College Prep: Acing the College Interview

BY MARILYN MORRISON

“Tell me about yourself.”  Tough questions like these await nervous high school seniors in a college admissions interview—one of the last hurdles in the application process.  The interviews are conducted by admission officers, student interns, or local alumni, either on the college’s campus or in the student’s home town.  Although very few colleges require interviews, many recommend them and it’s usually in a student’s best interest to participate, because these face-to-face meetings are often the only opportunity for colleges to associate a living, breathing human being with the words on a paper application.

A few years ago, the website for the College of William & Mary advised students that college interviews are “one of the rare opportunities in your life when you are expected to brag about yourself; take advantage of it.  Be prepared to talk about yourself.”  Interviewers are not mind-readers, so students must become comfortable volunteering details about their accomplishments without sounding arrogant.  Honesty is essential, however, and lying or exaggerating will always backfire.

A successful college interview requires preparation and practice.  The fundamental principles involved are actually similar to those for job interviews.  Students often don’t realize that good manners, attitude, and behavior are critical—those who show up chewing gum, wearing torn jeans, or listening to their iPods appear immature and disrespectful.  Because they only have a short time in which to make a favorable impression, students should follow some basic interview guidelines:

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early.  Allow plenty of time for traffic, parking, and finding the location.
• Dress appropriately.  Formal attire is not necessary, but clothes should be clean and presentable.
• Use a firm handshake and maintain eye contact.
• Don’t mumble, curse, slouch, or fidget.
• Don’t give one-word answers, but don’t monopolize the conversation, either.
• Ask for the interviewer’s business card and send a thank you note.
• If possible, try not to schedule the first interview at your top-choice school.  You will be more confident after you’ve had some experience.
• Smile, relax, and remember to breathe!

Without actually memorizing their responses, students should be prepared to answer typical interview questions (which are often comparable to the prompts for college essays), such as “Why are you interested in attending this college?” “What would you change about your high school?” or “How would your best friend describe you?”  Participating in mock interviews with family and friends is a great way to get feedback and overcome pre-interview jitters.

Interviews are a two-way street—they are not only a chance for colleges to learn more about an applicant, but also for the student to explore whether the college is a good match.  The first step is research; students must become familiar with the college prior to the interview so that they can ask meaningful, pertinent questions, such as “What are the most distinctive things about your school?” “What new buildings, facilities, or programs are planned for the campus?” or “What kinds of students are most successful and happy here?”  Avoid asking questions whose answers can easily be found in the college’s catalog or website, such as “How many students are enrolled?”

College interviews don’t have to involve sweaty palms and a pounding heart.  Practice and preparation will allow students to calmly share their opinions about books, movies, and current events, how they spend their free time, and especially their academic motivations and aspirations.  Both students and colleges should embrace the opportunity to get to know each other as more than just a set of statistics and facts.

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process.  Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at (818) 781-3476 or moredcon@sbcglobal.net.

College Prep: Tackling the College Admission Essay

BY MARILYN MORRISON

There is nothing more terrifying to a high school senior than sitting down to write the essay portion of a college application.  The challenge of describing oneself in 500 words or less is indeed daunting, but the essay (also known as a personal statement) is a critical part of the college application.  It gives students an invaluable opportunity to share something new and insightful about themselves with the admission officers.

According to the College Guide published by the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (http://www.acm.edu/uploads/cms/documents/acm-writing-essay.pdf), “the essay is the living, breathing part of your application to a college.”  It is what distinguishes one applicant from another, especially at highly selective colleges.  If a student has written a successful essay, he or she will be able to answer “yes” to the question “Is this something that only I could have written?”

Selecting a Topic

Personal statement prompts vary from college to college.  Some are open-ended, such as the ubiquitous “Tell us something about yourself” or “Why do you want to attend our university?”  Others ask unusual thought-provoking questions, such as “Define success,” “What is your favorite word and why?”, “Describe a character in fiction or a historical figure that has had an influence on you and explain that influence,” and “You have just completed your 300-page autobiography.  Submit page 217.”

In On Writing the College Application Essay, author Harry Bauld declares “There are no good or bad topics for college essays, only good or bad essays.”  That said, Bauld goes on to identify nine overused topics—including foreign travel, sports, and the death of a pet—that often result in trite, superficial essays.  The goal is to describe yourself in your own words and to add something to the facts presented elsewhere in your application.

