THE
COLLEGE CONNECTION
NEWSLETTER
FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNORS AND SENIORS
April 2021 Volume 28 Issue 8
ADMISSIONS DECISIONS: WHAT’S AS SOME COLLEGES STRUGGLE,
DIFFERENT WITH YES (AND NO) THIS THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
YEAR MORE AID. HERE’S HOW TO
(Counselors Corner, Patrick O'Connor, Ph.D.) NEGOTIATE
([Link])
Seniors, I get it. You heard from the colleges and you
were really hoping that in this year of the unusual Some of the most selective colleges and universities
their replies would be what you were expecting, or are seeing a surge in applications for incoming
hoping for. It would also be great if the colleges freshmen this fall. Yet other schools are struggling.
saying Yes offer you the financial aid you need, and
that they tell you that right away. That may present an opportunity for families to try to
get more money towards tuition.
That would be great, but it just isn’t likely. Many
colleges didn’t use test scores in admissions “We could see a similar year to last year in terms of
decisions for the first time this year, and many of the families having more consumer purchasing power,
high schools are using different grading scales having some more leverage with those smaller, less
because of online learning. Throw in changes to the selective, less well-known schools,” said Shannon
way colleges had to recruit this year (no campus Vasconcelos, the former assistant director of
visits, no old school open houses), and you should financial aid at Tufts University.
be able to see why colleges have no clue who really
wants to come to their college. “The schools are really dependent upon the tuition
dollars,” she said.
Continued on page 6 Continued on page 3
EXPECT COLLEGE WAIT LISTS TO BE OBNOXIOUSLY LONG THIS YEAR
([Link])
Many college admissions officers are stumped this spring over how many applicants to admit.
Their mathematical models to predict which admitted students might accept their offers and enroll as freshmen
are proving useless because the coronavirus pandemic threw most traditional elements of the admissions
process—campus visits, standardized tests, essays about busy extracurricular schedules—into disarray.
Continued on page 7
THE COLLEGE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER
SCHOLARSHIPS SENIOR CHECKLIST
JONES FAMILY CIA SCHOLARSHIPS
Celebrate!
FOUNDATION
The Undergraduate Scholarship
Join Facebook groups for
The Paula B. and Oliver W. Program is a financial needs-
your top choices
Jones Family Scholarship is a based initiative that offers
scholarship program to promote undergraduate students an
unmatched experience in a Participate in virtual tours
education, humanitarian efforts
diverse, equitable, and inclusive and events
and self–esteem in young
people. If we enable one environment at the CIA. Deadline
individual who, as an adult, June 18th 2021 If you can visit your top
makes a positive contribution to choices, do it
society, we have made a
difference in the world. Deadline Ask lots of questions
May 1st
Apply for scholarships
Review financial aid
packages
BBB ETHICAL TORCH
ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP UNICO SCHOLARSHIP
HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP
The BBB seeks to honor The UNICO National mission is FOUNDATIONS
ethical students for doing the to promote the image of Italian
right thing in Greater Arizona Americans along with Italian The HSF Scholarship is designed to
and Southern California. heritage and culture by assist students of Hispanic heritage
Students will write a 400 word supporting charitable, scientific, obtain a university degree. $500-$5000
essay on “The Importance of cultural, educational, and Scholarships are available, on a
Ethics and Integrity in our literary projects. Deadline April competitive basis Application opens
Community.” 15, 2021 Jan. 1, 2021.
Deadline August 15th 2021
THE NATIONAL CCAA
SCHOLARSHIP
Fun Fact: Offered annually to college-bound high
About 43 percent of all school seniors and transfer students
from two-year/community colleges
institutional aid funds are attending one of the National CCAA
merit-based. member institutions in the fall.
Application opens February 2021
April 2021 Page 2
THE COLLEGE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER
AS SOME COLLEGES STRUGGLE, THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE AID.
HERE’S HOW TO NEGOTIATE
Continued from page 1
College applications are up by 10% this year, according to the Common Application, the most widely used
college application. Yet those more selective public and private schools saw a 17% jump.
However, small institutions saw a decline across the board, except for the more selective private ones. Public
school applications fell in both the more and less selective categories, by 3.76% and 4.71%, respectively, and
applications to private, less selective colleges dropped 1.28%.
“Colleges and universities are businesses,” said certified financial planner Lawrence Sprung, president of
Hauppauge, New York-based Mitlin Financial. “They are very well-run, well-oiled machines.“Like anything else,
there are opportunities.”
However, there are different tactics to getting more money, depending on whether it is need-based financial aid
or merit-based scholarship money.
Financial aid decisions for the incoming freshman class are based on 2019 income levels. So, if your family’s
finances took a hit during the pandemic, or there was any other change in your financial situation, you can file
an appeal for more money.
Vasconcelos said common reasons include:
A job loss.
A hit to your savings since you completed the application.
High out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Support of elderly relative or family overseas.
Extra medical or care expenses for a special needs child.
Private high school tuition for a younger sibling.
Capital gains on stocks in 2019 that was not repeated.
You are no longer receiving the child support you got in 2019.
Parents’ student loan debt.
To file your appeal, go to the school’s website and fill out an official appeal form. If there is no form, email the
school’s financial aid office. Explain the change in circumstances and ask for additional aid.
You’ll have to include documentation to support your request, such as a termination or furlough letter, a large
medical bill, your W2 or updated bank statements. When it comes time to request more scholarship money,
reach out to the admissions office with a personalized message.
Ideally, you’ll have an offer from another school you can use as leverage. If so, be sure to include
documentation in your email.
“You want to convey a small increase from them would make a big difference to your decision,” she added.
“That is when colleges will be more willing to work with you.”
If there are no cheaper options, it still doesn’t hurt to try. Just let them know that you aren’t sure if you can swing
the costs, particularly under the current circumstances.
Asking if there are any other scholarships you can apply for is a nice way to phrase an ask for more money,
especially if you have no competing offers or cheaper options to negotiate with, Vasconcelos said.
April 2021 Page 3
THE COLLEGE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER
COLLEGE NEWS
JUNIOR CHECKLIST
Two years after the University of California let its subscription
lapse with Elsevier, the system announced it reached an Schedule virtual college
agreement with the academic publishing giant that will help its visits
researchers publish open-access articles in the company's
scholarly journals. Take virtual college tours
Mills College, an institution in California that enrolls women and Visit campuses if possible
nonbinary students will stop enrolling new first-year
undergraduates after fall 2021 and “most likely” will confer its
Start making your college
final degrees in 2023 citing economic turmoil of the pandemic
list
and structural changes across the sector as the reason
Best Virtual Campus Visit on the West Coast: Pepperdine Apply for summer
University's Seaver College in Malibu, CA Pepperdine internships, programs, job
University's virtual visit page opens with a sweeping bird's-eye
view of the campus that may make you a little sorry you weren't ACT - Next test date is June
able to visit Seaver College's Malibu campus in person. 12th. You must register by
May 7th.
The University of Alaska will launch the public phase of its first-
ever comprehensive philanthropic campaign with the goal of SAT - May and June test
raising $200 million for the university. The campaign’s objective dates cancelled due to
is to raise private funds to support key programs and Covid-19 concerns
scholarships
CLAES NOBEL LEGACY AWARD
A new study of military veterans suggests that sound sleep may
help in healing traumatic brain injuries. The research was High school seniors graduating 2021 and
conducted by scientists at the University of Washington. current college freshmen who have a
minimum GPA of 3.5 and who have
demonstrated in an outstanding manner
WE THE STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST the values of NSHSS Co-founder Mr.
Essay Prompt: What is the relationship between Equality and Justice? Claes Nobel. Deadline May 15th 2021
500-800 word essay, Scholarships up to $7,500. Deadline April 15th
2021
LIFTPARTS EXPRESS
SCHOLARSHIP
MLK JR. COMMUNITY CHOIR SAN
SCHOLARSHPE Write an essay that outlines
DIEGO
With 170+ scholarships totaling how much you expect to spend
Grants for San Diego County seniors
over $629,000 awarded last to finish your schooling, how
planning to study the arts in college.
year, SHPE is actively you intend to pay for your
Application deadline is April 27th
narrowing the gap in the schooling, and what you expect
2021
Hispanic STEM education your job to be once you are
pipeline. Deadline to apply April finished your schooling.
30th, 2021. Deadline June 30th, 2021.
April 2021 Page 4
THE COLLEGE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER
HONORS COLLEGE – EACH STATE’S BEST KEPT SECRET
(College Admissions Strategies)
The saying goes … “It is easier to make a big school smaller than it is to make a small school bigger.”
Shortly after the decisions roll in, high school seniors often find themselves deciding between a small private
college and a larger university.
One way to make a big school smaller is an honors program. Fans say that participating in an honors program
offers an Ivy League education at state school prices. Honors Colleges are each state’s smartest tool for
attracting and retaining their best and brightest at their home institutions. It is no surprise, then, that honors
programs have exploded and can now be found on more than 1,400 campuses nationwide. Honors programs
and large public institutions are reaching out and offering substantial substantive inducements to encourage
their state’s strongest students to stay in-state.
Students qualify for honors programs typically based in large part on three factors:
rigor of the high school curriculum
performance in high school classes
standardized test scores
A number of states across the country offer in-state tuition to out-of-state applicants if they meet basic criteria.
The difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition and savings at the University of South Carolina would
save a family roughly $25,000 per year or $100,000 over the course of a four-year education. That’s worth
looking into.
Continued on page 8
April 2021 Page 5
THE COLLEGE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER
ADMISSIONS DECISIONS: WHAT’S DIFFERENT WITH YES (AND NO) THIS YEAR
Continued from page 1
That’s going to show up in the admissions and aid decisions. So let’s talk about what each decision means:
Admission -The good news here is that yes still means yes—however they figured out who to admit has
worked in your favor, and they want you on campus (or at least online) in the fall. Well done! What’s different
with Yes is the financial aid award. It’s pretty likely colleges are going to admit more students this year who
really don’t want to attend that college—this happens when so many things change at once. That means more
students will be saying No Thanks who also have financial aid packages, so their money ends up going to
someone else. It’s always a good idea to contact financial aid and review your package, but that’s even more
true this year.
Deferral /Waitlist - Colleges give you this decision when they want to admit you, but currently don’t have room.
With more students turning offers of admission down this year, waitlists are expected to be bigger than ever,
and used more than ever—even as late as August. This is no time to be quiet. Unless the college tells you not
to contact them, you want to let the college know, loud and clear, that you still want to go there, and that you
will go there if you get the chance.
Not Offered Admission - If the college has simply run out of room, or feels you can’t be successful there,
they’re going to tell you that. Appealing this decision may be an option, but since so many colleges are
expected to bulk up their waitlists, chances are No is going to remain No, especially this year. That doesn’t
mean you shouldn’t try, but it does mean you should have a strong Plan B.
It would be great if college decisions and aid packages would all be tied up by May 1, but that’s never really
been in the cards this year. Be patient, be proactive, and finish your high school career with a bang. Your
college picture may not be clear until August, but you won’t really care about that in September. Persist.
April 2021 Page 6
THE COLLEGE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER
EXPECT COLLEGE WAIT LISTS TO BE OBNOXIOUSLY COLLEGE NEWS
LONG THIS YEAR
Continued from page 1 A bill that would allow Dixie
State University in Utah to
Accepting the right number of students is critical. If too many say yes, change its name passed the
dorms may be overcrowded. If too many spurn the offers, the school state Legislature and now
could face a revenue shortfall. heads to Governor Spencer
Cox to sign.
Applications submitted via the Common App, which is used by more than
900 schools, rose by 11% nationwide through March 1. But the number At the University of Arizona,
of applicants increased by just 2.4%, meaning nearly the same number classes with as many as 100
of students are casting a wider net. students will be able to meet
in-person beginning later this
“I think it will be a nail-biter,” said MJ Knoll-Finn, senior vice president for month, that’s as long as virus
enrollment management and student success at New York University. case counts stay low.
That school received more than 100,000 applications this year and aims
to enroll a first-year class of about 6,000 students.
Oregon State President F.
King Alexander resigned after
a report detailed mishandling
of sexual assault allegations at
STOKES EDUCATIONAL
LSU, where he was president
SCHOLARSHIP
GREG GOFF LEADERSHIP from 2013 to 2019.
Interested in a career in
computer science and national AWARD
Court ruled a Christian
security? This $30,000 a year The Goff Foundation is
scholarship plus guarantees you sponsoring college scholarships professor of philosophy who
a job after college at Fort based on outstanding leadership was reprimanded for refusing
Meade, MD. Applications opens to help encourage and recognize to refer to a trans student as a
September 1st young leaders in their schools and woman can pursue his lawsuit
communities and to help invest in against Shawnee State
their higher education. Deadline University in Ohio
May 15th 2021
UNICO SCHOLARSHIP
HORATIO ALGER PROGRAM
ASSOCIATION The UNICO National mission is to
BBB ETHICAL TORCH
Manages 70 of the largest need promote the image of Italian
based scholarship opportunities in
ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP
Americans along with Italian
the country for high school seniors The BBB seeks to honor ethical
heritage and culture by supporting
who have faced or overcome students for doing the right thing in
charitable, scientific, cultural,
obstacles. Scholarships by state Greater Arizona and Southern
educational, and literary projects.
and by career. California. Students will write a 400
Deadline to apply April 15, 2021.
word essay on “The Importance of
Ethics and Integrity in our
Community.”Deadline August 15th
2021
April 2021 Page 7
THE COLLEGE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER
HONORS COLLEGE – EACH STATE’S BEST KEPT SECRET
Continued from page 5
The best perks of honors programs are student focused. Colleges design their own programs and offer a
combination of the following:
Priority class registration
Honors classes and seminars just for honors students or smaller classes with limited enrollments
Honors housing with more amenities and often more convenient and desirable locations
Specialized programming with guest speakers, “meet and greet” opportunities with visitors to the
university
Living and learning communities that combine academic interests and housing
Team-building and leadership programs
Enhanced career guidance services
Greater access to undergraduate research opportunities
Greater access and scholarship dollars towards study abroad opportunities
Guaranteed admission to highly selective majors and programs
11 TIPS FOR AN EFFECTIVE COLLEGE VISIT
([Link])
A college visit can determine what schools you apply to and which one you ultimately decide on as your top pick.
Summer college visits allow you the opportunity to visit campuses in a less formal atmosphere and wander around
the campus on a self tour. Classrooms may be empty, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting. The college doesn’t
necessarily have to be on your list–visits to any college help you formulate the list and give you ideas on what you
like and don’t like on campus.
However, paying attention on college tours can be difficult, especially when there is a lot of information to digest.
When deciding on a college and looking back on your time at each one, you may even forget important factors that
can sway your decision. Here is some advice to get you through each visit and keep track of all the key details.
1. Do your research - Before getting in the car, do plenty of research about the college or colleges you’re going to
visit. You want to be as prepared as possible when arriving on campus so that you can get the most of your
experience there. What academic departments are you interested in? Where are they located on campus? What are
some places in the neighborhood that you want to check out? Are there walking tours on campus? If so, find out
when they are and how to join.
2. Determine when to visit - The success of a college visit may vary depending on the time of year, even the time of
day, can have a large impact. It is common for most students to wait until spring of their junior year in high school or
early autumn of their senior year for their visits. Check the school’s academic calendar to be aware of any potential
dates the school is closed
3. Plan the visit - Once you have determined the date of your visit, make an appointment with the admissions office
to take the campus tour. While you have them on the phone, schedule your interview and your meeting with the
financial aid office. Continued on page 9
April 2021 Page 8
THE COLLEGE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER
11 TIPS FOR AN EFFECTIVE COLLEGE VISIT
Continued from page 8
4. Create a checklist - It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all of the things to do, information to gather, and
people to talk to while on a college visit. Create a Checklist and be sure to prioritize the items that are most
important to you. Informational sessions are important, but exploring the college to get a better feel for its campus
environment is also critical. Be sure to think about some of the worries you may have about going to college and
write them down. Then, look for opportunities to speak with students or staff who may have shared your same
concerns before beginning college.
5. Take the guided tour - During the tour, take notes on anything relating to your major and interests. For
example, if you are interested in majoring in biology, pay attention to research opportunities the guide may
mention and any labs you tour. If you have not decided on a major, you can ask if there is a program for
undeclared students. You will also be going through the freshman dorms, gym, library, and other facilities that are
available to students. If you are interested in fitness, the condition of the gym and its equipment may be important
to note. Will you be able to study at the library? Will your dietary restrictions be a problem at the cafeteria?
6. Do some exploring - Once your tour is over, take time to explore the campus and surrounding city on your
own. While walking around the school, look at the bulletin boards and posters to get a better idea of the types of
events and activities offered. Eat in the cafeteria and talk to students. Current students will often have an honest
perspective on the college and college life.
7. Schedule an interview - Make an appointment with the admissions office for an interview when you schedule
your campus tour. Not all schools require an interview, but it’s to your teen’s advantage to request one. It allows
admissions to put a face with the name on the application and also offers the opportunity to provide more
information than what is on the application. There’s a good chance that your teen will have an advantage over
someone who did not take the time to interview.
8. Meet with financial aid - When you make an appointment for the college visit, make an appointment to meet
with the financial aid office. Even if you aren’t anticipating the need for financial aid, it’s important to meet with
them. Ask questions about merit aid, financial aid deadlines, the percentage of aid the college provides for
incoming students and the true cost of attendance.
9. Sit in on a class - Even if you don’t spend the night on campus, you can sit in on a class. Try asking your tour
guide about visiting a class. Attending a class is one way for students to check out majors and determine if that
college and/or major is a good fit.
10. Talk to a student or professor in your anticipated major - While visiting, seek out a student in your
anticipated major. This is a good way to find out more about how the specific program works and opportunities in
that major.
11. Keep a record of your visits - As you can imagine, keeping track of college visits can be a task. After a few
visits, they all seem to run together.
April 2021 The College Connection Newsletter PO Box 90414 San Diego, CA 92169 Page 9