admissions, editorial, parenting

It’s Time for a Wake-Up Call for Parents (and Students) about College

 

college

The college system is rigged. It’s time for parents (and students) to wake up and smell the coffee. Colleges are businesses and it’s their business to lure your student in, inflate their application numbers, and decrease the percentage of acceptances. It’s a simple tactic used in every business: make it more difficult to obtain and everybody wants it. These elite colleges have sold this view of success to most parents and students—”Get into one of our colleges and you’re guaranteed a great job after graduation, a wonderful life, and success.” It’s a bunch of bunk!

Applying to these colleges carries a steep price, and it’s not just when you get the tuition bill. The cold hard facts are that a small percentage of the best students get offered admission to these colleges. When your above average student who isn’t at the top of the applicant pool puts all his hopes and dreams into an offer of admission and the odds aren’t stacked in his favor, you and your family are in for some devastating weeks and months of disappointment.

In a statistical article discussing demonstrated interest in higher education from Social Assurity, Barnard College’s enrollment statistics were revealed:

Congratulations to the 1,088 students accepted to Barnard College’s Class of 2022. You are part of the most selective class in Barnard’s history. Barnard chose you from 7,897 applicants for an effective acceptance rate of 13.7%.

Barnard’s acceptance rate has dropped precipitously over the past four years. Twenty-four percent of applicants were admitted to the class of 2018, 20 percent to the class of 2019, 16 percent to the class of 2020, 15.4 percent to the class of 2021, and now 13.7 percent to the class of 2022.

Why do we allow our students to be used in this way? Why is it so important that they attend an elite university? Because for so many years, parents and students have believed the lie that says, “where you go to college determines who you will be.” And nothing, absolutely nothing, could be further from the truth. Where you go is NOT who you will be.

What your student does with the education he receives will determine his success or failure. It won’t be determined by the name at the top of their diploma or the name on the sweatshirt they wear for the next four years. The reality is there are thousands of excellent colleges who provide a superior education. These colleges change lives. These colleges provide students with degrees that work. These colleges provide large amounts of financial aid to all their students. These colleges give students opportunities to serve as they learn. They don’t have elite names on their buildings. But your student will receive a quality education at an affordable price.

Why would you want anything less for your student? Why would a parent make a decision to go into debt, encourage their student to go into debt, and destroy their retirement to send their student to one of these elite colleges? But it happens every single day as the colleges rejoice and applaud their efforts to milk parents out of a small fortune to educate (or often not educate) their student.

I hear these stories every day. “My student was valedictorian and he didn’t get into any of the Ivies.” “My student had a strong GPA, high test scores, strong leadership and community involvement and she didn’t get into one of the colleges she applied to. What did she do wrong?” It’s not the quality of the student, it’s the quality and the substance of the college list. They applied to the WRONG colleges!

Your college list can make or break the admission results. Apply to the wrong schools and your student will either not get accepted or get accepted and not offered any financial aid. It’s a guaranteed result. If you want this to happen to your student, populate their list with elite colleges. Apply ED to one of them and sit back and wait for the disappointment. It will most surely happen. If you want a different result, take a different course of action.

Lynn O’Shaughnessy, a college and financial aid expert, agrees and lays it all out for parents in her recent article: Getting Rejected From Elite Universities. Do yourself (and your student) a favor and read it. Do this before fall of senior year. Follow her advice (and mine) and expand your college list. Do the research. Choose the colleges that offer the best aid, the best education, and might not be on anyone’s radar. Employers don’t care where you went to college. They care that you got an education that prepares you for the work force.

Guest Posts, social networks

Defanging Social Media

 social media

Do college admissions officers check prospective students’ social media feeds?

Yes, some do.

As a parent of a teenage boy or girl, should I panic?

No.

According to Kaplan Test Prep’s latest college admissions survey, about 35 percent of admissions officers check social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And of course, some report finding little nuggets of gold—the applicant who started a business with her mother—and some nuggets of less than gold—the applicant bragging about their partying exploits.