As you brainstorm essay topics, think about your character traits, personal values, and meaningful experiences, and remember these strategies:

• Make sure to answer the question that’s being asked.
• Don’t try to second-guess the admission officer—write about what’s important to you, not just what you think the college wants to hear.
• Keep the focus of the essay on you, even if you’re writing about how someone else has influenced your life.
• Be careful when tacking controversial subjects; the person reading your essay may not share your beliefs.  Express your opinions honestly, but avoid displaying an intolerant or offensive attitude.
• Don’t worry if you haven’t overcome major obstacles or endured a tragedy in your brief lifetime.  Often the most creative, dynamic, and revealing essays are ones that deal with ordinary small moments in a student’s life.

Style Matters

While the content of the college admission essay must be compelling and captivating, grammar and spelling do count, and admission officers respond to well-crafted pieces that follow these classic guidelines:

• Begin your essay with a strong opening sentence that will arouse the reader’s interest.
• Describe why you did something, not simply what you did.
• Show it, don’t tell it!  Use vivid descriptions that make the reader see it, smell it, taste it, feel it, and hear it.
• Don’t use fancy words from the thesaurus or SAT prep just to impress the admission officer.
• Don’t write in broad, general terms—use details to make your writing come alive, and include plenty of supporting examples.

Final Tips

• If you’re using one essay for several colleges, check to make sure that you haven’t used the name of another college in your essay by mistake.
• Follow each college’s rules about length, headings, etc.
• Don’t get overly creative.  The admissions officers at Colorado College advise students to “avoid gimmicks of any kind.  Writing on a ball is cute, but it doesn’t fit in your folder!”
• Have at least one adult read your essay and give you feedback.  Is the essay a clear reflection of who you are?
• Proofread your essay several times, and then ask someone else to proofread it.
• Be sure that your own voice comes through.  Never let anyone write your essay for you.

Crafting a strong personal statement requires self-reflection and introspection.  It is undoubtedly hard work, but the secret to success is allowing plenty of time for the writing process: brainstorming, drafting, revising, getting feedback, and proofreading.  A good essay is the way to help colleges get to know you as a unique individual who is more than just a compilation of grades and test scores.

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process.  Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at (818) 781-3476 or moredcon@sbcglobal.net.

Sharpen your number 2 pencils…it’s college testing time!

BY  MARILYN C. MORRISON

Many parents, students, and educators would like to see standardized testing de-emphasized in the college admission process, but these exams are an inevitable hurdle that most college-bound students must overcome.  While formal test prep is not mandatory, it is important to be prepared.  Students should at least be familiar with the format of the questions so they are not reading the instructions for the first time on the day of the test.  Taking practice exams will help students become comfortable with the pacing of each test, and will ensure that they know important details like whether or not there is a penalty for guessing.

These practice exams can also help students decide whether they are better suited for the SAT Reasoning Test (www.collegeboard.com) or the ACT (www.actstudent.org), a more straightforward curriculum-based test.  The SAT has fewer questions but lasts longer and has more sections, deducts points for incorrect answers, and might appeal to students with strong vocabulary skills.  The ACT includes more advanced math content (through trigonometry), emphasizes grammar and reading skills, and contains a science reasoning section.  Colleges will accept either exam.

Whether students choose to prepare using a long, slow buildup or in a last-minute crash course (definitely not as effective!), there are many approaches available.  Disciplined, self-motivated students can study using a book, a software program, or an online course.  Most choose to enroll in a class or receive one-on-one tutoring, often in their home.  Families shopping for test prep will want to consider price, convenience, the philosophy of the test prep company, and customer service.

Many students choose to do their test prep over the summer when they are not as overwhelmed with a hectic schedule of homework and extracurricular activities.  Others prefer to coordinate their test prep so that it ends just before the exam date, giving them momentum and fresh memories of the strategies they’ve learned.  Most students take the SAT or ACT for the first time in the spring of their junior year, and then again in the fall of their senior year, if necessary, in time to meet the college application deadlines.

 The SAT, in particular, is certainly coachable, and scores usually do go up, but only if the student does the homework and follows the test prep program, including taking all of the prescribed practice or diagnostic exams.

 There is no official limit on the number of times that a student may take the SAT or the ACT, but according to the College Board, “Research shows that taking the test more than twice won’t help you significantly improve your score.”  This year, the College Board is implementing Score Choice, which allows students to select their best SAT results from a single sitting to submit to colleges.  (The ACT has always offered the option of sending scores from a single test date.)  But beware: many colleges have announced that they will not accept Score Choice and will require applicants to submit all scores from all tests taken.  In any case, students’ time is probably better spent on academics or extracurricular activities than on endless testing and re-testing.

And what about the students who just don’t test well, no matter how much prep they have?  Luckily, there are over 815 test-optional colleges that make admission decisions about substantial numbers of applicants without using the SAT or ACT.  The complete list at www.fairtest.org includes such highly selective colleges as Bates, Mount Holyoke, Pitzer, and Connecticut College.

In any event, students should always remember that these tests are just one component of their college applications.  Other pieces of the puzzle—such as good grades in challenging courses, dedication to extracurricular activities, excellent teacher recommendations, and a well-written essay—often carry more weight with college admission officers.

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process.  Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at (818) 781-3476 or moredcon@sbcglobal.net. 

College Prep: The Parent’s Role in the College Admission Process

BY MARILYN C. MORRISON

After years of volunteering in the classroom, cheering from the sidelines at the soccer field, and ferrying kids from music lessons to the orthodontist’s office, parents often find it difficult to know where to draw the line in their involvement in the college admission process once their children are in high school.

 Overzealous moms and dads who ask too many questions on college tours, write their child’s essays for them, and refer to their child’s application as “ours” can actually hinder a student’s college admission chances.  Some college admission officers have begun complaining that parents are too involved in the process.  They theorize that the problem stems from today’s parents living vicariously through their children, or worrying about being “out-parented” by more aggressive parents.  For many families, college is the first time that a child has faced rejection, and parents sometimes fall victim to the mistaken belief that the name of the college their child ultimately attends has a direct correlation with the quality of their parenting skills.

 An article published in the “College Times” magazine by the College Board in 2001 suggested three appropriate roles for parents to adopt in the college application process:

• Coach – in sports, a coach offers encouragement and expresses belief in the child, but never plays the game for the child, no matter how much he or she is struggling
• Consultant – in business, law, or medicine, a consultant poses analytical questions and offers an opinion based on experience and training, but the client can choose whether or not to take the advice
• Executive Secretary – in an office, an executive secretary gathers the material necessary for his or her boss to do the job; does some of the legwork and handles the logistics of a project; watches for errors and makes suggestions; and keeps a close eye on calendars, schedules, and deadlines

 The key is remembering that college is your child’s project and decision.  The choices can—and should—be made with your guidance, input, and support, but this is the first real adult decision your child will make.  Your child is the one going to college now, not you, and it’s important that you try not to take over the process.

 Here are some of the things you can do to help without overstepping your bounds:

 

• Offer support and encouragement.  Establish the expectation of college, as early as elementary school.  Expose children to stimulating experiences, but don’t push them to do things they hate, or to choose to do something just to “look good” on a college application.  Help your high school juniors and seniors with interview skills, or arrange for another adult to do mock interviews.  Be a good “coach” and let your kids know that you believe in their potential.  Keep an open mind, and encourage your child to do the same.
• Educate yourself about colleges.  Attend all college-related parent meetings at your child’s school.  Make sure that your child is meeting the course requirements for graduation, as well as the college entrance requirements for public and private universities (a good example of the “consultant” role).  Show interest in and awareness of many colleges (not just famous ones or your own alma mater). 
• Assist with logistics and organization.  Maintain a file of certificates and awards your child receives throughout high school.  Provide a dedicated space in your home for college materials, along with files, notebooks, baskets or shelves to organize it all.  Help students arrange college visits, but don’t plan trips without their input and buy-in (remember the “executive secretary” role?).  Make sure to save copies of all materials that have been are submitted, whether on paper or electronically. 

 

By limiting your participation to the roles of Coach, Consultant, and Executive Secretary, you’ll allow students to maintain control of their own college search and applications.  Respect their wishes and feelings, and with any luck they’ll give some consideration to yours!  Your guidance, support, and love—plus a lot of cheerleading—will certainly make your child’s path to college easier.  As a Kaplan, Inc.’s guide for parents wisely reminds us, “Your job is to dry the tears, not cause them.”

Marilyn C. Morrison is an independent college consultant who guides students and families through the college planning and application process.  Visit Morrison Educational Consulting’s website at www.yourcollegepath.com, or contact Marilyn at (818) 781-3476 or moredcon@sbcglobal.net.