h Kylie Shields ’16 is attending Savannah College of Art and Design
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
SEEING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES
BY DEREK GUELDENZOPH
The college advising process at Kimball Union is about educating, guiding, and supporting students as WKH\ JR WKURXJK WKH SURFHVV RI VHOIĦDVVHVVPHQW UHVHDUFK application, and college choice. 30
KIMBALL UNION MAGAZINE
635,1* ĽŅņ
31
I
I \RX UHDG RU OLVWHQ WR QDWLRQDO PHGLD \RX KDYH QR GRXEW FRPH DFURVV DUWLFOHV RQ KRZ VHOHFWLYH FROOHJH DGPLVVLRQV KDYH EHFRPH DW WKH WRS VFKRROV DQG KRZ WRGD\¶V KLJK VFKRRO VWXGHQWV IHHO WKH\ QHHG WR GR EDFN Ã&#x20AC;LSV OHDS WDOO EXLOGLQJV LQ D VLQJOH ERXQG VFRUH SHUIHFW 6$7V DQG KDYH VWDUWHG WKHLU RZQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO FKDULW\ WR JHW QRWLFHG E\ WKH FROOHJH RI WKHLU FKRLFH <HW DFFRUGLQJ WR D 1DWLRQDO $VVRFLDWLRQ IRU &ROÄ¥ OHJH $GPLVVLRQ &RXQVHOLQJ Ī1$&$&Ä« UHSRUW WKH DYHUDJH DFFHSWDQFH UDWH IRU DOO IRXUÄ¥\HDU FROOHJHV LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV LV SHUFHQW :K\ GRHVQ¶W WKLV FRPSXWH DQG ZKDW GRHV WKDW PHDQ IRU .8$ ĪDQG RWKHUÄ« VWXGHQWV" 7KH ¿UVW TXHVWLRQ WR DVN LV ³6R KRZ GLG ZH JHW KHUH"´ :H ORYH WR PHDVXUH WKLQJV DQG ZH ORYH WR EH SRSXODU ,Q FROOHJH DGPLVVLRQV DSSOLFDWLRQV DUH HDV\ WR PHDVXUH DQG IRUP D UHDGLO\ DYDLODEOH GDWD SRLQW WR FRPSDUH D VFKRRO IURP RQH \HDU WR DQRWKHU DQG WR FRPSDUH VFKRROV DJDLQVW HDFK RWKHU &ROOHJH DGPLVVLRQV RÉ·FHV DUH RIWHQ XQGHU JUHDW SUHVVXUH WR LQFUHDVH WKHLU DSSOLFDWLRQV VR WKH\ ZLOO EH SHUFHLYHG DV SRSXODU E\ WKH RUJDQL]DÄ¥ WLRQV WKDW UDQN VFKRROV 1RZ NHHS LQ PLQG WKDW PDQ\ FROOHJHV RSHUDWH DW D ¿[HG VL]HħWKH\¶UH QRW ORRNLQJ WR JURZ LQ WRWDO VWXGHQWV IURP RQH \HDU WR WKH QH[W ,I \RX GR WKH PDWK IRUZDUG \RX¶OO ¿QG WKDW D FROOHJH ORRNÄ¥ LQJ WR HQUROO WKH VDPH QXPEHU RI VWXGHQWV IURP D ODUJHU DSSOLFDQW SRRO ZLOO VHH WKHLU DGPLW UDWH GHFUHDVH 7KLV LQFUHDVHG VHOHFWLYLW\ ĪORZHU DGPLW UDWHÄ« LV SHUFHLYHG DQG PDUNHWHG DV D SRVLWLYH ZH DUH HQFRXUDJHG WR WKLQN WKH FROOHJH PXVW EH GRLQJ VRPHWKLQJ ULJKW WR H[SHULHQFH WKLV JRRG IRUWXQH 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ ZH DUH QRZ LQ D YLUWXDO DUPV UDFH ZKHUH HYHU\ \HDU FROOHJHV DUH ORRNLQJ WR LQFUHDVH WKHLU DSSOLFDWLRQV VR WKH\ FDQ ORZHU WKHLU DGPLW UDWHV DQG EH SHUFHLYHG DV PRUH VHOHFWLYH %XW ZK\ LV WKHUH VR PXFK DQ[LHW\ DURXQG WKLV" )DU WRR PXFK DWWHQWLRQ LV SDLG WR WKH Ä¥ PRVW VHOHFWLYH FROOHJHV XQLYHUVLWLHV LQ WKH FRXQWU\ ZKR URXWLQHO\ DGPLW IHZHU WKDQ SHUFHQW RI WKHLU DSSOLFDQWV 7KLV IRFXV LQ WKH SUHVV RQ WKH PRVW VHOHFWLYH FROOHJHV GRHV D KXJH GLVVHUYLFH WR IDPLOLHV DV WKH\ WU\ WR QDYLJDWH WKH FROOHJH VHDUFK DQG DSSOLFDWLRQ SURFHVV ,W LQFUHDVHV WKH DQ[LHW\ DQG DSSOLHV D K\SHUFRPSHWLWLYH PHQWDOLW\ WR ZKDW VKRXOG EH D YHU\ WKRXJKWIXO SURFHVV PHDQW WR GLVFHUQ D EHVWĥ¿W PDWFK EHWZHHQ DQ LQGLYLGXDO VWXGHQW DQG DQ LQVWLWXWLRQ 7KH QH[W TXHVWLRQ LV ³'R FROOHJHV UHDOO\ QHHG RU EHQH¿W IURP PRUH DSSOLFDWLRQV"´ /HW¶V JR EDFN WR WKRVH PRVW VHOHFWLYH FROOHJHV LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV IRU D PRPHQW ,I \RX ZHUH WR WDON WR DGPLVVLRQV RÉ·FHUV DW HDFK RI WKHP \RX ZRXOG
32
KIMBALL UNION MAGAZINE
FAR TOO MUCH ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE Ħ 50MOST SELECTIVE COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY WHO ROUTINELY ADMIT FEWER THAN 30 PERCENT OF THEIR APPLICANTS.
GLVFRYHU WKDW DQ\ZKHUH IURP ĥ SHUFHQW RI WKH VWXGHQWV ZKR DSSO\ DUH DFWXDOO\ ³DGPLVVLEOH ´ 7KHUH DUH IDU PRUH VWXGHQWV DSSO\LQJ ZKR KDYH WKH GHPRQVWUDWHG WKH JUDGHV DQG WHVW VFRUHV QHFĥ HVVDU\ WR EH D VXFFHVVIXO VWXGHQW DW WKDW FROOHJH WKDQ WKH FROOHJH FDQ DFWXDOO\ DGPLW 2WKHUZLVH WKH HQWHULQJ FODVV ZRXOG EH IDU WRR ODUJH ,Q RWKHU ZRUGV LI \RX DUH QRW RQH RI WKH WR SHUFHQW DFFHSWHG WKHUH ZDV SUREDEO\ DEVROXWHO\ QRWKLQJ ZURQJ ZLWK \RX +RZ GR WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ QXPEHUV ZRUN" /HW¶V VD\ +LJKO\ 6HOHFWLYH &ROOHJH Ī+6&ī ORFDWHG LQ 1HZ (QJODQG KDV D VWXGHQW SRSXODWLRQ RI DQG LV ORRNLQJ WR HQUROO DQ HQWHULQJ IUHVKPDQ FODVV RI QHZ VWXGHQWV +6& UHFHLYHG DSSOLFDWLRQV WKLV \HDU (DUO\ 'HFLVLRQ DSSOLFDQWV ĪWKH ELQGLQJ ¿UVW FKRLFH URXWH ZKHUH LI DGPLWWHG WKH VWXGHQW FRPĥ PLWV WR DWWHQGLQJī PDGH XS RI WKRVH VWXGHQWV +6& DGPLWWHG KDOI RI WKRVH (' DSSOLFDQWV WKXV ¿OOLQJ RI WKH SODFHV LQ WKH IUHVKPDQ FODVV 7KDW OHDYHV DSSOLFDQWV LQ 5HJXODU 'HFLVLRQ FRPSHWLQJ IRU WKH UHPDLQLQJ VSDFHV %DVHG RQ KLVWRULF \LHOG SDWWHUQV ĪWKH SHUFHQWDJH RI VWXGHQWV WKDW DFFHSW DQ RɱHU RI DGPLVVLRQ DQG DFWXDOO\ HQUROOī +6& FDOFXODWHV WKDW WKH\ QHHG WR DFFHSW RI WKH DSSOLFDQWV LQ RUGHU WR \LHOG WKH VWXGHQWV WKH\ GHVLUH WR URXQG RXW WKH FODVV %DVHG RQ ZKDW ZH NQRZ RI W\SLFDO DSSOLFDQW SRROV SHUFHQW RI WKRVH DSSOLFDQWV RU DUH ³DGPLVVLEOH´ VWXGHQWV EXW +6& RQO\ KDV URRP WR DGPLW RI WKHP 6R ZKLFK ZLOO WKH\ FKRRVH" 7KH DFWXDO FRPSRVLWLRQ RI WKH FODVV FRPHV GRZQ WR LQVWLWXĥ WLRQDO SULRULWLHV +6& LV LQ D FRPSHWLWLYH DWKOHWLF FRQIHUHQFH DQG OLNHV WR ZLQ VR SHUKDSV DGPLWV DUH UHVHUYHG IRU DWKOHWLF UHFUXLWV +6& KDV D FRPPLWPHQW WR UDFLDO DQG HWKQLF GLYHUVLW\ VR DQ DGGLWLRQDO DGPLWV DUH UHVHUYHG IRU VWXGHQWV RI FRORU +6& KDV D YLEUDQW LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWXGHQW FRPPXQLW\ VR DQ DGGLWLRQDO DGPLWV DUH UHĥ VHUYHG IRU LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWXGHQWV +6& LV D QDWLRQDO FROOHJH DQG DV VXFK KDV VWXGHQWV IURP DOO VWDWHV $V SDUW RI WKLV FRPPLWPHQW WR JHRJUDSKLF GLYHUVLĥ W\ WKH\ DLP WR HQUROO VWXGHQWV IURP DOO DURXQG WKH FRXQWU\ 7KHUHIRUH DQ DGGLWLRQDO DGPLWV DUH UHVHUYHG IRU VWXGHQWV RXWVLGH RI 1HZ (QJODQG ĪLW LV KDUGHU WR \LHOG VWXGHQWV IURP IDUWKHU DZD\ VR PRUH RɱHUV RI DGPLVVLRQ QHHG WR EH PDGHī $W WKLV SRLQW LW JHWV YHU\ GLɷFXOW DV WKHUH DUH RQO\ RɱHUV RI DGPLVVLRQ DYDLODEOH WR WKH UHPDLQĥ LQJ DSSOLFDQWV IURP 1HZ (QJODQG DOO RI ZKLFK DUH ³DGPLVVLEOH ´ 7KLV ¿QDO SRRO LV ZKDW WKH PHGLD DWWHQWLRQ LV GUDZQ WRZDUGVħWKH VWXGHQWV ZKR GLG QRW JHW LQ WR +6& ,Q DOO KRQHVW\ WKHVH DUH WKH PRVW DJRQL]LQJ GHFLVLRQV IRU WKH DGPLVVLRQ VWDɱ DW
+6& 7KH\ NQRZ WKH\ DUH VSOLWWLQJ KDLUV ZKHQ WKH\ FKRRVH WKRVH ¿QDO VWXGHQWV 6R KRZ GR \RX JHW WR EH LQ WKDW " , ZLVK WKHUH ZHUH D VLPSOH DQVZHU WR WKLV TXHVWLRQ ,Q WUXWK LW LV D FRPELQDWLRQ RI GHPRQVWUDWLQJ LQWHUHVW VWDQGLQJ RXW ĪLQ D JRRG ZD\ī DQG KDYLQJ JRRG OXFN 5HPHPEHU WKDW FROOHJH DSSOLFDWLRQV DUH UHDG E\ SHRSOH RIWHQ WKH YHU\ VDPH DGPLVVLRQ RɷFHU ZKR WUDYHOV WR D JHRJUDSKLF DUHD DQG YLVLWV WKRVH KLJK