8 Steps to Acing the College Admissions Interview

The personal interview is an often misunderstood part of the college admissions process. A good interview, however, can make the difference between getting accepted or rejected by your top school. Typically, interviews take place during the student’s senior year. As with every other piece of the college planning process, it’s important to be prepared!

Does every school require interviews? No. Many of the more competitive private schools will require (or “strongly recommend”) that students participate in admissions interviews, either on campus or with alumni if you live out of state. This means, if you skip the interview, you most likely will not be accepted. At some schools, the interview is optional—which means you should still elect to participate for the best chance of admission. Other schools, however, do not offer interviews at all. Every school will be slightly different. It’s important to research the schools you’re interested in ahead of time so you understand their policies and requirements.

Read on for some steps you can take for a successful interviewing experience.

1. Do Your Research.

Visit the college’s website before your interview. Make sure to read about the program of study that you’re interested in. Think about what makes this school special. You should be prepared to tell your interviewer why this school is the right fit for you.

2. Schedule In Advance.

For some schools, you will need to submit an interview request before a certain deadline. Other schools will contact you by phone or email—after you have completed your application—to invite you to interview. Either way, it is a good idea to schedule your interview for the earliest date possible. The sooner you interview, the greater the chance that your interview will be given careful consideration in the decision-making process. Remember, after the interview, your interviewer needs time to write a formal summary and submit it to the school. If you put off the meeting, you run the risk of interviewing too late in the game to really influence the admissions decision.

What if you're invited to interview on a day that's not ideal for your schedule? Make it work! Declining an invitation to interview, canceling at the last minute, or even asking to reschedule can signal to the school that you're not really interested. There's a good chance your "yes" will turn into a "no."

3. Dress Neatly.

While you need not show up in formal attire, it is a good idea to wear clothing that is neat and clean. Many schools recommend “business casual” attire for interviews.

4. Practice.

Sit down with a family member or friend, and practice! For many high school students, the college admissions interview is one of their first experiences with this type of conversation. Don’t memorize a script, but practice answering some of the basic questions you can expect to encounter. Be prepared to talk about why you’re interested in attending this particular college, why you’ve chosen your desired major and career path, and how you spend your time outside of school. Practicing ahead of time will help you to calm your nerves and come across more naturally in your interview.

5. Prepare Questions.

Don’t be taken by surprise when your interviewer says, “Do you have any questions for me?” The worst thing you can do is to have zero questions for the interviewer. In fact, it’s a great idea to prepare school-specific questions in advance. You should be ready with questions that are specific to the school you’re interviewing for, whether those questions relate to academics or campus life. This is another reason why it’s important to do your research beforehand. Asking the right questions shows that you’ve put some thought into this particular college.

6. Be Positive.

Try to phrase your responses as positively as possible. Interviewers are looking for enthusiasm and personality. Avoid taking a negative, bitter, or bored tone during the interview. Positivity includes body language! Sit up straight, make eye contact, and smile.

7. Relax.

Take a deep breath, and be yourself! The interviewer is not expecting you to use big vocabulary words or have the “perfect” answer to every question. It’s okay to take your time when answering questions. Interviewers are looking for thoughtful responses that reflect who you are outside of grades and test scores. The best interviews are conversational and authentic.

8. Say Thank You.

After your interview, it’s a great idea to send a handwritten thank you card to your interviewer. Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you, and reference something that you talked about in your conversation to show that you were paying attention. These days, it’s becoming less common for students to send thank you cards after their interviews, so you will impress your interviewer by going the extra distance.

Mike Giffin, President

Financial Aid Season Is Upon Us: Five Keys to Success

For many high school seniors, financial aid season is upon us, and families of younger students can start preparing by knowing what's ahead. What can your family do to ensure that you stay on top of deadlines, submit all the right information, and get as much financial aid as possible? Follow these five steps to put you and your student on the right path.

1. Make A Timeline

When it comes down to the admissions and financial aid process, nothing is as important as deadlines. Make a timeline that includes every school your student is applying to, along with all of the admission due dates, financial aid requirements, and follow-up schedule.  This will guarantee that you miss no deadlines, submit all of the correct forms, and make sure that the school has received all of the information that they have asked for from your family.

For Ensphere families, we will guide you through each step of this process. Our financial aid software lists all of your deadlines and requirements in one place.

2. Know What the College is Asking For

Many colleges, especially when considering early decision applicants, will ask for additional information that your family may not have had to submit with the CSS PROFILE or FAFSA forms. For instance, Cornell has asked for a copy of the parents’ 2013 tax return for all Early Decision applicants. It is important to check each college’s website along with our financial aid software to see if your schools have any additional requirements. Again, if you miss a deadline, it could be the other person who submitted their tax returns on time that gets accepted, leaving you on the outside looking in.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

If you aren’t sure whether the financial aid office needs something, ASK! Applying to eight or more schools can get crazy and confusing.  Different schools ask for different kinds of documents and data. If you aren’t sure what the school needs, it is better to be safe than sorry. A 30-second phone call is all it takes to ensure that the correct documents are being sent to the financial aid office.

4. Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate

There is a reason we tell students to apply to over 8 schools, and it isn’t just to guarantee you are accepted to at least one. It’s all about matching the student to the school that wants him or her the most, and using that financial aid package to increase your leverage against other schools. One school may give a lower offer than expected, but if you have a better offer from another school, you may use that to try and raise the offer from the low-offer school.

5. Hire a Group of Professionals

Hiring a professional who works with high school and college-aged students every day about the financial aid process will pay dividends. Whether it be to help you maintain your timeline of financial aid forms, to answer questions about income or assets a college is asking for, or to help assess different financial aid offers. True college planning firms have the knowledge and experience to maximize your family's opportunities for receiving financial aid.

Chris, College Planning Specialist

College Costs and Financial Aid

Many of our clients are in the midst of applying to colleges. They are also dealing with the reality of a four-year college education costing six figures. How does a family pay for a college expense that is equal to and in many cases greater than the mortgage on their home? What can you do to reduce the cost of college?

Let’s explore what you need to do and think about as you and your student go down this path:

THE “RIGHT FIT”

One of the most important decisions contributing to college cost is choosing the right school for your student; i.e., finding the school that matches your student’s need in terms of areas of study, selectivity, public vs. private, location, campus “culture”, etc. These are more important than cost. Why? Because matching your student’s needs with the college that really wants your student leads to success and lower costs. A student who is attending the right school will finish college in 4 years; not 4 ½, 5, or 6 years. The average time to get a degree today is approaching 6 years. Do the math. That can cost you an additional $20,000 to $60,000!

MAJORS AND COURSE OFFERINGS

Many students choose colleges based on where family members attended, what their high school counselors are pushing, and where their friends are going. Not a sound basis for making a choice that may cost $100,000+. Believe it or not, many students choose a college based on amenities such as dorm rooms and bathrooms! What’s really important here? Does the college offer what you are interested in studying? Don’t know what the student is interested in? Seek help! Do research! Explore!

PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE

Most families look at colleges’ “sticker” price and immediately rule out the higher-priced private school. But look deeper. Most private schools give more financial aid to the right student. And a large percentage of the aid is in free scholarships and grants. If your student has above average scholastic credentials, be sure to apply to a good sample of private schools. One of our families thought that the only choice for their twins was a state school with a price tag of $30,000 or less. We recommended that the girls explore Dickinson in Carlisle, PA with a “sticker” of $60,000 plus. Guess what? Dickinson came in at $5,000 less a year than Pitt per student!

SELECTIVITY

If you have an above average student, consider choosing schools where they will be in the top 25% of applicants instead of the high-profile schools where every student is the cream of the crop. Colleges sometimes called “sub-Ivies”, such as Bucknell, and smaller private schools, such as Allegheny College, know who their competition is and know that they will have to “pay up” to get that excellent student. Colleges want to show great statistics in terms of graduation rates and job placements, therefore, they are willing to pay to get the student who will excel.

HOW DO I FIND THAT “RIGHT FIT”

Students need to apply to at least 10 schools with a good balance between private and public. Why? You need at least 10 because you don’t know which school is looking for your child’s profile. Every year, the game changes. Colleges adjust what they are looking for in new students based on a variety of factors. Did they meet their enrollment goals last year? How well did their endowment funds do? Do their student demographics need adjustment? Is the college promoting a new program and willing to “pay” to attract students? We know that enrollments are declining. The number of graduating high school seniors peaked in the last three years. That means there are fewer students applying to colleges. Colleges will need to compete to find their ideal student match.

FINANCIAL AID OFFERS

Your applications are done. Now comes the time to apply for that financial aid. First, know the deadlines and apply early. There is usually a finite amount of scholarships and grants, and the early bird catches the worm. For most colleges, your application automatically puts your student in the running for scholarships. So, get those college applications submitted in early fall. Do not wait until the final due date. For certain courses of study, such as music, engineering, health care professions, there may be separate applications for specialized scholarships and honors colleges, and there may be an audition required, such as for music. Secondly, understand what forms are needed to apply for financial aid. All schools use the FAFSA to determine aid from the federal government programs.  Approximately 500 colleges use additional financial aid forms such as CSS/Profile and their own private forms. Thirdly, understand the forms! Every piece of information collected is there for a reason. Also, understand the definition of each piece of information. For example, what does the form mean by “retirement” accounts? Why do colleges ask for the parents’ highest completed level of education? What is a student asset and why is that important? And there are many more “pitfalls,” so do your homework.

KNOWING THE TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID

Yes, student loans are financial aid! So when you are reviewing that financial aid package, know which aid is free and which aid you need to pay back. Work study is also financial aid.

NEGOTIATE

How do you know that the financial aid offer that you received is a fair offer? You don’t, unless you know what the college has done in the past. More colleges are “holding back” on their offers. In other words, they are willing to pay more if you ask and if you are able to provide a valid reason for more aid. So, do your homework.

LOANS

When all else fails, many families need to borrow money to fund college. And this is where it all begins to fall apart. Most student and parent loans are deferred and cumulative. Deferred means that you don’t have to pay until the student is finished with college, and cumulative means that you have new loans every year stacked on top of what you already borrowed. How many parents and students actually sit down and calculate what all of these loans are going to cost, what will the payment be when college is finished and for how long? Not many. Let us ask you, how many of you would buy a house and not know what your monthly mortgage payment will be? Heads up! Your college loans will approach the size of a mortgage and usually with a shorter time to pay! And guess what? In most cases, you can’t declare bankruptcy on student loans. Recent college graduates are putting their lives on hold because of student debt. They are not buying houses, they are not getting married, and they are not having children. Many students live with their parents. Many parents must delay retirement to pay their share of college costs, or worse, sell their home and other assets to pay off debt. So, buyer beware. Understand what you are getting into before you and your student sign on the dotted line.

Ensphere College Planning Services

Strategic Thinkers vs. Non-Strategic Thinkers: Telling One From the Other

If you were interviewing potential College Planning/Funding clients, do you think you could tell the difference? Which ones were aware they were facing an incredibly huge emotional and financial dilemma, were also willing to listen to carefully crafted written advice from industry leaders, with tons of experience, credentials, business savvy—and which ones were not?

There are many ways to do this, and this blog will help you determine who is and who isn’t a Strategic Thinker. Next, you will see two characteristics of the Strategic and the Non-Strategic Thinker. I have kept both of these bullet points on my computer for years. They have helped me determine where to put our firm’s best efforts and who to avoid like the plague. This may seem a little harsh, but over the years using this method has saved us time, money and heartache. I have rarely been disappointed with the process.  

Let’s take a look at what I call the Strategic indicators. This list contains markers for those prospective clients who will achieve incredible success, be fun to work with and accomplish most of their family’s goals. Next, look at the second group: those families who will always second guess your advice, be the smartest ones in the room, and will ultimately blame you and your firm for their errors and missteps.

As you review this chart, think of some of your friends and fellow workers who embody these traits. I bet you can see their reactions to great advice. They will be continually skeptical, even if they are paying for the guidance. A few of these bullets really speak volumes of a person’s ability to think strategically.



After thousands of family interviews, it takes only about 10 minutes of talking with the first prospective client member to find out if he/she is Strategic. How they view themselves, how they treat others, how they manage their family assignments, and how they will follow a successful dynamic College Planning/Funding Plan.

The big takeaway here after years of publishing this conceptual theory is that the Strategic Thinking family will be and is much more emotionally and financially successful than the Non-Strategic Thinking family. The Non-Strategic Thinking family will grumble continually and make the same mistakes over and over again. They will bad-mouth excellent advice, have no alternative plan and eventually tell no one the real financial mess they have created.   

As with most theories, by definition, none of us are 100% in one camp or the other. However, understanding what works and what doesn’t can often at least send us in the right direction.

And one final word of advice from somebody who knew a thing or two about Strategic Thinking and leadership:

“Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.” - Winston Churchill

Mike Giffin, President

Don't Wait Too Long to Take the SAT and ACT!

Our families of juniors say that high schools are advising students to wait until the spring to take the SAT/ACT for the first time. We say, don’t wait!

Plan to take the tests for the first time in the fall or winter. Give yourself enough time to study and retake the tests if needed. In fact, we encourage students to begin studying as sophomores. Many merit scholarships are dependent upon SAT/ACT scores, and the right kind of preparation can make a huge difference for you and your family.

So why are schools telling students to wait? These are some of the common misconceptions we’ve come across.

“You haven’t learned the math concepts yet.”

False! Most students have learned the main concepts they need by 9th grade. The majority of math problems on the tests require knowledge of simple algebra, percentages, ratios, basic linear equations, and properties of triangles and circles.

The SAT even provides students with a list of formulas at the start of every math section. So, if you can’t remember how to find the area of a triangle, you can simply turn to the first page!

The ACT is a bit more advanced because it will include a small number of questions requiring very basic trigonometry. But even if you’re not familiar with SOH-CAH-TOA, four questions (out of 60) won’t have a significant impact on your score.

If you’re having trouble with the math problems on the test, that’s simply because most of the math problems are worded in a tricky way. Once you decipher what a question is looking for, you’re meant to be able to solve it in less than 60 seconds. You don’t even need a fancy graphing calculator!

“Wait until you get your PSAT scores back.”

I hear this one all the time! Many students don’t even think about studying for the SAT/ACT until they see how they do on the PSAT. That’s a big mistake.

Typically, students don’t get their PSAT scores back until the middle of December. At that point, they’re looking at taking the SAT/ACT for the first time in the spring. That’s not a lot of time to start studying, take the test, wait for scores to come out, and then retake the test if needed.

If you wait until you have your PSAT scores, you are limiting your options. Remember, the tests are offered only a handful of times throughout the year, so planning ahead is key!

“You have time … college applications aren’t due until the fall of senior year.”

What’s wrong with this line of thinking? Let’s pretend I’ve registered to take the SAT for the first time in March of my junior year. I won’t see my scores until April. If I’m not happy with my scores, I now have very little time to prepare for retaking the test.

At this point, most students realize they have AP tests, college visits, prom, finals, and other end-of-the-year events coming up. It’s a very busy time of the year! Students can either cram in another test in June or wait until October to try to raise their scores.

Why is it not ideal to wait until October? Early applications are due in October/November, and students now have one chance to raise their scores to get into the colleges of their dreams.

Don’t let misconceptions about the test hold you back. Imagine how much better this scenario would be if I had first taken the test in the fall of the previous year, leaving myself ample time to study and raise my scores.

Remember …

Take advantage of our free SAT/ACT resources! Access your Method Test Prep account by logging in to your Career Cruising profile. When you click on “My Plan,” you’ll see a link on the left side that says, “Go to Method Test Prep.” There are 20 weeks of ACT lessons and another 20 weeks of SAT lessons, plus other resources. Best of luck studying!

Erin, Director of Student Services

Are Your Family Documents Safe in Your "Vault?"

Safety deposit box? Filing cabinet in your office with a simple key? A spare drawer in your kitchen? It seems as though everybody has their “vault” to store their very private, yet essential documents. Are your documents organized and easily accessible when you need to look up a statement balance or make sure your will is up to date?

If we were able to show you a tool that could keep all of these documents organized, easily accessible (even from your mobile device), and secure at all times, wouldn’t you be interested? Having a place where all of these important family documents can be stored is just as essential to having a financial plan. Read through a couple examples and relate it to your life. Think about where your documents are stored and if they’re safe and secure.

As I said earlier, most documents are stored somewhere not-so-safe. A drawer in a filing cabinet in your basement isn’t so safe if an event such as a fire were to tragically happen. This is where a secure, online website can become an advantage. Rather than be scrambling around to find a copy of your birth certificate you “think” you made 3 years ago, it would be easier to go to the “cloud” because you are certain that there is a copy in there.

What about your living will and power of attorneys? Should a medical emergency come up, trying to find these documents will be the last of your worries, and going to the attorney’s office to get a copy will not be necessary anymore. Medical and legal documents may be the first information to come to mind when thinking about keeping your documents safe, but what about valued family items, such as photos, appraisals of family jewelry, and those “secret” family recipes.

If you’ve been looking for a way to securely store this type of information so that your family has one less worry when the time comes to access these important documents, let us know. We can help you ensure that backups are safe, secure, and easily accessible when the time comes.

Chris, College Planning Specialist

Does the PSAT Matter?

October is PSAT month! Sophomores and juniors across the country are signing up to take the PSAT at their local high schools.

We know the PSAT often gets overlooked or misunderstood, and we don’t want you to make that mistake. Here’s everything you need to know about the PSAT.

Why take the PSAT?

If you’re a junior, the PSAT is the qualifying test for National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarships. Students who score in the top 3% on the PSAT become eligible to receive National Merit Scholarships, corporate-sponsored merit scholarship awards, and college-sponsored merit scholarship awards.

If you’re a sophomore, the PSAT serves as a practice run for the next year’s PSAT, SAT, and even ACT. For many students, this will be your first time taking a college entrance exam. It’s a good opportunity to get a feel for this kind of test and start identifying areas for improvement.

What’s on the PSAT?

There’s a lot of overlap in content between the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. Like the SAT, the PSAT covers three subject areas: reading, math, and writing. However, the PSAT is a shorter test, at just over 2 hours of testing time. One nice thing is that there’s no essay section on the PSAT. The writing portion consists only of multiple-choice questions.

What does my score mean?

Students can earn up to an 80 on each subject area of the PSAT, for a total of 240. To translate your PSAT score to the SAT scoring scale, simply add a zero to the end of your score! For example, a math score of 58 on the PSAT is comparable to a 580 on the SAT.

With that said, the PSAT provides only an estimate of how you might score on the SAT. Keep in mind that the SAT is longer and a bit more difficult than the PSAT, so many students score higher on the PSAT than they do when taking the SAT for the first time. Your PSAT score is only a starting point that helps you identify which topics you need to study.

How can I prepare?

Use our free SAT resources! Access your Method Test Prep account by logging in to your Career Cruising profile. When you click on “My Plan,” you’ll see a link on the left side that says, “Go to Method Test Prep.” PSAT questions look just like SAT questions, so it’s a good idea to get familiar with them before taking the test!

Erin, Director of Student Services