Counseling College Planning Guide
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Dear Students and Parents:
We are pleased to present you with our College Planning Guide. It is specific to Bishop O’Dowd with references to our Family Connection/Naviance account, and to the way we work with and advise our students. Providing a wealth of information, we hope this manual will guide you through the complex maze that is college admissions today. We work closely with our students and guide them through every step of the college process, including helping you and your student through the maze of financial aid. Please use this guide, and us, as your primary resources. While we acknowledge there are many other sources you might access to help you, we ask that you start here and stay in close contact with your counselor.
While we feel our entire guide should be read closely and carefully, there are two sections to which we would like our Seniors to give special attention. The section titled “Important Deadlines” is critical to making the process run smoothly. Please meet them! Please also pay particular attention to the section titled, “Writing Your College Applications.” Included are our detailed instructions on the counselor and teacher recommendations. Your attention to these details will help make this process run smoothly both for yourself and for the counselors and teachers.
From now until you graduate, we will be referring to this guide many times as we meet with you throughout the junior and senior years. Please become familiar with it – the information is thorough, and many of your questions can be easily answered in the guide. In fact, we will often refer you to the guide.
You will find this to be an exciting and joyous time that may occasionally cause you anxiety and self-doubt. This is also a time for self-discovery, a time to deeply explore who you are. You can relieve much of the anxiety if you read all your materials carefully, observe deadlines, and organize yourself early. And take a deep breath! Work to the best of your abilities in all your classes and you should have no regrets. Enjoy these final months of high school by making the most of your time here.
Wishing you well, Bishop O’Dowd Counseling Department
1 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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COLLEGE PLANNING FOR SOPHOMORE YEAR………………………………………………………...... 3 COLLEGE PLANNING FOR JUNIOR YEAR ...... 4 COLLEGE PLANNING FOR SENIOR YEAR ...... 7 DATES TO REMEMBER ...... 9 GOOD ADVICE TO KEEP IN MIND ...... 11 IMPORTANT DEADLINES ...... 12 TESTING PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ...... 13 PSAT/NMSQT ...... 13 ACT ...... 13 COLLEGE BOARD EXAMINATIONS (SAT REASONING AND SAT SUBJECT TESTS) ...... 14 REGISTRATION FOR COLLEGE BOARD EXAMINATIONS ...... 14 SCORE REPORTS ...... 15 REVIEW COURSES ...... 16 GENERAL INFORMATION ON COLLEGES ...... 17 THE UNIVERSITY VERSUS A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE ...... 17 SPECIAL PROGRAMS ...... 18 COLLEGE CALENDAR SYSTEMS ...... 18 GETTING READY TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE ...... 19 THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS AND OPTIONS ...... 20 ADMISSIONS OPTIONS ...... 20 Regular Admissions ...... 20 Early Decision ...... 21 Early Action ...... 22 Service Academies/ROTC ...... 22 Candidates’ Reply Date Agreement ...... 23 Wait List ...... 23 THE COLLEGE ESSAY ...... 24 WRITING YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS ...... 26 COUNSELOR RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 26 TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 27 FINANCING COLLEGE: COSTS AND RESOURCES ...... 29 COST OF ATTENDANCE (COA) ...... 29 FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES ...... 30 COMMON MYTHS STUDENTS HAVE ABOUT COLLEGES ...... 34 RESOURCES TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS ...... 35 SOME COLLEGE GUIDES AND OTHER HELPFUL BOOKS ON THE PROCESS ...... 35 USEFUL WEBSITES ...... 37
A FEW PARTING THOUGHTS (Some famous college graduates and their colleges)……………………………..40
2 COLLEGE PLANNING IN SOPHOMORE YEAR
IN GENERAL:
Ø Work hard in class. If you were not serious in your freshman year, this is your “wake- up” year. Though some have a rough freshman year, when colleges see lower grades on a transcript they look for upward trends in subsequent years.
Ø Develop good study habits. It is not too late to develop good study habits. They will carry you through college and will contribute to success in your working life – develop these skills now when you have the support of your parents and your school. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – this is how students earn good grades and how you will be a success in a future career.
SPECIFICALLY:
Ø Take classes that not only interest you, but that also challenge you. At the same time, seek a healthy balance.
Ø Take the PSAT. This is a practice SAT that you will take in mid-October on O’Dowd’s testing day.
Ø Consult with your counselor to determine if there are any SAT subject tests you should take in June. Pay attention to registration deadlines for the June test.
Ø On your visit to the Counseling Resource Center you will complete the personality profile called “Do What You Are” as well as the career assessment called “Career Interest Profiler.” Continue to work on your resume.
SUMMER:
Ø Review this College Planning Handbook!
Ø You have many options. Find something meaningful or restorative – volunteer work, paid work, travel, enrichment classes, or simply developing a passion. Read – it will help you earn better scores on your SAT or ACT! Ask your English teacher or counselor for recommendations, or read something that connects you to a passion or interest (Sports Illustrated does have good writing).
Ø Visit a college or two. Begin to learn about the different types of colleges (small vs. large, university vs. liberal arts) by visiting schools close to home (UC Berkeley, St. Mary’s, Santa Clara, USF, SF State, CSU Hayward, Sonoma State) or near where your family may be vacationing. Don’t just walk around campus; book appointments for tours and go to information sessions. Don’t get too serious about the search process yet, but make it fun and exploratory. You will learn about different campus cultures, what you like (which can and often does change), and it may open you to possibilities you have not considered. There is no pressure now; think about how you learn and what fits for you. This is practice because next year you will take it seriously!
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COLLEGE PLANNING FOR JUNIOR YEAR
September: Attend College Night at Bishop O’Dowd High School. While it is still fresh in your mind, brainstorm what you liked (or not) from the information you gathered.
October: PSAT/NMSQT is administered. Read what the College Board website says about it, and read the information booklet on the exam. Pay particular attention to test taking strategy. Get a good night’s sleep!!
Jan/Feb PSAT results are distributed to students. You are assigned a special ID number so you can review an analysis of your results at the College Board site. Learn from your mistakes and speak with your counselor for further interpretation.
During the scheduling meeting with your counselor, make sure your course selections for senior year are in line with your college aspirations. Take the most academically challenging classes that are appropriate for you. Your counselor will work with you on setting up a testing plan. Since we no longer administer a pre- ACT, we suggest you take both an ACT and an SAT in your junior spring so we can determine which is the best test for you. In Family Connection, under “Document Library,” you will find a chart differentiating the SAT from the ACT.
Sign up online for an SAT test (include the writing option) for March or May (or ACT, with Writing option, for April or June) and SAT Subject Tests in June, if applicable (see your counselor for this).
UC’s no longer require SAT Subject exams. Certain majors require a math and/or science exam. Check individual UC campus websites for specific major testing requirements (applies primarily to Engineering and Chemistry majors but check those websites). Some highly selective private colleges/universities still require two or three SAT Subject Tests.
Mar-May: Review this booklet with an emphasis on:
Ø General information on colleges Ø Testing programs used for college planning and admissions. Ø The application process Ø Bishop O’Dowd Counseling Department DEADLINES!! Ø Financial aid information Ø BECOME AN ACTIVE USER OF FAMILY CONNECTION!
Meet with your counselor to create a list of prospective colleges and discuss strategies for visits, interviews, and applying.
Parents are encouraged to ask for meetings with the counselor to discuss the process from both the student and counseling perspectives, to discuss/create a list
4 of prospective colleges, to understand where their child might gain admission and have a positive fit, and to gain a clear understanding of how our process unfolds.
April through August:
Ø Complete the first round of SAT/ACT testing during the junior spring semester (if you are lucky, it may be your only round!).
Ø Consider the type of college or university experience that might fit you best, keeping in mind factors such as location, size of student body, tuition, and courses of study.
Ø Research with the Naviance program, “Family Connection,” accessed through the BOD website. In addition to the links from Family Connection, please also refer to the section in this book titled “Useful Websites.”
Research college web sites for:
Ø Campus life – diversity of student body; social options/activities provided by the college; community service opportunities; campus ministry options; are students active and involved beyond academics Ø Take a virtual tour Ø Academic programs; majors; opportunities to create your own major and/or possibilities for interdisciplinary majors. Ø Research and internship opportunities for undergraduates Ø Libraries (most campuses have more than one) and the hours they stay open, the extent of their collections, is it a pleasant place to study? Ø What is the career placement center like – what types of career workshops and assessments are offered for juniors and seniors; who interviews on campus; availability of summer internships on or off the campus. Ø Residence hall options; menus being served that week; are there options for vegetarians as well as for others with special dietary needs; social events (lectures, concerts, road trips, etc) Ø Read the school newspaper and learn what are the hot issues on campus Ø If you are an athlete, check out the facilities and gauge your abilities; contact a coach Ø Contact an admissions officer; ask to link up with a student ambassador who can tell you what life is really like on campus. The admissions office will take this as another indication of your interest Ø What is happening in the town/city/region?
Augment your research with college guides (we are partial to the Fiske Guide to Colleges). See other recommended books at the end of this booklet.
5 Use Family Connection as a primary source of information. Under “Document Library” there is a description of the Naviance features that will help you understand how to use the program.
6 COLLEGE PLANNING FOR SENIOR YEAR
July through December (broad picture):
As you continue your research, e-mail colleges as to questions that might arise regarding their programs. Write a rough draft of your college essays; topics can be found at college websites and at the Common Application site.
