The Road to College Randolph School April 29, 2009

What we will cover today  Randolph program and expectations  What college and universities expect from their applicants  National trends Admissions Finances and Financial Aid Impact on Randolph students and families

The Randolph Experience  9 th and 10 th Grade: Meet with Academic Advisors to plan US curriculum Take PLAN (9 th ) and PSAT (10 th ) Receive feedback regarding results Introduction to College Board Quick Start Attend evening college presentation in late winter

11 th Grade  PSAT/NMSQT testing in October use of College Board Quick Start Recommended test dates winter and spring junior year for SAT and ACT  The Search Process begins Junior/Parent meeting Junior Seminars Student and parent conferences Family Connection Searching for the ‘Best Fit’

12 th Grade  The Application Process Senior/Parent supper and meeting Continue standardized testing Application workshops Meet the deadlines  Rolling Decision  Early Decision/Action  Regular Decision  College Reply Date  Enrollment Date

How do college and universities make admission decisions?  Curriculum: What a student takes relative to what is available.  GPA: Academic performance is the most important criteria. A student’s work must reflect genuine effort, intellectual ability, and a demonstrated interest in learning  Test Scores: Test scores are a factor at most selective colleges. BUT, they are increasingly being called into question and many colleges are test OPTIONAL.

Subjective Criteria used in the decision process.  Personal essays and writing samples. The ability to write – to tell a personal story – to capture the applicants personality.  Extracurricular Activities. What a student does after school is very important. Demonstrating persistence and passion in school and community activities.  Recommendations from the school, teachers, and peers. The whole picture must ‘fit’ together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Importance of Extracurricular Activities and the time to be successful.  Selective colleges expect to see meaningful activities on an applicant’s resume.  Students engaged in extracurricular activities have a stronger social self- concept and increased cultural sensitivity.  Demonstrated commitment to a group and group goals  Demonstrated leadership skills  Staying power – commitment and persistence for four years or more.

Character qualities and skills demonstrated by commitment to extracurricular activities  Substance rather than titles  High-energy level  Zest for learning  Devotion to community  Passion  Collaboration with group  Listening to others  Juggling multiple duties

Financial Aid: Paying for college in a tight economy  Need-based Aid: uses federal methodology (FAFSA) and College Board Profile to predict Expected Family Contribution (EFC).  Merit-based Aid: Colleges use merit aid to recruit top students. Schools recruit the top 25% not the middle 50% The “Wal-Mart” discount.

What is happening today?  This high school Class of 2009 represents the largest graduating group – more than 16m nationwide  In the short term – HS graduates will decline nationally but will be stable or increase in the southeast  The numbers of applications will continue to rise at the most selective colleges – or, remain at their present high levels  Colleges will increasingly use non-academic criteria to select 1 st year class

What generates a large applicant pool?  Colleges, fearful of declining numbers, market more aggressively  Use of Common Application makes it easier for students to apply to multiple colleges  Colleges receive more applications  Admission rates go down – colleges are not getting larger  Students get scared and nervous they will not get admitted  So, they apply to more schools!

Randolph Application Data Class ofNumberApplicationsDifferent colleges Apps/student

Anecdotal Evidence  Students are applying to more schools in search of money and ‘fit’  Colleges and universities do not know what to do with application numbers and yield. Applications -> accept -> matriculate?  Public universities will fill up  Private colleges and universities will accept a few % points more, put more on the Wait List – and HOPE  Students and families will be better ‘bargain’ hunters. It’s the ecomony!