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Fix Financial Aid? OK.

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Calls for improving the way students apply for financial aid have been flooding the college admissions world, thanks to two articles by college admissions writer/guru Eric Hoover.  The first article goes into painful detail of the painful process (yes, it deserves two painfuls) many students experience filling out the CSS Profile, a financial aid application many colleges require in addition to the FAFSA.  Not only does this monster weigh in at about 100 questions; students have to pay to submit it (although waivers are available).

This article was a – well, painful – reminder to everyone involved in college admissions of the awful realities of applying for financial aid – basically, the more you need the money, the harder it is for you to apply for it.  Low-income families may be familiar with getting deluged with paperwork for mortgages and credit cards, but there’s something about making families go through myriad hoops to get a college education that simply keeps people up at night.

Eric gives us a glimpse of what some colleges are doing to ease this burden in a follow-up article featuring colleges that have dropped the CSS profile and developed their own shorter form of about thirty questions.  By itself, that seems like a step in the right direction, but observers wonder if that really helps students.  If they now have to answer thirty different questions to apply for aid at each of the five colleges they want to attend, that’s 150 questions.  Does this make the CSS Profile look like a better deal?

It’s clear colleges need to make sure the aid they offer goes to those who truly need it, but if the process used to confirm eligibility is enough to keep students from applying for aid and for college in general, something’s got to give.  Congress recognized the need to simplify the FAFSA form used to qualify for federal aid, reducing the questions from 108 to thirty-six.  Is that enough of a change to have more students persist, especially when entering first-year classes are expected to decline significantly in the next few years?

If ever a situation existed that calls for major realignment, this is it – and two ideas are out there that could do exactly that.  Jon Boeckenstedt, vice provost for enrollment at Oregon State, took a look at some data when he was at DePaul, and he decided to examine the relationship between what a family is expected to pay for college – the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) – and the answer to just one question on the FAFSA – What is the parents’ adjusted gross income (AGI)?

The results are on Jon’s blog, and while I don’t claim to be a data person, I seem to recall something about how nice straight lines at a 45 degree angle tell you something is up between the two data points you just graphed.

To my knowledge, no one has ever done anything with this idea, but maybe it’s time they tried.  Jon writes that Congress once considered reducing FAFSA to two questions: parental AGI and number of people living in the house. Yet, something clearly got in the way of taking that road, since the new FAFSA is stuck in the mid-thirties.  Politicians hate to tempt people with programs that are too easy to apply for, so that may be at play.  But look at those lines on Jon’s blog. Doesn’t that make you wonder?

If two questions seems like too easy a fix, colleges could also consider the supermarket approach to financial aid.  More than one college admissions professional has said that college is one of the few commodities you agree to buy before you know what the price is.  Cans of tuna have the price on them; so do new shoes and college textbooks.  Once you see the price, then you pull out your wallet.  But at best, colleges send the financial aid information with your acceptance, and most send it later.

That strikes a lot of people as a very backwards approach, and it was one of the things the Net Price Calculator was supposed to fix.  But NPCs only take scholarships and grants into consideration, and many don’t include so-called “merit” scholarships.  If you want to know how much your monthly loans will cost – or even how much your loan will be – that’s going to wait at least until you’re admitted.

What if a college decides it’s a supermarket, and puts the price on the goods before they’re sold?  Reduce your in-house college financial aid form to two questions (AGI and people in the house) and use that to build a complete financial aid package within two weeks of receipt of the information – grants, loans, work study, the whole ticket.  You include all kinds of disclaimers pointing out the student hasn’t been admitted yet, but IF they are, here’s what they can expect, give or take five percent. That’s a lot of wiggle room, but it’s better than what the student gets now – and if the two questions are as accurate as they appear to be, the wiggle room likely wouldn’t be necessary.

There may be a million reasons why this might not work, but hundreds of colleges just flipped their required SAT policies on their heads because reality said they had to – and test scores were considered untouchable by most of these places just twelve months ago.  Higher education has a reputation for focusing on the solution and not the problem.  The times we’re in give us a chance to break that mold and open up the gates of learning to thousands of students who are currently stuck on the outside looking in.

Can I Work While Studying in Germany?

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Germany is one of the most attractive countries in Europe from both educational and professional perspectives. Germany is known for innovative employment opportunities in automation and engineering fields. In addition to this, Germany has one of the lowest unemployment rates across Europe. Often, students desire to work part-time jobs for generating secondary income while they study in Germany; however, they need to realize that there are different conditions for different students who desire to work in Germany while completing their studies.

If you are a student from the European Union, European Economic Area, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, or Norway,  you are treated as a German student; thus, you will have free access to Germany’s job market. Students from these areas can work up to twenty hours a week while studying. Yet, if students exceeds said hours, they would need to pay into the German social security system and encounter a negative impact on their studies.

If you are not from any of the areas mentioned above, then also you can work in Germany alongside studying. You can either work for 120 full days or 240 half days per year. However, if you work as a student assistant or research assistant in your own university, this limit is not applicable to you. You need to notify the Alien Registration Office if you take any sort of job along with study.

It is to be noted that non-students can not work in self-employed or freelancing jobs.

Students have the opportunity to earn up to €450 per month tax-free while studying in Germany. However, if you make more than the stated amount, you will be subjected to income tax practices and automatic tax deductions. Employers can withhold income tax despite paying a lower salary; yet, they can reclaim the deducted amount after submitting the income tax statement.

To find work in Germany, it is recommended that you have proficiency in the German language or have completed an internship during your studies. Additionally, if you study any other language or opt for other preparatory courses, the eligibility criteria for getting jobs may be stricter. International students studying in Germany can work in their lecture-free periods only by getting document consent from the Federal Employment Agency and concerned foreign authority.

Compliance with the Federal Law is essential for international students while working and studying simultaneously in Germany. The core reason for the same is that non-compliance can lead to being expelled from the country. Thus, it is highly recommended that international students explore the regulations applied to their part-time working, conform to the rules, and acquire the permit to work from concerning bodies. It is also to be noted that working within the university has different working hours and wages, as individuals work for longer hours with higher pay. However, getting a part-time job in German universities is not very easy as the quality standards in universities are very high. Outside universities, students can work as support staff and waiters at cafes, English tutors, and production assistants for the number of hours stated above.  

There are ample provisions of free education in Germany as Germans, Europeans, and citizens of any other country can study in Germany without paying the tuition fees. These provisions apply to almost all the study programs functioning in public universities. There is only one condition for international students: they need to get a residential permit before arriving in Germany and finish their course in Germany itself. The core reason for which students from any country can get free education in Germany is that German culture works on the belief that education should not be treated as a commercial product, rather it should be delivered as a noble service; which is only possible by providing free access to higher education to the students. In addition to this, free education in Germany also supports its economic growth and welfare. International students desiring to opt for free education in Germany can contact KCR Consultants to learn more.

In recent years, dedicated legislation was passed that allowed public universities to charge a nominal tuition fee of 1,000 euros annually. However, only a few exceptional public universities can charge this tuition fee. Additionally, Germany’s governmental bodies have also understood the social and economic benefits pertaining to immigration and international students. Concerning this context, Germany has developed an ideal environment for studying, working and staying in the country for international students. Due to this reason, no general tuition fee is charged to foreigners.

You might think that as universities do not charge tuition fees, they might not be very good or lack resources to deliver qualitative education. However, it is far from the truth, as German universities are considered to be among the world’s best educational institutions. Thus, as an international student, you can expect to gain world-class educational facilities and high-quality teaching. Additionally, Germany has strict standards for educational providers, due to which teachers are highly accredited and knowledgeable. A degree from a renowned German university is respected around the world; thus, it attracts varied career choices and professional opportunities for all sort of students.

