Article - Guest Opinion: Lessons parents should learn from the college-admissions scandal

Guest Opinion: Lessons parents should learn from the college-admissions scandal

by Jim Lobdell

Last week's college-admissions scandal can teach parents one of two lessons: create your own broad definition of success and parent your kids out of hope and conviction, or default to our culture's narrow definition of success and act out of fear and anxiety.

What happens when the most resourced, educated parents give in to fear and anxiety and focus on narrow markers of "success" -- grades, test scores, resume-building accomplishments, and college admissions?

Jim Lobdell

• They discount research that dispels myths about the importance of attending prestigious universities.

• They send messages to their kids -- sometimes subtle, sometimes direct -- about the make-or-break nature of academic and extracurricular performance. Kids internalize that "good" won't cut it, and many feel forced to cheat their way to the top.

• They allow their kids to participate in the academic and extracurricular arms race, even as the load means compromising sleep, mental health, and overall well-being.

• They mortgage their kids' adolescence with a schedule most adults couldn't maintain, at a time when teenagers should be forming their own identity. It's a debt that will eventually come due, often in the form of a quarter- or mid-life crisis.

• They and staff of well-paid tutors, coaches and counselors helicopter to monitor progress and snowplow to remove obstacles, undermining their kids' agency and resilience along the way.

• They see parenting as a zero-sum competitive sport, and the college bumper sticker on their car as the scoreboard.

• And in the extreme, they act in outrageously fraudulent ways to leave nothing to chance.

The irony is that none of this fosters the most important attributes for long-term success in our increasingly dynamic world -- creativity, resilience, problem-solving, collaboration, flexible-thinking, empathy, adaptability, to name a few. And it's taking a devastating toll on kids' development and well-being, not to mention hindering the path to authentic success. Many factors contribute to this dynamic, but a big part is on parents for focusing too much on things that matter little (achievement metrics), and too little on the things that matter most (character traits).

(What all this means for under-resourced students, whose families can't play the game on this wildly uneven field, is the bigger, more damning story told here and here.)

Scandals aside, this dynamic was widely evident in 2007 when I co-founded Challenge Success, a research-based, nonprofit out of the Stanford School of Education that champions a broad definition of success and partners with families and schools to promote student well-being and engagement with learning. In subsequent years, thousands of well-intentioned, often affluent and educated parents have come to Challenge Success events fighting an internal battle, knowing in their gut that the treadmill to superficial success is not healthy or sustainable, but fearful that if they step off it, their children will fall behind.

As an antidote, Challenge Success developed parent education curriculum centered on commonsense practices that have become, sadly, all too uncommon. We challenge parents to:

• Define success on your family's terms, in alignment with your values, and in accordance with who your kids are.

• Take the long view of success, measured over a lifetime and not at the end of a semester.

• Resist parent peer pressure, be informed, and trust your gut.

• Debunk college myths and focus on post-secondary fit, not a brand name.

When you define success on your family's terms, you reposition your stance as a parent -- with an eye to the child before you, to their needs and interests, and to your values and hopes for what they can bring to the world as an adult.

Getting off the treadmill isn't easy. Doing it, in fact, is an act of courage and a leap of faith. But there's a preponderance of evidence that should encourage parents to take that step.

Syracuse University School of Information Studies Online Q & A

Online Q&A Session

Join iSchool Undergraduate Recruiter Stephanie Worden for an online information session and live Q&A about the Syracuse University School of Information Studies. We will highlight the following iSchool curriculum Career pathways High school preparation Admissions information Live Q&A  Wednesday, June 6 from 11:00AM - 12:00noon EST Online Q&A Link Please use Firefox or Chrome as your web browser. If this is your first time using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, you will have to download an extension prior to entering the session.  Can't make it? No problem, let's set-up an appointment. Send me an email at ssworden@syr.edu.

Colleges That Change Lives Fair

Please join us for the Colleges That Change Lives Program near you! There will be a short opening presentation, followed by a college fair featuring 41 of the 44 colleges in the non-profit organization, Colleges That Change Lives.

Program Details:
Saturday, May 19, 2018
10:00 AM
Boston Marriott Copley Place (Salons A-F)
110 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 

The program begins promptly at 10:00 AM with a 30-minute information session. A college fair follows immediately afterwards, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. This program is offered to the public free of charge. No pre-registration is required.
https://ctcl.org/boston-ma-may-19-2018/

Article - The Rise of the Lawnmower Parent

The Rise of the Lawnmower Parent

Karen Fancher

It happened again this week. Several times, in fact.

I’m a professor at a well-known local university, and my office is located directly across from the elevators. Because I maintain a literal “open-door” policy for my students, visitors often mistake me for the department secretary, as I am the first person they see when the elevator doors open. At this time of year, the same scenario happens repeatedly:

I’m concentrating on something, but out of the corner of my eye I see the elevator doors slide open. It’s a teenage girl and a middle-aged woman, presumably her mother. The parent walks into my office, with the girl trailing sheepishly behind. The mother says, “My daughter will be starting here in the fall. We’ve got a problem with her class schedule.” I try to make eye contact and address the girl as I politely give them directions to the Office of Student Services down the hall, but it’s the mother who apologizes for interrupting me. They leave my office, Mom leading the way with the class schedule in her hand.

Do you see the problem here? The child has been accepted into a major university and is weeks away from starting a difficult area of study, but it’s her parent who is doing all of the talking to get her problem corrected, while she says nothing and appears to be dragged along against her will.

You’re probably familiar with the term “Helicopter Parents,” where parents hover over their children and swoop in to rescue them at the first sign of trouble. At the college level, the physical presence required to hover may be limited, so we are now observing a different parenting style: “Lawnmower Parents.” These are the parents who rush ahead to intervene, saving the child from any potential inconvenience, problem or discomfort.

Lawnmower parenting: rushing ahead to remove perceived obstacles so your child doesn’t have to deal with them herself.

Other variations of this style of parenting include “Snowplow Parents,” “Bulldozer Parents,” and my personal favorite: “Curling Parents,” given the similarity to the Olympic athletes who scurry ahead of the gently thrown stone, frantically brushing a smooth path and guiding the stone towards an exact pre-determined location.

All humor aside, this kind of parental behavior can have long-lasting, detrimental effects on your child. Some of these include:

• She becomes poorly equipped to deal with routine growing and learning experiences. This includes everything from asking for directions and dealing with an annoying roommate to much broader skills like communicating with superiors, negotiating for something she wants and coping with disappointment.
• She doesn’t develop a sense of personal motivation or drive, since she only knows how to follow the path that the Lawnmower Parent has already prepared.
• She can’t make a decision, big or small, without the guidance of others.
• She constantly receives the message that she isn’t good enough to do this herself. In essence, the Lawnmower Parent is repeatedly demonstrating to the child that she cannot be trusted to accomplish things on her own.

Please consider these additional thoughts from a college faculty perspective:

• As a result of blatantly abusive behavior of some parents, many universities maintain a policy that all contact from a parent is referred to the administration office. A parent’s request to “just keep this conversation between us” or “don’t tell my daughter that I called you” isn’t likely to be honored, and may actually single your child out to administration for an unflattering reason.
• There is some information that we legally cannot reveal to you if your child is over 18 and hasn’t granted us permission. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), there are scenarios in which the university cannot release the student’s academic record to the parents, regardless of who is paying the tuition. And guess how I find out what I am permitted to reveal to a parent? I need to contact the school administration (see the previous bullet point).
• Faculty members are professionals, but if your behavior is threatening, outlandish, repetitive or otherwise inappropriate, there’s a good chance that we’re going to discuss it among ourselves. Your child may quickly gain a reputation within the faculty that is the exact opposite of how you are hoping that she will be received.
• Faculty are heavily involved in job searches, writing recommendations, making referrals, and so forth. If a parent has been contacting me to “help” her child through my class, how can I honestly rate that student highly on communication, motivation and maturity to a future employer when I haven’t ever seen the student demonstrate those skills?

How can you avoid becoming a Lawnmower Parent?

• School age kids: start practicing now! Let your kid do the talking as often as possible: ordering at restaurants, asking for directions, or calling a friend on the phone to ask for a playdate instead of arranging it yourself via text message.
• High school kids: while there is still room for parental involvement at this age, insist that your child attempt all communication on her own first. If she needs to miss a quiz and do a make-up, have her make the arrangements with the teacher, and only intervene AFTER she has made the first attempt on her own. If she has a conflict between track practice and music lessons, have her discuss the possibilities with the involved groups, then have her make the decision and deal with the potential consequences.
• Kids of all ages: TRUST your kid to do well, and tell her repeatedly that you believe that she can make good decisions on her own. Give her room to make mistakes, even major ones sometimes, and learn from them together.

