Colleges Know Who You Are and May See What You Do
Posted on Mon, 08/27/2012 - 11:25
What does your digital footprint look like? You may want to check it out. The use of social networking sites and Internet search engines in the admission process is on the rise. Increasing numbers of admission professionals are turning to Facebook, Twitter, Google and other online resources to learn more about prospective students.
Kaplan Test Prep's 2011 survey of college admission officers found that 24% of the colleges surveyed reported they have gone to an applicant's Facebook or other social networking page to learn more about them. That figure is up from 10% in 2008. Furthermore, 20% of schools have Googled applicants. Kaplan also found that 12% percent of the admission officers who used social media or online tools found material that hurt the student's chance of admission -- usually postings of uncouth activities, plagiarism, alcohol use or other "illegal activities."
While most admission offices do not routinely follow a student's digital trail, students need to think about their use of social media and web presence -- including what others are saying about them online. Be aware that colleges may turn here to learn more about you. The internet has a long memory. Google yourself and see what comes up. A good rule of thumb going forward? Don't post anything you don't want a college admission officer -- or your grandmother -- to see.
Move-in Advice for College Freshmen
Posted on Wed, 08/22/2012 - 18:56
We know, we know… We're the website about applying to college. But we've also been around the block a couple of times when it comes to getting to college. So here are some tips for surviving move-in as you head off to campus -- courtesy of the school of experience.
While students come from many different backgrounds and circumstances, our advice here should have something for everyone. And keep in mind that the particulars of the colleges' residence halls -- room size, built-ins, etc. -- will differ. We hope you get air conditioning and good lighting. If not, we have some suggestions:
· IMPORTANT: Label every box, suitcase, bag, etc. with your full name, residence hall and room number. Colleges sometimes have "move crews" of upperclassmen. They make move-in much easier, but you also may not be handling all your own boxes and suitcases. In any case, this is important in the event something gets delivered to the wrong room or you leave it temporarily in a hallway or lobby.
Win a Free Copy of College Admission
Posted on Tue, 08/21/2012 - 09:03
Win a free copy of College Admission: From Application to Acceptance Step by Step. This month marks the one year anniversary of our book’s publication. If you are among the first to wish us “Happy Anniversary” in the Comments for this post, on our Facebook page, via Twitter or by emailing us at authors@collegeadmissionbook.com, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The contest is open to everyone -- students, parents, counselors and admission officers. It will end on Friday, August 31st and we’ll announce the winners on Monday, September 3rd, as everyone heads back to school – and work – after the long weekend.
When responding, please do not leave personal contact information. We have your email if you respond on the blog, FB or at authors@collegeadmissionbook.com and will be in touch to get your mailing information. If you use Twitter, we will send you a private response to obtain your info.
There Has Always Been a Woman at State
Posted on Tue, 08/21/2012 - 08:24
For the Class of 2016, a woman has almost always served as Secretary of State, there have never been tan M&M’s, and the genome has always been sequenced. Yes, it’s that time of year again… Beloit College has released the Mindset List. Since 1998, the Wisconsin college has marked the beginning of a new academic year with publication of this list of cultural touchstones for the incoming class. The brainchild of Beloit’s former Public Affairs Director Ron Nief and Keefer Professor of the Humanities Tom McBride, the Mindset List was originally created as a reminder to faculty to be aware of dated references. Here are some of this year’s highlights:
· If they miss The Daily Show, they can always get their news on YouTube.
· For most of their lives, maintaining relations between the U.S. and the rest of the world has been a woman’s job in the State Department.
· A significant percentage of them will enter college already displaying some hearing loss.
· There has always been a Santa Clause.
College Admission in Sixth Printing
Posted on Mon, 08/20/2012 - 10:13
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the publication of College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step and we received the perfect present. Our book has gone into a sixth printing! Thank you again to our readers -- students, parents, and counselors -- for your support and confidence in our book. And thank you to our teams at Crown Books and ICM. Also, look for us at your neighborhood Barnes & Noble this month. B&N has selected College Admission as part of its “Get Ready for School” campaign!
Elite Colleges and Independent Counselors
Posted on Fri, 08/17/2012 - 09:27
For the last couple of weeks, we've been following a lively discussion in the wake of a blog post from Lynn O'Shaughnessy -- Elite Schools Dissing College Consultants. In her words, the blog post shares her take "on why I believe the Ivies and other elite schools routinely dump on independent college counselors. The use of high-priced consultants reminds these schools that the system is rigged and most students need to be rich to get into these institutions." Independent counselors, high school counselors and admission deans have weighed in via a discussion on LinkedIn and in the Comments section of her blog.
Like many issues in the application process, the decision to hire an independent counselor is complex. Students and their families must carefully consider the costs and benefits and the decision should be driven by the student. In our book -- coauthored by a former dean of Stanford, Swarthmore, and Sarah Lawrence -- we take a very balanced approach, outlining the situations where an independent counselor can be a beneficial addition, with the main focus on how to find and properly evaluate a counselor for those who will go that route.
College Admission at Barnes & Noble
Posted on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 11:46
College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step is featured this month at Barnes & Noble bookstores across the country. Look for it on the Get Ready for School table at the front of the store.
It's Open Season for College Rankings
Posted on Tue, 08/14/2012 - 10:58
The season of rankings is upon us so we were happy to see this great piece -- "Whiners of Average Intelligence" -- from Eric Hoover in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Here's a taste of his tongue-in-cheek take on this annual ritual:
In case you missed it, Newsweek and The Daily Beast have unleashed their college rankings upon our status-obsessed nation. For these inspired offerings, we should all say, “Thank you!”
And we have to thank Hoover for pointing out this blog post from Dan Bauer, the managing editor of Allegheny College's student newspaper. Titled "Newsweek Thinks You're Stupid," it takes a walk through the tortured logic of the rankings' metrics with delightful results. As Hoover notes, it should be "required reading for rank-o-philes everywhere." (And read the post through the update which supplies even more ammunition for reading rankings with a grain of salt.)
Do the Right Thing
Posted on Mon, 08/13/2012 - 11:16
It's perfect timing for psychologist Madeline Levine's recent opinion piece for the New York Times -- "Raising Successful Children." As students head back to school and begin the college application process, Levine, author of Teach Your Children Well: Parenting for Authentic Success, has valuable advice for parenting through those steps -- testing, essays, college visits -- that will come over the next months.
Sometimes it's hard to maintain your perspective when all around you it's "winner-take-all" parenting. No matter how level-headed you are, you can get caught up in the frenzy. So here's some reinforcement for your best instincts:
The happiest, most successful children have parents who do not do for them what they are capable of doing, or almost capable of doing; and their parents do not do things for them that satisfy their own needs rather than the needs of the child.
More Resources…
Posted on Thu, 08/09/2012 - 13:07
Don't forget to regularly check Resources under the Book tab here on the site. We're constantly updating and adding books and websites for navigating the college application and admission process. What's more, these resources have been recommended by deans of admission and college counselors and vetted by us. We know there's lots of bad information out there, so we're very particular about who makes the list. Recent additions include information for students with learning differences -- http://www.ahead.org/ and http://www.ncld.org/; for athletes -- http://www.playnaia.org/; and for scholarships -- http://scholarshipedia.org/.