Tag: College Admissions

7 Huge Mistakes Parents Make in BS/MD Admissions

~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

“Going it alone” in this vast arena of BS/MD admissions can result in mistakes, as applicants are easily blindsided by obstacles and pitfalls that they don’t even know exist. When parents call our office to provide initial information, as I listen to their children’s BS/MD program profile I can almost predict (using trends, predictive analysis and real-time insider perspective of the BS/MD programs) that their child will be REJECTED based on the sameness of their profile.  Yet when I explain to parents that their children sound exactly like other applicants they are in total disbelief.  I have concluded that the children are merely following the advice of their parents and the parents are making costly mistakes. Try to avoid these common errors:

  1. Parental Hubris:  Many parents assume that their skill sets, professional title or socio-economic status and connections can help their children get accepted in the coveted BS/MD spots.  This is a huge mistake!  Their professional skills sets are helpful in finance, medicine, business, technology or research, but when it comes to BS/MD admissions they should leave it to experts who are involved and understand the ever-changing BS/MD admissions process.  The inability to admit that they don’t know what they don’t know could result in REJECTION!
  2. Group Think:  Many parents read the same websites, same books, and talk with the same people in their respective communities, personal and professional circles.  Most or all of the members of the in-group share an illusion of invulnerability that provides for them some degree of reassurance despite obvious dangers and leads them to become overly-optimistic.  Thinking in a group discourages creativity and non-conformity, resulting in everyone appearing the same on paper.  It causes them to fail to respond to obvious and clear admissions mine fields.  As a group, faulty (and sometime irrational decisions and admissions strategies) are reinforced. The result:  increased probability as a group of REJECTION.
  3. Not understanding or accepting demographics:  Many of my clients are of Asian descent (Chinese, Indian, Korean, Filipino and Japanese).  This population, as a group, has been responsible for an increase in applicants by 30% to BS/MD program.  Many parents may not be aware of the increased numbers.  Colleges and their BS/MD programs desire classes that are diverse and demographically reflective of the general population.  No matter which admissions method is used (team approach, character assessment or holistic approach), schools will not accept more of one demographic just because of an increase in the number of applications.  The competition becomes hyper-competitive within a particular demographic.
  4. Procrastination: The BS/MD admissions journey begins in high school freshman year, not during the fall of a student’s senior year.  (See: BSMD Programs – Getting In!)  From time to time parents will call us regarding a high school senior in September or October of their senior year requesting help for BS/MD programs.  It may be difficult to undue mistakes that will result in rejection, although not impossible.  But generally, these parents assume that they have done everything right and are calling to see if they can obtain free advice.  Unfortunately, as they discuss their child’s achievements I can almost predict their student profile.  By procrastinating, they have inadvertently increased the probability of REJECTION.
  5. Misunderstanding Investment vs. Cost:  What’s your child’s future worth?  According to the US Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child for a middle-income family born in 2001-2003 through the age of 18, not including college costs is $224,000 to $227,000 for middle income families and $327,000 to $330,000 for higher incomes.  This does not include private school tuition, summer athletic or music camps, or specialized college summer camps.  When a parent calls us to ask “the price” of our BS/MD admissions advisory services for the purpose of negotiating for the cheapest rate, we can already predict the probability of REJECTION.  Consider the worthy investment in your child’s future.
  6. Seeking Advice from the Wrong Advisor: (a) Guidance counselors – public school guidance counselors only spend 26% of their time on college admissions and the average counselor-to-student ratio is 1:250.  Guidance counselors don’t have the expertise in BS/MD program admissions.  (b) Advisors who are journalist or writers who never attended medical school nor understand the highly selective process – no expertise in BS/MD program admissions.  (c) Advisors who advise part-time – self explanatory. There is a major difference between useful knowledge and information.  Parents should hire an advisor who is a full-time admissions advisor who actually visits colleges, BS/MD programs and medical schools, understands BS/MD programs of the various schools, and has insightful knowledge of each program.  “If you don’t know where you’re going you’ll end up somewhere else” – Yogi Berra
  7. Parents want the best for their children.  They read as much as possible, network with others in schools and educational programs, provide extensive extracurricular educational opportunities for their children, research on the web about BS/MD programs…..but somehow when they are just along the last stretch to the finish line they make egregious, irrevocable and calculated mistakes that cause their children to be rejected.  Don’t make these mistakes!

