Closely-Guarded College Admissions "Secrets"

Class of 2014 students - and their families - will soon stare down the the most competitive college admissions and financial aid landscape ever.

·         Admissions rates dropped at seven of eight Ivy League schools this year (again!)

·         The average private college and university raised prices more than 3% this year

·         State universities have gotten harder to get into and more expensive as funding sources continue to dry up

·         Applicants from Asia, India and other parts of the world continue to flood into American colleges

What should a rising Senior (Class of 2014) do?

First, understand what colleges want:  higher rankings in US News and World Report.  (I know, they're "non-profit" institutions of higher education....please!)

Yes, students compete to get into top schools...

...but colleges also compete with EACH OTHER for top students.  

And "top student" does not mean only a kid with 18 APs, a 2400 and who cured a deadly disease last summer!

Tens of thousands of B and B plus kids get scholarship offers of $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 or more!  (Perhaps that's why your mailbox is stuffed daily with brochures and other direct mail from colleges you never heard of? Aha!)

So construct your list strategically (hint:  not based entirely on the rear window stickers of the cars in your neighborhood).

Second, learn what it takes to catch the eye of an admissions committee.  

Depending on where you apply, you could have virtually the same grades and standardized test scores as thousands of other applicants.

Your application must answer the question, Why should we take YOU instead of all these other kids with the same credentials?

How do you answer that?

By explaining how you're an "atypical" teen.

What does that mean?

Put it this way.  It's typical (and great) for a kid to work as a camp counselor.

But it's ATYPICAL for a kid to start her own business.

It's typical to be in a club.

It's atypical to found a club.

Get my drift?

There's a whole lot more to discuss, but this post is long enough already.

If you want more (free) information about how to win at theGame of Admissions, you're invited to attend a new online training that I've made available for Class of 2014 families:

Game of Admissions Webinar

(Available - gratis - through the end of June.)

I hope you found this post helpful!

- Andy 

Andrew Lockwood, J.D. is an attorney-turned-"late stage" college consultant in Plainview, New York.  More information is available on his main blog, CollegePlanningGuru.com