Highly Selective College Presentation

IT’S ALL GOING TO BE OK

YOU ARE A GREAT STUDENT NO MATTER WHAT SCHOOL YOU GET INTO TO!!!

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WHAT IS A “PRIVATE COLLEGE”?

• College that does not receive its funding from the state so often costs more
• One tuition price; your state of residence doesn’t matter
• Funded by tuition & alumni endowments
• General Characteristics:
• Usually smaller and more intimate, camaraderie
• Better access to professors
• Strength is usually in the Liberal Arts
• More expensive, but sometimes more aid available

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WHAT IS A “HIGHLY SELECTIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL”?

• College that does receive funding from the State
• Less expensive for in-state students
• Prioritizes students from that state
• Admits students at a lower rate than other state schools; more competitive to gain admission �(i.e. U of M vs. Mankato)
• General Characteristics:
• Often large with many program offerings
• Get lots of interest = many applications

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IMPACT OF ENDOWMENTS:

TYPICAL ACTUAL COSTS

• The most selective private schools typically do not offer merit aid (but may offer need based aid)
• Other private schools assume you have applications in to other “like” schools and will try to offer you a competitive FA package.

UNDERSTANDING SELECTIVITY RATINGS

ADMISSION RATES = How many applicants they get vs how many are admitted (a sneaky stat!)

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• Most Selective/Extremely Selective �(acceptance rate below 20%)
• Typically students are in the top 5% of their high school class
• Median ACT/SAT scores of 32/1450
• Ivy League schools, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Northwestern, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, MIT, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, and University of Chicago
• These schools encourage more applications so they can drive down their acceptance rates as they may feel it gives them status

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UNDERSTANDING SELECTIVITY RATINGS

• Highly Selective (acceptance rate 20%-30%)
• Typically students are in the top 10% of their class
• Possess median ACT/SAT score of 30/1400
• Boston University, Notre Dame, NYU, UC-Berkeley, University of Michigan, Vassar, Georgetown, Grinnell, Macalester, Carleton, St. Olaf�
• Moderately Selective (acceptance rate 30%-60%)
• Madison, University of MN, University of Washington

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MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

• More prestigious schools don’t necessarily mean a better education/better college experience

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• No college list should just be selective colleges
• Highly selective schools may be on your stretch list
• Give yourself options

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MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

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• Less about you as an individual student; more about the profile they are trying to build as a class of incoming students
• Need more students from a certain region
• Trying to admit students for a program a school is trying to build
• Schools try to find a balance of students/families who don’t need much financial assistance and those that do
• Other demographics (i.e. ethnicity, international students, etc.)

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• Selectivity can vary from program to program
• Different colleges in a university (i.e. Carlson School)
• Direct admission to nursing programs

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

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• Be wary of manufactured stats that benefit the school!
• U.S News & World Report
• “Best College blah, blah, blah”
• All have great brochures with highlights

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• You can be a great candidate and do everything right. And you might hear no! Rejection is less about you and more about the school. It is just a part of the process.

WHAT’S THE VALUE OF THE SCHOOL?

• Going because it is hard to get into – not a good enough reason!�
• Programs & majors should match your interests.�
• Cost & Value – What am I spending and what am I getting back? What is the return on this investment?�
• Personality & Fit– Place that you can easily fit in & has an X-factor…for you!

FINDING THE BEST FIT

• Location, Size, Facilities, Integration, Study Abroad
• Financial Aid packages
• Strength of programs
• Student Body characteristics
• Diversity
• Attitudes
• Athletics
• Greek life
• Selectivity

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ADMISSION FACTORS

• Grades
• ACT/SAT
• Rigor of Coursework
• Diversity, Unique Talent
• Depth of Resume (extracurriculars)
• Letter of Recommendations
• Personal Essays
• Admission & Alum Interviews

High School Graduation &�Postsecondary Requirements

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ACT/SAT SCORES

• Find out what the average score is for that school.
• Fall within that average? Send!
• Fall under that average? Talk to your counselor!

BEING A COMPETITIVE APPLICANT

• Engagements
• Communication with Reps
• Opening their emails (yikes!)

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• When you apply
• Early Action (highly suggested & good for price shopping)
• Early Decision (binding – use with caution)

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• Authenticity as an applicant
• Having a clear reason why this school is right for you (use mission statements as your secret weapon)

BEING A COMPETITIVE APPLICANT

• Trust your counselors!
• They know the current trends
• Spoiler Alert: Your uncle who thinks he knows everything may not actually know everything
• Your neighbor who went to an Ivy league school 20 years ago may not know how it works today �
• Secure strong letters of rec!
• Complete a Letter of Rec form to give the maximum information to your recommenders
• Strategize who you ask based on the college/programs of interest

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AUTHENTICITY

Anyone that is applying to these schools has a great transcript! How will you make a case for yourself?

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• Be Articulate – Why do you want to be at this school & how do you connect with their mission?�
• Make them remember you – Make it easy for them to advocate for you. Your interactions & essays should be a story they can hang on to!

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• Show, don’t tell!
• “I have played soccer for 11 years” vs. “What has soccer meant to me for 11 years?”
• Lack of pretentiousness– Authenticity and humility go a long way in presenting yourself. Be confident, but stay grounded
• Genuine curiosity– Demonstrate a real, lived interest in your fields of study based on actual experiences. Show them you’re eager to learn

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ESSAYS/INTERVIEWS MATTER

• Spend time reflecting:
• Why do you do what you do?
• What do you believe?
• Who are you?
• Link what you have learned about yourself to what the school has to offer
• Make sure your voice comes through
• Figure out your lens and share that �
• Be the best version of yourself �
• Own your search – be intentional!

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ESSAYS/INTERVIEWS MATTER

• Your essays & activities should show an alignment on why this school is a fit for you
• These things combined create a narrative of who you are

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• What are you hoping to become and how does this school contribute to your goals?�

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BEWARE – THE DON’T LIST

• Do not let your parent contact the school - it has to be you! They do not like to see helicopter parents taking over the process
• you contact admissions
• you email questions�
• Be careful when other people edit your essays; overly edited essays run the risk of losing your voice �
• Don’t write what you think they want to hear – Write what you actually believe

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INTERVIEWS

Many highly selective schools have personal interviews as part of the interview process.

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Be prepared:

• Know exactly why you applied
• Articulate things that you believe
• Why you have interest in a particular major
• Display authentic curiosity in the school
• Make a connection with interviewer
• Make them want to advocate for you

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MANAGING STRESS

• Create a system of organization for yourself�
• Break your tasks into more manageable steps�
• Tell your parents to have a once a week check in about college; everyday may not be healthy�
• Figure out what your self-care routines are�
• Identify people as your support system; reach out if you’re feeling overwhelmed