Admitted vs. Prospective Students #CollegeCash Summary

This week, Jodi welcomed Nicky Wilks, a second-year Admissions Counselor at Chapman University.  Nicky’s roles in the Admissions Office include managing Jodi’s regional territories of the PNW and the San Fernando Valley area – north of Los Angeles – to Ventura.  As well as serving as a liaison to our College of Educational Studies and Disciples on campus department, she also assists with athletic recruits.  Nicky is an alumnus from ’10 and majored in Business/Economics.

Admitted:  What’s Next?

Inquire about preview/admitted students’ days, class sit-ins, Financial Aid and housing; it all sneaks up fast! If you haven’t visited the colleges yet, do your best to set foot on campus before deciding to avoid having to transfer later on.

Merit Scholarships?

Not sure if you’ve received any merit scholarships?  Many schools (like CU) include that information with the admit letter; others will wait until Financial Aid is totally packaged (usually in March).  If you still have questions, contact your Admissions Counselor.

Any Special Opportunities?

Invites to special opportunities are often included in admit packets, or arrive shortly thereafter.  Again, it’s best to contact your Admissions Counselor; they might be able to recommend you if you weren’t initially invited.  Research the honors programs; they are often open to all to apply.

Financial Aid Deadlines

March 2 is the FAFSA deadline; many schools will begin rolling out Financial Aid packages shortly thereafter.  Do your research to determine if you need to do FAFSA, CSS Profile, or both.

Call the financial aid office and make sure all your documents have been submitted and remember to keep track of – and stay on top of – all deadlines.

Waitlisted Protocol

Be sure to contact the Admissions Office as waitlisted protocol can vary at each school.  Either way, express your strong interest!  Some schools plan to take students off the waitlist each year, and others use it as a buffer just in case they need to.  Remember:  Always have a backup plan, as the waitlist isn’t always a sure thing.

Denied:  Is That Your Final Answer?

Many schools have an appeal process, but it is usually only encouraged for certain cases.  But don’t think of a denial as a roadblock to your education! Sometimes transferring to your dream school makes more sense anyway!  Be sure to ask your Admissions Office for relevant information, seek ways to improve your academic profile and/or resume, and aim high!

Class Registration

First-year students typically register for classes during the summer before they enroll, and after a brief academic advising session.  Some schools may require you to actually be on campus before you can register, so ask ahead of time and see how priority is determined. You need to understand the registration process and any requirements for your major, G.E. or first-year courses before you select them!

Admitted Students Day in Your Area

If these are offered in your area, you should definitely attend.  On-campus events tend to be the most informational and give you an idea of what college life is really like.  Many schools offer the opportunity to visit a class session, talk with current students, meet the deans or even stay overnight.  If the event is in your area (off-campus), make sure to talk with other interested students to determine the pros and cons of why they are considering the school and be sure to ask a lot of questions!

Juniors:  It’s Time to Start Thinking about College!

Find out if the college you are considering is on spring break when you are and plan accordingly. There may be fewer students on campus, no classes meeting, limited food, etc.  Think about going with a group and visiting several colleges in the area.  Maximize your time, and take some time to get familiar with the locale.  Have fun with it; it is your break, after all! And if the college is located in a fun area, feel free to see what the buzz is all about.  (Disneyland, anyone?)

Visit Before or After?

Many juniors in high school question whether they should visit schools before or after they get admitted.  Visiting before applying can really help you strategize with applications; however, it is recommended that you visit both before and after being admitted.

Some stats from Hastracking:

409 Tweets, 35 contributors, 1.7 million impressions and 183K reach.

Most Popular: jodiokun, chapmanadmit, cupcakecutiekit, fujifugueras, ciesla504, aidscholarship, sharongreenthal, scorebusters, enchandtedtravel, jeryljagoda

Most Tweets: jodiokun, aidscholarship, scorebusters, chapmanadmit, cupcakecutiekit, ciesla504, stevecassady, fujifugueras, sharongreenthal, enchandtedtravel,

Most Tweets: jodiokun, aidscholarship, scorebusters, chapmanadmit, cupcakecutiekit, ciesla504, stevecassady, fujifugueras, sharongreenthal, enchandtedtravel, jeryljagoda