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Understanding the Selective College Admission Process

MSCA Annual ConferenceNovember 8-10, 2015

+Your Presenters

Barbara SamsDirector of College Counseling

Saint Louis Priory School

Mark SteinlageAssociate Dean of Admission

Saint Louis University

+Demographics and Trends in College Applications

• 1.9 million + high school from the Class of 2015 took the ACT; up 19% since 2011

• Since 2004, enrollment in college has increased by about 15% according to the US Department of Education

• National Association for College Admission Counseling data indicates: in 1990 just 9 percent of students applied to seven or more colleges. By 2011, the year of its most recent survey, that group had risen to 29 percent.

+TRENDS IN COLLEGE ADMISSION Importance of Demonstrated Interest

The National Conversation – Focus on under-represented populations particularly those who are Pell Eligible or First Generation

Implications of Application Creep Test Score predominance Demonstrated Interest Need-Aware Admission

Rise in the use of early application programs

Growth of Supplements to the Application – not just for admission. Scholarships. Special Programs.

+How Colleges Make Choices – Admission Selection Models

Open Admission Colleges – high school diploma or equivalency: Community Colleges

Formula Admission – definitive set of criteria usually a combination of required courses, grade point average and test scores: Many state schools

Competitive Admission – holistic review process. This process considers academic (objective) and non-academic (subjective) characteristics of the student.

+Holistic Admission Process

Academic (Objective) Rigor of Your Curriculum Grade Point Average Your standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) Counselor Recommendation Teacher Recommendations Caliber of your educational experiences, i.e. opportunities

your high school provides

Non-Academic (Subjective) Your Activities Resume Essay Interview Special Affinity or Talent Level of Interest Admission

+College is a match to be made…NOT a prize to be won

WHY is the student going to college?

Best thing about higher education in the United States is the choice… why have all of these choices developed

Understand YOU (the student)

Find the school where the student will FIT … where will he or she be successful.

College Choice is a process, not a point

+Choice Factors to Start Your Search What Size School Is Most Likely to Help The Student

Succeed More than 3000 colleges and universities in the US alone 67% of these schools are less than 3000 students Only 14% are larger than 8000 students

What Setting Does the Student Want Urban Suburban College Town Easily Accessible to Home? In a Particular Climate?

+Other Factors to Consider Mission – what is important to the school

Strength in The Student’s Area(s) of Interest (academics and extracurricular activities)

Culture Academic Environment Campus Environment

Special Opportunities … academically and socially

Campus Resources Advising Career Planning and Placement Learning Center

+First and Foremost… Grades

The Transcript -- Most important document in all of college admission

The Role of the High School Profile – Define who your school is for the colleges

What is noticed1. Rigor – has the student taken advantage of what’s available

at your school in light of his or her strengths

2. Actual grades earned – comparing different high schools

3. Trends – has the student improved over time; how has the student grown as a member of your learning community

+The Unknown Factors

The Admission Process can be unpredictable (what are the institution’s goals and priorities that year?) The intangibles that no student can control.

Senior year is important from beginning to END

Does demonstrated interest matter and how should a student show this if he/she can't visit?

Financial aid and scholarships – is the school need-aware in the admission process? Do they gap students? And, if yes, what is a typical gap?

+Ways to Teach Families About this Process Mock Admission Committee

Dean’s Round Table

The Admission Game

Advice from Students and Parents who Have Been There/Done That

+Resources

Our Contact Information Barbara Sams – Saint Louis Priory School, bsams@priory.org Mark Steinlage – Saint Louis University, msteinl2@slu.edu

College and Universities in Your Area

Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling www.moacac.org

+QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS