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Sponsored by kaptest.com/college.![]() | Trends in College Admissions While you've been finishing up your summer and getting back into the rhythm of high school, you probably haven't spent much time reading all that's happened in the College Admissions world. But October is the right time to start working on you college admissions plan, and being aware of the trends in the admissions can help guide you. Here's a quick summary of what's made the news and how it may effect you. From The College Board: The 2006 College-Bound Seniors Report shows the most significant decline in SAT test scores in 31 years, with the biggest drop (-5 points) in the critical reading section. What this means for you: - The changes to the Critical Reading section—dropping the more abstract skills-based analogies and adding the more concrete analytical skills-based reading comprehension questions—have made the test more difficult.
- Students who took the PSAT in both their sophomore and junior years scored a combined 233 points higher than students who did not take the PSAT at all, and students who only took the PSAT their junior year scored an average of 127 points higher than non-PSAT test takers.
The bottom line: To be ready for this test you need to practice! Whether you prepare with a formal test prep program, study guides and books, or online exercises, Kaplan has a solution that will help you get the score you need. From ACT, Inc.: Although traditionally heavily offered in the Midwest, the number of ACT test takers continues to grow nationwide, with the largest increases coming from Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey. Nearly all 4-year schools accept either the ACT or SAT. - For the first time, over 1.2 million students took the ACT, and more colleges are accepting the ACT as an alternate to the SAT.
- 36% of ACT-tested 2006 grads elected to take the Writing Test and over half of 4-year colleges/universities required or recommended that students submit writing scores for Fall 2006 admission.
The bottom line: Before registering for either test, find out which one is right for you. You should check with each college you're interested in applying for their requirements, try a few practice tests for both exams (such as our free SAT/ACT combo test) to understand the test structure and question types, and consult with your guidance counselor about which plays up your strengths. From colleges and universities: There was a variety of news coming from colleges and universities over the past few months. - Several top schools dropped their early admissions programs, to increase diversity of their applicant pool, decrease pressure on high school applicants, and simplify the admissions process. Among the schools dropping the option: Harvard, Princeton, University of Virginia, and the University of Delaware. However, the trend seems to be only among the most competitive schools. The majority of schools are continuing their early decision programs for now.
- Newsweek's 2007 How to Get Into College announced "The 25 New Ivies". The nation's elite schools now include more than Harvard or Yale as the competition increases for top students. The list, based on admissions statistics, faculty, student, and alumni interviews, shows that students have more options than ever for a world class education.
The bottom line: Getting a top class college education is possible, if you do your research and follow a detailed plan. Being aware of the changes is one part of the process. You should also begin to regularly check college admissions guides and websites to make sure you're on top of all the options available. To stay on top of the admissions process, sign up for our free online College Admissions Planner, which features: - A School Tracker to capture each of your school's deadlines and interview and application submission dates
- An Essay Builder and tip sheet to trigger a stream of topics and ideas on essay structure—exactly what you should start focusing on after selecting colleges for application
- An Interview Insider guide written by our team of former admissions officers. It will ease your concerns about the interview and help you ace it!
- A Thank You Letter Generator to help you draft winning correspondence to all college contacts
- A monthly timeline with a month-by-month checklist to keep you on track for admission
The planner is free—and you can use it for three years! Whether you're a Sophomore dreaming about college or a Senior writing your essays, the Admissions Planner will put time on your side. Learn more about the planner and sign up to get three free years of access. |  | | | | | |  | Admissions |  | | | | Enjoy Your Winter Break: Start Your Applications Now If you're applying to college this year, you know that admissions deadlines are fast approaching. Early Decision deadlines for some colleges are as close as November 1. Although Regular Decision deadlines are later, with many falling in January, it's important not to wait until December to start your applications. Many college applicants fall into the trap of waiting for Winter Break to begin their applications. On the surface, it might seem like a good idea; with classes in recess, you'll have a lot of free time. But who wants to be stuck at home tackling your essay on the person who has had the most significant impact on you while all your friends are out at the mall? Starting your essays can seem like a daunting task, but you'll find it much easier to write when you've got plenty of time to consider. The best essays are left alone for a day, then revisited. This is a luxury you can't afford when you're madly dashing one off to beat a deadline. Still staring at that blank piece of paper? Consider freewriting to beat writer's block. Set a time limit of, say, 15 minutes, and choose a topic. Your essay topic would work nicely—but don't limit yourself. Most schools give you a choice of several essays. Try picking one that you wouldn't have picked otherwise. What do you have to lose? You might unearth something new that makes a good essay. With a topic in mind, start the clock and go: Write down everything you think of without stopping. Don't judge anything that comes out. Just let pen flow over paper for your specified time period. When you're done, take a look back at what you've written. See if there are any thoughts in there that might develop into an essay. If not, try a different topic, or a different method. Some people find that linear writing is too restrictive and choose to draw idea maps instead. Whatever you choose, know that having time on your side will make the process that much easier.
