tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21428339716567902462024-03-12T21:17:32.045-07:00College CounselingMr. BottomlyMr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-56488933828927769242014-06-24T08:10:00.001-07:002014-06-24T08:10:18.147-07:00National Trend #4: Out-of-State's Cash Cow
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Many highly <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">desirable </i>public institutions are opening
their doors wider to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">full paying</i> out-of-state
students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is particularly
true in the University of California system (UC Berkeley reported admitting 30%
of their out-of-state pool;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>up 24%
from just three years ago).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
addition, some highly coveted public universities like the University of
Virginia plan to increase tuition by 5.9% for out-of-state students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">See the following <a href="http://www.thecollegesolution.com/what-nonresidents-need-to-know-about-attending-state-universities/#.Uuz07yStkpU.facebook">article</a>.</span></span>
Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-21909846169528201072014-06-17T13:51:00.002-07:002014-06-17T13:51:36.137-07:00National Trend #3 - STEM Growth<style>
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Many highly selective schools reported
major application spikes in science, technology, engineering and math
programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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<a href="http://www.pratt.duke.edu/">Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering</a>, for example, reported a 20.2% increase in applications with
7,701.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
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See the following<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2014/01/24/again-duke-receives-record-applications.html?ana=twt">article</a>.</span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S39/59/41E61/index.xml?section=topstories">Princeton</a>, for example, admitted 25.3 percent of their overall admission pool who indicated they want to study
engineering, and a record 43 percent of those students were women.<br />
<br />
This tells me that schools like Casady need to make a concerted effort to strengthen their upper end M and S curriculum, resources and faculty, as well as add "T" curriculum like an online AP Computer Science course.<br />
<br />
There may also be some legitimacy to adding an Intro to Engineering course down the line as well...or develop some project-based curriculum that integrates in aspects of basic engineering.<br />
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Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-76020358668371584022014-05-19T07:40:00.003-07:002014-05-19T08:09:01.703-07:00National Trend #2 - Early vs. RegularMy colleagues and I are not only fascinated by the totality of admission numbers - total applications, total admits, total wait listed, and total yields.<br />
<br />
We are also intrigued by the<i> dualities</i> within highly selective admissions.<br />
<br />
Specifically, the duality between <i>early</i> admissions versus <i>regular </i>admissions.<br />
<br />
For some schools, the gap between early and regular admissions is widening.<br />
<br />
Take <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a>, for example.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01nndEbSsD4h9TRKFcoXGf1A-KzocqjNXiUkhSXXMkSW_qqJt4HFQdWYaXoyk3s1RP15E780Q_iR_4x0TGXiSCM63iUPQX0v4XD8fZclWyBOWYUMutdt7Ow7LAdligGkwwrW8P3mVe48/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-05-19+at+8.37.06+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01nndEbSsD4h9TRKFcoXGf1A-KzocqjNXiUkhSXXMkSW_qqJt4HFQdWYaXoyk3s1RP15E780Q_iR_4x0TGXiSCM63iUPQX0v4XD8fZclWyBOWYUMutdt7Ow7LAdligGkwwrW8P3mVe48/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-05-19+at+8.37.06+AM.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> took a fairly liberal portion from the early admission bucket.<br />
<br />
11% more, in fact, than last year.<br />
<br />
Regular admission admits remained fairly static...and bleak.<br />
<br />
But then take <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard's</a> admissions rival.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnPW0i2V6nectcRttcDj9u0081ArNJXyvtDh53iey7Xq5MlDk8QSRtYOhucFhqJTgDZ5r05vGmhXzB8xkDQyX2Z0LMvrJOc6NtFmNIeQu10cakzUV7dJ6KebINXxuw8GUaRR4ZXvLUL8/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-05-19+at+8.38.47+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnPW0i2V6nectcRttcDj9u0081ArNJXyvtDh53iey7Xq5MlDk8QSRtYOhucFhqJTgDZ5r05vGmhXzB8xkDQyX2Z0LMvrJOc6NtFmNIeQu10cakzUV7dJ6KebINXxuw8GUaRR4ZXvLUL8/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-05-19+at+8.38.47+AM.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a> took a more conservative number from their early admission bucket.<br />
<br />
Here the gap between early and regular admissions isn't as acute.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> admits more.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a> less.<br />
<br />
This is an example of how it is getting harder to use traditional models and metrics to predict outcomes.<br />
<br />
My colleague Patrick O' Connor underscores this reality in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-oconnor/what-this-years-college-r_b_5085183.html">his article in the Huffington Post</a>, and helps us understand that students must "expand their horizons" and create an "A list" and "B list" set of schools.<br />
<br />
It feels analogously that highly selective admissions has become the equivalent of the Kentucky Derby.<br />
<br />
The best of the best racing against each other for a better national ranking...now students look at the odds and place your bets! <br />
<br />
One of my top students this year bet on <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a>. She bet on the right horse. <br />
<br />
I had others that bet on other horses...and some won...others lost.<br />
<br />
The analogy is not my favorite one, but it feels like that is the reality of highly selective admissions today.<br />
<br />
What analogy might you use to describe this trend within the glut of absurd admission statistics? <br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-34527660626467317592014-05-14T12:41:00.002-07:002014-05-14T12:46:10.865-07:00National College Admission Trends (2013-14)Over the next couple weeks, I will share with you national college admission trends that my colleagues have circled around in our conversations for the past few weeks.<br />
<br />
I will be sharing these national trends with Casady's Board of Trustees tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<b>National Trend #1 - Business as Usual at the Top.</b><br />
<br />
A colleague once remarked, "Highly selective colleges have the only business model I know of where their goal is to grow their business through customer dissatisfaction."<br />
<br />
I would add <i>potential</i> customer dissatisfaction.<br />
<br />
Every year, these schools turn more potential customers away in disappointment...and every year the line to try and get in is <i>looonnnnngggggeeeeerrr</i>!<br />
<br />
Consequently, the majority of the most highly desirable schools saw <b>increases</b> in application volume and <b>decreases</b> in application rates.<br />
<br />
Here is a statistical sampling:<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Name: Applications Admits Admit
Rate</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Stanford 42,167 2,138 5.07%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Harvard 34,295 2,023 6.26%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Yale 30,932 1,935 6.26%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Columbia 32,967 2,291 6.95%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Princeton 26,641 1,939 7.28%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Brown 30,432 2,619 8.86%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Penn 35,868 3,550 9.90%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Duke 32,457 1,705 10.80%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Dartmouth 19,299 2,220 11.50%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Vanderbilt 29,504 3,631 12.31%</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Cornell 43,041 6,014 13.97</span>%</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">* decrease in
applications</i></div>
<br />
Here is a link to a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-oconnor/what-this-years-college-r_b_5085183.html?utm_hp_ref=tw">Huffington Post</a> article that expounds on the admission numbers at the top. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-68158374918982799752014-05-08T11:30:00.002-07:002014-05-08T11:51:37.284-07:00Class of 2014 "College Day" Today is our College Chapel.<br />
<br />
We will celebrate the <a href="http://www.casady.org/">Casady </a>Class of 2014 and their accomplishments.<br />
<br />
We will announce where each of the 73 seniors are matriculating in the fall.<br />
<br />
This was a "BCS year" for the Class of 2014.<br />
<br />
Our Sugar Bowl win (still relishing the Sooner victory over Bama!).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispiRjqYQh1soX15Uzvv4AY7zQiO4XGbZg6-YEyBWKQ-2UrcfIyEuURTLmiicKHf-PPqkwgiT39h7EXU4MW9wd7PwmKO1Vvrnc1ipC0ehL1nlXfXSxhjQ0lo1b6WM2btQvJhfut5rny-g/s1600/IMG_2997.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispiRjqYQh1soX15Uzvv4AY7zQiO4XGbZg6-YEyBWKQ-2UrcfIyEuURTLmiicKHf-PPqkwgiT39h7EXU4MW9wd7PwmKO1Vvrnc1ipC0ehL1nlXfXSxhjQ0lo1b6WM2btQvJhfut5rny-g/s1600/IMG_2997.PNG" height="320" width="306" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
First some college admission statistics about the Class of 2014.<br />
<br />
Overall matriculation to 4-year colleges: 100%<br />
Overall college admission rate: 74%<br />
<br />
Overall admission: 95 different colleges and universities<br />
Overall matriculation: 33 different colleges and universities <br />
<br />
Out-of-state matriculation: 63%<br />
In-state matriculation: 37%<br />
<br />
Public institutions: 55%<br />
Private institutions: 45%<br />
<br />
Universities: 93.2%<br />
Liberal Arts Colleges: 6.8%<br />
<br />
Matriculation Location:<br />
In State: 37%<br />
Southeast: 36% <br />
Northeast: 10%<br />
Midwest: 10% <br />
West: 6%<br />
International: 1%<br />
<br />
Total (reported) merit monies: $3 million<br />
<br />
The 73 seniors of the Class of 2014 will matriculate to the following 34 colleges and universities:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard College</a><br />
<a href="http://web.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a><br />
<a href="http://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a><br />
<a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a><br />
<a href="http://duke.edu/">Duke University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/">Vanderbilt University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.rice.edu/">Rice University*</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pomona.edu/">Pomona College</a><br />
<a href="https://www.grinnell.edu/">Grinnell College </a><br />
<a href="http://www.tufts.edu/">Tufts University</a><br />
<a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">The University of Texas - Austin</a><br />
<a href="http://www.wisc.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nyu.edu/">New York University</a><br />
<a href="https://www.bu.edu/">Boston University</a><br />
<a href="https://www.admissions.uga.edu/">University of Georgia</a><br />
<a href="http://www.iub.edu/">Indiana University - Bloomington</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.tcu.edu/">Texas Christian University* </a><br />
