Category Archives: college planning

admissions, college costs, college guidance, college planning, financial aid

University of savings: financial aid tips

February 1, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Big college dreams have a big price tag. Most students use some form of aid to pay for college. According to CollegeBoard, more than $207 billion in aid is available. From federal loans to scholarship contests, opportunities to knock down college costs appear to those who search. Leave no stone unturned and look into these college aid resources to cover the costs.

FAFSA

With the potential for grants, loans and work-study incentives, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is square one when it comes to paying for college. The FAFSA analyzes family financial information through the federal-need formula. Among other things, FAFSA takes tax information into account, so Collegeboard.org recommends filing tax returns before starting the application. However, if your taxes aren’t ready, file with estimated amounts from last year and update with correct amounts after filing.

Aimed at providing a path to college for any student, the FAFSA is particularly advantageous for disadvantaged students, who have a better chance to receive free grants and scholarships.

Students can fill out this lengthy application at Fafsa.ed.gov.

Scholarship Contests

Students with 4.0 GPAs and high SAT scores aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of scholarship money. Scholarship contests offer students an equal playing field to show their stuff. Whether it’s an essay, video or presentation, these performance-based contests highlight talent in any field.

Scholarships.com lists news opportunities in various categories, including minority scholarships, corporate scholarships and even non-academic scholarships. A quick Google News search for “scholarship contests” will return the latest contents and deadlines.

Ask your guidance counselor for additional local opportunities, and explore the internet for the latest scholarship offers.

Student Loans

Free money is preferable, but loans enable students to have a classic college experience even if they can’t pay for it up front. This growing trend in financial aid is putting thousands of students through college and collecting payments from millions. In early January, student loan debt in the U.S. surpassed $1 trillion, according to Foxbusiness.com, and that number is expected to grow even more.

The FAFSA provides opportunities for federal student loans. Sallie Mae bank offers a private option to compete with these government offerings.

Loans can provide a worry-free college experience, but don’t over-borrow and saddle yourself with too much debt. Once graduation comes, failing to make payments can compromise your financial stability. The rule of thumb with student loans–borrow wisely.

Unconventional Aid

Some scholarship opportunities don’t fit into traditional molds. Unique scholarships give students that may not otherwise stand out a chance at college aid. The vertically-challenged student, for example, can take advantage of the Little People of America Association’s scholarship for students 4’10” or shorter. Left-handed students that have had to deal with awkward desks and sloppy writing are in luck, too. The Frederick and Mary F. Beckley Scholarship Program offers money for southpaws who demonstrate leadership skills.

Every student has something unique about him or her. Search for the scholarships that separate you from the crowd.

Work and pay as you go

Many students are choosing to work and pay as they go. High school students work during the summers and save for textbooks and other essentials not covered in tuition. Some students choose the community college route, attending classes as they can afford to pay for them. Other students opt to use the work study program at their college to supplement tuition expenses.

Colleges are recognizing that tuition costs are rising the average family cannot afford to chunk down tens of thousands of dollars at the beginning of the school term. They offer payment plans which spread the tuition out over the school year to help parents budget and pay as they go.

College is in reach if you take the time to research the many opportunities available and use that information to make a college choice that best fits into your available budget. Don’t let financial barriers keep you from achieving your dreams; and don’t let financial barriers lure you into overwhelming debt just to pay for a high-priced college.

college planning, financial aid, infographics

Who fills out the FAFSA?

January 25, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Do you have questions about who fills out the FAFSA? This infographic should help:

college costs, college guidance, college planning, financial aid, parenting

It’s FAFSA time!

January 24, 2013 Suzanne Shaffer

Here’s a great post from the College Board in honor of Financial Aid Awareness month for parents, reminding all of us of the importance of the FAFSA and how to get ready for submission.

It’s time.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is how millions of students apply for federal, state and most college-based financial aid. And because government grants compose 74 percent of this $185 billion pool, it’s understandable for families to feel anxious when filling out the FAFSA.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Susan McCrackin, Senior Director Financial Aid Methodology at the College Board, offers this eight-step map to help parents and students work through the FAFSA as efficiently and effectively as possible.

1. Gather Your Documents

It is much easier to fill out the FAFSA if you have all the needed forms in hand before you start. Here’s a list of documents to get you going. You should also get a U.S. Department of Education personal identification number (PIN.) Here’s the PIN application link.