Additionally, charges that international students might need to bear while studying in Germany are also comparatively very low. The general overview of the cost of living that international students need to bear in Germany is presented in the following table:

Particulars Average Cost per Month
Rent and Utilities 300 to 500 euros
Food and Drink 200 to 250 euros
Health Insurance 100 euros
Phone and Internet 30 euros
Leisure and Hobbies 50 to 100 euros

International students can also opt for scholarships in Germany with the German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD). The German Academic Exchange Services serves as an official scholarship database that allows international students to search for suitable scholarships options that they can opt for concerning their desired services and personal traits. 

Rice University Launches Business Major for Undergrads

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Starting Fall 2021, Rice University in Houston, Texas is adding a major to the over fifty it currently offers.

Developed by the School of Business, the new undergraduate business major is in response to demand from students for a deeper business education. It will provide a robust foundation in leadership and business fundamentals, including finance, accounting, marketing, organizational behavior, strategy and communications.

The program will be led by the same professors who teach in Rice’s current MBA and Master of Accounting programs and are integral to the School of Business’ tight-knit community of scholars. Students in the undergraduate business major will need to choose a concentration in either finance or management. You can find out more about the concentrations, as well as the Honors Program in business, on the Rice website.

COVID Changed Admissions a Little.  Let’s Change it More.

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This isn’t the week to be a high school student.  Statewide assessment is going on  across the country, and thanks to social distancing policies, at least some students are taking the ACT on gym bleachers, six feet apart, straddling a wooden plank across their legs and using it as a desk.  Among other things, the results of this ACT will be used in some states to decide which  students get merit scholarship money.

Students in Michigan are about a month away from likely doing the same thing.  State officials reached out to the US Department of Education and asked for a waiver from the required testing in this year of  COVID mayhem.  Apparently the request got there when Betsy Devos was still in charge, because it was denied.

School counselors really thought we had won the day when over 1350 colleges decided to continue their test-optional admission policies for this year’s juniors—in fact, many colleges have extended this policy for an additional two years.  This kind of extension takes a little bit of courage, since it was made before colleges finished the current admissions cycle.  Either they’re hoping for the best, or they’re seeing what so many colleges have long known—testing doesn’t mean all that much, and once you no longer have it,

In our delirium, it seems we forgot to talk to government officials, who are asking for test results that are sure to disappoint.  Early test results in the last year show student achievement is down.  That may be for all kinds of reasons, but when you make a student take the ACT on their lap, it’s pretty likely that’s not going to show their best effort—so we can expect to see more of the same.

School counselors aren’t a greedy bunch by nature, but there are more than a few that look at the adoption of test optional policies and sigh.  It was just a year ago when more than a few college admissions wonks—deans and directors included—were truly excited at the prospect of creating a brand new admissions system that was cleaner, fairer, and easier.  Ample articles are out there showing how wealth skews every single tool used in the current system, from grades to test scores to essays to letters of recommendation to extra curriculars.  When the COVID quarantine came along, veteran admission watchers thought “At last!  Here’s the big thing that’s going to require us to rethink the whole process.”

That didn’t exactly happen. Since many of the changes affecting admissions also affected campus life and methods of instruction, college administrators were too concerned with keeping beds full and classrooms open to consider changing most admissions policies.  Figuring out how to build a class without test scores proved to be challenging enough; changing anything else was perceived to be a dice roll no one could take right now, unless they were willing to risk the college’s entire future on it.

There’s still a lot to do to bring in this fall’s class, but it isn’t too early for colleges to hunker down now and think about The Big Move they didn’t have time for this year.  Understanding that most admission changes are glacial, admission offices can use the lessons they learned from the quick change to test optional and build on them with a more strategic approach for other changes.  This could lead to a new model of admission for this year’s high school sophomores.  It’s already clear most colleges that went test-optional aren’t going to go back.  Top that decision off with some strategic planning, and careful study of some schools who did make huge strides this year (I’m looking at you, UCLA), and there’s still a chance to either even the playing field of admission, or openly admit it isn’t even, and develop the protocols needed to create the exceptions that will make it more fair.

Meanwhile, if someone could just tell government policy makers why they went test optional, and why it makes sense for states to do so as well?  They might as well make the students complete the tests with quill pens.

University of Exeter makes international student scholarship and admissions news

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University of Exeter, a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive UK universities, has shared some exciting news for prospective international students: a new scholarship opportunity.

