The Real Reason College Tuition Costs So Much

The New York Times Opinion section recently featured an article on the (astronomically) rising costs of college tuition. Entitled, "The Real Reason College Tuition Costs So Much," you'll discover that cuts to public funding for higher education are NOT to blame. One culprit cited in the article: "constant expansion of university administration. According to the Department of Education data, administrative positions at colleges and universities grew by 60 percent between 1993 and 2009, which Bloomberg reported was 10 times the rate of growth of tenured faculty positions."

It's an interesting read and I hope you enjoy.

Senior Testimonial and Advice for the College Application Process, Part 2

I asked a number of Class of 2015 seniors to write about their experiences with the college process. This next one is by Gianluca Milea of NYC. Enjoy!

The college process can be very intimidating at times.  While it is very important to have numerous options, I found it difficult to apply to a limited number of schools.  Although Xavier does not put a maximum on how many schools to which you are allowed to apply, application fees are very expensive and at the end of the day you will only be attending one college. 

To begin the process, I visited a myriad of schools, some of which were unrealistic options for me.  After visiting four schools in two days, I decided to create guidelines for my potential college.  While academic rigor is essential, there are many other factors that go into a final college decision: food, campus life, off-campus life, greek life, religious affiliation, athletic programs, housing, location and possibly two of the most important things, tuition cost, and how comfortable you feel on the campus tour.  Ultimately, this will be your home for the next four years, and while it may seem like high school flew by, you want to make sure that you enjoy your time in college as much as you were fortunate enough to enjoy your time at Xavier.  These parameters allowed for me to narrow down my search and my college list to a comfortable number.

Something that I was unaware of before beginning my college process is that many universities give automatic scholarships for activities outside of academics.  For instance, Catholic University has a scholarship if you know someone that attended their university and also a Parish Scholarship for weekly churchgoers.  Many schools have similar scholarships and they can be a great way to estimate a tuition (as you will definitely receive some type of financial assistance) and make sure it is affordable before spending money on an application fee.

I would also highly recommend keeping the number of schools that you apply to without visiting to a minimum.  Getting a feel for a campus is essential in the process and should not be overestimated.  Personally, I visited all of my schools except for a couple of reach schools, and will eventually visit them pending my admissions decision.  After visiting I would suggest using Naviance; it is a great website to keep order during a hectic time.  Naviance allows you to make a list of “Colleges I’m Thinking About” and rank them in your order of interest.  Another helpful feature of the website is that it gives scattergrams, which give you the opportunity to compare yourself to past Xavier students.  Overall, Naviance is a great tool that Xavier offers its students and you should really take full advantage of it.

Finally, while the college process can be overwhelming, it is completely worth it.  Make sure that you do not miss out on the opportunity to apply to a school because you were too lazy to write a supplement.  It is a great feeling when you hit ‘send’ and all of your applications have been submitted.  All in all: do your research, visit schools, make a comprehensive list, do not wait until the night before to apply, and then relax and wait for the decisions to roll in.  Good Luck!

Best Colleges for Your Money

What many people want from college isn't too complicated. They desire a good education, a safe and comfortable environment, to be prepared for the workforce, and to not break the bank to attend the school. With soaring college costs and a competitive job landscape, it is more important than ever to find that perfect fit, where students will be challenged, graduate with marketable skills, and will not have loans to pay for the next 20 years. The website 'Money' recently came out with a list for colleges that are the best bang-for-your-buck. As you will see, many of them are some of the most selective schools in the country, but it is certainly worth a look. You can view the list here on their site. As always, happy searching!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

Tips for Early Decision & Early Action Results

As seniors are waiting for and receiving decisions for their Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) applications for colleges, I wanted to share some tips on next steps once you've heard from your schools.

  • If you have been accepted to a school through Early Decision, congrats! After celebrating, the first thing you should do is withdraw your applications from the other schools you have applied to or were planning on applying to. Remember, with Early Decision, you, your parent, and school counselor all signed an agreement that, if accepted, this would be the school you would attend.
  • If you have been deferred from Early Decision or Early Action to regular decision, don't worry - there is still a chance you will be accepted in the spring. For ED, you are no longer committed to attending the school, even if you are accepted through regular decision, so more options have just opened up! To be deferred means the college liked what they saw in your application, but they need a little more information and time before making a final decision. As such, you should be proactive in updating the school with additional information about yourself and your commitment to attending if accepted. You may send updated senior grades, new standardized test scores, a revised résumé and continue to demonstrate your interest with the school - perhaps take a visit and introduce yourself at the Admissions office. Most schools will note that you applied ED/EA when they review you again for regular decision, but it will also help your cause to continue to show how much you want to attend their school.
  • If you have been accepted to any schools through Early Action, congrats! Lucky for you, you're not obligated to tell them whether or not you're planning to attend until May 1st. 
  • If you were denied through Early Action or Early Decision, unfortunately you cannot apply again for regular decision. But take heart - there are over 3,000 colleges in the United States alone and there are likely many options where you can be happy and thrive! If your heart is set on the school you were denied by, you can wait until the following school year to apply again. 
  • Make plans to visit the schools you have been accepted to, especially the ones you have yet to see in person!
  • Keep track of the scholarships offered by each school you have been accepted to. It may be helpful to create an Excel document to compare the cost of each school after scholarships and eventually financial aid are factored in.
  • If your college requires the CSS Profile, make sure you are getting that done as soon as possible. Also, remember the FAFSA is available on January 1, and complete that within the first few weeks of January if possible.
  • Most of all, keep calm while decisions are coming out. You most likely will not be accepted to every school, and that's OK! You will end up where you belong and at the school that is a great match for you.

Have a fabulous and relaxing break, and Happy Holidays!

Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

Reviews on 3 Boston Area Colleges

As all of the seniors are in the busiest part of the college admissions process, I’m sure most people are counting down the days until they are finished with completing applications, writing essays, finalizing the college list, and paying for those application fees! Juniors most likely are just beginning to explore what colleges are out there and are beginning to think about what and where they want to study during their four years of higher education. Wherever you are in the college search and application process, I think it is always good to hear about more schools you may not have thought about. I recently was able to be part of a 2-day, 3-college tour with counselors from across the country. During the trip, we visited Wheaton College, Emerson College, and Providence College. These three very different colleges were an absolute joy to visit, and I want to share some information with you on all three of these schools. Trust me, there are some schools I would not recommend to my students, but all three of these are colleges I would strongly recommend for a variety of reason. Enjoy the following information and pictures, and as always, happy searching!

Wheaton College: This is a small liberal-arts college of 1,600 students in Norton, Massachusetts, which is a small town about 40 minutes outside of Boston and 25 minutes outside of Providence. It was originally founded in 1834, as an all-girls school, and only became co-ed in 1988. It is now pretty even with the amount of men and women that attend the school. Wheaton’s big theme is that they are a “connected” school. They are connected in many ways including the close relationships between faculty and staff and regardless of major; students’ courses are connected, as there are many interdisciplinary courses. Even their academic advising and career center housing is connected, with the idea being that career readiness begins day one of college, and Wheaton will work closely with all of the students throughout the academic and career process. Two courses that all students must take include an extensive freshman writing course and a ‘Beyond the West’ history course where students learn about history of countries west of the United States and Europe. Wheaton College also has a new Business and Management major, and all business majors must select a liberal-arts concentration to go along with the major.

Overall, I was impressed with Wheaton as a solid academic institution. They are very much a liberal-arts focused school, and their graduates have a variety of skills entering the work force. It is a small campus, but is beautiful. Wheaton is pretty much what I think of as a small, New England college. There is not a lot happening around the campus, but the school always has events going on for students to stay busy. The campus is also a short ride to both Boston and Providence, for students who want to visit the city on the weekends. Overall, this is a school where I know students are taken care of, guided in the right direction, and are given amazing opportunities, but they are also granted a great deal of freedom and responsibility. For students looking for a small school, with strong academics in the Northeast, you definitely want to give Wheaton College a look.

