The College Search Process

Relax…You are Going to Love College

Admissions Presentation to High Schools on Selective Colleges

Perspective: Applying to Selective Universities

Goals of University in admissions

How universities review applications:

Early Action-Decision, Regular Decision

Reach schools and match schools

Need-based aid and merit aid

Parent and Student relationship

California is Prominent

California ranks #2-5 at the top 15

…at ND--#2 after Chicago region-IL…….180 first-year, 760 undergrads

Top State Schools-Michigan, UVA, UNC, ….and others are recruiting CA

Top 30 to 100 Privates are recruiting hard and giving large merit awards

Applying to the Most Selective Universities & Colleges

3.2 million H.S. seniors= 50,000 Top 1%

class performance and/or SAT/ACT

100,000 more are Top 2-3%

60% of Top students apply to top ranked universities—40% stay more local/regional

Top 15 Universities enroll about 22,000 freshmen

Less than 50% in Top 1% who apply are admitted

Applying to the Most Selective Universities & Colleges

Top 16-30 enroll about 38,000 freshmen

Most admits Top 1-3%

Top 31-50 enroll about 50,000 freshmen

Most admits Top 1-10% + Merit Awards

Top 50 to 100…out of 2,000 4-Year Colleges/Univ.

Most admits Top 1-15% + Merit Awards

Goals of University in admissions

Students can master the rigor presented by the faculty who are teaching them—Top faculty want better students…universities want the best faculty to create and advance knowledge

Faculty teach at a pace and depth that fits the middle 50% to maximize learning for all: Reality 101…The academics come before the social experience and prestige…it is not just focused on you…faculty are scholars—creating knowledge

Students in Top 25% should seek additional contact with faculty to enhance the course work…or use their extra time to develop more skills in other areas/activities

Students in Bottom 25% need to work harder—seek tutoring

and faculty support after class

Students fit the personal attributes sought—special talents, attitude towards academic work, service and leadership, special talents, creativity, energy level, focus, desire to attend that college

Elevate status of the University—everyone wants to gain ground—stationary is not sustainable

Context for Numbers and Percentiles

SAT/ACT Top 1% 1500-1600 33-36

(CR+Math) 2% 1460 32

3% 1430 31

5% 1380 29-30

10% 1300 27-28

15% 1250 26

20% 1210 25

25% 1180 24

Top 1-15 Universities: Median SAT 1460 1-2%

Top 16-30 1400 1-5%

Top 31-50 1340 1-10%

Top 51-100 1250 1-20%

National Merit Finalist 1960’s

Most Wanted 1990’s—SAT has limits

How a selective university reviews applications

Reader expert on your high school and area--committee Look for special talents or attributes if academic profile is lower than

admit norm Rigor of courses and H.S. Class Performance, letter of recommendation statement on attitude

towards learning and responsible learning behavior Committee discusses close calls in full review Colleges understand first-generation college students and students from

lower high schools may have deflated SAT scores ..which do less to predict academic success at college—research of college GPA

High school performance is about 2-3 times more predictive than test scores but many high schools now hide actual performance record therefore SAT scores are more reliable

High School Talent Levels in ND admit pool

High School Ratings: % Nat.Merit SF ND

1 SAT 1300 for seniors 8%+ x5 14%

2 1200-1290 5% x3 21%

3 1100-1190 3% x2 33%

4 1050-1090 1.5% x1 27%

5-6 Below 1050 < 1% x.7 5%

A “1” school likely has 8 times as many national merit semi-finalists than the national average (1.5% of all students are NMSF…it is 8% or higher at a #1 school.)

Competition ...Not Just—Can you do the work

Example: Estimated Top 15 Selective University

SAT or ACT High School Rank 1500+ 33-36 25-60% Top 1% 20-45%

1450 32 15-30% 2-3% 15-30%

1400 31 10-25% 4-5% 10-20%

1300 29-30 10-15% 6-15% 5-15%

Under 1300 < 5% Below 15% < 5%

Courses taken, quality of competition at the H.S.

Special talents and special circumstances such a lower income or first-generation college, international, English as a second language are considered—Holistic

GREEN=Admit Rate

Class performance, SAT/ACT impact on decisions

The academic profile balances performance with test results—

High test scores with lower performance are negative indicators on the student’s “learning character”…work ethic is very important and so is motivation to learn not just achieve…turbo neurotic grade achievers

High grades with lower test scores respected but tough to overcome applicants who are high on both

Essays, Activities, Recommendations, Special Talents

Essay: conveys depth of thought, ability to write, reflective mind, motivations,

personality and goals—tell us why and what you

learned (Montana-McDonalds/Newspaper)

Activities: commitment, talent, leadership, serving

others

Recommendations: what others see in you and special

circumstances of challenge

Talents: judged by university experts—will you make a unique contribution due to this talent?

Athletic Talent —Division I, II, III

How many colleges?... stretch and match schools

Many students now apply to about 8-15 schools

4 reach schools and 2-3 match schools

Reach schools: your academics place you above the bottom 25% of the academic profile of the college—but not in the top 25% of the profile

Match Schools: your academic credentials place you in the top 50%, and often in or above the top 25% of the college profile

Early Action…Early Decision ?

Early Action-Early Decision-Regular Decision

Early Action: no impact on chances for admission—typically your academics should be in the top 50% of the class profile

Early Decision: may be designed slightly to improve your chances for selection to keep you from applying to competitors

Early Notifications: DecemberRegular Decision: April 1st

Confirm by: May 1st

Merit Awards and Value of a University not just Cost

Schools Offer Merit to attract students they normally do not enroll

Most colleges have excess capacity so the marginal cost is not very high to award merit

Merit may make a college a better value

However, the Top 15 universities use little merit and spend on value added facilities, research, faculty, and need-based aid

View College as an investment

Notre Dame alumni whose children applied to Notre Dame had an estimated median income about $80,000 higher than other applicant’s whose parents were college graduates (likely about $2 million more in career earnings)

Parent -Student relationship in the search and application process

Students decide but need an “executive assistant “ to manage H.S + College

Identify factors you want in your college—academic match, personal match, regional/national, social, special programs, campus personality, faculty approach to students

Exec Assistant will screen to save you time

Keep you on schedule—reducing anxiety

College visit—parents let your student talk, do not tell them your opinion until they ask—hard to do

Do not fill out their application!!!

Essay—is it you? Let parent respond but not write

Wisdom versus Alienating Achievement

Do not judge yourself by how you compare with others

Prestige is over-rated---success is based on how much you grow…not who you know

Care about the match…be comfortable---authentic self not some projection of excellence that you do not believe you are but feel you have to be

College search should be fun and fulfilling---YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE YOUR COLLEGE

College is serious work but also lots of fun…and adventure