College Admissions Counseling News
National Association for College Admissions Counseling
News from the College Admissions Counselor Conference Part 1
In this newsletter:
- upcoming college fairs
- the Western Undergraduate Exchange
- study in the United Kingdom
- the new Coalition Application (for next year's seniors)
- finding the best college fit financially
College Fairs
Mon, Oct. 12, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm
Palo Alto College Fair
Palo Alto High School
50 Embarcadero Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Tues, Oct. 13, 2015, 6:30-8:00pm
East Palo Alto College Fair
EPA Boys and Girls Club
2031 Pulgas Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Tues, Oct 20, 2015, 10:30am-1:30pm
Cañada College Transfer Day
The Grove, Building 5
Sun, Oct. 25, 2015, 1:00-3:30pm
NACAC Performing and Visual Arts College Fair
South San Francisco Conference Center
Grand Ballroom
255 South Airport Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94080
This is a great opportunity to check out programs and find out about portfolio or audition requirements!
List of schools attending
Sunday, November 8
WACAC College Fair
Reno: University of Nevada
12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m.
Joe Crowley Student Union – 4th Floor
1664 North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557
Western Undergraduate Exchange
WUE schools give California residents a discount on their out of state tuition. California students pay only 1 1/2 times that of the in state tuition rate instead of the normal higher out of state tuition. More than 150 institutions in the West participate in WUE.
For details on how to apply for the WUE discount, as well as other requirements, please see the profiles of participating institutions in the WUE Database.
Study in the United Kingdom!
There are 134 universities in the UK, primarily all public and mostly located within England. The UK boasts the highest completion rate in Europe: 83% will complete their undergraduate degree in three years (compare that to 57% of US students who complete a 4-year undergraduate degree in six years). And 93% of UK grads are employed or in grad school within six months of earning their undergrad degree.
There are two key differences between undergraduate programs in the US and in the UK --in the UK, most of the undergrad programs are three years, and students must specialize from the beginning – there are no undecided majors. (They call majors courses or programmes.) Another difference is that many programs offer an opportunity to work within the field in a paid internship between years 2 and 3 of the program. Also, the grading system is very different in the U, with 70% = first class honors, 60% = second class upper, 50% second class lower, 40% = third class, and below 40 % = fail.
Students may earn professional degrees at the undergraduate level in Britain, though not all degrees would be recognized outside of the UK. For example, students studying law in the UK and planning on practicing in the California later would still need to pass the bar in California.
All institutions in Britain require the same application, known as the Universities and College Admissions Service application. Students apply to only five schools with a single application and, limited by the single application, they can not adapt their essays or any part of the application to a specific institution.
The UKAS application fees is $35 for applying to five schools. The deadline is Oct. 15 if applying to Oxford or Cambridge, or applying to a medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry program. All other students should apply by January 15. Finally, FAFSA loan money may be used to pay tuition in the UK.
A new application process for fall 2016
Finding the best fit college -- financially
In comparing college financial aid awards and, ultimately, college costs, it is important to compare "apples and apples". Use this spreadsheet to determine - and compare - your actual out-of-pocket expenses at the colleges to which you have been admitted.