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RHS Guidance
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It's
College Decision Time!
May 1st is looming right around the corner. It’s the
date many colleges and universities designate as the deadline
for making your decision about which school you’ll
attend come fall. Most schools require that students officially
commit to an acceptance offer by paying a non-refundable
deposit (the amount of the deposit varies from school to
school).
Make sure you put a lot of thought into your final decision.
You’ll be spending four years of your life and a great
deal of money at the school you choose. Make sure it’s
the right one!
Unfortunately not everyone is accepted at their first choice
school. In fact, there are a host of different offers and
outcomes that you could experience. While we can't list
all possible scenarios, here are the most common, and what
you should do in each case:
* When You’re Accepted
* When You’re Accepted But Can’t Afford the
School
* When You’re Wait-Listed
* When You’re Rejected
* When You’re Rejected Across the Board
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When You’re Accepted
Well, this is a no-brainer. Congratulations! You've been
accepted at the college of your dreams -- your number one
choice. Considering the family budget, it’s affordable.
What are you waiting for -- send in your deposit now!
If you've been accepted by your top schools but can't decide
where to go, you still have a few weeks 'til May 1. If you're
really still unsure, I would suggest an additional visit
to the campus(es). Assuming all of the schools offer your
major, are within your budget, and have a good academic
reputation, the decision becomes a subjective one -- where
do you want to spend the next four years of your life? Where
do you feel most comfortable? The answer to these two questions
will give you your decision.
When You’re Accepted But Can’t Afford the School
The good news is: You've been accepted at the school of
your first choice. The bad news is: You can't afford it.
The aid package doesn't quite cut it.
What can you do?
1. Send in your deposit and apply for every possible form
of financial aid, hoping to make up the difference.
2. If you don't get sufficient aid, you might have to go
into more debt than you wanted; however, if you’re
sure this school is the right one for you, it will be worth
the extra debt. Think of it as a long-term investment.
3. Accept the offer from another school with a better financial
aid package.
When You’re Wait-Listed
"We are sorry that we cannot admit you at this time,
but we are placing you on our waiting list." Hold on!
Before you consider this a total rejection, consider what
the wait list is. Knowing that most students apply to more
than one school, Admissions Offices commonly offer acceptance
letters to far more students than they have space for.
Historically, they know that not everyone will accept their
invitation for admission. So, there’s still hope!
Therefore, it would be wise to request (in writing) an extension
on the May 1st deadline from your second choice school.
If you are offered admission from the Wait List, it will
definitely be worth the wait. If you’re not comfortable
doing this, send in the deposit to your second choice.
When You’re Rejected
It never feels good to be rejected. Especially when your
first choice school has denied you admission. No problem,
accept the offer from your second choice and move on –
don’t beat yourself up either because it’s no
biggie! There are many, many excellent schools out there.
When You’re Rejected
Across the Board
Perhaps you weren't the greatest student in high school
for whatever reason. Perhaps you haven't been accepted by
any of the colleges where you applied. Don’t worry
-- there are usually community colleges or other colleges
with open enrollment that will give you a chance.
These schools will allow you to take college level courses
to prove to yourself and to others that you CAN do college-level
work. And if you do well in a community college program
you can transfer to a "better" school down the
road and save some money to boot!
Remember, your school counselor is there to answer your
questions. And you can direct any specific questions about
your school to the college admissions or financial aid officer.
SAT
and PSAT Fast Facts Brought to you by the American School
Counselor Association
These pointers will help you and your teen wade through
the alphabet soup of admissions tests.
* The two major college admissions tests are the Scholastic
Assessment Test (SAT) developed for the College Board by
Educational Testing Service, and the American College Testing
Program Assessment (ACT). Students may want to take both
examinations in order to increase their flexibility in applying
to college. Some colleges will accept the score from either
test; other colleges will require one or the other.
* Students should take the SAT or ACT test at least once
in the junior year. Ask the school or the Education Specialist
in your Urban League affiliate for information on fee waivers.
* The PSAT, or Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test, is
often called the practice SAT. It is taken in the 10th &
11th grades. The PSAT gives an idea of how students are
likely to perform on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).
There is a PACT+ or a Preliminary American College Testing
Program Assessment, as well.
* The PSAT serves two important functions in its own right.
First, PSAT scores and grades are used to identify students
who will receive National Negro Merit Scholarship and scholarships
from the National Hispanic Scholars Awards Program. Second,
they are used, along with other criteria, to qualify students
who wish to be considered for appointment to military academies.
* Results of standardized tests such as the SAT can be obtained
from the test developer. The answer sheets and booklets
are available. Reviewing them will help determine your child's
strengths and weakness.
The addresses of two of the major test developers are:
College Board Admissions; Testing Program (SAT) C.N. 6200;
Princeton, NJ 08541-6200
American College Testing Program (ACT) P.O. Box 168; Iowa
City, IA 52243
Parents--Help
or Hindrance in Choosing a College? Brought to you by the
American School Counselor Association
Source: Charlotte Thomas, Career & Education Editor,
Peterson's
As parents, you are a critical part of what college your
children choose. Here are some ways you can help instead
of hinder what is probably the first, most important decision
your child will have to make.
* Let your child know it's his or her decision, not yours.
Parents should evaluate their own goals for sending their
children to college. However, "They need to recognize
it's the son or daughter who will be attending the institution,
not themselves," advises Carol Loewith, an educational
consultant.
* Let your child clarify his or her own values.
Parents are responsible for many of the values their children
hold. But now that their child is assessing what he or she
thinks is important, it's time for parents to step aside
and allow the child to stand alone.
"Parents can't be objective because they're too invested
in their child," suggests Dr. Gary Ripple, Director
of Admissions at Lafayette College.
* Lead your child to trust his or her own instincts.
Later in life your child will have to rely on his or her
own decision-making capability. Now is the time to strengthen
that skill. "Even a large expensive decision about
college starts with the facts, but the final choice is much
more intuitive," says Ripple. Parents have to let their
son or daughter know their feelings can be trusted.
* Let your child do the lion's share of the work.
"When they're dropped off on campus, students are the
ones who will have to make college work," Ripple reminds
parents. If parents fill out applications or tell a child
what campus is best, the student will not be invested in
the process. When Ripple sees an application that's been
filled out by a parent, he knows that student is in trouble.
"The parents won't be there to do assignments or take
exams," he warns.
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