2017 new college application landscape
TRANSCRIPT
New College Application Landscape
Rebecca Joseph, PhDLAPL-Palisades Branch
March 13, 2017
Your Presenter
Rebecca Joseph, PhD• Professor, Cal State LA• Founder, Get Me To College and All
College Application Essays• Current 2016 Unsung Hero, LA County
Contact [email protected]@getmetocollege @allcollegeessay
http://www.slideshare.net/getmetocollege/2017-new-college-application-landscape
Understanding The New College Application Landscape
Overview of Shifting 2016-2018 American College Admissions Landscape
• The landscape changes include testing, financial aid, and new application types
• What changes does 2016-2018 hold for these application types? Common Application University of California Coalition Application
How Can We Pay?• Shifts within federal, state, and college financial aid
Tips for Advisors to Finding Firm Footing• Location • Components• Deadlines: Early or Regular? • Essay management
Many Steps to Class of 2017 College Admissions Process
New SAT; Changes to ACT
How Will We Pay: New FAFSA Structure and Opening Date
Changes to Common Application
New UC and UT Essay Prompts
New Coalition Application
Class of 2017 College Admissions Process Organizing Your Applications
New Testing In Place
Testing
• Entirely new SAT, August 2017 test date
• New Writing Section of ACT• Many schools now not
required writing section of each
• Many schools now making SAT Subject Tests optional
• A few new test optional colleges
New FAFSA Cycle and PPY
http://www.slideshare.net/getmetocollege/new-college-application-landscape
CA Democrats Propose New Financial Aid
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-debt-free-college-20170313-story.html
Shifts With College Applications
University of California
• Introduces new format and prompts for both freshman and transfer essays
• Applicants must write 4 short 350 word max essays
• Freshman can choose from 8 prompts
• Transfers have one required and then seven prompts, of which applicants must choose 3
UC Freshman and Transfer Prompts• Freshman Personal Insight Prompts: Answer any 4 of the following 8 questions:
• What do you want UC to know about you? Here’s your chance to tell us in your own words.• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you: But you should select questions
that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
6. Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you.
7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
8. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?
• Transfers: Personal insight questions: There is one required question you must answer
• You must also answer 3 out of 7 additional questions• What do you want UC to know about you? Here’s your chance to tell us in your own words.• Which three questions you choose to answer are up to you: But you should select questions
that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.
• Required question• Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your
readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university.
• You will also need to select 3 out of the following 7 questions to answer:1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have
positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
6. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
7. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?
Common Application
• Common Application Releases New Prompts for 2017-2018
• Allows accounts to roll-over• Continues to improve transfer
application• Adds Indiana University,
George Mason University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison along with 45 other new institutions
• Expands outreach including virtual counselor
2017-2018 Common Application Prompts
250-650 Words [Shifts from last year]• 2017-2018 Common Application Essay Prompts• 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application
would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. [No change]• 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you
faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? [Revised]• 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the
outcome? [Revised]• 4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research
query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. [No change]
• 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. [Revised]
• 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? [New]
• 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. [New]
New Coalition Application
New Kid on the Block
Three Rules to Join
• Must have at least 70% graduation rate after six years
• Must meet all demonstrated need for low-income students
• If public, must have affordable in-state costs
• Only three schools so far require it: University of Florida, University of Washington, University of Maryland, College Park
$1 Million Question
Which application to have students
use?
4 Tips for Getting Firm Footing1. Find Common Denominator
• Where do most students apply?• Use that to drive strategies.
2. Identify Components • All essays? Recommendations? Mix? Early applications?• Break down and organize colleges by components.• Personalize at end.
3. Stay current • What has changed? What is current? • Ensure students are working on CORRECT and
RELEVANT components.• Minimize mistakes and need to back track or rework
information
4. Create plan• Review past protocols/policies? Do they still work for
students and your organization? Or do you need new ones?• Use online application tool/process to track progress.• Set deadlines.• Set tasks/assignments.
1. Find Common Denominator
Check or create list with application types. Which application should Andy do?
2. Identify ComponentsCalifornia State
UniversityUniversity of California California and Out of
State Private CollegesOut of State Public
CollegesApplication Application Application ApplicationSAT or ACT
(check campus requirements)SAT or ACT
(must have writing)SAT or ACT
(with writing as needed)SAT or ACT
(with writing as needed)
SAT Subject Tests(as needed)
SAT Subject Tests(as needed)
SAT Subject Tests(check campus for requirements)
High School Curriculum Self Report on application
High School Curriculum Self Report on application
Transcript Transcript
Personal Insight Questions(4 )
Personal Statements(number varies)
Personal Statements(check campus for requirements)
Activity List(9, 10, 11, 12)
Activity List(9, 10, 11, 12)
Activity List(9, 10, 11, 12)
Counselor Recommendation&
1-3 Teacher/CommunityLetters of Recommendation
Counselor or Teacher Recommendations
(check campus for requirements)
Applications open Oct. 1Submit: Oct. 1 - Nov. 30
Applications open Aug. 1Submit: up to Nov. 30
Applications open as early as July 1 (varies)Submit: Varies (as early as July, as late as May)
3. Stay Current
• More colleges than ever are filling more than 50% of their classes with Early Decision.
• More colleges are adding ED 2.• Applying ED 1 or 2 often doubles
likelihood of admissions than regular.
• More students are applying to 12+ colleges.
• Deferrals and waitlists more common than ever.
https://www.iecaonline.com/PDF/IECA_Library_ED-vs-RD-Acceptances.pdf
Deadlines: EA, REA, ED, 1 & 2?
4. Create a PlanCreate or use online platform to view all application due dates
Essay Management
Use Available Resources
And More Changes
• Other components to manage:• Recommendations• Transcript delivery process changing• More schools going Test Optional• Proliferation of student portals –
based on student applications
College Affordability
• True Price Tag• Actual Price Tag after
• Merit Scholarships• Need Based Money
• Scholarships (Internal, External)• Loans• Work
Upcoming Dates• WACAC College Fairshttps://www.wacac.org/college-fairs/
Look for College Week Live, All College Access Days, March 30, 2017 (virtual)https://www.collegeweeklive.com/event-scheduleExploring College Optionshttp://www.exploringcollegeoptions.org/Colleges That Change LivesJuly 30, 2017http://ctcl.org/los-angeles-ca-july-30-2017/
Questions?
Seizing the moment
Contact Dr. Joseph• [email protected] • www.getmetocollege.org• www.allcollegeessays.org• Buy my Integrated Website and Mobile
App-All College Application Essayswww.allcollegeessays.org
http://www.slideshare.net/getmetocollege/2017-new-college-application-landscape