1 of 16

College Kick-off Meeting

ESD, Dallas, TX

Presented by:

Elena D. Hicks

Assistant Vice Provost and Dean of Admission

November 18, 2024

2 of 16

Parent/Student Responsibilities

Take-charge students
Supportive parents

3 of 16

Researching Schools

When to start
What feels good to you
Make a list of interests, preferences, desires and read about majors/programs. Keep in mind size/location/major/

distance from home, campus atmosphere

Go beyond your high school friend’s university options
College rankings aren’t everything
Keep notes

4 of 16

Researching Schools, Continued

Mailing lists
College web sites
Sources of information

College Board - www.collegeboard.com – Big Future, action plans, financial aid planner, scholarship search/scholarship scams
The Princeton Review – www.princetonreview.com – general college info about test, tutoring, careers
Fastweb – www.fastweb.com – scholarships, financial aid, coupons, college checklist for high school seniors/juniors
Naviance/Scoir/Maia Learning
Peterson’s – www.petersons.com – K -12 to graduate school, general info

5 of 16

College Selectivity

Selectivity is measured by the percentage of students who are admitted. The lower the percentage, the more selective the school is. Essentially, most colleges are selective to some degree. A small group of highly selective schools admits less than a third of applicants.

Your chances at the vast majority of colleges may actually be quite promising. Most colleges accept more than half of their applicants. The average acceptance rate for all four-year colleges in the U.S. is about 73 percent (78% public colleges, 70% private colleges).

Out of the some 2,000 accredited four-year colleges featured on CollegeData, only about 50 of them routinely admit fewer than 30 percent of applicants.

Selectivity isn't always based on the admission rate. It sometimes depends on other factors.

If your grades and test scores fall below the average qualifications of admitted students, that school will be more difficult for you to get into.
Applying to a public college out of state may lower your chances. Such colleges give preference to state residents and sometimes to applicants from neighboring states.

CollegeData.com

6 of 16

The Admission Funnel

7 of 16

Admission Evaluation Factors

Academic, quality, potential
Non-academic, extra-curricular
Institutional needs/priorities
Demonstrated interest

8 of 16

Academic Evaluation Factors

Academic

Cumulative GPA, progression from Grades 9-11
Academic load, rigor
Test-optional/Standardized test scores
Program of study
Strength of curriculum
Senior courses
Essay (AI)
Recommendations

9 of 16

Academic Evaluation Factors, Continued

Non-academic

Extra-curricular
Work
Community service
Leadership, commitment
Special talents, skills

10 of 16

Academic Evaluation Factors, Continued

Institutional needs/priorities

Mission
Board, Cabinet
Athletics
Departmental
Diversity
Well-rounded/angled students vs. well-rounded class
Legacy
Advancement interests

11 of 16

Don’t Worry! Everything Will Work Out!

You’re prepared.
You’ve worked hard.
Listen to your college counselor!
You attend an exceptional school!
There’s a college/university for everyone.

12 of 16

The Essay�A Glimpse of You

13 of 16

The Essay – The Do’s

Be unique, be you
Tell a story
Be concise
Stick to one subject
Describe lessons learned, how you felt
Read your essay aloud
Share your essay with someone for review
Pay attention to grammar, punctuation
Follow instructions, word count, topics

14 of 16

The Essay – The Don’t

Insert the wrong university name
Too technical
Brag or boast
Go too far with any emotion
Write what you think admission people want to hear
Rely on spellcheck
Let your mom write your essay
Plagiarize
turnitin.com – Creates tools for K-12 and higher education that improve writing and prevent plagiarism