| General
Information
Admission
officers at highly selective and competitive colleges say
that unless candidates can distinguish themselves—through
their high school records, teacher recommendations, applications
and essays—“numbers” alone will not get
them admitted. Admission decisions hinge on the interplay
of the following seven factors—numbers one and two being
the most significant:
- The
rigor of a candidate’s academic program
- Academic
performance
- Letters
of recommendation from teachers and counselors
- Evidence
of “distinguishing excellence” beyond the classroom
(leadership, special talent, significant contribution in
one or two extracurricular areas)
- The
quality of thought and clarity of expression evident in
a candidate’s personal essay
- Standardized
test scores
- Special
considerations (legacies and athletics, as well as geographic,
ethnic, and economic factors)
It is
important to keep in mind that while colleges want bright
students, they also want to build a student body that is diverse
in interests, outlooks, and special talents. In other words,
highly selective and competitive colleges seek a “well-rounded”
freshman class, not necessarily a well-rounded freshman! Each
application is considered both individually and in the context
of a very large and very talented applicant pool.
In addition
to their top selective school choices, all seniors should
also apply to a “safe” school—one to which
they will definitely be admitted and one that is affordable.
You may wish to investigate the honors programs offered by
the state universities in Ohio. These programs vary from school
to school, are well respected and moderately priced—and
admission criteria are often clearly defined.
Testing
Some colleges require or recommend that students take several SAT II Subject Tests as well as the SAT I Reasoning Test or the ACT. Students should check specific college catalogs for admission requirements. Keep in mind that students may register for either the SAT I or up to three SAT II Subject Tests on one test date. The SAT IIs are listed and explained in the SAT Registration Bulletin available in the Guidance office. It is recommended that students take these subject tests when a particular course terminates. For example, students who are currently enrolled in AP Chemistry may want to take the Chemistry SAT II Subject Test at the end of the school year.
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Start as early as possible. Do not procrastinate.