Ask an Admissions Counselor - TCNJ

<p>Hi Everybody! Sorry for the delay in response. We have our Orientation this week and last week, so the counselors have been all over the place! </p>

<p>KingRobert - The acceptance rate for the Class of 2014 and 2015 are about the same. Somewhere around 46%. </p>

<p>HazelEyes - This year we had about 1300 applicants for just about 80 seats in the bio program. </p>

<p>aammww20 - It is important that your HS transcript shows that you challenged yourself in the courses you took. When looking at a transcript we like to see students who are taking honors, AP and IB classes because we know that if they are challenging themselves in HS, they will be successful in the TCNJ academic environment. </p>

<p>TCNJ offers a communications disorders minor. To find information on that, follow this link: [Communication</a> Minor](<a href=ā€œhttp://www.tcnj.edu/~educat/special/CommunicationMinor.htm]Communicationā€>Special Education, Language and Literacy | TCNJ - The College of New Jersey)</p>

<p>Feareman: Tuition has just been posted for the 2011/2012 school year. In-state tuition is $14,187 per year and out-of-state tuition is $23,996 per year. To see the full break down, including the costs of room and board, follow this link: [TCNJ</a> Tuition & Fees :: The College of New Jersey](<a href=ā€œhttp://www.tcnj.edu/~sfs/tuition/index.html]TCNJā€>Tuition and Fees 2023 ā€“ 2024 | Student Accounts)</p>

<p>thanks so much !</p>

<p>Hi admissStaff TCNJ. I have a question about transferring into TCNJ for spring 2012.
I am currently enrolled at Brookdale community college in New Jersey and only 1 semester away from receiving an associate degree in chemistry. However, I would like to major in biology at TCNJ. I will have a total of around 74 credits ( I believe a few classes will not be accepted) and I also understand that TCNJ will only accept a maximum of 64.</p>

<p>classes I have completed:
Microeconomics
Intro to psychology
English comp I,II
General Biology I,II
General Chemistry I,II
Organic Chemistry I,II
intermediate algebra (not transferable according to NJ transfer)
college trig (not transferable for the same reason above)
Pre-calculus (not transferable for the same reason above)
Calculus I, II (I will take the 2nd part in fall of 2011)
General physics I, II (I will take the 2nd part in fall of 2011)</p>

<p>Overall GPA : 4.0<br>
Anticipated total # of credits: 74</p>

<p>Now here is my question. On the admission requirement website, it says that I must submit SAT scores if the test was taken during my high school career. I took the SAT when I was a junior in high school and did absolutely terrible on it (450 reading, 560 math, 420 writing). I am truly terrified of sending these scores :(</p>

<p>Do you believe I still have a chance of gaining admission?</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

<p>Hi Bottlecap1990!</p>

<p>The main thing we are going to look at are you grades from Brookdale, especially your science and math courses. *The more college credit you have the less we look at SAT scores and high school transcript. *Eventhough, we do require them as part of the application your course work at Brookdale will be weighted more heavily. *I hope that helps!</p>

<p>Admiission Counselor - </p>

<p>I see that TCNJ asks for an activity list detailing your involvement in activities. Is it ok to mail this in even though I am applying with the COmmon App online? Also, is it ok to send an additional letter of recommendation via mail? </p>

<p>Can you tell me how many instrumental music ed student applied this year and how many were accepted? How many were early decision?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Hi CruiseQueen!</p>

<p>You can submit your activity resume and additional letters of recommendation via mail. Our mailing address is PO Box 7718, Ewing, NJ 08628-0718. With the letters of recommendation, I suggest not sending any more than 3. </p>

<p>This past cycle, we had about 85 students apply to music ed (Unfortuantely, I canā€™t see how many were instrumental) and we accepted about 65. Only 6 of those students applied early decision. </p>

<p>I hope that helps!</p>

<p>How many students apply Early Decision and how many get in? I heard that you have slightly better chances if you apply Early Decision and seeing how my SAT scores arenā€™t all that fantastic I thought applying Early Decision would benefit me</p>

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>If I was qualified for such schools as the ivy league, how difficult would it be for me to be accepted into the 7 year med program with UMD? How difficult would it be to get merit based aid in the program?</p>

<p>Oh Ok. I was confused because the Common App says all online or all by mail - no mix and match. But, if you say it is ok - that is what I will do. I wasnā€™t even sure if my activity list with details that is requested by TCNJ would even fit as an attachment on Common App. Thanks!</p>

<p>Sjanuse: Typically, we have about 600 students applying Early Decisions with about 1/3 being accepted and 1/3 being deferred to regular decision (meaning we canā€™t make a decision until we see the whole applicant pool and we will review their application again starting in January). Applying Early Decision lets us know in the Admissions Office at TCNJ that you are a very serious applicant and that if you were accepted, you will enroll. I would not recommend applying Early Decision if you are not 100% sure you would like to attend TCNJ or if you will need to see your financial aid package to make a decision on where you will be attending in the fall.</p>

<p>Lebronjames123: Once you meet the minimum requirements for the 7 year program (SAT score of 1480/1600 in one test sitting and top 5% of the HS grad class), the decision is solely up to the Biology Department and UMDNJ. Combined with the interviews they conduct, their decision is based off letters of recommendation, activity resume, and student essay. Students who are accepted into the 7 year program typically are qualifying for merit scholarship. Like all accepted students, they will be notified of the scholarship they are receiving with their admissions offer.</p>

<p>How many teacher recommendations are required? The TCNJ website says that 2-3 are recommended, but I couldnā€™t find how many are actually required. Is there a disadvantage to sending only one recommendation? </p>

<p>The website also says that recommendations can come from teachers and guidance counselors. Does the GC report/evaluation on the CommonApp count as a recommendation, or does a separate ā€œletter of recommendationā€ need to be sent? Thanks!</p>

<p>Hi Graduate2016!</p>

<p>We only require 1 letter of recommendation but allow students to send in as many as 3. When choosing the people who will write you a letter of recommendation, think about picking people who know you in different capacities. Your science teacher and math teacher will both know you as a student, but your coach will know you as a team player and your guidance counselor will be able to provide the big picture. The Guidance Counselor Report on the Common Application counts as the letter of recommendation. I hope that helps!</p>

<p>Hello Admission Counselor.</p>

<p>I am going to apply as a transfer student for the spring 2012 semester and had a few questions. The first is over the summer I have asked a few of my teachers to write recommendation letters for me, which they have mailed to the school. Will you keep those letters on file until I submit my online application, or shall I have them resend the letters when my application is complete?</p>

<p>My second question is the common app website says your supplementary forms are not available yet, but your school website has them. Can I submit the supplementary forms via mail even though I am submitting my application online?</p>

<p>My final question is should I report my AP scores on the common app even if a few are in the 2 range?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Thank you so much AdmissStaffTCNJ! That helps a lot. :)</p>

<p>Another quick question, if you donā€™t mind- how popular is the self-designed major in Classical Studies? It is my understanding that there is no actual ā€œClassical Studiesā€ major with specific requirements, but rather a series of Classical Studies courses that students can take and direct their own course of study within the program. Do many students choose to pursue the self-designed major? Iā€™m not sure if this is the right place to ask this question since itā€™s not directly related to the admissions process, but any information at all would be very helpful! Thanks!</p>

<p>Hi Chewey! Your teacher recommendations will be saved until we receive your application, so no worries there! Our TCNJ supplement is not available yet. It will go live on the Common Application website starting September 1st. You should wait until it is posted on the Common Application website to fill it out and submit it. Also, you should still report your AP scores. We like to see students who are challenging themselves, so regardless of your AP test grades, it still looks favorable that you took the AP class to itā€™s completion. </p>

<p>Hi Graduate2016! Not a problem. In the Admissions Office, we donā€™t keep tabs on how many students design their own major. All of the TCNJ applicants must select a major to apply in to. This means that you can not apply to the college as a ā€˜self designed majorā€™ student. You would elect to go through that process in your sophomore year. Follow this link to see more detailed information on the requirements and process. [url=&lt;a href=ā€œhttp://www.tcnj.edu/~recreg/forms/self-designedmajor.htm]selfdesignedmajor[/urlā€&gt;TCNJ | Records and Registration]selfdesignedmajor[/url</a>]</p>

<p>I hope that helps!</p>

<p>What is the Bio Program? Is it different from 7-year Med Program?</p>

<p>Hi Shaggy007! The bio program is very different from our 7 Year Med Program. The biology program is one of our 50+ undergraduate degree programs. It is a four year program of study at The College and upon graduation, you would receive a BS in Biology. The 7 Year Med Program is a special program that has a partnership at UMDNJ. After studying for 3 years on The College of New Jersey campus, students in the program move to Newark, NJ where they study for four years to finish their undergraduate degree and complete a medical degree. There are special admissions requirements for the 7 Year Med Program which have recently changed. In order to be considered for the 7 Year Med Program you must have a 1480/1600 on your SAT in one test sitting and be in the top 5% of your graduating class. </p>

<p>Students of all majors continue after their undergraduate degree at TCNJ to pursue medical degrees from universities all over the country through our Medical Careers Advisory Board. This is open to students of all majors and has an 85% acceptance rate of students in to medical schools (more than double the national average!). To learn more about this advisory board, click on this link. [Medical</a> Careers Advisory Committee :: Department of Biology :: The College of New Jersey](<a href=ā€œhttp://www.tcnj.edu/~biology/career/medadvisory.html]Medicalā€>The College of New Jersey | Department of Biology)</p>

<p>Hello. My school does not provide us with rank/gpa until late December. I am applying as a music student and would like to get my application in early so I can request an early audition date (app must be received before audition can be granted). If I answer any questions in the Self Reported Grades section, GPA & Rank become required fields. If I do not answer any - none are required fields. Is it ok to leave that section blank so I can submit my application early since my GC will be providing that information at a later date? </p>

<p>Also, is it ok to provide my SAT scores from the June test and just list the October date as future test. Or is it best to wait for the October scores to enter on the Common App? </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>Hello! Iā€™m currently starting my senior year and Iā€™m applying to The College of New Jersey as soon as I finalize my common app essay and I have a few questions.

  1. Can the sending of my application and transcript from the school be sent out over a period of a few days or should they be sent out at the same time?
  2. Does everyone who applies regular decision find out at the same time? And when is thatā€¦ April I think I read?
  3. What are the advantages of applying early decision? Would you say it may increase your chances of being admitted over regular decision? Also, are there instances where you donā€™t get admitted early decision but you still may be admitted for regular decision? Or do you automatically know when you hear back after applying early decision if you are or arnā€™t accepted.
  4. Last thing, Iā€™m applying for nursing. If I apply early decision and I list my second choice as psychologyā€¦ what happens if Iā€™m not accepted into nursing but I am accepted into psychology? Would I still HAVE to come because of early decision with a psychology majorā€¦?</p>

<p>Sorry thatā€™s a lot! Thank you SO much!</p>

<p>Hi CrusieQueen - You will not receive an audition date until your application is complete. To have a complete application, we must receive your official GPA and rank. Self reported scores will not count as official.</p>

<p>You donā€™t have to wait for your October scores to send in your application. If you tell College Board to send your scores to us, we will automatically update your SAT score information when we receive your October scores.</p>

<p>Hi Lindsayc - You can send your transcript and application in separately. We will piece them together here when we have them both. We send out our decisions for regular decision in three waves. The first group finds out end of February, the second in middle of March and the third by April 1. </p>

<p>Early decision (ED) applications are held to the same standards as regular decision applications. If a student is on the bubble of being admitted, a ED app looks a little more favorable just because a student admitted ED is expected to enroll. If we choose not to admit a student ED, we may choose to defer their application to regular decision and reread it with the rest of the regular admissions pool. </p>

<p>We would not admit you into your second major choice without letting you know. If we need to admit you into your second major choice for whatever reason, we will reach out to your first via email and ask if that is okay.</p>

<p>I hope that helps!</p>