As parents, we will inevitably watch our kids struggle, feel uncomfortable and even fail.  As painful as that can be, you aren’t doing your child any favors by trying to shield her from this part of life or solve her problems for her.  Instead, give her opportunities to learn strength and self-confidence, so she can handle future challenges with grace.

About Karen Fancher

Karen Fancher is a “relapsed Pittsburgher.” Raised near Latrobe, PA, she studied pharmacy at Duquesne University but was lured away by the sunny skies of Florida shortly after graduation. She spent 10 years in Tampa, and during that time acquired an insightful daughter, a kindhearted son, a Midwestern husband and a spoiled cat (but not in that order). In 2010, the entire crowd relocated home to Pittsburgh. She is currently a professor in Duquesne University’s School of Pharmacy, where she teaches oncology. When she’s not on an adventure with her family, you can find her cooking, reading or daydreaming about musical legend Sting.

Merrimack College NEACAC College Fair

Tuesday May 22
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Lawler Arena
Visit www.merrimack.edu/neacac for a list of attending institutions
Register at www.strivefair.com to use at the fair.

Making the most of the summer before senior year

Making the most of the summer before senior year

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Nancy Griesemer
 

For college-bound high school students, the months between junior and senior years are crucial for jump starting the application process.

It’s also a great time for discovering new interests, adding to your resume, and otherwise positioning yourself for beginning the ultimate transition from high school senior to college freshman.

The first day of the last year of high school will be here before you know it. But in the meantime, here are some ways you can make the most of the summer before senior year:

Work. Options range from scooping ice cream at the shore to organizing a book drive, conducting research, interning on Capitol Hill or hammering nails for Habitat for Humanity. By the time you’ve completed junior year of high school, you should be old enough and responsible enough to work—full or part time, paid or unpaid. Work builds character, introduces career options, teaches skills, and expands your network in important ways. Don’t miss the opportunity to add to your resume while learning something about yourself and others.

Visit Colleges. Campus tours don’t stop just because undergrads are off doing other things. Now is the time to check out the last few colleges on your list and refine your ideas of how location, size or architecture affects your thinking about a particular campus. And by the way, the summer is a great time for having more relaxed conversations with admissions staff, coaches, or professors in departments you may be targeting.

Nail Down the List. Take a deep breath and begin eliminating schools that don’t really appeal or offer what you want. Zero-in on places representing the best fit—academically, socially, and financially—and begin committing to a realistic list of schools to which you intend to apply.

Demonstrate Interest. Beyond visiting campuses, engage in a systematic demonstrated interest campaign. Be proactive by getting on mailing lists, requesting information, initiating correspondence, getting to know regional representatives and attending local events. In addition to showing your favorite schools a little love, you might just learn something important about campus culture or new initiatives colleges want to introduce to prospective applicants.

Get Organized. There are a zillion moving parts to the college admissions process. Get a handle on them by creating a spreadsheet of colleges on your list and noting deadlines, requirements (recommendations, test score submission, interviews), important admissions policies (non-binding early action vs. binding early decision), and application quirks (supplements, scholarships, honors programs/colleges). Also, make note of which colleges use the Common Application, the Universal College Application (UCA), the Coalition Application or other school-based forms.

Prepare your Resume. If you don’t have one already, put together a resume or a detailed written list of accomplishments and activities. Turn it into a PDF for sharing with others or uploading with applications. Explore online resume templates, such as ZeeMee or Linked In. If you know colleges on your list partner with ZeeMee, consider creating a private account before the end of the summer.

Do the Clerical Part. There’s no reason not to complete the simple stuff early in the summer by opening applications and entering basic information. All three major platforms are capable of rolling information from one year to the next and encourage the completion of questions that are unlikely to change. So do it. The Coalition and the UCA are set up so that colleges can launch as early as July 1. The Common Application will be ready to go on August 1. Other applications and supplements will appear on websites as the summer progresses. If you start shared elements of your applications, you will be one step ahead.

