Question: I am a high school counselor who has been given the task of creating a curriculum for Internet safety. An area that I would like to address is the idea that colleges could access information about individual students via the Internet. I would also like to address how this can affect scholarship possibilities. Do colleges and universities look up possible student candidates on the Internet? My intent is to educate students on how their “MySpace” and “Facebook” accounts can affect their college plans.

While almost every college admission official will be quick to insist that their staff has neither the time nor the inclination to routinely check-out the Cyber-lives of applicants, the truth is that it does happen for some students, and thus all students need to be very cautious about their social networking activities. According to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education last fall:

” … One in 10 admissions officers has looked at an applicant’s social-networking profile, according to a report released today by the test-prep company Kaplan Inc. Of those who peeked, 38 percent said what they saw had a negative effect on their evaluation of the student. Fewer — a quarter — said the effect was positive.

Admissions officers’ decisions to look or not are mostly up to them, Kaplan said. “The vast majority of schools we surveyed said they have no official policies or guidelines in place regarding visiting applicants’ social-networking Web sites — nor are they considering plans to develop them,” Jeff Olson, executive director of research for Kaplan’s test-prep and admissions division, said in a written statement.

The company surveyed 320 institutions among U.S. News & World Report’s and Barron’s top 500. It also polled admissions officers at professional schools, finding that 9 percent in business, 14 percent in medicine, and 15 percent in law looked at applicants’ social-networking sites when making admissions decisions …”

Here are some examples of when an admissions evaluator might be apt to Google a candidate to see what pops up:

-The application mentions membership in an organization or the receipt of a major award that the admissions officer doesn’t recognize. In this case, he or she will most likely search for the organization or award itself, but that could end up leading to other links to this candidate, including social networking sites, blogs, etc. (I have personally found information this way in student blogs that could easily have a negative impact on admissions decisions, future employment, etc.)

-If the student is on the short list for a major scholarship or honor, and the college wants to see if there are skeletons in the closet. Even if this sort of search is not part of the formal selection protocol, a curious or ambition admission official might do some sleuthing anyway. You can imagine how embarrassing it would be for institutions or organizations to give a top honor to a student with a dicey reputation that might come back to haunt them.

-There might be some random “flag” somewhere in the application that alludes to information that isn’t fully disclosed or may seem contradictory or even suspicious, so the admission officer decides to look further.

-Mere curiosity. Some admission officials — especially the younger ones who have lived on the Internet for most of their lives — want to use every resource available to learn more about an applicant who seems intriguing. At the Ivies and other highly selective colleges, where each applicant looks more qualified than the next, decisions are hairsplitting, so it’s no wonder that admission officers may try to dig as deep as they can to distinguish one seemingly outstanding candidate from the next.

Keep in mind, too, that it’s not just the college adjudicators who may be peeking at Facebook et al, but also–and perhaps more importantly–future employers may do it, as well. And, because typically there are far fewer prospects for a job or internship than there are candidates for a college class, bosses-to-be will have a shorter list to check out and could be more apt to take the time to do it.

Sometimes it’s hard to sell teenagers on the idea that the future does come, but you need to remind your advisees that the real world is just around the corner. Seniors who are scooping ice cream this summer might be aiming for a coveted–and competitive–internship by the next one.

So do tell your students that, even though they shouldn’t expect admission committees to be combing through Cyberspace to unearth every possible speck of dirt, they do need to be aware that the Internet is a very public place. It’s fine for Facebook and MySpace pages to show that kids are having fun, that they joke and party with their friends, and their favorite pastime may not be staying at home reading War and Peace. But they also need to understand that the impression they give via the Internet can be a lasting one that could affect their opportunities for many years to come.

Good luck with your curriculum. I’m the mother of a 12-year-old, so I’ve been doing some Internet-safety training of my own!

Question: My daughter just went through the college application process and will be attending Harvard in September. I don’t know how prevalent this is, but she took the ACT and SAT (one time each), scored a 34 and 2230 respectively, and submitted both scores with her college applications.

My son, who is a rising junior, took the ACT in early June and just learned he scored a 36. Even though colleges say they don’t care which test kids take, are highly selective colleges looking for both tests? Is more data better? Or is less more?

It sounds like neither of your kids is a slouch in the academic department, eh? Whether it’s nature or nurture, I hope you’re taking at least some of the credit.

Here’s my advice for your son: There is no need for him to take the SAT I (Reasoning Test) if he has not done so already. In fact, I would suggest that he NOT take it, since there’s nowhere to go but down, after a perfect ACT. But he should take the SAT II (Subject Tests).

Some of the highly selective colleges that require the Subject Tests will allow students to submit an ACT score in place of BOTH the SAT I and the SAT II. However, at the so-called “elite” schools, your son will be “competing” with applicants who have submitted multiple Subject Tests and who have shown off top scores in a range of academic areas including those that the ACT doesn’t really cover. So, a combination of a strong ACT score and two or three strong Subject Test scores, especially in history, foreign language and/or science, would be a wise approach. Unless your son takes a stab at the Subject Tests and doesn’t do really well, my advice would be for him to submit the ACT plus SAT Subject Tests to all his target college.

Of course, if he already took the SAT I and his scores are very strong as well (even if not perfect) he should certainly feel free to send them, too. Moreover, some of the most selective colleges now claim to “require” applicants to send all test scores, regardless of the College Board’s new “Score Choice” option (which is a good reason for him NOT to try the SAT I, if he hasn’t already.)

Personally, I’m a big fan of “Less is More,” but this college process often leaves too little room for that philosophy!

Good luck to your son … and to you as you navigate this maze (again).

Question: I have an extremely rigorous high school curriculum. I have been able to take several AP courses that were not intended for my grade level and have been able to accelerate in many areas. Will admissions officers notice this and see it as exceptional, or would it look just like every other student who had the “most rigorous schedule box” checked off by their guidance counselor?

If you are taking AP courses as early as grade 10, colleges officials are likely to sit up and take notice, even without prompting. However, unless at least a handful of your classmates are applying to the same colleges that you are, then admission folks may not be able to view your application in the context of what is considered the norm at your high school, and thus they may not fully appreciate your accelerated curriculum. So, when it comes time for your guidance counselor to write your college references, I suggest that you present him or her with a letter or “brag sheet” that highlights your most significant achievements, academic and otherwise. You would, of course, include your atypically challenging course load. This can be done in a way that comes across as helpful, not boastful. Trust me–guidance counselors are delighted to have this info right at their fingertips. You can imagine how taxing it is for them to conjure up the glories of what can sometimes be many hundreds of students.

At most high schools, counselors write these references at the start of senior year, but–at some places–the counselors get cracking on their letters as soon as the summer after junior year, so be sure to ask your counselor about the practices at your school.

Chances are, if your course selections really stand out from the crowd at your high school, your counselor will know to mention this on in your reference without any reminders from you, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to be pro-active here. And, again, rest assured that your counselor should view this as a favor and not as an impediment to the flow of creative recommendation-writing juices.

Question: I was recently accepted into the “Honors Program” at the college I will attend in the fall, increasing my odds of receiving the “Presidential Scholarship.” My parents appear to make too much money for me to get need-based aid. The school denied me the merit scholarship based on my mid-year GPA. I have since graduated with an honors degree and have taken AP courses through out my high school years. I ended with a 3.5 GPA. I am not sure why I made the cut for the college Honors Program but not the scholarship. What are my chances of appealing this decision? At mid-year my GPA was 3.2.

Without knowing the college you’ll be attending, it’s hard to respond with complete accuracy. However, at most institutions, being admitted to an honors program does not necessarily mean that you’ll also earn a merit scholarship. Merit scholarships are often more selective than honors programs and may also have different criteria. (For example, the honors program may be based on grades and test scores alone while the scholarship may include leadership, community service, etc.)

You certainly have nothing to lose by contacting admission officials and telling them that your final GPA was higher than your mid-year GPA. You can politely ask for reconsideration for a merit award. But, if you decide to give this a shot, do so with the understanding that it’s a long shot.

Question: I am a 53-year-old history student. I have just been accepted into the McNair Scholars Program and am scared, as most of the recipients are in their 20s. If I do go to graduate school, I wonder if anyone will even hire me, as I will be 58 by the time I finish. As a history major I am considering a position as an archivist. What do you think?

The “Dean” herself is nearly 58, so your question resonates loudly in these quarters. Frankly, I feel that your chances of getting a job as an archivist when you reach my age are about as good as landing that same job as a 20-something … and perhaps better. Savvy prospective employers will realize that you will bring the credentials of a youngster along with the wisdom of a oldster to your work … and that they can pay you an entry-level salary to boot. Of course, in the current economy, jobs for folks of all ages can be scarce, and the Dean has no crystal ball that reveals how that will change in five years. Fortunately, however, the type of employment you seek (archivist) is not one where age might be considered a restricting factor. After all, you’re not aiming to be an astronaut or neurosurgeon or for any other field where reflexes, stamina, and senses (beyond common sense ) are truly in the mix.

But the advice I would give to all prospective grad students, regardless of how many birthdays they’ve celebrated, is to carve out a specific and atypical niche–for instance, pursue an uncommon passion within the broader field of history–so that you will have extra marketable expertise at job-hunt time. Moreover, putting McNair Scholar on your résumé will be a giant seal of approval that should help your application rise to the top of the stack, regardless of your age.

