College Admission Advice

THE COLLEGE SELECTION PROCESS can be confusing. Exhausting. Occasionally even nerve-racking. Here’s some advice from the experts about choosing a school, making a college visit, writing a great application, and navigating the ins and outs of financing your choice. We hope this answers some of your questions—and we look forward to receiving your Ohio Wesleyan application.

Some Advice for College-Bound Students

Create a spreadsheet.

Before you look at any college Web sites, start a spreadsheet that includes the characteristics you’re seeking in a college, such as:

• Distance from home. Do you want to be across town or across the country? If you’re going far, consider the college’s proximity to the nearest large airport.
• General location. Rural? Suburban? Urban? Inner city? Where do you feel most comfortable?
• Co-ed or single-sex. Will you consider both?
• Number of enrolled undergraduates. If applicable, the number of graduate students as well.
• Percentage of freshman applicants the school admits annually. Also the average class size for freshman students specifically.
• Academic profile of admitted students. What are their standardized test scores, average high school grade point average, and other statistics?
• Availability of honors and internship programs. Are these programs open to first-year students?
• Cost of tuition and room and board.
• Availability of (sometimes called merit aid). How much money did the college provide students last year in gift money—both in need-based and scholarship (or merit) aid?

Once you have created this basic spreadsheet, add items that are of particular importance to you. Do you know that you are interested in microbiology? If so, add this item to your spreadsheet. Few schools offer an undergraduate major in this discipline, so you will want to look more carefully at those who do. Do you want to be able to do research in a specific area? Do you want a particular sports program? Add these to your sheet before you open your Web browser.

It’s OK to be undecided about your major. Many schools don’t require you to choose a major immediately. A small, liberal arts setting may allow you to explore multiple avenues of study before deciding on a career focus. Don’t forget to note how soon you must declare a major on your spreadsheet.

Even if you don’t have a major in mind, you should start thinking now about your passions. Jot some thoughts down on these questions: What do you like to do? Do you like to be outdoors? Do you like debate (sometimes referred to by your parents as arguing)? Are you passionate about caring for animals? Are you interested in how business works? Is there a profession you find intriguing, even if you don’t yet know a lot about it? Remember, this list is yours, so be creative and truthful. You may not know what an area of study is actually called, but as you begin your online research, you will find the names of majors that seem to reflect your interests.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your (search) engines.

Once you have created your spreadsheet, you are ready to start your Web search. Begin with Web sites that let you sort and find schools by characteristics you specify. Each will require that you select some criteria that are important to you, so your spreadsheet work will come in handy. There are a number of these engines, but check out www.act.org/college_search/fset_col_search.html or www.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool to get started.

Ask colleges to place you on their mailing lists.

Complaining about the amount of mail from colleges that shows up in mailboxes has become a national pastime. However, you definitely want to hear from schools in which you are interested. You also want to demonstrate your interest to colleges that you care about. Once you narrow down your choices using your spreadsheet and Web site research, get in touch your top choices. Many colleges maintain sophisticated databases used to track student interest, so when you request information this lets the college know that you are more interested than someone who just says “send me college info” when he or she takes the PSAT.

Take charge of your search. From beginning to end.

Don’t expect or depend upon your parents to do this early research. If you abandon ship (or never board), you will get to April of your senior year and be both confused and tense about where you will end up. Perhaps even more importantly, you will have missed some important opportunities to reflect upon, discover, and refine your own interests. I often ask students this question: What is the one thing that will form the basis of  your college decision? Most students know the answer by the end of their search, but only a few know it at the beginning. If you’re in the thick of things from the beginning, you’re much more likely to find the right fit, simplify the process, and lower your stress level.

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How to Have a Successful College Visit

Now you are ready to move forward—literally. It’s time to visit the four to six colleges that seem to most closely match your needs. These trips are exciting and fun, but they are serious, too. With just a little planning, you can be ready to take advantage of every opportunity a college visit has to offer.

Plan your visits early

Give yourself time. Begin visiting colleges during your junior year in high school or during the summer between your junior and senior years. You’ll want to visit schools of different sizes, locations, and campus and educational environments. After your once-in-a-lifetime senior year begins, you may find your time becoming more and more limited.

Most universities offer several types of visits, and all provide important opportunities to help you make your final decision. “Visit programs” typically include general information sessions and panel discussions with students, professors, and financial aid staff. These programs are helpful if you want a good overview of a school. “Information sessions” allow even more time for questions and personal interaction. They usually include individual meetings with admission and financial aid staff, as well as an overview of the college. “Individual visits” are one-to-one visits tailored specifically for you and often include participating in a class or attending a social event.

