How to Become the “Interesting People” Colleges Want
Article first appeared in the Trumansburg Free Press, September 27, 2006
“Life isn’t fair,” we tell our kids. The perception of unfairness increases when we hear of excellent students who did not get into colleges of their choice. The rankings of colleges in US News and World Report enhances people’s anxiety and sense of unfairness. It is true that the most famous colleges and universities (i.e. the most selective 100 colleges including the Ivy League) turn down many well-qualified applicants every year. On a professional consultants tour, I had a chance to talk with admissions officials from MIT who emphasized their desire for students who were interesting people, not just those with high test scores and grades. In a recent CNN article, the MIT dean of admissions Marilee Jones pointedly said, “We don’t want robots with resumes.”
It is still true that some students have an advantage in the process through excellent preparation more than from “gaming” the system or trying to impress colleges with quirks like essays set to music. Private schools base their reputations on the colleges to which their students are admitted. Consequently, many private schools devote significant resources to private tutoring, career counseling, presentation coaching, and special summer enrichment programs. Public school students can increase their college options by enriching their learning outside the classroom early in high school. This will put them on a more level playing field with students who prepare at private schools.
So should 14-year-olds start studying for the SAT? Hardly. Obsessing over standardized tests like the SAT can lead to test fatigue and burnout. Colleges are looking for students who are curious and interested in learning. Students in Trumansburg already have access to a good public education. The local guidance counselors are a great resource who help students with choice of courses, possible career ideas, and their knowledge of colleges in the area.
Local high school students can also enhance their education and improve their chances of gaining admission to the college of their choice by building upon their public school foundation outside of the classroom. Enriching the high school experience doesn’t have to take a lot of money. The following activities are tips for educational enrichment from consultants who are members of the IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) with additions and comments from local high school teachers.
- Read, read, read
This is the top recommendation from Neil Clifford, English teacher at Charles O. Dickerson High school. He adds, “If you read, you’ll succeed. If you don’t, you won’t.” Read about things you are interested in. Sample different kinds of reading material including newspapers, fictional books, poetry, biography etc. - Join (or start) a book club
Share ideas about books or articles. Different perspectives will enrich the reading experience. - Tutor someone
Teaching someone else helps you learn the material more deeply. - Keep a journal
Writing down weird, funny, or sad things that happen will help you recall specifics when you have to write an essay. This could also lead to writing an article for the local paper. - Get involved creatively
High school biology teacher Gordon Bonnet encourages students to be pro-active in exploring the variety of arts whether it be singing in a group, painting, dancing, glass-blowing etc. - Volunteer
There are many worthy local organizations that could use your help. In my town, these include the Ulysses Philomathic Library, the SPCA, the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, Juniper Manor etc. You can learn a lot by helping someone else. History teacher Mary June King adds that “helping senior citizens will become increasingly important in our society as their numbers grow. New areas of study relating to aging are also springing up.” She also noted that as an employer, she would look for people who gave back to their community as an indicator of character. - Take an acting or public speaking class
Expressing yourself orally is a skill that really comes in handy for college and job interviews. - Go to movies with friends and talk about them
English teacher Louise Vigneaux says, “Students can learn a lot by talking about characters in a film, the importance of the setting, and the purpose of the story.” - Join or start a public action group
History and government teacher Mary June King mentioned that Trumansburg students had recently started a “random acts of kindness” group. - Get a job
Even if you are only shoveling snow or pulling weeds, you show initiative and responsibility
Choosing several of these activities will enrich your life and your educational prospects. Interesting people who are actively engaged in their own education make the best college applicants.
