Two Paths to College

If you’re aiming for admission to an elite University, I’m here to advise you.  But I want to make sure we’re not scaring off others who are on the fence about college.  Here is what I mean . . .

Applying for college can take two very different paths.  I’m going to describe the intense, time-consuming path first.  But, I want you to promise me you will read to the very end. DO NOT read about path 1 without ALSO reading about path 2! Promise?

Path #1: Applying to a highly competitive school likely requires the following:

Junior Year

• Take accelerated courses in high school and maintain high grades.

• Build an exceptional resume with a wide-variety of extra-curricular involvement (you will need to take leadership in these activities, not merely participate).

• Achieve high SAT or ACT scores, which likely involves taking the test multiple times and doing some online practice in between attempts. Research whether colleges you’re interested in require SAT subject tests.

• Visit multiple campuses spring or summer of your Junior year (perhaps making flight and hotel arrangements) and invest time researching the various schools you are considering.

Senior Year

• Maintain a rigorous course load with high grades.

• Fill out the Federal Financial Aid Application (FAFSA).

• Complete multiple college applications (because if you are applying to competitive schools, you need to have backups in case you are not accepted).

• Apply for multiple scholarships (because if you have done all the above, it would be a waste not to).

I’m sure I’ve left something out, but you get the idea of how committed you will have to be to attend a competitive University.  But, what if you don’t want to study medicine at Stanford, what if you have a 3.0 GPA and the best fit for you is to study criminology at Western Oregon? Your path could look like this . . .

Path #2: Applying to a more Common College (we'll use WOU as an example...)

Junior Year

• Pass your classes. Make sure you’re on track to have 2 years of foreign language.

• Make the 40 minute drive to Monmouth to check out "the vibe" of WOU.

Senior Year

• Take courses that earn your diploma and protect your GPA.

• Build an adequate resume with a premium on balance and mental health. Be involved because it’s a good thing to do, not to impress admissions.

• Don’t worry about the SAT (Western Oregon does not require it for students with a 3.0 GPA)

• Fill out the Federal Financial Aid form (FAFSA) – we will have workshops here to help you. If everything goes smoothly, this can be done in 20-30 minutes.

• Attend a Fall Application Workshop at WOU where they will help you complete the application.  WOU waives the application fee if you join this workshop, and if you bring an official transcript with you, they will give you a decision that same day. Done!

These are not the only paths; they are merely two ends of the spectrum. If you aspire to attend a competitive school and compete for scholarships, then gear up and get ready to do the hard work. I’m right behind you. On the other hand, don’t let all the talk about college visits, accelerated classes, SAT prep, etc. lead you to think college is out of reach. Find your best path.

Late note.... I just got an email from Montana State University that says that if you have a 2.5 GPA, they will accept you with no need for letter of recommendation, essay or even a transcript (they literally allow you to self-report your GPA)!!!