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Making the Admissions Process Work For You

I have told countless audiences of eager high school juniors and their parents that applying to college is a process, not a crisis. It is akin to a research project. Relax, hold on to your sense of humor, and realize it's just one part of the college experience. You can survive (more or less) in one piece with everyone in the family still talking to each other.

Who, do you think, feels the most stress in the admissions process? Students? Parents? Actually, after 25 years in college admissions, I'd argue that it is deans of admission! Imagine if you had to go through the process-as we do-every year!

Of course, in reality, there's lots of stress on you and your parents. So let's reduce the stress level with some facts:

Step by step to the right decision

Now, how do you go about finding that first or second choice school? Here's where the research part of the project begins.

Step 1: First think about yourself. What do you like to do?

• How far have you traveled with or without your family?
• What type of setting do you enjoy-city, suburban, or rural? During your college years, a lot of time will be unstructured. You have to be comfortable in the setting that you choose and in your distance from home.

Step 2: After you've given some thought to your lifestyle, it's time to add some of the basics.

• Do you know what you want to major in, or are you completely undecided and open to suggestions?
• Have you thought about your eventual career choice? Be careful here. The current belief is that we will most likely change our careers (not just our jobs) seven times. Given the rate of technological and social change, your future career-or careers-may not even exist today. College should prepare you for learning throughout your lifetime. Don't ignore college core courses that may seem irrelevant to you now; they'll come in handy when your career heads in an unanticipated direction.

Step 3: Become familiar with the various research tools. your high school guidance office can be very helpful here. They include the Internet, college guide books, magazines..., and CD-ROM programs. All are geared to help you create a list of colleges that offer the programs and campus atmosphere that should be attractive to you.

What the statistics say: As you look more closely at colleges that interest you, notice a few items in particular. In their admissions statistics, notice

• how many applications they receive/how many students are accepted, and
• how many students are enrolled.

The first is called their 'admit rate;' the second their 'yield ratio.' They also list their average test scores or the typical range of test scores, as well as the average high school rank or grade point average of their incoming class. Where you fit in the ranking may give you an indication of your changes.

And pay careful attention to the retention rate (the percentage of freshman who return for their sophomore year) and who graduate (calculated over five years from the time a student enters). This will alert you to how satisfied students have been with their choice.

Read profiles carefully. Facts such as the student-to-faculty ratio, the average class size, the types of facilities, clubs, organizations, internships, advisement, and career planning will help you separate some schools from others in your search process. Then contact each college that interests you and ask for information or application forms.

Step 4: Visit colleges, even if you start with ones that aren't unfamiliar to you. It helps to see what a college campus actually looks like. While there may be preferable times of the year to visit a college (during a regular semester), what's important is that you DO visit. NEVER enroll at a college without seeing it. After all, brochures, videos, or CD-ROMS all can show you what it looks like, but you need to know what it feels like as well.

Call ahead for and appointment and to find out the types of visits the college encourages. If you can't visit:

• talk with a student or alumnus in your area
• attend an open house or group information session
• meet with an admissions counselor, a student interviewer, or a visiting faculty member.

When you interview... keep in mind that the admissions interview is an exchange of information. You tell the college about yourself, and they tell you about the college. Relax; talk about yourself, your accomplishments, and goals; and be prepared to ask questions!

Once you begin filling out applications, start a calendar of dates for deadlines, and don't procrastinate! If you leave everything to the last minute and then find that you need a piece of information that you don't have, you'll trade in process for crisis. You may find applying online is a helpful option.

In that three minutes, what are we looking for?

• Academic ranking: the most important factor that colleges consider is your academic record for grades 9 through 11, particularly your grade point average, courses taken, and rank-in-class. We're also interested in your senior year record, so keep that in mind when you sign up for your courses. Most colleges will want at least your first quarter or mid-year senior grades as part of your application, and we all want to see your final high school transcript. So keep your grades up through graduation!
• Tests: Second in importance is your score on standardized tests, the SAT I or II or the ACT. Test results are never the only criterion used in admissions, but they can be helpful in supporting your academic record. Know which testes each college requires.
• Everything else: Finally, everything else-and in no particular order, including extracurricular activities, recommendations, personal interview, alumni connections, and athletic ability. There isn't space enough in this article to say something about each of the items that make up 'everything else,' but each plays a role in the admissions mix-a greater role at some colleges; a lesser role at others.

Navigating among all these variables, how can you make yourself stand out? You can do so on your application essay, which can give your application a personality and tell us about the real 'you,' apart from the courses you've taken and the test scores you've achieved. Lots of resources exist to help you organize ideas for your essay, draft it, and refine it, but here's a single brief suggestion: Be Yourself. Colleges are not looking for the great American novel; they're looking at see what you're about. Write it yourself and then be sure to rewrite it until you're satisfied.

Once you've filed your applications and made your visits, it's the old 'hurry up and wait' routine. Some colleges operate on rolling admissions and will notify you a few weeks after receiving your application; others prefer to wait and mail all their acceptances and financial aid packages at once.

Putting financial aid into the mix

The financial aid process works along with the admission process, and you'll usually hear about any grants, scholarships, loans, payment options, and other offerings-either along with or shortly following your acceptance. Your guidance counselor can by helpful in providing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the Financial Aid PROFILE forms. Many colleges also send an individual, supplemental form for you to file. Awards will vary from college to college, so it's important to have a frank discussion with your family as you make your final choice.

When you make your final decision, remember it's important to pick the college that feels like a good match for you-not for your friends or family, but for you. You're the one who will have to stay focused and make it work. You can do it!

Once you've moved into the halls of higher education, unpacked your belongings, and looked around, the real fun will begin-the process of surviving (actually prospering!) at college. But that's another story.

By: Joan Isaac Mohr - Vice President and Dean of Admissions at Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Connecticut.