Four Admissions Tips (+1) For High Schoolers and Their Parents
It’s getting closer, that stress-ridden time when 12th graders apply to colleges. In a few months, that may include your family. If so, you are wondering: Am I doing enough? Am I missing something?
Let’s focus on the four things – plus one – that juniors and their parents need to know for successful admissions efforts.
First: GET GOOD GRADES! You undoubtedly know to get good grades, but perhaps you don’t realize how significant this year’s marks will be. When you apply to college, your application will likely be submitted before any grade 12 scores are available. So, do well in your last high school year, but do not overstress. Make sure to balance your school work with your admissions effort.
For now, if you are struggling in any class … pay attention and do something about it! Ask your teacher for help; look at your syllabus to understand where you are in the context of the entire course; take advantage of the many, many instructional videos that are available online; and ask your parents to hire a tutor. Do not let anything get in the way of your success.
Second: BE INVOLVED IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND! Especially for our top colleges, a student’s current involvement in extracurricular activities foreshadows their potential involvement at the university level. Be involved in your school, and be involved beyond your school. Think geographically, even internationally. But, please, Please, PLEASE avoid chasing the “checklist” of summer programs, passion projects, internships, research, and charitable efforts. That doesn’t work. If the checklists worked, then EVERYBODY with a complete checklist who applied to a top school would be admitted. That … does … not … happen.
The rule is “you be you” – that way, they can find you – but if there are exceptions to a rule, then for extracurriculars, the exceptions are (1) have leadership titles (the applications have a field to insert them); (2) show them your community service (everyone has to do service, so don’t be the kid who seems to hate other people because service is not listed on their application); and (3) be physically active (because those who are physically active during college give three times more money in alumni donations).
Third: GET YOUR BEST TEST SCORE! Choose either the SAT or ACT (not both) and prepare as well as you can before the test. For most people, we recommend SAT, but look at the formats and decide which you prefer. Do NOT rely upon a practice test score. It is not a good indicator of future performance. Focus on formats. Once you have chosen a test, take it as many times as necessary (three is usually the limit in terms of your performance), THEN decide if you should or should not submit your test scores. For some schools, you will do better by submitting your scores, but for others, you may wish to rely on your grades alone. However, you cannot make those decisions without having scores, so give it your best shot instead of whining “I’m not a good test taker.” Finally, pick test dates that work with your schedule(s) and start preparing two to three months in advance. FYI: for SAT, we typically recommend the test administrations given in March, August and October (the other test dates are in the midst of busy school seasons).
Fourth: TALK WITH YOUR TEACHERS! Our top universities request and require recommendation letters from teachers. The best letters come from people who know you well, regardless of their position or stature. In other words, it’s the letter -- not the author – that impresses. The better they know you, the better your teachers can help you. Chat with them about why they chose their subjects; how your future matches with what they teach; or simply ask for advice.
And as an extra bonus…
Fifth: COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COUNSELOR! In January or February of grade 11, your college counselor will start getting to know you, usually through a meeting. Counselors have the ability – and responsibility – to help students achieve their top schools. The better they know you, the more they can help you. But it’s more than that: when you appreciate their efforts, they will naturally appreciate you too and thus help you a bit more than those students who do not appreciate them. By informing your counselor of your plans and efforts (and asking for their advice) as much as possible, help them to help you!