Where exactly are we headed?
How did college become so competitive?
The 1990s saw not only an increase in the number of high school graduates, but also an increase in the percentage that decided to attend college. In 1979, about half of high school graduates applied for college upon receiving their diplomas; by the late nineties, two-thirds applied. In 1979, the college acceptance rate averaged 56% at public four-year colleges; by 2000 it was down to 46%.
What does the future hold?
The number of college-bound graduates is expected to gradually increase over the next few years, peaking around 2008. After that, a gradual decline is expected to follow. So children currently in middle school or younger should have an easier time getting into college.
Should we be panicking?
Not if you're informed. There is more information available today than ever, thanks to the web and some great publications. Attend every information meeting offered at your child's school, including middle school where academic tracking often begins.
High school counselors know which courses students should take now to get into college later. Pay attention to the different levels of academic subjects. For example, a student may be ineligible to take Physics in eleventh or twelfth grade if he did not take the prerequisite honors-level Math. Attending college-planning meetings at your child's school will prevent such surprises.
What can we do now?
Besides gathering information, help your middle or high school child develop excellent study habits. I highly recommend The Middle School Years, by Michele A. Hernandez to parents who want an early start. Encourage your child to take the most challenging academic courses he or she can handle while still maintaining an A or B because colleges care a great deal about the level of difficulty in completed course work. Keep your child involved in an activity he or she loves. Note that colleges prefer to see a student become accomplished in one activity rather than dabble at a variety of interests. The same is true of foreign language: have your child choose one and take it right through high school.
What about expenses?
Establishing a college savings account for your child won't necessarily make him or her ineligible for financial aid. The key thing to remember is that schools expect a greater portion of savings in the child's name to be used for college than they do parental savings. Schools take into account other parental obligations such as a mortgage and retirement needs. So keep your child's savings account in your own name; in a 529 savings plan, for example, which remains the property of the parents.
Keep in mind too that some types of colleges emphasize merit as much or more than financial need when distributing aid. Private four-year colleges allocate roughly half of their financial aid resources on the basis of academic merit. Public institutions designate roughly one-quarter for merit. Two-year colleges emphasize financial need.
What matters most, grades or test scores?
Grades. Colleges consider the student's GPA and class standing first, test scores second. Third most important is the nature of the coursework (honors courses carry more weight than non-honors courses). Beyond that, private colleges value student essays and letters of recommendation whereas public colleges value advanced placement courses taken in high school.
How important are advanced placement courses?
High schools typically offer three levels of coursework in academic subjects: basic, honors, and advanced placement. Advanced placement courses are considered college level and some colleges give credit or half credit for select courses. Usually a grade of B or higher is required. If you have a specific college in mind, check the list of courses they accept. Most colleges require a minimum grade of B to count for college credit. Finally, make sure the student can handle the work: it is better to get a B+ in an honors-level course than a C in an AP course.
What is the new SAT?
There's a major stir going on about the new SAT. Yes, the changes are radical and yes, if your child is in the graduating class of 2006 or later, he or she will take the new SAT.
The categories have changed. Previously, the SAT consisted of a Verbal category and a Math category worth 800 points each for a maximum total of 1,600 points. Now there will be three categories: a Verbal category (now called Critical Reading); a Math category; and a Writing category, each worth 800 points for a maximum total of 2,400 points. The test takes 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Every category has changed. The Critical Reading category emphasizes reading comprehension with shorter reading passages added and analogies removed. The Math category includes Algebra II questions with quantitative comparisons removed. The new Writing category contains a 25-minute essay (graded by two readers on a scale of 1 to 6 with a third reader brought in if there is more than a two-point difference between the first two readers). The Writing category also includes multiple-choice questions on grammar and language usage.
Is a college visit necessary?
There is nothing like walking on campus when students are in class to get a feel for the campus. The junior high school year is when your family will want to visit campuses. Be sure to go sometime during the school year when you are out of class but the college is in session.
What should families discuss about college?
Regardless of your child's age, begin discussing college now. Depending upon how far along the student is in school, the following topics should be considered:
How will we pay? Discuss with your child how college bills will be handled. Is there savings set aside or will the child be expected to cover some costs in the form of part-time work or loans?
Is private school an option? Don't assume you can't afford it. It may be worth applying for financial aid because private four-year colleges, more than any other type of college, award aid based on academic merit. In general, a little less than half of financial aid money comes in the form of grants, which do not need to be paid back.
What size school? Keep in mind that students who end up in large schools often find their own niche of students based upon academic and extracurricular interests anyway, so don't completely close the door to a large institution.
How far from home? Some parents and students feel that two hours by car is just right, but you may have different needs. Consider geographical region for outdoor activities and sports and don't forget climate: the California native may have trouble with a northeastern winter.
What if my child already knows what she wants to be?
It's wonderful if your daughter has known since the age of five that she wants to be an architect. But for the first year or two of college, she will be required to take general courses. So, for those early years, think twice about placing placing your child in a college with a restrictive curriculum. It is extremely common for students to change their mind about what they want to study in their first year--yes, even children who have known what they wanted to be since the age of five. If the student finds himself in an art college when he has lost interest, he will not only need to change colleges, but some of his courses may not be accepted. So for those first two years, think broad.
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