Visiting Colleges During the Summer

It is never too early to start visiting colleges! Most students will apply to seven to twelve schools, and very few people have the time or money to visit that many schools.  Dedicating spring break of junior year for college tours - visiting seven schools in seven days - can be grueling and stressful. I don’t recommend it!  Instead, start early and make it fun. 

When my son, Tyler, was eight, we spent a couple of days at my alma mater, Notre Dame.  He loved walking out on the football field and running around, but I knew I needed something more fun if I wanted to spend the afternoon walking around. Enter Geocaching! Geocaching is a scavenger hunt where you search for hidden treasure caches using maps and hints on your phone. We found treasures at Duck Pond, the Golden Dome, the Grotto, and finally back to the South Dining Hall where we enjoyed a well-deserved slice of pizza.

When students tour colleges before they are in the decision process, there is no sense of urgency. They can relax and absorb the information and environment without the pressure of having to decide which colleges to apply to and what to study when they get there.  

Visiting a variety of colleges helps students discover their preferences.  Small or large? Public or private? Liberal art or career focused? Visit as many different types of campuses as possible.

Build in college visits as part of family vacations.  Visiting family in Boston?  Arrange a tour at Tufts, Babson, Northeastern, or any of the more than 60 (!) 4-year colleges in the Boston area.  Headed to the beach in California? Take a day trip to explore UC San Diego, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, or Westmont.

Or is a “staycation” the plan? Start locally to get a baseline impression of college campuses and build from there.

For younger students, you don’t need to do a formal college tour. Most colleges publish maps and walking tours.  Do some research and pick out two or three spots on campus. Attend an event or tour the campus on bikes. Plan to stop and eat at the bookstore, student center, or dining hall.  Customize the tour to your student’s interests.

My son – an athlete – loved to run around on the quads and sports fields.  My nephew – more of a scholar – couldn’t wait to see the libraries and science laboratories.  My niece Chloe – an artist – insisted on stopping at museums and ceramic studios. My personal favorite places are the botanical gardens and arboretums.

For rising juniors and seniors, consider a formal tour and register with the admissions office.  A student tour guide will take you into the dorm rooms, libraries, classrooms, and student centers.  Take notes after your visit.  What did you like? Try to list at least 3 specific things. Anything you didn’t like? Talk to students. Ask lots of questions. Where do students live? Play? Hang out? Ask yourself, can you imagine yourself living on this campus.

Here are some ideas for informal visits to three different local colleges.

University of Utah

Nestled in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, the “U” is our states flagship university. You will get a sense for going to school at a large public research university. You can do a self-guided tour of campus or schedule a formal tour on their website. Check out Lassonde Studios -a unique five-story home for student entrepreneurs. Throw a frisbee on the Rooftop Playfields. Explore rare collections and exhibits at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.  

Attend UMFA’s Third Saturday for Families for a fun, free art-making event for all ages.  On July 15th visit the Abelard Morell exhibit of unique landscapes taken with a camera obsura.  Then make and decorate your own pinhole camera obscura.

Westminster College

Only 2.5 miles south, you will find Westminster - a small (1,287 students), private liberal arts college. Easily walk the 27-acre campus, exploring the trails along Emigration Creek where biology students learn in a classroom-outside-the-classroom experience. Stop at the organic garden where students to collectively grow, eat, and learn more about fresh and healthy food. The garden includes raised vegetable beds, a teaching/gathering space, a permaculture spiral, and compost tumblers. 

Utah State University

Utah’s “land grant university” promotes practical learning. Download a self-guided tour and start the tour at the Taggert Student Center.  Take pictures at the block “A” (for Aggies), meander through the quads to my favorite stop: #12 Aggie Ice Cream. Part of the College of Agriculture and Applied Science, students gain real-world experience in commercial ice cream production from the cow to the cone. Taste the difference! I recommend a kiddie cone of Aggie Space Debris – huckleberry flavored with huckleberry and raspberry swirls, as well as white and dark chocolate flakes.

Should I Still Take The ACT If I Want to Apply to a Test-Optional College?

Several high-profile schools – including Boston University, Tufts, University of Oregon, Oregon State, University of Georgia, and the University of California schools - have recently announced going “test-optional” for the class of 2021.  Test-optional policies give college applicants the choice of whether to submit their standardized test scores.  Does that mean your student doesn’t need to take (or study for) the ACT?  Not really.  It depends. A student will be better positioned with more options if they take - and excel - at the ACT.  Here are a few points to consider:

• Improving your ACT score is easier than improving your GPA. Most schools employ a holistic admissions policy; they look at grades, standardized test scores, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and personal essays. By junior year, the only factors that are still easily influenced are ACT scores, recommendations, and personal essays.  A strong ACT score will still enhance your student’s application even if the school has gone test-optional.   

• Test-Optional does not mean Test Blind.  If a student submits scores, the college admissions team will consider it as part of the application.  If a student scores lower on their test than they hoped, test-optional colleges give them a chance to demonstrate their strengths in other areas without the negative light cast by a low standardized test score. However, for a student who also has a lower GPA or lacks extracurricular achievements, solid SAT or ACT test scores may be the redeeming quality that helps them secure admission.

• Test scores are often required for merit-aid awards. Test scores factor directly into merit-aid awards for many colleges and universities that are test-optional. While test scores are not required for admissions, they are often used to award merit-based scholarships.

• NCAA Division 1 and 2 require ACT scores. NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 schools must meet minimum ACT or SAT requirements.  For more information click here. Similarly, NESCAC collects scores for their league recruiting rules.

For more information and a comprehensive list of test-optional colleges, check out the Fair Test website.

Higher Test Scores = More Merit Money. Really!

The higher your ACT score, the more merit-money will be available.  Raising your ACT score from a 25 to a 27 is worth an additional $3,000 in scholarship money at the University of Utah. Raising it another point – to 28 – is worth an additional $2,000.    

The U makes the scholarship process easy – simply submit your college application by the Dec 1st priority date, and you will automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships.  No additional application is necessary!

Your GPA is calculated from grades 9 through 11;  the ACT/SAT test scores which you included in your application are also used for scholarship selection.  The latest you can take the ACT is the official October test date – October 27, 2018 for rising seniors.

Here is a summary of some of the merit-scholarships offered at the University of Utah.  Each of these scholarships is for seniors of an accredited Utah high school, public or private, who will be entering as freshmen.  Renewable scholarships are contingent on maintaining specific GPA and number of courses per semester. 

Trustee Scholarships

The Trustee Scholarships are based on your GPA and ACT/SAT scores; the minimum qualifying GPA is 3.0 and ACT score is 26.  

Selective Merit Scholarships

The Utah Flagship Scholarship, Utah Academic Scholarship, and Academic Recognition Award

Utah also offers four scholarships rewarding top academic achievement.  Recipients are chosen by University committee from a pool of applicants, who qualify under an index that gives two-thirds consideration to GPA and one-third to ACT/SAT score.

The GPA/ACT requirements to receive a merit-based scholarship varies from year to year, depending on the funding that is available, size, and quality of the applicant pool.  I have included representative scores (from 2014-15) to provide context. These are NOT official cutoffs.

The President’s Scholarship

This is the big one!  Worth approximately $35,000, this scholarship covers tuition, fees, plus the choice of an on-campus housing award or a cash award.  Selection is based on academic excellence, and like the other merit scholarships, the cutoff GPA and ACT scores vary from year to year.  Shown below are representative of 2014-15.  The academic rigor of your high school classes are also considered as part of the selection process.

These are just a few of the scholarship opportunities at the University of Utah.  Check out their website for the most current information and a full listing.

Interested In Improving Your Test Scores?

Breakaway Prep Park City can help in a couple of different ways:

Free Practice Tests:  Breakaway Prep Park City offers free practice tests every Sunday and by appointment.  Sign up to reserve your spot today! Space is limited to 6 students.

One-on-One Tutoring:  One-on-one we can work at your pace, customizing the approach and materials to match your strengths and challenges.  No need to commit to a certain number of sessions or schedule.  Most students find they get the best results by starting test prep 10-12 weeks before the test working a combined 3 hours a week (tutoring and homework.)

Applying Early? Is That The Right Move?

You may be tempted to apply to college early to get ahead of the process.  You might have even heard that applying early will increase your chances at admission.   It would be great to save yourself some time and money by not submitting multiple applications.  And if you are accepted, you are done! No more stress waiting to hear and not knowing where you are going next year.

There are a variety of “early” options out there – it is very important to know the differences.  Which, if any, is right for you? 

Let’s start with Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), and Restrictive Early Action.  All programs consider a student’s application in advance of the regular application deadlines.  The programs may vary by school, however, the one thing all schools have in common is this: Early Decision programs are binding; Early Action plans are not.

