Today I attended the CSU counselor conference to get the latest updates for the 23 California State University Campuses. There is good news within the CSU, 4-year graduation rates are on the rise and programs such as SB-1450, The California Promise, offer enhanced advising and other support to help students graduate in four years. http://ticas.org/keeping-californias-promise. Campus impaction continues at many schools which can make getting in more difficult. Impaction means there are more applicants than seats, this can be campus wide, or program specific. The campuses with all programs impacted include: San Diego State, San Jose State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton, and Cal State Long Beach. The California State University system was created to serve the top third of California students and that bar keeps getting higher. A sneak preview into the future promises an updated application with a new name, Cal State Apply, coming Fall of 2018. The current application, CSU Mentor, https://secure.csumentor.edu/logon.asp will open on October 1st and close November 30th.
Dates & DeadlinesEarly, Regular, Rolling As October 1st approaches the college application process takes on a new urgency. If students did not take advantage of their summer to start their college apps, they need to do so now. With the advent of online applications, students are able to apply to numerous schools, each with different application platforms. Here are some tips, mistakes to avoid, and common questions that arise this time of year: Schools have different application deadlines:
The application deadline also depends which decision time frame you apply under. You should have a plan for whether or not you are applying early, (not all schools offer the early option.) Here is what you need to know:
Know What Schools Want It is important to send only what the schools are asking for, when they ask for it. Some schools want transcripts sent right away. Other schools will ask for transcripts later. Some want letters of recommendation, some do not. You must have your test scores sent after you self-report on your application. Admissions offices want and need students to send the appropriate documents at the appropriate times. You don’t want to annoy the admissions officers at your dream school do you? Be Truthful! It might be tempting to enhance your application or leave something off that you’d rather forget. Colleges have been known to rescind acceptances when transcripts or other information do not line up with what you have reported. If you make an honest mistake, or change a planned course, call the admissions office ASAP so they can note it in your file. Colleges do not like surprises! Check Your Status After you submit your application, you should receive a confirmation with instructions to set up a portal for each school. These need to be checked frequently as the schools will ask for documents or further information from you. If you do not hear back from a college you think you applied to, call and make sure they received your application. (Yet another reason not to wait until the deadline!) More tips in my next blog: if you have a question you’d like me to cover, please submit it through the contact form on this website. Click Here. |
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