The top candidates have taken AP courses like US History,
Calculus, Chemistry, Physics and French IV. If you can handle them, do so.
In addition to impressing admissions officers, you'll be getting a better
education. Here are some tips:
English - If you want to go to a selective college, don't
take obviously easy courses like Sports Literature. If electives are
offered pick courses that present you as a student with serious interest
in literature and writing.
Math - Taking math in your senior year is a good idea. But
if math baffles you, don't feel pressured to sign up for Calculus.
Instead, choose Advanced Math or College Algebra, and they help on your
SAT.
If you will major in sciences or engineering, senior math
is a must. History - It is somehow easier to find history electives that
sound serious and interesting. Contemporary European History or the
Russian Revolution won't look bad on a transcript. Even better are
non-Western European history electives.
Foreign language - Taking three or more years of a foreign
language is a great way to add seriousness to your transcript. Don't make
the mistake of taking one year of French, one year of Spanish and one year
of German. A long term commitment to a language shows that you don't mind
studying and are willing to stick with your decision. It guarantees them a
student with a deep knowledge of a language and that pleases foreign
language professors.
Your SAT score - The SAT is important, but nothing to be
frightened of. The SAT and other standardized admissions tests play a big
part in college admissions, and in some cases, in scholarships decisions.
The SAT is a three hour, mostly multiple choice test, taken by 2 million
students every year.
Some public colleges put equal weight on math and verbal
scores. Most other colleges weigh verbal more than math because professors
are concerned about declining reading and writing skills. Ideally, you
want scores to be good and close to each other. SAT is important because
it is the only uniform number they have for all candidates. Fortunately,
you can raise your SAT (or ACT) score with just a few months of work.
Your extracurriculars -Activities that you participate in
after class make you different from everyone else. Colleges want students
capable of doing college level work first and foremost. If those students
also have personalities, that is a bonus! Quality is more important than
quantity. Colleges are not impressed with one of everything on their
application; better to be deeply involved with the same activities year
after year. If you've been recognized and received and award, don't be shy
about it! Admissions officers are putting together well-rounded classes,
and applicants who have focused on one particular pursuit, whether it is
football or physics, are an integral part of the well-rounded class. If
you can't take part in extracurricular activities because you have to work
after school, you are not at a disadvantage. Works builds character, among
other things, so you should think about your job as and activity and use
it to convey what a good college candidate you are.
Beginning the process - Student athletes who read our
publications and use our "Networking" will already know their
target coaches very well by this point in time, and they will know a lot
about their six "best fit" schools.
Early in your junior year, complete the NCAA Clearinghouse
application and write to both the admissions office and the coach. When
you receive application forms carefully compare them. Although they appear
identical, the set from the coach may contain a code to signal a
recruitable athlete. At U. Penn it is a large "A" screened in
gray on the front page; at LSU the coach's admission form is printed on
purple paper. Even if you can't see any difference, always use the set
from your coach.
Your application essay - Some essay topics are assigned
and some are left up to you. Approach finding a topic the same way you
approach finding a college. Make a list of the personal characteristics
you'd like to communicate, then choose an essay that most effectively
communicates them. Admissions officers read some 30 per day, and are less
bored by particulars. Narrow your focus and write about something that
happened to you so the details stick in the reader's mind. Most important.
Essays must be structurally sound with no grammatical errors. Make sure
your essay is perfect, no matter how unremarkable it may be otherwise.
Your recommendations - Most colleges ask applicants to
submit at least one recommendation from a teacher. Recommendations can
have an important bearing on your admissions chances. Give your
recommender plenty of time and everything he needs, including a copy of
your application, its deadline and a stamped addressed envelope. Pick a
teacher who writes detailed and favorable comments on your papers. Set up
an appointment to meet one-on-one. Think about what you want your
recommender to say and communicate those points in your meeting. During
your meeting, discuss your past activities and future goals with your
recommender. Share the college's admissions literature so that the
recommender has a sense of what the college is looking for in an
applicant, especially if the school is unique. It is always good manners
to thank the recommender; sending a thank- you-note three weeks before the
deadline will remind a forgetful teacher to get on the stick.
Your admission interview - is less required today because
of the increasing number of applicants. Some have networks of alumni who
interview applicants. Learn the school's practice before requesting one.
Most interviews aren't as important as students assume.
Rarely does an interview ruin one's chances, and only slightly more often
does it put an applicant on top. Still it is a chance to make a good
impression on the person who will read your application. Be prepared to
answer - Why do you want to go here? What first brought us to your
attention? What do you want to major in? What do you want to do with your
life? Practice your answers with a friend or family member.
Admissions officers prefer to meet you without your
parents; during your interview Mom and Dad can meet with the Financial Aid
Officer or the coach.
Your official visit - student athletes are allowed five of
these all- expense-paid trips. After July 1 (preceding your senior year)
college coaches phone their top picks and begin to schedule these
important visits. You will tour the campus, meet the team, see a game,
stay overnight and receive the full sales pitch from everyone you meet. Be
yourself and try to judge how happily you would fit into the group and its
culture. Later, the coach will discuss your visit with those who met you,
trying to judge your ability to contribute to his/her program.
Scholarship discussions - usually will not be initiated by
the coach until you have been accepted by the college. Most colleges will
notify you of your acceptance promptly, but the very selective Ivy league
and private colleges may delay until May of your senior year. This can
make life very difficult for the player who receives an Official Athletic
Scholarship Letter of Intent from Div I SMU in February (with a seven day
expiration clause) and cannot have written confirmation of Princeton or U.
Penn's offers until May.
All coaches who recruit you will press for a decision on
their offer, because they have a second and a third choice candidate
waiting. Just before you decide, call each coach and honestly discuss the
offers you have. If they can improve their offers, this is the time when
it will happen.
Electing Early Decision, while it improves your chances of
acceptance by about 15%, is risky because it requires you to withdraw all
other college applications and may significantly reduce your scholarship
bargaining power.
As in a close game, the last few minutes are heart
stoppers; you'll feel a lot better when you've made your decision. Soon it
will be August and you'll be off to preseason training as a college
freshman!
