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COLLEGES!
- Sandra Bramwell
- Sep 27, 2023
- 16 min read
In Baltimore this week, I drove 300 plus miles from New York City to get to the Annual Conference that brings school counselors, universities and related companies together. What an experience!
The first day was spent at Johns Hopkins University, " The Blue Jays"...one can see the rigor and selectivity required to be admitted. Known as a powerhouse for the Sciences, an interesting revelation also emerged, they are Division 1 for Lacrosse only, all other sports are Division 3. Another great secret is their newly forged relationship with the Peabody Conservatory.....and lest I forget, their often hidden department of Film and Media Studies....JHU is now on the list of top 50 film schools in the US. A great faculty...
MASSEY University
if I had not seen the sign Veterinary Science, I would not have ventured over to this booth. But in remote New Zealand, this country brought several of its universities to the fore at reduced prices, undercutting many of the rising costs of US and Canadian universities. Their prices hover in the 19k- 20k range, unlike the 80k in North America. What else did I like about Massey? That within 5 years, you are certified to practice as a veterinarian!
Watch this space next week for more detailed introductions to other schools that captured my attention, particularly in Wales.....
CANCELLATION OF PRIORY CENTER
OK, this is horrible. After 3 months of preparation, we have cancellation. What is wrong with Collegeboard? Some were told to take a later date, others were cancelled outright and promised a refund.....Oh no!
I have given out the telephone number to Collegeboard in the group chat. Call in angry tones...demand a reshuffle to another center or a Sunday testing. SCREAM!
However, the immediate solution will be to go test-optional. On your applications. Until you take the test. An explanation must be forwarded to the emails of each college/ university. Who are the winners here? Just the students with excellent CAPE and CXC grades. It is somewhat sad for those who wanted to prove themselves on the SAT. On a lighter note, there is December, (not at Priory), for the Regular Decision phase.
FINANCIAL AID SEMINARS
It is almost the end of September. I promised the July group that they should be finished with applications by this time. October is when we begin the Financial Aid process. October 8 is when we meet to do this. Do remember that FAFSA is for our American citizens or Green Card holders. Each group has been sectioned off to a certain time segment. See you there.
See you next week.
A Message from the Director
Greetings Colleagues!
It was so wonderful seeing so many of our California Counselor colleagues over the last two weeks at the UC Counselor Conferences and NACAC conference! I was thrilled to hear that so many seniors are engaged in school activities and seeking your assistance as they complete their college applications. There were MANY new counselors in attendance so I thought this was a great opportunity to highlight UCSB’s College of Creative Studies (CCS). It’s one-of-a-kind in the UC system and unique nationally. Please read about CCS at the end of the newsletter and share with students who are looking for opportunities to create new knowledge—you know the ones, they just see the world differently and want to share their passion for their field through close mentorship and advanced research. Best wishes to you as the fall rush begins!
Lisa Przekop, Director of Admissions
Freshman/High School Updates
Fall 2024 freshman applicants can receive direct support with the UC Application by registering for one of our offered virtual admissions events. We have the following great options for you and your students:
UC Application Overview (California, Out of State, and International student options)
UC Application Q&A (Drop in advising)
Tell Your Story! - Culture & Identity in the UC Application Workshop
UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQ) Overview
These virtual events are a great opportunity for students to get their UC Application questions answered live by an admissions counselor. As a reminder these are hosted by UCSB but we give general advice for all UC campuses | Registration LinkRegister for Freshman Events
Transfer Updates
The Transfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) deadline is this week, Saturday, September 30th. Students can join us for our UC TAG questions drop-in hours on September 29th for last minute support! We also ask that you share our UCSB TAG FAQ webpage with your students.
Diversity Initiatives Updates
This month we highlight our Chicano Studies Institute (CSI) at UCSB. As a Hispanic Serving Research Institution (HSRI) we celebrate the Latinx culture by conducting research, exploring policy, and addressing cultural community and justice through the Latinx lens. Projects supported by the CSI in the last year include:
Social and Behavioral Health Needs (LGBTQ Immigrants post-Trump)
Mexican/Mexican-American Siblings in the US (The impact of undocumented status on the family, the sibling relationship and the self.)
