One of the great myths about college admission is that the process is merely a matter of doing your best in high school, getting good scores on some tests, writing a decent essay, and then simply submitting your application to the admissions office. Then you just sit back and pray that a college admissions officer will let you in.

But that’s not really how it works.

If you want a college to love you, you have to love the college first. Show demonstrated interest.

First, let them know you’re interested

Sign up to receive their information. Go to the college website and leave a trace. Register for their web portals, and sign up for their email lists. An admissions officer will never know that you have your eye on their school…unless you give them a sign.

Second, fill out their dance cards.

Any time an admissions officer asks you to fill out a card, do it. Even if you have filled out the same card for the same person a hundred times. You get credit for every bit of contact you have with that admissions officer. In today’s high-tech world, admissions offices across the land keep careful track of your contacts with their admissions people. And every contact is a brownie point in the application process. And who doesn’t need more brownie points?

Third, accept their invitations.

If a college invites you to meet their representative someplace—at your school, at a Starbucks when they visit your town, at a college fair—put on your dancing shoes and show up. Even if you’re not the best dancer in the room, you get major points for just showing up. Especially if an admissions officer visits your school. You cannot afford to waste the opportunity to meet and take another turn around the dance floor—you need those brownie points.

Even if you have to miss your calculus class. Even if you have to skip volleyball practice. Even if your feet hurt. You’ve got to dance if you want that admissions officer to remember your name. To know how much you care, and to know how badly you want the keys to the gate.

Fourth, go visit.

Explore what your life might be like if you agree to keep dancing with this college for the next four years. Nothing—I repeat, nothing—will declare your enthusiasm as much as a personal visit, where you can dance for a few hours (or better, a day or two) to see whether this college really is everything that the admissions officer promised.

So when is the best time to visit? Anytime you can. It’s nice to go when school is in session because it gives you a better sense of what your life might be like if you decide to go exclusive with this dance partner. But you’ll make a suitable impression no matter when you go or how long you stay.

But, make you sure are ready to visit. Take time to develop the criteria you feel is important to you in where you go to college. Do research ahead of time. Otherwise a visit can be a wasted opportunity.

Fifth, meet the rest of the crew.

Talk to the rest of the admissions officer’s team: The faculty. The staff. The coaches. The gardener, even. If you were to accept your this college’s hand, you would suddenly find yourself in this new world, populated by lots of new folks. So when you do visit, don’t simply spend all your time in the visitors’ center! Even if you can’t connect with the family during your visit, use email, the phone, the web. You won’t know whether you really want to commit until you chat with the rest of the clan.

Sixth, spend the night.

Really. Many schools have current students who volunteer to host prospective students overnight in the dorms. You might see some of the institution’s dirty laundry (better to get over the shock before you commit), and some of the polish of the glossy brochures your admissions officer plied you with might lose its luster. But spending the night will give you the opportunity to experience, however briefly, what life at that college is really like.

Seventh, stay in touch.

Don’t forget to thank your admissions officer. Sprinkle the praise and your delight in the attention you have been receiving. Mention the specific characteristics of the college that thrill you the most. Tell how appreciative you are. Despite the lightness of the metaphor, the admissions dance is an extremely important aspect of the entire process.

Take the time to build a relationship with the admissions officers of the colleges that interest you. Admissions offices do keep careful track of your calls, emails, visits, interviews—every single point of contact between you and the admissions representative.

Eighth, don’t step on toes.

It is possible to overdo this. You don’t want to be annoying. Sometimes an admissions officer will not be as receptive. This is particularly the case at large state universities and also at the most selective schools, including Stanford and the Ivy League. These admissions officers just have too many inquiries to respond to everyone. Plus, since they are so highly sought-after, they can be very, very choosy with their applicants.

In these cases, just let them know you’re interested, fill out the (dance) cards, attend the college fairs, and pay a visit. But don’t take it personally if they don’t want to engage in a lengthy phone conversation with you. These admissions officers are simply in very high demand.

Think about it.

I the situation were reversed, who would you choose? Someone who simply sends you a typed application, listing all their credentials, their qualifications, and their hopes and dreams? Someone who sits back, passively waiting for you to choose them from among the thousands of others who have also submitted applications?

Or someone who not only completes the application but who goes the extra mile?

Colleges want to accept students who express their strong interest and enthusiasm for their institutions.

So get out your dancing shoes, and don’t be afraid to dance. It may lead to something extraordinary.

Need some dance lessons?

Maybe you are not sure about all this.  Maybe you’re not even sure with whom you want to dance, much less how to master all the steps.

The expert admissions counselors at Great College Advice can help you be light on your toes throughout the complicated college admissions process. We would enjoy the opportunity to chat with you, take you for a spin around the dance floor, and help you figure out how best to master the steps to get admitted to college.

Just reach out. Contact us today for your complimentary consultation.

This post originally was posted in 2023. It has been updated for content.

The post 8 Steps to Get You Admitted to College first appeared on Great College Advice.

Do they get good grades?

A well-rounded student is involved in more than just academics. But the basis of a solid college career is solid academic achievement. Is your student ready to handle it?

Do they like to read?

Exercising the mind for fun is a sure sign of academic potential. Readers demonstrate an ability to self-motivate when it comes to learning and mental growth.

Do they like what they are learning in school (at least most of it)?

Do they ever talk positively about their academics? Recall stories of enjoying themselves in class. Do their teachers say they are active participants in class?

Are their ACT or SAT scores above the national average?

Moreover, this is not a necessity for acceptance into any college. But it’s a good indicator of your student’s readiness to move forward in their academic career.

Are they active in the community in some way?

Good grades are the foundation of a solid college application. But your student can really stand out as prepared for life on campus if they are actively making a difference outside the classroom.

Is their main after-school activity “relaxing with friends”?

Do they enjoy intellectual stimulation? Are they motivated by a sense of charity, community, or activities that require self-motivation?

Are they able to manage their own schedule (without help from you)?

College students have to work independently and to take responsibility for how they spend their time. So, you won’t always be there to remind about due dates and deadlines.

These are all good indicators of whether or not your student is cut out for college. However, if you answer ‘no’ to some of these questions, all is not lost. Because, much of what is required for success in college is teachable, and can be learned over time and with and increased maturity. So the best solution is to start your student early on a path toward academic and extracurricular success with encouragement toward positive activities. First, find out where academic subjects and community activities intersect with your student’s interests and nudge in those positive directions.

Is your kid cut out for college? The experts at Great College Advice can help you find the right academic program for your student, no matter their level of success or engagement.

Contact us to learn about our wide range of services and find out how we can help you get into a top college.

The post Is Your Kid Cut Out For College? Take this quiz: first appeared on Great College Advice.

Are You Experiencing College Application Stress?

How can you deal with college application stress? Is college application procrastination making you anxious and worried? Where did this college application stress come from? How can students avoid college application procrastination? 

Here are the worries of a typical parent.

The college application deadlines were looming, and my daughter always seemed to have too much homework or too many tests, or she was too tired from practice.

Her procrastination kept me up at night. I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from bringing it up several times a day. And when I couldn’t help myself, the conversation quickly degenerated into an argument.

I knew she was eager to graduate and head to college, so why the procrastination? If this was what she wanted, why couldn’t she sit down and just do them?

Here are some thoughts about college application stress and what to do about it.

What’s Ailing Our Teens?

In a nutshell, this procrastination was likely the result of anxiety. Anxiety about not getting into college. Anxiety about not getting into the ‘right’ college. It is not about being able to craft a ‘winning essay.’ Anxiety about not measuring up to my expectations.

I attended an event with Dr. Jonathan Dalton, who specializes in working with anxious youth, and his presentation opened my eyes to the magnitude of this problem. According to Dr. Dalton’s research, 38% of girls will have at least one anxiety disorder between the ages of 13 and 18. For boys, it is somewhat less at around 26%. For students with a learning difference or ADHD, the statistics are even more grim. At this very moment, approximately 8% of all teens are suffering from an anxiety disorder. With most of them not receiving any help or treatment. 

I was floored. This placed my daughter’s behavior in a new light. She was coping with her fear by simply avoiding dealing with her applications. Not a rational response from my perspective, but a predictable one.

How Did They Become So Anxious?

