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Top 10 College Admissions Tips
Kathleen Kingsbury covers education for The Daily Beast. She also contributes to Time magazine, where she has covered business, health and education since 2005.
As early applications come due this week, Kathleen Kingsbury asks admissions officers: What advice would you give prospective students that they’ve probably never heard before?
For the incoming Class of 2014, the news just keeps getting grimmer.
According to U.S. Census figures released by the Pew Research Center last week, more kids than ever are clamoring to get through the doors of America’s colleges. About 11.5 million young adults—or nearly 40 percent of the nation’s 18 to 24 year olds—were enrolled in two- or four-year colleges as of October 2008 (the latest data available). Not surprisingly, these all-time highs, combined with the recession, have led some public schools, such as the bellwether Cal State system, to cap enrollments.
In addition to this, girls might face an even steeper uphill battle to be admitted to their first-choice school. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has launched a formal investigation into whether or not “liberal arts colleges discriminate among female applicants in an attempt to minimize gender imbalances in the student body,” according to an article posted this week on Inside Higher Ed.
What’s more, paying for college is tougher than ever, as tuitions push the boundaries of plausibility. In its annual report, the nonprofit College Board estimated that tuition and fees for the 2009-10 school year at a private, four-year university now average $26,273, a 4.4 percent increase from last year. Throw in room and board and you're up to $35,636. Public schools are a better deal, of course, but that price tag is growing even faster—up 6 percent or more. Again, not surprisingly, financial-aid applications also hit a record high last year at many schools.
But here’s the good news: Smart applicants have more, better choices than ever. If they know where—and how—to look. So, with most early applications due this week, The Daily Beast went to the source. We asked dozens of college admissions officers across the country to go beyond the conventional wisdom and give their best tips for how to choose a college--and then get in.
1. Time the Mailing of Your Application Carefully
“Apply as early as possible. We read applications as soon as they come into our office. But we receive a huge number of applications on the actual deadline day, which can be overwhelming to us. It is detrimental to students, too. It really shows up in sloppy essays and writing samples and reporting on extracurricular activities. [Plus] with kids applying to more and more schools, it has gotten harder and harder for us to determine for what students Georgia Tech is their first choice. So applying earlier is one way to distinguish yourself. We think, ‘Wow, this kid applied early. They must really want to come.’” -- Rick Clark, director of admissions, Georgia Tech
2. Use the “Pajama Test”
“Choose a school that takes you out of your comfort zone. Eleanor Roosevelt has a great quote: ‘Do something every day that scares you.’ [But] we have a tour guide who also asks a great question: ‘What is a school's P factor? You know, ‘pajama factor’— can I get up in the morning, leave my pajama bottoms on and throw on a sweatshirt.’ It's her way of saying find a school where you will be able to be yourself.” -- Jenny Sawyer, executive director of admissions, University of Louisville
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“Admission officers talk about the importance of rigor in a student's high-school program. When students ask, should I take an AP course and get a lower grade or take a lower level course and get an A, the cliché answer is: Students should take the AP course and get an A. Not very helpful! What we should be talking about is appropriate rigor. That is, if the student can take the AP course and get an A or B, then that's appropriate. If the student will get a C or lower, then she should reconsider. Grades of Cs ‘pop’ on a transcript to selective colleges since we don't see them often. That doesn't mean that one C on a transcript will mean a student won't get into college. What is does mean is that students shouldn't over-challenge themselves.” -- Debra Shaver, director of admission, Smith College
4. Visit the Campus—the School is Checking
“Visit campus. We take note of your visit and it's the only way that you'll know if a school is right for you.” -- Julie Shimabukuro, director of undergraduate admissions, Washington University, St. Louis
5. Don’t Use the Economy as a Barometer
“The economy continues to have an impact on admission applications and decisions. Last year was certainly a little different in that many schools that would not normally go to their waitlists had to do so. But students and parents should not assume that this will happen again this year. It may play out the same, or because of the economy students may be more discerning regarding the number of schools they apply to.” -- Terry Knaus, senior associate director of admissions, Indiana University, Bloomington
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jafi12
Visit - campuses are watching.
That's great advice - if you can afford it. Yet again discriminating against college applicants who don't come from well off families.
Snaggle2th
Visit- Oh yes, If you think a visit costs too much just waste a year some place you absolutely hate. See what it's like, see and talk to some of the students, visit the classrooms, dorms and social areas. Judge whether it's someplace where you could live happily, and if you can visit your top two, or three choices you'll be far better able to understand the attractions of each.
Glossy leaflets with smiling students and impressive photos are just marketing propaganda, you need to go there and see what's really what. And talk to some of the people that can give you the real word on their experiences there.
What's a year (or four) of your life worth? And if your finances ARE tight, isn't finding out first even that much more important?
Skipping a visit can be a false economy....
KarenF444
I second Snaggle2th that visiting is important. I hated the college I went to and hadn't visited. I left after freshman year. So I made sure that my daughter only considered colleges in an area-range that we could visit them.
jafi12
You both miss my point. There are many families that do not have the money to do a campus visit if it isn't local. To have the campus visit play that key a role in the college's decision making discriminates against those that don't have the resources for the visit. It also points out that campuses aren't as committed to economic diversity as they claim.
In no way did I say that a campus visit isn't a good thing. Just that it isn't financially viable for all applicants.
malachuk
Great tips on getting honest in the essays and love the pajama test! I just published a book about making the college admissions process into a journey of self discovery -- combining my two jobs of yoga teacher and admissions coach. You're Accepted: Lose the Stress. Discover Yourself. Get into the College That's Right for You. www.youreacceptedbook.com
Here are a few other quick tips:
Make the journey the destination. Instead of focusing on the outcome, get curious about what you can learn from process itself - what's important to you, what you love to do, what you hope to accomplish in life. If you use this experience for self-discovery, you can walk away with not only a school acceptance but also a far more precious gift: self-acceptance.
Be yourself. The biggest mistake applicants make is trying to be what they think schools want. Instead find the extra-curriculars and courses that help you follow your bliss - the things you love to do that reveal your true self. Because being perfect on paper is nowhere near as fun or interesting as being perfectly you.
Run your own race. Nothing messes you up more in life than wanting to be someone other than you. It's tempting to wish you had the grades or scores or resume of those around you. But try to stay focused on your life rather than coveting someone else's. Maybe you can even slip into your bigger person suit and move from competition into compassion. If you give out affirmation and support to your friends and classmates, it will come right back to you. And you'll all feel better for it.
Breathe. Slowing down and deepening your breath can chill you out. When you're in the thick of stress around SATs, essays, parents' requests, schoolwork, see if you can pause and take three long, slow, smooth breaths. It's like a mini-vacation, and your body and mind will thank you for it.
Derida
In my humble opinion most admission officers are PC minded, average intelligence, rather uninspired bureaucrats worried about keeping their jobs by making the admissions director happy. No matter how incompetent an admissions director is unless there is a scandal that cannot be pushed under the University rug accept it-the directors are there for generations. Their political agenda fuels the definition of the " best and the brightest" Now the best and the brightest are not necessarily that- they might be the richest- most disadvantaged- and best of show for the purpose of creating poster children for the schools PR agenda. So be careful not to push your soap opera essay over the top rather make it enjoyable for the admissions office pedestrian minds. Entertain average minded people who consider themselves on par with faculty. Don't go near praising Rush Limbaugh no matter how passionate you feel- admission offices control population selection for liberal minded universities. All this about "truth" is hogwash. Entertain them by making the addmissions office feel that by "accepting" you in their 'club' or 'community' this action will somehow enhance their moral position as an evolved planet loving, community minded, inclusive gatekeeper. Read what they read- watch TV they watch- then write what they want to read- ENTERTAIN THEIR INNER CHILD! Keep your SATs high, your grades higher and remember if you are rich or part of a minority group there is a place for you in the club. If you are extremely smart with everything going for you and you lack wealth, a sports credential, color, LGBTI, or femaleness then you are at an extreme disadvantage. If you understand all of this you will not be disappointed you will understand the industry of Higher Education. The process is meant to be as humiliating as applying to a country club without a solid list of sponsors despite the soundbytes you hear about caring for the student. The entire process is admission bait and switch- to ignore the backstory and believe the brochures is foolhardy. The rich and powerful know this- so wake up.
cmwweber
The advice about taking the easier class for an A or B instead of the harder class for C is probably good, but to me -- a college professor -- profoundly depressing. It's a shame that the business of undergraduate admissions is really impression management. Who cares if you take a harder class and struggle, but you actually get some experience being taught to write, to think, to memorize, to do things you would be spared doing in the easy class? Just get that A, even if you spend the year doing litle more than preparing powerpoints, drawing pictures, and taking undemanding quizzes. Admissions departments can't penetrate what every A or C means on a transcript, I admit. But worse, they don't seem to care. After all, they don't have to worry when wholly unprepared students start floundering the minute they have to write essays, master large amounts of material, carry out lab experiments in ways they've never been asked to do before. So take the easy class, get the good grade, get into college. But be ready for classes to get a lot harder, and for the fact that now (unlike in high school) your money will be on the line.
aej2122
"Don't look at only brand name schools"
...coming from an official at a random 3rd tier school...
In all seriousness, people take the application process much too seriously. The acceptance is random once you meet a certain threshold.
Also, you will enjoy college no matter where you go with little exception. The experience is defined so much by the people you are with, and less the objective stats of the university. People have a great ability to fall in love with anything - bad spouses, rocks, and nations.
Beatrice405
Perfect Essay....take heart 18 year olds. Asking for your self-insights, your deep and abiding interests, your life goals, who you really are is all a bit of the absurd. 25 yr olds, 35 yr olds, 45 yr olds can no more address these issues than you can. So try as hard as you can to not take the ideas in that essay all that seriously. In other words, let it all hang out. Just make sure of your spelling, punctuation, sentence and paragraph structure are perfect. You will challenge the admissions committee in a positive way.
CArvidson
The Pajama Test? Really? I am a former college teacher who had to tell students that, no it is not acceptable to show up for class having just rolled out of the rack, in pajamas, and without having even bothered to brush your teeth. I can only say oh hell no to the pajama test. I was thanked by students for doing this; they were tired of sitting next to inconsiderate, skanky, classmates.
SCMax101
Really? What college calls their professors "teachers" but still looks down their nose at student who choose to learn comfortably.
CArvidson
Teacher is used by many institutions of higher education, indeed proudly by some. Maybe instructor would make you happier. I taught in the University of North Carolina system. And it's not looking down your nose to expect someone to wear clothing to class that is meant for wearing in public, rather than to sleep in. It's just common courtesy. I guess I'm just a hardass. I don't like to sit on a plane with adults wearing their pajamas either.
MurrayAbraham
It's a form of courtesy for others, A clean jean and tshirt will be fine and they are just as comfortable as pajamas.
Grow up.
Thank you.
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