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Elite child The ABCs of making the top-college grade For the elite college-bound high school student today, it's not enough to earn good grades, take some Advanced Placement classes, do well on the SAT and spend a year in the choir or as a school club president. High school guidance counselors say that applicants for the most select and competitive four-year universities across the United States meet those requirements - and more. Applicants are typically top students with high grade-point averages, high SAT scores and a resume filled with extracurricular activities. And often that is not enough. Today's high school student who aspires to attend a top university must find a way to stand out from the crowd, guidance counselors say. And, students who hope to attend an elite college are advised to search hard to find the right match. Don't simply apply to Stanford and Harvard because of name and reputation. Know your strengths, weaknesses, and interests. For example, you might choose Johns Hopkins not only because of its reputation, but because you want to play top-notch lacrosse while studying to become a pediatric surgeon. Tough competition The competition is tough - and getting tougher - for admission to universities such as Stanford, which last year admitted 10.9% of the 22,333 students who applied, says Ryan Dahlem, director of admission and financial aid at St. Margaret's Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano. Before coming to St. Margaret's, Dahlem previously was an associate director of admissions at Stanford. Dahlem counsels parents and students to consider many good colleges - large and small, well-known and lesser-known, local and away-from-home - to find one that offers courses that match students' interests. "Slow down and reflect about who the student is," he says. Parents should avoid "over-programming" (Dahlem's word) their children with too many structured activities that may stifle creativity (free playing time in the back yard is a wonderful, early-years tool). Students should get involved in academic and extracurricular activities that help them develop interests. Admissions officials prefer a depth of talent, passion and creativity from an applicant. "Depth and impact speak a lot more strongly than a wide range," he says. "College admissions officers are savvy about discerning the resume-builder and those who are truly following a passion." Translation: Don't either fake it or over-hype yourself. The college application essay is a big way students can stand out and show creativity, adds Lance Pruett, a guidance counselor at Corona High School. "This is the student's opportunity to shine," Pruett says. Top colleges also favor students who were active in the community and show leadership. "It's not just about packing on the APs (Advanced Placement classes)," says St. Margaret's director of college admissions, Roland Allen, a former admissions official at Stanford and MIT. Campus visits To get an edge, St. Margaret's sponsors tours twice a year to East Coast and California universities so families can visit campuses and connect with folks on campus. Fairmont Prep Academy in Anaheim also sponsors a similar trip each year as well as a college fair each spring, says Fairmont college adviser Kathy Morgan. Fairmont further helps high school students find and attend summer educational programs for young leaders at top colleges like UCLA and Georgetown University. "It broadens a student's range of what it would be like to attend a school of that caliber," explains Morgan, who further encourages high school students and parents to visit college campuses in advance and connect with admissions officials or local alumni. Guidance counselors today are little concerned with what they see is a trend of overanxious parents seeking extra private tutoring for their children while in grammar school, with the hope this will help the child win admission to an elite college years later. "It's way overrated," Kathy Morgan says of extra tutoring at an early age. "At the end of the day I'm not sure what the payoff is." Ryan Dahlem agrees: "The notion that a few hours of extra tutoring in eighth grade will lead to admission to Harvard is misinformed." Daily challenges Public school districts also offer special programs and services to give top college-bound students a leg up. In Orange County, the Capistrano Unified School District operates the College and Career Planning Center at The Shops at Mission Viejo to offer guidance from full-time advisers. They help students make decisions about their middle and high school plans, learn about college options and plan for college. Services include computerized college searches; help with resume writing; help regarding college eligibility requirements and standardized tests; help filling out college applications; and assistance with scholarship and financial aid information. Additional outreach programs and workshops include "Senior Survival" for incoming seniors; "Surviving and Thriving in High School" for incoming high school freshmen; and "Thinking Forward to College" for all K-12 students. "Colleges are looking for the leaders of tomorrow," says Debbie Morgan, director of college guidance services for the Capistrano district. UCLA and schools like it favor applicants with excellent language skills, she says, so to help students build fluent foreign-language skills early on, the Capistrano district offers language-immersion education programs taught in English and Spanish to students at Las Palmas and San Juan elementary schools, Bernice Ayer Middle School and San Clemente High School. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District offers high school students a unique opportunity to take college courses while attending high school - and simultaneously earn a college degree. In collaboration with Coastline Community College in Orange County, the Newport-Mesa district operates Early College High School in Costa Mesa. Early College High School is in its first year this year, with 85 freshmen. Students at Early College High School begin taking college courses as freshmen to expose them to the curriculum and learning environment of college. Students may earn a high school diploma after four years plus an associate of arts degree after a fifth year. This allows students to transfer into a four-year university as a junior after only completing one year of community college at no extra charge and with 40 or more UC-acceptable college credits under their belt, says the school's guidance counselor, Jami Gulini. "Students know what a college class is like and what the expectations are," says Gulini. She believes this gives students an advantage because four-year college admissions officials are reassured these young "college veterans" will succeed. Amy Bentley of Temecula is a regular contributor and managing editor of sister publication Southern California Home & Outdoor Magazine. |
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