Tamara Keith from American Public Media reports that preparing for the SAT is a good idea, but you’d probably get the same benefit from a $30 at-home study guide as a multi-thousand dollar test-prep course.

David Hawkins from The National Association of College Admissions Counseling says “There needs to be a buyer-beware notice for students and families who are thinking about commercial test preparation.” The group pulled together a report that says the average score increase as a result of prep courses is only 30 points. Out of 2,400.

Hmm … while that might be enough to make or break an Ivy League acceptance for a few people, it’s probably not worth it to the rest of us.

Whether you took an SAT prep course or not, what if your score didn’t turn out quite as high as you’d like? Don’t worry! Standardized tests aren’t for everyone – we know that.

Not all schools require an ACT/SAT score for admission. Schools that don’t often offer a more targeted education, building practical skills rather than general knowledge. Career colleges and technical schools around the country realize that your priorities are different – that test scores don’t matter to you as much as starting a stable career.

A recent issue of Sociology of Education – an American Sociological Association journal – features a report that explores the socioeconomic differences among college transfer students. The sample of students followed in this report began their postsecondary education at a four-year institution. From this group, 33 percent transferred at least once within eight years of graduating from high school. Another 20 percent transferred “laterally,” from one four-year institution to another, and 15 percent transferred in “reverse” to a community college.

Among all these different transfer students, lateral transfers were much more likely than reverse transfers to complete their bachelor’s degree – 69 percent compared to 22 percent. However, both of these figures are lower than the graduation rate of students who don’t transfer at all. They completed their bachelor’s degrees at a rate of 79 percent.

So, if graduation rates are lower for reverse-transfer students, why do some students choose this route? Many education experts assumed that a student’s income, or the income of his or her family would be the deciding factor, but this was actually not the strongest indicator of a transfer decision. According to this study, the strongest indicator of a student’s transfer status is his or her parents’ education level.

Most often, students whose parents had more than a bachelor’s degree were some of the least likely to reverse-transfer. But on the other end of this spectrum, students whose parents had not completed high school were most likely to transfer to a community college.

What could be some reasons behind these trends? Sara Goldrick-Rob, a professor of education policy studies and sociology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, believes first-generation college students face unique challenges and struggle academically during their first year of college. But Professor Goldrick-Rob does have ideas for how to better support these students. In her opinion, four-year colleges have the responsibility to offer these students extra resources to help them succeed. Opportunities for extra advising and information could make the difference in these students’ lives and educations.

So, depending on your situation, leaving your four-year college for community colleges or online colleges might be a better choice. But if you’re thinking about it, explore some of the resources available at your current school. Sticking it out might be the better choice in the long run.

Recently, at least nine college institutions have received gifts totaling over $45 million from a mystery donor. What’s unusual is no one, not even the universities, knows where the money came from.

Typically when an educational institution receives an anonymous donation – they are allowed to know the identity of the donor.  In the recent donation sweep, however – lawyers and middlemen have cornered academic institutions into signed agreements not only disallowing them to know the identity of the donor, but promising not to try and find out.

Some of the schools that received the donations are the University of Iowa colleges receiving 7 million, the University of Southern Mississippi college receiving 6 million, and Purdue’s Indiana college receiving 8 million. It’s not clear whether the gifts come from an individual, organization or group of people with similar interests.

All donations were given on March 1st. Each came with the stipulation that most of the money must go to student scholarships.
Donations have dwindled at several colleges, and many schools have been trying to make ends meet during this economic downturn. These gifts show that someone recognizes the importance of higher education and truly wants to make a difference in the lives of students.  Historically speaking, and only exempting some of the Ivy League institutions – a larger endowment is a typical prelude to enrollment increase.

I would certainly be on the lookout at these specific universities enrollment metrics over the next academic year – as opportunity might arise for those looking to attend one of their programs.

While you know what to do if you get an acceptance letter (start packing!), what happens if your application is denied? With the right attitude and attack plan, you can use feelings of rejection or uncertainty to your advantage.

Handling Rejection

So the first letter said your application was declined. Don’t worry; it’s not the end of the world. Naturally, the most common reaction to this kind of news is disappointment, anger and frustration. But don’t give in to those emotions. Instead, use the opportunity to examine your application process more closely:

• Review: Look over your application for spelling, punctuation and any other grammatical errors.
• Get a second opinion: Ask a teacher, counselor or friend to read your application to be certain you are communicating the appropriate attitude and enthusiasm for the school.
• Shift perspectives: Try experimenting with another viewpoint from which you can direct your letter the next time you apply.
• Be positive: Develop the attitude that your acceptance simply wasn’t meant to be . at this time, anyway. Then, use the experience as a motivational tool for you to work that much harder, focusing even more on GPA, extracurricular activities and school involvement. If it’s an option, apply again.

The reasons why you might not be accepted are countless and, in many cases, are entirely out of your control. Some common explanations include limits on class-size and out-of-state students or “inaccurate forecasting,” where the school underestimates the number of admitted students who will actually attend classes.

