Demystifying College Admissions: 12 Common Myths Dispelled
The college admissions process can feel like navigating a labyrinth, with countless myths shaping students’ and parents’ perceptions. As an independent college counselor, I’ve witnessed the confusion and stress these misconceptions can cause. In this blog, I’ll debunk some of the most common myths about college admissions, paving the way for a clearer, more informed journey to a great fit college.
1. ACT/SAT Scores Are the Most Important Factor in College Admissions
The most important factor in college admissions remains your high school transcript—grades and course rigor. With most colleges remaining test-optional (and some now test-free), you’re not required to share your ACT or ACT scores with most colleges. Though good ACT or SAT scores can help, they are not the main determinant of an admission decision and, especially at highly selective colleges, typically will not make up for sub-par grades.
2. ACT/SAT Scores Don’t Matter
With grade inflation and grade compression at many high schools, high test standardized scores can validate a strong transcript. Moreover, at some institutions—especially most large public universities—your strong ACT or SAT score can be a key factor in admission and merit scholarship awards. Submitting a solid test score is usually better than applying without one. Some colleges are returning to requiring the ACT or SAT, and others, such as Auburn University, have expressly stated that they prefer students to submit test scores. Thus, the vast majority of students should prep for and take the ACT and/or SAT.
3. Financial Aid Is Only for Those Who Qualify for Need-Based Aid
Financial aid includes a range of options, including merit-based scholarships, grants, and loans. Many families mistakenly believe they won’t qualify for aid, missing out on potential financial support. Here is data (see Domestic Undergraduate Need-Based and Merit Aid chart) showing which colleges offer the most merit scholarships. The vast majority of colleges offer significant merit aid to attract students, many of whom are weighing multiple admission offers.
4. Public Universities are Always Less Expensive than Private Institutions
Though sticker prices are often lower at public institutions, private colleges may offer more generous need-based financial aid packages and merit scholarships that could make them more affordable.
5. Your Main College Essay Must Be About a Trauma or Life-Changing Event
Your Common App personal statement, the longest essay you likely will write, should showcase your strongest personal qualities and core values and show that you will be a good roommate and contribute to the college’s community. A simple story or multiple stories told well—showing sides of you not found in the rest of your application—can be powerful even if not describing a traumatic or other major event.
6. The More Extracurriculars, the Better
Quality wins over quantity when it comes to extracurricular activities. Admissions committees prefer sustained involvement, impact, and leadership in a few areas rather than a long list of superficial commitments. You can also show leadership in different ways—not just through formal titles—such as by volunteering and mentoring.
7. Colleges Want to See a High Number of Community Service Hours
It’s not the number of hours but your impact and commitment that matter. Dedication to a cause you care about is more impressive than a large number of hours, especially since many high schools have service hour requirements. As with other extracurricular activities, the impact of your volunteer and community service work, which can be shown in the description field on your activities list, is more important than just saying you did x number of hours of it.
8. Letters of Recommendation Are Just Formalities
Strong, personalized letters of recommendation can significantly bolster your application for colleges that require or accept these letters. They provide insight into your character, work ethic, and contributions to your community. Teachers can describe your intellectual curiosity in the classroom and how you interact with your classmates. Occasionally, an outside letter of recommendation—such as from an employer or faculty sponsor of a school club—can also be helpful in addition to any required teacher recommendations. When applying to colleges that evaluate applications holistically, an outstanding recommendation letter can tip the balance in your favor, and a lukewarm one can hurt your application.
9. Recommendations from Prominent Alumni or VIPs Play a Major Role in Admission
Recommendation letters should speak to your personal qualities and academic strengths. A letter from a prominent individual or alum who doesn’t know you well is less valuable than one from a teacher or someone else who can recount anecdotes and stories showing your character and work ethic. Recommendations from alumni or VIPs who don’t know you well can actually be counterproductive because they may appear insincere or be seen as name-dropping. Admissions officers seek genuine insight into a student’s character, accomplishments, and potential, which is difficult to convey if the recommender has little or no personal connection with you.
10. You Should Avoid Mentioning Weaknesses in Your Application
Addressing challenges or weaknesses thoughtfully in your application can demonstrate resilience and self-awareness, qualities colleges value. In addition, you don’t want colleges wondering why your grades dipped for one semester or one class. You can and should use the Additional Information section on the Common App to explain these challenges so colleges aren’t left wondering. Often, you can turn a negative into a positive.
11. Applying to Many Highly Selective Colleges Significantly Increases Your Odds of Getting Into One of Them
For most students, applying to a large number of uber-selective colleges—referred to as “shotgunning”—generally doesn’t improve your chances of getting into at least one of them. That is especially true for students whose GPA and curriculum rigor are below the average of admitted students for the colleges in question. In addition, the most selective colleges tend to have supplemental essays, often more than one; having too many essays to write can detract from the quality of all of them and negatively impact your grades, activities, ability to demonstrate interest to colleges, sleep, and stress level. Instead, focus on a balanced list of colleges that are an academic, social, and financial fit.
12. Attending a Prestigious College Is the Path to Success
Success is not determined by the name of the college you attend but by what you do in and after college. Most successful people have thrived without degrees from highly selective institutions. I highly recommend Frank Bruni’s book, Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be.
Your search for the right college fit doesn’t need to be stressful.
Armed with the right information, students can approach the college admissions process with confidence and clarity. By dispelling some common myths, we can foster a more genuine, less stressful search for great fit colleges. Remember, the goal is not just to get into college but to thrive there and beyond. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about these topics or any other part of the college planning process.
