Admissions Blog

Undergraduate Admissions Uncensored

September 2019 Updates from the University of Arizona

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University of Arizona’s admissions team has sent a September update to college counselors that is chock-full of news from the Tucson-based public university.

In terms of “need to know” information,” Arizona is sharing news that its “admission decision letters are starting to hit mailboxes all across the country.” As with other rolling admission college, the sooner a student applies to University of Arizona  the better because Arizona will roll out admissions decisions in only a matter of weeks after a student’s application file becoming complete. Students interested in University of Arizona can apply here.

Meanwhile, The Arizona Tuition Award,University of Arizona’s merit scholarship opportunity for non-resident students, is also worth noting. As long as students apply and submit their official SAT and/or ACT scores directly from the testing agency by May 1, 2020, they will be reviewed for Arizona’s highest merit scholarships. The Arizona Tuition Award looks at unweighted, 6th semester GPA in the 16 core courses and official SAT or ACT scores. Check out Arizona’s transparent scholarship grid below to see what seniors can qualify for. See other scholarships students may be able to receive here. 

In terms of “good to know information,” Arizona’s admissions team encourages students and their families to visit UA’s storied campus and it “pleased to offer an assortment of events that showcase why the University of Arizona is unlike any other university in the world!” Arizona’s campus Ambassador tours are a great start to get a true Wildcat experience and are offered Monday through Saturday throughout the year. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about the University of Arizona’s curriculum, campus life, and the admissions process with an insightful tour hosted by a current Wildcat.

Meanwhile, Arizona Experience dates are also now available for sign ups. Arizona Experience is a full day, conference style event where students can learn more about the University of Arizona academic and extracurricular opportunities, connect with student services and organizations, enjoy a free lunch in one of many Student Union dining locations, tour a residence hall and more. Arizona Experience is a very popular event and fills up rather quickly. Advanced reservations are required in order to attend Arizona Experience. This event is free for all prospective students and guests are $20 each.

Never Say This During an Ivy League Admissions Interview

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If you have the opportunity to interview with a representative of an Ivy League school make sure you steer clear of saying…

Case Western Still Accepting Apps for its Diversity Overnight

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Aerial view of Cleveland, Ohio, home to Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve University is still accepting student applications for its Diversity Overnight program, which lasts from November 10-11, 2019. Applications for November’s immersive visit dates are due by October 1, 2019.

According to Robert R. McCullough, Case Western’s Dean of Undergraduate Admission, the university’s Diversity Overnight is designed for “smart and curious high school seniors from diverse backgrounds, to give them an in-depth look at the opportunities available to our students.”

Diversity Overnight students stay in a residence hall with a student host, engage with faculty, and learn about the many opportunities available to students at on Case Western Reserve University’s campus and throughout the surrounding University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.

Best of all, Case Western Reserve covers the cost of meals and lodging for students accepted to this program and is also able to assist with travel expenses and arrangements.

When to Start Working with Your College Counselor

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Many high schools don’t provide proactive college counseling to students until the end of eleventh grade. Don’t wait until your school gets around to it. Find out when to assertively approach your counselor.

What GPA Should I Report on the Common Application?

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Find out if you should self-report your weighted or unweighted GPA on your college application, including the Common Application. The importance of the answer may surprise you.

What’s a CEEB High School Code and Why is it Important?

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When registering for standardized tests and filling out college and university applications be ready to provide your high school’s CEEB code, which helps your counselor and admissions officers.

The new Common Application is here. Are you ready to complete it?

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Hey Class of 2020!

In a scene from Steve Martin’s 1979 movie, The Jerk, his nebbish-y character Navin R. Johnson runs pell mell down the street upon seeing his name in print for the first time (in the phonebook), declaring to anyone within earshot:

“The New Phonebook is Here! THE NEW PHONEBOOK IS HERE!!!!”

How times have changed. Who uses phone books any more? Do they even print them?
No matter…at this time every summer I find myself filled with excitement and a desire to pronounce to all near and far, whether they give a plugged nickel about it or not:
“The new Common Application is here. THE NEW COMMON APPLICATION IS HERE!!”

