How to Succeed in College and in Life, According to a Communications Professor

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Ever visualize yourself as the next Mindy Kaling, Martin Scorsese, or Trevor Noah? If you’re fascinated with podcasts, TV shows, film, journalism, or design, a communications school might be right for you. We caught up with Professor Anthony Adornato to give communications (and really all) students an idea of how they should be spending their time in college. Adornato is an associate professor at Ithaca College who teaches on social media and broadcasting. Adornato has also taught classes at Syracuse University and Utica College.

When asked about his most successful students, Adornato answered that it’s usually the ones who make the most of the school's opportunities. No one is going to tell you precisely what you should do, he said. Students need to be hungry and passionate to do work independently and, most importantly, be innovative. Technology allows students to create their own projects easily. However, he did warn that some students try to chase every opportunity that comes their way, which causes them to spread themselves too thin. He advised that students go deeper into the projects they’re passionate about and make sure those are excellent before moving onto something else. 

His advice for students was to try to find their passion and spend time dabbling in activities they've never tried before. Follow what you feel good about and if it’s not working after a while, start pivoting. He emphasized the importance of producing actual content to demonstrate learning and show off creativity.

Based on his observations, the students who are most likely to get a job out of college are ones that build relationships through their internships. Particularly with communications, they do a good job branding themselves through creating personal websites and having an industry-related social media account. They’re sharing relevant content before they even become professionals.

Waitlisted! Now What?

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Welcome to the waitlist, the No Man’s Land of college admissions.  Unlike waiting in line at the deli counter clutching your ticket with 93 printed on it and realizing that they are currently serving number 89, the waitlist in college admissions works differently.  There is no order or ranking of students on the list, so contacting admissions to ask where you are on the waitlist is not a productive use of your time.  The waitlist is an enrollment management tool used to help a college or university meet its enrollment objectives.  Colleges look at prior yield rates, the percentage of accepted students who actually enroll, when admitting students.  For example, if a college has a yield rate of 20% and wants a class of 1,000 students, it will accept 5,000 applicants.  If the actual yield is lower than predicted, the college will utilize the waitlist to shore-up its freshmen class.  As an enrollment management tool, the waitlist is also used to shape the class.  If the university wants to expand an academic major, add geographic, socio-economic, ethnic or racial diversity, or increase the trumpet section of the marching band, they will pull students off the waitlist to meet their needs.  Although a student’s probability of getting admitted off the waitlist is unpredictable, we do have this happen to students every year.

 If you happen to be waitlisted, we offer the following advice.  First, make sure that you put an enrollment deposit down at a college to which you were admitted.  This is critical.  Because you typically won’t come off the waitlist until after the May 1st deposit deadline, you will need to put an enrollment deposit down at another school to reserve your spot.  Second, follow the directions given to you by the school that waitlisted you.  Some schools want you to simply check a box on your student portal to indicate that you wish to remain on the waitlist and others want you to submit a letter of continued interest.  Follow the directions!  If the college wants additional information, it is good to include any updates to your academic record or extracurricular curricular activities and why the colleges is a good match for you.  It should be brief and highlight new information that wasn’t included in your initial application.  Finally, don’t be a nuisance to admissions.  Reaching out to your regional admissions representative once is fine, but multiple calls, emails, and fancy chocolates won’t improve your chances.  With an overall increase in applications this application cycle, we do anticipate more movement on waitlists this year, so if you happen to be one of the lucky ones, congratulations!  

Our Response to the "Varsity Blues" Scandal

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Recently, the “Varsity Blues” scandal has resurfaced in the news as Netflix promotes its docudrama about the college admissions scandal that resulted in over 50 arrests.  All of us at College Matters are keenly aware of how this scandal has further tainted college admissions and how it highlights the competition and anxiety surrounding admission to highly selective institutions.

We would like to reassure our clients and prospective clients that we adhere to the strictest ethical standards and best practices within our profession.  All four independent educational consultants at College Matters are members in good standing of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), one of the most well-respected national organizations that work to uphold these standards. 

Below is a link to the statement published by IECA in response to the new Netflix program, “Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal.”  We urge you to read this statement to gain insight into our longstanding commitment to address each student and family’s needs and goals and to identify the student’s authentic talents, abilities, and interests to guide them to colleges where they will thrive.  We are committed to IECA’s Principles of Good Practice which bring professionalism, expertise, and competence to the process. 

https://www.iecaonline.com/ieca-responds-to-netflix-varsity-blues-docudrama-and-anxiety-permeating-the-college-admissions-process/

INTERVIEW: How You Can (and Maybe Should) Plan BEYOND College

High school students often overlook how their college choices will impact their future finances and plans. As part of College Matters' Student to Student series, we interviewed our former student Cale to talk about how he was able to plan these things ahead in high school.

Three Tips for Acing Your Zoom Interview

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The overwhelming majority of college interviews are taking place virtually this year. And while many of our traditional tips for preparing for interviews are the same as for those that are in person, there are a few things that students need to be aware of.

1. Make eye contact. This sounds obvious, but it’s harder than you think. That’s because your computer’s camera is not aligned with the eyes of your interviewer, so it can appear that you are looking down rather that at them. Focus on the camera, not on the eyes.

2. Eliminate alerts. Put everything on silent — cell phones, email alerts, calendar reminders. Even a small ping can distract you and the interviewer from your conversation. And because Zoom audio only lets one person talk at a time, an auditory alert will actually cut off the conversation.

3. Location, location, location. Look at what is behind you: a pile of athletic equipment, your headboard, or a tidy bookshelf? What sends the message about who you are and what you value? Make sure that the lighting is good as well! It can make a huge difference!

INTERVIEW: What Co-Op Is and Why It Might Be Right For You

Some high school students really want job experience in college before they start their first full-time job after graduation. Co-op schools can be a great place to get that experience! As part of our Student to Student series, we interviewed our former student Anna to talk about her experience at a co-op institution.

NEW Common App Essay Prompts for 2021-2022

Get writing…

The Common Application just announced the essay prompts for the upcoming admission cycle. One prompt has been replaced, but the other six remain the same.

The new prompt is: Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Below is the full list of prompts for 2021-2022.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.In addition, the optional COVID-19 impact question will remain.

INTERVIEW: Former College Matters Student Discusses Her Greek Life Experience

A big choice that some students make when they get to college is whether or not to join Greek life. As part of our Student to Student series, we interviewed our former student Christine to talk about not just one, but two types of Greek organizations she joined while in college.

Changes for the SAT: What You Need to Know

The College Board announced recently that they are eliminating the essay portion of the SAT, as well as SAT subject tests for domestic students.

Regarding subject tests: "We are no longer offering the Subject Tests in the U.S. Students in the U.S. will automatically have their registrations canceled and receive a refund. Because Subject Tests are used internationally for a wider variety of purposes, we will provide two more administrations in May and June of 2021 for students in international locations. International students can call Customer Service to cancel their registration for a full refund if they no longer want to take Subject Tests."

We will be following this closely and speaking with admissions reps to let you know how this will impact the class of 2022. Stay tuned to our blog for future announcements!

Four Big Mistakes You Should Avoid in the Application Process

Second-semester junior year is when many students start thinking about the college application process (no, you’re not late)! You may be sitting at your computer, unsure of what factors to begin considering. Before you dive in head-first, understand the four mistakes that high school students and families make when applying to college.

Don’t start the process too late. By that, we mean you should start now especially if you’re in your junior year. To apply to college, you fill out an application online in the fall of senior year, send colleges your transcripts, and send your standardized test scores. To complete a quality application, however, takes much more. It’s choosing courses in your high school curriculum that show colleges you’re academically prepared. It’s having a testing plan so you can do your best on the SAT or ACT, which can potentially add value to your application. It’s taking the time to think deeply about how you will express yourself to admission officers in 650 words or less in the college essay. It’s considering a wide range of colleges on factors that are important to you, such as class sizes, affordability, and campus culture. These tasks require time and reflection. Get moving now so you won’t have to make all these choices in the heat of application season during your senior year.

Don’t get hung up on just one or two schools and disregard all the others. Students and parents can sometimes fall in love with a school, and they even call it a “dream” school. It’s great to feel like you connect with a campus while also understanding that admission and affordability aren’t guaranteed--even for the most highly-qualified applicants. In fact, selective institutions have to deny many students each year because of the vast pools of strong candidates around the world versus dorm beds available. Have a balanced mix of safety, target, and reach schools. Do the research to evaluate if they (including the safeties) are a good fit for you before making judgments on the schools! Understand that you can get accepted, have a fulfilling college experience, and experience excellent post-graduate outcomes at a number of places, not just one or two. Understand that a school’s lower admission rate doesn’t always correlate to a better student experience. You significantly reduce the pressure on yourself when applying if you can keep these factors in mind.

Don’t wait until the spring of senior year to take affordability seriously. Parents: have an early, honest conversation with your students about paying for college. Keep this dialogue going throughout the process. Work together to find colleges that award generous merit scholarships or tuition discounts for applicants. Students: consider a range of schools so you can see different financial aid packages before deciding (packages come out after you are admitted). When you address affordability early, it will save your family from unwanted surprises during an exciting, memorable time.

Don’t change yourself to try to fit into what colleges are “looking for.” Our staff has heard many admission officers echo this message. Some even say it’s the biggest mistake they see applicants make. Admission officers want to hear about each student’s unique interests, values, and stories. That means there isn’t a specific activity you have to join to qualify for a school. There isn’t an essay topic you can write about that will guarantee your admission. At many selective colleges, admission officers aren’t just checking boxes off when reading your application. It’s a real human being trying to weigh your qualifications and the school’s student enrollment objectives.

Instead, expand on the things you genuinely enjoy. Passionate about saving the planet from global warming? Think of a new project you can take on that will properly show this. Love coding and helping others? Consider starting a free course to share your interest with people who also want to get into coding. One admission officer from Pomona College in California advised high school students to “obsess over high school” rather than do things for college. We couldn’t say it better ourselves.

DO enjoy the process. Applying to college is an excellent way for high school students to mature and come of age. It naturally comes with twists and turns, but avoiding these four mistakes will make the process smoother and lead to better results. Take a deep breath and get the ball rolling as soon as you can.