College

The deadline for early decision college applications is quickly approaching, which means for high school seniors college applications is on the brain. There are hundreds of thousands of books, blogs, and articles on the college admissions process.

But what exactly is every admission team looking for? What is the magic formula to receive a thick admission packet versus a sparse denial letter? The reality is that there isn’t one set of admission criteria that applies to all applicants.

With that being said, there are some general things all students can do to better their chances of acceptance at GW or any other college or university throughout the US.

Grades Matter for College Admissions, But Rigor Matters More

“A ‘B’ in an AP class looks better to a college than an ‘A+’ in a ‘regular class.’” My high school guidance counselor shared this advice with me in my senior year of high school when I was debating if I wanted to take AP Economics or not. I had always loved the social sciences but math, graphs, and numbers had become my long-time enemy and I was nervous about involving myself with them at the college level.

The alternative was to remain in another elective class: video communications. A sure fire ‘A.’ Ultimately, I decided to take the risk. I enrolled in AP Macro Economics and the class was not easy. It required studying and perseverance. I had to think creatively and scramble to review the material. But ultimately, I earned an ‘A’ and my GPA benefited and so did my likelihood of college acceptance. While I chose to pursue the more rigorous and challenging of the two options, many of my peers opted for the guaranteed ‘A.’ In fact, throughout the country many students choose to “take it easy” their senior year by loading up on easy electives that guarantee an ‘A’ to anyone who breathes oxygen. But these students are making a huge mistake.

In an interview conducted by the New York Times, Jeff Rickey, the vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid at St. Lawrence University, shed some light on the importance of academic rigor in the admission process. When asked what colleges look for when reviewing students’ transcripts, Rickey says the first thing is rigor. “If AP courses are offered, we would expect to see AP courses on the transcript. If honor courses are the highest level, we would expect to see them.”

When faced with the question of what is preferred, an ‘A’ at a general level or a ‘B’ at an advanced level, Rickey agrees with my high school guidance counselor saying, “As we admissions officers say when we are asked this question, ‘An ‘A’ in an Advanced Placement class!’ But, seriously, the student should take the most challenging course that is best for him or her. The extra challenge of the AP course may prepare the student better for the challenge of college courses.”

Know Your Competition

Choosing challenging classes and doing well in them is a crucial step for college applicants. But what happens when your peers within those classes are applying to the same school?

According to GW, all students from any given school are compared consecutively. That means that classmates are compared to one another. However, this is not to enforce a quota. In fact, GW argues that this provides a more fair reading and interpretation of each student’s application. GW admissions representative Brit Freitag says, “We read in school groups because then you get more consistency. It’s actually more fair.” The Post article goes on to say, “Knowing as much as possible about a student’s school and classmates provides essential context.”

This becomes clear when you look at the matriculation list for a school like Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a Fairfax County public school that offers an elite magnet program for some of Northern Virginia’s brightest students. Annually, TJ graduates matriculate to some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the nation. According to TJ’s student newspaper, the class of 2013 sent over 65 students to William and Mary, 11 to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 10 to Princeton, 8 to Stanford, 86 to University of Virginia, 10 to Carnegie Mellon University, and 3 to Harvard.

In looking at these statistics, it is clear that quotas are not entirely at play, but admission personnel know the rigor of TJ’s program. Simply put, an ‘A’ at TJ is harder to earn than an ‘A’ at most other schools.

Other Factors that Affect Admission Decisions

Demographics do come into play. Though GW says that gender is not a make-or-break criteria, it is brought up during the discussion regarding a student if that student is male. This is because 55 percent of GW’s population is female, so being a male is an advantage in their admission process. In all reality, there is nothing an applicant can do regarding the color of their skin or their gender, but it is something to keep in mind throughout the application process.

Keeping demographics in mind, there are some other things students can do to make their application stand out. I recently wrote a blog on the key to writing a compelling college application essay, in which I emphasized the importance of standing out. This idea is central to being selected for admission to university. At GW, admission personnel read between 30 and 40 applications a day, and they do this for months. The Washington Post recently stated that many college applications are reviewed initially for 5 to 15 minutes. Making an impression is not a simple task, but it is one that can make the difference between acceptance and denial.