Meet with college representatives who visit BOD during the Fall semester – see the “Visit Schedule” in Family Connection, under the “Colleges” tab and sign up. Write and rewrite essays; share with your counselor for help!! Attend College Night in September. Complete applications. August: Note requirements and deadlines. Register to take October SAT, and others, if needed. UC will accept SAT tests taken from junior year through December of senior year. The same holds true for CSU, however Cal Poly SLO asks that your testing be complete by October test (and they often prefer the ACT with Writing option. Many private schools will also accept a January test date, but verify this with the college. Be very aware of each college’s test requirements for admission.
Fill out and turn in Senior Questionnaire if you did not do it over the summer. Counselors will meet with you regarding college after the questionnaire is returned, and in the order they receive them. For ED/EA applicants (see section titled “The College Application Process and Options”) it is essential that you turn in your questionnaire early – no later than the end August.
The application portals for the UC and Common application open on August 1 so you can get a head start on some applications!
September: Attend College Night. Narrow your college choices to a reasonable number of schools (6 – 10; count the UC’s as “one” school since it is one application). At Family Connection check to see if representatives from colleges on your list are visiting O’Dowd. These are updated regularly. Sign up to meet with them through Family Connection. Why?
Ø The college rep is usually the person who will be the first reader of your application. She will be your advocate with the admissions committee. Meet this person, ask intelligent questions, and help her remember you.
Ø If you cannot visit the campus, this may be your best chance to personally indicate your interest.
Ø Later, when your application is read, your rep will count meeting you as a plus in your favor (of course you want to make a strong impression).
October: Early Decision/Early Action (ED/EA) candidates – it is absolutely essential that you turn in your counseling paperwork to your counselor by October 10, and you must observe the same deadline with your teachers. If required at your ED/EA college, register for CSS Profile at the College Board’s website (link to CSS is at Family Connection). 7 Write application essays and have them reviewed/critiqued by your counselor.
Regular decision candidates: Submit paperwork to counselors and teachers for recommendations by November 10 even if applications are not due until February. If you know only one or two schools to which you definitely plan to apply, we ask you still submit the paperwork by November 10. You can ask that your recommendations be sent to additional schools at a later date in the semester. Our deadlines are firm if you want a letter of recommendation that is thorough, complete, and well-articulated.
Senior grades are important – the work you do in fall semester is crucial to your acceptance. Admissions committees at private colleges will see the 7th semester grades of regular decision candidates before they make decisions on your applications, and they may ask for your progress report grades before they go to committee in the winter. WORK HARD!! If you are an early ED/EA candidate, colleges may ask our office for your midterm grades – it is essential you work at a consistently strong level.
November: File UC and CSU applications by November 30. UC applications can only be filed only between November 1 and November 30. CSU applications can be filed between October 1 and November 30. Early decision/action applications have filing dates this month. Remember – regular decision candidates request recommendations no later than November 10. Financial aid forms for ED/EA colleges (private schools who use the CSS Profile) will be due early as well.
December: Complete testing for UC/CSU applications. When you are done with testing, order your official scores to be sent from the College Board to each college to which you are applying. With score choice, take care that you are sending the correct number of scores that colleges need – they will vary. Many schools will ask for all your scores. They will pick your best to put you in the best light. UC’s and some out of state publics will use your best sitting; CSU’s, and most privates will pick your best section scores from multiple sittings. Remember: They are looking for ways to accept, not to deny you!
Check Family Connection and scholarship bulletin board (in the Counseling hallway) for local and national scholarship information.
Begin compiling information for financial aid applications and their deadlines, which vary. The FAFSA portal opens on December 1 but cannot be filed until after January 1; CSS Profile opens earlier and may have an earlier date if applying ED/EA.
January: Parents complete and file the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA). You must mail/file between January 1 and March 1, however to be considered for some scholarships, earlier deadlines may apply. Check each college for deadlines. If you are also using the CSS Profile for private schools, due dates will vary, with some starting as early as January 15. Pay attention to deadlines.
If applying to colleges (public and private) in California, turn in a GPA Verification Form (for Cal Grants) to Counseling by the end of February.
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February through April:
Colleges will begin to inform you of their decisions. Their deadline to notify is April 1, though some take longer. You have until April 30 to decide which offer you will accept. When you have made a decision, reply to that college. It is a nice gesture to inform the others that you have accepted another offer and to thank them for their interest in you. .
A note on housing: When accepted to colleges with limited housing, apply as soon as you receive notice, even if you are not sure you will attend. While you may lose a deposit, it is far worse to not have housing your freshman year. This is particularly critical for public colleges, some of which do not have sufficient space to accommodate all freshmen.
During second semester, maintain or improve academic grades. Remember, your acceptance is always conditional and can be rescinded if after you graduate, your college sees a significant drop in your spring semester grades.
In late June/early July we mail your final transcript to the college you chose. Grades are of special significance to wait list candidates.
Dates to Remember
College Night September
UC Applications Due between November 1 and November 30
CSU Applications Due between October 1 and November 30 (may vary)
Private Applications ED/EA varies by campus but usually in November. Check dates. Regular Decision varies from December 1 to March 1.
Financial Aid Night Held at O’Dowd in early January.
CSS Profile Regular candidates can file as early as October 15 – ED/EA candidates must file early; often at the same time as your application. Pay attention to dates set by each college – some merit scholarship programs require earlier filing.
FAFSA File between January 1 and March 1 but check deadlines for each college. Some scholarship programs require earlier filing.
SAT Reasoning Test October (last test date for some selective CSU’s), November (last test date for most ED/EA applications), December (last test date for all UC and some CSU schools)
SAT Subject Tests Same as SAT Reasoning dates
9 ACT Fall semester testing dates – different Saturdays from the SAT
10 Good Advice to Keep In Mind
We recommend the following words of wisdom given by Fr. Aloysius Galvin, S.J., of Georgetown Prep:
“You, the applicant, really hold and control all the aces and trumps in the deck; your senior course selection, your grades, GPA and testing scores, your activity record, (in school and out), your written application, your essay(s), your interview. That’s a strong hand, one to be played with care and thoughtfulness, with energy and courage. Play it well.”
1. Initial Attitude: Peace. Be positive about yourself and confident of your future. Be honest with yourself about who you are. Keep an attentive ear open to parental and other advice. Run your own ship and steer your own course, trying to sail free from subtle peer pressure. In a word, keep a clear head and a free heart. This is a process that began earlier than senior year. At any given moment during high school you may have had an opinion about your college choices, and each time, that opinion probably changed. You will be different in junior spring than you are in fall – what you thought you loved a year ago could be different from what you love now or what you may love in April when you make your decision. Be patient.
Remember that the application/acceptance/matriculation enterprise is not a canonization process, nor is it intended to be an ego trip for family or student, nor is it a measure of your worth. It is a search for a home away from home where you will be productive and happy, grow and prosper. There are many fine colleges out there. You are the chooser. Do not let the process eat you up or determine your worth. Be yourself and find the right fit.
2. A Typical Application Pattern will include schools that are:
Ø “Long Shots,” “stretches,” or “reaches” or schools which you might love, but would have difficulty getting into.
Ø “Targets” or schools to which you have a possibility of acceptance.
Ø “Safeties” or schools to which you are sure of acceptance.
Fall in love with your safety schools as much as your stretch schools. If you did your research well, you chose those safety schools because you liked them. Keep this in mind.
3. Initial List and Selection of Possible Choices: There are many colleges you may not have heard of that have strong programs, quality faculty, distinguished alumni, impressive graduate school placements, excellent facilities, good research opportunities, etc. A college’s “reputation” or “brand name” is not necessarily a marker of a great school.
No college, whatever its merit or general reputation, is in itself better or best. The “name” of some colleges is based more on their graduate school rather than their undergraduate school, and others gain a reputation based on their athletic teams. Some college reputations lag behind their real quality. The college you select should fit YOU and not your friend or your parents. The only college that deserves the title good, better, or best is the one that is the BEST FIT FOR YOU – WHERE YOU CAN REACH YOUR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.
11 IMPORTANT DEADLINES
SAT Testing: Fall semester: Testing dates on 1st weekends of October, November, and December. Registration deadlines are one month prior to test. Spring semester: Testing dates are usually on 3rd weekend or 4th weekend of January, the 2nd weekend of March, and 1st weekends of May and June. Registration deadlines are one month prior to test.
ACT Testing: Fall semester: Testing dates are in October and December for 2010 and generally a week after the SAT test date. Registration deadlines are at least one month prior to test. Spring semester: Testing dates are in February, April, and June, and again, generally a week after the SAT test date. Registration deadlines are at least one month prior to test.
Application & Recommendation Deadlines:
September 1: Final date for EA/ED candidates to return completed Senior Questionnaire to counselor
October 1: Final date for EA/ED candidates to ask counselor and teachers for a recommendation and to give them required documents and list of colleges (see pp 25-27). Envelopes also must be included.
November 10: Final date for regular decision candidates to ask counselor and teachers for a recommendation and give required documents and list of colleges (see pp 25-27).
Financial Aid: October 1: Registration portal opens for CSS Profile which is required by many private schools; register online at www.collegeboard.com NOTE: Deadlines and priority dates vary at schools and you can quickly check them at college websites by searching the site with: “Financial Aid deadlines.” See Counseling handout on financial aid for more tips and strategies regarding financial aid.
January 1: FAFSA filing period begins. Check college websites for priority dates as well as regular filing dates. They will vary. Merit scholarships often ask you to file by an earlier “priority” date.
Last week of February: Final time for submitting Cal Grant GPA verification forms to Counseling. We submit the Cal Grant forms, as a group, to the Cal Grant website.
March 1: Final filing date for FAFSA and CSS Profile (see note above regarding earlier and priority filing dates)
12 TESTING PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
Bishop O’Dowd School Code 052185 (Use on all SAT and ACT test registration materials)
Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
The PSAT is a practice version of the SAT that measures verbal and mathematical abilities important in college work. It is normed on juniors and given only once a year, in October. This test is not required for college admissions, nor will colleges ever see your PSAT scores. The PSAT serves two purposes:
1. It provides information on student abilities to do college work and it helps students estimate the caliber of college he/she could attend. It also familiarizes students with the types of questions that are on the SAT.
2. It helps students who are seeking recognition and financial assistance. Several organizations use the results to determine scholarship recipients. They are the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the National Achievement Scholarship Program for Negro Students, and the National Hispanic Recognition Program. Winning one of the awards, as well as being named a National Merit Commended Student, can be beneficial for college admissions.
Score Reports: The revised PSAT (2016) reports a combined reading and writing score and a math score scaled between 160 and 760 for a combined score from 320 to 1520. National Merit qualifying scores are computed on a different scaled score; see your counselor for your NMSQT selection index score. NMSC uses the Selection Index to determine candidates for their scholarship programs. The score threshold for scholarships varies every year.
Use your score report and test booklet to learn where your problem areas might be and how you can improve your results when you take the SAT Reasoning Test. Read the score report carefully as the information can be very helpful. Your access code will allow you to use Khan Academy’s free test prep that will be tailored to how you performed on the PSAT.
American College Testing Program (ACT)
Colleges and universities in the Midwest have traditionally preferred the ACT assessment to the SAT. The ACT tests you on knowledge you have learned and the abilities you need to succeed in college. It is scored differently than the SAT and some students find they perform better on the ACT than the SAT.
The ACT is a four-part exam that tests abilities in English, Math, Reading, and Science. Within each of these areas, sub scores are also generated, indicating your strengths and weaknesses. ACT offers an optional Writing test along with the regular ACT. It is scored separately and will not be included in your composite score. ACT with Writing is required for admission to the UC/CSU system so you must include the optional Writing test when you register. Admissions requirements for the ACT will vary among colleges and universities – you
13 must check each individual college for their requirements. ACT’s website, www.act.org, has a listing of colleges and universities that require or recommend taking the writing test.
Colleges throughout the U.S. accept the ACT or the SAT. See your Counselor to determine which test might be best for you. Because you took the PLAN in sophomore year, you have a predicted ACT score. In converting this score to an SAT, we can make some assumptions as to how you will test on the ACT compared to the SAT. See “Document Library” in Family Connection for a comparison of the ACT and SAT Reasoning.
College Board Examinations (SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject Tests)
1. SAT Reasoning Test: Beginning with the March 2016 test date, the SAT Reasoning test will consist of just two sections (Math and Evidence-Based Reading) for a total score of 1600 (3 hours long). The optional Writing test will also be evidence-based (50 minutes long) and we strongly urge you add this option since some of your colleges, such as UC’s, will require it. If you are unsure, talk to your counselor about this. Please see the link at Naviance, Document Library, Counseling Resources, for a full description of the changes for the March 2016 test. If you retake the SAT, we recommend you take it no more than once or twice more. Studies show that scores do not improve unless you do significant prep and study heavily between test dates.
2. SAT Subject Tests: These are one-hour exams that measure a student’s achievement in various high school subject areas. Some colleges require or recommend two exams for admission and/or placement in college classes. You may take as many as three exams in one day. If you plan to take subject exams, you should take them in June of the year in which you complete the subjects. Retakes can be done in the fall.
Registration for College Board Examinations
Register for exams online at www.collegeboard.com. There is also a link from Family Connection. Following are guidelines that will make the process run smoothly:
1. Keep a record of your user name and password and always use Bishop O’Dowd’s CEEB code of 052185.
2. When you register, use your name as it is on your social security card and the name you will use on your college applications. So that the College Board keeps all your records in order and reports your scores accurately, it is important to give your name and all other information in exactly the same manner on all College Board forms/website and in all communication with the Board. For example, using initials or a middle name one time and not the next may cause confusion and your scores may be delayed or not reported to your colleges, or colleges will not match your scores with your application. Important Note: If your name is different on your transcript, now is the time to make sure all your names “agree” otherwise colleges may set up two files for you when you apply.
14 3. Pay attention to deadlines. The earlier you register for an exam, the more likely you will have first choice of your preferred location for the exam (check with your counselor for recommended testing sites).
The College Board website is rich with information. Explore it and use it. You will find the site provides tutorials and information that can be very helpful. At the website you can:
1. Compare SAT Subject exams by taking a brief diagnostic test online of the exams you are considering. College Board will analyze your results.
2. A full prep class for the revised SAT is now provided by Khan Academy, for all students, free of charge. You may also practice by taking four different full- length SAT exams online! Become familiar with test taking strategy. (Remember, with the revised SAT you there is no longer a guessing penalty!)
3. Learn about financial aid and have your need estimated. Do calculations for both institutional and federal methodologies. Link is at Family Connection.
4. Complete the CSS Profile (available in October of your senior year). Check the financial aid section of this booklet for more information.
5. Under “Plan for College” read articles that help you develop action plans, learn better time management skills, get help with procrastination and senioritis (see motivation article), and many more
6. Go to the AP Test Prep Center and pick up valuable hints that could help your performance on the AP exams.
7. Get help with writing your college application essay that will augment the help you receive from your teachers and counselor.
8. SENIORS – See the Decision Making Guide when you start considering your college acceptances. This can be an agonizing decision for many – your counselor can help you too.
Score Reports
Score reports are sent to the student’s home. We do not show your SAT Reasoning and Subject Test scores on your transcript.
All colleges will require an official score report to be sent to them. It is your responsibility to see that your scores are sent to your colleges. For obvious reasons, do not send scores in junior year. We also receive all your scores, electronically. Important note: Because of the College Board’s Score Choice Policy, you may not want to order your scores sent to your colleges until you have seen them. Here are some considerations:
1. Score choice is an optional feature, e.g. you can still send all your scores to colleges, and most colleges will continue to consider only your best scores.
15 2. Colleges continue to set their own test requirements and they will vary from college to college (UC’s and CSU’s will be uniform within their systems). It is your responsibility to note the different requirements.
3. If you choose Score Choice, you may send Reasoning scores to colleges by sitting (test dates and not by section) and by individual Subject test.
4. At the time you register for your last SAT exam (Reasoning or Subject), you may request that the scores to be sent to four colleges for free. An extra fee is charged for reports to additional colleges.
5. NOTE: Except for UC’s, most colleges will use your highest verbal and math scores (called “superscoring”), mixing them from different sittings. Same applies to ACT scores. Some schools will still require all scores be sent. Read the college policies carefully!! REMEMBER: Most colleges are looking for reasons to accept you, not to reject you.
Review Courses
If you decide to consider a course, investigate it thoroughly. Ask for verification of all claims of results. Weigh the investment in both time and money. Information regarding test preparation programs is available in the Counseling Center and through your counselor. Revolution Prep offers prep courses on the BOD campus and will also cover tips and strategies, and include content tutoring as well as several diagnostic tests, carrying a guaranteed raise of 200 points from the first diagnostic to the actual test. Private tutors are also available if you wish one-on-one help. See your counselor for references. Free test prep is available at the College Board site through Khan Academy. The Official SAT Study Guide. Is also an excellent resource for those who benefit from independent study. Please review the College Board website for these resources.
Finally, ask yourself what you can do in your regular schoolwork, in your free time, or in working with fellow students or adults to prepare for the SAT’s. Sign up for “Question of the Day” (a daily e-mail) at the College Board website, or download the app for your phone. The mere 10 minutes a day that you spend on this will accustom you to SAT questions. In general, read! Outside read can also include editorials in a well-respected newspaper, magazines with good writing (Time, Sports Illustrated, Atlantic Monthly, etc.). If you are a consistent reader and pursue these activities regularly, you will likely have stronger verbal scores.
16 GENERAL INFORMATION ON COLLEGES
The University versus a Liberal Arts College
Choosing a university or a liberal arts college can have a tremendous impact on your own personal development. Before you fully settle on one or the other, keep an open mind about the advantages of both, and think about the way you learn and how you like to relate to your teachers, how you socialize and make friends, and the extra curricular activities you enjoy or hope to pursue, including how available the opportunities are for those activities.
At a university the student body can range from small to very large (3,000 to 45,000 students). Multiple areas of study are available, often in different colleges, e.g. Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Business, Conservatories (music or theater), and Agriculture. Universities are known for their graduate schools and research activities. Resources can be wide-ranging. Universities will generally have museums that are well regarded and have extensive library holdings. However, keep in mind that often some resources are available primarily to graduate students. Professors who prefer research to teaching commonly choose to affiliate with universities and may teach only two or three undergraduate classes a year. There are exceptions, yet accessibility to classes taught by the most exciting and finest teachers can be competitive, and classes large. To be successful, students must learn be self-reliant and be comfortable taking the initiative. Many classes are large (50 – 1000 students) and your grade may depend on a combination of only two or three measures (paper/midterm/final); class discussions may be limited.
At a liberal arts college the student body can be small to medium-sized. They do not have PhD programs, but some will have Masters’ degree programs. In general, professors who choose to work at these schools do so because they love to teach and mentor undergraduates. They are approachable and interested in their students, and a very high percentage of classes are small, often taught in seminar style. Professors at liberal arts colleges are also researchers, and because there are generally fewer or no graduate students, undergraduates are offered the opportunity to participate in research. All of the professors are expected to publish as well, though their primary duties are to the undergraduates, and they are hired because they are engaging teachers (or believed to be). If you anticipate attending graduate school someday, you will be able to ask for recommendations from professors who really know you and the work you do. There is a strong sense of community in liberal arts colleges.
Some liberal arts colleges have joined forces with others in close proximity to form a consortium. Students attending any college in the consortium may cross-register for classes at any of the other schools, use the libraries, etc. Consortiums expand your social opportunities, and provide many advantages of a university while maintaining the integrity of a smaller college. Some well-known examples include:
Amherst, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Hampshire, and U Mass at Amherst (Five College Consortium)
Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Harvey Mudd, and Pitzer (Claremont Colleges)
Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore, University of Pennsylvania
17 Special Programs
Cooperative Education: This is a college program in which a student alternates between semesters of full-time study and full-time employment in a student’s major area. The student is usually paid for the work, and the opportunity is invaluable as a resume-building experience and a valuable networking opportunity. Sometimes five years are required to complete a bachelor’s degree program. This type of program usually appeals to someone who has very well-defined career plans. Look at Northeastern University in Boston for the best example of a coop school.
3-2 Program: Usually found in a liberal arts college, this is a program by which the college works in cooperation with another university that offers technical preparation for professional careers (business and engineering for example). Five years of study are required, resulting in a BA or BS from the liberal arts school (three years) and a second degree from the school offering the technical degree (two years). The distinct advantage of this program is the graduate obtains a broad, liberal education that enables creative, flexible thinking as well as a technical education that can be advantageous in the job market. This type of program can enhance a graduate’s prospects for management within a technical field. Some examples are engineering through Occidental and Cal Tech or through Whitman and Columbia.
College Calendar Systems
Semester System: Like Bishop O’Dowd, the academic year is divided into two periods. Semester exams usually occur at the end of each period.
Trimester or 3-3-3 System: The school year is broken into three ten-week periods of study (September to mid-December, January to Mid-March, and April to early June). Students usually take three courses each term.
Quarter System: Like the trimester system except there is an additional quarter in the summer. An advantage to students is that any quarter can be used for work (think about the opportunities of not competing for jobs during the summer months). Theoretically, a student could earn a degree in three years.
4-1-4 System: This is an adaptation of the traditional semester system. After the three to four month fall semester, there is a one month term in which students take one or two classes that are often conceptually unique. They might include travel to Hawaii for biology, to Florence for art history, to an archeology dig, or simply a fascinating class taught on campus. This often provides a welcome break that stimulates and rejuvenates.
4-4-1 System: Similar to the 4-1-4 system except the one month term falls at the end of the school year, opening up interesting possibilities that can combine with summer plans.
Block System: An example is Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Students take one class for three and one-half weeks and then have four to five days off before starting the next block class. Eight classes are completed in the year. This allows for an intensely rich experience, and in many instances, allows you to study away from campus (in an archeology class the students might become part of a team at a dig in New Mexico, biology students take off into the mountains for a few days to study the ecosystem, etc.).
18 GETTING READY TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE
Senior year is unquestionably the busiest, and the hardest, of your high school years. You must continue to work in school at your highest academic level, and you must spend extra time on your college applications, keep up with your extracurricular activities, and cope with the emotional ups and downs of looking ahead to separating from your family. This is an exciting, challenging, and sometimes difficult time for you as well as your family. In preparation for your senior year and the application process, some of the following tips will help insure a smoother process for you:
Ø The summer following junior year is important! Rest, work, visit colleges, pursue an interest, follow your passion, broaden your personal experience, and do community volunteer work. Highly selective colleges ask how you spend your spare time and, if you have a particular talent, developing interest, or passion, they expect to see you follow through with it at a consistent level. Colleges seek students who have interesting, developing interests, and they often equate this with people who will contribute to campus life when they are college students.
Ø Read and write! Always have a book you are reading for pleasure. Read editorials for three reasons: To broaden your horizons and familiarize yourself with current issues; to develop your vocabulary; and to encounter good writing style. Not only will these activities help you with your SAT, but they will make you more interesting to colleges, and just perhaps, a new interest will be sparked that moves you in a new direction. You may also find inspiration for your college essay. Remember, this is a process!
Ø Complete your Senior Questionnaire during the summer (you can find it at the Counseling website), and turn it in to your counselor. This is your chance to reflect – essay ideas may come from it. Be thorough – if you have not seen your counselor much during your high school years, this may be a starting point to help him or her get to know you better. Believe us when we say that we really do rely on the questionnaire to give us more information about what makes you tick and to use as a starting point for conversation with you. PARENTS: Your input is invaluable – you provide another perspective on your teenager. We truly appreciate your thoughts and ask that you please return your input (the last page in the questionnaire) to your son or daughter’s counselor – mail it in separately if necessary.
Ø NOTE: In the fall of your senior year, you will meet with your counselor in the order she/he receives your Senior Questionnaire. At that initial meeting, if you are applying to private schools, you will receive a folder with information about our process and how it unfolds in Naviance, financial aid resources, our recommendation process and forms teachers will need from you, how to send your test scores to colleges, as well as checklists to see you through the process. You will also receive information on the UC and CSU applications. Every high school has a system that works for them – this is ours and we ask that you respect it. Keep on top of the process!
19
THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS and OPTIONS
The application process actually begins when you decide where you will apply. Hopefully you will have a chance to visit campuses, but if you cannot, we strongly recommend you meet with the college admissions officers who visit Bishop O’Dowd (check College Visits on Family Connection often!). Typically an admissions officer covers a specific region of the United States with the express responsibility of getting to know the students, their counselors, and the high schools in their region. This contact can be particularly important since the admissions officer who visits is usually the first reader of your application, and he or she will be the admissions committee member who is most familiar with Bishop O’Dowd and the quality of our students. This person can be a strong advocate for you. Make your presence known!!
As you begin to sort out your list, you will no doubt find some schools you love and others you merely like, although throughout the months of application and waiting, the ‘loves’ and ‘likes’ often switch places. The best advice we can give you is to learn as much as you can about each of the schools on your list. Make contact with the admissions office in each of these schools – learn to love each one. There are good reasons for this:
Ø If your first choice school rejects you, you will be happy with the schools that do accept you.
Ø If you have visited and/or made contact several times, the admissions committee takes this a strong sign of your interest. If you never make contact, they could turn you down because they feel you are not interested, even if you are a dynamite student.
Ø Ask yourself two questions: “Can I get in?” and “Do I want to get in?” You may not be able to answer “yes” to the first question for every college, but you must be able to answer “yes” to the second for every single college to which you apply.
Admissions Options
When considering all of the following options, keep in mind that this is a process, and you will change throughout the months to come. This final year and a half of high school is a time of tremendous growth. Think about how different you are now from when you entered high school as a freshman. Assuming you are reading this in the spring of your junior year, you will be considerably different a year from now when you are weighing decisions in your senior spring. By keeping an open-minded perspective, you will have an easier time making and accepting your decisions. You are stepping into new territory that is rich and varied, exciting and daunting, and finally, a big decision. Explore the territory carefully and intelligently – you may never again have such an opportunity.
Regular Admissions: Most colleges require applications to be submitted by a specific deadline, and members of the admissions committees begin reading an applicant’s file once all the required documents are received. You will be considered within the larger pool of applicants and colleges will notify you of their admissions decisions by the commonly adhered to date of April 1.
20 Ø The University of California application must be filed between November 1 and November 30. It will not be accepted before the 1st or after the 30th. All applications are to be filed online. The application for the coming application season opens on August 1. All of your SAT/ACT testing must be completed by December of your senior year – and you are responsible for having test agencies send the scores.
Ø The California State Universities’ application must be filed between October 1 and November 30. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the most selective of the CSU schools, asks that students file their applications by October 31. Check the CSU Mentor website to verify Cal Poly’s deadline and to see if any other CSU schools have an earlier application deadline. As with the UC system, all testing must be completed by December of your senior year, and in the case of Cal Poly, October may be the last testing date they will accept. Cal Poly prefers the ACT.
Ø Private universities, liberal arts colleges, and out-of-state public universities have variable deadline dates ranging anywhere from November 15 (Scripps) and December 10 (USC) – both these deadlines apply if you want to be considered for a merit scholarship – to anywhere up to March 1 and sometimes later. These deadlines vary from school to school and sometimes from year to year. Be serious in observing these deadlines. Schools that have later deadlines will usually accept January test scores, but always verify this with the college if you intend to sit for a January test.
Early Decision: A limited number of schools offer an ED Plan under which you file your application by a specified date (usually November 1 or 15) and you learn of the school’s decision by December 15. This is a very serious matter and when you apply, you are required to sign a statement that specifies you understand the acceptance is binding, e.g. you must accept the offer and withdraw all other applications. This is a binding contract between you and the college. The only recourse to backing out of an acceptance is if the financial aid is not sufficient, which award you may not receive until much later. Consider all of the following before applying ED to any school:
Ø The applicant pool is extremely competitive for the type of students that the college accepts. Check the college website for the statistics of the current freshman class. To be competitive, you should be in the upper 5 to 10% (minimally) of their current freshman class (grades and scores), and there should be something particularly unique about you that will make you stand out among the applicants. Statistics vary with each college – you do not have to be a rocket scientist at every school – some are more competitive than others.
