The College Admissions Process

The College Admissions Process: Straight No Chaser

As an enrollment professional with over a decade of college admissions experience, I’m an advocate of higher education. I believe education provides all people who are persistent, dedicated, and passionate the platform to learn how to appreciate diversity, think critically, and solve the problems of today’s society. Whether a student has interest in attending a public flagship, elite private, regionally focused, minority serving, affordable community, or accessible corporate institution, it will be the student’s commitment and excellence that earns the degree. Since I’m writing this article for my Sigma brothers, our Sigma Beta Club members and their families, I also want to give you the facts straight with no chaser! There is no such thing as a perfect school, and because the perfect school doesn’t exist, I want you all to understand that the college admissions system in the United States is even far less perfect.

There are thousands of schools in the United States, all of them are equally special, and provide special experiences for the students they serve. I don’t care where you decide to attend, just have a plan on how to gain admission, understand the experience you want to have, accept the cost you are willing to pay (financially and socially), and most importantly define your path to graduation. The admissions process is different for every school. Some schools have open access; an example may be a community college or for-profit institution. Other schools are moderately selective to selective, and many are highly selective. Is there a secret formula you ask? Absolutely not! The better your grades, the better your test scores, the more talent you have, the more options you will have in the college admissions process. All scholarships awarded at four year institutions will require you to be competitive; the competition will involve most importantly your academic performance and at times your extra-curricular Bro. Kevin M. holMes

excellence. The process requires the student to be disciplined and work hard.

A 3.0 grade point average will gain you admission to some schools, yet other schools will want a 4.0 grade point average. SAT and ACT exams will be required for most schools, and each school has specific requirements that may require scores in Math and Critical Reading, others will strongly consider the Writing component. The college essay is equally important, write an essay that conveys passion, addresses the topic, utilizes appropriate syntax, and is free from grammatical errors. Finally, choose your letters

The present state of the economic climate of higher education forces schools to maximize potential revenue earnings in a volatile declining consumer market for traditional age college students.

of reference wisely, ensure they are written by people who know your interest, can speak to your goals, and know your strengths, and can understand your areas of improvement.

Start the search process early, and remember all four years of high school count. Be curious and explore all possibilities. Narrow your focus based on the degree program offered, the environment that will make you happy, and the campus which will give you the best value. Go on tours to learn more about the college. Seek guidance from schools counselors and alumni of the institution. Utilize websites, social media, and literature available to make the best decision possible for yourself and your family.

I must warn you however, nothing comes in life free of cost. The harsh reality of this experience is that there are over 4,000 colleges and universities within the United States, higher education’s elite four year institutions have a long standing history of catering to the nation’s top student talent in order to create a society of great thinkers, astute innovators, creative artist, and prolific explorers. Harvard University was founded in 1636 and 379 years after it was founded it consistently remains one of the top universities in the world. Many four year public and private colleges and universities that have opened post Harvard’s founding have also adopted a student recruitment plan in the likeness of Harvard’s recruitment strategy that caters to the wealthy, denying more students than they accept, and creating a gate to keep out students that cannot immediately contribute to the fame and fortune of the institution. These strategies adopted by our nation’s four year public and private institutions have become more focused and competitive in the attempt to attract the best and brightest in recent years.

The present state of the economic climate of higher education forces schools to maximize potential revenue earnings in a volatile declining consumer market for traditional age college students. As a result, resources are dedicated to the privileged with hopes of marketing and recruiting an affluent body of students. In the case of the U.S. higher education system, institutions that were founded by the privileged have continued to execute business models to attract the privileged. I have been a higher education professional serving in an enrollment management capacity for 12 years, often involved in dialogue with former supervisors, executive cabinet members, and colleagues expressing aspirations for their institutions to become more competitive, better funded, and more attractive to top tier students and the families they come from. Those lofty aspirations often come at the expense of shutting out college access for the poor, disenfranchised minorities that may not have exposure to quality K-12 education, adequate standardized test preparation, and financial means to cover the full cost of attending top tier institutions. What makes this business model more alarming is that according to the Prescott and Bransberger (2012) Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Knocking at the College Door report, nonwhite minorities will make up 45% of all high school graduates

