紐約時報：關於拿到女神校錄取你需要知道的十件事

05-04

10 Things to Know About Getting Into Your Dream College

By Eric Hoover

Eric Hoover is a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher

Education covering admissions.

NOV. 1, 2017

There』s no magic formula for getting into a selective college, but

over a decade covering admissions for The Chronicle of Higher Education, I』ve

picked up a thing or two. These takeaways, based on hundreds of interviews with

admissions deans over the years, may help you navigate the process.

Admissions decisions aren』t all about you.

When colleges choose applicants, they』re juggling competing goals,

like increasing diversity and bringing in more revenue. Admissions officers

aren』t looking for students who fit just one description — say, those who』ve

earned all A』s or won the most awards. So don』t take rejection personally.

Grades and test scores still carry the most weight.

Colleges often say they want to get to know the real you, but

that』s probably true only if your academic accomplishments (and the rigor of

courses you』ve taken) pass muster.

You』re more than a number.

After colleges identify a big batch of students with outstanding

credentials, differences among them become more important, admissions deans say.

Among some of the attributes they tell me they would like to see evidence of (in

essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations) are: leadership, risk

taking, emotional intelligence, fire for learning, critical thinking, curiosity,

empathy, optimism, grit, perseverance and the ability to overcome obstacles.

Express your authentic self.

Overwhelmed by slick, boastful essays, colleges are eager for what

they call 「authentic」 glimpses of applicants — their experiences, passions and

goals. Some deans believe they』ll get deeper insight through alternative formats

like videos, pictures, audio files or documents (an Advanced Placement English

paper, maybe). A handful of prestigious schools, including Yale, the University

of Chicago, Pomona College, Reed College and the University of Rochester,

recently introduced this option. As with essays, too much polish is no good,

deans say, so you might think twice about hiring a professional videographer. At

Yale, about 400 applicants (out of nearly 33,000) for this year』s freshman class

sent in something in an alternative format. In at least one case, the submission

— a video showing leadership and impact on others — was, the dean told me, a

「difference maker.」

Diversity counts.

Are you a first-generation or low-income student? Many colleges

are trying to increase access, so it can help to emphasize your background — and

how your personal story relates to your achievements — in essays and interviews.

Admissions officers are thinking harder about socioeconomic context, such as the

quality of an applicant』s high school, to better understand the opportunities

they』ve had and the challenges they』ve faced.

But money does matter.

At many colleges, financial circumstances comes into play. Being

able to pay all or some of the freight is a bonus. And some qualified students

of limited means might get rejected for no reason other than lack of money.

Geography is (partly) destiny.

Many selective colleges want students from all over, ideally from

all 50 states. Last year』s presidential election illuminated the urban-rural

divide, which some colleges have been trying to bridge by paying closer

attention to promising applicants from less-populous areas. Generally, a

Northeastern college will look more favorably on an applicant from Montana than

an equally strong one from the Northeast.

Legacies aren』t a shoo-in.

Legacy status certainly helps, but big-name colleges reject plenty

of these applicants. Don』t assume Mom or Dad』s connections alone will get you

in.

Do (real) good.

A new initiative called 「Turning the Tide」 urges admissions

offices to reward applicants for sustained community service. And some colleges,

such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, are taking a closer look at

what applicants have done to help others, be they neighbors or family members.

You don』t have to fly to Belize to do good (admissions officers are often

skeptical of these fleeting trips). Showing up to tutor someone at the library

each week might be even more impressive, and rewarding.

Colleges want to be your first choice.

About one in five colleges allot 「considerable importance」 to

「demonstrated interest,」 whereby applicants convey their willingness to attend

the college they』re applying to. Open those emails. Connect with admissions

officers. Let them know when you visit campus. Only those who are sure about

their first choice and don』t need to compare financial aid packages should

choose the strongest expression of demonstrated interest: applying early

decision, which is binding.

以上內容摘自：

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/education/edlife/admissions-tips-on-getting-into-dream-college.html