Admission Visit and Skype Session Update!!

We had a change of schedule with SMU and they are back on next Thursday for a skype, Trinity University on campus on the same day and we have added MIT for Skype that afternoon! Email me at twetendorf@trinitymidland.org or reserve your spot. Free food provided!!

9/24/2014	Noon	University of Dallas	XX		Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors
9/25/2014	8:00 AM	Trinity University	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors and Juniors
9/25/14	8 am	SMU		XX	Conference room	Seniors and juniors
9/25/14	Noon	MIT		XX	Conference room	Seniors and juniors
9/30/2014	Noon	Grinnell College		XX	Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors
10/1/2014	10 am- noon	Texas Christian University	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors and Juniors
10/2/2014	8:00 AM	Hardin Simmons University	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors and Juniors
10/2/2014	Noon	University of Oklahmoa	XX		Conference Room	Seniors only
10/2/2014	2:00-3:30	Baylor	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors
10/3/2014	8:00 AM	Austin College	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors and Juniors
10/3/2014	Noon	Furman		XX	Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors
10/9/2014	noon	Southwestern University		XX	Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors

Texas Tech Counselor Update

Two days ago I had the opportunity to visit one of my Alma mater's at Texas Tech University in Lubbock for a counselor update. Fellow college advisers like myself were greeted by several of the staff members from the office of admission and then given a warm welcome by their new President Dr. Duane Nellis. Helpful information and updates were given to us by different admissions staff members and we had the chance to listen to and ask questions to a student panel that consisted of three outstanding Red Raider undergraduates. I wanted to take a moment to share some of the highlights from my visit.

Most everyone that lives in West Texas is already familiar with Texas Tech University. Tech is a large research university with an enrollment of just over 33,000 students from all 50 states and over 90 foreign countries. Texas Tech has 10 different colleges with over 150 academic programs for students to choose from. Famous Tech alumni include Scott Pelley from the CBS Evening News, Ginger Kerrick, NASA, and Roy Seiders the founder of Yeti Coolers

Meeting Highlights:

• CALUE is the Center for Active Learning and Undergraduate Engagement. The center is available to students that wish to engage in life long learning and learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Active learning programs include undergraduate research, service learning, professional internships, and study abroad options. Funding is available for students to participate in research projects and to travel to present at national conferences. 
• Study abroad options are available to students to study in more than 70 different countries. Tech even has a campus in Seville, Spain. 
• Texas Tech has a vibrant campus life experience for students. The campus is full of different residence halls, dining facilities, campus convenience stores, rec center, NCAA sports, and countless student organizations. One of the newest dining options available to students this fall includes a food truck that can be spotted all over campus delivering various food options. Students are raving about Funnel Cake Fries and much more!
• Spirit and Tradition are a big part of the Texas Tech experience including the annual holiday Carol of Lights

Students can be assured admission under the following http://www.admissions.ttu.edu/index.php/admission-financial_aid/first-time-freshmen/

Students that fall into application review will be evaluated on their academic course selection (colleges want to see that you are challenging yourself by taking AP, Honors, and Dual credit courses that best prepare you for college) your extracurricular activities (Tech likes to see students involved in various things such as sports, band, church, community service, civic clubs, etc). and any kind of talents or awards can also help. 

Not admitted to Tech? Students can be offered wonderful opportunities to attend Texas Tech through their Gateway program and TTAP program. Check out the different options here... http://www.admissions.ttu.edu/index.php/admission-financial_aid/first-time-freshmen/

Texas Tech offers academic awards to students with solid test scores and grades. These range anywhere from over $12,000 over 4 years to $24,000 over 4 years. Texas Tech is an affordable option for many. Kiplinger;s Personal Finance says Tech is one of the top schools for graduates coming out with the least debt. 

One of the highlights of the day included a question and answer session with a panel of Red Raider students. These students mentioned the following that best prepared them for their academic experience at Tech:

1. AP and Dual Credit classes- Enrolling in challenging courses all the way through the end of their senior year
2. Time management
3. Good study habits.

The panel of Tech students said that while Texas Tech is a large school with over 30,000 students that it truly has a small town feel and a close knit community. 

There are just so many great colleges to choose from. If you are in West Texas and looking to stay close to home, or looking to come to the West Texas area and want an affordable education at a large university with a lot of variety, then I encourage you to check out Tech Tech. www.ttu.edu. You will encounter a very friendly and helpful admission staff. 

Updated college visits to Trinity and Skype sessions. SMU, Baylor, and Southwestern have been added to the list.

Date	Time	College	On Campus	Skype	Location	Student Audience
9/4/2014	Noon	Rhodes		XX	Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors
9/5/2014	Noon	Texas Tech	XX		Conference Room	Seniors only
9/19/2014	8:00 AM	SMU		XX	Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors
9/24/2014	Noon	University of Dallas	XX		Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors
9/25/2014	8:00 AM	Trinity University	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors and Juniors
9/30/2014	Noon	Grinnell College		XX	Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors
10/1/2014	10 am- noon	Texas Christian University	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors and Juniors
10/2/2014	8:00 AM	Hardin Simmons University	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors and Juniors
10/2/2014	Noon	University of Oklahmoa	XX		Conference Room	Seniors only
10/2/2014	2:00-3:30	Baylor	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors
10/3/2014	8:00 AM	Austin College	XX		Wetendorf's Office	Seniors and Juniors
10/3/2014	Noon	Furman		XX	Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors
10/9/2014	noon	Southwestern University		XX	Conference Room	Seniors and Juniors

College Application Deadlines...

It is hard to imagine that we are already nearing the first half of September. School is in high gear and seniors are busy with homework, tests, sports, other extra curricular activities, and of course spending quality time with friends. As the fall passes by please be aware of application deadlines for admission to colleges all across the country. Take a moment today and do an inventory check on where you are in the process. Maybe you have applied already and that is great. If you have not, pay attention to the deadlines as they draw near. Will you apply regular decision, early decision, or early action? Not sure about the differences? Here is a quick glimpse of each category...

Early Decision:
Early decision is a "binding" agreement between you and the college that you are applying to. You are saying that if the college accepts you through early decision you are going to attend there. Typically early decision deadlines are on November 1st. Students may apply early decision to just ONE college. If you are admitted you will have to withdraw other applications and commit to that one school. This is a great strategy for those students that know in their hearts and have made up their minds that X College is their number one school of choice and no other school out there but X College is the school that they want to attend. Students applying Early Decision in the fall will typically receive a decision before the fall semester is over.

Early Action Decision: 
Early action is a "non-binding" agreement between you and the college that you are applying to. You are telling that college by applying early action that you are "serious" about attending in the fall if admitted. If you are are admitted under early action you are not required to attend that school. Students are allowed to apply Early Action to as many schools as they wish. Students applying early action will receive a notification before those students applying regular decision. Typical Early Action deadlines occur on November 1st.

Applying early action and early decision has many benefits:

1. You are demonstrating to that college that you really want to attend their school
2. You can receive your admission decision early
3. Data will show that acceptance rates are generally higher for students applying early decision/early action versus regular decision. 

Regular Decision:

If you are weighing all of your college options and not set on one particular college(s) just yet then the regular decision option may be best suited for you. Colleges offering regular decision have specific deadlines that you must apply by.

Rolling Admissions:
Several colleges such as the University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and University of Arkansas operate on a rolling admissions system. As soon as you apply and your file is complete decisions are made on a rolling basis. Some colleges that have rolling admissions still have deadlines. Other colleges operating on a rolling admissions basis will enroll students until they are at capacity.

Early Decision and Early Action II:
Some colleges will offer Early Decision and Early Action II options. Students that want to showcase their fall grades from their senior year can apply ED II or EA II. Typical ED II and EA II deadlines are on January 1st or January 15th. ED II is still binding EA II is still non binding.

Restrictive Early Action:
Some colleges such as Stanford offer what is called a Restrictive Early Action option. This is a non binding agreement between you and the college BUT you must make this particular college your only early action school that you are applying to.

Below is a table of different deadlines for colleges that our students apply to. Notice that most of the early decision and early action deadlines are in November or December. Regular decision deadlines are typically in January or early February. Some schools offer just early action or early decision. Some offer both, others offer just regular decision.

Students applying to colleges that offer rolling admission decisions are encouraged to apply EARLY so that you do not miss out on scholarship opportunities and/or housing (especially if the rolling admission school is a large university).

My best advice is to check to see where you are in the process now and be aware of the deadlines approaching. Need help? Just email me at twetendorf@trinitymidland.org