I wanted to share with you this very powerful and well-written New York Times article on college admissions at the most selective colleges and how this can be a damaging process to students across the world, but it doesn't need to be. It explains how ridiculously competitive it is to gain admission to the top colleges in the country, but how students should not feel as if they have to attend the top 25 colleges in order to be successful. It shares personal stories about young men and women who were denied admission to the most selective colleges, went on to "second tier" schools, and were extremely successful at school and in their careers. These students turned the rejections into a learning experience and propelled them into taking full advantage of all of the opportunities that the school that did accept them offered.
I personally am a strong believer in finding the right fit of a college for each student, and the name of a college really does not mean much to me. Students should strive to find a place where they will feel comfortable and that will give them the chance to be happy and successful. Students don't necessarily need to go to the Harvards and Stanfords of the world to be happy or successful. I urge you to read through the entire article, and the end offers a great story of what two parents did for their son during the application process. The article can be found here, on the New York Times website. Enjoy!
-Joseph D. Korfmacher
Senior Testimonial and Advice for the College Application Process, Part 4
I asked a number of Class of 2015 seniors to write about their experiences with the college process. This next one is by William Hatheway of NYC. Enjoy!
The college process is a very exciting and important part of high school. It is necessary to spend the time on it because it does decide the next, very pivotal, four years of your life. It is a time-consuming process, but it is well worth it in the end.
For students just starting the process, it is never too early to start the process. I would also say to just research colleges based on what you’re interested in studying. Colleges that you’ve never heard of might make it to your final list as they did on mine. You’ll be surprised how many schools are out there that have what you’re interested in, so just research all of the schools and add them to your list. Do not dismiss a school because it may not be ranked high, or not hard to get into. It is not so much about the name of the school, but rather about finding the right fit for you.
The most difficult part of the process is filling out all of the applications. They are very time-consuming and often require much thought and care. Essays and supplements deserve their due diligence because they can really make or break your application. This is the chance to set yourself apart from the rest of the applicants by showing your true voice and interests. Be personal with the supplements and appeal to what the specific school has to offer because this shows much more of a genuine interest in each school.
Visiting schools is very important because it shows a strong interest to the school, and you can really get a feel for the school to see if you truly like it. There is no point in applying to schools that you wouldn’t want to go to, so get out there and experience the schools for yourself. I visited schools throughout the spring and summer. I wrote draft essays over the summer, which I highly recommend doing because it frees up a lot of time when school starts. I finalized my list in September and started to work on all of the applications on the Common App. I worked during my free periods, which was very useful because I did not end up having to do much at home. Take advantage of all of the free time you have, and use it constructively. It will be worth it in the end.
Senior Testimonial and Advice for the College Application Process, Part 3
I asked a number of Class of 2015 seniors to write about their experiences with the college process. This next one is by Sean Drennan of NYC. Enjoy!
The college search and application process seems like a daunting task to many rising seniors. To myself it seemed like I had to get over a 10 foot fence. First researching and finding colleges that you would like to visit is a tough task. Getting down the location, size, and type of college you want to attend seems like an easy task but there's so many options that you don't even know where to start.
After finding the list of colleges that you want to apply to, the application process comes into play. This was actually the easy part of the process for me. In order to make this part easier many schools that I applied to had rolling admissions or the deadlines were spread out from the months of November through January. This made the essays I had to write easier to spread out thus making them better for the admissions representatives. Another tip for college essays is to get the common application essay done as early as possible. This allows your senior year English teacher to read them before you send them to colleges.
The most difficult part of the college process for me was perfecting my Common Application essay. I was submitting this essay to 4 colleges so I wanted it to be good enough to get me into these colleges. Luckily, it worked and I was able to perfect it and be accepted to those colleges.
One of the most surprising things during the entire application process was how short it actually took to apply to colleges. To colleges with no essay it took only about 25 minutes in order to complete the application and send in my ACT scores. I thought that filling out applications would be a rigorous process and take up a lot of time.
Another tip I have for the college application process is to believe in yourself and apply to schools that you love and would be happy to go to. Grades are not the only thing that get you into a college. If you fall in love with a reach school, still apply and just show your high interest in the school. They will take that into consideration and it may help your decision. Also, I recommend creating a resume to submit to every college that you apply to.
