Maximize Your High School Experience and College Admissions Tips

By Dan ZhouEducation How To

Maximize Your High School Experience and College Admissions Tips episodes

April 05, 2021 What Does Waitlisted Mean And How to Respond When You’ve Been Waitlisted
What Does Waitlisted Mean And How to Respond When You’ve Been Waitlisted?
What does waitlisted mean? And How do I respond or get accepted off a waitlist? The waitlisted result has become one of the most common results in college apps. Yet, very few people know how it works or why colleges even do it in the first place. Let’s take a look at why a mechanism that was historically used primarily by private colleges. It is now one of the go-to solutions for all colleges in the United States.

Why Do Colleges Waitlist?
Why do colleges waitlist? To understand what waitlisted means, we first have to understand things from the college perspective. Let’s say you’re UCLA, and you have 113,761 applicants for just 6,240 seats. How do you get that number down? Well, it’s not as simple as you might think.
So what does waitlisted mean for UCLA as an example? Most people think UCLA just has to look for the most qualified applicants. Then they send them acceptance letters, and then the whole process is over. Wrong. On so many levels.
For one, UCLA probably has too many “qualified” and “overqualified” applicants to choose from. For instance, even if you took the top 10% of applicants, you’d still have 14,000 students. Secondly, who’s to say that those top applicants would even be interested in going to UCLA? After all, top applicants to any school have other choices. Whether it’s UC Berkeley, Stanford, or any of the Ivy League colleges.
The Yield Problem.
That’s the problem, the yield problem. UCLA doesn’t know how many students they accept will actually decide to enroll. Let’s say UCLA accepts its top 10% of applicants. However, they wish to define “top 10%.” Out of that number, say that 7,000 of those students decide to enroll at UCLA.
Well, then UCLA would have accomplished its job and filled all 6,240 seats. (with the delta being over enrolled). But what happens most of the time is the opposite: UCLA under enrolls by some margin.
UCLA will accept students not in one wave, but rather, in two or more. In its first round of acceptances, for instance, UCLA may accept 10,000 students, wait listing another 10,000.
From the first 10,000, they see that 5,000 students have decided to enroll. Well, that leaves another 1,240 seats to fill, during which time UCLA begins accepting students from its waitlist until they’ve filled the remaining seats.
What Percent Of Waitlisted Students Get Accepted Off A Waitlist
To predict what percent of waitlisted students get accepted. It is impossible. Not all universities publish their waitlist figures, but from our experience, it’s 50/50. Students usually have better odds for less selective schools and lower odds for highly selective schools.
For instance, from our years of counseling at ReadyEdgeGo, we’ve noticed students usually get accepted off the waitlist for UC Santa Cruz, whereas it’s much rarer for Harvard. That said, most of our students who’ve been waitlisted to UC Berkeley over the years have gotten accepted. Although at best this is purely anecdotal.
How to Respond To Being Waitlisted
The university in question may ask whether you wish to accept a spot on the waitlist. Respond with an affirmative “yes”. Secondly, if the university requests a formal essay, then you’ll want to address the specific prompt. We generally see waitlist essays mirroring a common supplement: “Why are you interested in our university?” Hence, we recommend our students approach it the same way we trained them for that question.
If the university doesn’t have a formal essay to respond to the waitlist, we generally encourage students to write a letter of continued interest: often emailed to the regional admissions representative or the general admissions office. A letter of continued interest is basically “Why our college?” essay, with a little bit extra. We’ll be including a detailed instructional guide on how to write such things within GoPath. Find us here if you have an issue with waitlisted.
What Does Waitlisted Mean? The Recap and Conclusion
What does waitlisted mean? Waitlisted is a good thing. It means the university likes you and is just waiting on their other acceptances to enroll. That said, you should never count on a waitlist result. Therefore keep that door open by letting them know how interested you are, but don’t make a decision until all your other results are out.
We hope that this provides some valuable insight into how to release some of the stress you may have while making your college application profile even stronger. We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.
We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.
See you soon!
The post What Does Waitlisted Mean And How to Respond When You’ve Been Waitlisted appeared first on .
13 min
March 17, 2021 Who Should Still Take the SAT?
Test dates for the SAT are being cancelled left and right. Yet, you still may be wondering: Should I still take the SAT? It turns out some students should, while others should not. We will be reviewing which students would benefit from taking the SAT and which should spend their time and money elsewhere.
Who Should?
Who Should
