- 1.An introduction to understanding college admissions and the
resources to help you and your students along the wa y Dave
Shafron, Guidance Counselor Lincoln Park High School
2. Preview of Chapters
- Application and Admission Processes
- Professional Associations
3. Impact of College Counseling 4. Impact of College Counseling
5. How is America Doing?
- According to recent data, if 100 students started a four year
bachelors degree, how many would finish in six years?
- If 10 students start at a community college, how many of them
will have an associates degree within three years?
- Where does America rank when examining the number of adults
with a college degree?
- In the state of Illinois, how many adults, ages 24-35 have
received a college degree?
6. Why is America falling short?
- Inadequate academic preparation
- Poorly designed and delivered remediation
- Broken credit transfer policies
- Confusing financial aid programs
- A culture that rewards enrollment instead of completion
- A system too often out of touch with the needs of the todays
college student.
7. 8. 9. Everything you want is out there waiting for you to
ask.Everything you want also wants you.But you have to take action
to get it . -Jules Renard 10. Knowing the Lingo
- Regular Decision Submit an application by the Universities
stated deadline.Student may apply to more than one school under
Regular Decision (i.e. Illinois State)
- Rolling Admission Accepts applications throughout the year
(i.e. Elmhurst College, Lewis University)
- Open Enrollment Accepts applications throughout the year and
will allow entry with minimal requirements
- (i.e. Moraine Valley Community College)
11. Early Action
- In deciding whether or not to apply Early, a student should ask
themselves a simple question: can I submit my best application in
October of my senior year?www.admissions.nd.edu
- Anon-bindingprogram allowing the student to apply to more than
one school
- The college will inform them of the decision in early to mid
January and the student has until May 1 to decide
12. Restricted Early Action
- Similar procedures and guidelines as Early Action
- Student may apply to onlyone schoolunder this plan
- Student may apply to other schools throughRegular
Admission
- Student still has until May 1 to make decision
- Example: Stanford University and Yale University
13. Early Decision
- Abindingagreement where the student agrees to attend that
school if offered admission and an adequate financial aid
package.
- Student may only apply toone collegeunder Early Decision, but
is free to apply to other colleges under Regular Decision.
- High School agrees to send transcripts for only one Early
Decision application
14. Early Decision (continued)
- Decisions are given around the middle part of December.If
accepted, the student agrees to enroll and withdraw all other
offers of admission
- Financial aid is determined through the College Scholarship
Service profile to provide their best estimated financial aid
package
- "Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered
an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline
the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision
commitment" (from NACAC'sStatement of Principles ).
15. Common Application
- Single application used for 425+ colleges and universities
across the United States
- Does not provide any advantage or disadvantages, but schools
may ask for additional application supplements
- Counselors may submit supplemental resources online (i.e.
teacher recommendation, profile, etc.)
- College may join if they require a letter of recommendation, an
untimed essay, and consideration of broader campus diversity
16. 17. Most Competitive Holy Grail
- Admits fewer than 5 - 20% of applicants
- 4 years of English, Math and Foreign Language, 3-4 years of Lab
Sciences and honors and AP courses recommended
18. Highly Competitive
- Admits between 20-30% of applications
- 4 years of English and Math, 3-4 years of Lab Science, Social
Science and Foreign Language
- Recommended courses in Honors and/or AP
19. Very Competitive
- Fewer than 150 colleges admitting no more than 35% of their
applicants
- Similar course recommendations as previous category
20. Somewhat Competitive
- 1,000+colleges admitting between 50-70% of applicants
- 4 years of English, 3 years of Math and Science, 2 years Social
Science
21. Competitive Admission
- Admits70-80% of applications
- 4 years of English, 3 years of Math, 2 years of Science and
Social Science
22. Community College
- By attending 1-2 years,somecolleges will review admission
strictly using community college scores
- In District tuition rate around $93 - 130/credit hour
- $93 x 30 hours = $2,790 + books = 3,500/year
- Financial aid is still available at community college
level
- Counselors and students can utilize the Illinois Articulation
Initiative to ensure the transferability of general education
courses to Illinois colleges.
