The Common App is out! Seniors, it’s time to create a login and password and begin filling out the Common App, and then also taking a look at the supplements of the schools you selected.
You can find the place to login to new 2010-2011 Common App at https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx
For any questions, we are here to help!
Here is some curious information shared by Carolyn Kost, from the Stevenson School..
Peta’s Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges
http://www.peta2.com/college/c-vegschools-winners.asp
llege/c-vegschools-winners.asp
Sierra Club’s Cool Schools:
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200909/coolschools/
Green Colleges:
http://mycollegeguide.org/blog/12/2009/green-degree-6-ecofriendly-colleges-america/
http://www.insidecollege.com/reno/15-Green-Colleges-and-Universities/253/list.do
Colleges that allow companion animals:
http://mycollegeguide.org/blog/05/2010/pet-friendly-colleges/
http://www.petside.com/the-sidewalk/top-pet-friendly-colleges.php
Mother Jones Magazine Top 10 Activist Schools:
http://www.insidecollege.com/reno/Top-10-Activist-Schools/431/list.do
Carolyn Kost
“We are at the very beginning of the shift from the book to whatever is going to be more important than it.” –Bob Stein, Founder of the Institute for the Future of the Book
We bring to our students this thorough list of schools requiring Subject Tests for Freshman Admissions in 2010-2011. This list was compiled by Cigus Vanni, New Jersey Association for College Admissions Counseling Executive Board Member and member of the Professional Development Committee of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling.
All data provided on this list are current for the 2010-2011 school year. Special circumstances and unusual conditions are indicated wherever known, so please read this list carefully. In all cases, however, be certain to double-check with the school(s) to which you are applying to assure that information on SAT Subject testing is both accurate and up-to-date. Sources of information consulted in the compilation of this list include: The College Handbook 2011, published by The College Board; individual college catalogs and web pages; the Common Data Set of The College Board; and direct contact with individual admission offices.
The list is organized by state with colleges and universities listed alphabetically within each section. If no bracketed statement follows the name of the college, SAT Subject Tests are REQUIRED for admission to that school. The number of SAT Subject Tests required for admission follows the name of the school. If specific SAT Subject Tests are prescribed, this is indicated by <characters in carats>—otherwise, students are free to submit any SAT Subject Tests of their choosing. In all other cases—SAT Subject Tests recommended or known special circumstances—specific information is provided if it is known. If there is a particular number of SAT Subject Tests a school recommends, this is noted; if the school in question does not specify a number, the designation is simply “recommended.”
A special note to homeschooled students: your requirements may be somewhat more extensive than those for individuals that attend public or private school. Please be certain to check with each individual college or university regarding SAT Subject Test requirements (or recommendations) for homeschooled students. The same goes for international students as regards differential expectations and requirements (such as TOEFL, ELPT or additional Subject Tests). Please be sure to check with each individual college or university to which you apply!
NOTE: All references to SAT are to the “new” version of the test (March
2005 and later) containing a Writing section; all references to ACT are to the version with Writing (February 2005 and later)
ALBERTA
University of Alberta [recommended]
California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) <must take Math Level 2
and either Physics, Chemistry or Biology>
Chapman University [optional and used for placement]
Claremont McKenna College [optional—will be used for placement
purposes only if submitted]
Deep Springs College [recommended]
Harvey Mudd College <must take Math Level 2 and one
of student’s choice>
Mills College [recommended if student application “may be enhanced”
by submission of Subject Tests]
Occidental College [recommended]
Pitzer College [recommended; submission of standardized testing optional
if student in top 10% of class or has unweighted GPA 3.5 or greater on 4.0 scale—if not, student may submit any one of the following: SAT or ACT or two Subject Tests (one must be in math) or two or more AP exams with resultant score of 4 or 5 (one in math or science, one in English) or two IB exams (English 1A HL and one math, either Math HL or Math Methods SL) or two graded papers/exams from junior or senior year (one in advanced math, one in Humanities or Social Sciences) with assignment, teacher grade and comments included]
Pomona College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT Reasoning
and two Subject Tests in different areas]
Scripps College [optional in language for placement purposes only]
Stanford University [two “strongly” recommended; if Math, Level 2 preferred]
University of California, Berkeley <two—these must be from different
disciplines (social studies, math, language, English or science—a
student cannot, for example, submit World History and US History,
Chemistry and Biology, or French and Korean) and may not
include Math Level 1; this policy applies to all UC schools below
as well> ##
University of California, Davis
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of California, Merced
