PACER Spring 2016 Issue

The Pacer FAFSA Prior-Prior Year: Moving forward by looking backwards!

Jay London, “The College Advice Guy”

Regardless of which side of the desk one works at, be it college admissions or high school counselor, each year we are faced with the same puzzled looks from the parents of students applying for financial aid with the FAFSA. As many of us know, the FAFSA is the application that students must complete to apply for federal student aid—Pell Grants, student loans and work-study opportunities — which can be used to attend a college or career school. Many states, private organizations, colleges, and career schools also rely on FAFSA information to determine eligibility for nonfederal sources of aid.

Specifically, parents want to know why it is so important to file a FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible and why they need to supply the most current year’s (prior year) tax information when they won’t have the requisite documents to file taxes for that tax year until at least February 1. They ask how they are going to get an accurate financial aid assessment if they can’t provide the most current financial information at the time they initially file a FAFSA.

estimate their expected prior-year taxes and then, once their prior taxes are filed, they can go back and amend or update their original FAFSA.

We counselors are used to assuaging the applicants’ fears by advising them to just

In an attempt to make the FAFSA process more user friendly, as well as to provide some assistance to financial aid offices in making eligibility determinations, President Barack Obama, on September 15, 2015, changed the filing format of the FAFSA college aid form. The form used to require prior year family and personal income to and now, instead, will require priorprior year family and personal income. In addition, students will be able to file for aid three months earlier than previously allowed: October 1 versus January 1. These changes to the FAFSA will take effect for the 2017–18 school year.

“

In an attempt to make the FAFSA process more user friendly, ... President Barack Obama, on September 15, 2015, changed the filing format of the FAFSA college aid form.”

Unfortunately, this multi-step process does not relieve anyone’s anxiety. It has created delays for the applicants and also has caused issues for many admissions offices and financial aid offices since aid awards cannot be accurately determined without the most current year’s tax information.

So, for example, the Class of 2017 will be the first high school group to file the FAFSA on the new timeline using prior-prior year tax information rather than prior-year tax information. Parents of high school seniors who are graduating in spring 2017 will be Continued on page 2

WHAT’S INSIDE President’s Letter 3 2015–2016 Executive Committee 4 My PACAC Story 5 PACAC Conference 2016 Preview 6 Book Review 7 Counselor’s Corner 9 Transfer Decision Day — A Temple Approach 10 PACAC’S Rising Stars 10 Successful Instant Decision Days 11 R.each Y.our F.ull P.otential 13 Everyday Professional Excellence 14 PACAC Postings 15 Calendar 2015 15

able to complete the FAFSA after October 1 of their son or daughter’s senior year in high school instead of waiting until January 1 of the same academic year. When they complete that FAFSA, they will be able to use tax information from calendar year 2015 instead of tax information from calendar year 2016.

“

An added benefit to this is that many will be able to now use the Internal Revenue Services’ Data Retrieval Tool that allows for the automatic transfer of a student’s tax return data to the FAFSA because tax data from two years prior would be readily available upon FAFSA application.

All returning college students will also submit FAFSA information with the new procedure.

Additionally, these changes will align the financial aid application process with the college application process; students and their families will be completing the FAFSA form earlier than ever and have their financial aid packages, in many cases, before making

Something to keep in mind is that with the use of prior-prior year tax information, there is a greater likelihood that a family’s stated income may no longer reflect their current economic status.”

college decisions. Additionally, not requiring parents to estimate their tax information provides more certainty that their son or daughter will receive an accurate financial aid eligibility determination.

The change won’t be perfectly seamless, however. While many

colleges and universities will provide financial aid packages earlier than in previous years, institutional and state deadlines for awarding aid will differ.

Even if colleges have earlier access to student financial data, financial aid awards may still be estimated if state grant totals aren’t approved timely by state government. In addition, many colleges do not announce tuition for a pending academic year until the spring, and tuition is an important piece of information when estimating cost of attendance.

Something to keep in mind is that with the use of prior-prior year tax information, there is a greater likelihood that a family’s stated income may no longer reflect their current economic status. In the situation of the loss of income due to the loss of a job, the death of a parent, or any other extenuating circumstances, a family would have to converse with each college or university financial aid office individually to see if adjustments can be made to better reflect their most current financial situation.

What Does Prior-Prior Year (PPY) Mean?

Current (2016–17 School Year)

Future (2017–2018 School Year)

Prior Year (PY)

Prior-Prior Year (PPY)

• Available spring semester; January 1

• Available fall semester; October 1

• Taxes from previous year

• Taxes from two years ago

• File FAFSA and make corrections to data once taxes are filed

• Taxes already filed; data is correct from previous year

• Not aligned with college application calendar • Difficult to meet early/priority filing deadlines which to qualify for some forms of financial aid • Financial aid information available nearing college decision deadline dates • Forced more stressful and less-informed college and financial aid decisions

2 • THE PACER

• More closely aligned with college application calendar • Aligns with priority filing deadlines, which must be met must be met to qualify for some forms of financial aid • Financial aid information available further in advance of college decision deadlines • Allows for more at-ease, informed college and financial aid decisions

President’s Letter I love the train – it is my favorite mode of travel. As I’m traveling home from the NACAC Winter Leadership meeting in Washington, DC, I have had the time (thanks to the Quiet Car) to reflect on how fortunate we are to have such an amazing team and network of professionals that care so deeply about PACAC. So for this issue, and in honor of the “Academy Awards” on tonight, I want to extend an official thank you to our own PACAC stars. If we had Oscars, you would each deserve one.

