The New College Application Landscape

Rebecca Joseph, PhDJuly 7, 2016

getmetocollege@gmail.comhttp://tinyurl.com/julypalisadeslibrary

Your PresenterRebecca Joseph, PhD

– Professor, Cal State LA– Founder, Get Me To

College and All College Application Essays

– Current 2016 Unsung Hero, LA County

Contact getmetocollege@gmail.comGetmetocollege.org@getmetocollege @allcollegeessay

Many Steps to Class of 2017 College Admissions Process

New SAT; Changes to ACT

New FAFSA Structure and Opening Date

Changes to Common Application

New UC and UT Essay Prompts

New Coalition Application

Class of 2017 College Admissions Process Organizing Your Applications

The New College Application Landscape

Overview of New College Application Landscape– The landscape changes include testing,

financial aid, and new application types

– What changes does 2016 hold for these 4 application types?

Common Application

University of California

Apply Texas

New Coalition Application

Which Colleges Does This Affect?– Survey frequency of applications

Tips for Students to Finding Firm Footing– Location

– Components

– Deadlines: Early or Regular?

– Essay management

Testing• Entirely new SAT• New Writing Section of

ACT• Many schools now not

required writing section of each

• Many schools now making SAT Subject Tests optional

• A few new test optional colleges

Financial Aid

• FAFSA and CSS Profile Now Open October 1 each year.

• Both now use prior-prior year approach—Applying for 2017, use 2015 taxes.

Student Portals

• Many portals students need to manage– Testing– Applications– Transcript Requests– Organizational Systems– Financial Aid– College Specific Portals

Changes to Application Systems

The Common Application– Allows accounts to roll-over.

Juniors can start now. – Keeps same essays as last

year– 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

2016-2017 Common Application Prompts

250-650 Words (2015-2016 percentages)

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (49%)

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (17%)

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again. (4%)

4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. (10%)

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. (22%)

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

New Personal Insight Questions• 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 Coalition Application

By the Numbers• From 29 states: California-Washington

• New York has the most members (11)

• 7 States 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

Who’s Accepting Coalition Apps this year?

94 members

- 56 colleges

TAKING

applications

this year

38 waiting for

next year

Who’s Accepting Coalition Apps this year?

3 announced they are

“exclusive”

1. University of Florida

2. University of Maryland- College Park

3. University of Washington- Seattle

2017

Coalition Launch Timeline

Available now: - Guidance and advising resources- Students create accounts- Start “locker”- Invite collaborators- Search for coalition schools- Add family information, testing and

extracurricular activity sections to profiles

Recently:- Add Self-reported Academic Record

section

Soon:- Recommendation and Documents upload

allowed- Start on the Coalition Application itself- Comprehensive counselor resource list to

share with students/parents

How Do We Go Forward?

http://tinyurl.com/julypalisadeslibrary

Easiest Path Possible1. Find Common Denominator

– Where do most students apply?– Use that to drive strategies.

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

3. Stay current – What has changed? What is current? – Ensure students are working on CORRECT and

RELEVANT components.– Minimize mistakes and need to back track or rework

information

4. Create plan– Review past protocols/policies? Do they still work for

students and your organization? Or do you need new ones?

– Use online application tool/process to track progress.– Set deadlines.– Set tasks/assignments.

1. Find Common Denominator

2. Identify Components

3. Stay Current• More colleges than ever are

filling more than 50% of their classes with Early Decision.

• More colleges are adding ED 2.• Many colleges making Subject

Tests optional and/or not requiring writing section of SAT or ACT.

• More students are applying to 12+ colleges.

• Deferrals and waitlists more common than ever.

• z

4. Create A Plan

• Create or use platform to help you organize your process

• Naviance• Google Docs

Essay Management

Use Available Resources

Questions?

Contact Dr. Joseph• getmetocollege@gmail.com • www.getmetocollege.org• www.allcollegeessays.org• Buy my Integrated Website

and Mobile App-All College Application Essayswww.allcollegeessays.org

• http://tinyurl.com/julypalisadeslibrary