Updated FAFSA (2023): Rollout Delayed

If you couldn’t attend the Parent Coffee for the Senior College Application Process (September 29th) or the Financial Aid Night (October 19th), let me bring you up to speed.  For the 2024-25 award year, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is getting a facelift that includes a redesign and fewer questions.  Sounds amazing, right?  Perhaps it was too good to be true…the U.S. Department of Education pushed the deadline from December 1st to December 31st.  Sigh.  

While this is frustrating to learn, HHS counselors encourage families to take a deep breath, enjoy the holiday season, and get ready to hit the ground running in the new year.  The silver lining is that if parents and families were a little behind the eight ball and hadn’t had the time to look into deadlines this fall, it’s still not too late.  You are still in the game! During the winter break, students can prepare by setting up their username and password on the studentaid.gov website and getting their FSA ID.  Additionally, the new FAFSA will force every contributor to have a verified FSA ID, so parents or guardians should also start to create their own ID since it takes a few days to validate the information.  

I do recognize that adding one more item to the madness of the holiday season might be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back.  Still, don’t assume filling out the FAFSA is too much trouble; previously, the average student could have completed it in less than an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Education.  However, the updates to the FAFSA process are designed to simplify the form and reduce the number of questions that families need to answer.  One of the key changes is the use of “skip logic,” allowing applicants to answer questions that are relevant to their specific circumstances.  This new feature allows families to bypass sections so they don’t waste time answering questions that don’t pertain to them.  Combined with the IRS Direct Data Exchange (formerly known as the IRS Data Retrieval Tool), families can automatically transfer their tax information directly to the FAFSA.  Thus, the new FASFA is certainly more streamlined since it reduces errors since families won’t have to manually enter tax information.

It’s worth noting that some families in Hopkinton say they don’t intend to file since they don’t believe they qualify; however, we think you should reconsider this viewpoint.  It’s true that the higher your family’s income is, the lower your chances of receiving this type of federal aid.  According to the Department of Education, in 2020-21, approximately 66% of all Pell Grant recipients had incomes less than or equal to $30,000.  The new FAFSA form reflects updates to student aid calculations that will extend Pell Grants to more students in 2024-25, as eligibility will be linked to family size and the federal poverty level.  But the Pell Grant isn’t the only reason to fill out the FAFSA.  Information submitted on it can qualify students for other nonfederal grants—from state governments, private entities, and colleges themselves—that are available to students from higher-income households as well.  Even some merit-based scholarships offered by colleges and universities require applicants to file the FAFSA (Margaret Giles, 2023).  Thus, many school counselors and college planning experts recommend that students from higher-income households also fill out the FAFSA, especially if they live in Massachusetts.  If your child qualified for the John and Abigail Adams or Stanley Koplik Award due to their MCAS scores, your family must apply for the FAFSA annually to earn that scholarship in our public state and university systems.

To sum up, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the changes to the FAFSA process, and file it once it opens.  Check out videos to prepare yourself for December 31st.  Be sure to check the FAFSA website regularly for updates on the new process, and double-check your child’s entire college list (using their official financial aid website) to see what the first deadline is among all of them.  Finally, if you need assistance, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) provides free FAFSA help through their website.  In particular, they are offering an upcoming virtual “FAFSA Festival,” on January 24th, from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM, where families will be paired with an expert who can answer FAFSA questions and help complete the online application.  

Though I don’t like to say it, the rollout on the 31st will be considered “a soft launch,” and families should expect possible maintenance pauses, waiting rooms, glitches, and other delays throughout January, so certainly use MEFA to guide you through this process.  No one expects you to complete it on New Year’s Day, so you have time on your side, especially compared to previous years.  Counselors are optimistic that all families can complete this new form with patience, so try to make it your New Year’s resolution!  If you’re like me, it might be the only one you complete.

Career Seminars (Flex Block) for May

Hey parents and students, Ms. Lechtanski just posted the Career Seminar Schedule for May 2022.  Please read below!  Most sessions are during flex block, so please use the adaptive schedule to sign up for a session or more.

May 4: Physician:  Dr. James Kenealy 

An otolaryngologist, a physician with this job title is also referred to as an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor.  ENTs deal with anything that has to do with the head, neck, and ears in adults and children including hearing, ear surgeries, cancers of the head, neck, and throat, problems with sinuses, the larynx or thyroid and may perform cosmetic or reconstructive surgery on the head and neck. Talk to Dr. Kenealy to learn about what it’s like to go to medical school and become a physician, how long it takes to become an ENT, more about the type of work he does as an ENT, the pros and cons of being a physician and how he manages his work-life balance.  NOTE: This is a special evening session on Wednesday at 7 pm.  If you're interested, email Mrs. Lechtanski (vlechtanski@hopkinton.k12.ma.us) to get the zoom link for this session.

May 10: Graphic Designer: Katie Wilson

Graphic designers are experts in visual communication. They use colors, photos, font styles, and other graphics to convey a message. Their aim is to tell a story or create a certain feeling. They help to shape an identity for a product, service, or company. Their work can persuade, inform, and entertain the public (careercruising.com).

May 12: Tech Entrepreneur: Jon Clark

Do you have lots of good ideas about how to sell products or services? Are you business-minded and innovative? Entrepreneurs can start a business with any product or service. The product can be anything from car parts to dog walking to online games.  The people who invented personal computers, for example, were well ahead of their time. Other people in this field decide to work with an existing product or service. They either improve it or figure out how to provide it to customers more efficiently (careercruising.com).

May 17: Material Science Engineer: Ashley Kaiser

Materials engineers create and study materials at the atomic level. They use computers to understand and model the characteristics of materials and their components. They solve problems in several different engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.

May 19: James Coles- Environmental Scientist

Environmental scientists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to preserve the Earth, using their expertise of the natural sciences to protect wildlife and human health. They may clean up polluted areas, advise policymakers, or work with industry to reduce waste.

NOTE: If a teacher requests you during Flex Block or you are expected to attend a class meeting or assembly, you cannot attend the career seminar.  Any questions? Email Mrs. Lechtanski.

HHS Junior College Admissions Night (3.10.22), Parent FAQs, Part III: College Timeline Questions

Hello families! Thank you so much to all parents and juniors that attended our college admission night on March 10th.  As promised, I will continue to answer your FAQs that were not addressed in the presentation.  As always, if you do have concerns, please reach out to your designated counselor, or to me, kwurster@hopkinton.k12.ma.us, as I can direct you appropriately.

PARENT FAQs, PART III: College Timeline Questions

How soon should our students apply?  Our understanding is that we must apply as early as November of their senior year for some schools.

All colleges have different deadlines, as well as application types.  For example, many prestigious schools only offer Early Decision (a binding contract in which your child is committed to the school if they get accepted) or Regular Decision (non-binding).  Some colleges/universities do offer early action (non-binding), but not all, so it’s usually not possible to apply to all colleges early, since a student can only apply to one Early Decision school.  Generally speaking, Early Decision/Early Action deadlines vary from October 15th (mostly southern schools), November 1st, November 15th, or sometimes December 1st.  Regular Decision (or Early Decision II) deadlines are generally on January 1st or January 15th.  My most significant tip is to use the Common Application (www.commonapp.org) to look up college deadlines in one swoop; check out my video to see a demo.

When is the right time to visit colleges?

There is really no “right” or “wrong,” and you’ll have to follow your child’s lead.  Listen to and observe your child.  If they are interested in looking at colleges, go for it.  If they seem hesitant or anxious, it’s best to take it slow.  Starting these visits in junior year is the most common timeline, however, select students feel that the “right” time is towards the end of the sophomore year, but others don’t get their feet wet until their senior year.

When do students formally apply for college?

Applications are submitted in senior year.  Early action (non-binding)  and early decision (binding) deadlines range from October 15 to December 1.  Regular decision deadlines are usually between January 1 and February 15.  It is suggested that students apply to some colleges in the fall, and others in January to keep an even pace while writing supplemental essays.  Remember, juniors should choose their senior year courses wisely as it is exhausting to keep up with multiple rigorous classes while balancing college applications and extracurricular activities.  

When can Juniors start to request recommendations from Hopkinton High School faculty?

We recommend juniors ask a teacher or two for a recommendation during the spring of grade 11.  See this link for guidelines for letters, though it is best to go to the college’s own website to confirm as policies may change unexpectedly.

What is your recommendation around early acceptance and early decision?

It is my feeling that if a school offers early action, and if the student is in the ballpark GPA and SAT/ACT-wise, it is suggested that the senior capitalize on this opportunity not only because they will hear back early, but their financial aid package may be better.  However, early decision is an entirely different beast. Not only is the student, parent, and counselor signing a binding contract, committing the applicant to the school if they are accepted, it will not allow the family to compare financial aid packages from different schools.  Hence, the family should expect they will pay full price for the college/university since the institution has no incentive to “sweeten the deal” since the senior is already committed.  Although the early decision pool does generate a high acceptance rate, the student really needs to be sure the college is hands-down their  #1 choice, and that the family is able to pay the entire expense.

What is the linear process for applying to colleges now? What do we need to be doing now, this summer, and in the fall?

Great question!  See this college planning timeline.

HHS Junior College Admissions Night (3.10.22), Parent FAQs, Part II: The College Search

Hello families! It’s finally here; the HHS College Admissions Night. In this post, I answer questions related to the college search. Please keep in mind that all families are individual, and your child may take a different approach than another peer. Generally speaking, there is no “wrong” way to go about it but if you do have concerns, please reach out to your designated counselor, or to me, kwurster@hopkinton.k12.ma.us, as I can direct you appropriately.

Looking forward to seeing you tonight!

PARENT FAQs, PART I:  The College Search

How do I find out which schools are strong in certain majors?

Many websites/periodicals attempt to rank majors, ranging from US News and World Report, niche.com, and ruggsrecommendations.com. However, bear in mind a ranking does not guarantee success at that college or university; one must always consider whether the school “fits” the student’s profile (size, location, campus feel, and other important factors to individual students). Check out Malcolm Gladwell’s lecture on “Why You Shouldn’t Go to Harvard.”

How important is it to do virtual or in-person college tours to increase chances of acceptance to a college?

It is true that many colleges track students’ contacts, whether that is emailing to the admissions office, attending a virtual tour, or visiting the campus.  It is essential that you make an attempt to visit a local school; if you don't, it may hurt you, as the college may perceive that you're not interested.  Although it is crucial you make an attempt to take these opportunities as they arrive, please note that these visits won’t balance out other more important factors (grades in academic classes, letters of recommendation, the resume, etc.). 

