The College Process in the United States is a rite of passage, an incredible opportunity for academic exploration, intellectual and personal growth, and a time to build lifelong friendships. However, the process is quite involved and often induces stress and anxiety in our teens.
Applying to college can feel daunting. With numerous deadlines, plans whether or not to take standardized tests, and all the resume and essay writing that has to be done, it’s important to have a clear plan and a guide to help you simplify the many different tasks that need to be addressed and to avoid making college application mistakes.
At Chapman Education, we believe our goal is to arm you with as much knowledge and support as you need (and want.) We hope working with us will take the stress out of the process (almost) entirely.
Here are some key considerations and components of the process:
Building a College List
A good college list should be balanced and align with your academic and personal goals. The goal is to find a number of colleges that are the right fit for you academically, socially, and financially.
Considering Standardized Testing
Standardized tests like ACT and SAT play a significant role in college admissions, with strong scores enhancing a student’s application. High scores can lead to merit-based scholarships thereby reducing college costs.
The question these days is to test or not to test? To consider the implications of applying as a test-optional candidate or not. Testing opens up a tremendous set of questions, approaches, etc.
Developing Your Resume and Considering Recommendations
Your activities and the recommendations you receive from both teachers and others should showcase your unique strengths, your character, your interests and achievements, helping you stand out in a competitive applicant pool. A well-rounded profile reflects academic performance, extracurricular involvement, leadership experiences, and personal qualities, all of which demonstrate your potential capacity for academic success but for the contributions you will make to your college community. Things to consider in considering activities and recommendations:
- Resume of Activities (think about this as a way to document everything you have done outside of academic classes since you graduated from middle school.)
- Recommendations (both academic and personal)–get letters from people who know you well and can speak to your growth as a student, a worker, a community member and as an individual.
- Portfolios and other ways to showcase your work: Whether you are an artist, a performer, a musician, a writer, an engineer or have other talents to showcase, a portfolio may not be a bad investment of your time
Crafting Your College Essay and Supplements
Today, the college essay is that one opportunity for you to connect as a human, as a teenager on a journey of growth, as a future changemaker, as one who has overcome obstacles, etc.
The essay can be a gamechanger for so many students. But here’s the trick: students must share their unique voice, perspective and experience with the reader. It has to be your story, not the story that your parents rewrote numerous times for you before it went to the cousin or the aunt who wants to be helpful and then to your English teacher and best friend and back to your mom again…and then suddenly, the essay isn’t yours anymore.
Then, there are the college-specific supplements which offer you additional opportunities to share about yourself, your background, your choice of majors and why you might want to attend that particular college. There are long essays, short answer questions, and even schools that offer a blank space for you to do with as you please.
Preparing for Interviews
Not all schools require interviews and today there are various interview options out there: zoom, in-person, video (pre-recorded).
Which is right for you? What kinds of questions should I be considering and preparing for? Are there benefits in not interviewing?
We’re here to help by giving advice, tips and even working with you to prepare for the actual interview by way of prep and practice!
Considering Affordability Through Financial Aid and Scholarship Searches?
An undergraduate education at private schools across the country has gotten to and past the 100K threshold per year. Financial Aid is something most families are considering and there are both need-based and merit-based opportunities out there!
The college application process is complex. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, as your specific college search will be personalized to your needs and goals. However, the process is multi-layered but manageable. Especially when you have a guide! Let us be your guide, your support and your advisor.
If you have specific questions, contact us! We’re here to help!
Christine Chapman
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