Live Q&As

Great question. We eliminated ED a number of years ago primarily because the applicant pool was not socioeconomically diverse.  We stand by this decision but decided to add an EA, non-binding, option for 2012 in response to student interest. Since this is non-binding and does not require a student to lock in in December or January we believe it will result in a much more diverse early pool.

It seems like schools are seeing more and more early applications to I don't see schools eliminating early programs anytime soon.

I do think that at some schools it is less competitive if you apply through an early program. That varies with school though. You might check and compare offer rates and the percentage of the class accepted early to get an idea of how beneficial it might be to apply early.

Hello junior!  Early Decision is really for students who know that if accepted, they will attend that school no matter what.  Usually it's your first choice college.

Fortunately, UVA has a lower cost of attendance, sometimes significantly lower (compared to out-of-state private schools) and also we have our AccessUVA aid program that is as good as any in the country. Cost of attendance is a HUGE issue. I would encourage all students to consider applying for aid and comparing aid offers before commiting to a school.

Typically Early Action is a non-binding application review whereas students applying Early Decision are making a commitment, if admitted, to attend the institution.  This usually also involves withdrawing other applications and not initiating new applications. 

Homeschooled students will be asked to meet the same admissions criteria.  Each college may have specific requirements.  Ensure that your homeschool curriculum will not contain deficiencies compared to applicants from a traditional high school. You will want to have well-rounded extra-curricular activities and take advantage of learning opportunities such as classes at a local school, community college classes, and other involvement.  Double check the schools to which you are applying as some do require homeschooled students to visit and interview.

Most schools ask for information that is not provided by the FAFSA that will help them better understand the families financial situation. We moved to the Profile this year (we used our own form in the past) because we felt it would be easier for families. The Profile is in some ways like the Common Application for financial aid. Basically, we need more information than is provided by the feds form.

This will depend on the school the student is applying to.  You don't want to regret not submitting something that might impact the review of your application. On the other hand you don't want to submit piles of information to see what sticks, so to speak. Be judicious but don't hold back if you believe it will help the reader get a better understanding of who you are and what you can contribute to the institution.

ED is binding once the student deposits. If admitted and enrolled he would have to cancel his applications to other schools so he would be locked in. Some fear that ED programs push students who are not ready to apply. ED can be a good call but you need to know the school you are applying to is your first choice.  If you apply ED you need to give it a great deal of thought as a family first.

That's a tough one b/c so many factors play a role in the determination of "expected family contribution." Schools will be required by law to post Net Price Calculators on their sites next year. These can provide  a general aid picture for families prior to applying. This might help. About 40% of our enrolling class last year received aid if I recall. I'd have to double check on that but the bottom line is we a. meet 100% of demonstrated financial need and we offer full grant aid packages and cap the amount of loan a middle income student can receive. I hope this helps a little.

That's all very true -- I don't think a lot of people realize that the massive tuition amount printed in college guides is just the sticker price and most students end up paying less. (Here's a piece my colleague Dan de Vise wrote about how the net price of college tuition and fees has actually gone down in the last five years.)

The Ivy League schools, especially, have upped their financial aid offerings, especially to low-income students.

For example, at the University of Pennsylvania all students who qualify for need-based aid will receive it through grants and scholarships, not loans.

Great question. We see many more home schooled students than we used to.  In the case of your daughter we will see her courses and grades from the JC. If there are any other courses she has taken we would need to know about them, who teaches them for example, what is the course content, is there a course description you can provide? All these questions would help us assess the rigor of her program. Also include information on what she does for fun, what are her hobbies, favorite books etc. We want to get an idea of who she is and how she's challenged herself, like all applicants homeschooled or not.

I can really only speak about Oberlin.  I'm an alum and loved being here and still love working here.  The community draws fascinating, outgoing, enthusiastic, passionate and involved students that come together to make a community unlike any other.  There are some specifics that do separate Oberlin from other liberal arts colleges:  1) Oberlin has a world-reknowned Conservatory of Music.  2) We are larger with 2900 students. 3) Oberlin has a unique history as the first to write a non-discrimination based admissions policy, first to grant bachelors degrees to women along side men, first liberal arts college to sign a charter to lower our carbon imprint.

