Learning About Colleges

College representatives visit SPA: From mid-September through November, nearly 100 college admission representatives visit SPA for a brief presentation on their college and Q&A with interested students.These sessions last 35 minutes (about half a class period) and are informal conversations among several students and the representative. Bring questions! and be ready to learn more about the college's programs, campus life, and admission procedures.

• Seniors and juniors may attend during free periods or during a class IF they request permission from that class teacher to miss part of class to attend the “college rep visit” in the college counseling office. Faculty may require a student to be in class. Request permission in person (not on email) at least 2 days in advance of the meeting. Attendance is recorded; students receive a pass to return to their class. 

• Please register in SCOIR once you have confirmed that you can attend.  In the student account,  go to the “me” drop down, then Visits. 

The Twin Cities Partnership Fair  (TCP College Fair) is held annually in the fall at a local independent school, typically on a Sunday afternoon in late September or early October. Check the TCP Fair website and current information from college counseling for details. 

• Seniors and Juniors are invited to this event to speak with admission representatives from nearly 150 colleges. It is a chance to learn general information as well as ask focused, specific questions.

• The Twin Cities Partnership includes six member independent schools and three college access organizations. Students from the college access organizations attend starting at 12:00 pm. Students from SPA and the other independent schools attend starting at 1:00 pm. 

Information sessions in the Twin Cities: Throughout the school year admissions officers from groups of colleges host information sessions for students and families. Increasingly these are held online; they may replace colleges doing in person recruitment such as visits to high schools. Some events are still held in person, typically in the fall or late spring, at a large event space at a local hotel.

• Most events (even online) require advance registration; sign up well ahead of time, as space is sometimes limited.

Visiting colleges provides students with the opportunity to test their assumptions, envision themselves in the context of a particular college environment, and to help them begin to identify parameters of their search. When physically visiting a college is not possible, students and families can still research colleges through virtual visit options. Almost all colleges now offer a wide array of virtual programming, from information sessions, to tours, to student and faculty panels. Though visiting campuses in person is still beneficial, virtual visits can be a great way of getting information from a variety of schools, too. 

Getting the Most out of College Visits

College Visits FAQs, How to Get Started

Questions to Ask on College Tours

Free college Fly In and Diversity Programs  for low-income and BIPOC students. 

Private colleges in Minnesota and Wisconsin host a one-week event during the summer. These "Private College Weeks" are often a great way for rising juniors to experience their first campus visits. Most campuses host two open houses a day during the designated week.

• • June: Minnesota Private College Week

  • July: Wisconsin Private College Week

College Counseling Message to the SPA Community

Initial news reports:

• News of the court decision:  Star Tribune   Wall Street Journal   NY Times

• NPR article - Why the Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action Matters 

• Wall Street Journal: Affirmative Action Timeline: Key Dates

Advocacy organizations:

• Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) Organization that filed the lawsuits challenging affirmative action

• NAACP Legal Defense Fund - many short Q&A statements on aspects of the topic from the NAACP

Professional associations

• NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling)  Supreme Court and Race-Conscious Admissions  includes links to Federal Guidance to Colleges/Universities on Admission Practices post-SFFA 

• NY Times Op-Ed by Angel Perez, CEO of NACAC: Employers Benefited from Affirmative Action; It's Time to Step Up

• Common App: Race in Admission

More recent opinions:

• WSJ: Jeff Selingo: How Elite Colleges Will Work Around the Supreme Court’s Ruling

• Brookings Institution: commentary/podcast (with transcript)  How Will the Supreme Court Ruling Affect College Admissions? 

Students starting with the Class of 2022 will be using Scoir to manage their college search and application process. Check the Scoir page of the website to learn more about this resource. 

Students are given a Scoir account their junior year, and there are lots of ways students use Scoir to learn about colleges. Through their account, students can:

• • Indicate college preferences

  • Search for colleges based on their preferences or other criteria

  • Search for colleges based on the results of their YouScience assessments

  • Research individual colleges via the college's Scoir profile

  • Follow colleges to track upcoming events, at SPA, online, or at the school 

  • Register for college visits at SPA

  • and more!

• • The concept of demonstrated interest underscores the importance of thoroughly researching your colleges to yield strong applications at colleges well-matched to your interests. 

  • When you explore a college website, visit campus, meet with admission reps at school or the college fair, this ‘data trail’ of interactions or contact history is called “demonstrated interest.” It helps colleges know what marketing information is useful to students, leading them to apply and enroll. 

    • When you learn a lot about a college (thus demonstrating interest) you convey a stronger understanding of the college in your application, which can improve your chances of admission. 

    • If you know less about a college, this often comes through in less strong essays - accurately suggesting you are less serious about that college.

  • The more selective a college, the LESS likely that they care about your demonstrated interest; these colleges attract many highly qualified candidates. Your interest level will not impact your admission.

  • Be sure to research, meet with admission reps for the moderately or less selective colleges on your list where your history of interaction will matter the most.

Resources for understanding demonstrated interest:

• Tufts University article: Show Us That You Know Us

• College Essay Guy Guide

Tips for Communicating with Colleges

Tips for College Admissions Interviews

• Ten Questions to Frame Your College Search

• Criteria to Compare and Select Colleges

• List of Websites for Comparing Colleges

• Big Future: Searching for Colleges

• Fiske Guide to Colleges (interactive online tool or book)

• Unigo: Student reviews of colleges

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities

• Campus Pride Index: Info on LGBT-friendly campuses

• Colleges of Distinction

• Colleges that Change Lives (see also books by Loren Pope)

• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU)