Post date: Mar 12, 2017 6:59:09 PM
It is coming upon the sixth anniversary of the opening of Point Positive and I thought it pertinent to reflect upon some of the things I have learned since officially hanging out my shingle. I thought that I knew an awful lot about the admissions process, having helped countless of my students research and apply to schools. Quickly, though, I discovered that I had a lot to learn. One of the reasons why I started this business was to help others that were much more misinformed than I was.
Spring brings many things. Crocuses and daffodils popping up through the remains of snow, spring skiing, and financial aid packages, just to name a few. The very worst meetings I have with people in April are those who have received far less assistance than they expected from all of their schools and are now looking for help asking, "What can we do?"
Usually, these are families who did their research, listened to "knowledgeable" friends, supported their student's interests, and thought that they were making informed decisions. Trouble is that there is so much information out there and so many ways to misunderstand the process. While I can't possibly share all of the misinformation here, I can relate some of the biggies - including (embarrassingly) my own.
#5 - Scholarships and Grants do not come off of your EFC.
Yup, this was mine. For some reason, I had it in my head that the EFC was the starting point for what a family would be expected to pay and any scholarships or grants would be taken off of that. I was set straight quickly by my former-financial-aid-director partner, but wouldn't it be great if it did work that way?
#4 - People do actually get financial aid
I was told by a "knowledgeable" friend that "the FAFSA is a joke, no one actually gets financial aid." This one made me smile to myself because it was coming from a dual-income mother of two with a substantial six-figure family income. It is likely that no one she knew in her southern California neighborhood qualified for need-based aid, but I promise that there are many who do.
#3 - Liberal Arts schools are not just for "liberals."
Sometimes, I give public seminar-type presentations. In my first year, I was explaining the difference between liberal arts colleges and state schools. Someone in the audience raised their hand and declared that they were not going to be looking at any liberal arts programs because THEY were not liberals. I almost laughed because I thought it was joke. It was not meant as such.
#2 - You should apply to at least one Ivy League school, because, you never know, you might get in.
This came from a student who said they had been told this wisdom from several friends at school. I asked if they were interested in attending an Ivy League school. The response was, "No. I am not actually sure what Ivy League even means, I just know that they are good schools."
There are many, many good schools. Applying to any school that you do not want to attend is a waste of time and money. The Ivy League is just one group, and the odds are low for EVERYONE to get in. They will be even lower if students who are just trying their chances or "trophy hunting" apply.
#1 - Good grades and test scores will get you wherever you want to go.
Nope. They help, without a doubt. But most of the students who are applying to "top" or "second-tier" schools have the same range of GPA's and scores. Many will not get in. Schools have to choose from between all of these highly qualified candidates and often, even those who fall into a "statistically likely" category will be rejected. It is not about the individual student. It is about all of the students who applied that year, and schools fill the spots they have with those they deem best fits. And there is always the case of the "under-qualified" student who gets in as a complete surprise. Why does one student get while another does not? We will never know. Schools see what they see, and from the outside it may seem arbitrary but they know what they are looking for. We do not, and should not try to guess.
Bottom line with all of this, is that you are not alone with questions and misconceptions. It is easy to get taken in by pretty brochures and letters that imply interest in your student. That is why colleges pay people to design their products. There are no dumb questions. Ask for help. Share your mistakes with others so that we can learn from each other.