Feb20

Good News (and Fake News) in College Admissions

February 14, 2020

The Leg Up Newsletter

Welcome to February!

While it often seems like a slow time of year for the college planning process (first semester exams are over for many and the spring testing dates are still ahead), it's actually the perfect time to cover some ground with research and campus visits.

(Pro tip - visit the colleges in the northern climates during February; if you love them when they're cold and snowy, you'll really love them when they're warm and sunny!)

Meet a Street Artist

Randi C. Heathman

The FAKE NEWS of College Admission

by Brennan Barnard

(

.)

It is impossible to get into college.

At least this was the impression of the high school junior sitting in my school counseling office talking about admission. He had heard about declining acceptance rates and increased application numbers and was ready to give up before he even began.

This is when I asked him what percent of the around 

 in this nation accepted less than a quarter of their applicants. Before he could respond, I blurted out the answer. “Just over 3%, so about 100 schools.”

I then explained that over half of colleges and universities admit more than two-thirds of their applicants, and some have open enrollment, meaning they pretty much take anyone. 

Impossible to get into college?

"Fake News."

The truth is, the majority of colleges and universities in this country accept many more students than they deny. One can easily find a slew of news stories and college press releases that tout soaring application numbers and admit rates under 10%, leading one to believe that competition to get into college is fierce.

That is simply not true if taken in context.

GOOD NEWS!

The FAFSA Just Got Easier to Fill Out!

by Maurie Backman

(

)

For many college applicants, filling out the Free Application for Financial Student Aid, or FAFSA, is a rite of passage. That single form, which gets submitted annually, dictates how much federal aid students are entitled to. That aid could come in the form of student loans, grants, or a combination of the two. 

But many families find the process of filling out the FAFSA daunting. Some may even avoid it because they're worried they'll do it wrong, and thereby miss out on the opportunity to borrow for college affordably or even snag free money toward higher education costs via grants. 

New changes to the FAFSA, however, will make it easier for families to complete that oft-necessary form. And that's good news for those who expect to apply for federal financial aid to fund their college experience. 

Remember, while it's possible to borrow for college without going through the Department of Education, the interest rate on private loans is often much higher than for federal loans. The interest on private loans can also be variable, which means monthly payments can increase in the course of repayment. Private student loans also don't offer the same borrower protections as federal ones -- there are no official income-driven repayment plans or deferment options with private loans. That can hurt those who wind up struggling with the repayment process. As such, it almost always pays to exhaust federal borrowing options before resorting to private loans.(Read the rest.)

Clients' Corner

Juniors

Have you signed up for the spring ACT or SAT?

Ask Randi if you need help locating a test preparation company or tutor. She can make recommendations.

Summer plans? Camp dates are out for most colleges - let Randi know if you're looking for something specific.

Seniors

Are all of your admission decisions in? If you haven't updated your CC account or let Randi know, please do so!

When you pay your enrollment deposit to your selected college this spring, DON'T FORGET to send an email, submit the online form, or send a letter to the colleges you WON'T attend to let them know.