How not to worry about getting into a top-choice college

Don't lower your sights.  Make a compelling case.
By now everyone has read articles about the increasingly competitive college admissions process.  Colleges such as Boston University, University of Miami, and George Washington University to name a few, once considered easy colleges to get into have now become highly competitive.  Well known competitive colleges such as the University of Michigan, Emory and Vanderbilt are now even more competitive; the University of Chicago now has an admissions rate similar to several ivies. 

Yes, it has become more competitive.  Several of these articles advise students to lower their sights.  I cannot disagree more.  While everyone should have a balance of reach, target and high-probability colleges, do not lower your sights.  Instead, focus on making a compelling case to your top-choice colleges.  Be the one that obtains admission to the college of your dreams.

Here is what you need to do:

• Assess your strengths and personal qualities that appeal to colleges.  If you do not understand your strengths in the eyes of the college, how then are you going to differentiate yourself?

• Understand what truly makes a college right for you.  This is a necessary but challenging task.  Colleges certainly do differ, and you need to understand how.  Explore areas such as academic intensity, strength of the programs offered, teaching methods stressed, values and student personalities that the college prefers. 

• Determine the value you bring to each college in which you have an interest.  Each student can contribute in their own way, and what you offer one college may be different from what you bring to another college.  

• If you understand the college and the value you bring, it will be easy to select those colleges that are right for you and that look for a student like you.

• Have a strategy to present your strengths and personal qualities to each college of interest in a compelling way.  Do not wait for your application to present your story.  Every contact with a college is an opportunity to make an impression.  At college fairs, college presentation, and college visits utilize the opportunity to meet with admissions counselors.  During college visits, meet with professors, coaches, club or team members, or other students.  Ask quality opinion questions and you will make an impression by the questions you ask.   And, make sure you listen and learn from the responses you get. 

This approach consistently produces results.  As a result of your actions, you will know which colleges are right for you and why you are right for each college.  You will know how you will benefit from attending and the ways in which you can contribute.   If you met with the right individuals and asked the right questions, you will have learned valuable information which can be incorporated into your essays.  Now, it is just a question of showing the college that you fit-in as opposed to trying to get-in.  And, you may well have made a connection with someone who will advocate for you during the admissions decision.