<a href="http://www.rhodes.edu/">Rhodes College</a><br />
<a href="http://wp.stolaf.edu/">St. Olaf College</a><br />
<a href="http://www.earlham.edu/">Earlham College </a><br />
<a href="http://www.pugetsound.edu/">University of Puget Sound*</a><br />
<a href="http://www.stedwards.edu/?gclid=COeV4vrPl74CFS9p7AodG0cAYg">St. Edwards University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.arizona.edu/">University of Arizona</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.uark.edu/">University of Arkansas*</a><br />
<a href="https://www.fsu.edu/">Florida State University </a><br />
<a href="http://www.ut.edu/">University of Tampa</a><br />
<a href="http://www.slu.edu/">St. Louis University</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.baylor.edu/">Baylor University*</a><br />
<a href="http://www.harding.edu/">Harding University </a><br />
<a href="http://www.xula.edu/">Xavier University (New Orleans) </a><br />
<a href="http://www.itba.edu.ar/">Institute of Technology in Buenos Aires</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ou.edu/">University of Oklahoma*</a><br />
<a href="http://go.okstate.edu/">Oklahoma State University*</a><br />
<a href="http://www.okbu.edu/">Oklahoma Baptist University</a><br />
<br />
<i>* two or more students attending</i><br />
<br />
Congrats to the Casady Class of 2014!!! We are proud of every college acceptance and every college matriculation!!!<br />
<br />
It was an exciting adventure to partner with every one of you in discerning the best college fit!<br />
<br />
Mission accomplished!!! <br />
<br />
<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-88312068211169750052014-04-14T08:54:00.000-07:002014-04-14T08:54:14.708-07:00Highly Selective Admissions Then and NowLast week a colleague and I presented to packed room at<a href="http://www.gpacac.net/"> GPACAC</a> on Highly Selective Admissions: Then and Now.<br />
<br />
Here is a <a href="http://prezi.com/okk6lkonmmu7/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy">link</a> to the prezi. <br />
<br />
We provided our audience a cadre of articles on this topic as well.<br />
<br />
There is this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/09/us/led-by-stanfords-5-top-colleges-acceptance-rates-hit-new-lows.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=US_BBA_20140409&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1388552400000&bicmet=1420088400000&_r=5">one</a> on Stanford's 5% admit rate.<br />
<br />
And this <a href="http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=66225">one</a> on Stanford denying 69% of their applicants with perfect SAT scores. <br />
<br />
And this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrick-oconnor/what-this-years-college-r_b_5085183.html">one</a> on major trends for next year's seniors (20% rule is very helpful!).<br />
<br />
And this <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ivy-league-acceptance-2018-2014-3">one </a>with Ivy admission statistics (higher volume + lower admit rate = business as usual). <br />
<br />
Have a great week.<br />
<br />
Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-45547857097337995772014-03-27T08:32:00.001-07:002014-03-28T08:57:03.145-07:00Admission Decisions Today (5 pm eastern time) and Icebergs<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ivy-league-acceptance-2018-2014-3">As highly selective admissions announce their decisions today and next week</a> (here are the numbers!), the question in the aftermath [for counselors like me] is always this one:<br />
<br />
If 85-90% of the students applying to these schools are admissible (<a href="http://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/%E2%80%9Cnuanced-decisions%E2%80%9D/">according to the admission deans</a>), then how do these admission officers make their decisions?<br />
<br />
I would offer my iceberg analogy.<br />
<br />
This is something I drew up on a napkin while listening to Bill Fitzsimmons talk about admissions at <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> at the <a href="http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~sica/">Harvard Institute</a>. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2gcjpGge1LCyz5_CjY_iK6gQytKnp4iB9hWEEfgGfHqF7I8oC8yA0qd4sRu1KX9kw0knZkpdKRuY4WkH7pDsZW0A0SW5Yupcb_alTH3YstzG7YsoaaKRwQLBcW8MbhRtsbxuGM97PX0/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-03-27+at+10.21.17+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2gcjpGge1LCyz5_CjY_iK6gQytKnp4iB9hWEEfgGfHqF7I8oC8yA0qd4sRu1KX9kw0knZkpdKRuY4WkH7pDsZW0A0SW5Yupcb_alTH3YstzG7YsoaaKRwQLBcW8MbhRtsbxuGM97PX0/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-03-27+at+10.21.17+AM.png" height="200" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
90% of the reasons why or why not are underneath the surface.<br />
<br />
Where we will never know why.<br />
<br />
Which often then translates to students beating themselves up over the 10% above the surface that had NOTHING to do with the decision made.Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-86546169872990983862014-03-25T09:38:00.003-07:002014-03-25T09:38:37.321-07:00Bracketology and Highly Selective College AdmissionsHow's your NCAA bracket looking?<br />
<br />
Confession.<br />
<br />
I filled out 8 brackets.<br />
<br />
And all of them have been blown to smithereens.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvoCUV4Jt1cUIhYk6xA44Kne_s2tAduCPPF5FTVRc-BKrgY_6uxm7pNhTQPnVY_Qghds_ZBazrNJwRvMGksWTHpi0SOA5RGfOAFLFNmA74w2ch9-sIzvUHwiL9_G8dZiFn3sUevaoNKg/s1600/bracketology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvoCUV4Jt1cUIhYk6xA44Kne_s2tAduCPPF5FTVRc-BKrgY_6uxm7pNhTQPnVY_Qghds_ZBazrNJwRvMGksWTHpi0SOA5RGfOAFLFNmA74w2ch9-sIzvUHwiL9_G8dZiFn3sUevaoNKg/s1600/bracketology.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm proud to say though I picked Dayton vs. Stanford.<br />
<br />
I'm not proud to say I also picked Western Michigan, Louisiana Lafayette, and Western Kentucky.<br />
<br />
Which brings me to the correlation between bracketology and highly selective admissions.<br />
<br />
We're about to enter the two major <a href="http://www.emersonec.com/_blog/Blog/post/the-college-admissions-scoop-regular-decision-notification-dates/">24 hour windows of time</a> where all the #1 seeds reveal their winners and losers...and maybes.<br />
<br />
I probably have 68 or so admission decisions pending for my students at those "blue blood" schools.<br />
<br />
Enough to fill out a NCAA-like bracket.<br />
<br />
And mentally I do it every year. <br />
<br />
I try my best to prognosticate who will win and advance and who will lose and well go somewhere else.<br />
<br />
And every year I do about as well in my "highly selective admission bracket" as I do in my NCAA bracket.<br />
<br />
There are kids who like Mercer don't beat Duke but get into Duke...and I didn't see it coming.<br />
<br />
And there are kids who like Wichita State are undefeated in college admissions right up until April 1st and then they get smeared...and I didn't see it coming.<br />
<br />
The reality is that highly selective admissions is simply too unpredictable these days.<br />
<br />
The application volume. Plus...<br />
<br />
The pressures for greater selectivity (which means lower admit rates and higher yield rates). Plus...<br />
<br />
The institutional agenda. Plus...<br />
<br />
The hidden variables that come into play in making very complex, highly nuanced decisions. <br />
<br />
This <a href="http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/the-odds-of-selective-college-admissions-always-favor-the-house_2013-02-14.html">article is an excellent reminder of what a "crap shoot" highly selective admissions is today.</a><br />
<br />
<b>As Mr. Gould points out in the following article, admission decisions say very little about the student, and much more about the institution making those decisions.</b><br />
<br />
In the end, if a student's application list is balanced, then that student will have some excellent final choices that a majority of 18-year old's would give anything for.<br />
<br />
March Madness is certainly my favorite time of year (other than the Masters in April) as a sports fan...but my least favorite time of the year as a college counselor.<br />
<br />
But in the end, I'm always surprised how each student ends up where he or she is able to get a great college education. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-83643721761891779622014-03-11T07:36:00.001-07:002014-03-11T07:36:10.296-07:00The Story Behind the SAT Overhaul....Excellent Read<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5lhLx66xOs0HHTa9Bh6KqZdkgIdfL1ElFgs3MzYR5FPCo1NfAo_4Ea5Yfa4dVjKjkz6wkGtP6KxXpQttSuI5i-llIYQEmkS98WTSepsFXasE268go-DQBy1llLReh7mPQNOSDC1DbII/s1600/09sat2-blog427-v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5lhLx66xOs0HHTa9Bh6KqZdkgIdfL1ElFgs3MzYR5FPCo1NfAo_4Ea5Yfa4dVjKjkz6wkGtP6KxXpQttSuI5i-llIYQEmkS98WTSepsFXasE268go-DQBy1llLReh7mPQNOSDC1DbII/s1600/09sat2-blog427-v2.jpg" height="320" width="192" /></a></div>
If you want the extended, full disclosure story behind the overhaul of the SAT, then I would invite you to read t<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/magazine/the-story-behind-the-sat-overhaul.html?_r=0">his article from <i>The Times.</i> </a><br />
<br />
The article raises important questions about standardized testing.<br />
<br />
The reality is that standardized testing has simply reinforced the savage inequalities that have existed socioeconomically.<br />
<br />
Standardized tests advantage the advantaged.<br />
<br />
And disadvantage the disadvantaged.<br />
<br />
Scores, in other words, reveal zip codes and income brackets.<br />
<br />
Not raw acumen and intellectual ability.<br />
<br />
Not to mention intellectual curiosity and creativity and innovation (does any standardized test reveal this?).<br />
<br />
Standardized tests are here to stay...at least at 80% of the colleges and universities out there.<br />
<br />
It's a $4.5 billion dollar cash cow for the empire called <a href="https://www.collegeboard.org/">The College Board.</a><br />
<br />
Hopefully though the new SAT will provide ways to create a more even playing field for students.Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-24391984576287452332014-03-06T09:06:00.000-08:002014-03-06T09:06:02.506-08:00New SAT 1 UnveiledI was at the <a href="http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~sica/">Harvard Summer Institute</a> last June when <a href="https://sat.collegeboard.org/home">College Board</a> President, David Coleman, gave us - college deans and counselors - a sneak preview of the radical changes coming to the <a href="https://sat.collegeboard.org/home">SAT 1</a>.<br />
<br />
Two sections only again.<br />
<br />
Scored on the traditional 1600 scale. <br />
<br />
An optional essay. What....optional?<br />
<br />
"Real world" vocabulary words.<br />
<br />
So fewer words like parsimonious and inchoate.<br />
<br />
And more words like synthesis and adaptability.<br />
<br />
21st century words, in other words. <br />
<br />
Data driven math.<br />
<br />
Evidence-based literary analysis.<br />
<br />
Less archaic and more relevant literature.<br />
<br />
Like MLK's <i><a href="http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html">Letter from a Birmingham Jail.</a></i><br />
<br />
And the <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html">Declaration of Independence.</a><br />
<br />
And health care equivalent of free, universal test prep through <a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/">Khan Academ</a>y!<br />
<br />
This is a step in good direction....IF colleges and universities are going to continue to use standardized test scores to conquer and divide...excuse me, I mean bolster their ranking status...I mean evaluate the applicant's ability to succeed in their freshman year. <br />