Good luck to everyone with the college application process and I hope that you all get into the colleges that you want!
Senior Testimonial and Advice for the College Application Process, Part 1
I asked a number of Class of 2015 seniors to write about their experiences with the college process. The first student to share his story and give feedback and tips is senior, Krist Sokoli. I will continue to add blog posts from other seniors this week and next, so continue to check back to get inside information from those who just went through the process this year. Enjoy!
1. What was your experience like through the college search and application process?
My college search and application experience was pretty laid back partially due to me starting my research and work during junior year. I had made sure to ask a lot of the seniors where they were applying to and why they had chosen those schools. I also made sure to ask what they thought about other schools. I found that most of the answers were honest and that no one was trying to “sell” a school to me like an open- house tour guide would. I then made a shortlist and made sure to run it through my family.
I was lucky enough to attend Mr. Korfmacher’s summer program which allowed me to knock out my first draft and requirements list quickly. This was really helpful especially during the early action application process.
2. Are there any tips you can offer students just beginning this process?
I would definitely advise talking to your parents about a possible career path or major. Knowing that I wanted to go into a medical program really helped me shorten my shortlist as I eliminated schools that did not offer the programs I was looking for.
3. Did anything surprise you while searching for colleges and applying?
What surprised me during the process were the application fees and the fee waivers. Most colleges require a fee to be paid before applying to them. At this point of my application process, I was not checking my email because I was just receiving spam mail from colleges. But, in the midst of the spam, I did find some emails from my top choice colleges that contained fee waivers. Fee waivers saved me a ton of money and encouraged me to apply to some of my current top choice schools.
4. What was your timeline like? Would you encourage students to follow this or do it differently?
My college process started during the first half of my junior year. I spent a lot of time asking the seniors questions about their colleges and their majors. I then started my application process that summer through Mr. K’s summer program, which really helped me kick start the tedious essay and resume. I started and finished my Common App as soon as possible when senior year started and I made sure to finalize my application list. I planned on visiting schools, but I held back until I received my acceptances. I wanted to make sure that I was applying to schools based on the quality of the programs. After receiving my acceptances, I then toured some of the colleges on non-open house days so that I could get a real feel of what the school’s environment would be.
I think it would have been a better idea for me to check out and visit some of the schools before applying. Campus and campus life make a big difference in the decision process and I definitely would not have applied to some of the schools that I did if I had seen them beforehand.
5. Things to watch out for?
Accelerated programs! Some schools offer accelerated graduation programs, such as Saint John’s University. An example of this would be Saint John’s 6-year Pharmaceutical PhD program. This program and many of the other accelerated programs offered require a totally different application and many new requirements and supplements.
6. Advice?
Converse with your parents, seniors, and counselors. You never know what program or college you may discover that could offer you the better bang for your buck and the degree that you are looking for.
Start as early as possible. Senior year at Xavier is just as hard as junior year and you will get a lot of homework. The last thing any student wants to another essay deadline to worry about. Finishing my essay in the summer really eliminated the stress from the application
Thank you for reading Krist's tips about the college process, and stay tuned next week for another Xavier senior's journey through the admissions process. Take care, and as always, happy searching!
Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
It is just about April
1st, and almost all college decisions have been mailed out. From
what I am seeing, it looks as if it has been another super competitive year for
students at colleges across the country, especially the highly selective ones.
Although we hope all students have some good news to focus on, I know that most
students have their share of denials and waitlists. If you were denied from a
school, at least you went for it, as the only thing worse than a denial is the
regret of never applying to the school in the first place. Also, if you are
still in love with the school, you can always apply next year.
If you were placed on
the waiting list, hang in there…it could be a long time before or if you hear
from the school. Here are a few tips if you find yourself on this list:
·
When third
quarter grades are available, ask your counselor to send the grades to these
schools
·
Make sure you
alert the schools that you intend to stay on the waitlist
·
Email your
admissions counselor at the college and ask him/her if there is anything else
you can do to help with your candidacy
·
Unless you are
advised by the school, do not send additional letters of recommendation
·
Most likely, you
will not hear a decision until May 1st. Make sure you deposit at
your top choice, where you were accepted. If you are eventually taken off the
waitlist, you can always pull-out of the other school (but most likely will not
receive the deposit back)
For those schools you
have been accepted to, congratulations! Now it’s time to decide where you will
be attending for the next four years. Make sure you continue to do your
research, including visiting the schools again. Review the financial aid and
scholarship packages and make an informed decision. Do not rush this choice!
