November 2020 // Volume 2, Issue 1
THE BLUE SHEET News from the Nobles College Office
THE DIRECTOR’S DESK As we are settling into a college admissions year that has had its share of unsettled moments, the adage, “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” came into my thought cycle this week. With each early application that we prepared Class I students to send, their eager anticipation and accompanying anxiousness felt familiar. With each push of the “submit” button, the virtual confetti generated by the Common App made me smile, laugh, and even clap as I watched – on a shared Zoom screen (okay, that was different) – elation, relief and a general sense of accomplishment wash over the face of each one of my counselees. Though world events have upended and suspended many of our routines and rituals, the shared experience of sending in a college application – our distanced locations and a Zoom screen separating us aside – felt just as satisfying and joyful as it always has. One of the promises we make to our families is that we will provide the best information possible about the college application landscape in any given year. This cycle has been no different. We visited with eighty college admission officers (over Zoom instead of lunch or coffee in the Castle – okay, maybe that wasn’t quite as satisfying) in September and October, and asked them how their process might differ from previous years. We asked about the impact of gap years and time off on the Class of 2021’s admission cycle and the ways in which financial aid could be impacted. We learned about how their communities were thriving or struggling (often both) in the face of the pandemic. We looked for as many clues as possible as to how our students may fare differently this year. Our “fact finding” will continue through the fall and winter as we talk to admission officers in the throes of application review. In short, what hasn’t changed is our commitment to being at the top of our game with the aim, always, of serving Nobles students well. If you have the time, we’d recommend reading Jeff Selingo’s new book, Who Gets In and Why. Selingo’s reporting is excellent, and his overview of how the process of highly selective college admissions unfolds is certainly accurate and informative. I was immediately struck by both the nuance and the accessibility of Selingo’s deep dive into the admission process, and the willingness of our colleagues on the college side to offer such transparency. There is a review at the end of this newsletter in “What We’re Reading.” In fact, we’re reading Who Gets in and Why for our first-ever College Office Book Club selection. Let us know if you’d like to join in on a discussion this spring – we’d be happy to host.
Be well,
IMPORTANT LINKS
IN THIS ISSUE
The Common Application: www.commonapp.org College Board: www.collegeboard.org|ACT: www.act.org Naviance Student: student.naviance.com/nobles Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa CSS/Profile: cssprofile.collegeboard.org Test-Optional and Test-Flexible Schools: www.fairtest.org Self-Reported Scores: www.compassprep.com/self-reporting-test-scores/ Who Superscores?: www.compassprep.com/superscore-and-score-choice/ NCAA Eligibility Center: eligibilitycenter.org
2...College Office Resources 4...Test-Optional College Admissions: A Primer 5...College Application Fee Waivers 7...Alma Mater Reflections 8...College Spotlight / Fall Wellness Check 9...Mark Your Calendar/Standardized Test Dates 7...and Deadlines 10...On our Bookshelves and in Our Inboxes
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COLLEGE OFFICE RESOURCES: WHERE TO FIND WHAT YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT! Each stage of the college research and application processes features a mountain of information that we are eager to share with you. This very newsletter is borne of that goal. While email has been—and will continue to be—a trusted medium, messages can easily get buried or overlooked, and sometimes it is nice to have a “one-stop-shop” for your reference. Here are a few ways to stay on top of the most pertinent college office information for your child(ren). Upper School Notices in the Head of School Newsletter ~ every Thursday in your inbox Dr. Hall’s Thursday afternoon newsletters feature updates from departments across campus, including the college office. Scroll down to “Middle and Upper School Notices” each week and click all the way through for more information!
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Parent/Guardian Portal ~ portals.veracross.com/nobles/parent Log in with your Nobles ID and scroll to the bottom right to find the College Counseling page. Once there, you can read the overarching college office philosophy, see a preview of upcoming college office events, and find links to class-specific overviews, the weekly announcements, and an archive of The Blue Sheet. Google Drive Resources ~ various The college office keeps a regularly-updated cache of resources on a public Google Drive folder. Here, you can always find archives of webinars. Additionally, the Drive features instructional tutorials for the Common App and résumés. There will often be links to Drive content on the College Office Announcements page, but you may want to bookmark some of them for easy access! (Note: the images below are examples only; your access may look different than what is pictured.)
