Everyone’s favorite part of the job, right?
Well, as begrudging of an effort as it might seem, the truth is that there is great value in the numbers we are to be keeping track of, not only in our local high schools, but as a national program, too.
On a board in a well-traveled hallway, I've been posting every student that has applied to schools so far and which schools those are. (to keep things “safe”, I put all the names on one side and the schools on the other so that no direct correlation could be drawn between them. How degrading would that be, otherwise, if a student doesn’t get in?) I noticed a remarkable difference compared to last year, and so I did a little research to see how different things truly are. First years may not be able to do this yet, but certainly second year advisors could.
Time to put on your statistics hat, it’s about to get fun.
I looked at all the schools students applied to last year and compared them to this year. So far there are 33 individual schools applied to (not total applications), with only 8 overlapped from last year (25 are “new”). Already this year, we have 9 more schools applied to than the total number from last year, and on average, each student is applying to a greater quantity of schools (read my previous entry, “One and Done”). For my small high school, these are big numbers. Several of the “new” colleges that students are applying to are ones that we were able to take students to visit last spring. This reveals the direct effectiveness of our efforts.
Last year’s average distance applied-to (through April) was 69.77 miles. This year’s average distance applied (through mid-November) is 148.24 miles. This is essentially twice as far, and with more variance (likely because of a larger scope). The furthest distance away last year was 208 miles; this year (so far) the most distant selection is 697 miles.
Essentially, I discovered that approximately half as many kids are applying to 137.5% more variance in schools at more than 200% the average distance from "home". And that was through only mid-November.
I get it: this may seem like it is more data than you would ever want or need to record. But it’s just an example of what you can do. Uncovering and sharing this sort of information is exactly the sort of things that excites school boards, counselors, your program director, and Nicole’s Hurd (your friendly NCAC directors on Chapel Hill).
Not only can these results be intrinsically satisfying, but let’s be honest, results = dollars and dollars keep NCAC alive, allowing us to help our students. So, do the best you can with the data. If you ever have “down time”, don’t be afraid to play around and see what stats you’ve produced. Even though we’re all spread out across the country, data figures help keep our faction unified (just ask Veniese).
So next time you find yourself in the midst of data-delirium, remember: it IS important.
Keep up the good fight.
About Kevin:
I grew up in Western MA where I was involved in an Upward Bound program throughout high school. Although I was a high achieving student, navigating the path to college was lost on my parents for both my twin brother and I; neither of them had gone on to college. Upward Bound provided me the resources and support I needed to go on and to succeed in college, and I would not have found F&M without their assistance. The support I received from UB was the inspiration for me to apply to NCAC, where I am hopeful to give back to students in my two high schools in the same way that I was helped. Beyond this, I enjoy adventuring- bike riding and running, singing in an a capella group during the holidays, and helping to reinvigorate F&M's 1-in-4 anti-rape program. I plan to continue my education at Penn State's Hershey College of Medicine for a Master's of Homeland Security in Public Health Preparedness.
For many students, the notion of applying to colleges is a daunting and overwhelming prospect. Not only can this be a foreign task for a student, but similarly so for their parents. This is particularly true of first generation students who represent nearly a third of all those applying to colleges this year. Never mind creating a list of schools, coming up with even one can seem as heavy a burden as that which Atlas so famously bears. If you are lucky, your senior will have an idea of the career path he or she hopes to take. However, that might be about the extent of their post-secondary plans. Particularly for first generation students, the idea of trying to complete a college application is as intricate a concept as a test question on the complexities of the fabric unto which space and time are woven. They might have heard of a few colleges where some friends are attending, or they might be able to recall a name of a school whose commercial they’ve seen on T.V. However, if you ask them to name a school that will offer their major, or even one that is near to where they live, a common response is “I dunno”. Whether first generation or future-legacy, the steps for these students are the same: Find the best fit for their academic and social needs.
