for letters of recommendation. Provide a description of your academic record and extracurricular activities and an addressed, stamped envelope with the forms.

November

• Make sure you have appropriate financial aid forms: the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or whatever needs analysis documents or application the colleges require. Parents should be gathering tax records, as this information is necessary to fill out financial aid forms. These forms must also be completed for some of the loan programs.
• Submit applications for early decision, early action, or rolling admission candidacy. If you are applying for early decision or early action, you will have to complete essays earlier than December.
• Give the forms requesting your high school grades to the counselor at least 2 weeks before colleges require them if applying from the United States - 8 weeks if applying from overseas.

December

• Complete essays. They should be typed, clean, neat, attractive, grammatically correct, interesting, and easy-to-read. Keep copies.
• December 15th is the deadline for some selective colleges. Be sure to apply on time. Early decision and early action decisions are announced now. If you are not accepted, make sure other applications are ready to go.
• Work on financial aid forms. Make sure they are complete, accurate, and legible. Do not mail them until January. If you are overseas, mail them to arrive in early January.

January

• Sign and date your financial aid applications and send them as soon as possible after January 1.

February

• All men who are 18 years old or over must register for the draft and must be able to prove it when applying for Federal government financial aid.

March

• Apply for AP, SAT II, and/or CLEP examinations in your strongest subjects.
• Complete applications for colleges with April deadlines.

April

• Most selective colleges announce their decisions this month. Weigh offers against the factors that are important to you.

May

• May 1 is the final date for announcing your choice of colleges.
• If you are put on the waiting list, call, visit, or write to the Admissions Director to ask how to strengthen your application. Indicate when the school is your first choice.
• Advanced Placement examinations are given nationwide in May.

Resources

College Board Notebook
Academic Preparation for College: What Students Need to Know and Be Able To Do
Available from:
The College Board
45 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
Tel: 212-713-8000
Web site: http://www.collegeboard.com

There are six main components to the college admission folder: the application, the academic record, the test scores, school and teacher recommendations, activities, and the personal factor which is represented by the essay, and/or the personal interview and sometimes a parent's assessment. During the entire application process, it is vital that you keep all relevant papers together in an easily accessible place. Consider The College Board's Notebook or something similar. Test score reports, application instruction sheets, and information and correspondence from colleges may all be necessary at one point or another. Keep complete and accurate records of everything associated with the application process. Record all deadlines on a calendar and consult it frequently.

The application includes simple biographical information such as name, current address, birth date, and parents' names. More than 350 colleges now accept the Common Application. With this application you need to complete the form once and make photocopies for submission to each college. The College Board's College Handbook lists all colleges that accept this application.

The academic record (or transcript) includes your specific courses and grades received. A class rank, indicating the student's competitiveness in relation to his/her peers, is often included. Most colleges will also monitor 2nd semester senior grades, so don't let down after college acceptance.

The emphasis placed on test scores depends upon the college's policy. Usually, the larger the college, the more important the scores are. But in all cases, test scores form only part of the application profile; poor test scores do not necessarily exclude a student and good scores do not always guarantee admission.

Teacher recommendations discuss classroom performance that is not represented by the grades; the official school recommendation or statement is also an important part of the folder.

ESSAY WRITING TIPS

Any essay is an attempt to convince the reader that an idea or opinion is correct. The college application essay should expand on information that the college has received about the student and provide information that does not appear in grades, test scores, and other materials. The student should choose from the list of essay topics, one that will reveal his/her intelligence, talent, sense of humor, enthusiasm, maturity, and creativity, as well as other factors such as a Foreign Service background. Because of today's emphasis on diversity, that background may be the factor that makes an application look different from other students' applications.

Write an individual essay for each college. Make sure you understand the college's topics, directions, and deadlines. Check the catalog for descriptions of the personal qualities the school is looking for and make sure the essay reflects those qualities. For reference, make a list of your civic and school activities, travels, awards, honors, other accomplishments, work experiences, and any academic or personal shortcomings you are trying to overcome. For open-ended essays, develop a one-sentence theme from this list.

Write a first draft and check it for cliches, vagueness, grammatical errors, misspellings, or confusion. Rewrite the essay and check again. Ask someone whose opinion you respect to read the essay for clarity and interest but do not let this person rewrite your essay. Rework the essay yourself, then read it aloud to find rough spots, awkward phrasing, inaccurate usage and/or unnecessary words. Type the essay unless the college requires a handwritten version, and proofread it carefully. Mail the essay on time. If overseas, allow extra time for possible mail and postmark delays.

COLLEGE VISITS

Visiting colleges provides an opportunity to learn about those intangible factors that make each school so different. Prospective students can browse through the bookstore, the student center, the library, the dorms, and the sports facilities. They can eat in a dining hall, read bulletin boards, and talk with students and faculty members. Colleges welcome prospective students, and campus tours are available most of the year, often without any appointment. Most of the larger schools schedule group admissions meetings that give students and parents a chance to ask questions. Tour guides are usually undergraduates, and talking with them can provide important information.

Before visiting, students should call or write the school to find out the tour schedule and to make sure classes are in session - the flavor of a school is very different if there are no students on campus or during summer school when there are fewer students. Many schools will allow a prospective student to spend the night in a dorm, eat in the dining hall, and attend classes if arrangements are made in advance. If the school has no formal arrangement, and you know a student, try to arrange this informally. If you have a special talent or interest and wish to meet with someone who oversees that area, make these arrangements when you call. If possible, avoid scheduling visits during exam weeks or between March 15 and April 15 when Admissions Offices are frantically trying to make decisions on the current high school applicants.

Try not to schedule more than two college visits per day or more than five or six per trip. Impressions will blur and fatigue will make even the most wonderful college pale.

THE INTERVIEW

A personal interview is the student's opportunity to find out more about the college and to make a favorable impression on those who will review his/her application. However, Foreign Service students applying to college from abroad need not feel disadvantaged because they are not able to participate in college interviews. According to The New York Times, the campus interview has become irrelevant to most student's chances of acceptance. Although many colleges still grant interviews, few require them or use them as a significant part of the evaluation procedure. If you interview well, however, the interviewer's enthusiasm might tip the balance in the school's admission process.

If required, interview appointments must be scheduled in advance (selective colleges are often completely booked by September). Usually, students interview only at those schools to which they plan to apply. Of course, if the student is visiting a college a great distance from home, it makes sense to schedule the interview at the same time as the college visit.

Students should be early for the interview appointment. Fifteen extra minutes allow you to get your bearings and unwind a bit. It is also important to dress appropriately - no socks or too much jewelry can give the wrong impression. Prospective students should dress comfortably but not draw inordinate attention to themselves. Interviews usually last about 45 minutes but sometimes run longer. Afterward, the admissions officer makes a written evaluation which becomes part of the admissions folder.

The student should prepare specific questions in advance about the college's programs, facilities, and any other topic not covered in materials received from school. Broad questions about the college's stand on social issues or its philosophy about career preparation are certainly appropriate. The student should also be prepared to talk about him/herself and explain why s/he may want to attend this particular college. After the interview, if there are subsequent questions about the application process or the status of your application, don't hesitate to call or write. Interviewers are always glad to help, and the subsequent contact reminds them of your interest in being admitted to the college.

Most colleges have local alumni representatives who can give interviews and answer questions, overseas as well as in the Untied States. Alumni interviewers are not paid professionals, but they have a genuine interest in attracting intelligent and worthy young people to their college. When meeting with alumni representatives, the student should ask questions that are analytical rather than descriptive. Remember that the on-campus experience of alumni interviewers may be dated. This interview should be taken as seriously as any other part of the application process.

THE EVALUATION PROCESS

Once a candidate's folder is complete, it is usually read by at least two staff members and evaluated on a number or letter scale. The admissions committee then makes a preliminary decision. Candidates who are not up to the minimum standards are put in one group and not admitted. The clearly acceptable candidates are placed in another group for admission. The admissions committee then focuses on the third group, either discussing each candidate in turn or dividing into subcommittees to read each folder again. The committee distinguishes between candidates with similar records and recommendations by measuring intangible qualities such as intensity, commitment, awareness, and perceptiveness. This is where a favorable interview may help. They are also looking for creativity, vitality, character, and humor. In some years they may be particularly interested in some special skill or interest, possibly overseas experience. After rank ordering this middle group, the committee fills the available spaces.

