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College Prep
Freshmen & Sophomore Q&A: Catching Up at Christmas, Decoding PSAT Scores, Deciding on Next Year's Classes
BY DAVE PETERSON
© Copyright
2005 by Parents' Press
Originally published in the December 2005 print edition of Parents'
Press
Illustration © 2001, Artville, LLC
AP courses look better on your transcript only if you love the challenge and get good grades and good AP test scores
Sure, it's the holidays,
but December also finds freshmen coping with fall quarter
grades, sophomores reacting to early PSAT score results,
and everyone wondering how what they do now will affect
their college admission chances. Here are some of the most common
questions I hear at this time of year.
Q. I'm falling behind, and my grades show it. Make-up assignments
are piling up due to a recent illness and my fall sports commitments.
What steps should I take at this point?
A. The holiday recess coming up is bail-out time for you. Talk to each teacher now about what you need to do to start the new year fully up to date. Make a careful schedule of how to spend your time during the holiday weeks (and play catch-up even before then if you can). Stick to the plan!
Q. I just got my sophomore PSAT scores back, and I want to improve. How?
A. Carefully study the fine print on your score report. This "item analysis" details how you performed on each kind of question, on timing, and on guessing the correct answers. To improve your testing, based on what you learn there, study the free Taking the SAT booklet available from your counselor's office. Consider taking the spring SAT, or at least do some serious prepping for next fall's junior year PSAT.
Q. I'm already thinking about next year's courses. Our school has lots of interest-related classes.
A. If you're thinking ahead to a challenging college, give priority to the "big 5" strong college prep courses in English, history, math, science, and foreign language throughout all four years of high school. If time still permits, pursue the fun elective courses.
Q. If I take courses where I know my grades will be good, that will boost my class rank, right?
A. Probably, but at the expense of real challenge. Colleges look first at course titles and difficulty.
Q. If I do extra credit work and participate in the classroom, will that show up in teacher recommendations?
A. Only if you truly enjoy the intellectual growth; otherwise your sycophancy will backfire!
Q. Should I take prep courses for the PSAT and the SATs?
A. Only if thorough study of the free College Board prep materials fails to earn what you consider realistic scores.
Q. Will AP courses look better on my college transcript than regular classes?
A. Yes, but only if you love the challenge and get good grades and good AP test scores.
Q. Should I focus on activities that will look good on my record?
A. The only activities that end up looking good are those few that you really love and do well in. There you will achieve and grow and show talent, leadership, contribution. Join-up lists bore colleges!
Q. How many hours of volunteer work do colleges want me to do?
A. None, unless you love helping others with nothing in return except the joy of being useful. By the way, if you do like this work, this holiday season is a great time to get started.
Q. Should I take summer courses so colleges can see I am motivated?
A. No, take them only if you are consumed with learning more in an exciting area of knowledge.
Q. Do colleges like to see some activity in art or music?
A. Yes, if the results of that activity demonstrate real dedication, talent, and productivity.
Q. Do recommendations from important people help in admissions?
A. Yes, if that important person knows you well and can add something different to your recommendations.
Q. Should we hire an outside "consultant" to help with applications and essays later on?
A. Colleges instantly detect and deplore the game of adults doing what are the student's responsibilities.
Q. What happens when students artificially try to create a good admissions "package?"
A. Two things: They learn to be hypocrites and avoid real growth opportunities that suit them. And they will either be rejected for their hypocrisy, or admitted by mistake to a college too challenging for them, where they are likely to be miserable and unsuccessful.
Q. So what are better guidelines for our use of time outside of class?
A. Simply, keep very busy budgeting your time among activities (home, school, town) that you really love and seem to do well. Keep exploring different kinds of interests to see what's best for you, then narrow down to a few really serious undertakings where you can excel.
Q. What are colleges looking for when they examine an activity list?
A. Selfishly, they are looking for campus contributors people who can and will enrich life on campus for others. They especially value excellence in group settings (teams, organizations, social projects) and in competitive situations where your achievement is recognized in comparison to that of others.
Q. How do colleges know what our achievements really amount to?
A. They start with your own description of what you did, what was accomplished, and what this meant to you. Then they go on to evidence: win-loss records, best times, prizes or honors, the extent of competition faced, work samples such as tapes, videos, published writings, auditions, portfolios, press clippings whatever form is appropriate. And they value letters from tutors, coaches, award givers, advisors whoever closely observed your work and can endorse it.
Q. How can I get all this done during the school year?
A. You can't. That's why holidays, and especially that long summer break, are critical to your growth and learning. Colleges look closely at how you've organized your time each summer to mature and develop in productive ways.
This article first appeared in the December 2005 issue of Parent.TEEN.
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CLICK HERE for more College Prep articles by Dave Peterson. A Note for Juniors & Seniors For the past two school years, this column has addressed college selection by juniors and admission strategies for seniors. Now we're focusing on the early high school years. If you're a junior or senior and missed our earlier articles, check the main COLLEGE PREP page for a selection of earlier "College Prep" columns. COLLEGE
PREP Dave Peterson is a college admissions officer, high school counselor, and guidance director. He now serves as director of college planning for the EDIFI corporation, a national multi-media counseling service. |