You should choose the school that is the best fit for you academically,
personally, and financially!
From March 29th
to April 3rd, I will be in the Pacific Northwest visiting numerous
colleges near Seattle and Portland. Please visit my blog in the coming weeks
for personal feedback and pictures from my trip!
-Joseph D. Korfmacher,
MA
College Acceptance Etiquette
As we near the end of
the year, many of the students who applied early decision or early action are
hearing back the decisions from colleges. This is a very exciting, yet anxious
time for students and families. Students in the same high schools are applying
to the same colleges, but will all hear different decisions. It’s essential for
students (and parents) to be mindful that friends and classmates may not be
hearing the great news of being accepted. Being accepted into your top choice
colleges is an incredible feeling, in which students and families should
celebrate. However, it is not appropriate to brag about the acceptances,
especially in areas (such as schools) that are populated with individuals who
may have just heard they were deferred or denied from that very same school.
So, use your private space in your home to jump around and shout with your
parents, but when it comes to the school halls or cafeteria, keep the
information to your close friends and the teachers and counselors that helped
you along the way. Just try to think how you would feel if you were just denied
from your top choice, and a peer came shouting down the hallway how this is the
best day of his or her life because of their acceptance to that same school.
Try to keep this in mind over the course of the next few months.
On another note, it is
also important to show gratitude to your parents, teachers, and counselors who
have been there every step of the way during the college process. Of course,
you have put in the time and energy and you deserve much of the credit for
reaching your goal of being accepted into colleges. However, you did have some
help along the way, and the supporting cast could not be happier! Take the time
to inform your parents, teachers, and counselors the decisions from colleges,
and let us all enjoy this time together. Students may not believe this, but we
all look forward to hearing the good news and this is an exciting time for all
of us too!! So don’t rush this process, take some time to think about
everything going on, and keep everyone close to you involved. This is a special
once-in-a-lifetime event, and it’s big enough for everyone to enjoy!!
-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA
The Waiting Game...Being Emotionally Prepared to Hear from and Leave for College
As of now, the majority of students have applied to at least one college, and many will hear decisions in the next couple of weeks. The waiting game can be extremely nerve-wracking and happens during senior year, which is already stressful all around. At the beginning, students scramble to complete their applications while balancing busy extracurricular and academic schedules. They worry about their choice of college essay topic, their list of schools, and whether or not their applications have arrived safely in the admissions offices. As second semester begins, though, most of the applications are out, midterm grades are finalized, and a period of waiting ensues. Many schools will not send out decisions until April, and so students wait, in a state of uncertainty about the vast next step of their lives.
There is so much activity and so many stressors during senior year that we sometimes forget that it is a crucial period of transition, not only for students, but for parents and families as well. As graduation approaches, there are many conflicting emotions at play. For students, it is certainly an exciting time, but also a continuous reminder that they will soon leave behind their high school, their friends, and their families in order to graduate to the next phase of their lives. It is a time filled with uncertainty and ambiguity. Students may not realize that their parents are also experiencing a great deal of conflicting emotions, as they prepare to see their child off into a new environment. Whether a student is moving away to college or living at home, graduation from high school is a huge symbolic move towards adulthood.
Both students and parents are reminded that it is perfectly normal to see emotional ups and downs during this time. There may be some shifting in the dynamics of the relationship between parent and child, as they both prepare for the student to take on new roles.
In conclusion, some advice: Parents, trust in the work that you have done in raising your child to be an independent, competent decision maker. Be open to dialogue with your child, and don’t hesitate to bring these issues up for discussion. Students, remember that it is totally acceptable to be experiencing a range of different emotions. Graduating from high school is exciting, daunting, joyous, and saddening all at the same time. You are always welcome to contact your counselor for any advice you may need.
-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA