Looking at College Loans

We're making today a quick one. I'm taking a good look at how to help families understand how college loans work, and what they'll be like to pay off after college.

Here are some quick resources for your home calculations:

• U.S. Department of Education  

Information about the Federal Direct Loan Program, including publications and tools to help manage Direct Loans

1. Direct loan calculator via FAFSA forecaster
2. Federal loan repayment calculator  

• College Board

Calculators and information on loan repayment estimates and comparing federal and private loans

1. Student Loan Calculator
2. Student Loan Comparison Calculator
3. Parent Loan Repayment Calculator

• Mapping Your Future

Repayment information including calculators to estimate repayments & salary based borrowing levels

1. Debt Wizard Repayment Calculator

• Chronicle of Higher Education

Information displaying average amount of debt assumed by parents at various institutions

1. Average PLUS loan packages table

Will You Cross the Great Divide?

School is about to begin, if it hasn't already. Seniors: are you ready?

A close colleague of mine recently coined the term "The Labor Day Divide" to describe a phenomenon that roughly coincides with the start of senior year.

New seniors split fairly neatly into two camps: those who have crossed off most of their Summer College Checklist...and those who have barely begun.

The divide becomes most evident toward the beginning of November when Early Application deadlines ...and it's not a pretty picture (such as the one below) for Camp #2.

Credit: Jeff Drahota / USFWS

It's never too late, though, and we still have time before Labor Day. Check your college task list against this one:

1. Identify Academic, Social & Personal Goals: these will guide every choice you make through applications and college itself
2. Free Associate & Build Out Initial College List: as many as 20+ schools that you can later slim down
3. Create a Personalized List of Essential College Questions: use it to direct your research
4. Develop Your Brag Sheet & Info Packets for Recommenders: your rec letters are a crucial part of establishing your credibility, so give your recommenders the ammunition they need!
5. Build Your Activities List & Student Resume: clarify your skills & abilities, making sure you’re ready for any opportunity
6. Start Demonstrating Interest: keep a correspondence log to ensure that every college knows who you are before applying
7. Personal Statement & UC Insight Questions: capture your unique essence in a strong draft that you can adapt to different prompts
8. Why Us? Template: most colleges ask why the fit is right, so start with what you’ll bring to the table
9. Balance the College List: ideally 6 - 10 total applications, anchor, target & reach
10. Home Stretch: week-by-week application task due dates for fall
11. Research affordability: estimate Expected Family Contribution, run the Net Price Calculator for individual colleges, research merit aid & scholarships

Nick's Picks: Spotlight on Emerson College

With its main campus in the heart of Boston and a new, state-of-the-art campus in LA, Emerson College is an institution dedicated to the arts and communication in the context of a liberal education.

In this virtual hangout, Nick Soper of Creative College Prep chats with Amy Mitchell, Director of Admissions, about some of the exciting things happening on campus. Check it out!

Reflection: Storytelling in Preparing for College

We all have a story (many stories, in fact!) to tell. We are living one that's unfolding moment by moment, year by year.

But why are stories so vitally important? What is it about codifying our lives in terms of stories that makes our experiences so much more meaningful and more compelling?

WHAT TO CHECK OUT:

1. Journalist Dave Lieber makes the case in this TEDx talk about how storytelling can change the world.
2. This guest blog makes the case for why storytelling will be the top business skill in years to come.
3. Ever thought about what’s actually happening in your brain when you hear a story?
4. When was the last time you listened to a great story, just for the heck of it?

RELATED COLLEGE QUESTIONS:

• Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• If you were to write the story of your life until now, what would you title it and why?
• You are writing your autobiography. Imagine what you would say on page 54 about yourself and your experiences.
• A good story starts with a good beginning. Get us hooked in the first 150 words.
• Every name tells a story: Tell us about your name — any name: first, middle, last, nickname — and its origin.

