College Transfer Admissions Tips

January 29, 2018 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

The college application season begins to draw to a close (decisions for competitive schools are being released in late March), one would believe that everything is slowing down. But actually, we are in the throes of the college transfer season! Many college freshmen and sophomores, after a semester or so, have already decided that they need to transfer to another college. Throughout the years, I have encountered many students who wish to transfer. It is now becoming a growing trend. In our practice, we are increasingly even seeing students who are making the decision to transfer while in their first semester, freshman year. Here are some of the main reasons I see why students decide to transfer:

They are unhappy: Why remain in an environment for four years where you will be unhappy and miserable – and pay tuition, room and board that will cost you (or your parents) $200,000 – $250,000.
Fresh start: For time to time, a student may have faced unexpected challenges, disciplinary actions at a college and they need a new college environment
Institutional prestige: You may be attending your safety school and you want a second shot or you were discouraged from applying to your dream school. In any case, you desire what we call an UPGRADE.
Pre-graduate school preparation: Your current college may not have a strong pre-law, pre-med or pre-business program needed for graduate school admissions preparation or employment.

Whatever reason you may have for transferring, the bottom line is that you need to develop an effective action plan to transfer. Here are ten tips for prospective college transfer students:

Obtain your high school transcript: As a transfer applicant, colleges like to see your official high school and college transcripts.
Obtain college letters of recommendations: What professors have known you and can write you a meaningful letter of recommendation?
Common App Transfer Application: Colleges use the Common App. Take it seriously and be mindful of deadlines and required supporting documents. Colleges have different policies for transfer students.
Transfer Essays: College transfer applicants must write meaningful and convincing essays to transfer into their top-choice school. The main essay: What are your reasons for transferring? Watch out for the school-specific supplementals!
Provide a current college transcript: Grades matter! What are your current academic courses?
Standardized tests: If you have taken standardized tests make sure that you report them on your Common App.
Extracirricular activities: In what school organizations are you involved? Are you involved in activities outside of school?
Disciplinary actions: If for any reason, no matter how minor, you had a disciplinary action while in college, it’s best (and honest) to report it on your Common App. under Family Educational Rights and privacy Act (FERPA), your current college can disclose your school records, without your consent to other schools to which you are transferring.
Research and visit your target schools: It’s important to research as many schools as possible, develop of a short list and visit schools on this list.
Consider seeking professional, expert advice: Why? In my professional experience, I find that prospective transfer students need to develop individualized, effective transfer plans and implement them. As a transfer student, you no longer have the assistance of your public high school guidance or private high school college counselor. You will need an educational consultant who specializes in college transfer admissions. You’re basically on your own in a process that is even more competitive than when you applied to college the first time!

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs. He also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college: College Transfer Admissions Advisors.

Do Admissions Officers Consider Diversity In College Admissions?

January 26, 2018January 27, 2018 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Diversity in college admissions: Colleges are looking for cultural, intellectual and meta-cognitive diversity in their classes as well as students who can relate to diverse populations. Colleges accept classes not just great students. They are seeking students who understand and appreciate other races cultures and ethnicities. With regard to diversity, admissions committees ask the following questions: Can the applicant co-exist in our diverse community of different students who are global thinkers? Does the applicant profile demonstrate a lack of a diversity experience? Has the applicant meaningfully interacted with people outside of their socio-economic, cultural and ethnic norms? It has been my observation that college admissions officers and deans of admissions behave like forensic investigators; they analyze and assess how, why and when dots are connected.

Colleges want talented, intellectually engaged students who will be meaningful contributing members of a diverse incoming class and future alumni who will be their global ambassadors. They do not seek students who are “unique just like everyone else” in their respective communities. In my experience, applicants who are accepted are those who can standout and lucidly articulate their achievements, goals and personalities and project themselves in a positive light to a committee of six to ten diverse people!

