Tips for Beating the Admissions System
Nobody said that choosing a college would be easy. Moreover, applying to colleges, and, ultimately, being accepted can be down-right torture. It doesn’t have to be that way. Plan your college transcript strategy early, starting your freshman year. Follow a focused plan of attack, and multiple universities could come calling, offering thousands of dollars in scholarship money to get you on their college campus. Ultimately, the outcome is up to you. Follow well-devised guidelines, and your senior year could be nothing less than magical, when you find you’ve been accepted to the college of your dreams.
The Education Lottery
The sad truth about college admissions is that it’s virtually an ever-changing lottery of acceptance. Here’s a quick look at the random nature of the process:
This year, the university of your choice has had an off year with in state recruiting: You’re a shoe-in. There’s another student, one of eight all-state soccer applicants, who isn’t so lucky: She’s out. The university’s marching band is short a tuba player: It is one high school senior’s lucky year. This sort of random criteria is endless so there is no way to predict a student’s fate when it comes to university admissions. For this reason, approach the college application process with an open mind. Understand the logic that drives the selection process, as well as the unknowns that make it frustratingly unpredictable for students.
Admissions Madness
Every college has a different situation: At hundreds of public universities nationwide, admissions are rarely an issue: Meet the minimum standards and you are usually admitted. (But, this doesn’t mean you can slack in high school. The better your high school transcript, the better your chance for scholarships and financial aid packages). In the state of California, grades are typically the deciding factor at competitive universities for student entrance. Keep in mind: If you plan to attend a university with a strict academic focus or discipline, the process will become much more competitive with a highly qualified field of applicants. In this case, your grades, extra-curricular activities, application and admissions essay all play a vital role in acceptance.
Wanted: Distinguished Students
Selective universities look for distinguished individuals to make up a well rounded class. Basically, this is a fancy way of saying colleges are looking for focused, bright, intellectually curious students who represent a broad spectrum of economics, race, religion and even political characteristics. Additionally, colleges are likely to select students who show interest and achievement in extracurricular activities such as writers, athletes, artists and musicians. In high school, find ways to make yourself stand out as a student and citizen. In the college admissions process, you may be one of 25 applicants, applying for the same “seat” to fill. Begin early, and find ways to set yourself apart from the masses.
Student Quotas
Truth be told, many university admissions offices confirm there are quotas to fill when it comes to various types of students they seek. In short: Admissions need an indefinable number of “legacy” students to keep the college alumni association happy. A random number of All-Americans to keep the athletic department and athletic boosters satisfied. And, a certain number of minorities to keep campus racially diverse, etc. If you fit into one of these categories, chances are you may have a leg up. If you do not fall into a subgroup, then your chances of getting into your top-school, all boils down to solid academics and a lot of well rounded extracurricular endeavors.
Your Collegiate Fate
Most college admissions, at selective schools, are determined by committee. The Board of Admissions, as it is often called, typically consists of faculty, deans, former and current students, and additional staff. This group of professionals works, professionally and ethically, to pull a solid group of students together, from the masses, to represent each incoming class.
Academic Screening
Initially, college applications go through a screening process: At this stage, a select group of admissions officers spend an average of 5 minutes reading applications. From there, many boards use two-part rating systems to distinguish student academic and extracurricular standings. For example: An all-state football quarterback with the 2.0 GPA will most likely receive 5E and a 2A rating (5E for dynamic extra-curricular performance and 2A for sub-par academics). Conversely, a straight A student who dedicates her time to study hours, but partakes in no social activities, such as student choir, debate team, or the volleyball club, receives a 5A rating for academics and a 1E for extra-curricular focus. This process simplifies the “admits” and “denies” classifications. If you make it into the admits pile, you’re on the right track. From there, however, your chances are dependent on essays, tapes and personal initiative.
High School Transcript Building
Your high school transcript seals your fate. The best advice is to take a class schedule that is challenging, but insures academic success. Transcript courses that may cause an admissions board to look twice, will contain a semester of classes, something like this: Art History, Computer Studies, Spanish I, Choir, Independent Study, American History and Biology I. Looking at this class list, a governing board will instantaneously see this student is well-rounded, motivated, has many interests and is not afraid to take on a challenge. Students have to be smart enough to plan a challenging schedule, but wise enough to keep it manageable. Every minute detail of the transcript is scrutinized, from coursework and grade point average, to work habits, attendance patterns and motivation.