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TEST-OPTIONAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS: A PRIMER
Adapted from The Princeton Review’s Common Questions about Test-Optional Admissions and IvyWise Blog, What Families Need to Know About Test-Optional Colleges and Admissions The test-optional movement has been growing for decades. Bowdoin College was the first to go test-optional back in 1969, and the list has grown steadily, especially in the last 10 years. Now, over 1,100 colleges and universities in the US currently employ some form of a test-optional or test-flexible policy. [For a full list, go to National Center for Fair and Open Testing (fairtest.org) .] In response to COVID-19 and limited testing opportunities, some schools, like Cornell University, Amherst College, and Stanford University have gone test optional for one year only, while others like Tufts University and Middlebury College, adopted test-optional policies for the next 2–3 years. The University of California system has gone test-blind.This is a major shift for schools that traditionally value test scores as part of the application review process. These types of policies can be confusing, and your counselor will help you and your child determine the best course of action when it comes to testing and submitting scores with college applications. Why are colleges going test-optional? For many colleges that have gone test-optional over the years, not requiring ACT or SAT scores aims to fulfill the goal of greater access – well-qualified students who may have been discouraged from applying previously because of their poor test scores might now consider a wider range of schools. This is all part of the “holistic review” process – there’s more to students than just test scores, and colleges know this. Colleges want to build well-rounded classes made up of specialists; how a student pursues their interests currently, and how they plan to pursue them in college, is critical for a school to build a well-rounded class. Many times these well-qualified specialists who are otherwise perfect fits can be passed over because of poor test scores. By eliminating that barrier, while still ensuring students are ready for the academic rigors of a college education, test-optional colleges are able to build stellar freshman classes that are just as gifted as those with students with perfect scores.
More recently, a number of well-known colleges and universities have moved to a test-optional model since students have been (and may continue to be) limited with their testing dates, so they’re hoping to ease the burden by adopting a test-optional policy for the next several admissions cycles. What does it mean when a school has a test-optional or test-flexible admissions policy? A “test-optional” policy means that a school does not require students to submit ACT or SAT scores, or scores from any other standardized test for admission. A test-optional school will not penalize students who do not submit a standardized test score, but they will still consider test scores from students who do provide them. In fact, most test-optional schools still have the majority of applicants submit ACT or SAT scores. A “test-flexible” policy means that applicants can submit some combination of ACT, SAT, Subject Test, and AP scores that represents their best testing performance. In test-flexible scenarios, testing is required, but that portfolio is individual to each applicant. For example, one may submit the ACT and a Subject Test, while another submits two Subject Tests and three AP scores. It’s important to review the testing policy of each school on your college list. Just because a school is advertising as test-optional or test-flexible doesn’t mean it’s a blanket policy. Some schools might still require test scores for certain majors or for scholarships. Also note that, even if you do not submit scores during the admissions process, you may still be required to submit your official ACT or SAT score report once you enroll at your chosen school. Are there any schools that don't look at any test scores? Yes, a handful of schools are “test-blind,” which means they do not consider test scores at all. If you submit scores to a test-blind school, admissions will not look at them in any way when considering your application for admission. How do these policies affect admissions and college preparation? The college admission process has always been about getting to know the whole student and how they may fit onto a college campus. Standardized test scores, however, tend to be the main focus, mainly because November 2020 // 4
they’re the most visible element and the easiest to quantify. The obsession with test scores, however, can often take away from what’s really most important to colleges: grades, performance in college-prep courses, and students’ interests. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) annual survey of college admissions officers has found that the most important factor in admission decisions is grades – colleges know that how a student performs day-in and day-out in the classroom is much more important than how they do on one day on one three-hour test. College preparation should always prioritize academic performance, which can sometimes take a back seat to test prep at the most critical times. By eliminating the pressure to produce perfect scores, test-optional, test-flexible, and test-blind colleges allow greater opportunity for students to focus on academic performance and, to take it a step further, pursuing courses and activities that match their interests. Further, essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular lists, and interviews (where offered) will be evaluated much more closely without test scores. While the availability of test-optional/flexible/blind schools allows some students to put more focus on grades, courses, and activities as part of their college prep strategy, not every school adopts these policies. It is still important for students to prepare for the ACT or SAT as part of their college prep process. How do I know which schools are test-optional, test-flexible, or test-blind? In addition to fairtest.org, check what the school says itself on their admissions requirements page. Each views ACT and SAT scores, and how optional they really are, in its own way, and they will describe on their website or in other material what their exact take on scores is.
Does that mean I should send test scores to test-optional schools? It depends. If your test scores are around a school’s averages, then yes. They will help you compared to students who did not submit test scores. Schools always like to see more information from applicants, especially if it is information that helps you. Plus, you might still need them to qualify for scholarships. Your counselor can help you determine the most appropriate score- submission plan throughout the fall of your Class I year. Is a test-optional school right for my student? If a student is struggling with the ACT or SAT, but is otherwise a great student, then yes, they should consider test-optional colleges and universities. For some students, standardized tests just are not a strength – and that’s okay! Most students can make really significant gains with test preparation, but if a student is still not seeing improvements or the results they need after extensive test prep, considering test-optional schools might be beneficial. It’s important to know that while ACT or SAT scores alone won’t get students in or keep them out, students who submit low scores will have a much harder time getting into their possible and reach colleges if a list isn’t adjusted to include test-optional schools. Just because a student doesn’t have a high test score doesn’t mean they won’t thrive in college or that there are not a multitude of options for them to get a great education!