University of California, Riverside
University of California, San Diego
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Southern California [recommended]
University of the Pacific [recommended, especially in math and chemistry
for the following majors: life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, pre-pharmacy and allied health fields]
## — beginning with high school Class of 2012, UC schools will discontinue
policy of requiring Subject Tests; certain departments in certain schools
may recommend Subject Tests for Class of 2012 and beyond; UC will
accept submission of Subject Tests after these are no longer required
Connecticut College [submission of standardized testing optional; if
submitted, student may choose from SAT or ACT or two Subject Tests]
Fairfield University [submission of all standardized testing optional—will
consider Subject Tests if submitted]
Trinity College [requires one of the following: ACT, SAT or any two
Subject Tests]
Yale University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and
two Subject Tests]
University of Delaware [recommended, especially for candidates to
Honors Program]
American University [recommended; submission of standardized testing
optional for students applying prior to Nov 1]
Catholic University of America [Subject Test or AP/IB exam in Language
required for Arts/Sciences and Philosophy candidates; consult
proposed major for other recommended SAT Subject Tests used for placement purposes only]
George Washington University [required for applicants to accelerated
degree programs—BA/MD: any math and any science; BA/JD: two of student choice; Integrated Engineering and Medicine: any math and any science: required for Early Admission candidates (those completing high school in fewer than four years—not be confused with Early Decision or Early Action plans)—one math, one of student’s choice; “strongly” recommended for candidates to University Honors Program—any two of student’s choice; recommended for all other applicants]
Georgetown University <three “strongly recommended”>
University of Florida [optional and used for placement only]
University of Miami [Subject Tests required in Math and Science of all
applicants to dual degree programs such as biomedical engineering; for all applicants to accelerated degree options such as physical therapy; and for all applicants to Honors Program in Medicine]
Emory University [“encouraged”—this includes students applying to
Oxford College of Emory University]
University of Georgia [recommended for placement purposes]
Northwestern University [Math Level 2; Chemistry or Physics; and one
other Science Subject Test required of applicants to Integrated Science Program; Math Level 2 and Chemistry required of applicants to Honors Program in Medical Education; three recommended for all other applicants]
University of Notre Dame [required in French, Spanish, German and/or
Latin if student will continue taking language at ND; other
Subject Tests “only considered in admission process if
scores enhance an application]
IOWA
Grinnell College [“strongly” recommended]
Bates College [SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests optional—will be
considered in admission process if submitted]
Bowdoin College [SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests optional—will be
considered in admission process if submitted]
Colby College [applicants may submit SAT or ACT or three Subject
Tests in different areas (cannot submit Math 1 and Math 2, e.g.)]
Goucher College [Subject Tests optional, will be considered in
admission if submitted]
Johns Hopkins University [three recommended; if applying in
Engineering, Math Level 2 and one science recommended]
MASSACHUSETTS
Amherst College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of SAT
and two Subject Tests]
Babson College [optional—will consider if submitted]
Boston College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT
and two Subject Tests]
Boston University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and two
Subject Tests except for applicants to accelerated medical/dental programs who must take SAT or ACT and Math Level 2 and Chemistry; if ACT not submitted, two required of all applicants except those in Fine Arts, Music and Theater Arts for whom submission of Subject Tests is recommended; world language recommended for accelerated med/dental and communications majors]
College of the Holy Cross [all standardized testing optional, will
consider Subject Tests in admission if submitted]
Franklin Olin College of Engineering <Math Level 1 or Level 2 (preferred)
and Biology, Chemistry or Physics>
Hampshire College [submission of standardized testing optional, Subject
Tests considered if submitted]
Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges <two>
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) <one Math, one Science>
Merrimack College [submission of standardized testing optional;
Subject Tests considered if submitted]
Smith College [submission of standardized testing optional—will
consider Subject Tests if submitted]
Tufts University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and two
Subject Tests; if SAT option chosen, prospective engineering
majors required to submit either Math Level 1 or Level 2 and
either Chemistry or Physics; prospective science/math majors
to Arts/Sciences recommended math and science Subject Tests]
Wellesley College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and
two Subject tests; prospective science/math majors are “strongly
suggested” to submit at least one in quantitative subject]
Wheaton College [Subject Tests optional, considered if submitted]
Williams College <two>
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) [math and science recommended;
“scores only used if they benefit applicant” {from website}]
Carleton College [recommended]
Macalester College [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Deep Springs College [recommended]
Princeton University [two; prospective engineers must submit Physics or
Chemistry and Math Level 1 or Math Level 2]
Stevens Institute of Technology [three Subject Tests—science, math
and one other—required of all applicants to accelerated and dual degree programs; recommended for all other applicants]
Barnard College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of SAT and two Subject
Tests]
City University of New York (CUNY), Brooklyn College
[optional for applicants to Honors Academy and accelerated BA/MD program—will be considered if submitted]
City University of New York (CUNY), Queens College
[strongly recommended for all Honors candidates and scholarship applicants]
Clarkson University [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Columbia University <two; prospective engineering students must submit
Math Level 1 or Level 2 and Physics or Chemistry>
Cooper Union [Math Level 1 or Level 2 and Physics or Chemistry
required of engineering applicants]
Cornell University [required or recommended as below]
Agriculture and Life Sciences: recommended Science and Math
Architecture, Art and Planning: Architecture applicants required
Math Level 1 or Level 2
Arts and Sciences: two required
Engineering: required Science and Math
Hotel Administration: required Math Level 1 or Level 2
Human Ecology: required Math and one of student choice
Industrial and Labor Relations: required Math—ACT may be
submitted in lieu of both SAT and Subject Test
Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester [submission of
standardized testing optional but “encouraged”]
Fordham University [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Hamilton College [submit one of the following: ACT; SAT; three SAT
Subject tests; three Advanced Placement (AP) tests; three
International Baccalaureate (IB) tests; or a combination of any
three of the preceding exams, provided that at least one is verbal/
writing and one is quantitative; AP English Literature not accepted
as a verbal/writing submission; AP Statistics not accepted as a
quantitative submission]
Hobart and William Smith Colleges [submission of standardized testing
optional—will be considered if submitted]
Hofstra University [recommended]
Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Albert List College [two Subject
Tests required for applicants to Double Degree Program with Barnard]
New York University (NYU) [must provide one of the following:
SAT or ACT or three Subject Tests (one in literature or humanities:
US History, World History or Literature; one in math or science; and
one in non-language test of student’s choice) or three AP Exam
scores (one in literature or humanities: English Literature [not
English Language], US History, World History, European History;
one in math or science: Calculus AB or BC [not Statistics], Biology,
Chemistry, Physics B or C; one in non-language of student choice;
AP exams must be taken prior to senior year to be applicable
during the admissions cycle. Applicants to the Stern School of
Business who do not provide SAT or ACT scores must provide
a score from a mathematics examination. Note also this statement
on the NYU website: “Students who can demonstrate evidence
of an extraordinary accomplishment outside of normal classroom
or scholastic activity (such as a major publication in a national or
international journal; a published book; a film or other outstanding
visual or performing artistic accomplishment; a scientific or other
remarkable discovery; winning a national competition; or the
equivalent will be required to provide only an SAT or two
Subject Tests or two AP exam scores]
Pratt Institute [Level 1 or 2 math “strongly recommended” for applicants
to architecture program]
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) [Subject Tests in Math and Science
required of all applicants to accelerated degree programs if
submitting SAT instead of ACT]
Skidmore College [two “strongly recommended”—Subject Tests in
language used for placement]
State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo [recommended in
world language for placement]
State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook [math and one other
recommended]
Union College [standardized testing optional, except: applicants to six-
year BA/JD Law and Public Policy program must submit both SAT and two Subject Tests or ACT; applicants to eight-year BS/MD program in Leadership in Medicine and Health Management must submit SAT and one math, one science Subject Test or ACT]
University of Rochester [Math and Biology or Chemistry Subject Tests
“highly recommended” of all applicants to Rochester Early Medical Scholars Program; recommended for all other applicants]
Vassar College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and
two Subject Tests]
Webb Institute (of Naval Architecture) <Chemistry or Physics;
and Math Level 1 or Math Level 2>
Davidson College [two recommended, one Math and one of student choice
if submitting SAT instead of ACT]
Duke University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and Subject
Tests; if ACT submitted, Arts/Sciences applicants are “encouraged” to take Subject Tests in World Language; if ACT not submitted, Arts and Sciences applicants required to submit two Subject Tests; Engineering applicants required to submit Math Level 1 or Math Level 2 and one other of student’s choice]
North Carolina State University [Math Level 1 or 2; an AP Calculus exam