23. A brief overview of the Admission Process of various
Colleges and Universities 24. University of Illinois
- Priority Application Deadline of November 1
- Regular Application Deadline of January 1
- Application requires 2 written essays, application fee,
official transcripts, ACT with writing or SAT I
- University of Illinois received 20,000 applications and about
60% were accepted.
- Middle 50% range of ACT in 2009 ranged 27 32
25. University of Illinois Naviance Scattergram 26. Northwestern
University
- Early Decision Deadline: November 1,
- Regular Decision Deadline: January 1
- Required Materials: Common App, NU supplemental essays,
secondary school report, teacher evaluation and College Scholarship
Service profile (CSS Profile)
- 25,013 Applicants in Fall 2010
- 6,552 Admission Offers (26%)
- Early Decision candidates may be deferred
27. Northwestern University Naviance Scattergram 28. Lewis
University
- Requires application, official transcripts and official ACT or
SAT scores
- Decisions are made as applications are completed
- Lewis University received 2,800 applications and accepted 2,100
(75%)
29. Lewis University Naviance Scattergram 30. Joliet Junior
College
- Requires Application, High School Transcripts or GED and ACT
Compass Test
- Students begin work on general education classes for transfer
to four year school or completion of Associates Degree
- Tuition costs: $93/credit hour
- 24 credit hours and abovemayeliminate consideration of
secondary grades and/or ACT for transfer admission
31. Admission Pocket Book Tips
- Helpyour students understand the profiles and requirements
- Stay up to date with application changes and college
updates
- Know your college representatives
- Keep learning options and help students understand that there
are more options than most will believe
- Utilize the Illinois Articulation Initiative to familiarize
yourself with transfer options
32. 33. How is Financial Aid Determined?
- Parents and student complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (www.fafsa.gov)
- With completion of the FAFSA, a family is provided with their
Expected Family Contribution, also known asEFC . The EFC is used
against the Cost of Attendance.
- Colleges and Universities use the EFC to determine Need which
results in eligibility for grant and loan assistance.
34. Definition of Financial Need
- Cost of Attendance(tuition, room, board, books, supplies,
estimated travel expenses)
- -Expected Family Contribution
35. How is EFC Determined?
- Government assesses the families ability to pay for college
based on the following:
-
- A familys financial strength
-
- Measuresavailablefinancial resources that help contribute
- Factors which determine EFC include: Number in household,
number in college, age of parent, taxed and untaxed income, Assets
and investments(not 401K or 403B)
36. Case Study EFC Analysis
- 44 and 46 year old married parents
- Single income family, parents did not attend college
- 2 children in college for 2011 - 2012
- Use the information to the left.
- Leave student section BLANK.
37. Solution 39839 23584 15164 1820 4064 Total Allowances
Available Income Discretionary Net Worth Asset Contribution Parent
Contribution 38. Institutional Need Calculation
- Expected Family Contribution remains constant
- Amount of financial aid is determined by cost of
institution
- Grants and Loans are based on the Expected Family
Contribution
- Only 18% of colleges and universities will meet 100% of the
University Need. (e.g. Northwestern, U of Chicago)
Institution Example Lewis University Northwestern University
Illinois State Cost of Attendance 33,000 55,000 21,000 EFC 4064
4064 4064 University Need 28936 50936 16936 39. Financial Aid
Sources
- Federal Grants (i.e. Pell, Supplemental Educational
Opportunity)
- State Grants (Monetary Award Program)
- Institutional Grants (Lewis University Grant)
- Merit Scholarships (Academic, Athletic, Talent)
- Loan Programs (Stafford, Perkins, PLUS)
- Private Sources (Community, Businesses, Interests Groups)
40. How do you qualify for grants?
- State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP grant) is awarded
to families with EFC of
- The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to families with an EFC
of
- Institutional Grants help fill remaining need but vary for each
institution
41. Special Scenarios
- Case #1 Alexs mom and dad are divorced and Alex currently lives
with his mom.His dad, however, has agreed to pay all college
expenses.What parent is responsible for filing the FAFSA?
-
- The student files under the parent with which they reside,
regardless of who claims as a dependent or who is paying for the
education
- Case #2 Ambers parents are divorced and her mom remarried in
2001.Amber currently lives with her mom and stepdad.Who will file
her FAFSA?
-
- Ambers mom and stepdad are responsible for filing the FAFSA,
resulting in a joint income EFC calculation
42. Special Scenarios
- Case #3 Jorges parents are divorced, but they have joint
custody and he spends an equal amount of time at both residences.
Who should file the FAFSA?
-
- When it is equal there is still one parent that spends at least
one extra day. The parent with which the child spends the most time
is responsible for filing the FAFSA.
- Case #4 Kimberly enters your office and says that her parents
refuse to help pay for her college tuition.You suggest filing the
FAFSA, but its already been determined they make too much money to
qualify for assistance.What options does she have filing her
FAFSA?
-
- Unfortunately, none.Regardless of her parents decisions to
support their child, Kimberly can only file the FAFSA using both
parents information.
43.
- Case #5 Elizabeth had a baby in February of her senior year,
but she is unmarried and still lives with her biological
parents.Who is responsible for filing her FAFSA?
- You are at least 24 years old on the day you file your
FAFSA
- You are married on the day you file your FAFSA
- You have a child who receives more than half of their support
from you between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.
- You have dependents other than your spouse who live with you
and who receive more than half their support from you at the time
you apply
- Both your parents are deceased (or were until age 18) a ward of
dependent of the court
- You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed
Forces for purposes other than training
- Youre a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- You were a foster child after the age of 13.
- You are an emancipated child as determined by a court
judge.
- You are homeless or at risk of homelessness as determined by
the director of a HUD approved homeless shelter, transitional
program, or high school liaison.
- Although she has a child she is still living with her parents
and further investigation will need to be conducted to determine
who is providing more than 50% of the support. Having a baby alone
does not automatically make a student independent.
Special Scenarios 44. Federal Perkins Loan
- Awarded based on need and the amount given to the
institution
- Only awarded to students and you must complete the FAFSA to
qualify
- Maximum award of $4,000 with a capped interest rate of 5%
- 10 year pay back starts 9 months after graduation
45. Federal Stafford Loan
- Student loan provided from the federal government
- Two kinds: subsidized and unsubsidized
- 2010-2011 interest rate at 4.50% for subsidized and 6.8% for
unsubsidized
- Small lender fee of about 1%
- Repayment begins 6 months after graduation with 10 years to
repay
46. Federal PLUS Loan
- P arentL oan forU ndergraduateS tudent
- Interest rate fixed at 8.5%
- Parent begins repayment 60 days after disbursement
- Allows parents to borrow the remaining balance plus additional
for books and miscellaneous costs
47. Amount of Educational Debt Institutional LevelPercent of
Students Borrowing Average amount of Debt Overall58.8% 18,625 4
Year Public 61.1 19,839 4 year Private 70.6 27,349 48. Financial
Aid CounselingPocket Book Tips
- Dont let your students or families assume they wont
qualify
- Practice filling out the forms yourself and continuously
relearn
- Help simplify the process
49. Utilizing your professional organizations for career
development and staying up to date on the latest trends in college
admission counseling 50. Professional Networks
- National Association for College Admission Counseling
- Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission
51. Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling
- Only organization in the state that brings together secondary
and post secondary members who are dedicated to servicing students
in their high school to college transition
- Membership consists of more than 1,500 individuals from high
schools, colleges, financial aid offices, and independent
counselors
- Coordinates college fairs, monitors counseling practices,
promotes statewide college readiness programs, and provides dozens
of professional development services for CPDU credits.
52. IACAC Membership
- Access to Email list serve
- Name and institution listed in Membership Directory
- Access to Illinois College Exposition Calendar for full
listings of statewide college fairs
- Quarterly publication of IACAC Newsbrief
- Formal mentorship program
- Opportunity to serve on committees and meet and network with
other counseling professionals
- Discounted rates to dozens of professional development
opportunities
53. Illinois Student Assistance Commission
- Created in 1957 to ensure that financial considerations did not
prevent the students of Illinois from realizing their post
secondary potential
- An all inclusive financial aid resource for the state of
Illinois, along with general information on college admission
- Website features ready to use power point presentations, need
analysis forms, EFC calculations and updated costs on all state
institutions
- Outreach staff conducts financial aid presentations across the
state for high schools, colleges and communities
54. National Association for College Admission Counseling
- An organization made up of over 11,000 members of secondary and
post secondary members dedicated to serving students
- Primary mission is to support and advance the work of
counseling and enrollment professionals as they help students
realize their full educational potential
- Acts as a filter, monitoring the information which exists and
promotes constitutional change by providing action alerts to state
and federal governments to bring positive change within college
admissions and college counseling
55. NACAC Membership
- Discounted rate to Annual Conference featuring 4,000
participants, 100 different sessions, several private workshops and
dozens of evening social gatherings (Baltimore 2009, St. Louis 2010
and Denver 2011)
- Access to Knowledge Center, where you can find hundreds of
resources on a variety of topics
- Journal of College Admission , a quarterly publication
featuring articles and commentary on issues related to college
counseling
- NACAC News Bulletin , a semi monthly e-newsletters with updates
on current news and pressing issues
- Job and Career Center to see job announcements at high school
and college level
56. Professional Development
- Summer Bus and Plane Tour
- Academy of College Admission Counseling
57. Annual Conference
- Scheduled May 2-4, 2012 in Itasca, IL
- Over 40 sessions covering topics in diversity, financial aid,
career counseling, counseling ethics, social media and dozens
more
- Nationally recognized keynote speakers along with multiple
opportunities to network with colleagues
- Social gatherings, entertainment, exhibitors,service project,
elections, awards, raffles and lots of fun!
58. Summer Bus and Plane Tours
- College tours by way of bus or plane
- 2011 Bus Tour visited schools in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska,
Kansas and Missouri
- 2012 Plane tour scheduled to visit schools in the city of New
York.
59. FAFSA Completion Workshops
- 20 separate FREE workshops across the state sponsored by the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission and held annually
- Topics includeFAFSA Made Easier, Guide to Conducting a
Financial Aid Presentation in English and Spanish, Economics of
Higher Education, and FAFSA Expert Workshop
60. Academy of College Admission Counseling College Counseling
Workshop Offered at Elmhurst College July 2012
- Philosophy of College Counseling (ethics and principles)
- How to choose a college: a student-focused model
- Financial Aid and College Financing
- The college application process - how colleges admit students,
processing applications and writing for college
- Publicizing your program to parents and the community
- College admission testing
- Using computers and the internet in college counseling
61. Getting Involved Pocket Book Tips
- Dont just become a memberbecome a contributing member!
- We cant do it alone - Reach out and utilize the network of
colleagues and the abundance of resources
- College Admission Counselors want to be your friend!
- Surround yourself with dedicated professionals, a connected
counselor is an effective counselor
62. Only the Tip of the Ice Berg
- Letters of Recommendation
- College Counseling for Students with LD
- College Counseling Ethics
63. Examining the counseling practices and guidelines amidst the
Statement of Principles and Good Practice 64. Statement of
Principles and Good Practice
-
- Professionalism Collaboration Trust Education
-
- Fairness and Equity Social Responsibility
- Comprised of three sections:
-
- Mandatory All members agree to follow these rules
-
- Interpretation of Mandatory Practices, which clarify Mandatory
through context and example
-
- Best Practices Represents preferred recruitment, admission and
counseling methods
65. Mandatory Practice Examples
- Counsel students to abide by all application requirements and
restrictions (I. B. 9)
- Providecolleges and universities with a description of the
schools marking system that, if available, will provide some
indication of grade distribution that may include rank and/or grade
point average (III. B. 1)
- Sign only one pending Early Decision or Restricted Early Action
agreement, when applicable, for any student. (III. B. 3)
- Not reveal, unless authorized, candidates college or university
preferences(III. B. 5)
66. Best Practices
- Provide a program of counseling that introduces a broad range
of postsecondary opportunities
- Encourage students and families to take the initiative in
learning about colleges and universities
- Provide information about opportunities and requirements for
financial aid
- Counsel students to withdraw offers of admission when final
decision is reached
- Inform students about the tests needed for admission, where
students take them and how to interpret results
- Refrain from encouraging students to apply to certain schools
to enhance the reputation of the high school
67. What if you find a violation?
- Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling has an
Admission Practices Committee that monitors reports of
violations
- Most violations are the result of being unaware of the rules
and guidelines
- All submissions are anonymous made through the IACAC
website
68. Students should not
- Fabricate or exaggerate activities and accomplishments
- Have someone else write or substantially rewrite their
essays
- Fail to disclose disciplinary infractions if asked directly
about them on an application form (colleges and universities will
generally give applicants a chance to explain infractions)
- Tell more than one college that it's their first choice
- Mislead a college about their intended major just because they
think it might help them get in
- Fail to notify the other colleges that have accepted them when
they accept an admission offer
69. Why submit a double deposit?
- To buy time to decide on a school when the student has been
accepted by more than one college. The usual decision deadline is
May 1; by double depositing, a student can delay deciding until
fall.
- To continue negotiating financial aid offers with more than one
college past the May 1 decision deadline.
- Because the student is on a waiting list at one college and
wants to ensure that she is enrolled somewhere in case she is
turned down by the waiting-list school. This scenario is the only
one in which NACAC considers double depositing acceptable.
70. Why is it Unfair?
- It's deceitful.From theNew York Timesarticle: "'It's
fundamentally dishonest to say to more than one college that that's
where you're going to be in the fall,' said Dan Rosenfield, dean of
enrollment management at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette,
'and it's not a victimless crime.'"
- It's unfair to the college.If the practice continues, colleges
will become frustrated when they find they can't predict the size
of the incoming class with any accuracy, and may take actions such
as enlarging the waiting list or increasing deposit amounts (both
of which will impact future applicants).
- It's unfair to other applicants.The double depositor is taking
up a spot that could go to another student, who will instead be
wait-listed or turned down.
71. What should students do?
- Tell students not to submit deposits to more than one college,
unless they arewait-listed at their first choice and accepted at
another.
- Consider instituting a policy of sending each student's final
transcript toonly one college .
- Warn students that some colleges reserve the right torescind an
offer of admissionif they discover that a student has made a double
deposit.
72. Ethical Pocket Book Tips
- This document is in place to best serve the students and to
uphold the integrity of your institution
- From your chair, this document should be within an arms
reach
- If a student shares questionable information with you about a
college, please utilize the admission practice committee to best
investigate the concern
73. Summary of Topics
- College counseling is complex and many students have the wrong
impression of the information which exists
- Financial aid is there to help, help your families see past the
burden and help them realize the opportunity.But, continue to learn
about other unique funding options
- Be active members, contribute to the association and take
advantage of the opportunities to develop professionally
- An ethical counselor is an effective counselor
74.
- Dave Shafron Guidance Counselor Lincoln Park High School
- www.facebook.com/daveshafron
- Call, write, friend, email, text, skype, (need to set it up but
I will!) wave hello, high five, etc.
75.