trends

It's time for spring break, one of the last non-college related trips we'll be taking for a while. I'll be back the week of April 24. But here's one more take on the year's admissions news.

OK. Now it's time for the post-mortem on the 2011 admissions process.

Yes, the news seemed dismal and all over the place. As guidance counselor Sue Boer at Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ, said, "We are having trouble making heads or tails of admissions. It is hard to see any rationale."

But she balanced the insanity with an admissions tidbit that was fascinating. She added, "What we have discovered, however, is that schools are noting interest on the part of students. They keep a log of when the students call with questions or information and those that show the most interest are more likely to be accepted. Please note that it is the student’s calls that are logged. They really do not want to hear from the parents."


This intrigues me because it is something in the process that is within the student's control. Now, of course, this doesn't mean that emailing, calling and touring can make up for mediocre grades. What this demonstrated interest, as it is called in the college trade, does show is that the student is going beyond the usual required communications, that the student really does care about getting in.

And it's a reminder that we -- the parents -- need to stay out of the process, other than completing the FAFSA forms.

Here's another take on the top trends this year. Please enjoy.