1. Presented to the friends of ib May 15th 2018 Eduardo Lopez, jr.
College Admissions 101
Presented to the friends of ib
May 15th 2018
Eduardo Lopez, jr.

2. This evening’s agenda A little about your presenter.
Highlights & New Initiatives from the College Center
Current Scholarship Count for IB
Admissions 101: Curriculum Overview
Types of Admissions with a focus on holistic review
Connecting your “story” to your summer plans.
Showing your “IB-ness” to Universities
Welcome to Plymouth Shores University– Are you in?
Case study overview
Free Private Consultation Sessions

3. educational background
College Admissions Experience
Brown Admissions Interviewer from – 2015
Brown Area Chair for Alumni Interviews from 2013 – 2015
UPenn Graduate Admissions Representative from 2008 – 2009
Assisting students with admissions since 2008 in various capacities.
High School: Rio Grande City
Undergrad: Brown University
Graduate School: University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

4. Highlights & New initiatives
New website for students and families
College Visits
January: Baylor University
March: UT Austin
April: Texas A&M College Station
April: IB Mini – College Fair (UTRGV, AM, Princeton, & a few more!)
Remind 101 – Free Donuts & Coffee!
Classroom Presentations: High School Transition, History, & English courses.
For the upcoming school year – scheduled visits discussing the Admissions 101 curriculum.
Catalyst SAT Boot Camp Participation

5. Advance Placement Distinctions
AP Scholar 25/53
47% IB
AP Scholar w/ Honors 3/8
38%IB
AP Scholar w/ Distinction 6/12
50% IB
National Hispanic Scholars 4/11
36% IB
Breakdown by School
McAllen: 4 (AP)
2 (NHS)
Memorial: 15 (AP)
Rowe: (AP)
47% AP Distinctions are IB

6. Summer Dual Enrollment Count: 70 Savings of $30,940
Breakdown by School
Summer Dual Enrollment Count: 70
Savings of $30,940
McAllen: 18
Memorial: 29
Rowe: 23

7. $5.5 Million Current Scholarship Count McAllen $1,400,201
Breakdown by School
Current Scholarship Count
$5.5 Million
McAllen $1,400,201
Memorial $2,266,181
Rowe: $1,824,949

8. Admissions 101: Curriculum overview
Freshmen year
Get involved with your passions
Join or start a club (Build Resume)
Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals
(2) Academic & (2) Personal
Take the PSAT!
Participate in a college fair!
Know your academic schedule!
A days & B days!
Get organized!
Time & Content Management Systems
Meet your teachers!
Introduction basics
Tutor with your teachers!
Schedule a session!
Is the rigor right?
Course review & future planning
Summer to Sophomore Year
Re-evaluate S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Volunteer
College Visit(s) if possible
Summer Program / Internship
Summer reading!

9. Admissions 101: Curriculum overview
Sophomore year
Continue to be involved with your passions (Continue with your resume)
Think about potential leadership roles
Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals
(2) Academic & (2) Personal
Participate in a college fair & think about your favorite colleges!
Stay organized!
Time & Content Management Systems
Meet your teachers!
Introduction basics
Tutor with your teachers!
Schedule a session!
Is the rigor right?
Course review & future planning
Take the PSAT!
Complete your personal project.
Summer to Junior Year
Re-evaluate S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Volunteer
College Visit(s) if possible & highly recommended
Summer Program / Internship
Summer reading!
STC Summer Class (Gov / Econ)
Standardized testing preference (ACT or SAT or Both)

10. Admissions 101: Curriculum overview
Junior year
Continue to be involved with your passions (Continue with your resume)
Think about potential leadership roles
Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals
(2) Academic & (2) Personal
Participate in a college fair & develop college list
Stay organized!
Time & Content Management Systems
Know your teachers!
Introduction basics
Tutor with your teachers!
Schedule a session!
Is the rigor right?
Course review & future planning
Take the PSAT!
Take the SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Exams
Summer to senior Year
Re-evaluate S.M.A.R.T. Goals & Volunteer
College Visit(s) if possible & highly recommended
Summer Program / Internship
Summer reading!
STC Summer Class (Gov / Econ)
Standardized testing PREP (ACT or SAT or Both)
Draft your college essays (Mr. Lopez can help!)

