North Kingstown High School Guidance

Mr. Chace's Guide to Admissions Myths

Applying to college is a high-stress experience. There's so much about the process that feels like a guessing game, and all the guessing can leave you feeling constantly worried and unsure about the choices you make. This page will identify a few important facts and set you straight about a few common myths in the hope of making this process as stress-free as possible.

The Facts

Because you are part of a new baby-boom, there are more high school-aged students applying to college today, than in years past. That means that there are more high-achieving high school students applying to the same number of schools. In a nutshell, it's tougher to be admitted to selective schools today than in previous decades. Students today need stronger transcripts and stronger scores.

As a result of that fact, college admissions has become more numbers based than in the past. Gone are the days when a winning interview or knock-out resume got you admitted to your first choice school. Today, the primary factor in college admissions is the high school transcript.

Colleges want to see that students have tried to challenge themselves by taking the toughest courses their high school has to offer. This means that you're better off earning a B in an advanced or honors course, than pulling an A in a college-prep course. Colleges need to determine how well you can perform in honors or advanced classes. If you don't take any, admissions officers won't have enough information to go on.

Your SAT's are obviously important, but not as important as the high school transcript. Not even perfect SAT scores will get you admitted to a selective college if your transcript is weak. Your classes are your number one priority. If you can remember this, you're way ahead of the game.

Math and science are important in this process. If you've got your eye on one of the top schools in the country, plan on taking four years of math and four years of science. Even if you plan on becoming a playwright, an art historian, or a fiction writer, keep taking math and science. This will strengthen your application and give you an edge on your competition.

Because of the baby-boom, there are more middle and high schools being built all over the country, as a result, there are an ever-growing number of senior class presidents applying to college, along with editor's-in-chief, and club founders. Do yourselves a BIG favor and keep the focus on your classes.

Colleges want to see students who get involved, and they like students who can commit to their involvements over the course of a several years, but most importantly, they like to see students who do well in their classes. Don't get over-involved if it means you don't have enough time to study. Two or three activities that you've been consistently involved in, is just fine. Being class president won't get you admitted to your first choice school if your transcript is weak.

Common Myths

If I have a really high class rank, I'll be admitted to highly selective colleges.

Acceptance rates at Ivy League schools are staggeringly low - ranging from Harvard's acceptance of 9.1% of applicants (1,650 students out of 22,996 applicants) to University of Pennsylvania acceptance of 20% of applicants (2,400 students out of 19,000 applicants). Princeton rejected 82% of the valedictorians that applied; Brown denied 70%; the other Ivy League Colleges did not supply specific figures, but stated that recorded rank had little, if any, impact on the decision process, and that more than half of valedictorians are routinely denied. Anecdotal comments from Ivy Admission Counselors included "Sometimes the number one student is not the most exciting," Princeton; "Remember, the number one student is often not as unique as the sixteenth," Yale.

If my SAT scores are really strong, I'll be admitted to highly selective colleges.

While you clearly need to prepare for your standardized exams, it's important to remember that they are NOT college entrance exams. They are simply one piece of the admissions puzzle. The most selective colleges will want to see strong scores, but more importantly, they will want to see that you've taken rigorous courses and done well in them.

Going to a prep school or private school will increase my chances of admission.

The truth of the matter is that colleges are looking for a diverse class of students. This means that they are interested in bringing in students from a wide range of schools, at least 50% of which will be public. Regardless of the type of school you attend, admissions officers will expect you to take the most challenging courses offered at your school. What other schools offer is completely irrelevant.

A great interview can increase my chances of admission.

While there are a few instances where interviews influence the final admissions decision, these instances are RARE. The interview is typically used as an opportunity to bring prospective students to campus and give them more information about the college/university. Interviewing can be an interesting and worthwhile experience for this very reason, but it's unlikely that a stellar interview will significantly alter your chances of admission.

Using the Common Application will hurt my chances of admission.

This is completely FALSE. Any school that accepts the common application, does so happily. There's a reason why almost all the highly selective schools accept the Common Application- because it makes no difference to them, and if it's easier for you, great. The more applications they get, the better. If it's easier for you to use the Common Application, do so without any concern.

Applying for financial aid can hurt my chances of admissions.

If you are applying to a college that is Need-Blind, that means they will have no record of your financial application. The admissions evaluation process and financial aid process will be completely separate. If you are applying to a college that is need-aware, then you may be vulnerable. Most highly selective colleges are need-blind.

The Guidance Department needs parents and students to understand the essentials of what is guiding college admissions today. Clarity of a match between student and school is listed as the most important factor now by college admissions officers. The ideal match between students and schools- examining strengths, aspirations, goals and areas for improvement are critical.

Colleges try to "craft the class" and create a group of students who will engage, support, and challenge each other, creating a well-rounded campus community. Colleges examine every aspect of the student's environment - school, home, community, family, et cetera.

Students' total transcripts are important - how challenging a course load has the student undertaken and what was the level of achievement attained? How challenging is the high school environment in which the student is educated? And what are the student's passions and how do they match the college's needs?

NKHS will continue to review admission trends and to consult with admission experts in order to provide our graduating students with the best possible advice and service for college applications and admissions.

North Kingstown High School

Home of the Skippers

150 Fairway Drive
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Guidance Phone: 401-268-6240

Timothy S. Chace

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