College Admissions Consulting What is the Academic Common Market? Written by Lauren Randleon May 4th, 2016 I learned firsthand about the world of highly selective admissions as a former assistant director of admissions at Georgetown University. I traveled the United States, in and out of high schools and auditoriums, to eagerly educate students and their families about the application process, and then painstakingly reviewed thousands upon thousands of applications to fill our class. I reviewed applications for all four of Georgetown’s colleges (Georgetown College, McDonough School of Business, Walsh School of Foreign Service, and School of Nursing & Health Studies), and chaired the admissions committee for the School of Foreign Service. I experienced the nuances of the recruitment process as the admissions liaison to the Georgetown women’s soccer team, and also understood the significance of the admissions interview as the co-coordinator for Georgetown’s alumni interviewing process. I left admissions to pursue a master of education degree at the University of Virginia to broaden my knowledge of student development theories and current trends in higher education. There I decided that it was time to work more directly with students and families at the high school level, where my support and encouragement would have a more personal impact. That desire led me across the globe to Hong Kong, where I worked at a competitive international high school helping students with their college applications to the world's best universities. My international experience offered me the opportunity to work with extraordinary students and see extraordinary places. Learn More About Lauren choosing the right college, deciding on a college, getting in, paying for college, The Academic Common Market Last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation opened with host Beth Heaton and college financial aid consultant Shannon Vasconcelos, rounding out Part IV of the tuition reciprocity series a discussion on the Academic Common Market (you can find parts I-III in our Archives). Learn why a student from Alabama who wants to study English in South Carolina isn’t going to qualify for this program, while a student seeking a marine bio major from landlocked Tennessee could be eligible! Not every college participates in the program even among the 15 member states, and those that do participate may impose their own restrictions in terms of capping the number of students or mandating a minimum GPA requirement, and our expert provided tools to determine participation guidelines. The Final Decision Former Babson College and College of the Holy Cross admissions officer, Kimberly Asselta, joined the show for the second segment to help listeners make the all-important final choice. How do you pull the trigger to make the call by the May 1st deposit deadline when you have a number of great options that all cost the same? Kimberly stressed the importance of visiting – or revisiting—the college as an accepted student, which is a visit with very different eyes than that of a prospective student deciding to apply. She also gave a huge arsenal of questions a student might ask to find their very best option. Even if you’re a senior who has already made the final decision, pass this segment along to your younger friends and siblings! Questions from Listeners In the third segment College Coach team member Erica Braley presented listener questions for Beth to give her candid professional advice. Questions asked included: “Can we start the Common App now?” “Will attendance at summer enrichment programs (especially where college credit is earned) be considered favorably in the admissions process?” “How do you relay the drop of activities due to an injury on the application?” “Should my daughter write her essay about overcoming dyslexia, or is that sharing too much information?” Of course, we recommend tuning in to find the answers to all of the questions above! Tune in to this week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation tomorrow at 4 PM EDT to hear our guests discuss new topics: a post-graduate year option; what it’s like to be an international student in the US; and what you need to think about after you’ve submitted your deposit. See you then! Related Resources Read | Posted on April 16th, 2024 Understanding Direct Admission: A Pathway to Success Read | Posted on April 10th, 2024 Acceptance by Emi Nietfeld; Why You Should Fill out the FAFSA Read | Posted on April 9th, 2024 Community Colleges with Campus Housing