No matter what the reasoning might be, remember that a letter of rejection is not a rejection of you. The letter is a tool for you to use in reviewing, reevaluating and improving your application.

The college-application process can be an excellent opportunity for you to really get to know more about yourself. Seize each and every opportunity to become better and know that whichever school that welcomes you – with hard work and motivation – you can make it the best four years of your life.

So what do you write about? How do you make your essay memorable?

Sister Mary Brian Bole, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Dallas, says that “the admissions essay can make or break the application. A poor essay, even in the face of good standardized scores, indicates anything from lack of skills to a lack of sufficient work ethic, thus making the applicant a poor risk”.

Some simple guidelines can help you avoid common mistakes students make in their essays and create an outstanding essay:

• Choose a challenging topic. While passion and interesting subject matter are important, a mere personal biography is dull and too frequent. Select a topic that is complex and academic but demonstrates your unique perspective.
• Follow formal essay format. Admissions reps are looking for a persuasive, academic essay. Have a clear, identifiable topic sentence in your opening paragraph and write two to three paragraphs using clear evidence that supports this topic, followed by a conclusion that summarizes your main point. This is the standard that will be used for most college papers; it will help to show you can write in this style.
• Spell check and proofread. An essay filled with spelling errors, incorrect capitalization and poor punctuation will likely be eliminated. More than one or two errors can cause an application to be rejected, so review it carefully.
• Answer the question posed to you. No matter what topic you select, make sure it relates to the question asked. To keep the essay focused and organized, avoid making your subject too broad. Even the most intriguing essay will likely be discarded if the directions are ignored or the theme is unclear. Not responding to or misunderstanding the question are two common errors students commit.
• Be cautious of tone and style. Though you don’t want to sound too stuffy, a more formal tone is preferable to a conversational one. Remember that this essay is for a college application and should show your ability to fit into a scholastic environment. Slang and overly casual writing will not give this impression.
• Avoid the negative. It is fine to write about overcoming personal obstacles, but avoid selling yourself short by highlighting negative aspects of your past. It may sound obvious, but subjects like drug and alcohol abuse or criminal behavior will not paint you in the best possible light. Remember, this essay is intended to give you an advantage over others, not to make yourself appear undesirable.
• Stay away from emotion. If you choose a controversial topic, treat it with evidence and logic, not emotional pleas. Steer clear from wording on religious and political subjects that might be hurtful or sentimental. Insults or negative slurs should always be avoided. Political topics are appropriate only when treated with reason.

Once you have considered these guidelines, take your time writing the essay. Brainstorm multiple ideas and then form your own personal review committee. Ask a respected English teacher to listen to your potential topics and help you decide which will work best for you.

With more than 20,000 applications flooding some major universities
annually, it may take a little something extra for your submission to
stand out in the stack.

One key in ensuring that an admissions team sees your positive attributes
is to choose good references. Typically, colleges require the
following information with each application:

• A listing of your academic capabilities (reflected in your grades)

•
A personal essay

•
Two or more letters of recommendation

While your academic achievements and personal essay are aspects you
can "control," you
may feel at the mercy of your references in terms of what they say about
you in the letters they write. These letters are, after all, extremely
significant in terms of providing a third-person perspective on who
you are as an individual. And their extra touch personalizes your application
for admissions officers, adding a human element to the words
on a piece of paper.

But you have more control over the words that go into your letters of
recommendation than you probably realize. That’s because you choose
who will write those letters. Choosing who writes them can make all the
difference in the world.

Who you choose: BE PICKY!

In selecting someone to write your recommendation, you should consider
a number of elements. To help you remember what each of these elements
are, use the acronym BE PICKY and you’ll choose only the best,
most suitable letter writers:

Break down a list of people whom you know well, and who know you well,
also. Consider:
•
Coaches
•
Teachers
•
Employers
•
Musical Directors

Eliminate those who would not be able to state anything specific about
your positive traits.

Prepare
and ask! Make sure you have all the required forms your recommender
may need, including a stamped, self-addressed envelope for each school
for which you are requesting a letter. Remember, these individuals are
doing you a favor! Be as organized and helpful as possible.

Initiate a time to meet with the referrer to explain what you need from
him or her. Simply leaving the request in a mailbox or on a desk or sending
an e-mail message allows opportunities for your request to get misplaced.

Check in occasionally. It is your responsibility to be sure all deadlines
are met. Plus, the person writing your letter may also be writing recommendations
for others with different deadlines for each letter. A friendly reminder
not only keeps you on track, but keeps your recommender on track too.

Kindness is owed! Be sure to show your appreciation for the referrer for taking the time to help you. Remember, this is a favor he or she
is doing for you.

You are on your way! With
solid recommendations from the people who know you best – those who can
offer specific examples in clear,
concise letters – you are on your way to becoming a student at
the college of your dreams!