what’s in a name?

I was watching “You’re Cut Off” on VH1 today and the host/life coach put the spoiled ones through a challenge to show them that name brand (and ridiculously expensive!) clothes aren’t always the way to go. message: you can look good at any price point. At the beginning, it was all about Louis Vuitton this and Christian Dior that, but by the end (of course) there were some who embraced the idea that quality doesn’t have to cost the same as a mortgage.

This idea that a name isn’t everything can be applied to the college search, too. As a guidance counselor, I have noticed that a lot of students choose schools based solely on the fact that they’ve heard of them. Either their cousin/brother/favorite athlete went there… or it was on “Gossip Girl“… or it’s expensive and therefore a good education… so that’s the place for them. Never visited, never spoke to an admission rep, never had contact with the school beyond a google search, but the student feels comfortable giving up their hard earned money to pay to apply because they know the brand. It’s a little insane, no?

Every school is right for someone, but you need to find the one that is right for you. Do research. Talk to current students.VISIT!  You don’t want to go somewhere just because you heard of it, then hate the next 4 years of your life (or worse, drop out). It is tedious work to narrow down the thousands of colleges out there to find just the right one, but it’s not as hard as you think! Search the web and ask your counselor. Pinky swear, it’s worth it.

Securing a safety net

Camille wrote: “I am very excited and nervous about this whole college application thing. I have one big problem though. I created a list of schools that I seem interested in. None of them are Ivy League schools but they are tough schools too such as NYU, Rutgers, Boston, etc. And the problem is I am not the number 5 in class and my average is about a B. So I don’t know what school to make as my “safe” because all the safe schools aren’t schools that I seem interested in or good schools. So what do you think?”

Thanks for the question, Camille. [And yes, I understand what you mean!] The decision for which schools to label as “safety” is a pretty tough one, especially when the ones you really like are more selective with their admissions. Before I go into that, however, I just want to let you [and everyone else out there] know that just because you aren’t at the top of your class doesn’t mean that 1) you aren’t still awesome and 2) you won’t get into a college that you like. While grades are an important part of your admissions application, they are not the only part. Essays, recommendation letters, and extra-curriculars are also taken into consideration during the review of your application, so don’t count yourself out just yet. And please don’t sell yourself short. I’m sure you worked hard for your B average so you should be proud of yourself. I’ve worked with plenty of student who had less than that and still went to college. So take a deep breath and relax.

From the schools that you named in the post, it seems like you have a pretty good handle on what you’re interested in. Since it sounds like the top two sections of the ‘reach-probably-safety’ list of schools are pretty much filled out, it’s time to focus on the third. A good way to figure out which ones would be a good fit is to apply the criteria for the schools you like to schools that you are confident that you can get accepted to. Figure out why you are attracted to the ones on your list and look for these qualities in other, less competitive schools. For example, if you like larger schools in urban/highly populated areas [like the ones you mentioned], then maybe you would be interested in schools like Temple University or the University of Maryland. Websites like CollegeBoard and the Princeton Review have search engines where you can do this with relative ease. The key is to find ones that will fit in with what you need to be a successful college student. If you are concerned that they aren’t “good” schools, visit them to find out for sure. Trust me, once you set foot on a campus you will be able to tell if you can see yourself there for the next few years, or if you should keep looking.

There is no way to guarantee that you will be accepted into any school, but the only way guarantee that you won’t get in is by not applying. College admissions is a bit of a crap shoot, so stay positive. Don’t let a school’s hype intimidate you and make you think that your accomplishments aren’t good enough… because they are! Keep in mind that what makes any school a “good” one is its ability to help you reach your dreams. It may not be the one ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report or the one whose basketball team makes it to the Final Four every year, but it will be the one that is right for you.

Flirt a little bit…

All of the relationship advice I’ve ever heard (mostly on Sex and the City) has made some mention of the importance of showing an interest in the person that you want to be with. It makes sense: how can someone know that you like them if you don’t drop a few hints? This sound advice is applicable to the college selection process as well. While it is probably not the best idea to send flowers and chocolates in with your application and offer to take the admissions officers out for a night on the town, it is definitely to your advantage to make some sort of contact with any school that you are interested in applying to. Why? In short, could help you get in.

 

If the admissions office has never heard of you before they read your application, it doesn’t mean that you automatically won’t get in, thought it might be a tougher sell. Schools don’t like to offer admission to people who they don’t think will matriculate. There are a limited number of spots for thousands of applicants, and they don’t want to pass up on a ‘probably will come’ student with good qualifications for a ‘probably won’t come’ student with excellent qualifications. One way that they gauge this is to see how often the applicant made contact with the school, such as in the form of requesting information or visiting campus. They call this “demonstrated interest” it is used by many schools as a factor in the admissions process. [When you don't establish any interest, you are called a "stealth applicant," according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.]

 

Fortunately for you, it is very easy to demonstrate interest. Even though you can find way more information online than in any one printed material, request a view book. This way, you can have something tangible to show the adults in the family (who are probably more comfortable with tangible objects anyway) and the school can know that you are checking them out. If you want to save trees, another way to let a school know that they are on your radar is to attend an information session. In the fall, many colleges have local events so you may no even have to leave your hometown. I recommend these events anyway because it is one of the few times to actually speak with a school representative and even meet some alumni.

 

There is nothing wrong with being a stealth applicant. I was pretty much stealth with Columbia (I filled out an info card at a college fair my junior year and never visited until I got accepted) and it worked out for me. But if you want to maximize your chances of getting in, especially to your #1, drop a line or two. It can’t hurt. And who knows, it may be the start of a great relationship!