Lead / Create / Contribute
235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724  /  732.542.4777

More Stories

List of 10 news stories.

News from College Guidance

O Canada! 2013 NACAC Conference: Tips and Takeaways for Students and Parents

In mid-September, Co-Directors of College Guidance Adam Materasso and Myronee Simpson traveled to Toronto, Canada, to attend the 2013 National Association for College Admission Counseling’s (NACAC) National Conference. This year’s conference marked the first time that this event has been held outside the United States. Mr. Materasso and Ms. Simpson along with approximately 5,000 attendees from across the globe participated in three days of educational sessions, networking opportunities with colleagues, and dialogue about college admission trends on the national and international level.
 
The conference program offered educational sessions on a wide range of hot topics in the college admission profession, programs for secondary school counselors and a college fair for counselors. Mr. Materasso and Ms. Simpson also enhanced their knowledge of colleges and universities by attending a counselor information luncheon hosted by the University of California system, a dinner program hosted by New York University’s Abu Dhabi and Shanghai campuses, an evening program hosted by representatives of the College Admissions Collaborative Highlighting Engineering and Technology (CACHET), and by visiting Ryerson University and University of Toronto. Ryerson University, located in the city of Toronto, has the largest business program in Canada. The school also offers a unique degree program in Graphic Communications Management and Journalism through its Faculty of Communications & Design division. The University of Toronto is consistently ranked among the top 25 universities in the World University Rankings. Because the university is known as one of the most selective institutions in Canada, the University of Toronto, along with the McGill and Queens, are referred to as the “Canadian Ivies.”
 
The launch of CA4
The topic that generated the most dialogue and discussion among conference attendees was the newly implemented 2013-2014 Common Application known as CA4. Since the launching of CA4 in August, both students and members have had technical challenges with the new system which was discussed at the Common Application Membership Meeting and Common Application’s Open Forum. Among the changes for this year’s application are:
 
    - New essay topics; the topic of choice essay is no longer an option.
    - The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) waiver has moved from Naviance to Common Application; students must now assign their recommenders.
    - Under the “Additional Information” section, students will not be able to upload documents, for example, activity resumes; only text will be allowed here.
    - The Artistic Supplement will be replaced with Slide room integration.
 
The impact of waitlists
A panel of deans and directors of admission from Carelton College (Minnesota), University of Chicago, University of Michigan and Pomona College (California) spoke about the way waitlists are used by their respective offices. Specifically, they discussed whether they rank or rate waitlisted students, whether demonstrated interest is tracked for these students, how students are notified once they have been admitted off the wait list and how much time a student is given to respond to a wait list offer. Each panelist responded that they do not rank their waiting lists, they do consider the level of interest expressed by students, and that in recent years they have not had to utilize their waiting lists—meaning that those students on the list were not offered admission.
 
New SAT Reasoning Test format
The new SAT Reasoning Test was also a major topic of interest at the conference. College Board President David Coleman spoke about the new SAT Reasoning Test, which is set to launch in 2015, and the major themes that will play a role in creating the new test format. He communicated the College Board’s desire to create a testing format which reduces the need for test preparation, aligns to college work and skills, and allows colleges and universities time to adjust and plan for the new changes.


Back

Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.