Harvard University Produces Wealthy Alumni

August 3, 2019August 7, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

It’s college admissions time for rising seniors and I am now hearing from parents, high school guidance counselors and independent educational counselors state that it doesn’t matter where you attend college, as long as where you attend is a “good fit”.

Based on the fact that we live in a capitalistic and democratic society where money, prestige, status and brand matter, I disagree with this opinion. I published two blogs on this subject two years ago. Does It Really Matter Where You Attend College? Absolutely! (2017) Intellectual Wealth and Education (2017)

According to The University Ultra High Net Worth Alumni Rankings 2019, a recent study by Wealth-X, a leading global wealth information, research-intelligence and insight firm that tracks global wealth, there is a direct relationship between where you attended college and wealth. The study is based on research on wealth estimated wealth of (Ultra-High-Net-Worth (UHNW) alumni by alma mater.

Six out of eight Ivy League universities were featured in the top 20 list of U.S. universities for UHNW alumni. Each of the top 20 global universities on the ranking had at least 2,000 UHNW alumni, and the top five had more than 3,000. Ultra-high-net-worth is defined by Wealth-X as those with a net worth of greater than $30 million.

According to the most recent rankings, Harvard has more than 13,650 estimated UHNW alumni worth $4.769 trillion.

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“We provide our clients access to our specialized knowledge!” – Dr. Paul Lowe

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. The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges, Dr. Lowe 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.

Hiring An Educational Consultant: What’s Your Price?

July 11, 2019July 11, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

From time to time, parents who inquire about our services first ask: “What’s your price?” before even asking what we do and our success rate.

It’s obvious from this question that they are shopping for the cheapest price, not the best service. I imagine that these parents would ask the same question, considering the cheapest price and not quality service, to a pediatric surgeon, a tax attorney, a financial advisor or perhaps a vendor in an open market place.

Hiring an independent private admissions advisor is an academic investment in a child’s future, not an expense – It’s priceless.

If a parent is willing to make the choice to shop for the cheapest price then they should be willing to accept that this choice is the reason why their child was REJECTED from their top choice private/boarding school or college. Remember the adage: “You get what you pay for”.

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“We provide our clients access to our specialized knowledge!” – Dr. Paul Lowe

The College Admissions Landscape Has Changed Again: Adversity Score

July 1, 2019August 6, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

The College Board, the New York based nonprofit that oversees the SAT, plans to assign an adversity score to every student who takes the SAT to try to capture their social and economic backgrounds. This fall, 100 colleges and universities will join the 50 colleges (which include Harvard, Yale, Cornell and University of Michigan) already utilizing this new metric designed to place students’ SAT scores in the context of their socioeconomic advantages or disadvantages.

This adversity score is calculated using 15 environmental factors that influence a student’s home and school life – including the neighborhood’s crime rate and poverty levels, the community’s average educational attainment, housing values, and vacancies. While students won’t see, know or be told their scores, colleges will see the numbers when reviewing their applications.

What does this mean for rising seniors? The college admissions landscape has changed again. Colleges will have an objective tool that will not just consider a student’s race, but their socio-economic class in making admissions decisions. To be clear, colleges and universities have considered socioeconomic factors previously; but the pilot study of this method using the adversity score has accelerated the inclusion of lower income and minority students. Admissions will be even more competitive!

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“We provide our clients access to our specialized knowledge!” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Dr Lowe Visits Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

June 26, 2019June 26, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

In June, Dr. Lowe visited The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Dr. Lowe and his team of admissions advisors visit Ivy League, prestigious and elite colleges several times annually, where they have the unique opportunity of interacting one-on-one with directors of admissions and senior admissions personnel.

Dr_Lowe_Katherine_Sharkey_Brown_Women_in_Medicine_Brown_University_PLME2019 — Dr. Lowe with Katherine Sharkey, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Women In Medicine and Science at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (also known as PLME) combines the undergraduate education and medical school in a single 8-year program.

At BS/MD Admissions Advisors, our co-managing director, Dr. Nadine Cartwright-Lowe is a graduate of the Brown PLME program and a licensed internist.

Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME): Of the 2,641 applicants, 94 students were admitted to PLME, an eight-year program leading to both a bachelor’s degree and an M.D. from Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School.

Dr_Lowe_Medical_Building_Brown_PLME — Dr. Lowe in the lobby of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group network. He and his team of admissions advisors, through the admissions affiliate, BS/MD Admissions Advisors, help high school students get accepted to BS/MD programs. Summer Camp: BS/MD Application Boot Camp.

College Admissions is not a Crapshoot

June 3, 2019June 7, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

From time to time, I hear parents state that college acceptance to Ivy League and highly selective colleges and universities is a “crapshoot”. Our clients enjoy a different experience with positive outcomes!

My team and I know that our knowledge, insight, experience, forward-thinking and our ability to understand our clients, as well as the intricate expectations of each school and their admissions committees in real-time and forward-time contribute to “beating the odds”.

Students (and their parents) who attempt to formulaically systematize the admissions process based on generic or ill advice generally end up among the 90% or more of applicants who are REJECTED.

Dr_Paul_Lowe_Beating_the_odds — Dr. Paul Lowe demonstrating that college admissions is not about rolling dice.

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

College Admissions: How will You Differentiate Yourself from the Crowd

May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

I am often asked the question by parents during my seminars how can my child differentiate themselves in the competitive admissions process to get admitted to their dream school.

There are 7 factors that you can control to this end:

Common Application
Personal Statement
Supplemental Essays
Letters of Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
WOW Factor
Hire a college admissions expert who knows the changing policies, politics and diplomacy in admissions.

If you don’t differentiate yourself from the crowd, you will be among 41,350 students who were rejected from Harvard (43,330 applied, 1950 accepted), or, the 36, 123 students rejected from Brown (38,674 applied, 2,551 accepted) or rejected (34,665 rejected from Yale (36,843 applied, 2,178 accepted.

It’s actually that simple!

Dr_Paul_Lowe_Ivy_League_Admissions_Expert_Advice — You need to hire a high-end college admissions expert who understands the **holistic approach and review process** and the **committee-based review process** when evaluating applicants for admissions. And an expert who knows the changing **policies, politics and diplomacy in admissions**.

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Dr. Paul Lowe Visits Barnard College

May 27, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

In May, I visited Barnard College on a beautiful spring day. Barnard is a small liberal arts college located in the Upper west side, in New York City. It is directly across the street from Columbia University. I spoke with several students and the consensus was that Barnard is a tight knit community where most people know others in their class, or at least know who you are.

Dr_Paul_Lowe_Barnard_College_on_Broadway — Dr. Lowe at Barnard College – Broadway main gates.

Barnard is the best of both worlds; it has a small college feeling, but is also within a large university.

Dr_Lowe_Barnard_College_Greek_Games_Statue — Dr. Lowe within Barnard College campus – Barnard Greek Games statue

I consider Barnard the ninth Ivy League. Barnard College graduates receive Columbia University degrees! Year after year, we have clients who have been accepted to Barnard. I met 3 of my clients who are currently students at Barnard. They just love it!

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

10 Best Colleges in New Jersey in 2018

May 24, 2019May 25, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

I visit several New Jersey colleges and universities annually. There is a perfect college or university in New Jersey for all those seeking to further their academic careers. I find that they are diverse in nature based on academic rigor, campus size and admissions policies.

Each year, Money magazine ranks college and universities. Money ranked 727 of the best colleges based on quality of education, affordability and outcomes. And while the usual elite, highly selective institutions topped the list, 21 New Jersey colleges made the cut. Only Drew University was left off the list.

Here are the top ten best colleges in New Jersey along with their overall Money magazine ranks.

Princeton University (#1)
The College of New Jersey (#35)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick (#65)
Ramapo College of New Jersey (#113)
Stevens Institute of Technology (#153)
Montclair State University (#164)
Rowan University, Glassboro (#182)
College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown (#193)
New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark (#199)
Stockton University, Galloway (#218)

As an “elite/veteran” member of New Jersey Association for College Admissions Counseling, I continually visit New Jersey colleges and universities to ensure that our clients are aware of the changing campus environment and admissions policies at each individual institution.

Dr_Lowe_Larry_Alterman_NJACAC_Atlantic_City_resize_600 — Dr. Lowe and Larry Alterman, 2019 NJACAC President at the NJACAC Annual Conference in Atlantic City, May 20, 2019

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Dr. Lowe Visits Harvard College

May 16, 2019May 24, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

In May, I visited Harvard College. This is my third visit to Harvard College this year. Each visit, I have the opportunity to meet professors and admissions personnel and talk about the college. I met several students on the Harvard Yard and they were friendly and modest. I sensed that they knew that they would be the future world leaders.

This year, Harvard’s acceptance rate was a record-low 4.5 percent. For the Class of 2023 with 1,950 of the 43,330 applicants. This year marks the fifth consecutive application cycle in which the percentage of accepted applicants has decreased.

What does this mean for rising seniors (this year’s juniors)?

If Harvard is your first choice, it’s getting even harder to get accepted.

My recommendation?

Applicants will need an expert college admissions advisor who:

has the experience and expertise in working with applicants who are applying to Ivy League colleges and universities.
continually visits colleges and universities.
understands how to efficiently and appropriately advise applicants.
understands the admissions policies and what admissions officers are looking for.
spends time with applicants brainstorming and implementing admissions strategies.
guides applicants through the minefields of the Common Application, personal statements and supplemental/short answer essays.

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

New Report Indicates That Many Public High School Students Lack Quality College Counseling

High school Counselor overwhelmed Dr Paul Lowe Admissions Advisor

April 25, 2019April 29, 2019 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

In my blog. “High School Guidance/Counselors/College Admissions: Big Caseloads and Little Time“, I discussed the challenging demands of high school guidance and college admissions. Since then, a new report has indicated that public high school students lack quality college counseling.

The Hechinger Report states that “many public high schools are scrambling to provide students with even basic information about college after years of belt tightening have drained them of counselors. As a result, “support is scant” for most students: “Counselors are overwhelmed and college guidance often doesn’t begin until late in junior year.”

The American School Counselor Association recommends a student-to-school counselor ratio of 250-to-1. The most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that most states are significantly higher ratio. The only states with lower rates are Wyoming (225), New Hampshire (220) and Vermont (225). These ratios demonstrate that guidance counselors are overwhelmed and do not have the time to provide adequate college counseling in an increasingly competitive college admissions environment.

Year after year, my team and I discover that even in public high schools in “affluent” suburban areas, their guidance departments are overwhelmed. They not only spend the majority of their time on school activities unrelated to college admissions, but also are unable to provide personalized, one-to-one college admissions counseling to each student. In the Northeast, we have seen this trend in such counties as Fairfield (CT), Westchester (NY), Northern New Jersey, and Nassau (Long Island).

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe