Social Media – think before you post

THIS IS A COPY OF THE COLLEGE ADMISSION STRATEGIES BLOG POST FROM 

HS Counselor Week South - June 2, 2016

By Lee Shulman Bierer

Stories abound of students and even teachers sharing inappropriate items on social media. You would think students who are about to apply to colleges and be evaluated by admissions officers would know better. The truth is that obviously the vast majority of high school students are very responsible about their social media presence but we only hear about the foolish ones whose mistakes live on as lessons for others.

The big question most parents ask me is whether or not colleges are fishing in the social media waters. Are colleges and universities proactively seeking out information on prospective applicants or not?

Recent research from Kaplan Test Prep, whose most recent survey of nearly 400 admissions officers, demonstrates that “the percentage of admissions officers who visit applicants’ social media pages to learn more about them has hit a record high of 40% — quadruple the percentage who did so in 2008,” when Kaplan first explored this issue. Further research also identified that only 11 percent of admissions officers do it “often.” Googling  an applicant to learn more about them has remained relatively stable over the past two years, at 29 percent.

Why are colleges looking?

It’s interesting to note that what triggers admissions officers to look beyond the traditional elements of the application (GPA, standardized test scores, extracurriculars) and turn to Google and Facebook are both positive and negative factors.

• Special talents -Students who are musicians, writers, models or poets will often invite admissions officers to view their social media presence in their applications. According to Kaplan’s research, 42 percent of admissions officers reported an increase in such invitations compared to two years ago.
• Award verification – There is no formal “fact-checking” process when students submit their applications. Colleges generally take at face-value whatever honors students list and the time commitments and leadership roles students state in their extracurricular activities and work experiences. However, a mention of a particularly distinguished award will sometimes trigger a search.
• Negative stuff – Some admissions officers say that if an applicant mentions they have a criminal background or a record of disciplinary action, they will do some online digging to get more details.
• Scholarship applications – Students applying for special scholarships can come under greater scrutiny, as schools want to ensure those receiving the scholarships are fully deserving; extra due diligence can come in the form of online checking.

The worst reason a student’s social media presence may be viewed is referred to as “Admissions Sabotage.” The ugly truth is that colleges admissions officers are occasionally anonymously alerted to social media postings by students or parents who are trying to sabotage another student’s chance of being accepted; presumably with the hope that they will instead be accepted. Admissions officers will typically follow-up to verify any accusations.

Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte.

SAT or ACT...How About Neither??

Did you know???

863 accredited bachelor-degree granting institutions are now test optional for most or all of their applicants!  This means that they will make admission decisions without regard to standardized test scores.

Quinnipiac University in Connecticut is the latest in this long line of schools that now have a test-optional admissions policy.  For the entire list go to the following website: 

     http://fairtest.org/university/optional

In addition, over 200 of the test-optional and test-flexible schools are listed here in the top tiers of their respective categories:

http://www.fairtest.org/sites/default/files/Optional-Schools-in-U.S.News-Top-Tiers.pdf


What does this mean???

Options for those students whose strengths are in areas other than their SAT or ACT scores.


This is a wonderful opportunity!  Students, investigate the schools that are of interest to you and speak with your college counselor to discuss further.

Select Colleges Visit South Florida

Many colleges and universities will travel to different parts of the country in order to take the college visit to you!  These programs are a wonderful opportunity for parents and students to gain information and resources, as well as to network with admission officers.

Two such programs are coming to our area soon!


Washington University in St. Louis invites prospective students and families to attend a

presentation about the university on Sunday, May 15, 2:00-3:00 PM at the

Renaissance Fort Lauderdale-Plantation Hotel. There is no need to make a reservation

for the program but you may call 800-638- 0700 or 314-935- 6000 for additional

information. Please call the location at 954-472- 2252 for directions.


The Coast to Coast College Tour is a joint travel partnership bringing together

admissions representatives from Dartmouth College, Northwestern University, Princeton

University, the University of California-Berkeley, and Vanderbilt University.  It will be

held on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 PM in the Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort

Lauderdale. Click here to register.

2016-17 SAT and ACT Testing Calendar

Click here for the 2016-2017 SAT and ACT Testing Calendar

Open Letter to Senior Parents

Dear Parents of Seniors,

As we move into the latter part of March, the last of the college admission decisions are being released.  I know that this can be a very exciting and stressful time for students and their families. I would like to share some explanatory information compiled by a team of college counselors about the decisions that students may receive at this point in the process so that you have a fuller understanding of your options.

Accepted/Admitted

Congratulations! You've been admitted to the school, as long as you keep your grades at the same level through graduation.  Read the admission letter carefully to be sure you follow the steps required by the college (including housing applications, deposits, etc.).   

Denial

For whatever reason, the college has not offered you admission. Don't take it personally and don't panic. There is absolutely more than one right college for everyone! Move forward and work for your next ‘right’ school.

Wait List

This means that you may be contacted over the summer (sometimes as early as May but possibly as late as August) and offered admission to the college. A wait list option is not a guarantee of future admission, just a possibility, so you must commit to attending another college which did offer admission. It is also important that you respond to the wait list offer; students must accept the offer in order to be considered part of the wait list.  