In my firm, which consists of a culturally, ethnically and racially diverse team, we truly appreciate and understand this emphasis, and we innately embrace the meaning and value of standing out and apply it to the competitive admissions process. Our “Diversity Competitive Advantage” translates to successful admissions results for our clients!

Top U.S. Private High Schools with the Highest Percentage of Graduates Accepted To Ivy League Universities

Top U.S. Private High Schools with the Highest Percentage Graduates of Accepted To Ivy League Universities Dr Paul Lowe

January 20, 2018January 27, 2018 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Did you ever wonder why parents pay as high as $60,000 a year for private high school? Did you ever wonder why the private school admissions process in Manhattan is so hyper-competitive?

I am always surprised in my college admissions seminars at parents who assume that it really doesn’t matter where their kids attend school when their kid is interested in Ivy League colleges.

As many parents suspect, the path to Ivy League acceptance is most successfully traveled via exclusive, elite private schools. College counselors at private schools spend more time and resources to guide students on this journey. Furthermore, Ivy League universities recruit heavily from these high schools because of long standing and historical relationships, as well as the fact that they view students as potentially successful in their institution, having already competed to gain entrance into and demonstrated success with the curriculum in their respective private schools.

Although public high schools now account for approximately half of the admissions to Ivy League universities, when you examine the per-school percentage, private high students still have a have a competitive advantage and edge. According to a study conducted by Worth magazine, 94 of the top 100 Ivy League feeder schools were private high schools.

Here is a list of the top 14 private high schools that send the greatest percentage of students to the Ivies.

Trinity School – NY, NY: 40%
Collegiate School – NY, NY: 40%
Brearley School – NY, NY: 37%
Horace Mann School – Bronx, NY: 36%
Roxbury Latin School – West Roxbury, MA: 36%
Phillips Academy Andover – Andover, MA: 33%
The Spence School – NY, NY: 33%
The Winsor School – Boston, MA: 31%
The Dalton School – NY, NY: 31%
St. Paul’s School – Concord, NH: 30%
Chapin School – NY, NY: 30%
Harvard-Westlake School – Los Angeles, CA: 30%
Phillips Exeter Academy – Exeter, NH: 29%
The College Preparatory School – Oakland, CA: 29%

As you see, the average acceptance rate for these elite private high schools to the Ivies is approximately 33%. For public high schools, even those located in coveted suburban towns, the rate is on average 2%. For parents who want their kids to get into the Ivies, they may want to consider one of the top private schools or may alternatively consider a specialized college admissions consultant who has expert knowledge of the Ivy League admissions process.

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group’s Private School Admissions Advisors. Dr. Lowe specializes in providing exclusive concierge-type admissions advisory services for U.S. and international students who are interested in applying to top U.S. boarding and day schools. Dr. Lowe helps U.S. and international students gain admissions into top U.S. private schools even after they have been wait-listed and rejected. Dr. Lowe and his team of admissions advisors also visit prestigious and elite private schools, where they have the unique opportunity of interacting one-on-one with heads of schools, directors of admissions and senior admissions personnel. Dr. Lowe provides parents with the knowledge they need to decide where there children should attend and the admissions strategies they need to be admitted into their top-choice school.

Is Diversity Really Needed- In Schools?

January 18, 2018February 3, 2018 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Some people view diversity as a nebulous and intangible descriptor, a court-ordered societal mandate or, in some cases, even unconstitutional. In truth, diversity is an invaluable asset and in the financial sense has an unlimited ROI. We live in a competitive and interconnected global society; not in the small, homogenous and insular communities that many may perceive. Diversity has always been America’s greatest asset! Diversity is a necessary precondition to our democracy and has provided the impetus for engagement in the full kaleidoscope of “American culture”.

In this series: “Is Diversity Really Needed?”, I will address the importance of diversity in (1) Schools – Prek-12th, (2) College Admissions, (3) Business & Commerce, and (4) International Relations.

Diversity in schools (PreK-12^th): Learning in a truly culturally, ethnically, racially, socio-economically and visibly diverse school community is a valuable asset in a global society where local as well as international communication are essential. Does diversity really matter? Does it really matter if a child interacts with another student or a faculty member who is socio-economically, ethnically, culturally and racially different? Perhaps it is not important to some. However, studies show that interacting with others who are different can bring new ideas, benefits and advantages. Diversity improves the way children think. It inspires independent thinking and intellectual risk-taking.

By disrupting conformity and insularity, racial and ethnic diversity prompts and enhances students’ analytical and creative thinking, problem-solving, cultural and communicative intelligences and cognitive development and performance. A diverse school environment, not one of homogeneity and sameness, has been proven by studies to improve the learning environment for children.

Diversity contributes ingenuity, creativity, cognitive friction and intellectual vibrancy to a school community. Schools are entrusted with the responsibility of preparing students for tomorrow’s world. Exposure to different cultures, ethnicities and races and learning to respect them is a formative experience for children in a world where cultures are more than ever interdependent and interconnected. How will an adult interact with different cultures and appreciate other ethnicities and races if he/she has been culturally isolated or developed and learned misconceptions as a child? Diversity precludes cultural-intelligence and competitive disadvantages.

2018 Top 5 U.S. Junior Boarding Schools

January 15, 2018April 16, 2018 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

In my previous blog: “Why Parents Choose Junior Boarding Schools”, I described the features, advantages and benefits of junior boarding school.

Here is a list of the top five U.S. junior boarding schools where the primary focus is boarding:

Rumsey Hall School: Coed – Washington, CT
Eaglebrook School: All-boys – Deerfield, MA
The Fessenden School: All-boys – West Newton, MA
Hillside School: All-boys – Marlborough, MA
Bement School: Coed – Deerfield, MA

Pictured: Ben Tuff, Director of Admissions and Matt Hoeniger, Headmaster, Rumsey Hall School, with Dr. Paul Lowe at Rumsey Hall.

Why Parents Choose U.S. Junior Boarding Schools

January 14, 2018January 17, 2018 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

U.S. junior boarding schools, which are primarily located in New England and New York, are independent elementary and middle schools with a boarding program for middle school students. A few schools take boarders beginning as early as the 3rd grade.

Not all students are required to board. Many choose to return home on weekends. But for students whose homes are outside of the United States, junior boarding schools are a good introduction to the academic setting that exists at New England boarding high schools, and entry to a junior boarding school can lead to acceptance to these schools.

A junior boarding school offers benefits for middle school aged students including but limited to: 24/7 supervision and learning; a myriad of sports and extracirricular activities; development and strengthening of admirable character traits; encouragement of teamwork; and an opportunity for international students to improve their English and cultural skills. In essence, the common philosophy amongst these schools is that they develop students’ academically, athletically, artistically, socially, and ethically.

Junior boarding schools are also identified as “feeder schools” to top boarding high schools, in much the same way that private high schools are considered “feeder schools” to top American colleges. Admissions officers in top boarding high schools expect to see applications from these schools each year, and have established relationships with the secondary-school placement offices at junior boarding schools due to familiarity.

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group’s Private School Admissions Advisors. Dr. Lowe specializes in providing exclusive concierge-type admissions advisory services for U.S. and international families and students who are interested in applying to top U.S. boarding schools and day schools. Dr. Lowe also helps U,S, and international students gain admissions into their top choice private schools after they have been wait-listed and rejected. Dr. Lowe and his team of admissions advisors also visit prestigious and elite private schools where they have the unique opportunity of interacting one-on-one with heads of schools, directors of admissions and senior admissions personnel. Dr. Lowe provides parents with the knowledge they need to decide where their children should attend and the admissions strategies they need to be admitted into their top-choice school.