(AB or BC); or completion of NC State Online Math Skill Test
required of accepted students who wish to enroll in
a university calculus course]
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill [Math Level 2; AP Calculus AB or
BC; or IB Math HL exams required of accepted students for placement purposes only if student will enroll in a Calculus course; Math Level 1 required of accepted students for placement purposes only if student does not intend to enroll in a Calculus course]
Wake Forest University [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Case Western Reserve University [optional—“you may send them if you feel
they strengthen your application” {from website}]
Oberlin College [two recommended]
ONTARIO
University of Toronto <three—applicants to Applied Science and
Engineering must take Math; Chemistry or Physics; and
one of student’s choice; other applicants are encouraged
to submit Subject Tests in “subjects appropriate to their area of study” or any combination of three AP exams, IB exams or Subject Tests>
Reed College [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Allegheny College [optional and used for placement purposes]
Bryn Mawr College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT
and two Subject Tests or student may submit a combination
of three AP and/or Subject Tests—one in English, history or world
language; one in math or science; and one of student choice “in
a subject different from the other two” (only one exam in a
World Language will be considered)]
Bucknell University [optional—will be considered if submitted]
Carnegie Mellon University [required or otherwise as below]
Carnegie Institute of Technology [Math Level 1 or 2 and
Chemistry or Physics required]
College of Fine Arts: Architecture [same as above]
College of Fine Arts: Other [neither required nor recommended]
College of Humanities and Social Sciences [Math Level 1 or 2
and one of student’s choice required]
Information Systems [same as above]
Mellon College of Science [Math Level 1 or 2 and one of the
three sciences: Biology, Physics, Chemistry required]
School of Computer Science [same as above]
Tepper School of Business [Math Level 1 or 2 and one of
student’s choice, preferably a science]
Dickinson College [optional—considered if submitted; SAT and ACT
optional though required for scholarship consideration]
Franklin and Marshall College [submission of testing optional—if not
submitted, student must submit two recent (junior or senior year) graded writing samples; Subject Tests recommended “to demonstrate student’s strength within academic subjects”]
Haverford College [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and
two Subject Tests]
Lafayette College [Subject Tests recommended, considered for placement
“in some academic departments” if submitted]
Lehigh University [Subject Tests or AP/IB exams in world language
recommended for placement; Subject Tests in literature and
chemistry recommended for university credit and/or placement]
Susquehanna University [recommended for placement purposes and as
adjunct support for IB/AP scores; students may submit two
graded writing samples in lieu of SAT or ACT]
Swarthmore College [one of three options: SAT and two Subject Tests of
student’s choice; or ACT; or SAT and ACT without Writing; engineering applicants “encouraged” to submit Math Level 2 regardless of whether SAT or ACT is presented]
University of Pennsylvania [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT
and two Subject Tests; if submitting SAT and Subject Tests, students applying to Wharton and Engineering/Applied Science
“encouraged” to submit a math test; students in Arts/Science who
plan to major in science, Engineering/Applied Science applicants
and Nursing applicants “encouraged” to submit a science test]
University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon University College [recommended;
exams in Spanish and in math required from English speaking US applicants]
McGill University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT and
Subject Tests; if submitting Subject Tests, see below]
Agricultural/Environmental Sciences: two of the following–
Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics
Architecture: Math; Chemistry or Physics
Arts: any two Subject Tests
Arts and Science (BA): Math and one other of student’s choice
Dietetics/Nutrition: two of the following—Biology, Chemistry,
Math, Physics
Education: any two Subject Tests
Engineering: Math and Chemistry or Physics
Kinesiology: two of the following—
Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics
Management: Math and one other of student’s choice
Music: Subject Tests neither required nor recommended
Nursing: two of the following—
Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics
Religious Studies: neither required nor recommended
Science (BS): two of the following—
Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics
Brown University [ACT may be submitted in lieu of both SAT
and two Subject Tests]
Vanderbilt University [optional—will be considered if submitted and will
be used for placement purposes; “applicants to the School of
Engineering who choose to take Subject Tests are “strongly
encouraged” to submit Math Level 1 or 2”]]
Rice University <two—“subjects related to student’s proposed area of
study”>
Trinity University [optional—considered if submitted]
University of Texas at Austin [prospective engineering students must submit
one of the following: Math Level 1 or Level 2; an AP Calculus AB or BC exam score “3” or above; or a grade of “C” or better on a college level precalculus or calculus course; Subject Tests in Latin,
Physics and Math used for placement purposes if submitted]
Bennington College [all standardized testing optional; Subject Tests
will be considered if submitted]
Middlebury College [SAT or ACT or three Subject Tests “in different
areas of study”]
College of William and Mary [optional—will consider if submitted and used
for placement purposes]
George Mason University [submission of SAT and ACT optional if student is
in top 20% of class; Subject Tests used for placement
in World Languages if submitted]
University of Mary Washington [optional—will be considered if submitted]
University of Richmond [optional—will be considered if submitted and
used for placement in World Languages]
University of Virginia [two “strongly” recommended]
Washington and Lee University <two “unrelated” exams—can’t submit
Math Level 1 and Math Level 2, for example>
DISCLAIMER: While information is current with the compilation of this list in August 2010, always double check with the individual college in question to assure that SAT Subject testing requirements are being met. Taking requisite SAT Subject Tests and submitting these to appropriate colleges and universities will not guarantee admission to those schools
This list was compiled by Cigus Vanni, New Jersey Association for College Admissions Counseling Executive Board Member and member of the Professional Development Committee of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling. Permission to duplicate is freely and happily granted
A recently published report by the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs demonstrates that although the U.S. is currently undergoing an economic downturn, higher education still remains a priority. As reported by Inside Higher Ed, the Annual Report “reveals that in the 2008-9 fiscal year, state spending on need-based and non-need-based grant aid for undergraduates rose by 5.6 percent over 2007-8. (Over all, state spending on financial aid rose by 2.7 percent over 2007-8.)” In the State of Florida, our spending rose higher than the national average at 6.8 percent.
This is great news for high school students and professionals interested in pursuing higher education. We see that going to the next level of knowledge and pursuing a degree, whether undergraduate or even technical is not only supported by the government, it is also financially incentivized. Education is, as seen through the annual report, a priority for the federal and state governments. As we undergo tough economic times, we see that this remains important. The government understands that to overcome this debacle, we need to educate our population, helping them be ready to undertake the challenges of development.
States are trying to continue to provide financial aid in both forms – merit and need-based. With such low income becoming essential to receive need-based aid, merit aid becomes even more important to the majority of the student applicant population. Reported statistics for “Undergraduate financial aid that is based purely on need grew by a rate of 5.0 percent, to $6.014 billion, while aid based on academic merit and factors other than need rose by 7.3 percent. to $2.324 billion”, as quoted on Inside Higher Ed.
This new statistic also has implications on those who lost their jobs and are considering a career change. It is a good time to invest in education, especially with the support of the federal and state government. Although a 4-year degree is a good choice for many, an associate degree is another great alternative when considering higher education. It usually is more affordable than a four-year degree and could provide a quicker return on investment.
A college education is also something to consider if you are unemployed. With the new passed bill regarding the extension of unemployment insurance, if you have not yet found a job, it might be worth your while to enroll in school. Depending on the support your college provides, there is a chance that while you are receiving your financial aid, you will also be able to continue receiving unemployment benefits. This will buy time and opportunity for you and your family.
The conclusion is simple – the U.S. government supports education, your State supports education, your community supports education; why wouldn’t you! Unequivocally, it is the best investment you can make in your life, for not only it can and most probably will payback exponentially, it will bring satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment and advanced knowledge in a field of study to you.
South Oregon’s Mail Tribune publishes an article “Will that college degree pay off in the long run?” and makes us reflect on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics. These state, among other things, that a college education might not necessarily be the ticket to the American Dream. Statistics report that “seven of the 10 employment sectors that will see the largest gains over the next decade won’t require much more than some on-the-job training.” It is also of great concern the fact that only 25% of all college graduates this year had a job waiting for them upon graduation, and this statistic actually improved from the 20% of last year. However, no one questions that a college education is valuable, and this is shown by the unemployment rate of this population sector being half (4.7%) of what it is for workers that only hold a high school diploma. Also to note is the “Federal statistics for 2008 show that men 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree pulled down a median salary of $65,800. That compares with a median of $39,010 for men in the same age group with only a high school diploma”, from The Mail Tribune. These are only two statistics that directly show that college is a good investment if pursued with a sense of purpose.
These sense of purpose makes evident to us the fact that there are strategies to follow when wanting to get the most bang for your buck, when investing in a college education. This is where an Educational Consultant can be of great assistance to you and your family. An Educational Consultant can help students find careers have the right fit with the student while also being on demand in the labor market.
What are we to expect when seeking help from an educational consultant? How do we choose a consultant who will do the job right? What is a job well done in educational consulting?
Here are some observations and information you should have handy when choosing someone to work with you or your family (son / daughter) in college admissions:
1- Seek a professional with at least some experience in the admissions field. Someone who has worked as interviewer or within an admissions office, can provide an insider´s perspective on how admissions work. Also, this professional will probably have passion for the field, having demonstrated work experience in it, working with students and in academia.
2- Find someone who is familiar in working with students and/or teenagers. A professional who has worked in education in the past, or who has gained experience with teenagers will be able to connect with college and grad school applicants better than someone used never before worked with this group. Often times, you will find professionals who have worked with students in diverse environments, as counselors in non-profit organizations or summer camps, as mentors, or even in the corporate world with companies that cater to that specific target. Usually, professionals that have worked with students/teenagers before becoming a counselor have a passion for relating to teenagers, and especially for this reason, become successful when seeking to relate to students. They are able to connect better, and enhance chances of getting things done with students.
3- Seek for Certified Educational Consultants. To the surprise of many, certifications do exist in College Admissions! Independent Counselors can and should get certified. At present, there are three certificate programs available, one of which is provided by UCLA and called The College Counseling Certificate Program. This extensive online program not only demands hard work (it usually takes over a year to complete), but it consists in seven classes, the last one being a practical course to be conducted in the college counseling office of a high school. Same goes for the College Counseling certificate program offered by UC Berkeley, and the CEP – Certified Educational Planner, for which you can only apply after earning years of expertise in the field. Independent consultants can and should get certified. Ensure the person you are seeking advice from is.
4- Look for a professional with degrees that are conductive to the work they are currently doing. Having earned a master in education or in counseling is very valuable in the counseling profession. Several graduate school programs allow for more expertise in the field. Even an MBA can work when considering the expertise of a college adviser, however, not on its own. An MBA plus experience in the field and a certification can provide a great combination of skills, allowing the professional to have a background in marketing, easily applicable to candidates, plus keen interest in education.
5- Find a counselor who has sought membership to leading industry associations. There are several associations that group educational consultants, colleges and professionals related to college and graduate school admissions. Some of them are IECA, NACAC, SACAC, HECA and AIGAC. For most of these organizations, if you do not have at least three years of experience in the field, you cannot be admitted as a member. This means that professionals involved with these associations have to abide by certain rules and regulations that are hard to follow and comply with. These associations not only provide opportunities for continuing education, they also set standard laws for the industry which have to do with ethical and unethical behavior, what is expected and what is not allowed. A professional involved with these associations is one that you will be able to have more confidence that he/she will do the job ethically and responsibly.
6- Continuing education through educational consulting associations is a must for independent counselors. As in many fields of work, professionals that keep up to date with the latest market trends, technologies and industry information are the ones that will allow you to continue progressing when seeking your goals. Continuing education is as important in this field of educational consulting as in any other. Educational consultants that are leaders in the field attend on average two conferences per year to ensure they continue being on top of the industry trends. Seek counselors that are active within the industry associations and that often participate in continuing education programs.
7- Understand that exorbitant consulting fees are not directly related to results. Some consultants decide to offer advice for tens of thousands of dollars, while others offer reasonable fees well below ten thousand. The ones that are able to provide more reasonable fees most of the times consider that the student should lead this process, working in their college admissions while continuing to be a high school student, teenager, sportsman, or anything else he/she desires to be. If college admissions will be the sole thing in the student´s life for months or years, the college adviser is not doing his job right. College counseling is a part of life, one we must dedicate energy to, but not devote completely ourselves to. Find someone who thinks this way and you will have one happy and triumphant teenager who feels good about him/herself and the next step they will be taking in their lives.