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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.

Does It Matter Where You Attend College? Absolutely!

Does it matter where you attend college
~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

I often hear from parents, students, high school guidance counselors and even fellow educational consultants that it doesn’t matter where you attend college, as long as where you attend is a “good fit”.  Actually studies show it does matter where you attend college! My recommendation to my U.S. as well as international clients is that one should attend the “best” school possible where you will happy and have a great and memorable college experience.

Obviously, there are many people who are happy, quite successful and have had wonderful college experiences without attending Ivy League or highly competitive colleges.  However, in this tight job market, recent college graduates increasingly find that higher paying jobs are very selective.  While attending an Ivy League or selective college may not guarantee financial success or happiness, to buyers of talent (HR professionals, employers, personnel departments) it certainly does matter.  One of the first questions they consider while perusing a job applicant’s resume: where did you attend school?

  1. A study in the journal, Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, confirms parental suspicions that the best route to a top job is to attend an Ivy League school. According to Dr. Lauren Rivera, the author of the study, “Elite professional service employers rely more on academic pedigree more than any other factor.  Where you went to school rather than what you did there makes the difference”.
  2. PayScale Inc., an online provider of global compensation data, in a survey demonstrated that an Ivy League diploma is still worth its price of admission and tuition. “An Ivy League education makes a job candidate stand out, even before a recruiter talks to them!  The median starting salary for Ivy Leaguers is 32% higher than that of liberal-arts college graduates and at 10 or more years into graduates’ working lives, the spread is 34%.”
  3. Robert H. Frank, an economics professor at the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, stated: “Because of the bitter competition for premium salaries, elite educational credentials are often a precondition for even landing a job interview.  Degrees from elite schools clearly open doors.”
  4. In The Economist that there is a direct correlation between education, the inheritance of privilege and class. According to an extensive report in The Economist: “For those at the top of the pile, moving straight from the best universities into the best jobs. the potential rewards are greater.”
  5. Top 20 universities producing billionaires is dominated by blue-chip, elite U.S. institutions.  Billionaires are likely to have attended some of the traditionally most prestigious universities.  Top universities have become the place where “global players gather”.  Educational insights from an annual profile of the uber-rich – Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census.

Let’s face it.  We live in a competitive, meritocratic and global society where brand, image, prestige and reputation certainly matter.  The answer to the question: does it matter where you attend school, then, is rhetorical.  Still believe it doesn’t matter? Just ask the record number of students (an estimated 30,000) who apply every year to each Ivy League school where the rejection rates can exceed 90% for these colleges.

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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, Ivy League Admissions Advisors help students gain admissions to Ivy League and high selective colleges and universities. 

College Application Essay Tips

~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

College admission officers read thousands of essays.  They try to discover the applicant behind the standardized test scores, GPA and letters of recommendations. As experienced readers and judges of character they spend about three to five minutes actually reading.   You, therefore, want your essay to make leap from ‘average’ to “accepted”.

Here is a comment I heard from an admissions officer:  “I read hundreds of college application essays each season.  I know the difference between ‘ho-hum’ and Wow!  We want this student!”

 Here are some times for tips for Writing the College Application Essay 

  1. Don’t Panic. In this part of the college admissions process, but do be prepared with a good topic and concise writing.
  2. Answer the question. Sounds obvious, however, admissions officers we’ve talk with stated that many students don’t answer the questions, especially the short answers. Read the question carefully and answer what they are asking for.
  3. Be Honest. Don’t embellish! This is self explanatory. Admissions officers look for inconsistencies.
  4. Be You. You don’t want to sound “amazingly unique” like everyone else. Write about your passions and achievements and show the admissions officers that you mean it. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.

When written well, an essay is marketing tool that can help you STAND OUT and give you that added advantage in the competitive college admissions process.

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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group network. He and his team of admissions advisors through its admissions affiliate: College Essay Tune Up, review, objectively critique, proofread, and constructively edit college application essays.

