College Admissions Advice for The Class of 2021: What It Takes to Get in
Daunting, frustrating, mysterious. These are only a few words which a college applicant finds sifting through his brain when considering the college application process. Sending off college applications can be a breeze when you take some important words of advice from those on the other side, the admissions department. But firstly, it is crucial to the application process to know the direction in which one wants to go in terms of the degree preferred and comparing that to what a college or university has to offer. In other words, an applicant needs to have a plan for college. It would be a waste of time, effort, and resources if the application process is done haphazardly without intent or direction.
A plan means an applicant must have thought through what kind of college experience he or she wants. Based on this, a list of schools can be narrowed down according to an applicants' career and personal goals. An applicant must be a good fit for the school; at the same time, the school must be a good fit for the applicant too.
To help an applicant decide whether a school would be a good fit, the high school experience can be a great place to start. Thinking of what an applicant liked or did not like in high school can provide the perspective in choosing a college. An applicant must also look at himself, who he is and what his goals are. The worst thing one can do is to rush into an application and get into a frenzy over the college selection.
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Ann McDermott, the director of admissions at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, confesses that there is no set formula for selecting applicants for admission.
She says "We balance our feelings with some facts."
Paper and numbers do not tell the whole story about a student. SAT and ACT may be important but are not the be-all in the selection process. Some tips from the other side may allow one to breeze through an application process.
First is to be involved in the application process. One can make a visit to the college and ask to sit in some classes, especially ones the applicant may be interested in taking. If this is not possible, an online video chat through Skype or other means or a telephone interview may give an idea of whether an applicant would like the school. Moreover, it allows the admission committee to get to know the applicant as a person and give them an idea of just how interested an applicant is in getting into their institution. Doing this will determine whether the applicant will fit in nicely in the particular college or whether the college can offer that which the applicant is seeking in the academic program.
Taking the time and effort in preparing the requirements for the application, such as an essay, will eventually pay off when the admissions committee sees how much an applicant has put into it. A sloppy essay is a sure path to getting denied admission. Making the work natural and spontaneous can also ease along an application.
When done right, college application can be a rewarding process and can be completed in no time at all.