College Admissions Tips for Art Students

January 11, 2018January 15, 2018 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

High school students who are interested in arts programs or majoring in art in college must prepare for the college admissions process in the same manner as other college-bound students. However, in addition to grades, GPA, extracirricular activities and college applications, they must develop a professional art portfolio. The art portfolio requirements vary at each college so it is essential to contact each college Art department for these specifications.

Here are several useful tips for college-bound art students:

Have your artwork photographed, videotaped, scanned or graphically converted to display in a professional manner.
Show a range of techniques and mastery in the works you choose.
Choose works that show creative thinking and a unique perspective.
Begin developing your portfolio during your junior year so that you may evaluate what works you already have and plan to create works in areas that you are lacking.
Take your works to a professional for critiquing! An art teacher, local artist, art professor or a current art student may be good sources to give your portfolio a trial run.
Since your art portfolio is a part of your college admissions process, you should consider retaining the services of an admissions advisor who has experience in working with art students and understands the philosophy and academic mission of each of your target colleges.

Top All-Boys Private High Schools

January 9, 2018January 31, 2018 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Many parents choose to send their boys to all-boys schools. Research supports the fact boys learn differently than girls and that the fact that these schools focus entirely on boys and are beneficial to their confidence and learning style.

Based on Niche and our research here is a list of top U.S. all-boys private high schools:

Collegiate School – New York, NY
St. Albans School – Washington, D.C.
Brunswick School – Greenwich, CT
Roxbury Latin School – West Roxbury, MA
Belmont Hill School – Belmont, MA
Haverford School – Haverford, PA
Avon Old Farms School – Avon, CT
Delbarton School – Morristown, NJ
The Woodhall School – Bethlehem, CT
St. Marks School of Texas – Dallas, TX
McCallie School – Chattanooga, TN

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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group’s Private School Admissions Advisors. Dr. Lowe specializes in providing exclusive concierge-type admissions services for U.S. and international students who are interested in applying to top U.S. boarding and day schools. Dr. Lowe helps U.S. and international students gain admissions into their top-choice private schools even after they have been waitlisted and rejected. Dr. Lowe and his team of admissions advisors also visit prestigious and elite private schools where they have the unique opportunity of interacting one-on-one with heads of schools, directors of admissions and senior admissions personnel. Dr. Lowe provides parents with the knowledge they need to decide where their children should attend and the admissions strategies they need to be admitted into their top-choice school.

It’s 2018 – Admissions Year

January 5, 2018January 13, 2018 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Welcome to Dr.Paul Lowe’s Admissions Expert Blog – 2018

Parents and students are constantly in the throes of the journey for:

Private School Admissions: The application deadline for the top and competitive day and boarding schools is January 15th.
College Admissions: Early decision and action acceptances, rejection and deferred notices have been sent to students. It’s time for high school seniors to think about what to do next regarding post-decision strategies. Final decisions: March -April. For high school juniors, you’ll be hearing from colleges in 12 months!
Transfer Admissions: Most applications are due in March. Therefore, it’s time to complete applications and most importantly it’s time to complete those personal statements.
BS/MD Admissions: Competition for coveted spots is heightened based on the increased number of applicants last year which was reflected by the number of rejected applicants.
Medical School Admissions: College juniors should begin to draft their personal statements, schedule to take their MCATs no later than May and obtain letter of recommendations.
Law School Admissions: Senior year – If you’re still in college, have your college Registrar submit updated transcript that reflects your Fall semester grades and

obtain confirmation letters/emails that your applications are complete from any remaining law schools.
Graduate School Admissions: Junior year – Start your search on graduate school programs. Once you have conducted your thorough searches for prospective institutions, make an alphabetical list of between 10 and 20 programs, regardless of what you presently know or have heard about them. Write them all down or put them on a spreadsheet.

Each year, admissions policies and strategies change, so stay tuned for my upcoming, informative, helpful and thought-provoking admissions blogs!

Dr. Paul Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs. He also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools.