Those of us with teenagers approaching their junior year in high school are wading through immense mounds of diverse college marketing materials, while our young adults ponder the vast educational options and agonize over the possibilities and choices, which once made, will dramatically affect their future. How to get into the college of choice has become a national obsession that colors the conversations of some adults before their offspring are even conceived! While it may seem like a daunting task, take heart! There are a number of ways a student can get a leg up on what Admissions Directors are really looking for.
Here's the lowdown straight from the source; on the top five things Admissions personnel are looking for in potential students, and some of the most important “to-do's” for all incoming students, to maximize the chances for admission to the college of your choice.
Dominican College's Admissions spokesperson, Shannon Sullivan, says while academics are important, it is just a part of the mix. “We look for students who are willing to contribute their varying experiences, ideas and backgrounds,” says Sullivan. The “Top Five” things that DC Admissions counselors consider for incoming students are:
Does the student respect themselves and others, and take pride in their performance?
Is he/she someone who desires to be involved in our community, and the community at large?
Can the student articulate his/her thoughts in conversation and argumentation?
Are they aware of their talents and weaknesses, striving to better themselves?
Are they looking for a college environment where they can develop relationships with their peers, as well as faculty?
Doris Davis, Associate Provost at Cornell, in Ithaca, NY, has seen many classes of freshmen head through her doors and she reports that the top five things the college looks for in applicants are:
1) Demonstrated academic ability; we look for students who have taken a challenging curriculum and who have performed well.
2) Involvement in activities outside of the classroom, whether they be in school or in the community.
3) Motivation, diligence, integrity, and a passion for learning
4) Potential to make contributions to the learning/living community at Cornell
Diversity of backgrounds and experiences According to Dan Lundquist, the Dean of Admissions at Union College, an independent, liberal arts college located in Schenectady, NY, it's important for students to think critically and be realistic in order to get down to a short list of colleges. He strongly advises that students assess their own interests, values, skills and aspirations, noting that they should feel buoyed by the fine range of options to choose from. “Never assume there are any universal policies, strengths or preferences. Or that what is right for someone else will fit for you,” says Lundquist. His simple “Top Five” suggestions:
1) Applicants should redefine “best college” to “right college for me.” Concentrate on finding the right accessible college first, so you can say, “If this is the only college that accepts me, I'll be delighted to attend.”
2) Even the “super candidates” should apply to less-selective schools. The most competitive colleges turn away thousands of stellar candidates every year… because they do not have room to admit them all. Fair? no; reality, yes. (“If you are smart enough to go to MIT, then you are – or better be – smart enough to apply somewhere else too!”)
3) Don't be overwhelmed by all that you have to do senior year. The “worst case” scenario of getting organized and staying ahead of deadlines is that you will find you have more room to maneuver and you may feel a bit saner.
4) Remember that the goal of the admissions officer is to get an understanding of what makes an individual candidate tick. An application presented in one's natural voice and style – be it serious, sober, wry, or humorous –helps accomplish that goal much better than an application that has been tailored to fit the perceived confines of an application form. Use the form as your forum!
5) Don't forget the “heart factor” when choosing your college. Objective criteria such as academic programs, size, location, and cost are important, but your choice also needs to make you feel, “This is home.”
Tracey Howard-Ubelhoer, Director of Admissions at STAC, St. Thomas Aquinas College in Orangeburg, NY, Karen Pellegrino, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Fairfield University, in Fairfield, CT and Dolan Evanovich, Vice Provost for Enrollment at UCONN (University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT) all shared a common take on evaluating new students. The top elements these schools consider include:
High school or college prep academic record, which may include the overall GPA and class rank, if the school provides one. These directors look for strong, consistent academic performance, giving a special nod to students that have applied themselves with Honors or AP (Advanced Placement) courses. Red flags that don't bode well are students who opt for an easy senior year, or poor grades that reflect that the student did not apply themselves in more challenging courses.
Not surprisingly SAT and ACT standardized test scores are also weighed, although Pellegrino says that Fairfield University views theses scores in light of the student's entire academic record, not in a vacuum. According to Evanovich, UCONN's mean SAT scores averages around 1176, with top consideration given to candidates that fall in the top 18% of their high school class.
Subjective information that is reviewed includes a student's resume of extra-curricular activities, which may derive from church, civic, school or sports-related experiences, as well as recommendations and the personal essay. “We like students to get recommendations from someone who they have had an established relationship with, typically teachers, guidance counselors or a contact at a community group that they've been involved with, ” says Howard-Ubelhoer at STAC. Howard-Ubelhoer cautions students to “really read what the essay topics are” adding that special attention be given to following directions on the allowed word count, as well as the obvious –staying on the topic. She further advises potential students to use a typically typed format, without funky typestyles, so that the end product is easily legible. Students should also get outside help with proofreading from parents and friends, and that the final version should be read out loud to find out if it really imparts the right information, in the right tone of voice.
“There is no one “right” combination of activities – we look for students who have rounded out their academic experience with involvement outside the classroom,” says Pellegrino from Fairfield.
Not surprisingly Sarah Lawrence, known for it's unique approach to independent learning, agrees with some criteria set forth by other institutions (like students seeking out challenging curriculum), but takes additional elements into consideration when they evaluate a potential applicant. “We are looking for students who are comfortable expressing themselves in writing, and hope to improve this skill,” says Thyra Briggs, Dean of Admissions at this small coeducational liberal arts college, located in Bronxville, NY. Because of this approach, the Sarah Lawrence application contains several essays, including a graded academic paper that a student has written for a high school class. According to Briggs, the essays play a very large role in the decision-making process at Sarah Lawrence. “We spend a great deal of time reading them.” Briggs also stressed that the successful Sarah Lawrence candidate thrives in an independent environment, and should be comfortable working closely with their teachers and show an interest in designing their own independent project (known as conference work).
The Admissions officials also offered some savvy advice, for the kinds of prep work that all students can benefit from:
Challenge yourself, within your own abilities.
Be committed to a depth & breadth of activities that you feel passionate about, taking on a leadership role when possible.
Take the time to visit the colleges you think you're interested in, before applying to them.
Go online and see what the college is all about.
3 Be your own advocate. Try to make a connection with the Admissions personnel of the college you decide on, through phone, email and snail mail.
Last but not least – be prepared! According to Shannon Sullivan from Dominican College, in Orangeburg, NY, this is the most important thing a potential student can do prior to applying for admission. “A student who is well organized, takes the time to schedule a tour of the school, and arranges an interview, will stand out. Those individuals who are capable of anticipating, initiating, and adapting to change will fare very well at any institution, since the college experience is often exciting and unpredictable.”