Draft Essays. Now is the time to begin brainstorming and drafting essays. Explore a variety of topics and don’t be afraid to change direction or discard work that’s going nowhere. This is the advantage of writing and reflecting during summer months before the pressures of senior year cut into Zen time. While essay prompts for personal statements have been posted for months, college-specific supplements and essays will roll out over the course of the summer. Keep checking websites and make note of prompts as they appear. And then start writing!

Prep for Standardized Tests. You’ve probably taken the ACT and/or the SAT at least once. If you didn’t knock the ball out of the park the first time (and most don’t), plan to prep for a retake. SAT now offers an August test, in addition to October. ACT has a test in September and in 2018 will have one in July. For the most part, scores from these tests will be returned in time for you to make the earliest of early deadlines. Get a tutor, sign-up for classes or simply sit at the kitchen table and take timed practice tests.

Research and Apply for Scholarships. The scholarship hunt should begin now—not after all your college applications have been submitted. A surprising number of scholarships have applications due early in the school year and use essay prompts similar to those you’re working on for colleges. Use FastWeb or Cappex to get an overview of what’s out there. And while you’re at it, explore FAFSA4caster with your parents for a little reality testing and apply early for that all-important Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. FAFSA goes live on October 1, but there’s nothing to be gained by waiting until then to sign-up for the FSA ID.

Secure Recommendations. If you haven’t done so already, try to get in touch with at least two core academic teachers from junior year to ask for college recommendations. You may or may not need both, but it’s always a good idea to have two teachers willing to support you. Don’t delay—teachers may limit the number of recommendations they’re willing to write or they may want to get started before school begins. And be sure to provide recommenders with whatever background information they request—at a minimum, a resume and cover note reinforcing your appreciation and why you asked them to play this important role in your application process.

Schedule Interviews. Many colleges offer on-campus interviews during the summer. You want to be able to check these requirements off your list sooner rather than later. Colleges make it easy to combine interviews with campus tours, but you have to schedule early to get days and times that work for you.

Position Yourself for Fall Classes. Be aware that senior year courses and grades can be very important in admissions decisions. Colleges want to see upward trends in grades, and they care very much that you continue to challenge yourself academically. Obtain texts for any challenging or AP/IB classes and “study forward” during the summer. If necessary, give your tutor a call and go over the first few chapters of material you know will keep you up late at night come September.

Read, Relax, Enjoy Yourself and Connect with Friends.  A year from now, you’ll be packing your bags!

NEW ENGLAND SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY OPEN HOUSE

NEW ENGLAND SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY OPEN HOUSE
274 Moody St
Waltham, MA  02453

Sunday, April 29, 2018  
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Tours and Demonstrations Scheduled to Begin Approximately Every 30 Minutes
Last Tour Departs at 1:30 PM

RSVP at http://www.nesop.edu/admissions/open-house-information/#rsvp

Landmark College Meet and Greet in Boston

Considering attending Landmark College? Drop in anytime on April 10, between 4 and 8 pm, and meet LC graduates, parents, and admissions team members.

The meet and greet is a great opportunity for students and their families to hear from the Landmark College community about the impact LC has had on their lives. Our admissions team will be on hand to answer questions and help interested students get their applications completed. As an added benefit, we will be waiving the application fee for students who apply to LC at the event and have a door prize raffle for show tickets and other small giveaways!

*RSVP Required*
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/landmark-college-meet-greet-in-boston-tickets-44671050314

Syracuse University Whitman School Virtual Information Session

Join Our Whitman School "Virtual" Online Information Program

Not able to visit Syracuse University's Martin J. Whitman School of Management or need a refresher if you have visited?
“Virtual” Whitman School Information Program
Thursday, April 5, 2018
7 to 8 p.m.
To register, go to https://syr.secure.force.com/events/targetx_eventsb__eventspecificregistration?eid=a0d0P00000MBozqQAD or call the Syracuse University Admissions Office, (315) 443-3611.

Register Now
To join the program on April 5, simply follow these steps.
1. Go to https://webconference.syr.edu/admis1
2. Click on “enter as a guest”
3. Type your first and last names

For more information about the Whitman School, contact Carol Heil, director of undergraduate recruitment, caheil@syr.edu or (315) 443-9222

College Acceptance – or Rejection – Letters: Ten Ways Parents Can Help Students Cope

College Acceptance – or Rejection – Letters: Ten Ways Parents Can Help Students Cope

by Vicki Nelson
The wait is over.  The envelope may be fat, or thin, or the news may have come via e-mail.  However it has arrived, your high school student has received word from his chosen colleges about whether he has been accepted, waitlisted, or rejected.  It is a defining moment for most students.