So, without any hesitation, I say, “Go for it,” and congrats to you, too, for your acceptance into the McNair program.

Write back in five years and tell us how you made out!

Question: My son is an excellent student (top 10th of class) with good extracurriculars (literary magazine co-editor, student council member, glee club president, Model UN). His math SAT score is decent (670) but his Critical Reading score (560) is well below the mid-point range at the colleges that interest him. Based on his testing history, he does not expect that retaking the SAT will improve his CR score, so he is planning to apply to some of the most selective test-optional colleges. However, a friend told him that, as a white, upper-middle-class applicant from the Northeast, he will be competing against many other similar students who DO submit scores, and so my son’s admission chances will be hurt by withholding the test scores, even though they are not required. Is this true?

My response is a resounding–albeit entirely unsatisfying–”It depends.” Being test-optional can be a better deal for colleges than for students. For starters, it typically increases the applicant pool because seniors with scores below the norm, who may fear applying to comparable test-requisite schools, are more apt to aim for the test-optional competitors. It also allows admission officials to accept those who are attractive to them for a variety of reasons (athletes, underrepresented minority students, etc.) but who wouldn’t make the cut without a no-test option.

But for those students whose profiles are solid but not stupendous, the omission of test scores may indeed be a liability. Think for a minute of all the online dating sites like Match.com. When my friend Brenda, a single, middle-aged female, is trolling those boards, she’s far more likely to contact the guys who have posted pictures than those who have not. No doubt, if Brenda were to stumble on a truly heart-stopping possibility (”Drop-dead gorgeous, Pulitzer-prize winning Marathon runner; Make-a-Wish Foundation Volunteer of the Year; Vacation homes in Palm Springs and Paris … ) she would probably take a shot, photograph or not. But, as for more garden-variety hopefuls (”Friendly 50-something real estate agent; likes fine dining and long walks …), Brenda shunts the contenders without photos to the bottom of her list. (Well, there was that one real estate agent she Googled … long story … )

Similarly, college applicants like your son, with good grades and a respectable roster of school activities, are in ample supply at the most competitive test-optional schools. If some of these applicants also boast strong SAT scores, then your son may be passed over as fast as Brenda ignores the photo-free real estate agents. Of course, your son is a unique individual, and if he can make his finest atypical traits shine through on his application, then he shouldn’t be hurt by withholding his test scores.

If you check with admission officials or with the folks at FairTest (who do a terrific job of keeping all of us informed about which colleges don’t require tests in the admissions process), they’ll probably tell you that the test-optional colleges will not penalize candidates who don’t submit test scores. In my heart of hearts, I’d like to think that it’s true (and I may get some grief for saying otherwise). But, when many of the applicants to such schools look like the “average outstanding kid” (I’m quoting myself here, from Panicked Parents’ Guide to College Admissions), then I contend that good test scores might end up as the tie-breaker.

Question: My daughter just graduated from high school and needs a loan for college. My husband and I have horrible credit and cannot get a loan. Can she get one?

Assuming that your daughter can’t find an adult co-signer with good credit (grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.), she should talk to a financial aid officer at the college she will attend and explain her situation. (If she’s reluctant, assure her that financial aid staff members are used to dealing with families in all sorts of predicaments, so she should feel comfortable explaining her own.) She will probably be told that you and your husband will have to apply for a PLUS loan. Then, when you are turned down for the loan (which sounds likely, based on what you’ve just said about your credit), your daughter can get a Federal Stafford loan .

I consulted a former college financial-aid honcho before responding to your query to get the latest figures (as of June 2009). She said that as a freshman, your daughter should be able to borrow up to $5500. If your income is low enough, the first $3500 will be “subsidized.” The remaining $2000 is “unsubsidized” If you have been denied a PLUS loan, she can get an additional unsubsidized $4000. (Loans are either “subsidized,” meaning that the government pays the interest while the student is in school, or “unsubsidized,” meaning that the student must pay all the interest, although the payments can be deferred until after graduation.) The rate on the subsidized loans will go down to 5.6% on July 1, 2009, but the unsubsidized portion will still carry a fixed rate of 6.8%.

The financial aid officer at your daughter’s college can give her more information about how to proceed. Note, however, that these loans are only for US citizens or Permanent Residents. So, hopefully, your daughter is not an international student.

Question: If I have B’s, C’s and D’s on my high school transcript, can I still get a scholarship?

The C’s and D’s will make it hard to get a scholarship, but definitely not impossible.

