Seven Myths About College Admissions
Myth #1: Colleges receive so many personal essays they probably only glance at them.
Fact: College admission officers read personal essays with great care. Writing about yourself in a way that makes you unique is the one significant thing you can do to overcome lackluster test scores and a mediocre school record. Don’t wait until just before the deadline and rush to write your essay just to get the application in the mail on time. A well-written essay can tip the scales in your favor; the personal essay can make a difference.
Myth #2: Colleges don’t look at the senior year grades.
Fact: College admissions committees analyze not only senior year grades in the first semester, but also the degree of difficulty of the senior year course of study. As for the second semester grades, if there is a significant change (decline) in academic performance from February to June (spring semester), the college that originally accepted you might require summer school work, put you on probation for the first semester of college, or rescind your acceptance on the grounds that you are not the same strong student they originally admitted.
Myth #3: It is important to have as many extracurricular activities as possible to impress college admission people because it “looks good.”
Fact: Colleges are “looking” for quality of involvement, not simply quantity. They want a well-rounded student body made up of students who are passionately interested in particular activities; those who haven’t spread themselves so thin that their extracurricular commitments are superficial. Colleges prefer, for example, the student solely dedicated to being the yearbook editor over the student who has some participation in 10 different activities. This is what is called “productive follow-through.”
Myth #4: It is better to go to a big university that is well known than to a small college that few people have heard of.
Fact: This generalization about large versus small schools is quite misleading. While a large university with wide name recognition (such as UK or U of L) may be ideal for many students, others may perform better in a smaller, more personalized environment. Just because your next door neighbor hasn’t heard of a particular college doesn’t mean the school is not prestigious or that you won’t get a fine education there. Graduate schools and employers make it their business to know which colleges turn out the brightest and most capable graduates. The size of the school has very little to do with it. It is important to define the things you want in a college – to understand yourself, not to be unduly influenced by the opinions of others.
Myth #5: The only private colleges worth applying to are the Ivy League colleges.
Fact: This is another myth. The eight Ivy League colleges are among the most selective schools in the nation, but they may not offer what you want. Besides, did you know that the “Ivy League” is simply an athletic league like the SEC or the ACC? Certainly the Ivy League is known for its academic quality, but it does not have a monopoly on academic quality.
Myth #6: Colleges just don’t have enough money to give families financial aid.
Fact: Financial aid continues to be more readily available than you might think in the forms of grants, loans, work study, and merit scholarships. Read the financial aid section in this handbook, attend the Financial Aid Workshops at RHCS in October and January-February, and investigate websites such as www.fastweb.com or www.finaid.org.
Myth #7: If I make the wrong decision about college, my life will be ruined.
Fact: You need to remember to keep things in perspective. There are many colleges that will be a good match for you. Every experience, whether positive or negative, provides you with a learning opportunity to grow and improve. As a life long learner, you will continue to take classes throughout your life time. It is important to realize the significance of your college choice, to take the college exploration process seriously, and to be conscientious about the college selection process. You will make many decisions throughout your lifetime which will impact you in different ways. Remember, there is more than one college that will be a good match for you.
Myth #1: Colleges receive so many personal essays they probably only glance at them.
Fact: College admission officers read personal essays with great care. Writing about yourself in a way that makes you unique is the one significant thing you can do to overcome lackluster test scores and a mediocre school record. Don’t wait until just before the deadline and rush to write your essay just to get the application in the mail on time. A well-written essay can tip the scales in your favor; the personal essay can make a difference.
Myth #2: Colleges don’t look at the senior year grades.
Fact: College admissions committees analyze not only senior year grades in the first semester, but also the degree of difficulty of the senior year course of study. As for the second semester grades, if there is a significant change (decline) in academic performance from February to June (spring semester), the college that originally accepted you might require summer school work, put you on probation for the first semester of college, or rescind your acceptance on the grounds that you are not the same strong student they originally admitted.
Myth #3: It is important to have as many extracurricular activities as possible to impress college admission people because it “looks good.”
Fact: Colleges are “looking” for quality of involvement, not simply quantity. They want a well-rounded student body made up of students who are passionately interested in particular activities; those who haven’t spread themselves so thin that their extracurricular commitments are superficial. Colleges prefer, for example, the student solely dedicated to being the yearbook editor over the student who has some participation in 10 different activities. This is what is called “productive follow-through.”
Myth #4: It is better to go to a big university that is well known than to a small college that few people have heard of.
Fact: This generalization about large versus small schools is quite misleading. While a large university with wide name recognition (such as UK or U of L) may be ideal for many students, others may perform better in a smaller, more personalized environment. Just because your next door neighbor hasn’t heard of a particular college doesn’t mean the school is not prestigious or that you won’t get a fine education there. Graduate schools and employers make it their business to know which colleges turn out the brightest and most capable graduates. The size of the school has very little to do with it. It is important to define the things you want in a college – to understand yourself, not to be unduly influenced by the opinions of others.
Myth #5: The only private colleges worth applying to are the Ivy League colleges.
Fact: This is another myth. The eight Ivy League colleges are among the most selective schools in the nation, but they may not offer what you want. Besides, did you know that the “Ivy League” is simply an athletic league like the SEC or the ACC? Certainly the Ivy League is known for its academic quality, but it does not have a monopoly on academic quality.
Myth #6: Colleges just don’t have enough money to give families financial aid.
Fact: Financial aid continues to be more readily available than you might think in the forms of grants, loans, work study, and merit scholarships. Read the financial aid section in this handbook, attend the Financial Aid Workshops at RHCS in October and January-February, and investigate websites such as www.fastweb.com or www.finaid.org.
Myth #7: If I make the wrong decision about college, my life will be ruined.
Fact: You need to remember to keep things in perspective. There are many colleges that will be a good match for you. Every experience, whether positive or negative, provides you with a learning opportunity to grow and improve. As a life long learner, you will continue to take classes throughout your life time. It is important to realize the significance of your college choice, to take the college exploration process seriously, and to be conscientious about the college selection process. You will make many decisions throughout your lifetime which will impact you in different ways. Remember, there is more than one college that will be a good match for you.