Breaking and Entering: How Students Can Harness Talents to Get into Their Dream College

By Jennifer Litz Contributing Writer TEXAS’ TOP 10 PERCENT RULE REQUIRES A STUDENT’S AUTOMATIC admission to college if he or she has scored within the top 10 percent of an accredited high school’s graduating class.  This law, paired with Universities’ increasing high application volume and resulting competitiveness, sends shivers up lower-ranking students’ spines. Urban legends about Texas students getting into the “Ivy Leagues” but not their first-choice state schools abound. “There’s a general anxiety about admission,” Chris Ellertson, dean of admissions and financial aid at Trinity University says. “I had one student who applied to 24 schools,” trying to ensure he would get into at least one. He got into 18 of them, and then had a few weeks to decide which of those he actually wanted to attend. Students need not be so antsy about where they’ll end up for the next four (or five, or six…) years of their life. A Princeton University study published earlier this year found that about 75 percent of Texas students that ranked in the second 10 percent of their high school class were able to enroll in UT Austin or Texas A&M—two of Texas’ most highly competitive schools to enter--if that was their first choice. And fifty percent of this year’s incoming freshmen at A&M were granted entry outside of the top 10 admission rule, according to admissions counselor Michelle Walker. High school students can increase their chances of getting into their dream school if they do their homework. Besides steadily improving upon grade point averages from the sophomore to senior years, students should build a specific extracurricular resume that concentrates on one or two fortes. When senior year comes, applicants should research for a college that is tailored to their specific interests and goals—then write a stellar essay, and bribe teachers and counselors for great recommendations. Laying the Groundwork   STUDENTS WHO PREPARE for college admission before their senior year will have time to fill a literally spotless extracurricular record expertly, and to show an upwardly mobile GPA—something that impresses admissions counselors as much as a consistently high one. Trinity Admissions Dean Ellertson crunches some daunting admissions numbers for the nationally lauded private University: “We get close to 4,000 applications for 640 first-year spots, and admit just shy of 60 percent,” he says. And the number one criteria for admission? “Academic performance is important,” Ellertson plainly states. “A quality high school, class rank, academic rigor, the kinds of classes they’ve taken, the grades, and the essay- that’s the most important part of evaluation.” Apprehensive second or third-year high school students can still turn mediocre marks into an asset if they pick up the slack. “We like to see an upward grade trend,” Ellertson says. “A student can struggle early and recover. It’s [worse] when a student had two good years and then had a year that was poor. If you catch them before their senior year, they have plenty of time.” Something else that younger high school students have time to build on is their extracurricular resume—but not in the way some scrambling, stressed-out students may think.How do you get in? Though most universities require a completed general application form (prompting documentation of extracurricular activities, high school credits, and essay questions), application fee, high school transcript, and standardized test scores, here is some individualized information on what some popular Texas universities look at in detail when considering applicants. University of Texas at Austin

• Class Rank: For those students not falling in the top 10 percent of their accredited high school senior class (automatic admission to public universities as per Texas’ top 10 percent rule), class rank is heavily weighed in the admissions process.
• SAT/ACT: “Test scores aren’t everything,” according to the University admissions center, “and no score by itself, no matter how high, guarantees admission to any applicant.” Scores are considered along with the rest of the application packet as an indicator of academic ability.
• High School Coursework: Freshman applicants need 15 ½ credits of high school coursework; although honors classes are not considered (not every high school offers them), whether you took recommended as opposed to minimum levels of high school coursework is.
• Essays: Admissions uses the two required essays to gauge your creativity, writing, and critical thinking skills.
• Activities Information: This documents “long-term commitment to and leadership in extracurricular activities, community service, and work and employment experiences,” according to the admissions office.
• Letters of Recommendation & Special Circumstances: Neither are required, but can paint a more well-rounded picture of a candidate with special and extenuating circumstances.

Texas A&M Univeristy:

• Automatic Academic Admission: Students ranked in the top quarter of their graduating class get automatically admitted, provided they have also achieved at least a 1300 on their SAT test or at least a 30 on their ACT test.
• SAT/ACT: Students not qualified for automatic admission need to score a 1050 mininum on their SAT or a 23 minimum on their ACT if they rank in their high school graduating classes 2nd quarter, and an 1180 mininum on their SAT and 26 minimum on their ACT if they rank in the 3rd and 4th quarters.
• High School Coursework: At least 4 years of college preparatory English, 3.5 years of math, and 3 years of science; 2 years of foreign language is recommended. These are minimums. The 2005/2006 Freshman Guide claims that most applicants will have taken well beyond this minimum, and taken advantage of honors classes.
• Extracurricular Activites: Showing a progression in leadership positions pertaining to a student’s subject of interest, community service, summertime employment, and job shadowing all give applicants an edge.

Baylor University:

• Class Rank: Though Baylor’s admission center issued a statement saying “it is not possible to identify a minimum level of achievement on each or any factor necessary to gain admission,” they do claim that 65 percent of the entering freshman class was in the top “quartile” of their graduating high school class.
• SAT/ACT: No minimum requirements listed, but median test score ranges for entering freshman are between 1080 and 1270 for the SAT and 22 to 27 for the ACT.
• High School Coursework: English, 4-year units; foreign language, 2-year units; math, 3-year units; natural science/laboratory, 2-year units; social science, 2-year units.

Texas Tech:

• Class Rank/Test Scores: “Assured admission” is granted to students falling in the following class rank and test score combination: Top 10 percent, with no test score requirements; students graduating in their class’ first quarter, with at least a 25 on their ACT or 1140 on their SAT-1; students graduating in their class’ second quarter, with at least a 28 on their ACT or 1230 on their SAT-1; and students graduating in their class’ lower half, with at least a 29 on their ACT or 1270 on their SAT-1.
• High School Coursework: 4 units of English, 3 units of math, 2 units of laboratory science and 2 units of foreign language.
• Students who don’t qualify for “assured admission” will need to rely on things such as honors coursework, bilingual proficiency, special talents or awards, leadership experiences and familial ties to the school to recommend them.

Source: Admissions’ stated entry requirements.   “There’s this assumption that students really need to be involved in a lot of activities,” Ellertson says. “That’s not true. I don’t necessarily want a student that’s well-rounded; I do want a student that’s been involved in a few areas with depth, that shows some passion and leadership [in those areas]. What students don’t realize is that we admit other students that complement them to shape a class.” Being involved in internships, volunteer work and extracurricular activities targeted to specific interests and/or a desirable major is important. “Some kids do volunteer work that’s related to their major, do job shadowing in the summer, or go to camps related to their major,” says Michelle Walker, an admissions counselor at A&M. She says documented summer activities and employment are especially important, because many students that attend A&M also work simultaneously. Work experience thus becomes a predictor of success; a sign that a student can juggle school and other responsibilities. At the beginning of senior year in high school, it’s time to research the colleges that fit applicants’ specific professional wants. Beyond that, Ellertson recommends that seniors “write the best essay they can. That’s really all you can tell those students.”   Cramming for College FOR SENIORS WITH borderline grades and standardized test scores, essays and letters of recommendation may bring an applicant to life for an admissions committee. “A well-written essay really stands out,” Ellertson says. “It’s significant for a couple of reasons: You want to know the student can think critically and write well; but also, if it’s a personal statement, that’s the one opportunity you have, without an interview, to get some insight into the person’s character or passion or interests. Everything else tends to be very objective: courses, grades, test scores. But I want to know about the person. If I were sitting in a class, would I want this student next to me?” The dean recommends something Associate Director of Admissions Eric Maloof, previously a long-time high school counselor, tells prospective college kids about their essay topics and style. “He boiled it down to two simple [criteria]: For them to write about what’s important to that particular student and then to ask themselves the question, ‘am I the only one who could have written this essay?’ Students can take a similar topic, but those who are able to make it personal and specific and concrete, and somewhat insightful, have the advantage. “Proof your essay as well; I’m always astonished at how many students don’t proof their essay, and nothing causes a quicker unfavorable reaction than a poorly written essay.” What a counselor writes about a student can be impressive as well, college counselors say. Many universities’ admissions teams are familiar with high school counselors around the state. Getting a sincere letter from one of them that enthusiastically recommends a particular student can be convincing to admissions personnel. Ultimately, if a student has done his or her homework in researching a school that fits his or her interests and likes, that should help their chances of getting in. He or she has already chosen a place that purportedly excels in the same fields that he or she does. Ellertson recommends that students come up with their own “ranking system” for schools: Identify what is of primary importance in a prospective college, and then seek out schools that are a good match. Visiting these schools is important too, he says. If visits aren’t possible, students can contact the school to see what current students or alums may be in their area. “This should help reduce anxiety,” he says. And that’s the point. Because, like taking a test, whether you’ve studied steadily or crammed at the last minute, all one can do is wait for the results and hope that it will have a beneficial impact on the future.  Jennifer Litz is the managing editor of Scene in SA Monthly, a general-interest city magazine in San Antonio, Texas. Go to www.scenepublications.com for more information on the publication. As a recent graduate with a degree in journalism from The University of Texas, Jennifer hopes to clarify current college admissions challenges and encourage high school students to prepare early to go to the college of their dreams.