And with each Kaplan report, headlines scream the obvious while offering the obvious in terms of suggestions to parents for managing their child’s social media presence and brand. One writer, a corporate CEO, implores parents to undertake a sophisticated social media PR campaign complete with professional photography, oversite of all posts to assure alignment with strategic messaging and college application materials, website with weekly blog posts and videos, engage in search engine optimization practices, and use strategic social handles and email addresses.

No wonder parents and kids are so stressed out.

The fact is, there are ways to leverage social media that:

  1. Reduces stress rather than increases anxiety
  2. Demonstrates your child’s unique value to a college or university
  3. Levels the playing field and gives him or her an edge

In the following, we will help defang stress, leverage social media as an ally, and offer suggestions for innovatively using social media to level the playing field and give your child an edge that extends well beyond college admissions.

Defanging Stress

There are already too many sources of stress if you are a parent of a teen or an actual teenager. Social media as it relates to college admissions shouldn’t be one of them.

First, let’s put things in perspective. Did you start a business with your child? Does your child post photos on Facebook of him or her drinking and bragging about skipping school?

If the answer to both is no, you fall somewhere within normal. Social media, as are smartphones, is ubiquitous in the culture, especially for teens. And most teens post silly, gossipy things, things they are proud of, and things they think make them look cool or funny to their friends. Therefore, admissions counselors that look through applicants’ social media feeds know what teenagers are like. They work with them all day long.

What they look for in social media is a fuller picture of who that kid is. Is there positive information that didn’t make it into the essay or onto the Common App? Is there a clear warning sign that this kid is not college ready? Or are they like every other teenager in the country?

Second, while 35 percent of admissions officers routinely check social media, 65 percent do not. For example, the University of Vermont does not check social media as a matter of policy. Further, the depth that the 35 percenters go to investigate social media is unclear.

Third, you and your teen can take a few simple steps to make his or her social media presence an ally that demonstrates his or her value rather than looking like every other teen in the country. Understanding this piece of the college admissions puzzle will go a long way toward easing stress because you go from I know social media is important to I can do something about it without too much effort.

Social Media as Ally

  1. Be Generous, Authentic and Open

Think of applying to college as the convergence of a few different communication channels. There’s the application, essay, letters of recommendation, a letter from you the parent, test scores, and transcript. Social media and links to online content—awards, important life and educational experiences, what s/he is proud of, diversity of friends, etc.—can powerfully demonstrate your child’s unique value.

Make it easy for admissions to find this content.

Openness also helps establish authenticity, which helps establish trust. Visiting the college, doing an entrance interview, application materials, and your letter about your child helps establish a relationship, but creates a partial picture. Access to social media and other online content helps admissions see your child in a way that is authentic and holistic rather than scripted and prepared.

  1. Do Some Pruning

The summer before filling out and sending applications, go through your child’s social media presence with him or her. If there are posts that are unflattering or run counter to the image you want to present to college admissions, remove it.

Teens love going through their social media with their parents and will see this as a bonding experience.

Just kidding.

They will resist. Show them how off-color posts can damage their ability to get into college (and move out of the house into a dorm) and always play to their aspirational nature. They may not show it, but they want to succeed and build a life of their own.

When evaluating questionable posts and content ask you and your teen:

  • Would I say this to my entire family?
  • Does it detract from making me look college ready?
  • Does it attract negative attention or honest discussion?

Also, look for and add likes and references in the About You sections that show his or her interests, friendships, virtues, etc. Delete those that run counter to the image you want to project.

Last, did you tour the school? Did you post negative comments and photos? Delete.

One more thing. Don’t overdo it. Too much pruning will make the content look curated by mom and dad, which means inauthentic and untrue.

  1. Plant a Few Flowers

While pruning, make sure the image of your child is complete. Is your son or daughter into painting, photography, music, acting, etc. If so, post these to Instagram or Facebook and provide links to the admissions staff.

Make sure you include organizations that your child belongs as well as any noteworthy roles in and outside of school.

Be careful not to add too much all at once. Tweets are a prime example because admissions will see that they your child posted them within a tight timeframe, and this undermines authenticity.

