Three “In” Factors in College Admissions
How Interests, Involvement, and Being an Influencer Impact Your College Admissions
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
A dream written down with a date becomes a GOAL.
A goal broken down into steps becomes a PLAN.
A plan backed by ACTION makes your dreams come true.
--Greg Scott Reid, Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker
Students, you may not realize it but when you enter high school you are starting a journey that leads to several goals. Some goals are clearly visible and easily defined. Other goals will emerge along the path and may be currently unknown to you. There are very short-term goals (finding someone to sit with at lunch the first day of school), mid-term goals (getting through freshman year of high school), and long-term goals (captain of a team, president of an organization, Boy Scout Eagle or Girl Scout Gold awards).
The obvious four-year goal is high school graduation. That is a date you can put on your calendar. You are the Class of ______ (insert your year of graduation).
Beyond high school graduation is what many of us in education call post-secondary learning. Your high school diploma is not terminal – it is not the end of your learning journey. It means you are ready to move on to the next level of learning – whatever that looks like for you. It may be four-year college, two-year college, trade or technical school, apprenticeship, or the military, as possibilities. Most students will have some idea of that next dream but the journey in high school may lead you to a different path by choice or by circumstance. If you want to achieve your dreams, it is in your best interest to heed George Reid’s words to be alert to your goals, develop a plan, follow a timeline, and take action steps to make those dreams a reality. The ‘IN’ Factors will help set your plan into motion.
What are the ‘IN’ Factors?
INTERESTS
INVOLVEMENT
INFLUENCER
How do you use the ‘IN’ Factors?
If you are entering high school, you have the advantage of using the ‘IN’ Factors to chart a more intentional path on your college-bound journey. This includes the electives you select, your extra-curricular activities, the community service choices you make, and perhaps the leadership positions you seek.
If you are a sophomore or junior, the ‘IN’ Factors will help you evaluate if you are on track or need to change course. Understanding the ‘IN’ Factors may assist you in making more informed decisions about your course schedule and other activities.
If you are a rising senior, the ‘IN’ Factors can help you work with what you have already achieved in high school to build a cohesive application package.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
When you’re in high school, you only have three years to make an academic, social, and leadership statement that will convince college admissions officers that you’re a great fit for their schools—so you make each year count.
While you probably know the credits you need to graduate and what courses colleges want to see on your transcript, you need to do more to capture their attention. In this guide to the college admissions process, you’ll learn how to showcase interests and activities on your application. Learn how to:
• develop amazing content to strengthen your resume;
• take control of your high school activities and the college process;
• articulate robust experiences to colleges you may want to attend; and
• chart an intentional path on your college-bound journey.
By focusing on the three “IN’ factors—interests, involvement, and being an influencer—you’ll be showcasing talents and accomplishments as you navigate the college admissions process.
About the Author
Wendy Bolen Andreen, PhD, is an independent educational consultant with over thirty-five years of academic experience. She formerly led thousands of high school students in Houston through the college admissions process as a college counselor and in her private work. She earned her bachelor of business administration and PhD from The University of Texas at Austin and her master of education from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. She and her husband have two children who successfully navigated the college admissions process multiple times.