Schedule your visits at least two weeks in advance and plan to spend a minimum of four hours at each school. Be as specific as possible about what you want to do and see. Later, you may want to arrange an overnight stay at the one or two schools that could truly become your home for the next four years. Often, overnight visits are available for seniors only, so be sure to check that out.

Make your visit count

Successful college visits can include taking a thorough student-guided tour, attending a class, spending time with current students, eating in a dining hall, visiting a dorm room, attending a sporting or social event, and meeting with an admission counselor.

That’s a lot to pack into a visit. But each of these experiences offers you a different perspective of the school. Make a list of questions that are important to you. Of course, many questions will flow naturally from your interactions with those you meet, but having a list of prepared topics will help make sure you don’t forget a crucial question. Keeping a journal and taking plenty of pictures also will help put everything into focus.

Get to know current students

One of the best barometers to determine whether a college is right for you is your observations and interactions with current students. Are they friendly? Are they happy? Would they choose the same college over again if given the opportunity? Why or why not?

Ask these students about the availability of specific sports and activities that interest you. Are these opportunities available for first-year students? What do current students think of their classes? Are they challenging? Do they provide the real-world experience needed for future success? If campus employment and internship opportunities are important to you, be sure to ask about those, too.

Attend a class or two

Assess the academic environment. As you participate in classes, pay attention to the atmosphere and interaction. How large are the classes? Are they taught by professors or teaching assistants? Do the students and professors participate in lively discussion? Do the professors have mentoring relationships with their students? How is the workload in and out of class? Would you be comfortable in this environment?

Don’t worry if you’re undecided about a major. Many students change majors more than once and still graduate in four years. Whatever your interests, however, would this college help you to become the person you want to be?

Let your personality shine through

As you plan your itinerary, you may want to save admission and financial aid meetings for last. Interacting with students and faculty first will help make these meetings more focused and productive.

During college interviews, it’s important to be genuine and candid. Discuss any issues that you think might concern the school’s admission committee. Help counselors get to know the real you. Be active. Ask the questions that are vital to you. This meeting also is a good time to ask about the types of financial aid available.

The insights you receive will help you choose the right school and, ultimately, help ensure that you have a successful, rewarding, and even life-transforming college experience.

Don’t hesitate to contact the counselor with follow-up questions at any time. Telephone calls, e-mails, and even text messages are always welcome.

Gather impressions

Before you complete your visit, take time to relax and enjoy a sporting match, concert, or other social event. Talk informally to the students you pass in hallways and walkways. Hang out. Watch. Listen. Are you comfortable with the amount of diversity? Do students treat each other well? Do you feel a sense of community? Could you make this place your home?

Once you’ve answered that question, you’re ready for the next step.

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College Admission Essays: What’s the Best Approach?

Because so much of the application is based on factual information such as high school curriculum, GPA, and standardized test scores, the essay is a prime opportunity to showcase your personality.

Here are some tips for writing an eye-catching, effective essay:

Be creative. But stick to your true personality.

Admission counselors read hundreds or even thousands of application essays each year, so you want to grab their attention and show another dimension of yourself. You can use wit and humor, but keep in mind that tone is tough to decipher in written form. I’ve seen more than a few essays backfire when a student’s intention did not come across clearly in writing. If you have a great sense of humor and can communicate it well, go for it. If you’re normally a serious person, use that tactic to create something insightful.

Bring something new to the table.

By the time an admission counselor gets to your essay, she or he will have already read a detailed description of your accomplishments, your test scores, and how well you did in high school English. Make sure your essay brings a new element to the table. Did you overcome unusual circumstances to get to where you are now? Do you have a unique take on a classic movie and how it relates to the world? Were you raised in a foreign country, which has shaped your opinions of American culture? These are all interesting topics that allow you to expand on what you think. That’s what the essay is all about.

Address your imperfections head on.

You’re not perfect? No one is. And admission counselors don’t expect you to be. But if you feel a need to explain why your test scores are not a true reflection of your ability, or that you’re just not cut out for a career in quantum physics, now’s your chance to do so. Address your imperfections clearly and honestly, and explain how you have dealt with them. This will demonstrate that you are really ready for college. Finally, explain why this college is a perfect fit for you, and what you will bring to the community.

When you have finished proofreading your essay, proofread it again.

Submit your essay only when you are certain that is has no grammatical errors or typos. Write a first draft of the essay and proofread it carefully. Then, ask a friend, a parent, or a teacher to take a look. Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize mistakes if you have been staring at your essay for hours. Getting a fresh perspective is helpful, and it can prevent you from submitting an essay with unnecessary mistakes. After all, you want the admission counselors to notice your creativity and insight, not your spelling mistakes or misuse of commas.