Think Differently to Gain an Edge

Most people—parents, social media advisors, etc.—only view social media, as it relates to college admissions, as a reputation management tool, or threat. However, some parents and students are finding unique, innovative ways to use social media as an opportunity to gather information and identify strategies to give their kids an edge.

We’ve heard numerous stories where a kid has leveraged their social media presence for valuable internships, specialized tutoring, and all manner of means to gain a competitive advantage. The best part, each of these kids was following a passion rather than forced to take on yet another unwanted responsibility.

For example, a Christmas Day 2017 New York Times piece told the story of Eli Reiter, a young man struggling with his academic future. While scrolling through Reddit, he noticed a post from a tutor near his home who helped the best and brightest prep school students prepare for the SAT and ACT. Through Reddit, Eli and the tutor could safely communicate through text, which led to informal help and then tutoring at a reduced cost.

The tutor helped Eli increase his SAT scores, which played a role in his acceptance by a well-respected college. There are two lessons here:

  1. A social media platform gave Eli access to a mentor who helped change Eli’s life.
  2. Access to this mentor leveled the playing field for Eli and gave him an advantage. For reduced cost, Eli received the same tutoring as elite prep school students, which leveled the playing field. And because he received help from a tutor of this quality, he gained an advantage most students do not have.

One other example is helpful. Social media are immensely powerful networking platforms with myriad college admissions possibilities. One of these is the opportunity for your child to seek out professionals working in your son or daughter’s prospective area of undergraduate and graduate study and career path. He or she can also find professionals with degrees from the colleges and universities they plan to apply to.

This then gives your child the ability to interview their future-self based on any pathway they are considering. This will help them find the right fit between institution, area of study, and career path before even sending out an application.

Your child can also include these relationships and learning in their application and essay. It may even lead to an internship opportunity or letter of recommendation.

Further, this information will help the college-bound thrive once they get to college and then enter the world of work. According to research by ACT (the organization that offers the ACT assessment tests), “The fit between a students’ interests and their college majors are important in understanding and predicting student outcomes.” And, according to Gallup, 36 percent of adults regret their field of study and 28 percent regret the college or university they attended.

Parent and student innovators are thinking differently about learning and the role social media can play. This is why we are writing our book, Gig Education: How to reduce stress, outsmart Harvard, and help your kids build amazing lives. We want to help kids and parents think different.

_______________________________________________________

Today’s guest post is co-authored by Jay Bakhru and James Buchanan. Jay and James are currently working on a book titled: Gig Education: How to reduce stress, outsmart Harvard, and help your kids build amazing lives.

college visits

Spring College Visits Aren’t Just for Juniors

college visits

Students and their families usually begin visiting colleges in the spring of junior year of high school. But should families start sooner? What are the benefits of making preliminary college visits during freshman or sophomore years of high school?

These are simply informal college visits that include a walk around campus, a visit to the school library, or a stroll through the campus bookstore. It’s easy to fit a brief college tour into your family spring vacation.

Why, however, should you consider doing this?

To get a feel for the college environment.

It’s a proven fact that picking a college is an emotional choice. Yes, students evaluate colleges based on academics, but mostly their choice is based on a “feeling.” By making preliminary college visits, students get a feel for the college environment, the buildings, the layout, the students and everything that makes a college. It helps to prepare students for junior year when they start touring must-see colleges on their college lists.

To start a list of college likes and dislikes.

Believe it or not, the look and the surrounding environment of a campus is important to most students. Does your student favor a sprawling campus with hills and historic buildings or a bustling campus in the middle of a large metropolitan area? Is the idea of a smaller campus interesting? Or is your student craving the excitement a large state university campus? Students can’t know the answer to any of these questions without visiting different types of campuses.

To experience campus life first-hand.

There’s nothing like watching students congregate on the green space for an impromptu game of football. Or seeing students walking between classes having discussions and getting to know one another. Or piling into the dining hall for a meal and some conversation. The list goes on and on. You can’t get that experience by viewing a website or looking at a brochure. You only get it by visiting a campus in person.

