robotics class to boost their knowledge and expertise in the field
of interest. This type of early education and serious focus may
even help them to land that job after college over an applicant
with little or no experience. Choosing a major early on will also
help them focus and take specific advanced-placement classes
in the major of their choosing. Colleges like to see a student
with demonstrated interests years before submitting the actual
application.
Study a foreign language. Colleges like to see students
take a foreign language through the 12th grade. Many
competitive colleges encourage students to concentrate in a
foreign language, and no matter where they apply, having a
demonstrated proficiency in a second language will increase
their chances of being admitted. Life before college and after
is becoming increasingly globalized. Therefore, strength
in a second language carries a lot of weight with admissions
counselors. It’s always a plus if the applicant studies a foreign
language that aligns and strengthens their career goals, and even
more of a plus if your child has visited the country where their
language of choice is spoken. Being able to demonstrate beyond
the language to cultural immersion will go a long way with a
college admissions officer.
Be “the one” to take the most challenging classes at your
high school. Colleges want to see that prospects have taken the
most demanding classes offered at their school, so don’t shy
away from Advanced Placement Calculus or Physics by senior
year. Students who want to get ahead should complete their
high school elective classes early on. Students should consider
taking a minimum of 2 Advanced Placement classes per year
and 2 Advanced Placement exams in different subject areas.
Top colleges want to see that students are always taking harder-
than-average courses as electives in high school. Even if the
applicant has all A’s on a transcript, top schools will overlook
that application when the grades are derived from a curriculum
of easy classes.
Be the early applicant. Students who apply for Early
Action (non-binding) or Early Decision (binding) are revealing
a demonstrated interest in the college of their choice — simply
because they submitted their application ahead of the masses.
Colleges are more likely to accept the Early Action applicant
because this demonstrates a commitment in their education and
love for the school from the start of one’s senior year. There is
nothing an admissions officer likes more than eager applicants
who are fans of the college or university. A rolling decision
application can start as early as September 1st, which means
that the student should be developing their college essay and
securing recommendations over the summer, prior to the start
of senior year, and have the application in at least one to two
months prior to the actual “early” deadline.
Frances Kweller is a lawyer and education and testing
standards expert. She founded Kweller Prep in 2000 while a
college student at NYU. Her program was developed to offer
accelerated educational opportunities to students within the
same neighborhood in Forest Hills, Queens where she was
raised. Throughout the years, Kweller Prep expanded across
two locations in New York City, employs over fifty tutors, and
published its own line of textbooks.
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April 2019 WNY Family 71