8 Misconceptions about the College Application Process
Written on January 7, 2011 by nanamecedo
Filed Under: General Talk
You’ve either been there, or you’re there. And to those of you who have been there, I’m sorry if this article seems a year or two too late. 
But to those of you who are there, if you’re anything like me, you’ve been everywhere looking for tips and tricks to help you get into college — but some things seem just too good to be true, right? It’s OK if I get a C? What? So sometimes we’re reluctant to believe what those college recruiters or application advisors have to say, because there’s NO WAY they could be telling the truth. Obviously, they’ve got some kind of baseless vendetta against YOU and YOU alone, and they’re trying to screw you over while they give your peers all the hack codes to get automatic acceptance into the college of their choice.
Well this article is giving a point to the recruiters — they’re right!! And some of the things I mention might seem similar to (if not exactly the same as) what you’ve probably heard millions of times — but believe me, it’s much more convincing getting it from someone who actually used these methods to get into college than from someone who is just trying to get you into their college.
Misconception #1: Universities don’t look at grades from before your junior year.
WRONG. Universities look at the entirety of your high school transcript — why? When you send in your application to most universities, you haven’t even finished your first semester of your senior year! Universities need to look at your entire academic resume to see what kind of a student you are — are you consistent? Are your classes challenging?
Yes, it’s true that your freshman grades and maybe your sophomore grades probably won’t be as significant as your junior or senior year grades — but do not fool yourself into believing that universities will completely ignore this half of your transcript!
But don’t let that discourage you…
Misconception #2: I need straight A’s and nothing less than a 4.0 to get into college
Wrong again! In fact, I know many people who DID have straight A’s and 4.5’s who were actually rejected from their top choice universities. Universities recognize that you don’t have to be intelligent to get an A and you don’t have to get an A to be intelligent. It definitely helps to have good grades and a high GPA, but don’t assume that alone will get you into whatever university you want!!
Misconception #3: I’m not going to get in because I’m white/I’m a shoe-in because I’m a minority
Sorry to burst your bubbles, kids, but Affirmative Action is no longer in effect. My research tells me that yes, universities can still look at your ethnic/racial background as a criteria for admittance — but it is not a determining factor!! Universities are interested in your race so that they can look at you in context. But I’ll get into that later.
Misconception #4: The only thing that matters is what’s on my transcript
Actually, kids, it’s not the end of the world if you slip up here and there. Speaking from experience, I had a C and a couple of B’s on my transcript. Don’t get discouraged if some of your classes are harder than you anticipated, or if you just didn’t take that history class seriously enough. By no means am I saying that you should slack off and not feel guilty about it — do you best!! But don’t think it’s the end of the world if you don’t get straight A’s.
While it’s true that universities take your high school academic performance largely into consideration, they tend to be forgiving so long as it’s within reason. Below average grades in school are probably most definitely hurting your chances of getting into a university, but less-than-perfect scores are jeopardizing your chances too much.
Misconception #5: CLUBSCLUBSCLUBSCLUBSCLUBS
We’re all told at some point or another that colleges look for “well-rounded” students. But to clear the air, I think you should all be told that a “well-rounded” student is not someone who joins every club in existence. Quite the opposite, you can be well-rounded even if you’re only in one club!
Misconception #6: I’m from __________ so I won’t get accepted
The fact that you’re from a poor school, a small town, or a city with a bad reputation does not hurt your chances when it comes to colleges! In fact, this factor could actually be an advantage for you!
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