by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA

As the competitiveness in college admission continues to grow, and with it parent anxieties, school systems across the country seem to be in a frenzy to grow their Advanced Placement (AP) offerings. In doing so, many schools place increased pressure on students to take AP courses in a desire to strengthen their students’ college applications and meet parental demands.

The problem of course is that schools need to meet three conditions BEFORE such a plan can be successful: (1) adequate training for teachers who will be responsible for the AP curriculum; (2) adequate preparation for students; and (3) sensible screening of students before placing them into AP classes. The current lack of such planning is further harmed when national “experts” evaluate and rate schools based on how many AP courses they offer and how many students are “pushed to challenge” themselves, with little attention paid to how many succeed. Some schools are reporting failure rates exceeding 70%!

Nationally more than 41% of students are now failing AP tests (receiving a grade of 1 or 2, typically considered failing). This is a 14% increase in the failure rate over the last decade. Much of the increase, and the highest failure rates, are seen in the South where almost half of all students fail, including more than 55% in New Mexico, Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia. During this same decade the number of students enrolled in AP courses has more than doubled.

As recent IECA surveys indicate, students are best served when they take challenging classes and succeed in them. Looking at these new figures, one has to wonder whether the groundwork has been laid for this huge increase in offerings and participation as students in alarming numbers are not able to pass these tests. Are schools and counselors properly advising students when they are urged into coursework that is either above their ability or when a class’s progress is delayed because improper screening was done? One wonders if the growth has been pushed by an organization that materially benefits when more students take AP courses and tests—whether they are fully prepared for success or not.

Let’s continue to challenge students, but let’s use some common sense. Let’s also look at schools where three-quarters of student fail, and ensure that teachers are properly trained and students are able to handle the requirements.

by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA

One measure of the success of College Week Live is that the number of days for this virtual college fair has doubled, from two last spring to four in the fall of 2009. During the dates of November 4 – 7, College Week Live will connect students from across the country and the world to the college search and application process without leaving their home, office, or school.

Among the highlights: the opportunity to speak to representatives of over 300 colleges, the chance to hear keynote presentations via Webcast (including Ted Fiske of Fiske Guide and representatives from the Department of Education, among many others), and the chance to video chat live with college students.

One of the most popular features last spring was the “Counselor-on-Call” chat area where students and parents by the hundreds were able to pose questions to professional counselors. IECA is pleased that only IECA Members will be staffing the counselor-on-call area, and are doing so as volunteers.This recognition that IECA members are the most knowledgeable, competent, and informed advisors is much appreciated. I’m thrilled that more than 50 IECA members have pledged an average of two hours each of service. They expect to answer questions ranging from testing, to volunteer service, to financial aid, and much, much more.

For more details on this wonderful event, visit collegeweeklive.com.

by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, Independent Educational Consultants Association

In a special agreement with College Board, IECA Member Educational Consultants will have an exclusive opportunity to order quantities of SAT materials for students in their practices. For the last several years College Board has decided to send such materials only to schools, but makes the significant exception for IECA Members. Over the last two days scores of boxes have arrived at the IECA office, and members will receive ordering information next week.

Available materials: Since both IECA and College Board are making concerted efforts to “go green” by reducing the amount of paper we use and expanding resources online, please be conservative when ordering as most families and students access this information and apply online, or get these same materials at school. Your help saves IECA paper, time, and thousands of dollars in shipping

• SAT Code List (limited to 1 per office)
• SAT Paper Registration Guides
• SAT Practice Booklets
• SAT Practice Tests
• SAT International Booklets
• SAT Flyers – “This is Your SAT”

In addition members should watch for information soon about the availability of the Common Application, also being made available exclusively to IECA members from the IECA office.

Today’s announcement by the Obama administration to simplify the FAFSA application (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a most welcome admission that the form, with its 150+ questions, has become so complex and cumbersome that the very families the process should be helping has, instead, chased them away. Today’s announcement of minor changes for the coming year—eliminating as many as 20 duplicative questions—will help, but the real benefits will come in another year or two.

The goal is to feed financial information directly from a family’s tax return into the FAFSA form. This obvious move will improve accuracy and make the process far easier for families. In particular, this will greatly assist lower income families (and often those of first-generation college students) who have struggled with areas of the form dealing with net worth, investment portfolios, and the like.

The overall strategy is that this simplified process will bring increased numbers of students into the college search process by demonstrating that college is achievable and affordable. For consultants, this begins one more step in gaining greater expertise in understanding the broad range of financial aid possibilities, including need-based financial aid, merit aid, loans, work-study and 529 plans, among others. Anything that simplifies this process for families is a positive change for all.

Posted by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director 

I have begun to hear reports from members—and colleges—across the United States that indicate an unusual year shaping up for state colleges. Most have reported overall increases in applications, and it appears, from what I’m hearing, that it is in-state applicants driving this increase. Out-of-state applications appear to be about even with years past.

The increase among in-state students should come as no surprise, as the current economy has all families looking harder at in-state options as well as other choices that might be sweetened with financial assistance.

But I am hearing that while out-of-state APPLICATIONS are even, the number choosing to enroll has fallen. The result for many of these state universities is two-fold. First, many are going much deeper into their pool of wait-listed students. Second, there are major budgetary implications. While many states mandate a significant number of their own in-state applicants based on tax-payer support, it is the higher-paying distant applicants that universities must rely on to balance their books.

A serious long-term decline in out-of-state students means a real loss of income. Aggravating this loss is that it comes at the same time that states are unable to increase support for colleges, and in many places the subsidies for state universities is being cut or facing that possibility should the economy remain weak within that state.

That’s what I’ve been hearing. I welcome comments from colleges and consultants letting others know what you are hearing in your state.

Posted by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA