Selective college admissions: a peek behind the curtain
September 2nd, 2015Many people believe it is more difficult to get into college than it was 10 or 15 years ago. And there’s truth to this belief within the cadre of best-known colleges.
Why are some colleges and universities becoming more selective? There are several reasons for this change and Vanderbilt University provides excellent illustration in this article. We think you’ll gain useful insight into the selective admission process at Vanderbilt and, by extension, other schools around the country as you read about the changes that have led to a dramatically different admission landscape. We’re grateful to Vanderbilt for pulling back the curtain on what is viewed by many families as a rather opaque process and for emphasizing the importance of finding the right fit on student and college side alike.
Reading this article, I was reminded of my many years on selective college admission committees at Tufts, Brandeis and Washington University in St. Louis. I can vouch for the accuracy of the process described!
Published by Vanderbilt Magazine, Summer 2015
In the space of about a decade, Vanderbilt has gone from being a regional darling—What’s that quaint old saying? “The Harvard of the South”?—to a fierce global competitor in its own right.
No longer content to live in the shadow of any other institution, today Vanderbilt vies for the absolute best students anywhere in the world, attracting them with academic, cultural and financial-aid offerings that make even the most determined Ivy aspirants think twice.
Read more at Vanderbilt Magazine >>Tagged: Admission decision, Applications, College
George Washington University applicants no longer need to take admissions tests
August 13th, 2015George Washington University is one of the latest private schools to be added to the test-optional category, and we at Shrop Ed applaud them! Why are schools using this approach to the admissions process? The University of Rochester gave this answer when they changed their policy in 2012: “Many prospective students ‘test well’ on general standardized exams, and bring that ability to campus, while some are best at mastering specific material in subjects that interest them most, and bring that diligence and focus.” You can find the full list of test-optional schools at this website: www.fairtest.org
Article published July 27, 2015
Written by: Nick Anderson
George Washington University dropped its testing requirement for most freshman admissions Monday, becoming one of the largest and most prominent schools to declare that its applicants don’t have to take the SAT or ACT.
Read more at The Washington Post >>Choose the Right Extracurriculars at the Right Time for College Applications
August 12th, 2015While it’s back to school for many students this week, we thought extracurriculars might be on your minds at the start of the school year. Author Brian Witte wrote an article for US News that correctly points out the importance of matching extracurriculars with what students are passionate about. However, we think it is most important to keep that internal focus as opposed to thinking externally about what an admissions officer might want to see. We believe students need to develop their activities around personal growth, apply their strengths and improve their weaknesses in order to learn more about themselves as they prepare for college.
When meeting with students we say, “Don’t let the tail wag the dog!” In other words, if you spend all of your time wondering what might please an admission committee, you’ll miss out on marvelous opportunities to grow and change. By deepening involvement and leadership in activities of great interest, you’ll become a more interesting and capable individual, one who just might change the world around you. If that makes you a more intriguing applicant for college, summer programs, jobs and scholarships, well, that’s icing on the cake.
Article published August 18, 2014
By: Brian Witte
It is no secret that the extracurricular activities you pursue in high school can significantly affect your college admissions experience. But it’s true that not all activities are created equal, and some could have a disproportionate effect on your chances of getting accepted to your ideal college.
There are no specific extracurricular activities that will magically unlock the Ivy League gates or guarantee admission to a particular university. Competitive colleges and universities are besieged by academically strong students. What they desire are students who can contribute to the campus community.
Read more at US News >>Tagged: Admission decision, Applications, College, Opportunity
