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Understanding the Intent to Register Process

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Around this time of the year, many families are faced with the dilemma of choosing a college and committing to it by making the required deposit by May 1st (Note that some colleges extended their deadlines due to Covid-19). However, this can be a hard decision when (a) you have multiple colleges to choose from, and (b) when you are waitlisted at a college that you like even more. This is when the temptation to double deposit presents itself.

 

Double depositing is the act of accepting admission to more than one college by paying the deposit and securing your spot.

 

While it can be tempting to buy more time or to just delay the decision-making process, there are many reasons for you NOT to double deposit. The primary one is that you signed a pledge in the Common App that said, “I affirm that I will send an enrollment deposit (or equivalent) to only one institution; sending multiple deposits (or equivalent) may result in the withdrawal of my admission offers from all institutions.” And every Intent to Register form will have a similar statement you are agreeing to.

 

Additionally, colleges, after they receive your deposit, are assured that you are definitely planning to join in the fall. You are now a part of the student body, and the college starts sending you details about the onboarding process. Colleges work hard to ensure good yields and to create a diverse student body. Between May 1st and late August, there is considerable logistical, clerical and financial juggling that a college goes through to prepare for your arrival. Also, when you bail after accepting, it creates a cascading effect for the college, and they literally have to start from ground zero with another student at a much later stage in the process.

 

We know there is a temptation to hold two spots while you decide the college of your choice. It isn’t made easier when you hear from an older friend who double deposited and did not face any consequences. However, it is on you to make the right decision and to not take a spot away from another deserving student. Choosing to submit your deposit to multiple schools is unethical. 

 

Additionally, your high school counselor has to operate within the ethical confines of their job, and they cannot (and should not) send your final transcript to more than one college. You can get in serious trouble if the school counselor ends up notifying one or both colleges about your double deposit. Or the colleges may find out through other channels. At this stage, both colleges may rescind their admission.

 

If you are completely unable to make up your mind, there are a few things you can do:

Go back to the original reason you choose the college. What was the appeal that made you apply there? If you cannot make a physical visit, do multiple virtual tours, speak to an admissions counselor, go through the class catalogue and chart your classes for your expected major, speak to an alum, watch videos, and of course, consult with your Insight counselor. Make a deposit by May 1st with confidence and certainty after you have done all the required research and soul searching.

 

If you are waitlisted at a college that comes through later in June or July, and if you prefer to attend that college, then you can call the admissions office at the school you have accepted and talk to an admissions counselor to see if they have a protocol in place for you to withdraw your acceptance. All colleges will have a different process, and you will lose your deposit for sure, but that’s a small price to pay when you gain the opportunity to attend the college that is your first choice.

 

Read more: Waitlisted – What Can I Do?

 

This is admittedly a difficult time; however, it all turns out for the best in the end. While it is difficult to make a choice, once you do, you and your family can celebrate the end of this part of the journey and look forward to the next chapter in your lives!

 

Please contact us at info@insight-education.net if you have questions regarding decision making, waitlists, appeals, and more.

 

Good luck!

Priya and The Insight Team

 

Written by Priya Singh

This article is written by Insight College Admissions Counselor Priya Singh.

Priya Singh is a College Admissions Counselor and also an avid yogi. She often uses yoga and meditation to help students with learning and stress management during the college admissions process. Since 2014, she has helped many high school students, including students with learning disabilities, to reach their best-fit schools. Read her full bio here.

Waitlist and Appeal – What Should You Do?

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We always look forward to this time of year filled with excitement — the time when college decisions are released. It marks years of hard work and dedication. It also brings with it hope for the future and a new beginning. And while we celebrate acceptances and struggle with denials, many don’t know how to react to getting waitlisted. In this article, we will explain waitlisting and what you can do, as well as whether you should appeal a denial.

A waitlist offer tends to conjure more disappointment than hope. This is mainly because most don’t understand what the waitlist means and because students are truly just tired of waiting any longer. Many students take this to mean that they fell short or that they are a college’s second, third or 40th choice.

 

But what does being offered a position on the waitlist mean?

Colleges have limited seats available to offer which leaves admissions officers having to make some tough choices. When they are offering you a waitlist position, they are sending you the message that they think you are a great fit for the class and your accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. You would be a fantastic addition to the campus, but they need to see how many admitted students will accept their offers of admissions before they pull students off the waitlist to fill any open spots in the freshman class.

Most waitlists are unranked. Colleges are not lying when they say that. It is not some ploy to appease you. Remember that admissions officers are trying to build a well-rounded class. Once the college receives the decisions from its admitted students, they then go through the waitlist to see which students would best complement the incoming class.

At this point, they may also need to evaluate the financial aid it has available to offer students. Accordingly, they will admit students off the waitlist in small batches, offering more spots as they become available. This process is usually complete no later than June, but in very rare situations we have seen students get an offer of admission from the waitlist in early August. This was particularly true during the summer of 2020 due to the impact that Covid had on admissions outcomes for the high school class of 2020.

Wondering what you can do to get off the waitlsit? Contact us today!

Although in our experience students do indeed get off waitlists successfully, it is vitally important that you not rely on a waitlist position. Unfortunately, some colleges are putting thousands of kids on a waitlist and admitting few students. In 2019, 48% of schools admitted less than 10% of students that accepted a waitlist position. Seven percent admitted no one. In that same year, the University of Michigan offered more than 12,000 students a waitlist position and only admitted 89 students. Similarly, UC Irvine offered a waitlist position to more than 17,000 students (about the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden and almost twice the size of the incoming freshman class) and offered spots to 1,600 students. Private schools are no less predictable. Dartmouth took no one off the waitlist while Boston University later offered spots to 11% of students that accepted the waitlist. Conversely, Vanderbilt is well known for the fact that ten percent of their freshman class has historically come from an original waitlist position.

While you are waiting for the waitlists to clear, you must accept a position at another school. You should also be excited about that offer and have the full intention of attending and graduating from that university. If a waitlist offer from a school you love DOES come through, you will absolutely have the option to accept that position and withdraw from your original school. In some years, waitlists can clear as late as just a couple of weeks before classes start. You don’t want to be waiting by the mailbox – virtual or real.

 

What can I do about being waitlisted?

It may sound like the college has all the power in this situation. But you do not need to just comply and play the waiting game. Think clearly about whether or not the school or schools that offered you waitlist positions are among your top choices. You are not obligated to accept the position. If it is not a school you would seriously consider, politely turn it down and give another student a chance. Chances are that by declining a waitlist spot you are helping a student or even a close friend at your own high school. Collecting admissions offers is not the goal of the admissions process. Finding a school where you thrive both academically and socially is the actual goal.

If you do want to stay on the waitlist, you are unlikely to get a decision back before the May 1 SIR deadline. This means you must decide among the colleges that accepted you where you will attend. Do not rely on the waitlist. It is completely unpredictable how many students will be offered spots off the list. It can vary from 0 to 300 depending on the college and the year.

While you wait, be excited about your other prospects. Do your due diligence. Visit colleges. Talk to current students. Get engaged with the school you accept. Chances are strong that the college where you submit your Intent to Register is where you will be in Fall.

If you are accepted from a waitlist, you will have very little time to decide. If you decide to accept, you will need to first withdraw your Statement of Intent to Register from the school you accepted. Chances are your family will lose the deposit. It is an extremely straightforward process, and it happens every year. You are not violating any agreements or laws. They may ask you for proof that you were admitted from a waitlist.

 

Can I do something about denials? Should I appeal?

Yes, and no. We get a lot of requests to help with appeals for students who just can’t understand why they received the decision that they did. As tough as it can be to hear, more often than not, the denial decision from a college is the final decision, and launching an appeal process will be unsuccessful because they do not allow them.

However, a great reason to put an appeal together, assuming the university in question offers an appeal process, is if there was something missing from your application. Something you didn’t tell colleges about that you probably should have!

We have worked with students who have successfully appealed a denial because they were afraid to discuss something like a personal struggle that would have given colleges context about why their academic performance wasn’t a strong as it otherwise may have been. Or, not explaining a dip in grades in their application and just glossing over it, hoping that the college didn’t notice.

