Tag Archives: admissions decisions

admissions, college guidance, college planning

Evaluating Admission Decisions

admission decisions

It’s that time of year. Students who applied ED and EA have already heard from the colleges regarding their admission decisions. Students who are applying regular decision will be sending off those applications this month and hearing early in the spring. What happens next?

Colleges will provide your student with one of four responses: offered admission, wait-listed, deferred, or not offered admission. Today, students hear as the notices are posted online. The days of waiting for the letter are over. We live in an instant gratification world. You can expect, however, for your student to be hitting that computer refresh button on the day notices are posted!

Continue reading Evaluating Admission Decisions →
admissions, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: No Regrets

 

no regrets

No regrets. You know the feeling. It creeps up in the pit of your stomach after you’ve made a difficult decision. Life deals us many difficult decisions—the college choice is perhaps the first of many. After you send that acceptance off, especially if you had multiple offers, it’s common to wonder if the college you chose is indeed the best college for you.

We all have regrets

My daughter will tell you that after accepting an offer from her second choice college she had regrets. Was it a good idea to move so far away from home? Was the college going to provide her with a well-rounded education? After choosing a small college over a larger one, was it the best choice for her? She will also tell you that even though it wasn’t her first choice, she does not regret making the decision and is incredibly glad she chose the college she did.

Regrets aren’t productive

Embrace the decision and move forward. You can’t change the decisions you make, but you can make the most of them. Instead of worrying about your decision, decide to own it and plan for the future. Why waste your time regretting when you can spend your time looking forward?

“It’s better to have a whole bunch of “oh wells” than a life of ‘what ifs’ “

I love this quote. So many people choose not to decide because they fear making the wrong decision. I like to say there are no wrong decisions, only different paths. We often learn and grow from the decisions we make, even if the outcome isn’t what we anticipated. Life tends to throw us some curve balls every now and then.

After May 1st decision deadlines have come and gone, leave the regrets behind and look toward future possibilities.

Read Wendy’s post: 3 Steps Forward, Leaving Regrets Behind

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

admissions, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: The College Power Shift

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy Daivd-Gaines and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from  https://www.parentingforcollege.com/ to http://www.pocsmom.com and vice versa.

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power shiftMost parents feel that the college process is frustrating, because when it comes right down to it, they feel powerless. Either their student will be ecstatic at the end, or feel utter disappointment and rejection. It’s all in the colleges’ hands—or is it?

Steer clear of the fear

There’s nothing to be afraid of. Especially since you know that even the worst outcomes can be transformed into the best decisions. It’s not about whether or not college A or college B offers admission to your student. It’s about the education they will receive at “a” college. Teenagers can’t see the forest for the trees sometimes and they will pick up on your angst immediately. Make the process fun—like choosing a new car or buying a new house. It’s all about the journey.

Control is fleeting

If the colleges are in control, it’s only for a short time. The only time in which they have the power is at decision time. They look over your student’s application with a discerning eye and decide where to place your student: deferred, accepted, rejected or waitlisted. The process is completely subjective and while you make think there are bona fide reasons for your son or daughter to be accepted, it’s up to the college to decide whether he or she is a good fit. Translated—that means there are no “true” rejections, only a decision that it wasn’t the best match.

Get back into the driver’s seat

After the short time of waiting for the colleges’ decisions, you get to get back in the driver’s seat. You now have the power over the colleges. You are the consumer making a large purchase and it’s up to them to convince you. If they don’t back their offer of admission up with money, it might be time for you to put “them” in the rejection pile. And trust me, it feels GREAT!

Here’s the simple truth about the college process—you are ALWAYS in control. If you market your student properly, do your homework with the college choices, and realize that no matter what happens the final outcome will be what’s best for your student, it can help make the process enjoyable. Yes, I said enjoyable.

Interested in learning more about the power shift?

On #CampusChat tonight, Wednesday March 26 at 9pm ET/6pm PT, hosted by Wednesday’s Parent Wendy and me, Jeannie will share her tips to empower students and parents during each phase of the college process. Follow Jeannie @JeannieBorin, me @SuzanneShaffer and Wendy @pocsmom as we discuss the Student-College power shift with our wonderful #CampusChat buddies. Please join the conversation with your questions and comments.

Jeannie Borin is recognized by media, clientele and colleagues globally as a leader in college admissions consulting and new media. She is a Fr/ NYC and a Juilliard School of Music alumna, holds a Masters Degree in psychology, education and counseling, and is President of College Connections http://college-connections.com . She is a member of several prestigious educational organizations including the IECA, HECA, WACAC and NACAC.

Read this to learn how to join the chat.

Read Wendy’s blog for more info about the Student-College power shift.

admissions, mom approved tips

Mom-Approved Tips: Waiting for admissions decisions

 

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waiting for college admissionsAnd so it begins–the waiting game. Every parent of a college-bound teen has to experience this right of passage: waiting for admissions decisions. Will she or won’t she get in to her dream college? Will she get enough financial aid to ease the financial burden? How will she react to the news (good or bad)?

If your teen applies EA (Early Action) or ED (Early Decision) the wait should be over soon. For those of you whose teens have chosen regular admissions, the wait will be much longer. During the waiting period, tension ensues in the household with both students and their parents. The stress over college admissions decisions can weigh heavy on your college-bound teen. It’s more important to them than getting asked to the senior prom. So, as I’ve said before, “gird your loins”!

What can you do to help ease the pressure and alleviate some of the stress?

Create diversions

Family activities, especially over the holidays, will help them push the anxiety and stress to the back of their minds. Diversions will help them focus on other things besides what they consider to be the “ultimate acceptance or rejection” from the colleges.

Focus on their strengths

When you see them do something “grand”, acknowledge it. Even the little things like helping a friend with homework or taking the time to give a younger sibling attention. This well improve their self esteem and if and when a rejection letter arrives the blow might be a little softer.

Reinforce your love for them

You may think your kids know how you feel, but use every opportunity to tell them and show them you love them. Your love will help them with the anxiety and stress. They will find it much easier to discuss their distress when they know you love them.

Take a second look at the safety schools

With so much competition for college admission, it’s likely your college-bound teen will gain an offer of admission to one of their safety schools. Surprisingly, many students tell stories of how their safety school was a better choice, especially after they examined their strengths.

Remind them that this is only one step in the rest of their life

No parent likes their child to face rejection; but it’s a fact of life. I like to remind parents and students that often what you consider to be a disappointment could create another opportunity for success and growth. One (or more) rejection does not define who you are, just as offers of admission do not as well. The key is to attend the college that wants you and best fits your needs and expectations.

Celebrate their success

They have made it through 12 years of school and are able to apply to college. That’s an accomplishment in itself. Focus on this milestone in their life while you wait.

Parenting college-bound teens can be challenging, but it’s also very rewarding when you see them become independent adults who embrace their futures.