To read more reasons why preliminary visits make sense for your freshman or sophomore student, you can read my original article here at TeenLife Magazine: Why Freshmen and Sophomores Should Visit College Campuses.

college planning, college prep

How One Student Hacked the College System

A short time ago I was contacted by a college student who has written an ebook about hacking the college system. How did he do it? He took advantage of AP and CLEP testing. He did an entire year’s worth of college in just a few months! Sound crazy? It’s not. It’s a path to getting a college degree without going into thousands of dollars of student debt. His ebook is an easy to read, step by step method on how he did it.

If you’re struggling to find a way to pay for college and your student is motivated, check out this method. Imagine saving thousands of dollars by just taking some tests and never having to attend a class or set foot on a campus. Would you pay $700 or thousands more for a semester of college. I know which I would choose!

Here’s his story:

My name is Grayson. I’m a college student and author. As both college tuition and student debt continue to rise, I had to get creative to get my degree without going into debt. This is my story of saving TENS of THOUSANDS on my degree. No scholarships, no loans, no click-bait.

Student debt is now over 1.4 Trillion in the U.S. The average time spent paying back these loans is 21 years. That’s just for a bachelor’s degree! Imagine what you could do with zero debt. Take more family vacations? Start a business? I believe there is always a different way to go about things, including paying for college. This belief is what challenged me as I approached going to college: Should I follow the crowd into a life of debt or challenge the academic status quo?

I chose the challenge. By teaching myself how to test out of classes, I was able to save absurd amounts of time and money in comparison to a typical college student. Without the restraint of classes, I had opportunities to travel and work while earning real college credits. I studied history while in Tokyo, computer technologies while working in Montana, and art in Las Vegas.

Now I want to share with you how to do the same thing. I want you to crush college debt by fighting the status quo and have opportunities you didn’t think possible while in school. To learn exactly how I was able to do all this while getting college credits, check out my website, www.knockoutcollege.com for my videos and blogs. You can find the official book there as well!

Now that you have read his story, watch this video;

admissions, college guidance, college planning

The College Selection Dilemma: Big or Small?

 

college selection

As a parent, you have the responsibility of guiding a young and impressionable mind through some of the biggest life challenges. When important decisions are concerned, you simply can’t leave it all to your kids. They simply don’t have the experience and the know-how to select the most rational choice.

College selection will obviously have a profound impact on nearly every aspect of your child’s life in the future.

One of the big questions that needs to be answered in terms of college selection is should you go big and popular or smaller and more exclusive? Both of these possibilities come with their pros and cons.

The Pros and Cons of Big vs. Small Colleges

Comparing big and small colleges side by side is the first key consideration.

Let’s begin with big colleges like UCLA, for example. The advantages of going to a big university are numerous. They include a massive campus that features all necessary learning premises, large classes that provide excellent socialization opportunities, excellent extracurricular programs and renowned faculty.

On the downside, the huge classes could also be seen as a disadvantage because students don’t get a chance to interact with instructors regularly. In addition, the administrative processes could potentially be expected to take up more time and more introverted students could easily get lost in the crowd and lose chances to stand out.

As far as small universities are concerned, there’s an intimate feel ad a chance to know most people that someone is studying with. Students get more one on one time with professors, there are usually personalized majors and better advising opportunities (in terms of career or personal development).

Small colleges, however, often lack the diversity in terms of majors that big universities offer. The number of facilities is also limited, especially for doing quality research. The variety in housing choices will be limited and some students could potentially experience social isolation.

Is it about Size or about Quality?

When making the distinction between big and small colleges, you should also consider the status of the educational facility. Elite universities differ in size and studies suggest that pursuing such academic education makes sense in the long run.

You have to find out whether the colleges your child is interested in are accredited and certified.

The ranking of the university for a particular major of interest is also important. There are dozens of rankings out there you can review to find out more. The US News and World Report university ranking is highly esteemed because key criteria are examined side by side. Some of these criteria include tuition and fees, enrollment, SAT scores, average GPA of enrolling students, the starting salaries of graduates and the starting salaries by major.

