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Why is College Admissions SO COMPLEX?

MD Faruk Mia


I am a seasoned independent college admissions counselor and a current second-time-parent to a high school senior. And, I’m going to be honest: Even I’ve been frustrated by the college admissions process this year.

 

Despite my grievances, I’ve seen that my formula for college admissions WORKS. As of January, all 36 of my seniors have at least one offer of admission (most have 4 or more) & many of those already have scholarships on the table. By late spring, they will all have many choices on the table that are academic, social and financial “fits” for them.

 

Unfortunately, the current college application process is complex & convoluted. There are so many reasons, but here are just a few:

 

1.     Every college handles freshman admissions differently – they have varying application requirements, essay questions, GPA algorithms, emphasis on test scores, and even different application timing options.

2.     Role of standardized testing is unclear – Since the pandemic, many colleges have gone “test optional” (and at the same time many haven’t). But, what test optional actually means is school-dependent. Some say they are, but when you analyze the data, you realize that the majority of admitted students sent scores, meaning they really were required.

3.     No transparency for admissions criteria – Colleges aren’t required to make public their admissions criteria or policies (known as institutional priorities), and therefore most don’t. It becomes a guessing game to determine the emphasis that they place on things like diversity (and how they define diversity), demonstrated interest, GPA & the number of “rigorous” classes. And, for state schools, they can have unpublished quotas or higher criteria for specific high schools in their state, adding to the uncertainty.

4.     Admissions trends change every year, sometimes suddenly – You can study a college’s admissions trends for years, think you know them and then, wham, they change  dramatically in one season with little communication or warning. For example, this season (fall 2024), The University of Tennessee made several different specific commitments to admitting in-state students. This drastically reduced the number of out-of-state spots and make those spots much more competitive. How much more? I won’t be able to tell you until late in the fall of 2025 when they update their Common Data Set – welcome to college admissions.

5.     Regional surges - The big southeastern colleges are HOT all over the US. In particular, students form the Northeast and the Midwest are applying in large numbers to the SEC schools, making admissions much more competitive for my regional southeastern clients.

 

All that to say, that if this wasn’t my day-to-day profession, I have no idea how I would have helped my high school senior this year. If you feel the same, you may want to consider hiring a college admissions professional. Here’s why:

 

1.     Time & Expertise - Hiring a College Counselor saves you time and ensures that you have access to the latest information, tools and strategies with advice that is curated specifically for your student. Not only do I work with dozens of students each year, but every morning I start the day with 1 or more hours continuing education

2.     Moderate investment to maximize results - It makes sense to spend a tiny fraction of your total college budget (3% or less) on individual college advice that will increase the odds of your student’s happiness, success and timely graduation

3.     Personalized Attention - Crazy high counselor to student ratios (1:450 in national metro areas) means students get an average of only 38 minutes of individual college admissions planning in school. Your student & this process deserve more than 38 minutes!

 

And, perhaps most importantly:

4.     Maintain Healthy Relationships - This is stressful time for students and for parents. Everyone is feeling the pressure surrounding this big decision and overwhelming process. Hiring a College Counselor introduces a third party to this process that can streamline work, sooth anxieties and restore peace in your home.

 

"Using The Write Path took an incredible amount of stress out of this crazy process. Our student was kept on task, and our questions were met with educated answers. We were able to enjoy her senior year as a family instead of being at each other's throats!"

-Class of 2023 Parent


If you have a current high school junior, Class of 2025, and need guidance for the College Admissions process, check out my Live, Hybrid Small Group class. Here, you will learn my entire curriculum in a small group, Zoom environment and can pair that with 1:1 meetings with me to refine and review your plan, lists, essays, etc.

 

 

Because she would be OK with me sharing, I’ll tell you that my own Class of 2024 daughter already has 6 offers of admission on the table, 2 of which have offered initial scholarships. She’s still waiting to hear from a few more, but because she was thoughtful about her list, I know she will be happy and successful at any of the colleges to which she applied which, in the end, is what ultimately matters.

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