VFKRROV 'HYHORSLQJ D SRVLWLYH UHODWLRQĥ VKLS ZLWK D FROOHJH¶V DGPLVVLRQ RɷFHU FDQ KDYH DQ LPSDFW RQ KRZ WKDW RɷFHU UHDGV \RXU DSSOLFDWLRQ DQG KRZ PXFK WKH\ DUH DEOH WR DGYRFDWH IRU \RX GXULQJ WKH DFWXDO DGPLVVLRQ FRPPLWWHH SURFHVV 7KH PRUH \RX DUH D SHUVRQ WR WKHP RQH WKH\ FDQ SRWHQWLDOO\ VHH RQ WKHLU FDPSXV WKH OHVV \RX DUH VLPSO\ DQ DGPLVVLRQ ¿OH ĪD FRPELQDWLRQ RI WUDQVFULSWV WHVW VFRUHV DQG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQVī 3HRSOH DUH KDUG WR GHFOLQHħLW¶V HDVLHU WR VD\ QR WR DQ DSSOLFDWLRQ 7KLV EULQJV XV EDFN WR WKH VRPHWLPHV RYHUĥ VWDWHG QHHG WR EH KLJKO\ĥDFFRPSOLVKHG E\ DJH <HV LW¶V HDVLHU WR VWDQG RXW LI \RX KDYH D ³WKLQJ ´ VRPHWKLQJ WKDW DQ DGPLVVLRQ SHUVRQ FDQ ODWFK RQWR LQ FRPPLWWHH DQG FKDPSLRQ :KDW LV \RXU SDVVLRQ" :KDW LV LW DERXW \RX WKDW WKH DGPLVĥ VLRQ FRPPLWWHH FDQ SLFWXUH \RX GRLQJ RQ WKHLU FDPSXV" ,I \RX DUH D SRWHQWLDO FROOHJH DSSOLFDQW \RXU UROH LV WR WKLQN DERXW KRZ ZKDW \RX VKDUH DQG ZKDW RWKHU SHRSOH VKDUH DERXW \RX FUHDWHV DQ DXWKHQWLF LPDJH RI ZKR \RX DUH WRGD\ DQG KRZ \RX ZRXOG FRQWULEXWH WR WKH FRPPXQLW\ DW WKH FROOHJHĪVī RI \RXU FKRLFH 7KHQ RI FRXUVH WKHUH LV OXFN $QG , KDYH WR EH KRQHVW VRPHWLPHV \RX QHHG D OLWWOH OXFN WR QDYLJDWH WKLV SURFHVV HVSHFLDOO\ ZLWK WKHVH KLJKO\ VHOHFWLYH FROOHJHV DQG VRPHWLPHV LW VHHPV OLNH HYHU\WKLQJ VKRXOG OLQH XS IRU D VWXGHQW D SDUWLFXODU VFKRRO EXW IRU VRPH UHDVRQ LW GRHV QRW 7KDW¶V ZK\ LW¶V FULWLFDO WR XQGHUVWDQG WKDW WKHUH 0$1< JUHDW RSSRUWXQLWLHV IRU HYHU\ VWXGHQW WR JHW D IDQWDVWLF HGXFDWLRQ 7DNH WKH WLPH WR H[SORUH WKH EUHDGWK RI RSWLRQV 7KDW¶V ZK\ DW .8$ WKH FROOHJH DGYLVLQJ SURĥ FHVV LV DERXW HGXFDWLQJ JXLGLQJ VXSSRUWLQJ DQG DGYLVLQJ VWXGHQWV DV WKH\ JR WKURXJK WKH SURFHVV RI VHOIĥDVVHVVPHQW UHVHDUFK DSSOLFDWLRQ DQG FROOHJH FKRLFH &ROOHJHV GR KRQRU WKH GLYHUVLW\ RI DFKLHYHPHQWV LQWHUHVWV DVSLUDWLRQV DQG EDFNĥ JURXQGV VWXGHQWV UHSUHVHQW <RXU FROOHJH DGYLVRU ZLOO VXSSRUW \RXU DSSOLFDWLRQV WR D ZLGH YDULHW\ RI FROOHJHV DQG XQLYHUVLWLHV 7KLV ZLOO ZRUN RXW , WUXO\ EHOLHYH WKHUH LV D EHVWĥ¿W FROOHJH RXW WKHUH IRU HYHU\RQH DQG WKH FROOHJH VHDUFK LV DOO DERXW PDNLQJ WKDW PDWFK K
FALL ĽÅ&#x2026;Å&#x2020;
33