<br />
Nevertheless, I'm not sure if a overhauled test will change the fact that only 42% (according to the <a href="https://sat.collegeboard.org/home">College Board</a>) of the US test taking population scored high enough to qualify as "college ready." <br />
<br />
That said, I don't foresee the new SAT 1 having a significant impact on the Casady community.<br />
<br />
We have steadily seen 15% of our seniors submit <a href="https://sat.collegeboard.org/home">SAT I</a> scores to colleges.<br />
<br />
85% still prefer and score highest on the <a href="http://act./">ACT.</a><br />
<br />
But it will certainly change the game for our kids in terms of the <a href="https://sat.collegeboard.org/home">PSAT</a>...and National Merit.<br />
<br />
Here is a link to an excellent <a href="http://chronicle.com/article/College-Board-Unveils-Plans/145135/">article</a> explaining the new <a href="https://sat.collegeboard.org/home">SAT 1</a> that will be fully functional in the spring of 2016.<br />
<br />
<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-75554228788200067852014-02-08T13:14:00.003-08:002014-02-08T13:14:49.715-08:00Interesting in Out-of-State Public U's?One major trend emerging in higher education involves the rising costs of attending an out-of-state universities.<br />
<br />
It's generally understood that non-residents can anticipate paying twice what in-state resident students pay at flagship public universities.<br />
<br />
But now public institutions are becoming increasingly "need aware" in the admission process.<br />
<br />
At the <a href="http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~sica/">Harvard Institute</a> this last summer, I heard a number of deans of admission from highly selective public universities flat out say, "We're looking for full pay kids."<br />
<br />
Bottom line: students and families need to become more aware of how "need aware" policies are factoring into admission decisions.<br />
<br />
This <a href="http://www.thecollegesolution.com/what-nonresidents-need-to-know-about-attending-state-universities/#.Uuz07yStkpU.facebook">article</a> sheds light on this emerging trend. It's worth taking the time to read it.<br />
<br />
<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-86238229372028370322014-01-14T08:08:00.001-08:002014-01-14T08:08:33.840-08:00What is Confounding, Absurd, and Miasmic? Here's a Hint: It starts with a S and ends with P, H, YRecently a colleague sent me <a href="http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=66225">this article</a> from the <i><a href="http://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a> Magazine</i>.<br />
<br />
It explored the confounding, absurd, and miasmic underbelly of highly selective admissions.<br />
<br />
It's crazy to think that last year at <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a>, for example, as the article points out, that 69% of the applicants who had perfect SAT scores were denied.<br />
<br />
800 + 800 + 800 = No Thanks!<br />
<br />
This little juicy factoid underscores again that the schools at the top of the food chain have a set of hidden agendas (aka "institutional goals") that drive this admission process.<br />
<br />
One of the graphics that I found helpful was this one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY5czBpASWAYZwgNSTKo5UD_0AfK5WSwqvGXuz-PNJaujcUSsCrdIj8_5bJT6mmqLpy5jW-fQfum7HF5ft5L-QRy4VjfyIVwMyFSxPxAemzRmYwjMIR1a0aPn-c9LbjOY1JNQDozqbe0/s1600/Admissions_Graph_480px_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY5czBpASWAYZwgNSTKo5UD_0AfK5WSwqvGXuz-PNJaujcUSsCrdIj8_5bJT6mmqLpy5jW-fQfum7HF5ft5L-QRy4VjfyIVwMyFSxPxAemzRmYwjMIR1a0aPn-c9LbjOY1JNQDozqbe0/s320/Admissions_Graph_480px_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This graph reveals the meteoric rise in applications to the Big 3 + <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a> over the last decade.<br />
<br />
As well as the sharp plunge in the admit rate.<br />
<br />
Now when any student or family in the future comes to me with ambitions to gain admission to one of these schools, I have a great introductory article to provide them to calibrate their expectations.<br />
<br />
Thanks, <a href="http://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-1613077890776333842013-12-19T08:42:00.003-08:002013-12-19T08:42:56.614-08:00Early College Acceptances!!!!For the past week, Casady seniors have been hearing back from colleges and universities that they applied to early<br />
<br />
So far our 74 seniors have been admitted to 41 different schools.<br />
<br />
This list grows by the day.<br />
<br />
In the midst of the most competitive admission cycle in US history, the Class of 2014 has had incredible success among some of the most prestigious technological, research, and liberal arts schools in the US and abroad.<br />
<br />
That said, we are proud of EVERY college acceptance that our seniors have received thus far...and to come in the months ahead!<br />
<br />
Our mission continues to focus on finding the best college fit for each student. <br />
<br />
Click <a href="https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zVCyajgNE5UU.kkTmBZfuZtQ8">here </a>to see a map of where the Class of 2014 has already found a college fit!<br />
<br />
<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-71209075886257697942013-12-01T14:00:00.001-08:002014-12-08T07:35:10.684-08:00Is your student receiving a college admission decision soon? (revisiting an old post)<span style="font-size: small;"><i>(I wrote this blog post last year. I thought it was worth recycling as seniors enter into the admission results season again!) </i></span><br />
<br />
It's that time of year again.<br />
<br />
Early admission decisions are coming out.<br />
<br />
The wait will finally be over.<br />
<br />
And reality will come to roost.<br />
<br />
I was asked by my headmaster yesterday what the "early forecast" looks like for our students.<br />
<br />
Talk about being put on the spot in our administrative meeting. <br />
<br />
My response.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0nkknEoKFayMIq4W7-hj1uYoFjX9gmwc5fNG-FQqec8RfA5Sp6zQzsmfuy3C1gnwskVXxZzcBCBHPoG85Ek30ZyhiDc3GwGVy3-OBhVzkGBlsjgTvIs3RVLly_MIdPT1IQkX_cTUI6c/s1600/DopplerRadar.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0nkknEoKFayMIq4W7-hj1uYoFjX9gmwc5fNG-FQqec8RfA5Sp6zQzsmfuy3C1gnwskVXxZzcBCBHPoG85Ek30ZyhiDc3GwGVy3-OBhVzkGBlsjgTvIs3RVLly_MIdPT1IQkX_cTUI6c/s320/DopplerRadar.gif" height="268" width="320" /></a></div>
The weather doppler shows an early winter mix of snow and sunshine.<br />
<br />
Emily Dickinson gave great advice when she poetically waxed:<br />
<br />
"Tell the truth but tell it slant."<br />
<br />
Metaphors are helpful "slants" (/) to convey hard truths.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
Just today <a href="http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/12/college-decision-beckoning-to-be-unveiled-please-let-it-wait-until-you-get-home/comment-page-1/#comment-163665">The Choice blog published a post</a> on advice for parents and students who are receiving news from colleges.<br />
<br />
Many of my colleagues had excellent insights and anecdotes to illustrate the do's and don'ts.<br />
<br />
The story of the mom recording "the moment" and failing to see her daughter sobbing because of the bad news - that's a "parent fail" moment <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(not that I haven't already had a bevy of fail moments with my 6 year old)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Or the parent who ordered two different Christmas cards.<br />
<br />
One with the daughter in her <a href="http://www.duke.edu/">Duke</a> sweatshirt.<br />
<br />
The other with her daughter in another outfit.<br />
<br />
Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes - isn't it?<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
One thing I have to keep in mind is that this is not my moment.<br />
<br />
It's not about me.<br />
<br />
This is the student's moment.<br />
<br />
My job in that student's moment is to try and practice what <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> professor and theologian <a href="http://www.henrinouwen.org/">Henri Nouwen</a> called the "ministry of presence."<br />
<br />
<i>To minister presence simply means being present in the present with the person in my presence.</i><br />
<br />
This is never easy to do.<br />
<br />
I have to resist the impulse to "fix" the situation.<br />
<br />
<i><b>I'm learning though that it is OK for things not to be OK.</b></i><br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
All of us deep down hate to see our kids suffer disappointment.<br />
<br />
We are a <i>pain aversion society - aren't we</i>?<br />
<br />
We're a Happy Meal culture.<br />
<br />
We're a Lake Woebegone world where every kid is now well above average. <br />
<br />
We don't want to acknowledge that most meaningful success stories are shaped by a trajectory of suffering.<br />
<br />
People who end up really mattering to the world are people who end up enduring great suffering to matter to the world.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkx7KV-d_yu-BM6sM3TLjZnxFXE7TiKdvdN9U4fXRKTkoMzvmaYqwTFY3RAb-hB2W-hyHKEzbx5NW0dAq2T80KCh2y-iWvxRVsoWydBLm7gdywQ7VxbPGYv5cT4eMnv2kqrBJ5UBnvkQ/s1600/MV5BMTQzNzczMDUyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjM2ODEzOA@@._V1._SY317_CR0,0,214,317_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkx7KV-d_yu-BM6sM3TLjZnxFXE7TiKdvdN9U4fXRKTkoMzvmaYqwTFY3RAb-hB2W-hyHKEzbx5NW0dAq2T80KCh2y-iWvxRVsoWydBLm7gdywQ7VxbPGYv5cT4eMnv2kqrBJ5UBnvkQ/s1600/MV5BMTQzNzczMDUyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjM2ODEzOA@@._V1._SY317_CR0,0,214,317_.jpg" /></a></div>
I'm reading <i>Team of Rivals</i> right now, for example.<br />
<br />
I've been amazed in just the first 100 pages by how Lincoln's suffering in his formative years molded his character.<br />
<br />
And I've been equally amazed at how Lincoln handled personal loss and political defeat.<br />
<br />
He wasn't a Clint Eastwood type.<br />
<br />
He didn't just <i>grit it out</i>.<br />
<br />
Lincoln <i>grieved it out</i>.<br />
<br />
He had unstinting bouts of "hypocondria" that drove him to the edge of despair.<br />
<br />
But it's that <i>emotional edge</i> that ultimately gave Lincoln his <i>moral edge</i>. <br />
<br />
Lincoln wouldn't have been Lincoln without the personal and political set backs.<br />
<br />
One salient thing Lincoln possessed during his lifetime was the ability to navigate those painful moments through <i>story telling</i> and <i>good humor</i>. <br />
<br />
Lincoln found ways in moments punctuated by grave disappointment or ferocious intensity to keep his sanity and perspective by telling a funny, homespun anecdote he gleaned from his father while growing up in the backwoods of Kentucky. <br />
<br />
The film <i>Lincoln</i> illustrates this poignantly when Lincoln tells a crude story about a toilet and portrait of George Washington that had his entire cabinet in raucous fits just moments before they received critical news from the Civil War battle front. <br />
<br />
Perhaps there is something we can all glean from Lincoln here.<br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
Often times the best thing to do when it is bad news for kids is not to say anything all.<br />
<br />
"Chicken Soup words" just don't warm the soul.<br />
<br />
It's best to do what Jews have done down through the centuries amid suffering.<br />
<br />
Call it the ancient practice of just <i>shutting up </i>and being <i>silently with.</i> <br />
<br />
A hug. Tears. A steaming cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows bobbing on the frothy surface.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A fun Christmas movie like <i>Elf.</i><br />
<br />
Moreover, it's best for this moment [when the student thumbs open the letter, or clicks on to his or her admission portal] to occur in a <i>private place</i> with <i>supportive people</i>.<br />
<br />
It's days or weeks after that I will try to reasonably explain the hidden perils that may have factored into the unfavorable application decision.<br />
<br />
Especially at highly selective institutions where the goal is for the admission officer <i>to find a reason not to admit the student. </i><br />
<br />
I often begin by reminding the crestfallen student that the college made a decision on a <i>10 to 20 minute application review</i>, as well as a set of <i>institutional goals</i> that the student may or may not have fit into as an applicant.<br />
<br />
In other words, this college didn't deny <i>you.</i><br />
<br />
They denied your <i>application</i>.<br />
<br />
Sometimes the college is denying your application because on page one they saw that you didn't fit a certain geographical demographic or ethnic demographic.<br />
<br />
Or you checked off one gender box instead of the other. <br />
<br />
Or that you chose an academic major that is full.<br />
<br />
Or that you have a smattering of B's and C's from your freshman year.<br />
<br />
Or that you took a freshman level course like Chinese 1 in your senior academic program. <br />
<br />
Or that you took Honors US History instead of AP US History. <br />
<br />
Or that your activities chart was too thin. (They needed more <i>generalist</i>).<br />
<br />
Or that your activities chart was too thick. (They needed more <i>specialist</i>).<br />
<br />
Or that you didn't check the "plan to participate in college" box.<br />
<br />
Or that your parents didn't attend this particular college.<br />
<br />
Or that your test score was "profile negative" by a single point.<br />
<br />
There are a myriad of reasons that a student's application is admitted, deferred, or denied that is beyond one's control.<br />
<br />
Beyond my control.<br />
<br />
Beyond your parent's control.<br />
<br />
Beyond some rich alumnus's control.<br />
<br />
Just beyond.<br />
<br />
And not being able to manipulate the results just plain sucks. <br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
Life is moments.<br />
<br />
And this will be for your student one of those moments.<br />
<br />
It's not the ultimate moment.<br />
<br />
It's just one moment among many moments that will shape them.<br />
<br />
Looking back, I realize now that often the moment isn't about the <i>news</i>.<br />
<br />
It's about the person's <i>response</i>.<br />
<br />
I also realize that the moment isn't meant to be a <i>solitary event</i>.<br />
<br />
It's meant to be a <i>communal moment.</i><br />
<br />
Some moments, in other words, are meant to be <i>shared</i>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4QjrIrGc1BtpxMiVCnsIY8BhAdvodEcjcoiDZb_ae2q1yqgne7U7v0KLNTNLM_5__z9YUJS4KoAZIQaD6iGVWD_KZdeGwROU1lSE7PV7vAkgsRf_wBsB8sYZgFEhpFbkvzQF5onLpCE/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-12-12+at+11.44.53+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4QjrIrGc1BtpxMiVCnsIY8BhAdvodEcjcoiDZb_ae2q1yqgne7U7v0KLNTNLM_5__z9YUJS4KoAZIQaD6iGVWD_KZdeGwROU1lSE7PV7vAkgsRf_wBsB8sYZgFEhpFbkvzQF5onLpCE/s320/Screen+shot+2012-12-12+at+11.44.53+AM.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
Any disappointment can be absorbed and overcome in the presence of someone who cares, supports, encourages, and ultimately loves you.<br />
<br />
I often remind parents in our first college meeting that a study has shown that a parent has roughly 3000 hours to influence a child.<br />
<br />
That's 3000 dots.<br />
<br />
No dots are more impacting than dots of love. <br />
<br />
For in the end, love is always <i>presence</i>.<br />
<br />
Every one of us needs to hear, regardless if we are hearing back from a college, that we are loved simply <i>because</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-55457845455999775352013-09-11T07:22:00.000-07:002013-09-11T07:22:11.332-07:00What Seniors Want To Tell their Parents about the College Admission Process<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9plmavgH3M5qGtmtv6Wn3ujvQychOyDT-0sG8QMk7lUiQRFo5aMZm_-Yboac8xGBMVuJFb1dLdJDcJLJvK7inzX-77YtkYYRcAHNVsi-CvFsvAWcSAkonTfBt3vU1w_aFEMpZPAAC3Y/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-09-11+at+9.19.59+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9plmavgH3M5qGtmtv6Wn3ujvQychOyDT-0sG8QMk7lUiQRFo5aMZm_-Yboac8xGBMVuJFb1dLdJDcJLJvK7inzX-77YtkYYRcAHNVsi-CvFsvAWcSAkonTfBt3vU1w_aFEMpZPAAC3Y/s400/Screen+shot+2013-09-11+at+9.19.59+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-66741704781769516052013-05-14T12:34:00.001-07:002013-05-14T12:34:20.488-07:00National 2013 College Admissions TrendsEvery year at about this time, I submit my Board of Trustees report on college admissions.<br />
<br />
My report includes a summary of major trends in the college admission world for this year.<br />
<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Major College Admission Trends</u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Highly Selective
Admissions <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Arms Race”…Continues </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BxwFDwwBUQN9iy0P19hYwNPT0JEOq7yTi4J-WkIEIt-SMxzyTrsgY9Q_mqD-mCAKXGqKM9XuahHxUKWHLsS9hfu9F18taQenv2TQho1nmsz8CMWDJl9oVprrg1Jt_JAydkWakgE9l38/s1600/college-logos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BxwFDwwBUQN9iy0P19hYwNPT0JEOq7yTi4J-WkIEIt-SMxzyTrsgY9Q_mqD-mCAKXGqKM9XuahHxUKWHLsS9hfu9F18taQenv2TQho1nmsz8CMWDJl9oVprrg1Jt_JAydkWakgE9l38/s320/college-logos.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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The arms race in highly selective college admission
continued this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seven of the
eight Ivies reported <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">increases</i> in
applications and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">decreases</i> in
admissions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least twenty-two
universities reported 30,000+ application totals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Factors contributing to the arms race include growing first
generation applicant pools;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>growing international applicant pools;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the popularity/accessibility of the Common Application;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“attract to reject” marketing;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>financial aid anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are a selected handful of admission statistics reported
by institutions:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Apps<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span>Admit%</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>38,828<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>5.69%</div>
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<a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>31,785<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>5.79%</div>
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<a href="http://www.yale.edu/">Yale University</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>31,117<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>6.72%</div>
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<a href="http://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>33,531<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>6.89%</div>
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<a href="http://www.princeton.edu/main/">Princeton University</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>26,498<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>7.29%</div>
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<a href="http://www.uchicago.edu/">University of Chicago</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>30,369<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>8.81%</div>
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<a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>22,416<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>10.05%</div>
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<a href="http://duke.edu/">Duke University</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><a href="http://duke.edu/"> </a> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>31,785<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>11.58%</div>
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<a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/">Vanderbilt University</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>31,056<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>11.97%</div>
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<a href="http://www.upenn.edu/">University of Pennsylvania</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><a href="http://www.upenn.edu/"> </a> </span>31,280<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>12.10%</div>
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<a href="http://www.northwestern.edu/">Northwestern University</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>32,772<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>13.90%</div>
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<a href="http://wustl.edu/">Washington University</a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>30,117<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>15.01%</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(St. Louis)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.usc.edu/">USC</a> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>47,285
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> 19.68%</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Times
Choice</i> blog provides more exhaustive statistics. Click <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/15/education/thechoice-2013-acceptance-rates.html/?_r=0">here</a> to peruse statistics<b>.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Resource Aware”
Schools vs. “Discount Aware” Parents<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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There is a growing tension between colleges becoming more
“resource aware” (aka “full pay hunting”) versus parents becoming more <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“discount aware” (aka “coupon hunter”). </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324582004578461450531723268.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5">WSJ</a></i><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324582004578461450531723268.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5">article</a> illustrates how price and value are losing momentum among consumers. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Popularity
of Early Decision = Dissolving Advantage</b></div>
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More students are getting savvy about the “game
within the college admission game” and applying into early decision
pools; however, schools aren't necessarily admitting more in early
decision. As a result, the strategic advantage of applying early is
waning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2007, for example, a
student applying early decision had a 12-15% advantage; last year it was
6%. </div>
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</span></span></span>Here is <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/college_bound/2012/11/to_apply_early_or_not.html?cmp=SOC-SHR-TW">one</a> related article. And<a href="http://chicagomaroon.com/2012/11/16/ea-applications-rise-for-fourth-consecutive-year/"> another</a> related article. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ACT Trumps SAT in
