About.com College Admissions: U.S.

Quirky College Essay Topics

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:57:47 +0000

CNN Living recently published a list of "10 Offbeat College Essay Topics." I think my favorite comes from the University of Chicago where they ask, "How did you get caught?" It might be dangerous to be too honest...

For samples of some quirky essays, check out this essay on milk published on MSNBC last year. And on this site, take a look at Felicity's essay on Lisa Simpson and vegetarianism, or Lora's essay on eating eyeballs.

Do you have ideas for an offbeat essay? Share your thoughts below.

Quirky College Essay Topics originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 09:57:47.

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Early Applications to Yale Drop 5 Percent

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:57:48 +0000

Yale
o2ma / Flickr

The Yale Daily News reported this week that the number of early applications dropped 5 percent from last year's numbers. This isn't necessarily cause for early applicants to celebrate -- last year was a record high, and the percentage of early applicants who are accepted is expected to remain near last year's low 13.4 percent.

In general, acceptance rates for students who apply early decision and early action are higher than those for students who apply through regular admissions. Some high profile universities such as Harvard, Princeton and the University of Virginia have eliminated early decision because of concerns that the early application process privileges affluent students.

Early Applications to Yale Drop 5 Percent originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 10:57:48.

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The Tough Road from Community College to a Bachelor's Degree

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:40:57 +0000

Last week I discussed the financial and enrollment pressures facing the California State University system. An article in today's Silicon Valley Mercury News looks at problems in California's community college system. The article reveals that only 4 out of 10 students who enter community college with the goal of transferring to a four-year college actually ever reach that goal. The difficulty of the transfer application, the increasing competition for transfer admissions, and financial challenges were cited as significant factors in the low percentage of students going on for a bachelor's degree.

California is not unique in facing these problems. The combination of decreased funding for public education and increased demand for low state tuition means we probably haven't yet seen the worst when it comes to challenges facing community college students.

The Tough Road from Community College to a Bachelor's Degree originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 09:40:57.

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Financial Woes and Enrollment Cuts for Cal State

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:59:14 +0000

Sonoma State University
Superdk17 / Wikimedia Commons

A press release from the California State University reveals that the stabilizing economy doesn't mean the end to financial woes. Applications to Cal State have been rising steadily, but the system's budget was cut by $564 million for this fiscal year. In response to the funding cut, 4,000 fewer students were enrolled this fall, and spring admissions have been eliminated. Further enrollment decreases are planned for the fall of 2010.

This picture is particularly ugly because to date freshman applications for the fall of 2010 have increased 32% over last year, and community college transfer applications have increased 127%. CSU is asking the state to restore some of the funding cuts and to cover operating cost increases, but given the dismal condition of California's economy the success of these funding requests is certainly in doubt.

What does all of this mean for prospective students applying to public colleges and universities in California? For one, students planning to attend community college and then complete a four-year degree at a state university should recognize the difficulties they might face during the transfer process. Also, four-year graduation rates are already quite low for the California State University system, and those numbers certainly won't improve under the current cutbacks. University budget crises typically mean fewer courses to choose from, long course wait lists, larger class sizes, and less financial aid. All these factors make it harder to earn a degree in four years. Also, the decreased enrollment in the Cal State system is going to put a lot more pressure on California's community college system.

One suggestion in the face of this mess--don't rule out private colleges and universities. Graduation times are often much shorter, and financial aid can be significant. I'd recommend applying to a mix of public and private institutions, and then wait to see what the financial picture really looks like.

Related Reading

Financial Woes and Enrollment Cuts for Cal State originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 20:59:14.

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ACT Scores Available Today

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:55:37 +0000

ACT scores for the October 24th exam will be available online for most students beginning today. To learn what typical scores are for different types of colleges, check out these articles:

ACT Scores Available Today originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 11:55:37.

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Cornell University Photo Tour

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:30:29 +0000

Cornell University Baker Lab
Photo Credit: Allen Grove

A few months ago I spent an afternoon walking around Cornell University's beautiful campus on its hillside perch overlooking Lake Cayuga. Cornell's hometown of Ithaca, New York, might be a little more out of the way for prospective students than many of the other Ivy League Schools, so I put together a brief Cornell photo tour featuring some of the university's key academic buildings.

Like all members of the Ivy League, Cornell is highly selective. The acceptance rate is currently around 20%. To learn more about the university, what it takes to get accepted, and cost of attendance, check out the Cornell admissions profile.

More Upstate New York College Photo Tours:

Cornell University Photo Tour originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 10:30:29.

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December 12th ACT Registration Deadline

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:31:25 +0000

Students interested in taking the December 12th ACT need to register by November 6th to avoid a $21 late fee. Late registration continues until November 20th. Learn more on the ACT website.

SAT test-takers should note that the late registration deadline for the December 5th exam has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 13th.

Related Articles:

December 12th ACT Registration Deadline originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 17:31:25.

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The Short Answer on the Common Application

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:39:28 +0000

If you're applying to one of the nearly 400 selective colleges that accepts the Common Application, then you'll need to elaborate on one of your activities in 150 words or fewer. The short answer can be a frustrating part of a college application. How can you say something meaningful in a single little paragraph?

Central to this challenge is picking the right activity to discuss and avoiding these 5 short answer mistakes. To learn more about what makes a short answer work well, check out these sample responses and critiques:

The Short Answer on the Common Application originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 00:39:28.

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College Prep in Middle School

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:46:39 +0000

I've met parents who are so concerned about getting their kids into a good college that they start putting pressure on their kids far too early. Remember, a student's grades and extracurricular record do not matter before 9th grade. No one -- student or parent -- should be losing sleep over college during those middle school years.

That said, a strategic yet common sense approach to middle school can help a student achieve more once high school rolls around. Here are seven middle school tips to help a student get a strong start to high school.

More College Preparation Articles

9th grade college prep

10th grade college prep

11th grade college prep

Senior year timeline

College Prep in Middle School originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 16:46:39.

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Spotlight on the Macaulay Honors College at CUNY

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:16:10 +0000

CUNY Queens College
*Muhammad* / Flickr

CUNY, the City University of New York, has nearly 250,000 students enrolled in its 23 institutions located through the New York City region. It is one of the most diverse and affordable colleges in the country. High achieving students at seven of CUNY's senior colleges should check out the Macaulay Honors College, a program with outstanding perks. All Macaulay students receive

a full undergraduate tuition scholarship.
a new laptop.
up to $7,500 for global study, internships and service projects.
a Cultural Passport allowing free or discounted admission to many NYC events.
professional mentoring and career preparation.
a housing package for students at City College, Hunter College, and Lehman College.
a sequence of four honors seminars focused on New York City.

Admission to the Macaulay Honors College is highly selective. The program has 1,300 students total from the seven member campuses. Accepted students generally have an 'A' average in high school and a combined SAT critical reading and math score of 1400 (give or take).

To learn more about the seven senior colleges that have a branch of the Macaulay Honors College, check out each school's profile: Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College, Hunter College, Lehman College, Queens College, and the College of Staten Island.

If you'd like to learn more about the Macaulay Honors College and what it takes to apply, visit the official Macaulay website. If you are familiar with the Macaulay Honors College, please share your experiences below.

Every week I spotlight a great college that might be off the radar of college applicants. If there's a college you'd like to see featured here, please post your ideas in the College Admissions Forum.

Spotlight on the Macaulay Honors College at CUNY originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 10:16:10.

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