By Gene Trainor
26 February 2009

FORT WORTH, Texas — People seeking new skills in a slow economy and a near record number of high school seniors are expected to make the competition fierce for coveted spots in U.S. colleges and universities in the fall.

Applications to elite private schools are expected to continue climbing. But university officials suspect that state schools in particular could see a spike in interest as some cash-strapped families look for tuition breaks. Even if students get into a desired school, they might not get into the programs they want.

"What this means to students is that it’s going to be more competitive to get into a state college than before," said Kristen Campbell, director for college preparation programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions in New York City.

The application process, which began in the fall with early admissions, is expected to peak in the coming weeks as essays, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores and synopses of extracurricular activities are compiled and sent.

"It was really hard," said Sandra Alvarez, a senior at Fort Worth’s South Hills High School who applied to several schools. "You have so many things to do, you don’t know where to start."

Taylor Breen, also at South Hills, recalls getting a call during physics class from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology asking for her father’s income records.

"You have to turn it in tomorrow, so figure it out," Breen said, quoting the admissions officer. She plans to attend Columbia University in New York City.

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College admission officials say there’s no surefire way to get into a first-choice school, though they agree that good grades, high standardized test scores and athletic or other talents help an applicant rise above the competition.

"At the end of the day, colleges want students who are passionate," Mike Moyer, author of "How to Make Colleges Want You," writes.

Students who don’t excel on the playing field or who have average grades might consider making a movie, writing for a local newspaper or running a political campaign, he said.

"They want students who have real interests and go out of their way to pursue their interests. … If you are engaged in an activity in which teenagers don’t typically engage, you are someone who will bring a new point of view to a college classroom and a person who will inspire others to follow their dreams and interests. Colleges love this more than anything!"

Here’s what students can expect at a range of schools:

Top public universities
Texas has three: the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University in College Station and Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

With a desire to grow to 40,000 students and an enrollment that averages around 28,000, Texas Tech has room for qualified applicants. The competition is a bit fiercer at UT-Austin and A&M.

About 71 percent of those who applied for UT-Austin’s fall freshman class in 1998 were admitted. For the 2007 freshman class, 51 percent were admitted. Figures for A&M follow a similar trend.

Texans who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class automatically get accepted into a state college or university, including UT-Austin and Texas A&M. But they may not get into the program they want.

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Top private schools
Competition is also tough for some private schools, but officials warn against inflating resumes with extracurricular or volunteer activities. Instead, they say they are looking for applications with focus on and passion for an area.

And you might think twice before have a consultant or parent write essays or handle the application. Both should be authentic, officials said.

"Elaborate on those things that you care most deeply about, so we’re not distracted about something that you tried one year and didn’t return to," said Julie Browning, dean for undergraduate enrollment at Rice University in Houston. "We’re imagining how you’re going to use your free time at Rice."

Rice, which ranks among the country’s most selective institutions, accepts about 22 percent of applications, said Chris Munoz, vice president for enrollment. Rice typically looks for students in the top 5 percent of their graduating class and with a combined SAT score of 1,450 on math and critical reading.
After that, the university looks at a student’s characteristics. "Are they involved?" Munoz said. "Are they active? And do they demonstrate leadership qualities?"

Closer to home
State schools such as the University of North Texas and the University of Texas at Arlington typically have more flexible admission standards than some private schools and Texas’ flagship universities.

UNT accepts students who ranked in the top 25 percent of their graduating class and had a combined SAT score of 950 on the critical reading and math sections or a composite score of 20 on the ACT.
UT-Arlington has no test-score requirements for students in the top quarter of their class.

At UNT, students who rank in the top 50 percent of their high school class can get automatic admission if they have a combined SAT score of 1,050 or a 23 on the ACT. Admission officials review applications from those who don’t score that high.

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COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
Admission officials typically say they look at students holistically — grades, test scores, extracurricular activities and community involvement. To increase the chances of getting an acceptance letter, here’s what admission officials and experts recommend:

• High school courses
• Four years of English, with courses that demand extensive writing.
• Four years of math, typically including two years of algebra, a year of geometry and a year of pre-calculus.
• Four years of science, typically biology, physics, chemistry and an advanced course in any of those.
• Three years of social studies, including world and American history.
• Three to four years of one foreign language.
• Whenever possible, take the most difficult level. In many regions, that usually means Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses.
• Standardized tests
  Most college and university admission departments require students to take the SAT or ACT. An increasing number of institutions have dropped the standardized test requirement, including Bowdoin, Smith and Wake Forest. In Texas, students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class automatically get into a state institution regardless of their scores.
• Extracurricular activities
  Students who excel in music, theater and, especially, sports have a leg up on the competition. But Mike Moyer, author of "How to Make Colleges Want You," suggests trying activities that most students don’t do, such as starting a business. Students should also show initiative by, for example, starting a club at school, said Kristen Campbell of Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. "It’s really about thinking what you’re passionate about and if you’ve stepped up and taken a leadership role," she said.
• Other
  Colleges look for diversity. From Texas? Consider a college in the Northeast or Northwest. An ethnic minority? Make sure the college knows that. Grew up in an unusual place? Don’t be shy about discussing your childhood in an essay or at an interview.

Types of applications
The Common Application is used by 346 of the country’s most selective institutions. Many institutions have their own applications available on their Web sites or through the mail.

Types of admissions
Admission policies vary from college to college, but the procedure at Trinity University in San Antonio is representative. A private, selective university, Trinity offers early decision for students who commit to enroll if admitted. The application deadline for early decision is Nov. 1. Then there is early action for students who want to know early whether they’ve been admitted but don’t want to commit to enrolling at Trinity. The deadline is Dec. 1. Finally, there is regular admission, the deadline for which is Feb. 1. To apply, students must submit the Common Application, an official high school transcript of grades, SAT or ACT results, a teacher evaluation, a recommendation from a high school counselor, a senior year course list, an essay and a list of extracurricular activities.

Number of schools to apply to
Robert Bardwell of the American School Counselor Association recommends that students seeking admission to highly selective colleges apply to five to eight institutions, including a "safety school," where they’re likely to be admitted. After that, it’s up to the students. One school may be enough if students meet the criteria for automatic admission. But more than one is needed if they want to compare financial aid packages.
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