5)-(1)
University Program-Process
Millions of high school students apply to college each year. While the number of graduates from high school peaked at 3.3 million in 2008 and has been forecast to decline through 2015, the number of students enrolled in college is expected to increase through 2020 when there will be approximately 23 million students in college. About a quarter of high school seniors apply to seven or more schools, paying an average of $40 per application.
College admissions take considerable time and involves multiple steps, deadlines and choices, including fees, essays, college visits and interviews. Most undergraduate institutions admit students to the entire college and not to a particular department or major, unlike many European universities and American graduate schools, although some undergraduate programs such as architecture or engineering may require a separate application at some universities.
The admissions process usually begins during a student’s junior year when a student meets with a guidance counselor, selects some colleges, and perhaps visits a few campuses. The summer before senior year is a good time to finalize application plans and perhaps begin writing essays, and decide whether to apply either early or regular decision. International students may need to take tests showing English-language proficiency such as the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic.
Selecting high school courses
Advisors agree it is wise to have a “four-year plan” with proactive planning. Two suggested against lightening the academic load during senior year lest it indicate less real interest in academics.
Rankings
The US News ranking has generated much controversy; this map shows locations of its assessment of the top 40 colleges in the US in 2007, with many located in the north east.
Choosing schools by selectivity
- Reach schools provide a slim chance of acceptance, such as a 5% or slimmer chance.
- Possibles (or high matches) have greater chance of rejection than acceptance.
- Probables (or low matches) have greater chance of acceptance than rejection.
- Solid or safety schools seldom reject candidates with similar academic credentials High school counselors recommend that a safety school be one that a student would like to attend if rejected everywhere else.
Applications considerations
Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities that show passion and commitment can make a difference with an admissions committee.
There are conflicting views about student participation in extracurricular activities. A predominant position is that colleges were after “well-rounded bodies of individual specialists”, suggesting that it is better for a student to be deeply involved in one or two activities rather than nine or ten superficially, such as a “violin-playing quarterback” or a “math-medalist poet,” and that students should not “overdo it” and that parents should not become over concerned about their child’s extracurricular activities. Applicants who achieve a leadership position in an extracurricular activity are regarded more highly than applicants who merely participate in a bunch of activities. Advisors recommend that a student should choose which extracurricular activities they genuinely care about, pursue them with “gusto” and “joyful commitment” that demonstrates integrity and commitment. And, consistent with this view, is that too many extracurricular activities may look suspect to admissions officers, particularly if it seems unreasonable that any person could be as active and succeed scholastically at the same time.Jobs are generally viewed favorably by admissions committees, including even part-time service jobs such as flipping hamburgers, since it suggests that a student has learned to handle time management, to accept responsibility, and develop people skills. A less dominant position was that it is helpful to be involved in a “variety of activities”, including jobs, internships, and community service. Some universities, such as the University of California, have formal programs for spot-checking applications for accuracy, such as sending a follow-up letter to the student asking for proof about an extracurricular activity or summer job. Advisors recommend that extracurricular activities should never interfere with a student’s overall academic performance. A student with lots of extracurricular activities senior year, but little in preceding years, particularly when the essays focus on the extracurricular activities, are suspect; it suggests an applicant is being coached, and may reflect negatively on an application. Advisors warn against “overscheduling” students with too many activities or courses.
Number of applications
There are differing views on how many schools a student should apply to. Several reports suggest that applying to too many schools caused unnecessary stress and expense, and hampers a student from targeting applications to a few select schools.[ But other advisors suggest that applying to more schools increases overall chances for acceptance. Mamlet and Vandeverde suggest applying to eight to ten schools is best, and that applying to too many schools is counterproductive.
Summer programs.
Summer academic programs, such as during the months between junior and senior year, can be helpful, particularly if a student has been having trouble in a specific area in high school. Another suggested that pre-admission programs, such as a summer program before senior year, could help students adjust to the transition to college although some programs can be expensive; some admissions officers are skeptical of their benefit, and suggest that a part-time job or having fun is a better alternative. One suggested attending a community college during the summer before senior year, preferably for high school credits. Mamlet and Vandeverde describe many summer vacations between junior and senior year as “adventure vacations”, and wonder if they are somewhat “faddish”—a key question that admissions evaluators try to ascertain is did the student initiate the summer program or was it initiated by parents or a coach to make an application look better? Some summer programs have been crafted in a way to allow a student to write a compelling application essay
Online identity
There are reports that some college admissions departments scrutinize applicants’ personalities online, such as Facebook orMySpace profiles, and as a result, they urge students to remove “sarcastic jokes, bad pictures, or political cartoons,” and be wary about what their friends post on their pages as well. A concurring report suggested that some offices have people tasked with “checking out applicants’ Facebook pages”, although there is a contrasting report from one college recruiter who said that their policy is not to examine Facebook profiles and that “Facebook is reserved for students on a recreational basis.” The same caution applies to email addresses; one advisor cautions against having jazzed-up email addresses such as “Spicychick@gmail.com”, but rather that users should stick with their name, if possible, since it can help colleges find a student’s records.
International applications
Foreign (non-US citizen) students applying from another country form a large and growing percentage of applicants (including accepted applicants) to American universities. According to Andover counseling director Sean Logan, applications to American universities from foreign students have increased dramatically in the past decade. International applications are typically similar to domestic ones but with additional complications. Most international applicants do not receive a GPA score or transcript from their school. Most will not normally take SAT or ACT exams, so these must be arranged. Most American universities are happy to accept international and foreign qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate or IB, or British A Levels, although it is often up to the applicant to elaborate on the meaning of these qualifications. Non-native English speakers may be asked to provide English language qualifications. If a university requires or offers an interview, these can normally be conducted over the phone or with alumni residing in the applicant’s country, according to Uni in the USA, a guide book catering to the growing number of British students seeking to study in the United States. International applicants often must cope with higher tuition fees and less available financial aid, although this varies significantly by college. Further, international applicants also have to apply for a student visa, which can be a complex and time-consuming process.