November college search guide

The road to college

Students are back on campus for in-person learning and many parents are finding out that their children are behind on most of their courses. Tutoring companies, which were in high demand during remote learning, continue to see students struggling to keep up with coursework – as if the college admissions process weren’t stressful enough. If you think a tutoring service will help, find one that offers options to fit your student’s specific need and your family’s budget. A company called Mundo Academy provides excellent tutoring services in the Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley area.

If you’re overwhelmed, as most of us are at this time, please reach out for assistance. The CDC has put together a resource kit for parents, divided by age group, to help them ensure their children’s well-being. The site also has links to other resources that cover various concerns. Another CDC page is dedicated to helping parents manage stress during the coronavirus pandemic.

FRESHMAN

I hope your children are settling into high school, focusing on their studies, and using all available resources to accomplish all the work required and succeed in each course. The goal is not just to pass, however, but to make the best grade they are capable of getting.

Ideally, they should be up-to-speed in all their classes, but if there’s anything about the course they can’t grasp, they need to seek assistance. Teachers are usually available after school to meet with students to explain a lesson they can’t understand, so they have to ask right away or they will fall behind all the more as the school year progresses.

Several universities have eliminated standardized test results from their decision-making process. That means your children’s GPA has become the single most important component of the academic picture they present to the universities to which they will apply. It will show how well they did in high school and how prepared they are to go to college. 

If your children are athletic and particularly good at one sport, encourage them to join their school’s division sports. Athletic excellence can be used as a hook to get into college; some universities offer lucrative athletic scholarships. They should ask their coach to help them determine the NCAA requirements.

They should have identified other extra-curricular activities they want to participate in, whether they’re in the arts or school clubs. An important thing for them to bear in mind is to make sure they continue that interest throughout high school – admission officers want to see depth of involvement.             

SOPHOMORE

Most universities look at 10^th grade as a fundamental year in high school. Your children should have already made a smooth transition from their middle school life and are enthusiastically exploring their various interests and are applying these towards extra-curricular work. They should be actively participating in sports, or arts, their school newspaper, or their yearbook. 

The class deans should be working with your children in evaluating their class performance and workload to make sure they are on track and are making the grade. Together with their class dean, your children should be preparing for standardized testing and junior year course options. 

Additionally, your children can start looking at various colleges offering the course they might consider taking.

JUNIOR

This is an important year for your children. They need to be in constant communication with their counselor to ensure they are on track for graduation and college admission. 

Encourage your children to focus on getting good grades – this is the last complete school year marks the college admissions officers will see when your children send in their application. Their GPA is the most reliable and significant predictor of how well they are ready for college work.

Several high schools in the area have held virtual college fairs and you and your children should have met the representatives of the various colleges to which they might consider applying. Your children should be researching these schools’ requirements and keeping track of the universities which offer the courses they are interested in pursuing.

SENIORS

Your children should have already sent out their application early this month if they were trying for Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED). They should notify the universities of any honors they received since mailing their application; they have to make sure their school sends out a recent transcript, and all their standardized test results have been forwarded. 

If the university they are applying to is offering an alumni virtual interview, I would advise your children to plan ahead because the report will become part of their admission file. While it will most probably be held via Zoom, they have to comport themselves as if it was an in-person interview. They should dress conservatively and comfortably – no tank tops and no bare midriffs; make eye contact and listen well; be positive – stress their strengths and explain their weaknesses, but don’t dwell on the negative and don’t complain; answer all the questions – if they’re confused, ask for clarification; keep the conversation going; be prepared to ask thoughtful questions of their interviewer; try not to lead the conversation into a ‘trouble’ area – if they don’t know much about current events, don’t direct the conversation there; be honest; send a thank you note.

Most universities will mail out their acceptance letters in mid-December. As your children await word from the college, they might want to keep writing all the supplemental essays required by the universities to which they will apply for the regular decision round. Admission to their EA school isn’t binding so they can still apply to other colleges, thus not limiting their options. However, an acceptance to their ED school is binding and they are required to matriculate if admitted. 

In the meantime, you children should make sure they are doing well academically. Some universities require the first semester grades, or the first quarter grades if they’re applying for EA/ED. In fact, your children shouldn’t let up on academics because a college can still rescind their offer of acceptance if a student’s grades have fallen below acceptable level. 

Likewise, make sure your children are continuing to participate in athletics and extra-curricular activities. These sometimes help them relieve the stress of the college application process.  

This is also the time to research scholarships. Some websites that could prove useful are: CollegeXpress, Fastweb, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, National Merit Scholarship Corporation, Scholarships.com, Scholarships360, Student Aid on the Web. You and your children should talk to their school’s financial aid officer for guidance on filling out financial aid applications.

As hectic as it is with the semester drawing to a close, take the time to celebrate this Thanksgiving. Almost two years since the pandemic upended our lives, about 58% of our population is vaccinated and the infection rate is slowing. We have much to be thankful for.

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