Popularity</b></div>
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For the first time in US history, the ACT was more popular
among high school test takers than the SAT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notably, this year, 90% of our seniors scored higher on the
ACT than the SAT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colleges will
take either the ACT or SAT for admission review (there are also 800+
colleges/universities that are test optional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To peruse this list click <a href="http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional">here</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Moreover, the ACT recently announced that they will be offering their test
online (iPads) in the spring of 2015.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Here is <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/how-act-overtook-sat-as-the-top-college-entrance-exam/2012/09/24/d56df11c-0674-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_blog.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/how-act-overtook-sat-as-the-top-college-entrance-exam/2012/09/24/d56df11c-0674-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_blog.html">one related article</a>. And <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/06/act-tests-online-college/2139665/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsmain2+%28News+-+Flipboard%29">another</a>. </div>
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Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-59222295728434425482013-05-06T13:57:00.004-07:002013-05-10T08:02:55.635-07:00Casady's Class of 2013 College Acceptances and MatriculationsToday is College Day for our seniors!<br />
<br />
It's a <a href="https://www.casady.org/">Casady School</a> tradition for our seniors to wear their college t-shirt on this day as a way to publically announce to the community where they will be matriculating in the fall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_u0MVYjHkTEJQWV-nNqXWcncHC7qRGJDnEIM8PglSsZvWCgiG9NqUZ_VsOXiF-kcIn8JHKARu-gFLvmqlA0mjvaExZEnchn6U8wzubvHYVImATH583MPxzmudn_dWD3wVYBVCnx2jMs/s1600/IMG_8667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_u0MVYjHkTEJQWV-nNqXWcncHC7qRGJDnEIM8PglSsZvWCgiG9NqUZ_VsOXiF-kcIn8JHKARu-gFLvmqlA0mjvaExZEnchn6U8wzubvHYVImATH583MPxzmudn_dWD3wVYBVCnx2jMs/s320/IMG_8667.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Our college counseling office couldn't be prouder of the Class of 2013 and the colleges they have chosen.<br />
<br />
Statistics can never fully reveal the myriad of <i>reasons</i> for why a student chose the college they did.<br />
<br />
Story is a much more effective medium.<br />
<br />
And I wish I had the time and space to tell each student's story.<br />
<br />
But I'll share some statistics nevertheless.<br />
<br />
It's been well documented that this has been the most brutal year in highly selective admissions <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(click <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/15/education/thechoice-2013-acceptance-rates.html/?_r=0">here</a> to see 100+ admission statistics.)</span><br />
<br />
Take, as one salient example, <a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/">Vanderbilt University</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/">Vandy</a> received 31, 056 applications.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/">Vandy</a> only admitted 11.97%.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/">Vandy</a> is a microcosm of what we saw across the entire college landscape.<br />
<br />
We saw historic <i>highs</i> in applications - 99,000 at <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/index.html">UC- Berkeley</a>.<br />
<br />
We saw historic l<i>ows</i> in admissions - 6.72% at <a href="http://www.yale.edu/">Yale</a>, 5.79% at <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a>.<br />
<br />
And yet, in the midst of such historic highs and lows, our seniors had <i>historic success</i> in terms of overall college acceptances.<br />
<br />
188 applications (out of 265 total applications from our 60 seniors) were deemed worthy of admission at 71 different colleges and universities. <br />
<br />
From Ivies. To "Public Ivies".<br />
<br />
From Big 12. To Big 10.<br />
<br />
From Pac-12. To SEC. <br />
<br />
From single sex schools. To military academies.<br />
<br />
From small, liberal arts colleges. To mid-size private, research universities.<br />
<br />
This small, senior class really embraced in a big way the spirit of adventure. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">5<span style="font-size: x-large;">4</span>%</span> of our seniors will be matriculating <b>out of state</b> to <span style="font-size: x-large;">3<span style="font-size: x-large;">1</span></span> different colleges and universities.<br />
<br />
The other <span style="font-size: x-large;">4<span style="font-size: x-large;">6</span>%</span> will stay <b>in state </b>to attend <span style="font-size: x-large;">5</span> different universities.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">58%</span> will attend <b>public</b> institutions.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">42%</span> will attend <b>private</b> institutions.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">8%</span> will matriculate to <b>liberal arts colleges</b>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">92%</span> will matriculate to <b>universities</b>. <br />
<br />
To date our seniors have been offered almost <span style="font-size: x-large;">$4 </span>million in scholarship monies. <br />
<br />
Now to my favorite statistic.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">1<span style="font-size: x-large;">2</span></span>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">1<span style="font-size: x-large;">2</span></span> is the number of new stickers that we will be adding to our "Cyclone College Bound" map.<br />
<br />
Each sticker represents colleges and universities that a Casady student has either not chosen in many years, or never chosen before.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARA5H_q4Gpgt2wAwtlKrMCgsw0xSTrgUOd2i8-Vj91f1nNpSZnm00T1LtOMly59c9NARzNcKDaYou5JxOQJQohUU54F4AIOq4eVHpk1F5fKWgfaEWueIXFkjh3fFjUBfeukb2uYUgYPU/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARA5H_q4Gpgt2wAwtlKrMCgsw0xSTrgUOd2i8-Vj91f1nNpSZnm00T1LtOMly59c9NARzNcKDaYou5JxOQJQohUU54F4AIOq4eVHpk1F5fKWgfaEWueIXFkjh3fFjUBfeukb2uYUgYPU/s320/-1.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">1<span style="font-size: x-large;">2</span></span> is a number that says that our students are broadening the <i>horizons of the possible</i> in terms of great college fits for Casady students.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">12 </span>is a number that underscores the fact that more colleges are getting to know how exceptional students are that hale from <a href="https://www.casady.org/">Casady School.</a> <br />
<br />
Okay, with that said, it is time to roll out the Class of 2013 complete acceptance and matriculation list.<br />
<br />
Acceptances are in <span style="color: blue;">blue</span>. <br />
Matriculation are in <span style="color: red;">red.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">University of Alabama (new sticker!)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.american.edu/"><span style="color: red;"> </span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.american.edu/">American University </a><br />
<a href="http://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.uark.edu/home/">University of Arkansas</a><br />
<a href="http://www.austincollege.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Austin College</span></a><br />
<a href="http://barnard.edu/">Barnard College (Columbia University)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.baylor.edu/">Baylor University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bu.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Boston University</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.brynmawr.edu/">Bryn Mawr College</a><br />
<a href="http://www.uco.edu/"><span style="color: red;">University of Central Oklahoma (3)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.centre.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Centre College</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado - Boulder</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mines.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Colorado School of Mines (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.du.edu/">University of Denver</a><br />
<a href="http://duke.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Duke University</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.earlham.edu/">Earlham College</a><br />
<a href="http://www.elon.edu/home/">Elon University</a><br />
<span style="color: red;">Emory University </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.fortlewis.edu/">Fort Lewis College</a></span><br />
<a href="http://www2.furman.edu/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color: red;">Furman University (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.gwu.edu/"><span style="color: red;">The George Washington University (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.georgetown.edu/">Georgetown University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.harding.edu/">Harding University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hendrix.edu/">Hendrix College</a><br />
<a href="http://www.highpoint.edu/"><span style="color: red;">High Point University (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.k-state.edu/">Kansas State University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kings.edu/">King's College</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lakeforest.edu/">Lake Forest College</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langston_University">Langston University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lindenwood.edu/">Lindenwood University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lmu.edu/">Loyola Marymount University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lyon.edu/">Lyon College</a><br />
<span style="color: red;">University of Mississippi</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mobap.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Missouri Baptist University (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.mst.edu/">Missouri University of Science and Technology</a><br />
<a href="http://www.missouri.edu/">University of Missouri-Columbia</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nyu.edu/"><span style="color: red;">New York University</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.newmanu.edu/">Newman University</a><br />
<a href="http://unc.edu/">University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill</a><br />
<a href="http://www.northeastern.edu/">Northeastern University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.northwestern.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Northwestern University</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.okbu.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Oklahoma Baptist University (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.okcu.edu/">Oklahoma City University</a><br />
<a href="http://go.okstate.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Oklahoma State University (3)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.osuokc.edu/home/"><span style="color: red;">Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ou.edu/web.html"><span style="color: red;">University of Oklahoma (19)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://oxford.emory.edu/">Oxford College of Emory University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pepperdine.edu/">Pepperdine University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.randolphcollege.edu/">Randolph College</a><br />
<a href="http://www.rmc.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Randolph-Macon College (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.rhodes.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Rhodes College</span></a><br />
<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.slu.edu/">Saint Louis University </a></span><br />
<a href="http://www.sandiego.edu/"><span style="color: red;">University of San Diego</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.usc.edu/"><span style="color: red;">University of Southern California (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.smu.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Southern Methodist University (4)</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.southwestern.edu/">Southwestern University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.stedwards.edu/"><span style="color: red;">St. Edward's University (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<span style="color: red;">TAMU</span><br />
<a href="https://www.utexas.edu/"><span style="color: red;">University of Texas - Austin (2)</span></a><br />
<span style="color: red;">Texas Christian University </span><br />
<a href="http://web.trinity.edu/">Trinity University</a><br />
<a href="http://www.utulsa.edu/">University of Tulsa</a><br />
<a href="http://www.usafa.af.mil/">United States Air Force Academy</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cga.edu/">United States Coast Guard Academy </a><br />
<span style="color: red;">United States Military Academy at West Point (2)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.usna.edu/homepage.php">United States Naval Academy</a><br />
<a href="http://www.virginia.edu/">University of Virginia </a><br />
<a href="http://wustl.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Washington University in St. Louis</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.wellesley.edu/">Wellesley College</a><br />
<a href="http://www.wisc.edu/"><span style="color: red;">University of Wisconsin - Madison (new sticker!)</span></a><br />
<span style="color: red;">Vanderbilt University </span><br />
<a href="http://www.yale.edu/"><span style="color: red;">Yale University (new sticker!) </span></a><br />
<br />
On behalf of our entire office, we are SO PROUD of the Class of 2013!<br />
<br />
And we wish each of you the best as you pursue your passions and interests in college.<br />
<br />
Please come back and visit us and share your college experience.<br />
<br />
We want to hear of all the ways the college you chose has been an excellent college fit!Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-50510345097775700742013-04-17T08:03:00.003-07:002013-04-17T08:17:07.696-07:00Wait Listed? Simple Strategies Going ForwardMost of our seniors this year got a clean cut in regular admissions.<br />
<br />
Our 61 seniors, for example, submitted 265 applications.<br />
<br />
Only 11 apps were wait listed.<br />
<br />
And only 1 senior is pursuing a spot via the wait list.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpbHCsDnQt4AgoBZh1MVg36Esk-xWlyX6P1vefDTAqXoUPjwy361PWH62xVg1K5ng3zdFga6qUNI4FglzSFHJJRwZzrA3qGzoH_kY5VindqDunMKx_EBDRcSSfUo17NnrumgLWMLuLTM/s1600/Wait-List-Logo-385x384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpbHCsDnQt4AgoBZh1MVg36Esk-xWlyX6P1vefDTAqXoUPjwy361PWH62xVg1K5ng3zdFga6qUNI4FglzSFHJJRwZzrA3qGzoH_kY5VindqDunMKx_EBDRcSSfUo17NnrumgLWMLuLTM/s320/Wait-List-Logo-385x384.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So for that 1 student, I've given them simple advice.<br />
<br />
First, let the college know you want a spot. <br />
<br />
Second, send the college rep only <i>new</i> information - new awards, new recognitions, new grades, etc. <br />
<br />
Third, consider sending the college rep a short, new essay on <i>why that college</i>.<br />
<br />
Fourth, try to seek out an <i>alumni</i> of that college who knows you and can advocate for you in a letter.<br />
<br />
Most college reps won't admit this, but they are tired. So keep everything tight, terse, and brief.<br />
<br />
Fifth, plan on depositing May 1st to an admitted college.<br />
<br />
Many colleges will not go to their wait list until after May 1st when they get a clearer picture of what spots are open.<br />
<br />
That's it.<br />
<br />
Wait list, unfortunately, require waiting.<br />
<br />
And sometimes good things come to those who wait.<br />
<br />
And other times - they don't.<br />
<br />
That proverbial wisdom often proves true for finding a spouse. Or getting a great deal on a car.<br />
<br />
But not necessarily a spot at a desired college.<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/college_bound/2013/04/about_one-third_of_students_get_offers_from_college_wait_lists.html">recent article </a>enumerated on anticipated wait list trends this year.<br />
<br />
Here are a handful of more statistics from that article.<br />
<br />
About 55% of colleges will create and use a wait list.<br />
<br />
Most of those 55% will put roughly 9% of their application pool on the wait list.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell</a> is a great example of this trend. <a href="http://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell</a> had 40,006 applications. They put 3,146 on the wait list. <br />
<br />
Some schools will put more. Take <a href="http://www.emory.edu/home/index.html">Emory</a>. They had 17,698 applications. They put 4,113 on the wait list.<br />
<br />
Some will put less. Take <a href="http://www.princeton.edu/main/">Princeton</a>. They had 26, 498. They put 1,395 on the wait list. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Times</i> recently posted admission statistics for many highly selective schools. They also provided wait list numbers. Click <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/15/education/thechoice-2013-acceptance-rates.html/?_r=0">here </a>to review statistics. </span><br />
<br />
Overall, colleges are taking on average 31% from the wait list.<br />
<br />
Notably, highly selective schools are taking almost 17% from their wait list.<br />
<br />
Usually, I tell my kids that the more selective the school is, the less likely they will be admitted off the waist list. In that case, I tell my kids to see a wait list as a consolation prize, and that they need to move forward, deposit May 1st at a school that has admitted them, buy the t-shirt, and celebrate the exciting opportunities that await them in the next chapter of their life story.<br />
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<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-25337045360938736822013-03-27T08:55:00.000-07:002013-03-28T06:31:45.026-07:002...1...2.<br />
<br />
1.<br />
<br />
now click.<br />
<br />
36 of our seniors will hear back on 96 application decisions.<br />
<br />
It's certain to be a mixed bag.<br />
<br />
Or like my golf game - a combination of birdies, pars, and quadruple bogies.<br />
<br />
My colleague at a prestigious independent school in the northeast recently texted me these macabresque four words:<br />
<br />
"Regular admission is dead."<br />
<br />
At highly selective schools, in particular, it seems that the sheer, absurd, colossal numbers are going to bury most applicants like an avalanche. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4iCW496ZZ_POm06rxgn41pB1tuDI98UBbXnVSnCGrnTbl4Ic3GVQqmcK169msjJ-vgOv2CvhcOAWzzr1qrOu8Xa0ofS6aivEaU2v0GnlOUitbXdg49lhQDbZGoFtyHFsAh-iA80RAV8/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4iCW496ZZ_POm06rxgn41pB1tuDI98UBbXnVSnCGrnTbl4Ic3GVQqmcK169msjJ-vgOv2CvhcOAWzzr1qrOu8Xa0ofS6aivEaU2v0GnlOUitbXdg49lhQDbZGoFtyHFsAh-iA80RAV8/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
It seems that if a kid wants a school that admits 25% or less, their best shot, and in most cases, their only shot, in fact, is early admission.<br />
<br />
Early.<br />
<br />
Or nothing. <br />
<br />
Recently, there was an article in <i>Time </i>entitled <a href="http://ideas.time.com/2013/03/20/college-admissions-the-myth-of-higher-selectivity/">"College Admissions: The Myth of High Selectivity."</a><br />
<br />
The argument is that it is actually <i>easier</i> to get into a highly selective school.<br />
<br />
Maybe not THE highly selective school of choice.<br />
<br />
But A highly selective school of choice.<br />
<br />
The argument revolves around the central idea that more <i>unqualified</i> students are applying just because they can thanks to the easy accessibility via the <a href="https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx">Common Application</a>.<br />
<br />
We call these applicants "profile negative" students.<br />
<br />
GPA and test scores are below the 50% median.<br />
<br />
I'm sure that cohort of applicants is growing.<br />
<br />
But most deans of admission tell college counselors like myself just the opposite.<br />
<br />
They are fomenting our anxiety with the growing cohort of <i>qualified</i> students. <br />
<br />
They are "profile positive."<br />
<br />
Take <a href="http://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/%E2%80%9Cnuanced-decisions%E2%80%9D/">this interview</a> with Maria Laskaris, Dean of Admission at <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth College.</a><br />
<br />
At one point, Mrs. Laskaris said this about the overall quality of the admission pool:<br />
<br />
<i>"Probably 85 to 90 percent of the pool, if given the opportunity, would
thrive, would excel, so we’re making very nuanced and difficult
decisions, and it gets harder and harder, as you winnow the pool down,
to figure out whom we’re going to admit."</i><br />
<br />
85 to 90%.<br />
<br />
So of the 8 out of 10 that are admissible, <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth</a> then will admit 1 out of those 8. <br />
<br />
That's the same set of numbers I heard from Bill Fitzsimmons at <a href="http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/03/admissions-beyond-a-single-test/">Harvard</a>.<br />
<br />
Same number I just got on the phone from our rep at <a href="http://www.vanderbilt.edu/">Vandy</a> who told me that they got over 31,000 applications in this year's admission cycle.<br />
<br />
Just today, in fact, <a href="http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/">The Times</a> ran an article on tips for being accepted.<br />
<br />
The thrust of the article is when you get your acceptance letter - be happy, relieved, jubilant...but don't go "Rod Tidwell" overboard and get flagged 15 yards by your peers. <br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
My guess is that the Rod Tidwell touchdown dances will be far-and-in-between the crawl-into-the-fetal-position-and-spoon-down-ben-and-jerry's-ice-cream.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA7yMNoe5fsB93-aWUIa8c3KAR1FEHafyMe-SOtsSzeumt42VbbHKBXNguJ_aSc6t2jwwfOwVVsJERpf1cfLAhxoXdjvZE-pVJI9ySKHJE0cG4ebZzuUS0LSI-tUeTaKwV9Wwaz3EtEg/s1600/28thechoice-envelope2-blog480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA7yMNoe5fsB93-aWUIa8c3KAR1FEHafyMe-SOtsSzeumt42VbbHKBXNguJ_aSc6t2jwwfOwVVsJERpf1cfLAhxoXdjvZE-pVJI9ySKHJE0cG4ebZzuUS0LSI-tUeTaKwV9Wwaz3EtEg/s320/28thechoice-envelope2-blog480.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
In other words, more of these cringing responses. <br />
<br />
Than the above.<br />
<br />
So my final thought as the curtain lifts in the next 24 hours.<br />
<br />
If you are one of the <i>few who get in at highly selective schools</i> - count yourself lucky, because the truth is, that decision doesn't reflect as much your <i>admissibility</i> as it does the <i>absurdity </i>of the process.<br />
<br />
And if you are one of the many who <i>do not get in</i> - know that the decision doesn't reflect as much your <i>inadmissibility</i> as it does the <i>absurdity</i> of the process.<br />
