College applications call for more than A high GPA and SAT scores, sources confirm
by Annabel Benjamin
May 21, 2018
Filled with pure bliss and absolute shock, Yara read “Congratulations” as she opened her Stanford admissions portal at 5:00 p.m. sharp. As texts started to flood in from her disappointed friends who were not admitted to the prestigious university, she could not believe what she saw before her eyes.
It was mid-December meaning not only had she been admitted but given an early action acceptance. “I psyched myself out” she said “I was really shocked when I got in.”
Yara Sevilla is a senior at Chaminade High School in West Hills, California. Although she was a part of the 4.3% of applicants who were admitted to Stanford University this year, she did not have to go through the interview process required for other prestigious universities.
GPAs and SAT scores are a prerequisite for all challenging schools, explained Hale Behzadi, an alumni and interviewer for Georgetown University in Washington DC. A study by the Association of Psychological Science confirmed that high school grades and SAT scores are predictors of a student’s success in college yet, Behazdi enthusiastically added that there are other factors in the admissions process that are initially overlooked.
Behzadi explained that there is often a threshold where the majority of the students admitted to a certain school fall in terms of grades and test scores. A student can get in even if they fall below this threshold but, “there is an X factor”, she added, “you have to have something special.”
Yara had “something special” believing that it was more than just her grades that helped her achieve her goal. “I think the most important part of college admissions is writing the essays and getting to know the person and seeing their accomplishments” she said.
She advised students beginning the college application process to confidently present their own stories.
For this same reason, Behzadi explained that Georgetown is one of the few universities that still requires in-person interviews as a part of the college admissions process. She explained that this addition is still important in that allows for additional vetting of a candidate in the perspective of an alumni.
“Someone may look very good on paper but they don’t present well and vice-versa” she said, explaining that it is important for students to create a good impression regardless or SAT scores of GPAs.
In describing the typical interview, she explained that she would begin by asking a student about their background such as family or upbringing. Such questions would provide information about the privileges a student had or the challenges they faced.
“You expect more from someone from a better background. Others have to fight to get the same opportunities” she added.
Other topics she said that might be discussed in a typical college interview were extracurricular activities such as leadership positions and community activities but also academic passions and goals. Although these questions are typical they are meant to gage a “sense of how deeply they think about these things” she said.
Behzadi continued by explaining that one of the main things that those a part of the college admissions process look for is resilience or a student’s ability to face challenges, whether personal or academic.
For example, she explained that one student she interviewed not only had a sibling with mental health issues whom she had to take care of with a lack of support from her parents but she also had to cope with the death of her boyfriend who had committed suicide. “She was going through so much and getting through college admissions at the same time” she said solemnly.
She urged students to be able to tell a great story about themselves which is only supported by transcripts and test scores.
This has become incredibly true in recent years with more students applying for higher education and increased marketing on the part of the schools as well, she explains. Because of this schools are getting an inflated number of applications and in turn, competition among students increases.
With this increased competition, both Mrs. Behzadi and Yara explained that one of the most important parts of the college application process is to be oneself and tell a compelling story. In the end, “the system works”, Yara admitted, “those who worked the hardest got the farthest.”
Word count: 710
Filled with pure bliss and absolute shock, Yara read “Congratulations” as she opened her Stanford admissions portal at 5:00 p.m. sharp. As texts started to flood in from her disappointed friends who were not admitted to the prestigious university, she could not believe what she saw before her eyes.
It was mid-December meaning not only had she been admitted but given an early action acceptance. “I psyched myself out” she said “I was really shocked when I got in.”
Yara Sevilla is a senior at Chaminade High School in West Hills, California. Although she was a part of the 4.3% of applicants who were admitted to Stanford University this year, she did not have to go through the interview process required for other prestigious universities.
GPAs and SAT scores are a prerequisite for all challenging schools, explained Hale Behzadi, an alumni and interviewer for Georgetown University in Washington DC. A study by the Association of Psychological Science confirmed that high school grades and SAT scores are predictors of a student’s success in college yet, Behazdi enthusiastically added that there are other factors in the admissions process that are initially overlooked.
Behzadi explained that there is often a threshold where the majority of the students admitted to a certain school fall in terms of grades and test scores. A student can get in even if they fall below this threshold but, “there is an X factor”, she added, “you have to have something special.”
Yara had “something special” believing that it was more than just her grades that helped her achieve her goal. “I think the most important part of college admissions is writing the essays and getting to know the person and seeing their accomplishments” she said.
She advised students beginning the college application process to confidently present their own stories.
For this same reason, Behzadi explained that Georgetown is one of the few universities that still requires in-person interviews as a part of the college admissions process. She explained that this addition is still important in that allows for additional vetting of a candidate in the perspective of an alumni.
“Someone may look very good on paper but they don’t present well and vice-versa” she said, explaining that it is important for students to create a good impression regardless or SAT scores of GPAs.
In describing the typical interview, she explained that she would begin by asking a student about their background such as family or upbringing. Such questions would provide information about the privileges a student had or the challenges they faced.
“You expect more from someone from a better background. Others have to fight to get the same opportunities” she added.
Other topics she said that might be discussed in a typical college interview were extracurricular activities such as leadership positions and community activities but also academic passions and goals. Although these questions are typical they are meant to gage a “sense of how deeply they think about these things” she said.
Behzadi continued by explaining that one of the main things that those a part of the college admissions process look for is resilience or a student’s ability to face challenges, whether personal or academic.
For example, she explained that one student she interviewed not only had a sibling with mental health issues whom she had to take care of with a lack of support from her parents but she also had to cope with the death of her boyfriend who had committed suicide. “She was going through so much and getting through college admissions at the same time” she said solemnly.
She urged students to be able to tell a great story about themselves which is only supported by transcripts and test scores.
This has become incredibly true in recent years with more students applying for higher education and increased marketing on the part of the schools as well, she explains. Because of this schools are getting an inflated number of applications and in turn, competition among students increases.
With this increased competition, both Mrs. Behzadi and Yara explained that one of the most important parts of the college application process is to be oneself and tell a compelling story. In the end, “the system works”, Yara admitted, “those who worked the hardest got the farthest.”
Word count: 710