Here are some quick admissions facts on the school: Both Early Action and Early Decision (11/15 deadline) are available, and their regular decision deadline is 1/1. For students applying early decision, Wheaton’s financial aid office will do an early read for them. They are looking for students with a 3.4 GPA or higher (mid-high 80s) and 1100-1200 on the SATs or a mid-50% in ACTs of 26-31. However, Wheaton is a Test Optional School, so students do not have to send in their scores if they do not want to. They offer merit scholarships that range from $5,000 to $20,000 and $30,000 per year is given out in need based financial aid. The average student will receive about $32,000 in need based aid. Finally, about ½ of the students that attend Wheaton College are from New England, and 14% of their students are international, which is quite a big number for such a small school.




Emerson College: Emerson College is located in downtown Boston and is a very urban campus. The campus is comprised of 12 buildings in a 2 block radius; with many of the buildings having 10 floors or more of classrooms and production facilities. Emerson is comprised of 3,700 students and they are all about the communications and arts. Emerson is the only college in the country that concentrates on communications and arts in a liberal arts focus. They have a liberal arts core, which consists of 14 courses in addition to their major and electives. Their two main schools are School of Communications, which houses majors such as Communication Sciences and Disorders, Communication Studies, Marketing Communication, and Journalism and their School of the Arts, which houses majors such as Performing Arts, Visual and Media Arts, and Writing, Literature, and Publishing.  Emerson has an Honors Program, which accepts about 50-60 students each year, and they receive a ½ tuition scholarship. 

Emerson has amazing technology throughout the building, with performing arts studios, music and video production facilities and more. Students have access to the equipment from day one, and the opportunities they are given are hard to be rivaled from any other school in the country. Emerson also has a campus in LA, where many of their School of the Arts students will go for a semester or a year. Emerson is one of the few schools where some of their students have red carpet access at many of the most famous award shows in LA. Although there is not a lot of green space on the campus, Emerson is located right next to the Boston Common, which is one of the country’s oldest parks. It is an absolutely beautiful park, and many of the Emerson dorms have views of the park. Emerson is a great place for students interested in communications, journalism, or performing arts and those looking to be in a city setting. Although not as busy as New York City, this city campus has a ton going on, and is definitely worth a closer look for students.



Providence College: Providence College is a lovely liberal arts college located in Providence, Rhode Island. The school has about 4,200 undergraduates and is located about 1 mile from downtown Providence. The campus is beautiful with a ton of green campus spread throughout, but is very manageable to walk from one end to the other. Providence College has over 100 clubs and activities and intramurals are huge on their campus. Most students will say that winning an intramural champion t-shirt is the most coveted prize on campus. Providence is run by the Dominican order, and its Catholic identity is very important to the school. However, PC welcomes students from all faiths and backgrounds. PC has four important areas for students and staff to follow, which are contemplation & communication, cultural agility, integrated learning, and human flourishing. Volunteer and community service is extremely important at PC, with the majority of their students partaking in this during their time in school. Career education and preparation is also a big part of their culture. Career education starts at orientation, where students will do journal exercises to help with the planning of their future. Alumni are integral parts of their community with helping current students receive internships and jobs. Each year, Providence College hosts networking nights in Providence, Boston and New York City, and will be offering for the first time this year, a trip to LA for theatre students to network. The most recent numbers for the graduating class of 2013 produced that 6 months after graduating, 98% of the students were employed or in graduate school.

Although Biology is PC’s number one major currently, the business school at Providence is booming and is on the road to becoming one of the best in the country. It recently moved up 38 spots in the rankings for business schools. Ground will be broken on a new 60,000 square foot business building within the year, which will provide a beautiful space for all business students to learn. After touring the campus, talking with current students and staff, I feel that Providence College can be a hit for a variety of students. This is a school that obviously cares about its students and wants to make sure that all students receive an amazing education and are ready to be successful in their personal and professional lives, and make a real difference in the world.  


The following are just a few admissions facts and numbers: This year, PC’s early action applications increased 600 from the previous year, which is indicative of the ever increasing selectiveness of the school. Right now they have a 55-59% admission rate, and strength of schedule is very important to their counselors. Providence College is a test-optional school, and 35-40% of their applicants choose not to submit their scores. 




-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

College Quick-Hitters: Susquehanna University

I am very happy to bring all of you some great information on Susquehanna University. I’ve personally visited their campus, and it is a terrific place for any type of student to spend their college years. Please take some time to read these highlights on the school, sent to me from their admissions team. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions, and as always, happy searching!

Susquehanna University, located in Selinsgrove, PA., educates students in the liberal arts and sciences and provides them with real-world, professional experiences through the School of Arts and Sciences and the Sigmund Weis School of Business. The business school ranks among the top 5% of business programs worldwide to have earned AACSB accreditation, a marker of excellence.

Recognized by the New York Times as one of the 10 most economically diverse colleges in the nation, Susquehanna was also named a Best Northeastern College by the Princeton Review’s 2015 Best 379 Colleges. Our 2,200 students (from 35 states and 21 countries) graduate with the broad-based academic foundation and 21st -century job skills—critical thinking, writing, teamwork and communication skills—that employers and graduate schools seek. In fact, 94 percent of Susquehanna students are employed or in graduate or professional school within six months of graduation!

With more than 60 majors and minors—including several new programs for Fall 2015—and self-designed majors available, students easily combine their talents and interests with their career aspirations. Many disciplines offer hands-on collaborative research opportunities beginning in the first year of study. And recent grants to the university, including $2.25 million from the prestigious Richard King Mellon Foundation for freshwater research, provide additional opportunities for student research.

Seventy-eight percent of our students complete internships or have pre-professional experience before graduation. These experiences translate into tangible outcomes for our students—for example, approximately one-third of accounting majors have job offers before they begin their senior year and 83 percent complete the 150 credit hours required for the CPA examination within their four years here.

Additionally, Susquehanna’s nationally-recognized Global Opportunities (GO) program ensures students meet our cross-cultural requirement by studying for a minimum of two weeks in a culture unfamiliar to them—either in the U.S. or abroad—and by completing a reflection course after their return. Students can choose from more than 100 programs in 75 countries on six continents. 

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA

College Quick-Hitters #3


Saint Peter’s University- This is a small (little over 2,000 students) in Jersey City, New Jersey, and is New Jersey’s only Jesuit University. Their top programs are business, criminal justice, and education, where students are licensed to teach in both New Jersey and New York upon graduation. They have a newly renovated school of education and school of business, with a new stock room. They offer a great study abroad program primarily in Barcelona and Seoul for interested students. Although 50% of students commute, housing is available all four years. 97% of students receive financial aid, but the merit scholarships are what make Saint Peter’s a great catch. All accepted students are awarded at LEAST a $12,000 scholarship towards tuition and $2,000 towards room and board. Also, students with a 3.5 GPA and 1300 SAT (Math and Critical Reading) are in the running for a full scholarship, in which 40 are given out each year. All applicants are also given free applications, which save you about $65.

Providence College- PC is a small liberal arts college in Providence, Rhode Island. It is a catholic school run by the order of Dominicans, who concentrate on faith and reason. They are a test-optional school, with 50% of their incoming class applying test-optional. PC has an average class size of 18, with a 91% retention rate for students. 3 years ago they were awarded a full international business accreditation, and their business program has been booming since then. PC was the first school to offer Public Service as a major, where students learn how to serve the world and make it a better, more productive place. They also offer a fantastic Health Policy and Management major, for students who want to be in the medical field, but may not necessarily want to work directly with patients. This gives them a chance to play a major role in health care, from an administrative position. Providence College students also have an opportunity to work in conjunction with Brown University. Biology and Psychology majors can take classes at Brown and receive a certificate in neuroscience.

