Alphabet Soup: Understanding Centralized Application Services Presented by Jennifer Clutter Program Coordinator School of Pharmacy

A-Jenn-Da Overview/definition of Centralized Application Services (CAS) Pros/Cons of CAS – Includes: Benefits of School Participation Benefits to applicants Benefits to profession/program Tips, Trends, and Triage

CAS Definition/Characteristics Provides a single application that allows the applicant to apply to multiple programs. These can include professional and graduate programs as well as post degree internship placement to individual school or organization applications. – Today: Professional and Graduate Programs Applicants pay a base fee for applying to one school, and usually an incremental fee per additional school added (designation). Base Fee Ranges: – $45 for initial + $30 for additional designations – $235 for initial + $75 for additional designations

Pros & Cons Reduces time and effort spent on filling out applications. Can save substantially with other application associated costs – Official transcripts – Letters of Recommendation Application fee can include additional services – Criminal Background checks – Essay’s run through plagiarism software Easy as a click to apply to multiple programs.

Pros & Cons cont. Provides access to larger and more diverse applicant pools for participating schools. Often information clearinghouses – Schools by accreditation status – Schools by public/private – Schools by state, etc. – Side by side school comparisons

Pros & Cons cont. Some schools may still require additional applications or fees as part of the school’s process – Schools strongly encouraged to be non-duplicative in nature with the questions. – School encouraged to be reasonable about these “supplemental application” fees. Secure web based applications Can be completed in parts instead or all at once – Recommend parts – Recommend multiple proofing of info entered

Pros & Cons cont. Not all schools in a particular discipline may participate or use the centralized application service – More schools are moving to using these services – Accreditation may effect ability for school to participate Not all schools are the same – Carefully review requirements Instant gratification?????

Pros & Cons cont. Can mean additional “soft applicants” to your program. – “Me too” applicants – Illiterate masses????? Provides a wealth of data for multiple forms of assessment. – Where did you lose that great applicant to??? – How does your application process (qualifications of applicants) match up to peer schools and to aspirational schools. – What can we learn from national data bank???

Tips, Trends and Triage Tips: – READ, read, READ! Reading=success – Start early If deadline is Dec 1 st, your deadline is Nov. 1 st or earlier Can also help economically disadvantaged students to apply for fee waivers – Are limited – Typically are depleted very early in application cycle – Maintain professional communications in all forms and forums.

Tips, Trends and Triage cont. Tips continued: – A note about Codes of Conduct Violations can be career ENDERS!!! – Order transcripts EARLY (see previous tip about a applying early) – READ, read, READ! Yes, I am saying this again!!! – Do not waste your time and money on applying to schools for which you are not qualified. – Advisor portals are available with some services These allow you to track your students

Tips, Trends and Triage cont. Trends: – Initially an increase in applicant pools – New programs tend to sign on for participation as soon as they are eligible – Most CAS’s are moving to an entirely web based platform for both applicant and school. Some CAS’s have software that schools use to customize the evaluation of their applicant pool.

Tips, Trends and Triage cont. Triage: – Instructions are public information. Tweet, Facebook, Blogs – Some services allow you as an advisor, admissions officer to fill out “TEST” application. Not submitted, nor are fees submitted Gives you the applicant experience regarding finer details of application Not counted in national data sets of applicants – FAQs: Use them, oh yeah remember to READ!

Alphabet Soup PTCAS* OTCAS CSCCAS PharmCAS* OptomCAS NursingCAS AMCAS* AADSAS* LSAC* SOPHAS VMCAS AACPMAS ChiroCAS DICAS ….xyzCAS….. *WVU Participates

Questions ???