We all can help our students for college access, readiness, and success. This presentation provides an update to current college readiness trends in California.

1. Mastering The
College Admissions
Landscape
Rebecca Joseph, PhD
LAUSD
rjoseph@calstatela.edu
www.getmetocollege.org

4. Anxious

6. Dramatic need for college trained workers

8. Two recent studies…

9. Findings…
1. Improving LAUSD students’ academic
achievement is essential for ensuring that
more students successfully start and
complete college, and must begin earlier
than high school.
• Less than a third of 2014 graduates had A
or B averages, and only a quarter of
graduates who took the SAT or ACT
scored above the national average. In Los
Angeles, as in other school districts and
nationally, academic performance is the
most important predictor of college
enrollment and completion. In LAUSD,
graduates with at least a B average
were five times more likely to complete a
four-year degree than graduates with
lower grades.
2. Striving to ensure that all LAUSD
students graduate from high school having
completed their college preparatory, A-G
course requirements with at least a C is
critical for ensuring students’ college
success.
• Recent LAUSD graduates who completed
the A-G course sequence with only a D
were five times less likely to enroll in a
four-year college than their peers who
completed A-G with at least a C. This
strong association between A-G
completion with at least a C and four-year
college enrollment is unsurprising
because public, in-state, four-year
colleges require at least a C in these
classes to qualify for admissions.

10. More findings…
3. Supporting students’ and families’
understanding about the college
application and financial aid process is
much needed to ensure that academically-
qualified students enroll in college.
• More than one in six LAUSD graduates
who were academically- eligible to attend
a public four-year college did not enroll in
any college in the year following high
school graduation. Another one in six of
those eligible for four-year college
enrolled in a two- year rather than a four-
year college.
4. Increasing LAUSD graduates’ college
persistence and completion rates is an
important task for local colleges and
universities that have low transfer and
graduation rates.
• Large numbers of LAUSD graduates—
more than two-thirds from the class of
2014—went to college in the year
following high school graduation (about
60% of college-goers enrolled in a two-
year college and the remaining 40%
enrolled in a four-year college). Based on
patterns from the classes of 2013 and
2008, about 85% of college-goers will re-
enroll in college for a second year, but
only a little over a third will earn a degree
of some type within six years, and about a
quarter will earn a bachelor’s degree
(B.A.).

11. Understanding The New College
Application Landscape
Overview of Shifting 2018-2019 American Admissions Landscape
• The landscape changes include testing, financial aid, placement tests,
new application types
• What changes does 2018-2019 hold for these 5 systems?
 Cal State Application
 University of California
 Community Colleges-LA Promise
 Common Application
 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

12. Many Steps to Class of 2019 College
Admissions Process
SAT; ACT
FAFSA Structure and
Opening Date
Placement tests removed
Applications Diversifying College Lists
Class of 2019 College
Admissions ProcessOrganizing Your Applications
Cal State Application and Impact of
Impacted Campuses
LA Promise

13. FAFSA Cycle and PPY

14. Shifting Master Plan In California
• In 1960
• University of California top 12.5
percent of students in high
schools.
• California State University top
33.3 percent.
• Community Colleges-the rest
TODAY ALL NEW
CHALLENGES

15. California State University System
• Cal State System new system:
Cal State Apply.
• Most campuses are now
impacted.
• Many majors on campuses are
impacted.
• Cal State LA received over
45,000 applications. We had
more than 500 students accept
offers than expected.
• New focus on deadlines,
deadlines, deadlines

16. California State System Graduation Push
• Graduation Initiative 2025.
• Each university needs over
50 graduation rates within 4
years.
• New dashboards for
analytics.
• https://analytics.calstate.edu/
SASPortal/main.do

17. New Cal State Data Portal
https://www5.dashboards.calstate.edu/static/page/hsdash/
hshome.html?utm_medium=301&utm_source=calstate.ed
u

18. Major Shifts:
• No more placement tests
• New math graduation
requirement
• No more no-credit
remediation—move to stretch
classes
• Increasing importance of
summer bridge programs
https://edsource.org/2018/cal-state-starts-new-era-ending-
no-credit-remedial-classes/604470

19. California State Apply

20. Four Sections
• Academic history requires
some practice
• It requires students to add
courses by grade. No longer
by A-G
• It does have an A-G tracker
• Students must put in all
grades even Ds and Fs.

21. Must More Zen
• Must easier. One application
for all.
• Pick one campus and then fill
out each section.
• Easily add other colleges.
• Still four free for all low-
income students.
• No more check payments.
Only credit cards or free
waivers.

22. EOP Shifts
• EOP application is integrated
into Cal State Apply
• Short responses remain the
same. 2500 characters each.
• Track deadlines. Most are
• January 15 for Fall
• August 31 four Spring

23. Community Colleges
• More system-wide programs.
• Courses now readily
available.
• Different transfer rates by
college.
• New rule: only one lower
math or English class

24. Los Angeles College Promise
• Great opportunity for many
students
• Pays for one year.
• Included in this program are
priority enrollment, placement
in math and English courses
required to succeed in college
and career support and
counseling.

25. Shifts With Other College Applications

26. University of California
• UCs identify the top 9 percent of students
based on GPA in UC-approved
coursework completed in the 10th and
11th grades. To be considered for ELC,
you must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and
complete 11 "a-g" courses prior to their
senior year. Rest must be completed by
end of senior year.
• While there are no minimum test scores
required, all applicants must complete
either the ACT with Writing or the SAT
Reasoning exams.
• Increasing diversity as more LAUSD
grads attend.
• More students than expected accepted
offers from UCSB and UCSD.
• UC Merced doubling in size.

27. University of California Challenges
• Numbers of applicants.
Escalating each year.
• Costs. Now capping out of state
and international enrollments for
first time.
• More UCs have option to ask for
recommendations and/or fall
senior year grades
• Affordability. Often gapping poor
children and then expensive for
middle class.
• Blue and Gold Program
• CAL Middle Class Program

28. University of California Application
• 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
• Greater implications for earlier
college readiness

29. 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?

30. Testing In Place

31. Private Colleges and
Other Public Universities
• Often private colleges can
provide more money for low-
income, minority students.
• Often better options for
undocumented students.
• Great sites to help you find
them.
• College
Greenlighthttps://www.collegegree
nlight.com/
• College Week Live
https://www.collegeweeklive.com/
• Strive for College
http://striveforcollege.org/

32. Western Undergraduate Exchange
http://outofstatecollegefairs.org/western-undergraduate-
exchange-wue-faqs/

33. Common Application
• Allows accounts to roll-over
• Implementing new transfer
application that uses Cal State
Apply format
• Expands outreach including
virtual counselor

34. Fall 2019 Common Application Prompts
250-650 Words Common Application Essay Prompts
• 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. (21%)
• 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you
faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (21%) 3.
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the
outcome? (3%) 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. (4%) 5. Discuss an
accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or
others. (23%) 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why
does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (5%)
• 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different
prompt, or one of your own design. (23%)

35. Coalition Application
New Kid on the Block

36. Unique Coalition Features
• ONLY platform that allows students to
invite anyone of their choice to
collaborate on platform.
• Virginia Tech, University of
Washington, University of Maryland,
and University of Florida are exclusive
users.
• Students can create their OWN
connection.
• Students can start EARLY
• Students enter profile data ONCE

37. Four by Four Plan
• Four Cal States
• Four Ucs
• Four (to eight) privates
• Four (to infinity) scholarships

38. Testing
• Many schools make writing
section optional except UCs
• Many schools now making SAT
Subject Tests optional
• Increasing number of new test
optional colleges. fairtest.org
• Many schools allowing self
report
• ACT allows 20 free school
reports
• Fee waivers for two of each test

39. Naviance, Recommendations,
• Naviance is a great
organizational structure for
students. Resume maker,
interest inventories, and
college searches
• Recommendations matter
more than ever. Brag sheets
for both counselors and
teachers can really help
• Essay workshops help kids
advocate for themselves

40. Affordability Crisis
• College costs have out-priced
inflation 3 to 1.
• College debt is at record
levels. The millennial
challenge.
• New buildings, new middle
management.

41. Types of Financial Aid: Internal
• Need-based
• Grants/Scholarships
• Work
• Loans
• Student
• Parent
• Merit-based

42. Different Kinds of Merit Money

43. External Money
https://roybal-
allard.house.gov/uploadedfiles/student_resource_guide.p

44. $1 Million Question
Which application
to have students
use?

45. 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.

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

47. 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)

48. 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?

49. 3. Stay Current
• Get newsletters
• http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselo
rs/resources/counselors-advisers-bulletin/
• Visit colleges for free
• http://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/2015/6/14/fly
-ins-for-counselors
• Attend conferences
• https://www.wacac.org/annual-conference/
• Visit colleges for free
• Join organizations—NACAC, WACAC
• Refer Students To Diversity College Visits and
Summer Programs
• https://getmetocollege.org/what-colleges-look-
for/2018-fall-diversity-visit-programs

50. More ways to stay current
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/new
s-events/conferences/

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

52. Essay Management

53. Use Available Resources
• I have a website and mobile
app with all college
application requirements.
• All College Application
Essays
• www.allcollegeessays.org
• Free dqrx4a298w. Put in code
after you select Ultimate

54. And More Changes
• Other components to manage:
• Recommendations
• Transcript delivery process changing
• Proliferation of student portals –
based on student applications

55. Questions?

56. Seizing the moment
• Dr. Rebecca Joseph
• rjoseph@calstatela.edu
• I have resources on my
website: getmetocollege.org