Ursinus College- This is small liberal arts college in PA, about 45 minutes from Philadelphia. It is located in a suburban town and has a beautiful, green campus. Majority of students major in biology and business, but they also have a striving English department, and top notch writing program. They offer a creative writing scholarship, with the extra application due by February 15th. Students must submit 10 pages worth of creative writing work to be considered, and if chosen students will receive $30,000 per year, and will have the chance to stay in JD Salinger’s room for one year…this award is named the JD Salinger Creative Writing Scholarship. Ursinus has a unique first year experience program, where all freshmen live and study together, hopefully creating a solid network. No classes are larger than 20 students, and students do not declare a major until after freshmen year.


Joseph D. Korfmacher

College Quick-Hitters

As a college admissions counselor and consultant, part of my job is to learn about new trends at colleges and help spread the word about interesting college programs and updates at schools across the country. As information comes across my desk and I listen to admission representatives speak to students during visits, I want to update families about the pieces of information I think everyone should know. These following “quick-hitters” should provide you with tips, trends, and general helpful advice about schools you may be interested in applying to.

Hampshire College (Amherst, MA): Will now NOT accept test scores as part of the admissions process. While there are many test-optional schools out there, Hampshire is one of the first colleges to be test-blind, in that they consider all parts of the applicant, but will not look at SAT or ACT scores.

 

St. Bonaventure (St. Bonaventure, NY): Fantastic business program, especially finance and accounting. In past years, 100% of accounting majors have been placed in job by graduation. School also has live trading floor for business majors. School was ranked best value school in New York State in 2014, with average amount student paying per year being $19,000. Families that file for the FAFSA will automatically receive $5,000 off from cost of attendance.

 

College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA): All students will come in with undeclared majors. School has a great pre-professional advisory program, and a solid 3-2 engineering program with Columbia. 91% of students are accepted into medical school and 100% of students are accepted into dental and veterinarian school. Holy Cross is a test-optional school and strength of curriculum is more important in decision process…interviews are also very helpful to show demonstrated interest. Early decision has a 65% acceptance rate, while regular decision only has a 35% acceptance rate. Offers year-long study abroad program

 

Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT): 22 students per classroom on average…great internship possibilities, especially business. School is surrounded by golf courses, and business students are given free lessons to help learn the game. School also offers etiquette class for business students. School is test-optional and applying early action and visiting can greatly help in admissions process.

 

Stay tuned for more colleges and more inside information. As always, happy searching!

 

-Joseph D. Korfmacher 

FAFSA Finally Here!

Seniors and parents, January 1st has finally come. Yes, the holidays were great, and celebrating the New Year is always a blast…but the biggest event to celebrate is that the FAFSA is finally live. OK, so completing the FAFSA isn’t the most fun activity in the world, but it is important helping to pay for college.

In order to receive any financial aid for college, students and their parents must complete the FAFSA online. The website is www.fafsa.ed.gov and the very first letter in the FAFSA acronym stands for “free.” (Avoid imposters such as FAFSA.com that will charge you without offering more than what is available at the official FAFSA site. The FAFSA (or Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will use the family’s previous tax returns to estimate how much a family can afford to pay for college and how much aid they can receive. Aid in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships can potentially come from completing the FAFSA.

In the simplest of terms, a family will complete the FAFSA, and the system will eventually generate an expected family contribution (EFC). This is what FAFSA believes the family can afford out of pocket for the student’s education. The EFC is sent to colleges who will subtract it from their cost of attendance. The difference is called the student's "need." Some colleges will meet this need completely, others may not meet it at all, and others still will fall somewhere in the middle.

The FAFSA is available online right now, and really should be completed soon. There is no need to wait until the new tax returns are available, as last year’s are accepted and often some schools will have deadlines that are pretty soon. You can estimate what the numbers will be for this year, using last year's figures. Then, once the current year figures are in, you can send the updated ones into the FAFSA. Though some families may not want to spend the time filling out cumbersome FAFSA forms, I encourage all families to complete the FAFSA at least prior to freshmen year. You never know if you may qualify for financial aid, including grants or scholarships! So enough reading,  get your paperwork together and go tackle the FAFSA!!

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA