What You Need To Know And Do Now When Applying To College
It will soon be That Time of YearNobody likes to be rejected. No matter
how much you prepare yourself, it's hard to convince your ego that you deserve
that thin envelope. If it's any consolation, you may well not deserve it: so
much in the admissions process hinges on things that really are outside of your
control.
If you've been rejected by your top choices, talk to your
counselor. He can help put things into perspective. If you have been put on the
Waiting List, he can suggest practical ways to improve your chances for an
eventual acceptance.
You may want to consider spending next year doing
something other than going directly to college. Many independent boarding
schools offer Postgraduate (or "PG") Year programs, which give you a chance to
improve your credentials and reapply to colleges next fall. The PG year can also
give you the opportunity to take part in extracurricular activities that you
have been too busy to pursue up to now. If you are really adventurous, think
about spending your PG year overseas. For a discussion of the advantages of such
a program, check out the website of the British American Educational Foundation:
www.baef.org.
If you've been accepted by several colleges and can't make
up your mind, consider attending the accepted student days that most colleges
host this month. They give you a chance to meet those who will be your
classmates and roommates for the next four years. Worried about the fact that
half your high school seems to be going to the college you prefer - including
several of your peers whom you simply cannot stand? Don't let this keep you from
attending: at even the smallest college they will get lost in the crowd next
September.
If you are having a difficult time deciding, it probably
means you'd be happy and successful at any of the choices. So you can't make a
wrong decision. What a fortunate position to be in!
To Do in April:
- April 9 - late registration deadline for May 3 SATs
- May 2 - registration deadline for June 7 SATs
- May 9 - registration for June 14 ACT.
Your Call
Do you have a general question, a comment, or an anecdote relevant to this
month's topic that you would like to share? Send us an e-mail and, if
appropriate, we'll print it in next month's column. Write us at sb@stephenbauer.net
About Stephen Bauer
Stephen Bauer has over 25 years experience advising high school students on
their college plans. In addition to working with families in Westchester from
his office in Larchmont (www.stephenbauer.net), he serves as Academic Director of the
British American Educational Foundation and has served on the Board of Directors
of the INSEAD Management Education Foundation, Harrow School Foundation, and
University Club of Larchmont.
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Making the College Search Fun- Not Frantic, Frenzied, and Frenetic
by David Hutt(1) See it as an adventure. Excitement and anxiety feel
about the same- choose to be excited. Start early- not out of fear, but because
this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tour as many colleges as your parents
allow.
(2) There are hundreds, if not thousands of colleges that will
accept you if you have a warm body and a good checking account (perhaps some
won't even require the warm body). You WILL go to college- it is a fait acompli-
relax!
(3) Don't look for the highest-rated college. All college ratings
are inherently subjective. Find the college that FITS WHO YOU ARE.
(4)
Remember, you can always transfer. Many of my students started out at a
community college and ended up at an Ivy League college. When they graduated,
there was no difference on their diplomas from those who went to that Ivy League
school for the whole four years.
(5) Do not compare yourself to anyone-
not that brainiac big brother of yours- not the class valedictorian, not your
friend who got an athletic scholarship. Instead of wasting energy envying
others, use that time to find the college that best reflects your hopes, dreams,
and preferences.
David Hutt, MA,
M.Ed.
845-425-6059
soulwords@aol.com
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