College Planning: When Should I Start?

It’s never too early – or too late – to begin college planning. Follow these steps to begin your search for the right college.

Edited By Christa Fletcher

Whenever you start your college planning, remember…research is key. The more you know, the smarter decisions you’ll make.

Whether you’re just out of junior high or a senior citizen, the answer to the question, “When should I prepare for college?” is always the same: Now. The time is always right to begin college planning. Follow the steps below to begin your search for the perfect college, what you want to study and how that will lead you to a satisfying career.

Step One: Set Academic Goals

If you’re a junior high or high school student, meet with your academic counselor about taking college prep classes that will not only prepare you for freshman year, they should also enhance your transcript and improve your chances of getting into the college of your choice.

For example, if you’re focused on selective colleges, you’ll want to take as many AP courses as you can handle. Colleges will look at your transcript to see if you’ve challenged yourself academically. Keep in mind that the ideal four-year preparatory programincludes four years of English, math, science, biology, chemistry, physics, three years of history (including American and European history), and four years of one foreign language.

Tip: How To Raise Your GPA: Although passing an AP exam will grant you college credits and a free pass on some college prerequisite classes AP courses can also help strengthen your GPA. Remember, an A in an AP course is worth five points, compared to the four points an A in a non-AP course will score you.

Step Two: Find Your Core Extracurricular Activities

Volunteering in your community and participating in athletics are great. But college admission panels also want to see well-rounded students who demonstrate versatility and commitment toextracurricular activities. In general, college admissions officers prefer to see a student be deeply involved in one or two activities, as opposed to showing a shallow level of commitment to multiple activities.

Step Three: Take College Admissions Tests

Be sure to take the SAT I/IIs and ACT in an appropriate time frame (usually junior year for high school students). Figure out which college tests will most benefit you based on the schools and academic subjects that most interest you. Study, study, study! And don’t be afraid to take the tests over again until you’re satisfied with your score.

Step Four: Prepare Your Secret Weapon — Your Writing Skills

One piece of advice that is frequently given and often overlooked by students: Develop your writing skills. Not only will improving your writing skills help with your college applications – primarily the all-important essay portion – but it will also help you in college with essays, tests and later, job applications and cover letters.

If possible, consider taking AP English or a creative writing course. By the time college application season hits, you’ll be ready to write a stellar essay that will set you apart from the rest.

Step Five: Know That There are Alternative Routes

If it feels like it’s too late for you to get your college profile in order, or you feel like you’re not ready to apply yet, don’t despair. There are a variety of options for students of all ages to earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

Some of these include: a gap year, a community college with a transfer program, online classes, or extension courses at your local colleges. In general, you will find that most colleges are very welcoming to transfer students and older applicants. Some colleges even have discounted courses for high school students!

Whenever you start your college planning, remember…research is key. The more you know, the smarter decisions you’ll make.

And, if you think you’re running late on college planning, just remember Nola Ochs – who earned her degree from Fort Hays State University at 95 years old. Along with a bachelor’s degree, she received a standing ovation!

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Prepping for End of the Year and Parent Conferences…

With the new year coming, OFY has taken great strides to further prepare students for graduation and life beyond graduation.  That said some of the things you can look forward to in the new year:

• Students will be required to bring their Student Planners to each appointment.  Work, grades, notes, EVERYTHING will be contained in the Student Planner.  We will go over the Student Planners during the parent conferences.  This was previously optional.
• Parents and students will meet with the teacher, administration, and Small Group Instructors during the conference time.  The conference will take about an hour.  The conferences will be in 15-minute blocks, so there will only be 15 minutes to meet with the teacher.  Please have questions or concerns ready so I can address them during our time. 🙂
• Parents and students will fill out contact cards with email addresses and cell phone numbers so that I can have better contact options and will be able to keep parents/students informed.
• Math, math, math!  We’ll talk about how to plan for math in the new year during conferences.
• Students will be given work for the summer break and will be responsible to turning in a unit at the first appointment.

College planning tips for juniors

Your high school junior year is the best time to explore the possibilities ahead of you – whether those possibilities include college, travel, or a career. Now is the time to ask questions about your future, shadow a job, visit colleges, take interest surveys, and set up a checking and/or savings account.

Your junior year is the last complete year that colleges may review, so it’s important to maintain good grades. Keep in close touch with your guidance office about your grades and course selection.