Ø You should have visited the campus, taken the tour and attended the information session, at the very least. If you have not done this, unless you have won the Intel Science Talent Search or done something else extraordinary, the college will likely turn you down – how can they assume you will like the campus if you have not visited?
Ø If you need to compare financial aid offers, or if you need to show strong fall grades to boost your application, ED is not an appropriate option, If you can be assured that the college will meet your financial need, this is a risky option. Please heck with your counselor for more information on the nuances of Early 21 Decision. You will hear that the odds for acceptance are higher under an ED plan, however this is only true if you are extremely competitive for the school, e.g. your grades and test scores are similar to those of the students they accept early. Be realistic about who you are.
Ø As with regular admissions, you must continue to work in school at your highest level, keeping your grades up throughout your senior year. Often counselors receive phone calls to find out how you are doing. Counselors are ethically bound to respond to their questions. If there are erratic grades on the transcript we send, they take particular note and will want to know your progress report grades. You must be aware that your application will be taken very seriously and you will be closely scrutinized. Anything lower than the grades you consistently earn in high school may jeopardize your application.
Ø Colleges will give you one of three decisions: Accept, defer to the regular pool, or deny altogether. If you need to show a strong senior fall, and you are developing as a leader in the fall, regular decision is a better option and will increase your chances of getting in. Colleges like to see growth and will take that into consideration – they cannot always see that in an ED candidate.
Ø Notify your counselor immediately once you learn of your ED decision. If you are accepted under an ED plan, you must immediately withdraw your applications from the other colleges to which you applied. Your counselor will send your Mid-Year Report only to the ED school that accepted you.
Ø Your counselor can help you assess your realistic chances – remember that they have shepherded students through many cycles of applications, and they are well aware of how Bishop O’Dowd students fare at particular schools. Consider their advice.
Early Action: Many private schools offer an EA Plan. As with ED, you must file your application by an earlier date, and the school will notify you of their decision, usually by December 15, although there can be variance with the reply date. You may also submit regular decision applications to other schools and keep those applications active even after you are admitted under an EA plan. You are not bound to accept the school’s offer of admission and may wait until the common reply date of May 1 to decide which college admissions offer you will accept. In the last few years, some highly selective colleges have moved to a “Restricted Choice/Early Action” (SCEA) program, which specifies that you may not apply to any other school’s EA or ED plan. The acceptance you receive however is non-binding. We expect that more schools will move in this direction. Read application materials very carefully to determine the limits of your application.
Service Academies/ROTC: West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy, as well as ROTC programs have unique application procedures. The academies offer a free education in exchange for service in a branch of the Armed Forces. You must begin the process early – no later than spring of your Junior year – and be in touch with your local recruiting office. You must also contact local Congressional district office. Appointments are very competitive, and in addition to top grades and scores, leadership experience during high school is an important criterion. See your counselor for more information.
22 Candidates’ Reply Date Agreement: Colleges notify students of their admissions decisions by April 1, although some schools may stretch notification for an additional week. You do not need to commit to the college of your choice until May 1, at which time you must also notify the colleges whose admissions offer you are not accepting. April is a good time to visit – for some of you it will be the first time, for others to take another look – does the college still meet your expectations?
Wait List: In addition to accepting or denying students, private colleges develop wait lists of students they like but cannot accommodate with an acceptance. Since colleges gamble on how many students will accept their offers, the wait list serves as an insurance policy in case they do not reach their numbers (their “yield”). You will be asked if you wish to remain on the wait list. If you choose to remain on the list, you must still accept at one of your other colleges to hold a place for yourself in the fall freshman class. Typically a college may place hundreds of students on a wait list. If you elect to stay on one, check with your counselor on how you and he or she can advocate for your admission. If this is your first choice school, be proactive but do not be obnoxious. There is a delicate balance, and your counselor can help you determine the best course of action.
23 THE COLLEGE ESSAY
The essay (UC calls it a personal statement) is important to both you and the college. According to one admissions director, “It makes the facts in the student’s folder come alive for us. Because it is the student’s personal statement, no single piece of admissions evidence gets as much attention and provokes as much discussion.”
What will colleges look for in your essay:
Typically those who read your application essay will evaluate it on several different levels:
Ø Your ability to use standard written English that is correctly written (generally typed, although some schools will ask you to write in your own hand), punctuated, and that contains proper grammar, word usage, and syntax.
Ø Content, substance, and depth of insight are also critical. These qualities reflect your ability to think about yourself and to convey your true feelings or opinions about a topic.
Ø Creativity and originality of thought are considered. “It is at this level,” according to one dean of admissions, “that students can position themselves as unique, as individuals who would bring a freshness of vision and viewpoint to the college that will enhance the quality of its academic life.” Above all, make sure you are actually answering the question or responding to the essay prompt. Important: Do not tell them something they already know from your application.
Ø Keeping the above in mind please be aware that colleges are “sculpting” a class when they accept students. They are looking for diversity – not only racial and socioeconomic diversity, but diversity of thought, talents, culture, and geography to name a few. Admissions committees are charged by the faculty to accept those students who will take advantage of the college’s resources, enjoy inquiry, be curious, and who will enhance the learning for all, recognizing that learning takes place in the classroom and in your out-of-class interactions with your friends and professors.
Some practical tips for the essay are:
Ø The essay is yours and yours alone. Write what you feel strongly about, not what your parents or friends tell you to write about unless you agree with them. Only you know best what matters most to you. The tone of your essay should be revelatory, honest, and vivid. It does not have to be academic.
Ø Show, don’t tell and revise, revise, revise!
Ø Avoid the following:
• Vague language
• Passive voice – use the active voice and you are more likely to “catch” the reader
• Inappropriate words – including slang
24 • Flowery language
Ø Be cautious with the spell check feature – instead, always proofread!
Ø Finish the essay with time to spare. Ask your counselor and your English teachers to be readers for you. Listen to their critiques. Your counselor can be especially helpful since he or she knows the process by which admissions officers scrutinize the essay.
Ø Do not even think of modifying an essay sample you have read on the web or in a self- help book. Remember that admissions officers read thousands of essays, and they do know when something sounds familiar. This can result in an absolute denial.
A short list of topics to explore and get you “thinking”:
Ø When was time when you were conflicted? How did you come to a decision? Why?
Ø When were you inspired? What did you do with that inspiration?
Ø Wow! I have changed! What shifted you in a new direction?
Ø When did you have unexpected fun?
Ø Have you ever seen friends or family in a different way?
Ø Ever lose your sense of time?
Ø When have you felt intellectually connected and felt compelled to pursue something?
Ø Ever felt unusually or exceptionally alive?
These ideas are not meant to limit you, but to help you think about how you can show another aspect of yourself that will not be readily apparent in the rest of your application. Reflections on your senior questionnaire can provide a valuable springboard to your essay.
You can find more help under the “Counseling Resources” of the “Document Library,” found at your Family Connection homepage. See the following:
“Brainstorming Ideas for the Personal Statement”
“Personal Statement Do’s and Don’ts”
25 WRITING YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
Because many colleges now use the common application, you may find you need only write one application to most of the private schools on your list. However, you may write multiple supplements and essays to various colleges. You must be aware of the requirements and deadlines for each college.
Read all application instructions carefully. If you are completing a Common Application, make sure you know what supplements are required. This information is accessed through common application website. A note about the Common Application: Some schools will offer alternatives to the common application, while others have adopted it as their sole application. Some people believe that using the common application can hurt your chances for admissions when those alternatives are available. This is not the case, since each member school of the Common Application has signed a pledge that they will not discriminate against students who choose to use it. Recently, marketing firms have started representing colleges by sending out mass emails to students with applications that are titled as “VIP”, “Priority”, “Fast App”, etc. These are marketing tools only and will complicate the process for you and for us. Please trust us when we ask that you use only the Common Application at a Common App school. For more information about this, speak with your counselor.
At Bishop O’Dowd, we ask that you follow certain procedures. Our philosophy is that this is a shared responsibility between the student and the counselor. In college you will be on your own, managing your time and your affairs without the oversight of your parents, teachers, counselors, and school. Learn independence and responsibility now – you will feel a great deal of accomplishment if you take charge of the application process. Remember – you are the one going to college, and once there, you will find many more forms to fill out. Get comfortable with this responsibility. We also recognize that parents will want to help, but it is also up to the student to do his or her own part. Following are not only suggestions, but also directions as to how we work in the Counseling Department:
Ø The application is yours to write – not your parents, your siblings, your teachers, or your counselors. If you are preparing a common application for several schools, you can begin the process after their portal opens on August 1. The common application will save a great deal of time – and do remember the supplements!
Ø Counselor recommendations are required for nearly every private school. Colleges ask for a Secondary School Report (SSR), completed by your counselor, as well as a counselor’s letter of recommendation, an official transcript that covers freshman through junior years, and a School Profile. After the fall semester, in January and early February, the counselors also send a Mid Year Report (MYR) that includes a “seventh semester transcript,” which adds an updated look at the applicant after fall grades are in.