It wasn’t always this way. Teens are now 5 to 8 times more likely to show symptoms of anxiety disorders compared to teens in the 1900s. According to psychologists, comfort and growth are not compatible, and kids in recent decades are increasingly not taught how to fail. It turns out is a useful, even necessary, skill to have. Our youth have not spent as much time learning how to overcome challenges on their own. As triggers and obstacles are removed or minimized by the adults around them, in homes, schools and extracurricular activities.

So as my daughter’s parent, it turns out I need to take some responsibility for this sad state of affairs. I know (I can even remember some of the instances) I often stepped in to help my daughter when I saw her struggling. I have no doubt that in many cases, she would have been just fine, and possibly even better off, if had I let her figure it out for herself. Then, when it was time to complete those college applications, she probably would have been much more self-confident and less fearful of failure.

And while we can tell our applicants they have nothing to fear, once anxiety becomes pervasive in a young person’s life, it does not matter whether the danger is real or perceived. The body reacts in the same way. Can you imagine trying to write a unique and insightful essay while sitting in a lion’s den? Much easier to avoid entering the den….

How Can We Foster Courage?

I have been thinking about how to apply the wisdom shared by those who are treating teens with anxiety orders to the anxious college applicants in our lives. A fundamental first step is to consistently model what we want our teens to feel: calm. When we feel anxiety and stress about college applications, it can have exponential impacts on those around us.

Let our teens know that just because they are scared it doesn’t mean anything bad is going to happen. Colleges actually have more spaces than there are applicants. So every student who wants to go to college can! Apply to a balanced list of schools, and every applicant should expect success. Getting a bachelor’s degree is hopefully but one step in a long and successful life, and if you have read Frank Bruni’s book, you would know that ‘where you go is not who you’ll be!’

Help them see that they are stronger than their fear. Our youth have to believe in themselves. They have to experience failure and know that everything is going to be OK. They also have to have experiences seeing themselves succeed separate from their parents. So while it would be easy to help them too much, which is what got us into this situation to begin with, it would diminish their own growth.

We can support them best by helping them learn how to complete strong applications of which they can be proud. We have all seen the long list of self-help titles, and these are often very useful. Just as importantly, we can strip away the mystery that shrouds the admissions process, so applicants can feel more assurance that they know what they are doing and why. When it’s time to tackle the essays, help them see that they can write, by helping them build up their own ideas one step at a time.

If I could do it all over again, I would support my anxious daughter differently. As we all become more aware of anxiety disorders, we can help our teens live healthier lives, whether in the college admissions process or beyond.

Thanks to Jonathan Dalton, Ph.D., Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change for his insightful presentation regarding stress about college applications. 

He can be reached at drjdalton {at}changeanxiety.com.

Are You Suffering from College Application Stress?  We Can Help!

The experienced college counselors at Great College Advice can help reduce the stress.  We break the process down so that students can complete everything in manageable chunks, and we provide them with the personalized advice to give them the confidence and courage to make good decisions–and follow through on their commitments.  

The process truly can be overwhelming, and the stress and procrastination are understandable.  But still the work needs to be done.  If you’d like some professional guidance to relieve the stress of college applications, contact us today. 

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First of all, the number of college age students is declining in America.

This means competition for slots at top universities are easier than ever to fill.

Also, the number of higher education slots is higher than ever these days. Schools have more slots for students than ever before. In fact, the U.S. has an overcapacity in university slots. So outside of the universities that reject more applicants than they admit, competition for students to enroll is very keen. This, combined with the decline in student population, really works in your favor.

The average acceptance rate for college acceptance right now is 70%. Many schools have acceptance rates of 80% or more. Again, they have their slots to fill if they want to remain active and vibrant places of learning, and this works to your advantage.

It’s especially easy to get accepted into college if you’re a male. More females apply than males, 57% to 43%, and colleges are always looking for ways to close their student gender ratio gap.

If you are serious about wanting to go to college, there is a school out there for you

Try not to be too intimidated by the thought of getting into college. If you are a serious student who is looking for the experience of higher education, then there is a college or university out there for you. The trick is to know how to choose the right group of schools to apply to. And to make your application the very best it can be.

Need help in finding the perfect college fit for YOU?

The experts at Great College Advice can help you navigate the complex and intimidating process of getting into college. They have years of experience helping thousands of kids just like you get accepted to the school of their dreams. They are familiar with colleges and universities all over the country and the world, and the programs they offer that would be the best fit for you. Contact Great College Advice to find out how they can help you make the best decisions about getting into college. As well as to maximize your chances of getting accepted!

The post Getting Into College Easier Than You Think first appeared on Great College Advice.

Doing community service is a fine choice for extracurricular activity, if you enjoy it. It can be a satisfying and selfless way to contribute to society. But it is not necessary to have community service listed as an activity on your college application. You should put your extracurricular focus on areas you enjoy, where you are eager to make a difference. It is the impact of your efforts that will be looked upon positively by college admissions officers, not necessarily community service specifically.

2. I have to go to summer school.

What you need to do is excel as much as you are able in classes that are challenging. That is how you demonstrate to college admissions officers that you are able to handle the rigors of college academic life. Summer school by itself is a fine way to show academic talent. It is a great way to get ahead in your academic career. But is it necessary? No.

3. My grades are not that important.

Your grades are of utmost importance. College life is academic life. There are many aspects of college life outside of the classroom, but you are there to learn. In order for a college to want to accept you, you must demonstrate the ability to learn, to self-motivate, and to succeed in their academic environment. The only way to prove this to colleges is to get good grades.

4. I’ll get a scholarship.

Scholarships are reserved for the strongest performers who are applying to college programs. The chances of you getting a scholarship depends on your performance relative to the college to which you are applying. If you apply to several schools, then your chances of receiving a scholarship to any one of those colleges is entirely dependent on your strength as an applicant relative to each college.

5. I’ll pay for it somehow.

College tuition is more expensive than ever before, and student loan debt is a huge issue in the U.S., which affects many adults for years and even decades after their college days are over. You need to look at your future college education as a cost/benefit equation. Choose colleges and programs that you and your family can afford, and take advantage of any scholarships available in order to help you pay for your college education, and to protect your future.

Are there any other misconceptions you may have about getting into college? Let the experts at Great College Advice help you navigate the complicated and sometimes confusing world of college applications. We have several tiers of services we can provide that can fit any budget, and with our expertise in the areas of scholarships and other methods of financing your college education, your investment in Great College Advice could end up saving you money in your overall college education costs. Go to greatcollegeadvice.com to learn how we can help you.

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TRANSCRIPT:
So here today I’m on the campus of Rollins College, it’s in Winter Park, Florida, not too far from Orlando, big city. And it’s a beautiful campus, kind of Mediterranean style, and really nice buildings, architecturally harmonious, we might say. And the location is great because not only is it warm, although it’s January right now, it’s a little nippy, sunny and beautiful but a little nippy, and it’s got the best of both worlds: it’s a smallish town, Winter Park is an older town in Florida that’s been around for a long time, but then you’ve got Orlando with Disney and Universal and all the attractions of a big city. So it’s kind of a nice combination being in a more suburban or residential area of a very large city.

So a great place to come if you’re looking for the place where you can wear your flip flops every day and enjoy the Florida sunshine. The other thing that’s really beautiful about this campus is that they are on this lake, Lake Virginia, so you’ve got a big waterfront down here that is absolutely gorgeous. So there’s a reason why Princeton Review recently called this the number 1 most beautiful college campus in America.

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TRANSCRIPT:

So it’s January and I’m here on the campus of Rollins College. And that’s a great time for anybody to visit Florida. If you’re from the north and you’re looking for something warm, this is the place to look. But I learned a few things today as I was tooling around about the curriculum here. Along with a couple of interesting factors.

Do Your Homework on Classes

One, as a freshman, everybody takes a one-semester course called the Rollins Conference Course or the RCC. That’s organized on a theme, has about 12 students, and every student is assigned to one of these classes. They are multi-disciplinary. And not only are they led by a faculty member that becomes the adviser for the student, but there are two peer mentors in that class, too, that integrate immediately with students, and the students are also chosen and live relatively close to each other in the dormitories. So not only are they meeting each other in the dormitory but they’re also meeting each other in the classroom. That’s a great way to sort of integrate students immediately into this community of about 2,000 students.