2017 Best Boarding High Schools in America for College Acceptance

~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Parents believe that there is no real difference between boarding schools.  Some actually believe that they are all “basically” the same.  That, is however, a myth when it comes to college acceptance to elite colleges.

According to John G. Palfrey (Phillips Exeter ’90), (Harvard College ’94), (Harvard Law ’01) and a former Harvard Law School professor who now serves as the Phillips Andover’s head of school, selective high schools attract potential Harvard students away from their home high schools.

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on schools released its latest ranking of the best boarding schools in the US, specifically highlighting the best schools that prepare students for elite colleges.  By elite colleges, I am referring to colleges parents already know about: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, UPenn,  Cornell, Dartmouth, Stanford, MIT, Duke, and Johns Hopkins.

Here are the best 25 US boarding high schools by rank:

  1. Phillips Academy – Andover, MA
  2. Phillips Exeter Academy – Exeter, NH
  3. St. Paul’s School – Concord, NH
  4. Lawrenceville School – Lawrenceville, NJ
  5. Choate Rosemary Hall – Wallingford, CT
  6. Deerfield Academy – Deerfield, MA
  7. Groton School – Groton, MA
  8. Noble & Greenough School – Dedham, MA
  9. Cranbrook School – Bloomfield Hills, MI
  10. Hotchkiss School – Lakeville, CT
  11. Hockaday School – Dallas, TX
  12. Cate School – Carpinteria, CA
  13. Middlesex School – Concord, MA
  14. Thacher School – Ojai, CA
  15. Milton Academy – Milton, MA
  16. Lake Forest Academy – Lake Forest, IL
  17. St. Albans School – Washington, DC
  18. St. Stephen’s Episcopal School – Austin, TX
  19. Hackley School – Tarrytown, NY
  20. Peddie School – Hightstown, NJ
  21. Kent School – Kent, CT
  22. Emma Willard School – Troy, NY
  23. Taft School – Watertown, CT
  24. Concord Academy – Concord, MA
  25. Madeira School – Mclean, VA

A comprehensive list isn’t publicly available, however, based on our research, Phillips Andover, Phillips Exeter, St. Paul’s, Lawrenceville, Choate and Deerfield all send 25-30 students each year to Ivy League schools over the past five years.

U.S and especially international families prefer their children enroll in schools that provide the best return on investment on (average tuition, room and board is $55,000 per year) — college placement.   “Affluent international parents consider the education of their children as their premier investment.  To international parents, a superior education and a pedigree degree for their child, is worth more than real estate or luxury items.  Education has become the new global currency and path to wealth.“  –  Dr. Lowe’s blog:  Intellectual Wealth and Education

Now that you aware of the ranking, the only problem is how to get your child accepted this admissions season!  And that’s where we come in!  The first part of the your admissions plan: avoid common parental mistakes when applying with the help of a professional who knows where the “rejection” land mines are in the application process….and there are many!

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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 advisory services for U.S. and international families and students who are interested in applying to top U.S. boarding 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.

Colleges Use a Team-based Approach to Read Applications

~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

As more and more top students apply for coveted spots at Ivy League and highly competitive schools, several of these schools have developed a new team-based approach to efficiently analyze and evaluate each applicant. Rather than work alone, each to a recruitment territory, admissions officers are now reading in pairs.  They discuss and rate each applicant according to specific criteria, mission of the college and recommend a decision (reject or accept) and type notes into a system as they simultaneously discuss the applicant simultaneously reviewing each application on separate screens.  The new approach, initially developed by University of Pennsylvania.

In this new model, one reader assesses the applicant’s academic credentials, reviewing transcripts, test scores, recommendations and course load and the other reader focuses on the student’s voice: essays, interviews and talents. This new evaluative approach allows the admissions officer pairs to have an in depth conversation about each applicant and render efficient decisions and allows the admissions offices to review thousands of applications efficiently.

I have always emphasized to my clients that admissions officers review everything.  Now, they are having a conversation about applicants as they read their applications!