Resources

Octameron Press
P.O. Box 2748
Alexandria, VA 22301
Tel: 703-836-5480
Fax: 703-836-5650
Web site: http://www.octameron.com

Peterson's Guides
P.O. Box 67005
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Tel: 609-896-1800; 800-338-3282; 609-896-1800, ext. 5660 (for ordering)
Email: customerservice@petersons.com
Web site: http://www.petersons.com

The College Board
45 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
Tel: 212-713-8000
Web site: http://www.collegeboard.com

APPLYING TO COLLEGE FROM OVERSEAS

The Office of Overseas Schools (A/OS) and the College Board have established a project to provide accurate information and sound advice to American overseas schools and to their students applying to U.S. colleges. Under this project, college admissions officials and educational experts visit overseas school staff. Professional development workshops are provided for overseas counselors, and information on overseas schools is produced and disseminated to colleges and universities. Further information is available from:

Overseas School Project
Office of International Education
The College Board, Suite 402
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-332-1480

Timing is a critical factor for overseas students applying to college. Deadline dates for applications and tests vary widely, and it is extremely important to meet all deadlines. Because mail delivery at some posts is irregular, overseas students should write for materials as soon as possible. Enclosing stamped, self-addressed envelopes might speed the turn-around time. It is crucial that applicants clearly identify themselves as Americans living overseas so that they do not receive foreign student materials by mistake.

Overseas students may have an advantage in the college application process if college administrators recognize that this experience is a broadening and maturing one for the student. Overseas students should capitalize on this by clearly indicating on the application how their experiences abroad have enriched them through their exposure to foreign languages and cultures. Many colleges will look for evidence of an applicant's participation in activities with citizens of a foreign country rather than just with other Americans.

Students applying from overseas do have special problems. It is often inconvenient to visit many colleges, but many colleges now have videotapes that can be borrowed or purchased from the institution. If the student has lived abroad for a number of years, colleges and college lifestyles may be difficult to understand. On the plus side, overseas students have usually had more experiences in adjusting to new environments and should settle into college more easily than some of their U.S. counterparts.

A disadvantage some Foreign Service families have found is the limited number of Advanced Placement or honors courses available in overseas schools. Such courses are so widely available in the United States that their absence on a student's transcript is immediately noted. It is possible to use the Supplemental Allowance to set up an AP course in an overseas school. Credits in an International Baccalaureate program also enhance a student's transcript.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

One question that comes up frequently when discussing college attendance for the Foreign Service teen is residency requirements for state colleges and universities. Because they often do not duplicate residency requirements for taxes or voting, it is important for overseas students planning to attend a state school to write to the appropriate state office requesting information on residency requirements early in their junior year of high school. Because of the potential for change in residency requirements, students should check just before enrolling in a school and be sure to ask if there are any changes being discussed for the future.

Guide to State Residency Requirements contains information on residency requirements for public colleges and universities in the United States with regard to admission and in-state tuition. The guide describes the general residency rules employed by representative institutions in each of the 50 states and is available in Family Liaison Office and in many CLO offices. The FLO Education and Youth Officer can also provide the specific addresses of state education offices.

The College Board maintains a page on their web site for residency requirements by state. You can find it at http://www.collegeboard.com/about/association/international/residency.html

Resources

The College Board
45 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
Tel: 212-713-8000
Web site: http://www.collegeboard.com

SPECIAL ADMISSIONS POLICIES

Many colleges have special admissions policies that provide advance decisions to outstanding students. Early Admission is reserved for exceptional high school juniors whose academic preparation and achievement level are sufficient for early entrance to college. Some schools provide an Early Decision. Students who accept an Early Decision cannot change their minds. The student applies to her/his first-choice college early in the fall and usually receives an answer by mid-December. An application for early decision means that the student is committed to attend the college if accepted. Early decision applicants are judged on their junior year test scores, class rank, and grades. If a student is denied early decision, the application will be reconsidered as if s/he had never applied before. This is a valid option for the student who is really sure which college is her/his first choice; it has the advantage of curtailing the long admissions process.

A few selective colleges use an Early Action process. The application is evaluated and either denied, accepted, or deferred. If it is denied, the student will not be admitted. If it is accepted, the student has until May to make a decision. If the application is deferred, the final decision will be made when regular applications are evaluated in April. In applying for early action, the student is not required to enroll if selected. It is important that any student interested in early decision or early action read the instructions from the college carefully since the programs may vary.

Rolling Admissions is a procedure that allows colleges to accept qualified applicants as their applications are received. The colleges continually review applications until their class enrollment is filled. Highly competitive colleges rarely use rolling admissions.

Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
Contact the Family Liaison Office