What I want you to know first and foremost, is that we're going to be talking about the freshman app, so you would be a freshman if you are applying in. Still are in high school or you have not taken any college credit. Now, let me clarify. If you are still in high school and you're completing an AP or IB or dual enrollment, or any sort of college credit, you're still considered a freshman even though you are still taking college classes, because that high school graduation pieces key. So just want to make sure we're clear.
So a freshman application needs these four things. The application itself now update. We are completely on the common app exclusively, so that's where you can find us.
Then you should know that we need your transcripts from your high school.
We need one letter of recommendation. This can be from a coach. This can be from a youth leader. It can also be from a teacher or a counselor. So things to think about now and then. The personal statement. Now we offer eight prompts that a student can choose from of what they want to learn or write about, rather so you have some options. So here's how this is going to work. You all are going to review an actual application that was submitted to CSU, and you're going to get that application in chunks.
So you're going to get little pieces to go and build from now. After each round you are going to be asked, would you accept or deny this student? And you can only make that decision off of the information I give you each round. So again, this is where the chat is going to come in. Other points I will ask you to explain why you chose what you did I know that some folks like maybe I don't want to participate with my name. Shown here is how this will work. When you say I would accept or deny.
Will put those comments in the general chat for follow up questions or reflection questions that you answer. I will just read those to make sure that I protect anonymity, so here's how this is going to go. We're going to jump right in on round one. I promise this will make more sense as we go, so here is round one. You were given this transcript for the student, so I want you to take a minute and read through it. This student had yearly grade, so whereas some of you may come in with a semester grades or quarter grades.
You are getting this students yearly. Great. So look through 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th.
Once you have had a chance to digest it all, let it sit, let it marinate. Then I want you to post in the chat just one word except or deny an. Just do that when you're ready. So again, you're writing, accept or deny into the chat of what you would decide for this student.
Case Rasmussen
06:05:08 PM
accept
Cassi Kelly
06:05:12 PM
accept
Camila Camacho
06:05:14 PM
Accept
So again, you're starting to see the themes. See accept or deny. I see a lot of accepts. OK, good good.
Victoria Porter
06:05:28 PM
Accept
Ricky Pesek
06:05:30 PM
Deny
Una Carroll
06:05:39 PM
Deny
Alright cool, so now that I've got a good idea of where people are at, I want to hear why. Why did you make that decision? Why did you deny them? Why did you accept them? So again, right? That answer down in the chat. Why did you accept this student or why did you deny this student?
And this is where I won't share out your answer in the chat, but I will share out what you wrote so people will know what you said, but they won't know who said it.
So again, just want to make sure we can be honest, that's the whole purpose of this is to have an honest conversation of what admissions counselors look for, so feel free to be honest about why you accept it or also why you denied this student.
K1 person wrote throughout the year there grades get better. Yeah, OK as they move through the trends makes sense. Makes sense.
Inconsistent performance, Yep, I see that too right. Depends on which subject at there in.
Grades showed an improvement. It implies they worked hard to improve. Then they would care about going to college, OK?
Who this is interesting grades are all over the place. They also don't have the best start. It doesn't seem like they picked it up much. Yeah, OK, so how much did they improve right? Was the slope was at a high slope? Was it pretty plateauing absolutely? Those are important things to thinking about.
So I see a mix O for around 20. We got another comment. Their grades improve over the years. Additionally, GPA does not determine intelligence and there could be a specific reason for the poor grades that's important to start thinking about right? Did they get a D in math because they're bad at math, or was something going on? Because as you can see later in 11th and 12th grade, you know in 11th grade they get a B in IB algebra and then get to be in math studies so that can change things.
OK, round two is test scores. Now at CSU we are test optional, meaning that even though we're test optional, you can still submit your scores if you are wanting to don't have to write, it can only help you, so knowing that instead of saying, accept or deny, let's go through this. The student took the AC T3 different times, AC T scores is out of 36. First time they got a 19 second time they got 21 third time they got a 20.
Two now I want you to write in the chat how you feel knowing that you now have their transcript and their AC T scores. Does it change anything? If so, why? If you're still on Team, deny tell us why, because again, now you're starting to piece together some of the information. So now you have two pieces. Does that change things? Is it not? Put your answers in the chat. I'd love to hear.
This person wrote seems that the test scores match the grades. OK, so sort of seeing like yeah, that seems on par maybe closely aligned, good thought, good thought for sure.
Someone is saying no, I'm still accepting them OK.
OK, interesting, so this person added another comma of like. Let's talk about how students with higher economic advantages have better test scores, abilities to buy books, paper programs, pay for tutoring and this person knows. Kids with four owes but love have low test scores. So interesting to think about. Like maybe it's not just the test.
This person says this helps out a little, but it's still hard to determine how good the student is interesting. This person says still improving, except another person said they showed improvement. But standardize tests aren't always great at gauging intelligence. I still would accept because the scores do correlate with the grades, so you all are learning and seeing exactly the same counter state conversations that we're having an. It's all of it right? What do test scores really show? How do they match the grades?
Are they improving? Are they not? How? How pursue?
First, they persevere through taking it again, right? All of those things were thinking about.
OK, you're going to get some more facts now about this student. This student is an in state student mean they want to go to CSU in there from Colorado. They were senior class President. Mom got their associates, dad got their bachelors. They have an older brother who graduated high school but never graduated compute Community College. They want to be a veterinarian. They played sports all throughout high school, worked over summer cleaning cars and they waited until February to submit their application. So this one.
You can look at again. Make sure you get an idea of who this student is. These are some of the extra facts and then just like we did in round two what changes, what does it? Why does it matter what sticks out to you? What doesn't and what can you learn from this student based off their quick facts page?
So again, we're taking time to review the quick facts.
And then I want to hear what thoughts are. Seems like a good leader in their high school. Yep Yep, definitely, very involved.
This title out of pieces together for me this person is a leader. Had to endure working in school work and they're already set in their future in regards to careers. So this person says, Yep, I'm still accepting OK. Starting to see the pieces together for sure for sure. What are some other thoughts that the group has?
Except to someone changed, someone change their decision. This gives me more of a background and suggest that the student is a hard worker and would be an asset to the community. Another person said accept OK, so as you're starting to see the whole picture a little bit interesting, interesting.
Want to give folks just a little bit of time and finishing out that last thought? If you have it, if you're waiting to hit submit or hit enter.
In the meantime, students as you see this, I want you to be thinking about how does your involvement show up on your application, and I think it's also important to talk about what is involvement, because in the application process we think of it is very cut and dry. Are you in sports? Are you in a club and that's it? Remember, involvement can be anything that requires the student to balance. Priorities were looking to develop time management skills, so if you're babysitting or you're working or you're helping out around the house.
All of those require you to go above and Beyond and get involved in your local community, so be putting everything down.
Another comment that says they are hard working and want to participate in the community that they are in absolutely absolutely so this last round you're going to get the section called the academic explanation. The academic explanation is to give context. Every student has the option to write that, and it's really important that you think about this. Someone else said I would not deny until someone deny someone until seeing a resume. Talents going beyond grades and numbers Additionally.
Public school does not help accommodate students who endure challengers. Therefore resume can highlight someones intelligence outside of the classroom. Another good point to be thinking about right. What are they doing in the full picture?
Another person asked if there was any significance to a student submitting their application in February. Well, I guess I would ask that same question back to you since we are this admissions committee. The application is due for CSU on February 1st. So this student submitted it in February, but in the middle so they missed that regular decision deadline. So you all tell me, is that significant? Does that matter? Why?
Does it show anything? Does it make you concern show any red flags?
Early actions showing more significance right? Are they acting early on what they're doing? Of course, red flag for others. OK, Yep, interesting, interesting.
Yeah, I'm hearing it as another red flag for Folks. Yep.
Because why are they waiting so long? Are they behind, or did they procrastinate?
Right, they had enough time during winter break to complete their application. What were you doing?
Absolutely things to be thinking about. So students as you're wanting, sorry. I also have a dog and she is like right here and she's wanting attention right now because of course she does. So be thinking about those things.
Interesting, some person was like, well, does it matter because their in state right? Another thing to think about does submitting it late matter as much?
This person seems unsure, right? Maybe they are applying to CSU is sort of a last resort. They kind of thought about now maybe, maybe not.
OK, so round four is the academic explanation. Again, this is options to everyone in everyone on their application. To say I need to explain more about my grades, so this is what this student wrote.
For their academic explanation, I got two dies in the 10th grade and I had a lot going on in my life. I kept fighting with my parents about little things, but they felt like big things in the moment. I didn't know it at the time, but I was struggling with anxiety and depression, which made school difficult to focus on. I knew I was capable of better grades and that's why I chose to stay in the IB program. I wanted to challenge myself, even though I knew that that meant I could end up with a lower GPA. My grades may not be as high, but I'm so glad I stayed in the.
Program because I learned how to overcome obstacles again, just like rounds two and three. Let's talk about it. This is on their academic explanation. This is what they said to explain their grades from 10th grade. Does that change anything for you? Does it not? If so, why? I want to hear your thoughts. I've seen such a great mix of thought processes in our chat and I'm really, really enjoying it. So please keep them coming.
Any thoughts on this? What does it show you? What is it not?
OK, interesting, interesting explain the grades but doesn't explain why they applied so late. Interesting how much harder is IB from regular? It all depends, right? Course, rigor is really up to the student. If this student says it's hard that it's hard, right? I be, I would say is equivalent to other schools. Honor program equivalent to other schools. A program. That's what I would say. But again, it's really it really depends on the school.
This person said mental illness is definitely a valid reason for low grades. As someone who has autoimmune conditions and received weeks of treatment surgeries and hospital stays, I don't regret staying in higher level classes, although it affected my GPA for awhile. Yeah, definitely. So again, thinking about why that student or in those grades, but that does not explain the late application. Interesting, I'm loving all of these full circle thoughts about what does that show and what doesn't.
Any last minute thoughts? This shows determination they fought through the poor grades but stuck with the more challenging courses right of like I would like to see them continue to work hard.
I would still accept because now that they filled out their academic explanation, it makes more sense about why their grades were bad. But as it was said, it doesn't explain the late app.
They worked hard and it shows. They care. It shows they would try and care about college if they had the chance they would benefit from it. These are all interesting things to be thinking about as you apply an continue to submit your application.
Now this is really exciting because I told you that I CSU student. This was a CSU application. Oh good question. Did they do community service? The only thing I'm not filling in any extra this is the only information that they provided. So maybe they did do community service. Maybe they didn't, but this is what's on their information and we can't make up stuff. So if they did community service and they didn't tell us that stuff.
So students, again, I hope you're starting to realize the more you put on your application, the better.
Alright, so the big reveal. This was a curar. Sorry this was a CSU application. Fun fact you're talking to that applicant. It's me. I am this student. These were my grades. These were my involvements that was my story so I struggled. I really struggled in 9th and 10th grade but as I worked up I worked harder to try and do well. I didn't want to give up in the IB program. I knew I was going to struggle and that for me was more important. I wanted to work through the challenges.
So it's interesting, so I was accepted to CSU Michigan State CU an Azusa Pacific, but I did get rejected from Arizona State. I also got rejected from Cornell, so really, big ends of the spectrum. But I graduated from CSU in four years and 2013 with my degree in political science. I played on the football team. That is mean my Jersey looking like a silly clown. But yeah, I I bring up my story and I like to use it the most because I say this a lot.
We are an office of admissions, not an office of denials. I am looking for reasons to admit you students. The more you put on that essay, the more you put in your involvement. The more letters of rec you have. More reasons you're giving me to say yes, that's really important to us. But remember, the academic explanation is Humongous, right? If you were to just look at my transcript with no context that made you pause, we saw it right. We saw it in the comments.
But as you gave more information, some people like OK wait, let's see the whole story. So maybe you got mono. Maybe you move schools. Maybe there's a family emergency that is so important to tell because you're giving us context. So as we wrap up today, remember we're in office of admissions. We want to give reasons to admit you. The more reasons the better. And it's not just about one class, right? Maybe you get a D in algebra or in geometry or whatever. I got a D in.
Right, but I kept working because it's not just one class, it's also the next class that I worked hard and then worked harder than next semester, right? We build, we don't just stop when there's a mistake, right? Because that's not realistic. That's not how life works, right? You're going to fail, it sucks, but you keep working harder. You get back up, you just yourself off, and you work hard, right? That makes a big difference to us, so I hope this was helpful. This is just a little insight into what we look for as an admissions counseling team when we admit a student. I am more than willing here to hang out and answer anymore questions that you may have.
But that is the official wrap up of the official program. Thank you. I want to say thank you all. Have been so fun. The questions that you asked, or rather the comments that you posted were good and thoughtful. I really do appreciate everyone participating with us again. If you have any questions about this, throw them in the chat. I'll answer as best I can and thank you. Thank you for joining us. And if you're heading out, be safe and go rayons. This person just wrote there is hope for me. There's hope for everyone.
Everyone can be a college going student so don't worry. And yes, there are questions coming so feel free to ask him. I'll go ahead and read it out loud once they are so. That way everyone can see him. But again, if you're headed out, thank you so much for being here. Appreciate you. You are wonderful. Feel free to ask any questions that you have.
I'll just hang out until I see some questions.
Still waiting on some questions, so if you're typing him out, that's totally fine. There is no rush.
Her eye is can I submit a resume? Absolutely, Yep. What I would do is email your admissions counselor when you get ready to submit and say, Hey, I would like to add my resume to this. That happens all the time. Also, if you were into art and you have a profile or you want to submit some of the works you've done, you can absolutely add them to us.
Cassie wrote a question, but I don't know if you wrote it all out, so I'm just going to read it. Is it important to have your academic explanation be pretty or include more information? I don't know if you meant like pretty like aesthetically. Like yes, let's make a sense of paper. Just joking. I wonder if it was pretty short. I would always say the more information you give the better, and especially because as you saw, the more context we have for grades, the bigger difference that is, so the more information you can give us the better. Always write more.
This person has published in magazines. Could I submit those magazines? Absolutely, you should not submit a college application without telling us you've been published. If you don't tell us you've been published and you hit submit, you've done something wrong, right? This is your time to brag about yourself. The more you brag, the better. Yeah, I want to hear all about how you published in magazines. That's super cool. So yes, again, email your admissions counselor to do that.
Any other questions or I'll keep singing?
On the recommendation section, are there any people you're not allowed to have write a record now?
Most people choose a teacher. That's their go to or a counselor, and those are great. You can submit five. I've read five. I've seen one student who had one from a family friend, one from an employer, one from a coach Anna counselor, absolutely.
David Ferree
06:24:56 PM
david.ferree@colostate.edu
Another question, does this institution offers zoom calls with an admissions counselor absolutely couple of ways you can do that. You can go on our website andmissionscolostate.edu and you can sign up for a chat or you can reach out to your admissions counselor directly and say, Hey, I would love to connect. If you want to connect with me, I can put my email in the chat david.free@kolostate.edu. If folks are wanting to set up a time to chat one on one with me, you can just.
Email me too. Whatever works whatever is easier.
Cool, keep throwing more questions in the chat. If there are some more, I'd love to answer anything you got.
Cassie, thank you thanks for joining us today. I'm glad you spent some time. Hope this was helpful.
Who good question do we have you know thanks so much. Take care, sorry had to say goodbye before I answer the next question. Do you all offer speech and debate? I'm an aura. Tori captain speech is so important to me that's awesome. Let me do a quick Google search.
Boo, so we actually do. I just looked this up. I'm going to go ahead and put this on the chat. We have, uh, student.
Student organization, I can't find it for some reason, but there is a organization so I can't post in the chat. It's called the debate society, CSU speech debate society. So yes, there's a team. Yeah, I wasn't sure if you're offering answering or asking more for a major or for a club.
Ah, you have started to nonprofits. How do I highlight those amazing resumes? Great, you can also on the common app. There's a list where you add your involvement. You can list it there to either works.
Just make sure you for sure list it.
I'm going into political science. What is some advice for me as an app? I studied political science at CSU. Best advice as an applicant, don't forget the personal statement that's huge. Remember that you're more than just numbers. We don't just look at your GPA. We do look at it, but it is not the only thing and highlight why CSU, right? Why political science at Colorado State University?
Yourself, I know that so cheesy and so overstated, but it is, it's true.
You know this is your chance to brag. This is your chance to be honest. Share who you are.
Reach out to your admissions counselor. Talk with us. We want to talk with students who are interested in CSU. That's huge.
Alright, if there are no more questions, I don't know if there are more questions.
But if there are no more.