Early Deadline

 As you probably know , tomorrowis the deadline for EA and ED applications. Ideally these should  have been submitted by now
  At many schools,The earlier you submit  the better the odds are.

Rresaders of this blog know I strongly favor the Early Action  admission option. I think that  almost everone benefits by applying EA to a good university like the University of  Michigan.  Not only  is your common app complete but you have had to give serious thought to your recommendatuions and   others essays. Michigan is a great university for almost any major ranging from fine artsd to  engineering. Illinois, Case Western, Wisconsin are  are other gret EA options.
 If you have a dream university in mind then do apply ED.

Early Decision

 The Earky Decision(ED) application cycle is  very attractive to  many students.   One applies by   November 01 and  receives a response by mid  December, Acceptances are  almosrt three times higher than the Regular Decision cycle.   The key point of Early Decision is that it is binding. If accepted you are obliged to enroll.   The only exceptions to the ED rule is when  one can prove that  it is  financially unviable.

  If you have a clear first choice "dream  school" in mind and  are able to afford it without depending on   large  amounts financial aid, it is an excellent option.

  The universities I consider to be  worth applying  for ED are 

• Colombia
• Northwestern
• Amherst
• Williams
• Duke
• Carnegie Mellon
• Pomona
• Rice
• Harvey  Mudd
• Vanderbilt
• Johns Hopkins
• Cornell

All of the above are comited to meeting the financial needs of ED students and will work together to resolve  any issues

 Ther are only 20 days until the standard ED deadline of  Nov 01 so if you have a dream university of there  its time to  lock it in

Early Action

 Early Action(EA) is an excellent  appplication option. You apply by  Nov 01  ( Only 28 days left)

 and hear of  your decision by mid december.  EA is non commital,   if accepted   one has until May to decide.  If rejected  you can reapply on the January deadline or  rework your college list accordingly. Not all universities  use EA applications but ther are several excellent options.

 EA is done properly is a win-win for the student. you have secured admission by  mid december and can now focus on just 2 or 3 more application for the Jan 01 deadline.  If rejected  you can re-ealuate your list and redo your essay.

  Three of the best STEM universities  have an EA cycle. If you are interested in studying  engineering or a STEM program please condsider these three options.

• Caltech
• MIT
• Georgia Tech

 Someof the best large public universities also have  EA admissions. 

•  University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• University of  North Carolina - Chapel  Hill
• University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
• University of  Georgia - Athens

Almost all students will find one or more relevant programs at one of thes schools and  I strongly recommend applying EA to one or two of these.

 Other   well known universities offering EA applications are

•  Case Western Reserve University
•  Universaity of Chicago
• Clark University
•  Many smaller liberal arts schools also offer EA deadlines

• Agnes Scott College
• College of Wooster
• Goucher College
• Hampshire college
•  Birmingham Southern

Deadlines are usually  Nov 01 but some have Ot 15 or even Dec 01 deadlines.

 Dpo your research on the university website or look for my university specific post

Restrictive Early Action

The universities that  offer

One of the more confusing application options is Restrictive  Early Action ( REA). Forunately only a few  universities imp[lement this.

 Like Early Action ,     the application deadline is typically Nov 01.  the university  will respond by mid December  and you have until  May to decide.  The restriction is that one cannot apply to any other university earky decision or early action  

 The advantage of sapplying early  is that you can lock down a top university admission  by   mid december. I fone of the ZREA options  is a dream school this is worth considering.

 The disadvantages are that one does not grt the flexibility of applying early decision to one school  and early action to others.

The  six universities that have popular REA  applications are.

• Harvard University
• Yale University
•  Stanford  University
• Princeton University
•  Boston College
•  Notre Dame University
• 
  

Early Application Options

 The  Early round of the admissions season  is only a  month away. 

If you  thought  there were not enough acronyms in the admissions game you now have to familiarise yourself with the  EA/ED/RD/REA deadlines.

 The main college application  deadline is usually referred to as Regular Decision ( RD). This is typically January 01, though some schools  have February deadlines.

 If you have a clear cut dream university, considering applying early decision. Early Decision  ( ED)applications are typicalluy due by November 01.  You will know of the result by mid December. When you apply early decision the offer is binding. If accepted your next step is to send a deposit to secue your  place in the class of 2023.

 Some things to keep  in mind - because of its  binding nature you can only apply to one university early decision.   You can still apply to other schools thriugh Early Action or RD  admissions

 Early Action(EA) has a similar deadline  of  Nov 15 , although a few universities  have deadlines of October 15 ( I will be listing details  in future posts). EA decisions will also come in mid December but threy are not binding. 

In my opinion there is no down side to an EA application.     You know by mid December and will have until April to accept  which means tiy can still apply RD to several schools and  then make an informed decision in April.