According to Rickey, the key is taking a deep interest in a handful of activities rather than a shallow participation in many. In his interview he stated, “We admissions officers are fans of students with deep involvement in a few activities. We are not fans of students who pad their list of activities in their junior and senior years to look more engaged.”

Another important thing for student’s to highlight in their applications is why they want to attend that particular school. This is known as ‘Demonstrated Interest’ and different schools place different weight on it. For example, Trinity University’s website reads, “Visiting campus, emailing or calling an admissions counselor, attending a Trinity In Focus program, talking with a representative when they visit your high school, and stopping by our table at a college fair are some of the ways to show the Admissions Committee that you are genuinely interested in attending Trinity, and help us get to know you better.” However, Duke has stated, “Duke does not take demonstrated interest into account when evaluating applications. Although we are glad that you may have visited our campus or asked us questions about the school, demonstrated interest is not an advantage in the admissions process.”

But according to GW’s admission staff, student interest can be a compelling feature of an application.  “Sometimes applicants write mostly about Washington, D.C., rather than the university. Or they just write about themselves. Not helpful.” It is important for many schools to understand why it would be a match between the student and the campus. This information can be included in the personal statement or the essay and should be specific to the student’s goals/experience and programs or opportunities the college presents.

Ultimately, all of these factors are important in the application process, but according to most colleges, grades and test scores are crucial to at least getting your foot in the door. Without a strong GPA and solid SAT or ACT test scores, students’ applications will be tossed aside regardless of accomplishments or demonstrated interest. The good news is that schools like to see students who are on the upward trend rather than the downward trend. So if you have a student who struggled initially in high school, hope is not lost. It is important for colleges to see the student has a desire to improve and that he or she can come back from a ‘C’ or even a ‘D.’ But to do so many students may need to work with a private tutor or educational coach to address content deficits and improve study skills.

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As a parent, you know that college is one of the most important milestones in your student’s life. Writing a strong essay and scoring high on the SATs can be crucial when it comes to getting accepted. However, it is often the case that students, and parents as well, do not put much consideration into the application process until senior year. At this point, students are involved in so many activities and worrying about keeping up with schoolwork that it can make the whole college selection process very stressful.

So when is the right time to begin planning college? Numerous studies and college websites indicate that students should start thinking about college the moment they enter high school.

Students may argue that they do not know what they want to do for the rest of their lives upon entering high school, or that it is too early to be thinking about such long-term plans. This may be true; however there are some simple, no-pressure steps your student can take to ensure they are on the right track.

Here are some easy things your student can do each year of high school to help prepare them for college:

Preparing for College in Freshman Year

At this time, college may not be the top priority in your mind, however it is still a good idea to start educating yourself about the college process. Colleges like to see if you are on a certain track in school, whether it be math intensive or even business related (taking marketing or economic classes). Think about the classes and electives you’ve enjoyed taking in the past, and try to incorporate these interests in a diploma program that works best for you.

Also, take the time to have some fun and join a bunch of clubs and extracurricular activities. Don’t think about it too much, just join whatever seems interesting or what you think would be exciting to try. Maybe you have always wanted to learn how to cook, so you decide to join the culinary club. This may also spark an interest and open new doors to future careers that you may not have considered before.

Preparing for College in Sophomore Year

After experiencing a good amount of clubs and extracurricular activities, it is time to start narrowing them down to the ones you think would have an impact on your future. If you love writing and you are part of the creative writing club, then it may be beneficial to seek a leadership role within the club. This looks great on a college application, and shows how passionate you are about a certain subject if you would like to major in it. Also, research scholarship opportunities that relate to your interests or competitions where you can enter your work for awards.

If you feel it is manageable, discuss taking challenging academic courses with your parents and counselor. Make sure that the classes you decide to take on are something you are thoroughly interested in and can excel in; taking advanced classes without much consideration can damage you GPA if you are not ready to handle the coursework and load.

And don’t forget to take the PSAT!  This is extremely important in order to figure out a baseline and help you prepare for the upcoming SAT.

