The College Planning Blog

Well it has finally happened. The unsustainable Texas Top 10% rule has finally been changed. With top state universities like the University of Texas now forced to automatically accept 86% of their incoming class under the Top 10% rule it was time for a change.

Having helped literally hundereds of students I think that this is a huge step forward. Why? Because it just might cause many high school students to actually research what colleges will be the best fit for them. Far too many top students apply to only one or two colleges as a result of the Top 10% rule.

Why do SO many students do so little work researching their best choices for college? Simply put because they are guranteed admission.

So the new rule will guarantee that starting with the class of 2011, the top 8% of high school graduates will automatically be admitted to the University of Texas. This change is expected to limit the number of students automatically admitted to approximately 75%. I wouldn’t call this a perfect change, but a necessary change.

What should a family do? Get busy researching what your student wants to study, what schools offer what they want, and what schools will they have a chance to get into?

A great option for sophomores and juniors is to come to one of our upcoming college planning workshops. Click here.

Do you have a senior student that needs guidance with their college applications? We’ll they have about a month to complete their applications. For the first time we are offering our “College Application Bootcamp” to the public. For more information click here: 

Here’s what your student will learn by attending this AWESOME workshop:

-5 secrets to completing each university application perfectly - in 50 minutes or less!

-The ’secret’ formula schools use to grade your college applications - revealed! And how to improve your chances of getting in - even at the last minute;

-10 steps to planning your perfect career;

-SAT & ACT myths dispelled, as well as how to improve your score by at least 100 points without studying;  Also, how to take the SAT & ACT for ‘free’.

-How to decide which school is right for you. We’ll give you our 7 step evaluation process that works every time. We’ve never had a student that used it drop out or decide to switch colleges;

-The top 9 admissions resume tips that your guidance counselor doesn’t have the time to tell you;

-Essay writing tips from Ernest Hemingway, Larry the Cable Guy, and Harvard Admissions Officers;

-How to get a killer letter of recommendation, and have the teacher thank you for asking them to write it;

Pictured from the left: Jeff Farmer, Jeremy Farmer, and Brannon Lloyd

Hey Guys,

Join us for our incredible new college planning radio show every Sunday at 5PM on 1070AM. You can also listen live on their website: www.KNTH.com.

College insiders to start new radio show, give parents priceless advice to help them save thousands.While they’ve saved thousands of families too much money to count, local college planning experts say that’s not going nearly far enough. After speaking in front of tens of thousands of parents over the last five years local college planning experts will begin broadcasting their message using 10,000 watts of power since, as Jeff Farmer says, “One man can only shout so loudly, we need to get the word out that people can save more on college.”"We have the perfect storm brewing right now, skyrocketing gas prices, a tanking stock market, and an economy in a recession. However, for millions of families the need to send a student to college is not going away. It’s shocking that so many parents won’t even be able to afford for their kids to go to school in the next few years, so many good students won’t be able to go, and many students will have to drop out, unless they know the inside information that the colleges don’t want given out,” says Jeremy Farmer. He then adds, “It’s not even a matter of affording the best school….it’s being able to have ANY money left at all these days. Brannon Lloyd was astonished when he first started talking to parents and realized how much bad information was floating around-some of it in the media, “It’s amazing how many parents are desperate for this kind of information. I really don’t know what to say, except that I’m totally blown away.”

The College Planning Power Hour will be broadcast Live on KNTH AM 1070 Sundays from 5-6pm beginning August 17th, 2008.

In the past few months, largely in response to the credit crunch precipitated by the subprime mortgage crisis, some homeowners have been receiving letters from their lenders indicating that their home equity lines of credit have been frozen. In some cases, these freezes may be the result of missed payments (even missed payments on other debts) or declining home values in the area, but that’s not always the case. Many freezes are happening to homeowners with homes that have not declined in value, and who have impeccable payment histories and credit records. (more…)

Yes. Yes I am.

Crazy enough to know what the heck I am talking about.

A parent asked me the above question recently and at the time i laughed, but later, as i thought about it more i realized he wasn’t trying to be difficult or unfair, he was unaware of how times have changed.

Since most of today’s parents’ applied for college 20+ years ago the world has changed dramatically when it comes to applying to college. Most of them applied to one, two or maybe three colleges and if they appled to three, their friends made fun of them.

Things are different now. We stand at what is the crest of the largest wave of new students planning to attend college in history and students need options. Six to eight schools is not that unreasonable when you break it down:

1. 2-3 ‘aspirational’ schools
2. 3-4 Schools that represent good, solid choices your child has a good chance of getting into
3. 1-2 Safety schools. In short these should be a slam dunk on getting in.

Which brings me to real reason to apply to multiple schools even if your kid is SURE they want to go to school X.

Money. Money plain and simple. I’ve seen$10-15k gaps between the best and worst school for the exact same family. I will go into why in a later post, but the short version is that some schools will offer you more and others will likely offer you less regardless of how much you make. The amount depends on the student, your financial situation and the school and their policies.

Parents, just trust me-times have changed and go with this recommendation.

Ok, I am about to rant, but I can’t help it. Everywhere i look Time Magazine, US News, The Wall Street Journal and New York Times ALL get it wrong, and I am going to tell you how to get it right.

Quick, how much does a year at college cost? I suppose your answer should depend on the college in question, but if you are any of the magazines or newspapers just mentioned you routinely get this information WRONG, and its making me crazy.

They often post the cost of Tuition and sometimes the cost of tuition and room and board. As a result they give you either 1/3 or maybe 2/3’s of the total cost. But the first rule of affordability is, what does it cost. The term you will have to get used to asking for on your college visits is something called “Cost of Attendance”. All colleges can answer this for you, but surprisingly (or not) many times when i have called them it sounds like the person on the other end of the phone is trying to find all of the information in order to add it up and tell me.

So what does it cost on average?

Here in Texas a state school runs $18-$22,000 and Private schools anywhere can run from $30-$55,000. Do yourself a favor and ASK. How can you expect to pay for anything if you don’t know the cost?

So is this the result of some conspiracy between the schools and media to misrepresent the total cost? I doubt it, but most writers rely on the schools for the answer and don’t question (or research) it. Again, PLEASE ask your schools about the COST OF ATTENDANCE. Knowing the real and actual cost is just smart. Will you get aid? I have no idea, since i don’t know you. But the smart way to plan is to assume you will get none, be ready for that, and sometimes be pleasantly surprised. Don’t ASSUME you will get money and plan for that-Murphy is alive and well.

Hey Guys,

I ran across this article in the Austin Statesman. Most people assume great scores is all you need to get into a great school. Unfortunately, much more is involved and that’s what we are here for.

We have the experience and know what it takes to get your student in.

Here’s the article:

Perfect college entrance exam scores don’t help student who dreamt of the Ivy Leagues
Despite perfect scores on the SAT and ACT, a LBJ Liberal Arts Academy student failed to make it into his dream schools.

By Laura Heinauer
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, April 19, 2008

Things were going, well, perfectly for Navonil Ghosh up until several weeks ago.

The college-bound LBJ High School Liberal Arts and Science Academy senior racked up more than 400 hours volunteering in local hospitals and libraries. He plays the piano, is a first-degree black belt in Kung Fu and got a perfect score on both the SAT and ACT college entrance exams. Ghosh had mailed out all of his college applications and was just waiting for the acceptance letters to come pouring in.

But the letters that began filling his mailbox were of a different kind.

The first rejection came from Stanford University in California, but the hits kept coming. From the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From Ivy League institutions: University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale, where he was wait-listed. But the biggest disappointment came from Harvard University, which Ghosh had chosen as his “dream school” based on the course offerings. Even the Plan II honors program at the University of Texas turned him down.

(more…)

Hey,

I’m finally starting to get caught up from my busy season, so be sure to give me a shout if you need anything. The article is below. Also, feel free to pass it along to anyone who would enjoy it.

Jeff, Jeremy and Brannon

7 Tips to Make the Most of Your College Visits

If you are even thinking about going to college in the next few years, visiting your potential colleges is one of the most important steps that you can take. Just like you wouldn’t buy a car without going for a test drive, you would be amazed at what you can learn about a school in just a few hours. So, to help you get started, here are some tips to make the most of your visits:

1. Start by visiting one type of each college you are considering. For instance, if you are not sure whether you would like a smaller or larger college, visit a couple of schools that are close by that represent each type, like a large public school and then a smaller private school. At least now, you’ll have something to compare.
2. Do your homework before you go, and narrow your choices by using a good school selection program. You can find some good ones online or contact my office at the address below for our suggestions. Also, make sure that the schools you are considering actually have the major you are interested in. I know it sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how often people skip this step. (more…)

Hey Guys,

Here’s a great article. Aren’t you glad you have help with this?

Bad News U:
Colleges Reject Record Numbers

Policies at Harvard, Princeton Create Uncertainty at Elites; Financial-Aid Picture Improves

By ANJALI ATHAVALEY
April 3, 2008; Page B11

The college-admissions season set records this year — both in the number of students who applied, as well as the number of students who were rejected.

Harvard University has a record applicant pool of 27,462 and an admissions rate of 7.1%, meaning that 1,948 students were accepted — the lowest number in the school’s history and a drop from last year’s 8.9%. Yale University received 22,813 applications and accepted only 8.2%, down from 9.6% last year. And at Princeton University, of the 21,369 applications, 9.3% were accepted, down from 9.5% last year.

State schools, too, are reporting a tough admissions season, with acceptance rates down at the University of Texas and the University of North Carolina, among others.

On the positive side for some students this season, schools are having a hard time predicting their all-important “yields” — the percentage of students admitted who will actually attend. And high-school counselors are hoping that ambiguity will result in more acceptances for students who are on waiting lists — a strategy schools use to reach enrollment targets.

(more…)

From the NY Times

By TARA PARKER-POPE

Published: April 29, 2008

As the frenzied admissions season winds to a close, many students finally know where they will be attending college in the fall.

But there remains a troubling question: how much damage was done along the way?

This year’s crop of applicants faced an unusually grueling admissions process. A demographic bubble has produced the largest group of graduating seniors in history, and they now are facing rejection by colleges at record rates — more than 90 percent at Harvard and Yale, for example.

There will be more disappointment this week as the May 1 admissions deadline passes and thousands who were on waiting lists learn that there are no spots left for them. And today’s high school sophomores and juniors may face worse odds. After a 15-year climb, the number of high school graduates still hasn’t peaked — that is expected to happen within the next two years. (more…)

Hey Guys,

What to do if you’re waitlisted or rejected from your top choices…

Well, this time of year is always an emotional rollercoaster for me.

On the one hand, for the majority of the families I work with, everything goes according to plan….they get in where they’re supposed to, they get the aid they’re supposed to, and everything is great.

But, I also spend a LOT of time dealing with the handful of families where things do NOT go like they’re supposed to….whether they don’t get the right amount of financial aid, or they get waitlisted or rejected altogether. In fact, often the phone calls come back to back in rapid succession, so by the end of the day, I’m completely exhausted emotionally.

So, today, let’s talk about what to do if you’re rejected or deferred (waitlisted).

First off, if you’re rejected, for the most part, that’s going to be a tough one to overcome. But it’s not totally impossible. For instance, just today, we had a student who was flat out rejected from her first choice get admitted. I’ll talk about exactly how to do it in a second. However, the important thing to understand is that she had been rejected from a small, private school that SHOULD have accepted her in the first place.

If she had been rejected from UCLA, which had over 55,000 applications this year for 3,900 freshman slots, we would have told her not to bother.

Waitlisted is a little easier. For some schools, it’s just that….a waiting list until they figure out their ‘yield’, which is a fancy word for ‘how many students are actually coming here in the fall and will we have any room left over’. For other schools, they don’t really mean it, but it sounds politer than a ‘no’.

So, here’s what to do if you’re rejected or waitlisted from your top school.

First, figure out which school you’re most interested in of the schools that HAVE accepted you, so we have a plan B. You might even send in a housing deposit if it’s close to the May 1st deadline, but figure out what you’re going to do if this doesn’t work first.

