William “Rick” Singer, the college advisor behind the Varsity Blues scandal is back in business while he completes his prison sentence in a halfway house. William “Rick” Singer got test scores altered, faked athletic records and bribed officials to gain college admission for his clients’ children.
But that kind of chicanery is completely unnecessary. What’s needed is an understanding the art and science of college admissions to gain a competitive edge over other applicants.
The hard truth is that if a student relies only on academics, test scores and extracurriculars, the chances of admission are hit and miss. Few students and families understand that, and most high school counselors lack this in-depth knowledge.
What follows is an insider’s look at how to help your clients improve the odds of their children or grandchildren gaining admission to the college of their choice. Consider sharing the following important tips and strategies with clients through newsletters and emails, particularly if there’s a high school student in the family.
It’s All About the Rankings
The first thing to know is that, while colleges are seats of higher learning, they are also a business. They have a brand. They have marketing departments. And they’re vitally interested in improving their position when various publications, most notably U.S. News and World Report, put out their college rankings. Better rankings give them more exposure and the more exposure they get, the better their revenue is.
Two of the factors that go into those rankings are the percentage of students who graduate in four years and how many offers of admission result in enrollment (the “yield”). When a college is deciding who will make a good student, they’re looking for someone who will not only be serious about college (more likely to graduate in four years), but also serious about coming to their particular college (better yield).
How do they know if a student is serious about their college? When they look at “demonstrated interest.”
‘Demonstrated Interest’ Pays Dividends
Starting as early as ninth and 10th grade, colleges keep track of parents and students who show interest by requesting information, sending emails, contacting the admissions office or visiting. Statistics show that if a family makes six to eight such inquiries, there’s an 83% chance they’ll accept an offer of admission — and that improves the college’s yield.
There’s really no way to learn how much weight the admissions office gives to demonstrated interest. It’s part of the admissions alchemy, which takes many factors into consideration. That said, your client’s future college student can take the matter into their own hands by starting early building relationships with their dream schools.
Digging a Little Deeper
Also starting in ninth or 10th grade, students should identify what they’re passionate about (not just what they’re interested in) and find colleges that might be a good fit academically. From there they should look at who got in, what their high school GPA was, and what their SAT scores were, to see how closely they match the student profile. All these statistics are available on the colleges’ websites, from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. News rankings.
Then the student should begin building a resumé that goes beyond grades and test scores to make their application stand out. They can do this by taking on one or two projects or activities to demonstrate their passion and why they are a good fit.
This is why families need to start planning for college no later than 10th grade, but preferably ninth. Case in point: the guitarist who took up the bassoon in his last two years of high school because, through his research, he learned the orchestra at his dream school needed bassoonists.
Meet Natalie, a Case Study
Natalie, a California student, had a medical condition as a child and was grateful to the people who took care of her. She wanted to pursue a healthcare career so she could do the same for others.
After exploring colleges for academic fit, she found that Pepperdine University was her dream school, and she began visiting and staying in touch with admissions during ninth and 10th grades. With a GPA of 3.8 and average SAT scores, she needed a portfolio that would help her application shine.
Natalie intended to major in biology, but the school was looking for engineering majors. Since chemical engineering is also a path to healthcare, she applied to that department. With her touching essay about her childhood experience and community service hours at a children’s hospital, she demonstrated passion. She also attended a summer camp at Pepperdine, so by the time she applied, they knew who she was.
Natalie not only gained admission to her first-choice school, but also a $25,000 scholarship as a female Hispanic engineering student. No trickery required, simply planning.
A Priceless Service for Your Clients
Besides parents, your clients likely include grandparents who have high school-age grandchildren. They may even have 529 college savings accounts to help their grandchild with college. Consider partnering with a Certified College Planning Specialist who can help guide your clients, their children and their grandchildren through the college admissions jungle.
Brian Safdari, a wealth advisor and Certified College Planning Specialist™(CCPS), is the founder and CEO of Wealth Planning Experts and College Planning Experts. Since launching College Planning Experts in 2004, Brian and his team have assisted more than 7,500 students nationwide on their college journey using their exclusive My College Fit System. For more information, call 818-201-4847 or visit collegeplanningexperts.com.
