Sam Nusbaum Period 1 AP Comp FINAL DRAFT The College Admissions Process The college admissions process; what does it entail? What kind of application will open the gateway for a student to attend the college of their dreams? The college admissions process is a lengthy application that students must complete in order to apply to their desired university. One must send in their grades, extracurricular achievements, and examples of community service, and tie it all together through a diligently thought out essay. Admissions officers have a difficult job assessing these applications, for it is their decision that determines the future of their applicants. The initial step in the assessment of these applications includes a review of a student’s overall grades and test scores, and as stated in Jacques Steinberg’s The Gatekeepers, it is this “…statistical rendering of a high school senior…when viewed as a whole, suggests something much greater; a strong hint of what [universities] consider important in an applicant” (Steinberg 95). Grades and test scores are of tremendous importance to colleges. High-ranking GPAs are a common sight in both private and public universities. Prestigious schools such as Stanford University often expect nothing less than a 4.0 as “Stanford students stand out for their academic excellence” (Stanford University). Through personal research and by reading The Gatekeepers I have a strong basis of understanding of the intricacies of the college admissions process and I have thus developed a plan for my upcoming application. Though grades set the standard for potential undergraduates, there are other factors involved in the admissions process that determine an impressive application. A good grade is necessary for a strong application, but even more important is the consistency of the applicant’s grades throughout their high school career and that their grades are proportionate to their standardized test scores. In The Gatekeepers, one admissions officer was unsure of a students senior year grades and so “she wanted to see his midyear grades, just to confirm he had not reverted to prior form” (Steinberg 187). Universities also take a student’s extracurricular achievements into consideration, particularly an activity that makes a certain applicant stand out from the others. Admissions officers are searching for diversity in student interests as they “… [Aren’t] exactly beating down the door for white, Jewish boys who couldn’t otherwise distinguish themselves from the pack…” (Steinberg 78) . Universities like to see instrumentalists, athletes, and entrepreneurs, people with talents beyond that of good study habits. Among extracurricular diversity, admissions officers also search for cultural diversity. All universities accept students based on a set ratio of racial origin. Accepting applicants of different ethnicities encourages other prospective students with similar cultural backgrounds to apply. Thus, within the student body of every university, “They [have] come from throughout the United States and the world, representing demographic, economic, and cultural diversity” (Stanford University). Diversity in both ethnicity and activity is important, though “…in the end, the diversity of the committee members helps ensure the diversity of the incoming class” (Steinberg 140-141). Despite all these other factors, one of the most important necessities in an application is a demonstration of leadership. Playing on the varsity football team is handy; universities want to see the team captains. Acting in several school plays shows appreciation for the arts; writing a screenplay shows true histrionic skill. Participation in community service is standard; universities want to see a student establish a charity organization. Jeffrey Brenzel, Yale's dean of undergraduate admissions, says "We seek academic excellence, evidence of leadership and integrity, and evidence of high personal impact on others" (Forbes.com). Grade consistency, extracurricular activity, cultural and supplementary diversity, and leadership are all essential pieces to the complex puzzle of the college admissions process. All the research I have conducted and experiences fulfilled have greatly affected how I will format my own college application. I play both the piano and the guitar and will mention both in my application in hopes of showing musical talent. I will also include varsity sports that I have played throughout my high school career. I will make note of every award earned and every leadership conference attended with the knowledge that “Achievements and personal characteristics for which evidence is sought in the academic promise review are grouped [together]” (University of California Santa Barbara). I will be sure to touch on my Hispanic heritage when applying to private universities such as Stanford. In my essay, I will make connections from my grades and extracurricular activities to my lifestyle in El Segundo. I will include samples of work that I have done that have made a lasting impression on my school and community because admissions officers also “…examine those records in the context of an applicant’s life before deciding whether to accept or reject the candidate” (Steinberg 20-21). Come October, I will be fully equipped to tackle the college admissions process. Much is expected of students undergoing the college admissions process. Jacques Steinberg’s The Gatekeepers and additional sources are excellent tools that can be used to make the procedure go smoothly. These guides teach that it is not only necessary to have good grades, but to have engaged and demonstrated leadership in a myriad of other activities as well. The goal of the universities is to develop those of potential greatness for the rigorous atmosphere of adulthood and cultivate their abilities so that they may follow their own path in life. In order to do so, universities must be sure that the “Applicant will offer a remarkable quality or level of achievement that will greatly enrich the freshman class” (University of California Santa Barbara). The college admissions process is an opportunity for these prospective students to guarantee their desired universities that they will meet this requirement. Works Cited
ROUGH DRAFT Nusbaum The College Admissions Process The college admissions process; what does it entail? To what degree of rigor do admissions officers expect? What kind of application will open the gateway for a student to attend the college of their -STUDENT=SINGULAR; THEIR=PLURAL - Docraygen 10/5/08 5:18 PM dreams? The college admissions process is a lengthy application that students must complete in order to apply to their desired university. One must send in their -ONE=SINGULAR; THEIR=PLURAL Docraygen 10/5/08 5:19 PM grades, extracurricular achievements, and examples of community service, and tie it all together through a diligently thought essay. Admissions officers have a difficult job assessing these applications, for it is their decision that determines the future of their applicants. The initial step in the assessment of these applications includes a review of a student’s overall grades and test scores, and as stated in Jacques Steinberg’s The Gatekeepers, it is this “…statistical rendering of a high school senior…when viewed as a whole, suggests something much greater; a strong hint of what [universities] consider important in an applicant” (Steinberg 95). Grades and test scores are of tremendous importance to colleges. High-ranking GPAs are a common sight in both private and public universities. Presigious schools such as Stanford University often expect nothing less than a 4.0 as “Stanford students stand out for their academic excellence” (Stanford University). Through personal research and by reading The Gatekeepers I have a strong basis of understanding of the intricacies of the college admissions process and I have thus developed a plan for my upcoming application.GOOD INTRO While grades set the standard for potential undergraduates, there are other factors involved in the admissions process that determine an impressive application. A good grade is necessary for a strong application, but even more important is the consistency of the applicant’s grades throughout their high school career and that their grades are proportionate to their standardized test scores. In The Gatekeepers, one admissions officer was unsure of a students senior year grades and so “she wanted to see his midyear grades, just to confirm he had not reverted to prior form” (Steinberg 187). Universities also take a student’s extracurricular achievements into consideration, particularly an activity that makes a certain applicant stand out from the others. Admissions officers are searching for diversity in student interests; “colleges [aren’t] exactly beating down the door for white, Jewish boys who couldn’t otherwise distinguish themselves from the pack…” (Steinberg 78). Universities like to see instrumentalists, athletes, and entrepreneurs, people with talents beyond that of good study habits. Among extracurricular diversity, admissions officers also search for cultural diversity. All universities accept students based on a set ratio of racial origin. Accepting applicants of different ethnicities encourages other prospective students with similar cultural backgrounds to apply. Thus, within the student body of every university, “They [have] come from throughout the United States and the world, representing demographic, economic, and cultural diversity” (Stanford University). Diversity in both ethnicity and activity is important, though “…in the end, the diversity of the committee members helps ensure the diversity of the incoming class” (Steinberg 140-141). Despite all these other factors, one of the most important necessities in an application is a demonstration of leadership. Playing on the varsity football team is handy; universities want to see the team captains. Acting in several school plays shows appreciation for the arts; writing a screenplay shows true histrionic skill. Participation in community service is standard; universities want to see a student establish a charity organization. Jeffrey Brenzel, Yale's dean of undergraduate admissions, says "We seek academic excellence, evidence of leadership and integrity, and evidence of high personal impact on others" (Forbes.com -USE TITLE OF WEB PAGE, NOT URL - Docraygen 10/5/08 5:22 PM). Grade consistency, extracurricular activity, cultural and supplementary diversity, and leadership are all essential pieces to the complex puzzle of the college admissions process. All the research I have conducted and experiences fulfilled have greatly affected how I will format my own college application. I play both the piano and the guitar and will mention both in my application in hopes of showing musical talent. I will also include varsity sports that I have played throughout my high school career. I will make note of every award earned and every leadership conference attended with the knowledge that “Achievements and personal characteristics for which evidence is sought in the academic promise review are grouped [together]” (University of California Santa Barbara). I will be sure to add that I am one-half Hispanic when applying to private universities such as Stanford. In my essay, I will make connections from my grades and extracurricular activities to my lifestyle in El Segundo. I will incorporate a lesson that I have learned that has guided me to the application process because admissions officers also “…examine those records in the context of an applicant’s life before deciding whether to accept or reject the candidate” (Steinberg 20-21). Come October, I will be fully equipped to tackle the college admissions process. Much is expected of students undergoing the college admissions process. Jacques Steinberg’s The Gatekeepers and additional sources are excellent tools that can be used to make the procedure go smoothly. These guides teach that it is not only necessary to have good grades, but to have engaged and demonstrated leadership in a myriad of other activities as well. The goal of the universities is to develop those of potential greatness for the rigorous atmosphere of adulthood and cultivate their abilities so that they may follow their own path in life. In order to do so, universities must be sure that the “Applicant will offer a remarkable quality or level of achievement that will greatly enrich the freshman class” (University of California Santa Barbara). The college admissions process is an opportunity for these prospective students to guarantee their desired universities that they will meet this requirement. Works Cited |