Last week I had a local student reach out to me that I know. The student needed immediate help in putting together all the materials to apply to college. The student's academic record wasn't perfect, but there was a clear upward trajectory in their grades, focus, and maturity.
My team helped to identify colleges with later deadlines, less stringent course requirements, and more generous acceptance rates, while I edited the student's essay and helped them fill out the Common Application. It was a mad rush, but the student had everything done and was ready to apply to college by today, a popular admissions deadline.
A lot of people think I only work with students who have perfect GPAs and test scores. A lot of people think I only value elite colleges. But the truth is that I was not a perfect college applicant and my own kids aren't either. We aren't looking at elite colleges. We are looking for great fits. So, for all the students out there that need more options and understanding rather than competition and requirements, here are five things to look for in a college.
1. Colleges without Supplemental Essays
As a dean of admissions, I insisted on having supplemental essays. I felt that it was a way to distinguish the serious students from the rest. But as a mom and college counselor, I no longer prescribe to that philosophy. The number of supplemental essays that students have to write in addition to their personal statement (sometimes called the "main essay" or "Common App essay") is insane. Stanford University requires eight supplemental essays, for example. Harvard University has five supplemental essays. Princeton University has six. It starts to really add up. Given that most colleges don't announce their supplemental essay prompts until August, students are forced to write these supplemental essays during senior year when courses are the most challenging and responsibilities increase. So, when a student is pressed for time or doesn't have any fuel in the tank, I recommend that they include colleges on their list that don't require any supplemental essays, like Franklin & Marshall College, Northeastern University, Middlebury College, University of Delaware, University of Alabama, and many more!
2. A True Test-Optional Policy
If I hear of one more college that claims it is test-optional and then clearly favors students with test scores, I am going to report it to every professional agency in our industry. So many colleges adopted a test-optional policy during the pandemic and have held onto it, but only in theory. This group of colleges tends to have very low acceptance rates, like Boston College and the University of Michigan. It doesn't mean you can't get admitted without scores, but the bar of expectation on your application gets higher and higher. That's antithetical to the intentions of a true test-optional policy. For a student who isn't planning to report their SAT or ACT scores, look for colleges that have longstanding test-optional policies like George Washington University, Hofstra University, American University, Wake Forest University, and Washington State University. There are also a slew of small liberal arts colleges too, like Bowdoin College, which was the first test-optional college in the country. All of these colleges have years of data to prove that they do not disadvantage students who apply without scores.
RELATED READING: Why I Love Small Liberal Arts Colleges
3. Merit Scholarships
I didn't realize how good it feels when your kid gets a merit scholarship until it happened to my oldest child. Whether it's a small or large amount, merit scholarships can change how a student thinks of that college and themself. A merit scholarship can give a student a huge confidence boost. Surprisingly, colleges that are generous with merit scholarships aren't just doling them out to "perfect students." And there are a lot of students who don't qualify for need-based aid or don't want to go into debt to attend college. A merit scholarship can make a college more affordable, and a lot more attractive. I am not counting elite colleges with a minuscule number of merit scholarships like Washington University-St. Louis or Vanderbilt University. So few students are getting merit scholarships there and those who get them are truly perfect students. I'm talking about colleges like Miami University Ohio, University of Connecticut, University of Tennessee, Marist University, and many more.
4. Interviews by Staff Members (Not Alumni)
There are still a decent number of colleges that offer interviews, but the type of interview matters. Colleges that only offer alumni interviews are often highly selective and the interview by the alum doesn't count as much as the student (or the alum) thinks, sadly. For the colleges that still offer on-campus or virtual interviews by a staff member (or college senior), the interview matters more. And for a student who doesn't have a perfect record but has a perfect story to tell, the interview conducted by a staff member can carry a lot more weight because that staff member is typically a member of the admissions committee and can personally advocate for that student. The colleges that still offer interviews with staff members tend to be smaller colleges, like Union College, Gettysburg College, and Grinnell College. If you want to truly matter in the admissions process and on campus as a student, these smaller colleges were made for you.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Top Ten Questions Asked During College Interviews
5. Spring or Summer Starts
For any student who doesn't have a perfect record but is interested in attending a college that is more competitive, consider colleges that have an early or late enrollment start. Some of the larger public universities, like Penn State University and Clemson University, will admit students to their summer start programs which means the student would arrive on campus the summer after high school graduation and begin taking courses before the fall semester begins. At a private college, like Hamilton College and Tulane University, the alternate start usually means that the student would begin on campus the spring semester of freshman year (instead of beginning in the fall). No matter what type of institution it is, if the college asks if you want to be considered for a summer or spring start on their supplement, make sure to say yes. This can increase your odds of admissions.
READ MORE: 5 Questions Facing the Class of 2027 (and My Answers!)
All of these options honor, celebrate, and reward students who have tremendous potential but haven't necessarily reached it yet. And when they get admitted or get a merit scholarship they didn't expect, something magical happens. The student ends up succeeding far beyond anyone's expectations. I see it time and time again with the students I work with. I am seeing it firsthand with my own kid, by the way.
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