11th graders looking to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship need to take the SAT. Approximately half of all Finalists for this award win a scholarship worth $2500 or more. Qualifying as a Finalist or Semifinalist, though, also looks good for college admissions since it is technically an award.
Who Shouldn’t?
Who Shouldn’t
11th graders who already have strong grades – mostly A’s – AND have taken the PSAT, do not need to take the test. Taking additional SAT exams provides virtually no value since colleges can already see the student’s demonstrated aptitude.
Recap and Conclusion
Recap and Conclusion
Take the SAT if you’re in 11th grade and looking to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. Take it if you have something to prove due to low grades from the past. Otherwise, save your time for other admissions boosting activities. There are plenty!
See you soon!
The post Who Should Still Take the SAT? appeared first on .
15 min
March 10, 2021How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation During COVID-19
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation During COVID-19
Ever wonder how to ask for a letter of recommendation? What are the proper or official steps if any? Or what teachers should I ask for letters of recommendation?
Whether you’re applying for summer programs like UC COSMOS or you’re getting ready to apply for colleges this summer, getting letters of recommendation is a standard part of any application process. Things used to be easier, but that was prior to COVID-19. For one, building relationships with teachers was a lot easier in person. Secondly, asking them was usually as easy as showing up before class or waiting a bit after class. So, how does one effectively ask for letters during a pandemic when everything is virtual and online? Here are our few tips:
Choose the Right Teacher
It’s not just about how to ask for a letter of recommendation. It is also about choosing the right teachers. You may have asked already “What teachers should I ask for letters of recommendation?”
A recommendation letter for student from teacher is not about selecting a teacher from STEM because you are applying to a STEM program. In fact, most of the time, it has little to nothing to do with that. Sure, you may have some programs that openly prefer or even require a STEM teacher’s letter. But almost all the time, a program is trying to just gauge someone else’s perspective about you, be it a teacher or a coach.
Getting A Teacher Letter of Recommendation for Student
Here are three questions to follow when thinking about who to ask for a letter of recommendation:
Who likes you the best?
Who likes you the best is most likely to write you a letter.
And which teacher knows you the best?
Who knows you the best can speak towards specifics rather than general character traits.
Who writes the best?
And who writes the best can make the strongest impressions with language.
Pro-tip: You can create a make-shift spreadsheet to rate and prioritize your teachers along the above three questions.
Schedule a Time to Talk.
Before class. After class. On a weekend. Whatever will work, but remember to try getting in the habit of doing this before you need a letter of recommendation. You want to get to know your teachers if possible; they have lived interesting – and at times – extraordinary lives. Take it upon yourself to schedule time to learn about them and to get advice about your life and direction. Not to mention, tips for the upcoming quiz or essay as well
If you don’t have time to build a relationship with your teacher, then schedule a time to talk anyway. When asked about what, simply respond that you’d like to get some advice on how to learn better for class and about summer plans. Just 5 minutes should be enough.
Be Grateful. Be Helpful.
The first feeling you should have in this entire process is the word “Thanks.” You want to and should be really grateful for your teacher’s time. Chances are, they aren’t getting paid to do this extra work and you are probably not the only one asking for a letter of recommendation. Be thankful and show you are grateful.
Whether or not your teacher agrees, still say “thank you.” If a teacher does agree, however, make their life easier by sending him/her a short number of talking points. This will provide the teacher with some more context about yourself and even something to copy and paste on your letter of recommendation. Thereby, granting you some control over what is written about you.
Recap & Conclusion on How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation:
Choose the right teacher. Schedule a time to talk and ask for advice. Be grateful no matter the teacher’s response and be helpful by sending talking points. Remember to ask yourself the three important questions when thinking about how to ask for a letter of recommendation:
Who likes you the best?
Which teacher knows you the best?
Who writes the best?
We hope that this provides some valuable insight into how to release some of the stress you may have while making your college application profile even stronger. We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.
We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.
See you soon!
The post How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation During COVID-19 appeared first on .
10 min
February 24, 2021 College Apps – What to do when a college reaches out for more information?

Hello folks. Today we will be talking about the steps to take when a college reaches out to a student. It’s fairly common for colleges to do this during the evaluation process. It is almost always a good sign, since it reaffirms their interest in you as a candidate. We will discuss how to make the most of the continued interaction.

Additional Information Request

Pro-Tip: Check your application portals once a week to stay updated on the status of your application, and to respond to any time-sensitive requests.

Colleges will reach out for more information either through a format of supplemental essays or simple questionnaires. For example, UCLA may take a talent/skill or academic achievement you mentioned earlier in your application and ask you to share more information about it. Be it on the level of your achievement, depth of participation, or passion for the particular area, they want a more detailed explanation of its impact on you. UCSD may ask about personal circumstances that have significantly impacted your ability to achieve or succeed academically. Then, even follow it up with a question on how your experience has prepared you to overcome personal challenges that may occur as a student at UCSD.

It’s always best to answer these prompts straightforwardly – not storied like personal statements. The first tip we have is to provide updates on engagements outside of class. For example, what have you learned for fun recently? Which organizations have you been a part of, and how has your engagement gone since applying?

Pro-Tip: Unless told otherwise, do not repeat what you already wrote in your application.

It’s generally good to refrain from putting anything down if there are no updates or developments since applying. But, do not underestimate activities outside of class you’re doing in your free time.

Next, emphasize and elaborate on any significant challenges you encountered in your path to academic success. This can include family circumstances, personal circumstances, and even the learning environment with classes going virtual. Do not be afraid of telling a “sob story.” They want to know what genuinely affected your ability to perform academically.

Pro-Tip: Follow up your story about obstacles with HOW you overcame it and HOW you are now.

This provides the reader with a sense of security and confidence that you are now ready for their university life.

Letters of Recommendation

Students need to submit a letter of recommendation when requested for. This gives colleges another point of view about who you are in the classroom and in the school environment. These recommendations usually come from a counselor, teacher, employer, religious official, etc.

Pro-Tip: Ask someone who’s written one for you before.

Though, you might have to tell them to change the name of what they’re recommending you for.

Pro-Tip: Provide talking points.

This allows for control over what’s written about you.

Change in Application Status

Whether you’re deferred from Early to Regular or you’re waitlisted,
23 min
February 10, 2021 How Colleges View Course Rigor

Folks, February has arrived. Many schools are allowing students to start their course selection for the next school year. Let us walk you through how college admissions view course rigor and how it pertains to weighted coursework.

Factors to Consider

Factor #1: Where does the student go to high school?

Colleges look at the high school you attended in order to gain a better understanding of the courses available to you. They then compare you to people with similar scenarios. It is crucial to remember that colleges generally compare you to your classmates at the same high school–not others. While private universities offer some flexibility, they are still known to compare individuals from schools with similar socioeconomic demographics and similar course availability.

Now remember, this does not mean you should attend another school nearby because they offer more AP’s. This is a myth. There is no beneficial impact as students would continue to be compared to their immediate peer group. It also does not mean students should self-study for AP’s outside of what’s offered in hope of looking better when compared to their peers. Self-studying for AP exams in that manner is often perceived as manipulative, try-hard, and contrived to look good for college rather than a genuine attempt to learn. Moreover, colleges measure students’ coursework and performance based on the curriculum offered and the grades earned, not the AP exam scores. Self-studying for AP’s does not factor in the same way as grades do in the evaluation process. In fact, they aren’t even close. You can read more about the value of APs and AP testing here.

Factor #2: What courses did the student take?

Colleges will look to see how much a student has challenged themselves in comparison to the courses available to them. They expect students to find a balance challenging themselves without overstepping and over challenging themselves. The expectation between students and families seems to be to take every possible AP and Honors course available, however, this is NOT the case. Expectations for weighted coursework change depending on the rigor of the university. The more rigorous a university is, the greater its expectation is for weighted coursework as they look to find students who have already proven they can excel under a rigorous course load.

Pro-Tip: Take 2-4 weighted classes at any given time

This is highly recommended at least for those attending school in affluent neighborhoods with plenty of weighted course options. This is enough to open up virtually all college doors, so long as you do well in them.

Factor #3: How did the student do?

With many students focused on the amount of weighted coursework they take, they undermine the importance of the grades they receive. Colleges will always look and emphasize a students’ grades. For this reason, Unweighted GPA is arguably considered the most important number in college admissions as it purely demonstrates a student’s performance in their classes without taking into consideration the rigor of course. Taking weighted courses only makes students look good for college if they earn A’s in those courses, NOT if they struggle. So students, remember to choose courses that you are confident will not overwhelm/over challenge yourself and will allow you to get A’s or close to it. Make sure to also ace your finals as they often heavily impact grades.

17 min
February 03, 2021 How to Select Your Courses

Folks, it is time to discuss Course Selection. This really ties into our theme for the year really well. A lot of the stress is caused by pressure from “outside forces” to take as many AP classes as you can or just throw in that extra year of foreign languages because it “looks better”.

Let’s get into how you can make course selection a breeze. Hopefully, this will also make your life a breeze.

Rules

Rule #1: Only take a class if you know you’ll get an A in it.

No, not an A-. An A, which is 95 percent or better. If you don’t know for sure that you’ll get an A, you are letting yourself think that the worst you’ll get is a B. This is the exact kind of mindset that leads to B’s, C’s, and even worse.

This is especially relevant to weighted and honors coursework. Remember, it’s not about getting B’s in an Honors or AP class. It’s about getting A’s because that’s what the top colleges, like the UC’s and the Ivies, are looking for. It is a MYTH that getting a B in an Honors or AP class is like getting an A in a Regular class. This is pure fiction when it concerns college admissions, where getting an A is an A, and is B is a B. Period. Believe us: we’d rather see A’s than B’s.

