Applying Students A Chance Into Admissions

Even if your SAT scores are perfect, your essay still is extremely important. Below are five steps on how to write a college essay that will knock the socks off of any admissions representative. #1: Brainstorm ideas and topics: Think of things to write about. Make a list and then go from there. Sometime colleges will give you topics but other times, you get to choose your own topic. Take advantage of the freedom to choose your own topic! Think about what matters most in your life. So write down a few ideas. #2: Stay away from dull ideas that they've seen a hundred times: Yes we know you love your grandmother but try to not write about family members and how they changed your life. You want something unique! One of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's questions from last year asked you to tell them, in 5 or so words or less, what you would put

Many students have very little to no free time because of the high demand for AP and higher level classes in order to obtain a higher GPA. Having a higher GPA gives students a much better chance at going to a good college. These classes are much more difficult than regular classes and require hours of homework and studying.

In December 2014, The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education published “Rethinking the Admission Process.” This article was written by Frank DiMaria, who takes a look at the research of the former president of the University of Wyoming, Robert Sternberg. DiMaria explains Sternberg’s stance against the current admissions process. Sternberg has research that depicts, “GPA, standardized tests, and essays do not successfully measure the true talent of a college applicant.” He believes that the policies need to change. Sternberg offers an alternative to the current process. Sternberg has been a part of a new admissions policy testing students not just on their memorization and analytical skills, but on their creative, practical, and wisdom-based skills as well. Sternberg’s ideas stem from his experience with disadvantaged youth and their ability to adapt and overcome obstacles. Sternberg claims that students who grow up in the upper middle class tend to have an environment which better values the analytical skills that the current tests measure. He argues that, because of this, colleges may not be getting the most creative and adaptable students. He shows that some of these less privileged students are capable of handling a college workload even though they may not have been able to score as high on the SAT or other tests. DiMaria believes that through Sternberg’s Kaleidoscope policy may be a solution. The Kaleidoscope way of admissions administers tests which ask open ended

“What Colleges Want in an Applicant (Everything)” is an informative article in The New York Times targeted at applicants, parents, and those who work in admissions at universities

Acceptance rate is one of the more prominent issues. For example, Stanford, a well known college, has a 5.1 percent admission rate according to their very own website. Furthermore out of the 42,167 applicants of freshmen fall 2014 only 2,145 were accepted. Other colleges with very low acceptance rates include: San Diego State University with 34.5 acceptance rate, UCLA with 18.2 percent, Cal Poly with 34.5 percent, and UC Berkeley with a 17 percent acceptance rate. Many of these colleges also want students who actively participate in school activities and “embrace” high school, someone who was the president of three different clubs, worked during the school year, and has a 3.6+ GPA. As you can see, college is very difficult and demanding. Not only is getting accepted one of the many flustering tasks, but graduating college is also a progressing drawback. Only 63 percent of students who enroll in a four year university will earn a degree, and it will take them an average of six years to do so. The other 37 percent will either drop out of college before finishing or flunk out of their programs (USA Today). Students are dropping out because of the difficulties of college and losing all their money on classes they are failing- money that could be put towards a house, a car, or insurance-more vital belongings in the real

According to the article “Why Are American Colleges Obsessed With 'Leadership” writer, Tara I. Burton, it is not enough to get good grades in school when applying for college.The underlying myth has been, get good grades and an impeccable GPA and all the doors will be open for you. But that is not good enough anymore. This may have been true in the past, but times have changed and competition is harder than ever. At this point in time, we have more people wanting to get into a good college. It is also true that we have a lot qualifying students that have good grades and a good work ethic. That is why universities have changed the criterion in which they accept students. I believe that being good student in high school or community college is not good enough to get into a good four year university.

My decision to attend Trinity Valley Community College was influenced by two primary objectives. One was to conserve funds, as this is one of the most useful features of community colleges. The second objective was to maintain a 4.0 GPA. This is where I failed.

-Begin by structuring your essay and make sure you slip this big detail, but not by making it an important fact. The key is to show how determined you are, by “slipping” in your essay the following detail” I want to be a part of your University so much, that even though I haven’t got the best grades, I will enroll at a community college, and come out of there with the best grades and come back for another try”. Or again, if you have good grades, but are aware that the competition is very high you can also write” If I am not admitted this time around, at your prestigious University, community college will probably be an option this year, but I will come back, with the same

Truthfully, I just want whoever reads my essay to know that this is a hundred percent me. I admire the prestigious excellence of Chapel Hill and I would be more than honored to attend. Nonetheless, if I do not make it, my perception and respect for Chapel Hill will not change. I am compassionate about people which is why I am pursuing a career in the medical field. That is why going to a liberal university such as Chapel Hill would be a fitting institution to attend. Chapel Hill is a place where I can open my mind to more diversity and opportunity. Again, I am not someone who stays in my comfort zone; I am all for new experiences and settings.

Pretend that you grew up speaking a different language your whole life, but when you started going to school you see that everyone else speaks a different one. No one has ever heard of your spoken language at home. You start growing up and realize that you are caught between two cultures. You are not like your parents and you are not like the other children at school.

By looking at the GPA of students, colleges would find evidence of self discipline over a four year time period. Which is what Sheffer says is most important. Sheffer also says "After that, I would say evidence that someone has interests that they have brought to a higher level, from a soccer goalie to a debater to a servant in a community to a linguist. We need to see evidence that the student can bring something to a high level of skill." Standardized test show what test taking skills people have, not what real skills they have. People should be accepted into colleges based on what they will bring to the college and what kind of student they will be. GPAs show a lot more about a student than the standardized tests do. GPAs show how much effort a student put into their high school careers and will reflect how they will do in college. It has been proven that students that had good grades and lower testing scores did better in college than those with high testing scores but lower grades. (Sheffer). Students with a higher GPA have a better work ethic than those who sat around in high school and got lucky with the ACT. Ramirez agrees that students who have good GPAs but low test scores usually do not receive merit aid or another form of scholarships. Students are pushing themselves to receive good grades, but are not being rewarded for their

Should or should not grade point average determine whether who is allowed to attend any Ivy League college? Grade point averages, also known as GPA, start in high school. Everyone knows a 4.0 is the perfect GPA. A good decent standard GPA is either a 2.25 or a 2.5. Those GPA’s are the minimum of what most colleges accept and other high-ranking colleges accept 3.0 GPA’s a minimum or higher. Some students attend class every day and do the work but sometimes not always get the best grade because some people aren’t very good with certain subjects and that will lower your GPA and ruin your chances into getting into a good college. Not saying every college isn’t a good college, but a lot of students want to get into big universities such as, Texas

Fifty of the best essays selected by admissions officers at top colleges have been collected by two Yale students, Brian Kasbar and Boykin Curry, in a new book, ''Essays That Worked: 50 Essays From

1.         The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine.   How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words or less).

College is something that my family and I always discussed since my sixth grade year at Lincoln Prep and I have no other choice but to be successful. Attending college will be an over-joyous moment for me because throughout my high school career I have faced many obstacles, whether it be bullying, academic hardships, or family issues. The biggest upset for me during high school was disappointing my mother due to my lackluster academic performance. Although she expressed empathy with my situation, I know she wanted to see my GPA at a 4.0. So did I. By attending Clark Atlanta University in the fall, I will have a second chance at making my mom and myself proud by maintaining a 4.0 throughout my four years at college. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA is a requirement I made for myself to keep me motivated throughout college, as I have a goal to strive