Have fun! Consider the essay an opportunity, not an ordeal.

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How to Go for the Dough when Applying for College
By Lee Harrell

Lee Harrell

The most important step at this stage is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA.

Even if you doubt you’ll qualify for need-based financial aid, you should complete this form. It’s free to file online and relatively painless.

Ensuring eligibility

By completing the FAFSA, you ensure that you’ll be considered for all categories of aid a college has to offer, including federal, state, and institutional grants, loans, and scholarships. If you don’t file, you may not be considered for any help at all.

You and your parents can complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov any time after Jan. 1 for the upcoming academic year. And sooner is better in this case. Although many colleges have deadlines in the spring, they make financial aid awards on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wait until the last minute, some pools of potential cash may already be gone.

Easing through the process

The most important instruction for completing the FAFSA is to be accurate and be on time. But the process also will go more smoothly if you use your name as printed on your Social Security card and you use actual tax returns for both you and your parents. W-2 forms lack the full information necessary for the FAFSA.

To help ensure accuracy, take time to complete the online worksheet before you enter your final information into the FAFSA itself. The worksheet follows the same order as the final form, which makes data easy to transfer.

Meeting deadlines

Although being accurate is extremely important, if you think you may miss a college’s deadline because your or your parents’ tax returns are not complete, use estimated information. You don’t want to risk missing a deadline, and you can update the estimated information later.

Other helpful tips for completing the FAFSA:

• If your parents are divorced or separated, include information from the parent with whom you lived the longest during the last 12 months.
• If you have a stepparent, be sure to include that person’s information on the FAFSA.
• Include yourself in the household size, even if you don’t live there.
• Keep a printout of your FAFSA results and keep copies of the worksheets and other records used to complete the FAFSA.
• Make sure you and one of your parents sign the FAFSA. You both should sign the FAFSA electronically with a personal identification number (PIN). You and your parents can apply for a PIN from the FAFSA Web site.

Changing circumstances

If you complete your form, but your family’s financial circumstances change soon after—because of unemployment, disability, etc.—contact your college to discuss appealing your aid status. Most colleges have procedures that may help you receive more aid.

If you need assistance with the FAFSA or other aid issues, don’t hesitate to contact your college’s financial aid office. Financial aid administrators are available to help you complete financial aid forms, determine your eligibility, and answer your questions.

Finally, financial aid information nights are provided by many high schools during your senior year. These sessions are a great source of information for you and your parents to learn more about the financial aid process.

Lee Harrell is the assistant vice president of admission and financial aid for Ohio Wesleyan University.

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Don’t Give up the Quest for College Cash
By Lee Harrell

Lee Harrell

Start at the Beginning

Chances are you’ve already filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). But if you haven’t completed this form, do it. Today. It is a key component in your search for college cash.

Most schools ask students to file the FAFSA in early spring, so completing it now probably won’t get you additional aid from your college or university. But it may open doors to otherwise inaccessible federal and state grants and loans. To speed the process, you can complete the form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Take time to fill out the accompanying worksheet to help ensure accuracy.

Next, make sure you’ve completed an internal financial aid application for your college. Not all schools have separate forms, but for those that do, even filing the form late may open up some additional aid opportunities.

Put on your Detective Hat

Investigate private scholarships and grants. A good place to start is with a telephone call to your college’s financial aid office to obtain leads on funds that haven’t been awarded yet.

Many private scholarships and grants are given to students who meet very specific criteria. If the right applicants haven’t been found, money still may be available. In addition, the criteria may be eased over time to ensure that the funds are put to good use. So even if you aren’t the perfect match, you still may be rewarded for your perseverance and persistence.

You’ll also want to undertake some online sleuthing by visiting free Web sites such as www.fastweb.org. Be careful about sites that ask you to pay for scholarship leads or other financial aid advice. All of the information you really need should be available to you at no cost.

Talk to Mom and Dad

At this point, you may need to sit down with your parents to discuss their taking out a federal Parent PLUS loan. This loan allows your parents to borrow money on your behalf. A FAFSA filing is not necessarily required, but it is still recommended to help your college verify your status for the loan as quickly as possible.

There’s no deadline for applications, and Parent PLUS loans offer simple terms with only a basic credit check. To learn more about this option, visit studentaid.ed.gov.

Consider taking out a private loan. In this case, the loan will be made in your name, but your parents still may need to co-sign for it. Talk with them about whether they are willing and able to take this step. If your family pursues a private loan, you may want to ask whether the loan includes a “co-signer release” benefit. Such a provision would release your parents from responsibility after you make a specified number of on-time payments.