The UK university, which has four campuses – Streatham and St Luke’s (both of which are in Exeter) and Truro and Penryn (both of which are in Cornwall), is offering a range of full, £10,000 and £5,000 tuition fee scholarships for international fee-paying students starting in September 2021. These undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarships are on offer across a number of academic programs. In particular, Global Excellence Scholarships recognize high academic achievement and assist students in accessing Exeter’s dynamic teaching and learning community. For more information click here.

Yet, news of Exeter’s international student scholarships isn’t all there is to report from the southwest of England. Exeter is also currently running a number of online live chats for a number of undergraduate programs. These live chats are a chance to talk to a current student and, where available, a member from an academic department from the subject a student is interested in studying. Students can ask any questions about course content, teaching, assessment, applying and student life at Exeter. To find dates and sign up for such a chat click here.

Meanwhile, if a chat isn’t enough for you, but you can’t make it to Exeter’s campus in person, the university’s new virtual tours are the next best thing. These 360 Virtual Campus Tours of Exeter’s impressive campuses in Devon and Cornwall allow students to take a look around the university’s accommodations, sports centre, library, seminar rooms, and lecture theaters. To learn and experience more of Exeter and its campuses, we recommend perusing the university’s YouTube channel.

With so much valuable information at your fingertips online, there’s not better time to seriously consider studying at Exeter.

What the death of SAT Subject Tests means for strong high school students

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What are high achieving members of the high school Class of 2022 and younger to do now that SAT Subject Tests are no more?

That’s the question many of my students have been asking me since the CollegeBoard pulled the plug on the rigorous one-hour content-based tests that at one time covered everything from Biology to Writing. In more recent years, the Writing Subject Test was subsumed into an optional section of the main SAT, but with the news that all SAT Subject Tests were being cancelled also came word from CollegeBoard that the optional Writing section of the SAT would also be canned. So much for the importance of writing, at least from the perspective of the powers that be at both the CollegeBoard and most American colleges, none of which made so much as a peep opposing the CollegeBoard’s decision to no longer attempt to assess students’ writing.

Oh well, I don’t make the rules; I simply help students play the game, and what a perverse game the American college admissions process has become.

Below are my first thoughts about what students can and should do to pump up their chances of college admission now that a very important objective measure of knowledge mastery has fallen by the wayside.

Amherst Shares Latest Admissions Stats

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Amherst College received 857 Early Decision (ED) applicants this admissions cycle, which represents a forty-three percent increase over last year. This led to a twenty-five percent ED admit rate, which is down from a thirty-two percent ED admit rate last year.

This news came from Cate Granger Zolkos, Amherst’s Dean of Admission. As a result of the application increase, Amherst expects forty-five percent of its Class of 2025 will be drawn from its ED admits (up from thirty-nine percent last year). Meanwhile, 13,930 students applied to Amherst Regular Decision (a thirty-one percent increase over last year).

In other news, Amherst has announced that for domestic Early Decision applicants this fall, a whopping forty-five percent applied without testing (test-optional) and a full thirty-nine percent of Amherst’s ED admits were test-optional. Among all Regular Decision applicants, forty-nine percent have applied test-optional. With the applications flooding in, Amherst will continue to be test-optional for high school seniors applying during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 admissions cycles.

At some point before the 2023-2024 admissions cycle Amherst will evaluate whether the test-optional policy will remain in place permanently.

Learn all about being an undergrad in the UK

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Sometimes you just need a change of scenery. If this describes how you are feeling right about now and you are an American or Canadian high school student, NOW is the time to seriously consider and start researching options for completing your undergraduate degree in the United Kingdom.

“But how do I go about do that?” you ask? “I wouldn’t know where to begin!” you declare.

Start by signing up for the invaluable TH!NKUK event running from January 18 through 22, 2021.