This may also be a defining moment for you as a parent as well.  You will need to think about how you react to any news, and how you support your student no matter what that news may be.  Your responses will help set the tone for your student.  Your reactions will send important messages to your student.  If the news is good, you’ll want to celebrate with him.  If the news is not what he had hoped for, you’ll need to help your student deal with his disappointment. Giving thought in advance to how you will respond may help you to be prepared for any eventuality.  Here are ten suggestions of things to consider as you, as a parent, confront the college acceptance – or rejection letters.

Remember that this is your student’s process, not yours.  As parents, we often become so involved in the college application process that it feels as though the victory – or rejection – is ours.  We can’t help empathizing with our student, but we need to maintain some distance.  Take a breath.  Step back.

Mute your reactions and follow your student’s lead.  Whatever you feel, try to subdue your reactions at first.  Let your student have the first moment – whether she is elated or devastated. Validate whatever she is feeling.  Even an acceptance letter may provoke a mixed reaction.  It may not be from a first-choice school.  It may suddenly make the whole process very real.  Wait to see how your student reacts and take your cue from her.

Celebrate every acceptance.  Even if this is an acceptance from a last-choice college, it is an acknowledgement of your student’s abilities and it is an accomplishment.  Cheer for this moment.  Try not to let any moment feel second-rate.

Stay calm and hold your tongue.  Don’t panic.  There are always alternatives.  Don’t vent.  This won’t help your student.

Be a sounding board and ask probing questions.  When your student is ready, be there to listen. He may want to share his feelings – or he may not.  She may want to consider her options with you – or she may need to deal with decisions on her own.  Be available if needed.  Ask questions that will help him consider options and factors to be considered. Give him food for thought.

Try to be extra sensitive and take time.  Don’t try to talk to your student right away.  Give her time to process the information – good or bad.  Remember that your student may be feeling particularly vulnerable right now.  The college application process is inextricably linked with many students’ self esteem.  Your student may feel very exposed right now, and aware of the public nature of this acceptance or rejection.  He may now be feeling the pressure to make a final decision.

Let your student decide how to share the news with others.  This is her moment.  Resist the temptation to spread the word. Let her decide how and when she will tell others what she has heard.

Recognize that you can’t shield your student from this moment. Although, as parents, we always want to make things better for our children, your student must come to his own terms with the news he receives.  As difficult as this time may be, this is one of many steps toward independence and maturity that your child will face in the coming years.

Help your student consider the next steps.  Should he attend an Accepted Student Day or other college event to help make a decision?  Will he need to consider financial aid factors before deciding?  Does he need to revisit the campus to consider the “chemistry” of the school once again?

Give the process time.  Once your student receives her acceptance – and possibly rejection – letters, she will need to make some decisions. The ball will be in her court once again.   She will need to put things in perspective.  She will need to deal with her emotions.  This may take some time.  She will eventually need to make choices and take action, but she may not be ready immediately.  Respect her need for processing time.

Whether your student receives good news or unwelcome news when the college letters arrive, it may be difficult for you to step back and allow your student to deal with the process.   This will be one of many moments to come when you, as a parent – and future college parent – will need to consider carefully your role in the moment.  You will continue to be an important part of the college process for your student, and your reactions to that college notification letter may help to set the tone for your future role in the process.

Class of 2019 - Spring College Visits and SAT/ACT

SAT/ACT

SAT DATES/DEADLINES
May 5 - Registration deadline April 6
June 2 - Registration deadline May 3

ACT DATES/DEADLINES
April 14 - Late Registration
June 9 - Registration deadline May 4
July 14 - Registration deadline June 15

COLLEGE VISITS

NACAC College Fair

Providence
Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Boston
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA
Thursday, April 12, 2018
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday, April 13, 2018
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Registration is now open for all Spring 2018 fairs: https://www.nacacfairs.org/exhibit/national-college-fairs/

Springfield College Discovery Days
April 13, 16, 20, and 27
Sign up online at springfield.edu/discoverydays

Wellesley College Junior Open Campus
Saturday April 28, 2018
8:00am - 3:30pm
Learn more at www.wellesley.edu/admission/joc

Join us for a Boston UW-Madison Information Session
Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018
Time: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Noble and Greenough School, Lawrence Auditorium
Address: 10 Campus Drive, Dedham, MA 02026
Register online: visitbucky.wisc.edu/infosession

Article - Wait Listed by Your Dream College? Here Are 6 Steps to Take Now

Wait Listed by Your Dream College? Here Are 6 Steps to Take Now

• Kaitlin Mulhere @KMulhere

When college acceptance letters are mailed out this month, tens of thousands of students will open a mixed bag.
They won’t be denied outright but instead relegated to the limbo known as a “wait list.”

