Most Important Factors on College Applications

A recent New York Times article reported that the most important factors on a student’s college application are grades, taking into account the strength of the curriculum (AP courses vs. college prep, for example), and standardized test scores (SAT or ACT).  These factors provide a numerical “pecking order,” allowing colleges to easily compare applicants from the same high school as well as from schools throughout the country and even the world.

Ranking next in importance are a few “soft factors:” college essays, recommendation letters, extracurricular activities.  These non-academic areas provide perfect opportunities for students to let colleges know what is special about them and how their presence on campus would enhance the college community. 

The college essay provides the ideal forum for students to “sell” themselves to each individual college.  Students should avoid the temptation to take the easy way out, writing one essay and using it for all applications.  Rather, students should personalize their essay to each specific college, stating the programs, courses, internships, study abroad opportunities, and any other characteristics that make the institution a perfect match for their college ambitions. This is referred to as showing “demonstrated interest,” and can greatly influence admissions officers who are trying to determine which students, if accepted, would likely enroll. Of course, students should exercise care to ensure that their essays are well written, grammatically correct, and offer information that is not evident in other parts of their application.

Strategies to Become a Successful Test Taker

Whether preparing for upcoming final exams, or SAT exams that are looming ahead, students should follow some time-honored study strategies.

First of all, students should always set a study plan in advance, and adhere to its details.  Setting aside specific dates and times to study, and keeping those times sacred, is key to staying on schedule.  There are absolutely no advantages to last-minute cramming, but many disadvantages including sleep deprivation and increased anxiety.

Students should have the material they are going to study easily accessible.  During the course of each semester, students should put their study notes for each chapter in a specific binder, folder or notebook that can easily be accessed when the time comes to review the material.  By having the key information at hand, students can focus on the most relevant material and not waste time wondering what the instructor had emphasized during the course. If the task is SAT test prep, have College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide with real practice tests on hand and schedule in advance the particular sections you will focus on during each study session.

Seek Your Passion: Golf, Sushi, Entrepreneurship

Students planning their college years are in a unique position to make their dreams come true.  By identifying what is most important to them, they can easily narrow down their college search and then live the dream – at least for their college years!

If the passion is for golf, colleges and universities with highly rated courses include Yale, Ohio State, University of Georgia, Notre Dame, Duke and University of Maryland. If the dream is all about skiing and snowboarding, there are two colleges in the U.S. that actually own their own mountain: Middlebury College in Vermont and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

Temptation to Over-Emphasize College Statistics

The truth of the matter is that no one knows in advance exactly which students will get accepted to any particular college.  There’s plenty of data providing students with an indication of their likely success, but often that information is misleading.

An article published in the New York Times, just days ago, warned students not to be misled by the lists posted by many high schools at this time of year announcing where their seniors will be heading off to college.  The reasons students ultimately choose to attend a particular college are complex.  Often, they revolve around money: some colleges may not offer a family sufficient need-based financial aid, others may provide more or less “merit aid,” rewarding students on their grades, SAT scores, and accomplishments.

Still Time to Apply to Colleges for Fall 2021

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has released a list of colleges that still have room for students seeking admission for the upcoming fall semester. May 1st is the national response deadline for most colleges in the U.S. By that date, students must choose the college they will be attending in the fall and pay a deposit. Since most students apply to a multitude of colleges, it’s impossible for colleges to know for sure how many students will actually enroll until the reply deadline rolls around.  After the response deadline, colleges that have not met their target enrollment are anxious to accept additional students in order to bring in the tuition money necessary to keep on budget.  

Often, even well-qualified students are not accepted to the college of their dreams.  Other times, students change their minds.  As the time to leave home for college approaches, students sometimes wish they had chosen a school closer to home.  Some students fall prey to basic procrastination and find themselves approaching high school graduation without a plan for the fall. This year, for the second time, there is an additional set of concerns as students make their college decisions without knowing for sure whether they will be able to live on their chosen college campus and attend classes in person.