The Road to College

Admissions

December 6, 2014

Thank you for joining us for today’s session!

Josh Ackerman

SpanOne College

Admissions

Advisor

Welcome

Chris Taylor

SpanOne

Christine

Paravicini

SpanOne College

Admissions Advisor

SpanOne,

VP Client Services

It’s a brave new college admissions world

It’s a brave new college admissions world

It’s a brave new college admissions world

It’s a brave new college admissions world

It’s a brave new college admissions world

The big picture

5.07%

Stanford acceptance rate

Colleges and universities don’t admit 2400s or 36s.

They admit .real students. with .real experiences. and

.real stories.. You are one of those students.

These numbers don’t tell the full story

You will walk away from this more empowered and informed

than ever before about the college admissions journey.

Goal

You will walk away from this more empowered and informed

than ever before about the college admissions journey.

Goal

The College Admissions Journey

Application

component

s

The final

decision

Absorb

everything

Informatio

n gathering

The art of

the college

essay

Academics

come first

SAT vs.

ACT

Next level

strategy

Getting

involved

Freshman

Sophomor

e

Junior

Senior

Parents: Be partners in your child’s success - support

them

● Junior High: Passions, exploration, academics

● Freshmen: Game plan, goals, challenge yourself

● Sophomores: Reach goals, summer plan, explore

● Juniors: Focus, evaluate plan, determine likes/dislikes

● Seniors: Stay engaged, re-evaluate game plan,

1. Absorb everything, start early, set goals

College planning can begin in 7th grade, but it’s never too late to

start

● Past success = Future success

● The importance of .AP. and .IB. courses

● Challenge yourself

○ Be competitive with yourself, not your

classmates

2. Academics come first

Your transcript is the most important part of your

application

● Time spent outside of the classroom

● Work? Volunteer? Play a sport or an instrument?

● How many hours per week? How many years?

1. Dedication 2. Persistence 3. Personal growth 4.

Leadership

3. Getting involved, athletics, special talents

Follow your passion, be proactive, stay engaged

● Academically: support, desire and ability to succeed?

● Athletically: Can I contribute and improve?

● Socially: Will I be comfortable and grow as a person?

Know NCAA rules: www.ncaa.org

Good grades = more opportunity

The reality of athletic scholarships

3. Athletic recruiting

Be proactive, persistent, and know the rules

● Explore. Know thyself. Like/dislike, weather, school

size...

● Name brands and looking for the “best fit”

● Research. More knowledge = more opportunity

● Parent research, net price calculators

● “Colleges That Change Lives” - www.ctcl.org

● 10 schools on the list: Reach schools, Competitive,

Probable

4. Information gathering

The science behind building your college list

.SAT.

2400

Reading, Math,

Writing

25-min sections x 10

+ SAT IIs

5. SAT vs. ACT

It’s all about your personal preference

.ACT.

36

English, Math, Science,

Reading

60-min sections x 4

+ optional Writing

section

.SAT.

2400

Reading, Math,

Writing

25-min sections x 10

+ SAT IIs

5. SAT vs. ACT

.Score choice? Super score?.

It’s all about your personal preference

.ACT.

36

English, Math, Science,

Reading

60-min sections x 4

+ optional Writing

section

● Personal Information

● Academic Information

● Transcript

● Extracurricular

Information

6. Common application components

The majority of your application is already crafted

● Essay

● Letters of

recommendation

○ 1 guidance counselor

○ 2 teachers

6. Additional application components

The majority of your application is already crafted

College-specific supplement

● Essay

On-campus / Alumni

Interviews

Scholarships

Financial Aid

7. The art of the college essay

● Essay can be the “swaying factor”

● Essays and short answers provide an interview on

paper

● Illustrate your personality, humor, eloquence, and

writing ability

● Tips: answer the question, edit, proofread, be

yourself, be concise, be accurate, be vivid

7. The art of the college essay

The “tip factor” that brings YOU off the page

The timeline is in your hands. But is there a competitive

advantage?

Early Action

Early Decision

Regular Decision

Rolling Admissions

8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

The timeline is in your hands. But is there a competitive

advantage?

.NOV. Early Action Not binding

.NOV. Early Decision Binding

.JAN. Regular Decision Not binding

8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

The timeline is in your hands. But is there a competitive

advantage?

.NOV. Early Action Apply to

multiple

.NOV. Early Decision Apply to one

.JAN. Regular Decision Apply to

8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

The timeline is in your hands. But is there a competitive

advantage?

.NOV. Early Action Hear by mid-

December

.NOV. Early Decision Hear by mid-

December

.JAN. Regular Decision Hear by April 1

8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

Who should apply early action / early decision? A student

who...

8. Next level strategy - Early, rolling, regular

● Researched colleges extensively

● Absolutely sure that the college is the first choice

● Meets or exceeds the admission profile for college

● Consistent academic record of success

What’s the true cost of

college?

Scholarships

● Local to national

● School specific

● Follows application

season

8. Next level strategy - Scholarships and financial

aid

Don’t let the price tag of a great education ever deter you

Financial aid

● FAFSA

● CSS profile

● Follows calendar year

(Jan to Dec of junior /

senior yr)

Aid: Need-based

Admissions: Need-blind

● Go with your gut

● Does it feel like home- visiting is imperative

● Campus life

● Long range goals

● Location, weather, school size, cost

9. The final decision

Choice: a good problem to have

What does success look like?

Even professional athletes need

coaches.

Each bullet point is a full

presentation on its own.

Success is within reach.

YOU CAN DO THIS.

Who’s Guiding Your Child to College?

● College Admissions Advisors - former teachers,

counselors, college admissions staff, professors

● Work 1-on-1 with your expert advisor the ENTIRE

journey

● Complete guidance from finding passion to

acceptance

● Expanding the possibilities while giving peace of

mind

● Finding the best fit for your child

● Start now!

Questions?