Hi there!
I’m Monica and I am so happy to share some insight that I’ve gained over my career in higher education and college admissions.
While I was answering these questions, I have realized that I have only scratched the surface. I am more than happy to give a more in-depth insight into your family and student’s pathway. You can reach out to me at warecollegecounseling@gmail.com.
I am very passionate about access to education and finding your student’s “best fit.” I currently work full time in Arizona and have a couple of side gigs in admissions, including being a reader for UC Berkeley!
Paige received some questions and I wanted to make sure to answer them all, but I could only write so much. Contact me for further information or to set up a consultation.
Now, let’s get into these questions!
I have heard CA schools do not like to admit kids from Texas. True?
I have not found this to be true across the board.
Many schools admit regionally, meaning they will take a percentage from Texas. Admissions representatives can take the time to get to know the region, the available activities and regional particulars. With UC Berkeley, we have weekly meetings to discuss things that stand out in that region and what is unique about high schools in that region (the region being Texas.)
How can you tell who will be admitted within 60 seconds? What stands out that makes them a recommendation to admit?
I was speaking with other admissions readers about this, and they agree that I was being a BIT dramatic with that statement. What I meant to say is that within 60 seconds, as an experienced reader, you can quickly see who a competitive applicant would be.
Automatically, those that have not put time and effort into their essay questions (I’m talking only writing one or two sentences) or a very low GPA without challenging classes, makes it easy to quickly determine.
GPA is a quick tell for many schools if they will be put in the “consideration” pile that requires more time.
All this to say, application reading is a QUICK process. At MAX 10 minutes is allotted, but that is very rarely utilized. An experienced reader can read quickly.
What are the top things you see that make you put someone in the “no” pile right away?
Quickly speaking, not taking any Honors, AP or college coursework if it’s available, puts your student at a disadvantage. GPA is also a key factor, but again rigor is almost always taken into consideration.
Another immediate no is when the student has major errors or hasn’t taken the time to answer questions fully.
What can my student do to prep?
The best thing a student can do to prep is explore and figure out what their “best fit” school really is.
I have found that students may have an affinity for a school, not because they know much about it, but because it has a prestigious name. The truth is, Ivy League schools aren’t the BEST at everything (believe it or not!)
If your student has decided what to major in or at least what their interests are, they should focus on top programs in that field, not so-called “top” institutions.
Dos/Don’ts of essay topics?
When speaking with my friends who work in admissions, we all agree that it can be challenging to not become callous to some common essay topics that we see again and again.
I would not recommend focusing on the loss of a grandparent or loss at a young age, unless that has some kind of impact on present-day. That sounds so callous and I promise I’m a nice person. If your student decides to write about losing a family member or friend, it should be something they experienced in their high school years. Avoid mentioning anything before high school unless there has been some impetus for growth, like starting a non profit due to the loss, for example.
Also, everyone says the same thing about COVID, so I would also avoid that topic.
Health challenges can certainly be expressed, but I would recommend that it be made with a resolution. It should include something they’ve grown from, not something they are currently experiencing.
I know these topics are tricky and tender, but there is almost always a “requires special attention” or “red flag” if a student is writing about a current challenge that does not show growth or resolution.
I work with families all the time whose students are working on crafting essays. Please reach out to me if you have questions about this!
What advice do you have for middle school parents so that our kids are successful?
My advice is to really let them explore their interests. Many students come into high school focused on engineering for example, but they may not even know why.
Camps are a great way to see what they really find interesting. Start early with exploring and parents should try their best to allow this exploration without pressure.
Middle school students should also be focusing on their study skills and procrastination pitfalls so that they are prepared for high school. Good study habits start early!
What activities or level of activity do they like to see?
The biggest thing I have seen that makes a strong impact is showing consistency in activities.
If they are interested in a particular field, they should show that they have done their research. Ultimately, colleges are looking for their best return on investment. A student should show their dedication and commitment to their community.
If sports are causing a student’s GPA to fall OR inhibiting them from exploring academically, I recommend that those be the first to go.
Almost every student has played a sport, or multiple sports, so that doesn’t stand out.
Is community service just as important as a high class rank and high GPA?
GPA is really the most important aspect of a college application. Of course, other elements can make up for a lower GPA , but grades are a KEY factor. Not only grades, but are they taking the most challenging classes they can?
A 4.0 unweighted GPA without any Honors, AP or college credit courses is not as powerful as a 3.5 with rigorous coursework.
Consistent community involvement can certainly be a factor, but grades are the most important.
What are some good community service ideas that will catch a college’s attention?
The “why” behind community service is always important. Consistency, and if possible, leadership, is always an advantage.
Some students have a short-term project (like organizing a 5K, I see often) and that doesn’t make much of an impact unless there is long-term work associated with it.
In order to be competitive, I have seen students say they have “founded” non-profit organizations. This can be a red flag if it doesn’t seem legit and just looks like a resume builder.
Community organization involvement can be just as powerful. Consistency is key and organizations related to the student’s interests are even better.
What are the disadvantages of coming to a college or university with community college credits? Is it better to focus on AP courses or community college courses in high school?
There isn’t a real disadvantage, but every school has different policies regarding how this factors into their new calculation of GPA.
As a side note, almost every school will recalculate the student’s GPA so that there is equity in their applications. Every school in the country calculates GPA differently.
Honors and AP classes can be seen as preferred because there is consistency in the course curriculum.
I have heard rumors that community colleges may not be seen as having the same rigor. However, it depends entirely on what your student’s goals are. Are they focused on getting credits out of the way so they can graduate in less time OR are they looking at a competitive school? Your student’s individual goals are going to be top of mind here.
What can freshmen do now to start?
Explore!
The most important thing you can do is talk to your student.
First, it’s always important to be clear early on about expectations. Do they have a college fund? Will you be providing financial support of some kind? Will you prefer that they stay in-state? What, as a parent, are your expectations for them? Are you able to visit college campuses? Have they explored their interests? Do they know what it means to major in something? Can they find opportunities to explore different interests locally?
Involvement in activities outside of school will differentiate them from other applicants, so it’s important to be strategic. Communication is key and I love having conversations with families early on.
Finally, while hard to imagine, everything really starts over in high school. If they were a straight A student and involved in a ton of activities in middle school, college applicants rarely take that into consideration.
GPA also starts over. Grades are important and students need to be in the mindset that what happened in middle school is a solid foundation, but everything really starts over in high school.
There is so much more I could share even though I am long-winded in these answers.
Please don’t hesitate to email me for a consultation:
My goal is that every student has access to college and career advising and I would love to help your student and family. Financially, I work with families of all backgrounds and would love to find out what your needs are and how I can be of assistance.
I look forward to hearing from you and continuing this discussion.
Monica Ware warecollegecounseling@gmail.com
