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Willmar Public Library Selective College Admissions Presented by Todd Johnson © 2009.
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Presentation transcript:

Willmar Public Library Selective College Admissions Presented by Todd Johnson todd@collegeadmissionspartners.com © 2009

What is a selective college? A selective college is one that does not accept all or almost all of the people who apply.

How hard is it to be accepted to a selective college? Selective-Accept between 50 and 80% University of Minnesota University of Wisconsin Students Typical GPA 3.5 or better unweighted Test Scores ACT 25-30

Highly Selective Colleges Highly Selective-Accept 35% to 50% Macalester Carnegie Mellon Students Typical GPA 3.8 or better unweighted Test scores 27-31 ACT

Most Selective Colleges Most Selective-Accept Less than 35% Carleton Harvard Students Typical GPA 3.9 or better unweighted Test Scores 29-33 ACT Students with perfect grades and test scores often rejected at these schools

What does it take for acceptance to selective college? Most important factors High School grades Classes taken for those grades Must take the most challenging classes you can handle The more selective the more it is expected that student will have AP’s if available

Schools with No AP Courses Colleges expect you to challenge yourself with the courses you have available. If you go to a school with few or no AP courses, colleges will understand

Classes to Take 4 years of English 4 years of Math 4 years of Science 4 years of Social/History 4 years of single Foreign Language Take most challenging courses you can and still do well

Test Scores No preference for SAT or ACT Some selective colleges require SAT Subject tests Student should compare their test scores with middle 50% of test scores to a particular college Poor test takers may consider test optional colleges

Other Admissions Factors At most selective colleges all of the students have great grades and test scores Selective colleges generally figure that 80% of students applying can do the work So how do they decide who to admit

The HOOK Great athlete is a hook Legacy is a hook Under represented minority is a hook But what about everybody else What makes you different from all of the other good students And how can you show that to a college

Application Essays Colleges use essays for two reasons Evaluate student’s writing ability Gives students chance to tell something about themselves not otherwise on application What makes you interesting

Application Essay Spelling and grammar are important Important to answer the question you are asked Pay attention to requested length of essay Should not exceed requested length by more than about 5%

Essays Cont. Student should be the focus of essay not grandma. Focus of essay should be very tight. One small thing to explain something about student to college.

More Essay Needs to be personalized Often in the first person “Never smell the inside of a hockey bag. Trust me. Just imagine the bouquet of a dumpster on a hot day combined with the odor of sweat.”

College Specific Essays College specific essays often ask why student is interested in that college Give specific reasons If have been on campus mention that Mention specific programs that you like Mention professors that you have met or researched that you would like to work with

Interesting Students 2 students Bob and Sarah Bob was on the football team for 2 years, now trying soccer Played trumpet in the band in 9th grade Just joined business professionals association Did speech in 10th grade Yearbook staff 12th grade

Interesting Students Sarah likes theater She has been in the high school musical all 4 years. She has done the one act play every year She helped direct a play at the Barn She put on skits at her church to raise money for the less fortunate

Interesting Students Cont. Selective colleges are looking for well rounded classes; NOT well rounded students Colleges want students that have a focus on one or two things. Colleges don’t care what the students focus is They want Sarah not Bob

Students with Feelings Colleges like to see a student with a passion but also students with compassion Volunteer efforts can be very important Doesn’t matter what volunteer effort student does BUT if you can tie a volunteer effort into your passion, you make your self strong candidate

Teacher Recommendations Generally will need two Choose teacher of academic subject that you had as junior or senior. Choose someone who knows you well. Doesn’t need to be the teacher you got the best grade in Provide teacher with a resume of all your activites

Recommendations Cont. If asked, agree to waive right to see recommendation Ask early-At least a month in advance Remember to say “thank you”

Counselor Recommendation Get to know your counselor early so that they can write the best recommendation Colleges understand that not everyone knows their counselor If there is a problem that you had the counselor can put it into perspective

Demonstrated Interest Demonstrated interest is simply showing interest in a college Visiting a college shows interest Emailing admissions counselor with questions shows interest Requesting information about the college shows interest

Demonstrated Interest Not all colleges use demonstrated interest but the number that do is increasing If live far away from campus they understand you may not be able to visit. Go to NACAC fair in Minneapolis

Interview 2 types of college interviews Evaluative and Informational Evaluative- college wants to see if you are a good fit for the college. Admission decision may be influenced by interview Informational-college there to give information only and has no effect on admission decision

Interviews May be with admissions officer May be with local alumni Show up on time Dressed Appropriately Be prepared to answer questions Be prepared to ask questions

Work Most colleges will say this has little effect on admissions decisions BUT at highly selective colleges it can make a difference Very few students at these colleges have ever worked You demonstrate maturity if you have worked If you can tie work into your interests, even better

Other Factors Boy or Girl Colleges like to try and keep fairly even ratio Most colleges have many more girls than boys applying so admission rates lower for girls But some colleges have more boys and girls have easier chance. MIT is example

Geographic Issues Colleges like to have geographic diversity Student from Minnesota may have better chance at college in Maine than one in Wisconsin

Application Timing Early Decision- ED Early Action- EA Single Choice Early Action- SCEA Regular Rolling

Early Decision Not all schools offer Requires all application materials to be submitted early, often November 1 If accepted, student required to go to that college

Early Decision cont. Generally improves chances of admission to college Can be good choice if student has found their ideal college Takes away comparison of financial aid options Only apply ED if financial aid not a concern or understand colleges FA well

Early Action Apply early to college-November to December If accepted have until May 1 to decide whether to attend May improve chances of acceptance Still allows comparison of financial aid awards Good choice if available

Single Choice Early Action Apply early to college-November to December If accepted have until May 1 to decide whether to attend May improve chances of acceptance Still allows comparison of financial aid awards But can only apply early to that one college

Regular Admission Apply by certain date often around January 1 Have until May 1 to decide whether to attend

Rolling Admissions Apply anytime College will give admission decision generally in 4-8 weeks Some colleges with rolling admissions have priority deadline U of M If submit after deadline may not be admitted even with good grades

Investigating Selective Colleges US News College Rankings Rankings are arbitrary. Information provided has some merit. But information subject to manipulation by colleges. SAT averages don’t include all students Selectivity may not include all students

Investigation Fiske Guide to Colleges Princeton Review Best 371 Colleges Insider’s Guide to Colleges Look at the colleges that are listed as crossovers to get other ideas

Investigation Look for colleges where your test scores put you in the middle 50% Look for colleges where you might have a hook Legacy Sports Ethnic Background

Investigation Look at each college’s common data set if available. This provides information on admissions broken down by sex, breakdown of number of students with particular test scores, class size, financial aid information and more.

Reach, Match, Safety In deciding on which colleges you will apply to, have a range of acceptances Do not apply only to reach colleges.

Reach College A reach college is one where it will be difficult to gain admission with your qualifications. If your test scores in the bottom 25% of college, it is a reach If college has less than 35% acceptance, then generally a reach for anyone

Match College A match college is one where your qualifications make you have a good chance of acceptance Test scores in middle 50% of accepted students. You have strong grades in strong classes

Safety College A safety college is where you are confident you will be accepted in most cases. Test scores greater than 75% of scores at that college. Strong grades in strong courses High acceptance rate-above 50%

Paying for Selective Colleges The most selective colleges are among the strongest for need based aid. The more selective the college the less likely it will have merit based aid.

Paying for College Don’t worry about stated cost of college Only question is what your family will have to pay for this college.

Contacting Todd Johnson Email todd@collegeadmissionspartners.com Web www.collegeadmissionspartners.com Telephone Home 235-2536 Work 262-9955 Volunteer for families in Willmar school district for individual and family meetings to discuss particular student’s needs