College Bound

by Joanne Levy-Prewitt

Enrollment in colleges and universities continues to climb every year, increasing the competition for admission into the best schools. Students and their parents need help navigating the complicated and confusing journey through the admissions process.

College Bound provides families with the sane advice and solid information they need, providing not so much information about how to get into the best schools but how to find the correct fit between school and student.

Joanne Levy-Prewitt has been counseling students and parents in the San Francisco Bay area since 2003. She regularly visits college campuses and attends conferences to keep her finger on the pulse of the admissions "industry."

The appreciative mail she receives from readers of her weekly column in the San Francisco Chronicle confirms the value of her guidance. Teenagers regularly ply her with questions, and parents say they often turn to her column first on Sundays and clip her columns to keep in a binder or even post on the fridge.

College Bound provides a much-needed, well-informed, service to college-bound high school students and their parents.

Samples

Rolling Admissions Jump-Start The Applications Process

I've known a few high school seniors who are procrastinators. You know the type — they begin researching a term paper the night before it is due. Or they begin a math problem set at 10:30 p.m.

Some seniors will procrastinate and delay the college application process, too. Maybe they're in denial about the process and think that applications can be completed quickly and easily. Sure, they've taken SATs or ACTs. Maybe they've also done a little research into suitable colleges — perhaps even visited a campus or two this summer.

However, when it comes to college applications, consider the antidote to procrastination: rolling admissions.

Rolling admission schools respond to applicants as soon as they can. Unlike other colleges, they don't wait until spring to notify applicants of admission decisions. And for procrastinators, the best part is that many of the rolling admission schools are accepting applications now.

Rolling admission schools notify their applicants as soon as one month after receiving the application. That means students could have an acceptance letter before Halloween, when other seniors are just sharpening their pencils! The University of Oregon, for example, has a modified rolling admission policy. Students who meet minimum requirements and apply by Nov. 1, will be notified by Dec. 15. Those who apply by Jan. 1 will have to wait until April to hear.

Seniors who have an acceptance letter before winter break can, with the knowledge of a "sure thing," relax for the remainder of the year, which can be liberating, but risky.

Kirk Koenig, senior associate director of admissions at the University of Oregon, had words of caution, "Students can get too relaxed and get 'senioritis' ... and end up unprepared for the senior year."

Many colleges, including the University of Oregon, have been known to either rescind admissions offers, or offer only a probationary status, if a student's final grades have slipped.

Even students who aren't interested in colleges with rolling admission can get a jump start on the application process before school starts. The Common Application (www.commonapp.org), used by 299 colleges and universities, has been online since July 1. Students can complete the application now and be free to enjoy their senior year without the dread of applications. Of course, unless they are rolling admission colleges (and the Common App Web site has a nifty way to search for rolling admission schools), many Common App colleges won't notify students until spring.

For diehard procrastinators who simply cannot complete applications until snow hits the ground, rolling admission will also work well later on. That's because rolling admission colleges will often accept applications well into the spring — or until their incoming class is full. Financial aid applicants need to be aware that financial aid dollars are often awarded first-come-firstserved, so again, applying to a rolling admission school (or any college for that matter) as early as possible can have some real benefits.

Of course, applying now might not be a great idea if you are planning to retake admissions tests this fall, or if you are depending on first semester grades to increase your likelihood of admission. Those students might want to wait to submit an application until they can put their best foot forward.

So, procrastinators, if you are willing, I think I can help you with your affliction. By applying to a rolling admission college, or starting the Common App now, you can become an ex-procrastinator and start your senior year with the knowledge that your college applications are complete.

For Further Reading:

For a list of colleges with rolling admissions:

• www.princetonreview.com
• www.petersons.com

(Joanne Levy-Prewitt is an independent college admissions adviser who works with students in the San Francisco area. E-mail her at jklprewitt@gmail.com.)

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