in the United States by the year 2019. The student population landscape that universities will have to serve will drastically change, yet colleges and universities have outdated admissions minority recruitment practices that have not kept up with the culture shift in the United States. The shear nature of the history of higher education in the United States has created a system of catering to the affluent and marginalizing minority segments of the population. The current state of higher education limits access to minorities of lower socio-economic status, yet also profits from various groups of minorities in the process.

I am an African-American, first-generation, male college graduate, and it bothers me that many individuals like myself don’t have equal access to our nation’s elite institutions. It infuriates me more that between the years 2007 and 2010 NCAA Division 1A football programs were comprised of more than 57% African-American men, yet African-American men only made up about 3% of the full-time degree seeking undergraduate population on those institution’s college campuses (Harper, Williams, Blackman, 2013). In college athletics, top NCAA football and basketball programs recruit the most talented black athletes, in order to win the most games, to play for the grand championship prize, to attract loyal fans, with the hope that those fans will become generous donors that will contribute to the coffers of the university. The media coverage and publicity that comes with this winning contributes hundreds of millions of dollars annually to top college programs. The conundrum is that millions of dollars are earned at the top colleges and universities in the country as a result of the athletic contributions of African-American men playing intercollegiate sports; however, those same college campuses only enroll a small portion of African-American male students. As an African-American admissions professional, I have witnessed countless institutions advocate for access only to fail in putting transformational actions behind empty words. I have experienced the hardships of most AfricanAmerican males that are trying to prepare to gain admission to top schools, only to be marginalized by lack of academic, financial, and social guidance.

In conclusion, I hope that you are aware of the college admissions process, and many of the pitfalls we face. The process is not impossible, but will require hard-work and dedication. Most importantly there will be a cost involved regardless if it is time or finances. Just make sure you put your best foot forward, formulate your plan, and embark on the journey with confidence, competence, and compassion. I hope that you receive admission to every school you apply to, receive every scholarship you apply for, and whatever your cause may be, let it swiftly speed on its way!

Harper, S.R., Williams, C.D., & Blackman, H.W. (2013). Black male student-athletes and racial inequities in NCAA Division 1 college sports. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, Center of the Study of Race and Equity in Education. Retrieved from: www.gse.upenn.edu/equity/sports

Prescot, B.T., Bransberger. P. (2012). Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Retrieved from: http://www.wiche.edu/pub/knocking-8th-and-supplements

Bro. Kevin M. holMes Assistant Vice President University of Maryland University College Quantico Corporate Center

Lambda Lambda Sigma Chapter

TRENTON, NJ

2015 Gospel Brunch

The brothers of Lambda Lambda Sigma (Trenton, NJ) hosted their 11th Annual Gospel Brunch at the Rho Ristorante located on Trenton’s waterfront. This year’s theme was “Let Go and Let God”.

The Gospel Brunch is the Chapter’s signature fundraising event for the Bro. Andrew Maddox Scholarship Fund. Among the distinguished guests at this year’s packed event were; Bros. Leonard Lockhart (25th Eastern Regional Director), Jean Lamothe (International Director of Education), Chris Wilson (Eastern Regional Secretary), and Nigel Coehlo (NJ State Director).

Over the years the guests have come to expect and enjoy a bountiful spread and spirit moving message, and this year’s event did not disappoint! The Shiloh Baptist Church Choir of Trenton NJ performed a number of soul stirring songs and Bro. Dr. Roderick Merritt (Beta Psi Sigma Chapter / Westchester County, NY) delivered a powerful message that filled the room with positive energy.

The Brothers of Lambda Lambda Sigma Chapter wish to thank all of our guests for joining us this year, and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Bro. Carthell Myers