3 Formatting Tips for Emailing Admissions

You have narrowed your college list, you're doing your research, and you know that you want to stay in touch with your top choices all the way through application season.

Beyond the fact that many colleges want to gauge your level of interest in attending, cultivating a relationship and opening a direct line of communication with your regional admissions counselor at a college can help you get answers to questions you might not be able to find elsewhere.

Here are three tips for crafting a great introductory email (remember that these are principles that can apply to nearly ANY email you write):

Tip #1: Use the Subject Line Wisely

Most people who use email addresses in an official capacity have very limited time to get through their inbox and respond. Help your reader out: use the subject line to get your request across clearly and concisely. Don't make them have to guess what the email is going to be about.

Tip #2: Use Space to Make the Body of the Email Reader-Friendly

Imagine that you're sitting down to do your homework, and the first page you open up to in your textbook is one solid block of text, covering the page. Sigh. We've all been there. Whatever resolve we MIGHT have had instantly drains away. Boring. So much work for my brain.

So do your reader a favor: let in a little air. See if you can think about your message in three parts: the intro, the body, and the call to action. The intro establishes the context for reaching out. The body provides more in-depth information, and sets you up to make your request. And the call to action asks for something specific.

Tip #3: Strip Away Any Words that You Don't Absolutely Need

A good rule of thumb for this is that all the text of your email fits on one window, even with spaces. If you have a number of different questions, you might want to consider sending multiple emails. Make sure that you're only including information that is directly related to the request that you're making.

Other than that, keep the tone polite, respectful and upbeat (remember, this is about showing off your excitement!), and make sure that your email demonstrates that you are a competence writer. Use good grammar, spell check the text, and make sure to proofread carefully. 

Ten Out-of-the-Box College Offerings

Many families get stuck in trying to dig up the real differences between colleges. The basic distinctions are out there: size of the student body, public versus private, research university versus liberal arts college, location, name brand, etc. 

But there are so many schools thinking just a bit outside the box -- doing something just a little different, which many families have often never even heard of.

I thought I'd use this post to toss out a list of the specialized offerings out there that might dramatically change the college experience for a student considering the options:

1. Honors programs: often a way to get the best of both worlds -- a tight-knit learning environment in a big university environment -- these programs have many variants. Of note: check out Swarthmore's seminar program.
2. Co-op programs: build a robust word resume during your undergraduate years by alternating semesters between internships and the classroom. Of note: Northeastern University's co-op program has helped elevate the school's profile across the country.
3. Design your own major: another steadily growing offering at many schools, students get to cobble together their course of study according to their interests -- with sound advising, of course. Of note: Hampshire College was built around the idea of a customizable course of study. (Just don't let them hear you call it a major!)
4. Block programs: concentrate...just one thing at a time! Taking one course at a time is a radical shift for many students, but the alternate schedule affords some unique opportunities. Of note: get a sense of the possibilities Cornell College's program affords its students.
5. Major-minor requirements: the jobs of tomorrow demand an ability to think in an interdisciplinary way. While many schools offer students the possibility of multiple majors and minors, there are few that mandate it in their curriculum. Of note: Allegheny College lays out an simple case for why a major-minor requirement is in the student's best interest.
6. 4 + 1 accelerated degree programs: if you're REALLY the academic type, earn your bachelor's AND an MA, MPH, MBA, or MS degree in half the time (and tuition dollars!) it'd take otherwise. Of note: the Claremont Consortium has pooled all of its five schools' resources and offers a variety of options.
7. 3-2 engineering programs: torn between a bachelor's in science and an engineering track? With this program, you can graduate with both degrees in five years. Of note: Goucher College's partnership with Columbia University balances the small liberal arts experience with a powerhouse research university.
8. January term: take a little break from the regular ol' semester system with a winter interlude. Travel or take that art intensive you've always wanted. Of note: St. Mary's College in CA does Jan term right.
9. Great books curriculum: if you're an avid reader with an insatiable love of learning how all of our major Western fields of study came to be what they are today, look no further. St. John's College, which has campuses in Annapolis, MD, and Santa Fe, NM, offers this singular track.
10. Financial literacy course requirements: why basic financial literacy isn't a core part of our schools' curricula -- at the secondary or post-secondary level -- is beyond me. It's a part of life. Of note: Champlain College stays true to its pre-professional roots with its required financial literacy coursework.

