A recent article in Inside Higher Education explains how some colleges are using the FAFSA against students and families. Make sure this doesn't happen to you when you file your financial aid forms this winter!

Essentially, the article suggests that when students list the colleges they are thinking of attending on the FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education then shares all of the information on the FAFSA with the colleges on the list. Some colleges have discovered that the order in which students list the institutions corresponds to students' preferred colleges. So, some colleges are using this so called "FAFSA position" when considering the student's application for admission. 

This is very concerning because not only could this impact admission decisions for students but some college officials may actually offer smaller aid packages to those who list their school high on the list, assuming that the students are more likely to pay whatever it may take to attend his or her top choice college.

This is an article that is definitely worth a glance now and maybe again as a reminder closer to when you file the FAFSA in a few months. 

Were you impacted by the flooding in Colorado and applying to college? If so, you may want to contact your colleges.

Many students in and around the Boulder area sadly had damage to their home, property, and to their personal possessions. As well, many schools and community based organizations that help students with their applications had damage and were closed for a period of time. This unfortunate act of mother nature has taken both a physical and emotional toll for many and has added to an already stressful time for many students as it is in the midst of the college admissions process, and college application deadlines are looming. 

If the damage to your home is preventing you from getting your college applications in by the early deadlines you may want to communicate with the schools you are applying to and let them know. The National Association for College Admission Counseling is urging colleges and universities to offer some flexibility with their deadlines for students who were impacted by the floods. 

In recent posts we have discussed upcoming college fairs and what to do before, during, and after the fairs. 
Now, let's talk about what kinds of questions to ask at college fairs.

While working in admissions at the University of Colorado Boulder I stood behind many college fair tables and talked to prospective across the country - from California to New England. Most recently, I have assisted my alma mater Colgate University as an alumni admissions representative at college fairs in Colorado. I have learned pretty quickly through experience that the more specific and personal a student is with their questions, the more information they will actually receive.

Remember, college fair conversations are brief and there is limited time to interact with the admissions counselors. This is an opportunity for you to learn something new about the college, confirm something you already heard, or find out why you might be a good fit for them and them for you. In addition, remember that these admissions counselors will be talking to a large number of students at the fair and it helps everyone if you head to the table prepared. 

A few general tips: 

• Avoid broad questions like "Can you tell me about your college?"  The college reps often have their canned speech or script to respond to this. If you don't know anything about the college this description might be helpful but if you have already done some initial research you may know much of what they are saying. Instead, listen to their response while in line and then use your time up front to ask about your own personal interests.
  
• Understand that admissions counselors aren't experts on every single program and major and usually just have general knowledge on a lot of them. However, they often have contact information for someone in the department of your interest so feel free to ask them for that information.
  
• Don't ask questions that are easily found on the college's website or the brochures that are on the table. This might include: how many students attend, where they are located, what majors they offer, average GPA, etc. 
  
• Find out if the admission counselor you are talking to is your state or school's representative from the college. Often, the counselor who travels to your community will be the one to read your application and conduct your interview. If so, you should be sure to get his or her contact information. He or she might be a good person to be in touch with in the future.

Ways to rephrase common college fair questions:

• Rather than asking "Where are you located?" consider asking "Can you tell me a little bit about the area surrounding campus? How do students take advantage of their surroundings?"
  
• Instead of asking "What majors do you have?" consider asking "I am really in interested in ______. Can you tell me a little bit about the majors you have that might relate to that? As well, what kinds of courses are offered in those program? Are there any special research, study abroad or internship opportunities associated with those departments? 
  
• Rather than asking "What kinds of clubs do you have?" consider asking "I really like to do ______ outside of school. Do you have any clubs on campus that might fit those interests?"
  
• Instead of asking "Why should I come to your school?" consider asking "What kinds of students are a good fit at your school? What students are happiest on your campus?"
  
• Rather than asking "What do I need to get in?" consider asking "Are there certain qualities that you look for in a student's application?" 
• Instead of asking "What do students do on the weekends?" perhaps be more specific and ask "What was going on on campus last weekend or what's happening this upcoming weekend?"

Get the idea? Great! Try it out at your next college fair.

Our recent post on upcoming college fairs mentioned that a number of upcoming college fairs are coming up quickly this fall. Hopefully you have already marked your calendar for one of these dates and have gotten yourself registered to attend. If you are planning to attend a college fair, here are a few tips for what to do before, during and after you are at the fair.

What to do before the college fair:
1. Make sure you are registered for the fair (if that is an option). Registration (particularly for the large national fairs) will provide you with a barcode that you can print out and bring with you on the day of the fair. The colleges will then scan your bar code and collect your information so you don't have to fill out one contact card after another.
2. Look at the list of colleges attending the fair. Many of the college fairs have websites where you can see a list of the colleges attending. Make a plan for which colleges you want to talk with so you can make sure that you don't miss any. 
3. Do your research before you go. Doing some research on the colleges you will be talking to at the fair, particularly the ones you are most interested in, will help you have a stronger conversation and be able to ask better questions. 
4. Dress appropriately. No one is saying that you need get all dressed up for the college fair, college admission counselors know that you are students, but you should try to avoid things like wearing inappropriate slogans or showing too much skin. 


What to do during the college fair: 
1. Introduce yourself. When you walk up to a college's table take a moment to introduce yourself. The fair will likely be busy, so don't expect that the admissions counselor will necessarily remember your name, but it is polite to shake their hand and introduce yourself. Feel free to tell them your name, where you go to high school, and some of your interests.
2. Ask questions. One of the first things the colleges will ask you is whether or not you have any questions for them. Rather than staring like a deer in headlights, ask them a couple questions (see tomorrow's post for ideas) and strike up a conversation.
3. Be patient. College fairs can be busy and there will likely be a lot of lines to wait in talk to the colleges. Be prepared to wait patiently for your turn. As well, when you get to the front be respectful of the admission counselor's time particularly if a lot of students are waiting behind you. 
4. Take their business card. Most college reps will have their business cards on the table with their email and phone number. Take this with you so you can follow up on in the process.


What to do after the college fair:
1. Follow up. Use that business card you picked up from the table and make a connection with the admissions counselor. If you have follow up questions about the school or the application process you now have a contact in the office to email or call.
2. Look through the materials you picked up. All too often the college brochures that students pick up end up crushed in lockers, smushed in back packs, or thrown in the recycling bin. Colleges put a lot of time and thought into developing these for students so take some time to at least glance through them. 
3. Check for opportunities to visit campus. Now that you have interacted with the colleges in this informal setting, a next step may be to plan a campus visit. Take a look at your calendar and pick some dates that you and your family can schedule visits.
4. Continue your research. Perhaps the admissions counselor told you about their school's amazing anthropology program or their study abroad program in Chile. Whatever it might be, take some time to look a little deeper and get a better understanding of whether or not it might be a good fit for you.