Netflix recently released a documentary/re-enactment of the Varsity Blues scandal over college admissions. You probably heard the news last year about rich parents paying bribes to get their less than stellar students into elite universities. If you have the time, have a student heading to college, or are simply interested to see how the scandal unfolded watch the documentary.
As I watched I realized how much the media highlighted the celebrities involved and neglected to examine why this happened. The college admissions system is broken. Granted, there has always been those who benefit from huge donors, legacies and connections. But the overwhelming desire to get into the “prestigious” colleges has caused parents and students to step outside the normal boundaries and into illegal and damaging practices.
I won’t go into details about the sting, or the characters involved, but I think it’s important to focus on some take-aways from the documentary and also think about what we learned from all of it.
A college visit can determine what schools you apply to and which one you ultimately decide on as your top pick. Summer college visits allow you the opportunity to visit campuses in a less formal atmosphere and wander around the campus on a self tour. Classrooms may be empty, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting. The college doesn’t necessarily have to be on your list–visits to any college help you formulate the list and give you ideas on what you like and don’t like on campus.
However, paying attention on college tours can be difficult, especially when there is a lot of information to digest. When deciding on a college and looking back on your time at each one, you may even forget important factors that can sway your decision. Here is some advice to get you through each visit and keep track of all the key details.
Statistics show there is a significant amount of students who enter college and do not attain a degree. The overall college dropout rate in the U.S. is 40% for undergraduates. Of those who drop out, 28% of them drop out before they become sophomores.
Your college-bound student should prepare for obstacles and you can help. Share this article with them and encourage them to take it to heart.
What can be done to assure that you don’t become one of those dropout statistics?
1. Research colleges and majors before applying.
It’s just plain smart to do the research and know why and where you want to go to college. Refine your list of choices to include the colleges that offer the academic program that suits your interests and the college setting and faculty that you feel most comfortable with and could see yourself flourishing in that environment.
You can’t dispute the facts. Statistics tell a story. You can use the numbers to get an overall picture of things, evaluate goals, and learn from the trends. College admission statistics and facts are no different. They tell us about college trends, college student behavior, and the future of college graduates.
The following are 12 facts about college. Will you be surprised?
75 percent of high school seniors are accepted to their first-choice colleges, but less than 57 percent can afford to attend. Although students are often accepted to their first choice colleges, they are unable to attend due to financial constraints, especially this year due to the pandemic. This means it’s critically important to investigate the college’s financial aid awards before you apply. Do they offer merit aid in the form of scholarships and grants? What percentage of accepted students receives college-based financial aid? What is the average financial aid award?
But according to a study by DoSomething.org, a group that connects kids with volunteer projects, students should heed this word of warning:
DoSomething.org conducts annual surveys on community service and college admissions. They have found that most admissions officers prefer students to be consistently involved with one issue over a variety of causes. Moreover, social change isn’t something you should do just to put on your application — follow your passion. Seventy-five percent of admissions officers stated that a school requiring community service does not “taint” their perception of the applicant’s commitment. If your experience was required, make sure that your level of involvement was clear, focusing on what you were most passionate about.
Studies have shown that students who spent time working during college actually do better in the classroom. Students who work must learn how to structure and manage their time to work around class assignments. This translates into not delaying assignments and scheduling time to study for exams. However, many experts suggest that freshmen students wait until the second semester to take on the added responsibility of a job. This allows them time to ascertain their academic strengths and decide whether or not a job would detract from their study time.
When college students do decide to work, there are three options available to them: on-campus jobs, off-campus jobs and internships. Each of these job opportunities has its own set of advantages.
For decades, it’s been widely accepted that applying to college is a hard, stressful and time-consuming process. Students can easily spend months on university preparation and the application process, as well as thousands of dollars in application fees. Parents aren’t always sure which universities are the best fit for their students’ needs and qualifications. The anxiety is real, and when students receive rejection letters, it can be crushing.
Parents and students who understand and plan for the cost of college are wise consumers. Before applying to college, it makes sense to plan ahead and know your options before making a decision about college. The College Board and FinAid.org provide parents and students with several different college calculators to determine college costs, the expected family contribution for financial aid, and how much student loan payments will be upon repayment. Knowing these figures will help you better plan for the costs associated with college.
As student debt numbers continue to soar and the job market becomes increasingly competitive, prospective college students care now more than ever about being able to support themselves after graduation – and their parents want to help them avoid drowning in the $1.6 trillion national student loan debt.
GradReports, recently released new proprietary Salary Scores in an effort to empower students with the data necessary to compare schools and equip themselves for a successful future. GradReports compared the salaries of over 4.6 million college graduates to determine Salary Scores for 2,200+ colleges and 334 majors.
There are so many milestones in any parent’s life. Your baby’s first steps, their first words, the first day of school, and their first girlfriend. But there are few occasions more momentous than the day you send your adult child off to college.
You will probably be feeling very bittersweet about it. You are delighted that they are on track to succeed in life and learning to become an independent adult. They will make lifelong friends, learn about the world, and finally discover who they really are. But on the other hand, you may be feeling a great deal of sadness that they are leaving home. You will no longer be able to see them every day and cook them dinner each night. They may be living hundreds of miles across the country and can’t come to you if they need help. And with everything going on in the world right now, it may be harder than ever before. Student life in a pandemic can’t be easy, and you are understandably concerned for their wellbeing.
