By Purvi S. Mody
For StudentAdvisor.com
Over the next few weeks, official college results will become public and much discussion about the difficulty of getting into college will ensue. Each year seems more competitive than the last when it comes to reviewing the college admissions statistics. The quality of applicants seems to be rising to superstar levels. And debates around the fairness of admitting more international, low-income, and disadvantaged students will occur.
Current high school seniors now have the enormous task of choosing the right school. But high school juniors and their parents are now just in the nascent stages of planning for college. I hope this article will bring a little peace of mind to all families.
The reality is that admissions to the country’s most selective universities are exactly that – selective. I don’t really think it is a surprise that six of the eight Ivy League schools have acceptance rates in the single digits. But when was it ever “easy” to get into Harvard? Cornell accepted almost 18% of its applicants, and Columbia accepted 22 more students than it did last year. UCLA continued to lead the nation in number of applications received with more than 61,000, yet it accepted more than 15,000 students. Its acceptance rate climbed up 2.5.% in a year when most schools are quoting significant drops.
The hype will focus on the most well-known schools. But there are more than 2,000 four-year colleges in the US alone. Some are still accepting applications for the Fall! This is good news for students that might have overreached when applying in the Fall and are still looking for options for next year. This is also important for families of Juniors to know. If you are open-minded and think beyond brand, the opportunities are potentially unlimited. But what do the numbers really mean?
The number of high school students graduating is not going up.
The number of graduates applying to college is. And students are applying to more and more schools each year. I imagine that trend will continue next year.
More international students are applying to colleges in the US.
And while many international students used to only apply to the most prestigious schools, that is no longer the case. These students see value in a degree from the United States and are now applying to a range of schools. Schools that are particularly strong in engineering, business, and the sciences are the most popular.
The number of minority students continues to increase.
More students from diverse backgrounds are applying to four-year programs as outreach and financial aid programs are becoming more effective.
There is no substitute for strong grades.
This year, more than any other year, has proven that GPA is king. So Juniors – keep those grades up and create a college list that is ambitious yet realistic based on your grades.
Being involved in extra-currucilar activities is crucial.
Being involved in your community through service, sports, clubs, music, or simply hobbies shows who you are outside of academics. This is very important to colleges because it demonstrates what you will contribute to the campus community. But this involvement should not come at the sacrifice of academics.
Test scores, while important, cannot completely off-set a lower GPA.
Balance your tests and the time you spend on them. The SAT tends to get overemphasized in certain geographies. But remember that a high SAT score means nothing if the rest of your application is just mediocre.
Letters of recommendations from your teachers and counselor should not be taken lightly.
Make sure you are building strong relationships with school faculty and administrators now. They are real people so treat them as such – with respect. Complaining about every minor thing will not bode well for you down the road.
Whether you are a high school student or a parent, remember one thing: Where you go to college only determines the exact opportunities available to you. If you did not get into you desired schools this year because you just did not have the muster for it, take this as a lesson and work hard over the next four years. And if you did get into your dream school, whichever school that might be, don’t get complacent. You will have to continue to work hard to pursue your long term goals.
College admissions statistics will always seem bleak, but those numbers should not define your destiny.
Purvi S. Mody is co-owner of Insight Education, an educational consulting firm that helps students throughout the country and internationally to achieve their educational goals. Get in touch with her via email at purvi@insight-education.net or follow her on Twitter @InsightEduc.
By Purvi S. Mody
For StudentAdvisor.com
For high school seniors around the country, the finish line to the long college admissions journey is just around the bend. Most if not all college decisions will be released by April 1st and then families can begin the task of choosing. For some families, that choice will be very easy. For others who aren't sure how to decide on a college the decision will drag out until May 1st. Several months ago, when you created your college list you took many different factors into consideration and it is now time to revisit those factors.
Academics
Which schools will offer you the best academic opportunities for your interests? Evaluate the courses and majors available. Will you have trouble switching from one major to another? Beyond class assignments, are there research or internship opportunities accessible? And will you be able to talk to your professor easily or will you just be another student in the mass?
Activities
College is about more than just studying. So consider which college will offer you the most interesting extracurricular opportunities or ones where you can further perfect a skill. Are you an athlete that hopes to walk on to an intercollegiate team or play on an intramural one? Are you passionate about teaching English to non-native speakers? Do you want to further your scientific research? Do you want to study Art History in Italy or dance on a stage?
Location
A few months ago, you might have relished the idea of being on the opposite side of the country from your family. But as you get closer to actually going away, you may be more inclined to stay closer to home. Are you excited about big-city life or do you think you prefer the comforts of a college town? Are there specific opportunities that are available only in certain areas? For example, do you love theater and desire interning on Broadway – if so New York is the place to be.
Student Body
Your classmates in college will likely make up your group of closest friends. They might be the people you invite to your wedding, reach out to when you are looking for a job, lean on when times are tough, and celebrate with when life cannot seem any better. So learn as much about the student body as possible. Do students tend to focus mostly on academics? Are students incredibly laid-back or intensely driven? Do students love to party several nights of the week? Do students come from a broad range of backgrounds? Most importantly – do you think you will fit in?
Brand
Brand is a very subjective thing. I have had families bring in the list of top 25 schools and tell them they only want to apply to those – regardless of fit or their child’s academic talents and interests. And brand varies by location and program. In the Silicon Valley, programs with strong engineering and computer science programs are heralded as the best. On the East Coast, schools with the best undergraduate business programs are the most elite. Concert pianists will gravitate towards conservatories and top music programs. And those few kids that know they want to be doctors will be inclined toward the handful of very selective combined medical programs. Brand is hard to quantify, in most cases. But if the name of the school is important to you, would you be proud to say that you are attending College “X”?
Cost
Parents – this one is especially important for you. Think about the overall cost of attendance and the amount colleges have assumed you can pay after all financial aid is taken into consideration. Remember to also account for incidentals including flights home, your child’s propensity to eat out, or an expanded phone bill. If you are considering public schools where kids graduate in an average of five years, plan for the fifth year of costs and one year of your child’s lost income. And definitely take into consideration any scholarships, and perks that may come with those, for all colleges. Don’t wait to talk to the Financial Aid Office if you need your financial need reassessed.
There is no magic formula on how to choose the best college for you. While you can draw up lists of pros and cons and flip a quarter, choosing a college is more an art than a science. Choosing is going to require the right balance of instinct and rationale. Visit the colleges you are considering if you can. Talk to alumni and current students. Talk to people that know you best. And rest assured – when you make that final decision, you will be relieved that you made it through this arduous process and excited about all that lays ahead! Good Luck!
Purvi S. Mody is co-owner of Insight Education, an educational consulting firm that helps students throughout the country and internationally to achieve their educational goals. Get in touch with her via email at purvi@insight-education.net or follow her on Twitter @InsightEduc.
Photos: GavinLi Nazareth College