Things That Might Surprise Things That Might Surprise You in the College You in the College

Admissions ProcessAdmissions Process

Dave Crooks & Coleman TuggleDave Crooks & Coleman Tuggle

Alumni InterviewersAlumni Interviewers

Getting Into College is Like Getting Getting Into College is Like Getting a Job…a Job…

Attend college fairsAttend college fairs Formal college visits with interviewsFormal college visits with interviews College weekends for seniorsCollege weekends for seniors Contact admissions repsContact admissions reps Visit department chairs on campusVisit department chairs on campus Get to know alumni, recent and oldGet to know alumni, recent and old

ConsultantsConsultants

The role of a coach is to encourage, advise, The role of a coach is to encourage, advise, and help the player reach their full potential and help the player reach their full potential • The coach doesn’t play the game!The coach doesn’t play the game!

Consultants who assist and encourage the Consultants who assist and encourage the student to do the best job he/she can in student to do the best job he/she can in preparing an application serve a useful purpose preparing an application serve a useful purpose • Consultants who prepare a “canned” application Consultants who prepare a “canned” application

based on a short interview with the student are based on a short interview with the student are doing the student a disservicedoing the student a disservice

Match the Personalities of the Match the Personalities of the Student and the CollegeStudent and the College

Know who you are: your strengths, Know who you are: your strengths, weaknesses, learning style, social weaknesses, learning style, social environment, risk appetite, etc.environment, risk appetite, etc.

Visiting campuses is a must!Visiting campuses is a must! Your sense of a strong match with the college Your sense of a strong match with the college

should come through in all your should come through in all your communicationscommunications

Use NavianceUse Naviance

College Essays & InterviewsCollege Essays & Interviews

The essay needs to be The essay needs to be aboutabout you and you and byby you you Make your personality shine through in your essay Make your personality shine through in your essay

and your interview: why are you who you are?and your interview: why are you who you are? The school wants to know: Who is this person and The school wants to know: Who is this person and

how will admitting them benefit this college?how will admitting them benefit this college? Do interviews matter?Do interviews matter? Show up for an interview neat, prepared and ready for Show up for an interview neat, prepared and ready for

a conversationa conversation Practice interview!Practice interview!

The Admissions ProcessThe Admissions Process

Life in the admissions officeLife in the admissions office Weighing GPA, board scores and activitiesWeighing GPA, board scores and activities Show commitment over time and leadership in Show commitment over time and leadership in

a limited number of activitiesa limited number of activities Get a “real” recommendation from a teacher, Get a “real” recommendation from a teacher,

not a “form letter”not a “form letter” Convey your interests and passions!Convey your interests and passions! Demonstrate what you can add to the schoolDemonstrate what you can add to the school

How Many Applications?How Many Applications?

Quality, not quantityQuality, not quantity RealisticallyRealistically determine your “stretch”, determine your “stretch”,

“probable” and “safe” schools and apply to 2-3 “probable” and “safe” schools and apply to 2-3 of each MAX!of each MAX!

Visit the schools you apply toVisit the schools you apply to Do a great job on each application, don’t just Do a great job on each application, don’t just

pump them outpump them out Colleges know when you’re genuinely Colleges know when you’re genuinely

interestedinterested

Diversity & Special TalentsDiversity & Special Talents

Ethnicity helps if you are from an under-Ethnicity helps if you are from an under-represented grouprepresented group

Colleges seek geographical diversity (if Colleges seek geographical diversity (if you’ve lived different places, bring that out)you’ve lived different places, bring that out)

Being a recruited athlete is a HUGE advantageBeing a recruited athlete is a HUGE advantage If you have artistic or musical talent, make If you have artistic or musical talent, make

sure the school is aware of it (DVDs, sure the school is aware of it (DVDs, auditions)auditions)

Bring out any individual recognitionsBring out any individual recognitions

Other Factors in the ProcessOther Factors in the Process

““Need blind” admissionsNeed blind” admissions Legacy statusLegacy status Early decision & early actionEarly decision & early action Clean up your electronic footprintClean up your electronic footprint

Tidbits…Tidbits…

……on William & Maryon William & Mary ……on Dartmouthon Dartmouth Things that (constantly) surprise us as Things that (constantly) surprise us as

recruiters & interviewersrecruiters & interviewers

Personality Attributes of W&MPersonality Attributes of W&M Dedicated to excellenceDedicated to excellence A community of scholarsA community of scholars Not as pretentious as an Ivy League schoolNot as pretentious as an Ivy League school A student body very involved in campus activitiesA student body very involved in campus activities 300 years of tradition and a lot of school spirit300 years of tradition and a lot of school spirit Professors are involved with students both academically and Professors are involved with students both academically and

sociallysocially Excellent relationship between the students, administration Excellent relationship between the students, administration

and facultyand faculty Students have a voice in everything that happens on campusStudents have a voice in everything that happens on campus Great sense of community on campusGreat sense of community on campus Class size is small so that all students can actively participate Class size is small so that all students can actively participate

in the education processin the education process Not a big party school…students make their own fun Not a big party school…students make their own fun on on

campuscampus

DartmouthDartmouth College College

The only The only collegecollege in the Ivy League (and the in the Ivy League (and the only school with college spirit!)only school with college spirit!)

Rural New Hampshire (imagine Hinsdale with Rural New Hampshire (imagine Hinsdale with trees 100 miles in every direction)trees 100 miles in every direction)

4,200 undergrads (and 1,200 grad students)4,200 undergrads (and 1,200 grad students) A true liberal arts school focused on A true liberal arts school focused on

undergraduate educationundergraduate education A good fit for well-rounded, academically A good fit for well-rounded, academically

talented students with a love of the outdoorstalented students with a love of the outdoors