Sell Yourself: Self-Advocacy Key to College Admissions

Aiden Amore, Social Media Editor|October 7, 2017

Guidance Counselors are busy this fall helping seniors with their college applications.

Tips to Help You Get Into College

SAT and ACT

Take advantage of Khan Academy’s free test prep & other tools.
Take both the ACT & SAT then find out which test will suit your strengths vs. weaknesses.
Realize some colleges are starting to not require standardized test scores.

Transcripts

Generally, submit your application before transcripts.
Start requesting transcripts from guidance early in senior year or the summer before (sports needs them much earlier).
Remember, colleges want to see your senior year schedule, too.

College Visits

Visit as many colleges as you can.
If you have a sibling in college, go on visits with them.
Summer is the best time, because students have more free time and more visits are available.
However, keep in mind during summer visits you aren’t getting to see a ‘live’ full campus, as most students are home.
Contact some type of counselor, professor, coach, and see if you can sit in during a class they would offer.

Admissions

Admission and financial aid is negotiable, so it’s worth a call if you have not been accepted or didn’t get as much money as you need.
Do not have your parents contact the admissions; colleges want to see initiative with you contacting them.

Applications

Start applications early; first, check to see if your prospective schools are on the Common or Coalition applications.
If you have trouble with an application, do as much of it on your own, then schedule an appointment with a counselor for help.

Financial Aid:

Flex sessions for seniors are starting in the following weeks, answering important questions such as how to create a FSA ID, and completing the Common Application
Use mysmartborrowing.com and Career Cruising for cost and planning information

Many seniors are scrambling this time of year as they go through the college application process. Those who don’t have a 4.0 and stellar SATS might be especially stressed about getting into their dream school.

Guidance counselors say students can greatly increase their chances of acceptance — no matter their transcript — by being proactive.

“Advocate for yourself, have a voice,” Guidance Counselor Mrs. Christy Greener said.

This starts with reaching out to colleges by visiting them and making contact with school admissions staff at college fairs. Even simply calling a school gives a student an edge.

“At fairs and visits, you meet the people who are most likely looking at your application,” Guidance Counselor Mrs. Caitlin Hawkins said. “Now they have a face and personality to match with a name on a piece of paper.”

Being thorough about listing activities is another way seniors can advocate for themselves, Mrs. Hawkins said. Students should put down anything that shows they spend time in and outside of school productively.

“Schools want to see that you stretch yourself beyond academics,” Mrs. Hawkins said. “You don’t need to be the football captain or student president. Even a part time job and volunteering in the community looks great.”

Students also should speak up about acceptance and financial aid, which they might not realize can be negotiable. Repeated emails and phone calls coming from students (not parents) shows colleges initiative, Mrs. Hawkins said.

The important thing is to not procrastinate, but to tackle the process with a positive attitude.

“Slow down, take a deep breath, enjoy the process,” Mrs. Greener said, “because it will be over before you know it.”