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COLLEGE-BOUND: Schools share what it takes to get accepted
According to area private schools, there are several factors colleges consider when deciding whether to accept or deny high school applicants. And aside from the obvious strong academic profile, it’s likely not what you’d think.
Wake Living talked with some of the region’s private schools to get the inside scoop on what makes college admissions professionals tick. Here, they share the most important elements of the admissions process, as well as how they’re helping students get into the college of their dreams.
Cary Academy
According to Don Berger, head of school for Cary Academy, colleges are looking for students who contribute to their school and community, as well as those who demonstrate leadership capabilities.
“Over the past 10 years, the admissions criteria has not necessarily changed, but the emphasis on it has been heightened,” he says, adding that an increasing amount of students have applied for college in the past decade.
Berger says Cary Academy helps prepare students with 21st century skills for college and beyond by teaching exceptional study habits such as how to read critically, write skillfully, and analyze information proficiently. All students have a tablet PC and are taught the latest technologies, including fundamental multimedia skills to use as a vehicle for creating curriculum-integrated presentations.
The school also offers a World Languages program that allows students to take German, French, Spanish or Chinese, as well as a study abroad trip in 10th grade. Cary Academy provides individual guidance to students and families in preparation for college as well.
“Our students become creative thinkers and independent learners, with the ability to work with their colleagues collaboratively,” Berger notes.
Cary Christian School
College admissions professionals also are looking to find students who are a good match, says Patti Mintz, a college advisor at Cary Christian School.
“While colleges look closely at each student’s academic strengths and extracurricular interests, they’re also very careful to find students who have a particular interest in the college,” she notes.
“Colleges want to make admissions that result in a win-win situation,” Mintz adds. “They want to select students who have the best chance of succeeding so that both the college and their students thrive.”
At Cary Christian School, students have a classical education that’s comparable to many college preparatory schools. Latin is taught early in the curriculum, science and mathematics are learned at the college prep level, and a thesis is required for juniors and seniors, which is defended in front of an audience of faculty and classmates.
“As a result, our students are uniquely prepared for the challenges of college life,” Mintz says.
She adds that today’s students and parents have become more savvy about meeting the expectations of college admissions committees.
“This is the age of information,” says Larry Stephenson, the school’s superintendent.
“Being able to communicate is as vital as the knowledge itself.”
Chatham Hall
According to Vicki Wright, director of admissions for Chatham Hall in Chatham, Va., colleges are looking for well-rounded students who demonstrate academic achievement, extracurricular activities and overall character. At Chatham Hall, students push themselves in all areas of academics, work with teachers to hone their critical-thinking skills and develop creative problem-solving abilities.
Martha Griswold, the school’s academic dean, stresses the importance of focusing on a few specific advanced placement (AP) courses to get the attention of college admissions professionals.
“What is most valuable is for students to take courses and really push themselves in areas of great interest and do well in them, and to do well in the courses that they must take but that might not be of as great interest,” she says.
“High school is a time to get a great foundation across the board: honing writing skills, understanding the history of the world in which they live, exposing themselves to the sciences and learning to communicate in a foreign language,” Griswold adds.
“Limiting oneself to an area or two of interest is not what colleges want. They want to see that a student has not taken the easy route.”
Raleigh Christian Academy
Ruth A. Little, academic dean of Raleigh Christian Academy, also believes college admissions professions are seeking well-rounded individuals with high marks in addition to participation and leadership in extracurricular activities such as sports, volunteerism, and part-time employment. She adds that in today’s environment, less emphasis is being placed on SAT and ACT scores.
“Admissions personnel also are looking for unique experiences, abilities and interests,” Little says.
“Strong consideration is given to the student who has achieved a level of success while having to overcome difficulty.”
The school helps prepare students by meeting regularly and keeping parents involved in the process.
“We start in the ninth grade, and meetings are held with juniors and seniors and their parents to keep them informed of specific goals and schedules, and to discuss overall admissions requirements and financial aid opportunities,” Little notes.
“These meetings offer an opportunity for each rising senior and his or her parents to address concerns, interests, goals, and needs.”
Ravenscroft School
As colleges’ interest in diversity has grown, students’ cultural backgrounds and experiences can be assets, according to Angela Connor, director of college counseling for Ravenscroft School in Raleigh.
“Overall, there’s a greater sense that everything counts, urging some parents to begin thinking of college preparation from the cradle through to high school commencement,” she adds of the pressure today’s students and their parents face when it comes to the admissions process.
To that end, Ravenscroft emphasizes strong academics and the types of course preparation that colleges value. In addition to several AP courses, the school works collaboratively to support the goals and talents of each class, helping students achieve their personal best in academics, athletics, and fine arts, Connor notes.
Additionally, its college counseling department actively guides students through the application process, beginning with a program for freshmen and their parents and continuing throughout the Upper School years.
“Our overarching goal is to help students and their parents make informed decisions regarding the selection of colleges best suited to the needs and abilities of each student,” Connor says.
St. David’s School
A demonstrated interest on the student’s part is another important element in the admissions process, according to Scottie Dietz, director of college counseling for St. David’s School in Raleigh.
“Students can do this by making a campus visit or by attending a presentation the college gives in their area or high school,” she says.
Dietz echoes Little’s sentiment about the decreasing importance of test scores as more schools become test-optional.
“We’re in a culture now where testing isn’t as important as it once was — there’s controversy about the use of standardized testing as a predictor of college success,” she says.
St. David’s offers a rigorous college-prep curriculum that includes 16 AP classes, and regularly provides campus visits to area and regional colleges so that students can get a sense of daily life.
“We change the colleges from year to year to give students different experiences,” Dietz says.
The school also hosts a variety of speakers who discuss the college planning process, from essay writing and interviewing to easing the transition from high school.
“We also invite alumni for an annual seminar, where they share their experiences on a panel discussion,” Dietz says.
“Through this, they’re able to pass along wisdom and advice to current seniors.”
Wake Christian Academy
It’s also important for students to have a realistic view of the schools to which they’re applying, says Ardyss Woods, assistant principal of Wake Christian Academy in Raleigh.
“Students can avoid disappointment if they talk with their counselors about the appropriateness of their college choices before they apply,” she notes.
The southern Wake County academy counsels parents with students at the middle-school level; it also holds informational meetings for parents with children in ninth grade. Topics include standardized testing, course selections, community service, college entrance, scholarships and financial aid.
Wake Christian Academy also assigns 12th graders a summer reading that helps them with writing an essay for college applications, and offers several AP courses as well.
“These classes give students an opportunity to earn high school and college credit, as well as a workload that’s equivalent to a college course,” Woods says.