Finding Who You Are For College Essays

  As we head into summer, the time is now for rising high school seniors to get serious about their college admissions strategy. One thing they might want to put thought to is what pieces of their self do they most want to convey to colleges through their college application essays and personal statements, so let’s examine some points to consider on this topic.

To begin, let’s consider that college admission essays are seeing a smaller and smaller word count. The Common App, now the way most students apply to college, has already announced a 250-word cap on responses to their prompts for next year. 250 words does not give young writers much time to establish whatever they want to convey and expound, so being concise is critical. 

Still, some conventional writing wisdom applies. Students would do well to start their statement off with some sort of attention-grabber. However, they have to walk a thin line here. The admission reps who read these things are reading thousands of them. A good author should know their intended readers, and if every student is trying to write the zaniest thing they can think of, those things can quickly wear thin with readers. It’s better to think of something interesting, but not over the top.

Perhaps the most important thing a student should aim for in their essay is to be authentic. Students should aim to tell colleges something genuine about themselves. The last thing they should do is try to contrive something that isn’t representative of who they are or try to say something they think colleges want to hear. 

And so this is what my goal might be for my seniors as they head into summer, and it circles back to my first paragraph above. What is that unique aspect of who you are as an individual that can add to your application? Most of the application is just data–test scores and grades. Essays and statements are the elements that show the human side. So, who are you, and how did you become that person? 

Many students overcame significant challenges early in life. Maybe a parent died, their house burned down, or they overcame childhood cancer. Those students might have an obvious choice as to what they’ll write about. Many more students, though, have had pretty typical upbringings without significant obstacles. For these, finding something compelling and unique to say can be difficult.

However, we all have interests and things we are passionate about. Just tell the colleges this. Not every student has an amazing story, so if life is pretty good and you just really love pickleball, that’s okay. Tell the colleges you love pickleball, tell them why, and what it means to you. Find an interesting (but not over the top) way to say it and do it with good writing.  You can spend some time this summer deciding what approach you might want to take in your essay and what might be the best way to convey it when it comes time to write.

Negotiating a Better Grade

         We know that GPA is a crucial factor in college admissions. As a quick summary of all of a student’s grades, we can argue that it is the most efficient insight into a student’s academic work ethic. Sometimes, its margins can be quite thin though. For example, in most grading systems an 89 would represent a B in GPA, while a 90 is an A. That one point difference there is huge while the difference between a 90 and 100 is negligible–at least in terms of GPA.

So, for a student who is looking to finish a grading period just short of the mark needed for that extra bump in GPA, it might be worthwhile for them to turn on the charm and negotiate that extra point with the teacher. Here is some advice on how to best do that.

To begin, you have to understand that you are not entitled to the better grade. If you earned an 89, well then you earned an 89. If the 90 comes along, it’s a gift you should be thankful for. Saying something along the lines of, “You have to give me an A because I don’t make Bs” or “I can’t get a B, I’ve never had one before” is one of the worst things you can say to a teacher. It’s extremely arrogant and will not be an effective strategy for you. Further, you have to be really close to the next grade to attempt this. If you earned an 86, don’t go begging for the A. Also, keep in mind that GPA is generally what matters the most and if there is not a difference in a 96 and 97, don’t split those hairs. If you have an A, don’t beg for a higher A. Lastly, this is a tactic you can only use sparingly. You can’t try this with every teacher (they do talk to each other), every grading period. Save your opportunities for the right situations.

A friendly teacher might be willing to just “give” you the better grade if you’re really close and/or ask nicely. However, you will do best here if you offer to give the teacher something in return. No, I’m not talking about bribes here. I’m talking about an offer to do extra academic work. So try something like this, “Hi. I calculated my grade and it looks like I’m going to land at an 89.1. I’m really trying to keep my GPA up so I have a shot at State U. and having an A would make a big difference in my GPA. Is there something extra I can do for you to get those three tenths of a point? You’re an experienced teacher, so you probably have some old assignment on this last unit you didn’t give us that I can do, I can have a 500 word essay on that topic we covered last month on your desk by tomorrow morning, or I’ll show you how I went back and mastered that problem on that test I screwed up.”

Basically, you’ve got to show the teacher you are willing to work and want to learn something. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can say is no. If they do, be ready to respect the teacher’s decision and work a little harder the next time.

Accommodations in College

                Students who receive accommodations in high school are sometimes surprised to find that they are eligible to receive accommodations at the college level as well. However, those accommodations and the process to receive them vary so it's important to understand them before leaving high school and heading off to the next level. 

            Students may receive accommodations through either an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 plan due to a documented disability the student possesses. Which one of these a student may be eligible for depends on a variety of factors that are too complex to cover here. Nevertheless, they both work to “level the playing field” for a student who has a disability and provide educational supports. These protections stem from federal law that also binds to post-secondary institutions that receive federal funding. 

            IEP and 504 plans require an annual review.  Parents of students who hope to carry their plan into college will want to look out for this annual review in senior year. That last plan will be important to the student.

            In general, a grade school will keep track of a student’s accommodations and when they are up for a review. Students should understand their accommodations and there are times when they may need to advocate for themselves regarding those. Their teachers should also be aware of them and partner with the student to implement them.

            It’s a little different at the college level though. Colleges don’t automatically receive plans from high schools. Students must self report their plans and accommodations to a college and that is why that last review meeting is so important. Families should be sure to take a copy of their plan away from that meeting and keep it in a safe place.

            Once they arrive on a college campus, it will be up to the student to take a copy of the plan to the appropriate place. That place can vary from one institution to the next, but it's generally called the “Office of Students with Disabilities”, or something like that.

            That office will review the plan and the needs of the student. What they offer could be different than the accommodations a student was used to receiving in high school. They usually do, actually, and college accommodations are often less robust than high school ones. Students with less severe accommodations might not receive much more than an opportunity for extended time on exams. This could involve the student reporting to the Office of Students with Disabilities (or whatever it's called) for their exams instead of taking them with their classmates. There are scenarios where students may feel put off by these differences. In that case, they may choose not to employ their accommodations which is always an option.   

Senior Course Selection's role in College Admissions

       By the time a student reaches their senior year of high school, they should have acquired most of the data that will be decisive in their college admissions. They’ll apply to college in the fall, so the GPA colleges will see will likely be the one they have at the end of their junior year. Hopefully, they’ve been taking standardized tests and should be nearing their peak score there. And, they should be well down the road of building a resume that includes their extracurricular activities. So, among the significant cards they have left to play as they head into their senior year is the strength or rigor of their 12th grade curriculum.

In many cases, a senior might have met the majority of graduation requirements following their junior year. They may be able to enjoy their senior year with a relatively easy schedule. However, this is often not a smart move for a college-bound student.  The appearance of a rigorous senior curriculum can be crucial to a student’s chance of admissions. Colleges want to see a senior who is continuing to challenge themselves and pursue a robust education. They are looking for students who want to reach higher and higher each year and are dedicated to their studies. Taking a bare-minimum schedule does not accomplish this.

College bound seniors should take courses that continue to move their education forward and make a positive impression on the colleges they hope to attend. I think there is a bit of a sliding scale here too. Students who are already well-positioned for the colleges they want to attend might have a little more leeway in their senior course selection. Students who really want to attend a reach school, maybe don’t. So, let’s say you really want to attend a given state university. You do some research and find that last year, that school’s middle range of SAT scores from students who were accepted was 1180-1300 and weighted GPAs ranged from 3.7-4.2. Your SAT score is 1390 and your GPA is 4.4. You should already have a pretty good chance of getting in and thus might be able to take some liberties with your senior schedule. If your friend also really wants to go to that school but has an 1150 SAT and 3.4 GPA, they don’t have that same luxury. 

Thus, maybe you and your friend have debated taking Spanish 4. You both are in Spanish 3 and are doing okay, but feel like you are reaching your ceiling in the subject area and are losing interest. You’re trying to decide between Spanish 4 and a health class you’ve heard is pretty easy. You might be able to take the health class and have a little “break” in your senior schedule. Not your friend though. They are playing the admissions game at this college from behind and might not be able to afford to take such a chance. I would advise them to take Spanish 4 in this scenario in an effort to “max out” their senior curriculum. To say it succinctly, the lower your chance of getting into the schools you want to attend, the more impressive your senior courses need to be. Well, to a point at least. You’ve still got to “live” that schedule and you want to be somewhat successful in it. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. 

Executing Demonstrated Interest in the College Admissions Process

         This college admissions cycle, I had the pleasure of watching a good friend deftly exercise a seldom-discussed element of college admissions strategy. That is “demonstrated interest.” This is the concept of conveying to a college that you REALLY want to go there. To be impactful in this area, one really needs to go beyond simply applying as an early action candidate and/or writing your personal statement about how you’ve wanted to go to this college since you were a little kid and both your parents went there and their legendary quarterback is your idol, or whatever. To fully actuate this element, a student really needs to DEMONSTRATE their interest in the school.

So, my friend’s son, a senior who we’ll call Brian, really wanted to go to this large university. Admission to this school is very competitive and Brian’s test scores and GPA were a level below the range we typically see admitted to the school. Honestly, his numbers were far enough away that I didn’t think he had much of a chance of getting in. I think Dad understood this, but was determined to give it his all. 

The first thing Dad and Brian did was to go and tour the campus and meet with an admissions rep. I can’t overstate the importance of an official tour here, especially in cases such as this where no one in the family has a tie to the university. How can you say that going to a given school is the most important thing in the world to you if you’ve never even been there? Colleges absolutely track who signs up for their official tours and align that data with the applications they receive. If you don’t bother going to see the college, you’re not really making an effort to demonstrate your interest.

The other key thing they did here was meet with an admissions rep. Indeed, Brian has a great personality. He’s magnetic. Dad understood he had a kid with traits that can make him successful well beyond his high school numbers. Admissions reps are the same individuals who read applications and make decisions about students. This meeting established a relationship and made Brian a face and personality that went along with his application.

So, the relationship was established and Brian was on the radar. Between that meeting and the time admissions were released, Dad and Brian worked to foster the relationship they had with the admissions rep simply by staying in touch. They sent an email every so often with a question or just to check in and reiterate how much they felt the school’s program of study in Brian’s intended field was perfect for him. Conveying an alignment between what a school offers and what a student wants to do in their career path is also a crucial piece of effective demonstrated interest.

This continued contact kept Brian in front of the admissions rep, likely brought him familiarity in the whole admissions office, and he was eventually accepted. Brian plans to start school there this summer. As the school released data from their admitted students, Brian’s numbers remained well short, but he got in anyway. It all goes to show the important role demonstrated interest plays in the process.

What is an IEP Plan

         An IEP plan is an educational document that provides support and certain school-based services to students who have a disability. IEP stands for Individual Educational Plan and today stems from the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA), but has its roots in several other educational acts that go back farther than IDEA. IEP plans are usually associated with special education or exceptional education. Basically, the IEP is the paperwork that directs special education for an individual student and describes what the services look like for them as well as some other things. In a broader sense the terms IEP, special education, and exceptional education mean very nearly the same thing.

There is a lot that can happen within an IEP plan. Of course, there is a very wide array of disabilities and thus the support a student might need at school due to their disability can vary greatly. All the disabilities an IEP plan might cover fall into one of 13 categories. In order of how common they are, those categories are specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, other health impaired (such as ADHD), autism, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, developmental delay, multiple disabilities, hearing impairment, orthopedic impairment, visual impairment, traumatic brain injury, and deaf/blindness. 

As you can imagine, what a student might require is entirely dependent on their disability and its severity. There are some disabilities that are plain to see but most are not. It is important to understand that a parent cannot just walk into a school, say, “I want an IEP plan for my child”, and walk out with that in hand. It is always a parent’s right to request an evaluation for special education services from a school but those evaluations take time. That evaluation might move along faster for a student with an obvious disability, but the process can be lengthy for many students.

Actually, much of the goal of the evaluation for many students is to see if they can be supported at school without an IEP. This process is called MTSS which stands for multi-tiered systems of supports. In it, researched-based strategies are implemented to help struggling students and if those interventions prove effective, a school would like to continue those rather than provide an IEP. 

Further, there is not one individual who decides whether a student requires an IEP or what that IEP directs a school to do. IEP decisions are made by a whole team of people which always includes a parent but can also include teachers, counselors, school administrators, related service personnel like physical, occupational, and speech therapists, and even the student themself. These people meet and work in concert to identify what should go into an IEP that can best assist a student. The IEP is reviewed at least once a year to make adjustments as needed.

Schools will often initiate an evaluation themselves for students who they suspect might have a disability but, again, it is always the right of the parent to request an evaluation for a struggling student.

The Downside of Earning College Credit in High School

        When students reach high school, they are bombarded with ways to earn college credit. There are different modes of this acceleration including AP, IB, AICE, and Dual Enrollment. Within these, it is possible for students to earn many college credits, some students may even be able to wipe out two full years of college before they graduate high school. These programs are usually at no cost to students. Many parents clamor for opportunities for their children to take advantage of these programs–after all, college is expensive and who wouldn’t want to get as much college out of the way that they didn’t have to pay for? But, there is a fundamental problem with these opportunities.

Let's say a student does earn enough college credit while in high school to earn an AA degree. Then they graduate, leave home, and attend a university that is four hours away. Well, that university is going to treat that eighteen-year-old who has never been away from home before and has never been on a college campus as a college junior. A junior in a university setting has usually had two years to acquiesce to college life and the rigor and pace of a university classroom. They have had time to waiver on their intended major and make adjustments. (Statistically, most high school graduates change their major at some point after they enter college from the time when they applied during high school. However, a university junior is expected to be committed to their major and ready to excel in those major-specific classes. Very little grace is given to the over-achieving, newly graduated eighteen-year-old )

In my experience, most students face a steep learning curve when they head off to college. Even though your high school tells you they are teaching their courses at a college level, they are seldom a true replication of what happens in a university classroom. What's more, the adjustment to a new lifestyle, away from parents for the first time, is also challenging to a student. All of this can conspire to create a situation akin to throwing a new swimmer into the deep end of a pool and that can spell disaster.

I don’t mean to imply that no student should take advantage of opportunities to earn college credit in high school. After all, rigorous work in high school is the best thing to prepare students for college. However, I do think that preparation might be a more important goal for such work rather than the aggressive pursuit of as many college credits as possible in high school simply because they are free. The latter is seldom done with much concerted planning and even when it is, there is a very high probability the intended outcome of that plan (a major) is likely to change. Perhaps what is the most compelling here is one of the best kept secrets in the high-school-to-college-transition universe: At least ten states and many individual institutions impose a surcharge on tuition when students reach an excessive number of credit hours that usually include what they earned in high school. So, those savings upfront may well cost you on the back end.