Talk to your College—Again

Ask about institutional loans. Some colleges set aside funds to loan to students who are unable to secure Parent PLUS or private loans. Institutional loans may not be awarded as part of a college’s normal financial aid package, and such loans typically aren’t widely publicized.

You also may want to talk to your school about deferring your enrollment. Many colleges will hold your place for up to a year, giving you more time to work and earn the money you need.

Above all else, remember that college is a long-term investment in your future. Yes, the thought of living on a tight budget and incurring debt can be daunting, but making these sacrifices today can pay big rewards down the line.

For more information about any of these options, contact your college financial aid office. The staff will be happy to work with you.

Lee Harrell is the assistant vice president of admission and financial aid for Ohio Wesleyan University.

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I Didn’t Get into my First-Choice School—Now What?

First, don’t take it personally. No doubt, you possess valuable attributes and many colleges or universities would welcome you with open arms—you just have to find the right fit. Here are a few options to consider:

Reevaluate Your College List

With more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, it is possible that many of the other institutions to which you were admitted could be a “great fit.” If you haven’t yet visited those schools, you will want to get started. Inquire about overnight programs and special “admitted” student programs that you can participate in to better familiarize yourself with the campus, current students, and academic programs.

Additionally, identify characteristics you associated with your first-choice school and see if your other options offer similar programs and interests. If you have been wait-listed at your first choice school, find out what you can do to improve your admission profile. Your continued presence and interest in the school—such as sending additional information or interviewing with someone from the institution’s admissions staff—may improve your chances of gaining entrance.

Education, in part, is what you make of it—there is no harm in giving your second- or third-choice schools a fighting chance. Many times students land on campus and are quickly inspired by a particular professor, or develop a close-knit group of friends through an extra-curricular activity. What started out as a secondary thought could very well transform into your first choice, and the place you call home. You will never know until you try.

Check into Schools with Rolling Admissions

Although the admission deadline has passed for some institutions, there are still some great schools out there that will accept applications. Talk with your guidance counselor about these schools and what could be the right fit for you based on your academic interests. Another good option is to check out the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) online at www.nacacnet.org. This association serves as a clearinghouse of information for colleges and universities still seeking to fill spots for the upcoming academic year.

Enroll in Another Institution, with a Plan to Transfer

If you are convinced that your first-choice school is the place for you, enrolling at another institution and planning to transfer the following year is always an option. However, there are few things you will want to consider in your first year. First, you will want to work closely with your academic advisor and choose courses carefully to ensure that most—if not all—credit hours will transfer. Also, checking transfer deadlines is very important. For schools that accept spring transfers, you will often need to have your application ready by November. However, many highly selective institutions will not consider transfers until a year of study has been completed at another institution. In addition, it is important to remember that applying as a transfer does not automatically increase your chances of admission. You will need to show how you have grown since high school—academically and in other experiences.

Furthermore, it is important to give your freshman year a chance, no matter where you are. Not getting into your first choice is disappointing, but there could be a powerful reason behind this. Maybe your second choice is truly the better fit. It is important to keep an open mind and give yourself the opportunity to really experience college to the fullest wherever you may be. You never know what can happen.

Consider a “Gap” Year

For some students, taking a year off after the senior year of high school provides an invaluable opportunity to strengthen their academic profile and personal development. This period of time, known as a “gap” year, can be used to complete a post-graduate year at a private boarding school; to work part-time and take classes at a local community college or technical school; or even to participate in a leadership building opportunity such as City Year or National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). The key is to make yourself more attractive to potential colleges by strengthening your academic record and racking up real-world experiences.

Wherever you find yourself after high school, fully engage yourself in whatever you do. Every experience is a learning opportunity.

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Tips for Completing the College Application Form

Just do it!

If you’ve been procrastinating, it’s time to take action. Meeting—and especially beating—the application deadline shows your maturity and your genuine interest in a college. Applying early also increases your chances of standing out in the minds of admission counselors and scholarship judges. They’ll be able to give your application more time and attention if it arrives before the deadline deluge.

It’s important to submit all required paperwork. If you use the Common Application, accepted by many schools today, you may be required to submit a supplement before your application is considered complete.

And speaking of complete, don’t forget to make sure that guidance counselors, teachers, and other sources of reference letters submit all necessary documents on your behalf. You may want to keep a calendar with due dates highlighted to verify that you’ve met every deadline.

Be prepared

As important as it is for you to get your paperwork submitted, it is equally important for you to know something about the schools to which you apply. The Common Application makes it easy to apply to several schools with just a few keystrokes, but take time to investigate each institution before you move forward.

