Admissions Officers Dispense Advice on College Applications

Admissions+Officers+Dispense+Advice+on+College+Applications

Chenthuran Abeyakaran, Author

As the school year begins to gain momentum and hurtle on its way, many Chamblee seniors are beginning to face the heat as they join 3.5 million other students in filling out their college applications, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Given the high stakes attached to the process, it is understandable that it can cause a lot of stressed students.

As with everything, completing the application to the best of one’s ability partially depends on his or her ability to manage their time. With students juggling AP coursework, sports, academic clubs, and various other activities, it is no wonder that time becomes a scarce resource. On top of this, seniors must find a way to work on their applications.

“I would recommend working to identify and schedule out time to complete applications,” said Amanda Dale, the senior associate director of admissions at the University of Georgia. “You want to make sure to have enough time to complete the steps and give your teachers and counselors enough time to complete letters of recommendation.”

In addition to serving as a time-management tool, a schedule can also help alleviate stress by doubling down as a checklist.

“This [helps] to manage and avoid the frustration and panic that can set in when trying to do everything for the application either the day before or the night of the application deadline,” said Scott Burke, assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions at Georgia State University.

At this point, the only aspect of the application that seniors can truly change is the essay or personal statement portion. There simply isn’t enough time for students to significantly alter test scores, grades, and achievements in the extracurricular activities. This puts the personal statements in the spotlight.

“The point of your essays is to tell your story and to answer the questions in a way that helps us get to know you as a student,” said Dale.

One issue many students face when writing their essays is that they often try moulding their essays into the ideal image they believe the admissions officers want to hear and will give them a higher chance of getting accepted. Often times, admissions officers are able to see through this facade, an ability only sharpened by the numerous essays they read over the years.

“Write in your own voice,” said Burke. “Don’t make up a story. Use something real from your life. There are so many excellent resources on the web on how to write an effective college essay. One of my favorites is the College Essay Guy (CollegeEssayGuy.com).”

There are other common errors many seniors make when filling out their applications. Some are as simple as failing to read the directions carefully, begin disorganized, and sending sloppy responses to questions/essays.

“Be sure you fully understand what is expected of you for each of the colleges/universities you are applying to,” said Burke. “Don’t rush and give yourself enough time to prepare.  Sloppy work will not go unnoticed. Be thoughtful and genuine in your responses.”

However, some of the other mistakes are caused by something more fundamental: how students choose which colleges to apply to. Some students don’t visit the colleges they intend to apply to, resulting in a misunderstanding of the culture of the colleges/universities they choose. This can be glaringly obvious in the essays students write.

Underclassmen, especially juniors, can do a lot to ensure the applications will be stellar. It is important to keep in mind the common denominators across successful applications.

“Successful applicants have challenged themselves and been successful academically by taking AP/IB, honors, and college courses,” said Dale. “Additionally, we see a lot of students that have thoughtfully engaged with their community via clubs, sports, volunteerism and/or working.”

This can be seen in the three most important aspects of the applications in the eyes of the admissions officers themselves. They are as follows: 1) grades in high school courses and rigor, 2) test scores, and 3) extracurricular involvement/activities.

However, there are other things juniors should also focus on in preparation for college applications. According to Burke, they should start making a list of majors/careers that interest them and creating a resume which includes the extracurricular activities they have participated in. In regards to testing, juniors should take their first SAT/ACT in the fall.

“Research the colleges and universities that offer what you want academically and socially,” said Burke. “[They should also] take it for a test drive – begin visiting colleges. All schools offer visit options – information sessions and tours, open house events, honors visit days etc.”

Apart from having a rigorous course load, sophomores and freshmen can strengthen the applications they will submit in senior year by focusing on another aspect: extracurricular activities.

“Think about your story and how you’re having an impact on your community,” said Dale. “Identify that passion and pursue it in depth throughout your high school career. We want substance and quality, not quantity without a lot of substance.”

Burke echoed a similar sentiment when discussing volunteer work and the depth of involvement. “It’s wonderful to say you’re involved with your community theater, but we want specifics.”

So what’s the main takeaway here? Putting in the effort before and during the process will take you far.

“Do your research and you will be successful,” said Burke.