Benchmark Associates

Seniors: Time to Send Mid-Year Reports to Colleges

Anne Wager — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:58:37 +0000

Seniors who have applied to colleges that ask for midyear reports need to make sure that this information is forwarded to all of these schools. Midyear reports include grades from the seventh semester, along with a report from the counselor in some cases. Students who used the Common Application to apply to colleges will find this form under the School Forms section. Some high schools send these reports automatically, and others require that students take the lead on requesting these from the counseling office.

Scholarship Opportunities

Anne Wager — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:42:56 +0000

While most of the money available to students is institutional aid offered by the colleges, local scholarships are an additional source of funds students should consider. Finding these local scholarships can be tricky. However, a new clearinghouse will match state-based scholarship providers with students who either plan to attend college in the state or are Washington residents planning to go to college elsewhere. Designed to be a one-stop site, theWashBoard.org is a free, student-centered, online clearinghouse. This user-friendly site allows students to search and apply for verified scholarship opportunities that are specific to their academic interests, college or university, or other criteria. Read more about this valuable service here.

There are many types of scholarships available to students applying to specific colleges. To begin researching these options, get familiar with the financial aid website for each of the colleges on your list. While most merit money is offered in an admissions letter to students and is not based on need, some colleges still require families to complete financial aid forms (FAFSA and/or CSS Profile) to be considered for merit scholarships. This information can generally be found on the financial aid website, and, if not, a call to a college’s financial aid office can help answer this question. Generally, students receive merit aid if they are in the top 1/3 of a college’s applicant pool; however, the most selective colleges do not generally offer this type of aid. Merit aid is based on a student's total application—scores and grades, musical/theater talent, leadership, community service, academic focus, and other factors. Meritaid.com is a good place to start when exploring offerings at a many colleges. Some colleges offer additional scholarships that require a separate application (music scholarships for non-music majors, for example), and these can usually be found on each college’s financial aid website. Some can be difficult to locate, so go to the college homepage and type "scholarships" into the search box.

Test Deadlines

Anne Wager — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:33:16 +0000

Deadlines are approaching for standardized tests this spring. Neither the ACT nor the SAT is offered over the summer, so it is a good idea for juniors to get a plan together now for completing testing prior to fall, when they will be busy with applications. In addition, if colleges require SAT Subject Tests, it is a good idea to plan for these tests at the end of the academic year (either the May or June date). If planning to take the ACT, check college requirements to determine if the Writing Section is required. Remember to register as early as possible to get a preferred testing location.

SAT

March 13th (Phone registration is still available until February 24th). Standby is also available. SAT only, no Subject Tests

May 1st (Register by March 31st)

June 5th (Register deadline May 5th)

ACT

April 10th (Register by March 5th)

June 12th (Register by May 7th)

Spring Preview Days for Juniors

Anne Wager — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:20:58 +0000

A number of colleges throughout the country will be opening their campuses to high-school students for on-campus preview days this spring. Activities include presentations by the faculty and president, meetings with coaches and department heads, tours of individual departments and dorms, samples of campus food, an overnight stay, and more. Be sure to check for more details on the admissions websites as pre-registration is often required. The following is a listing of some of the opportunities on the West Coast.

Gonzaga University

Western Washington University

Whitman College

Washington State University

Linfield College

Oregon State University

Southern Oregon University

University of Southern California

Marymount College

Washington DC College Visits

Anne Wager — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:56:55 +0000

The Gelman Library at George Washington University

Washington, DC, offers a myriad of choices for students who are interested in studying in this vibrant urban setting. While many universities boast internships as a way to entice students, accessibility during the school year can be problematic. On the other hand, Washington, DC, provides endless opportunities for research and internships in a wide variety of venues. With easy access to extensive public transportation, students may intern during the school year without jeopardizing their academic schedules. I recently revisited many of these institutions to get updates on programs, as the current interest level for studying in Washington, DC, is very high.

George Washington University offers the most urban alternative for students. For students who know what they want to pursue in graduate education, GW offers several combined degree programs including a BA/JD and BA/MD. Start by exploring the many options available to GW undergraduates. The Political Communications Program is one of the only programs of its kind offered in the World; this degree combines political science, journalism, and communication and provides extensive opportunities for hands-on experience. Accomplished professionals such as diplomats, speechwriters, and political strategists bring real-world insight to the classroom. Students interested in history and government may want to explore extensive offerings that include Middle East Studies, Criminal Justice, Peace Studies, Linguistics, and Archaeology. The International Affairs Program continues to be one of the most popular, with students studying abroad in several GW-managed programs. Students in the School of Business may study at Sciences Po in Paris and participate in site visits to companies like Pfizer, Moet et Chandon, and L’Oreal.

American University, located near many of the embassies in Washington, DC, is a favorite for students interested in studying international business, business and music, film and media, and the arts. Students at American University are politically active and enjoy the benefits of a small campus with active faculty participation.

Georgetown University

Georgetown University continues to be a popular choice for those students with strong academic, leadership, and community service experience. This highly selective Jesuit university is popular with students interested in studying international relations, economics, history, government, and philosophy. Students take a first-year Jesuit core and enjoy a strong sense of community, Division I sports, and the opportunity to participate in a variety of clubs and activities.

Located near Washington, DC, in Fairfax, Virginia, George Mason University is continuing to expand on-campus housing options as it draws students from around the world. Economics is one of the most popular programs at GMU. Students with an interest in criminal justice, law and society, or homeland security and justice can study in the Administration of Justice Program.

Read more here about my visits to colleges in the surrounding area including Gettysburg College, University of Virginia, William & Mary, the University of Richmond, and others.

Update on California Public Universities

Anne Wager — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:11:44 +0000

Students in the California State Public University System are experiencing cuts in programs and furlough days that are causing unprecedented impact. In addition, many programs are designated as "impacted", meaning there are more applications than openings in a particular program. Students applying to impacted programs may be required to file supplemental information and also may be routed to other campuses. It is important to meet the initial filing deadline of November 30th to receive consideration. Information on impacted programs at individual campuses can be reviewed here by clicking the "Impacted Majors Matrix".

The University of California System has for the first time implemented a waitlist program for freshmen applying for Fall of 2010. Some counselors have reservations however, as they feel this will simply increase uncertainty and create more anxiety for students.

University of Washington Admissions Office Announcements

Anne Wager — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:08:40 +0000

The University of Washington Office of Admissions recently provided an update on the admissions process. They have received nearly 23,000 applications for the autumn 2010 freshman class. and 6,300 offers of admission have been made so far. The UW will probably be making about 12,000 admission offers to yield an overall freshman class of 5,500. As such, many more admission decisions are yet to be made. Even though they have not released that many letters of denial yet, they will eventually be sent to about half of the applicants. As they did last year, the UW is also predicting a busy waitlist season with large waitlists which will be used extensively. Due to budget cuts and an increase in the number of applications, The Office of Admissions will be closed to the public through March 5th to review applications.

Upcoming Events

Anne Wager — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:23:56 +0000

The Seattle Gap Year Fair will be held Sunday, February 28 from 1:00 to 3:30 PM at The Northwest School. You will have the chance to speak with representatives from these exciting programs offered worldwide.

The Pacific NW Association for College Admission Counseling College Fair will be held Saturday, March 6th at Seattle University. You can view the updated list of participating colleges here by clicking on "Colleges Participating".

The UW College of Engineering recently announced that “Engineering Discovery Days” will be held Friday April 23, and Saturday April 24. Friday’s event will focus on grades 4-8, and will feature many hand-on activities and exhibits. Saturday’s event will be geared towards high school students and their families, community college students, and current UW pre-major students. In addition to the usual exhibits, these students will have the opportunity to attend information sessions about the College of Engineering, and the UW community.

Students in the classes of 2011 through 2013 are invited to spend part of their Spring Break at the NELA Center for Student Success in Seattle, learning about education beyond high school and ways to improve their attractiveness as college and scholarship candidates. Students can register for this free event now by logging on to NELA website or by calling the Center at 206.461.5366.

Selective College Applications Surge

Anne Wager — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:23:32 +0000

Applications to highly selective colleges for the Fall of 2010 have surged this year, particularly those offering generous financial aid packages with no loans.

Ask the Admissions Office-Live Webcast December 2nd

Anne Wager — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:38:51 +0000

The Wall Street Journal in conjunction with www.unigo.com will host a live webcast on December 2nd at 4pm Pacific Time. Representatives from the following admissions office will be available to answer your questions:

Bryn Mawr College
Grinnell College
Marquette University
Princeton University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Vermont
Wesleyan University
Williams College

You can e-mail your questions to wsjoncampus@unigo.com prior to the webcast.