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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group.  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 Ivy League and highly selective colleges and combined BS/MD programs.  Dr. Lowe also helps students gain admissions into their top choice private schools and colleges after they have been deferred, wait-listed and rejected.

As an experienced and trusted admissions advisor for over 20 years, Dr. Paul R. Lowe is an active member of the following organizations that uphold the ethical and professional standards and principles of good admission practices in college and independent school counseling: Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC), New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling (NYSACAC) and International Association for College Admissions Counseling (IACAC).

 

 

6 Common Mistakes International Students Make During the College Admissions Process

International Students
~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

As an admissions advisor and educational consultant for over 20 years, I have seen more and more international students who are enrolled in their local high schools or U.S. boarding schools applying to U.S. colleges.  Year after year, I have observed common mistakes that they make during the college admissions process that cause their applications to be rejected.

  1. Not doing research:  Most international students know a little about a few universities and not much more. They haven’t researched key things like academic programs and financial aid. They haven’t considered the accessibility, weather or cost of living in the city where they’ll be living.
  2. Not asking questions: Many international students don’t ask questions.  To many it’s not culturally appropriate. By not asking questions they may obtain misinformation and be misguided during the admissions process. 
  3. Not planning ahead: Most international students expect U.S. college admissions to be very streamlined and the same at each university.  In reality, every university has a different process and schedule.  International students need to develop a timeline and checklist and plan ahead accordingly.
  4. Not understanding the Common Application:  The Common Application is a way which schools assess students and select students.  Many international students misunderstand the complexity and nuances of the Common Application and make egregious and irrevocable mistakes on the Common Application which inevitably result in rejections.
  5. Not Marketing Themselves:  The competitive college admissions process is about developing and marketing your personal brand not just about your A-levels, TOEFL scores, or SAT scores.  Many international students view college admissions selection process quantitatively not qualitatively.  They need to understand the American schools’ expectations during the selection process. They need to share their accomplishments and achievements in a meaningful and compelling way to schools through the Common App.
  6. Depending solely on educational agents:  While educational agents in their countries are resources for international students, many agents in their countries do not constantly travel to U.S. colleges and universities to know, in real-time, the changes in each university admissions policies.  For example, Harvard’s admissions policy and mission is different from Yale, Princeton, Brown, MIT, Columbia, etc.

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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group.  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 Ivy League and highly selective colleges and combined BS/MD programs.  Dr. Lowe also helps students gain admissions into their top choice private schools and colleges after they have been deferred, wait-listed and rejected.

As an experienced and trusted admissions advisor for over 20 years, Dr. Paul R. Lowe is an active member of the following organizations that uphold the ethical and professional standards and principles of good admission practices in college and independent school counseling: Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC), New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling (NYSACAC) and International Association for College Admissions Counseling (IACAC).

Summer College Planning Checklist for Rising High School Juniors

college planning checklist
~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert
Happy August!  Are you busy enjoying the summer? Or are you preparing for college admissions as a rising junior?  Use your summer downtime to plan and organize your college admissions journey.
  1. Enroll in an ACT or SAT prep course during the summer while you still have time.
  2. Research and find out test dates for ACT or SAT.
  3. For international students, research and find out test dates for the TOEFL exam.
  4. Visit college campuses to see which types of schools appeal to you.
  5. Begin to develop a preliminary list of colleges.
  6. Continue your participation in internships, camps, research, community service and other activities and see how they fit in your college admissions journey.
  7. Review your online persona.  Examine your information on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.
  8. Begin to prepare for courses that you have enrolled in for the upcoming school year.

It’s never too early to start planning for college!

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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group.  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 Ivy League and highly selective colleges and combined BS/MD programs.  Dr. Lowe also helps students gain admissions into their top choice private schools and colleges after they have been deferred, wait-listed and rejected.

As an experienced and trusted admissions advisor for over 20 years, Dr. Paul R. Lowe is an active member of the following organizations that uphold the ethical and professional standards and principles of good admission practices in college and independent school counseling: Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC), New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling (NYSACAC) and International Association for College Admissions Counseling (IACAC).

Summer College Planning Checklist for Rising High School Seniors

college planning checklist
~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

For high school seniors applying to colleges this fall, there are a lot of things to do during the summer.

  1. Start working on your Common Application; review the new essay prompts and new features.
  2. Start working on your college essays.
  3. Start visiting or re-visit colleges.
  4. Narrow down the colleges being considered.
  5. Make decisions regarding early action or early decision programs.
  6. Register for the SAT and/or ACT if you didn’t take a college entrance exam as a junior or want to take one again.
  7. For international students, register for the TOEFL or take one again.
  8. Get organized and start creating a checklist and calendar to keep track of standardized test dates, college application due dates, and financial aid deadlines.

College admissions continues to be competitive especially in Ivy League and highly selective college and universities.  My recommendation is that rising seniors should use their summers to start the college admissions process sooner than later.

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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group.  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 Ivy League and highly selective colleges and combined BS/MD programs.  Dr. Lowe also helps students gain admissions into their top choice private schools and colleges after they have been deferred, wait-listed and rejected.

As an experienced and trusted admissions advisor for over 20 years, Dr. Paul R. Lowe is an active member of the following organizations that uphold the ethical and professional standards and principles of good admission practices in college and independent school counseling: Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC), New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling (NYSACAC) and International Association for College Admissions Counseling (IACAC).

 

2017-2018 Common App Introduces New Features

2017-2018 Common Application New Features
~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

If you are applying this fall during the 2017-2018 admissions cycle, here’s what to expect from the recent changes to the Common App features (in my previous blog, I covered essay prompts):

  1. Google Drive Integration:  Students will now be able to use Google Docs and Google Drive to upload such documents as  essays, resumes and other materials within the Common App.
  2. More Access for Mentors/Advisors:  Students who are working with community-based organizations, independent counselors or other advisors can assign them to their Common App account.  These advisors can observe the students’ progress and provide guidance.
  3. Self Report Courses and Grades:  Students will be asked the names of courses taken (or to be taken) over the four years of high school as well as grades that appear on their transcripts.  In other words, students will be responsible for self reporting all courses and grades.
  4. Resources for Spanish-Speakers:  For student and families where Spanish is the first language in the household, the Common App will be translatable into Spanish.

The above changes are aimed at streamlining the college application process while making it easier for more students to access the Common App.  However, these changes, including the essay prompts, allow admissions committees using the new team approach and committee approach, during the admissions selection process, to better analyze student profiles and will additionally, increase the number of colleges to which students will apply to in turn increasing the number of applications that many schools will receive.  As a result, expect heightened competition to Ivy League and highly selective colleges and universities in the 2017-2018 admissions season.

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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group.  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 Ivy League and highly selective colleges and combined BS/MD programs. Dr. Lowe also helps students gain admissions into their top choice private schools and colleges after they have been deferred, wait-listed and rejected.

As an experienced and trusted admissions advisor for over 20 years, Dr. Paul R. Lowe is an active member of the following organizations that uphold the ethical and professional standards and principles of good admission practices in college and independent school counseling: Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC), New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling (NYSACAC) and International Association for College Admissions Counseling (IACAC).

Top Advantages of Being Accepted to BS/MD Programs

Top BS/MD Programs
~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

High school students who are interested in a medical career should consider combined BS/MD programs. Many of these medical school-from-high school pathways reduce the overall number of years students will spend studying to become a medical doctor.

If you are certain that your child wants to be a physician, why wait? You may want your child to consider the accelerated BS/MD option that guarantees acceptance into medical school after college.

Many of these specialized programs don’t even require the MCATs so students don’t have to worry about studying or registering for MCAT prep courses. Because students in these programs already know that they are admitted to medical school, they can pursue a major of interest rather than a “traditional” premed major although they will have to take basic premed courses: organic chemistry, biology physics and other courses.  There is also the financial aspect.  It cost thousands of dollars to apply to medical school:  MCAT prep courses, visiting medical schools, unpaid internships and application fees.  In addition depending on the program if it’s a 7-year med program, you could save as much as $100,000.

Of course, one of the great advantages that I observe with our BS/MD admissions clients is that in their senior year in high school they know that they can be called “Dr.”

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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group‘s BS/MD Admissions Advisors.