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May
brought an opportunity to re-charge my professional
batteries. The Independent Educational Consultants
Association (IECA) semi-annual conference was held
in Denver. There were seminars on a variety of current
issues confronting colleges and universities, as well
as valuable exchanges with my fellow consultants from
across the USA and throughout the world. Going to
Colorado also afforded visits to several campuses,
including Denver University, University of Colorado,
Regis University, Colorado College, Colorado School
of Mines, and The Air Force Academy.
During these visits, I had a number of conversations with
savvy admission officers who recognize that their campuses are
distinguished by evolving and unique programs that meet the
needs of emerging students. Let me frame some of the insights
I gained on each campus.
• From the Campus
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Denver University |
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Denver
University has instituted the Hyde
Interview program as evidence of the university's
commitment to personal attention. Interviews by admission
personnel take place in major cities across the country.
Representatives come to Miami in December and February. The
interview may be more important than the essay in establishing
the fit between the college and the student. Denver feels it
can determine the student's level of interest and assess
desirable personal characteristics. A typical discussion point
is: "Describe a situation you had to face that required you to
measure your own values". Profile of students admitted: GPA,
3.45; SAT, 1050- 1240; ACT, 22-27. Eight-seven percent of
applicants were accepted. |
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Colorado University |
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University
of Colorado has 45% out of state students, a large
percentage for a state school. This year there were 21,000
applications for 4,800 places in the freshman class. Profile
of students admitted: GPA, 3.6; SAT, 1200; ACT, 26. As many as
1,000 out of state students were eligible for the merit-based
chancellor scholarship, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. There
are 17 academic "neighborhoods" that create "communities"
within the university. Students who share specific interests
can live and study together, and go to class together.
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Regis
University |
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Regis
University, in residential Denver, is the only Catholic
university in the Rockies, a Jesuit school. It promotes its
small size, a maximum of 1,500 students. Student/Faculty ratio
is 14 to 1; many classes have fewer than 20 students; none are
larger than 49. The faculty "care about teaching and teach
about caring." Ninety percent are lay faculty, 10% Jesuit
priests; 90% have doctorates, and there are no teaching
assistants. Two of their strongest programs are in nursing and
physical therapy. Other special programs are: environmental
studies, political economy and neuroscience. The "learn and
earn" program guarantees a job on campus for those who need it
to defray costs. Over 90% of students receive financial
assistance; 75% are on merit scholarships that can be granted
for community service as well as academics. |
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Colorado
College |
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Colorado
College is one of the more exciting small colleges in the
United States. Students work hard and play hard, devoting
energy to outside interests as well as academics. Campus clubs
are extensive and sometimes unusual: Back Row (men's a
cappella, contemporary rock, jazz and hip-hop group); cycling
club; LOKAHI Book Project (collects used text books, novels,
children's books to send to prisons, inner-city schools,
women's shelters and other countries); Worner Activities
Committee (provides lectures, comedians, plays and musicians
and other entertainment on campus). The most unique academic
feature is the Block
Plan: eight 3 ½-week segments, one course at a time. Small
classes are taught seminar style. New courses are often
student-driven. Students and faculty work together on
research. The acceptance rate for 2005 was 37%, 32% were
valedictorians, the SAT range was between 1,270-1,420.
Colorado College promises to meet all economic need.
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Colorado
School of Mines |
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Colorado
School of Mines (CSM) is no longer a school just focused
on mining, metals and petroleum. Today it is a comprehensive
school of engineering with strong programs in mechanical,
electrical, chemical and computer engineering. Soon it will
incorporate biotechnology. It has a strong teaching faculty
that is very supportive of its students. Of note is the McBride
Honors Program offering student leaders the opportunity to
blend the humanities, social sciences and engineering. There
are a total of 3,600 students (2,850 undergraduates), uniquely
small for a public university. The student/faculty ratio is 15
to 1. Freshman profile: GPA, 3.76; SAT Reasoning Test, 1210;
ACT, 28. Students choose CSM because of its small size and
sense of community. Non-residents receive most of the merit
aid. Top non-resident scholarship this year was $12,000.
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The Air
Force Academy |
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Students at The
Air Force Academy must be nominated by a congressman.
Each congressman is allotted up to 50 nominations. Profile of
a typical cadet: 3.8; GPA, 1200 SAT. Some potential candidates
will be deferred and recommended to attend a year of naval
preparatory high school prior to admittance. Upon graduation
60% go to pilot training and 40% choose other areas in the air
force such as space missiles and communications. Students may
choose among 30 majors including the humanities, engineering
and sciences. The academy prides itself on offering a solid
leadership foundation, strong academics, and a wide array of
military training programs. |
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From the
Conference |
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At the conference, you can be sure that the new SAT and new
ACT received a lot of attention. A few observations about the
SAT seem to be in order. For starters, the nomenclature has
changed. The SAT I is now called the SAT Reasoning Test; the
SAT IIs are now the Subject Tests. Of more immediate
importance, the new Essay section of the Reasoning Test will
--- by and large --- NOT be used for admission purposes for
the class of 2006. Nor will the ACT essay (which is an
optional feature of that test) be used. By visiting compassprep.com,
you will be able to obtain specific testing requirements.
According to the National Council of Teachers of English, in a
report
authored by a panel of seven that included six college
professors, the essay is unlikely to predict success in
college writing and will send high school writing instruction
in the direction of formulaic and superficial writing. Many
colleges see serious flaws in the essay segments of both tests
and have adopted a wait and see attitude. Furthermore,
increasing numbers of colleges (some 700) have decided not to
use these tests --- at all --- as a requirement for admission.
To see a list of those schools you can visit: www.fairtest.org.
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In Closing |
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Traveling as I do from one corner of the country to the
other, I am constantly reminded of the great diversity and
wide range of academic opportunities available to students
pursuing a college education. While the process of selection
and application is demanding and sometimes intimidating, it is
well worth the time and energy it takes to find the right
school. Perhaps the right school might bear a "familiar" name
and be in a location close to home; but there are over 3000
choices for higher education across the USA. I introduce these
Colorado institutions to you as distinctive examples of that
diversity and range. Possibly, the opportunity to gain a fine
college education in a new physical environment enlarges the
educational experience. |
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