Justin Peters

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College Admissions: Many Factors

Have youAVOID USE OF SECOND PERSON IN ESSAYS -Docraygen 10/5/08 4:27 PM  ever felt that your future is no longer in your hands? Many students fear the seemingly endless and stressful process of applying to college. Jaques Stienbergboth misspelled -Docraygen 10/5/08 4:35 PM ’s The Gatekeepers gives an in-depth look at the behind-the-scenes process that goes into selecting students. The Gatekeepers explores the stories of several high school students and their application process to Wesleyan, a premiere private college. Many factors such as GPA, race, extra curricular activities and family income and legacy of past family members come into play as applicants are selected and rejected.

When applying to college, admissions counselors do not only look at academics but they look a variety of things -AVOID THIS WORD; USE A WORD THAT IS MORE EXPLICIT - docraygen 10/5/08 4:28 PM. For example, "Wesleyan had received so many applications that Ralph knew that, on average, he had to say no to three candidates for each one he accepted, while knowing full well that most were capable of doing the work at Wesleyan and would likely thrive there" (SINCE YOU DID NOT MENTION THE AUTHOR'S NAME IN THE SENTENCE, YOU MUST USE IT IN THE CITATION -Docraygen 10/5/08 4:31 PM 121). When Ralph traveled to different school’s he knew that he would spend extra time at Harvard-Westlake because of the relationships he had developed over the years with the counselors at Harvard-Westlake. In addition, race can positively affect an applicant,”Wesleyan, like so many colleges, also wanted to reflect the ethnic and racial composition of the country" (SINCE YOU DID NOT MENTION THE AUTHOR'S NAME IN THE SENTENCE, YOU MUST USE IT IN THE CITATION -Docraygen 10/5/08 4:37 PM 130). Many colleges make sure that the student body is ethically diverse. For example, “Wesleyan had been so diverse for so long that tapping its alumni body almost inevitably guaranteed the continuing diversity of the class" (SINCE YOU DID NOT MENTION THE AUTHOR'S NAME IN THE SENTENCE, YOU MUST USE IT IN THE CITATION -Docraygen 10/5/08 4:37 PM 99). Harvard-Westlake, being an ethnically diverse school, was an easy school to tap into to create part of a diverse freshman class at Wesleyan. In addition, “many people believe that an ethnically diverse student body enhances the education of every pupil.”(Morse). -TOO MANY PERIODS. DELETE THE FIRST - Docraygen 10/5/08 4:30 PM

The admissions process is not only stressful on the applicants; student counselors spend hours reviewing numerous student applications. For example, one college counselor, when asked about her job, states, “It is both a challenging and rewarding position!” (Wall Street -NOT THE TITLE - Docraygen 10/5/08 4:36 PM). Counselors such as Ralph, a counselor at Wesleyan put much thought into who they select. This shows that the admissions counselors really care about their students. . -TOO MANY PERIODS. DELETE THE FIRSTDocraygen 10/5/08 4:32 PM For example Ralph states, “They’re out there somewhere, he said. They don't even realize we're agonizing about them and spending time really worried about their lives and what's going to happen to them.” (147). -TOO MANY PERIODS. DELETE THE FIRST - ALSO USE NAME OF AUTHORDocraygen 10/5/08 4:33 PM this shows that counselors at private school especially, put more time into review applications. “Do not think of this admissions game as a game of winners and losers. If we can change students and parents perceptions about the process, then we've already won thebattle.” Says -    DELETE PERIOD AND USE LOWER CASE says - Docraygen 10/5/08 4:33 PMRob Franek of the Princeton Review. (Frisinger). -TOO MANY PERIODS. DELETE THE FIRSTDocraygen 10/5/08 4:34 PM This shows how counselors strive to help students understand the admissions process. This makes it easier for the students learn it’s not as random as one may think but a carefully laid ground for highest possible education, potential and success. “Wesleyan had received so many applications that Ralph knew that, on average, he had to say no to three candidates for each one he accepted, while knowing full well that most were capable of doing the work at Wesleyan and would likely thrive there” (AUTHOR-Docraygen 10/5/08 4:35 PM 121). This shows that as counselors may try, the admissions process can never succeed based solely on grades and test scores. Extracurricular activities mixed with grades give a student an increased chance. “colleges pay attention to your life both inside and outside the classroom. Yes, your academics probably come first, but your activities reveal a great deal about you.”(collegeboard - THIS IS NOT A TITLE-Docraygen 10/5/08 4:36 PM).

With so many factors going into student selection, students fear not making it into the college of their dreams. “Freshman year can be an overwhelming experience for any young adult.” Says -DELETE PERIOD AND USE LOWER CASE saysDocraygen 10/5/08 4:38 PMDevin Schain, Co-Founder Educational Direct.(BNET) -MOVE PERIOD TO END AND THIS IS NOT THE TITLE-Docraygen 10/5/08 4:38 PM Although I believe that the college admissions process is stressful and long, I do believe that there is the perfect college for every student.

Works Cited

Steinberg, Jacques.  The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College.  New York: Penguin Books, 2002

CollegeBoard. “Extracurricular Activities life outside the classroom.”ALL REFEENCES TO WEB SITES MUST INCLUDE BOTH A PUBLICATION/POSTING DATE AND A DATE OF ACCESS -Docraygen 10/5/08 4:41 PM 

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/113.html

CollegeConfidential. “College Admissions – Interview Kathy Morgan - College

Counselor & More.” Wall Street Journal. 1996ALL REFEENCES TO WEB SITES MUST INCLUDE BOTH A PUBLICATION/POSTING DATE AND A DATE OF ACCESS

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_admissions/morgan.htm

Morse, Robert. “Rutgers Leads the Way in Ethnic Diversity.” USA Today. ALL REFEENCES TO WEB SITES MUST INCLUDE BOTH A PUBLICATION/POSTING DATE AND A DATE OF ACCESS9 Sept. 2008

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2008/9/9/rutgers-leads-the-way-in-ethnic-diversity.html

Frisinger, Cathy. “College admissions 101: Applying doesn't have to be daunting.” Forth Worth Star Telegram. ALL REFEENCES TO WEB SITES MUST INCLUDE BOTH A PUBLICATION/POSTING DATE AND A DATE OF ACCESS11 Sept. 2008

http://www.kansascity.com/433/story/792025.html

Business Services Industry. “Educational Direct Helps Make College Dreams Come True for Students.” Bussiness Wire. 13 Feb. 2007 ALL REFEENCES TO WEB SITES MUST INCLUDE BOTH A PUBLICATION/POSTING DATE AND A DATE OF ACCESS

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_Feb_13/ai_n27146377