College tales could use reality check
By Howard and Matthew Greene
Knight Ridder News Service
We know we are about to hear a myth when a parent or student (or journalist) opens his or her mouth and starts a sentence in one of the following ways: "Isn't it true that ... ?" Or, "Is it bad that ... ?" Or, "Don't you think that ... ?" College admission myths tend to live in the usual places — the grocery store, the library, the cafeteria, the dry cleaner, an airplane, the office water cooler, or forwarded e-mail.
We have dug into our ever-expanding list of myths to highlight some of the most common incorrect beliefs based on assumed or incomplete information about college admission. Myths are made to be dispelled, so do your research and find the many opportunities out there for you.
1. The popularity of a college with students in your school or town is a sure sign of its academic strength and appropriateness for you.
2. All colleges have pretty much the same ambiance, character and values, so it doesn't matter where you attend in terms of the education you will receive.
3. An elite college degree guarantees contacts and professional success for the rest of your life, and without an elite diploma you won't have a chance.
4. You have to attend a large university to get exposure to a broad range of courses and famous professors; or, good teaching and contact with faculty only takes place in small colleges.
5. If a university has a nationally ranked athletic program, it will also have top academic programs.
6. It is unnecessary and not worth all the trouble and expense involved to visit college campuses before you decide where to apply.
7. You have to apply Early Decision or Early Action to have a good or any chance of being accepted to a selective college. Or, applying early gives you a much better chance for acceptance.
8. The more top colleges you apply to, the better your chances for admission to a top college.
9. You have to be a well-rounded individual to be accepted by a selective college. Or, you have to have attained world-class standing or recognition to be accepted.
10. High test scores on the SAT or ACT are the most important factor in admissions decisions. If your scores are average, a top college could never accept you. Or, very high test scores should guarantee your admission to an elite college.
11. Interviews are required by all selective colleges and can make or break your chances for acceptance.
12. Admissions committees don't read all those essays and
recommendations they require from applicants so you don't need to put a lot of effort and thought into your responses or requests from teachers.
13. You have to know what you want to study in order to apply to college and to better your chances for acceptance.
14. You are the first one in your family to apply to college and you have no connections to any school, so this puts you at a disadvantage.
15. The colleges that cost the most are automatically the best. If you or your family don't have a lot of money, you won't be able to attend college. The colleges that cost less are usually more affordable.
16. You are a strong student, but you won't qualify for any scholarships because your family earns too much.
17. You hurt your chances for acceptance if you apply for financial aid to a selective college. Once the financial aid office makes an offer of aid to you, it won't change its mind about offering more help if you are to enroll.
18. If no one from your high school has applied to or has been accepted to a particular selective college in recent years, then your chances for admission are low.
Howard and Matthew Greene are the authors of the Greenes' Guides to Educational Planning.
