What Are Colleges Really Looking for in Applicants?

Aug. 10, 2010 - PRLog -- WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.  — With August comes the back to school bustle, college application season and a million questions about college admissions. To assist families and shed light on what colleges are really looking for in applicants, independent college counselor Lu Anne Wood, founder of Lu Anne Wood Consulting, shares the 2010 “Top Ten Strengths and Experiences Colleges Look for in High School Students,” a survey of members of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).

The survey is conducted every few years and completed by hundreds of members of the IECA. “Despite the overheated college application process, several items topping the list are unchanged,” Wood says. “But there are a number of changes to the overall list — as some items have made IECA’s list for the first time, others have fallen in importance, and a number of things that families believe to be critical don’t get anywhere close to making the list.”

As has been true for more than five years, a student’s academic performance in high school tops the list. Most important is a rigorous academic curriculum that challenges the student.

While grades are important, educational consultants believe that demonstrating a willingness to challenge oneself is more important. Additionally, IECA members felt that grades need to show an upward trend — mediocre grades in the freshman year can be overcome by demonstrating that better grades came with maturity. According to IECA members, colleges want to know what type of student will be arriving on campus — not who the student was four years ago.

“What we learn most in viewing these results is that students should shy away from efforts to change themselves into what they think colleges seek and learn to promote the best thing about themselves: whether that’s a willingness to challenge themselves in a difficult course, demonstrating passion for a particular subject, committing themselves to community service, or demonstrating leadership,” Wood says. “Students should seek to make their application reflect the best of who they already are.”

No. 3 on the list was “Solid SAT or ACT scores,” reflecting a consistency with academic achievement. IECA members felt that terrific standardized tests are rarely enough to secure admission at a more competitive school, but poor scores can be difficult to overcome.

The importance of the essay moved up since the last survey, perhaps reflecting the essay’s role as more colleges move to “test optional” status. The essay was also seen as more important to private liberal arts colleges, as compared to large state universities.


Debuting on this year’s list at No. 8 is “demonstrated leadership in activities.” “Much has been discussed in recent years about colleges seeking students who will contribute in a meaningful way to campus life,” Wood says. “The appearance of this on the IECA list underscores this growing desire.”

“Demonstrated intellectual curiosity” (No. 9) remains an important item, particularly for those schools with more competitive admissions.

Rounding out the top 10 is “demonstrated enthusiasm to attend,” an item that first appeared on the IECA list just a few years ago. This would reflect the college admission office concern over their yield: wanting to offer admission only to those who seem serious about enrolling.

Two that just missed the top 10 list were: “financial resources” (despite the economy) and “out of school experiences.” This latter item fell off the top 10 list, although “special talents and abilities” (No. 7) remained.

There has been considerable buzz in the admission community in recent months about the trend toward creative applications with videos or other unique components, but this placed far down, well out of IECA’s top 10 list. Also relegated to a status of far less importance by IECA member educational consultants were several items thought by the general public to be important to decision-making: the personal interview, being a legacy (family member of an alumnus) and demonstrations of responsibility.

The full list can be found on Lu Anne Wood Consulting’s newly redesigned Web site (http://www.luannewoodconsulting.com/) under Resources at http://www.luannewoodconsulting.com/images/pdf/ieca_colle.... This list offers great advice for families looking to understand the nature of college admission and is also used by school districts and many others. Additional information on the Web site includes misconceptions about applying for college and college tour tips.

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About Lu Anne Wood

Lu Anne Wood established Lu Anne Wood Consulting during the summer of 2009. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Salem College and has 10 years of experience serving as the Director of Admission and Financial Aid, and the Director of Student and Family Advising at Forsyth Country Day School, an independent school in Lewisville, N.C. She has worked closely with students, parents and faculty to guide students through every aspect of the high school experience, and understands the value of highly individualized attention during these years. As a college counselor, she establishes lists of prospective colleges for students and assists them with their college applications, essays and interview skills. For more information, visit http://luannewoodconsulting.com.

About IECA

IECA was founded in 1976 as a nonprofit, professional association of established educational consultants. IECA member educational consultants are professionals who assist students and families with educational decision-making. Their educational backgrounds, specialized training, campus visitations, and professional experience equip them to help students choose schools, colleges, or programs that meet their individual needs and goals. Membership in the association requires consultants to meet IECA’s professional standards and subscribe to its Principles of Good Practice. Members continually update their knowledge and maintain skills through IECA- sponsored meetings, workshops, training programs, and information exchanges with colleges,
schools, programs and other consultants.

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LMW Media Relations & Marketing Inc. is a public relations and marketing firm in Winston-Salem, N.C., specializing in retirement, health care, technology and education. For more information, visit http://www.lmwmediarelations.com.