Enrollment Management

For those of you who thought college admissions was really need-blind, it may be time to review the notion of Enrollment Management and the concept of merit aid in this classic Atlantic Monthly article. 

Bright College Years=Stressful Years

The college years used to be conceived of in song and nostalgia as being a carefree time full of fun and hijinks. Is this all going by the wayside? 

It seems so, if a recent AP poll is correct. According to the Associated Press,  85% of college students surveyed report feeling stressed, with upwards of 40% reporting feeling sad or depressed. 

Today's college students, by and large, face greater pressures than their predecessors, including dimmer job prospects and heavier debt loads. College students are increasingly likely to work while taking classes, as well, which contributes to their higher levels of stress. 

Parents and counselors, take note: college students still need your support and guidance, even though they're grown up and living on campus. Be alert for signs of stress and depression and stay involved. Ask questions when your child comes home for vacations and don't be afraid to intervene when necessary. Luckily, college campuses offer counseling and mental health services. Make sure your child is aware of these services and knows how to access them. 

Major Mix-up!

UC San Diego actually sent 29,000 acceptance letters to students they had meant to reject this year. 

Read about it here. 

A Good Year for Waitlisted Students?

Normally, being placed on the waiting list of your top school is a disappointment. Typically, only about 15% of waitlisted students make it off of the waiting list into the incoming class at highly selective schools. 

This year could be different, though. The bad economy is causing more students to turn down admissions offers from pricier, selective schools, creating opportunities for those students on the waiting list to get in. Even Harvard took 200 students from their waiting list last year!

So, if you are placed on the waiting list, don't give up. If you can follow up and convince the Admissions Office at your preferred school that they really are your #1 choice, you just may stand a chance this year. 

Good luck!

Discounts for College Visit Travel

This is cool: if your student is traveling for a college visit, you can receive 50% of companion Amtrak tickets for the trip. Learn more about the Campus Visit Discount program here.

Some Tax Help for Struggling Tuition-Payers

The just-passed Obama stimulus package carries at least one glimmer of hope for cash-strapped parents of college students: a new $2500 tax credit, raising the current tuition tax writeoff to $4000. Just a drop in the bucket, when you consider that tuition at most public universities now run $17,000+ and prestigious private schools can top $50,000, but still, it's something.

Details are currently a bit sketchy, but you can learn a bit more here.

Apply NOW for the Best Chance to Receive Financial Aid

While you could wait a little longer to file your FAFSA form, the truth is, when it comes to financial aid, it's FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. That means that colleges hand out the aid that they have to the students who submit their forms earliest, and if the money runs out, you're out of luck.

Bear in mind that more students than ever are apt to be in urgent need of financial aid than ever, this year. So, consider the competition and get those forms in!

Remember: it's OK to submit the FAFSA if you don't have your taxes done, yet. Just estimate your income and assets, send it in, and then make corrections later. The important thing is to be at the front of the line...

To learn more, click here. 

Students Can't Pay College Bills

Increasing numbers of students are not able to pay their college bills; many are being forced to drop out. As recently reported in U.S. News & World Report, sixty five percent of college registrars surveyed have noticed an increase in unpaid tuition bills this year. Some schools, including Spelman College, have almost a quarter of their student body in this situation. 

Obviously, the bad economy is largely to blame, but poor college financial planning is also at work here. 

Interview for College From Home

The college interview just got easier. Thanks to an increased willingness to embrace new technology, high school seniors can now interview for college using their computer webcam.

It's still not as much fun as an actual college visit, but it's nice to know that this is becoming a realistic option for students with travel limitations. Contact Admissions officials to see if this is an option at your preferred school.

Changes to SAT Score Reporting

Thanks to new policies of the College Board, students will now be able to hide some SAT test scores from admissions officials. 

The new "Score Choice" option was enacted in response to student demand and is meant to reduce some of the stress associated with the college admissions process. Students who take the SAT more than once, as many do, may send only the best scores along with their applications. 

The change is not without controversy, and some highly selective universities are still requiring that all scores be sent. Still, at no extra charge, this change should help students to take their SATs without the terrifying feeling that everything is riding on one test.