The document provides an overview of the evolving landscape of college applications for the 2016-2017 admissions cycle, highlighting significant changes in testing, financial aid, and various application types, including the Common Application, University of California applications, and the new Coalition Application. It outlines requirements and prompts for essays across these platforms, emphasizing the importance of organization and timely planning for students applying to colleges. Additionally, it offers tips for advisors to ensure students understand the components of the application process, including essay management and deadlines.

1. Understanding The
New College Application
Landscape
Rebecca Joseph, PhD
College Fair Extraordinaire
September 10, 2016

2. Your Presenter
Rebecca Joseph, PhD
• Professor, Cal State LA
• Founder, Get Me To College and All
College Application Essays
• Current 2016 Unsung Hero, LA
County
Contact getmetocollege@gmail.com
@getmetocollege
@allcollegeessay
http://www.slideshare.net/getmetocol
lege/new-college-application-
landscape

3. Understanding The New College
Application Landscape
Overview of Shifting 2016-2017 American Admissions
Landscape
• The landscape changes include testing, financial aid, and new
application types
• What changes does 2016-2017 hold for these 4 application
types?
 Common Application
 University of California
 New Coalition Application
Which Colleges Does This Affect?
• Survey frequency of applications
Tips for Advisors to Finding Firm Footing
• Location
• Components
• Deadlines: Early or Regular?
• Essay management

4. Overview of Shifting 2016 American
Admissions Landscape
ACT/SAT test changes
FAFSA Changes
New Coalition Application
Changes to Common Application
2016 College
Admissions
Changes to UC & Texas Apply
Application Essay Prompts

5. Many Steps to Class of 2017 College
Admissions Process
New SAT; Changes to ACT
New FAFSA Structure and
Opening Date
Changes to Common Application
New UC and UT Essay
Prompts
New Coalition Application
Class of 2017 College
Admissions ProcessOrganizing Your Applications

6. New Testing In Place

7. Testing
• Entirely new SAT
• New Writing Section of ACT
• Many schools now not
required writing section of
each
• Many schools now making
SAT Subject Tests optional
• A few new test optional
colleges

8. New FAFSA Cycle and PPY
http://www.slideshare.net/getmetocollege/new-college-
application-landscape

9. Shifts With College Applications

10. University of California
• Introduces new format and
prompts for both freshman and
transfer essays
• Applicants must write 4 short 350
word max essays
• Freshman can choose from 8
prompts
• Transfers have one required and
then seven prompts, of which
applicants must choose 3

11. UC Freshman and Transfer Prompts
• Freshman Personal Insight Prompts: Answer any 4 of the following 8 questions:
• What do you want UC to know about you? Here’s your chance to tell us in your own words.
• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you: But you should select questions
that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you
have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or
contributed to group efforts over time.
2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many
ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and
artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative
side.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you
developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant
educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational
barrier you have faced.
5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the
steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this
challenge affected your academic achievement?
6. Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has
influenced you.
7. What have you done to make your school or your community a
better place?
8. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other
candidates applying to the University of California?
• Transfers: Personal insight questions: There is one required question you must answer
• You must also answer 3 out of 7 additional questions
• What do you want UC to know about you? Here’s your chance to tell us in your own words.
• Which three questions you choose to answer are up to you: But you should select questions
that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.
• Required question
• Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your
readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university.
• You will also need to select 3 out of the following 7 questions to answer:
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively
influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over
time.
2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways:
problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few.
Describe how you express your creative side.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed
and demonstrated that talent over time?
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity
or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have
taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your
academic achievement?
6. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
7. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates
applying to the University of California?

12. Common Application
• Keeps same essays as last
year
• Allows accounts to roll-over
• Continues to improve transfer
application
• Adds Indiana University,
George Mason University, and
University of Wisconsin-
Madison along with 45 other
new institutions
• Expands outreach including
virtual counselor

13. 2016-2017 Common Application Prompts
250-650 Words (2015-2016 percentages)
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would
be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (49%)
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you
experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (17%)
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same
decision again. (4%)
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research
query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and
what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. (10%)
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood
within your culture, community, or family. (22%)

14. New Coalition Application
New Kid on the Block

15. Three Rules to Join
• Must have at least 70%
graduation rate after six years
• Must meet all demonstrated
need for low-income students
• If public, must have affordable
in-state costs

16. Who’s Accepting Coalition Apps this year?
94 members
- 56 colleges TAKING
applications this
year
38 waiting for next
year

17. Unique Coalition Features
• ONLY platform that allows students
to invite anyone of their choice to
collaborate on platform.
• Students can create their OWN
connection.
• Students can start EARLY
• Students enter profile data ONCE

18. $1 Million Question
Which application
to have students
use?

19. 4 Tips for Getting Firm Footing
1. Find Common Denominator
• Where do most students apply?
• Use that to drive strategies.
2. Identify Components
• All essays? Recommendations? Mix? Early
applications?
• Break down and organize colleges by components.
• Personalize at end.
3. Stay current
• What has changed? What is current?
• Ensure students are working on CORRECT and
RELEVANT components.
• Minimize mistakes and need to back track or rework
information
4. Create plan
• Review past protocols/policies? Do they still work for
students and your organization? Or do you need new
ones?
• Use online application tool/process to track progress.
• Set deadlines.
• Set tasks/assignments.

20. 1. Find Common Denominator
Check or create list with application types. Which application should Andy do?

21. 2. Identify Components
California State
University
University of California California and Out of
State Private Colleges
Out of State Public
Colleges
Application Application Application Application
SAT or ACT
(check campus requirements)
SAT or ACT
(must have writing)
SAT or ACT
(with writing as needed)
SAT or ACT
(with writing as needed)
SAT Subject Tests
(as needed)
SAT Subject Tests
(as needed)
SAT Subject Tests
(check campus for requirements)
High School Curriculum
Self Report on application
High School Curriculum Self
Report on application
Transcript Transcript
Personal Insight Questions
(4 )
Personal Statements
(number varies)
Personal Statements
(check campus for requirements)
Activity List
(9, 10, 11, 12)
Activity List
(9, 10, 11, 12)
Activity List
(9, 10, 11, 12)
Counselor Recommendation
&
1-3 Teacher/Community
Letters of Recommendation
Counselor or Teacher
Recommendations
(check campus for requirements)
Applications open Oct. 1
Submit: Oct. 1 - Nov. 30
Applications open Aug. 1
Submit: up to Nov. 30
Applications open as early as July 1 (varies)
Submit: Varies (as early as July, as late as May)

22. 3. Stay Current
• More colleges than ever are
filling more than 50% of their
classes with Early Decision.
• More colleges are adding ED 2.
• Applying ED 1 or 2 often
doubles likelihood of admissions
than regular.
• More students are applying to
12+ colleges.
• Deferrals and waitlists more
common than ever.
https://www.iecaonline.com/PDF/IECA_Library_ED-vs-
RD-Acceptances.pdf
Deadlines: EA, REA, ED, 1 & 2?

23. 4. Create a Plan
Create or use online platform to view all application due dates

24. Essay Management

25. Use Available Resources

26. And More Changes
• Other components to manage:
• Recommendations
• Transcript delivery process changing
• More schools going Test Optional
• Proliferation of student portals –
based on student applications

27. Questions?

28. Seizing the moment

29. Contact Dr. Joseph
• getmetocollege@gmail.com
• www.getmetocollege.org
• www.allcollegeessays.org
• Buy my Integrated Website and Mobile
App-All College Application
Essayswww.allcollegeessays.org
http://www.slideshare.net/getmetocollege
/new-college-application-landscape