How do you start this process? / How to best narrow down all the potential colleges and universities into a manageable list?

During the junior year, counselors usually recommend that a student visits a few local colleges to see the difference between campuses; for example, one might start with visiting Stonehill, Northeastern, and UConn to see a variety of options (e.g. small vs. big, urban vs. suburban/rural, homogenous student body vs. heterogeneous study body). Once the student has gotten a feel of the differences, they can start to use online search engines or make an appointment with one’s counselor to suggest similar schools to explore next. Students can then start to visit college websites and go on virtual tours to narrow down what schools are worthwhile for an in-person visit. Families can also start by looking at HHS’s average acceptances (GPAs and SATs/ACTs) for specific colleges using Naviance.  If you are a parent and don't have access to this awesome college resource, please reach out to your school counselor.

Most students eventually whittle down their list to about 8-12 colleges to which they will apply, and it’s best that the schools are broken down into categories such as “likely,” “target,” and “reach,” ensuring that roughly a third are in each group. However, this process takes many months, and please feel free to reach out to your school counselor for advice; each family is different, and while some finish the process in December of the senior year, some don’t get to the finish line until graduation. The process is a marathon, not a sprint, so take it at an even pace so your student or family doesn’t get burned out at the beginning.

How to decide which college to pick? / What do you think are the top three things to consider when determining the right school for the student?

This is truly an individual decision, as families have different priorities when evaluating options. I’ve had students apply only to Big Ten schools because they wanted to be in a sporty environment, while others seek prestige or affordability. Most parents want to consider the return on their investment. No factor is wrong to consider, but it is important to contemplate whether the student feels comfortable in the college environment (i.e. the location, size, campus culture, diversity, and so on), as the right fit will likely precede academic success.

How can we keep the process feeling fun and exciting rather than just more work, stress, and pressure for our kids?

Personally, I think the process depends on the child; some students are naturally excited by it, whereas others refuse to engage. Some are in the middle. You can’t really change your child’s opinion on it, but do recognize that starting in their junior year, at every holiday or family get-together, relatives and friends will ask about your child’s college search: where they’re applying to, what their favorite school is, and so on. It can get exhausting. Try not to get swept up in the process, even unintentionally, and find other topics to discuss when you’re with your child. A good suggestion is to designate a college night (perhaps on Sundays, for about an hour) to tackle any burning questions you want to ask, but by doing it in one block, it comes off as less “naggy.” Another department member whose children have all gone through the process suggested posting a whiteboard in a visible location where the parent could write short questions to the junior/senior (“Remember to ask Mr. Smith for a rec letter this week!” or “Did you sign up for your SATs?’), which creates a prominent reminder without causing verbal (sometimes caustic!) interactions. Regardless of how your teenager reacts to the process, please remember: it’s not your fault. If you’re lucky enough to have a child who handles their applications seamlessly with minimal reminders, throw yourself a party and kick up your feet. If you’re not so lucky, don’t beat yourself up; contact your school counselor and we can help.

HHS Junior College Admissions Night (3.10.22), Parent FAQs, Part I: College Exams

Hi families and students, we are nine days away from our HHS Junior College Admissions Night 2022. As part of the registration process, we have welcomed junior families to ask questions that may not be addressed in our upcoming presentation.  Below are some recent FAQs, as well as a short video about college testing. Please note that the webinar is only offered to eleventh-grade students and their parents/guardians, however, the FAQs may be helpful to read regardless of your child's grade.

PARENT FAQs, PART I: College Exams

When should the SAT or ACT be taken by?

Students should take at least one test of the spring of their junior year, and they could re-test in the fall (August/September) to be eligible for most early action deadlines. Be mindful that some southern colleges have early action deadlines of October 15th.

Is it worth taking the SATs or ACTs anymore?

We recommend that a student take at least one college test in the spring of the junior year. Even though many colleges are test-optional, some still require them. It’s better to get a test under one’s belt now rather than panicking/scrambling at the last minute. Please go to sat.org or act.org to register, and make sure that your child knows the username and password in case they need access at school.  Additionally, here is a doc listing all testing dates for 2022, as well as helpful tips and resources.

Will schools remain test-optional?

We hope so!!! However, it is still too early to predict what might happen; some colleges are committed to remaining test-optional until 2026 (or so) to track data to see if removing a testing barrier impacted the quality of the students admitted during their test-optional phase.

It is advisable to submit SATs/ACTs to colleges even when they may not be required?

It is advisable to submit scores if the student’s SAT/ACT is average or above the college’s published criteria so it is likely that your child sends scores to some schools but not all of them.  Additionally, it is important to note that some colleges may offer merit money to students whose scores are above the average so gaining a scholarship is always a plus!

How large of a role do SAT and/or ACT scores play in admissions?

In rank order, the most significant factors that admissions officers consider (in order of importance) are grades in academic classes, strength of one’s curricula, standardized tests, the college essay, the school counselor secondary school report, teacher recommendations, and the resume. If one does not submit college exams, admissions will heavily focus on the more subjective parts of the application (e.g. essay(s), recs, and the resume).

What is the difference between the SAT and the ACT?

Please watch Drew Heilpern of Summit Educational Group (time code = 18:35) to understand the difference between the tests.

 

Whoa, it's already 2022...

    I was hoping to post a new article when we returned from winter break, but so much for my New Year’s resolutions. In case you’re new to my blog, I create timely articles for my department about the post-secondary process…well, perhaps in the pandemic turmoil, they’re not as timely as I’d like them to be, but I try! Nevertheless, despite the rollercoaster of the COVID-19 world, this year I’ve seen a lot of bright spots to report to the Hopkinton community. In the fall of 2021, our school instituted a flex block in our schedule, which occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week from 9:55-10:40. During this time, students can meet with teachers, counselors, and other support staff for extra help, remediation, and self-care. Our department seized this opportunity and used these blocks to offer our developmental curriculum to the students on our caseloads, which was an awesome experience as I was able to connect with my students more frequently than in the past. Though we’ve offered these classes for decades, this is was the first time in which counselors could teach their own students in person, so as such, I’ve now seen all of my freshmen at least five times in a group setting. Despite the mask that fogs my glasses, making me feel even more anonymous than my far-sighted colleagues, when I walk into the hallways and classrooms, freshmen now greet me and yell out to me by name. I am very grateful that I was able to establish a strong relationship from the very beginning of this year, and I have flex block to thank for it.

    Counselors are now just wrapping up our Junior Seminars, which cover post-secondary planning. These sessions are heavily focused on the college process, and this week, counselors focused on letters of recommendation (check out this youtube clip from my class), when students should ask their teachers (typically in April/May this year), and what information they should provide once a teacher agrees to a write a recommendation. Additionally, all counselors are required to write a recommendation for all students in support of their applications, and we just assigned My Story this week. This assignment, if done well, enhances the letter that we will write for the student. Additionally, parents are also welcome to add more information to our rec letters via the Parent Brag Sheet. Moms, dads, or guardians are encouraged to answer the outlined questions about your child and return them to their respective counselor; the anecdotes parents provide are super helpful when writing. Often, there are really interesting pieces of information that parents share through this correspondence that I may not have known otherwise. So please, don’t be shy…brag about your child! It can only help.

    I could go on and on about our seminars, but if you’re curious about when your child attended or will attend these classes, you can check it out here. Additionally, even though counselor sessions are focused on career development mostly in the freshmen and sophomore year, the flex block has allowed Valerie Lechtanski, STEAM and CVTE School-Community Career Coordinator, to reach out to any student who wants to meet virtually with a professional in a specific career. In these live sessions, the expert will talk about their journey, how they entered into the field, the future of the career, and what they do on an average day. Here is the calendar for February, and as long as we have enough student interest, we are hoping to provide more options for additional experts to share their stories and inspire youth in Hopkinton.

    Despite the fact that we’re still riding the COVID wave, now that I look back, I do realize that these new initiatives might not have come to fruition if we didn’t need to make structural changes to help transition our students back to a normal school day, whatever normal is now. I am deeply appreciative that I live in a community that is creative and flexible, allowing us to use the ample resources in our school to assist our students. If you’re reading this article and had no idea about our new flex block pilot program, please feel free to reach out to your child’s school counselor, or to me, Kristen Wurster at kwurster@hopkinton.k12.ma.us, and I can direct your question appropriately. In the meantime, be kind, be safe, and stay warm!

A Brief Timeline on the College Process

Well, after a long-induced pandemic hiatus, I've returned to my blog yet again to target our junior students and their parents.  On Thursday, February 25th, the Hopkinton High School's Counseling Department will present a webinar to kick off the eleventh graders' college application process.  If you did not see the recent email inviting the Class of 2022 and their parents to attend, please click here. We have already received many RSVPs, and the reason I'm blogging is to address some of the questions that parents have already asked in advance of the program.  Unfortunately, many of these inquiries are beyond the scope of our webinar's presentation, but I hope to clarify and inform those families who are going through this process for the first time.  I was the guinea pig in my family, as I was the firstborn in a family of four children, and I did not make it easy for my parents.  Stay tuned for a separate post addressing how parents can cope with the college process with a teenager who refuses to engage.

But, I digress; let's focus on the now.  Rest assured that the college application process spans over a year, and at this stage of the game, no one is behind. Your goal in the spring of your junior year is to RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. Yes, there will be time to start applications, write college essays, craft resumes, and hone specific nuances of the process. Still, your current focus should be narrowing down your options so by the time you hit August of your senior year, you will have at least a handful of schools to which you plan to apply. You should also sign up for at least one college exam (SAT/ACT) in the spring of the junior year; if you haven't done so, check out this helpful webinar to learn more about the differences between the SATs/ACTs, or contact your child's school counselor to offer advice.

Additionally, all juniors are required to attend a mandatory Junior Seminar (February-March), in which each counselor meets with all of their students in a small group setting, addressing certain specific topics such as Finding your Fit/Using Naviance, The Common Application, the College Essay, Letters of Recommendation, Financial Aid/Scholarships, and more.  Check out this doc to see what you should be doing each season for the next year.  Additionally, if you want to watch a video with yours truly, click below to view a YouTube clip.

