College Admissions Insight to Help You Stay Calm

Forget everything you have heard about applying to college (unless it was from your college counselor). A lot of the advice out there about college is full of myths and outdated information. Especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, the college admissions landscape has been changing at a dramatic pace. A lot of the students I meet with in my college counseling practice are confused about whether they should submit an SAT or ACT score or worry about not being able to get into their dream school. At the same time, a lot of the stress related to applying to college has to do with misguided ideas. Read on to learn fact from fiction and find out how you can navigate the college application process with less stress and anxiety.

Myth:

It’s impossible to get into college these days because acceptance rates are extremely low and it’s very competitive.

Reality:

There are thousands of colleges in the U.S. that accept most of the students who apply. A lot of the hype and concern about low acceptance rates is because students are focused on a very small number of universities that have high rankings. You’ll see below why you don’t need to focus exclusively on the top-ranked colleges.

Myth:

Only the highest-ranked universities offer a good education and career prospects.

Reality:

Most colleges, including community colleges, offer a great education and career support. Each college or university offers a different educational experience, campus culture, peer group, etc., so you should choose the list of colleges where you apply based on where you’ll thrive academically and personally. Your success during and after college is primarily based on the effort you put in and not on the “name brand” of the college you attend. To illustrate this point: Most CEOs of Fortune 100 companies didn’t attend Ivy League schools.

Myth:

I need to know what I want to major in before I apply to college.

Reality:

In general, U.S. colleges let you explore a lot of different subject areas during the first year or two, so you can figure out what you’re most interested in before you declare a major. However, there are a few exceptions: You should go into the college application process with a clear goal if you want to study in a field that is a) very popular with students (like business), b) has specific entrance requirements (such as a portfolio for art majors), c) has a very defined and specific curriculum (like engineering), or d) if you’re applying to a university that requires you to apply to a specific school/major rather than the overall university. For this reason, it’s important to do your research and make sure you know the requirements in advance. Even if you don’t need to know exactly what you want to major in or do after graduation, learning more about your aptitudes, values, and interests can help you decide what kind of college experience is a good fit for you and where you want to apply.

Myth:

I should only apply to schools that I’ve heard of or that friends/family have recommended.

Reality:

It’s important to research your options and develop a balanced and realistic list that reflects your particular academic and personal achievements, goals, and interests. Sticking only to universities that you’ve heard of or that came recommended will really limit your options.

Myth:

I need to participate in a lot of different extracurricular activities that will help me get accepted.

Reality:

Having one or two interests you have pursued in depth over time may make you stand out more than a well-rounded student who has superficially pursued many different extracurricular activities. Being exceptionally good or knowledgeable in something and able to show that you know how to apply yourself and strive for mastery can definitely give you a leg up in the admissions process. More is not always better. Doing an activity solely with the goal of getting into college is never a good idea, but if you’re the kind of student who does have a lot of interests, that’s also okay! The point is that colleges aren’t looking for one type of student.

Myth:

Universities say that the SAT/ACT is optional now, but they still actually want you to take it.

Reality:

Because U.S. colleges practice holistic admissions (meaning that they look at you as an entire person beyond just your grades or test scores), test scores weren’t the most important factor in admissions even before institutions became test-optional. Even though many colleges are now test-optional, it still may be useful to take the SAT or ACT to see how you score. If you get a high score, it can be helpful to submit it. Whether or not you submit your score should primarily be based on where you’re applying and what their average tests scores are. If your score makes you shine even more, or smooths out any shortcomings in your application, go ahead and submit it—especially if the college is highly selective. If your application is stronger without your score and you don’t have to submit it, leave it out.

Hopefully, you feel calmer now when you think about college because you know that there are lots of great college options for you, no matter what your grades and test scores are. Instead of worrying about how to get into the top-ranked universities, focus your energy on where you think you’ll thrive academically and personally. And remember that whichever college you attend will be lucky to have you as a member of its community.

The following resources can help you get started building a balanced college list that reflects your academic abilities, values, and interests:

Kristy Magner

After 15 years working in higher education at Loyola University New Orleans and Tulane University, Kristy Magner started Magner Consulting in order to help students understand what they want from a college experience, apply to their best-fit universities, and successfully transition to college. Her goal is to create broader access to college advising information by offering both one-on-one support and community workshops. If you’d like to learn more about her work, you can visit her website (www.magner.consulting), follow her on Instagram, or email her
at kristy@magner.consulting.