Transfer Applicants: Know Yourself Get Accepted
April 27, 2010
Inside Higher Education ( Scott Jaschik) summarizes a study to be released today by the National Association of College Admission Counselors researching:
Factors of ‘Considerable Importance’ in Transfer Admissions Decisions
The first percentage is Public Universities, the second Private:
GPA at postsecondary institutions 95.2% \ 90.8%
Grade-point average in high school 3.7% \14.5%
Grades in transferable courses 72.5% \ 53.8%
Scores on standardized tests 3.8% \ 8.5%
Quality of high school 0.0% \ 3.8%
Quality post-secondary institution 7.4 \13.2
Articulation with prior institution 19.5% \ 9.9%
Essay or writing sample 6.1% \ 25.5%
Recommendations 0.0% \ 24.6%
Ability to pay 0.0% \ 3.4%
Race/ethnicity 2.4% \ 2.6%
Interview 0.0% \ 11.1%
I read this data to confirm that public institutions look at the transfer applicant’s grades in post-secondary institution and whether he/she has taken appropriate classes (articulation). For public universities high school is a thing of the past as are SAT scores.
HOWEVER, private schools treat the transfer application almost identically to that of freshmen applications. GPA post-secondary and high school is important as are essays, recommendations and INTERVIEWS. Notice also that private schools are not as worried about the specific classes an applicant took in post-secondary school.
This may seem inconsistent but in truth I believe it gives different students with different profiles each a place to apply and be accepted.
Posted by info at 6:12am
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Strong Predictor of Competitiveness is Financial Aid Policies
April 06, 2010
It’s “simple”: More students are applying to Ivy League schools who have not added capacity so the percentage of those accepted is dropping.
But looking beyond the “simple” is the fact that Ivy League schools and other tier one schools with financial aid policies that promise to pay 100% of need are ALL attracting more applications. The current recession has made financial aid a key factor in selecting schools for parents at all economic levels. And if one is fortunate enough to not have to worry about financial aid, then be aware that more generous financial aid policies will make a college/university more competitive than a comparable college/university with less generous financial aid policy.
ACCEPTANCE RATES AT SOME TOP U.S. COLLEGES
Acceptance rates at some top U.S. colleges for the class of 2014:
School Applied Accepted Rate
Harvard 30,489 2,110 6.9%
Stanford 32,022 2,300 7.2%
Yale 25,869 1,940 7.5%
Princeton 26,247 2,148 8.2%
Columbia 26,178 2,397 9.2%
Brown 30,136 2,804 9.3%
MIT 16,632 1,611 9.7%
Dartmouth 18,778 2,165 11.5%
SOURCE: Dallas Morning News research
Posted by info at 7:33am
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SDSU New Class: Smaller, Smarter, and Not So Much from San Diego!
March 02, 2010
As reported by Keith Darce of the Union-Tribune, of the 3,534 first-year students expected to start in the fall, 1,484 will come from high schools south of state Route 56 in San Diego County and those in Imperial County, SDSU officials said yesterday.
An additional 1,740 applicants from the service area would have been accepted under the old admissions system, which allowed such applicants to qualify with lower test scores and grade point averages.
The policy change, announced in September, is part of a larger effort to reduce fall enrollment by 2,750 students in the wake of major state budget cuts. SDSU administrators have said they want to emphasize academic quality and maximize admissions flexibility while still maintaining a healthy geographic mix.
Overall, the university’s student population will fall to 28,986 this year, its lowest level since 1995 and down from 31,579 in fall 2009.
The new class has an average high school GPA of 3.78 and an average SAT score of 1148. That compares with a 3.62 GPA and a 1110 SAT score for last fall’s freshman class.
Posted by info at 7:36am
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Private Colleges Want Community College Transfers
February 18, 2010
In USA Today [ www.usatoday.com/news/education ] , David Moltz reports: ” Community college transfer students are no longer being courted only by the usual suspects. More private institutions, of every ilk, are aggressively recruiting students from two-year colleges, hoping to bolster and diversify their enrollments and capitalize on the belt-tightening of regional public universities.”
This is the best news in months for the beleaguered community college students who can no longer transfer in the winter term, who can no longer get classes…who can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Look to private schools and apply for financial aid.
Posted by info at 9:19am
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Even the Rich & Famous Universities Hurting in this Recession
February 09, 2010
As reported in Inside Higher Ed www.insidehighered.com today, both Dartmouth and Williams have reversed their two-year old policy of no loans except for the most needy of students. In addition, Dartmouth is cutting non-teaching positions in response to a “structural” budget deficit. Translated, their endowment revenues that are relied upon for operating budget are down. EVEN the rich and famous private universities are hurting in this recession!
What should parents and students do? Take the time to research the financial viability of the colleges/universities you are considering. A good starting point is www.nacubo.org/research , the National Association of College Business Officers. As will all other parts of our economy each college/university will bring a different set of circumstances to the recession.
