| America's colleges and universities no longer | | | | Placement (AP) classes. Electives such as |
| have enough room to accommodate all the | | | | Art, Physical Education, Music and Computer |
| qualified students who apply. As a result, | | | | Programming are of less importance and should |
| schools are forced to reject far more | | | | only be taken in conjunction with the core |
| applicants than they accept. The goal of | | | | subjects. |
| admissions committees is to weed out the | | | | |
| qualified masses and fill their halls with | | | | Students should take as many Honors and AP |
| resourceful, well-rounded acceptable | | | | classes as possible. The risk/reward ratio |
| students. In today's highly competitive | | | | comes into play here. Colleges are looking |
| college admissions process, knowing how to | | | | for students who take risks and challenge |
| present a student to be acceptable not only | | | | themselves academically and otherwise. The |
| substantially increases the chances of being | | | | bonus for earning an 'A' or 'B' or even a 'C' |
| admitted, but is an essential factor for | | | | is that it adds extra points to the GPA and |
| success after college. | | | | gives the student that all-important edge in |
| | | | admissions. |
| No one knows exactly how every school goes | | | | |
| about the acceptance and elimination process, | | | | Receiving an 'A' in a non-honors class is not |
| and no two schools follow exactly the same | | | | as impressive as earning a 'B' in an Honors |
| guidelines. However, it's safe to assume that | | | | or AP class. It demonstrates that the student |
| they go about their arduous task something | | | | took a risk and therefore a greater |
| like this: | | | | accomplishment is perceived. Admissions |
| | | | officers are as impressed by the challenge |
| First, the admissions committee assembles | | | | taken as they are with the result. |
| around a large conference table. Everyone is | | | | |
| handed a huge pile of folders containing | | | | I'm certainly not suggesting that any student |
| student transcripts, applications, essays, | | | | become stressed out by taking classes they |
| and countless letters of recommendations. No | | | | are not capable of doing well in, or working |
| more than 15 to 20 minutes is likely spent on | | | | beyond reasonable limits. However, for |
| any one applicant! They then begin to | | | | families with an exceptionally bright child, |
| eliminate unqualified students - those | | | | it is highly recommended that they take as |
| deficient in the numbers. | | | | many advanced courses as they can comfortably |
| | | | handle. An outstanding academic record has |
| Next, they look for professionally prepared | | | | always been and is still the greatest |
| applications with thought provoking, | | | | bargaining chip. |
| interesting, and grammatically flawless | | | | |
| essays. They are most impressed with student | | | | Students should also pursue extracurricular |
| resumes dating back ten years, detailing | | | | activities such as clubbing, not to be |
| academic life, extra curricular activities | | | | confused with staying out all night partying. |
| including community service hours, and a | | | | Membership in the Debate Club, Student |
| cleverly written special essay, perhaps | | | | Council, Key Club and the like is one of the |
| entitled, "Why I Must Attend The University | | | | absolute necessities to becoming a |
| of..." Admissions committees are ever on the | | | | well-rounded, acceptable student. Even more |
| alert for uniquely talented students in the | | | | beneficial, the student should hold office or |
| arts, or those having demonstrated | | | | take on a leadership role in as many of these |
| exceptional athletic potential. These factors | | | | clubs as possible. Leadership demonstrates |
| all weigh heavily in the final decision. | | | | taking a risk and assuming responsibility. |
| | | | |
| You cannot give birth to an acceptable | | | | Even students who are super athletes need |
| student, nor can you adopt one, and I've | | | | some diversity, as sports alone is not |
| never seen one listed in any mail order | | | | enough. Students need to avoid the impression |
| catalogue I've ever read. Acceptable students | | | | that they are one-dimensional, and do |
| are made, not born, by families determined to | | | | whatever is necessary to portray themselves |
| see their children successful in life. To | | | | as multi-faceted. |
| create one; to insure pre-high schoolers have | | | | |
| every possible advantage to succeed and go on | | | | Early on, students must also begin to |
| to their college of choice, the stage must be | | | | accumulate community service or volunteer |
| set early in preparation for the high school | | | | hours. However, don't confuse extracurricular |
| years. | | | | activities with volunteer work. I define |
| | | | extracurricular activities as in-school |
| If the student's home is a circus, and not | | | | participation. Community service takes place |
| conducive to studying, it's time for some | | | | outside of school, i.e. scouting, working for |
| major changes. Students must have access to a | | | | one's house of worship, working with AIDS and |
| comfortable place to study with virtually no | | | | or Alzheimer's patients, seniors, hospice, |
| distractions. A bare minimum of 1½ to 2 | | | | involvement with the handicapped, and |
| hours each night should be devoted to | | | | environmental work such as cleaning up |
| schoolwork, and students should maintain a | | | | beaches or highways. |
| normal daily routine including a healthy diet | | | | |
| and eight hours of sleep. | | | | By participating in volunteer work with |
| | | | financially, emotionally and/or |
| Ideally, college-bound students should not be | | | | intellectually challenged people, students |
| left alone without supervision for long | | | | demonstrate their compassion and empathy for |
| periods of time, certainly no longer than 24 | | | | others, and this will make them shine with |
| hours! They should not spend more than 15 | | | | admissions officers. Working with those who |
| hours each week on non-academic activities, | | | | are less fortunate also gives the student a |
| and would be ill-advised to regularly burn | | | | much broader idea of how life is outside |
| the midnight oil. The benefits of a good | | | | their own environment. |
| night's rest cannot be overstated. | | | | |
| | | | Every college-bound student needs an edge in |
| All students should begin by electing to take | | | | the admissions process whether they apply to |
| courses with college in mind. By the time | | | | Harvard or their local state college. |
| they enter the 12th grade, they will have | | | | Competition is fierce, and the painful truth |
| created the right posture to make admission | | | | is - no one really cares about any student's |
| committees stand up and take notice. | | | | education except the student and their |
| | | | family. It would be ill-advised and |
| Four years of the core subjects are what all | | | | unrealistic to expect any favors or kindly |
| colleges are most interested in, unless the | | | | 'ole educators to bend over backwards to |
| student has a special ability as an athlete, | | | | ensure the success of any student. Academic |
| vocalist, musician, or artist. English, Math, | | | | achievement is rarely an accident, and |
| a Foreign Language, Science and History make | | | | creating the acceptable student is the sole |
| up the core Grade Point Average (GPA) or | | | | responsibility of the student and their |
| CGPA. There is also the Honors Point Average | | | | family. |
| (HPA) which includes Honors and Advanced | | | | |