4 Strategies to Improve Your College Admission Chances…Without Breaking the Law

Improving College Admissions CHANCES

4 Strategies to Improve Your College Admission Chances…Without Breaking the Law

Published July 31, 2019 | Last Updated August 5th, 2023 at 01:59 pm

Improving College Admissions CHANCES

Any parent who’s been through the college admissions process with their son or daughter can tell you how anxiety-ridden and stressful it is.

So, we didn’t really need THE “College Admissions Scandal” a few years back to prove how the process could make families go to extreme measures to help their children improve (or in the case of the scandal “guarantee”) their chance of being accepted by their ideal school.

How to Improve College Admission Chances, Legally

I do pro-bono work with families of limited means and also work with clients of privilege.

These are strategies I utilize to help all of them maximize their chances at their top choices—and it doesn’t cost thousands of dollars or require breaking the law.

If you have a teen in high school, here are four strategies you can use to help them gain an edge in admissions beyond just completing the application.

Invest Time in Building Genuine Relationships

As someone once said, “love can’t be bought.”

While it would seem from the admissions scandal that an acceptance can be bought, it is not only rare but also clearly unethical and illegal.

Students who want to gain an ethical edge on their application can do so by investing the time and effort to create genuine relationships with admissions representatives.

This is especially important for colleges and universities that measure the level of an applicant’s interest during the admissions process.

Visiting a school in person for an information session and campus tour is an ideal way to build a connection, but traveling to schools can be costly.

Alternatively, they can take advantage of when admissions representatives are in the area for college fairs and local high school visits or simply by sending them a well-written note.

Students I have worked with who do this not only grow in their communication skills but have also even gained acceptance to their “stretch” schools.

One of my students felt like they wouldn’t be able to get into their dream school because she had Cs and Ds on her transcript.

She connected with her regional admissions representative and by the time he visited her school, he called her out by name!

Remember, money is a poor substitute for genuine connections that don’t cost anything to build.

Don’t Obsess Over the Perfect Resume

Decades ago, the buzzword for what a perfect resume for college would look like was “well-rounded.”

The truth is colleges don’t need well-rounded or “jack of all trade” students.

They want students who are talented and passionate in a few key areas–and most importantly, they don’t care which ones.

As I told a parent who was adamant about having their child join a sport for their resume, “he doesn’t have to join a sport. Let him spend time doing what he enjoys.”

For example, a student of mine who had an interest in computer science would volunteer as a teacher’s assistant for a local robotics class and participate in hackathons on the weekend.

In addition, he was also part of his high school’s computer science club.

As admissions have shared numerous times, there isn’t a formula for a perfect resume or admissions profile.

So, stop obsessing about having everything on the resume.

Instead, spend your time on what you care about–academically and personally–and be able to explain your choices.

It’s easier to speak to your interests and where you spend your time if it comes from the heart.

Make the Admissions Officer’s Job Easier

When I first started working after college, I received some words of wisdom that I share with my students today, “your job is to make your boss look good and you do that through making their job easier for them.”

Similarly, in admissions, there will be different readers who will be fighting for their favorite candidates, including you!

The one question that they are all trying to answer is, “is this student a good fit for my institution?”

Students can help themselves stand out by personalizing their application.

A good way to do that is by focusing their responses to the supplemental essay questions on how pieces of their admissions profile align well with the college’s mission, values, or offerings.

Admissions is trying to picture what type of impact you’ll have on their community if admitted.

By doing your research and customizing your application to match up with the school, you’re making their job easier.

They can then connect the dots to understand how you’re a great match for their school.

Keep in mind that it’s important that the impact you hope to have is genuine.

These readers are pretty experienced in spotting bogus, self-aggrandizing essays.

Get the Scores You Need to Qualify and Move On

While standardized test scores can play a significant role in merit scholarships, their role in admissions has diminished over the years.

This is evidenced by the increasing amount of colleges that choose to go test-optional.

Colleges recognize that there isn’t a strong correlation between standardized test scores and success at their institution.

Rather, its use in the admissions practice for many schools, especially those who view students holistically, is to qualify the student.

Overall, it’s not the factor that helps the student get accepted to the school in the end.

So, work to get the scores you need to qualify for the school and then focus your time on the factors that actually might get you accepted, like extracurricular activities you are genuinely interested in, essays, and experiences that help you grow as an individual.

My motto when I was applying for college as a first-generation college student was, “This is me. Take it or leave it.”

While it certainly was bold and even a little cocky,  it decreased my anxiety and stress and put the power where it belonged—with me.

The point is you should go to a school that values and wants YOU! 

And remember, they are going to give you the opportunities you deserve—and have rightfully earned.

_______

Use R2C Insights to help find merit aid and schools that fit the criteria most important to your student. You’ll not only save precious time, but your student will avoid the heartache of applying to schools they aren’t likely to get into or can’t afford to attend.  

Other Articles You Might Like:

Three Established Facts About College Selection from an Expert

How to Motivate Juniors to Start the College Process

How to Pick a College That Loves You Back

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PAYING FOR COLLEGE 101

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