The Applica-Phobia of College Admissions: Why ''Getting In'' Starts with Your Resume

By P. J. Finer

If you are preparing to apply to colleges and universities in the United Statesyou need this book!

College is one of the most expensive investment students will make. Therefore, helping students find the right college for them not only makes for happy students, but helps parents feel more confident about the result. College is not only a big decision that students have to make, but it is also the foundation of their future success.

Students and parents are discovering that schools that a few years ago were considered second- and even third-tier schools have elevated their standards significantly. With substantially more students applying, and in some cases fewer spots available, for the select colleges across the country, schools are demanding higher grades and have higher test score criteria, which seemingly place college out of reach.

The applicant pool changes annually, thus nothing is carved in stone as to which students are accepted and which are not. However, the best chance of getting in to the school of your choice is to display your passion as to where you are headed in life, starting in 9th grade.

High school seniors and college transfer students know how difficult it is to get into the top-tier colleges today. Creating a persuasive, eye-catching application requires creativity, foresight, and a marketable presentation as to what you can offer that will attract schools. That is why the process has to start with a resume.

The student applying to college today must show schools why they are different from every other student applying. If you showcase your abilities through the development of a talented resume and a strong essay, admissions committees will have no choice but to fall in love with you!

Students must figure out how best to present themselves to admissions committees; difficulties arise when students begin feeling anxiety, their parents begin applying real or perceived pressure, and the student crumbles.

The Applica-phobia of College Admissions: Why Getting in Starts With Your Resume is a how-to guide for students navigating the Applica-phobia of the application process. Oftentimes students dont know where to start, and the entire experience becomes overwhelming. This book offers a program that assists students by mapping out the plan that will best suit them.

The book addresses how to explore your talents, skills, and aspirationsto create a picture of who you are; how to identify the schools that are right for you; how to determine which type of application to submit (early action vs. early decision, binding vs. non-binding); exercises to help determine what you can bring to a college or university that will create interest; ideas for essay topics, a step-by-step guide to writing a college application essay, and sample essays to get your creative juices flowing; techniques you can use in the interview to convince admissions committees you are the right candidate for their schools; how to put your summers and out-of-school time to beneficial use (with internships, jobs and/or community service); and more. Students who fall under The DREAM Act and Student Adjustment Act will have an opportunity to understand this favorable bi-partisan legislation and the benefits it offers them and their communities. This section also includes a listing of various grants, loans, and scholarships for which students can apply.

Colleges and universities across America have one goal: to get the best students that fit within their ideals, thoughts, and personality. Your job is to figure out what those components are and how you fit inand this book will help you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 28, 2007
• ISBN: 9781469115900

P. J. Finer

A graduate of USC and UCLA, Patricia Finer has been a college admissions counselor since 2003. Keenly aware of the anxieties and tensions associated with college applications, she developed a program that streamlines the process, assisting students and parents deal with the fear and frustration of applying for college. This allows each student to shine before the admissions committees. Her book, a how-to guide for students navigating the “Applica-phobia” of the application process, brings her program to life for a wider audience. Based in Los Angeles, Ms. Finer is Executive Director of The College Admissions Consultant, a college admissions counseling firm.

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Copyright © 2007 by P. J. Finer.

Cover Illustration—Anonymous

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Contents

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

YOU CAN DO IT!

CHAPTER 2

GETTING STARTED

CHAPTER 3

FACING THE APPLICA-PHOBIA OF THE MIND-BOGGLING APPLICATION

CHAPTER 4

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

CHAPTER 5

FINANCIAL AID

CHAPTER 6

APPENDIX

This Book is Dedicated to:

My mother, Gladys M.,

who contributed her life to children.

I love you, Mom!

My son, Jon,

whose individual perspective frequently

contributes to my own insight,

Miriam, who thought college was

only a dream,

Es, Hannah, Joe, Sam, and to all,

My exceptional and very special friend, Keith… . .

You are and will always be in my heart with love… . xoxoxo.

Thank You!!!

And, finally, to all future college students who have a dream

and only need someone to just show them the way!

INTRODUCTION

H   IGH SCHOOL SENIORS and college transfer students have become aware

of how difficult it is to get into the top colleges of their choice today. Creating persuasive and eye-catching applications requires creativity, foresight, and a marketable presentation as to what the student has and can offer that will attract the schools to them. That is why the process has to start with a resume.

The student applying to college today must show schools why they are different and how they set themselves apart from every other student applying. The effort of developing a talented resume and a strong essay will allow the student’s abilities to shine through. Subsequently, students must figure out how to present themselves to admissions committees in a way that they will be accepted; difficulties arise when students begin to feel anxiety, their parents start applying real, or even perceived, pressure and the student crumbles.

If you are applying to colleges or universities across America, you need to read this book. Why? Because students and their parents have discovered that schools that a few years ago were considered second- and even third-tier have elevated their standards significantly. With substantially more students applying, and in some cases fewer spots available, for the select colleges across the country, schools are demanding higher grades and have higher test score criteria, which seemingly place college out of reach.

Students’ anxiety stems from the realization of the volume of preparation that comes long before ever looking at the college application. As students get anxious and parents see the demands being placed on their children, they begin to stress over the idea that the level of competition for top-tier schools is tremendous, only adding to the level of anxiety faced by today’s students.

Although independent counselors play a significant role in reducing the stress students and their families face during the admissions process, because they work with students on a one-on-one basis, many families are not in a position to afford independent counselors to help their children. To meet the needs of those students who need more assistance yet cannot afford it, I have created this book to assist them in outlining and organizing themselves long before they ever get to the start of their senior year.

A student’s success is attributed to the idea that candidates applying to colleges and universities are accepted as a result of their commitment to the process of presenting themselves as well-rounded students. Through their resumes and essays they demonstrate that they have a life beyond the books, subsequently projecting a human element into each application submitted.

This book was written to help you understand the whole process. In a nutshell, it is about how to introduce and market yourself to a school in a way that you will be remembered. The methods in this book will allow you to go where you would like to, and let admissions officers fall in love with you and thus let you in, which is the bottom line. How do you do that? By taking the time to get to know yourself. For that reason, you need to start with your resume (a.k.a bragsheet), because once you put yourself down on paper, and you see who you are, you have just made the whole college application a lot easier and all the elements begin coming together. However, getting to the bottom line of acceptance is not an easy task. It requires not only time, but patience and an effort on your part to make it happen. It is a process that does not happen one day when you sit down to fill out an application in an hour or two. It is months of preparation, weeks of putting applications together, and then the wait. There are a lot of hard questions that the school wants you to answer first, not to mention dealing with the ever-increasing length of the application itself.

In days past, applications were some four pages long. You filled out the application, answered a very short essay section, attached a picture of yourself, and sent your application in with a small fee, if it was even required back then. Today applications are more like fifteen to twenty pages and require a great deal of forethought, creativity, and an understanding of what it is that schools are looking for.

In this day of global competition, the application process is such an overwhelming experience that students without familial support, friends, and/or resources tune it out completely. Parents who understand the pressure look at the requirements and become submerged in panic; they may well transplant their concerns onto their children in fear that they won’t make it!

Consequently, the role of the student is to take time out and think about where they have been, where they want to go, what they have learned, what they want to expand upon, and what they don’t want to bother with, and create an overall definition of who they are.

When students add a human dimension to their application process, that factor alone is sometimes the critical difference between obtaining an acceptance or a rejection. Students need to accent their individuality and demonstrate their skills and talents over and above the demanding GPAs and test scores at which schools look. Developing a profile of who they are and what they have accomplished in their short lives may be the missing link to locking in an acceptance vote by the admissions committee.

