The first college test is the entrance `examination'

By: SAMANTHA CRITCHELL - Associated Press | Sunday, October 22, 2006 7:24 PM PDT ∞

NEW YORK ---- It sounds like instructions you'd give preschoolers but it's what college adviser Katherine Cohen tells wannabe Ivy Leaguers: Follow directions, be good listeners, leave plenty of time to get the task accomplished.

High schoolers get so wrapped up in the college-admission process that they become consumed by it, Cohen says. At the same time, they lose sight of what they need to do to find schools they'd want to attend and then make the strongest case to get in.

Missed deadlines and essays that don't answer the question posed by the admissions office are more common than one might think, she adds.

The onus falls on students to be prepared, although parents can help by tracking important dates on their calendars, too. They shouldn't, however, rely on their own memories: The College Board's SAT, for example, is now given in parts ---- the multiple-choice math and reading SAT I is the test parents likely will remember, while the SAT II measures skills in particular subjects ---- and in 2005, the SAT will abandon its 1,800-point format in favor of a 2,400-point scale that adds a new section on writing.

What else has changed since Mom and Dad went through this? Many colleges accept a common application that sends the same information to several schools, and many colleges accept online applications.

Students should begin thinking about college on their first day of high school, suggests Cohen, author of "Rock Hard Apps: How To Write A Killer College Application" (Hyperion). If the process, if not a particular school, is always on their minds, students probably will get better grades, build relationships with teachers to get letters of recommendation and choose more diverse and rewarding extracurricular schedules, she says.

Cohen, who also is the founder of the college-counseling company IvyWise, stresses the importance of getting to know high school teachers early on.

"Letters from teachers are hugely important ---- it's the human part of the application process. Go see teachers during office hours. Just go in and say, 'I'm so interested in whatever topic. Can you direct me to any other resources on it? Can we further explore a particular topic?' There are a million reasons you can go see your teacher, and if teachers have spent a lot of time with you, they'll get to know you and be able to vouch for you better."

Juniors, meanwhile, should take SAT II tests in the fall that correspond with their school courses so the subject matter will be fresh in their minds, and take the SAT I the first chance they get in the spring. That gives enough time to take both tests again during this school year and there will be a chance to redo them again next fall.

Seniors should have most of their testing behind them now, especially if they plan on seeking an early decision from a college ---- those applications generally are due Nov. 1.

By the early fall, seniors should have a good idea of what schools they plan to apply to, according to Cohen, and the list should look like this: two or three "reach" schools for which their grades or test scores might fall a little short but the students feel they could make up with outstanding activities or recommendations, or enthusiasm; two or three schools with requirements that mirror the students' academic profiles; and two "safety" schools for which the students might feel slightly overqualified but would nonetheless be happy to attend.

The list shouldn't be longer than that, says Cohen. "It's not worth your time to apply to 20 schools with similar admission rates. It's a lot of work and a lot of money."

The best way to do the winnowing is to visit as many colleges as possible.

"If you ever have a day off in the school year, go visit a college. Even if it's a local college that you're not considering, you'll get sense of what you like and don't like about college life. It helps you develop your tastes," Cohen says.

The next best thing is for students to as much online research as they can, about classes and campus life.

Also, she says, find out if local alumni conduct admission interviews ---- during which the student can also ask a few questions ---- and contact a recruiter or admissions officer, usually sometime during junior year.

"You should know the school like the back of your hand, and the school should know you. ... This way, when they (recruiters) come to your high school campus, they'll already know who you are, they'll have a soft spot for you, and they'll know you're enthusiastic and they'll know you're interested," Cohen says.

When it does come time to apply, sit down and read all of the directions, take note of the deadlines and spend time thinking about the essays, Cohen says. "The personal statements colleges want aren't the type of writing students are used to doing in high school classes," she notes.

"Writing about yourself is a hard topic. It's a compelling story that only you can tell, and it shouldn't be information that's already on your application," Cohen adds.

"Colleges are looking for real humans, so the more personal the application is, the better it is. Admissions officers want to know who you are as a person: Do you think outside the box? Are you diligent? Are you respectful? Do you go above and beyond assignments? Do you respond to setbacks in a mature ways?"

These are the questions that need to be subtly answered in the essay. Leave achievements, awards, career experience and the like for an attached "brag sheet" or resume, Cohen advises. (But, she adds, read the directions carefully to make sure such attachments are allowed!)

"All of these things are intangible factors. It's about reading between the lines. Colleges are looking leadership, creativity and motivated students," Cohen explains.

And just before the application, brag sheet and essay are ready to be mailed, give them another read. The whole package should represent a complete person, one who'll be happy and excited to be a part of that school's community.

On the Net: http://www.ivywise.com

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