Here are some time codes so you can fast forward to areas in which you have interest:

1:15:  College Timeline:  The Here and Now

4:00:  The Junior Seminar

5:15:  Fall FAQs:  How many colleges to which students typically apply?

7:40:  Application Types (Early Action versus Early Decision)

11:30:  November 1st/15th Deadlines:  What grades are sent?

12:35:  Regular Decision Deadlines (January 1st/15th):  What grades are sent?

14:55:  Rolling admissions

16:25:  The FAFSA

18:20:  Scholarships

As always, please contact your child's counselor if you have any follow-up questions; or, at the very least, email me at Kristen Wurster kwurster@hopkinton.k12.ma.us so I can direct you to the correct person.  As always, it takes a village, and in the next year or so, your counselor will be an essential villager who will guide you through the process, not only through graduation but potentially beyond.  Please don't be shy in reaching out because this is how we forge strong relationships with our students and families.

Flexibility of Colleges During COVID-19

If you've read my most recent article regarding colleges going test-optional in the wake of COVID cancellations, I thought I would share another (hopefully reassuring) update for juniors who are worried about their applications in the fall of 2020.  With the most humble thanks to Wayland High School, whose counselors compiled these revisions to colleges' policies for the next admissions cycle, it is clear to see that the college world has turned upside-down, and changes will continue to evolve into the summer and fall.  The bright side of the chaos:  all students nationwide are now on an even playing field.  School closures are ubiquitous, and 11th-graders are forced to transition to remote learning.  Opportunities will be more limited, as internships, summer jobs, and extracurricular activities have been suspended or postponed.  Although these ideas may send students into a tailspin, fretting over the "what ifs" is not a healthy frame of mind.  Remember, colleges have always used holistic review when evaluating a student's application, which will be the saving grace for everyone across the nation. 

What's a holistic review?  Essentially, colleges look at a student as a whole person, not select pieces.  Using this approach means that admissions officers will not fault students because the nation (and by default our teenagers) experienced an unprecedented calamity for which we were not prepared.  Thus, colleges will look at trends and the big picture:  Has the applicant taken challenging classes over his/her four years?  Is the student's essay well-written and insightful?  Do the accompanying letters of recommendation demonstrate a deep relationship with staff members, as well as attest to the student's academic strength and character?  Remember, all colleges try to find a way to admit students, and they don't seek out the minutia.

As a counselor, these ideas are nothing new to me; I know colleges don't hyper-focus on a single variable (e.g. a student earning a C+ in a class rather than a B-) to weed students out.  And, they certainly won't try to predict "what if."  Everyone will recognize that the Class of 2021 will look very different from previous years:  yes, their GPAs might be lower.  Their resumes may be a bit shorter.  They may not have any SATs or ACTs to report out.  But that's okay:  essentially, colleges (and students) will have to toss out any expectations that they might have for this fall, and frankly, perhaps the next fall.  Remember that colleges are businesses, and they are concerns about filling their beds for the upcoming freshman class of 2020.  College and university presidents are deeply worried that the coronavirus crisis could wreak havoc on their institutions' finances in the short-term and beyond.  As such, it's possible that it may become even easier to earn acceptance at certain schools if they experience low enrollment in 2020; this upheaval and uncertainly may be a blessing in disguise for any 11th-grade student worried about their prospects in 2021.  So take it from me:  take a deep breath.  Relax.  Stay safe.  And wash your hands...

COVID-19 and Test-Optional Admissions

In the light of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Case Western Reserve University and three other colleges went test-optional last week, citing the cancellation of SAT and ACT exams in March, April, and May.   Case Western's vice president for enrollment management said, “We would rather students focus as best they can on their academic subjects rather than worrying about the SAT or ACT. Testing has always been just one factor in our evaluation of applications, and we are confident that we will continue to make quality admission decisions for those students who are either unable to test or who choose not to submit test scores.” Another representative from the school also commented, "These scores have always made up just a portion of our evaluation of prospective students, and we don't want our future applicants to feel hamstrung by circumstances far outside their control." As a school counselor, I'm sure that my colleges will follow suit within a few weeks or months, and I'm sure that the College Board and the ACT are freaking out.

Why do you ask? I've been a counselor for close to fifteen years, and every year, colleges decide to remove entrance exams. Generally speaking, those schools on this list tend to be smaller, private colleges, which often have significantly fewer applicants than larger institutions. As a result, such schools can afford to spend more time considering everything an applicant has to offer, rather than concentrating only on grades and test scores. Some of these test-optional colleges include highly selective institutions such as the University of Chicago (IL), Bowdoin (ME), College of the Holy Cross (MA), Providence (RI), Franklin & Marshall (PA), Hamilton (NY), Smith (MA), Pitzer (CA), Middlebury (VT), Muhlenberg (PA), and Union (NY). For a complete list, visit the website www.fairtest.org.