The following suggestions, published by our partners at International College Counselors, are extremely helpful as your family experiences this part of the college process.

How to Help Your Child Cope with College Admissions Results
1. Say positive things.  Let your child know how proud you are of him or her for getting through high school and wanting to go to college. Even before knowing if your child was accepted or rejected at schools.
2.  Stay supportive. This is a hard time for a student whether they get into their first choice college or not. If your child gets rejected, this may be the first time they're dealing with major disappointment. A parent's job is to stop this from damaging self-esteem. For students who get in, after the initial euphoria, they'll start thinking about what going to college really means. Leaving home, leaving friends, leaving a comfortable routine, having to find themselves, and make their own way is difficult. Understandably, this may feel overwhelming.
3.  Talk it out. Allow your child to be emotional. Talk about getting accepted and rejected and turn it into a teachable moment. If your child is hurt over a rejection, be sensitive and acknowledge the pain of disappointment. Then help your child accept that he or she didn't get in and move forward with the opportunities that do present themselves.  Children who get accepted have a right to be proud, but help them understand that it's important to be sensitive to the feelings of their friends who may not be so happy with their admissions results.
4. Focus on what's important.  Let your child know that getting into a first pick college is important, but it's not the end of the world if they don't. Let your child know you don't love or like them any less and they shouldn't love or like themselves any less either. College is one step on a long road. Much of the college admission process was out of your family's control. College admissions are highly subjective. A high GPA isn't the only thing that counts. Maybe the band really needed a new oboe player.
5. Don't let your child take rejection personally. Someone at the college just didn't think your child was the right fit at the time. Your student may actually be better off someplace else.  Your child can have a great experience no matter where he or she goes.
6. Practice gratitude.  With your student, thank the people that made a college acceptance possible.  Think of the parent who shared the responsibility of driving hours and hours of carpool, a teacher writing a thoughtful college recommendation, a coach staying a little bit longer after practice, and a principal making sure the student got the classes he/she needed.  No child gets into college without a supportive team.
7. Say Yay!  Celebrate all the college acceptance letters your child gets. Getting into any college is great. Talk to your child about how he or she will let friends know.
8. Reframe the future.  Truly worried students may relax knowing that there is always the option to transfer. Our recommendation is to keep this as a back pocket option and not as a goal. Students who go to college with the intent of transferring won't be able to enjoy the full college experience they can have. Once they settle in, many students are actually very happy.
9. Do something nice. When all the letters are in, celebrate the end of this intense time.  Go out for a nice family dinner, or give a student a meaningful gift. Make this time positive. 

I would like to assure each of you that I am here to answer your questions, support you, and help in whatever way possible as your family navigates these exciting waters!  Please feel free to reach out to me.

Critical New Information Regarding Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid is one of the most misunderstood—yet important— parts of the college admission process. With changes coming to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it’s doubly important to understand the steps you must take to secure funds for college.

Starting fall 2016:

• Students will be able to file for aid beginning Oct. 1—a full three months earlier than previously allowed.
• For the first time, applicants will use prior-prior year (PPY) tax information when reporting personal and family income. Currently, the FAFSA uses the previous year’s tax data.
• Remember, completing the FAFSA is essential for securing most types of financial aid for college. In addition to federal grants and loans, many colleges, states, and scholarship programs use the form to assess eligibility for their aid programs.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding PPY FAFSA

1. What do I need to do differently?     To make sure you are in the running for financial aid, complete the FAFSA using 2015 tax information. You should file your FAFSA as soon as possible - the form becomes available October 1.
2. Who will be affected by the changes?     The Class of 2017 will be the first high school cohort to file the FAFSA on the new timeline using PPY tax data. All returning college students will also submit their applications following the new procedure.
3. When should I complete the FAFSA?     File the FAFSA as soon as you are able. The federal government awards roughly $150 billion annually to college students through need-based grants, loans, and work-study funds. In addition to determining your eligibility for federal student aid, many colleges and states use the FAFSA when distributing grants. Money is limited in some instances, so don’t delay. If you file your application late, you run the risk of finding out that certain funds—such as work-study awards—are already gone.
4. Will other college application deadlines move earlier into the fall?     At this point, it’s too early to tell how or whether changes to the FAFSA will affect the admission application process. What will remain the same is that colleges may not set college application deadlines prior to Oct. 15, nor can they require students to make an enrollment decision prior to May 1 of their senior year (with the exception of Early Decision).
5. When will I learn my financial aid eligibility?     Institutional and state deadlines for awarding aid will differ. Hundreds of colleges and universities are expected to provide financial aid packages earlier than in previous years. But not all schools will be on the same timeline. Despite having earlier access to students’ financial data, colleges may need to estimate awards if state grant totals aren’t approved by legislatures in a timely fashion. Additionally, many colleges don’t finalize tuition for the coming academic year until the spring, a critical piece of information when estimating cost of attendance.

Adapted from NACAC, National Association of College Admission Counseling

Link: Summer Programs for Future Veterinarians

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