College Bound: Tougher Course or Higher Grade?

Question: Should I take a higher level course where I might get a B or take an easier course where I know I will get an A?

Answer: I am often asked this question by college bound students and parents of high school students. My first response is to take the more difficult course and get an A. Then I go on to say, that while it is easier to say, it is often more difficult to do. The question really is which is more important getting a perfect grade or challenging oneself with a higher level course. Assuming that the student has good grades and is realistically capable of doing the work my answer usually is to take the more rigorous course.

The Center for Public Education recently conducted a study that supports this view. They found that perfect grades are trumped by higher level courses. "Taking more rigorous courses, especially in math and science, gives an applicant a better chance of getting into a competitive college than does raising his or her GPA."

Are College Campuses Safe?

Question: After reading accounts of crimes on college campuses I worry about my daughter's safety. How safe are college campuses?

Response: On October 29th the United States Department of Education published new federal regulations dealing with campus, fire safety, emergencies, missing students and hate crimes. These new rules, which came into effect at the beginning of this month, implement laws enacted in 2008, including amendments to the Jeanne Clery Act. Prior to the Act, name for a Lehigh University coed who, in 1986, was raped and murdered by a stranger, a student who abused drugs and alcohol, relatively little attention was paid to campus safety; simple security breaches like residence hall doors propped open were common. The Act now requires colleges and universities to release Annual Security Reports that include campus crime statistics, plus summaries of campus security procedures. The www.securityoncampus.org website provides a summary of the Jeanne Clery Act and other information about campus safety, including tips for college students.

Currently the latest cause of Constance Clery, mother of Jeanne Clery, is pushing the United States Congress to establish a National Center for Campus Public Safety. The United States House of Representatives has authorized the national center. The Senate Judiciary Committee now needs to act.

In spite of all the effort that goes into protecting men and women on college campuses, no college campus is 100% safe. The rules and regulations help, but it is up to parents to talk to their children about how to stay safe, it is up to the colleges to continually look at safety issues and it is up to students to think about their actions and possible consequences.

To read the federal regulations go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/E9-25373.htm

Happy New Year!

For the new year I will be changing the focus of this college admissions blog. Instead of writing a college admission tip of the week, each week an educational consultant from College Planning Services, Inc. will answer a college admission related question . So please, keep sending us your college admission questions.

Question: Can I ask your opinion on whether you think Spencer "shot high enough" with college applications? I sometimes wonder if we went to see enough schools. The guidance counselor at his high school made it sound like Boston College would be a stretch. Should we just be thrilled that it's over? Would he have gotten into some Ivy League schools? Spencer seems confident he wouldn't. I'd love your professional opinion on this. It probably sounds ridiculous, but I guess I'm hoping you tell me to be and he wouldn't have a chance at an Ivy League school.

Answer: Spencer was accepted at a wonderful college, one I am assuming since he applied early action, that he really wants to attend. Admission to college is only the beginning. Spencer, like other students, needs to be in an environment where he will be academically successful and socially happy.

In all likelihood, since both Spencer and his guidance counselor thought his list was a good one, you are probably doing Spencer a disservice by second guessing their judgement. Students, counselors and educational consultants usually have a good sense of colleges that would be a good fit , both academically and socially, whereas parents often don't. Students, counselors and educational consultants usually have accurate knowledge, which is a good basis of comparison, and parents often don't. Students usually know where they stand in their class. In my experience, if I was asked to rank those who accurately predict where students will be accepted, I would rank students, guidance counselors and educational consultants high and parents low.