How do I stand out on college applications?
Am I ready for college?
When will I know I’ve chosen the right school?
For all of us here at 1st Gen Class, these are the kind of questions that we field on the average. When we discuss what first-gen students need to navigate college spaces, understanding the admissions process is typically top-tier in terms of vital resources to have on-hand.
“Be your own advocate,” says Professor Paul Umbach of North Carolina State University. “We can’t blame lower-income students for the financial situations we find ourselves in, but we can take every measure to increase our odds at future success.”
Umbach also serves as principal for Percontor, an educational research and training company. He studies specifically what factors go into increasing a student’s ability to continue their education.
While we have our own experiences, we think it’s best to consult the experts like the professor and Chris Lombardo.
PHOTO
Chris is a former CollegeVine consultant, one of the nation’s top college advising organizations (for free!), where Chris gained insight into multiple aspects of college admissions; he served as an individual tutoring consultant for high school juniors and seniors on admissions application process for six months. This was in addition to managing teams of people and organizing curriculum resources*.
*training of other consultants.
“Don’t look at it as something to ‘game’.”
Chris Lombardo
“Figure out what you’re interested in (in high school) and be involved in them early: join clubs, hobbies, skills, etc. Try a wide variety, especially if you do not know what you want to study or what you are interested in. Later, when realities of admissions process are more present, you will handle it much easier.”
Chris Lombardo
Writing is a large portion of admissions process, according to Chris, especially for more competitive schools, and require well-written essays. Even in a STEM-related field, being able to write and communicate effectively is important. Showing you can through activities or self-started projects can be a huge advantage in honing your skills (Like starting a blog, like me!!)
And Chris knows all about a well-written essay. He graduated in 2014 from Cornell with a degree in Physics and then an English Literature degree in 2018. After finding work at a creative writing program at Northwestern, Chris pursued a dual degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
It’s unsurprising that Chris is striving to be a professor in Creative Writing and a fiction writer.
Even if you’re not looking to be a bestselling author, Chris advises you sharpen up those soft skills.
And remember Professor Umbach? Thanks to him, we have facts-based challenges and benefits that students, especially lower-income students, should be aware of:
Challenges
Access to Resources
“It’s a very complicated process, and the information and networks high school students have are under-resourced. Fro example, there’s a week in November where private universities in my area waive application fees, so having someone ‘in the know’ is definitely helpful!”
Paul D. Umbach
Useful mentors
“In lower-income schools, counselor-to-student ratio needs improvement, depleting counseling access for inexperienced families with the college process.”
Paul D. Umbach
Financial Literacy
“Understand college costs, especially how to apply for financial aid. Know the difference between ‘sticker price’, what you might find online, and the ‘net price’ that you actually pay after scholarships, loans, and other monetary rewards for academic effort.”
Paul D. Umbach
Benefits
Assistance given to students
“Organizations like the College Advising Corps and the Near Peers program bridge the gap between what lower-income students know and don’t know.
There’s evidence this works.
Events like College Application Week, Financial Literacy websites that walk families through the process are all incredibly insightful.
Paul D. Umbach
Think of mentors like Alyssa Bower and Ellie Mummert from the College Advising Corps, who were featured in our earlier post here!
“Depending on the field of study: enhance your soft-skills like communication and find mentors.”
Chris Lombardo
In fact, he even laid out a four-year plan for high schoolers to track their progress in the applications process. This is by no means a blue print of how it should work, but as a guideline for those who are better with a little direction.
Freshman Year
Not as much concrete, more abstract. Test out your areas of interest. Take the PSAT(Practice Standardized Scholastic Assessment Test) and AP (Advanced Proficient) classes if available within academic skill set range. Honors classes that challenge you also are persuasive on applications.
Sophomore Year
Similar to freshman year, just escalated. For example, learn from current club leaders how to run for managing positions in groups, found your own clubs, and take initiative in what you’re passionate about. Lay the groundwork for junior year to be your ‘shining star’.
Junior Year
This year is the most important in building up your application since the cutoff is end of junior year for application deadlines. It’s the last ‘full year’ to show how committed/successful you are.
Complete the SAT, other standardized tests*
*Before, you won’t know all material, and by senior year, you may have too much going on.
Decide where you want to apply so your senior year is all about focusing on getting there. Choose if you want urban/rural, small/large, etc. then senior year is all about finding the specific school you want.”
Senior Year
“The actual admissions process -> Deadlines, open availability (August), Common Application essay.
August through December are when you’ll have the most deadlines for essays, recommendations, and completing apps. Be sure to ask teachers/employers well in advance to give them time.
*If you wait till ‘the last minute’ to ask, you’ll get a last-minute response, and they’re typically not as thought-out as one they’ve taken weeks to think over and choose their wording carefully. Best people to ask are your junior/senior year teachers.
Go on physical/virtual tours when possible.
And speaking of tours, remember that question from the beginning of this post? Thanks to Chris’ expertise, we can have circle back and give his backed-by-experience answers on them Enjoy!
How do I stand out at X University?
Depends on the person and their academic interest. Typical approach to college app with your specialization in mind: dedicate yourself to a certain identity marker. Like a certain character says in Marvel Studios’ Civil War: “Everybody’s got a gimmick.”
Show a passion that lets colleges know you are an impassioned student and be sure to include a ‘hook’ that draws them in to want to read more. Get away from idea that you’re well-rounded and become more specialized as a student.
Am I ready for college?
You can look at SAT or GPA scores to measure compatibility with a school. Even with a lower score, it doesn’t mean you are out of the race, so to speak. A number of universities take a holistic approach to admissions, making a decision based on all the information you’ve given them(hence the guideline for high school above).
When will I know I’ve chosen the right school?
On campus tours: Take notes! Especially as a sophomore, because you’re not going to remember these things. Take advantage of the time when you’re physically on campus to talk with a student.
Students could be in similar major to what you’re pursuing and give inside info on campus life. They’re often reliable, unbiased sources of info.
Visit a variety of different schools, even if you’re not interested in applying there, to see for yourself what fits for you. This gives a reference to what you will like/dislike. Stay overnight if you can to see comfortability as much as compatibility.
It’s more than we had coming into college, and hope these resources can be useful for you moving forward, as the new classes of students entering higher education. Hey, knowing is half the battle, right?
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