COLLEGE APPLICATION FEE WAIVERS: WHO QUALIFIES AND HOW TO GET THEM
Adapted from The College Essay Guy blog. Written by Dustin Lynn (Director of College Counseling at Battle Ground Academy in Tenn.) and Andrew Moe (Director of Admissions at Swarthmore College in Pa.)
Students are often surprised to find that submitting their college applications typically requires a payment to the college or university. Some colleges allow students to apply for free, but other colleges charge students between $25 to $90 simply to submit their applications. Additionally, the college application process is often accompanied by several financial surprises in the form of fees that students may not initially know about. Beyond the college application fee, students might have to pay matriculation or housing fees or fees to have test scores sent to colleges from ACT and College Board. As a result of these unanticipated costs, you might start seeing the dollar signs add up in your mind and you might feel worried. But if you and your family can’t afford the application fees, you can actually apply to college for free. November 2020 // 5
What is a college application fee waiver? A fee waiver is most typically a form that a student completes, on their own and/or with the help of a school counselor or high school official, then submits to a college or university to request that the application fee be “waived” – cancelled – removed! There are a few different forms of fee waivers, but most require students to demonstrate that the application fee presents a financial hardship for their ability to apply to the institution — emphasis here on “presents a financial hardship.” Of course, no one ever wants to pay fees, but waivers for college application fees are meant for students and families who otherwise would not be able to apply to college without financial assistance. Who qualifies for a fee waiver? A student typically has to meet at least one of the following criteria to receive a fee waiver: ● Receives or is eligible to receive free or reduced lunch at their high school ● Family income falls within the income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service ● Is eligible for a fee waiver through the ACT or College Board ● Receives public assistance, such as housing, food, or child care subsidies ● Lives in a federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or is homeless ● Is enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families such as Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search or another TRiO program such as GEAR UP ● Is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or is on active duty in the U.S. military Sometimes, though, a student might legitimately have difficulty paying for college but does not fall neatly into one of these categories. If none of these situations applies to you but you do not have the funds to apply to college, do not stop there! Most fee waivers give the option for the student to provide a supporting statement on their own or from a school official (such as a counselor or principal), college access advisor, financial aid officer, or community leader explaining their financial hardship. Students usually need to pursue this option if one of their parents or guardians recently lost a job and has suffered reduced family income, a family member passed away, unexpected expenses arise, Covid-19 presented unexpected expenses for your family, or any number of other reasons that impacted your family’s financial situation. How do you get a fee waiver? If you qualify for ACT or SAT fee waivers, you automatically qualify for the Common Application Fee Waiver, which allows you to apply to 20 colleges at no cost. In the “Profile” section of your Common App, click on the “Common Application Fee Waiver” subsection. Choose “Yes” to confirm that you believe you qualify for a fee waiver, then you’ll be asked to select the supporting reason for your fee waiver and sign the request digitally. When it is time to submit your applications to colleges, you will follow all of the on-screen prompts and when the screen for application fee payment pops up, it will indicate that you have requested a fee waiver and that no fee is due. You simply hit “continue” and proceed with your affirmation statements and complete your application submission. Your counselor will verify your waiver eligibility electronically in Naviance! If you do not qualify for a Common Application Fee Waiver, but feel that paying several application fees will pose a financial hardship, check out the admission websites for any colleges to which you’re applying to learn more about their respective requirements. You’ll typically find information related to fee waivers listed on their application requirements page. If you don’t find the information you need or if it’s unclear, do not hesitate to reach out to a college’s office of admissions to speak with a representative to see if you qualify for a fee waiver and how you can submit a request for one.
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ALMA MATER REFLECTIONS We tell students that choosing a college is a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision. Recently, we asked our faculty and staff to reflect on and share a bit about their undergraduate experiences. Mark Sheeran|Modern Language Beloit College, Class of 1981 Bachelor of Arts in French and History with Secondary School Teaching Certification Upon reflection, what is one thing you most appreciate/value about your undergraduate experience? The independence, the setting of one's own pace, and the ability to explore areas in which I was profoundly interested. Is there anything else you would like to share? There are a lot of great schools out there! Please do not pigeonhole yourself into thinking that “such and such” place will make or break you. It is all about what you make of yourself, regardless where you attend.