<br />
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<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-64823864806643240882013-03-14T07:46:00.000-07:002013-03-14T07:46:09.729-07:00Discovering Your Story, Part IThis month's theme for the College Seminar is story.<br />
<br />
I invited a guest speaker to engage our 11th graders on the compelling power of story.<br />
<br />
Our guest speaker has hired and fired many salesman in the corporate world of healthcare management.<br />
<br />
He opened with our students by saying, "I've never hired a person with the best resume. I've always hired the person with a good resume and an even better story."<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD97zeiNS5cQ7mEN-Lovr8ZCk0Venn9IRPBELNQYcIT7hEhjLJCLEZ0oKtjs3Sds5OgZ4cuVTTeG5jfIFuY4QuM4M1Jv1cT3FZzfpTpEKJ1YDsFqFZTLf-3y9N84MvlLeKI0aBOrIgCo/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD97zeiNS5cQ7mEN-Lovr8ZCk0Venn9IRPBELNQYcIT7hEhjLJCLEZ0oKtjs3Sds5OgZ4cuVTTeG5jfIFuY4QuM4M1Jv1cT3FZzfpTpEKJ1YDsFqFZTLf-3y9N84MvlLeKI0aBOrIgCo/s320/-1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
Does a really good story make that much of a difference?<br />
<br />
In a job interview?<br />
<br />
On a college application?<br />
<br />
In life - in general?<br />
<br />
I would argue, Yes!<br />
<br />
What is a story?<br />
<br />
A story is <i>what you do.</i><br />
<br />
Think about what you do?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>School</li>
<li>GPA</li>
<li>SAT/ACT Scores</li>
<li>Clubs</li>
<li>Activities</li>
<li>Service Hours</li>
<li>Athletics (JV/V...start/don't start)</li>
<li>Work</li>
<li>Vocational Aspirations</li>
</ul>
<br />
We are in touch with these because this is where we spend all of our time.<br />
<br />
This stuff makes up 90% of our conversations - doesn't it?<br />
<br />
But your story is more than what you do.<br />
<br />
Your story is also <i>who you are.</i><br />
<br />
Now think about who you are?<br />
<br />
You are shaped by your experiences, family, life events, etc.<br />
<br />
You are unique - like your thumbprint.<br />
<br />
And this sets you apart.<br />
<br />
Informs your character and passions.<br />
<br />
Makes you "come alive" to those around you.<br />
<br />
Comes from "the heart" more than "the head."<br />
<br />
<br />
Your story then is <i>what you do</i> + <i>who you are</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-64368988486398718492013-03-11T10:00:00.000-07:002013-03-11T10:00:39.370-07:00My Top 10 Rejection MomentsThis is always an unnerving stretch of the application cycle.<br />
<br />
Three weeks and counting before all regular admission decisions are delivered.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDgYivOKmmYKbvW4uwf7URQ7fJK7XzEKU8ts3xFVCws35ZSeJp74mf0Dj1asN7BHQBvI5zbA7fVlNeb8PtEqrAQx7qUl8NBQN1GKqQbSwbeSbbew-7_6d-0L6Oq8PuI5d0VYAUdh5zJw/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-08+at+9.19.23+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDgYivOKmmYKbvW4uwf7URQ7fJK7XzEKU8ts3xFVCws35ZSeJp74mf0Dj1asN7BHQBvI5zbA7fVlNeb8PtEqrAQx7qUl8NBQN1GKqQbSwbeSbbew-7_6d-0L6Oq8PuI5d0VYAUdh5zJw/s320/Screen+shot+2013-03-08+at+9.19.23+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
I find myself staring at our Naviance pie chart almost every hour.<br />
<br />
50% of our admission decisions are in the books.<br />
<br />
50% aren't.<br />
<br />
That's a lot of unknown results.<br />
<br />
That's a lot of finger nail biting.<br />
<br />
Inevitably there will be a mixed bag of decisions.<br />
<br />
Some of our kids will get good news.<br />
<br />
Others disappointing news.<br />
<br />
And still others the news that it's not over. <br />
<br />
Wait listed. <br />
<br />
But for me, I find it easier to weep with those who weep, instead of rejoice with those who rejoice.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it is because we tend to feel the sting of rejection longer than we do the euphoric prick of acceptance.<br />
<br />
Just yesterday I got an email from <a href="http://www.nacacnet.org/Pages/default.aspx">NACAC</a> that my proposal for a workshop at the upcoming national conference got rejected.<br />
<br />
The email, of course, was gracious, but in the end, the committee concluded that my topic was "too basic for inclusion at the national conference level." <br />
<br />
So there was that.<br />
<br />
I was one of the 150 or so that got their proposal waste bucketed. <br />
<br />
It stung for a bit, but then the mosquito bite disappeared.<br />
<br />
But it got me <i>feeling</i> in a fresh and new way what some of my students and parents will feel in the next few weeks.<br />
<br />
And it got me <i>thinking-feeling</i> back to other times that I have experienced rejection.<br />
<br />
It's not that hard to pinpoint moments of rejection because it always comes with a visceral wallop - doesn't it?<br />
<br />
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If we're honest, our lives are fraught with rejection. <br />
<br />
Most of which we repress.<br />
<br />
Or medicate.<br />
<br />
Or project onto our kids. <br />
<br />
So I've decided I'd "open a vein" and share some of my highest low points.<br />
<br />
Call this my Top 10 Rejection Moments.<br />
<br />
A cathartic exercise.<br />
<br />
I've left out elementary and middle school.<br />
<br />
I can't seem to remember that far back.<br />
<br />
I have a few memories of awkward, insecure moments, like the time I couldn't lift the bench bar in the weight room, and my fellow 7th grade football teammates laughed at my scrawny frame.<br />
<br />
Or the time I got my gym shorts and underwear pulled down by Zac Graves during a game of dodge ball.<br />
<br />
Talk about humiliating.<br />
<br />
Especially when you were a late bloomer puberty wise. <br />
<br />
So I'll just pick it up around 16 years old.<br />
<br />
These are in no particular order.<br />
<br />
Just as they surfaced from the subconscious nether regions.<br />
<ol>
<li>I was rejected by Lisa Freeland when I went in for a post prom date kiss my junior year. </li>
<li>I was slighted by my classmates as an incumbent class officer. Kurt Anglebeck was elected Senior Class President and got to give the graduation speech.</li>
<li>I was later rejected as a Senior Captain on the "Royal Court" for Homecoming.</li>
<li>I was rejected by the Air Force Academy - offered a spot at the prep school instead</li>
<li>I received almost 47 rejections from the colleges I had hoped would recruit me for basketball.</li>
<li>I was rejected countless times as a freshman basketball player, driving into the paint, only to see my tear drop floater get swatted away by University of Illinois transfer, Marc Davidson, a 6'7" power forward with a haircut and physique like Drago's in Rocky IV.</li>
<li>I spent an entire summer getting rejected on the phone as a "nurse recruiter specialist" (pretty much got fired after going 0-500).</li>
<li>I had my co-manuscript of the <a href="http://www.fromashestoafrica.com/">memoir my wife and I wrote</a> rejected by many publishers.</li>
<li>I was rejected twice as a finalist for recent job openings. </li>
<li>I was initially rejected by the State Boards for my teaching license because I failed one of the English grammar exams. ("I'm a story and ideas guy!) </li>
</ol>
Looking back now, I realize that No, the sky wasn't really falling. It just felt apocalyptic at the time.<br />
<br />
And I also realize now that I had a lot of people around me - family, friends, coaches, teachers, colleagues - that helped absorb the sting, lick my wounds and move forward.<br />
<br />
Life, indeed, is a communal effort. The "I" needs the "we" to overcome those stretches on the journey that are fraught with disappointment.<br />
<br />
And I also see now the silver lining in almost every one of those rejections.<br />
<br />
Except maybe Lisa Freeland leaving me hanging on prom night.:)<br />
<br />
Good, wonderful, didn't-see-coming things were just around the corner of the No's. <br />
<br />
Yes's, in other words.<br />
<br />
Big, surprising, beautiful, hopeful Yes's! <br />
<br />
And it's those sunny Yes's on the other side of the dark, cloudy No's that give me comfort.<br />
<br />
And a peace of mind as I move into this stormy spring season with my students.<br />
<br />
All eventually will work out.<br />
<br />
There will be a silver lining.<br />
<br />
Just wait and see. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-87205664312374535222013-03-07T07:39:00.003-08:002013-03-08T07:16:53.975-08:00200th Blog Post - Show Me the Money!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
It's my 200th blog post!<br />
<br />
To celebrate this bi-centennial post - I will blog about money in relationship to college scholarships.<br />
<br />
My favorite topic. <br />
<br />
Every year I just have to show this clip from <i>Jerry Maguire</i>.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Because every year I feel more-and-more like my job is that of a sports agent.<br />
<br />
Not only am I to get kids into college (which again, I don't do - kids get themselves into college).<br />
<br />
But I'm also to broker the best financial aid package.<br />
<br />
The logic: Show the colleges the A's on the transcript and the colleges will show my kid the $$$$! <br />
<br />
Of course, when it comes to the most highly selective schools, that money is reserved not for the meritocratic all-stars, because we should all know by now, everyone who is admitted at the top of the selectivity pyramid walks on water.<br />
<br />
Money is given based on <i>need</i> only.<br />
<br />
W'2's.<br />
<br />
Not CUM GPA's. <br />
<br />
Last week <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/troyonink/2013/02/22/good-grades-and-college-aid-the-wake-up-story/">Forbes</a> did an article on this growing trend among American families with college-bound seniors.<br />
<br />
It's a sobering article.<br />
<br />
Meant to be a "wake up call" to children and parents of entitlement.<br />
<br />
High GPA's and test scores doesn't necessarily equate to scholarship dollars. <br />
<br />
It's becoming an art form really.<br />
<br />
Of wishful thinking.<br />
<br />
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Like an imaginary game of <i>Monopoly. </i><br />
<br />
Every A should equate to collecting $100 of scholarship money.<br />
<br />
Reality is just now coming to roost.<br />
<br />
For parents. <i>You means we actually have to pay for college?</i><br />
<br />
For colleges. <i>You mean you (parent) actually thought you weren't going to have to pay for college? </i><br />
<br />
For students. <i>You mean that A in AP Study Skills doesn't get me a full ride? </i><br />
<br />
In the end, I counsel my students and parents to choose a college that fits into their affordability parameters.<br />
<br />
For some that will equate to a full pay, private college.<br />
<br />
For others that will equate to a half pay, "lower-on-the-selectivity-food-chain" private college.<br />
<br />
And for others that will equate to paying for a state public.<br />
<br />
Of course the biggest fear factor going forward for many students and parents is the L word.<br />
<br />
Loans.<br />
<br />
There are so many horror stories of kids who graduate with six figure loan debt.<br />
<br />
In a recent <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/03/myth-student-loan-crisis/309231/">The Atlantic</a> article entitled, <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/03/myth-student-loan-crisis/309231/">"The Myth of the Student-Loan Crisis,"</a> the writers seek to illustrate with excellent graphics and empirical evidence that the horror stories are in the minority, and the employment rate and the income earning potential for those who graduate with a college degree should give you some warm fuzzies.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-90343261610148601642013-03-06T09:22:00.001-08:002013-03-08T07:16:09.601-08:00@UVADean Top New TweetsWho is in the mood for a few insightful dean @UVADean tweets?<br />
