This article is the first of a collaboration between The New York Times and The Chronicle of Higher Education, a daily news source for professors and administrators. Eric Hoover is a senior writer for The Chronicle covering admissions.

Which tests to take?

Students typically begin preparation for standardized tests during their junior year, often well before they have selected their colleges.  To be covered for any college, students should take either the SAT or ACT.   Many students are familiar with the SAT, but fewer with the ACT.  Every four year college in the US that requires an SAT test will take the ACT as a substitute.   There is a major misconception that SAT’s are preferred by admissions- this is not the case.  You may want to take a practice test for the ACT and SAT in order to determine which is a better test for you and then begin preparing for that one. (Practice tests are available at no charge from Summit Tutoring in the Boston area, click here for dates.) Some students take both the ACT and SAT to compare scores. 

Some of the most competitive colleges also require or recommend Subject Tests.  Therefore, some students should consider taking at least two Subject Tests.  Two Subject tests are the maximum number required by any US colleges as of 8-2010, some colleges used to request three. Read this article on testing changes recently posted for 2011 graduates.  Note: Almost every college will take the ACT as a substitute for both the Subject Tests and SAT, and if you plan to take the ACT you may not need to take the Subject Tests.

The standardized tests required by colleges have been changing quite a bit over the last few years.  Some colleges, such as Hamilton and, recently, Colorado College, to name just a few, allow the applicant to submit their choice of a combination of AP, Subject Test and/or components of SAT or ACT test scores.  Other colleges are joining a growing number of Score Optional schools, allowing applicants to choose whether to submit standardized test scores at all.  Refer to this list of Score Optional Schools.

Which scores to send?

Students should carefully read the testing and score reporting requirements of each college to which they are applying to decide which tests to send and when .“In spring of 2009, the College Board approved Score Choice, an important change to the previous SAT score-reporting policy. This new policy gives students the option to choose the SAT scores by sitting (test date) and SAT Subject Test scores by individual test that they send to colleges, at no additional cost. Score Choice is optional, and if students choose not to use it, all scores will be sent automatically.”  Applicants should be aware that many colleges independently choose to override the Score Choice option offered by the College Board and instead require applicants to send all of their SAT scores. Here is an article to further explain score choice and a listing of reporting requirements by college from College Board as of 11/09.

When sending ACT’s, you should consider whether your schools “superscore” as it is becoming more prevalent among colleges.  For years, colleges have been selecting the highest sub scores of different test dates from the SAT.  Recently, more and more colleges are combining the best sub scores from different ACT test dates—see article on superscoring.  Some of the colleges reported to superscore the ACT include: Boston College, Brown, Northeastern, Pomona, Rochester Institute of Technology, Tufts,  U of Connecticut and U Delaware.  Refer to this article for a more comprehensive list of schools thought to superscore.

Finally the number of high school graduates has leveled off, yet against all predictions, college admit rates are lower than ever—Why and what does this mean for applicants?

For the last few years, many college admissions reps predicted the admissions frenzy would ease as the number of high school graduates leveled off.  Colleges expected to see the number of applications decreasing and competitiveness easing in 2010, after witnessing a 15 year climb in population.  Well known industry experts predicted students would find it easier to be admitted to even the most competitive schools.  Refer to this 2008 analysis in the New York Times.

However, in 2010 we see admit rates  lower than ever for colleges.  Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Columbia, Yale and Princeton were all in the single digits and most schools across the board experienced lower than ever admit rates. Why?  While the number of high school grads has leveled off as predicted, it seems more high school grads are choosing to apply to college, perhaps seeing the value of education in a down economy.  Likewise, international applications are flooding the market; apps from China are up 21% and from India up 9% over 2008 figures.  The ease of online applications has caused a surge in the number of apps as well, as students submit more applications per person than ever, some to as many as 12 to 15 schools. See related posts in articles in The New York Times, Huffington Post and The Chronicle.

What does this mean for applicants?  With so many applications pouring in from highly qualified individuals, students need to create a balanced list of schools and find ways to stand out.  Your counselor should help you develop a list with a sound range of safety to stretch schools.  Of course, set your sites high, focus on your dream school(s), but also  fall in love with and pay attention to your 50:50 and safety schools.  Personalize the application process to each school: 1) Write thoughtful essays revealing yourself 2) Do your research and show why you want to attend the school in supplemental essays and interviews, and 3) If possible, connect with the admissions rep from your geographic area, a professor and/or active alumni to demonstrate your interest in their school.

School Selection
Matching student’s interests, talents and accomplishments to the right colleges, developing a college list based upon student’s unique qualities and goals with a balance of “reach,” “probable” and “safety” schools, suggesting productive college trips, and preparing student for college interviews.

Student Assessment & Positioning
Explore opportunities that maximize student’s strengths and options to make applications stand out, connect students when possible with admissions representatives, brainstorm essay topics with student, and edit essays with student.

Application Logistics
Develop a timeline and manage application details from start to finish with student.

During the ‘decision’ month between April 1 and May 1, when students are making final choices about which college they want to attend, parents often feel left out in the cold. Students frequently hold their cards very close to their vests barely revealing their thoughts about which college they prefer and why. While parents are frantic making elaborate charts comparing each feature of the various colleges, students seem non- plus about it all. The fact is students are down-right relieved to finally know they are actually loved by some colleges. Students who have been basket cases consumed by self doubt are suddenly confident and calm. And so, the tide has turned. Colleges have kept students waiting for months to hear whether they are admitted. But now with the ball is in their court, students are happy to hold onto it as long as they can. Whether consciously or unconsciously students may feel that parents and colleges can wait to hear what their decision is. I can’t tell you the number of students who finally let the world know their decision just minutes before the due date of May 1. Express mail or hand deliver of the deposit check to college is common place as a result.

As parents, it is natural to feel frustrated, and to think we raised you and know a lot about what is best for you, how could you not want our input? And, if we are making some or a substantial investment in your education, we deserve input. But, beware of this mindset. It will come back to haunt you if you try to impact their decision. Many teens this age are asserting their independence and beginning to chart their own course- this mindset is what gives them the ability to successfully transition to college. If you make it clear which path you deem is best, there is a reasonable chance your teen will take the alternative road to make it their own. Additionally, you want them to own their college choice, because when they hit bumps along the way you don’t want them throwing it back in your face that you made them choose the wrong college.

If your child won’t talk to you, what you can do as parents to help your child make an educated decision?

Insist that your student attend Admitted Student Events at their top choice schools. Ideally attend an Admitted Student Day on the college campus. These can be enjoyable and informative half day or all day events for students and parents. Most colleges will roll out the red carpet to try to woo students. Student Panels share stories about school traditions and the social scene on campus. Professors might teach mini classes to showcase academics. The President or Dean will address the crowd. Students tour the dorms and test out the food in the cafeteria, all critical considerations of course.

If time or money prohibits your student from traveling to the campus, then find an Admitted Student session in your geographic area. Most colleges offer local opportunities to help families learn more about the opportunities offered at their school. Alumni often host events in or around metropolitan areas and in some cases admissions reps and perhaps some faculty or administrators drive or fly in for the event.

Additionally, encourage your student to talk with their college counselor and any students and alumni in your area who attended the colleges they are considering.

Finally, parents of course should insist on a discussion of the parameters you feel are non-negotiable. Finances often fall into this category. Here’s where your spread sheet may be especially valuable, showing what you are willing to pay toward tuition, room and board, flights home and perhaps any potential trade off of dollars spent on undergrad versus funds available for grad school. Additionally, there are countless other situations that might require you to set parameters on your student’s decision making ability, including concerns you might have about their emotional or physical health.

Bottomline: Accept that your student may be tight lipped as they process their college choices and that they may make everyone wait for a decision until the eleventh hour. Insist that they avail themselves of opportunities that will help them in their decision making process. And, as much as possible let students make their own decision so that they will own it for the future.

Students check their mail daily for months looking for the decision of “yes” or “no” from colleges, but then what happens when they are told, “waitlist”? Colleges accept students they want on campus based on their academic stats and their activities and attributes. They deny those who don’t make the cut. And, waitlist those who are admissible who they would really like to have on campus, if they only had enough beds. If a student really wants to attend the school that waitlisted him/her and is willing to wait to hear yeah or nay, then they need to communicate their level of interest to the college. Read any and all instructions provided by the college as to how to do this, i.e. return a form by a certain date, write a letter, and the like. To increase your odds of being admitted off the waitlist, the best thing you can say is “if you take me, I will come.” Communicate this message to the Admissions Rep who covers your high school, your high school counselor (who in some cases may be willing to call the college), and  an influential person or alum who might contact the college on your behalf. What else can you do? Send the college evidence of anything about you that has changed since you applied that makes you a stronger candidate. For example, a copy of an award you won, better grades you earned, an outstanding paper you wrote, an article from your newspaper that describes a program you recently ran, or an additional significant teacher recommendation. Then, after you have made your case with your waitlist school, turn your full attention to the colleges that have accepted you. Choose the one that is the best match for you and deposit there. There is no guarantee that your waitlist school will ever even go to their waitlist, and if they do, you are only one of many students hoping to hear you are admitted. This year waitlists are longer than ever, many schools such as Duke have up to twice as many students on their waitlist as in their freshman class. See this article from the New York Times.