Admissions Expertise Any tips on getting the most out of campus tours and info sessions? Have questions ready before your visit. Take plenty of notes during your visit. Try to talk with students taking classes in areas of personal interest. 1 Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. Does class size matter? It depends on you, and your needs or desires. Many students appreciate a smaller class size. It certainly promotes a closer working relationship between the professor and students. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What do admissions officers look for in an applicant? They want to see someone who is balanced, self motivated, someone who will be an asset to their learning community. They often want to see students who have considered other options, and who understand the advantages of attending their university. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How can students get the best high school teacher recommendations? It is important to consider who you have worked most closely with through the course of your high school career. It is vital that you select teachers who have seen you work hard, pursue your goals, and achieve in areas of personal and academic interest. Teachers writing your letters of recommendation should be able to effectively describe your attributes and their confidence in your capability to excell in college. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How can planning increase a student's chance of getting great teacher recommendations? Planning can increase the chances of receiving an exceptional letter of recommendation, one truly influential in the application process. By carefully planning, students can consider who would be most appropriate in writing letters of recommendation. Students shouldn’t simply select teachers who awarded them their highest grades. Rather, students should examine which teachers they have worked most closely with through the course of their high school careers. While some teachers think highly of the student, they may not always be able to effectively express this regard in writing. This should be another factor to consider when deciding which teachers to ask. Planning should also allow teachers more time to write a powerful letter of recommendation, as they are able to reflect upon the student’s pursuits and subsequent achievements. If a student plans early enough, they should also consider any relationship or experiences teachers have had with the colleges or universities to which they are applying. Perhaps a teacher is an alumnus or used to work as a faculty member for the college. There are many other factors to consider. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. Can students speed up the recommendation letter process and still get great results? It is important to carefully plan who should write your letters of recommendation. This planning should allow your writers an allotted period of time. Two weeks is typically an acceptable period of time. Certain circumstances may require that students speed up this process. When this is necessary, students should be sure to express the urgency to teachers and recognize that teachers may not be able to write as powerful of a letter considering the time constraint. Some teachers may not be able to write a letter under a time constraint because of other obligations. Because of this, students should have alternate teachers to consider asking. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. Are there ways to waive college application fees? Yes, most colleges will waive the fee if the student/applicant receives free or reduced lunches through their high school. 1 Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How important are standardized test scores compared to other pieces of the application? This largely depends on where the student wants to attend college. Each school has a different idea of what constitutes an acceptable score. Community colleges don't usually require that students take these exams, and scores for students attending community or junior colleges matter very little. With that said, students planning to attend a community college should still take the SAT/ACT, as they may be required if and when the student transfers to a larger college to obtain a bachelors degree. The SAT/ACT scores are obviously important pieces in the application, however, I believe that many times, students stress on significance of these scores, and overlook other vital components which could compensate for less than perfect scores. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. Standardized tests: Which ones? When? How many times? Sophomores can begin by taking the PSAT. This exam may be offered within the high school's guidance counseling department. Juniors should take the PSAT and the SAT and/or ACT. The PSAT is a practice test to help students prepare for the actual SAT. The student will receive scores and will see where they are ranked in comparison to other students throughout the United States. Students taking the PSAT will get back their test booklet and will be able to use it as a study guide. This is a nice option and an advantage for students who take the PSAT. Students taking the SAT during their junior year will automatically be entered in a running for certain scholarships. Students shouldn't be too discouraged if they receive less than perfect scores on the SAT/ACT. They should understand that they are able to take these exams over again. If a student receives a lower score the second time around, it won't replace the higher score. There may be study groups within your community to help students prepare for these particular exams. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What are the best ways to prepare for the SAT and which study methods are worth paying for? It's important to take the PSAT. Development of good study habits, time management, organization, and an overall focus in academics will help students to succeed. Tutoring and study groups are often advantageous. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How can a student figure out which standardized tests to take, when, and how many times? Students should consider the colleges they wish to apply to when determining whether they will take the SAT, ACT or both. Some colleges may have a strong preference or may only accept one of these exams. Many colleges will accept either exam. Do NOT wait until your senior year to take these exams. Plan to take the SAT and/or ACT during your junior year of high school. You may retake the exams as many times as you want to and know that any lower scores that you subsequently receive will not replace higher scores. Some students may retake these exams over and over in hopes of obtaining a certain score, as many universities have stringent requirements. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How do prospective students get recruited for their sport? Recruiters will often approach talented athletic students. They will also contact high school coaches to learn more about the prospective college student. It's important that coaches have game tapes made to submit to recruiters. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What are the differences between college and conservatory dance departments? While conservatories focus primarily on dance, colleges offer a blending of dance and academics. Students hoping to experience "college life" may be wise to consider a college program over a conservatory. More serious dancers or those wishing to postpone their academic pursuits may wish to enter a conservatory. 1 Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What are the strongest ballet departments? It depends on the type of ballet, however, to name a few, an aspiring student may consider the following schools: Butler University, Indiana University, University of Arizona, University of Utah, University of South Florida, and University of Oklahoma. 1 Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What can I do with a major in the arts if I don't get full-time work as a performer /artist ? Have you considered teaching? 1 Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. Can what I post on Facebook affect my chances of getting accepted? Although it's unlikely, it could. Keep your profile private and be careful what you post. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How can parents help students with the college search and application process? There are many sources of information available on the internet. Parents can help by reading and researching info on schools that students have considered or schools close to home. Parents should encourage students to see their school counselors whenever questions arise. It can be beneficial for parents to arrange to have their students meet with a private college counselor. High school counselors are busy, must respond to immediate issues within their school, and unfortunately, the reality is that they often don't have the time to meet with students individually. Private college counselors also specialize in college admissions. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. Any advice for parents on paying for college? Please attend any financial aid seminars offered at your student's high school. These are typically very informative, and other audience members will most certainly ask questions that, when answered, will enhance your understanding of the processes and procedures involved in applying for grants, loans, etc. Some financial companies will send guest speakers to high schools offering free advice and assistance in hopes of gaining business in other areas of financial need. They may have excellent presentations for students/parents to further their knowledge and ability to pay for school. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. If your parents are too involved, can they hurt your chances? This can occur, however, colleges are accustomed to dealing with many overly involved parents and this isn't usually a major deterrent. Parents should be careful not to appear too pushy. They certainly don't want to make a negative impression. The focus should be on the prospective student. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. Do colleges keep parents informed of their child's academic progress? They typically do not. This is a major point of contention for some parents, but there are legal guidlines that prevent this information from being distributed, even to parents who pay for tuition. There are exceptions to this rule, however, ideally, parents and children should communicate honestly and openly to avoid any issues arising in this area. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How can parents help students with the application process? Parents can help students with the application process in many ways. They can help by providing a supportive and quiet environment for students to complete applications. They can help by being present to assist the student when he/she has difficulty understanding a question or requirement. They can also review the students application prior to his or her submission. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What should parents do during campus visits? Parents should be supportive of their students and remember that the campus visit should allow the student to practice independence and explore the environment. Parents should be observant, take notes, ask questions, and discuss their impressions with the student. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What role should parents play as their children are applying to college? Parents should be supportive and encouraging. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What is the best way to handle getting waitlisted or deferred? Don't get discouraged. It's important to have a back up plan. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What do students need to know about transferring? I consider myself a true expert when it comes to transferring, as I have attended 15 colleges and universities. For some, there are many advantages to transferring schools, and for others, this can be a real nightmare. It’s important to be aware of how the transfer will impact your graduation. For students transferring from a community college with an associate degree to a university to seek a bachelor degree, there are many benefits. Having earned an associate degree, students often have saved time and money. Often junior colleges or community colleges that offer associate degrees have smaller class sizes, and this can be an advantage, especially for a new college student. These colleges may be closer to home, and this can aid in the adjustment to college life. Transferring schools for other reasons requires careful planning, and it is vital that the student knows where they will ultimately seek to earn their degree. Seeking the exact same degree at different schools may require one to take entirely different classes. There will also be other graduation requirements that differ between schools. If a student wants to transfer to a school in another state, they should carefully research the cost of out of state tuition. There are sometimes ways around paying for out of state tuition, and each state varies in how long they will require a student to pay out of state tuition before granting them in state fees. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. Can I get extra time on the SAT if I have a learning disability? This is a possibility. It should depend on the student's IEP. Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. See More Questions Close