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!"
**********
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?"
**********
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.
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