The practice of wait listing—where colleges defer an admissions decision until accepted students have either taken or declined a spot in the freshman class—is essentially a school’s way of saying, “We like you, but we just can’t commit right now.”

Colleges often use a wait list to round out how their class looks. If there aren’t enough students in a certain major or from a particular region, the school will give wait-listed applicants who can help it meet those goals a higher priority. That makes it nearly impossible to predict your chances of getting off a wait list with any certainty, since it all depends on who applied in the first place, who chose to enroll, and how your characteristics compare to theirs.

Being wait listed is especially common for students applying to selective colleges, but some 550 colleges use them. More than 150,000 students accepted a spot on one in the fall of 2015.
Common as they are, however, wait lists remain one of the least transparent parts of the college admissions process. There are no rules for how many students can be put on a wait list, how long applicants can remain there, or even how long those who are accepted off the wait list have to decide whether they want to enroll.

Despite all that uncertainty, there are a few things you can control.

“Most colleges will be as upfront as they can be, if you ask questions,” says Jake Talmage, director of college counseling at St. Paul’s School in Maryland. Here are the steps to take and questions to ask.
1. Consider your odds
Between 2007 and 2010, colleges admitted less than a third of wait-listed students, on average, according to a study from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC). But that percentage drops considerably at more selective schools. At colleges where fewer than 50% of applicants overall were admitted, just 17% of students got in off the wait list.
These statistics can swing wildly from year to year at any given school, but it’s still worth asking your target college these questions:

• How many students are usually offered spots on the wait list?
• How many usually accept spots?
• How many are ultimately admitted?

You can also look up the college at bigfuture.collegeboard.org. Many schools have wait list statistics under the “applying” tab.

2. Solidify your plan B
No matter how confident you feel that you’ll be admitted off the wait list, you should submit a deposit to another school to ensure that you have a spot somewhere in the fall. Most colleges require a deposit by May 1.

That deposit—typically $100 to $500—is money you won’t get back if you ultimately enroll at the other college where you were wait listed.

Bear in mind that if you aren’t accepted off the wait list, your Plan B college could be where you end up on come fall. So note when its freshman orientation starts and whether you need to send a separate deposit for on-campus housing, too.

3. Show you’re still interested
When Muriel Chase was put on the wait list for Marist College, she wasn’t too upset. The college wasn’t even one of her top schools. But when she went for a visit after she’d been wait listed, she fell hard.

Within about a month, she’d visited again, talked regularly on the phone with her admissions counselor, and ultimately, got accepted. She’s now a student employee in the admissions office and talks to prospective applicants about the process.

Colleges want to close their wait list—that is, fill all their open spots—as soon as possible, so they like to make offers to the applicants who are most likely to accept. In fact, at some schools, such as Vanderbilt University, the wait list is the only time where demonstrating your interest matters.
It’s important to go the extra mile—but not the extra five miles. Kent Rinehart, dean of undergraduate admissions at Marist, says reaching out every two or three weeks to update the admissions staff and ask about the status of the wait list is fine. But don’t call every other day. Also avoid more elaborate ploys, such as sending baked goods or gifts to the admissions staff.

But do consider writing a letter to the admissions officer explaining why that school is still your top choice (or one of them, if that’s the case). Update the office on your academics, too, by sending in recent grades and anything noteworthy, such induction into an honor society.

Finally, parents: Don’t do your child’s bidding here.

“It shows a lot more when you’re the one who’s taking initiative,” Chase say to students.
Be sure to heed any directions the college gives with its wait list notification. Some will ask for specific follow-up information, such as additional recommendation letters.

4. Figure out if you can afford it
When you’re asking colleges about their wait list admission stats, ask about financial aid for wait-listed students, too. Chances are, getting in off the wait list will be more expensive than regular admission.

Nearly four in 10 colleges that have a wait list are need aware, which means they’ll consider how much students can afford to pay in deciding which ones to admit. That’s good news for families who can afford the college without extra help, less good for those who need aid.

Even if a college doesn’t favor students who can afford to pay, you may not be in line for the same aid as students accepted during regular admission. Some colleges, such as Miami and Villanova universities, don’t offer any merit aid to students admitted from the wait list. At many colleges, whether you receive any grants or scholarships will depend on what’s left in the financial aid budget.

Almost half of the colleges in the NACAC study said they provided grant aid to all students admitted off their wait lists. But some of those colleges may have chosen students who needed only limited aid, or they may have awarded some aid, but not enough to make the college truly affordable for the family.

To get a better idea of where you’ll stand, ask the college:

• Are students admitted off the wait list eligible for the same financial aid as other students?
• Have students admitted off the wait list in the past received grants or scholarships from the college?
• When do students admitted off the wait list learn about their financial aid package?

5. Prepare to make a quick decision
With regular admission, students have at least a few weeks to evaluate colleges’ offers, weigh what they like about different schools, and ultimately decide which one they want to go to.

That’s not the case with wait lists. NACAC recommends that colleges give applicants at least 72 hours to decide whether to accept their offer, though there’s no binding rule. You may have even less time to evaluate the financial aid package, which doesn’t always come with the initial offer of acceptance.

One way to make your decision easier is by setting the ceiling price you can afford to pay ahead of time, says Rick Clark, director of undergraduate admissions at Georgia Tech.

6. Be positive but realistic
The optimists like to say that the bright side of being wait listed is that it’s not a downright denial. True enough, but the harsh fact is that at most colleges, the majority of wait-listed students will eventually be denied admission anyway.

We get it—a wait list designation from your top college makes it hard to move on. There’s always the “what if” scenario in the back of your head that keeps you from fully committing to the college you sent your deposit to. Clark writes in a blog post that it can be especially tough for wait-listed students to hear their friends talking about who they’re rooming with or what activities they’ll join freshman year.

Most colleges don’t turn to their wait lists until after May 1, and many will still be offering admission to students on wait list through June, well after some high school graduations.
Clark suggests students in that position focus on why they’re excited about college in general, regardless of which school they end up attending. That will let you enjoy the spring of your senior year even as the exact details of your future remain unknown.

Sophia Tewa contributed to reporting.

Class of 2019 Updates

JUNIOR PARENT MEETINGS

Prior to scheduling the meeting, students are required to complete the following:
Junior Questionnaire: Each counselor emailed out an individual link for their students on their caseload. We ask that students are detailed, providing us with as much information as possible for each question. If more information is needed, the questionnaire will be returned to the student, asking them to expand upon their responses. 
Resume: Please have your child share their resume with their counselor via Google Docs. A sample resume and other resources can be found on the WA Guidance website under the College Planning tab. 
College Search: On Naviance, students should complete a college search on Naviance and save it. An instructional video is available on the WA Guidance website and the Naviance homepage. 
Add colleges to “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list in Naviance

Once these tasks are complete, please have your child reach out to his/her guidance counselor to schedule the meeting.

SAT/ACT

SAT DATES/DEADLINES
May 5 - Registration deadline April 6
June 2 - Registration deadline May 3

ACT DATES/DEADLINES
April 14 - Late Registration
June 9 - Registration deadline May 4
July 14 - Registration deadline June 15

WEBINAR: SCORE REPORTS
Join Summit Educational Group for a free webinar highlighting Score Reports led by Summit's own Drew Heilpern, PhD.
When: Thursday, April 5th
Time: 6:30-7:30 PM
Where: Link to Register
For more information or to register, please follow the link below.
REGISTER FOR OUR WEBINAR: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6657531200943618819

SAT vs. ACT - What’s the Difference?

The SAT and ACT April and May dates are right around the corner. Many parents wonder what the difference is between the tests, and which one is best for their child. Let us help them navigate the test terrain with “The SAT vs. The ACT” free online event March 31.
https://www.kaptest.com/sat/free/events

Congressional Art Competition 2018 
The winning artist will have his/her artwork displayed at the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside winners from across the country.

All individuals who wish to participate must follow the guidelines established by the Competition’s Committee as well as complete the ‘Student Information and Release Form’.
This information can be found on our website here; https://tsongas.house.go/congressional-art-competition/.