Hmm, I've read some good ones over the years.  I think of those where students took a risk so I'm not sure I'd say they were surprising but I respected the risk taken. The problem with many essays is that they are too bland. They tell but don't show. Students rely on vague generalizations and the essays don't have much tight focus. I'd need to give this more thought though to come up with a specific example of a surprising essay.  I would avoid writing about your boyfriend or girlfriend and if you took a trip to Costa Rica try to think of a way to make it original.

Students sometimes focus on a small sliver of schools at the top of the US News rankings or in the top 25 in the latest football poll when there are hundreds and hundreds of great schools out there. It's a shame really. The admission process is now highly publicized and we definitely see the intensity level being raised each year.  Student need to think about fit first although I know that's a cliche.  Fact is, it's getting increasingly tough to get in those top ranked schools and that leads to anxiety.  If I had the answer for that one though I'd be a millionaire.

Well, some schools will take your ability to pay into consideration when making admissions decisions.  I would direct specific questions to the schools you are applying.

I am not as familiar with grad school admission unfortunately. I am not aware of a universal form b/c grad schools or so individualized.

First off, you got into your first-choice program! CONGRATS! I hope you are properly celebrating :)

Now... just from reading everything here... I think you are worrying about something you don't need to worry about. The important thing is that you got into the program, and everyone except for one person has been warm, welcoming and appreciative.

Some people just aren't very warm over e-mail. Some people just aren't very warm and friendly over all. And anyone who has to work with new students is probably flooded with e-mails and questions from super excited and eager students who want to be instantly liked.

I would just drop the issue all together, unless something else happens. And best wishes getting that advanced degree!!

I think paid consultants are unnecessary.  Schools have dedicated and hardworking and experienced counselors whose job it is to assist students as they navigate the college admission process. I know some outstanding consultants who do impressive work for free in low income areas but by and large these consultants charge a hefty fee for their services.  We can often tell which applicants are too polished but I imagine there are some cases where this might slip by. 

I'll be honest and say that I am less familiar with the issues surrounding for profit schools.  I'm sorry I cannot be of more help.

I cannot speak for our MBA program as I only work with undergraduate admission. We do however talk with students about their admission decision if they have questions.

Most will mention outstanding faculty, facilities, diversity of the student body etc.  Fact is, colleges are amazing places.  I try to highlight what I think distinguishes UVA. I talk about the people, the opportunities (especially if I know what they want to study), the culture. UVA is a special place (granted I'm biased).  There is a history of service and a focus on citizenship and integrity and good character.  I guess you could say we are grounded in Jeffersonian ideals. It's a place that has a nice blend of academic and social as well. Students say they work hard and play hard... Plus Charlottesville is a nice college town and a fun place to live.

Great question!  Speaking for a small liberal arts school, we actually review application holistically and look at all material submitted.  The centerpiece of the application is the high school transcript, the glue of sorts.  We look at the rigor of curriculum and success in high school.  For us, the essays, letters of recommendation, and scores are what help to round out the application.

We keep our finger on the pulse of what's going on across the country among other publics especially.  These are difficult times financially for many public institutions. We are experiencing some of that here in Virginia. There are serious discussions taking place currently at UVA about future enrollment growth and tuition and funding.  I expect this will be something we will continue to discuss for the next several years.  The UC system seems to be in a more difficult situation than most. We do learn from the experiences of others and our administration and faculty do have discussions with their counterparts at other flagship publics.

I think that Oberlin, like many schools are moving toward the internet and websites to reach out to students who may be farther away.  We have some great blogs:  http://blogs.oberlin.edu/  and they are a great way for students to learn about what campus life is like just as one example.

Unlike many students of today, I didn't visit any of the schools to which I applied. I also typed each application on a very loud and clunky typewriter!  My essay was a very poor attempt at describing my personality. I also made the very poor choice of putting my parent's favorite school at the bottom of my list, simply because it was their favorite and I thought they knew nothing about me! In the end, I did listen to them and they were right. I do want to point out that I did apologize when I was 30!