Campus Visits--- Get Out There and Look Around

This is a great time of year to visit college and university campuses. The students are well into their fall schedules, the campus is alive with athletic events, and of course if you're up North, the leaves are changing their color. The value in visiting the schools you're considering, is that it gives you a real-life view of what it's like. In class, as well as out of class experiences all help you discover how you would "fit." That's something that you can't find on the internet, YouTube, Facebook, etc. The full sensory experience of visiting universities is the way to go.

My book, Collegebound, listed to the right, has a whole chapter on campus visits. I invite you to get a copy today.

If you have any campus visit experiences that you'd like to share, please make comments.

Financial Aid Applicants Increase

The Department of Education (and reported in US News & World Report) released numbers recently that indicate that there was a jump in college students applying for financial aid. This jump can likely be attributable to the FAFSA application being web-based now, which makes it easier to apply than the previous paper forms of days gone by. Additionally, the degree of exposure college cost increases have gotten in the media, combined with parents not saving enough for college costs, combined with a larger pool of high school students graduated from high school this year--- have contributed to this phenomenon.

Should twins go to the same college?

If you're a twin, conventional wisdom is that you would want to got to the same college as your sibling. However strong that argument is, there are some, including our current President, that say twins should separate and go to different colleges. Read more about this from USA Today.

Green Campus Developments Good for Planet, People and Profit

A recent Los Angeles Times article by Tiffany Hsu noted that college and university campuses are becoming more "green" for not only the benefit to the environment--- but also for "the bottom line" and it's value in attracting more students.

When you present that package of benefits--- it's a difficult movement for which to argue against.

Because of reports such as this we'll see more institutions pushing "green" and see more references to this direction in mission/vision statements or even in educational goals.

What do you think--- is "going green" going to be one of the criteria you look for in a college?

SAT and ACT Comparatives

Ever wonder how an ACT score equates to an SAT score? Wonder no more! The two groups have partnered together on a chart to shows how the scores compare. Click here for the information.

Anything surprise you about the equivalents?

A Gap Year

A growing trend, and one which has been in the news recently, is for students to take a year off after high school, before heading to college. I am a proponient of a gap year especially if a student is lacking surity of their college major/career intent. It can be a opportunity for them to get some direction, while gaining maturity. However, if you're considering it, make sure there is a plan for that time.

I recommend students take a career interest inventory such as The Call or Career Direct to help provide keener insight into how they are wired and how God might be leading them. There will be certain results from these inventories that will confirm what you already knew about yourself---however, just about everybody learns some new things. In the past few years, two of my kids took these inventories and they were pleasantly surprised with some of the careers they could consider.

How do students use that gap year? Some gap year students travel, some might do short-term ministry or community service, while others work to save up money for college.

If you're second-guessing your college plans for this fall, and are thinking about taking a gap year, make sure you talk to the admissions office of your college/university about getting a deferment on your acceptance.

Internet options and the college decision

It wasn’t until the early 1990’s that internet technology came into existence to help with the college search and selection. We relied on brochures, catalogs, and videos that were sent to us through the mail or that we picked-up at the guidance office at the local high school. We managed okay, but the flow of information from colleges and universities was dependent on how quickly they, as well as the postal service, could get us needed information. Things have changed dramatically for the better with the internet.

I've compiled a list of valuable resources available on the internet at my website. Not only can you access a vast array of information, but you can do so in your own timeframe and in a convenient setting.

ACSD Bound

I'm headed to the ACSD Conference at Cedarville University this week, a gathering of Christian student development officers. I'm looking forward to attending with a dozen or so of my colleagues from Moody--- and interacting with the hundreds from other colleges and universities.

ACT & SAT Optional

Some colleges are not requiring applicants to send in their SAT and/or ACT scores for acceptance. This week it was announced in the New York Times that Wake Forest and Smith College have joined a growing number of like-minded schools.

Are the ACT and SAT valid indicators of academic ability? Yes, as standardized tests they offer a measure of students learning. However, they are not the only measurement to student's ability to succeed in college. Other indicators such as high school courses taken, grades in those courses, study skills, motivation, certainty of their future career and college major, as well as recommendations, essays--- all have some bearing on students' performance and predictability of doing well in college.

Will these tests dwindle away over time---I think not. There will always be a need for educators, students, and the parent's of students wanting to have a comprehensive academic assessment of learning.

My wife, Carolyn, and I certainly have not abandoned having our college-bound kids from taking these tests. In fact, our high school junior will be taking both the SAT and ACT next month.

Choosing between colleges?

High schoool graduations are quickly approaching and a number of seniors are still deciding on which college to attend in the fall. These students have received their offers of acceptance and financial aid awards, but because they can't decide which college is best--- they're holding out until later in the summer. In order to hold-out longer, they have to send in a deposit to each of the colleges to hold their place in the entering class. This plays havoc on the efforts of the colleges to really know how is coming in the fall.

What do you think? Why the indecision?