COLLEGE ADMISSIONS UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2024 |
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Monthly Newsletter from VP College Consulting Kansas City-based Admissions Advisor |
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Common Data Set: How it Can Help in College Admissions Every year colleges and universities are required to make their Common Data Set (CDS) available online. This wordy, and less than engaging document might not be eye-catching, but to the discerning college applicant, it can provide details that help them decide if the school meets their criteria, and vice versa. While each school has its choice of layout, all must include the following in their CDS: The relative importance of 20 academic and non-academic factors in admission, such as academic rigor, test scores, legacy, demonstrated interest and geographical residence
While much of this information is available on other sites, the CDS is significantly more detailed. For VP College Consulting clients, simply click on the college in CCP, then College Weblinks, and their CDS will be linked. For all others, google the name of the school and Common Data Set and it should take you to their report. Happy Researching! |
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Applying to College Major: Pros and Cons |
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To expect a 17-year-old to know what they want to do with the rest of their life seems at best ambitious and at worst stress-provoking for a young person who is still figuring out who they are. But it's often the first question we ask a high school junior or senior, in an effort to show interest and be friendly, right after asking them where they are applying to college. How important is it to have their career and college major outlined at this stage in life? Considering that about 30% of students change their major in college, and the average adult changes career 5 - 7 times, certainly a teen shouldn't be expected to have it all figured out. |
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Campus Visits How to maximize your time and what to do when you can't visit. |
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The best way to get a sense of college fit is by visiting. When it's possible to do so, be sure to: Attend the information session and ask questions about opportunities such as internships and research. Ask admissions what sets the school apart from others. Take the official tour, stay in the front of the group and ask questions. Ask your student guide(s) or other students on campus why they chose the school, what they like and don't like about it. Spend time in the student union and library. Sit and observe.
Can you picture yourself there? Eat a meal in the main dining room. Pick up a school newspaper and look at posted flyers. What are students involved in?
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What can you do if you're not able to visit in person? With the pandemic, colleges ramped up their virtual offerings. |
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Connecting with Colleges: Easy and Beneficial Tips |
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Anytime a student takes an admissions-related exam such as PreACT, PSAT, ACT, SAT, etc, they are asked to check a box if they want to receive communications from colleges. I usually recommend doing so, as students may learn about schools they are otherwise unfamiliar with. (Some families plan ahead for this by creating a separate email address just for this purpose). As the student progresses through the exploration process and identifies schools they have some interest in, it is wise to join their email list to receive program information, virtual presentation opportunities, scholarship opportunities, and during senior year, application reminders and possible application fee waivers. Not only is the student receiving helpful information, but for schools that track demonstrated interest, each email click may be collected, giving students an admissions boost. Beyond emails, students can follow their favorite schools on their social media pages for the same benefits already outlined. One caveat: be sure the social media account used does not contain content you don't want to share with a potential college. When the time comes to apply to the schools a student has been following, all the information collected through these methods can also add content to the supplemental essay the school may require, asking why the student wants to attend. To demonstrate that level of knowledge will prove beneficial and give yet another edge to the student who took the time to do this. |
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Admissions Testing Update |
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Although colleges removed the requirement to submit test scores in the wake of the pandemic, the trend toward requiring them again continues. While the vast majority of schools remain test-optional for the class of 2025, the current list of 70 schools requiring them can be found here: Colleges Requiring ACT or SAT for Admission. While there does not exist a database schools requiring tests, Fairtest.org maintains the most up-to-date, comprehensive list of test-optional schools. |
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Join Me for a Free Presentation The Changing Landscape of College Admissions: Strategies for Success Topics include: the trend in college admissions over the last 25 years, how to build a college list, what colleges are looking for in the new landscape, how to demonstrate the qualities colleges are looking for, as well as the application process and timeline. One hour presentation + 30 minute Q&A. September 4, 2024 6:30 - 8:00pm Village Presbyterian Church 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208 OR September 12, 2024 6:30 - 8:00pm Village Presbyterian Church 14895 Antioch Rd, Overland Park, KS 66221 |
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LIST OF THE MONTH FISKE GUIDE: Top Art and Design Schools |
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Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts California Institute of the Arts Kansas City Art Institute Maryland Institute College of Art Massachusetts College of Art and Design Moore College of Art and Design Otis College of Art and Design Parsons The New School Pratt Institute-Main Rhode Island School of Design Ringling College of Art and Design San Francisco Art Institute Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Art Institute of Chicago School of the Museum of Fine Arts-Boston The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art University of North Carolina School of the Arts |
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RESOURCE HIGHLIGHTS College Admissions Recommended Podcasts College Essay Guy |
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VP College Consulting, LLC Overland Park, KS |
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vicki@vpcollegeconsulting.com 913-228-2807 |
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