Inside Early Admissions

Student-Centered Thinking
It remains to be seen whether the Ivy League strategy will truly reduce stress among its applicants, but many local admissions directors expressed doubt that students would suddenly feel relieved of college application pressure. After all, choosing colleges and putting together an application packet is something of a natural stressor, like an IRS audit or an important final exam. Simply changing the format of either won’t automatically erase the anxiety of the situation.

But there are tactics for making early admissions more manageable, college counselors have noted, and the first step should be in determining whether a student really wants to do the work early, often in the summer before senior year, or if they prefer to go a more standard route.

“Kids are caught in whatever system is laid out for them, and they react differently to it,” said Soderberg. “There’s a mix when it comes to admissions. Some don’t want to apply early, and they don’t even like the fact that these programs exist because they feel rushed to write a good essay and feel pressured.”

But others are eager to apply, she adds, and are particularly fond of Early Action because it doesn’t require a commitment. Breck senior Susan Hill, for example, couldn’t wait to dig into the process, because receiving acceptance letters sooner meant she’d have more of a relaxing senior year. But getting a jumpstart meant she had to begin thinking about colleges in her junior year.

“Basically, I started my college research early so as to narrow my choices by the beginning of last summer,” she says, noting that she visited most of the schools during her summer break, and decided to apply early to those that had Early Action programs.

“Since I knew where I was applying, I got it over with as soon as I could,” she says. “I want to find out where I’m going to college as soon as possible.”

Also worth keeping in mind is that putting in the time to read application guidelines, do campus visits, and make appointments with academic counselors can be comforting, and highlight the fact that colleges want students just as much as students want to attend them.

“A few [prestigious] colleges that are highly selective seem to drive the whole admission process and they’re the ones that get discussed,” says Hamline’s Bjork. “Others, like us, are selective as well, but parents and students need to keep in mind that 90 percent of colleges are looking for ways to enroll students, not to cut down on the number of students enrolled.”

As a general rule, Soderberg suggests parents should be aware that the entire process can be exhilarating or terrifying, or most likely, somewhere in-between. Sensitivity about how a student is handling the stress can help to make the process less daunting, she believes.

“I think there’s been too much emphasis on Early Action or Early Decision being a strategy for getting in, like it’s some kind of stock market gamble,” she says. “But it’s not like that. You’re dealing with kids’ emotions, and applying to college is an incredible growing-up process. For some students, applying early makes sense for their goals, but for others it might not. This is about choosing what’s right for the student both academically and personally.”

The most common advice among high school counselors and university admissions directors? Just relax, many say. Although there’s a great deal of focus on selective schools like Harvard and Princeton, not every student is a good fit for those type of institutions, and may not be happy there even if they’re accepted.

“There’s a good school waiting for everybody,” says Blake’s Sachs. “A lot of schools are accessible and happy to help you through the process, and the important thing is to support your children as they look for what’s best for them. College is a match, not a prize.”