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Getting Prepped for Collegiate Success
Part II By Tamar Weiss
Once the choices have been made, the applications process begins. Gear up for a long, exacting procedure! Patrick DeBenedictis, senior admissions counselor at Gordon College in Massachusetts, suggests submitting applications at least a month before the deadline. This "reduces the chance of not being admitted due to a lack of space," he says.
According to DeBenedictis, most colleges follow the same basic hierarchy of admissions criteria:
- GPA will be looked at in reference to competitiveness of curriculum and class rank. Also, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement and honors courses always look good in addition to core curriculum. High-level course work and a good GPA are good indicators of competitive students.
- Strong SAT/ACT scores are very important, but they're not likely to override poor classroom performance.
- Extra-curricular activities are a strong point. These activities may be deciding factors in borderline situations and scholarship programs.
When completing the actual application, the critical essay is often an anxiety-builder for college applicants. "One thing we tell our students is that the college essay is a chance to help the admissions committee to put a face to the facts of their applications," says Amy Rosenstein, director of admissions programs at Kaplan Inc. "The key ... is that all pieces of the application should reflect the same message ... something that demonstrates to the admissions committee that [the students] are a perfect fit for that particular school."
Financing college is a big challenge for many American families. If one does not know where to begin, available financial aid and scholarships may seem few and far between. Judie, mom of a 17-year-old daughter, says the financial aid process was stressful. According to Judie, her daughter's high school did not do enough to inform the students of available financial aid. "It was left up to the students to search for things that they could/should apply for," she says. "It is too overwhelming to expect [the students] to be responsible for such an enormous task." Learning from her own mistakes, Judie would advise parents to begin looking early, search the Web and go to their child's school for assistance in finding financial aid.
