After I’ve taken a virtual or campus tour, my parents nag me to write a thank you email to admissions counselors. Really? Will it even matter? There are thousands of students sending emails and I don’t know what to say!!

Sound familiar? Well the first thing I’ll say is that especially now during “STAY AT HOME COVID 19”---YES! They want to hear from you!!  So you finished your virtual tour and took some notes (I hope---see my blog on College Virtual Tour Tips/Planner),
what should I write?

1. Did they answer all your questions? Go back and look at my blog Questions to ask on College Virtual Tours (or any live campus tour)...through ZOOM chat, Q&A, student conversations
   
2. Maybe you have a specific question about a major you are interested in or a double major.
   
3. Maybe you would like to talk to a professor or a current student in your major. They would be more than happy to connect you!
   
4. Maybe you have more specific questions about housing or financial aid
   
5. They can’t cover it all and I bet there is something you can think of that pertains to you and wasn’t covered in the session.
   

Keep in mind this is NOT the time to tell them your whole life story, nor write your common app essay! And this is NOT an opportunity to provide your resume with interests and activities.

Here are the steps to writing a short note that’s straight forward and expresses your curiosity and/or interest in their college.

Step 1: Go to the college websites and search for the admissions counselor that represents your local area, like Westchester, Fairfield County, San Fernando Valley. 

Most of the time you will find their name and email address. If you can’t find their personal email, then send it to the director, or maybe a generic email is provided.

Step 2: Subject Line Ideas

• Thanks for a great tour...a couple more questions
  
• Virtual tour follow up
  
• Questions after my virtual tour
  
• Questions about _______________
  
• Enjoyed the tour
  

Step 3: Salutation

• Just promise me you won’t start with Hey, ….!
  
• You don’t necessarily have to start with Dear…
  
• Hello or even Hi is easy and acceptable
  
• You can decide if you want to call them by their first names or not. They are usually pretty casual.
  

Step 4: Short Note that gets to the point: here’s what to include...

• Start by making a general statement that you participated in a virtual tour and the date
  
• State that you are a prospective student---Class of 20_ _
  
• Sentence about why you liked the school
  
• Why is the school a good fit for you...brief statement
  
• List your questions...I’m wondering if...
  

Step 5: Closing Paragraph Ideas

• I appreciate your taking the time to answer my questions
  
• The virtual tour was really helpful and I liked the students' responses to...
  
• I’m interested in ____________
  
• I look forward to meeting you on campus sometime soon
  
• Stay healthy and safe…
  

Step 6: Sign off Suggestions

• Thank you,
  
• Best,
  
• Thanks again,
  
• Appreciate it,
  

Important Writing Tips to Keep in Mind:

• Check spelling
  
• Check capitalization
  
• Check grammar
  
• Check the spelling of the admissions counselor’s name
  
• Make sure you mention the college associated with the college that this admissions counselor represents and not another school by mistake...it happens!
  
• Do not start every sentence with I I I I...mix it up!
  
• Keep it short and to the point!
  

Here’s an example:

Dear Kelly,

My name is Jack Green and I am a prospective student graduating class of 2021. I just participated in a virtual tour on your website and I’m excited about possibly applying to Purdue in the Fall. Although I’m interested in engineering, I’m not quite sure which specialty and Purdue offers a wide variety of options. While I was watching the tour I had a few questions that I was wondering if you could answer for me. 

1.What percentage of students live on campus?
2. I’m aware that Purdue accepts students within their major and I’m wondering if it is easy to transfer colleges if you decide to change your major?
3. How are housing arrangements assigned?

Thanks for taking the time to answer these for me. I look forward to meeting you sometime soon.
Stay healthy and safe.
Best,
Zach 


For any further help/support with college admissions, please email me:
Terri@thecollegefocus.com
Stay healthy and safe...keep in mind this won’t last forever and you’ll be back on campus soon!












​

Some ZOOM calls are more personal than others, but whatever the format, you can ask questions through chat or Q&A options on your screen. If you’re feeling shy or just not comfortable asking, that’s ok! After your virtual tour, you should follow up anyway with an email to your local college admission’s officer. Let them know you were on the tour, say thanks for providing it, state your interest and ask your questions. If you want some tips on how to write an email to your local admission officers, see my blog: How to Write a Thank You Email to Admissions Counselors

Here’s a list of questions that might be interested in knowing the answer to from the school you are “visiting”:  

Academic/Admissions Questions:

1. Will I have to be accepted into a major or accepted to the university/college?
   
2. How hard is it to transfer majors?
   
3. Is there support when transferring majors?
   
4. What if I’m undecided?
   
5. Can I double major?
   
6. Will I have to take a language here?
   
7. Can you tell me about advisors? 
   
8. What kind of support does the Career Center provide? 
   
9. Will I be assigned an advisor from the career center as well?
   
10. Does the Career Center help with internships/job fairs?
    
11. If you are test optional, will you look at my application any differently?
    
12. If you use a holistic approach, can you tell me what that means for you?
    
13. Do you superscore both the SAT and ACT?
    
14. What if my school is Pass/Fail for the semester and I don’t get grades.  
    
15. Do you think you will get tired of reading essays about COVID19?
    
16. Are there supplemental essays or questions?
    
17. Do you think interviews will play more of a role this year?
    
18. Can you tell me about auditions? 
    

Financial Aid/Scholarship/Finances:

1. Do you use CSS profile in addition to FAFSA?
   
2. How do I apply for merit scholarships?
   
3. If I don’t receive work study, is it easy to find jobs on campus?
   

COVID19 Questions:

1. What are the factors you are considering to make a decision about resuming classes on campus?
   
2. What type of precautions are you considering to put in place?
   
3. Are you freezing tuition for upcoming terms?
   
4. Is scholarship money less available now?
   
5. What if I’m in a situation where we are asked to leave campus and I don’t live locally?
   

Academic Help:

1. What kind of tutoring is available on campus?
   
2. Can I get accommodations if I’ve had them in high school?
   
3. Are professors understanding of any accommodations needed?
   

Housing Questions:

1. Is housing promised to all freshmen?
   
2. How does roommate selection work?
   
3. Where do students live after?
   
4. What kind of Living Communities are available? When and how do I apply?
   
5. Are there varying prices depending on the type of housing I choose?
   
6. What are food options on and off campus?
   

Activities/Social life on Campus: 

1. Where is the health center located and what services are offered?
   
2. What is the fitness center like and what types of classes are offered?
   
3.  Where are students from--% of instate for public universities
   
4. What is the percentage of students that go home on the weekends?
   
5. What do students do on the weekends?
   
6. What is the percentage of students who belong to Greek Life? Is there Fall rush? Spring rush?
   
7. What other activities, clubs are offered around campus?
   

Ask your Student Tour Guide/Other Current Students:

1. Which schools did you apply to, where did you get in, why did you choose here?
   
2. What do you like about your major?
   
3. Have you studied abroad?
   

Jot Down Other Questions:



For any further help/support with college admissions, please email me:
Terri@thecollegefocus.com
Stay healthy and safe...keep in mind this won’t last forever and you’ll be back on campus soon!




 

​

​I think it’s Wednesday and I think it’s Week 7 where I find myself reaching out to juniors, checking in to see how their college searches are going. And the response---it’s hard to get motivated! Another common response---it’s just not the same as feeling it, walking through campus. No, virtual tours definitely are not the same as standing around each university’s mascot where you touch your hand on that special statue bringing you “good luck.” No, you may not have that dreamy moment of  looking out into campus and seeing yourself---or not---walking to your next class with your new best friend. What I have said to my junior students, virtual tours can’t replace the physical visit, but let’s go back to my original advice on the day we first met.