There are two general types of financial aid … one is “merit aid” that students typically receive due to various talents or achievements. These could include academic talent, artistic talent, athletic talent, etc. So even if your grades aren’t so hot, and you’re not in the running for academic merit awards, you may get scholarship money if you have abilities in other areas. Sometimes your background alone (race, ethnicity, where a parent is employed, first-generation to college, etc.) is enough to provide you with merit money, even without a strong academic record. I suggest that you go to FastWeb.com, sign up, and fill out the questionnaire. (It’s all free!) Once you’ve submitted your responses, the computer will generate a list of scholarships for which you may be eligible. You will still have to apply for these scholarships, which can be time-consuming … and the bigger they are, the more competitive they will be … but at least you will be able to see what some of the options are. And, if you make an effort, you may be rewarded with some scholarship money.

The other type of financial aid is “Need-based” aid. This money goes to students who qualify for it because of family income and assets. It is not determined by grades. Need-based aid is provided by the US government to US citizens and Permanent Residents and also may come from the colleges themselves, once you have been admitted. If your GPA is low, there are still colleges that will admit you. At the time that you apply, you should also fill out the FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This will determine if you are eligible for need-based scholarships. Then, once you receive your acceptance, you will also be given a “financial aid package” that will probably include some “grant” (that’s the good stuff that you don’t have to pay back) and some “loans” (which you do). The package will probably also include “Work/Study” which means a campus job that will help you earn spending money, etc.

So if you are motivated to go to college, despite some bad grades, and if you are persistent, you should be able to find the money that will enable you to do so.

Question: My son is a high school sophomore and had been planning to take AP Calculus at his high school in the fall. However, he learned from a college advisor/family friend that taking the course at a community college might be more challenging and interesting for him. He is excited about doing this and we will enroll him in the local community college for the fall. Will taking Calculus at a community college do more for him in terms of college admissions than taking AP Calc in high school? AP Calc and AP Stats are the top math classes at our high school. He is interested in applying to a number of highly selective colleges and thinks he wants to be an engineer.

Admission officials do indeed like to see that students have challenged themselves, and this often includes taking college-level classes while still in high school. BUT … (and I bet you could tell that a “but” was coming ), not all college classes are created equal. At some community colleges, the calculus class may not be as demanding as a high school AP course. Admission officials may, in fact, wonder why your son took this particular class outside of his high school. Was he fearful of the high school AP class? Was he not admitted to the high school AP class? So your plan to impress the admission folks may backfire unless it’s made clear to them that the college course was selected for its rigor.

Granted, plenty of high school students do take calculus at nearby two-year schools and even sometimes at four-year colleges, but usually it’s because they couldn’t fit the high school AP class into their schedule or there was some other reason why they were not able to take it at school. (And some high schools don’t offer calculus at all.)

Although your college advisor/family friend is correct when he (she?) says that your son may find more interesting and/or challenging classes at the local college, calculus may not be one of them. If he does want to try a college class, and if calculus fits readily into his high school schedule, I would suggest that he choose a different class at the college instead … e.g., something that interests him and that isn’t offered at his high school but would still qualify as a “liberal arts” field (e.g, “Introduction to Symbolic Logic,” “Archaeology and Prehistory,” “Cultural Anthropology,” or “Inorganic Chemistry, not “Advanced Document Processing,” “Ophthalmic Assisting,” or “Firefighter Fitness Training.”)

So, bottom line: If your son is excited about doing this class at a community college, I wouldn’t necessarily pull the plug on it. But I would urge you to first find out if the college class is as rigorous as the high school class and if it follows a similar curriculum. If your son is applying to highly selective colleges and, especially, to the top engineering schools, he will be “competing” with applicants who have taken the AP exams in Calculus AB and BC and who have earned 5’s on those tests. Thus, whether he studies calculus at his high school or at the college, he would be wise to take the AP exam. (You don’t have to be in an official AP course to take the test.)

If it looks like the college course won’t prepare your as well for the AP exam as the high school course will, then I recommend that he take AP Calc at his high school and try something else that interests him at the college.

Good luck with this, whatever you decide.

Question: Does the Telluride Association Program for Juniors (TASP) really pay dividends in the application process? In other words, do top schools actively recruit TASP students, or is it their academic abilities that set them apart?

Spotting Telluride on an application almost always puts a gleam in admission officials’ eyes. While there are certainly plenty of other summer activities that wow admission folks–especially endeavors that are creative or unique–Telluride does stand apart from many of the other organized programs. Unlike those that purport to be by-invitation-only “honors” but send mailings to the masses, TASP really does cater to the best and brightest juniors and provides a challenging academic experience. Even so-called “selective” summer sessions on elite college campuses often set the admissions bar far lower than the host college ordinarily does for its aspiring freshmen. Telluride, on the other hand, turns away many outstanding applicants. So those who do make the final cut are likely to get special attention in admission offices when it’s time to apply to college.

Not surprisingly, there are several Telluride threads on College Confidential. For instance, see:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/673194-telluride-association-summer-program-tasp-2009-a.html

Even “The Dean” has written about Telluride, too. Go to: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/?s=Telluride