Seismic Shifting Sands:

2016 College Admissions

April 2016Rebecca Joseph and Cyndy McDonald

Your Presenters

Rebecca Joseph, PhD• Professor, Cal State LA• Founder, Get Me To College and All

College Application Essays• Current Unsung Hero, LA County

Contact getmetocollege@gmail.com

@getmetocollege @allcollegeessay

Your Presenters

Cyndy McDonald-• PPS/MA• Experienced middle school & HS

counselor• AVID trainer/coordinator• Founder & President of GuidedPath

Contact: cyndy@guidedpath.net

Seismic Shifting Sands

Overview of Shifting 2016 American Admissions Landscape

• The 2016 admissions landscape changes include testing, financial aid, and new application types

Tips for Finding Firm Footing1. Find common denominator2. Identify Components 3. Stay current 4. Create plan

Overview of Shifting 2016 American Admissions Landscape

ACT/SAT test changesFAFSA Changes

New Coalition Application

Changes to Common Application

2016 College Admissions

Changes to UC & Texas Apply Application Essay Prompts

Common Application

• Common Application • keeps same essays as last year• allows accounts to roll-over• continues to improve transfer

application• adds Indiana University, George

Mason University, and University of Wisconsin-Madison along with 45 other new institutions

• expands outreach including virtual counselor

University of California

• Introduces new format and prompts for both freshman and transfer essays

• Applicants must write 4 short 350 word max essays.

• Freshman can choose from 8 prompts

• Transfers have one required and then seven prompts, of which applicants must choose 3.

UC Freshman and Transfer Prompts• Freshman Personal Insight Prompts: Answer any 4 of the following 8 questions:

• What do you want UC to know about you? Here’s your chance to tell us in your own words.• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you:  But you should select questions that are

most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

6. Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you.

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

8. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?

• Transfers: Personal insight questions: There is one required question you must answer• You must also answer 3 out of 7 additional questions

• What do you want UC to know about you? Here’s your chance to tell us in your own words.• Which three questions you choose to answer are up to you: But you should select questions that

are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

• Required question• Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your

readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university.

• You will also need to select 3 out of the following 7 questions to answer:1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have

positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

6. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?7. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates

applying to the University of California?

Apply Texas New Essays• 2017 U Texas Austin Application Opens August 1, 2016• 2017-2018 effective August 1, 2016 New Essays• ApplyTexas Essay Prompts A, B and C For U.S.

Freshman and International Freshman Applications Slated to replace current ApplyTexas essay choices A, B and C For inclusion in ApplyTexas applications for the 2017-2018 cycle (Summer 2017, Fall 2017, and Spring 2018 - opening 8/1/16)

• Essay A: What was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood, or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person.

• Essay B: Some students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. If you are one of these students, then tell us about yourself.

• Essay C: You’ve got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

New college application: Coalitionhttp://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/

Three Rules to Join

• Must have at least 70% graduation rate after six years

• Must meet all demonstrated need for low-income students

• If public, must have affordable in-state costs

By the numbers• From 29 states: California-Washington

• New York has the most members (11)

• 6 States & DC with single college members (Colorado, DC, Florida, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington)

• 37 Public, 55 Private schools

• 3 exclusive members:

University of Washington, Seattle

University of Maryland College Park

University of Florida.

*Data from GuidedPath Guided Search

Coalition Launch TimelineAvailable now: - Video introduction

Late April:- Students create accounts- Start “locker”- Invite collaborators- Search for coalition schools

May:- Students start adding family information,

testing and extracurricular activity sections to profiles.

July:- Add Self-reported Academic Record section- Start on the Coalition Application itself.

Student Resources

$1 Million Question

Which application should you use?

4 Tips for getting firm footing1. Find common denominator

• Where are you considering applying?• Use your list to plan

2. Identify Components • All essays? Recommendations? Mix? Early applications?• Break down and organize colleges by components.• Personalize at end.

3. Stay current • What has changed? What is current? • Ensure you are working on CORRECT and RELEVANT

components.• Minimize mistakes and the need to back track or rework

information

4. Create plan• Set deadlines.• Set tasks/assignments.• Use online application tool/process to track progress.

1. Find common denominator

Check or create list with application types. Which application should Andy do?

2. Identify componentsCalifornia State

UniversityUniversity of California California and Out of

State Private CollegesOut of State Public

CollegesApplication Application Application ApplicationSAT or ACT

(check campus requirements)SAT or ACT

(must have writing)SAT or ACT

(with writing as needed)SAT or ACT

(with writing as needed)

  SAT Subject Tests(as needed)

SAT Subject Tests(as needed)

SAT Subject Tests(check campus for requirements)

High School Curriculum Self Report on application

High School Curriculum Self Report on application

Transcript Transcript

  Personal Insight Questions(4 )

Personal Statements(number varies)

Personal Statements(check campus for requirements)

Activity List(9, 10, 11, 12)

Activity List(9, 10, 11, 12)

Activity List(9, 10, 11, 12)

  

Counselor Recommendation&

1-3 Teacher/CommunityLetters of Recommendation

Counselor or Teacher Recommendations

(check campus for requirements)

Applications open Oct. 1Submit: Oct. 1 - Nov. 30

Applications open Aug. 1Submit: up to Nov. 30

Applications open as early as July 1 (varies)Submit: Varies (as early as July, as late as May)

3. Stay current

• More colleges than ever are filling more than 50% of their classes with Early Decision.

• More colleges are adding ED 2.• Applying ED 1 or 2 often doubles

likelihood of admissions than regular.

• More students are applying to 12+ colleges.

• Deferrals and waitlists more common than ever.

https://www.iecaonline.com/PDF/IECA_Library_ED-vs-RD-Acceptances.pdf

Deadlines: EA, REA, ED, 1 & 2?

Essay Management

4. Create a planCreate or use online platform to view all application due dates

Use Available Resources

Questions?

Seizing the moment

Closing graphic/slide

Firm footing

Our next webinar: Cured or Cursed?

Peter VanBuskirk- Author of “The Admissions Game”

Register now!

Professional Development you can count on!

Contact us

• Rebecca- include email, website, phone?

• Buy my iPhone/Google app-All College Application Essays. www.allcollegeessays.org

• Cyndy- cyndy@guidedpath.net• www.guidedpath.net• www.guidedpathedge.com