How can students find their best fit if they don’t even know what to try on? Exposure is how: give them some quantitative numbers and qualitative examples of opportunities that are right at their back door. One of the first tasks I did was to learn the number of two- and four-year colleges that are within an hour’s distance from my high schools (which happen to be 18 and 28, respectively). Fortunately for my students, we live in a “hot-bed” of opportunity, though few recognize this. These numbers are great for many of them who will want to stay near home. But if your students are looking to get just a little bit further from dear old mom and dad, it is important to be able to impart state and national numbers as well (PA has more than 450 institutions of learning and there are over 4,000 nationwide). Being able to tell my students that 1/10th of all educational opportunities in the country are within their state borders is an exciting statistic to share!
This might be helpful information for a trivia contest, but how is it useful when meeting with students? What is the practical application of this? Recognizing that there is not an infinite, boundless number to their possibilities of colleges can help to quell your students’ fears and bring them back to Earth, where concrete plans are made. Additionally, it can open their eyes to the wealth of opportunities that are available to them. When talking with a student whose diamond-in-the-sky dream school is say, Hurd University, it might be very difficult to convince him that there are other places out there for him to consider, particularly if the odds of getting in to HU appear stacked against him. Putting all their eggs in one basket is a hard gamble; I certainly wouldn’t go to Vegas and chance all my money on the first hand of Black Jack I sit in on. But it is common to meet these students who have blinders on to all the opportunities that are right at their feet. Remind them: There is a whole world of colleges out there beyond XYZ University! Opening their eyes to these options segues very nicely into conversations about the benefits of creating several opportunities for college selection (which can only be possible by having more than one school as a choice). This is helpful in more than just the scenario where they are not admitted to HU, but because of the differences that will arise among financial aid packages from the several institutions they apply to (talking about money always seems to hit a little closer to home). As does asking the simple question: What are your plans if you don’t get in?
I’ve found myself relating the idea of choosing between multiple colleges to the process of finding your husband or wife. While some people believe in love-at-first-sight, the odds are that you are not going to meet one boy or one girl and stay together for the duration of your entire life. The same is true when searching for schools. Your student needs to explore and see what fits to makes them happy. While not every school may offer every single attribute on their “wish list”, it is important to find the one that will give them the most of what they need. (A healthy financial aid package helps, too. It’s kinda like marrying rich.)
So, while it is not important for a student to apply to 23 schools (although, I have one who is), it is very important to make sure they apply to a bare-minimum of three. My typical recommendation is for a student to apply to minimally three or five. Of those, they can feel comfortably safe in their range of safety, match, and reach schools. They may see this as extra work or additional cost (the typical college application costing between $50 and $80), but I always remind them that it is an investment in their future. The hour that it takes to apply to, say, N.C.A.College, and the $60 they spend in payment to do so, is wholly worthwhile if it gets them into a school that is going to be the catalyst for their future success and allows them to pursue their dreams. Encourage options, for they foster opportunities. In the chaotic, unpredictable economic climate we live in today, preaching the benefits of creating options and affording possibilities to oneself is one of the best pieces of advice we can share. Exercising this maxim towards college applications is an excellent and safe first place for our young-students-of-life to start.
About Kevin:
I grew up in Western MA where I was involved in an Upward Bound program throughout high school. Although I was a high achieving student, navigating the path to college was lost on my parents for both my twin brother and I; neither of them had gone on to college. Upward Bound provided me the resources and support I needed to go on and to succeed in college, and I would not have found F&M without their assistance. The support I received from UB was the inspiration for me to apply to NCAC, where I am hopeful to give back to students in my two high schools in the same way that I was helped. Beyond this, I enjoy adventuring- bike riding and running, singing in an a capella group during the holidays, and helping to reinvigorate F&M's 1-in-4 anti-rape program. I plan to continue my education at Penn State's Hershey College of Medicine for a Master's of Homeland Security in Public Health Preparedness.