A group of Upper School parents and students met for College Night recently to hear a panel of college admissions representatives discuss the ins and outs of getting into college. Admissions representatives from Samford College, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Vanderbilt University, Ohio State University, University of South Carolina, and Wofford College were on the panel.
The evening was moderated by Trent Gilbert, husband of College Counselor Adrienne Gilbert, and a former admissions representative for Elon University. Panel members discussed the admissions process, sharing the individual admissions requirements for each of their institutions and highlighting the criteria used when evaluating an applicant.
Though the requirements for each institution varied, representatives agreed that the top three criteria were standardized test scores, GPA, and academic rigor. The consensus of the panel was that colleges and universities want to see that students are fulfilling their potential and taking challenging courses. Colleges look for strong grades in honors and college-credit AP courses; however, the panel agreed that what is most important is that students are not taking courses below their potential abilities, whether they are AP courses or not.
While representatives acknowledged the importance of grades in the selection process, they also agreed that having good grades isn’t the whole ball of wax. The panel stressed that colleges are looking for students who are not only an academic fit, but a social fit for their school; in short, colleges want students who will enrich their schools, whether through academics, athletics, service, or participation in campus life.
The panel also dispelled some ideas that juniors and seniors assume about various colleges, and encouraged students to rigorously research their schools of interest.
“SCAD does not require an art portfolio for admission, which is a common misconception,” said Kalen Curtis, the SCAD representative. “We admit students solely based on their GPA, standardized testing, and interests.”
Panelists also discussed the importance of the written essay as a “swing vote” when comparing equally qualified students with one another. According to the panel, the essay is the best way to give colleges a sense of your personality and passions.
“You don’t have to write about anything dramatic or particularly life-changing,” said Erin Ramsey of Samford University. “We just want an essay that is written in your true voice, and shows us who you really are, what you really think.”
“The three top topics for college essays are vacations, mission trips, and how much you love your family,” said Palmer Straughn of Wofford College. “Avoid common topics like these because it will be hard to distinguish yourself and stick out in the crowd.”
All the panelists stressed the importance of visiting their institutions and not making college decisions without touring the campus, sitting in on classes, or getting a feel for the surrounding city. Following the panel’s insights, students and parents were given an opportunity to ask questions of their own and chat one-on-one with the admissions officers.
"College Night was an informative and yet very relaxed presentation of great information for college-bound students and their parents,” said Valerie Keith, mother of Peter (10th), Daniel (8th), and Julia Grace (4th). “The panel of admissions representatives did a great job clarifying differences among their schools' approach to admissions, and really showed that they were there to advocate for students who are interested in their schools. The evening had an encouraging tone overall and we left with good general information about essays, testing, financial aid, and choosing the school best for the student."
The evening was moderated by Trent Gilbert, husband of College Counselor Adrienne Gilbert, and a former admissions representative for Elon University. Panel members discussed the admissions process, sharing the individual admissions requirements for each of their institutions and highlighting the criteria used when evaluating an applicant.
Though the requirements for each institution varied, representatives agreed that the top three criteria were standardized test scores, GPA, and academic rigor. The consensus of the panel was that colleges and universities want to see that students are fulfilling their potential and taking challenging courses. Colleges look for strong grades in honors and college-credit AP courses; however, the panel agreed that what is most important is that students are not taking courses below their potential abilities, whether they are AP courses or not.
While representatives acknowledged the importance of grades in the selection process, they also agreed that having good grades isn’t the whole ball of wax. The panel stressed that colleges are looking for students who are not only an academic fit, but a social fit for their school; in short, colleges want students who will enrich their schools, whether through academics, athletics, service, or participation in campus life.
The panel also dispelled some ideas that juniors and seniors assume about various colleges, and encouraged students to rigorously research their schools of interest.
“SCAD does not require an art portfolio for admission, which is a common misconception,” said Kalen Curtis, the SCAD representative. “We admit students solely based on their GPA, standardized testing, and interests.”
Panelists also discussed the importance of the written essay as a “swing vote” when comparing equally qualified students with one another. According to the panel, the essay is the best way to give colleges a sense of your personality and passions.
“You don’t have to write about anything dramatic or particularly life-changing,” said Erin Ramsey of Samford University. “We just want an essay that is written in your true voice, and shows us who you really are, what you really think.”
“The three top topics for college essays are vacations, mission trips, and how much you love your family,” said Palmer Straughn of Wofford College. “Avoid common topics like these because it will be hard to distinguish yourself and stick out in the crowd.”
All the panelists stressed the importance of visiting their institutions and not making college decisions without touring the campus, sitting in on classes, or getting a feel for the surrounding city. Following the panel’s insights, students and parents were given an opportunity to ask questions of their own and chat one-on-one with the admissions officers.
"College Night was an informative and yet very relaxed presentation of great information for college-bound students and their parents,” said Valerie Keith, mother of Peter (10th), Daniel (8th), and Julia Grace (4th). “The panel of admissions representatives did a great job clarifying differences among their schools' approach to admissions, and really showed that they were there to advocate for students who are interested in their schools. The evening had an encouraging tone overall and we left with good general information about essays, testing, financial aid, and choosing the school best for the student."