First, to our Conference Planning Committee, headed by Sarah Lasoff (Cabrini College). Thank you in advance to you and your committee. It takes a village to put on a PACAC conference and I can’t wait to gather in the “sweetest place on earth” this June 26–28 for our premier professional development experience that requires an immense amount of planning.

Next, to our Government Relations Committee, headed by Melissa Boltz (Conestoga High School). Thank you for coordinating PACAC leaders and the preparation it has taken for all committee members to walk on Capitol Hill in DC this leap year day.

As I’m writing, members of GRC will be meeting with US Senators and Representatives today in our nation’s capital including Senators Toomey and Casey and Congressmen Meehan, Fattah, Dent, Costello and Murphy.

Thank you to Keo Oura KounlavongSabath (Harrisburg Academy) who chairs one of our busiest committees, College Fairs — PACAC’s “bread and butter.” Keo Oura and her team together run approximately fifteen fairs each year. Keo Oura has established a “best practices” in the College Fair Guidelines, which helps everyone work to PACAC standards.

Thank you to Beth Davis (Temple University) and the IAS (Inclusion, Access, and success) Committee for

successfully establishing PACAC’s first Camp College this past summer. Beth will now join us as Director of Public Advocacy, replacing Christina Wood (Temple University), who moved on to a new job outside of Pennsylvania.

Thank you to Christina for your outstanding work as Director. Your leadership and vision in the world of access will be missed.

Thank you to Michael May (Slippery Rock University), our steward of NACAC’s Statement of Principles of Good Practice as Chair of the Admission Practices Committee. There is so much work being done behind the scenes in this committee to level the playing field for students. The AP committee is the recipient of complaints about violations to the SPGP and have a direct line to NACAC’s Admission Practices committee for guidance. They have taken action on many cases — quietly and with professionalism and courtesy towards all parties.

Thank you to Bryn Campbell (Saint Joseph’s University) who chairs the Membership Committee. Without our members, our organization would not live and breathe. This great crew has been working hard to accurately identify and build our membership base — this work is tedious and time consuming.

Thank you to Steph Shandra (MMI Preparatory School), chair of our Professional Development Committee.

PDC has set and carried out an ambitious agenda of workshops and webinars across the state that make us all better and more informed in our profession. Just about everything this committee plans gets rave reviews.

Thank you to Corinne Logan (St. Joseph’s Preparatory School) who, with her great writing team, publishes The Pacer, the face and voice of our organization. She’s continued to upgrade the professionalism of this

publication and it is a great read — cover to cover!

To the Secondary School Ad Hoc Committee, with Chris LaTempa (Malvern Prep) as the driver — thank you! All of you are working so hard to make PACAC more than relevant to Secondary Counselors and truly essential to your work in high schools, and I am so grateful! If you haven’t heard, there is now a college tour to go along with your Hershey Conference registration AND graduate programs will have a PACAC member presenting college counseling education sessions… all such great work!

Finally, a huge thank you to our leadership team headed up by our Executive Assistant, the officers and the delegates who are some of the finest professionals with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with and, frankly, we’ve had a great time together this year. As we head into the final months of our work for the 2015-2016 academic year, I want to thank Andrea, Dave, Justin L., Justin M., Tim, Ian, Ed, Jeremy, Cheryl, Geoff, and Kristen, who I believe are truly an award winning team.

Train has just about reached Philly, so time to depart. I think I’ll take the train more often — it is a sweet ride. See you in Hershey this summer!

Misty Whelan Conestoga High School

SPRING 2016 • 3

2015 – 2016 Executive Committee Officers

Committee Chairs

President Misty Whelan Conestoga High School

Admission Practices Michael May Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Immediate Past President/ Chair of Governance & Nominating Ian Harkness Malvern Preparatory School

College Fairs Keo Oura Kounlavong-Sabath Harrisburg Academy

President-Elect Edwin Wright Lebanon Valley College

Communications Corinne Logan Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School

Chair of Finance & Budget Tim Gallen The Solebury School

Conference Planning Sarah Lasoff Cabrini College

Treasurer Dave Antoniewicz Widener University

Government Relations Melissa Boltz Conestoga High School

Treasurer-Elect Justin Mohney Carnegie Mellon University

Inclusion, Access, & Success Ryan Keaton Abington Friends School

Directors Director of Marketing Justin Ledesma Villanova University

At-Large Delegates to the Executive Committee Jeremy Branch Penn State University – Brandywine Campus Krista Evans Lehigh University Cheryl Stewart-Miller LaRoche College Advisory Members to the Executive Committee Executive Assistant Andrea Cassell PACAC Conference Planning Chair Elect Ryan Gillon Villanova University

Membership Bryn Campbell Saint Joseph’s University Professional Development Stephanie Shandra MMI Preparatory School

Director of Public Advocacy Beth Davis Temple University Director of Professional Development Geoff Broome Capture Higher Ed

PACAC MISSION STATEMENT The Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC) is a professional organization dedicated to advocating for equity and promoting access and success for post-secondary education. PACAC meets the diverse educational needs of school counselors and college admission processionals, students, families, and other constituents across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

4 • THE PACER

The Pacer Staff Tom Camillo Michele Diehl Dr. Nicola DiFronzo-Heitzer Paula Dofat Edward Flaherty Hillen Grason Karen Graziano Mara Greiner Julie Hertz Corinne Logan Casey McVay Ryan Mignone Linda Miller Justin Mohney Loren Morgan Michelle O’Donnell Alan Paynter Lauren Savage Debra Saylor Nicholas Skitko Cheryl Stewart-Miller Matthew Swab Rebecca VanderMeulen Jory Wamsley Like Us on Facebook Like ‘Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling’ on Facebook to stay up-todate on PACAC news.

Mailing The Pacer is a quarterly publication of PACAC. Please send any comments, corrections, and/or questions to: Corinne Logan St. Joseph’s Preparatory School clogan@sjprep.org

My PACAC Story John Solewin, Cabrini College Michelle O’Donnell, Mount St. Mary’s University

One of the highlights of the PACAC Conference is granting our annual awards and recognizing outstanding colleagues. Last summer, one of the James McKeever Promising Professional awards went to John Solewin from Cabrini College.

Like so many, Solewin’s first experience working for an admissions office was as an undergraduate. After earning his bachelor’s degree in political science and history at Cabrini College in 2011, he went on to get his master’s degree in organizational leadership there in 2013. While working on his master’s at Cabrini, he was a graduate assistant in the Enrollment Management division. In this role, he worked with students who were thinking about considering leaving Cabrini, coordinated events and wrote proposals on policy changes.

Solewin’s first full-time job in admission was as an enrollment counselor at Arcadia University, where he developed experience with financial aid. After eight months, he returned to Cabrini as an admission counselor. Now he’s an assistant director of admission, managing recruitment in central and southern New Jersey and supervising about 60 student ambassadors.

Some of his best memories come from working with the ambassadors. Solewin takes pride in having created the Team Captain/Ambassador structure of the organization, and he has spent a lot of time in the office changing the training required to give a campus tour.

He cherishes the many wonderful experiences with prospective students, and he enjoys seeing them so excited for their future at Cabrini. Last year, one student got in touch with him almost every week by text or phone to check in. He also had a student who worked in the office who went onto a full-time job in admissions after graduation.

Soon after he returned to Cabrini, Solewin’s supervisor encouraged him to join PACAC’s Government Relations committee. He will be a presenter for the first time at this year’s PACAC Conference in Hershey.

Solewin credits PACAC with helping him expand his connections in the field and says he is fortunate to have outstanding PACAC colleagues both in and out of his office. He also enjoys reconnecting with colleagues on the road and at PACAC events, where he believes there is a constant atmosphere of always trying to do better for students.

He hopes to become even more involved in PACAC as his career continues and would like to someday lead an admissions office.

Solewin takes pride in having created the Team Captain/Ambassador structure of the organization, and he has spent a lot of time in the office changing the training required to give a campus tour.

SPRING 2016 • 5

PACAC Conference 2016 Preview ­— We are all Everyday Heroes!

Michele Diehl, Gwynedd Mercy University

This year’s annual PACAC Conference theme is “Everyday Heroes” — a name meant to remind admissions professionals that with great power comes great responsibility.

Regardless of our roles in secondary or higher education, we have the power to help change lives and be champions for the underserved.

Sarah Lasoff, chair of PACAC’s Conference Planning committee, notes that some new features are in store for this year’s event, set to take place from Sunday, June 26, through Tuesday, June 28, at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, Pa. “Planning the annual conference takes over a year and about 50 volunteers,” says Lasoff, Associate Director of Admissions at Cabrini College. “There is nothing more satisfying that seeing the results of many hours of labor come together for people to learn and have fun.”

So what is new or coming back?

• The Enrollment Management Institute, which takes place before the Conference every two years, is happening again in 2016. It’s specifically for aspiring and current enrollment leaders • Before the Conference, school and independent counselors can take advantage of a College Tour and Information Session. The tour will include Lebanon Valley, Elizabethtown, Franklin & Marshall, York, Gettysburg, and Dickinson colleges.

• A conference orientation for all attendees will explain new features and officially kick off the conference.

• There will be six session blocks, starting on Sunday, with a total of 54 educational sessions. Topics include Prior-Prior Year FAFSA filing, the new SAT, counseling students with disabilities, and Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success.

• Rusty Shunk, former president of PACAC and NACAC, will be the keynote speaker.

• The Gustafson Gala will take place Sunday night, and a trip to Hershey Park is planned for Monday evening. Not into amusement rides? The annual Trivia Contest will be held afterward.

6 • THE PACER

Want to help with next year’s conference?

Here’s how…

Join the Conference Planning Committee!

You can contact Sarah Lasoff at SELasoff@Cabrini.edu for more information.

Book Review

It’s the Student, not the College: The Secrets of Succeeding at any School – without Going Broke or Crazy Author: Kristin M. White Reviewed by: Karen Graziano, Graziano Career Works, LLC & Assistant Visiting Professor As a college instructor and an advisor for students at a diverse range of colleges – from a community college to selective and highly selective colleges to an Ivy League university – I have long believed the premise of Kristin White’s It’s the Student, not the College: The Secrets of Succeeding at any School—without Going Broke or Crazy. In my role of teaching writing and communication courses for business students and advising on academic, pre-law, and professional development, some students have been required to take my courses and others have sought me out.

What I have learned through my experience in the classroom and advising is that first and foremost, students’ success was based on their attitude in the course or advising session. In my role, my job is to motivate and inspire my students and advisees as much as possible to maximize their attitude and potential.

This is the juncture at which students’ attitude — what Kristin White defines as the “Success Profile” — needs to be met by the resources — the caring faculty

members, the challenging courses, and the leadership programming – to propel students to the next level. As I began reading the book, I was curious to learn the “secrets” Kristin White would provide and what information would be useful for admissions professionals, applicants, and parents.

Kristin White begins with this fact: “America has college fever.” This “fever,” though, is not just for any type of college. She explains: “Parents today want their child to go to a ‘good’ college, preferably one that is selective and highly ranked, and many students expect no less for themselves.” High expectations about what a college will offer and how it will impact the student’s life in college and after are frequently discussed in the media.

And, as consumers, we tend to believe and repeat these ideas. White dispels this myth: While there’s a “mystique” around the idea of attending an elite school, “the surprising news is that the premise behind the top-college admissions mania is false.” Research has found that “attending an elite college has very little impact on a student’s career success, future earnings, or well-being.” This is counterintuitive to

Karen Graziano

“

What I have learned through my experience in the classroom and advising is that first and foremost, students’ success was based on their attitude in the course or advising session.... My job is to motivate and inspire my students and advisees as much as possible to maximize their attitude and potential. ”

SPRING 2016 • 7

the messages that the public receives every day about the direct correlation between selectivity and success.

White recognizes this, engaging the reader in a frank discussion about students’ success at Ivy League institutions. She argues that these students arrive with a success mentality and skills to achieve. She explains: “What I hope to convince you is that we have made a mistake by attributing Ivy League graduates’ success to their colleges. In fact, elite universities do not make their students succeed; rather, they identify (and admit) applicants who will go on to be successful.” The students entering Ivy League institutions already possess the “Success Profile” to excel in college and in their professional lives. “In other words,” she explains, “the students who are accepted to Ivies already have what it takes to achieve great things.” What does it take? White defines this as “a student’s motivation, academic profile, and ambition.”

White relied on a notable study for her assertions: The May 2014 study by the Gallup organization and Purdue University of 30,000 college graduates.

Participants’ well-being was defined as “a sense of purpose, social wellbeing, financial well-being, a sense of community, and physical well-being (health).” The finding of this 2014 study was insightful: “The people who attended selective college were no better off in any of these measured areas than those who attended any other type of college.” The study identified that for the 39 percent of all college graduates who experience engagement at work, their engagement was not related to college attended.

Specially, the study found, “there is no difference in engagement between graduates of top-100 U.S. News & World Report schools and graduates of other institutions.”

The elements that did increase graduates’ engagement at work included items that could be present at any college, regardless of selectivity: effective mentors,

8 • THE PACER

encouraging professors, “deep learning” opportunities, including internships, research, and extracurricular activities.

According to the study, “the odds of thriving in all areas of well-being were twice as likely for graduates who felt emotionally attached to their colleges.”

White argues, “The relationship between a student’s campus experience and her future well-being is what matters, not the specific college she

“

Now, it’s time for students to examine their strengths, abilities and goals; ‘start looking inward, developing their own talents and interest, building skills, forging ahead on their own paths ... ”

attended.” All schools have these resources available, and “any student at any university can pursue these relationships and opportunities,” states White. Faculty and student affairs professionals would all agree.

So what should we take back to our applicants? How can we change the conversation? How can we show students that they can thrive in college?

What does it take? Success is based more on attitude and the steps that they take to achieve success. First, we need to teach applicants that “certain young people excel whether or not they go to elite colleges, and they don’t do it by sitting back and hoping to luck out. They take specific steps in high school and college to ensure their future success.” White’s premise that the “Success Profile” leads to a success mindset and action proves true.

She explains, “Any students—whether

still in high school, about to start college, or midway through her college experience—can examine what it is that makes these elite students do so well and adopt some of their practices for herself.”

The “Success Profile” includes grit, purpose, a growth mindset, intellectual passion, self-awareness, leadership and collegiality. When students ask what colleges are really looking for, this is a go-to list. This list doesn’t include specifics such as AP courses or an extensive listing of work at community organizations; but rather, it focuses on potential, individuality, and authenticity.

“So it’s clearly time for an overhaul of the way we think about college. It’s time to stop focusing on the ‘name brand’ of a college,” White proclaims.