Month-specific tips

A few of the steps you’ll take to prepare for college during your junior year should be done during a specific month:

October

Register for and take the PSAT/NMSQT Test that will be held in October.
By taking the PSAT/NMSQT, you can gain knowledge that will assist you when it comes time to take the SAT I and II. Also, by taking this test, you will be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Competition.

You may also want to consider registering for the ACT or SAT offered in the spring of your junior year. If you aren’t pleased with your score, you will still have another opportunity your senior to take the test again. You will also be placed on various schools’ that you select as being interested in mailing lists.

May

Set up a savings plan for summer earnings.
Are you planning to work during the summer before your senior year of high school? Set up a plan, determining the portion of your earnings you’ll save to reduce the amount you may have to borrow for college expenses.

 

Tips for the entire year

The majority of the things you’ll want to do to prepare for college aren’t specific to a period of time.

Selecting a school

Start/continue your college search.
This includes attending college fairs and college financial aid sessions. Start to think about visiting some college campuses to see which ones suit you. Continue to research colleges through their websites, college fairs, admissions representatives and applications, books, and college guides. By doing this you will get an idea of what’s required and take the mystery out of the process.

You may want to research military academies and colleges. Review websites and meet with military representatives when they visit your school or visit the schools. Most military academies and colleges start the admissions process earlier than traditional colleges and universities. You may need to take the ASVAB test as part of the admissions process.

Careers

• Explore career interest paths. 
  Discuss possible career paths with your guidance counselor, based on your interests. Ask your counselor about a computer-based career and educational guidance system.
• Create a resume. 
  Your resume should talk about yourself outside of school. The school to which you are applying will already know your grades and test scores since these are included on your school transcript. Items that should be included are:
  • school activities,
  • community activities,
  • community service,
  • sports,
  • awards and recognition,
  • hobbies, and
  • work experience.

Admissions and preparation

• Make note of registration deadlines and prepare for the upcoming SAT I and SAT II tests and the ACT assessment.
  When researching colleges, be sure to note whether they require the SAT I, SAT II test or the ACT assessment. Some colleges will require or recommend one or the other, others accept either. Your counselor also can provide guidance. Prepare for the test(s) you plan to take. Some states (e.g., Colorado and Illinois) require all public school eleventh-grade students to complete the ACT assessment. For more information, talk with your high school guidance counselor.
• Meet with your counselor to ensure you are on track for college with your course selection. 
  Are the courses you are taking or are scheduled to take in high school meeting college admission requirements? Talk to your counselor about taking more challenging courses such as honors, college prep, or Advanced Placement courses. Ask about any courses that you can take that may help you decide if a particular career direction is right for you. Discuss whether or not you should take the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Also, remember to maintain good grades.
• Read, read, and read some more!
• Stay active in extracurricular activities.
  While your grades in high school are important, colleges also look at what you do outside the classroom. They like to see that you are involved in sports, student government, and community activities, and that you take on leadership roles when available.

Paying for school

• Discuss college finances with your family. 
  When performing your college search, you need to know how much your family will be able to contribute towards your college education. Always remember, just because a college may seem expensive and out of your reach, never assume anything. There are several types of financial aid that may enable you to attend a college that may seem too expensive.
• Save, save, save money for college!
• Attend a financial aid night to learn the basics of financial aid. 
  Many schools will hold financial aid nights in the fall. Make sure to attend one. You can also search the Internet to find out additional information or contact the Department of Education. If you haven’t already, start researching scholarships through the Internet, local businesses, and your guidance counselor’s office. If you have already started, continue searching. Register for free online scholarship searches and visit scholarship search sites.
• Start to build good credit.
• Open a checking and savings account if you have not already done so.

Advice for parents of juniors

Advice for parents of juniors

As parents of high school age students, you may question if you have any degree of influence in their decision-making processes. Be reassured that they are listening to you, probably much more often than you think. So what can you do to help them in their search and preparation for college?

• First, show them your support in their quest to gain knowledge, experience and expertise beyond high school.
• Attend financial aid and scholarship presentations while they are juniors.You will be more prepared, and have fewer surprises, than if you wait until they are seniors to take advantage of these presentations.
• Encourage them to build their resume by:
  • taking college prep classes,
  • participating in extracurricular activities, and
  • volunteering at programs outside of school.
• Explore other FREE websites for information on careers, colleges, and ways to pay for college.

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Selecting a College

It’s important to select the right college, since higher education is an investment of your time and money. Also, you want to make sure the school meets your needs and will help you achieve your career goals.

There are several steps to selecting a school that suits you.  Start now:

• Get to know the different types of schools
• Consider the characteristics
• Gather information about colleges you’re considering
• Search schools by program of study and location (U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator)
• Research online and distance education
• Learn more about net price calculators

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Does your high school GPA matter when applying for college?

Depending on how dedicated you were in high school, you either stressed over every A minus or you did not even look at your report cards. Now you want to get into a good college. Depending on which schools you are applying to, your high school GPA may make or break your chances of getting accepted.

It depends on the school.

A strong high school GPA is very important at very competitive schools. You can see this just by looking at the average high school GPAs for accepted students. For example, students accepted to Harvard University have an average GPA of 4.0. That’s the average. At USC, it’s 3.7. The University of Miami boasts an intimidating average high school GPA of 4.2. In fact, according to the Princeton Review, most top tier schools have an average high school GPA between 3.5 and 4.0.

Keep in mind, these are averages, meaning they do accept students with higher GPAs or lower GPAs. Also, admission committees at any of these colleges will look at your entire application (essay, letters of recommendation, etc.) to determine your fit. But, at these top tier schools, any high school GPA below a 3.0 will raise some eyebrows and require some major compensating in other areas (i.e. test scores, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, or one heck of an essay).

Search for a lower bar.

At many schools outside of the top 100 and in most junior or community colleges, admissions are much less picky about your high school GPA, especially because their admissions are less competitive (meaning fewer people apply). These schools may not offer the same resources to students as their top-tier counterparts, but they will be more welcoming to you if your GPA is not so hot.

Of course, they do have limits, points at which it doesn’t make sense for them or you to accept you into their school. Overall, GPAs below 2.0 can raise red flags because it means you struggled with high school work. If you struggled that badly with high school work, you might be in over your head in college.

The final answer is…

Rule of thumb: the more competitive the college, the higher your GPA will need to be to get accepted. Acceptable GPAs for the top 100 start at 3.0. They received hundreds of thousands of applications and that means they can be as picky as they want. That’s how they keep their college on top of the heap. But if your GPA is not 3.0 or above, you have two options: settle for a less competitive school or find a way to get your GPA up (that’s why some people go to a junior college first).

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7 Steps to Choosing a College That Fits You

Most people like the idea of going to college, but are often at a loss when it comes to choosing a college that fits their needs. Really, choosing the right college is not about the glamour that we usually associate with college. It is not about finding a school that will give you a free iPad. It’s about your own goals and doing your research.

So where does your college search start? It starts with you and what you want for your future and ends with you making the best choice for your goals. To find the college that best fits your needs, follow these seven steps:

1. Define your goals in seeking a college.

People pursue college for many different reasons. It sounds exciting or prestigious. It offers them a way out of a dead-end career. Their family would just be so proud. But, before you embark on the tiring, expensive, time-intensive journey of college, you need to ask yourself, “Why do I want to go college?” Or put more correctly: “What do I hope to achieve by going to college?”

If you don’t have a goal, any college will do. But if you know what you’re trying to accomplish, it will help you narrow down your search to the schools that will best meet your goals.

So, before you start googling, before you start visiting campuses, sit down and write out your goals in seeking a college education. Are you trying to land a career in a specific industry? Are you trying to raise your salary at your current job? Are you trying to blaze a trail for your children? Whatever your goals, record them and keep them in front of you as you proceed to step two.

2. Spell out your criteria.

With your goals in mind, decide what your college will need to have to help you accomplish your goals. For example, if your goal is to become a registered nurse, one of your criteria will be that your college has to have a nursing program–and preferably one that does a good job of placing its students in nursing jobs after graduation. Criteria you will want to decide on include: online or on-campus; degree programs; campus location; financial assistance; job placement rates after graduation; graduation rates; length of degree programs.

Of course, be realistic with your criteria: they should be needs, not wants.

As with your goals, write these criteria down and keep them handy. They will help to keep you focused as you start looking at colleges.

3. Build a list of colleges based on your criteria.

This is where your goals and criteria become very useful. With their slick websites and marketing campaigns, most colleges will look pretty attractive. But in this case, it’s not what’s on the outside that counts, but what is inside.