Nick's Picks: Spotlight on McDaniel College

The Spotlight on Admissions series features brief conversations with college representatives from across the country, sharing a little bit of their wisdom from their time in admissions. 

Check out this conversation with Emily Davis, Regional Assistant Director of Admission for the West Coast at McDaniel College:

Reflection Exercises: On Leadership

Many of what colleges are evaluating in applications is students' future leadership potential: it will fuel their contributions to the campus community. For applicants thinking about their interviews and college essays, here is some food for thought on the subject.

WHAT TO CHECK OUT:

1. In this 6-minute TED talk, learn why leadership doesn’t have to be about changing the world.
2. Here’s another short (& funny) take on the type of leader that gets a movement off the ground.
3. What is your particular style of leadership? Read this article for a glimpse into six types.
4. Leaders draw on the idealism of followers, for good…or not. Check out this half-hour podcast.

RELATED COLLEGE QUESTIONS:

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively in influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

Please describe a time in your life (academic, co-curricular, or otherwise) where you had to collaborate to accomplish more than you could alone.

Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.

You have the funding for your own start-up or organization. What will you launch and why?

For one week in January, students upend the traditional classroom hierarchy and teach classes about any topic they love, academic or otherwise. What would you teach that would contribute to the community?

Nick's Picks: Spotlight on Allegheny College

The Spotlight on Admissions series features brief conversations with college representatives from across the country, sharing a little bit of their wisdom from their time in admissions. 

Check out this conversation with Darnell Epps, Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Allegheny College:

Reflection: Tough Choices

In putting the finishing touches on the CollegeAppRoadMap program before its launch this Friday, I've found my favorite part of the whole thing. 

Each year, I have students do free-writing exercises to help brainstorm their essays. This time, though, we're doing it according to different themes. 

The first theme? Making Difficult Choices.

Download the handout here. I think it speaks for itself. But here's how the writing works:

GUIDELINES FOR REFLECTION WRITING:

• Set aside 1 hour each week for writing time only (not including watching/listening/reading time). 
• Break that hour into three 20-minute sessions. 
• Get a designated notebook if you like writing by hand.
• If you prefer to type, I recommend the Day One app, but a plain old document will do.
• Always date your entries and keep them separate from each other.

THEN:

1. Sit down
2. Set a timer for 20 minutes
3. Open your notebook or document
4. Take three deep breaths
5. Start the timer
6. Write as quickly as you can.

Do NOT delete, cross out, erase, go back, read, edit or stop until the timer has finished.
(If you get stuck, write “I can’t think of anything to write” over and over until a new thought comes.)

You can write about whatever is in the forefront of your mind that day. You could respond directly to the videos or podcasts, you could vent about a crappy day, or you could use one of the fun and interesting questions on the following pages as a springboard.

MOST IMPORTANTLY…

Let your mind wander—see where it wants to take you. 
The best college writings often come from the ideas that surprise you the most.

Nick's Picks: Spotlight on Southwestern University

The Spotlight on Admissions series features brief conversations with college representatives from across the country, sharing a little bit of their wisdom from their time in admissions. 

Check out this conversation with Bob Baldwin, Director of Admissions at Southwestern University:

What's the ONE thing?

Now that the video has been approved by the TEDx committee and published for the public, it feels like a real thing:

I gave a TED talk!

And wow, I learned a lot in the process. During the first speaker "bootcamp," when I put an early draft of the talk on its feet for the first time, I discovered not only how much I tend toward long-windedness, but also an obsession with Star Wars references. (My heart broke a little when I trimmed them out.)

But the glazed-over reception made for constructive course correction. And then, about a week before the TEDx event itself, I got feedback from some dear and very sharp friends. 

Future self, please listen up: never ask for open-ended critique that close to a deadline. Instead, ask questions that direct the feedback so that it's something you can manage within your timeframe. 

Lesson learned.

Fortunately, I was given a single focusing question that guided all my efforts during that last week: what is the one thing you want the audience to walk away with?

Did I wind up nailing that one thing down? I developed a particular phrase that I kept repeating to myself any time I'd practice the talk in that final week, but was it as simple and clear as it needed to be?

That's a question I'd love to turn it over to you, if you find yourself with 15 minutes to watch.

What is the one thing that YOU take away? 

(Also, how about the expression on my face in this thumbnail image? ;)

Nick's Picks: Spotlight on Eckerd College

The Spotlight on Admissions series features brief conversations with college representatives from across the country, sharing a little bit of their wisdom from their time in admissions. 

Check out this conversation with Jake Browne, Director of Admissions at Eckerd College:

A Streamlined Approach to College Applications...Finally!

We all know that senior year can induce a lot of anxiety.

Soon-to-be-seniors are taking the SAT or ACT. They're bracing for their toughest high school classes. College applications are on the horizon. And sooner or later, the reality will start to hit home: life is about to change in a big way.

College applications can be just as stressful for parents -- even for the ones who have been through this before. There always seems to be so much noise and never enough quality information that's straightforward and reasonably easy to digest.

On top of that, college counseling centers at public high schools are understaffed and overwhelmed; they're doing the best they can with hundreds of students in their caseload each year. Private college consultants can cost an arm and a leg...while you're supposed to be saving money to cut that first tuition check.

And whether you're a parent or a college-bound student, there's just no escaping the pressure, the hype, and all the anxious chatter around college admissions. You're on information overload, pulled every which way by what you "SHOULD" and "SHOULDN'T" do.

As someone who works to provide guidance through this process, I've been asking myself these questions for years: could it be simpler? Clearer? Easier to follow?

Could there be a single, step-by-step approach to not only to finding the right college but for building an awesome application?

Imagine how it would feel next year after graduation knowing you'd looked at every option, you'd put forth your best self in your college applications, and that in the end, you had absolutely made the right choice about the school you're about to make a major investment in.

You need three things:

• a solid strategy for the unique story only you can tell to colleges,
• a purposeful plan for managing every task on your application to-do list,
• and the tools that will help your family understand what colleges that are the right fit academically, socially, and financially.

That's what the CollegeAppRoadMap is all about. I want to share the six steps I have used to help dozens of families successfully navigate the college application process.

Come see what the six steps are all about -- grab your spot here.

Nick's Picks: Spotlight on Lawrence University

This is exciting! The Creative College Prep YouTube channel is up and running with the "Nick's Picks" video collection.

The Spotlight on Admissions series features brief conversations with college representatives from across the country, sharing a little bit of their wisdom from their time in admissions. 

Check out this conversation with Gaelyn Rose over at Lawrence University:

Summer Checklist: Reach Out to Colleges

For many families, getting acquainted with colleges is a process of courtship: both sides are getting to know one another, feeling out the chemistry. It's the foundation for any solid relationship.

Especially for the colleges hovering at the top of your list, make sure to reach out and let them know that you're interested. Demonstrating your interest can help them feel more assured that if they accept you, then you will choose to attend. Even for the colleges that don't actively track the interest of applicants, putting a real live human face and voice with an application can change the way that an admissions counselor advocates for you in the committee room during application reviews.

There are five easy ways to reach out:

1. Follow colleges on social media. Head to the college's website or search for it directly on Facebook or Twitter. It's the easiest thing for you to do and for them to track.
2. Join colleges' e-news lists. Again, it's easy for them to track, but that way you'll be sure not to miss out on events that are happening in your area.
3. Tour college campuses and register through the admissions office for an information session. While you're there, make sure to ask if the representative from your region is there. If so, make sure to introduce yourself. Afterward, don't forget to send a thank-you note!
4. Email your regional admissions counselor. If you haven't met that person, write to introduce yourself. If you've done thorough research on the college and you have questions about certain programs or upcoming events in your local area, ask away.
5. Reach out to professors by way of the admissions office -- meaning, call or email the office of admission and ask them to put you in touch with a specific department or professor. IMPORTANT: you need good, substantive questions about a course or program that the professor or department offers, so do your homework carefully.

One final word of caution: DON'T ask general, non-specific questions that could be answered by five minutes of Googling. Part of the purpose of contacting colleges is to show that you already have a good foundation for understand why the fit would be great.

Tools of the Trade: Niche (formerly College Prowler)

Niche presents a great mix of quantitative and qualitative data presented in plain language and appealing graphics. Student reviews are organized by category and are fairly concise and up to date, and each section contains a Student Author Overview: a well curated summary of the collected student reviews in broad strokes, written by a small squad of current students at the college.

Here are the features that I'd recommend for any student looking to get better acquainted with colleges.

The Scattergram: Under the Admissions tab, you'll find a graphic that plots your GPA and composite test score against the ranks of other students Attending, Accepted, Waitlisted, Rejected, or Considering. Immediate, visual context for how your numbers stack up! (This tool is particularly useful for students who don't have access to Naviance.)

The Best & Worst: These top ten lists help put into plain English the most attractive and not-so-great qualities of the school. Since these lists are reported directly by the students, they can often provide new search terms to take back to Google ("Houseparty Weekend," "Dance Marathon," the Rock") when doing more in-depth research about school culture.

Firms that Most Frequently Hire Grads: In the Jobs & Internships tab, you'll find a list of companies that a significant number of graduates go on to join. If you're someone who already knows some of the specific companies you'd love to work for later (say, you want to study animation and work for Pixar), you can reverse-engineer this list in a Google search by searching: "niche college jobs & internships [COMPANY NAME]."

Distribution of Students Across Majors: In the majors section, the list is broken down not only by major, concentration, and degree types, but it also tracks the number of students enrolled in each!

Famous Alumni List: Never heard of a school? Maybe you'll be familiar with some of the big-name people who graduated from there.

Campus Quality Tab: Check out "Popular places to chill" (before your visit), the "School Slang" list (perhaps it could at a little more flavor to your Why Us? essay?), and the "Traditions" list (ditto on that one).

Local Area: You can learn a lot about the environment surrounding a college campus by asking students, "Can you see yourself living here after graduation? Totally // If I can find a job // No way."

Spring Break: Discover a College Near (or Far from) You!

Even if you only happen to have a day or two to spare, visiting at least one campus over spring break can bring major inspiration to your college search. No matter how many guide books you read or websites you visit, there is just no substitute for the feeling of standing on a college campus. It just makes the whole process more real.

For families living in Southern California, one of the great benefits is that you have an huge variety of colleges within range of a couple hours' drive, whether or not your student is planning to stay close to home. Students, whether you're just getting started on your college search or are already convinced about your dream schools, there is something to learn—about both your likes and dislikes.

Planning & Preparation
• Get online and do some research! Be prepared to ask some questions that aren't readily available on the website.
• Call or email the admissions office, ideally at least two weeks in advance. Sign up (if necessary) for a campus tour and information session. Ask for a list of classes to visit and if you can schedule an interview with admissions while you're there.
• Work on your brag sheet! It can help you discuss your strengths while on campus.
• Don't try packing in more than two visits in any single day. It's just too much info. A good, thorough campus visit usually takes 2 - 4 hours. Budget your time accordingly.

