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College Prep
College Admissions:
The Reality Checks of April
BY DAVE PETERSON
© Copyright
2004 by Parents' Press
Originally published in the August 2002 print edition of Parents'
Press
Illustration © 2001, Artville, LLC
You're sick of
hearing it: "April is the cruelest month" for seniors
getting those blunt reality checks from college admissions folks.
But it's not a simple case of "yes" or "no."
Colleges have many ways of handling their decisions among
them, acceptance, conditional admissions, waiting lists, and
rejections. And each requires a decision from you.
Here are some of the most common questions I hear from seniors
at this time of year.
Q. I'm accepted
at two places, and I can't decide between them. Help!
A. Happy problem! Time to visit both colleges, overnight and
in depth. Check out classes, dorms, students, profs, general
campus vibes, until you can finally make a comfortable choice.
Q. Should I opt
for the top-ranked college among my admits?
A. No, not without a careful on-campus comparison such as described
above.
Q. What if I
arrive on campus and start to second-guess my decision?
A. Everyone has moments of doubt during Freshman Frenzy. Reflect
on the idea that how good a given place will be for you depends
largely on what you give to it.
Q. I'm admitted
to one great school and waitlisted at another. How do I make
a choice?
A. Pay your deposit at one, stay on the waitlist at the other.
But wouldn't you rather go to the place that wants you the most?
Q. One admit
has offered an adequate financial aid package, the other has
not. What should I do?
A. Tell the second aid officer of your first opportunity, and
that you must attend the campus that costs the least. Often the
second school will find a way to help you out.
Q. Will I hear from all my choices in time to make a decision
among them?
A. Probably. If there are any mysteries by April 15, call those
colleges for information. You have until May 1, so that leaves
a two-week window to compare costs, visit, and make a best choice.
Q. My "big
name" choice admitted me with scant aid, but my other top
choice offered a full package. Is the fancy name worth the financial
sacrifice?
A. The name on the degree may impress a few folks, but choosing
the other great place at a great price seems like the long-term
winner.
Q. Only my "safety"
choices admitted me! What do I do?
A. Choose the admitting college you like the best. That's why
you chose to apply there, remember?
Q. Is mailing
the deposit the end of the game?
A. Just the start, actually! Inform your other choices of your
decision (to allow them to use your slot). Keep your grades at
the same high level so the graduation transcript is your best.
Answer all the college's requests promptly housing contracts,
meal plans, medical forms, fee billings, appointments for testing,
orientation, scheduling. Contact your assigned roommates!
Q. I just can't
decide yet. Should I deposit at both places for now?
A. Absolutely not unethical and unnecessary. Don't risk
being wanted nowhere! Decide now.
Q. I was accepted,
but for a different program than I asked for. What do I do?
A. Weigh this compromise against other offers. This may turn
out best for you in the end.
Q. The college
says I must take additional course work to be enrolled this fall.
Must I?
A. If that's your best choice, yes. They are trying to avoid
your failing later. Do it.
Q. My admission depends on a certain grade improvement by June. Help!
A. Again, your readiness is their concern, and should be yours too. Get to work!
Q. I'm admitted
but can't start until there's room in the spring term. What do
I do?
A. If you want that campus, say yes, and earn some needed college
funds this fall.
Q. I'm waitlisted
at my first choice. What are my best moves?
A. Write at once saying you will attend if taken. Visit the campus,
interview, and tell them why you are willing to wait and hope.
Convince them how good you will be for each other!
Send them regular evidence of your improving record and achievements.
Don't pressure them with extra reference letters or calls.
Make your deposit at a college that admitted you anyway. Waitlists
are seldom used much.
Q. What are my
chances of being chosen from a waitlist?
A. Very small sorry. Colleges predict withdrawals pretty accurately
and have already over-admitted to address that. Focus on accepting
and enjoying that other college at this point.
Q. How do colleges
order the waitlist? Can I find out my number?
A. It's actually a pool, not a list. If they get a withdrawal,
they browse the "list" to find a similar campus contributor.
Example: if their star kazoo player defects and you're a kazoo
virtuoso, you may get lucky.
Q. Does being
waitlisted carry a message for me?
A. Definitely. In some important respect, you were not considered
as safe a bet for success on that campus as the group they admitted.
There's a good chance you will end up happier elsewhere.
Q. I declared
first choice at the campus that waitlisted me. If they take me
now, must I go?
A. No way. All bets are now off, and you are a free agent. But
if you still would go, tell them.
Q. When are waitlists used?
A. Impossible to tell, since the whole game is uncertainty on
their part. If a college uses the list at all, they are likely
to start after May 1 (when accepted students must commit). The
list can be dipped into as needed all summer, but after June
1, hopes are much dimmer.
Q. I'm determined
to graduate from the college that waitlisted me. Strategy?
A. Enter a college that admitted you, get that 4.0, re-apply
to #1 as a transfer student in a year or two. Remind them you
were waitlisted; your persistence may impress them!
Q. If I am taken
off the list, what are my chances for the aid I applied for?
A. Even slimmer than admission. Aid which is freed up by defectors
is quickly reassigned to other needy admittees.
Q. My best choices
all rejected me! Help me recover!
A. Know that you are still the great person you have always been.
Those colleges felt success on their campus was too risky for
whatever reason.
Perhaps you or your counselor can come up with a reason for rejection.
If everyone is mystified, you or your counselor might call for
information that could help you make other plans.
Don't look for scapegoats such as a teacher, the college, the
SATs, your zodiac sign rejections are painful but not accidental
or blameable.
Examine your other options now. Focus on the positive aspects
of your admitting colleges that led you to apply there originally.
Q. I was more
than rejected; I was recruited, made promises to, flown to the
campus, assured of admission, and I even short-cut my other choices
as a result. Do I have any recourse now?
A. Call their admissions director personally. Politely ask to
review your file over the phone, and tell them your story in
detail: name names and give dates of your experiences, and request
an explanation or a reconsideration. Also specify how you were
led to treat other applications lightly. Keep your counselor
closely informed along the way; a call from that end could also
help.
Q. Is there ever
any point in appealing a rejection?
A. In rare cases where no one can come up with a reason for that
action, or you suspect an error, you or your counselor can call
for an explanation.
Sometimes new information changes the picture. Rarely, key data
might have been mislaid. If something does seem amiss, ask what
you can do to add to the file and justify another look. But do
these things only if you will accept an offer if made.
Q. Bad planning,
late applying I was rejected everywhere! Any hope at this late
date?
A. Many colleges still have openings, either because of later
deadlines or too many defectors. Your counselor has a list of
colleges in both these situations, or will have during May. If
your record is pretty good, you or your counselor can make some
phone calls even now to locate good campuses hurting for more
beds to fill. Never give up.
Q. Guess what?
I just decided to go to college. My record is mediocre, the timing
is awful. Must I wait for next year?
A. Many colleges have later or no deadlines, don't need essays,
accept average records. Get ideas from your counselor. Consider
a local community college for many good reasons, at least for
a year or two. Good work there transfers easily to strong four-year
degree programs.
Dave Peterson
has been an admissions officer, high school teacher, counselor,
guidance director, and consultant to the College Board. This
article first appeared in longer form in the October 1997 issue
of Parent.TEE
|
CLICK HERE for more College Prep articles by Dave Peterson. COLLEGE
PREP Dave Peterson is a college counselor, a former college admissions officer and a consultant to the College Board. He used to run the "old" America Online/College Board college admissions message boards under the screen name of CBD Dave. |