8 Important Tips for College Admissions – #1 Start Early!
Last Updated on September 27, 2023 by Jill Schwitzgebel
There are a few other pieces of universal advice that I can offer, however:
1. Ignore the Rankings
This is difficult because it seems as though the number of publications doing college rankings multiplies each year. While the top 20 or so institutions tend to be the same on every rankings list, and are generally agreed to be the “best of the best”, that does NOT make them the best places for your student. Rankings are essentially someone’s opinions of what’s important in a college. There are plenty of accredited colleges without a household “brand name” that provide an excellent education.
If you insist on looking at rankings, then just be sure you’re considering them in their full context.
2. Apply to Schools for the Right Reasons
Big hint: the WRONG reason for your student to apply is just because that’s where everyone at their high school applies or because it’s the school YOU would like them to attend. The right reasons include that the school has a program or major that is a perfect fit for your student’s interests AND that when the student visited campus it felt right to them, as far as size and culture.
This is one reason to research and visit many types of schools, large and small, urban and rural, during your college search. When students apply to and attend a college that is truly a good fit, they are significantly more likely to graduate.
3. Take the SAT AND the ACT
Since originally publishing this article, the majority of colleges have become test-optional, at least temporarily. BUT, in some cases, it’s still worthwhile to take the tests. And if they’re going to take the tests, take them both. It’s important to know that students typically prefer one format to the other, and score better on one test than the other. So, if your student is taking them, they should take them both to compare baseline scores. After becoming familiar with the tests and their performance, students should re-take the test on which they scored better. If their scores on each test puts them in the same percentile, they can re-take whichever one they preferred. For best results, have them use the study tools and practice tests available online to prepare for their second test. Sometimes, depending on the child, it is worthwhile to bring in a tutor so that they are accountable to someone for studying.
4. Apply Early
April 1st is a long wait to hear where your child will be accepted. It gets especially hard if classmates are hearing decisions from other schools. While Early Decision comes with its own set of restrictions, if a school offers Early Action, I always recommend that a student choose that option. Yes, it might mean that September and October feel a little stressful while the student scrambles to get their application completed by the November deadlines, but it will feel SO worth it if there is an acceptance or two in December. And somehow, after those early action applications are complete, the rest of the applications will feel much easier.
5. Focus on the Essay
At many schools, every applicant’s test scores, grades, and even extracurriculars are similar. That means the essay is what will stand out in decision-making. An ACT score of 31 and a GPA of 3.7 are not what make a student memorable. But, admissions officers absolutely will remember an outstanding and insightful essay. At some colleges, students will have to write multiple application essays because it is so important to the school that they have a full picture of the student. Students need to really take their time on the essay and be certain that it reflects them.
If you are helping your student to edit or revise, be very careful not to revise their voice right out of it!
6. Find a Happy Safety School
Remember, a safety school is not a real safety unless your student would be happy to go there AND it will be affordable for your family. Some assume that the safety school has to be an in-state public university. That’s one of the biggest misconceptions I hear. A safety school may be a private university offering merit aid for your student in addition to meeting your financial need, or it may be an out-of-state public that offers automatic merit scholarships based on students’ stats. Do your homework to find the safety school that is still a great fit for your student.
7. Keep Your Debt Low
This is subjective. Generally, financial professionals recommend student debt of no more than $25-30000 upon graduation. For some people, that may be too high. For others, they feel comfortable with loans up to whatever a student’s first year employment salary after graduation is likely to be. Regardless, remember that your own retirement funding is a priority. I believe that regardless of family income, finding a college where a student will incur no more than $30,000 of debt is a very attainable goal.
8. Use the Summer Before Senior Year Wisely
This has to qualify as the advice that is most widely ignored. I urge my students to begin working on their college application essays over the summer, well before their senior year begins. In fact, I urge them to work on them before most applications open up on August 1st. The essays are the most time-consuming task of the application – a good essay requires drafts and editing. Getting those out of the way over the summer significantly decreases application stress in the fall.
Additionally, I would love for students to work on their extracurriculars list, and create a resumé if they have not yet done so. Much too often, students procrastinate these tasks. So when senior year begins, students are often taking a challenging course load with lots of homework, participating in extracurriculars, and trying to ALSO find the time to work on their applications. If students begin early, many applications can be finished before the school year even starts, making life much easier in the fall.
For advice about the admissions process directly from parents of college-bound seniors, click here!
For advice about college applications directly from college admission counselors, click here