During the Visit
• Push yourself to speak with everyone: faculty, support staff, and especially current students. Everyone has a different perspective and will be happy to share it!
• Make sure to ask for (and keep track of) the name and contact info of anyone in admissions that you connect with.
• Focus on the things that are important to you. What is the social life like? How much time do students spend studying? Which types of students seem the happiest? Does this school have the major(s) you're considering?
• If at all possible, make sure to sit in on a class, eat food from a dining hall, and observe the people in their major gathering places (e.g., at the student center, out in the quad, in the library).
• TAKE CLEAR NOTES! Trust me: it won't take long for all the details to start bleeding together.

Afterwards
• Take notes immediately following the visit, noting everything from your overall impressions to the smallest details. You'll be glad to have them later.
• Send thank-you notes to any person you interviewed or had an official meeting with. If you're excited, want more info or have questions, let the admissions people know.
• Keep everything in perspective. One large chemistry lecture will not be representative of all class offerings. Weather may change. Keep up your research!

 

Semester 2 Checklist -- Just for Juniors

The end of the school year is coming into sight. But there is a LOT to get through before the end, and for the high school juniors out there, a strong finish is absolutely crucial.

Here's your year-end checklist: click here to download a PDF copy!

• Register for the ACT, SAT and/or Subject Tests.
• Prepare for the ACT, SAT and/or Subject Tests: plan to take one full-length practice test per week in for at least three consecutive weeks before the actual exam.
• Study for AP exams: start reviewing at least a month in advance.
• Map out your summer: choose work, volunteer, study or other activities that speak most strongly to your interests.
• Apply to selective summer programs: application deadlines typically fall in late March through early May; leave yourself at least three weeks to prepare your app.
• Determine at least two teachers you’ll request recommendation letters from: ideally, they’ll be from junior year and teach core subjects (math/science & English/history).
• Build out your college list: before things get crazy with all the end-of-year exams, explore schools that fit your interests and add them to your list.
• Visit colleges: even if they’re local visits, see if you can fit in some time over spring break and summer to tour some campuses.
• Start your college writing: brainstorm the stories you’ll share in your personal statements as well as the information you’d like to appear in rec letters.
• Create a calendar: download this week-by-week template to determine what will happen when; add any travel, performance, test, family, or other big due dates to the timeline. Print a copy and put it where you can reference it daily.

The Core of a Great College Application

Getting the ball rolling on college planning is one of the most difficult steps in the entire process. There are two arenas of the application process to consider: the personal and the logistical. Logistical planning starts with mapping out the timeline, and taking stock of all the steps that must be taken to get applications in. (We’ll save that for another day.) 

The foundation for a successful transition to college is careful personal reflection. Invariably, the most stand-out college applications come from students who learn how to make decisions rooted in their core values, how to identify their key short- and long-term goals, and how to communicate those elements to others.

These are the components at the center of the story your college applications will tell. Here are some questions to get you started:

What do I value most about myself, about who I am as a person?
What do I stand for?

What do I value most in others?
What qualities do my closest friends share?

What do I value most in my life?
What do I want to see in the world around me?
What do I want my life’s work to be about?

What three words or phrases would the people who know me best use to describe me? 

How do I pursue my interests?
What would I like to pursue over the next few years, and how?

What are my greatest strengths?

What are my greatest areas of concern?

The answers to these questions make up what I call your StoryCore. Choose the top three responses from the list above, and see if you can put them into a sentence or two. 

The StoryCore statement should a personal elevator pitch. It’s the language that students can lead with in nearly every aspect of the admissions process: college essays, alumni interviews, introducing themselves to college representative, etc. 

The StoryCore is also a guide for asking questions about colleges that are focused on the individual student’s needs, which in turn leads to applying to schools that are a better fit. Better fit means better chances of acceptance, not to mention more success and happiness once a student chooses to attend a particular college.

It is never too early to start work on the StoryCore! It’s an iterative process; your answers will continue to evolve over time as your circumstances shift and as you experience new things. The best part is that it can be a template for making big decisions long after both high school and college graduation.