8- If you are international, it is advantageous to find someone who speaks your own language and understands your culture, while being able to also comply with the rest of the standards of a top counselor. A consultant that can communicate with you in your native tongue will be able to have a different level of understanding of your qualifications. It is about not getting “Lost in Translation”, it is about knowing what the differences are between the admissions process in one country vs. another. An educational consultant that has knowledge of your own country’s admissions process can better explain the differences between that and the one in the U.S. They will know what the most important challenges are for you, better than other consultants who do not possess this experience.
9- And finally, find a counselor that will be able to understand who you are, what your goals are and what would work as a right fit for you. Some counselors specialize in certain students, international, diverse, high achievers, students with LD’s, first generation. If you are an immigrant, for example, a counselor that understands the basics of the visa process and some visa options will provide valuable information to you. Ask the counselor what types of students he/she has worked with in the past. The counselor’s own past experiences might prove useful to you. Seek someone that can relate to your needs and interests, and can understand your concerns, so that they are prepared to address them with professionalism.
What do we look for in a great college admissions process? We focus on finding the right fit for the student academically, socially and in every single aspect of their lives. We seek an institution that will inspire the student to seek their maximum potential and provide career growth opportunities like the student never imagined. This should be the goal of the educational consulting process, helping you and your family make the smartest investment, when thinking of college education, and soon, professional success.
Some other new statistics for this year by Kathy Bitschenauer from the Career Management Alliance:
Everyone knows most colleges and universities care about diversity, they seek students from multiple backgrounds, not just races but cultures, religions, hobbies, walks of life, etc. The question is why? According to Patricia Gurin, Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan: “A racially and ethnically diverse university student body has far-ranging and significant benefits for all students, non-minorities and minorities alike. Students learn better in such an environment and are better prepared to become active participants in our pluralistic, democratic society once they leave school. In fact, patterns of racial segregation and separation historically rooted in our national life can be broken by diversity experiences in higher education.”
Source: http://www.diversityweb.org/digest/sp99/benefits.html
When it comes to measuring diversity, US News & World Report has developed a formula where the number closest to 1.0 represents the most diverse school. For the 2008-2009 academic year, the magazine ranks Rutgers as the most diverse in the country with a diversity index of 0.74. “That means that nearly 3 out of every 4 people you run into there will be from a different ethnic group. Other schools that have a diversity index of 0.70 or higher are the University of Houston (Texas), Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Nova Southeastern University (Florida), CUNY–City College, CUNY–Baruch College, St. Peter’s College (New Jersey), CUNY–Brooklyn College, CUNY–Hunter College, California State University–Sacramento, California State University–Dominguez Hills, Houston Baptist University (Texas), California State University–East Bay, La Sierra University (California), Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (New York), CUNY–New York City College of Technology, and CUNY–York College.”
Source: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2009/08/27/which-colleges-have-the-most-student-diversity.html
At Cornell, “The proportion of students who identify themselves as other than white has more than doubled from 20 percent in 1985 to 43 percent in 2005. This trend persists in 2006 with around 30 percent of the incoming Class of 2010 identifying themselves as “people of color.” These are encouraging statistics from the perspective of diversifying the student body. Unfortunately…Over the same 20-year span, the percentage of Hispanic students has increased only from 3 to 5 percent… African-American students has remained static at about 4 percent, even though from 2001 to 2005, the number of applications from African-American students rose by 35 percent, the number of applicants accepted by 20 percent, and the number of accepted students who mailed in deposits increased by 17 percent.”
Source: http://cornellsun.com/node/18389
A school is recognized as having diversity when the “…campuses have a culturally mixed student body, employ an equally mixed faculty of professors, provide academic programs that focus on fostering global perspectives, host on-campus performers and lecturers from all walks of life, promote a broad spectrum of multicultural student organizations and events, and offer study abroad, internship, and service-learning programs around the globe.”
Source: http://www.collegeview.com/articles/CV/campuslife/campus-diversity.html
Table 1: STUDENT DIVERSITY, 2000-2001
| Institution | Women Students | Minority Students |
| Amherst | 48% | 25% |
| Darmouth | 48% | 25% |
| Harvard | 46% | 34% |
| Princeton | 49% | 26% |
| Williams | 45% | 25% |
| Yale | 49% | 28% |
Source: http://harvardmagazine.com/extras/faculty-diversity
Keep in mind that diversity is more than having a bunch of people in the same place together. “According to Harvard Professor Richard Light, one can walk the streets of almost any major city in America and see diversity — but unless you are living, working and playing together with people from varied backgrounds and experiences, you will never fully experience diversity’s most powerful impact. That’s the special — and often lost — opportunity for America’s colleges and universities.”
Source: http://www.collegenews.org/x338.xml
The same can be said of the typical high school experience where everyone belongs to a small clique- the jocks hang out with the jocks, the popular girls with other popular girls, geeks with geeks, the theater crowd sits in a particular tree, Cubans with other Cubans, and so forth. But college isn’t high school, and unless you go to a university where almost everyone is just like you, chances are you will have to interact with people that are completely different from you. They may be study partners, roommates, maybe even potential friends.
Gurin explains that at the University of Michigan “most of the…students come to Ann Arbor from segregated backgrounds. For most students…Michigan’s social diversity is new and unfamiliar, a source of multiple and different perspectives, and likely to produce contradictory expectations. Social diversity is especially likely to increase effortful, active thinking when institutions of higher education capitalize on these conditions in the classroom and provide a climate in which students from diverse backgrounds frequently interact with each other.”
According to “Why Diversity Matters” from US News & World Report, America’s working-age minority population is expected to increase from 34% to 55% by 2050. “Diversity prepares students for work in a global society. No matter what profession you enter, you’ll find yourself working with employers, employees, coworkers, customers and clients from diverse backgrounds—worldwide. By experiencing diversity in college, you are laying the groundwork to be comfortable working and interacting with a variety of individuals of all nationalities.”
Source: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/professors-guide/2009/08/12/why-does-diversity-matter-at-college-anyway.html
Institutions like Purdue University want to attract more minority students. The university’s first vice provost for diversity and inclusion said they “can attract top minority students but still falls behind peer schools in the numbers of students enrolled. For instance, 4.1% of Purdue’s undergraduate and graduate student population is black. That’s half of the state’s (Illinois) black percentage and a third of the U.S. black percentage. By gender, 42% of Purdue students are women compared with 51% of the general population.”
To change these numbers, Purdue University has developed the “equity scorecard, a strategy to identify and prioritize racial or ethnic inequities to create action plans, will be used.” With the goal of increasing “the percentage of African-American and Hispanic student from 7.4% of students to 15 percent and women from 42 percent to 50 percent.”
Source: http://www.jconline.com/article/20100604/NEWS0501/6040331/Diversity-report-shows-how-far-Purdue-needs-to-go
So if you’re African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific-Islander, etc, this is the perfect opportunity to apply to a school that African-American Senior Alex Padgett describes as “made of mostly of white men…If they want to add more color to campus, that’s great. But I don’t think it’s going to be a deal breaker for minorities that want to come to Purdue if the numbers stay the same.”
Diversity also matters at the graduate level, according to a report by the Council of Graduate Schools, “Hispanic and African-American students remain underrepresented in graduate study — especially in science and engineering, where each group makes up less than 10 percent of graduate students and less than 5 percent of new Ph.D.’s.”
Source: http://chronicle.com/article/Graduate-Schools-Still-Lack/42798
Aside from race, schools also consider Geographic Diversity, Academic Diversity, Extracurricular Diversity, Socioeconomic Diversity, and Age Diversity. You can read more about these types of diversity here: http://www.ecampustours.com/collegeplanning/applyingforcollege/definitionofdiversity.htm
| Percent of students receiving financial aid: 53% | Number of countries represented: 52 |
| Percent of students who self-identified as students of color: 52% | Percent of foreign/international students and students schooled outside the U.S.: 16% |
| Ethnic Diversity:
Asian/Asian American students: 23% |
Regional Diversity:
Mid-Atlantic: 38% |
If you still believe you will not be considered diverse in some way, I can almost ensure you that you are wrong. We are all different in the way we see the world, process information, plan and reach for our goals. Seek what makes you diverse by understanding who you are, where you come from, and what makes your thought process different from that of other college candidates. With this in mind, communicate your differentiators. It is in this way that you will provide the diversity colleges look for when recruiting amazing candidates that positively impact their communities.
Links:
Diversity College Rankings
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2008/09/09/rutgers-leads-the-way-in-ethnic-diversity.html
Take a look at the Top Ten Tools by GradeGuru.com that can support you as a freshman in college (hint: many of them are useful also as a high school student and later on for grad school or in your career):
Good luck in your new journey!
Tools provided by GradeGuru.com
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