Get a perfect test score, maintain a good GPA, actively pursue extra curricular activities you are interested in, you are good to go- this would be my idea about college admissions until my son embarked this roller coaster ride past year. Like US elections, admissions to US universities are also a long process - a never ending and often tiring journey that starts when the student set foot in ninth grade and ends up somewhere at the end of 12th grade including eight months of intense activity during application season and then four to eight months of anxiously waiting for the decisions. At the end, what seems like a random pick for the rest of us, top colleges describe their admission approach a holistic one.
Confused by what the colleges are looking for, the high school students are in a whirlwind- keep a 4.0 GPA by taking as many advance placement classes as possible, perfect standardized test scores, participate in umpteen number of activities and have a social life. Most of my students in 11th and 12th grade get less than four hrs of sleep. After getting back from sports or other activities late at night to long hrs of homework seems to be a routine for most. This in turn shows up in class as sleepy, distracted, unfocused learners. In my initial days of teaching here, I thought US students have it easy than their Indian counterparts. But as I got to know the system well, I came to realize that it is not true
Even when they have the scores and a perfect resume, the chances of admission to student’s first choice school is less than five percentages in most cases. Students feel somewhat helpless and “ not in control” when it comes to the admissions. As such the admission process is not transparent. This coupled with the marketing strategy most schools apply by making each individual students feel like they have a genuine shot at these competitive schools make it worse. So more people who are otherwise ineligible apply and thus the vicious cycle begins. Looks like things are going to get worse before it gets better.