Sound too good to be true? You are correct to ask yourself what the motivation could be behind a practice that creates more work for schools by making the process less objective. For those skeptics out there, rest assured, these colleges truly are test-optional, and it will not be held against your son or daughter in admissions if s/he chooses not to submit scores. As it turns out, colleges actually reap many benefits, prestige-wise, by not requiring the submission of scores in the application process. According to Lynn Shaughnessy’s (2009) article in the New York Times, it has long been documented that standardized tests favor families from higher socioeconomic brackets who can afford expensive test-preparation courses. Since colleges are engaged in an intense competition to recruit more applications each year, test-optional policies are alluring because they attract significantly more students, particularly ethnically diverse ones. Additionally, the onslaught of applications received after a school removes a testing requirement often makes the school in question appear to be more selective. This phenomenon occurs because colleges maintain the same number of freshman seats each year, but now students who may not have considered the school a possibility due to lower scores become much more likely to throw their hats into the ring. Colleges making the switch from test-mandatory to test-optional typically see an immediate ten to twenty percent increase in the number of applications they receive, whereas it would normally cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional recruitment expenses to achieve the same results. Because “selectivity” is one of many measures used by periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report to create their lists of college rankings, test-optional schools ultimately see their “prestige” rise due to the simple laws of supply and demand.

Another direct effect of not requiring students to submit their test scores is that the average SAT score of accepted applicants is artificially inflated. Because students with low scores are less likely to share their results with admissions officers, their numbers cannot be included in a college’s published averages each year. According to Shaugnessy’s (2009) article, applicants who do not divulge their SAT results generally score 100 to 150 points lower than a typical submitter. Consider Mount Holyoke as an example of this phenomenon: in 2001, when their admissions office required SAT scores as part of a student’s profile, the middle 50 percent of accepted applicants reported scores of 1170-1360 out of 1600. Years later, with only 70% of applicants submitting scores, the range jumped 60 points on both ends, and is now at 1270-1490.

After reading this information, the reader might ask, "Why report scores at all at a test-optional college?" Although there is no current data to suggest how widespread the practice is, it is suspected that a significant number of colleges use test scores as a determining factor in awarding merit scholarships. Sound contradictory? You are right to have raised an eyebrow at this practice; Debra Shaver, director of admissions at Smith, an institution that does not use test scores to award merit scholarships, was quoted as saying, “You can’t say, ‘Tests are not a good tool in the process,” and then say, ‘If you don’t submit your scores you can’t qualify for merit aid’...it doesn’t make sense.” 

Whether hypocritical or not, the fact remains that going test-optional has been a hot trend for colleges each year, and with the windfall of COVID-19 this spring, I am guessing that removing a testing barrier will make practical sense for all students applying in the Fall of 2020. And, even though colleges are purporting that this policy is only for the application season of 2020-21, I do wonder if the benefits associated with this decision will entice them to make it their standard approach. Regardless of what occurs in the future, it is important for students and parents to make informed decisions when deciding whether to submit scores at these schools. As with every facet of the application process, thorough research is your best protection against missing out on an opportunity to gain admission or a possible scholarship at a college or university. Juniors should email admissions officers for their individual advice regarding what criteria should be used when deciding whether or not to report scores to their specific institution, and parents should be listening to responses with an open yet critical ear. As always, if questions persist, do not hesitate to ask a high school counselor for input. 

All statistics and quotations courtesy of Lynn O’Shaughnessy’s article, “The Other Side of Test-Optional,” appearing in the July 26th 2009 edition of The New York Times. 

Too Many Choices?

In the throe of the scheduling madness, I always ask myself, "Why do we need so many options?" I hesitate to write, "Back in my day...," causing the reader to perceive I am out of touch, but nonetheless, I continue to see the stress level in my students increase more and more every year.  It starts in mid-August when students receive their schedules for the upcoming year and are disappointed they didn't get their top elective or a preferred teacher.  Begging commences, and sometimes tears are shed, but eventually, the student moves on and copes, yet still disappointed that s/he didn't receive the ideal schedule.  Then, once scheduling is officially finalized (at least for this fall; it will rear its ugly head in January) the senior college application frenzy initiates, with a litany of questions from parents and students:

“If I’m applying to a college that is test-optional, should I submit my scores? Do you think I’d be better off going to a small liberal arts school or to a university that has lots of options? Is it more practical to major in biology rather than enter into a pre-med program? If a school has a rolling deadline, when should I apply?  Will I be penalized for not writing the “optional” essay on this supplement? Do you think I should apply single-choice early action to Yale or early decision to BC?”

I often find myself exhausted by the number of decisions my students have to make regarding college choice. It all starts during junior year, in which students are forced to tackle the gargantuan task of whittling down their list from an initial pool of 3000 to about 6 or 10.  It finally ends with the senior application process, in which even the savviest 12th grader can get swept away in the minutia of how to present the best application package to colleges.

In the counseling department, we do our best to guide students towards making informed choices, but sometimes I sense that certain seniors are left disappointed, fearing that by making a final decision, they may have lost out on an opportunity at a different college. The more I started thinking about the abundance of alternatives that are available in our lives (not only in the world of college admissions but also outside our front doors) the more I began to realize how crippling making these decisions can be.

My curiosity drove me to research the notion of choice and I was surprised to find that there have been a variety of studies done on this concept. Barry Schwartz, a psychology professor at Swarthmore College, notes that people living in a westernized society often make the assumption that the more options people have, the more freedom they enjoy. He notes that due to America’s capitalistic mentality, it is now possible to purchase more than 175 different types of salad dressing in a typical grocery store. At his local electronics store, he calculates that a shopper could end up buying one of 6.5 million different configurations of stereo systems.

However, as it turns out, being presented with too many options is stressful to our brains; it gives us too many ideas to compare and contrast. As a result, Schwartz postulates that an excess of choice imposes two negative effects: one, it produces paralysis rather than liberation. With so many options, it can be difficult to choose at all.  Looking back on my own application process, I now realize that my desire to avoid choices may have led me to choose the college that I did.  I didn’t want to research too many schools for fear of being confused by all of the options...and, I'm not going to lie, touring schools took me away from my friends.  As such, I visited one school in Boston, felt like I would fit in there, so I decided to attend.  My search was done.

Additionally, the second consequence of copious choices is that ultimately, we end up less satisfied with the selection we eventually make. Schwartz’s theory is that if we invest significant time and energy choosing an option, we expect it to be ideal. If it is not, we often have a nagging sensation that we could have done better. Since fortunately, most of our decisions are less weighty, one way in which Schwartz suggests we tackle the problem is to become more comfortable with the idea of “good enough.” Seeking perfection, especially in big decisions like colleges is a recipe for misery.

For students or parents who may have been horrified when I admitted to visiting only one school’s campus, I now realize that this fact was, in fact, a blessing in disguise. Another reason I didn’t do more research is that I never expected a school to be absolutely perfect. My expectation helped me to be more realistic about my freshman year; frankly, I wasn’t immediately happy during my first semester, but I recognized that my struggles would likely have remained the same, no matter where I went to school.

Remember that the typical senior does have difficulty transitioning to college, and those who struggle most are often those who idealized their experience before moving into campus. Recognize that nothing is perfect. Movies, television shows, and online media have all hyped up college to be “the best time of our lives,” but in reality, it is not always the case. Although I grew to love my school, it was a process that occurred over time, as I found my niche and grew more comfortable with my identity as a college student.  As an adult, I now realize that going to college is a grand adventure in its own right, as teenagers will experience tremendous growth during these four years.  And, sometimes, struggling can be part of the process that eventually sparks genius; many entrepreneurs say that feeling uncomfortable is the key to success, and if we frame our college experiences in this mindset, society as a whole can reduce the stress level in our teenagers.

January 24th: Coffee with Counselors and the College Process for Students with Disabilities

On January 24th, join the counselors for some morning refreshments and a discussion on the college application process for students with disabilities.  From 7:30am-9:00am, counselors will address the differences between services at the high school and college level, along with information on testing,  the types of accommodations available, and the importance of campus visits.  Ferne Bork of Landmark College will present from the college perspective. 

In case you can't attend the session, HHS counselors recognize that the transition from high school to college can be a confusing time for students with learning disabilities and their families; in addition to the challenges that all students face when transitioning to college, other obstacles confront students who need extra academic support. Complicating the process even further is the fact that there is not a standard model of how special education services must be conducted at the college level.  At a minimum, all colleges are required to offer disability services, and thus all schools are required to designate an institutional contact person who ensures that students with disabilities receive accommodations such as extended test time, a separate exam location, or access to assistive technology. However, this person is not required to have training in special education, and s/he may have additional responsibilities on campus. As such, institutions are not allowed to charge families fees for providing these basic accommodations.

Nonetheless, many institutions go beyond this minimum standard and offer a disability program, which has a full-time coordinator or director. Although the nature of these programs still varies from college to college, they may provide support in study skills, instruction in writing strategies or individual tutoring. In these cases, the college may require that families pay a fee for these more comprehensive programs since the institution will need money to fund additional staff members who run the extra support groups.  If you are a parent who is planning to visit a college in the near future, check out these questions you could ask of the disability service office.

It is also essential for families to know that any special education services, as well as modifications outlined in a student’s IEP, are terminated when the student graduates from high school. At the college level, institutions are not required to change admission standards, course content, or programs of study for a student because of his/her disability; for an applicant to be admitted, the college or university must consider him/her to be “otherwise qualified” despite the existence of a disability. Furthermore, the student is responsible for self-identifying to the college and providing adequate documentation of the disability. If the student chooses not to disclose this information, accommodations will not be made, and they also cannot be granted retroactively to a student who struggled because s/he had not identified him/herself as learning disabled.

If a particular college does not allow for formal self-disclosure on the application, applicants might consider including information about his/her disability in a supplemental statement. Describing how a learning disability affected a particular class, or what techniques the student learned to compensate for his/her weakness can be helpful information for a college to have. Bear in mind that this disclosure will not guarantee admission, but it may give committee members better insight into inconsistencies in his/her transcript, or inconsistencies between grades and standardized test scores. The statement should be carefully and thoughtfully prepared, and counselors are more than happy to help their students work on these disclosures.  As always, starting conversations with counselors early in the process is helpful, so please reach out if you're not able to attend our coffee but still need personal advice for you or your child.  

Resources:  Madaus, J.W. (2005). Navigating the college transition maze. Council for Exceptional Children, Jan/Feb, 32-37. 

November 1st: Coffee with Counselors and Holistic Review

This school year, our counselors are inviting parents for a meet-and-greet opportunity to enjoy coffee and conversations related to the college admissions landscape.  On Friday, November 1st, we will offer our first session (7:30-9:00 a.m.), discussing the holistic admissions process in the United States, which contrasts sharply from the colleges/universities abroad.  In particular, our dialogue will be most informative for first-generation college applicants, as well as families with an international background who may be unfamiliar with the process here.  

Generally speaking, the most selective universities and colleges in the United States consider more than grades and test scores when accepting applicants.  Instead, they use a holistic approach, which according to ThoughtCO,  can be defined as an emphasis on the whole person, not select pieces.  As such, elite colleges lean heavily on extracurricular activities, personal essays, letters of recommendation, demonstrated interest, and college interviews to weigh the merit(s) or detractor(s) of each student.  Colleges want to admit exciting students who will contribute to the campus culture in meaningful ways.  Thus, under a holistic admissions policy, a student with a 4.0 GPA might be denied while an award-winning athlete with a 3.4 GPA might get accepted. The student who wrote an outstanding essay might get preference over the student who had higher ACT/SAT scores but produced a mediocre essay. In general, holistic admissions take into account a student's interests, passions, special talents, and personality, and not simply quantifiable measures, such as GPA or SAT/ACT.

To get a bird's eye view of the admissions process, check out Today's Show, where their reporters were allowed to peer over the shoulders of Grinnell College's admissions staff in 2014, as they sorted and evaluated applicants across the nation.  Although the clip can be stressful to watch, it also liberates the viewer, knowing that the decision is completely out of one's control, and as such, students and families can relax and enjoy the process as much as possible.  We encourage you to watch the clip, take notes, and come prepared to ask questions on November 1st; we are fortunate to have highly seasoned counselors here at HHS, and we are prepared to take the edge off in the college process.

Summit Educational Group: The Importance of a Testing Plan

Calling all parents of juniors and sophomores!

About two weeks ago, Drew Heilpern of Summit Educational Group presented at our Junior Parent Night and offered an in-depth exploration of the landscape of college admissions testing.  In case you missed his engaging approach to the differences between the SAT and ACT, parents and students can now preview this information in the comfort of their home.  Join Summit in a webinar from 6:30-7:30pm tonight by clicking here to learn the importance of a testing plan.   

Although the counseling department and Drew both emphasize that students should wait to take these exams until the spring of the junior year/fall of the senior year, it is always beneficial to get as much information in advance.  On Saturday, October 19th, sophomores will be taking the pre-ACT, whereas juniors have signed up for the PSAT, and this webinar may give you an inclination about your child's strengths and weaknesses without even seeing their scores.  Sign up and you won't regret it!

Summer Tasks for Rising Seniors Applying to College

Rising seniors can undoubtedly make the college application process more smooth by taking some proactive steps in the summer.  Here are some helpful tips for students:

1.  Complete a solid draft of your college essay over the vacation.  Send it to your counselor, so when we are writing your letter of recommendation, we can highlight your strengths that emerge within your narrative.  We can also support your essay by elaborating on your story, or we could amend our letter if the two documents become redundant.  

2.  Visit colleges, even if you don't have time to make an official tour.  Narrow down your list and, ideally, by September, have at least three to four colleges in which you intend to apply.

3.  If needed, create a college email that is separate from your personal email.  It may be useful to allow your parents to have the username and password to this account; about 99% of colleges' communication is entirely electronic, and if you're not consistently checking your email, you may miss essential information.  Your parents can keep you on track by monitoring your college email to see if anything is missing in your application file.

3.  Do some research to see what application(s) is/are required by your schools. Individual southern schools (e.g., Elon, Clemson, U Maryland, U of South Carolina, UT at Austin, U of Florida, James Madison University, and a few others) do not accept the Common App and instead, have signed on to the Coalition.  If you are a person driven by detail, check out the pros and cons of both apps.  My personal advice:  If all of your schools accept both applications, use the Common App; it is more intuitive and user-friendly.  

    After committing to an application, you can start to fill out your personal data, educational background, awards, and activities.  Additionally, add each college onto your account; for the Common App, perform a "College Search" to add schools onto "My Colleges" (see upper right).  For students using the Coalition, click on "Colleges" (see lower right).  Once this step is completed, you can note whether you'll need to write additional supplemental writing pieces for specific schools.  I suggest you should attempt to group topics to minimize the writing you'll need to produce.

4.  If you have an extensive list of extracurriculars (e.g., more than ten significant activities) consider making a resume; here is a clear, concise example, as well as tips on how to format it.  If you don't have more than ten activities, then don't waste your time duplicating your efforts by making a resume.  Most applications (including the Common App and the Coalition) have an "activities" section in which candidates can list roughly ten activities and five awards.  

5.  If you plan to re-take the SAT or ACT in the fall, try to sign up for the earliest test dates available (SAT/August, ACT/September).  You will likely have to go to each website (www.collegeboard.org or actstudent.org) by July/August to register.  Remember, statistics show that most students' scores will peak in the fall of their senior year due to maturity and brain development.  It can't hurt to try these tests again unless you are completely satisfied with your results from your junior year.

The puzzle of the holistic admissions process!

6.  At the end of August, email your teachers who have committed to write your letter of recommendation, and politely remind them of your first application deadline.  Most early deadlines in the Northeast are on November 1st; however, some southern colleges have deadlines on October 15th.

Above all, enjoy your summer and relish the freedom before you head into your senior year.  Try to keep a balance between preparing for college and spending time with friends and family.  Your senior year will fly by, so it is essential to make some high school memories while you have time.