It's that time of year when high school seniors apply for college. Consider a story offering tips for this stressful process. Maybe recent graduates could offer advice, along with your school's guidance counselor and admissions officers from a local college.
In his column, Poynter's Al Tompkins references
U.S. News and World Report, which wrote a story
exploring the process of college admissions.
The story quotes Peter Van Buskrik, author of
Winning the College Admission Game, who answers questions many students have about what to put on their resume, what classes to take and test scores. Here is an excerpt:
If students get a bad grade, or a bad test score, or some other problem, should they explain it in their application essay?
You don't want the admissions officer to just guess about what was behind a poor grade, because we tend to be cynical and think that the student was lazy or disinterested, not that something horrible happened in your life. This [grade or test score] is something that can be addressed in an interview as well as a note that is attached to your application. In addition, you need to make sure the teachers and counselors who write on your behalf are prepared to speak to these circumstances as well. As you tell your story, though, make sure you provide explanations and insight, not excuses.
You talk about resumé-building and how you can tell if it is phony. What extracurricular activities should students be involved in?
Kids need to follow their passions. I worry that there are a lot of young people right now who are being remade into the images of what somebody thinks a dean of admission wants to see, at the expense of lives well lived. The reality is that deans of admission are constantly looking for that something different in a young person that is genuine.
Look at another
U.S. News and World Report story about
what you can do once you have sent in your application.