 Some excellent EA options are Michigan ,  illinois, Georgia Tech,  Case Western and  Georgetown.

 Finally you havr restrictive early action ( REA. This is olowed only by  Harvard, Yale,  Princeton and Stanford.

 The application deadline remains Nov 01 but  under REA you cannopy apply to any otherED or  EA options you  need to apply to all other schools under an RD cycle.

 One advantage of REA  over  ED is that it is not binding , you still have until April  to decide.

 In short apply REA if Stanford, Yale, Harvard or Princeton is your dream university.  Otherwise consider an ED application to your dream college. keep a few EA options too.

  Otherwise apply to a few  strong EA programs and  the rest  RD.

 The advantages of an early application.

 by starting early you will be better prepared for the RD applications

•  If you get accepted to a EA option you can eliminate some colleges from your application list.
•  EA, RD, REA accveptance rates are as miuch as three times higher than RD figures.

 Further posts will gave more details.

Application options

 The college application process is a lot of work and can easily be confusing and stressful.

 It does not help that for many students they will need to complete  three or more applications.

 Almost everyone will need to complete the common application. This is used by  700  universities including many ivy league schools.

 The   other application that is widely used is the Coalition application. The complete name is the Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success. nearly 200-member programs support this application. The universal application is newer and is also used by several programs.

 Finally some universities have their own applications.

 Most notable the University of California application used by all 10 of the  UC campuses.  Texas apply is the application for the University of Texas system.

  MIT is the only  private university to have its own  application.

  Even The University of Chicago has given up on its uncommon application and uses the common application  with an "uncommon supplement"

Happy Teachers Day

 Today is teachers day. I would like to acknowledge all the great teachers I have been forunate to have studied with.

This serves as a timely reminder for college applicants that you need to get teacher recommendations. Please pick teachers who know you well and can write something meaningful about you. Ideally the teacher should teach a subject related to your intended major.

 A good recommendation will focus on your abilities and interests and not grades. It helps if the teacher can write something involving a relevant anecdote to talk about your problem-solving skills. Do suggest this to your teacher

 Your personal rapport with the teacher should be a key factor.  A good recommendation will talk about your problem-solving ability and how you are able to work in groups.

 Even though I majored in computer science, my recommendation was written by my French teacher as it was a small class  and  I  we had a sense of mutual respect between us.

factors to consider

 There are hundreds of factors that can and should influence your college choice.

Let me look at a few of the  important ones

1. Location:   This is not about just distance from home and the weather but issues like are you in a rural or urban environment.  for international students especially an urban location  is usually an easier transition.

2. Academics: After all this is what you are in college for.  do not look at rankings but rather consider how many courses are taught by TAs instead of faculty.  consider student -faculty ratios and the level of faculty involvement. Are you better off in a smaller liberal arts college with seminar type courses or a major research university with large anonymous lecture rooms

3.  Finances: I keep this third, but it is arguably the most important.  Sit with your family and a financial advisor to set your budget up front. Use this to determine which colleges can provide the financial support you may require. It is best to be direct and let colleges know what you can afford. This is probably the best way to create a shortlist from a long list.

Selecting colleges and universities

  One of the first steps to a  productive and successful application is to select the right colleges and universities to apply to.
 This is where a   good college counselor can  help.
 After all  if the colleges you apply to are really appealing and both excite and interest you, that will show in your  essays and make your applicatiuon even  more compeling.

 The biggest mistake to make is to only use college rankings to select universities.   Keep in mind that  there is more to a college than classes and academics. It will be "home" for the next four years and you need to feel that you belong.  Every college has a personality  and you need to  identify those that match your own.

 Start by talking to people and getting advice. Your teachers and fellow students will be good resources. Do attend college fairs in your  area.   Many universitiees and colleges  even go on international tours. Your high school will probably have several college visits ovr the year. Do attend them all. If a school really grabs your attention   keep it in mind for an Early Decision or Early Action application. If possible visit the colleges that interest you


 Start building a longlist of about 35 schools that interest you, then cut it down to a shortlist of 8 to apply to.

The class of 2023 admissions cycle starts now

 If you are a student  intending to apply for the class of 2023  the admissions  cycle has 

begun in earnest at this stage. By now you should have   finioshed studying for the standardized tests and ideally taken the SAT or ACT  once.If not please register for the October SAT.

Also  you need to start building your college list. I find it helps to caterrgorize them in 3 categories

1.  Aspirational 
2. Realistic
3. Safe

 Try to identify  five  to seven schools in each category that interest and excite you   Eventrually  use this to gendersate a list of eight to ten university to apply to.

Start paying attention to which schools offer Early Decision anmd Early Action  options.

 Its also a good idea ro take a look at the common application and the essay prompts.

Select the teachers  you will use as references and  let your school counselor know og your plans.

 I will be bloggong more on wach of the steps in the coming days.

days until the Jan 01 deadline:138

waitlisted

 One  of the most frustrating  occurances with college admissions is gettinhg  waitlisted.
 Aty many universities a fith to a quarter of students who are wailisted get accepted so do not lose hope.

 How to respond to being waitlisted

•  If the college is high on your list and you want to get in-  please respond back affirmatively. say something  like" thank you for taking the time to evaluate my application. While disappointed I  was not accepted , I  want to remain in consideration for a place at University XYZ.

 Also do let the  admissions office know of any changes in your profile   that have happened since you submitted your application .

•  If  you are not interested in the college - pleaes write back and say no. While you may not be interested in getting on , there asre bound to be other students who  truly want to get in and removing your self from the waitlist is the fair and honest thing to do.

Rolling admissions

 The goal of rolling admissions is to space out the application window giving both students and the admissions staff motre time.


 Here is a list of Universities that offer rolling admissions:

• Arizona State University
• Indiana University
• Michigan State
• Pace University
• 
  
  • Arizona State University
  • Indiana University
  • Michigan State
  • Pace University
  • Penn State
  • Quinnipiac
  • Texas A&M
  • University of Alabama
  • University of Maine
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of New Haven
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Tulsa
• Purdue
• Quinnipiac
• Texas A&M
• University of Alabama
• University of Maine
• University of Minnesota
• University of New Haven
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Tulsa

 The schools in bols are the ones I recommend.
 Do note that many schools that offer rolling Admissions will also have a separate priority admissions deadline of  November 1or December 1. This deadline is equivalent to an Early Action plan.
 While rolling admissions deadlines  may extend to  July  opr August on paper chances are  that are are not too many open places for students at this stage.   Try to get all your rolling decision applications in by March 01 at latest.

 You can expect a response within four weeks of  your application.

February deadlines

 Several excellent schools have February application deadlines


 The Uhniversity of Wisconsin, Michigan,Ohio State  Univresity and Florida State sre thre that   I can think og with doing a searc h. Ithaca college, Gonzaga, Miami- Ohio, Brigham young are some others.
 See this linkfor more:
 https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-with-late-application-deadlines-complete-list


 The supplementary essay topic for Michigan are:

If you could only do one of the activities you have listed in the Activities section of your Common Application, which one would you keep doing? Why? (150 words)

Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (300)

Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?

 The essay for Wisconsin are:

Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, share with us the academic, extracurricular, or research opportunities you would take advantage of as a student. If applicable, provide details of any circumstance that could have had an impact on your academic performance and/or extracurricular involvement. (650)

Briefly explain (in 50-100 words) which activity you entered in the Common App Activities section is the most important to you.(100)

Clearsky is still available for any last minute help ytou may need

last minute application strategy

  By now most people shiuld be done with all applications and  in a state of waiting for  acceptance letters.

 o

f course mny of you will be still working on applications.

 If you have been  following this blog's advice you would have applied  to your ED choice and  EA to a few schools.  If accepted ED,  great - sit back and enjoy the show as your classmaters stress out. Actually you  can  better  use your time to help your friends out with their last minute  rush.

  Through EA  tiu should be accepted  at a safety school  and you would have received some feedback from universities.

   Reevalute your options quickly. Most deadlines have passed but keep in mind many great options still exist.

Michigan is an aspirational university with a February  1 deadline.

Several  strong universiyt options have rolling deadlimes:

• Penn State
• Purdue
• Pittsburgh
• Michigan State 
• Indiana

 These are just the fivethat come to mind immediately, 

Ther are an equal number of  smaller liberal  arts colleges with february and rolling deadlines.

 I will  be profilling these universities individually in the coming days. Feel free t oleave comments or send mail with particular reqursts.

Universities with mid January and February deadlines

   I have repeated this several times to students - DON'T PANIC

 Several schools have  deadlines of  January 15,2018 and February 01,2018

 And there are several schools woith rolling admissions which means you can apply as late as  Mid March

 f the top if my head these are:

• University of  Michigan
• Case Western Reserve University
• Washington University St.Louis
• University of Wisconsin
• University of  North Carolina - Chapel Hill
• Ohio Wesleyan
• Caltech
• Florida State
• Chapman University
• Boston University
• WPI
• RPI
• University of  Miami
• University of Kansas
• Penn State
• Michigan State
• University of Pittsburgh

  I will write a separate post on rolling admissions later

Happy New Year

 Just a quick post to wish my readers a very happy new year.  Lets hope 2018nmarks the star of a geart new education adventure


   If you are sacrambling to finish your applications- you can always reach out for last minute help at +91 9820072274 or clearskyeducation@gmail.com



 Ther are several gppd choices still out there with mid Jan and February deadlines

 I will be discussing thewse in the next  day ot two