The College Application Tips You Need: College Admission Counselors Answer Your Questions

Last Updated on July 15, 2024 by Jill Schwitzgebel

Recently, I had the opportunity to ask questions of a couple of college admission counselors. I wanted to get the scoop about what they are really thinking as they read through applications from high school students. Originally, I was hoping to just pick up a few college application tips I could pass along to my applicants. But, they provided so much helpful information that I couldn’t resist sharing their interviews in their entirety.

You might be relieved to read that there were no big surprises. In fact, even though they answered separately, their answers were incredibly similar. High school courses and GPA matter. Authenticity in the essay matters. (And by the way, be sure to proofread that essay!) And they truly understand that the coronavirus pandemic is likely to have an impact on students’ high school academics and activities.

A huge thank you goes out to Dana Smith, admission counselor at Albion College in Michigan, and Haley Skeens, admission counselor at Hiram College in Ohio, for agreeing to answer the questions below for me.

What do you consider to be the most important part of a student’s application?

DS: The biggest consideration for admission is generally your high school GPA and transcript. We’re looking at not only what your GPA is, but what courses you took and your grade trend. With that being said, most liberal arts colleges take a very holistic view to admission – we want to evaluate you as a whole student, not just a number. I always encourage students who are worried about where their GPA is at to still apply, putting extra effort and consideration into their essay and description of activities.

HS: When looking at applications, a student’s transcript which includes their GPA and grade trends is typically the most important part. It often shows a student’s high school journey and hard work, or a lack thereof, and helps us gauge whether that student will be successful at our institution. 

What do you look for in an applicant’s essay?  Are there any topics that are off limits?

HS: In an applicant’s essay, I look for authenticity! I really appreciate students that are honest and share something they are passionate about, not just what they think an admission counselor would want to hear. That being said, make sure your essay is appropriate for your audience (a higher education institution that you would like to attend!).

DS: The essay is my favorite part of an application. When I review applications, I’m looking for an essay that means something to the student who wrote it. Some of my favorite essays have detailed why continuing their education is important to the student, the inspiration behind their desired field of study, impactful developmental moments in their academic/personal journey, or simply something they’re passionate about. Most importantly, the essay should be a representation of a student’s writing style and abilities. I think many students today believe they need to share their innermost personal trauma in order to have a chance at college admission, so I would encourage students to share what they’re comfortable with and not feel pressured into reliving difficult moments – be true to your individual experiences and perspectives, but not at the cost of your personal well-being.  

What’s the one mistake that students make most often in their applications?

DS: The most common mistake I see is that students submit an essay with another college’s name in it. (This happens especially on the Common App!). I would also recommend having someone else look over your application before you submit it – the other biggest mistake I see is grammar/spelling issues that could have been avoided by a quick proofread.

HS: Students often don’t proofread their essays and there are grammatical or continuity mistakes. Make sure to edit your essay and give it a final look before submitting it so that we can best understand your writing. 

Will the pandemic affect the way you consider applications this year? 

HS: With the pandemic, extracurriculars, test scores, and service hours may be harder for students to add to their applications. This is where your hard work in the classroom can shine! Your essay can also serve as a place to tell us what you are truly passionate about and what you spend your time doing.

DS: Absolutely. In the midst of the pandemic, opportunities for students to participate in extracurriculars, employment, and service are severely limited. Just like with test scores, students won’t be penalized for inaccess to experiences like these. We will most likely look more heavily at the early portion of a student’s high school career and essay and allow more flexibility for students to engage with us about their academic experiences. At Albion, we have what’s called the “Hold” process for students we’d like to learn more about before making an admission decision – one of our senior admission staff interviews the student to learn more about their study skills and academic aspirations to see if we’d be a good fit for each other. I have a feeling that we’ll have a good number of those conversations this year. 

Each of their institutions has made the decision to become test-optional (with a couple of exceptions at Hiram) for at least the upcoming admissions cycle, so I was especially interested to hear their perspectives on students not submitting tests:

Is it really okay if a student does not submit scores for consideration? 
And, if a student DOES choose to submit ACT or SAT scores, how do they get considered during the application process? 

DS: Yes, it is! We made the decision to go test optional because of how limited access to standardized tests will be. We don’t want students to be penalized because they weren’t able to take a test, so we will not be requiring them. For students who do choose to submit their scores, we will include them in merit scholarship consideration. Submitting test scores could also be a good option for students who are worried that their GPA does not reflect the type of student they are.

HS: Yes! Besides applications for my institution’s Nursing and Education majors, it’s 100% okay if you do not submit your test scores for consideration. Not every student is a test taker and especially in these challenging times, not everyone has access to standardized tests. Students who do not submit their test scores will be considered on the other aspects of their application (transcript, essay, etc).

Finally, I asked each of them to offer their best advice for high school seniors as they’re applying to college. First, they both urged students to reach out to their college admissions counselors with any questions or concerns about applying- they love hearing from prospective applicants! Ms. Skeens reminds students, “Be yourself! We all want to find the best college fit for you!”

Their goal is the same as mine – to make the process as stress-free as possible for families. To achieve that, Ms. Smith recommends that students “talk about what you’re looking for in a school and a timeline for decisions early-on – the same goes with Financial Aid and familial expectations for who’s covering what. Typically, I would say visit all the schools you’ve applied to in multiple capacities to figure out which community will be the best fit for you – for now, visit virtually until you’re able to visit in person safely.” And ultimately, she suggests, “Use your personal network to bounce ideas off of, build you up, encourage you to meet a deadline, and remind you why you’re doing this. Trust your instincts, your decisions, and yourself.” Great advice for every student!

 

For more information about how to write a great college essay, click here!