College Admissions Process — Applying to College
Myths and Realities of College
The college selection process is filled with many myths and misconceptions. Don’t believe everything you hear, and always ask if you have questions. Some of the common myths are as follows:
Myth: There is a perfect college for everyone.
Truth: There is no such thing as a perfect college. However, if you do the search properly, you will find several good possibilities (schools that meet most or all of your needs). On the other hand, if you narrow your sights to only one college, you’ll spend too much time worrying about getting into that particular school and may pass up other great opportunities.
Myth: To find the right college, first decide on a major or a career.
Truth: Most college students change their major two or three times. Find a school where you’ll be happy and comfortable and which has a range of majors. If you are planning on becoming a professional (physician, nurse, engineer, or architect) it’s helpful to know that early on, but most students have only a vague idea of what they want to major or specialize in. Generally, you won’t have to decide for sure until the end of your sophomore year at college.
Myth: There is no way my family can afford an expensive college.
Truth: While it’s true that the cost of higher education has escalated, especially at private institutions, most schools offer need-based financial aid and many are offering creative and affordable financing options. Initially, don’t rule out any school that you’re interested in because of cost. Go through the financial aid process and see what’s available, then decide. Private colleges can sometimes become as affordable as less expensive public institutions if the financial aid package is substantial.
Myth: Big colleges have so much more to offer.
Truth: While large colleges have more courses, more activities, and more well-known faculty, what counts is your access to all that variety. Remember, you can only take so many courses in four years, and you always have to ask if the most renowned faculty members are teaching undergraduates. More variety will also mean more competition and college is the time to try new things.
By the same token, a small college “may” mean more personal attention, but often it depends on whether you seek out the contact and connections.
Myth: Unless I go to a “top” college, I can’t get into a “top” graduate school.
Your grades and results of standardized tests are more important to graduate programs than the prestige of the college you attended.
Myth: The interviewer told me I would get into his or her college.
Truth: Well-meaning, inexperienced and over-zealous admission officers, coaches, or alumni are sometimes too eager to make predictions. The signed letter from the director of admissions offering you admission is what counts.
Writing your College Essay
The dreaded college essay: What do I say about myself? How can I personalize my application so that a college I care about will care about me?
A good college essay expresses something important about you. It could be a quality or trait of yours that is important, or it could be how you have changed or grown. It could also be how who you are fits into the picture that the college presents of itself.
A good college essay is interesting, well-written, and, if possible, a little unique. Often, you will want to tell a story, perhaps about a powerful experience you have had, or a significant relationship you have. The story can have drama, conflict, emotion, and resolution. Wait, you might say, I’m not an author! Remember, though, that all of us have stories we can tell about ourselves and our experiences. Try out ideas with your family or friends, looking for something that captures interest, expresses an important trait of yours, and says something about who you hope to be as an adult.
The essay may be dictated by the college application, although generally the questions are fairly broad, and open-ended. Often, you can use the same essay for all of your applications, or at least can adapt one essay for several applications.
1) The most common question involves the very open-ended question: Tell us about yourself. Here, you want to show who you are, not what you do—there’s an opportunity to say that elsewhere. This type of essay will show the reader what you think about, what matters to you, or what events have shaped who you are. Of course, you want to emphasize a positive quality.
2) You will often find the following question: Tell us why you want to come here. The answer to this question should say why you think this particular college is right for you, in terms of the “fit” between what it offers, and what you are looking for. However, you also want to make sure that you reveal more about yourself. Again, don’t be afraid to tell a story that shows more about who you are.
3) Finally, you can respond to a “creative” prompt. The college might ask you to respond to the works of a particular author, a quotation, an important issue, how someone or something has influenced your life, or a humorous incident. Be sure to connect your answer to specifics about who you are, and remember the most important theme of this essay is to show the admissions committee what sort of person you are in terms of how you think, relate to others, deal with problems, or uphold ideals.
Important Tips for your Essay
- If you are responding to a prompt that is not open-ended, make sure you answer the question. And, if you are writing an essay that is specific to a certain school, make sure you get the name right (don’t tell Delaware why you would love to go to Penn State!).
- Write about something you care about. If you do that, your passion and “heart” will come through, and the essay will be more alive, and truer to who you are.
- Be honest. Don’t make up incidents or traits that are not true. Unless you are a gifted fiction writer, the admissions people may pick up on it!
- If humor is part of your style, feel free to use it.
- Use a style and vocabulary that is comfortable for you, but you still need to make sure you are within the bounds of acceptable usage.
- After you’ve written a first draft, spend time “polishing” your essay. Make verbs strong and active, and make descriptions precise and powerful. Your sentences should be constructed properly (when in doubt, keep them short), and you should pay attention to the flow of your ideas. Paragraphs need beginnings and endings. Remember to introduce, and sum up. Finally, you must check spelling and punctuation!
- You need to write the essay yourself, but you can ask others for help with the “polishing” process. Ask others (including your favorite English teacher) to read it and comment on it, or help you with the mechanics of grammar and such. You will also want to show it to your counselor, both to give us a chance to help you, and to give us a little extra insight into who you are.
- Don’t wait until the last minute. Get started writing during the summer between junior and senior year. You may need to throw out one or two ideas for essays, and you definitely want to have enough time for a good “polishing.”
College Interview
Some colleges require interviews, though many do not. If the college requires or recommends one, try to schedule it during your campus visit. The more they know about you, the more likely they are to be interested in you as a prospective student. Know your GPA, approximate class standing, and test scores (or bring them with you). Come to the interview prepared to answer questions about yourself, but also plan some questions to ask them.
To schedule an interview, call the Admissions Office and let them know you are coming for a visit. Ask if you can make an appointment to speak to an Admissions representative.
The interview is part of how you present yourself, so put your best foot forward. Dress neatly, be on time, and be prepared to speak about your interests and strengths.
The interview is also for you to learn about the college. What do you want to know that would help you decide if this is the right college for you? You can ask about academics and majors, required coursework, and special programs. Here are some other questions you might want to ask:
- What makes your college distinctive?
- What is a typical class size?
- What percentage of graduate students teach classes?
- How accessible are professors to students?
When you get home, it is a good idea to send a “Thank you” card to the interviewer.
Transcript Request Procedure
Every application requires a high school transcript (a record of all your final grades as well as test scores, GPA, and class rank.) It does not include teacher recommendations.
Please complete the following steps when requesting a transcript:
1. Complete the "Transcript Authorization" available in the Counseling office. If you are under 18, one of your parents will also have to sign that form.
2. Submit your transcript authorization to the Counseling Department. The first three transcripts are free with each additional costing $2.00 each. Postage will be paid by the school district.
3. If you do not submit your application online attach it to the transcript authorization form.
Transcript requests are processed in the order they are received.
The Marple Newtown High School Counseling Department cannot guarantee to meet the college application deadline if transcript requests are not received in this office at least 10 days in advance of that deadline.
Remember to sign your application!
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