Recently, I have been asked by a lot of families for clarification on the different types of admission deadlines. With so many different options to choose from (and so many deadlines coming up quickly!) it can be confusing. Here is a brief summary of the various admissions deadlines.

Early Decision: This is an early college application process in which students complete their application for submission in November. In most cases, students will receive an admissions decision in December or before the new year. A student may only apply to one college for early decision as it is a binding decision. He or she may apply to other colleges for regular admission but if accepted to the early decision school he or she must withdraw all other college applications. As well, if admitted, a student must attend the school. A student should not apply early unless he or she is absolutely sure that this is the best fit college for them and is their top choice. Families should be aware that a student who is accepted early decision may miss out on comparing financial packages from different colleges.

Early Action: Like early decision, this is an application process that takes place early in the process and applications are typically submitted in November (with a few exceptions). Most students will receive a decision back from the colleges either in December, January or February. The benefits to early action are that it is not a binding decision (they can apply to other colleges) and although the student will hear earlier about a decision they still have until May 1 to confirm their enrollment. Even if a student is accepted early action to a specific school they can still make the decision to attend another college and compare financial offers.

Regular Decision: Students who apply regular decision may apply to as many colleges as they like. Most deadlines for regular decision are in early January with decisions sent out in late March and early April. Students who apply regular decision have until May 1 to either accept or decline the offers from the colleges. A student is only permitted to submit a matriculation (or enrollment deposit) to one of the institutions to which they have been admitted.

Single Choice (or Restrictive) Early Action: This is a non binding application option for students who are confident that the college they have selected is their first choice. Students agree not to apply to any other private colleges/universities under another early action, restrictive or early decision program. However, applicants may apply to other colleges and universities through the regular decision process. As well, a student may apply to public colleges or universities with a non-binding early application option or non-binding rolling admissions process. Students will typically hear back from single choice early action schools in mid-late December.

While these are the nuts and bolts of the different types of decisions, it is always important to check and confirm the policies for the colleges that you are applying to and to check their specific deadlines as they do vary.

Good luck making your decision!

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.

It's hard to believe it's that time of year again. College admissions fall travel season. Admissions counselors across the country are getting ready to hit the road and make their way to your high school and community. Whether you are a high school senior busy working on your college applications or a junior just starting to think about college planning, it is worth marking your calendar for the upcoming college fairs that will take place in your neighborhood over the next few months.

You can see a list of national college fairs at the National Association for College Admissions Counseling's website. You may also want to check in with your high school counseling office for a listing of local or regional fairs. 

I encourage Colorado students and families to look at the list of Day/Night Fairs and the College Fairs of Greater Denver for more information about local college fairs this fall. 

Stay tuned for Climb to College's college fair tips!