<br />
I am.<br />
<br />
Here are some of my recent favorites.<br />
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This last tweet is from the <a href="https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx">Common Application. </a> I was shocked when the <a href="https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/default.aspx">CA</a> announced that the short answer question (1000 characters) was removed from 2013-2014 application.<br />
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That means only one personal essay.<br />
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With an extended word length 650 words.<br />
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On another note, I thought you might enjoy a picture from my seat at last night's Thunder vs. Lakers game. <br />
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The last couple Thunder games I've attended have been L's. It's sort of made me feel insecure.<br />
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Like I'm some sort of jinx or curse on the Thunder. <br />
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But last night, the Thunder were sharp all night and made big plays down the stretch (12-0 run) to close out Kobe and the Lakers.<br />
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Have a great rest of the week!<br />
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<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-30825256646800084652013-02-28T12:11:00.002-08:002013-02-28T16:10:23.494-08:00"Well-Rounded" + "Well-Angled"There is a new hyphenated word being used in the world of highly selective schools.<br />
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It's the word "well-angled."<br />
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______<br />
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All of us have some idea of what well-rounded means.<br />
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It's always been the <i>lingua franca</i> of the independent school world.<br />
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And the foundation of Western pedagogy. <br />
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A well-rounded student has many hyphens in their profile.<br />
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Student-athlete.<br />
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Student-leader.<br />
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Student-artist.<br />
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Student-volunteer.<br />
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A well-rounded student is not necessarily excellent and passionately involved in one "hyphenated sphere."<br />
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A well-rounded student is very good and modestly involved in many "hyphenated spheres."<br />
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The student is not just into one thing.<br />
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But many.<br />
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Not singular.<br />
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But plural.<br />
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I've reported before that the Dean of Admission at <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard</a> shared with us at the <a href="http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~sica/">Harvard Summer Institute</a> last year that almost two-thirds of admitted students were "well-rounded."<br />
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My guess is that Bill Fitzsimmons could have said that about any applicant.<br />
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But dig a bit deeper, and the student admitted, most likely had a "hook."<br />
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A hook is a "+1 credential" that helps elevate the applicant from the pack.<br />
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Recruited athlete. +1.<br />
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Legacy. +1.<br />
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URM (Under Represented Minority). +1.<br />
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URD (Under Represented Demographic). +1.<br />
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URG (Under Represented Gender). +1.<br />
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Now it is beginning to seem that if a student is "well-rounded" but not "hooked," then the student's only chance at admission is if he or she is "well-angled."<br />
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*And let me clarify - this is at the most highly selective schools, specifically universities. <br />
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What then does this mean?<br />
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The way I interpret this new term is two-fold: 1) "well-angled" means that a student bends their academic curriculum toward a particular academic major or discipline. An example then would be the student who plans on applying to the engineering college within a highly selective university. He or she then "angles" her curriculum in such a way that he or she drops humanities and languages, and loads up on math and sciences. <br />
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2) "Well-angled"means that a student starts majoring in a major before they major in a major.<br />
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In other words, the student starts taking college-level course work in a specific academic discipline <i>before </i>they are freshman in college.<br />
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I've been amazed at how many kids today are looking for or signing up for college-level course/experiences as a way to "angle" themselves. Highly selective colleges, it seems, are really jumping at the opportunity to create a new revenue stream. Of course, these kinds of programs advantage the advantaged. The cost alone is normally too steep for the <i>personis mediocribus</i>.<br />
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The concern I have is that 1) this "well-angled" terminology will create a wide spread panic among students and parents, and that as a result, they will start protesting the fact that their student has to take World History, or that they have any general core requirements. The liberal arts education, over time, as a result, will go kaput. 2) This "well-angled" terminology will force students to prematurely decide what academic route to take for a career. <br />
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These trends are already starting to creep into our ethos.<br />
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We have, for example, students at our school who will graduate and not know what the Renaissance is any real depth. Why? They only have to take two years of history.<br />
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And at the same time, we are seeing such a heavy attrition of kids NOT matriculating to liberal arts colleges.<br />
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Two years ago - only 13% of our class matriculated to lib arts colleges (87% to universities).<br />
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Last year - 9%.<br />
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To compete then at the university level at highly selective schools, it seems that our kids are being manipulated into curriculum and career decisions that at 15, 16, 17, 18 years old, they should not have to decide.<br />
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When I was a senior in high school, I wanted to be a sportscaster on <a href="http://espn.go.com/">ESPN</a>.<br />
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How about you? <br />
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It does make me wonder how much longer liberal arts colleges, and in fact, liberal arts curriculum in the independent school world, will be able to survive.<br />
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And how much longer it will be until the British/European model of education replaces our model, which then will create a much more specialized student and work force.<br />
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Time will indeed tell.<br />
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In the meantime, I strive to do the best I can to discern the right academic curriculum each student should take within our graduation requirements and course offerings to give them the best competitive credential possible to gain admission at whatever level of admission selectivity.<br />
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<br />Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2142833971656790246.post-34927545905821706462013-02-21T13:03:00.004-08:002013-02-21T13:54:19.812-08:00The Demise of Guys<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZFusdv3bdtQUhCF4MQb1n2_ZhNxu8W5GxsE0JTbWKhbLgmSDXJb1l7fCcQLZMUyEfFIorsjWDslBxKSLfI5gkKvciUNiC1xp9yaLBFfBilEtpX64Z_9pumc7C8gksaHrMIi6vNK_7Sc/s1600/-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZFusdv3bdtQUhCF4MQb1n2_ZhNxu8W5GxsE0JTbWKhbLgmSDXJb1l7fCcQLZMUyEfFIorsjWDslBxKSLfI5gkKvciUNiC1xp9yaLBFfBilEtpX64Z_9pumc7C8gksaHrMIi6vNK_7Sc/s320/-1.png" /></a>I saw this graph in an article this week. <br />
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It reinforces the chasm growing between men and women who are college educated.<br />
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At our local flagship university, for example, the gap between men and women enrolling each year is almost 250 with each class.<br />
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There is now almost 1000 more females in school than males.<br />
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Which of course is now proliferating out into major urban sprawls.<br />
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Which then is making it harder for young women to find young men who are a "good match" in terms of education and career levels and ambitions.<br />
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Perhaps you have heard, read, or seen some of the stuff by Philip Zimbardo on this topic.<br />
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One of his more popular TEDS Talks is on the "demise of guys."<br />
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Zimbardo begins with sobering statistics about the growing gap between males and females matriculating and graduating from college.<br />
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And then he delves more deeply into the problems that young men are facing today in relationship to the opposite sex.<br />
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Preferring objects to people.<br />
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Gamers. Cave Dwellers.<br />
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Socially awkward. <br />
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Addicted to pornography.<br />
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Paralyzed by intimacy.<br />
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The Ted Talk is worth the six minutes, especially if like me, you are raising a boy.<br />
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Or have in your English class of 14 students - 10 boys and 4 girls.<br />
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Mr. Josh Bottomlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103328538494037654noreply@blogger.com