In 1973, the domestic climate was surprisingly similar to today in that the economy was bad, unemployment was high, an energy crisis was looming, and there was social and political unrest across the country. At that time, a college education was considered expensive, yet as is true now, education was seen as the doorway to economic opportunity.…

In her extensive, laborious experience applying to and searching out colleges, the prevailing sensation the author feels is that of being a mutt at a pedigree dog show, praying her little paws off that the judges do not realize how unqualified she is. In reality, the process is slightly less degrading than this description. In this article, the…

College counselors regard themselves as teachers and educators, but they are something else as well. They are links between the location of childhood and the larger, more risky terrain of first adulthood. College counselors prepare students for an actual, not merely figurative, journey, the prospect of which fill students and their parents with…

Advocates uniformity in college applications--a centralized application system in which candidates would supply the required academic, personal, and financial information and a rank-ordered listing of their target universities or colleges. Target colleges would segmentially evaluate the applicant as a first-choice candidate until the applicant was…

A college admissions officer at Wesleyan University (Connecticut) offers two views of early decision programs, one based on personal experience as a student and one drawing on professional experience as an administrator and knowledge of the concerns of parents. The evolution of different kinds of early decision policies and the resulting confusion…

Argues trend toward benign and homogeneous college promotional materials/presentations makes college selection process more difficult. Feels tactic of deemphasizing importance of college board scores to increase applicant pool and thereby enhance "college profile" is unethical and deprives college applicant of ability to make informed choices. (CM)

Notes that current surge in promotional activities has called into question the social responsibility of colleges and universities. Focuses specifically on admission and promotional practices. Begins by reviewing the current practice, then goes on to discuss self-regulation, counseling, and the role of marketing in the college admission process.…

States that admissions counselors' assessment of prospective students' high schools is key element in admissions application review process. Urges admissions counselors to evaluate specific high schools based on: accreditation status, school profile, college performance of high school alumni, and evaluation of student performance over time. (CM)

Based on a panel given at the 1991 National Association of College Admission Counselor conference, this article discusses the role of parents in the college admission process, considering how counselors can work effectively with parents as a team and how colleges can involve parents in a collaborative way that frees the student to choose and the…

Institutional commitment, financial resources, and technical skills are essential components in meaningful, proactive marketing research. Some recently developed approaches and efforts illustrate the possibilities of such research. (MSE)

Feels admission process should reflect more of what colleges value and be purposefully structured for the prospective student as learning experience. (CM)

In this article, a high school student describes his experience pursuing simultaneous coursework at the college level. The complexities of special college admission processes are outlined, and the options presented by college honors courses and extracurricular activities are discussed. The choice of what college to attend after completing high…

It is more important than ever that high school counselors and independent education consultants complement one another to meet the needs of the students they serve. While they have the same objectives and professional standards, the independent consultant can offer a more individualized approach and brings more resources to the postsecondary…

In their role as counselors and advisers, college admissions officers can enhance student retention by helping prospective students develop reasonable expectations about their undergraduate education and by helping them choose the institution that is best for them. (MSE)

The concept of student-institution fit includes much more than institutional searches for students with predetermined characteristics based on the characteristics of graduates. It requires a broad interactionist perspective, links with an institution-wide student retention plan, realistic information dissemination, and response to existing…