By Esther Book and Norma Reichlin
College Knowledge 4U
Selective colleges and universities received a record numbers of applications this year. Why? Not only are there more high school graduates than ever before, but a greater proportion of these students have decided to pursue higher education. In addition, they are all applying to more schools then they did in the past because it's as easy as a touch of a button and paying a fee by credit card. Finally, in these tough economic times, high school seniors and their families are engaged in a "flight to quality." If they are going to pay for college, then it better be a prestigious one. People are looking at college as an investment that may ensure them a more lucrative, rewarding career in the future.
An uncertain economy leads to putting a premium on an Ivy League degree. Every one of these renowned universities apart from Yale had a surge in applications this year. Brown rose 20.6%, Princeton soared by 19.5%, the University of Pennsylvania escalated 17%, Harvard and Cornell both increased 5%, and Dartmouth went up 3.4%. Of course, acceptance rates declined as well--Cornell sunk to 19%, Penn plummeted to 14.2%, Dartmouth fell to 11.5%, Princeton declined to 8.2% and Harvard was down to 6.9%. These illustrious institutes of higher learning posted their most selective year yet.
As a result, many kids cannot help but feel overwhelmed. Putting a system in place, however, can help them become more relaxed and in charge of the process. At College Knowledge 4U, we have come up with five ways to reduce stress and improve admissions chances for students.
First, develop a balanced college list. Many kids make the mistake of focusing only on prestigious institutions. Unless they get into their Early Decision choice, most students today apply to anywhere between 10 and 12 colleges. It's important to include 3-5 reach schools, 4-6 targets and at least three likely universities.
Second, tackle the application work early. One of the biggest regrets for high school seniors is that they wished they had begun to work on their college applications earlier, especially their essays. The Common Application appears in August so blocking out time during the summer before senior year to work on applications is key. Adding extensive application work to the already busy schedule of a high school senior is really adding undue stress. If kids start early, they will feel much more at ease.
Third, remember to map out the work beforehand. After developing a balanced college list, be sure to formulate an application calendar. This document should include the type of application (whether a college utilizes the Common Application or its own), along with due dates for Early Decision and Regular Decision. Next, one should spell out the work for each supplement and what is required on the calendar, coupled with any additional information, such as the importance of the interview.
Fourth, make your application stand out through writing a compelling essay. At top colleges and even those that are less selective, students can look a lot alike because most have similar grades and standardized test scores. The essay is a student's chance to distinguish him or herself from the competition. Selecting an interesting and revealing topic is key. Subjects to avoid include a fantastic service trip to a third world country, hopes for world peace, solutions for our economic woes, the big game or even the death of a grandparent. These themes are all so common that admissions officers just roll their eyes whey they see them. Instead, students must work to capture their attention. Admissions officers want to read a great story that shows something important about the student's personality.
Finally, avoid common mistakes on the Common Application. Do not submit this document at the last minute. Often the web site gets jammed near the deadline because so many people are sending it in at the same time. Be sure not to use a cute e-mail address like hottie@comcast.net. Be careful to eliminate all typographical and grammatical errors. Do not omit important information such as future plans and activity lists. Make sure you have uploaded the correct draft of the essay you want to use. Check that you have marked the Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision box properly. And don't forget to fill out the necessary supplements.
If you employ these five ways to reduce stress and improve your child's admission chances in this competitive environment, chances are, you will be much more successful. Students do not have to look at the process of getting into college as a nightmare. In fact, if the student takes charge, looks at the next step realistically and completes the work in a timely manner, then the entire experience can be very empowering.
College Knowledge 4U
College Counseling & Consulting Services
(610) 649-0240