Competition may grow fierce to get into the school of your choice

The combination of a bad economy forcing people to seek new skills and a record number of high school graduates are expected to result in more intense competition to get into colleges, according to a published report.  College admissions officials and education experts quoted in the story on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's website said students had better be better prepared and work harder if they want to get into the school of their choice.  Now, don't be fooled by the fact that the story focuses on schools in  Texas.  You can bet your bottom dollar that the same is going to be true everywhere around the country.  Here are some excerpts from the article:

Competition to get into colleges may be intensifying

By GENE TRAINOR

People seeking new skills in a slow economy and a near record number of high school seniors are expected to make the competition fierce for coveted spots in U.S. colleges and universities in the fall.

Applications to elite private schools are expected to continue climbing. But university officials suspect that state schools in particular could see a spike in interest as some cash-strapped families look for tuition breaks. Even if students get into a desired school, they might not get into the programs they want.

"What this means to students is that it’s going to be more competitive to get into a state college than before," said Kristen Campbell, director for college preparation programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions in New York City.

The application process, which began in the fall with early admissions, is expected to peak in the coming weeks as essays, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores and synopses of extracurricular activities are compiled and sent.

"It was really hard," said Sandra Alvarez, a senior at Fort Worth’s South Hills High School who applied to several schools. "You have so many things to do, you don’t know where to start."

Taylor Breen, also at South Hills, recalls getting a call during physics class from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology asking for her father’s income records.

"You have to turn it in tomorrow, so figure it out," Breen said, quoting the admissions officer. She plans to attend Columbia University in New York City.

Getting in

College admission officials say there’s no surefire way to get into a first-choice school, though they agree that good grades, high standardized test scores and athletic or other talents help an applicant rise above the competition.

"At the end of the day, colleges want students who are passionate," Mike Moyer, author of How to Make Colleges Want You, writes in Chapter 3.

Students who don’t excel on the playing field or who have average grades might consider making a movie, writing for a local newspaper or running a political campaign, he said.

"They want students who have real interests and go out of their way to pursue their interests.  . . . If you are engaged in an activity in which teenagers don’t typically engage, you are someone who will bring a new point of view to a college classroom and a person who will inspire others to follow their dreams and interests. Colleges love this more than anything!"

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Top private schools

Competition is also tough for some private schools, but officials warn against inflating résumés with extracurricular or volunteer activities. Instead, they say they are looking for applications with focus on and passion for an area.

And you might think twice before have a consultant or parent write essays or handle the application. Both should be authentic, officials said.

"Elaborate on those things that you care most deeply about, so we’re not distracted about something that you tried one year and didn’t return to," said Julie Browning, dean for undergraduate enrollment at Rice University in Houston. "We’re imagining how you’re going to use your free time at Rice."

Rice, which ranks among the country’s most selective institutions, accepts about 22 percent of applications, said Chris Munoz, vice president for enrollment. Rice typically looks for students in the top 5 percent of their graduating class and with a combined SAT score of 1,450 on math and critical reading.

After that, the university looks at a student’s characteristics. "Are they involved?" Munoz said. "Are they active? And do they demonstrate leadership qualities?"

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Don’t give up

Sometimes, simple perseverance pays off in the college admissions game.

Conrad Holub, 22, of Burleson said he neither was in the top 10 percent of his class at Burleson High School nor took any Advanced Placement classes. He said that he got accepted to other schools but that his goal was to attend the University of Texas at Austin. So he attended to Austin Community College for a year, where he achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He then transferred to UT-Austin but was not accepted into the business school. So he was a government major for two years, earning a 3.56 average. And that got him into the business school.

Holub will have to spend five years at UT-Austin, but to him it’s all been worth it. "I had a goal set, and I did what I needed to do to achieve it," he said.

College admissions

Admission officials typically say they look at students holistically — grades, test scores, extracurricular activities and community involvement. Deadlines for applications vary for the fall 2009 semester — Thursday for regular admission to the University of Texas at Austin and June 15 for the University of North Texas, for example. To increase the chances of getting an acceptance letter, here’s what admission officials and experts recommend:

High school courses Four years of English, with courses that demand extensive writing.

Four years of math, typically including two years of algebra, a year of geometry and a year of pre-calculus.

Four years of science, typically biology, physics, chemistry and an advanced course in any of those.

Three years of social studies, including world and American history.

Three to four years of one foreign language.

Whenever possible, take the most difficult level. In Dallas-Fort Worth, that usually means Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses.

Standardized tests Most college and university admission departments require students to take the SAT or ACT. An increasing number of institutions have dropped the standardized test requirement, including Bowdoin, Smith and Wake Forest. In Texas, students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class automatically get into a state institution regardless of their scores.

Extracurricular activities Students who excel in music, theater and, especially, sports have a leg up on the competition. But Mike Moyer, author of How to Make Colleges Want You, suggests trying activities that most students don’t do, such as starting a business. Students should also show initiative by, for example, starting a club at school, said Kristen Campbell of Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. "It’s really about thinking what you’re passionate about and if you’ve stepped up and taken a leadership role," she said.