Know What Your Child Wants

The preferences of your child should also be taken in consideration.

Some young individuals tend to thrive in the bustling diversity of large universities. Others will simply feel lost and overwhelmed by the crowd and by the abundance of choices.

Emotionality does play a role and so does the predisposition of a young person towards a certain subject or another. People who pursue certain majors will get better results by going to a smaller college. Those interested in popular, well-established majors, may want to pursue a big university (especially if the major requires lab work, the availability of equipment and tons of research).

Just sit down and have a conversation to make sure that your priorities are aligned. If you can come to an agreement, you will get to work as a team in the pursuit of great academic opportunities.

Somewhere in the Middle?

A large university and a small boutique college aren’t the only two options out there.

A medium-sized college could be considered the best of both worlds. It brings the diversity and the academic options available in a large university to the comfortable peacefulness of a medium-sized campus and manageable class sizes.

Medium-sized colleges in the US are defined as those that have anywhere between 5,000 and 15,000 students. As you can see, there’s some variety here, as well. Understanding the strengths of the respective university will be the key to getting the best of both worlds without missing out on anything.

Do the research on the basis of the academic programs that your child is interested in. some medium-sized colleges could have an excellent education for a specific program while other courses may be seen as subpar. If you have a pretty good idea about what you’re looking for, you can make adequate inquiries about curricula and faculty qualifications.

There’s no universal answer to the big versus small college dilemma. The truth of the matter is that you know your child and your financial situation best. Take some time to explore the possibilities and keep an open mind. A rational approach will pay off in the end.

_______________________________________________________________________

Today’s guest post is contributed by Laura Buckler. Having an amazing approach on life, Laura Buckler is one of the greatest writers at Essays.scholaradvisor team. Her motivation and passion for her work makes her a valuable contributor. Follow Laura on twitter to gain extra-confidence!

admissions, financial aid, financial planning

Should You “Follow the Money” When Choosing a College?

 

choosing a college

I’ve said over and over again to parents, “You’ve got to look at the statistics when it comes to paying for college.” Before the list begins, before the college visits start and before the applications are completed, you MUST know how much it costs and if you can afford to pay for it. You should “follow the money” when choosing a college!

Where can you find the statistics? You can do your own research on College Navigator or CollegeData, or you look at these compiled from a survey by the Princeton Review.

Look at these statistics from the Princeton Review’s 2018 Edition of Colleges That Pay You Back:

  • “Best Financial Aid” #1 Bowdoin College (ME) / #25 Macalester College (MN)
  • “Best Career Placement” – #1 Harvey Mudd College (CA) / #25 Cornell University (NY)
  • “Best Alumni Network” – #1 Pennsylvania State University / #25 Union College (NY)
  • “Best Schools for Internships” – #1 Northeastern University (MA) / #25 Gettysburg College (PA)
  • “Best Schools for Making an Impact” – #1 Wesleyan University (CT) / #25 Kalamazoo College (MI)
  • “Top Colleges That Pay You Back for Students with No Demonstrated Need” – #1 Harvey Mudd College (CA) / #25 University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

These are more than statistics. They help you decide if your college investment will be worth the cost. Your student may not be thinking along these lines, but it’s your job to bring them down to earth.

When choosing a college, ROI (return on investment) should be part of the decision mix. Take a look at these Top 50 colleges with the highest ROI.

What does the survey tell us?

Among the 200 colleges (135 private and 65 public) in the book:

  • the average grant to students with need is $26,800
  • the median starting salary of graduates is $55,700 and mid-career salary is $108,700.

Among the book’s 65 public colleges:

  • the average net cost of attendance (sticker price minus average grant) for in-state students receiving need-based aid is $12,700
  • the average admission rate is 53% and 12 colleges admit over 70%

Among the survey findings, 99% of respondents viewed college as “worth it,” but 98% said “financial aid would be necessary” to pay for it (65% of that cohort deemed aid “extremely necessary”).

Why should you consider these factors?

