The Myth of the Shoo-in

A friend of a friend shared this story with me. Maybe you’ve heard one like it.

The valedictorian and three-sport athlete (let’s call her Jane) at a highly regarded public high school in New York State had her heart set on a specific Ivy League institution (College X). Her transcript shows that she took every Honors and AP course offered; her SAT scores fell near the top of that college’s admitted-student range; and she received 5s on her AP exams.

Admired for being hard-working, honest, kind, and generous, Jane had a special interest in and commitment to community service, and held down a part-time job for all four high school years.

During her eight (!) visits to College X, Jane attended encouraging meetings with basketball, crew and lacrosse coaches; spoke privately with admission officers; and sat in on classes. Allegedly, Jane's guidance counselor and high school coaches as well as a College X admission rep and an alumni recruiter who interviewed her all assured Jane that she was "in." Instead, Jane first was deferred from the Early Decision to regular pool and then denied.

How could this have happened?

Independent educational consultants—like me—know that admission decisions don’t always seem fair. But we’re also well aware that no matter how qualified on paper a student may appear to be, even well-connected individuals aren’t privy to the bigger admission picture.

Such a person wouldn’t know if Jane was one of a gazillion outstanding applicants from the Hudson Valley, or if her Common App essay was compelling. Did her teacher recommendations include specific examples of how Jane went above and beyond the curriculum and school expectations? Did Jane’s profile fit with the strengths and culture of the college? And would her admission have helped the college create a “well-angled” class: one in which tuba rather than clarinet players, humanities rather than business majors and kids from the mid-West rather than the East Coast might have been in high demand?

Indeed, while Jane may have presented herself as best she could (or known how to), circumstances simply may have been beyond her control. And, as tempting as it may be to believe so-called “insiders,” families should routinely ignore anyone purporting to have a crystal ball. While input from these folks might be added to applicant files, admission decisions are always made by an official on-campus committee and communicated directly via the admission office.

Unfortunately, with admission rates at some highly selective schools in the teens and single digits, even kids who seem to be most qualified face daunting, global competition. However, with the US boasting nearly 3,000 four-year colleges—where the vast majority of applicants do get in—certainly, there’s a place for everyone,

The good news: Jane’s story has a happy ending. Admitted to every other college to which she applied, she bonded with College Y, which, according to my friend, seems to be a better fit.

In the end, when it comes to applying to college—as in life—there are no guarantees. While it’s perfectly okay to dream big, maintaining a realistic perspective via a Plan B—no matter what others might say—is a must. How much more productive and life-affirming is it to embrace new opportunities rather than bemoan what might have been!
© 2024 Sandra M. Moore/Next Step CC, LLC – For more information, contact Sandra Moore at 845.242.8336