So… how am I supposed to know if I can get an A in this class?

There are a few things that you can base your predictions on. The first one (and probably most obvious one) is historical coursework. If you’ve gotten B’s in non-weighted math coursework, DO NOT take advanced math coursework. That’s just setting yourself up for failure!

Next, is your understanding of the teachers teaching the class. If you’ve heard that the teacher is notorious for losing graded work or handing out only 2 A’s per class per year, it’s probably not a good idea to take the class. Even if it demonstrates interest towards a major. A pro-tip is to not base your predictions on how someone else did in the class. A lot of students like to say, “well, my friend told me the class was easy.” Well, you are not your friend. Ironically, I also find that students too often compare themselves with “friends” who are more academically capable than themselves. Stop comparing yourself with someone who’s completely different from you in terms of intelligence, study habits, interests and background.

Parents: your child is not your nephew or family friend’s son or neighbor’s daughter. Your child is infinitely unique, so stop comparing! Even if they’re twins!

Rule #2: Only take a class if you’re genuinely interested in it

Of course, this is aside from required coursework. What you decide to take should be inline with what you’re most interested in learning. This is especially true for weighted honors and AP coursework.

Another pro tip is if you take an AP course in a subject you have no interest in, chances are you won’t get an A in the class and will have less time on all your other classes. Too often students end up taking 3x longer than an average class just to get a B, sometimes even a C just to pass. Take this into account, especially when some of your other classes are more relevant to your major anyway.

Conclusion

* Don’t take a class unless you know you’ll get an A in it.* Take a weighted class only if you’re genuinely interested in it.

Colleges are looking for genuine learners who have challenged themselves based on available weighted coursework. However, top colleges dislike students over-challenge themselves – getting mostly B’s and some C’s,
15 min
December 08, 2020 Best Way To Ace Your Finals

20 min
November 25, 2020 It’s Deadline Time: College Apps Final Tips

You’ve been working on these applications for months. Revising your essays tens of times and scouring every corner of your mind to figure out the right order of your activities can be a stressful experience. Now that it’s almost deadline time, I’m sure there are a lot of nerves and jitters before sending in your applications. But guess what? You are so close to the end! For that, you deserve a pat on the back.

After doing all this work, it’s worth it to take a look over just one more time. After all, you don’t want to let all your hard work be undermined by something you accidentally misread or misunderstood. In this article, we’ll talk about some final tips you can employ to maximize your application.

Academic History

Make sure to report your GPA to as many decimal places as you have on your transcript. If the number of decimal places on the application is less than your transcript, just apply normal rounding rules. For example, if your high school reported GPA is 3.397 and the application takes 2 digits, the GPA you enter will be 3.40.

Next, remember that you typically want to be reporting your weighted GPA (unless it explicitly asks you for your unweighted). Hopefully, the weighted value is higher than your unweighted due to any Honors or AP classes you have taken.

Class ranks are issued by some schools to help you measure your academic standing relative to other people in your class. Some applications ask you for this number. Enter it if you have it, leave it blank if you don’t.

UCs don’t need you to report PE or Health. HOWEVER, Leadership and Religious studies should be included in the “Coursework other than A-G” section.

Quick Tips

* If you take any Semester long course, make sure to mark it appropriately. Government and Economics classes are typically misreported.* UCs don’t want you to send your transcript before your applications, so wait before sending them in!* Only include classes take in the start of freshman year and afterwards

Required Documents & Documentation Deadlines

This first tip goes without saying but remember to READ carefully the documentation requirements for the college you’re applying to AS WELL as their due dates. The most notable example is for the UC’s. They require no transcript, and for this application season (Fall 2021 enrollment), no standardized testing. However, it is still best to send an official test score if you have “a good score” relative to your GPA. To do this, just send your score(s) to just one UC directly through College Board or ACT platforms.

Activities & Awards

The activities section carries more weight than you think in the application process. It’s imperative that you maximize it. First, make sure to check for grammar and then check for it again. You’d be surprised how many applications contain basic grammar errors. Remember, there is a place for just about everything you did outside of the classroom. So if you have any activity not listed – be it self-studying Python to self-learning the guitar – it’s wise to add it if you have the room. If you don’t have any more room for activities, consider using the Additional Comments section.

Essays

This is our most popular line of questioning and that’s why we try to address it as much as possible. Check out our article and video on the UC PIQs and our
29 min

About Maximize Your High School Experience and College Admissions Tips

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Welcome to the ReadyEdgeGo Podcast. We discuss all things high school experience and how to find what you’re passionate about. We also throw in some tips and tricks when it comes to college…

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