§ For private schools that accept files electronically but are not common app schools, (at your “Applying to” list on Family Connection this is signified by a computer icon) the counselor will use an electronic document similar to the common application SSR. Like you, we will fill it out online and file all our documents electronically. For those that do not accept electronic applications (signified by a postage stamp), we will print out the common application SSR and mail it. Do not give us individual forms from colleges that might be included in
26 an individual applications Please give your counselor plenty of lead-time if you are applying to private schools. Be considerate of our time and respect our deadlines as follows:
ED and EA applicants – you must notify us of your intent by October 1.
Regular admission applicants – You must give your college list to your counselor by November 10.
We are serious about our deadlines. Please adhere to these deadlines. If you know you are applying early, turning your senior questionnaire in early (by the end of August) is essential. If you are late with your paperwork, your recommendations may not reach the colleges by their deadlines. This does not create a good impression to the colleges or us.
Ø Teacher recommendations are required for most private schools – usually one, but sometimes two. Colleges prefer recommendations from teachers in your core subjects (English, History, Math, Science, and Foreign Languages) who you had in your junior or senior year, and who preferably taught you for a full year. If you have a teacher in your senior year who taught you in freshman or sophomore year, that is a fine choice since he or she can also assess your academic growth. Please be very considerate of your teachers. Teachers have the same deadlines as the counselors. They know that they will be writing recommendations, but it is an extra responsibility for them. Do not exceed the number of recommendations requested by a college. Discuss with your counselor who you will be asking for teacher recommendations. They know the faculty and can strategize your choices with you. Your counselor will guide you through the process of electronically requesting a teacher recommendation.
Ø Provide the following for your counselor:
Your list of colleges, which must match the list you have made in Family Connection under “Applying to.” Indicate application due dates and whether the school accepts electronic filing. (Look for the icon)
For schools that require mailed recommendations: Give counselors two envelopes, stamped and addressed, for each of the college admissions offices, with a return address of Bishop O’Dowd. We will use one for the initial mailing (SSR, counselor recommendation, transcript, and School Profile) and the other to send your Mid-Year Report and 7th semester transcript in January. Provide new stamped envelopes if you add schools that do not accept electronic filing.
Ø Provide the following for your teachers:
A photocopy of the college list you gave your counselor.
Each teacher will also need you to complete the Bishop O’Dowd Teacher Recommendation Resource Form (this is in your yellow folder). For schools that require mailed recommendations, for each teacher, provide one envelope for each of those colleges, pre-addressed and stamped. Organize all the paperwork for teachers in a large manila envelope so that everything stays together. Mark the envelope on the outside with your name and the earliest due date. 27 Ø Recommendation instructions are also posted in the Document Library at Family Connection.
Ø Read this section before filing your application: Download a copy of your completed application before filing it electronically (or sending it in the rare instance a college does not allow electronically submitted applications). Having a printed copy on hand is the best way to proofread it and identify egregious errors. If mailing it, ask the post office for a “Certificate of Mailing” (cost is $1.00) for each application. Do not send the application by Fed Ex, UPS, Registered, or Certified Mail – colleges tell us that receipt of your application may be delayed if you mail in this manner. Colleges are not equipped to sign for the applications, and they also do not want to take responsibility if it does not arrive. The Certificate of Mailing is sufficient. Have your counselor review the applications before submitting -- and remember to download a hard copy of your application before pushing the “Send” button.
Ø Send your test scores to each college. Bishop O’Dowd does not send your test scores. You must ask College Board and/or ACT to send your scores (SAT and/or ACT) to every single college to which you apply. This is absolutely essential – every single school wants an official report, and the reports should be sent with respect to application deadline dates. More detailed instructions are in the Document Library at Naviance.
Ø If you have read this section, and adhered to this advice, you can safely assume that you have completed your applications in a timely fashion. Please remember that if you miss deadlines, there is usually no recourse and your application will not be accepted. It is essential you meet deadlines. If you do not notify your counselors or teachers in a timely fashion, their documents may be late. While this will not jeopardize your application (assuming you mailed or filed your part on time), it will raise your anxiety level, wondering when everything will be mailed. Your recommendations, SSR, and transcripts may be late, and the admissions committee may take this as a bad sign. If you have not already learned to be organized, this is the best time to begin.
Ø The Counseling staff is eager and ready to help you and answer your questions – you are responsible for applying!
28 FINANCING COLLEGE: COSTS AND RESOURCES
Cost of Attendance (COA)
Financing a four-year college education today is a daunting experience. Public institutional costs continue to rise and many private schools’ tuitions are inflating at a rate of 4% a year. Regardless of whether you attend a public or private institution, families are often jolted by the realities of that expense when they read the financial aid packages that arrive with the acceptance letters. More often than not, families are not prepared for all the expenses.
Students and their families are also consumers in the academic marketplace, and all good shoppers know the value of comparison-shopping. Comparing colleges is a complex task but doing so will pay off. Comparing the costs of colleges includes looking at several major factors: Tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses. Most colleges publish a brochure that explains the typical expenses incurred by their students. Information is also on the web at individual college financial aid office websites.
Tuition and Fees: These costs vary widely, but the basic dividing line is between the public and private schools. While private schools are more expensive, public schools are no longer the bargain they once were. The average cost of attendance (COA) for a UC school can exceed $25,000, and a CSU school can cost as much as $18,000 or more. Fees continue to rise in the California public system as less and less state money is available to support the universities. Other factors should be taken into consideration. Because of overcrowding, often students cannot enroll in classes needed for graduation. Some students change majors once or twice, and therefore continue their attendance for upwards of six years. Finally, if you can factor in the cost of lost wages graduates might have earned for that extra one or two years, some private colleges, or out-of-state publics, begin to look more attractive. Most private colleges guarantee that graduation in four years is realistic, and it is encouraged and facilitated by faculty, deans, and administrators, even when majors are changed.
Books and Supplies: These costs do not differ much from school to school, but will vary depending on your area of study.
Room and Board: These costs can vary depending on the cost of living in any particular area. Colleges offer meal tickets with different options and pricing, and after freshman year, many students move into apartments and cook their own food. This option can save money (if you truly do cook your own food), though parents might worry if their students are eating healthily. Living at home does not necessarily cut costs as parents support their children financially even at home and a car and parking costs are probably also incurred in this plan – the costs are simply less well-defined.
Transportation and Personal Expenses: Travel expenses may include airfare for out- of-state students or gas and a car for students who take a car to college (or live at home). Personal expenses include entertainment, laundry, road trips, eating out, and clothing required for a colder climate. Don’t forget ski expenses for those colleges that have access to winter sports activities! Again, items such as entertainment will vary widely. Schools in urban areas may not provide and/or subsidize concerts if they are already occurring in the general area. However, schools in small towns and rural areas do import entertainment for their students, and they subsidize the cost to make it affordable for student budgets.
29 Financial Aid Resources
There are many possible sources of financial aid for students. The federal government sponsors some programs and states, local cities, businesses, associations, individuals, and other private sources sponsor others.
A note about the timeline for financial aid: Please check the Document Library at Family Connection for “Financial Aid Info for Seniors.” This outline gives you a basic “to do” list for senior fall. Do not miss deadlines!
Most students will need to seek financial assistance to meet their college expenses. Remember this one important fact: Do not rule out any college on the basis of cost alone. Many schools that have higher tuition costs are sometimes more able to provide aid than schools that have a lower cost. Determining who will receive aid is the job of each college financial aid office where your financial aid applications are sent. Family income alone will not predict eligibility. Other factors considered are family size, indebtedness, or educational expenses for other family members. In the past only sibling or parent college costs were factored in the equation, but in recent years, many colleges are taking into consideration the costs of paying private school tuition for siblings. Take heart, it may not be as bad as you think
“Need” is the difference between what it costs to attend a particular college and what a student’s family can afford to pay, as determined by the college’s Financial Aid office. Need is defined differently at each college, depending on the costs of the college, their resources, and what they define as your resources. The sum that you will be expected to pay is called “Expected Family Contribution” or EFC.
Use the Financial Aid Calculator at the College Board to determine your estimated need. See the “Fin aid calculator” link at Family Connection. Do both federal (public schools) and institutional (private schools) methodologies.
The guidelines by which college financial aid offices determine your package can vary yearly. Be sure to get updated information. Pay attention to deadlines – filing dates differ at each college and missing them can be very costly – you may not receive aid even if you are eligible.
Types of Financial Aid:
Ø Grants or scholarships do not have to be repaid. Grants usually are awarded on the basis of need. Scholarships may be awarded on the basis of need or on some other criteria such as academic achievement, community service, citizenship, or leadership. In some cases they are awarded purely on merit without regard to financial need. If you think you do not qualify for need-based aid, you may still qualify for merit aid. Most colleges will want you to file a FAFSA and /or CSS Profile in order to award you a merit-based scholarship.
Ø Loans must be repaid. Repayment of federally subsidized loans is deferred until after a student graduates, usually six months.
Ø Federal work-study programs involve earning money through a job usually arranged by the college. Your salary is paid partially by the college and partially by the Federal Government. These are the best jobs to obtain as you usually will not work when the 30 college is recessed for vacation. Some colleges do not participate in work-study programs, but they still employ students and pay them a good wage – they simply are not a part of the federal program. Do not be discouraged if a college says they do not have work-study jobs. Ask about other employment for students.
Federal Grants:
Pell Grants are distributed based on family need and education costs at the school to which you apply. The minimum and maximum amounts vary each year. You are considered for a Pell Grant when you file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline date of March 1 of your senior year. The deadline date for some private colleges is much earlier – check individual applications.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) supplements the Pell Grants and do not have to be repaid.
