Applying
to College in New York
Applying to college in New York is not
much different to applying to college anywhere
else in the U.S., the one exception being
that competition for places in New York
colleges is even fiercer than in most other
states.
Due to the competition for places when
applying to college in New York it is important
for students to be fully informed of the
criteria colleges in New York use in their
admission processes.
To ensure that you stand the greatest chance
if success when applying to college in New
York it is useful to break down that criteria
and assess which factors of a student application
are most important and why.Admission officers
review the courses a student chooses, class
rank, test scores, activities, leadership
experiences, and personal characteristics.
When it comes to grades, colleges prefer
to see slightly lower grades in more-challenging
classes than high grades earned by a student
who pads his or her schedule with low-level
courses to achieve easy A's. Most schools
have a good sense of what your high school's
curriculum is like and how tough the courses
and grading tend to be. Regionally assigned
admission representatives who visit high
schools and attend area college fairs keep
colleges informed about your school and
its courses.
A student's grades in college-preparatory
classes remain the most significant factor
in college admission decisions. Students
who have challenged themselves by taking
a number of college-prep courses—at
the advanced level if possible—and
performing well will have the best shot
at admission to a selective public or private
school. Class rank has declined in significance
as many private and religious schools have
eliminated student ranking. Standardized
test scores remain important.
Other factors that affect the admission
decision vary from small private schools
to large state universities. Small, selective
schools pay greater attention to personal
statements and essays, teacher and counselor
recommendations, leadership experiences,
and the individual talents of applicants.
Small schools may even offer the chance
for a face-to-face interview.
Personal statements and essays are both
a measure of the student's writing ability
and a means of learning more about the student's
personal background, beyond what's listed
on the application. Sometimes students are
asked to discuss how and why they are interested
in a particular college or field of study.
They may be asked to write about how an
individual, a work of art, an event, or
a situation has influenced them. Research
the college(s) to which you are applying
in-depth. Do more than find out what programs
they offer and what grades they look for.
Look into their history, their mission statement,
the make-up of their student body and what
non-curricular activities they offer and
encourage. It is these details that can
make the difference to success or failure
when applying to college in New York. This
in-depth knowledge displays an interest
in that specific college and not just a
wish to attend any college.
It is a combination of these factors and
the attention to each of these elements
that will set your application apart from
the competition.
Studying in New York wishes all our readers
the greatest success when applying to colleges
in New York.
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