TH!NKUK is like a massive multi-day virtual college information session, and it will be the largest scale event organized specifically by UK universities for a North American audience this year. TH!NKUK highlights diverse higher education opportunities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and will cover everything from how to submit UCAS applications to what it’s like to arrive in the UK as an international student. Best of all, participants will have the chance to engage with International Admissions Officers, academics, current UK university students from North America, and UK university alumni.

This flier highlights all of the participating UK universities, the huge range of sessions available and schedule, and – most importantly – the link to register.

Students, parents, and high school counselors are encouraged to attend to learn more about studying in the UK.

Before or after attending, here are five ways applying to attend college in the UK is different from applying to attend college in the US.

Long time readers of admissions.blog know that I’ve often said that there are at least two great reasons for Americans to get their degree in the UK.

What’s that you say? The UK is not exotic enough for you? Here are four reasons to consider going to college in Europe and an introduction to going to college in France.

Though so much has changed in the last year, high school students need to remember that the world is your oyster! Don’t settle for an American college degree if it’s not a good fit for you. Research until you find your ideal post-secondary path. Good luck!

Ohio State moves Early Action Deadline in Fall 2021

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Ohio State University has announced that it will be moving its traditional November 15 Early Action Deadline to November 1 starting in Fall 2021.

The news was shared Monday by Beth A. Wiser, Ohio State’s Executive Director of Undergraduate Admission, who also said that the university has yet to decide if it will again be test optional during the 2021-2022 admissions cycle like it was during the 2020-2021 admissions cycle.

What we do know is that Ohio State is loving being test optional as evidenced by Wiser’s additional revelation that a whopping thirty-eight percent of the 13,500 students admitted so far for Fall 2021 asked for their test scores not to be considered. Expect this number to climb when Ohio State releases more acceptances at the end of this month, as Wiser acknowledged that students admitted Early Action “tend to be some of our strongest students academically.” Overall Ohio State has seen Early Action applications increase by roughly 15% in Fall 2020 compared to Fall 2019.

 

 

Dear 12th Grader: Don’t Blow Your Ivy Chances Now

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So many high school seniors are still in real contention for an Ivy League acceptance in the first few weeks of twelfth grade. Then, something happens that takes most of these smart and well-intentioned young people out of the running entirely.

Don’t let this happen to you! Watch the video below to find out what you must do to give yourself the best shot of closing the deal with the Ivy League or similarly selective college of your dreams during the first few weeks of senior year.

The advice in the above video is particularly relevant to students who have not made major mistakes in 9th grade, 10th grade, or 11th grade.

Sadly, many high school students make major academic, extracurricular, or personal missteps throughout high school. As they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure.” Why get yourself into unnecessary trouble or cause yourself needless anxiety or stress later in high school just because you didn’t know that certain decisions that you make as a high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior could actually turn out to be mistakes serious enough to derail your smooth sail towards achieving your post-high school goals?

If you are a student (or a parent of a student) who wants to proactively and wisely tackle every challenge high school throws your way and reach your college admissions potential, the best advice I can give you is to meet with me for a Strategy Session as soon as possible.

A Strategy Session is for students and parents who desire expert and peer guidance as they navigate the college admissions process, which actually begins the moment a student starts high school! Students and parents who take part in a Strategy Session are encouraged to ask their current college admissions questions, discuss where they are in the process, and clarify what they are most concerned about or unclear on as it relates to the college admissions process. My goal is to ensure families leave each session armed with the knowledge they need to make the most of every opportunity presented to them until we meet again.

During your Strategy Session, you’ll gain access to timely best-in-class college admissions counseling that will empower you to make the right moves regarding academics, testing, extracurricular activities, and college applications in order to meet with future college admissions success. Since we’ll have limited time together, I am direct as possible during a Strategy Session, so get ready to bust the most common college admissions myths and prepare to glide through the entire college admissions process calm, cool, and collected.

Consider having a Strategy Session an amazing insurance policy to protect against the lack of college guidance or downright poor college counseling many students experience during their four years – but especially during their first two years – in high school. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of a cure – especially if that cure comes too late (which from my experience is too often the case with students who only start getting good or better college counseling in 11th grade or later).

What are you waiting for? Schedule your Strategy Session with me today.