Cut through colleges’ marketing to get a more accurate picture of their strengths and weaknesses. Use search engines to find school stats. Go to forums for students and pay attention to what they say about different schools. Check with third-party college rating sites like CollegeProwler.com and PrincetonReview.com to see which colleges fare best according to your criteria. As you do this, you’ll notice certain schools keep coming up again and again.

As you start researching, be very careful not to compromise on your criteria. There are plenty of colleges out there for you, and you don’t need to settle on one that only partway meets your needs. Throw out any colleges that don’t meet all of your criteria.

4. Do your homework on each college.

After narrowing down your search to a few finalists, dig even deeper to find out all you can about these colleges. At this point, it’s a good idea to seek out alumni from these colleges and ask them frank questions about their student experience. Read every article and review you can find about them. Yes, you need to get a little obsessive about this. After all, you will be spending thousands of dollars to attend their college.

5. Visit the college in person.

You don’t really know a college unless you’ve actually visited it. Schools can put up squeaky clean images on their website, but it’s not until you actually walk through the buildings, see their classrooms, and observe the students enrolled at each one that you really understand what going there would be like. If the campus is close enough, take the time to make a visit and get an official tour. Then, after the tour is over, linger on campus by yourself and play spy so you can see the uncensored version. You’ll be amazed how much you learn from doing this.

6. Ask the hard questions.

Eventually, once you’ve done all the detective work you can on your own and you’re down to the few colleges that have made the cut, you’ll want to talk to an admissions specialist. Word to the wise: don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. Go into cutthroat journalist mode. This isn’t to be unpleasant or to ruin their day. It is simply because of one simple fact: they are paid to get you into their college.

Make sure you get the answers you need to every nagging question you have. Especially at for-profit schools, enrollment specialists will want to hurry you into the application. But don’t let them. Ask every question you have and hound them until you get a satisfactory answer. And then tell them you’ll think about it and end the conversation.

7. Weigh your options.

Why should you end the call when it’s so much easier to get signed up right there? Because you need time to clear your head and consider all your research. Place all your choices side by side, consider the pros and cons of each, and then sleep on it. Never let a school representative push you into a choice that you will have to live with for the rest of your life. You will be paying for each credit hour and you deserve to take as much time as you need to make your decision.

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With a little help, underprivileged single mom prepares to earn her degree

When it comes time to go to college, everybody has a slightly different situation, some more difficult than others. Some younger students may have everything paid for by their parents or scholarships and no one else to worry about but themselves. Other students have to work just to cover school expenses and basic needs. Still, other students have to worry about balancing school with a job and family.

But Angela Davis-Washington’s story puts many of these to shame.

Even though she just found out she’s been accepted to nursing programs at both Fredericks College and Howard University, Davis-Washington, a single mom of five kids, has already been through challenges that would prompt many students to quit. According to this Washington Post article about her story, this Maryland resident grew up in the foster care system and had kids at an early age. She worked as a certified nursing assistant and a legal assistant but still relied on housing assistance to pay the bills.

Luckily, Davis-Washington was chosen to participate in the Family Self-Sufficiency program, which was provided by the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission. This program helped Davis-Washington get back to work as a CNA and work into college degree programs. But with so many children and a full-time job, this still wasn’t easy for this single mom. The article recalls:

“Davis-Washington would wake at 5 a.m. to get her youngest child ready for day care, then spend 2 hours commuting to work by train and bus from Germantown to Largo.”

Now, Davis-Washington is somewhere between her severely underprivileged situation of just five years earlier and achieving her goals of being a registered nurse and providing a secure life for her children.

“Davis-Washington said completing the program has helped her reawaken an ages-old dream. ‘I’ve always wanted to be a nurse, ever since I was a little girl,’ she said, ‘but I’ve had so many interruptions. Now I’m halfway there.’”

So what do we learn from people like Angela Davis-Washington? We learn that things aren’t always arranged perfectly to allow us to achieve our goals, but that challenges shouldn’t deter us from achieving goals. We also learn that a little help can go a long way in getting through these challenges. Finally, we learn that achieving our goals is worth the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, and the discouragements we will have along the way.

So if you’re struggling through college right now-or if you’re thinking about getting a college degree-remember Angela Davis-Washington. And remember that, like her, you have challenges that seem beyond your ability. But if you keep pushing ahead and you get help when you need it, soon enough, you will find yourself halfway, and then all the way, to your goal of a college degree.

 

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Top 25 College Educated Athletes

 

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Celebrity Actors & Their College Majors

Ever wondered what major Hollywood stars studied at college? Sure, most were drama majors, and more than a few attended schools that specialize in performing arts, which would be found in a Liberal Arts degree. However, some stars did study “regular” subjects and were working toward “regular” jobs before they got their big break. Here are a few notable examples and their alma maters, in no particular order.

Ashton Kutcher

Known mostly for being a comic actor and prankster, Kutcher was once a very earnest student at the University of Iowa, where he studied biochemical engineering with the hope of developing a cure for his brother’s heart problem.

Kate Beckinsale

Just before her big-screen break in Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing, Beckinsale was studying French and Russian literature at Oxford. Evidently, Beckinsale believed this would give her greater range as an actress. Think: werewolf huntress.

Reese Witherspoon

Famous for playing a Harvard girl in Legally Blonde, Witherspoon was actually a Stanford girl — at least for a year — where she studied English literature.

Courteney Cox

This erstwhile Friend once studied interior design and architecture at Mount Vernon College for Women. (Perhaps that’s where “Monica” first kindled her obsessive cleanliness and her infatuation with domestic spaces.)

Eva Longoria

Long before she was a desperate housewife, Longoria was a student at Texas A&M University-Kingsville where she completed a degree in kinesiology in 1998. A related profession would be Aromatherapy and Spa Specialist. Ultimately, Longoria opted not to become a physical therapist and instead put kinesiology — the study of body movement — to work on Wisteria Lane.

Ray Romano

This Everybody Love’s Raymond star was almost everybody’s favorite taxman. That’s right, before getting his big break, Romano attended Queens College in Flushing, New York, where he intended to study accounting.

Halle Berry

Before she was the first African-American to represent the United States in the Miss World competition — and long before she was Catwoman — Berry studied broadcast journalism at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio.

Incidentally, the man Berry once claimed to have a crush on — George Clooney — also majored in journalism, though apparently most of his time was spent on, ahem, other college activities.

Will Ferrell

While many people know this actor for his portrayal of Ron Burgundy, anchorman extraordinaire, most people don’t know Ferrell actually studied to be a real anchorman at the University of Southern California, where he completed a degree in sports broadcasting in 1989.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Though an accomplished actress, many people are familiar with Gyllenhaal for her comments after 9/11 that the United States was “responsible in some way” for the attacks. Interesting to note that her perspective was likely influenced by her study of Eastern religions at Columbia University. (She received her degree in 1998.)

Incidentally, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie’s brother, also studied Eastern religions at Columbia, though he never finished.

Gwyneth Paltrow

She played a bookish English professor in Possession and other literary characters such as Emma and Estella from Great Expectations, but apparently Paltrow’s real interest — at least when she went to UC Santa Barbara — was art history.

Kevin Costner

Before he was Eliot Ness, Robin Hood, Wyatt Earp, and, well, the Mariner from Waterworld, Costner was a student at California State University at Fullerton, where he graduated with a degree in business in 1978. Costner even worked for a marketing firm after graduation.

Ashley Judd

Anyone who follows college basketball has probably seen Ashley Judd cheering in the stands at University of Kentucky basketball games. As a student, Judd majored in French, with minors in anthropology, art history, theater, and women’s studies. After leaving school in 1990 just one course shy of graduation, Judd finally graduated last month.

Sean Penn

Made famous by attending Ridgemont High, Penn actually attended Santa Monica College, where he studied auto mechanics and speech.

Tommy Lee Jones

This Oscar-winner and Texas native is also an alumnus of Harvard University, where he completed a degree in English in 1969, and was roommates with John Lithgow and former Vice-President Al Gore.

Incidentally, Harvard boasts at least one more Oscar-winning English major — Matt Damon — who left school in 1992 just three classes shy of graduation.

Brad Pitt

Legend has it that before Brad Pitt was, well, Brad Pitt, he once aspired to be a famous journalist. Pitt studied journalism at the University of Missouri but dropped out just two credits shy of graduation.

Another mega-actor that studied journalism, graduating with a degree from Fordham University in 1977 — Denzel Washington.

Tim Allen

Though marred by his well-documented problem with cocaine, for which he served two years in prison, this Tool-Time star did in fact graduate from Western Michigan University in 1976 with a degree in communications as well as minors in — *manly grunt* — philosophy and design.

Forest Whitaker

Granted, this Academy-Award winning actor did graduate in 1982 from the University of Southern California with a degree in drama, he was initially accepted to the Music Conservatory to study opera as a tenor.

Of course, none of this helps you in your college search. it would be silly to go to college just because your favorite celeb went there; your choice should be based on your goals, your finances, and your schedule. But wouldn’t it be great if their superstar magic rubbed off on you just by going to school at their alma mater.

 

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The Six Most Common Blunders of College Applicants

Advice from Jeremy Spencer, Former Director of Admissions at Alfred University

By Allen Grove, About.com Guide

 

I met with Jeremy Spencer, former Director of Admissions at Alfred University, and asked him what he sees as the most common blunders made by college applicants. Below are six mistakes he encounters frequently.1. Missing DeadlinesThe college admissions process is filled with deadlines, and missing a deadline can mean a rejection letter or lost financial aid. A typical college applicant has dozens of dates to remember:

• Application deadlines which vary from school to school
• Early action and early decision deadlines, if applicable
• Institutional financial aid deadlines
• Federal financial aid deadlines
• State financial aid deadlines
• Scholarship deadlines

Realize that some colleges will accept applications after the deadline if they have not yet filled their new class. However, financial aid may be much harder to obtain late in the application process. (Learn more about senior year deadlines.)

2. Applying for Early Decision When It’s Not the Right Choice

Students who apply to a college through Early Decision typically must sign a contract stating that they are applying to just the one college early. Early Decision is a restricted admissions process, so it is not a good choice for students who aren’t really sure that the Early Decision school is their first choice. Some students apply through Early Decision because they think it will improve their chance of admission, but in the process they end up restricting their options. Also, if students violate their contract and apply to more than one college through Early Decision, they run the risk of being removed from the applicant pool for misleading the institution. While this is not the policy at Alfred University, some colleges share their Early Decision applicant lists to make sure students haven’t applied to multiple schools through Early Decision. (Learn about the difference between early decision and early action.)

3. Using the Wrong College Name in an Application Essay

Understandably, many college applicants write a single admissions essay and then change the name of the college for different applications. Applicants need to make sure the college name is correct everywhere it appears. The admissions officers will not be impressed if an applicant begins by discussing how much she really wants to go to Alfred University, but the last sentence says, “R.I.T. is the best choice for me.” Mail merge and global replace can’t be relied on 100% — applicants need to reread each application carefully, and they should have someone else proofread as well. (Learn more tips for the application essay.)

4. Applying to a College Online Without Telling School Counselors

The Common Application and other online options make it easier than ever to apply to colleges. Many students, however, make the mistake of submitting applications online without notifying their high school guidance counselors. Counselors play an important role in the application process, so leaving them out of the loop can lead to several problems:

• High school transcripts are delayed or never get mailed
• Letters of recommendation from teachers are delayed or never get sent
• The college admissions decision process becomes inefficient and delayed
• Applications end up being incomplete because the counselor can’t follow up with the colleges

5. Waiting too Long to Ask for Letters of Recommendation

Applicants who wait until the last minute to ask for letters of recommendation run the risk that the letters will be late, or they will not be thorough and thoughtful. To get good letters of recommendation, applicants should identify teachers early, talk with them, and give them as much information as possible about each program to which they are applying. This allows teachers to craft letters that match an applicant’s particular strengths with specific college programs. Letters written at the last minute rarely contain this type of useful specificity. (Learn more about getting good letters of recommendation.)

6. Failing to Limit Parents’ Involvement

Students need to self-advocate during the admissions process. The college is admitting the student, not the student’s mom or dad. It’s the student who needs to build a relationship with the college, not the parents. Helicopter parents–those who constantly hover–end up doing a disservice to their children. Students need to manage their own affairs once they get to college, so the admissions staff wants to see evidence of this self-sufficiency during the application process. While parents should certainly be involved in the college admissions process, the student needs to make the connections with the school and complete the application.

Jeremy Spencer’s Bio: Jeremy Spencer served as the Director of Admissions at Alfred University from 2005 to 2010. Prior to AU, Jeremy served as the Director of Admissions at Saint Joseph’s College (IN) and various admissions level positions at Lycoming College (PA) and Miami University (OH). At Alfred, Jeremy was responsible for both the undergraduate and graduate admissions process and supervised 14 professional admissions staff. Jeremy earned his BA degree (Biology and Psychology) at Lycoming College and his MS degree (College Student Personnel) at Miami University.

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