If a campus visit isn’t feasible at this stage, consider participating in an online chat or similar interactive opportunity. Admission counselors also will be happy to connect with you via telephone calls, instant messages, text messages, and e-mails. Now is an opportune time to let the schools get to know you and to see your interest in the opportunities they provide. This also will help you to find the right college for your goals and needs.

Employ the essay

Don’t let this opportunity slip by for you to distinguish yourself. By now, the admission counselors and scholarship judges will have seen your transcript and read your letters of recommendation. So they’ll know a lot about you, but they won’t know you.

Read your essay options carefully and choose the one that lets you respond from the heart, the one that shows a dimension of your personality not found on your transcript. Use specific examples to bring your story to life. Don’t exaggerate and don’t force humor or other emotions. Be yourself.

Take full advantage of this opportunity to get into the right college for you. Finding the right fit will make a lifetime of difference.

By the way, if no word limit is listed for your essay, try to keep your composition to one page — 500 words is always a good guideline. Also, if you think something about your transcript needs elaboration, share the information in a separate statement. Don’t use your essay to explain how a case of mono negatively affected your math grade.

Read it again

Before you submit it, read your application one more time for typos and other issues. Ask a friend or parent to read it for you, too. It’s important that the document represent your work, but it’s also important that it be error-free.

If you are submitting the application online, be sure that it files properly. Save your PIN for each school in a secure but convenient location and check your application status periodically to make sure things are moving forward.

Uphold your commitments

If you apply to a school as either an “early decision” or “early action” candidate, be sure you understand the terms and follow through with the guidelines. At most schools, “early decision” means that if you are admitted, you will accept. This is considered a binding enrollment decision, and it requires you to withdraw all other pending college applications.

An “early action” application means that you will be notified as soon as possible about whether you are being admitted—typically by Jan. 15—but you still have until May 1 to make your final decision. If you have questions about whether either option is right for you, check with the college. An admission counselor will be happy to help.

Above all, as you complete your college application, it’s important that you see the document for what it is: one more chance for you to find the right school to challenge you, excite you, and prepare you for a bright future.

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Making the Grade in College
By Joan McLean

Joan McLean

It’s an experience you’ve been anticipating with both excitement and fear. You did fine in high school and are looking forward to fresh challenges, but you’ve also heard that college coursework is different and difficult. That’s true, but there are some time-tested strategies that will help you make the grade in your new environment.

Attend all of your classes

That may sound simple, but college is a different world. In addition to your academic life, your sleeping and eating patterns and social life all may change—and not necessarily for the better. To ensure classroom success, you need to start by showing up. You’ll have many professors who won’t mandate attendance or comment on your absence. But they will expect you to complete and understand every assignment. Besides, getting to know your professors and taking part in lively classroom discussions are among the most rewarding pieces of a college education.

Complete work when it’s assigned

Don’t put off homework until the last minute. That’s especially true when it comes to cracking open your new textbooks. You can be hit hard if you don’t keep up with the reading, which often requires intense concentration. If you’re used to skimming, plan to dive in to get a good understanding of your new college material. A general rule of thumb is to spend three hours studying out of class—reading, writing papers, preparing for exams, etc.—for each hour you spend in class.

Meet with professors to address concerns

If you are struggling, speak up. Schedule time to meet with your professors to discuss your concerns. Most professors won’t offer extra-credit assignments to boost grades, but they will help you to better understand their expectations and your responsibilities. In addition, they can steer you toward additional campus assistance, such as tutoring services and academic resource centers. Such centers often provide no-cost assistance with time management, study skills, note taking, test preparation, and test performance. They also may provide help with math and writing skills, and with learning disability issues. Your academic adviser also is available to assist you, so make time to meet with him or her shortly after arriving on campus and before any issues arise.

Take ownership of your education

That’s really the bottom line. You were admitted into the college because the school believed in you. Now believe in yourself. But be responsible and realistic. If you’re not doing well in a class, don’t expect everything to “work itself out in the end.” Take action. Now. This can mean everything from making sure you are studying in an appropriate setting to reducing the time you are spending on extracurricular activities. Whatever is needed, you have to figure it out and do it.

It may take a while to get your college bearings, but it’ll be worth it. The experience will change your life and help you to become the person you are meant to be.

You’ll know all is well when you catch yourself working to learn something not because you were assigned to learn it, but because it’s something you want to know. That’s when you’ve truly taken ownership of your college education.

Joan McLean, Ph.D., is the associate dean for first-year students and a professor of politics and government at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.

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