College Counseling News

January 2020 | Senior Updates

2/24/2020

Now that the college application process is all but over, students can start focusing on something that they may have overlooked: being seniors. Although it can be difficult to move on from college applications and the stress of the search, students have earned some time to pay attention to other parts of their lives. What is your child doing with the time once dedicated to researching colleges and writing application essays? We hope the students are not checking every one of their college application portals multiple times each day to search for admission decisions.

Waiting for college decisions can be harder than actually applying because now the process is largely out of their control. Dwelling on the uncertainty may not be the healthiest course of action. We recently sent you and your child an email detailing what actions should be taken at this time. That information is also detailed below. Beyond that, seniors should emerge from the college search cave and reconnect with friends, attend some Severn School events, and possibly even get a few more minutes of precious sleep. While academics should remain a priority, there are many other ways that students should be intentionally making the most out of their remaining time at Severn. We are so proud of the attention and care that this class has put into their college process! We hope that they will continue to set the tone for the school as we head into the second semester.

Completing Your Applications

Happy New Year and welcome back! We know that many of you submitted applications over the break. As colleges move into the heart of application reading season, please ensure that you are checking your email and your portals for important communications from your schools. College admissions offices are overwhelmed with documents in the days and weeks immediately following their application deadlines, and it will take them quite some time to match all of these credentials to each applicant’s file. If you recently applied and had your test scores sent last week, for example, please do not be alarmed if your scores are listed as missing. Look at your College Board or ACT account to confirm that your scores have been ordered/sent, and then give it some time. If something is still listed as missing by the end of next week, you should let us know.

Although you may never get an email telling you that your application is complete, notices about incomplete applications will be sent via email and the colleges’ portals. It is your responsibility to ensure that each of your applications is complete, and the simple fact that you or we have sent your materials to each college does not always mean that the college has processed them correctly. Missing documents will not jeopardize your candidacy as long as they are supplied in a timely manner. We will be happy to resubmit any required documents.

Please note that we have not yet sent your midyear grades, so these will show up as incomplete. Those transcripts will be sent to all of your schools towards the end of January once the semester ends and grades are available.

Many schools have a February 1st financial aid application deadline. Make sure that the FAFSA, the CSS Profile (if applicable), and any required tax forms or other documentation is submitted by the stated deadline. Finally, please continue to update us and Naviance with any decisions as they come in.

Deferred from College?

If you have been deferred, please review the following information.

While a defer decision is no doubt disappointing, please consider that most schools also deny candidates during their early review process. Applications which the school determines to be not competitive will most likely be denied. A defer decision, therefore, typically indicates that the application is competitive for admission. The school either wants to see how the application stands out in the as-yet unreviewed regular decision applicant pool or they want additional information from you. Here are some steps you can take before your application is reviewed again in the new year:

1. First, determine if the college is one of your top choices. A deferral can evoke a great deal of emotion, and it might change how you view that college – especially if you’ve had time to consider other college options in the time since you submitted your application. Take time to consider whether or not this college still belongs on your list or if you would rather focus your energy on applying to other schools.

2. Next, find out what the college needs from you. Most colleges will want your first semester grades, which we will send automatically. They will also want any updated test scores, if applicable. Other colleges might encourage students to submit additional materials like recommendation letters, updates on extracurricular activities, or a deferral letter. Students should determine what the college requires, what’s appropriate to provide, and heed those preferences. If a college explicitly states that deferred students should not submit additional application materials, then do not send in anything else. Students can hurt their chances in the regular round by not following directions.

3. If the college allows you to send additional materials, compose a deferral letter. Write a one-page letter by email addressed to the admissions representative at the college who evaluates applicants from Severn School. Your email should reiterate your interest in that school. If it is your top choice and you know you will attend if admitted, you should state that. If you’re not sure that you’d enroll, then state that the school remains one of your top choices or that your interest is very high. Re-state your reasons why that school best fits your academic and personal needs. Make references to specific professors, courses, extracurricular activities, and research opportunities that show your knowledge of the school. Feel free to work in a reference to your visit of the school, if you have visited. Update the college on all the achievements you have made, both inside and outside of the classroom, since you submitted your Early Action/Decision application. If you think you have nothing to update them about, think again! Talk about a class that you are especially enjoying, particularly if it relates to an intended major.

4. Consider changing your intended major. If you applied for a particularly competitive program such as engineering, business, or nursing, it is possible that your application would fare better if considered for computing technology, communications, or health studies. Some colleges automatically consider you for admission to an alternate major, but not all do that. Consult with your college counselor about your particular situation.

5. Consider visiting. If you have not yet visited your top choice college and that school tracks demonstrated interest, take the opportunity to visit the campus before March 1st – especially if it is somewhat local. A campus visit can help you decide if the college is truly for you and can help you show demonstrated interest. Make sure it is an official visit by registering for an admissions event or signing in at the admissions office. Sit in on classes and take advantage of any opportunity to meet with a professor before or after class. Have lunch in the campus dining center to meet and speak with current students.

6. Continue to apply to your regular decision colleges. Don’t neglect your regular decision applications while trying to improve your admission chances at schools which have deferred your application. Take time to address the deferral and provide additional information if appropriate, but don’t dedicate all of your time to it. Take the necessary steps, and then move on to completing your other applications by their deadlines.

Even though showing sincere interest may help your application at your early decision or early action school after a deferral, it is possible (and possibly likely) that your application will not be accepted in the regular decision round. While colleges really want to be able to admit some of the deferred students, they are also dealing with many variables, including the size and strength of their overall applicant pool.

While it’s okay to be disappointed, remember that there are also many reasons to stay positive. You will get into college, and college is what you make of it. Although you may have a “dream school,” there are many schools that can fit your needs where you’ll be a happy and productive student. Stay positive! It is too easy to take disappointing news personally. Having spent years working in college admissions, let us assure you that there is nothing personal about these decisions. You are no less talented, motivated, or inspiring than you were before you received this news. Don’t let a setback change who you are! We are proud of your many accomplishments, and we know that we will have plenty of reasons to celebrate with you before you graduate. We would be happy to meet with you in person to discuss the next steps in your college search.

Read this: To the Class of 2020, Severn Gives You The Tools, The Rest is Up To You

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