Preparing for College in Junior Year

Okay, now this is the time to get serious! You will want to research schools that offer majors you are interested in, and learn about what they can provide in terms of campus life and activities. Take campus tours and familiarize yourself with the college atmosphere, and select a few schools that you feel you could succeed at. Learn all you can about their application processes, and what they look for in potential candidates.  If possible, sit in on an actual class in order to really get a taste of the college experience.

Colleges find a student’s junior year to be the most crucial when it comes to grades, and you will want to make sure you are performing to the best of your abilities. Study diligently for upcoming midterms and exams, especially if you are taking AP classes. Do not slack off or lose focus on your goals, and always ask for help from teachers, tutors, or parents as needed.

This is the year you will take the SAT. Many students dread taking this for the first time, however it is not uncommon for students to achieve lower scores than expected during their first take. You can familiarize yourself with the test and get an idea on what to focus on improving before taking it for the second time. It is always beneficial to get a tutor to help prepare your student for the SAT and provide important test-taking strategies.

Preparing for College in Senior Year

It is time to apply everything you have learned in the past three years and begin your college application process! Narrow down the list to the top few schools you are interested in, and figure out what is needed for each school. You will need to fill out applications, prepare essays, and gather letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors. Have a plan in mind for completing this in the beginning of the school year in order to avoid rushing and last minute submissions.

If necessary, retake the SAT after taking the time to prepare, study, and improve your areas of weakness. Colleges will only consider your highest scores out of each section, so it is best to take the test more than once. Be sure to sign up for the test early in the school year, as it may be too late to take the test after the fall.

Taking these steps will help prepare you for college well beforehand and make for a smoother application process. Your senior year is not meant to be the start of the process, but rather a way to fine-tune and tie up any loose ends that you have been preparing for. Selecting the best school does not need to be a stressful; you just need to plan out your steps beforehand and make decisions that will work best for you.

Many parents dread hearing their child say these words before heading off to college: I’m going to major in Liberal Arts. With the precarious state of the economy and the unemployment rate, those words can be daunting for any parent. All they want is for their child to succeed; what are their chances with a degree that statistically offers the least amount of jobs upon graduation?

We all know that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) majors are what get the jobs right now. Even in a recession, positions such as Computer Information Engineers and Physicists can expect about 20% job growth over the next decade. These types of fields are often considered necessities when it comes to advancing our current systems and practices, and they give us a leg-up in the technology driven world.

So what does that mean for Liberal Arts majors? Have they become insignificant and obsolete in today’s job market? Laura McMullen, author of “Tips for Making the Most Out of Liberal Arts Degrees” doesn’t think so. She says that although it may be harder to secure a job after graduation, it certainly can be done.

Here are some key ways Liberal Arts majors can snag their dream job:

Pursue opportunities early on. As a Liberal Arts major, you already know that your chances of finding a job upon graduation are a lot slimmer than those with STEM majors. You cannot afford to be “lazy” when opportunities present themselves during your college career; you must avidly pursue them.

Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door for a career. Liberal Arts majors should consider an internship outside of their field, such as Economics or Finance. Since you have already developed a certain set of skills, such as critical thinking and reasoning, developing a completely different set can show how adaptable you are to new material and make you more desirable as a long-term employee. Also consider taking several different electives unrelated to your major; course diversity on your resume can open new doors for you in the future.

Show off your skills. When it comes time for an interview, don’t be shy about what you’ve learned and what you know. Those who are interviewing you understand that this may be your first opportunity, so be sure to showcase the schoolwork you’ve done well in.

For example, if you just finished up a group project with other students on the philosophy of religion, focus on explaining how you exhibited leadership by suggesting the group collaborate on ideas and then section the work off into chunks for each member to complete. Employers will sometimes center in on the personality of the candidate they are interviewing, rather than the degree. By exhibiting confidence and demonstrating you are able to take on roles that require a lot of responsibility, you could acquire positions both inside and outside the realm of Liberal Arts.

Stick with what you’re good at. It’s important to know what your skills are, and focus on improving and developing those skills further. If you know you are an amazing writer and can express your ideas fully through your words, use that to your advantage. Many businesses love an employee who can write eloquently and does not need to constantly be reminded of spelling, grammar, or even content errors. Consequently, this will show your boss that you are able to work independently and need very little direction, which makes you valuable.

Sarah Romeo, a graduate from Fordham University with an English degree, says, “I’ve found that my writing skills have really helped my negotiating skills as well. And I’ve saved my company a lot of money in arts and image purchasing because I know how to reason my way out of a paper bag.”

Just remember, having a Liberal Arts degree does not have to limit you. As noted in a previous blog of Ann’s, it’s resiliency and grit that are the greatest predictors of success, not whether you pursue philosophy or physics.

While college applications are not due until senior year, the road to college begins much sooner than many people think. There are things that can be done from very early ages to improve a student’s chances of acceptance, but here are three simple things students can do to stand out to college admissions boards.

1. Take challenging classes.

A strong academic record does not just mean good grades. Colleges look to see that students are taking challenging course loads, too. Parents, however, often wonder how many honors, AP, or IB courses their student should take. This is especially true of parents of rising sophomores, many of whom have their first shot at an AP class in tenth grade. There are a variety of factors to consider such as teacher placement recommendations, extracurricular commitments, the selectivity of target colleges, etc. If these factors are carefully considered and the student believes he or she can handle advanced concepts and heavier workloads, then taking advanced classes is one of the best ways to bolster a college application. Be aware, however, that you should not load up on advanced classes at the sacrifice of grades. While a “B” in AP World History would typically be viewed more favorably by an admissions panel than an “A” in World History, a “C” most likely would not.

Parents and students shouldn’t get too hung up on how many advanced classes a student takes. Colleges are aware that course offerings vary drastically across the nation. More than anything, they are looking to see that a student is challenging himself and making thoughtful course selections that will prepare him for college. That being said, many college admissions advisors recommend that students aiming for selective colleges take four or five AP classes in their high school careers.

Colleges do not like to see students take rigorous courses freshman through junior year and then “take it easy” during senior year. The reason they’re looking for advanced coursework is to determine a student’s readiness for the rigors of college. While it may be tempting for students to “chill” during their senior year, doing so can reflect negatively on them in the admissions process.

Finally, AP courses can help students qualify for scholarships. According to the College Board, over 30 percent of colleges and universities look at advanced classes when making scholarship decisions.

2. Strong letters of recommendation.

While students usually won’t request letters of recommendation until senior year, they can certainly begin thinking about whom they may ask and about cultivating relationships. A forgettable letter of recommendation won’t necessarily diminish a student’s chances of acceptance; however, a stellar recommendation can tip the scale in a student’s favor.

Often, students make the mistake of getting recommendations from distant influential and powerful acquaintances. To an admissions panel, these references make an application seem superficial. Instead, students should seek references from teachers, coaches, mentors, etc., with whom they have worked closely and recently.

Let’s say a student really connects with his ninth grade history teacher and meets with him for weekly lunches during freshman year to discuss current events, but he does not really maintain the relationship over the next three years. A reference from that ninth grade history teacher is not going to be as compelling as a reference from the student’s current AP Government teacher with whom the student recently met weekly for a month to revise a research paper. Even if the student’s “connection” with the AP teacher isn’t as strong as it was with the ninth grade teacher, admissions panels value references from people who have had more recent interaction with a student. It’s important that students ask for these recommendations early, giving whomever they choose at least several weeks’ notice.

3. Meaningful extracurricular activities.

Students and parents often misconstrue “extracurricular activities” to include only school-sponsored groups. However, extracurricular activities can be anything a student does that is not a high school course or paid job, though work experience is of interest. Colleges want to see that a student is committed to certain activities and that they have passions outside of academics.

The main point is that a student who dabbles in six after-school clubs, participates in a couple of sports seasons, and occasionally volunteers at his church’s food drive will not impress an admissions panel as much as a student who spends two hours after school twice per week building stage sets for the school’s theater productions. Students should do some soul-searching to find their passions and determine a way to transform those passions into an extracurricular activity.

There are various ways an applicant can stand out to a college admissions committee, but the one thing that nearly all have in common is planning ahead. This is not to say that freshmen should be taking SAT prep courses and seventh graders should be visiting college campuses, but high school students and their parents should have a good sense for the process of applying to college and the steps they should be taking each year. Aside from a student’s school’s career center, there is a great deal of information and support available to students and parents who need guidance in the process. For more information, please contact Educational Connections.