1. Willmar Public Library
Selective College Admissions
Presented by Todd Johnson
© 2009

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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%

14. 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.

15. 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.”

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

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

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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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.

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

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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%

46. 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.

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

48. Contacting Todd Johnson
Web
Telephone Home Work
Volunteer for families in Willmar school district for individual and family meetings to discuss particular student’s needs