I came across this very relevant article about how seniors around the nation are dealing with college and waiting for acceptance letters. A senior from Omaha, Nebraska got rejected from the top schools she set her heart on: Brown, Harvard, and Yale (wow!) There is a short video FYI
College consulting expert Michele Hernandez shares that it is "...harder every year for the past 10 years, but it's really gotten bad over the past two years because of a decision by three top schools..." She strongly suggests that seniors who do get rejected by their top school pursue a gap year and reapply the next year with great determination and that it is important for juniors to prepare ASAP. Some tips include getting apps done over the summer and being proactive. The more you think about what you want to pursue in life and getting there will definitely open up doors to the schools you want to go to. She also suggests that transferring is not a good idea, however, I hope that statement is not true because that is what I am planning to do.. :/
What do you think? Do you agree with what Hernandez says?
Friday, April 2, 2010
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7 comments:
A lot of this is true. College admittance is only getting more competitive as each year passes. Each year I keep hearing the same phrase "this is the toughest year for college bound students." With so many foreign students competing for top schools with students in this country, it's tough for the colleges to say no to foreign students since the colleges charge foreign students more.
Motivation and determination play a large part in getting into college, but if reapplying the next year puts you up against even more competition, aren't the odds just the same as if you applied the year before?
A lot of people apply for the top schools, but when it really comes down to it, are they applying because that's where they want to go? or just because it's a well known school that they can talk about?
I think parents play a major role too. Like Hernandez said, people tend to apply to the top schools just for status but they don't be specific about what they want to do and WHY they want to be there.
It is getting more and more difficult to get into colleges every year especially because of the college budget cuts. Another factor is that many people are competing for the top schools which makes it even more difficult to get into the school. I guess all that juniors can do right now is try to perform their best in school and get a high SAT score. However, they don't have to take SAT subjects next year so that takes a bit of stress off of them.
Yvonne, simply because the state schools will no longer mandate SATII's doesn't mean people will relieve some stress over them or won't take them at all. I'm sure the people who are (at a conservative estimate) in the top 50th percentile will still stress and cry and moan over SATII's. My sister no longer will have to take SATII's, but I know for a fact that she's working her butt off for them and giving up weekends to study. Just because something isn't mandated doesn't mean anything will have to change because colleges will still look for them. Until Collegeboard decides upon (IMO) a better test, all of us will still have to succumb to the (stupid) SAT's and let them have a monopoly in the "business."
I agree that getting into college is only getting harder every year. I really wonder how it will turnout next year. I also agree that is extremely important to start preparing early and deciding ahead of time what you want to do.
I agree with Franklin too. I'm sure many students will continue to take SAT II's, unless collegeoard stops offering them. If students aren't required to submit SAT II's anymore, I'm sure that many will still take them and submit them to schools. Taking the subject tests can offer another way to "show off" to colleges.
I agree with you, Franklin and Josh,depending on whether the student REALLY wants to get in or is just applying for the sake of applying they will do all they can if they really choose to be proactive and do everything they need to get done by their own will and not because they are told to do it
Franklin, Since SAT II will no longer be mandated, this would allow applicants to focus on items that are mandated. They would be able to focus on things that would definitely be looked upon by Admissions. Volunteer is something that is not mandated but colleges still look at them (Just like how you describe SATII). Would you then agree that the top 50th percentile all do volunteer work? If so, I think it would be rather difficult for you to support your statement. I'm sure there's more than a handful that fall into the 50th percentile but never did any volunteer work. What I was trying to say is that the decrease in requirements will allow students to focus on the priorities.
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