Some Last Minute Details Before December 1

By Patrick O'Connor Ph.D

As seniors head for the December 1 application deadline, it’s time for counselors to remind seniors, juniors, and even themselves about some important details they may have overlooked.

Testing, Testing  December is the last month most colleges will let seniors take the SAT or ACT and send those scores as part of their application.  Some seniors may not realize that ACT now requires all test-takers to download a picture of themselves when they register for the test; they still have to produce photo ID at the test site, but they also have to submit a picture to ACT as part of the sign-up process.  The deadline for submission of the photos is December 4^th—if nothing is loaded by then, the student can’t take the ACT in December.

There’s a good chance some December ACT seniors last took the ACT in June, when they didn’t have to download a picture—so now is the time to let them know.  It’s probably a good idea to tell all juniors as well; some juniors take the December ACT so they can get an item analysis of their test (this is also available with the April and June tests), so make sure they’ve sent in a picture…

…and if you have December SAT test-takers, they can relax; SAT will require downloaded pictures beginning with the March 2013 test administration, so they just have to take photo ID to the test site.

Money for College  While you’re telling your students to hurry up and make one deadline, you have to remind parents to slow down to make a different deadline.  The FAFSA is the primary financial aid form nearly every family has to complete as they begin their quest for college cash, but it can’t be submitted until January 1.  For now, parents can go to the FAFSA Web site to get the PIN they need; they should do this with their senior, since the student has a different PIN.

After writing their PINs down in a safe place, the whole family should take a look at the updated US Government financial aid Web site, www.studentaid.gov  The Department of Education reduced about 15 financial aid Web sites into this new streamlined presentation, and it’s great; the introduction to financial aid is a must-read, as are the articles about managing student loans and scholarship scams.  There’s plenty of December reading to prepare you to file the FAFSA on New Year’s Day.

You’ve Made the List, Now Check it Twice  This is also the right time for counselors to find that 25^th hour in the day and review the college plans of every one of their seniors.  Many counselors are reporting students have put together very aggressive college lists this year; while it’s great to boldly apply where others many not attend, it’s also possible students have no “sure fire” schools on their list—or they told you they would apply to one or two, but haven’t.

The time to fix this problem is before it becomes a problem.  Close the office door, review every senior’s list, and make sure they have a “go to” school they’re happy with.  If they don’t, it’s time for a quick call, text, e-mail, or meeting, so the student can develop a Plan B.  It isn’t easy to find the time for all this, but it’s easier than finding a college in April that has openings for a disappointed student.

Thanksgiving for Counselors

By Patrick O'Connor Ph.D

They come back to the hallowed halls, wearing a nicer coat than they had as seniors. Since it’s November, this is a good thing; the first ten weeks of college have taught them the merits of wearing a coat when it’s cold, a paradigm most of them hadn’t embraced last year.  The girls’ hair is usually just a little longer, and they wear black sweaters with thick collars.  The boys’ hair is usually shorter; they wear nicer jeans, and a shirt that actually has a collar.  Those who wore glasses no longer seem to have them, while those who had eagle-eye vision adorn the hipster frames of their college chums--and nearly everyone has finally stopped peppering their sentences with “like.”

That isn’t the first thing you notice when you hear them in the hallways, talking to this year’s seniors—the first thing you notice is how loud they are.  The excitement of attending classes that only meet twice a week mixes with the freedom to eat ice cream for breakfast and Cocoa Doodles for dinner, and you just have to totally tell someone how much this just totally rocks. Never mind the 65 on their first Economics exam; they are totally in love with their life, and they want to come back and tell the seniors that, because they remember college was some theoretical ideal they were writing essays about last year.  College is real to them now—college is who they are—and they want this year’s class to keep going, because college is totally worth it.

And then you realize that totally is totally the college like.

A handful will find their way into your office to say hello, many because they want to, some because they remember how nice you were to their application-deranged parents.  You have to take care to ask them how things are, not how classes are; mention classes, and too many students feel duty-bound to report on what they learned on the Ancient History field trip.  Ask about things, and they’ll tell you what their roommate from Kansas learned about pepper rasam at the dinner after the field trip.  That’s the better story.

The conversation won’t last long—they have more seniors to inspire—but it will finish with a brief thank you, a hug, or a promise to e-mail you for advice about transferring.  One student broke all the rules; her conversation with me was long and high energy, sharing details about the glorious trivia of every class, the dining hall food made by a gourmet magazine’s test kitchen, and how she couldn’t thank me enough for all I had done.

“I just signed a couple of forms” I said, a remark which led to a long silence.

“No you didn’t.  You recommended that school to me.  I only found it because of you.”

Canada holds Thanksgiving in October, to express gratitude for the harvest they‘ve just brought in from the fields.  Thanksgiving is in November in the United States, because the pilgrims decided that was the best time to thank God for—well, everything. 

Thanksgiving for counselors is somewhere in between, when last year’s graduates come home for fall break, or sneak out of class a few days early to say hi before turkey time.  They talk about Sartre, differential equations, how much smaller the high school seems to be, and their plans to study in Vienna or Burundi-- while the lilt in their voice and the poise in their words reveal just how well they are doing their job as young adults…

…and how totally well you’ve done yours.  

Counselor College Training, College Board, and the Circle of Huh

By Patrick O'Connor Ph.D

“Graduate schools are not preparing counselors to focus on college and career pathways once they work in schools.”

“Preservice and in-service training inadequately prepares counselors for college and career counseling.”

“There is a strong correlation between counselors’ preparation and their students’ outcomes.”

Faithful readers of this column have heard remarks like this before- school counselors aren't taught how to work with students in the college selection process, and it hurts everyone.

But these quotes aren't from me—they’re from a new report from College Board.  “True North: Charting the Course to College and Career Readiness” highlights College Board’s most recent survey of school counselors and administrators, where both groups recognize counselors can be effective change agents in the college and work plans of students, provided counselors receive the training and support they need to do their jobs.

The report’s recommendations include everything from better training of counselors, to more legitimate measures of counselor accountability, to greater support of counselors from teachers, administrators, and the community.  Given these changes, counselors can help students realize more of their potential, make better plans for life after school, and help students build better paths towards making their dreams come true…

…and while all of this is remarkably important, this news will probably elicit the same remarkable reaction from everyone who could really do something about this quagmire.

“Huh”

That’s the response from every school board member, legislative assistant, bureaucrat, parent, and elected official I’ve talked to in the last five years. It isn’t that they don’t understand the problem; they are amazed the problem exists in the first place. Here’s a very typical discussion:

“So, you’re telling me the counselors who are supposed to help students make good college choices receive very little training on how to do their job, if they even get any at all?”

“Correct.”

“And once they’re on the job, they don’t get enough updated information and training to make up for that deficit?”

“Right.”

“And surveys shows you aren't the only one who feels that way—that most counselors agree with you?”

“Absolutely.”

And then, along comes—wait for it now--

“Huh.”

And that’s where the trouble begins.  That “huh” is policy-speak for “Wow, this is really a problem. Someone really ought to do something about this.”

Only once—once in dozens of discussions with policymakers—has one of them said “OK.  What can I do?” 

Unfortunately, he was chair of a committee in the Michigan legislature who had to keep the state from going broke, so he was swamped. Everyone else has decided this is someone else’s “easy” issue to fix.

“Well, local school boards can’t require more training if the graduate schools won’t provide it.”

“The legislature can’t mandate more training if the state board of education won’t approve it.”

“The board of education can’t make the graduate schools require this class.”

“We can’t make a new bureaucratic policy without the state board of ed’s approval.”

“Isn’t this a local school board issue?”

And my favorite response—“We don’t need to add more training to our graduate programs.  Counselors are getting all the training they need.”

I’d like to think an organization with the respect of College Board will get a different answer—that maybe, just maybe, counselors can get the help they need to give students the help they need. We call that a Circle of Support, and it makes people grow; it sure beats the Circle of Huh, where the only thing that grows is my impatience, and the dashed hopes of some pretty bright kids.

This is an easy fix.  Who’s in?

Finding Some Calm After the Storm

By Patrick O'Connor Ph.D

College-bound seniors in the Eastern US saw more than their college plans take a bump this week, as Hurricane Sandy hit land three days before the November 1^st early application deadline for many colleges.  Recognizing most of these students had other things to think about—and realizing they may not have power to receive college applications anyway—many colleges have extended the deadline.  Students need to check individual college Web sites for the details; Common Application can’t post new deadlines without causing havoc to the entire system, and some colleges are extending the deadline only to those students who were impacted by the storm—so the details matter.

This thoughtful response to a most difficult time is cause to be grateful, but it should also inspire some reflection.  Counselors and students are reporting a record frenzy of early applications this year, as students are more eager than ever to hear back from colleges, and colleges are anxious to rein in early applicants to build solid classes, improve their percentage of admitted students who end up attending, or—I’m sorry to say—move up in the college rankings.  While part of this rush is based on thoughtful engagement, there is a sense among counselors that more of it is based on fear; students afraid they will have no college choices if they wait; colleges offering “snap” applications that waive essays because they are afraid students will pass them by; parents who worry students will see their grades drop if they keep applying to college, so it’s just best to get it over with now.

It certainly makes sense to seek shelter from real storms, but it’s best to take a different approach to depressions that are created by man-made hot air.  Some colleges admit a large number of students who apply early, but that’s assuming the student presents a well-produced application in time for a November review.  Many colleges don’t offer early deadlines, and no college will offer admission to an applicant who sends in a final application that’s really a second draft.  Sandy reminds us that speed can kick up all kind of unwanted results; find your pace, and stay with it.

Speed is also the culprit when students respond to “special” applications where a college only wants your signature—because what most they really want is your name. It’s a small number of colleges that offer these easy apps for the benefit of the student; far too many want more students to apply simply so they can deny more students, and raise their status as a “selective” college.  Unless you have the time to investigate this college app the way you would investigate a new smartphone app, the best option to select with a snap app is Delete.  College costs time, money, and energy, and it’s best to use all three wisely, even if you are going to live forever.

Parents who want the process “over” have a point—students can’t always do well in school when they want to do well with college applications.  That’s why it’s best for students to set aside two hours each day of the weekend to work on their remaining apps, and spend the rest of their time focusing on school, work, and life in general.  Rushed essays written at 10 on Tuesday night don’t sound inspired; they sound as tense and as tired as their authors are after a full day of school.  Applying to college deserves your best effort, and you deserve a break; the weekend writing rule gives you a chance to do both, while your application fears are left blowing in the wind.