Early Decision (Binding)

• If you get in, you have to go.

• You may only apply ED to one school – it better be your first choice!

• Decisions generally come in mid-December.

• You may apply regular decision to other schools, but if accepted ED, you must withdraw.

• You will not be able to compare financial aid packages from multiple schools.

• If rejected, you only have a few weeks to get those regular decision applications submitted.

• Students should work on regular applications while waiting to hear about the early decision.

Early Action (Non-binding)

• If you get in, you do NOT have to go. You don’t even need to decide until May 1.

• Decisions generally come in January/February.

• You may apply to multiple schools EA and/or regular admission.

Restrictive (or Selective) Early Action (Non-binding)

• If you get in, you do not have to go. Like Early Action, you don’t need to decide until May 1.

• Decisions generally come in January/February.

• You may not apply to other colleges’ ED or EA programs.

• You may and should apply to other colleges’ regular admission.

• Harvard, Stanford, and Notre Dame are examples of colleges that offer this program.

• Each school may have various exceptions and restrictions, be sure to understand.

Will applying early increase my chances to be admitted?

Maybe! This is true for some colleges, and false for others.  

Many selective colleges have early decision acceptance rates that can be up to triple their regular decision acceptance rates.  For example, Claremont McKenna College filled more than half - 68% - of their 2021 class from early decision applications.  The ED acceptance rate was 32% vs. 7% for regular decision.  

On the other hand, the University of Denver only filled 11% of the 2021 class from early decision applications.  The ED acceptance rate was 31% vs.54% for regular decision.

What about the U?  The University of Utah has a non-binding early action program.  They accept applications from August through April 1st; however, applying early and by the priority deadline of December 1st is strongly advised according to their website.  Meeting the Dec 1st deadline will mean that students will be notified by Jan 15th and you will have until the national enrollment deposit deadline of May 1 to accept your offer.

For each school on your college list, you should determine what early programs they offer, if any.  And to determine if there is an advantage to applying early, check this spreadsheet that was compiled by independent educational consultants Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy.  The list has data for over 200 colleges.   

Key Considerations for your Application Strategy

• Early Decision is binding; Early Action is not.

• If accepted Early Decision, you will not be able to compare financial aid packages across schools. If financial aid is going to be an important part of your decision, then ED is likely not a good fit for you.

• Applying early *may* improve your chances of admission – it varies by school.

• Your grades and ACT or SAT scores should be at their best when you apply. If your grades dipped junior year but you expect to be able to show improvement first-semester senior year, then regular admission is a better fit. Same with test scores - if you plan to re-take the ACT in December to improve your score, then regular admission is a better fit.

• Selecting a college a big decision, make sure you take the time to research and evaluate all your options.

Still have questions?  Give Kelly a call at 435-487-9651 or email kelly@breakaway-prep-park-city.com to set up a free initial consultation.

Make Your College Essay Sing

Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash

The essay or “personal statement” is just one component of the college application.  But the essay is unique in that it allows the student to demonstrate that they are more than the sum of their grades and ACT scores.  That can be alot of pressure!  Here are some tips to make your essay sing:

1.    Start with your core qualities.  What do you want the college to know about you that they can’t see from your grades and extracurricular activities? Ask family, friends, and mentors to brainstorm the “3 adjectives” that describe you.

2.    Tell a story.  Start with a story or anecdote to grab your reader’s attention. Stories are much more interesting than lectures.  Show, don’t tell about your core qualities. 

3.    Be specific. Most essays are limited to 500-600 words, which is not a lot!  In your stories you will need to be very specific.  Instead of describing an entire 2 weeks at camp, zoom into one meal or activity.

4.    Use your own voice.  Don’t try to impress the reader with big words or a formal style of writing.  Read your draft out loud and ask yourself, do I talk like this?

5.    Start early and iterate. Start early so you can plan on multiple drafts – at least 4 drafts over 2-3 weeks.  Start by getting your thoughts down with no regard for spelling, grammar, or number of words.  Just write!  Then, edit for structure and flow.  Use the third draft to focus on style and voice.  And finally, the last draft corrects punctuation, spelling, and grammar.  

Writing a personal statement can be the most challenging aspect of applying for college.  But it doesn’t have to be.  If you are stuck coming up with ideas for the essay, contact me today to schedule a free 30 minute brainstorming session.