Federal Loans:
Perkins Loans are made by the college with federal money and must be repaid. These loans offer low interest rates. Repayment begins several months after you leave college (whether you graduate or not) and you have up to ten years to repay the loan.
Stafford Student Loans are based on student need and are capped at different amounts each year. In your junior and senior years you receive nearly twice as much as in your first two years of college.
PLUS loans are parent loans and you do not need to have identified need for them. However, you do need to file the FAFSA, and therefore apply for the Pell Grant and Stafford Loan before you can apply for a PLUS loan. Loan rates vary, and some states have money set aside for parents at lower interest rates, even if you are not a resident but your child goes to a college in that state. Information about PLUS loans will be included in your financial aid package.
California State Aid:
The majority of state aid to undergraduates is need-based. There are three categories of state aid called Cal Grants A, B, and C. Please refer to the Appendix for a copy of the current income ceilings and amounts available in each of these categories. You must complete a Cal Grant GPA Verification Form to receive Cal Grant money. The GPA Verification forms are available in the Counseling Department in late December or early January. The student completes Section B and then gives it to his or her counselor to complete Section A. There is no need to make an appointment to do this – give it to your counselor before school and pick it up later in the day. Deadline for submission is March 2. Please note that certain restrictions apply and only those who qualify by GPA, have a certain income level, and will attend college (public or private) in California will be eligible to receive money. File this form even if you are not sure that you will attend school in California.
Individual College-based Funds:
This money includes everything from athletic to academic or merit scholarships. Schools that are heavily endowed often pass money on to students in the form of scholarships. Certain 31 very wealthy schools have begun to replace loans in a financial aid package with money from their endowments, and although some of those schools base all of their financial aid decisions on need only, they will make sure you have as few loans as possible. Some colleges offer long-term and short-term emergency loans out of their own funds.
Financial Aid Directly from a College:
Within your application packet for a private school (or at the website), you may find an additional financial aid form, or a request to complete the CSS Profile (see the College Board website for the Profile). College financial aid offices may also require a copy of the parents’ most recent income tax return. Most colleges and all federal and state aid programs use the FAFSA as a basis for granting aid, and all students applying for aid must fill out the FAFSA. The FAFSA asks for a detailed account of a family’s financial situation. After processing, the results are sent to the colleges indicated by the student.
You may complete the initial application for the CSS Profile online in October. You will be sent the long form, which asks similar questions to the FAFSA. The CSS Profile can be submitted in the fall, while the FAFSA cannot be submitted until January 1. Once again, be aware of individual college financial aid priority dates – each one may be different. Priority dates mean that if you do not file your forms on time, you may not receive full financial aid. February 15 is the deadline for submitting FAFSA for state scholarship programs. Paper forms for the FAFSA are available in the Counseling Center, and the application is online as early as November or December – if you file electronically, remember to download a copy for your files, and do not push the send button until January 1!
National Merit Scholarship Corporation:
The NMSC administers many scholarships for colleges and businesses. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis using the results of the PSAT you took in October of your junior year. A student becomes a semi-finalist based on a high selection index score (usually the top 1% of those who tested) on the PSAT/NSMQT exam.
Although the amount of most scholarships is somewhat minimal and one-time only, the prestige of being named a scholar is significant. Scholarships come from the National Merit Corporation (one-time only, non-renewable), individual colleges (may or may not be renewable), and corporations (usually renewable) that award to students who live in the vicinity of one of the sponsoring company’s place of business.
Private Scholarships:
Scholarships are awarded by many private organizations that are local, state, and national. They look for many attributes in a student, ranging from particular extracurricular activities, academic abilities, and personal qualities. The Scholarship Board in the Counseling Center advertises many opportunities and is updated every few days. The most valuable computer search every student should make is at www.fastweb.org (see the link at Family Connection). This is a free scholarship search that requires your registration. Provide as much information as possible and you will begin to receive regular updates as to scholarships for which you might be eligible.
Parents should also explore scholarship opportunities that may be available through their own workplace, communities, and religious affiliations. 32 Be very careful about private scholarship searches. You should never have to pay money to obtain scholarships. Most of these organizations have been reported to the Better Business Bureau, and there is a warning at the federal funding web page, www.finaid.org (link at Family Connection) for more information about scholarship scams. Please also refer to the FastWeb Student Bulletin in the Appendix for a discussion of scholarship scams.
Other resources that can be used for college funding are home equity loans (tax deductible). Sometimes these rates and payment schedules are more reasonable than those offered on student loans from private sources and colleges.
33 COMMON MYTHS STUDENTS HAVE ABOUT COLLEGES
1. Colleges look at what you have done only in sophomore and junior years. Senior year is “party time.”
Not true. If a college is interested in you, they may ask for your progress report grades both in your fall and spring semesters, before they make their decision. They are looking for patterns. If your GPA drops, admissions offices will be concerned, and if they have already accepted you, they will likely ask for an explanation, put you on probation, or require that you successfully repeat classes in the summer before you enroll in the fall. They may also rescind your acceptance.
2. It is not worth sweating taking AP classes or hard courses like Chemistry or Physics, when a college’s academic high school assessment of you is only based on your GPA.
Not true. The more prestigious colleges will be interested that you took AP classes and the other more challenging elective classes. They do know the difference between difficult and easy high school classes, and they want students who take the initiative to seek a challenge.
3. Many private universities and other small colleges throughout the country are considered too expensive.
Yes, many are among the most expensive in the country. But many students receive a series of grants and scholarships, work-study plans, and delayed payments (loans). Many have internship programs with major companies, which hire intern students to work sometime during their junior or senior year summers. After college these organizations often permanently hire students who interned. There is a hidden value in many private schools that should not be discounted if you are competitive for the applicant pool.
4. I need to decide on a major now. If I do not, colleges will not be interested in me.
Most colleges do not expect you to have a set major. They know that most students change majors once in college. There are certain instances when you should declare a major, e.g. in an application to an engineering, business, or nursing school. Most students will take a wide variety of classes and investigate new areas of study. This is an exciting time, and the liberal arts student is at a distinct advantage – liberal arts study (includes English, math, science, history, social sciences, and the fine arts) prepares you for life and gives you the tools to be flexible in an ever changing job market.
34 RESOURCES TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS Some College Guides and Other Helpful Books on the Process
On choosing a college—The first three books on this list are favorites, and if you actually read them (or most of them) you will feel better about the process and be able to face the coming year of change and transition with calm and a positive attitude (we hope):
The Fiske Guide to Colleges, by Edward B. Fiske. The most useful book to own and is the first book every high school counselor reaches for. Not all schools are listed in here, but most of the schools to which O’Dowd students apply are listed.
The Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College, by Edward B. Fiske. Another guide that gives a step-by-step process that is well written. This book is very approachable if you are looking for a how-to book.
Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College that is Best for You, by Jay Mathews. Similar in perspective to Loren Pope’s, this book offers insights into the admissions process and points out that the best college is the one that brings out the best in you. Jay Mathews is the education writer for the Washington Post and a regular contributor to the Atlantic Monthly. This book provides a very refreshing perspective.
College Unranked, edited by Lloyd Thacker. Bob Laird, UC Berkeley’s former director of admissions, says “College Unranked is the most important effort yet to yank back the college application/admission process from the grasp of college rankings, commercial guidebooks, and expensive private consultants and to restore it where it belongs: in the hands of students and their parents.” A collection of essays from admissions directors, guidance counselors, and parents, this book will calm your nerves and give a realistic, rational picture of college and finding the best fit. Available only from www.educationconservancy.org.
The College Handbook updated and published yearly by the College Board. A complete listing of every college in the country, both 4-year and 2-year, this is primarily a reference book that lists merely data, but can be helpful when looking at snapshot factual data on a college.
Looking Beyond the Ivy League, by Loren Pope. This book dispels myths and encourages students and their parents to consider schools based on how well they serve the growth and development of students. He urges families to look beyond the prestige factor to find some true gems.
Colleges that Change Lives, by Loren Pope. A companion book to Looking Beyond the Ivy League, Pope profiles 40 colleges that he believes are top quality but often overlooked.
Winning the Heart of the College Admissions Dean, by Joyce Slayton Mitchell. This book provides a down-to-earth perspective and a step-by-step guide to all of the factors that go into the application process. It is practical and insightful.
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8 First Choices, by Joyce Slayton Mitchell. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to say you got into your first choice school? This is about looking for the best fit and falling in love with all the schools to which you apply. It is also about being realistic.
The Multicultural Student’s Guide to Colleges, by Robert Mitchell. This book offers a critical look at top schools and tells what is offered socially and academically to students of color. The last printing was 1996, and in recent years, many schools have made strong strides addressing minority concerns. Check college websites to receive the most updated information. However, this can still be a valuable resource.
Cool Colleges: For the Hyper-Intelligent, Self-Directed, Late Blooming, and Just Plain Different, by Donald Asher. This book offers a different perspective on what makes a great education that carries value beyond the college years. For the student who has a different take on life this may be just the right guide.
The Hidden Ivies, by Howard Greene and Matthew Greene. Written by a father and son who are well respected in the field of college advising, this book focuses on 30 liberal arts colleges and universities that are of comparable quality to the Ivy League schools. They discuss the value of a liberal arts education and present the schools they feel have exceptional merit in providing their graduates a strong foundation for life after graduation.
For books that will help you sort through the financial aid maze:
Discounts and Deals at the Nation’s 360 Best Colleges, by Bruce Hammond. Although last published in August 1999, this book still delivers good information about merit-based aid. Do verify the information with financial aid websites at various colleges.
The Ambitious Student’s Guide to Scholarships, published by Octameron and available through their website. Part of their college admissions series, this book demystifies the process. Many of the books in the Octameron series are excellent for their straightforward approach to college admissions and financial aid.
For help in improving study habits and techniques, this is also a valuable resource for studying in high school:
How to Study in College, by Walter Pauk. We recommend this book to everyone who wants to become a better student. It covers a wealth of information and techniques, which can help any student understand how to study better, read better, write better, and learn more effectively. Often recommended for students with learning disabilities, this book is an essential tool for every student. While the author appears to be targeting college students, his suggestions are entirely applicable to high school students.
And one for the parents to help you understand the roller coaster you and your child are on:
Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years, by Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger. This book is a particularly valuable resource for parents who will be entering a new phase of parenting when the first child ships off to
36 college. The college years are a transition for teenagers and their parents, and the sage advice in Letting Go may provide understanding and relief.
Useful Websites www.bishopodowd.org * The Counseling Center’s own website, accessed through Counseling, we provide information on our process and links to many of the sites listed in this document as well as to college web pages. We are continually updating and refining the information on the site. http://connection.naviance.com/odowd * Bishop O’Dowd and our families are users of this site that complements the work that counselors do with students around careers, colleges, and the application process. Various assessments are assigned students, including a personality assessment based on Myers-Briggs, a learning styles survey, and the Holland assessment for career interests.
Testing www.collegeboard.com * Sign up for SAT Reasoning and Subject tests. Bishop O’Dowd school code is 052185 www.act.org * Sign up for ACT (must include Writing option). Bishop O’Dowd school code is 052185 www.fairtest.org For a critical look on testing for college, visit this site. You will find a current list of schools where submission of SAT’s is optional
Perspectives on the College Process www.nacacnet.org The official site for the National Association of College Admission Counseling, there are web pages with plenty of information for students and parents. www.ctcl.com * This is Loren Pope’s website that links to his book, Colleges That Change Lives. The site has thumbnail sketches of those colleges, plus articles addressing issues of interest and concern to students and their parents. This is a very interesting and informative site that also provides links to other sources important to your search. www.womenscolleges.org Website established by the Women’s Colleges Coalition to promote the benefits of a women’s college. Understanding these benefits should be a part of every woman’s college search. Provides very valuable information and compelling presentation. http://www.hbcu-central.com/ * The official Historically Black College and University homepage. www.blackexcel.org/ This is a rich website that offers a valuable perspective on opportunities for minorities. While it is primarily aimed at African-Americans, it also addresses 37 issues that Hispanics and Native Americans face, and it has a number of articles that are valuable resources to all students who conduct a thorough search into higher education.
College Research and Applications www.ucop.edu * This is the University of California home page. Every campus can be accessed from this site. You will file your application from this site. Everything you need to know about UC can be found here. www.csumentor.edu * This is the home page for the California State University System. All the requirements for admissions are listed here, and there are links to each campus in the system. You may also apply online to any of the CSU campuses. www.commonapp.org * This is a one-stop site for applying to private colleges and universities. Schools that are members of the common application organization have agreed to giving the same regard for the common application as they do for their own college application. Many use only the common application. Pay particular attention to supplemental requirements. http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/cdemello/univ.html A commercial website that provides direct links to college and university home pages. http://www.ucan-network.org/ * This is a non-profit website that only posts information about independent colleges and universities (e.g. no public schools). www.ncaa.org * Register here for NCAA Clearinghouse if you expect to play on an NCAA team in college. In your junior spring, download initial and final transcript release forms and give to Mrs. Soller in Counseling. http://www.campustours.com/ * This is a commercial website that provides at-a-glance data about colleges, photo tours, webcams (what it really looks like in winter!), and summaries and information about colleges from a wide variety of sources.
Financial Aid and Scholarships www.finaid.org * This is a non-profit website that was established as a public service to aid parents and families in navigating the financial aid process. You may complete the FAFSA online, access information on financial aid, read about financial aid scams. Become familiar with this site as it will demystify financial aid and help you navigate this process. www.fafsa.ed.gov * Families can apply for financial aid online in a secure, encrypted format. http://www.calgrants.org * The California Student Aid Commission website with everything you need to know about Cal Grants – and more.
38 http://www.parentplusloan.com/plus-loans/ PLUS loans are for parents and the rates are nicely discounted. These loans are not need based – anyone can apply. Often overlooked, this is a valuable resource for parents funding their child’s education. www.fastweb.com * Use this free searchable database to find more than 400,000 scholarships. The monthly newsletters have valuable, up-to-date information on scams, money for college, and the application process and is downloadable in Adobe Acrobat. https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp * Apply online for financial aid from private colleges (some use only the FAFSA – check each college’s financial aid web page. http://tuitionfundingsources.com/index.php * Tuition Funding Sources is a privately sponsored (Coca Cola) site that claims to hold the world’s largest scholarship database. They accept no advertisers and collect no data on those who use it. They claim to be safe and secure. http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/add-it-up/401.html * Calculate your estimated family contribution (EFC) for college expenses. Note: The federal methodology is for public schools and the institutional methodology will give you your EFC private schools. The estimates are rough and aid will also depend on college resources.
* This site is linked from Family Connection. Scroll down the left hand bar to “From your School” where links to other websites are listed.
39 A FEW PARTING THOUGHTS . . .
As you begin your college search, you will discover some wonderful schools that have been unknown to you and your parents. Are they any good, you wonder? They certainly can be – and always keep in mind, that the “cream always rises.” It is all up to you, following your passion, and making the most of your talents and resources. Some of the most successful people with incredible careers came from schools that just might make you sit up and take notice. These people found opportunity, support, and the freedom to pursue a vision. Following are just a few we have gathered from various sources*.
Pearl Buck, author and Nobel Prize in Literature Agnes Scott College, GA
Blythe Danner, Actor Chevy Chase, Actor Bard College, NY
Bryant Gumbel, TV Newscaster Edmund Muskie, US Senator Bates College, ME
Joan Benoit Samuelson, President of LL Bean and winner of first Women’s Olympic Marathon George Mitchell, US Senator and chief negotiator of the Irish peace settlement Bowdoin College, ME
Emily Green Balch, first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (1946) Bryn Mawr College, PA
Garrick Utley, ABC News Carleton College, MN
General Colin Powell, Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff, Secretary of State City College of CUNY
Robert Reich, economist, writer, UC Berkeley professor, commentator for NPR Theodore Giesel (Dr. Seuss), writer and cartoonist Dartmouth College
Michael Eisner, former CEO Disney Denison University, OH
Barbara Kingsolver, Author John Glenn, Astronaut Vernon Jordan, Washington D.C. lawyer and Clinton advisor DePauw University, IN
Michael C. Hall, Actor on Six Feet Under Earlham College, IN
40 Andrew Grove, Founder of INTEL Herbie Hancock, Musician Grinnell College, IA
B.F. Skinner, Psychologist Hamilton College, NY
Joseph Taylor, 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics Juan Williams, Author of Eyes on the Prize, reporter for the Washington Post, and Senior Correspondent for NPR Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist Haverford College
Debbie Allen, Dancer, Choreographer, Director, Actress Ed Bradley, TV Commentator, Radio host Edward Brooke, 1st African-American elected to US Senate Thurgood Marshall, 1st African-American US Supreme Curt Justice Howard University
Bob Jamison, ABC News Ismat Kittani, Former President of the UN General Assembly Knox College, IL
Lee Iacocca, former CEO Chrysler Lehigh University, PA
Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General Walter Mondale, former US Senator and Vice President Macalester College, MN
Lawrence H. Summers, 27th President of Harvard University Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA (he was rejected by Harvard!)
Brad Pitt, Actor U of Missouri
Samuel L. Jackson, Stage and film actor, Academy Award Hominee Arthur E. Johnson, President and COO Lockheed Martin Information Services Sector Shelton “Spike” Lee, Filmmaker and President, 40 Acres and a Mule Martin Luther King, Jr. Morehouse College
George Clooney, Actor Northern Kentucky University, KY
Carl Rowan, Newspaper columnist Oberlin College, OH
Steve Jobs, Founder of Apple Computers Reed College, OR 41 Harrison Ford, Actor Ripon College, WI
Fred Rogers, Creator of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood Rollins College, FL
Milton Friedman, Economist Rutgers University, NJ
Gwen Ifill, first African-American moderator and managing editor, PBS’ “Washington Week in Review” Simmons College, MA
Laura D’Andrea Tyson, first woman to head White House Council of Economic Advisors Smith College, MA
Oprah Winfrey, TV talk show host, Actress Tennessee State University, TN
Barbara Jordan, Member US House of Representatives Texas Southern University, TX
Hillary Rodham Clinton, NY State Senator Madeleine Albright, first woman Secretary of State Wellesley College, MA
Christine Todd Whitman, Former NJ Governor, and former EPA Director Wheaton College, MA
James Farmer, Civil Rights leader Wiley College, TX
Glenn Close, Actor Scott Glenn, Actor Thomas Jefferson, US President Jon Stewart, TV host College of William and Mary, VA
Arthur Compton, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics College of Wooster, MA
Joe Morgan, ESPN analyst; Baseball Hall of Fame Scott Kriens, Chairman, Juniper Networks Mark Mastrov, Founder, 24 Hour Fitness CSU, East Bay
*While we believe the above information is correct, we have not verified its accuracy.
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