Lots of students, including adults returning to school, are worried about getting into college.
That's not surprising given all the articles about the increasing number of students applying to colleges.
But, if you look at the facts, you will see that it is really not as difficult to get into college as you might think. The reality is that a very small number of colleges and universities are more than moderately selective.
Stanford, NYU, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and schools like them are denying more students than ever before.
In fact, despite the impressive credentials of their applicants, our most selective colleges are admitting a very small percentage of their applicant pools.
Furthermore, it is not uncommon for first tier colleges to turn away valedictorians.
Students with perfect SAT scores are also frequently denied admission by the Ivies and similarly selective universities. And being being involved in lots of activities, despite what you may hear seldom carries much weight.
That's the bad news. The good news is that only students applying to the very most selective colleges have to worry about ten or twenty percent acceptance rates. And only they have to worry that SAT or ACT scores in the top five percent may not be good enough.
No magic or superhuman achievements are required to get into a good college or university. Although Harvard may admit just nine or ten percent of its applicants, at most colleges the percentage is closer to seventy.
If you are a little nervous about getting into college, use that nervousness to motivate you to do your best in school and conduct your college search thoroughly and diligently. But, don't worry needlessly. And, don't be afraid to apply to a few colleges that might say no to you. Just be sure you apply to two or three at which your profile (grades and test scores) puts you above the average admitted student. Choose your safety schools well and your worries are over.
Daniel Kane is a veteran professional educator. He authored and maintains one website on online colleges another on online colleges and scholarships, and more than a half dozen additional education sites. Click here for other unique 'online education' articles.
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