Our Founder Gives Helpful Advice

Lately, many JLP students who are seniors in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have received multiple acceptance letters and are confused on how to pick the right school for them. This prompted us to jot down some quick tips on how to handle this situation.

Now that you’ve gotten those college acceptance letters in, how do you choose?

Many high-school students send out numerous applications to many different schools. Some students stick with the standard two-safe and two-dream school formula, while others apply to as many as possible. So, what happens when students get accepted in to more schools than they anticipated? Here is JLP’s advice on picking the most suitable college:

· * Visit, visit, visit and stray from the beaten path. Take the recommended student-guided tour, but once that’s over, go explore the campus on your own. Most visitors can walk right in to the academic buildings where classes are being held; peek inside the classrooms. With out a guide, go to the main drag where the other kids hang out and talk to other students about their experiences.

· * Decide how close you want to be to your family. Financially, is it better to be next to or live with your family? Will you be able to afford flights home for all of the holidays? Decide how important staying close is to you.

· * Choose which region you prefer. Do you favor an urban or rural, tropical or seasonal environment? These are important factors to decide; remember that you will also be LIVING here for the next four years. This is the beginning of your formative adult years.

· * Determine whether you will need a part-time job while pursuing your academic studies. Is there enough work in the town where you will be living? Find out if there is a strong possibility for part-time employment or if you would qualify for a work-study program.

· * See if students are satisfied. Don’t just look at the school’s website to decide if students are happy. With all of the survey and review websites offered today (Yelp or Yahoo, or even more specific ones like College Confidential), you can view different opinions and interact with current students and alumni in order to ask real questions about your intended institution.

· * Find out if they offer your precise program of choice. If you know you may want to study something specific, you better make sure your future university offers a program for you.

· * Essentially, follow your GUT; go with your instincts and it will lead you to your perfect match.

Bright Futures scholarships take hit

From the Miami Herald:

"Florida's Bright Futures scholarship program will pass on the state's tuition increase to students and families." (read full article here)

This is sad news for those Florida students striving to get ahead.

The PSAT is the start of testing and college planning

For many students in South Florida the PSAT is their first exposure to standardized testing and the process of planning for a competitive college admissions environment.

"The idea behind the PSAT is fourfold. One, the student gets an opportunity to practice taking the SAT when the stakes are low. No colleges will ever see the PSAT scores. Two, the score report the student receives after taking the exam can serve as a study guide for the actual SAT exam. Three, the scores the student receives can be used as a benchmark for future performance as a way to assess the viability of prospective colleges. And four, the PSAT is co-sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to be used as a qualifier for its honors and scholarships (for juniors only)." (read full article here)

Connections found in Unfair Admissions Practices

The NY Times reported that connected students at at least one Illinois university were put on a special list.

"How fair are college admissions? How much does it count in your favor to have rich parents, famous parents, well-connected parents, alumni parents? (read full article)

Private admissions advisers gaining respect

JLP Education Services offers comprehensive admissions counseling. This article highlights the growing demand for these services.

"Sunday, May 24, 2009

BY LESLIE BRODY

The number of private admission counselors has grown in recent years – especially in hyper-anxious, high-achieving communities — and colleges are more open to talking with them about the students they represent, say counselors and college admission officers. (complete article here)..."

Small SAT Gains Can Make a Huge Difference

You probably already knew this, but small gains can make a difference in college admissions. Many institutions, both here in Florida and nationwide, have a finite cut-off point, where 10 points in either direction could put your application in the to-be-considered pile or the big stack of rejections.

The excellent admissions blog at the New York Times reported on it yesterday.

The Impact of Dropping SAT Scores from Admissions Would Increase Minority Enrollment

From Inside Higher Ed:

"A new research study -- based on simulations using actual student applications at competitive colleges that require the SAT or ACT for admission -- has found that ending the requirement would lead to demonstrable gains in the percentages of black and Latino students, and working class or economically disadvantaged students, who are admitted...."

No surprises there.

Admissions Taking Facebook into Account

Be cognizant of what you choose to put into the public domain. More and more colleges and universities, including those in Florida, are internet savvy and are looking at what potential enrollees are posting to social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace. In this highly competitive college admissions culture, be wary of what you or your students post into cyberspace.

The LA Times recently reported on this phenomenon:

"A new report indicates that some schools' admission or scholarship decisions are being influenced by what they find about an applicant on the Internet. The issue raises ethical concerns...."

School Counselors Feel the Pinch

As you already know admissions are getting more and more competitive as more students are looking to enter the university system. This article discusses in what ways it is affecting school counselors.


http://news.cincinnati.com

NY Times reports: Well-Regarded Public Colleges Get a Surge of Bargain Hunters

One week before the second offering of the SAT Test (March 14), many of us are starting to feel the pressure of college looming in the not too distant future. During this time of economic woe, we must remember that the value of higher education is more important then ever. In a market where for every open job spot there are at least ten qualified applicants, it is important to keep ahead of the game. For parents, it is important to give your child the best collegiate education, without breaking the bank.

The New York Times recently wrote an article about the recent surge in state university applications and examines the admission numbers of many different state schools across the country. The less expensive state colleges, in every geographic region of the United States, seem to be noticing similarities in their admission trends. The number of applications being received are arriving in record numbers. In addition, more often then not, top high school candidates are saying 'yes' to acceptance letters from state schools, instead of holding out for more ivy league institutions. Experts believe that the "unraveling economy is making less expensive state colleges more appealing".

The Times reports:

"The application deadline is not until April 1, but officials here conservatively predict 15,500 students competing for 1,100 spots, a 12 percent jump over last year....Similar surges are occurring at public colleges and universities across the country, education experts say..... A poll by the center in December showed that people’s anxiety about paying for college is almost at an unprecedented high...."We’re not sure how they will respond, but we’re pretty sure they won’t respond by deciding not to go,” he added. “Middle class families understand that you’re going to be consigned to the minimum-wage economy if you don’t get some higher education or training"...So the admissions office is playing it safe. With more than 4,000 students already accepted, hundreds of qualified students who previously would have gotten fat envelopes are instead being added to a waiting list."

What does this mean for juniors and seniors who are relying on state schools and the cost of state tuition? It means that students and parents need to ensure their acceptance spot in any college, no matter where they decide to apply to. With the rising level of minority students and higher interests in post high school education in order to better compete in a failing economic market, the arena, once again, has become even more competitive.