Neighborhoods

And then, they also are assigned what they call neighborhoods, and those are also theme-based. So those would be things like sustainability or maybe arts-related or something else. And they take their core courses. The general education requirements. They take those courses with their neighborhood which is a little bit larger than their RCC class.

It’s also another way to bring freshmen together. As well as begin to connect students with one another, both socially. I mean there’s plenty on a college campus that kids do socially to get together and meet one another. But they also meet each other on an intellectual level, on an academic level. And that’s what any college including this one would want. They want their kids to be involved. And engaged with professors and learning and developing that academic community that every college aspires to be.

This is how Rollins does it, and it seems to be working and this neighborhood thing is brand new. So only I guess the first or second year of that program. So it’s trying very hard to ramp up the academic climate here and connect kids in that way.

PE Classes

So as you’re looking at colleges and you’re trying to figure out their curriculum, make sure you ask those questions and do your homework. Make sure you understand what it is that students are going to be expected to do. I even learned that here at Rollins you have to take two PE classes. Even in college. So anyway, make sure you understand and you inquire and you do your research to know what’s being asked of you when you get to the college. And what will you need to do in order to graduate. At Rollins, you’ve got the RCC. And you’ve got the general education requirements in your neighborhood. It’s a fun way to organize things. But check out every other school you’re looking at, to see what they offer and what they require.

The post Choosing a College: Do Your Homework first appeared on Great College Advice.

We learn everything about you so that we can understand what you are looking for in a college. Like tailors, we measure you up. We figure your preferences, your priorities, your personal style. We help you consider the environments that might suit you best–especially the classroom environment, for it is in the classroom, after all, where you get the greatest value from your education. We give you some questionnaires and surveys and personality assessments and aptitude tests. We help you be better able to articulate your strengths and weaknesses, your likes and dislikes, your hope and dreams, so that you can more systematically try on different colleges for size. We make the process efficient.

By the same token, we have to learn a lot about the colleges, so we can quickly and efficiently (and correctly) identify a short list of colleges that fit you. We spend a lot of time on the road investigating campuses, snooping around classrooms, talking to librarians, chatting up the faculty, and asking students about their experiences. We take the tours and listen to the information sessions so we can get a better idea of what sets each school apart, and to learn what they seek in their applicants. Sometimes we also call admissions offices or coaches or financial aid officers directly, to be sure that we understand the processes and procedures, and so that we can effectively share this information with our students and their families.

Your Personal Shopper for the Best College Fit

We get to know you.

We get to know the colleges.

So we can help you find the right fit.

In this sense, we are, indeed, personal shoppers. Just as you must try on jeans or sweatshirts or t-shirts, you have to try on different colleges to see how they look on you. Of course, choosing a college is a bit more complex. And it’s certainly a service that is much more costly than even the most expensive pair of designer shoes. But the same principles apply. You need to know what you want. You need to understand what is available. And you need to make choices that reflect your knowledge of yourself and the colleges.

How do you think these look on me? Do they fit?

Lewis & Clark	Wheaton College
Manhattan College	Stanford University
Emory University	Haverford College
Muhlenberg College	University of Delaware
Lehigh University	Lynn University
University of Central Florida	University of Miami
Eckerd College	Fordham University
Saving the best for last…. Macalester College

For the Best College Fit, Try It On!

You see, what looks good on the rack, may or may not look good on a particular person. What looks good on one individual may look awful on another.

You are picking the college for you. You need to think carefully about what you want or need. A little more room in the waist? Something that shows off your best features? Or how about something in aqua?

Seriously, it’s not easy to pick the right college. You need to think carefully about what criteria are important to you, and then you need to systematically search for those colleges that fit those criteria. It’s not an easy process, with over 3,000 colleges in the United States (that’s a lot of sweatshirts to try on).

So consider getting a “personal shopper” as you go through the process. The investment will be well worth it.

After all, you wouldn’t want to spend $250,000 for that little pink number, now would you?

Mark Montgomery
Great College Advice
720.279.7577

The post College Fit: How Does the Shirt Look on Me? first appeared on Great College Advice.