Before my daughter chose a college, we didn’t examine any of these factors. We compared financial aid packages, but we didn’t look for a college that was a good return on our investment. When it comes down to it, you spend a good amount of money on a college education. It’s an investment in your student’s future. We would never knowingly throw money into a bad investment or purchase a home high above market value, but every day parents invest their money in a college that won’t pay their student back.

Whether it’s career placement, networking, internships or tremendous financial aid, you should consider some of these colleges when making that final college list.

SAT, Sponsored posts, test prep

Did You Know the SAT Can Help Your Student Find and Win Scholarships?

1 Comment

This post is sponsored and written in partnership with the College Board.

SAT

With college tuition high, families are searching for ways to pay for their teenager’s college education. The SAT can connect your teen to scholarships and merit aid that can make his or her dream university more affordable. Many colleges use a student’s SAT score to award merit aid, with many automatic scholarships based on a student’s score.

SAT Suite of Assessments

The SAT Suite of Assessments connects your son or daughter to colleges and scholarship programs that recognize academic achievement and award scholarships based on that achievement. Students who take the SAT can opt in to what the College Board calls the “Student Search Service” to make their names and information available to colleges and scholarship programs.

In addition to providing information to colleges, the College Board has increased access to millions in combined awards through the PSAT/NMSQT for low-income and minority students through partnerships with scholarship providers like the American Indian Graduate Center and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

College merit aid

Colleges provide merit aid to students who excel academically, including those who score well on the SAT. The specific requirements of these scholarships will vary from college to college. Your teen can make the most of his or her SAT score by finding guaranteed SAT scholarships—scholarships awarded based on the SAT score. Colleges often use other criteria like GPA and class rank combined with the SAT score to determine these awards.

For these scholarships, your teen may not be required to submit any extra application information, but in some cases, he or she will have to apply by a certain deadline to be guaranteed the scholarship. Your teen should check each individual college website for the full information.

For example, Colorado State University offers an automatic $4000 scholarship per year to a student who scores 1490 or higher on the SAT with a 4.0 GPA. Students attending Texas Tech University with an SAT score of 1400 or higher, a 3.5 GPA and in the top 10% of their class receive $6000 for up to four years with a one-time award of $4000.

Colleges look for students who will succeed in a rigorous college academic environment. Typically, students who earn high SAT scores demonstrate that ability. Coupled with a strong GPA and other application criteria, SAT scores help colleges ascertain a student’s ability to do well in college. Colleges award these students by providing them with merit aid scholarships.

Note: Don’t forget the regular registration deadline for the March SAT is February 9th. Register now at the Official SAT Registration website. And, there’s still time for your student to study for the upcoming March SAT by using Khan Academy’s FREE SAT prep.

online learning, parenting

Why We Need Private High Schools

 

private schoolsThere was a time when the United States was at the head of the class when it came to the quality of education in this country. As of January 2015, the United States ranked in 14th place out of 40 countries scored, and that is not saying much for the state of education in this country as it now stands. This was one of the major issues during our current president’s campaign and something he has vowed to ‘fix’ during his administration. Can anyone blame him?

Why the United States Scored So Low on the Scale

The debate continues on what we have come to know as “The Core Curriculum” and how this is holding our youth back from attaining the education they deserve. However, this is specific to public schools, for the most part, because private schools have much more leeway in how they teach, if not what they teach, per state requirements.

 

What Private Schools Can Offer that Public Schools Can’t

Private schools can offer a more open approach to education because they are not bound by the exact same laws as public schools are. While many may receive funding from government sources, private schools are not accountable to a county school board as are public schools. So, while all students must meet minimum requirements, private schools have the freedom to reach far beyond those minimums. They may even be able to do away with the Core altogether as long as their students can master the concepts contained in the Core.

A Misguided Mindset

With a national mindset of “No Child Left Behind” and minimum requirements in the curriculum, is it any wonder why our educational system is falling through the basement? Instead of setting minimum goals for students to attain, why not set those goals higher? Why not set up classrooms where every child has the opportunity to grow at his or her own pace? That’s something to consider and why a greater number of private schools are keeping their classroom sizes small enough to accomplish this.

With more one-on-one time with students, teachers can help them work at their own level of competency, and that is the way forward. Keeping a broken Core Curriculum is holding our future leaders back and why so many parents are thankful to have the wherewithal to send their kids to private schools. Wouldn’t it be nice if every child had that opportunity?

Raising up a New Generation of Educators and Administrators

The guiding light, the ray of hope, in all this is that there are forward thinking universities that are raising up a new generation of educators and administrators. Check out https://peabodyonline.vanderbilt.edu/ to see how we can change our future and why private schools may be one of the best ways to meet the challenges ahead. Sometimes it’s not about what we are required to teach our students but how we teach them that makes a difference. Whether or not the Core can be done away with isn’t quite as important as training teachers to bring out the best in their classrooms.

admissions

Do You Know Your Child’s Personality Type? It Matters for College Acceptance

2 Comments

 

College is often the next step for high school students. In fact, 2016 research from the National Center for Education Statistics found that 70 percent of high school students enrolled in college the same year they graduated. However, competition is heating up. Research from the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that 39 percent of institutions reported using a waitlist in Fall 2016. It also found that the average selectivity rate was 66 percent for Fall 2015. As college admissions professionals are getting more selective, they’re using new strategies that look beyond grades and test scores. For example, Columbia University uses a ‘holistic’ admissions process that also looks at aspects like candidate fit, character, and personality.

The experts at KudosWall wondered if the use of personality testing and character skills assessments in the admissions process favored certain personality types. So, they conducted a survey to find out: Making the Grade: A Look at How Personality Affects College Admissions.

Key Findings

Nearly nine out of 10 admissions professionals say personality and character skills assessments are important to a candidate’s admittance. Aside from academic achievements, admissions professionals value college resumes and admission essays the most. Introverts are better equipped to highlight their traits and strengths on paper through materials like college resumes, admission essays, and online portfolios. Extroverts let their unique traits shine through other aspects of the application process, like earning recommendations that highlight their teamwork skills.

Every person falls somewhere on the introvert-extrovert spectrum, possessing traits from both personality types. High school students who are preparing for college should understand what personality traits they possess so they know how to stand out in the college admissions process. Our report found that 86 percent of admissions professionals say an applicant’s personality and character skills assessments play a big role in the admissions process. To make the most of their personality traits, students need to think like admissions professionals and understand how to leverage their personality.

Looking Beyond GPAs and SATs

High school students who focus on academic achievements — like earning high grades and scoring well on standardized tests — are preparing for college. However, admissions professionals look at more than just these aspects. Our survey found that admissions professionals put the most value on college resumes, admission essays, online portfolios, and recommendations.

What’s more, a whopping 66 percent of college admissions professionals say they use personality testing and/or character skills assessments during the admissions process. For those without formal testing and assessments, they still evaluate for character and personality through other practices, like conducting interviews, reviewing admission essays and recommendations, and looking at college resumes.

personality type

How do admissions officers assess personality?

When admissions professionals need to know more about a student’s personality, they look at two aspects: what students say about themselves and what others say about them. Students should build an online presence that is consistent and easy to access. Use a personal website to share a portfolio of accomplishments and display recommendations from teachers or employers. Also, don’t forget the value of putting a face to the name. Students can record short vlogs to explain how they completed a project or what they learned at an event. This way, admissions professionals can see and hear from applicants even before they contact them.

Where introverts prevail

Those with introversion qualities tend to have advantages in several aspects of the admissions process. In fact, when it comes to written materials and aspects that don’t involve one-on-one interaction, they shine. In college resumes, online portfolios, admission essays, and online presence, most admissions professionals favor one introvert trait: creativity. What’s more, creative applicants might even outshine those with better grades: 72 percent of admissions professionals say they accepted applicants who submitted a creative admission essay over those who have better academic qualifications but failed to convey passion. Additionally, introverted students tend to have better focus for longer periods of time. Their focus and natural attention to detail pays off: 71 percent of admissions professionals say they reject candidates who do not follow all the directions in the application process.

Introverted students can create and share a presentation that highlights what they know about a university’s values, culture, history, and mission. Then, they can describe how their personal values fit the culture. This shows their enthusiasm through a creative project.

personality type

 

Where extroverts prevail

Extroverted students also have advantages in the college admissions process, especially their ability to take action. When admissions professionals reach out directly, 94 percent of them prefer applicants who take the initiative to follow up.

Also, team-players, which align with extrovert types, stand out amongst the competition. Nearly half of admissions professionals say they highly value applicants who submit recommendation letters that describe the applicant as a team-player. What’s more, 87 percent prefer applicants who demonstrate success in group environments. Another aspect admissions professionals look for is potential, and seven out of 10 say applicants who exhibit leadership skills have the highest potential.

Extroverts are often the go-getter. The social butterfly. The project leader. This comes out naturally in person, but it’s hard to showcase on paper. Instead, students should develop a personal branding strategy that showcases their leadership qualities through various forms of content. For example, they can post videos of their accomplishments, like leading a debate team or playing a team sport.

personality type

How can you use this information to help your student?

The good news is that students who are naturally introverted or extroverted have plenty of opportunities to stand out during the college admissions process. First, determine where your personality traits lie. There are several personality assessment tools and tests to take, such as 16 Personalities. From there, identify an action plan for showcasing your traits as strengths to college admissions professionals. This includes personal branding. It’s never too early to start building an online presence to share accomplishments and connect with communities online. Use your online presence, which includes social media, online portfolios, personal websites, and more, to present the most authentic version of yourself. By the time admissions professionals reach out to you, they will know you’re the perfect fit.

KudosWall is an online achievement portfolio and resume builder designed for kids, teens, and their parents to keep track of achievements.

SAT, Sponsored posts, test prep

Why Your Student Should Take Advantage of Free SAT Prep

2 Comments

 

This post is sponsored and written in partnership with the College Board.

free test prep

Before your student ever enters college, there are college-related expenses. Test registration fees, college application fees, AP test fees, college visit expenses and more. For the average middle-class family, budgeting for these expenses can be difficult. Add to these the cost of paying for a test prep tutor and your family budget will explode.

Why pay for test prep when the College Board and Khan Academy have partnered to provide free test prep for every student willing to study for the SAT? Save your hard-earned money for college tuition instead.

Why choose free test prep?

Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy is the best way to prepare for the test. It was created by the makers of the test and offers all students free customized practice. Students can link their PSAT/NMSQT results to Khan Academy or take diagnostic quizzes to get personalized practice exercises to improve their score. Their personalized study plan will show them the areas where they need the most work and turn those weaknesses into strengths. There are also 8 practice tests on Official SAT Practice, so students have plenty of opportunities to prep for the test and improve their skills.

What are the benefits of this free test prep?

A recent study shows that students who practice for 20 hours on Khan Academy gained an average of 115 points from the PSAT/NMSQT to SAT compared to those students who did not use Official SAT Practice. More than 16,000 students in the class of 2017 who used Official SAT Practice saw score gains of 200 points or more.

Not to mention—it’s FREE! Great test prep from the makers of the test.

How does this free test prep work?

Your student gets a personalized practice plan using Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. Khan Academy uses her PSAT scores and diagnostic quizzes to pinpoint the skills she needs to study and improve her score. The Official SAT Practice will guide her through the personalized lessons with video lessons that explain problems and quizzes to test her progress along the way. Your student can move at her own pace and have plenty of time to master each skill.

What are the benefits of prepping for the SAT?

Students who take the time to prep for the SAT will certainly reap the rewards. Preparing for any test certainly produces a better outcome. They will know what to expect on test day. Building confidence is key. Good test scores give your student a leg up in the application process. Colleges also may use these scores as a factor when awarding merit aid.

There is certainly time before the March SAT test for your student to begin test prep. Have your student go online now and register for the test and while she is there, start taking advantage of the College Board’s free prep through Khan Academy.

Helping parents navigate the college maze