| | | Back to Top | | | | | | | Upcoming Test Dates | | | | | PSAT - October 18, 2006
- October 21, 2006
See your guidance counselor for information about the PSAT and to register for either date. SAT
| Exam Date | Registration Deadline | Late Registration Period | | Oct. 14, 2006 | Sep. 12, 2006 | Sep. 13-20, 2006 | | Nov. 4, 2006 | Sep. 29, 2006 | Sep. 30-Oct. 11, 2006 | | Dec. 2, 2006 | Nov. 1, 2006 | Nov. 2-9, 2006 | | Jan. 27, 2007 | Dec. 20, 2006 | Dec. 21-Jan. 4, 2007 |
ACT
| Exam Date | Registration Deadline | Late Registration Period | | Oct. 28, 2006 | Sep. 22, 2006 | Sep. 23-Oct. 6, 2006 | | Dec. 9, 2006 | Nov. 3, 2006 | Nov. 4-16, 2006 | | Feb. 10, 2007^ | Jan. 5, 2007 | Jan. 6-19, 2007 |
^This test date not available in the state of New York.
| | | | Back to Top | | | | | | Campus Visit | | | | | Washington University in St. Louis
Location: St. Louis, MO
Website: wustl.edu
U.S. News Rank: 12
Number of Undergraduates: 7,466
Application Deadline: January 15
Application fee: $55
Tuition and Fees: $33,788
Room and Board: $10,452
Washington University has an international reputation for academic excellence. Students enjoy an accessible faculty renowned for scholarly, creative, and research achievements. At this medium-sized university, students have the complete academic resources and extracurricular opportunities of a large university, as well as all the support they need to explore and develop your interests. Undergraduates choose annually from 1,500 courses and more than 90 programs. Students can pursue a single or double major, earn two degrees, or create their own major. Students can also participate in faculty research as early as their freshman year. This genuinely friendly place reflects Washington University's Midwestern location. Students will quickly see and feel this attitude among faculty and fellow students alike. Some say that Wash U's combination of academic excellence and a supportive atmosphere is what sets it apart.
| | | | | Back to Top | | | | | | What's New at Kaptest.com | | | | | | | | | | Get 2 free college admissions books in October! October is the time to work on your college admissions plan. Now is the time to start prepping for the upcoming SAT and ACT fall or winter tests! Kaplan's comprehensive courses can help you build the confidence and skills you need to score higher—guaranteed.** And when you enroll in a Kaplan Classroom Course or Private Tutoring program by October 31, 2006, you'll get two of Kaplan's best student guides—free!† They'll help you get into your dream college...and help you figure out how to pay for it: - 101 Ways to Be a Perfect College Applicant is a fun, easy-to-read guide with practical tips to make the application process less stressful.
- Scholarships: Billions of Dollars in Free Money for College is a comprehensive reference book that helps identify free money to offset the expense of a college education—regardless of area of study, school type or choice, or location.
Don't miss this limited-time offer!
Enroll today by calling 1-800-KAP-TEST or visiting kaptest.com/freebooks. |
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| | | *PSAT/NMSQT is a trademark jointly owned by the College Entrance Examination Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation which were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product. ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc.
**Conditions and restrictions apply. For complete guarantee eligibility requirements, visit kaptest.com/hsg. The Higher Score Guarantee applies only to Kaplan courses taken and completed within the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and France.
†This offer applies only to PSAT, SAT, and ACT Classroom or Private Tutoring Programs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. To be eligible, you must enroll between October 3, 2006, and October 31, 2006.
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