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In This Chapter

Pinpointing what the colleges really want from you

Masterminding the right mix of academics, sports, and extracurricular activities

Preparing for the all-important essay and interview

Eliminating the biggest mistake most anxious applicants make

At this point in your life, you may be asking yourself, “What do I need to know about the college admissions process?” To help you out, we took this issue to a group of experts — members of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA; www.hecaonline.org). HECA members are experienced independent college consultants from all over the world who have helped thousands of students get into the schools that best meet their needs and fulfill their dreams. They visit dozens of colleges every year, talk with the admissions officers, and know what’s important to them. This chapter offers you the responses we got from a handful of HECA members when we asked them about the issues that concern you most.

What’s the Main Thing Colleges Look For?

“Colleges look for genuine applicants who submit genuine responses to the questions they ask. You wouldn’t believe how far honesty goes in this process. Yes, curriculum, grades, and scores are important — this is an academic competition, after all. That said, you’d be surprised at how quickly a canned or generic essay response will move your application directly to the wait-list pile (even when all else is right on-target).

“It’s hard to put yourself in the admissions officer’s shoes, but imagine reading a lot of the same exact stuff — things spit right back at you from the college’s website — to the point that you are literally reading the same phrases and responses over and over again. That’s not compelling! What is compelling is seeing an essay that reflects the kind of student who fits well at your college and shows a genuine interest in, and knowledge about, your school. It’s that kid colleges want to admit and who colleges think will come to their campus and contribute in a meaningful way. So think carefully about your response to those ‘Why here?’ supplemental essays and avoid a canned response.” — Bari Norman, PhD, www.expertadmissions.com

How Do Higher ACT Scores Increase My Scholarship Chances?

“In addition to increasing your chances of admission, higher ACT scores have another meaningful impact: larger scholarships. Most colleges engage in a strategy called enrollment management, which, in simple terms, means that colleges use ‘academic,’ ‘merit,’ or ‘leadership’ scholarships to attract students that they deem desirable. Many schools try to elevate the average test scores of their incoming freshman class, so they use these scholarships to attract students with higher test scores. This, in turn, will help the school increase its ranking. With a little research ahead of time, you can determine if a small investment of time in improving your score will provide you with a four-year financial reward. For instance, the Academic Achievement Award at the University of New Haven carries a renewable award of $7,000 to $11,000 a year and requires a minimum GPA of a 3.0 and a minimum ACT score of 21. However, the Distinguished Scholar Awards have a range of $12,000 to $15,000 and require the same minimum GPA of 3.0 but a minimum ACT score of 23. So, in this case, raising your ACT composite score by 2 points equates to more than $4,000 a year for four years. Enough to make the hours spent preparing for the test seem more than worth it.” — James Maroney, www.collegetreasure.com

“Higher ACT scores may well result in a preferred financial aid package (more grants than loans) and/or a very attractive merit scholarship offer. Keep in mind that several hundred colleges now use enrollment management and financial aid leveraging techniques to attract the students they want. Typically, those who have achieved high grades and high test scores are more attractive and, thus, will receive preferential treatment when it comes time for grants and scholarships. Despite what you may have heard, families with no financial need are able to get scholarship aid at many fine colleges and universities if the student’s grades and ACT scores are high enough.” — Todd Fothergill, www.strategiesforcollege.com

What Classes Should I Take in High School?

“There are no specific courses that all students should take. Instead, you should take the most challenging college preparatory curriculum that you can succeed in. For graduation, most high schools require four years of English, three or four years of math, including geometry and two years of algebra, two or three years of science that includes at least one lab-based course, and two or three years of history or social science. Some colleges and universities expect to see additional coursework — four years of math or courses in fine or performing arts.

“Some students strive to boost their GPA by taking easier courses hoping for higher grades, but that strategy can sometimes backfire if the colleges they’re applying to look closely at the difficulty level of their chosen curriculum. You need to consider the selectivity of the colleges you’re applying to and plan accordingly. The most selective colleges want to see that you’ve taken the highest level of each subject offered at your school and then look at how well you’ve performed in those courses. Again, it’s important to balance challenge with the ability to succeed. Not all students can be successful at the highest levels of all subjects, so you should consult with your teachers and school counselors to make the best course decisions for your situation.” — Kimberly Davis, CEP, www.daviscollegeconsulting.com

How Helpful Are Sports and Charity?

“Colleges like to admit smart, interesting students. How do you show that you’re interesting? By the activities you’re involved with. Colleges don’t generally care what activities you participate in, so you should choose those that you find most enjoyable. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be involved in a sport unless that is something that interests you. Volunteering, however, is always good to be involved with because it shows that you have an interest in others.

“The longer you do a particular activity, the better a college likes it. You should focus more on being really involved with a small number of activities than dabbling in a bunch of activities. If you can get a leadership position in an activity, that really helps you stand out when you apply to college.” — Todd Johnson, www.collegeadmissionspartners.com

What Should I Say on the College Essay?

“When deciding on what you should write about for your college essay, be sure you’re passionate about the topic. Don’t worry about pleasing other people. Your topic needs to come from your heart, and if it does, it will read as an authentic and unique essay. If you try to write about something you’re not passionate about or something you think will sound good, it will come across as cold and disconnected. The essay needs to reveal something about you and your character. Topics can range from an incident you witness — such as a bag boy at the supermarket being humiliated by a supervisor — to the plight of the homeless. Be sure to demonstrate the ability to think critically.

“Whatever your topic, approach the essay within the limits of your writing capabilities. There’s nothing wrong with writing an expository essay where the thesis is clearly stated; just be sure to demonstrate your writing skills by focusing on a single topic and supporting your topic with clear and relevant details. Admissions people want to see that you can communicate your thoughts through writing and, at the same time, reveal something unique about yourself.” — James E. Long, www.longrangesuccess.com

What Will They Ask Me in the Interview and What Should I Say?

“An admissions officer, a campus-trained student, or alumni of the school can do college interviews. They can be either informational or evaluative, but either way, interviews count in your favor. By making the effort to arrange an interview, you’re showing serious interest in the school and helping them get to know you as a person rather than a list of grades, scores, and activities. This is your chance to shine! Don’t wear jeans, sneakers, or a hat. Don’t chew gum, and do put your phone away. Remember to smile, shake hands with confidence, make eye contact, speak clearly, and sit up straight. Come prepared to ask a few specific questions that are not easily answered by looking at the college website. Always send a thank-you note or email within 24 hours.

“Interview questions generally fall into three categories, so if you can answer these questions, you’ll be prepared:

What do you have to offer the school academically, artistically, socially, athletically?
What does the college have to offer you? How will it meet your needs?
Open-ended questions where you have to answer WHY?
This is where they find out what kind of person you are. Practice coming up with three reasons for these types of questions. Why do your friends like you? Why do you like playing a particular sport? What has been your biggest disappointment? What’s your favorite book?” — Colleen Reed, www.americancollegeconsulting.ca

How Do I Decide Which School Is Best for Me?

“Choosing the college that is best for you is the most important decision you’ve faced yet. With so many options and so many factors to consider, the college decision can cause more stress than all your previous choices combined! Luckily for you, you already have the skills you need to make this important decision.

“Consider this. How have you chosen your friends throughout the years? While choosing a friend is often a subconscious decision, you nonetheless start with a personal expectation for what a friend should be. Maybe the most important aspect of friendship is the ability to have fun together. Or maybe the most important aspect is loyalty. Whatever you prioritize in friendship, you have chosen your own friends accordingly.

“The college choice employs the same strategy. The most important question to start with is, ‘What do you expect out of college?’ After you have listed between ten and fifteen personal expectations for college, rank them according to how important they are to you. If you listed fun, you must ask yourself what will make college fun for you. If you listed challenging, think about what type of courses will offer the challenge you seek. Information about colleges is easy to find through school websites, campus tours, email correspondence with the school, guidebooks, and word of mouth. If you take some time first to define what will make a college compatible to you, you will be able to search for the exact information you need from the schools you are considering.” — Erin McKenzie, www.enroutecollegeconsulting.com

What’s the Biggest Mistake Most Students Make in College Planning?

“As students approach the planning process for college, there are two broad areas that often trip them up. One has to do with academics while the other has to do with putting together a college list. A key to academic opportunity rests with the high school core curriculum. The more years you stick with English, science, math, history, and a foreign language, the greater your access will be to more colleges. (Some college systems recognize visual and performing arts as part of the core, and others don’t.) Ditching core classes too soon or opting for a less rigorous senior year places you at risk, especially when vying for competitive colleges.

“The second big mistake that students make is how they put together a college list. Most focus on the reach schools, those easy-to-love colleges always on the radar of their friends and family. I believe it’s important to build a college list from the bottom up, to create a solid foundation that supports the weight of the others. I call these anchor schools. Look first for the colleges that would love to have you apply, the ones that readily recognize your ability and talents. It’s easy to fall in love with a number of colleges if you’re willing to focus on the unique opportunities and passionate and knowledgeable teachers found on most campuses. A balanced college list is a key ingredient to successful college planning.” — Gael M. Casner, www.collegefindedu.com

“The biggest mistake students make in their college planning is to presume that high school settings and resources are equal to collegiate ones. They are literally two different worlds. Consider this:

High schools provide very structured experiences where most students attend a day that has been compartmentalized for them into class periods and activities, and they are grouped with the same students year after year. Imagine high school as a buffet table that has only one or two types of offerings on it, and in order to serve yourself, you need to ask permission. Now imagine a room full of multiple buffet tables, each with diverse and unlimited offerings with so many new people to meet, all in one spot. This is college life, where feeding your interests and intellect has unlimited possibilities, all of which you choose for yourself. This is how the two institutions differ from one another.
The resources available to students in high school are more limited than those connected to the college experience, so the assumption by many when looking at the college picture is that they’ll need the same, expanded setting (such as a large city) to broaden their experience. The limitations of high school can sometimes lead you to believe that a college must be located in a thriving metropolis or be large. However, all schools, large and small, urban or rural, have a thriving life to them, teeming with opportunities to choose.

“Don’t rule out the possibility of attending a smaller college in a smaller city based only on your high school experiences. Find out all that a smaller institution has to offer. You may be surprised!” — Diane Lomonaco, LCP, CEP, www.majorincollege.com

How Do I Make My Final Decision?

For some students, making the final decision of where to attend college is the toughest part of the admissions process. If you find yourself struggling with your choice, stay as calm as possible. Take a step back and spend some time thinking about your individual goals, needs, personality, and what truly matters most to you in a college experience. Then evaluate each college individually based on those criteria. Keep in mind that there really is no perfect college; every school has pluses and minuses. Yet, there are happy, successful students at every college. After you’ve evaluated the colleges separately, compare them with each other, narrowing down the list to the one that seems to be the best match. Unfortunately, sometimes you’ll have to make some tough choices, and we all have a tendency to mourn the ‘one that got away.’ Be careful not to let that cloud your vision about the great options you do have! Finally, remember that while deciding where to go is the last step in the long and tiring college application process, it’s actually the first step in the next exciting phase of your life: attending college! Go forth confident that your choice is a good one.” — Carolyn Z. Lawrence, www.admissionsadvice.com

Surviving the College Admissions Process