[caption id="attachment_365399" align="alignleft" width="229"]
Sophie Glenn Lau[/caption]
The modern approach to college admission is perhaps best summed up in the words of a Lincoln School senior at a recent virtual college counseling event. She was asked: “What was a pleasant surprise from the college process?”
Her answer: “Getting to know myself. Not just what I want, but who I am.”
No matter where a student is in the college process, college admission can be highly competitive and the process can be daunting. We frequently hear stories of students racking up extracurriculars and leadership roles as though quantity of accomplishments was the deciding factor. That has always been a falsehood, but in a pandemic when students are under pressure to master new ways of learning and engaging with the world, the added stress of that misconception can be crippling.
[caption id="attachment_365400" align="alignleft" width="233"]
Beth Ellis[/caption]
This is why we believe a focus on the process is the best path to acceptance. At Lincoln, we have long believed that filling out an application is both a privilege and an opportunity. There are few points in life for such pointed reflection, few chances so ripe for self-exploration.
And there are few times in history as critical as the present. Given the ways the pandemic is impacting how students are living, learning and socializing, it’s even more important than ever that we help students find balance and allow them the time and space to get to know themselves well so that they confidently say: “This is who I am; this is what I like to do; and, most importantly, this is why I like to do these things.”
That is what high school is for. It’s an opportunity for young people to take advantage of the here and now. Of course, they should have hopes and dreams for their futures. By refocusing the purpose of grades nine through 12 on joy and growth, this time can be transformed from a perceived necessary step on a predetermined path to an exciting opportunity to learn and discover within a supportive community.
The truth is that colleges are not only interested in what students’ interests are, or in how many of them they have. They are interested in how students engage with whatever it is that they love. Colleges are building community, so whether you’re a bass player, a scientist, a writer, or a three-sport athlete, focus on the why, not the what.
It’s a crucial difference, especially if students are interested in colleges and universities where razor-thin admission margins have steadily shrunk over recent years. COVID-19 has only further squeezed the percentages among the most selective colleges.
The key to standing out? Students standing up for what they believe in. Picture yourself in the shoes of the admissions officers, tired of reviewing countless applications that read like laundry lists plucked out of a how-to book. They are searching for a different kind of person – one who showcases strength of character, knowledge of self, kindness to others and a true love of learning. They don’t just want proof that students will do well in school. They’re looking for applicants who will make a difference.
Though many colleges and universities have stated that this is what they look for, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the issues. The realities of test-optional policies, limited access to activities and extracurriculars, and an entirely new educational format have changed the game. Test scores and other metrics are no longer king – this is the era of character.
When students can tap into the joy of learning to figure out what is important to them and what they love, they will shine. The real key to college acceptance? Accepting and showcasing your authentic self. The pandemic turned many things upside down in schools – how learning works, what classrooms look like, how students connect with their community and experience the world. But one thing that has remained a stronghold is how to best prepare students for the collegiate academic experience and a love of learning that will last a lifetime.
Sophie Glenn Lau is head of school at Lincoln School in Providence. Beth Ellis is Lincoln School director of college counseling.
