Winners of College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step
Posted on Fri, 09/07/2012 - 11:13
Thank you to all those who wished us a Happy Anniversary as we hit the one-year mark of publication of College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step. We'll be in touch over the next few days to get the mailing information from the ten lucky well-wishers who were among the first to respond! And thank you again to all our readers -- students, parents, counselors and admission officers -- and remember that we love to hear from you at all times!
Fall 2012 Colleges with Early Action Plans
Posted on Fri, 09/07/2012 - 10:59
For seventeen years, high school counselor Cigus Vanni has created and maintained a series of lists that are great tools for students -- and counselors. We're delighted he is allowing us to share these lists with our readers. Because of their length, we are featuring them as separate posts. Last week, we posted 2012-2013 Schools that require or recommend Subject Tests. Today, we are featuring 2012 colleges and universities with Early Action plans.
Early action plans are typically nonrestrictive. Students apply by a deadline that is earlier than the school's Regular Decision deadline and receive a decision earlier than the regular response date. Applicants are free to apply to other colleges and are not required to commit to a school until May 1, the National Candidates Reply Date.
However, please note, that a handful of schools listed here have Restrictive Early Action plans -- including Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Boston College, and several others. These plans note the schools' requirements for admission under these plans in bold. If you are applying under a Restrictive Early Action plan, check the website of that college to understand the specifics of their restrictions and requirements.
Juniors: Preparing for the SAT or ACT
Posted on Thu, 09/06/2012 - 13:26
This marks the first in our weekly reminders for juniors starting the college application process. Each week, we'll be providing information, checklist items and advice on applying -- testing, researching colleges, first college visits and more.
First up?
Keep your eye out for an opportunity to take the PSAT or PLAN. The best preparation for the SAT and ACT is to challenge yourself with rigorous courses in the classroom and read, read, read. But familiarity with the tests and practice can increase scores up to a point. The PSAT, offered by the College Board, and PLAN, offered by ACT, are practice tests meant to prepare you for the SAT and ACT. Your answers and the correct answers are available with the score report -- good feedback that will show you where you need to improve. The PSAT is offered every October by the College Board, but you register through your high school. The PLAN is administered at the discretion of the high school or school district. Stay alert for announcements about the PSAT and PLAN and follow up. If you haven't heard of anyone taking these tests at your school, check with your guidance counselor about them.
Seniors: It's Not Too Late to Test
Posted on Wed, 09/05/2012 - 09:06
This marks the first in our weekly reminders for seniors. Each week, we'll be providing information, checklist items and advice on applying to college -- testing, essays, deadlines, college visits, letters of recommendation and more.
First up?
It's not too late to take the SAT or ACT this fall.
SAT Deadlines:
Register by September 7th for the October 6th test
Register by October 4th for the November 3rd test
Register by November 1st for the December 1st test
You can register online for the SAT here.
ACT Deadlines:
Register by September 21st for the October 27th test
Register by November 2nd for the December 8th test
You can register online for the ACT here.
Or visit your high school college or guidance counselor for registration materials.
Remember, the best preparation for the SAT and ACT is to challenge yourself with rigorous courses in the classroom and read, read, read.
We'll be posting for Juniors, as well. Look for our first item for the Class of 2014 tomorrow.
Aliza Gilbert, Highland Park High School
Posted on Wed, 09/05/2012 - 08:37
Our Counselor of the Month for September is Aliza Gilbert, College Counselor at Highland Park High School, a public high school serving more than 2,000 students in Highland Park, Illinois. A graduate of University of Illinois at Chicago, Gilbert also holds a Master in Education from Loyola University Chicago and is working on her Ph.D. in Higher Education, also at Loyola. Formerly Associate Director of Admissions at Lake Forest College, Gilbert joined Highland Park's Counseling Department in 1998.
Located about 25 miles north of Chicago, Highland Park High School serves a diverse student body, including significant numbers of children from military and Hispanic families, a characteristic that drew Gilbert to the school. She has a particular interest in college access and undocumented students -- her Ph.D. dissertation explores how high schools influence undocumented students’ college process. (The state of Illinois is ranked sixth among states with the largest undocumented populations.)
Rick Shaw, Stanford University, Answers Five Questions
Posted on Tue, 09/04/2012 - 09:35
Rick Shaw, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Stanford University, answers five questions for us this month as everyone heads to campus.
Stanford University was founded in 1891 by Jane and Leland Stanford in memory of their only child who died of typhoid fever. The 8,180-acre campus, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, was originally the Stanford family's Palo Alto Stock Farm, used for the breeding and training of trotting horses and thoroughbreds. It is still affectionately called "The Farm."
Today, the university's grounds include 800 different species of plants, 25 fountains, the 285-foot Hoover Tower that dominates its skyline, and an extensive collection of outdoor art -- Rodin's The Gates of Hell, the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden, Andy Goldsworthy's Stone River, as well as works by Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Bruce Beasley, Maya Lin and more.
2012-2013 Schools That Require or Recommend Subject Tests
Posted on Fri, 08/31/2012 - 09:46
2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR: SCHOOLS THAT REQUIRE, RECOMMEND OR UTILIZE SAT SUBJECT TESTS IN ADMISSION OR FOR PLACEMENT/CREDIT
All data provided on this list are current for the 2012-2013 school year. Special circumstances and unusual conditions are indicated wherever known, so please read carefully. In all cases, however, be certain to double-check with the school(s) to which you are applying to assure that information on SAT Subject testing is both accurate and up-to-date. This list was compiled by Cigus Vanni, New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling Executive Board Member and former member of the Professional Development Committee of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (2007-2010).
The list is organized by state with colleges and universities listed alphabetically within each section.
If no bracketed statement follows the name of the college, SAT Subject Tests are REQUIRED for admission to that school. The number of SAT Subject Tests required for admission follows the name of the school.
If specific SAT Subject Tests are prescribed, this is indicated by <characters in carets> -- otherwise, students are free to submit any SAT Subject Tests of their choosing.
Resource Lists for Students and Counselors
Posted on Fri, 08/31/2012 - 08:43
For seventeen years, high school counselor Cigus Vanni has created and maintained a series of lists that are great tools for students -- and counselors. These lists track schools that require or recommend Subject Tests; schools in the U.S. that offer non-binding Early Action admission plans; schools in the US that offer binding Early Decision plans (with annotated crossovers, designations for restricted plans and tagging of schools that offer both EA and ED); and mid-50% SAT ranges for more than three hundred U.S. schools. We're delighted he is allowing us to share his 2012 lists with our readers. Because of the length of the lists, we'll be featuring them as separate posts over the next few days. Up first: Schools that require or recommend Subject Tests.
Cigus Vanni is School Counselor and AP Coordinator at New Jersey's Cherry Hill High School West, which serves over 1,500 students. Vanni is also co-chair of the Atlantic City National College Fair and an Executive Board member of the New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling. He was formerly assistant dean of the College at Swarthmore and an admissions counselor at Swarthmore. He was also a five-time undefeated champion on the quiz show Jeopardy in 1988.
Coming soon... A new weekly feature
Posted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 11:22
Beginning September 4th, we'll have a new weekly feature on the blog. Actually, two new weekly features -- one post specifically for seniors and one for juniors. Each week these posts may answer questions, act as reminders -- or maybe a nudge to do the right thing, provide up-to-date information or delve a little more deeply into a step in the college application process. So tune in soon for our ongoing checklist. We hope it will help you relax and enjoy the journey through the school year and applying to college.
College Admission to be Published in China
Posted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 09:58
The image you see here is the Chinese calligraphy for "full of happiness". That describes us today because we can now announce that the rights to publish College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step have been sold in China! Beijing World Publishing Corporation will be bringing the book to mainland China next year.