Applying to College This Fall? Advice From an Expert
The last two years have seen radical changes in the college admissions process: the removal of standardized testing requirements, and large increases in the number of seniors applying to many top schools.
I analyzed those trends in a previous article, which you can find here. Based on that data, this article offers specific advice for seniors applying to college in the 2022–2023 admissions cycle.
1. If you test well and/or have access to good test prep, take the SAT or ACT
Report your scores if they are strong. Colleges are looking for reasons to admit you. A high score can be one of those reasons.
2. Don’t let low test scores stop you
Test optional means exactly that: test optional. If you don’t test well, you can still apply to your dream school. Good scores will certainly help, but it is possible to be a successful applicant without them. And remember that some schools, like the entire University of California system and certain colleges at Cornell, have gone test-blind: they won’t look at test scores, even if you try to submit them.
One caveat: do not submit poor scores to test-optional schools. Choosing to report low test scores can prevent a school from admitting you, even if the rest of your application is strong.
3. Broaden your list of schools
While I strongly believe that everyone should aim high, it’s equally important to understand the playing field: the odds of getting accepted to the Ivies (and other extremely selective schools) are low. 90–97% of students are rejected, and those numbers are likely to get worse in the coming years.
That said, if you want to go to an Ivy, you should definitely apply! It’s like the lottery: you can’t win if you don’t play. And sometimes, it works out well. I’ve had multiple students admitted to Ivies over the past two years, despite the crazy numbers.
Just be realistic, and keep in the mind that you can get a fantastic, exciting education at scores of other colleges and universities across the country. There are many small colleges with acceptance rates in the 30% range (or higher) that offer strong academics, great community, and more personal attention than you’d get at a big Ivy League school. (If you want to be a doctor, your chances of getting into a top medical school could be better there than from an Ivy.)
For a larger school or a lower price tag, remember that nearly every state has a strong, often world-class state university. Many large public universities also have honors programs that offer scholarships, a tight-knit community, direct access to professors, special classes for honors kids, and track records of sending students on to top graduate programs. They are definitely worth looking into.
4. Focus your research
The more time you spend identifying what you’re looking for in a college and why, the happier you’ll be with the outcome. You don’t need to have your whole life mapped out, and you shouldn’t. But you do want to ask yourself: What are your academic priorities, and what kind of community are you looking for? Do you want to be an urban or rural setting? Does the weather matter to you? Does Greek life entice you or repel you? In the coming years, kids who apply to schools based on college rankings instead of their own needs and preferences will be setting themselves up for disappointment.
5. Keep your grades high
Your transcript has long been the most important factor in college admissions. With standardized tests receding, your grades are only becoming more important. If you want to go to a selective school, and if you want or need a scholarship, the best investment you can make right now is in your academics.
6. Polish your essays
Most experts on admissions agree: as standardized tests become less important, essays will have a greater impact on the process. Writing is rewriting, and your essays get better with time, effort, and revision. A well-told story that’s authentic and personal can help your application rise to the top of the pile. If you’d like coaching on your essays or resources to help you write them, feel free to contact me or visit my website.
Conclusion: Remember your goal
Finally, keep in mind your goal, which is to get admitted to at least one college where you — not anyone else — will flourish. While it feels great to get offers from many schools, at the end of the day you can accept only one spot at one college. And you, the student, are the person who’s going to spend four years there; not your parents, not your friends, and not the people who put together college rankings. Find a school where you know in your gut that you will thrive.