11. Admissions 101: Curriculum overview
Senior year
Continue to be involved with your passions (Continue with your resume)
Think about potential leadership roles
Create S.M.A.R.T. Goals
(2) Academic & (2) Personal
Apply for financial aid & scholarships!
Interview prep w/ Mr. Lopez
Stay organized!
Time & Content Management Systems
Ask your teachers for recommendations!
Introduction basics
Tutor with your teachers!
Schedule a session!
Apply to college!
Is the rigor right?
Course review & future planning
Take the SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Exams
Summer to College!
Re-evaluate S.M.A.R.T. Goals
Submit final high school transcript
Pack!
Summer reading!

12. Types of Summer opportunities
TIER 1
TIER 2
TIER 3
Open Application
Very Expensive
Fixed time frame
Speaks to your “story”
Competitive
Application Base
Free to little cost
Established
Fixed time frame
Speaks to your “story”
Build Your Own Internship (BYOE)
Social Network
Free
Flexible time frame
Speaks to your “story”

13. shOWING YOUR “ib-ness” to colleges – Your Story to admissions officers
Personal Project – highlighting a passion
Extended Essay – as conducted independent research
State the student’s SL’s & HL’s in selected resume coursework
Why are you selecting these classes to pursue 1-2 years of study?
IB Learner Profile incorporated into the essays and Letters of Recommendation

14. Types of ADMISSION
automatic Admissions
Holistic Admissions
University establishes a cutoff with respect to established quantitative measures
State Law
Institutional SAT/ACT Scores & GPA
Overall evaluation of the following:
School Profile
Diversity Needs (formally URM)
Essays
LOR’S (Letters of Recommendation)
GPA - EC’s
Resume
Test Scores
Geographic location
INSTITUTIONAL NEEDS & PROJECTIONS

15. congratulations! YOU ARE NOW AN ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR!
Your task is to admit one student, deny one student, and waitlist one student.
You will use a holistic approach to evaluate students.
You will work in a team and you will come to a conclusion!
You will have minutes for the full evaluation period.
We will have a 5 minute discussion period.
We will reflect on the admissions process.

16. Case Study Instructions
Break into groups of 5-6 (depending on attendance)
Assign one person as the “senior admission’s officer” if the group is odd in numbers.
Group Read – Pembroke University Profile (2 – 3 minutes)
First Read – Applicant 1
Second Read – Applicant 2
Third Read – Applicant 3
Final decisions! You must admit one student, reject one student, waitlist one student.

17. Insider’s Guide to the Admission Committee
ADMISSION CASE STUDY
PLYMOUTH SHORES UNIVERSITY
“INDAGATE FINGITE INVENITE”

18. Case Study Objectives…
Understanding “Holistic Review”
Plymouth Shores University – Profile
Applicant Review and Discussion – Small Group
Dorri Johnson
Henry Watanabe
Marcela Castillo
Committee Review and Discussion of all
applicants – All Participants
The Committee Vote – Admit, Waitlist, Deny

19. Holistic Review – Some Factors
Student’s and family’s demographic profile
GPA – grades in the context at this student’s high school,
grade trend and pattern, particular academic strengths
Curriculum – Honors, AP, IB, dual enrollment
Test Scores – SAT, ACT, Subject Tests
Letters of Recommendation – Counselor, teachers, others
Required Essays including supplemental essays and prompts
Interview and Demonstrated interest
Intended major
Extracurricular activities – sports, clubs, internships, etc.
Other factors and obstacles

20. Plymouth Shores University – Mission
“To educate students and cultivate their capacity for lifelong learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world with a commitment to social justice and service to others.”
Founded in 1826 located in Sunberryport, MA
Four-Year private, liberal arts research university with professional schools of Business, Medicine, and Engineering along with over 200 majors, minors, and programs in the liberal arts.

21. Plymouth Shores University – Profile
6,276 Undergraduates (53% Female and 47% Male)
Students come from 50 states and 85 countries
28% Ethnic Diversity
82% Live on campus all four years
15:1 Student-to Professor ratio
NCAA Division I (Men and Women’s Lacrosse. Men and Women’s Track and Field) – all other sports are NCAA Division III
Indagate Fingite Invenite - Explore, Dream, Discover

22. Plymouth Shores University – Admission
Applications
19,300 Students Applied
7,011 Students Admitted (36.3% Acceptance Rate)
Early Action and Regular Decision
PSU Does not offer Early Decision
Admitted Student Profile
GPA Mid 50% Un-weighted:
SAT Composite Mid 50% (Superscore):
ACT Composite Mid 50%: 29-32
Interviews are available and encouraged
PSU Admission Committee is Need Aware

23. Candidate Review Form Student Profile Academic Factors Activities
Background Family Legacy Sex/Ethnicity Essay
Counselor Rec Teacher Rec Interview Obstacles
GPA
SAT/ACT/Subject tests AP and Honors
Core Courses
School type and profile Grade trends
Resume Leadership Persistence Summer

24. File Review – Points to Ponder
How does the student’s academic profile
compare to PSU’s admitted student profile?
How will the student contribute to the PSU community?
How does the student express a genuine
interest to attend PSU?
What are the student’s strengths and
weaknesses?

25. Dorri Johnson – Highlights
White/Female, Dual Citz. Australia, Parents advanced degrees
3.79 GPA un-weighted (2.80, 3.30, 3.92 and 12th – 3.50)
5 Honors classes and 2 AP classes – Demanding Curriculum Diagnosed with ADD in 10th – on medication and uses Learning Ctr. ACT 31*; SAT 1180 (English 650, Math 530) *extended time
Communications & Journalism Major
Blog (Designer), School Newspaper, Yearbook (Editor-in-Chief)
Essay about her masks and the girl behind them
Recs – Counselor doesn’t know her well, Strong teacher rec
Campus Tour, HS Visit, local PSU Preview Day, college fair
Supplement – met admission counselor, interview, solid “Why PSU”

26. Henry Watanabe – Highlights
Asian/Male, Japanese spoken at home, Parents advanced degrees
3.36 GPA un-weighted (3.00, 3.09, 3.71 and 12th – 3.80)
5 Honors, 4 APs, Dual Enrollment – Very Demanding Curriculum Disciplinary Action (plagiarism) in 9th grade
SAT 1410 (Engl 610, Math 800) – Subject Tests Math 1 & Math 2 800
Computer Engineering Major
The Computer Club (President), Robotics Club, Internship – IT Dept.
Essay – developed speech recognition app to help grandmother
Recs – Counselor explained DISP. Strong Teacher Rec
Campus Tour, college fair, interview
Supplement – Impressive interview, explains DISP, solid “Why PSU”

27. Marcela Castillo – Highlights
Hispanic/Female, Spanish spoken at home, Parents divorced
3.05 GPA un-weighted (3.33, 2.42, 3.08 and 12th – 3.67)
3 Honors, 5 Aps (4 in senior year) – Demanding Curriculum
Aunt died which affected Marcela’s 10th grade – rebounded in 11th ACT 29 and SAT 1440 (English 750, Math 690)
Public Health Policy/Pre-Law Major
San Diego Division Runner of the Year, Com. Service, Internship
Essay – inspired by her aunt’s battle with cancer
Recs – Counselor says Marcela’s GPA not indicative. Strong T-Rec
Campus Tour, local PSU Preview Program, high school visit
Supplement – Strong interest by Track coach, confusing “Why PSU”

28. Committee Group Discussion
How do you decide?
Highest GPA in the strongest curriculum?
Best test scores?
Demonstrated the most interest?
Best extracurricular activities?
Most examples of leadership?
Best essay and “Why PSU?” supplement?
Best letters of recommendation?
Not as bad as the others? ▪
Best fit for Plymouth Shores University?

29. Committee Group Discussion
Is it better to get a “B” in an AP/Honors class or an “A”
in a regular class?
Are test scores more important than grades?
Can a strong essay make up for weak academics? Can
a weak essay overshadow solid academics?
Hooks – what they are, how to leverage them?
Demonstrated interest – when can it help?
How can “fit” be conveyed?
Is an applicant who has not faced adversity at a
disadvantage?
What types of disciplinary actions are forgiveable?

30. Time to Vote Everyone gets one vote
Cast your vote to Admit – Dorri, Henry, or Marcela
Cast your vote to Deny
This means that the student who was not offered admission and was not denied admission is on the Waitlist.

31. Time to Reflect
As you reviewed and discussed the applicants, what were some specific factors that tipped the scale in your admission decision – positively or negatively?
Were there factors that you initially felt were important but
ended up not being crucial in your final vote?
Did your votes match the decision of the Committee?
How did you feel about voting to deny a student?
What lessons did you learn about the admission process?
Compare your final admission decisions with those of your own student or your parents.
Students – what will be your “tag” in the admission
process?

32. Free Private College Consulting
Eduardo Lopez, Jr (cell)