Showing Interest

As admissions decisions come out, so do wait lists.  As more and more students apply to more and more schools, it becomes hard for colleges and universities to uncover which students are really interested in attending their institutions.  As a way to measure student interest, colleges and universities turn to their databases and analyze who visited, how many times, and what actions were taken to learn more about their schools.  In other words, colleges and universities consider the following:

How many times did the student visit campus?
Did the student attend an open house?
When the college sent an admissions representative to visit the high school, did the student attend?
If the college is further way, did the student attend a local college fair or presentation?
Did the student reach out to the admission representative and ask any questions?

A college education is the most expensive investment most people will make into their education in their entire lives.  Demonstrated interest does not just help colleges and universities analyze who may really want to attend, but is also helps students figure out if they could pictures themselves as members of that college community.  In other words, not only do visits, emails to admissions representatives, and college fairs help your chances of admission, but it also helps you figure out if you even want to take the time to apply. 

Any college or university will be better off because you are a member of their community.  No college can make you apply.  Take the time and decide what institutions are a good match for you. Take the time and show how awesome you are.  You will be happy you did and will feel more confident in the choices you make.

The link below is an article that talks about demonstrated interest and the roll it plays in admissions.

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-05-21/what-demonstrated-interest-means-in-college-admissions


Picture from College Match Point

March Madness

I love basketball.  I played growing up, I coached for five years, and now I oversee twelve coaches for boys basketball in my hometown.  March is my favorite time of year, not just because it is my birthday, but because of March Madness. If you have been like me and watched the majority of the tournament, you have seen amazing games ending in overtime and even a couple being decided by a foul call made by a referee in the final seconds. However, in all this excitement, one story stands out.

I was scanning the internet looking for more articles on the Final Four teams and came across a story about Texas Tech. In the middle of the season, the team had a little mini collapse, losing three games in a row.  The coach, Chris Beard, knew he had to do something.  Hating the distraction of cell phones, which he had already banned at team dinners and other events, he decided to ban them at night.  The remainder of the season, the team went 13-1.  Now, tonight, they play for the NCAA Championship.

Recently, I participated on a panel following the documentary, Screenagers. We talked about the importance of establishing family values and guidelines around digital use. Although these conversations with young adults can be hard, they need to be able to unplug from the rest of the world and give their brains a break. The Texas Tech story provides a very interesting correlation between cell phone use and team focus and success.

The link below has the entire story. I am sure his players did not have their cell phones last night.  I am sure they slept better without them. Regardless of what happens tonight, I am so proud of the example they set for young athletes today.

http://time.com/5565272/college-basketball-team-ban-cellphones/