Yeah, I’m a bit of a nebbish myself when it comes to this sort of stuff…every August 1 a brand spanking new Common Application comes out, and that means that you can – and should – access, register for free, and – wonder of wonders – begin filling out what will become (for many if not most of your colleges) your bona fide, actual college application!!!

So join in my excitement and go to www.commonapp.org and click on the “Apply Now” link, register, follow directions and get your college applications started!!

(Those of you who have already started the 2018/19 common application can do an “application rollover” by logging in to your existing common application and follow a few simple steps and affirmations. It’s so easy even a college advisor like myself can do it, so jump right in and get in to the new 2019/20 common application and do your thing! All information will roll over EXCEPT any potential college supplemental writing you did – those you must start anew).

Note that you need to include at least one number, letters (one capital, one lower case) and a symbol (!@#$%^&*) in your ten to sixteen character password. Make sure you write down your password (and don’t be too cute – you don’t want to lose it!).

After you’re registered go to the “College Search” link and type in the name – or partial name – of a college from your top 10 list and hit “search”. You don’t need to fill in every blank – takes too long – just a partial name and you’ll be able to locate your school).

Click the box next to your college and then click “Add.”

Do this for every school on your list (don’t be exclusive at this stage – you can add and remove schools freely over the next five months) and then go to your ‘Dashboard’ and voila, there’s your college list!

If you can’t find a particular school (after making sure you’re spelling it correctly) it most likely means that that school doesn’t take the common application. Not to worry! Just make note that you’ll have to register and fill out their own on-line application. No big deal!

Now begin filling out the common application. The sections are: “Profile”  “Family”  “Education” “Testing”  “Activities”  “Writing”

The last section, “Courses and Grades,” is somewhat nonsensical and you’ll most likely not have to complete it. If it says you do curse a bit and follow directions. Just busywork, and you’ll need to work off your transcript so get a hold of that if you don’t already have a copy.
Note that with the exception of the “Writing” and “Activities” sections, all the other portions of the Common App are easily completed. 
 
You’ll also be able to see which, if any, of your schools require additional writing – either in the form of an additional essay or short answer questions. Look in the dashboard under each college for “Questions” and “Writing Supplement.” Most of the “Questions” will be quick and easy, go ahead and fill out all those short answer responses. It’s the writing supplements that usually entail some extra work.
Keep track, and in a future rant I’ll talk about how to organize all of your extra writing on a central ’to-do’ list I call “The Grid.”

So there you have your next assignment campers: register and then fill out the “Profile,” “Family,” “Education,” “Testing,” and “Activities” sections of the Common Application! This is exciting!!! You’re really doing it!!!!!!

***

This is also a great time to be writing your first and your second (extra…additional…icing on the cake…one for the Gipper) essays. You also should have (or be constructing) an academic/activity resume, which you’ll find multiple uses for, which I’ll be sure to tell you about if you ask me.

If any of the above has you confused, if you’re still struggling to get going on your essays, resume, list of colleges, or if you just want to qvell with me about my Yankee’s amazing season (forget the killer B’s, we’ve got Mike Tauchman and DL LaMahieu!!!!), give me a call or email and we’ll chat. This time of year I’m about helping students organize their ‘to do’ list for the remainder of the summer and the fall.

And remember to relax, it’s still summer vacation (for some of you) fer cryin’ out loud! Enjoy yourself!

From your erudite escort, your humorous homeboy, your perceptive preceptor, your confident confidante…

Gary, the College Guy

P.S. As always, feel free to forward this rant to other rising seniors and their parents, or send me names/email addresses of folks whom you think would benefit from reading my rants. Or you can send them to my web page, which has all my rants for anyone to see. IMHO there’s not enough good, coherent information out there, and you’ve just waded through about the best there is!

“If things are broken at elite universities, things are broken, period.”

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Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

If you can read only one thing this year that encapsulates the current state of life at far too many American colleges and universities, and thus, life in America, read this intense and amazing essay by writer and Yale graduate Natalia Dashan. This essay is a window into the life those chasing admission into selective colleges and universities can expect – whether they realize it or not.

More: “The Real Problem At Yale Is Not Free Speech” via Palladium Magazine