Now, it’s time for students to examine their strengths, abilities and goals.

White’s assertion that students need to create their own authentic journeys is meaningful. “It’s time for students to stop trying to craft themselves into what they think the colleges want them to be, and start looking inward, developing their own talents and interests, building skills, forging ahead on their own paths and developing their own Success Profile.” This is what we need to share with applicants and their parents.

This advice will positively impact students’ perception of themselves, their work, and their future at a college.

The over- emphasis on the belief that “top colleges offer a golden ticket to success, or at least an easier path to a good career” is mistaken. The relentless pursuit of the elite university should be replaced with a pursuit of students’ own talents and interests. Informing students about the qualities that define success in life and creating a campus experience in which students’ positive experience with encouraging faculty and staff members will transform students’ experience into one that will lead to well-being as students and alumni. That’s the true “secret” to success, and the value of reading Kristin White’s book.

COUNSELOR’S CORNER David Barkovich, North Hills High School

“A Rose By Any Other Word Would Smell as Sweet”….NOT! This quote from William Shakespeare references the idea that the names of things do not affect what they truly are. In the case of the “guidance counselor” versus “school counselor” debate, it is very important to note that these two terms are not in any way interchangeable and most certainly do not “smell as sweet.”

I am hardly the most militant of my school counseling colleagues about the importance of referring to our chosen profession by the proper name, but it is indeed challenging to have to bite my lip each time a newly hired admission counselor calls my high school asking for the “guidance office” or to speak with a “guidance counselor.” If your hope is to start a high school visit with a positive first impression, then I strongly advise using the correct term!

It is vitally important for students, parents, teachers, administrators, admission counselors, communities, and our world at large to understand why these dedicated educational professionals should be appropriately referred to as “school counselors.” The field of counseling in K-12 education has long ago evolved beyond simply providing students with “guidance.”

School counselors are certified professionals with at least master’s degrees or higher who work within school systems to remove barriers to learning. Using formal delivery systems established by the American School Counseling Association as well as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Career Education and Work standards, school counselors are committed to assisting every student improve their academic achievement, personal and social development, and career planning.

According to the American Counseling Association, American School Counselor

Association, and the National Education Association (2008), school counselors are “highly trained educators in pre-K-12 settings who uphold ethical and professional standards to design, implement and manage comprehensive, developmental, results-based school counseling programs that promote and enhance student success.”

It is rather challenging to remove older terms and slang from the common vernacular but it is well beyond time for “school counselors” to be the commonly used term for this profession. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Department of Education teaching certificates for counselor educators have carried the designation “School Counselor” for decades. The professional organization for counselor educators in Pennsylvania has been known as the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association for the past 60 years! Even the PA Department

of Education has caught up with the proper nomenclature and created an evaluation tool for the professional rating is known as the “Rubric Assessment: School Counselor.”

You might be still thinking “Come on, is it really such a big deal?” If that is the case, then perhaps you might wish to try an experiment in which you refer to your admission director as “manager,” or your college’s provost as “dean,” or your university’s chancellor as “president.” They are all just interchangeable terms for administrators in post-secondary education, right? I would like to provide you with some…ahem…guidance and urge you not to do so as these terms refer to distinctly different positions with distinctly different responsibilities.

In the same way, I would ask for your help in respecting the profession of school counselor by referring to us by the proper term as well.

Dr. David Barkovich is Dean of Academic Affairs at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Prior to being a school counselor for the past 15 years, David was an admission and financial aid counselor at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also the President of the Allegheny County School Counselors Association, a National Board Certified Teacher (school counseling), a board member of the Ross/West View EMS, and a board member of the Pittsburgh Superhero Run, which raises money for victims of child abuse. Having been a newbie admission counselor, David promises not to bite the head off a new hire who might accidentally call him a “guidance counselor”… the first time it happens.

SPRING 2016 • 9

Transfer Decision Day ­— A Temple Approach Rachel Gionta

For a student to walk away from an in-person meeting knowing that they are officially admitted to their university of choice, can be a major factor in whether or not they choose that institution. For a transfer student, this can also be helpful in getting a sense of what courses will transfer and what track they will be on. At Temple University, Transfer Decisions Days are a commonly offered event each semester.

There are many benefits of a college or university hosting a Transfer Decision Day: Allowing students direct and one-onone access to an admissions counselor, bringing more students onto your campus and boosting application numbers, just to name a few. For the student, there are even more benefits.

Usually an application fee waiver is provided to students that attend and they do not have to wait the normal 2-6 weeks to receive an admissions decision; they walk away with an acceptance letter and information about how they enroll. For students that may not have a perfect transcript or educational history, the decision day event is also a way for them to interview with a counselor and shed more light onto their situation, which could be helpful in making the admissions decision.

Temple Transfer Decision Days do bring about their own challenges. Are students only signing up because they don’t want to pay the application fee? Do they have a great GPA but are so nervous about transferring schools that they make the process more complicated than it needs to be? Does offering the event all day take staff away from their normal work day and cause more of a workload in the long run? Many times we

have answered yes to all of these questions and wonder if the events really are worth it.