Announcements
We are also celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and our HSI community with the launch of the UC application playlist in Spanish.
We hope you’ll watch the Amazon Prime movie, A Million Miles Away, as it tells the story of UCSB alum José Hernández, former NASA astronaut.
College of Creative Studies: A Place for the Radically Curious and Motivated
Do you have a radically curious and deeply self-motivated student? Are they concerned their passion for the material won’t be easily contained by more traditional university programs? Are they eager to follow in the footsteps of Molecular biologist and Nobel Laureate Carol W. Greider, Astrophysicist and Berkeley Distinguished Professor Alex Filippenko, and thousands of others in finding a community of equally passionate young scholars?
The College of Creative Studies (CCS) at UC Santa Barbara offers uniquely flexible and rigorous programs in Art, Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computing, Marine Science, Mathematics, Music Composition, Physics, and Writing & Literature that operate jointly with majors in the larger Colleges of L&S and Engineering. Students are purposefully mentored to rapidly advance into the role of researchers, collaborators, and creators on projects in the sciences, arts, engineering, humanities, and beyond. Working with faculty across the entire UC Santa Barbara campus, CCS students are required to engage as creators via academic research, making art, writing, composing, or the equivalent. Encourage your most committed and creative students to talk to our student advisors today! Explore more on the CCS webpage or reach out directly to info@ccs.ucsb.edu for more information!
Sandra, We hope the school year is off to a great start for you and your students. With fall approaching, we wanted to share some exciting updates with you. UMass Lowell has been named the #1 public university in Massachusetts in the 2024 Wall Street Journal Best Colleges in the United States ranking. The ranking focuses on universities’ student outcomes, learning environment and diversity. At UMass Lowell, we are not just an institution, but a partner committed to you and your students' success. Whether it's answering questions, providing guidance or working with students who experience last-minute changes in their plans, our admissions team is always ready to assist. Reach out to us any time.
Fall 2023 Profile
Live data for the incoming first-year class: No Test Applicants: 68% Average GPA: 3.715 Average SAT: 1264 Average ACT: 28
Fall Open Houses
Open Houses take place Oct. 22 and Nov. 18 and are the perfect opportunity for students to explore UMass Lowell.
New Major Alert!
Your students interested in sports studies are now able to earn a B.A. degree in American Studies with a focus on sports studies.
Application Deadlines
Nov. 5: Early Action I Jan. 5: Early Action II Feb. 5: Regular Decision Deadline Nursing applicants must apply by Early Action II.
Dear Colleague, Hello from the Oberlin Office of Admissions! We hope this finds you doing well and that you had a terrific summer. Please enjoy the latest issue of our counselor newsletter below. All the best, Ben Jones ‘96 AVP, Admissions Communications Oberlin College & Conservatory
Act One
"Something useful I can forward to my students and/or parents."
It’s rec letter season! Here’s a blog entry that contains advice for your juniors and seniors on how to ensure the best teacher recommendations, including how to choose the right teachers and the best ways to approach them with the request. Let me know what topics you’d like to see in future issues!
Act Two
"Presidential reflections"
President Ambar recently responded to the dramatic fluctuations in this year’s U.S. News rankings. Read her statement here.
Act Three
"Myth-busting! There's so much misinformation out there."
Myth: Most students can’t afford to attend a place like Oberlin. False! This year Oberlin will commit $100M (that’s million!) to financial aid. As always, we meet 100% of every student’s demonstrated financial need, and all admitted students will receive at least $10,000 (which is renewable for all four years). We hear from many families that Oberlin is as affordable (if not more affordable) than attending their flagship state school. Let me know what myths you'd like to see busted in future issues.
Act Four
"The haiku intermission."
Ode to Travel Season A haiku by Molly Cravens, Associate Director of Admissions
Planning fall travel is my favorite and least fave thing that I do. Checking Rep Visits all day, every day, until I realize you have Moved over to Scoir or Cialfo or Maia. I will find you though. Lunch visits only?! Master scheduler, I am but those are tricky. I love it when the puzzle pieces finally all fit together.
Act Five
"Something that will make me hip with the kids."
Act Six
"It’s okay to put some boring but necessary stuff at the end."
This year's class profile will enchant and delight!
Act Seven
This is the part where we just say thanks for reading until the end and, most importantly, thanks for all you do. Your work to bring amazing students to places like Oberlin is incredibly important to the world. If we in Oberlin Admissions can ever help you in any way, please reach out to your regional counselor or to me directly at bjones@oberlin.edu.
Dear Sandra,
I write with two exciting announcements about NYU Abu Dhabi admissions and the 2023-2024 application cycle.
The first is that it is my pleasure to introduce our incoming Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid for NYU Abu Dhabi, Valentina Lopez. Valentina and I will continue to be close partners in the work of enrolling our undergraduate programs across NYU’s global network, and you can expect to hear from both of us in the coming months.
The next is that, for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYU Abu Dhabi is returning to hosting in-person Candidate Weekends.
Candidate Weekend is a unique opportunity for our strongest applicants to experience, first-hand, all that NYU Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates has to offer them. They will interact with faculty, staff and current students, explore our campus, and learn about its many resources. Additionally, students will learn more about the city of Abu Dhabi, and about the vibrant culture and close-knit community they could be joining in the UAE.
If you had students apply, or who were admitted for Fall 2020 or earlier, you may already be familiar with this process, although there are some changes this cycle.
Historically, interviews were conducted during our in-person Candidate Weekends. This year, applicants who are considered academically competitive for admission to NYU Abu Dhabi will be invited to participate in a brief, online conversation with an admissions counselor or member of our student affairs team. Invitations for these 1:1 discussions will be extended on a rolling basis, and are a prerequisite to receiving a Candidate Weekend invitation, although not a guarantee of a Candidate Weekend invitation.
Candidate Weekend is by invitation only, and applicants who are invited to Candidate Weekend are required to attend in order to remain eligible for admission. NYU Abu Dhabi will cover the cost of airfare, lodging, and meals during the event.
The Candidate Weekend dates for this year are:
Early Decision I — December 8-9, 2023
Early Decision II — February 9-10, 2024
Regular Decision — March 8-9, 2024
Depending on where a candidate is traveling from, there may be extra days required for transit. We request your support and flexibility, as we know students will be asking to take time off from their academic commitments to attend.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact nyuad.admissions@nyu.edu. Our staff will be happy to help guide you and your students through the process.
Sincerely, Jonathan B. Williams Associate Vice President Undergraduate Admissions, Access and Pipeline Programs New York University
We hope your school year is off to an excellent start! Here in Denver, we are enjoying some cooler temperatures and getting excited for the colors of fall. Fall quarter at the University of Denver always begins after Labor Day. This year classes started on September 11, following our week-long orientation for new students. Although summer is a lovely time on our beautiful campus, we are absolutely thrilled to see our brick paths and green lawns busy with students and faculty once again. We hope you enjoy our newsletters and take the opportunity to explore DU through the articles below.
Welcome Class of 2027!
This fall we welcomed an incoming class of 1,471 first-year and 171 transfer students to the DU community!
First Ascent
Did you know that every new DU student visits the Kennedy Mountain Campus as part of their orientation? We are celebrating our second year of First Ascent!
Study Abroad at DU
Studying abroad can be intimidating. But taking an international adventure can be truly life-changing, too!
New Early Decision Incentives at DU: Students admitted during Early Decision rounds of admission receive an additional $5,000 merit aid award, and top academic performers will have their full demonstrated financial need met. Early Decision applicants enjoy stronger consideration for admission, and benefit from earlier admission and financial aid notifications. *Music majors and students receiving athletic aid are not eligible for Early Decision financial incentives. International applicants are eligible for the additional merit award but not for need-based aid.
Darryl D. Isom Director of Admissions and Recruitment University of Maryland Eastern Shore Student Development Center, Suite 1140 Princess Anne MD 21853 ddisom@umes.edu (410) 651-6411 (office) (410) 651-7922 (fax)
Greetings from Bentley University!
Our “Admission 101: Guiding you through the College Admission Process” series continues with a blog post about helping your students understand all of their options when applying to college.
After all, deciding where to apply to college is stressful enough, but what about when to apply? Many colleges offer various application deadlines — Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision and more — so it’s important to know the details of each before deciding which is best. Our seasoned admission team shares its advice on how your students can decide which is the most appropriate application option for them. Check it out today!
We hope this information, and our entire Admission 101 series, give you another tool for helping your students’ college searches stay on schedule.
Also, please let your students and their families know they are invited to join us at our upcoming Fall Open House on Sunday, October 1. It’s an opportunity to tour campus, meet current students, faculty and staff – and hear more about academics, campus life, career services, financial aid and everything that makes Bentley so special.
Thank you for all you do.
Donna M. Kendall Associate Vice President of Enrollment and Dean of Undergraduate Admission
Interested in sharing our tips with your students? Download this PDF!
Counseling colleagues:
I can imagine that these first weeks of school, like the summer that preceded them, have been bewildering for you–and for students and families–in so many ways. In the more than 28 years I have spent as an admissions dean, I can’t remember an admissions news cycle quite like it, with so many developments concerning race-conscious admissions, Artificial Intelligence, and admissions policies related to legacies and testing, among other hot-button issues.
With the hope that it might be of help to you and colleagues, and to those you serve, I wanted to let you know that I have posted the first two episodes of Season 4 of my podcast, Admissions Beat. Those episodes are available on a range of platforms, and you can find links here on the podcast homepage.
For those who may be new listeners, the mission of Admissions Beat is to provide "news you can use" at each step on the pathway to college. Each Tuesday this fall, I will post a new episode in which my guests and I seek to strike a welcoming, reassuring perspective and set an approach intended to build confidence in prospective applicants.
In the season premiere episode, posted on Sept. 12, I assess the extraordinary college admissions news cycle in recent months and serve up advice for applicants and parents—and for you, as counselors, as well—on steering through it. I’m joined by Elena Hicks, assistant vice provost and dean of admission at Southern Methodist University, and Jacques Steinberg, former New York Times journalist and co-author of “The College Conversation: A Practical Companion for Parents to Guide Their Children Along the Path to Higher Education.”
Episode 2, posted on Sept. 19, is titled, “An Admissions Checklist for Jittery Seniors, Part 1.” For that discussion, I’m joined by Kate Boyle Ramsdell, director of college counseling at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Mass.; Erica Rosales, executive director of College Match, a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles that works with low-income students; and Darryl Tiggle, director of college counseling at Friends School of Baltimore.
If you haven’t done so already, I hope you’ll consider giving Admissions Beat a listen. I also hope you will subscribe and share the podcast homepage link with students and parents. And for those of you who are returning listeners: Thank you!
Finally, two scheduling notes for those who will be attending the NACAC National Conference in Baltimore this week:
Jacques Steinberg will be moderating an education session on Thursday Sept. 21, beginning at 1:30, that will include insights on how we assemble the Admissions Beat podcast each week. The session is titled: “News You Can Use: Harnessing the Power of Podcasting and Digital Tools to Demystify Admission.” He will be joined by two panelists: Ramon Blakley, Director of Recruitment, the University of Texas at Austin, and Lisa Heffernan, co-founder of the parenting website Grown & Flown.
And on Friday Sept. 22, during the Counselors College Fair: please stop by the Dartmouth booth to say hello to our Dartmouth admissions colleagues Paul Sunde, Evelyn Ocampo, and Jaclyn Pageau.
With thanks for all you do,
Lee Coffin
Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
Sandra,
The Rice application is open and we are looking forward to getting to know your students through their application submission and their essays. Our committee-based evaluation process yields a strong class profile each year, just as it did for the class of 2027. As you prepare for another busy season, we wanted to provide some updates and reminders:
Our supplemental questions were updated this year in light of the Supreme Court’s rulings this summer. We hope these new questions will encourage students to share about their unique backgrounds and lived experiences.
Registration is now open for our new virtual Writing Workshop: “Unlock Your Story: Effective Essay Writing.” Designed specifically for high school seniors, students will receive general advice on how to craft an essay using an authentic voice and personal story while gaining insight from Rice admission officers about how we read and evaluate essays. We encourage your students to register for this resource.
We look forward to another selection season with QuestBridge, whom Rice has partnered with since 2004. The number of Rice match scholars has increased significantly over the years, most recently with the goal of matching with 70 scholars.
Our test-optional policy will remain in place for the 2024-2025 application season. As is consistent with our holistic, team-based review process, students will be given full consideration with the information they have provided regardless of their decision to submit their test scores.
Rice University accepts applications via Apply Coalition with Scoir or Common Application. We don’t have a preference for either, so you can encourage your students to use whichever platform they prefer.
Application deadlines will be here before you and your students know it! Rice’s early decision application deadline is Nov. 1 and our regular decision application deadline is now Jan. 4.
In addition to these updates from Rice, we also encourage you to join Slate.org, a platform designed to strengthen communication between undergraduate admission offices, school counselors, community-based organizations and students during the college search and application process.
Thank you for partnering with us to support students! For additional information, please explore our counselor resources page.
Dear Colleague, I wish you well as we embark upon another school year! Fall brings with it an exciting time of new possibilities, as our classrooms fill once again. Thank you for the guidance you provide to your students, who inspire us to strive for the Jesuit ideal of magis- doing more with thoughtful intention. It's a busy time here on the Heights. Le Moyne College just hosted over 400 prospective students and families at our first Fall Open House this past Sunday, and we are looking forward to hosting many more at our remaining open houses on Sunday, October 15 and November 5. There are many reasons to be proud to be a Dolphin, including young alum Josiah Gray’s recent MLB Clemente Award nomination, another successful Le Moyne Leadership Academy this summer, and two Syracuse Surge finalists affiliated with the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Creativity. Le Moyne also continues to demonstrate exceptional quality and value in the U.S. News & World Report college rankings. And following a record-setting application cycle, for the second year in a row we welcomed a first-year class with 30% diversity. As in years past, our Early Action (non-binding) deadline is November 15. Students who apply by this date receive priority scholarship consideration, and they will be among the first to receive an admission decision on December 15. The deadline to apply for our Direct Entry Physician Assistant Programs is also November 15. We remain test optional for all programs of study. I look forward to working with you in the year ahead. Please reach out if you have any questions, or to simply catch up. Sincerely, Timothy M. Lee, Ph.D. Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing
(315) 445-4300
U.S. News recently published an article, "What to Know as a First-Gen Student," that contains great advice for students navigating the unique challenges of being the first in their family to attend college. There could be more resources and opportunities available than they realize.Read U.S. News Story The transition from high school to college can be a big step. That's why we asked our coordinator of academic support for her best tips to help high school students feel more prepared for college study. This could be a helpful resource to share with your students!Get the tips
What we're reading
The Chronicle of Higher Education created a video highlighting the challenges facing two first-gen students, Antonio and Victoria.
Our students finally returned to campus (during a heat wave, no less!), and we are so excited to see them back on the Hilltop.
In a Brookings article titled, "First-generation college students face unique challenges," Dick Startz takes a closer look at the first-gen experience and what needs to change.
We know that the beginning of a new school year can be hectic, to say the least. Want to get away? Take a five-minute break to explore volcanoes and rainforests in Indonesia.
Resources for college-bound students
Affordability Tools for breaking down the cost of college. Visiting Colleges We want to help make visiting college campuses less intimidating and more exciting. College Admissions From the admission process to moving in and choosing a major.
Dear Colleague,
Centre College climbed the prestigious U.S. News and World Report 2024 Best Colleges rankings, with rankings for value and study abroad leading the way.
Centre is #17 in the nation and the top-ranked school in the state of Kentucky for best value.
The return on investment of a Centre College education cannot be overstated. Centre prepares its students for lives of learning, leadership, and service and has proven its commitment to the student experience through robust study abroad opportunities, guaranteed undergraduate research and internship experiences, and career readiness.
U.S. News also looked at graduate outcomes, where Centre boasts incredible post-graduate success with 98 percent of graduates employed or engaged in advanced study within a year of graduation.
Centre also ranked in the top 25 in study abroad program rankings, with 85 percent of students studying abroad at least once. Nearly half of Centre’s student population does so more than once.
Centre climbed 22 spots in the “Top Performers on Social Mobility” rankings and added marks in undergraduate economics and psychology programs. Would you like to recommend a future Centre student? Nominate students for Centre College scholarships by completing our online Scholarship Form.
Chad A. Spencer Vice President of Enrollment Management Admission and Financial Aid 600 West Walnut Street Danville, Kentucky 40422 859.238.5350
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