2. Think About Taxes

Parents’ taxes are an important part in the FAFSA process. Getting taxes done by February 1^st may be unrealistic, so last year’s taxes and this year’s paystubs can help create estimates. After February 3^rd, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool becomes available, allowing students and parents to access the IRS tax return information needed to complete the FAFSA and transfer the data directly into their FAFSA from the IRS website. And if you owe the government money, take note: you can complete your taxes without actually filing and cutting a check to Uncle Sam.

3. Find Quiet Time

The FAFSA has a lot of sections. Breaking them into smaller pieces makes the FAFSA easier to navigate. Consider these do’s and don’ts.

Don’t sprint. Take questions one at a time and give yourself time to properly answer each question.
Do read each question carefully and out loud. It will help you understand the question better.
Don’t multi-task. Put your mobile phone away, and turn off the television.
Do find a quiet place where the FAFSA will have your full attention.

4. Stay Student Focused

Parents often forget that the student always provides information. Parents are required to provide their information if the student is dependent.

So when parents see a question that refers to “I,” remember that “I” is the student. “You” is also the student. When questions address parents, you will see questions that refer to “your parents.” This is where parental information goes.

5. Avoid Parent Traps

As families evolve, so do questions about who needs to provide information for the FAFSA. When you see “parents,” FAFSA is referring to the student’s biological or adoptive parents. When the parents are married, then the student and both parents complete the FAFSA.

If the parents are not together, things can get confusing. BigFuture by the College Board created a corresponding infographic to help address some commonly asked questions. That infographic will appear on this site tomorrow.

6. Keep Track of Deadlines

Every college has a different set of deadlines based on priority, merit, early decisions etc. BigFuture by the College Board helps families sort through these deadlines with detailed college profiles and a free, customized action plan. And, should you have specific questions about specific colleges or universities, don’t be afraid to call the college’s financial aid office and ask questions.

7. Profile CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®

The FAFSA opens the doors to federal aid. There’s also almost $50 billion in non-federal aid available – from colleges, states and private institutions. Some colleges and programs use the College Board’s CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE to help award these monies.

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE is an online application that collects information used by almost 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award financial aid outside sources from the federal government. Families must complete the application and the College Board sends it to the colleges and scholarship programs they have chosen.

Here’s a list of colleges that use CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® and where you go to complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®. Sending your CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® report to one college or scholarship program costs $25. Additional reports are $16 each. There are fee waivers available for low-income families.

8. Gain Experience

The more you experience something, the better you do. This free FAFSA webinar walks you section by section through an actual application with the College Board’s Senior Director for Financial Aid Methodology, Susan McCrackin. Families can access the free FAFSA webinar 24/7.

It’s time. Go after your piece of the more than $185 billion in financial aid to help make college possible. Use BigFuture for advice and to help create a customized plan for your child. Then follow the map. Chances are it will lead to an investment that provides returns for the rest of your child’s life.

college planning, Guest Posts, Uncategorized

Six Simple Steps to Prepare for College

November 21, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

The competition for college acceptance has never been tougher, which is why preparing early for your college education can help you position yourself to get into the college you want. High school graduation may seem like it is ages away, but now is the time to start preparing for college. Getting ready for college means planning for the future and making some very important decisions early—we advise following these six steps below to maximize your chances of getting into the best college possible.

1) Visit a College Counselor as Early as 9th Grade

Students should begin visiting a college counselor as early as 9th grade. Visit your school’s college counselor early and often to assist with SAT prep, college choices, college applications and letters of reference at no additional cost.

2) Do Your Research to Find a Great Match

Finding a college that compliments your educational goals, personality and learning style takes time and effort. Start by making a list of what criteria your perfect school would have. From that list, focus on the schools that meet your needs with regard to location, size, character and degree programs. I highly recommend the various college searching tools available at Student.CollegeBoard.org

3) Visit at Least 6 College Campuses

It is recommended that you visit at least six campuses before senior year begins and applications start going out. Once you have edited down your list of potential schools, schedule an appointment to visit each campus. Also, make sure to check out the schools’ social media sites to get the inside scoop before you visit.

4) Explore Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Total School Costs

Many students find it helpful to prepare an excel spreadsheet to manage information on colleges’ costs, financial aid program and scholarship offerings.

Review national lists of scholarships, awards and grants for college. BigFuture.com is one of many great resources for finding scholarships and awards.

5) Line up Your References Before Junior Year Ends

Get to know teachers and administrators, who can provide valuable letters of reference to accompany your college applications. Get involved in extracurricular activities, such as leadership and service opportunities, to build strong relationships.

Allow enough time to show them why you are worthy of their endorsement and provide ample notice, at least four weeks, for them to write the letter. Send a thank you note after you receive your letter to show your appreciation.

6) Take the SAT Exam Seriously

Preparing for the SAT should start well before you even book the date of the exam. The test draws on information learned during the school year, so make sure you do well in class, working with a tutor as necessary.

Lastly, strong consideration should be given to the type of high school you attend, for not all high schools are created equal. Many colleges will take into account the academic structure and relative rigor of your high school, so attending a respected boarding school or private high school could provide several advantages as well. But, regardless of what high school you attend, the single most important advice I can give you is to start early—getting into the college of your dreams will make all this preparation worth the hard work.

______________________

Today’s guest post was contributed by Amanda Green, a freelance writer who normally writes on the topics of education, business, and personal finance. Amanda has been writing for multiple years on the web and enjoys writing on less serious topics like pets and crafting in her spare time! You can read more writing by Amanda at paidtwice.com

college guidance, college planning, essays, Guest Posts

10 Tips to write more competitive college application essays

November 1, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

With college admissions season in full swing, students nationwide are beginning to prepare their applications. While many of the academic elements like GPA, class rank and SAT score are set, one part of the application that students still exercise control over are the essays. To help students write competitive essays that will help get them noticed by admissions officers, Veritas Prep, the largest global provider of test prep and admissions consulting services, teamed up with Application Boot Camp®, America’s top college consulting firm, to offer ten tips students should follow as they draft their college application essays:

DO think of your essays as a collection – use each to explore a different layer of who you are and how you would enhance the student body.
DON’T discuss politics or religion, unless you’re coming from an academic perspective – the essays are not the place to take a stand on a personal issue.
DO show, DON’T tell – think hard before you overuse adjectives and adverbs; clearly communicate your strengths without using extraneous language.
DON’T focus on what you want to do, but rather on what you have already done – how have you gone above and beyond? What is your scholarly niche?
DO use an opening hook – start your college essay with something that will capture the admission officer’s attention and show why you stand out.
DON’T be a generalist, be a specialist – colleges and universities aren’t looking for well rounded students, they are looking for a well rounded student body. Show them where you stand out and how you complement the mix they are going for.
DO use details – unsubstantiated statements are quickly dismissed, so be sure to use supporting details to illustrate and elaborate on what you are saying.
DON’T use “SAT words” – admissions officers are unimpressed by those trying to show off their vocabulary, they much prefer clear, concise essays.
DO write “Why Paragraphs” – while they are not required, they are an excellent opportunity to show what you’ll bring and why you belong at a given school.
DON’T use clichés – clichés are the quickest way to come across as inauthentic and unexceptional.

“Each year admission at the top colleges and universities becomes more and more competitive and students need to maximize their applications to highlight the qualities and characteristics that admissions officers are looking for,” said Dr. Michele Hernández, former assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth College and one of the nation’s most sought after private admissions counselors. “Essays are the best way to become a 3D applicant, adding another dimension to what otherwise would be a profile made up of grades, activities and test scores, which are only part of the story. In their essays, students have an opportunity to jump off the page and showcase who they are as an applicant and a person.”

__________________

Nearly a decade ago, Dr. Hernández and award winning author and parenting expert Mimi Doe co-founded Application Boot Camp®, a four-day workshop that provides students with step-by-step advice on their college applications. Recently they partnered with Veritas Prep to launch Application Boot Camp® On Demand, which captures the same guidance and advice from the $14,000 in-person workshop and makes it available as an interactive, online program for only $750.

In addition to twelve self-paced sessions led by Dr. Hernández and Ms. Doe, the program features a library of quizzes and interactive exercises. To learn more about Application Boot Camp® On Demand and Veritas Prep, visit http://www.veritasprep.com/sat/college-application-boot-camp/.

About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the world’s largest provider of test prep and admissions consulting services. It offers industry-leading programs to help applicants improve standardized test scores and gain admission to the world’s most selective universities. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management, Veritas Prep offers its live classroom GMAT prep course in more than 90 cities worldwide and as an interactive online course available to students everywhere. Its Veritas Prep SAT 2400 course is available as a classroom course, live online, on demand or in private tutoring sessions and features the only zero risk, money back guarantee in the industry. In addition, Veritas Prep offers admissions consulting services for applicants seeking entry into competitive business schools, law schools, medical schools and other graduate programs. For more information, visit veritasprep.com.

college guidance, college planning, organization, parenting

25 Twitter accounts every parent of a college-bound teen should follow

October 24, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer 19 Comments

If you have a college-bound teen, you should have a Twitter account. There is a wealth of information out there from scholarships, to admissions, to financial aid, to help with choosing a college. Here is my list of the MUST FOLLOW on Twitter. It’s easy to follow these if you make a list (college experts) and add these follows to the list. That makes it easier to read their feeds and find them as you are scanning through the multitude of information on Twitter.

@SuzanneShaffer https://twitter.com/SuzanneShaffer
@collegevisit https://twitter.com/collegevisit
@askjohnabout https://twitter.com/askjohnabout
@jodiokun https://twitter.com/JodiOkun
@payingforschool https://twitter.com/PayingForSchool
@zinch https://twitter.com/Zinch
@collegeblogs https://twitter.com/CollegeBlogs
@collegeboard https://twitter.com/CollegeBoard
@JaneKulow https://twitter.com/CVLKulow
@CPofAmerica https://twitter.com/CPofAmerica
@scholarshipscom https://twitter.com/Scholarshipscom
@AidScholarship https://twitter.com/AidScholarship
@collegeweeklive https://twitter.com/CollegeWeekLive
@NancyBerk https://twitter.com/nancyberk
@HappiestKid https://twitter.com/HappiestKid
@fujifulgueras https://twitter.com/fujifulgueras
@collegemoneyblg https://twitter.com/collegemoneyblg
@4collegeparents https://twitter.com/4collegeparents
@simpletuition https://twitter.com/SimpleTuition
@unigo https://twitter.com/Unigo
@studentadvisor https://twitter.com/StudentAdvisor
@preppedpolished https://twitter.com/PreppedPolished
@PeterVanBuskirk https://twitter.com/PeterVanBuskirk
@getcollege https://twitter.com/getcollege
@collegeadvice https://twitter.com/collegeadvice

In addition to these 25, do a search for the colleges your student is considering and add those feeds to the list.

You might also like:

Online College Resources for Parents

Smartphone Apps for Students

Your Parent Arsenal-strength for the journey

college planning, dorm life, Guest Posts

Too much “stuff” in your student’s dorm room?

September 21, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

When my daughter was heading off to college, we packed up her entire room except for the bed (no kidding) and shipped it 2000 miles to Boston. Once she got there we realized 1-she should have left most of it at home, and 2-we should have waited until we got there to see what she needed. We also found out that most of her incoming class was doing the same. Today’s guest post gives you some tips on how to avoid arriving with too much and what to do with it during the summer breaks.

______________

Across the nation at the end of each school year, college graduates (and some students simply leaving for the summer) participate in an incredibly wasteful tradition: They dump an entire home’s worth of furniture on the curb. Of course, it’s not the case with everyone or every school or every piece of furniture, but anyone living in a college town can attest to the phenomenon.

How much of that stuff did these students really need in the first place? How much of it was worth keeping?

640px-LoyolaMD_Dorm — Typical college dorm room

Heading to college is typically a young person’s first taste of independent living. From unconventional furniture arrangements to indoor hammocks, the interior decorating habits of college students could be their own reality show. For a college student, a year of school can feel like quite a long time. But as any parent knows, May will be here before they know it. What on earth are they going to do with all of that stuff?

If your college-bound kid is vying for a new La-Z-Boy or insisting that they need a king size bed, here are a few tips for controlling the accumulation of stuff during the college years (and what to do with them in between).

Communicate with Roommates–If two roommates show up to college, each with a couch in tow for their shared dorm room, there’s already a dilemma or potential conflict. For schools that assign a roommate (common for freshmen), they’ll also typically provide contact information. Touch base over the summer or winter break and figure out who can bring what so that you don’t double up on furniture.
Use Thrift Stores–Let’s face it — furniture gets beat up during college. There’s no point buying an expensive sofa if there’s a chance of somebody dropping a drink between the cushions and forgetting about it for two weeks. Most towns have a thrift store where used couches, chairs, and tables can be purchased at a cost that may be reasonable enough to simply donate it back at the end of the year.
Wait Until You Arrive–Most students have roommates during college, and it’s not uncommon to rent an apartment or house over the summer without seeing it first. Once all the inhabitants are together in the space is the best time to make decisions about furniture and decorating. It’s also a chance to pool resources so that everyone has a stake in the house’s furnishings. If one student shows up with a nice piece of furniture to share in a house with three other women or men, they should expect that it’s going to suffer some wear-and-tear over the course of a college year.
Be a Minimalist–Have you ever been to an Asian tea house or restaurant where patrons sit on pillows on the floor? College may be your best option for trying that out.

Even if you heed this advice, there’s a very good chance that come May, you’ll have a load of stuff that doesn’t fit in your sedan for the ride back home for summer. A short-term storage unit rental can fit the bill, and the less stuff you’ve accumulated, the less space you’ll need (and the less it will cost).

Whether you’re going abroad for a semester or just leaving for the summer, these tips for storage will help ensure that you come back to your belongings just as you left them:

Decide whether you need climate control or not–Almost everywhere in the U.S. can get pretty hot in the summer time. If you’re storing electronics, photographs, musical instruments, or anything that could melt, consider getting a unit with climate control.
Find a reputable unit and read the fine print–There are too many horror stories of students utilizing minimum security storage facilities. Oftentimes, the user provides their own lock, and a break-in is their own liability. Know the rules and the rights you have at the storage facility you choose and protect yourself accordingly. And if you provide your own lock, get a sturdy one.
Pack everything into plastic bins or tubs–Hauling the loose contents of a dorm room that you threw into the backseat of your car just begs for frustration when the next semester starts. Fold loose clothes and stack paperwork neatly in bins.
Share with friends–When you’re planning ahead for the furniture you’ll use with your roommates, go ahead and discuss who is responsible for storing the items when that time comes. Splitting a unit between multiple people can save money, but you’ll want to coordinate to insure that everyone has access to any personal items stored in the unit that they might need over the break.

College is a learning experience, well beyond the classes you take. It’s also a young person’s first opportunity to practice self-reliance and live outside of the comforts of their parents’ home. Help to remind your student that it’s a transitory period and they don’t need to furnish their apartment to the nines. At the same time, it’s a chance to learn how to care for their belongings, including the responsibility of storing them when they’re away.

__________________________

Our guest post today is from Kenneth McCall. Kenneth loves to bike and hike. When he’s not busy with outdoor activities he is a managing partner at storage.com, a leading provider of self storage for homeowners and businesses. Ken designs systems and tools for homeowners and businesses that need storage in places in the southwest like self storage in Albuquerque and Phoenix.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, tutoring

Alleyoop connects with Naviance to maximize student success

September 18, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

Earlier this year, I wrote a post about Alleyoop, a program designed to help students prepare for college by improving their math skills.

Today Alleyoop is partnering with Hobsons to create even more customized recommendations to keep students on track to reach their college and career goals through Naviance. With more than 5 million students in 5,500 schools around the globe, Naviance is the world’s largest college and career readiness platform. Through this partnership, students can use their Naviance Family Connection accounts to benefit from the collective intelligence of the Alleyoop Super Brain to improve their math and science skills.

“Alleyoop is about so much more than getting immediate math and science help — it’s about letting students take control of their education,” said Patrick Supanc, president of Alleyoop. “With this new partnership, Alleyoop becomes a destination for students and families on Naviance to get personalized academic resources that help make their dreams a reality.”

Alleyoop helps students succeed by connecting them with the right resources at the right time. Students will now get customized, tailored math and science help from Alleyoop based on the goals they set within the Naviance Family Connection portal.

According to The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, every year in the United States, nearly 60 percent of first-year college students discover that, despite being fully eligible to attend college, they are not academically ready for postsecondary studies. Alleyoop and Naviance are helping to bridge the gap between college eligibility and college readiness by providing a way for students to set academic and career goals, and map out a plan of action to achieve them.

“The combination of Naviance and Alleyoop makes it easier than ever for students to tie learning to life,” said Stephen M. Smith, President, Hobsons K-12. “At Hobsons, we strive to connect everything a student learns to a real-world objective. Our partnership with Alleyoop helps students tie their interests and skills to real college majors and careers, and preparing them academically and personally for a bright future.”

admissions, college guidance, college planning, Guest Posts

An interview with the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at UNC-Ashville

September 17, 2012 Suzanne Shaffer

A special thanks to Dr. Patrice Mitchell for participating in The Parliament Tutors Admission Spotlight Series. Dr. Mitchell is the Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid at UNC – Asheville.

As the Dean of Admissions, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?
I can definitely say that no two days are ever the same, which is also what I love about working with students to help them navigate through what can often be a nerve-wracking experience. Depending on the time of the year, I spend a lot of time reviewing enrollment reports to ensure that admissions decisions are being made on a daily basis to ensure we will enroll the desired quality and quantity of new students. I also spend a lot of time responding to questions from prospective students and their families about the application process and requirements.

What do you consider the most significant parts of an application, the parts which applicants should prepare the most carefully?
In regards to UNC Asheville, the most significant component of the application is the high school record. Specifically, rigor of course work, grade point average, and class rank.

Is there anything you frequently see on an application that you hope to never see again?
There is nothing that jumps out at me. However, the one thing that I would caution students on is the tendency to reveal such personal and sometimes tragic information, but do not necessarily correlate those experiences to how they have prepared them to be successful at the institution.

What common pitfalls should applicants be careful to avoid?
I can not emphasis enough the importance of proofreading all of your supporting documentation that you submit as a part of the application – including having the correct name of the institution on the essay. (Yes, I have had read “It has been my dream to attend X college all of my life” when the college that I am reading the application for is actually college Y!
Students should also avoid missing deadlines or assuming they have plenty of time to submit information prior to the deadline. Time for technology glitches and mail delivery problems should always be accounted for when submitting application materials. Students should also follow up with their counselors and/or individuals submitting recommendations to give them friendly reminders regarding the deadlines.

Are there any myths about the application process which you would like to dispel?
One thing that I would share about the process is that Admissions Offices really do want to make an admissions decision based upon whether or not the individual student will be a good fit and for the institution. Therefore, it is important for you to take the time to write a good essay that gives some insight into who you really are that SAT and gpa averages won’t tell us. It is also important to have an individual that truly knows them and the institution the student is applying. These are the reasons that you sometimes here of a student with a stronger SAT and gpa not getting into a specific college when there classmate does.

What advice would you give to an applicant with below-average test scores but significant extra-curricular experience?
Please remember that there are literally thousands of college options available to you. You just have to be open to exploring a handful that you may not have initially had on the top of your list. The reality is that at some schools the admissions process is selective and not having all of the components may keep you from getting an offer. However, at those schools where the SAT is optional or the SAT being below average many not be as big of a problem, that may be the school where you end up deciding to attend and find yourself having a wonderful experience. However, you may still want to contact the prospective college and ask to speak to the admissions counselor responsible for your high school. Establishing a relationship with that individual can sometimes be helpful.

Do you frequently have to turn away applicants whom you wish you could admit? If so, what could those applicants do to be admitted?
Unfortunately, we are not in a positive to offer admission to every applicant. In that case, the transfer option is discussed. This option is also being used by students who are admissible but want to get started at a two-year college and transfer in. There are several universities with articulation agreements with two-year colleges. Therefore, the idea of transferring in as an upper-classmen has become more of a positive alternative for students who are not competitive for freshmen admission. The important thing to remember is that sometimes there are different paths to get to the same destination.

How much faith do you have in the ability of the SAT to predict success at in college?
Here at UNC Asheville we take a holistic approach to the admissions process in order to reduce the importance that one variable has on the application decision. This is particular important to us since the high school rank and grade point average has been shown to be more of a predictor of success here than the SAT. Having said that, we do have a selective process in place, and we are a part of the UNC system, which requires us to report the average SAT, so it is a factor.

What do you look for in a recommendation letter?
Students should ensure that the recommendation letter is from someone who knows them well enough to speak to the attributes and strengths that make the student a good fit with the college. It also helps if the letter is written to the specific college. Not everyone is going to be able provide such detailed information, or even has the time to do so if they wanted to, but I enjoy reading letters from teachers and/or counselors who have some type of story or anecdote to share about the student that I otherwise would not know about them.

Joseph Fernandez conducted this interview. Joseph is a Tutor with Parliament Tutors. He specializes in SAT Tutoring.

Parenting for College

Category Archives: college planning