Each institution needs to set their own goals and decide the best way to reach their prospective students. Decision Day events can be more beneficial to offices that may not be able to reach as many transfer students like a school of Temple’s size. Others may not have the resources to host an all-day event and find that it is more beneficial to set up individualized appointments at other times. The bottom line is, if it helps students and makes them feel a connection to the university, then it is a plus. Many students we have interviewed at Transfer Decision Day have commented that they felt more connected to the campus when they came to visit and were able to sit down one-on-one with us. In the past five years of hosting the events, we have met with hundreds of transfer students that may not have applied or visited the campus.

Our advice for hosting a successful Transfer Decision Day would include making sure the whole office is on board and knows about the event; setting aside separate time and space to host the event, having an organized check-in process to keep track of applications and transcripts, and giving personalized attention to each student that attends. Timely follow-up after the event is over is also a plus.

For more information about Transfer Decision Days at Temple, please visit admissions.temple.edu/visit

PACAC’s Rising Stars Misty Whelan (President) & Ian Harkness (Immediate Past President) would both like to recognize Chris LaTempa of Malvern Prep as a Rising Star within PACAC. Chris is leading a passionate and hardworking group of secondary school counselors across the state to revamp and enhance the meaning and worth of PACAC for secondary school counselors. As part of the AdHoc Committee on Increasing Secondary School Counselors Membership, Chris has led initiatives for the pre-conference college tour, partnered with and presented to graduate school programs on college counseling, and is forming relationships with county-level School Counselor Associations. Thank you, Chris, for your tireless efforts!

10 • THE PACER

Successful Instant Decision Days Jory Wamsley, Kutztown University

Instant decision days provide the opportunity for college admissions professionals to meet individually with applicants to provide a decision on the spot, which is a great benefit to high school students. On the side of the college or university, instant decision days benefit the institution because they allow for a strong connection between students and the college or university, potentially very early on in the admissions cycle.

This creates a lasting impact on the student.

Meghann Townsend, College Counselor at Hatboro Horsham High School, states, “Hatboro Horsham High School has been hosting instant decision days for two years through our summer Application Boot Camp program as well as on individual school days.

While students are often nervous to find out a decision on the spot, I feel the feedback that they get from the admissions representatives in person

is invaluable. The students learn how decisions are made and how they can better their application for this and other institutions if they aren’t admitted during that meeting. In addition, I feel that this type of professional interaction is great practice for our graduating seniors as they make steps to leave high school.”

In addition, Lori Gabriel, Assistant

Director of Guidance and Counseling at Villa Joseph Marie High School says, “The benefits include an early on-thespot decision, non-binding agreement, and a brief personal interview between the admissions counselor and student.

Through the years, I have had many students take advantage of this opportunity and I can say that is has brought seniors a sense of relief and joy.”

SPRING 2016 • 11

In the early stages of planning, select a date and time that does not conflict with specific events or classes that would prevent high school seniors from attending. Be available to see as many students as possible, but at the same time, be realistic about the number of students you can meet. Depending on the number of interested students, it may be best to bring another person to assist with the program, if possible.

On the high school counselor side, Tom Overberger, Coordinator of Guidance at Souderton High School, prepared for the event well in advance. “We communicated the information during our standard beginning of the year senior assembly, AM announcement and a blurb on Naviance. We received overwhelming results for our first Instant Decision Day,” he stated.

Pre-event, students should register with the school counselor for a time slot. Select a date in which the school counselor will cut off the registrations so that all parties involved are aware of the number of students participating.

If your institution requires special preparation, like submitting an application ahead of time or providing an essay, be sure to inform the high school counselor of these details.

Connect with the counselor to let him or her know whether you have received this information prior to the instant decision day from each student. Also let

the counselor know what the students will need to bring along with them to the instant decision appointment. The more information you can provide to the counselor, the better your instant decision day will flow. Be sure to check with the counselor that you will have all of the tools necessary for the day of the event. For example, if you will need to have Internet availability, ensure that you can connect to WiFi and have a place to plug-in your laptop or tablet in while you are visiting.

Townsend says, “From a school counselor’s perspective, hosting an Instant Decision Day is not difficult at all, especially when working with an admissions representative like Jory who had the whole program laid out for us. We used Naviance to advertise the event and sent out email reminders to ensure that students completed the necessary components to participate.

We had so many interested students for the Kutztown event that we had to double the available time slots!

Since we provided the transcripts, first quarter report card, standardized test scores, and school profile directly to the admissions officer, it cut out the worry that the supporting documents for our students would be late or get lost. Parents, students, and the administration were so happy with the program that we hope to do it again next year.”

While meeting with the student, be personal, attentive, and focus on his or her experience with your institution.

Also, acknowledge aspects of the transcript like AP and Honors courses, and progress throughout the student’s time in high school. This helps the student understand what goes into the admissions decision. At the end of the meeting, provide the student with an unofficial acceptance letter if he or she is admitted, and information about the next steps in the process. If you need more information in order to make a decision, ensure that the student knows what is required. Before leaving the school, provide the counselor with a list of students you met with and the outcome of the meeting.

Upon your return to the office, ensure that the students receive communications to reaffirm the decision, and thank them for participating. In many cases, this is an official acceptance letter and package.

Keep track of the students you met with and the decision in order to track the event’s success and yield rate to better plan for next year’s.

The appropriate communication, planning, and attention to detail will result in a positive experience all around. In Overberger’s experience at Souderton High School, “Students loved the opportunity and hope that other schools would follow suit.”

Get Involved Tip Box Interested in getting involved with the Professional Development Committee?

They have a meeting Friday, April 1 at Gettysburg College. Contact Stephanie at Pacac.pdc@gmail.com if you’re interested in attending.

Interested in writing or editing for the Pacer? We’ll be having our next phone meeting in April to discuss the summer issue. Contact Corinne at clogan@sjprep.org if you’d like to join in.

And, most importantly, don’t forget to register for Conference! See here: Conference Registration

12 • THE PACER

R.each Y.our F.ull P.otential Corinne Logan, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School

I have discovered a whole new world: The world of essential oils. Before you assume I’ve joined the ranks of the crazy, hear me out…

I am a Mom of two under two. My house is overrun 24 hours a day by two miniature people who think shoving magnets into toasters is a real hoot and sleeping at night is for losers. Unfortunately, my husband and I do not agree. In a moment of pure desperation and sleep deprivation, my friend suggested essential oils. Through half shut eyes, I accepted her suggestion and mini bottles of lavender, marjoram, sage, juniper, and rose blends.

Although I am not sure the oils have helped much with sleep, as my fit bit average still hovers around 4–5 hours of sleep per night, they have opened my eyes to a whole new world of relatively cheap and natural remedies. Last week, while my two-year-old fought off a nasty stomach bug, I frantically rubbed a Lemon, Ginger & Basil blend on my mid-section and somehow managed to not get the bug. For the record, I always, always get the stomach bug. This was nothing short of a miracle!

So, here a few essential oil tips: • Check out www.planttherapy.com and most specifically their Roll-ons, here: http://www.planttherapy.com/rollons. They’re pre-mixed and pre-diluted so all you need to do is select the remedy you seek.

Are you totally sold? Then take the next step and explore doTERRA — an Essential Oil company who has taken their uses to the next level of lifestyle changes. I haven’t invested in soaps and shampoos (yet!), but that friend of mine is making me an Corinne Logan entire medicine cabinet of oils — think headaches, allergies, anxiety, ear infections … and although I know calling the doctor will still be an often occurrence with kids and germs running amuck, it is so comforting to know I have a natural, home remedy to try before rushing in for a $20 co-pay and $20 (if I’m lucky) prescription.

You can learn more about doTERRA here: http://doterra.com/en and shop their products here: https://www.mydoterra.com/ShoppingCart/index.cfm?retail=1 Or, you can even contact my friend, Alice, at alicepacitti@ gmail.com or mydoterra.com/alicepacitti with questions.

• Have kids? Check out the Kids Safe options.

There are blends for sneezing, sleep, and even boo boos.

• Immune Boom is one of my favorite Plant Therapy roll-ons. It’s part of their Kids Safe line and I apply it to the whole family every Monday and Friday. It’s managed to keep us relatively well all winter despite hundreds of colds and bugs cycling through both my school and my kids’.

• Invest in Lavender. I turn to lavender for almost everything — it’s calming, a sleep aid, soothing on sun burns, and wonderful room deodorizer.

I use a Lavender Hydrosol and spritz the whole house — it smells much better and lasts longer than any air freshener I’ve ever used. Bonus: spritz it on your pillows for some extra zzz’s.

• Have trouble focusing on app reading? Try a wild orange and peppermint blend. Many who suffer with ADD and ADHD swear by it!

SPRING 2016 • 13

Everyday Professional Excellence Using emotional intelligence and the Golden Rule Karen Graziano, President, Graziano Career Works, LLC and Visiting Assistant Professor

Leaving a recent business communications classes, I heard a student say to another “we’re in this together.” He was talking about applying for a competitive internship position for the first time. The student who uttered those words had already written several drafts of his resume and the first draft of his cover letter. He was well ahead of the application deadline. The other student was more nervous about the process.

Hearing this exchange, I thought about the importance of collaboration and support, and exhibiting the concept of emotional intelligence and the Golden Rule; do onto Karen Graziano others what you would have them do onto you. These need to be alive and well, transcending all workplaces, environments, and relationships. We should apply these to our work ethic and everyday professional excellence.

Daniel Goleman’s What Makes a Leader? in the Harvard Business Review explains the concept of emotional intelligence. Goleman distinguishes good leaders from great leaders based not on their IQ or technical skills, but on their emotional intelligence, which is self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill.

He describes IQ and technical skills as “threshold capabilities,” or the basic requirements for a specific job, with research showing that, “Emotional intelligence is the sine qua non of leadership.” To be a great leader, emotional intelligence was shown to be the distinguishing factor.

What did Goleman have in mind when he described emotional intelligence, and specifically empathy? In his Ted Talk titled Why Aren’t We More Compassionate?, Goleman describes an important study completed by the Princeton Theological Seminary.

The study, he states, “Speaks to why it is that when all of us have so many opportunities to help, we do sometimes, and we don’t other times.”

In that study, some divinity students were asked to give a sermon on the parable of the Good Samaritan, a story

14 • THE PACER

about a man who stopped to help a stranger. Other students were given different topics to present. Goleman explained, “As they went from the first building to the second, each of them passed a man who was bent over and moaning, clearly in need.” The study question was if they stopped to help.

Were those contemplating the parable more likely to help? Actually, no, they weren’t. “What turned out to determine whether someone would stop and help a stranger in need was how much of a hurry they thought they were in — were they feeling they were late or were they absorbed in what they were going to talk about,” explained Goleman. He stated the predicament was, “We don’t take every opportunity to help because our focus is in the wrong direction.” However, we can correct this. Goleman reported social neuroscience found our inclination is to help and apply the Golden Rule.

Goleman’s optimism about moving to a compassionate state is shared by others. In the Ted Talk Reconnecting with Compassion, journalist Krista Tippett’s states, “Compassion is a piece of vocabulary that could change us if we truly let it sink into the standards to which we hold ourselves and others,

both in our private and in our civic spaces.” She defines compassion as being kind, curious, and synonymous with empathy. Compassion is visible, “When we see it, we recognize it and it changes the way we think about what is doable, what is possible.” It leads to a, “Deeper reality of deeper human possibilities.”

Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman, the first American to be named a Tibetan monk by the Dalai Lama, explains in his Ted Talk Expanding Your Circle of Compassion, “Compassion makes you happy” and “The first person who is happy when you get great compassion is yourself, even if you haven’t done anything yet for anybody else.” Why? “Although, the change in your mind already does something for other beings, they can sense this new quality in yourself, and it helps them already, and gives them an example,” he explains. So, let’s celebrate everyday excellence, embrace emotional intelli­ gence, develop empathy, and practice compassion. Let’s stop and ask how we can help and redirect our focus to others. Let’s show others we care and remember why the Golden Rule is still golden.

pacac Postings spring 2016 New Hires Lycoming College has hired its alumnus Joseph Bauldino as Manager, Admissions Information Systems. Joe was formerly Director of Admissions at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Lycoming College also welcomed Justin Ossont as an Admissions Counselor.

PROMOtIONs

2016

Calendar

April

22nd College Counseling 101 Workshop: Western PA

Chatham University promoted Gabrielle Matich to Assistant Director of Admission.

May

The Pennsylvania College of Art and Design promoted Rebecca Adey to Assistant Director of Admission.

2nd Northeast Regional College Fair

Valley Forge Military College promoted Siobhan Cusumano to Assistant Director of Admissions.

CAREER & POSITION CHANGES Chris La Tempa joined Malvern Preparatory School as an Associate Director of College Counseling after two years with Salesianum School.

weddings Kristen Rose has taken on additional responsibilities at Valley Forge Military Academy, now overseeing Academy admissions in addition to College admissions.

3rd Mainline Workshops 3rd Mainline Regional College Fair 9th – 10th College Access Forum & Legislative Action Day 12th Reach 1 Teach 1 Regional College Fair

June 6th The Pacer Summer Edition comes out 25th – 26th Enrollment Management Institute 26th – 28th 53rd Annual PACAC Conference

Calling All Funnies!

We want to hear your funny stories!

Please submit your comical travel and admission life stories and blurbs to Corinne at clogan@sjprep.org. The best ones will be shared, anonymously if you desire, in the next issue of the Pacer.

For more information on College Counseling Workshops or to register please visit https://pacac.memberclicks.net/ college-counseling-101-workshops For more information on Regional College Fairs or to register please visit https://pacac.memberclicks. net/college-fairs

(Please keep all submissions clean and respectful of all subjects)

SPRING 2016 • 15

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling P.O. Box 859 Enola, PA 17025 www.pacac.org

HARRISBURG PA PERMIT NO. 533

News From the Government Relations Committee Are you interested in learning more about college access and success? Would you like to advocate for your students with state legislators? Then plan to join us for the 2016 College Access Forum and Legislative Action Day, to be held in Harrisburg on May 9th and 10th at the Harrisburg Hilton. There is group rate available; mention the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling when making reservations at the Harrisburg Hilton. Registration for the program is now open at www.PACAC.org and CAP Grants are available to those otherwise unable to attend.

Day one of this year’s event will be structured with panel discussions on each of our legislative priorities: • Access to Quality to School Counseling, • Fighting for a Fair Funding Formula for Public K-12 Education, and • Access to a Rigorous High School Curriculum.

The first day will conclude with a NACAC training on how to conduct a legislative advocacy visit so new and returning participants are armed with knowledge when they speak with their representative the next morning.

In addition, Governor Wolf’s proposed 2016–2017 state budget has been sent to the legislature. He is calling for: • funding for public colleges and universities to be restored to levels seen before 2011–2012 reductions • a 3.3 percent increase in K-12 funding ($200 million dollars more than the $377 million dollars requested in last year’s budget).

With the 2015–2016 budget still not passed, it is difficult to predict the journey of this newly proposed budget.