Another reason could be a major accomplishment may have occurred in the time between submitting the application and receiving the decision! This can be a wonderful thing to make sure the college is aware of. Not all schools will look at new information, so do your research on what constitutes the basis of an appropriate appeal for each university.

Whatever the reason may be for why essential information wasn’t included in the application, those are the types of things we will be looking for if a student comes to us wanting to launch an appeal. It needs to be based on some information that you are ADDING to your file that was missing from the original application.

So, when you receive your decisions and start to think about your next steps, keep in mind the types of information necessary to launch a successful appeal and see if you have any of those. Completing an appeal takes work, time, and emotional energy, so it is important to make sure you understand all your options and if this is the right one for you.

We work with students and families on appeals, waitlists, and college decision meetings. Reach out to us today at info@insight-education.net for more information!

 

All the very best!

Team Insight

College Facts Friday: UMass Amherst

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  1. Founded in 1863 as an agricultural college, UMass Amherst was originally called the Massachusetts Agricultural College.

  2. UMass Amherst is the flagship and the largest campus in the University of Massachusetts system, as well as the first established.

  3. The official college color is maroon.

  4. The White House has named UMass Amherst to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for four consecutive years, in recognition of its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.

  5. UMass is part of the Five Colleges Consortium, which comprises four liberal arts colleges and one university. Its students can attend classes, work with professors, check out resources, and more from other campuses. Check out which campuses are part of the five.

  6. The Minuteman Marching Band is from UMass Amherst, and it is the largest marching band in New England, consisting of more than 390 members.

  7. Notable alumni include Serena Williams (tennis player who won 4 Olympic Gold Medals) and Steve Sinofsky (former president of Windows at Microsoft)

  8. The UMass Amherst campus is known for its sustainability. In fact, this is one of the only public universities to use the fresh fruits and vegetables in the dining commons from its very own permaculture gardens. (Read more here)

  9. Residential Life at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the largest on-campus housing systems in the United States. Over 14,000 students live in 52 residence halls! (Learn more here)

  10. Learn more about UMass Amherst on social media! Check out their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more!

Why It Is Important to Find Your “Best Fit” College

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Warren Buffett (Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway). George Lucas (creator of “Star Wars”). Larry Page (co-founder of Google). Jerry Jones (owner of the Dallas Cowboys). Arnold Schwarzenegger (former Governor of California, movie star). Oprah Winfrey (media executive, former talk show host, actress, etc.).

 

What do all these people have in common? You might be thinking that they are all extremely successful and some of them are even billionaires. That is correct. But what you might not know is that while they are all extremely successful, another commonality is that none of them earned an undergraduate degree from an Ivy League school.

 

Insight #1: It’s more important what you do at college, not which college you attend

Warren Buffett graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  George Lucas graduated from USC (but first attended Modesto Junior College).  Larry Page graduated from the University of Michigan.  Jerry Jones graduated from the University of Arkansas.  Arnold Schwarzenegger graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior (but first attended a community college, Santa Monica College).  Oprah Winfrey graduated from Tennessee State University.   

 

With college decisions being released and high school seniors deciding where they will go to college, it’s important to remember that what matters most is not what college or university you attend, it’s what you do while you’re there.  Regardless of what college or university you attend, the most important thing is that you excel at whichever of the thousands of institutions of higher learning you decide to attend—whatever that means to you.  It’s important to take advantage of internship or work opportunities, to make connections with your classmates and professors, and to attend your classes and do as well in them as possible.  Also, college is an amazing time in life—in addition to building up your resume, remember to have a little fun.

 

Insight #2: Sometimes it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond

Sometimes it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond, rather than the other way around. In other words, if you attend Harvard, you are going to be one of thousands of students who did extremely well in high school and probably had perfect or near-perfect standardized test scores. You will be surrounded by extremely accomplished people, and therefore, it may be harder for you to get noticed or make yourself stand out from the crowd.

 

But don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying you shouldn’t go to Harvard. If you are lucky enough to be accepted by Harvard and think you can thrive in a very competitive academic environment, then Harvard may be the place for you. What I am saying, however, is that if you are one of the tens of thousands of students that don’t get admitted to Harvard every year, don’t dismay—that rejection can open new doors for you.

 

Insight #3: Find your “best fit” college, not simply the most highly ranked college that accepted you

The most important aspect of college admissions is finding the “best fit” college. Maybe the best fit is Harvard. Maybe it’s a large state school. Maybe it’s a small liberal arts school back east. Everyone is different and thus the “best fit” college for your best friend may not be the “best fit” college for you.

 

And maybe the “best fit” college for you is a place where you can be a big fish in a small pond. There is a lot to be said about attending a school where you can build up your self-confidence by being near the top of your class, having real relationships with your classmates and professors, and not having to worry about being in a cutthroat environment.

 

The bottom line is this: if you are one of the few to be accepted by an Ivy League school, that is awesome; and if you decide it’s the “best fit” school for you, more power to you. However, if you are like most students, who are not accepted by an Ivy League school, you should remember that it’s more important that you attend a college where you will thrive, rather than blindly attending the most highly ranked school that accepted you.

 

 

Written by Jason Katz

This article was written by Insight Counselor Jason Katz.

Jason has helped hundreds of students gain admission to their best-fit universities. In addition, he wrote more than 170 college admissions/college life columns for the Palo Alto Daily News and the San Jose Mercury News. Read his full bio here.

The Importance of Writing A Letter of Continued Interest

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I remember one student telling me, “But Meilin, they deferred me! And I’m so tired of writing apps! Why do I have to keep writing to these people if they don’t want me?”

She was indeed tired of this application process. She had in fact worked very diligently, thoroughly, and even passionately (believe it or not!) on the essays within her college applications. And she was quite dejected after hearing from her dream school, only to hear that she was to join the waitlist. It’s not fun to receive a deferral letter, telling you that you have the option to join a waitlist. I asked her point-blank if she still wanted a chance at getting in. She did. Well then, there was only one thing to do: write a letter of continued interest. But how to go about doing that?

 

Before we dive in, consider a few things.

 

  1. Reflect. Is the school still a top choice? Because it is possible that you applied to some Early Actions or even an Early Decision half-heartedly. You might decide to not express your interest.
  2. Instead, if there are more schools with Regular Decision deadlines that are appealing to you, you could focus your energies on those applications.
  3. Prepare. What are the mechanics of your response? Does the school wish to receive more materials from people on the waitlist? If not, do not send more materials (which would waste the precious time of the admissions office). If you need to fill out a form within a specific platform, then, do that. If you need to email a specific person in the admissions office, then by all means do that.

 

Mechanics

 

  • Follow their wishes – platform, format, etc.
  • Compose a respectful, informative, and enthusiastic letter.

 

Content of the Letter of Continued Interest

 

    • If the school is in fact YOUR absolute top choice, then by all means, please state that outright.
    • Be sure to:
                – Give new information
                – Express appreciation
                – Take a tone of positivity
                – Include the most appealing aspects of the college that you have not previously discussed
    • Remember, this is still a writing sample so put your best foot forward.

 

The college applications process is a long, arduous road. But it is important to consider it as a marathon – not a sprint. So pace yourself, and remember that each bit of effort you put into the process may yield something later – or not – but you never want to regret missing an opportunity to take a step that would get you closer to a result you want.

 

By the way, in case you are wondering, this student later learned that she was moved from the waitlist and was offered an acceptance. That made her quite happy. Regardless of the result, the thing I would like you to think about is – as people say in basketball – you miss every shot you do not take. And, if it’s something you really want, then, please take the best shot you can!

 

Read More: How to Focus Forward After an Initial Rejection

 

Written by Meilin Obinata

This article is written by Insight Senior College Admissions Counselor Meilin Obinata.

Meilin Obinata is a Senior College Counselor who enjoys learning from her students. She believes education is a creative endeavor and creates a space that allows students to explore new ideas. As a Bay Area native who grew up in Santa Cruz, she is familiar with the local schools. Read her full bio here.

Hidden Benefits of College Admissions Interview

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By now, you’ve submitted your applications, and you may have the option to interview with college alumni. You might wonder whether or not they’ll positively affect your admission decision. More importantly, honing your interview skills goes beyond college admissions.

 

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Class of 2025 Early Decision / Early Action Notification Dates

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For many of you, your college admissions season is almost wrapped up (and there is light at the end of the tunnel, we promise). The next big item coming up is early admissions decisions!

 

Like many things this year, the college admissions landscape of 2020 has changed due to COVID-19. Many universities have temporarily adopted the test-optional admissions policy due to SAT/ACT cancellations, and some colleges have extended their application deadlines to allow applicants to complete their applications. While this year causes many obstacles for the high school seniors and families, the anticipation surrounding EA/ED decisions remains high.

 

Insights on Early Decision & Early Action

Our mission at Insight is to help you navigate the college admissions process, and that includes understanding your concerns and providing a tailored strategy for you. Here are the top 3 common questions surrounding ED/EA, and you can always reach out to your Insight Counselor or contact us to find out more!

 

Q: What do I need to do between now and the decision time?

A: Check your portal regularly! Set up a weekly reminder and commit to checking your email and college portal. Some schools may require you to send in your progress report for the current school year.

 

Q: What do I do about ED II if my ED I decision won’t come back until January?

A: You can still apply to ED II. When ED I notifies your acceptance, you can withdraw your application from ED II school.

 

Q: What do I do if my current progress report is not as good?

A: If you are improving but your progress report doesn’t show it, ask your school counselor to make a note on your progress report before you send it to your ED school.

 

Q: Why can’t I find Princeton University on your list?

A: For the 2020-2021 application cycle, Princeton University decided to move to one application deadline of January 1, 2021. 

 

 

2020-2021 College Admissions Season –
Early Decision / Early Action Notification Date for Class of 2025

Here are early admissions decision notification dates for the upcoming Class of 2025. Please check back regularly for updated dates and times as we gather the most updated information – especially for those without specific dates and times or those labeled “TBD.”

Last Updated: December 14, 2020

School

Early Decision I Notification Date

Early Action Notification Date

Early Decision II Notification Date
American University December 31, 2020   February 15, 2021
Amherst College December 15, 2020    
Babson College Mid-December, 2020 January 1, 2021 Mid-February, 2021
Barnard College December 14, 2020    
Bates College December 20, 2020   February 15, 2021
Baylor University December 15, 2020 January 15, 2021 February 15, 2021
Boston College December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
Boston University December 15, 2020   December 15, 2020
Bowdoin College Mid-December, 2020   Mid-February, 2021
Brandeis University December 15, 2020   February 1, 2021
Brown University December 16, 2020    
Cal Tech   Mid-December, 2020  
Carleton College December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
Carnegie Mellon University

December 12, 2020 at 6am PST

    
Case Western University December 5, 2020 December 19, 2020 Beginning January 8, 2021
Clark University December 20, 2020 January 20, 2021 February 20, 2021
Columbia University Mid-December, 2020    
Cornell University

December 12, 2020 at 7pm ET

    
Dartmouth College Mid-December, 2020    
Duke University Mid-December, 2020    
Emerson College Mid-December, 2020 Mid-December, 2020 February 1, 2021
Emory University December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
George Mason University   December 15, 2020  
George Washington University Late-December, 2020   Late-February, 2021
Georgetown University   December 15, 2020  
Georgia Tech   December 4, 2020 (Georgia Student)Mid-January, 2021 (non-Georgia Student)  
Hamilton College December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
Harvard University   Mid-December  
Harvey Mudd December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
Haverford College December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
Hofstra University   December 15, 2020  
Indiana University Bloomington   January 15, 2021  
Johns Hopkins University December 11, 2020 February 20, 2021  
Lafayette College December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
MIT   December 19, 2020 at 3:14 pm EST  
Middlebury College Mid-December, 2020   Early-February, 2021
New York University (NYU) December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
Northeastern University December 15, 2020 February 1, 2021 February 15, 2021
Northwestern University Mid-December, 2020    
Oberlin College December 15, 2020   February 1, 2021
Occidental College December 15, 2020   February 20, 2021
Pomona College December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
Purdue University   January 15, 2021  
Rice University Mid-December    
Rutgers University   February 15, 2021  
Santa Clara University Late-December, 2020 Late-December, 2020 Mid-February, 2021
Stanford University   December 11, 2020  
Suffolk University   Late-December, 2020  
Swarthmore College Mid-December, 2020   Mid-February, 2021
Tufts University Mid-December, 2020   Mid-February, 2021
Tulane University Decemeber 15, 2020 January 15, 2021  
University of Chicago December 21, 2020 December 21, 2020 Mid-February, 2021
University of Georgia   November 20, 2020  
University of Illinois at Chicago   December 1, 2020  
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)   Mid-February, 2021  
University of Miami Late December, 2020 Late January/Early February, 2021 Mid-Late February, 2021
University of Michigan   Late January, 2021  
University of North Carolina (UNC)   Late January, 2021  
University of Notre Dame   Mid-December, 2020  
University of Pennsylvania December 16 at 7 pm EST    
University of Richmond December 15, 2020 January 25, 2021 February 15, 2021
University of Rorchester Mid-December, 2020   Early-February, 2021
University of San Francisco Mid-December, 2020 Mid-December, 2020  
University of South Carolina   Mid-December, 2020  
University of Texas at Austin   February 1, 2021  
University of Vermont   December 17, 2020  
University of Virginia Mid-December, 2020 Mid-February, 2021  
Vanderbilt University December 15, 2020   February 15, 2021
Villanova University December 15, 2020 January 15, 2021 March 1, 2021
Virginia Tech Mid-December, 2020 Late February, 2021  
Washington & Lee University Late-December, 2020   Late-January, 2021
Washington University in St. Louis December 15, 2020   February 14, 2021
Wellesley College Mid-December, 2020   Mid-February, 2021
Wesleyan University Mid-December, 2020   Mid-February, 2021
William & Mary December 12, 2020   March 3, 2021
Williams College Mid-December, 2020    
Worcester Polytechnic Institute December 15, 2020 January 15, 2021 February 15, 2021
Yale University   December 16, 2020  

 

 

Early Decision vs. Early Action – Which to Choose?

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If you are entering the college admissions process, you might have heard of these terms. You might even wonder what they are. What is the difference? Which is better for your college admissions strategy, if at all? Insight Head of College Admissions Purvi Mody is here to share with you all the insights on Early Decision and Early Action, so you can pick the option that best suits your needs.

Quick Summary

  –   Both Early action and early decision have earlier application deadlines than regular admissions.

  –   You will also receive college admissions decisions earlier, usually starting in mid-December.

  –   You can apply to as many schools as you want using EA.

  –   ED is for only one school, and it is a binding agreement, which means you have to attend when you are accepted.

“Early Decision” and “Early Action” are likely terms that you have heard before when talking about the college application process. The biggest thing to get your head around – what is the difference between the two? They have similar names but are quite different in their outcomes. 

 

 

What is Early Action?

As the name implies, your college applications are due earlier than regular application deadlines. Typical deadlines for regular applications can be December 1st and January 15, whereas early deadlines mean you’re probably submitting around November 1st. For some schools and majors, you need to complete your admissions file by mid-October.

 

There is no limit to the number of schools you can apply to using early action. This can be a great option because it means you have submitted applications to schools early in the season – they’re off your plate! But why would you want to submit your applications a month before everyone else?

 

According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), early action means that “students apply early and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular response date.” And that is a big advantage. You will receive your admissions decisions back earlier! You may find out in December or January about where you stand with your dream school. That may also mean you can relax and enjoy the rest of your senior year.

 

Another advantage with early action is that you do not need to commit until May 1 (the national response date), so you have almost half a year to decide and to compare financial aid packages. 

 

Though to make things confusing, some schools use restrictive early action (or single-choice early action), which is exactly like early decisions. The restrictive early action limits you to using the process only once. Thus, be diligent in your college research and weigh your options carefully before committing to applying early. 

 

What is Early Decision?

Unlike early action, early decision is binding! You can apply to only one because you are saying that if the school accepts you, you will 100% attend. Because of this commitment, colleges require signatures from you, your family, and a school counselor in order for you to apply early decision.

 

Early decision benefits students who know their first-choice college and who are confident in their odds of getting accepted. Similar to early action, you will also receive an admissions decision early, usually in December.

 

One of the challenges with early decision can be that you will not find out about other schools until later in the year. If you get into a different school that you’d actually like to attend more than your early decision school, you don’t have the option to switch. So be 100% certain about your early decision school. If you are torn on which school you would ultimately like to attend, or which major you’d like to do, early decision might not be for you.

 

Another aspect of early decision to consider is the financial side of it all. If you apply early decision, you’re telling the school that you will attend no matter what. This means they are less likely to offer you a scholarship or financial aid because they know they don’t need to add those incentives to sway you to attend their school. If you are counting on some financial help, early decision again may not be right for you.

 

Read more: Think it Through: Early Decision

 

What Are the Benefits of Applying Early?

By applying early, you stagger the deadlines, which alleviate the stress that comes with stacked regular admissions. Early action allows you until May 1 to decide whether or not you want to attend that school. Both early action and early decision show the schools that you have done your research and you are interested in these schools.

 

Something else to keep in mind is that some colleges do take a substantial amount of their incoming class from that early decision pool. Many elite schools look at early decision as a way to separate the students that are “kind of interested” from the students that are willing to commit 100% to that school. 

 

Should I Apply Early?

With all the advantages, it may seem compelling to apply early. Keep in mind that the early admissions process works best for students who know their dream school(s) and who feel they are competitive applicants.

 

How do you know if you are competitive? Check the school’s website. Most schools give you an idea of their applicant profile. In addition to your application, you need to thoroughly research the schools. It is not a blanket statement that “all elite schools will take a higher percentage of their class from the early decision applicants”. Some schools only take a slightly higher percentage, and in some cases, the difference between early and regular admissions rounds is not noticeable at all. Other than the academic offerings, campus, school culture, and location, you should also research the different available financial aid packages. 

 

Our biggest tip is to do your research! Talk to your school (and Insight) counselor, your parents, and family members. Figure out if you have a school on your list that might be a good candidate for early decision, and if you do, make sure you are prepared for the financially and mentally to commit to that school.

What are College Admissions Officers Looking for?

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insight into college admissions interview

An Interview with Santa Clara University’s Claire Kreeft, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

I conducted an interview via email with Ms. Claire Kreeft, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission at Santa Clara University (SCU).  Ms. Kreeft provides invaluable insights into the admissions process at SCU.

 

Please note that this interview was conducted shortly before SCU announced that it will be going test-optional for the next two years (meaning SAT or ACT scores will not be required to apply to SCU for the next two years), so please keep that in mind when you are digesting Ms. Kreeft’s responses.

 

Insight counselor Jason:  What are the most important factors in a student’s application?  Why?

 

Ms. Kreeft:  At Santa Clara University we have a holistic application review process. What we mean by that is that we consider all parts of the application to paint a larger picture for each student. We do not have a minimum GPA or test scores (although those are still important factors in the application), so we balance those hard data points with the student’s story they share with us through the personal statement, involvement, and supplemental questions.

The different parts of the application are indicators of different things and are thus all-important. GPA, test scores, and transcript help us determine if the student is academically ready for SCU. The personal statement, extracurriculars, and service work help us determine if a student would be a good fit for our campus and if we can support what that student wants to do.

That being said, if a student is well below the average in both GPA and test scores, it is tough to make a case for a positive admission decision. 

 

Jason: What sets accepted applicants apart from the rest of the pack?

 

Ms. Kreeft:  A student that can articulate what they want to do, how they have practiced this so far, and why they want to continue it on my campus stands out. What makes an applicant memorable is when they can show us how they have maximized their opportunities so far and how they plan to take advantage of what we offer at SCU, it is not one magic factor like the right number of APs. At one high school taking 10 APs before you graduate may be rare, whereas at another high school it may be the norm.

What we want to see is how a student pursues their interests and passions.

If you want to be an engineer, what projects or clubs have you invested yourself in to further explore this? If you want to partake in undergraduate research, have you looked into what ongoing projects we have and if professors on our campus are engaged in your topics of interest? 

 

Jason:  What is the best advice you could give to prospective applicants?

 

Ms. Kreeft:  The best advice I can give to prospective applicants is to think about your non-negotiables.

What will you need on a college campus to feel comfortable and successful? Size and location are two of the most impactful features of a college campus that the individual student cannot change, so think carefully about the type of environment you want when crafting your list of schools to apply to.

When you have that list, be sure to communicate to those colleges why they are on your list. Don’t just regurgitate the school’s mission statement, be intentional and specific. I can tell pretty quickly when reading a student’s application if they are truly considering SCU or if we were just another college to apply to. 

 

college application advice from undergrad admissions office

 

Jason:  Other than grades and standardized test scores, what is the most important part of the application?  Why?

 

Ms. Kreeft:  In holistic admissions, this is a difficult question to answer (and one that doesn’t really have one answer), because the whole point is that the elements of the application complement each other to give depth to a student.

One factor that is often overlooked, but is very important, is rigor (or strength of schedule). When we see your high school transcript we see what your choices were for classes. Especially in a college landscape with increasing test-optional application routes, a student still needs to demonstrate the strength of their academic career. Rigor becomes especially important for students seeking admission to our more specialized programs in Business and Engineering.

Just taking a standard college prep course load will not be enough. Also, a student is more than just the things they study and the tests they took. Use the story part of your application (essay, involvement, supplements) to give life to your file. 

 

 Jason:  How much does an applicant’s choice of major factor into whether they are accepted or not?  Are there certain majors that affect admissions decisions more than others, and if so, which majors?

 

Ms. Kreeft:  At Santa Clara University, it is actually the choice of school that matters more than the choice of major when it comes to selectivity. When you apply to SCU, you will choose to apply to the College of Arts and Sciences (about 55% of the undergraduate population), the Leavey School of Business (about 30% of the undergraduate population), or the School of Engineering (about 15% of the undergraduate population).

While it is the same application process for each of the three schools, the way we read the applications is a bit different. With our more specialized (and smaller) programs of Business and Engineering, we take a closer look at a student’s academic history in certain areas.

For Business that would be in math, specifically looking for calculus. For Engineering that would be math and science, specifically looking for calculus and physics. The one major that has the greatest impact on an application, and is our most selective, is Computer Science in the School of Engineering. Students admitted to this major tend to have our highest average GPAs/test scores as well as having demonstrated a prior interest in and commitment to this field.

 

 Jason:  What advice can you offer regarding application essays?

 

Ms. Kreeft:  The biggest piece of advice I offer students regarding application essays is to centralize your experiences in your own voice.

No matter what the prompt says, an admission office is trying to learn more about who you are and how you will be in their community.

I have read some beautiful essays about how influential a student’s grandmother has been in their life, and then by the end of the essay I want to admit the grandmother and I have learned very little about the student. My first big tip is this: after you write your essay, highlight every sentence that has to do with you (the student) making a decision, reacting to experience, learning a lesson, etc. If this isn’t at least 50% of your essay you need to rewrite it.

My second tip is this: have a few people close to you read over and give you feedback on your essay.

Sometimes we think we know how we sound, but having a fresh set of eyes review your work can make sure you communicate the message and story that you intend to. 

Another important thing to consider, use the additional information section to give more context! This is an optional section in the common application that is essentially bonus free words. There is no prompt; it is not an additional essay. It is simply space for a student to give us more context. If you have something you need to explain, like a poor grade in a class or a personal situation that has impacted your high school career, this is the place to tell us about it. Save your personal statement for the story of who you are and what you care about.

 

Written by Jason Katz

This interview article was conducted and written by Insight Counselor Jason Katz.

Jason has helped hundreds of students gain admission to their best-fit universities. In addition, he has written more than 170 college admissions/college life columns for the Palo Alto Daily News and the San Jose Mercury News.

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