Molly Pascal ‘05|Visual Art Connecticut College, Class of 2009 Bachelor of Arts in Art, Ceramics and Art History Upon reflection, what is one thing you most appreciate/value about your undergraduate experience? Kate (Boyle) Ramsdell put it nicely: Connecticut College is where a lot of different kinds of Nobles graduates have attended and all had good experiences. I can attest to this! I loved my college experience at Conn. Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew then? I wish I knew how to better manage my free time during undergrad, especially freshman year and coming from a highly-regimented Nobles schedule.
Heather Folgert|Registrar University of Wisconsin, Class of 1990 Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science Upon reflection, what is one thing you most appreciate/value about your undergraduate experience? I learned self-advocacy, self-discipline and independence. Class sizes of 200+ were daunting so I needed to make time to meet with the professors so they knew mw. Otherwise, I was just a number. Most of my class grades were based on three exams, so it was essential to be disciplined to study the material often to get a good grade. Is there anything else you would like to share? Step out of your comfort zone and do the things that scare you. You will learn to positively handle change and build confidence doing it, which is what life transitions are all about.
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COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT - RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY
LOCATION
Large city
Large suburb
Large city
ENROLLMENT
11,819 (8,515 UG)
8,824 (3,583 UG)
5,357 (2,829 UG)
SOME POPULAR MAJORS
❖ Biomedical sciences ❖ Registered nursing ❖ Finance
OVERALL ADMIT RATE
83%
32%
55%
SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE
82%
86%
82%
ADMISSION PLANS
Rolling (opens 8/1) Priority (12/1) Scholarship (1/15)
Early Action (11/1) Regular Decision (1/15)
Honors Early Decision (11/10) Honors Regular Decision (1/20) Rolling Admission (1/20)
❖ Business administration ❖ Global studies ❖ Kinesiology
❖ Biological sciences ❖ Accounting ❖ Psychology
Data courtesy of College Navigator, Common Data Set and individual school websites.
NOVEMBER WELLNESS CHECK Now more than ever, take time to disconnect from Zoom, social media, and the 24-hour news! Take a break from the daily grind: DOWNLOAD the Headspace app and do a five-minute guided meditation. LISTEN to an audiobook while you take a walk around your neighborhood and enjoy the fall foliage. WRITE a card or letter to a friend or family member you have not spoken to in a while. And now...a quick diversion! Sudoku ~ complete the grid using only the digits 1 - 9 ~ each digit can only be used once in each row, column, and 3x3 grid
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR Beginning Sunday, November 29: Go Overseas Virtual Gap Year Fair Programs. Take classes, attend webinars, join Q&A sessions, catch program presentations, and participate in virtual break-out discussions. Early February: College Counseling School Webinar with College Deans for Class II Students and Parents/Guardians. Details forthcoming. Late February: Standardized Testing and the College Process Webinar for Upper School Parents/Guardians. Details forthcoming. Early April: Preparing to Write the College Essay with Allan Reeder of Hillside Writing for Class II Students. Details forthcoming.
STANDARDIZED TEST DATES AND DEADLINES SAT Date
ACT
Registration Deadline (Late Deadline)
Registration Deadline (Late Deadline)
Date
December 5
November 5 (November 24)
December 12
November 6 (November 20)
March 3
@ NOBLES
February 6
January 8 (January 15)
February 12 (March 2)
March 30
@ NOBLES
April 13
@ NOBLES
April 17
March 12 (March 26)
May 8
April 8 (April 27)
June 12
May 7 (May 21)
June 5
May 6 (May 26)
July 17
June 18 (June 25)
March 13 (no Subject Tests offered)
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ON OUR BOOKSHELVES AND IN OUR INBOXES Adapted from Goodreads.com
KIMYA Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis — a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control. Defending Jacob was also recently released as a miniseries on AppleTV starring Michelle Dockery and Chris Evans. Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.
KATE Getting into a top-ranked college has never seemed more impossible, with acceptance rates at some elite universities dipping into the single digits. In Who Gets In and Why, journalist and higher education expert Jeffrey Selingo dispels entrenched notions of how to compete and win at the admission game, and reveals that teenagers and their parents and guardians have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a “good college.” Hint: it’s not all about the sticker on the car window. One of the most insightful books ever about “getting in” and what higher education has become, Who Gets In and Why not only provides an usually intimate look at how admission decisions get made, but guides prospective students on how to honestly assess their strengths and match with the schools that will best serve their interests.
Noble and Greenough School is a nonsectarian, coed day and 5-day boarding school for grades 7–12. 10 Campus Drive, Dedham, MA 02026 781.326.3700 | www.nobles.edu Follow us on Twitter: @Nobles_CC Questions or comments? Email Kimya Charles.
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