Pandemic or not--it’s not necessary to see all 12+ schools on your college wish list! Together we categorize schools that are similar and plan our tours according to their size, major, vibe, location or other important factors to you. We select those that are reasonable to see and compare to others in the category through online research. Some of these include:

Niche.com:     https://www.niche.com/
Campusreel: https://www.campusreel.org/
Collegedata: https://www.collegedata.com/

I can’t stress enough how important it is to first research your schools before you decide to visit--virtually or in person. On a good day, tours are a time consuming process and it can feel overwhelming or drain energy that you and your family need for work and homework---now and  especially during these challenging times. Once you’ve established your college list that is  balanced in reach (good possibilities, maybe schools, challenge schools), then it’s time to start prioritizing the ones you need to tour (and hopefully by that time, we’ll know more about COVID19).

My style is to help break a process down step by step and make it feel more manageable. Get organized and set up a plan for your virtual tours. It’s easier to visualize and follow through when you have a plan rather than just making a random list in your brain...really this will reduce your stress in 6 easy steps!

Scroll down to your College Virtual Visit Planner and get started!
Step 1:  Important College Factor List--my school must haves: Make a list of what’s important to you and how you visualize your college experience. If you need help here, reach out to me and we can talk through this.

Step 2: Start your College Virtual Visit Planner...see below!
Based on your College Must Haves, make a list of 10 schools.
​
My goal is to complete ___ schools (let’s say 1-2 per week) by: ________________(give a reasonable date---like 5 weeks from now!)

Step 3: Go to each of their websites and sign up for tours/info sessions

Step 4: Prepare a list of questions (See Blog on what questions to ask!)

Step 5: Take notes on your tour
​
Step 6: Send an email to the admissions officer with any questions that you still might have. Make sure your email is written well---check your grammar, spelling, correct capitalization! (See my blog on How to Write a Follow Up Email to Admissions Counselors)
 
See below for a sample and some suggestions...

​Using a tool like this makes a big difference in your ability to stay organized, especially now when there is a disruption in schedule and we are all feeling a little moody or just unmotivated.It helps you stay focused and gives you a sense of accomplishment when you look back at your planner and see the information gained from your virtual visits.
For any further help with your College Virtual Visit Planner and college admission support, please email me:
Terri@thecollegefocus.com
Stay healthy and safe...keep in mind this won’t last forever and you’ll be back on campus soon!
 
 

WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR ME?
  Am I a pretty good reader?                                                                  ACT
  Do I excel at critical thinking?                                                            SAT
 Am I good at reading graphs and charts?                                   ACT
Do I like history?                                                                                         SAT
Do I like science?                                                                                        ACT
Do I have strong vocabulary skills?                                                SAT
Is my math level up to geometry and some trig?                     ACT
Can I handle algebra and data analysis?                                      SAT
 
Time:
Both take about the same amount of time. However, with the new optional writing sections, the SAT is about 10 minutes longer.
 
For reading sections
* SAT allows 13 minutes per passage/answer questions
# ACT allows 8 ½ minutes
 
Did you know that you can apply for Extra Time?
If you have a special need or circumstance, you can apply ahead for additional test taking time. Make a request through your school counselor. Documentation of a learning challenge or special circumstance must be submitted for both the ACT and SAT. In speaking to school counselors and school psychologists, extra time is generally more difficult to obtain from ACT than SAT. SAT is more generous in providing extra time to students with learning challenges and special needs.
 
Test Sections:
* SAT covers reading (science and history are included within some of the readings), English/language, math, optional essay
# ACT covers reading, English, math, and a specific science section, optional essay
 
 
Overall Number of Questions:
ACT has more questions than the SAT
 
Scoring:
*The new SAT is going back to 400-1600
#ACT is 1-36
 
What they test?
Reading/Vocabulary skills
*SAT overall is more challenging language, requires strong skills in evidence support, reasoning skills and analyzing specific details. It does include graphs and charts.
*SAT tests more complex vocabulary and requires the student to use contextual skills to obtain meanings of words.
 
# ACT tests overall reading comprehension and focuses more on the main ideas of passages, some inferencing skills required.
# ACT tests more nuances of words, as they are used in a sentence and they are not as challenging.
 
 
English/Language
* SAT requires some analysis, but covers the same material as the ACT
# ACT focuses on usage (grammar skills) and specific mechanics (punctuation)
 
 
Science
# ACT has a dedicated science section. You don’t necessarily have to be an expert in science, but it does require good reading comprehension skills and skill in reading charts and graphs.
 
Math
* SAT has become more straight forward like the ACT
* SAT has a section that allows you to use a calculator and one that does not
* SAT is focuses heavy on Algebra, data analysis and very little geometry
 
# ACT focuses more on geometry and trig
# ACT allows you to use a calculator, but it is not required nor necessary
 
Writing section is optional for both
*SAT requires the student to read, analyze and write without stating their opinion
# ACT wants the student to analyze and provide their own creative examples and offer their opinion.
 
Test Optional:
Did you know that more and more colleges are choosing to go test optional?
Since some research points to test scores as not a real indicator of college readiness, some colleges have made the decision to do away SAT and ACT scores as part of their application process. Take a look at the list of schools that are test optional...
https://www.fairtest.org/university/optional)
 
Recommendation…
I always recommend that students take a free practice test in both the ACT and SAT at your local prep center and decide which is the best fit given your learning style. With that said, these tests are important and take the test that you score higher on and more importantly---that you are comfortable sitting for!

If you’re a junior, you are crazed right now! Maybe some of you have finished AP or IB tests. With finals coming up, you may even have that end of the year project or essay to write. Once this is over, you can relax---you made it through your toughest year!

Ok, but before you gear up for summer, go to your College TO DO LIST!!!!

ASK 2-3 TEACHERS TO WRITE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
​
When to ask: NOW before school is out and you can get on top of their list
Who to ask: Core academic teachers
How to ask:  

1. Approach your teacher after class or after school (a time when they are not busy and have the time to listen to you!)
2. Yes, put yourself out there and ask face to face! 
3. You can follow up with an email after and tell them why you asked them and remind them a bit about your class and high school experiences.

Choose a teacher who…

• you know well 
• you just enjoyed their class and their teaching style
• took a special interest in you
• knows your personality
• understands your learning style
• knows your accomplishments
• will take the time to include specific detail about your skills and not just that you are a good student
• even if you didn’t get an A, this teacher saw that you were a hard worker and will write about your motivation and determination
• you know will write you a positive and honest letter 

Follow up:

• Check and make sure letters are written by early fall and ready to send out with your college applications! Send reminders to teachers if necessary.
• Don’t forget to email each teacher a thank you note to show your appreciation for taking the time to help you!

Contact us for help or any questions you might have…

1. Attend Freshman Orientation/Register for Fall Classes
*Check for early summer orientation/class registration. Some schools offer a few different choices to attend and some schools simply have freshman orientation the week before the start of school.
*Check your email for class registration updates from your college!

2. Send in your FINAL Transcript
*Some students are a bit surprised to learn that they are REQUIRED to send in final transcripts to your colleges.
*If you haven’t already, make a request through NAVIANCE.

3. Set Up Accommodations on campus ASAP
*I encourage my students and families if they haven’t already to send in documentation of your learning disabilities.
*Email a counselor in student support on campus and set up some time to speak on the phone or set up a face to face meeting.

4. Check with Housing for your MOVE IN Dates
*Some students require early move in so request it now!
*Check your email over the summer for dorm information and updates

5. Stay in touch with your new roommate(s) over the summer
*Who's bringing the TV, renting the refrigerator or microwave, bringing a rug???

Other reminders…particularly for students going long distance!
Book flights and hotels early!

• For some of my students going long distance, I recommend booking flights and hotels now for move in weekend. Hotels, especially in small college towns are sometimes few and far between and all book up quickly.
• I recommend that parents book flights and/or hotel for parents’ weekend since that also books up fast!  
• I highly recommend that parents book flights home for Thanksgiving ahead to avoid the surprise of high fares.

 
Bed Bath & Beyond Pack and Hold

• I like to remind students who are especially going long distance to use Bed Bath & Beyond’s Pack and Hold Service.
• ​Finally, a chance to have fun selecting all your dorm needs ahead of time and pick it up in your college town.
• They offer a 20% discount on your purchase.
• Check out their website!

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/page/College