In Search of the Holy Grail –A Workshop on

Selective College Admission

• A few important notes :• Our priority in the college counseling

program at Minnetonka High School – helping the student to find the right fit!

• College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won!

• Every student is encouraged to follow this rule:“You apply for admission to a college because you want to go there!”

• Categories of selectivity• Most selective (Harvard, Stanford)• Highly selective (Duke, Carleton)• Moderately selective (Boston University,

Skidmore)• Selective (Hamline, Drake)

• Most selective• Harvard University – freshman class of

1,646Applicants 22,796Admitted 2,096 (9%)SAT Verbal 690-790SAT Math 700-800Top 10% 95%

• Stanford University – freshman class of 1,657

Applicants 22,333

Admitted 2,465 (11%)SAT Verbal 670-770SAT Math 680-780Top 10% 91%

• Highly Selective• Duke University – freshman class of 1,578

Applicants 19,386Admitted 4,101 (23%)SAT Verbal 680-770SAT Math 690-780Top 10% 89%

• Carleton College – freshman class of 503

Applicants 4,457Admitted 1,408 (32%)SAT Verbal 650-760SAT Math 660-740Top 10% 78%

• Moderately Selective• Boston University – freshman class of

4,200

Applicants 31,827

Admitted 17,900 (58%)SAT Verbal 570-690SAT Math 590-690Top 10% 53%

• Skidmore College – freshman class of 695

Applicants 6,055

Admitted 2,622 (44%)SAT Verbal 580-670SAT Math 570-660Top 10% 49%

• Selective• Hamline University – freshman class of

461

Applicants 1810Admitted 1457 (78%)SAT Verbal 560-660SAT Math 530-630Top 10% 31%

• Drake University – freshman class of 782

Applicants 3,480Admitted 2,906 (84%)SAT Verbal 520-640SAT Math 510-650Top 10% 29%

• A few national statistics (reality check!)

• Enrollment in US colleges and universitiesPublic 4-year institutions 6,837,600

Public 2-year institutions 6,184,229Private 4-year institutions 4,161,815Private 2-year institutions 303,825

• Enrollment at Minnesota colleges and universities

Public 4-year institutions 130,529Public 2-year institutions 110,324Private 4-year institutions 115,510Private 2-year institutions 5,338

• Other key data items:• 6-year graduation rate (in USA) at 4-year

institutions 56%• 6-year graduation rate in Minnesota 58%• Percent of students who attend college in their

home state 88%• Percent of students who applied to three or fewer

colleges/universities 58%• Percent of students who are attending their first or

second choice college 90%

• Resources for research on selective colleges

• Fiske Guide to Colleges• Princeton Review: The Best 361 Colleges• Barron’s Guide to the Most Competitive Colleges• The Insider’s Guide to the Colleges• http://collegeboard.com/student/index.html?studen

t• http://www.collegeview.com/• http://www.collegeconfidential.com/

• Fiske Guide – “the top rated guide to the Best Colleges” (about 300 schools)

• 19 up to 25% acceptance rate• 63 from 26 to 50% acceptance rate• 109 from 51 to 75% acceptance rate• 112 from 76 to 99% acceptance rate

• Ten Tips for Selective Admission1. Take an appropriately challenging course of study2. Visit the campus – a great measure of

demonstrated interest3. Be nice to the admissions representative who

comes to MHS (get their business card and send them an email!)

4. Whenever it’s offered, do the alumni interview5. Take special care with the “why us?” essay, or

the “what would you add to the Class of 2012?” essay

• Ten tips continued

6. Beat the application deadline by a month – if it’s due on January 1, send in your application by Dec. 1

7. Pick teachers who know you well for your recommendations – and talk to them early on!

8. If your college requires SAT Subject test scores, commit plenty of study time as you prepare for the exams.

9. Extend your college list to include both “competitive” options and “likely” options. Be realistic with your list!!

10. If you have a first choice school, let them know it!!

• Final thoughts

• The goal of the college admission office is to enroll a well-rounded class – a community of individuals who add a unique talent or characteristic to the class. The operative question in selective admissions is: “What will this student add to our college?”

• Make your case – why is this college a good match for you?

• In America, people succeed because of the quality of their character, not the fame of their college.

• Know that what you do in college is a better predictor of future success and happiness than where you go to college. (from the Education Conservancy.)

Phillip Trout

College Counselor

Minnetonka High School

952-401-5746

collegeguy@minntonka.k12.mn.us 9-11-07