The college application process seems, if anything, the epitome of having to make difficult choices. High school students and their parents must make many important decisions ranging from which schools to apply to, (Big or small? Florida or Vermont?), to which anecdotes to include in their personal statements (the time I saved that litter of puppies, or my adventures in the Food Service industry?). To add another option to this litany of decisions, students can now choose their scores, in a sense, thanks to the College Board’s Score Choice™ program.

But does Score Choice really make a difference?

Looking back at my own experience with the SAT, I seem to have been precisely the kind of student the College Board is targeting with Score Choice™.  Bereft of any form of test prep, I was ‘fortunate’ enough to take the SAT 4 times, which would have given me many scores from which to choose.  ‘Fortunate’ was the word my parents used, as they forced me to take the SAT for the fourth and final time; I had no choice in the matter.  Though my scores didn’t change between the 3rd and 4th tests, my verbal and quantitative scores switched, leaving me concerned.  Wouldn’t colleges wonder why I had taken the test so many times?  Would college admissions’ officers penalize me?

Fortunately for me, in the real sense of the word, the two main schools to which I applied principally considered my super score, or my best score for each section over all tests I had completed.  It turns out that this personal reflection about my top schools constitutes the answer to our earlier question: the Score Choice™ program is worthwhile and helpful for students who are applying to schools that have adopted Score Choice™.  If so, there exist basically two options: choose which test dates to include in your super score, or the best single-date SAT score you received, depending on which option the desired school prefers.  The official list of cooperating schools, published here by the College Board, includes a fair number of schools, but many prestigious and big-name schools are absent from the list, as many schools choose not to participate in the program.  Furthermore, many of the schools that do subscribe to Score Choice™ are listed as considering only the best scores from each of the three sections on the test, which is exactly what most schools did before Score Choice™.

Though this program does provide more flexibility for some students, the fact that so many schools appear not to be participating reinforces the importance of a personalized approach to the college application process. It is up to students and their parents to find out exactly how the schools they chose consider SAT scores.  My college application experience is typical; I had to personally investigate the options provided by the schools that I wanted to attend.  Also typical of my experience was the clear lack of information and understanding about the college admissions process, and the need for expert help.

Regardless of whether or not the Score Choice™ program will help you, it’s clear that one choice will be easy to make: Kaplan SAT, ACT, and PSAT prep programs will not only increase your scores, but also save you both the time and financial investment of having to take these tests over and over again. Kaplan also provides insider information on these tests and the college admissions process, like how to navigate score choice and the college admission process.

To quote the philosopher Eddie Vedder, of Pearl Jam, if only I had known then what I know now…

Every year, thousands of otherwise intelligent and prudent high school seniors “lose their cool” and fall prey to the college admissions rat race.  They frantically apply to the “best” schools, without ever taking time to find the “right” college.  Between registering for standardized tests, writing essays, and completing college applications, they forget to focus upon the part of the college admissions process most crucial to ensuring their postsecondary happiness and success–the campus visit.  Campus visits allow college-bound students to experience first-hand the offerings of prospective colleges, so that they can make informed decisions as to whether or not each of their target schools is truly a good fit.

This fall is an ideal time during which to visit the schools on your college radar; students have returned, class is in session, and the weather is still mild throughout much of the country. If you can take time out of your hectic fall schedules to plan campus visits, make sure that you follow these five simple rules:

1.    Schedule early. Since tours and appointments tend to fill up quickly, especially during the height of admissions season, schedule a visit with each college’s admissions office at least several weeks prior to arriving on campus.  Upon scheduling your visit, inquire about opportunities to speak with admissions reps, sit in on classes, meet with faculty, talk with current students, and if possible, partake in an overnight experience. It’s important that you take advantage of as many opportunities as possible during your campus visit, so that you’re able to determine if the college is truly right for you.

2.    Request an admissions interview. Admissions interviews are offered by schools which require or recommend that prospective students meet with an admission officer as part of the application process.  Admissions interviews present a wonderful opportunity for you to showcase intangible attributes which cannot be captured in a college application.  Most liberal arts colleges offer admissions interviews, as well as other small-to-midsize schools that have the time and resources to meet individually with prospective students.  It’s important to keep in mind that admissions interviews are evaluative and will be considered in the review of your application.

If offered an admissions interview, request to meet with the admission representative who covers your particular high school and/or region, as he/she will most likely be the one evaluating your application.

Note that due to the large size of their applicant pool, many universities are not able to offer individual admissions interviews.  Instead, these schools offer an information interview or information session, in which a school representative speaks to an individual or group of prospective students about the admissions policies and offerings of his/her respective school.  Unlike the admissions interview, information interviews and information sessions are not evaluative.

3.    Come Prepared. Before your visit, make sure to obtain a copy of your transcript, your student activities resume, and a copy of your standardized test scores (if applicable).  This information will enable your admissions representative to realistically assess your chances for admission, as well as offer any advice that he or she may have on how to improve your application.

During the admissions interview, be prepared to discuss your courses, your extracurricular experiences, and your reasons for applying to the college (be specific).  In addition, come with several questions that will enable you to learn more about the college and simultaneously demonstrate to the admissions rep that you have done your college research.  As a general rule, save questions about meal plans, housing, and social life for the campus tour.

It is also important that you dress appropriately, shake hands, and maintain eye contact throughout your admissions interview; presentation is always key to a successful meeting.  Most importantly, RELAX!  Remember, admissions officers are ordinary people, no different and no more special than the rest of us.

4.    Tour the campus. In addition to the admission or information interview, most colleges offer campus tours.  Campus tours are usually led by current students, who are trained to present on the offerings of their respective schools.  Campus tours provide you an opportunity to visit college facilities (i.e. classrooms, libraries, dorm rooms, cafeteria, etc.) and to ask questions about life at the college, including questions about student clubs, activities, social events, residence life, and the like. Make sure to dress comfortably and be prepared to walk, as campus tours usually cover a lot of ground and time.

5.    Say thanks. Make sure to send a thank you note to those with whom you have met during your campus visit (i.e. admissions rep, tour guide, students, faculty, etc.).  A simple paragraph, which expresses your gratitude and reiterates your interest in the college, will suffice.

Finding the right college(s) is no easy task.  But, if you commit to visiting your prospective schools, while adhering to the above guidelines, you are more likely to discover, and attend, a college that fits who you are, who you want to become, and what you want out of your undergraduate experience.