Perhaps you have just started the first year or reached your final year of high school. Maybe you are thinking about transferring from a community college to a leading top-ranked school. Possibly, you have been out of school for a while to travel, explore the world, or raise a family and now you want to face the new competition that may not have been there when you were last in school. The deadlines are fast approaching and you are still asking yourself: Where do I start? What should I say? and Is my resume (personal information) and essay that important? The answer is YES, YES, and YES! They are. These are the tools that admissions officers will not only use to evaluate you, but that will set the stage for the rest of your life.

The presentation of your application and the content not listed in your GPA or test scores can be a determining factor in whether you are accepted or rejected by the school of your choice. These are the tools that colleges and universities use to establish whether or not your personality, talents, and skills fit the composite of their school. Admissions officers look to answer the questions Will this student elevate our college or university’s standing? Will this student blend with the personality of this school? and Will he/she be a success for our school of which we will be proud?

Once a student enters 9th grade, the countdown is on. Some students start to develop their plan of action early on, however many don’t. For those of you who did not start in the 9th grade, your classes have already been taken and the grades given. The SAT, ACT, or TOEFL/APIEL (foreign student exams) you have prepped for, taken, and scored. There is nothing you can do to change those numbers on your GPA now.

If you are beginning to panic and think to yourself, I should’ve, would’ve, and could’ve, but didn’t or I should have listened to my teachers and counselors; now college is out of the question. STOP! Yes, you can kick yourself, true. You cannot change those events. However, there are still things you can do to turn the situation around. There is still time to create your portfolio and shine as the person that you are through your resume and essay.

The resume and essay is a comprehensive way to present to admissions officers where you have gone and what you have done in your short life. This is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the school’s admissions staff and let them get to know the real you. While this may not seem important, it may be the element that grants you admission into the school of your choice. A resume that is lacking or a poorly written essay will tell colleges and universities that you are not really interested in attending their school. College admissions officers are therefore not afforded the opportunity to care about you or get to know you, because you did not tell them who you are in your application.

People close to you are sometimes too close and thus not always ideal to select for help. Remember, they are just as excited, scared, and nervous as you are at the application process. Parents and those close to you can get very emotional, especially if you are applying to a school as a legacy applicant, or your parents never attended college and are unsure of what to do.

Often students do not want to share their thoughts, dreams, or every little detail of their lives with their parents. They want to feel they have their space and freedom to make their own choices. Friends can be consoling, but they too may be limited in their ability to assist you because they are going through this learning process too, and they are not you.

This is where a college admissions counselor comes in. They will give you an objective assessment of your presentation as a neutral third party. They will add a breath of fresh air to your presentation. College admissions counselors will assist you in expanding what you think cannot be expanded upon, and support you (not write for you) in the development phase of your resume and well-written, attention-grabbing essay. We will help you put together an application that will say to an admissions officer, I really want to be a part of your school!

This book will assist you in marketing yourself to your schools of choice. It is a how to resource to refer to when preparing for your college applications; its goal is to assist you in each step of building a well-thought-out, comprehensive, well-presented application that any student would be proud to submit.

CHAPTER 1

YOU CAN DO IT!

THE MONOMANIA OF THE COLLEGE

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

J   OHN DOES NOT get into Princeton, Jennifer does not get into Northwestern,

and Brent gets into Stanford. Welcome to the season of applica-phobia! These tales of defeat or victory come not only with a lot of anxiety, fear, and tears, but from a learned course on social stature that now faces students across America today.

Students, as do their respective families, sit in a total state of shock when they learn that they have been rejected from their first-choice school, and even their second- and third-choice schools. They struggle to understand what component kept them from getting in—even legacy applicants wonder where it all went wrong.

Perhaps nothing went wrong. Schools want students who have elements that when combined will enhance their school and show it off in the best possible light. Perhaps you didn’t have the personality or the fit a school was looking for, the school needed to balance out the male vs. female population, or—as in a lot of cases—the applicant pool was so large that even really qualified students had to be turned away. Whatever the reason, it may not have had anything to do with you as a person; it is the way the admissions process has become in recent years. No one ever truly knows what admissions officers are looking for, so there is never a 100% guarantee that a student will get into a specific school.

Applying to college today is a bit like trying out for a part in a television show or movie. You just do not know 100% what they are looking for. You go into the audition (your interview) doing the best you can and hope for success, but you have to maintain an open mind.

The applicant pool changes yearly for each college, and thus so do the way admissions officers evaluate potential students. Consequently, it is impossible to predict the outcome based on selections admissions officers made from even one year prior.

For that reason the preparation you do now in advance of your senior year will assist you in easing up on the anxiety levels, and then pacing at a reasonable rate to make sure that all your T’s are crossed and I’s are dotted, while participating in all of your activities, having fun, and getting plenty of rest too. Hiring a college admissions counselor to guide you through the process will help take the pressure off your parents and allow you to open up and be the best person you can be. It is important that you know something about the schools you are applying to, and why you feel you take the time to learn about yourself and have a chance to see yourself the way college admissions officers do. The picture may be very different.

Colleges and universities across America have one goal—to get the best students that fit in with their ideals, thoughts, and personality. Your job is to figure out what those components are and how you fit in. This takes time, money, and a lot of research. Your parents can do it, but it is not their four years; it is yours, and it is you who has to submit your application. Your application is a chance for the admissions officers to see whether you can handle what you are going to have to do in class once you have been accepted into their school. Putting your best foot forward is the only way to go; if it does not work out, you move on to Step B or, in some cases, Step C. Therefore, the application process starts in the 9th or 10th grade. The purpose of this book is to examine whether college is the right place for you and if it is, how to prepare for the fall semester of your senior year of high school amidst all the commitments as well as the studying that has to be done.

As you work through this book, stop and ask yourself the following: What classes am I taking? Do I have a major in mind? If so do I need to look at summer jobs or internships to promote my interests, or am I still undecided? What community service have I done? What sets me apart from all the other students?

Perhaps you feel you do not have a clue what you want to do with your life. You are not alone on this matter. Colleges know that you are young and that you might change your mind, and that is okay, so keep your options open and explore. The key is to know the schools to which you are applying, and why you want to go to one of those schools!

Declaring an undecided major is not a bad idea. However, sometimes having a major can work against you. You need to know that if you apply for a specific major you may have to audition or submit a portfolio. Some schools ask for a supplemental application. Sometimes, a university likes you, but they cannot accept you because you declared two majors. If both schools reject you, and you did not leave the university room to accept you, and the answer is NO. You want to make sure you leave the university enough room to accept you if your desired school of study says NO.

Colleges within a university may have very limited spaces and if you leave a university no room, all they can say is no. Consequently you are out. Therefore, listing ONE major is okay, but don’t declare two. Most schools accept your major as conditional anyway and it is not until the end of your sophomore year that the declaration is submitted.

Every year, students enter the admission process with premeditated ideas and an overload of work to complete within several weeks. If the preparation work is not done ahead of time, the task of applying becomes a very strenuous course. All of your SAT, SAT II, ACT, and TOEFL exams should be complete by the end of your junior year, but students continue to wait for the senior year.

If you wait to take the test in your senior year, you are adding unnecessary anxiety and stress to your and your parents’ lives. When September rolls around for the admission year, a student had better have all his or her ducks in a row, ready for the countdown to deadlines. There is much more to do.

Parents too are very anxious and excited about this period. If they have been to college they understand and place higher demands on their children. If they have not been to college, they are boarding a train to learn what is involved, and they are pushing the limits as well.

During the student’s senior year parents are thinking about how they are going to afford four years of college tuition. They are trying to figure out their new role, what will be required of them, and what it is going to take to get you in! Parents have spent almost