No guarantees for top tier college admission

One of the most critical aspects of college admission is recognizing that being eligible for college, does not equal being admitted to universities with impacted majors or programs.

Students often ask, "What can I do to guarantee admission to a top ranked college?"

The honest answer is, "Nothing."

There are no guarantees for students hoping for admission to highly selective schools, but there are some guidelines that can enhance their applications. Impacted colleges turn away more applicants than they accept. Frequently those denied admission exceeded the admission requirements and were well-qualified. This is why everyone needs a backup plan – an application submitted to a college where goals can be met and admission is assured.

Students struggle to understand the disappointment and ask, “How could a college not want ME?”  While it’s not personal when students are denied admission, it still feels that way.  I always suggest that students research the freshman admission requirements college by college. If the highly selective admissions criteria says, “recommended,” students should consider it “required.”

This is true of testing requirements. While some colleges do not require SAT Subject Exams, many use them if they are on a student’s application. Some colleges use SAT Subject Exams for placing students in impacted majors. So anyone applying to a top tier university is advised to sit for at least two or three SAT Subject Exams in different subjects.

Frequently activities are listed as a section on an application. This section allows an admissions counselor to see how the student will enrich their campus. Colleges are already crammed with students who sit in the library all day. Top tier schools are always looking for bright, curious minds who find pleasure in interesting hobbies, sports or activities. Competitive colleges seek out passionate, active, interesting applicants who will contribute to the vitality of a campus atmosphere. Through activities, leadership skills often develop, which is another key item college admissions officials hope to glean from the activity section of an application.

Volunteering is evidence of being unselfish and aware of the world around you. Students who hope to gain admission to a top tier schools need meaningful volunteer hours that show a depth of character. Admissions offices are looking for how the world changed because of the service and most importantly how the student changed because of the volunteer work. This section of the application will be more impressive if the student was deeply involved with a particular organization, took on a leadership role and became an integral part of the group, rather than someone who just volunteered hundreds of random hours at various places.

A section on a top tier college application that often takes students (and parents) by surprise is the employment section. College admissions officials are looking for students with maturity and the ability to juggle a tough course load, multiple activities AND hold down a job. This doesn’t mean all prospective college applicants need to flip burgers for 20 hours a week, but it does offer students who have jobs in high school an opportunity to showcase their efforts. It provides a space to include a life experience that shows another side of the student and it validates the maturity and effort it takes to balance a busy teenage life.

            The best advice anyone can give prospective students about how to be a strong candidate for a top tier, highly selective college, is to prepare academically, develop leadership skills and become emotionally invested in the world around you. The Common App (used by over 600 colleges around the world) and the University of California both have entire sections dedicated to academics, test scores, activities, employment and volunteering. While it’s important to have your brain ready for college, it’s also important to develop your soft skills, leadership talent and become active in the community.  Not only will this help your college application, but it is also likely to result in a mature, satisfied young adult.

"What can I do to 'look good' to a college?"

“What can I do to ‘look good’ to a college?”

It’s a common question that I never answer casually. College admissions offices thrive on an authentic applicant. Students who try to recreate themselves a few weeks before college application are usually frustrated and not satisfied with the overall result.  It’s important to understand why a college is looking at a student’s activities in the first place.

Top tier colleges are looking for passion. When evaluating the activities section of an application, admissions officials hope to discover students who will contribute to the vitality of their campus. Competitive college admissions officials make it very clear that they prefer depth on a student’s resume’ over breadth. A student who is deeply involved in one or two activities will be perceived as a true leader, over the student who is simply a member of 20 clubs and organizations.

There are thousands of things a student can do to demonstrate passion, leadership, commitment and accomplishment. Students need to decide what talents or interests they want to develop and then look for ways to achieve success in those areas. School provides many opportunities for leadership, but there are many off-campus leadership possibilities as well.

It's been my observation over the years, that the best way to impress a college is to get involved in something of interest; and then really get involved. You can start out as a member of a club, team or group or whatever, but if you step up with passion, before you know it, you'll assume leadership roles and become emotionally invested in your activity. This is critical evidence that you are a person who can make things happen; and that's what every campus is hoping to recruit - the "movers and shakers" of the next generation. 

The “Looking Good” question always worries me a bit, because if students are plotting their high school years, choosing activities or courses based solely on what they think will "look good" to a college admissions office, they are going to miss out on a whole lot the fun involved in high school; and many great opportunities for personal growth. 

So rather than ask what you can do to get into a good college, instead ask yourself, "What are my passions, my talents and my interests?" Then tackle those with energy, creativity, enthusiasm and effort and you will be “looking good!” 

Introducing the New WSCA College & Career Center

WSCA Blog

Welcome to the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy College and Career Center. 

As a new school year begins, I have the privilege of opening a new college planning center for students and parents of WSCA. Our services will include everything students need for college application preparation, exploration and admission.

We will be offering a series of workshops that focus on a variety of college application topics. While the workshops are primarily for juniors and seniors, all students are welcome to attend, and parents are always welcome to attend student workshops.

We will also be offering a series of parent/student evening classes that outline all the aspects of college admission from preparation to application to funding. These classes will be open to parents (and students) in all grade levels.

This fall, I will be available to meet with students individually, or with their families, to provide personal attention to individual college admission questions. Students are invited to schedule an appointment.  If we have enough interest, we will coordinate college visits and tours within our region.

We will launch the WSCA College & Career Center the week before school starts. Please drop by, introduce yourself, and check us out. I am eager to meet students in any grade level and I am a firm believer that it is never too early to begin planning for college, so please bring the siblings along to get acquainted.

It always takes students a few weeks to get into the school routine after relaxing all summer. But for college bound seniors, there is no time to waste. Many colleges across the nation are already accepting applications for Fall 2014. Here in California our public universities will open application windows in October and November and most of our private schools are within that same time frame.

WSCA seniors may find it challenging that before they even begin to settle in to their final year of high school they are asked to imagine themselves as college freshmen. But to be an outstanding college applicant, that’s exactly what must happen. Time is running out for seniors to decide where they will apply.

So please stop by! We are located just off the main reception area of the administration building. I’m excited to meet everyone!

Cindy Cutts, Director WSCA College & Career Center