Top Ten Common Myths About College Admissions

There are common myths both parents and students labor under when applying to colleges. Through my years of experience in higher education and most recently, by going through the college admission process with my own child, I have come to know all of them. I have assembled some of the most common myths about college admissions here, in no particular order.

Common Myth #1. “My son is a B student at the prestigious, private high school he’s enrolled in. I know if he was in a public high school, that B would be an A. College Admission Officers will know this.”

Reality. An A student is an A student anywhere. Just because your child is enrolled in a school with a rigorous curriculum does not excuse him from still achieving a grade of A.

Common Myth #2. “High School AP classes are harder than regular classes; therefore a grade of B is good enough. Colleges Admission Officers will not expect most students to get an A in an AP class.”

Reality. College Admission Officers have been asked this question many times, “Would you prefer the B student in an AP class, or an A student in a regular class?” The answer is this, “We would prefer the A student in the AP class.” Why? There are plenty of those applying to colleges.

Common Myth #3. Standardized test scores are weighed much more in the admission process than your high school performance.

Reality. The SAT and the ACT score are a reflection of how you did on one particular test, on one particular day. Your entire high school performance is a much better reflection of the kind of student you are and your success rate in college. Colleges do not want good test takers. They want good, consistent performers.

Common Myth #4. You need to decide on a major before you are admitted to college.

Reality. More and more students are applying undecided. Nobody has a crystal ball that will predict the future. Admission officers know that college is the time young people try new things. Future engineers may take philosophy and drama classes to see if they enjoy it. Future actors may take political science and geology classes just to see if they have an affinity for it. In fact, 'Undelared', is the most popular major in some Liberal Arts Colleges.

Common Myth #5. A poor to average performance in your 9^th or 10^th grade means you are shut out of any Tier One colleges.

Reality. College Admissions look at your entire four year career to see if you show improvement. If a ‘special circumstance’ resulted in you not doing so well in the beginning part of your high school career, you can still show sufficient improvement in the second half of your career to warrant an acceptance. Parents divorcing, losing their jobs, a serious family illness, all qualify as a ‘special circumstance’. Colleges look at upward trends as an indication of maturity and growth. If you are back on track in your 11^th or 12^th grade, college admissions will look kindly towards your overall performance.

Common Myth #6. If you engage in ‘Magical Thinking’, don’t assume that College Admission Officers will join you.

Reality. A few years ago, Joan Didion’s memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking, won the National Book Award. The title of the book refers to the magical thinking or the right amount of hope or just the right action taken to avert an unavoidable event. College Admission Officers do not know what is not in your college application. They do not know why your extracurricular activity was dropped after five contiguous years. They do not know why your grades fluctuated in your senior year. They do not know the reason behind the aberration. Let the College Admission Officer know the reason behind the anomaly. Work it into your personal essay or ask the teacher who is writing your teacher recommendation to reveal your ‘special circumstance’ as the reason behind your performance.

Common Myth #7. Colleges are looking for a well-rounded student.

Reality. Colleges are looking for a well-rounded school. If the particular college you are looking at is missing a tuba player in their marching band. Guess what special talent they will be looking for amongst their applicant pool next year? Not piccolo players. If you are one of 8,000 applicants that year, and made it past the first round of denials, and are up against only a few hundred other applicants, and you are the only tuba player; then the gods just smiled down upon you my friend. If you have a special talent that the college is in need of during the year that you are applying, then you will have the upper hand among the other applicants. The well-rounded applicant who can do it all, the football captain/debate team star/musical lead/but not play a single note on the tuba student will not be as desirable as you that year. It’s as simple as that.

Common Myth #8. Large colleges offer greater diversity.

Reality. This is true if you consider diversity only by country of origin. While it is true that the size of a large college typically means there are larger numbers of students from different countries; the size of the large college also typically means that these geographic groups tend to isolate themselves by spending time exclusively with each other for support. Interaction among the varying ethnic groups tends to be low. Whereas in a small college, with smaller class sizes; you get to know practically every student. Diversity is in the eye of the beholder.

Common Myth #9. There is no need to visit campuses, because all colleges are the same.

Reality. College Admission Officers ask that particular question, “Have you visited our campus?” of every applicant. If the answer is no, it will reflect negatively on your application. If there are special circumstances that preclude your visiting; such as cost, then this would fall under ‘special circumstances’. Keep in mind though, visiting a campus sends a strong message to Admission Officers that you are serious in attending this college.

Common Myth #10. It’s okay to take a gap year while I decide what I want to do.

Reality. Colleges will not hold your place. If you are accepted, and you decide not to attend this year for whatever reason you may have; your spot is not held for you automatically when you decide to return. Most colleges do not defer enrollment. There are literally thousands of others ready to take your place. Even if you’ve been given a once in a life time opportunity to travel to the rarest parts on earth to do research with a world renown scientist; do not take a gap year. It will be that much harder to get back to where you left off.