A word from me: if this doesn’t work, let me tell you what I’ve learned over the years of doing this. You are much better off accepting an offer at your second choice, working your tail off, and transferring in a couple of years than you are attempting to take a year off, even if you do something really cool….like live in Europe or work on a cruise ship. That will not help your chances of getting in the next fall, so you’ll be back at square one. So, if you really want to go to college, go to college. On the other hand, since I tend to contradict myself even in my own thinking, I’ll have a great article for you in a few days about some students who have very successfully taken a year off, and been much better for it.

Anyway, let’s get down to the business of getting you in to your top choice:

Next, you need to make a list of all your accomplishments that have happened since you originally turned in your application to them. What awards have you won? What killer grades have you gotten? What community service projects have you been involved in? What internship have you set up for the summer?

In other words, why should they pick you versus all the other talented students that are applying there? This is NOT the time to be shy! You need to be polite, but frankly, it’s your job to convince them that they should want you. And remember, be as specific as you can….don’t tell them you’ve improved your grades…tell them exactly how much you’ve improved them and exactly what you’ve been up to since you applied.

After that, make a list of all the reasons why you want to attend there. And use the same formula: be as specific as possible about why they are your number one choice. For instance, I just helped a client with a letter like this, and we referenced the fact that an alumnus of theirs had just won his fourth academy award and that, given the chance, we would make them as proud of us (well, the student) as they were of him. It showed we were paying attention.

So, to recap so far, what we’ve basically created is a letter that addresses two subjects: why you are perfect for them, and why they are perfect for you.

Now, once you’ve made an interesting and specific letter that is persuasive about why they should pick you, we’ve got to look up who to address it to. It should be addressed to the Dean of Admissions BY NAME. Meaning, don’t put ‘Dean of Admissions’. That’s as bad as putting ‘To Whom It May Concern’. Go to the trouble of looking up his or her NAME, so it’s addressed to Dr. Jane Doe, Dean of Admissions.

Then, be sure to CC anybody at the college who had helped you or would be interested in seeing you get in the school, like a coach, admissions representative, music teacher, friend of the family that works there, or anybody else you can think of.

OK, are you ready for the best suggestion of all? I swear to you, nobody else knows this.

Send the package via Fed-Ex.

Yep. Not Priority Mail, DHL, UPS or anything else. Fed-Ex ONLY.

Here’s why: the first battle is getting this all seen by somebody, so we’ve got to make sure that it gets to the right people. And NOTHING does that better than a Fed-Ex package. Don’t ask me why, and NO, I don’t own stock in them. But, you can write the best letter ever, but if nobody sees it, it won’t do you a damn darn bit of good.

Fed-Ex ONLY.

Last point: I often get asked whether you should include a picture of yourself or not. I feel that you should. Here’s why: it personalizes the package. You don’t have to have model looks, either. It just helps them to identify with who you are. And, if you’re going to include a photo, make it of you with your family, your dog, or doing something interesting. Do NOT make it of you with your boyfriend/girlfriend or wearing a sweatshirt from their college. It just doesn’t help your case.

OK, one more point before I sign off: don’t worry if the letter is not perfect. You’re taking a step that most people won’t, so you’ve already set yourself apart. Like John Francis Tighe said ‘In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.’

Or like Woody Allen said ‘50% of success is just showing up.’

Or like Gandhi said…………just kidding, but I think you get the point.

You do NOT need to attempt to use every SAT vocabulary word that you’ve ever learned, or to write prose like Hemingway…you just need to list some honest reasons why they should pick you.

Now, like Larry the Cable Guy says ‘Go get ‘er done’.

Oh yeah, and if you’re reading this and NOT a client of ours, or you haven’t been in to our office yet, you need to get on the phone and call us ASAP! How well your kid does in school, what school they select, what MAJOR they pick, and how well they prepare for that major all will have a huge impact on the rest of their lives.

AND, how you choose to pay for all of that, and whether you get any financial aid or not, and paying for it with pre-tax dollars versus post tax dollars will have a huge impact on the rest of YOUR life!

And we are the specialists for dealing with everything related to college, and we know all kinds of neat planning techniques that nobody else seems to know. WHY? Because this is what we do! So, pick up the phone and call us to either schedule an appointment or register for one of our college planning workshops at 281-822-6200 right now!

College Financial Advisors is the nation’s leading expert on all things related to college and careers. You can view tons of free information from our website www.college-financial.com