Dear Mr. Bradshaw,
Our daughter will be a high school freshman in August. We have heard about students who have nearly perfect grades and test scores and have taken Advanced Placement classes who have been rejected by top colleges. We want to make sure our daughter has the right preparation and advice about her options.
How can we prepare her for the college selection process?
Signed, Parent
Dear Parent,
Excellent grades and test scores, plus strong leadership skills, are still key to gaining admittance to a top college. State colleges tend to be more lenient when it comes to grades and classroom performance, but not top-tier colleges.
Harvard had 37,000 applicants last year, and 81 percent of those accepted chose to enroll. More than 14,000 applicants to Harvard scored above 700 on the critical reading, math and writing portions of the SAT, and more than 3,800 were ranked first in their respective high school classes.
Harvard’s freshman statistics show that 41 percent of the students admitted excelled in extracurricular interests, including music and other expressive and performing arts; 35 percent in debate, political activities and student government; 21 percent in social services, and 20 percent in writing and journalism. In addition, 57 percent said that they intend to participate in recreational, intramural or intercollegiate sports.
So how do you prepare for a top college in a way that will separate you from the pack?
First of all, start studying for the SAT or ACT as a freshman. Scores on these tests play a huge role in the admissions decision. In addition, you should take two or more SAT II Subject Tests if you plan to apply to a top-tier college. This, of course, means that you need to do well on five or more tests.
I recommend taking the SAT and ACT during your freshman year. It will establish a benchmark and a guide to your daughter’s strong and weak academic areas. Some students do better on one test than the other and both tests are acceptable at most colleges.
My consulting practice offers a five-week SAT/ACT boot camp. The courses are taught by Harvard students who had perfect scores on the tests they tutor. If you hire a tutor, ask to see his or her test scores. If they haven’t scored 800, it is unlikely they are competent to guide you to reach a higher level.
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In addition to the SAT/ACT boot camp, I have developed a leadership skills program that helps a student develop the techniques, skills and confidence needed to succeed. America’s leading colleges no longer look just for students with great grades and top test scores. They are looking for students who make the most of the opportunities and resources around them as well as a meaningful impact in their communities.
As we were developing the leadership curriculum, we asked ourselves what we wish we had known about how to develop leadership skills in high school. The program includes instruction in time management, public speaking, presentation preparation, writing, interviewing and listening effectively, how to conduct meetings, basic and advanced computer skills, and fundraising techniques.
I applaud your interest in getting an early start on the college selection process. Establishing an educational framework that will support your daughter’s interests and eventually intrigue college admissions officers is nothing to leave to chance.
Bradshaw is an international college admissions consultant with Bradshaw College Consulting in Crown Point.