Understanding the New Normal in College Admissions

Understanding the New Normal in College Admissions: Panel hosted on March 23, 2023

RESOURCES:

UC Useful Links (from Cuca):
- UCSB Mailing List: https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/mailing-list
- 13 Factors for UC Admission: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-freshman/how-applications-are-reviewed.html
- UC Application Playlist hosted by UCSB: https://youtube.com/ucsb4me
- UC Application and UC PIQ webinars hosted by UCSB: https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/virtual-admissions-events
- UC A-G Overview: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/freshman-requirements/subject-requirement-a-g.html
- First Generation at UC: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/student-success/firstgen
- Undocumented at UC: https://undoc.universityofcalifornia.edu/
- UC Quick Reference Guide PDF (Major details by UC Campus):  https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/_files/documents/quick-reference.pdf 

- UC Dual Admission Program: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/new-dual-admission-pilot-program-will-help-more-students-transfer-uc

- Transfer to UC using the Transfer Admission Planner: https://uctap.universityofcalifornia.edu/students/


Some Favorite and Most Useful College Resources Specifically for Parents (from Krista):

“Turning the Tide: How Parents and High Schools Can Cultivate Ethical Character and Reduce Distress in the College Admissions Process.” By Richard Weissbourd and the Making Caring Common Team, 2019. 

Humbled, Hungry, and Flourishing” by Frank Bruni. An excerpt from Where You Go is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania, 2015. 

A ‘Fit’ Over Rankings: Why College Engagement Matters More Than Selectivity” by the team at Challenge Success. (Lots of other Challenge Success reports on their website.)

Why Students Are Choosing HBCUs: ‘Four Years Being Seen as Family’” by Erica L. Green. New York Times. June 11, 2022.

The Two Most Important Letters in College Admission by Rick Clark. Georgia Tech Admission Blog. March 6, 2023. (Gary Clark’s blog is fantastic, even if you’re not interested in Georgia Tech!)

Impersonating Wallpaper: The Dean’s Daughter Speaks” by Jennifer Delahunty and Emma Britz (Dean of Admission, Kenyon College and her daughter). An excerpt from I’m Going to College – Not You!: Surviving the College Search with Your Child edited by Jennifer Delahunty, 2010. 

The College Solution website (focusing on college costs and financial aid) 

The Truth about College Admission Workbook: A Family Organizer by Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark, 2022.

The Price You Pay For College by Ron Lieber, 2021.

Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey Selingo, 2020.

Lehigh University Links (from Morgan):

- At the bottom of this site, if you search for "Spotlight sessions" in the drop-down menu is where you will find them: https://www2.lehigh.edu/admissions/visits-tours


Compass Education Guides (from Lia):

Compass Resource Center - Free resources, including our Guide to College Admissions Testing

Practice Testing - Access to sign up for a locally proctored SAT or ACT practice test

New Digital Adaptive SAT - Information for the Class of 2025 and younger students on the changes coming to the SAT.


Additional resources: 

Grown and Flown Resources on College Admissions: https://grownandflown.com/category/college-admissions/

Free SAT test prep: https://www.khanacademy.org/sat College Board Approved

College Board Digital SAT Information: US Digital Testing begins March 2024 https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital/digital-practice-preparation

SAT Changes 2023-2024, PrepScholar: https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-changes-2023-2024

Test Prep Courses and Classes: https://www.intelligent.com/best-sat-prep-courses-and-classes/

Scholarship Information Guide for Hispanic and Latino Students:

Study.com: https://study.com/resources/Latino-and-Hispanic-scholarships-for-college-students#0225

  1. A thorough introduction to how scholarships work and how they compare to other college funding resources

  2. An analysis of the range of scholarships available to students

  3. Key information on locating scholarship opportunities for Hispanic and Latino students


Contact Information of Panelists:

Cuca Acosta, Associate Director, Admissions
UC Santa Barbara

admissions@ucsb.edu | (805) 893-2881

Lia Lackey, Vice President of Tutoring Services 
Compass Education Group
lia@compassprep.com  | (415) 464-8600 

Christin Johnson, Assistant Director of Outreach, Recruitment, and Titan Orientation Programs 
Cal State University Fullerton (CSUF)
christjohnson@fullerton.edu | (657) 278 -7172

Morgan Volkart, Associate Vice Provost, Western Region and International Recruitment

Western Regional Office, Lehigh University

mbv2@lehigh.edu| (650) 581-1908

Krista Klein, Co-Director of College Counseling

Lick-Wilmerding High School 

kklein@lwhs.org | 415.585.1725 x283