Job-Hunting Tools:

  Search for Jobs
  Corporate Job Sites
  Order a New Resume

  Career Tools:

  Content Index
  Career Resources
  Career Tutorials
  Job-Search Samples
  College Planning
  Job/Career Bookstore
  Search this Site

  Career Categories:

  Career Networking
  Personal Branding
  Resumes and CVs
  Job Interviewing
  Salary Negotiation

 

Answers to Common College Admissions Questions

 

College Admissions Stunts and Supplements

 

There are always stories of great admissions supplements and stunts. Do you advise a marginal student who is making a reach to attend your college to send supplemental material or try other attention-grabbing stunts?

 

The critical issue here is one of fit. If an applicant has the test scores, the rigor of courseload, and the grades to get accepted, he/she does not need to do any stunts. And if you don't have the "numbers," no amount of extras is going to get you accepted. There are ways, however, to try and overcome an area where you may be weak.

 

Lisa Knodle-Bragiel, Linfield College

I don't advise, nor do I want my staff to advise, marginal students to serenade us into an "admit" decision. Nor do we tell students "This is a great place for you. I look forward to seeing your application" when they probably won't be admitted. That's not to say I don't believe in "great kids" but I want to see great kids how they really are. We're honest with students up front. At the first notion of "marginal" we tell them that Linfield is a reach and here's why. Then we start asking students "Why did you do so poorly, what did you learn from your failure, what did you do to bounce back, and what will you personally commit to in the future to help you succeed academically?" Do we take chances on some students? Sure we do. A lot of people wouldn't be where they are today if someone didn't take a chance. For Linfield, though, it's really the students' job to prove to us they're worth the risk. Then, if we take the chance and admit them, we make sure we establish positive advising and support programs to assist them in their success. In four years, Linfield is a multi-thousand dollar investment. I want students to graduate not saying "IT was worth the investment" but saying "I was worth the investment." It's our commitment to admit students we think will succeed, not just to admit students.

 

Marc Camille, Xavier University

I don't believe we engage in this practice. We do, for instance, ask wait listed or deferred students to send us any additional material (such as recent grades or new test scores). But I'd argue these are legitimate requests that can ultimately help the student gain admission.

 

Chris Lucier, University of Michigan

Absolutely not. They don't work at the University of Michigan.

 

John Blackburn, University of Virginia

Stunts don't help if the academic record is not competitive.

 

Allen London, Mercer University

No. We advise marginal students to attend our summer program. (See answer for Question 3.)

 

Back to our main page: Answers to Common College Admissions Questions.

 

 

Get More College Planning Resources

Quintessential Careers is your source for college, careers, and job-search information, resources, tools, and links. Go to our Go to College -- College Planning Resources section.

 

 

Maximize your career and job-search knowledge and skills! Take advantage of The Quintessential Careers Content Index, which enables site visitors to locate articles, tutorials, quizzes, and worksheets in 35 career, college, job-search topic areas.

 

 

 

Find a New Job

What:

Where:

jobs by