It's that time of year - touring colleges, compiling a resume, and writing those grueling essays. The college admissions process can be draining, but knowing fact vs. fiction will lift some weight off your shoulders. If you're feeling stressed about not having enough extracurriculars or not having a 4.0 GPA, it's time you learned the truth. I'm going to debunk some common myths surrounding the admissions process.
#1 Only Straight-A Students Get into Good Colleges
It's common knowledge that good grades are important when applying to colleges; however, your transcript doesn't need to be a list of A's. It's important to consider the difficulty of each course. Earning a B in a more challenging course may indicate a higher level of mastery to certain admission officers than earning an A in a grade-level class would.
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Also, note that admissions officers are also looking for an upward trend. If you showed significant improvement from the beginning to the end of the class and finished strong, that can be just as appealing as an A.
If your grades dropped due to personal hardships, such as death in the family or serious illness, consider explaining somewhere in your application. Additionally, if your academics were affected by COVID-19 or natural disasters, Common App now includes ways for applicants to elaborate.
#2 Take as Many APs/IBs as Possible
While taking Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses is a good way to show rigor in academics, keep in mind that these courses are at the college level and are meant to be challenging. It's a good idea to take AP/IB classes for your stronger subjects, but not for areas you struggle in. Also, colleges are not just looking at how many AP/IB classes you took, but more importantly how well you performed in those classes. Finally, high school is also a time to have fun; don't keep your head in the books 24/7!
#3 The More Extracurriculars, the Better
One thing you should always keep in the back of your mind during your four years of high school is “quality over quantity”. Showing passion and commitment for one or two extracurriculars is better than stacking up on as many as you can. Try to show how you positively impacted your community through your extracurricular, e.g., by leading your tennis team as a captain or playing violin at senior centers to spread your love of music.
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#4 Only Ask for Recs from Teachers Who Gave You A's
When deciding which teachers to ask for recommendations, consider the following questions: Do you have a strong relationship with the teacher? Can the teacher describe your work ethic, personality, or any other side of you? Even if you didn't particularly like the teacher's class, if you went to the teacher for help and had a good rapport with the teacher, they can give insight into your persistence and growth.
#5 Your College Essay Should Be about a Life Story or Struggle
It's a common misperception that only essays about a remarkable or emotional life story will stand out to admissions officers. But not everyone experiences some life-changing experience or tragic occurrence in their youth. In 2017, high school senior Carolina Williams, when prompted to describe “something she loves to do” on her Yale application, wrote about her love for pizza—and she was admitted.
Center the essay around yourself; after all, it is you who's applying to college. For example, colleges don't want to hear about your parents' immigration story, unless you can emphasize the profound impact it had on you. At the same time, don't be boastful. Leave out accomplishments that can be included in other parts of your application and use the essays to cover new ground and introduce yourself in more depth.
Let your personality shine through in your essay. Be authentic. If you're writing a sob story to try and tug at readers' heartstrings, it likely won't be effective unless it comes from the heart.
If you're a funny person, let some of that humor find its way into your essay. Show who you are!
#6 The More Schools You Apply to, the Better
This belief often stems from the worry that you won't get into a “good” college. As a result, students try to create a buffer by applying to more schools, in some cases up to 20, the maximum allowed on Common App. However, there are several drawbacks to this approach.
Firstly, students must take into account the time and effort it takes to manage logistics, write personal and supplemental essays, and coordinate tours if interested. If you spread yourself too thin, you may end up submitting lower-quality applications and creating a lot of stress for yourself.
Secondly, cost also comes into play. Application fees can range from $48-$80. There are also additional admission-related costs to consider, including test fees for the SAT or ACT, travel costs to visit schools, and tuition costs if you're trying to save up.
The College Board advises that between 5-8 applications is a good number, as long as this number contains a mix of “safety”, “match”, and “reach” colleges.
#7 Only Students and Families Who Have Financial Need Should Submit the FAFSA
Contrary to popular belief, there is no income cut-off to qualify for federal financial aid. Many variables besides income are considered, including household size or the age of a parent.
If you are planning to submit the FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), be aware that whether or not applying for financial aid will impact your admissions decision depends on the school of interest. Some schools are need-blind, meaning admissions officers who read your application do not have access to your financial aid request; however, the majority of colleges in the U.S. are need-aware, meaning your application for admission and your application for financial aid are both read by the admissions office.
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#8 Paid Summer Programs Boost Your Application
While attending certain selective summer programs—such as the Research Science Institute (RSI), or the Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)—can strengthen your application, paid programs that aren't as highly selective do not mean as much to colleges, even if they are offered by top-tier schools, such as Stanford or Yale. Many families pay thousands of dollars for their student to attend one of these programs, but get little application boost in return.
You'll find that some of the most prestigious programs are actually free! Of course, if you want to attend a summer program as an enrichment activity or to pursue a passion, by all means, go for it!
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#9 Colleges Value SAT More Over ACT
In reality, no college has a preference between the two tests. Both are used to evaluate college readiness and cognitive ability. However, there are some significant differences between the two regarding structure, timing, scoring, and content. The biggest difference is that the SAT has been digitalized nationwide, whereas the ACT is still on paper in most places. The SAT, with 98 questions/134 minutes, is more time-generous, giving students 1 minute 22 seconds per question, whereas the ACT is 215 questions/75 minutes, allowing each question around 49 seconds. The ACT also has a designated science section.
Recently, the ACT announced two major changes to its testing format to make it shorter and more flexible. Starting next spring, the science section will be optional, and the test will be a full hour shorter, with 44 fewer questions and truncated reading passages.
#10 Social Media Won't Affect College Admissions
While admissions officers are not going to go digging into your spam accounts on Instagram or Facebook, 28% do say that they check social media profiles.
Many examples of revoked acceptances have occurred in the past, such as when Harvard rescinded acceptances for ten students after discovering their disturbing Facebook group, or when Marquette University revoked an incoming freshman’s admission offer because of their Snapchat post mocking the death of George Floyd.
While these examples are on the extreme end of the spectrum, they show how easily your online footprint can easily taint your image in the eyes of admissions officers. They may view your posts, comments, and stories as a representation of your personality and values.
Tidy up your social media for college applications by keeping it professional, tightening your privacy settings, and managing who you follow. You might want to take advantage of your profile as well and use it to bolster your admission chances! Fill your page with wholesome posts or achievements and milestones. This can help spruce up your image.
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Conclusion
The admissions process and its aftermath is a rollercoaster. It's full of ups and downs, but you have to remember to raise your arms and enjoy! Here is my final reality check: college is not the end-all-be-all, so don't spend too much time stressing over it—instead, enjoy this exciting new stage of your life!