Posted by info at 6:59am
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URoomSurf: Comfort Zone
February 08, 2010
Just a reminder…
It’s getting closer to the time when seniors will begin applying for housing at colleges and universities. Most colleges take this process very seriously requiring students to complete detailed questionnaires. Their goal is not only compatibility, but also roommates that cause each other to grow by experiences roommates from different places, backgrounds or with different interests.
URoomSurf solicits, for example, “Students of University of Iowa Class of 2014″ to join in a search for their roommate on line. Perhaps an interesting way to meet people, but the University of Iowa is not going to honor those choices and perhaps they shouldn’t. My guess is most students who participate in URoomSurf won’t step too far out of their Comfort Zone…plenty of time for that the rest of your life, college may be one of your last chances to experience the new or different.
Posted by info at 9:10am
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Waiting Lists/Flying Standby: Make Alternate Plans
January 28, 2010
The papers have been filled with discussions of waiting lists at UC’s since the Regents meeting last week. Waiting lists are not new to colleges/universities, they allow universities to avoid the risk of too many seniors accepting their offers which wrecks havoc on dorms and class size. They are new to the UC’s driven by reduced capacity and budgets.
Historically, not many seniors are accepted off of the waiting list because admissions officers “guess” right with their targets for freshman admissions.
As you can see waiting lists for colleges are much like standby lists for airlines–great for the airline and sometimes good for the passenger who happens to want to fly on an unexpectedly open flight . For private colleges/ universities that report their admissions off of the wait list it is typically 1-3% of those on the waiting list.
I hope that Seniors and their parents who are placed on a waiting lists for one or more UC will recognize that much like flying standby your acceptance requires an unexpected opening at one of the all very, over-crowded and under-funded UC’s…not likely. Make alternate plans.
Posted by info at 8:59am
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Biology Class to Change for “New” AP: Tail Wagging the Dog?
January 28, 2010
Jay Matthews reports in the Washington Post today that AP tests are being redesigned to move away from fact-based content tests to tests of mastery of concepts. http://www.washingtonpost.com/
The first test to be changed is Biology. Necessarily high school curriculum will be adjusted. …and perhaps how colleges treat AP credit depending on their preference for students to have a strong fact base.
A voice tells me I don’t like “The College Board” (whoever they are) driving education decisions. Is the tail wagging the dog?..once again.
Posted by info at 8:05am
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Only 48% of Cal State Students Graduate in 6 Years!?
January 27, 2010
Los Angeles Times reports today that the Cal State University system currently graduates 48% of its students in 6 years. Graduating only 48% of its students in 4 years is unacceptable.
52% either never graduate or graduate in their 7th or 8th year.
PARENTS AND STUDENTS do the math…the cost of a Cal State education will likely exceed that of a private school. 65% of students at LMU graduate in 4 years.
To address the problem the Cal States are considering reducing the number of general education requirements and not allowing students to change majors easily. These changes and more online audits of student credits is hoped to raise graduation rates to 54% BY 2016 (raise it 1.25% each year..) Cal State officials are putting the blame on the students. First, all students should be required to take general education requirements given the likelihood of changing careers five times. Second, no help for the students who know their major but there is no space–ie nursing. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO THE LOW GRADUATION RATES IS MORE CAPACITY, MORE CLASSES AND MORE GUIDANCE.
Posted by info at 9:01am
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Class of 2014: Be Nice to Your Friend with a 4.5 GPA, Rejection Is Tough
January 16, 2010
Applications are up to both public and private universities! Space available at California’s public universities and community colleges is down. Space available at private schools remains constant.
The UC system reduced enrollment of California-resident freshmen by 6 percent, or about 2,300 students, and is expected to shrink enrollment further this year even as a record number of applicants applied for admission for fall 2010, said Nina Robinson, UC Director of student policy. YES, you read it right cut 2,300 PLUS more!
CSUs are mandated to cut enrollment by 40,000 students statewide over two years, despite having a record number of applications. Bernard Vinovrski, California State University, Fresno, associate vice president of enrollment services, said Fresno State has received 10 percent more applications this year, despite having a shorter enrollment period.
On the private side for the sixth consecutive year, Princeton University has set a record for students applying for admission, with 26,166 applications received for the class of 2014 which will be comprised of 1200 freshmen which translates to 4 in 100 applicants being accepted. The number of applicants for next year’s freshman class represents a 19 percent increase over last year’s record of 21,963 completed applications for the class of 2013. This will be the year when 4.8 GPA, concert pianist and ASB President is nothing special.
ADVICE: YOUR LIST SHOULD INCLUDE SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK AND MASSACHUSETTS. APPLY TO NO MORE THAN TWO HIGHLY COMPETITIVE SCHOOLS IF ANY. AND GO OUT AND FIND THOSE GREAT SCHOOLS THAT HAVEN’T YET GOTTEN ON THE NATIONAL RADAR…START BY LOOKING IN THE MIDWEST.
Posted by info at 10:40am
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