All artwork should be delivered to our Lowell Office (126 John St, Suite 12, Lowell MA 01852) by April 13, 2018, artwork submitted after the deadline will not be eligible for the competition.

On Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 5:30pm we will be hosting a Congressional Art Competition Reception at our Lowell Office (126 John St, Suite 12, Lowell MA 01852) to honor all participants and to announce the overall winner and runners up.
If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 978-459-0101.

Middlesex Community College Presents: College Success for High School Students with Disabilities
Tuesday, April 24th from 6pm-8pm on the Bedford campus
Course #: PER 859 30    CRN: 19226     Cost: $35
This course will help families and students gain an understanding of the difference between services and accommodations for students in K-12 to college/post secondary settings. 
Register by calling 1-800-818-3434

McDonalds Education Workshop & College Fair

Sunday, April 29, 10am - 2pm

Newton South High School, 140 Brandeis Road, Newton Centre, MA

For a full schedule and to register, visit: http://fair.acceptu.com/

During the event, families will have a chance to meet with university representatives from over 25 New England colleges, learn tips and advice at planning workshops, meet one-on-one with former college admissions officers and take a diagnostic ACT exam.

It is recommended that families register in advance, as seating during the workshops is limited and priority will be given to registered participants.

Adelphi University Spring Undergraduate Open House
RSVP at www.adelphi.edu
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Adelphi University, Garden City Campus, Performing Arts Center

Information Session
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Adelphi University, Garden City Campus, Nexus Building lobby

Boston College’s Splash Program 

BC Splash is a one-day event on BC’s campus where students can take exciting and interesting classes designed and taught by BC undergrads. We also offer a Parent Program for Splash parents to get a better feel for the college process. Splash is a fantastic and unique way for your students to see a college campus, meet undergrads, and foster their academic and creative passions.

This spring, Splash will be held on Sunday, March 25th. Student registration is open viahttps://bcsplash.learningu.org/ until March 23. 

Beacon College Open House
March 24th, 2018
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Student Center
118 E. Main Street
Leesburg, FL 34748
Easy Online Registration at www.beaconcollege.edu


Bucknell University Open House
Saturday April 14
Plan your visit and register at bucknell.edu/gatewaytobucknell

University of Bridgeport Open House
Sunday, April 22
Register at www.bridgeport.edu

At UB's Spring Open House, your students will:

Tour our beautiful campus
Learn about the 125+ academic programs we offer
Get information on the admissions and financial aid processes
Meet faculty members
Speak with current UB students
Enjoy a continental breakfast reception

Junior Jumpstart at Siena College

Thursday, April 5

Monday, April 16
12:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Join the Siena College Office of Admissions for an afternoon of insights and answers for high school juniors.
Meet admissions counselors, tour campus and choose three workshops.
Register at: https://explore.siena.edu/portal/juniorjump

Middlesex Community College Spring Open Houses
Tuesday March 27
5:30-8:00 PM
Cowan Center, Lowell

Tuesday April 24
5:30 - 8:00 PM
Campus Center, Bedford
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to MCC Admissions at admissions@middlesex.mass.edu

Boston College's Woods College of Advancing Studies Information Session and Class Visit
Saturday, April 7th
10:30 am: Information Session with Admission Representatives
11:15 am: Class Visit - Woods History Course, An Emerging World
RSVP: https://apply.bc.edu/register/?id=408b3852-d0c0-4e48-b716-2c3a60e08581

Cooper Union Women in Engineering
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Students will have the opportunity to meet School of Engineering faculty and current students, as well as peers who share their interest in the STEM fields.

Program highlights include a tour of our Engineering facilities, including Prof. Melody Baglione's unique anechoic chamber; interactive sessions on research in "real world" engineering solutions and career opportunities; and a panel discussion with female Engineering students.
Register today at https://cooper.edu.185r.net/Event/page2.php?e=70
Check-in and tours will begin at 4:00 pm. The program will officially begin at 5:00 pm. 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Admissions at 212.353.4120 or admissions@cooper.edu. 

Rutgers University Knight for a Day
Friday, April 20 at 10 a.m
Register at: https://www.ugadmissions.rutgers.edu/Visit/tours/register
If you have questions, please write to tours@soe.rutgers.edu.