Bad Reasons Not to Submit a College Application
Why Students Should not be Afraid to Apply to Their Dream College
Nov 16, 2009 Kenneth Burchfiel
The application process can bring out nervous feelings in any student, especially those who feel that they don’t stand a chance at going to their dream school. Whether applicants are deterred by financial troubles, tough competition for spots or long distances from home, they should never avoid applying just because they feel things may not work out.
Financial Problems Should not Dissuade Students From Applying
Both public and private universities have gotten more expensive in recent years, as any college applicant knows. The sticker price at some colleges and universities is already over $50,000; according to the Campusgrotto.com article “Colleges with the Highest Total Cost 2009-2010,” 34 schools had an advertised cost of $50,000 or more for the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. (The most expensive institution on that list was Sarah Lawrence College, running at $54,410 for an initial fee.)
It is vital for students to recognize, though, that schools with initial high costs often have excellent financial aid programs. Colleges can have hundreds of millions of dollars in their endowment, meaning they can afford to provide students much-needed grants. The federal government also offers aid to students; those interested should make sure to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA website has more information on the topic.
In short, even if an applicant is not interested in taking out a loan, he or she certainly should not feel pressured not to apply to an expensive school. There is too much aid money available for students to toss out applications for schools that appear too costly on the surface.
Students Should not Fear Applying to Selective Colleges
Schools have not only become expensive as of late, many of them have turned more selective as well. Although the rise in college applicants over the years is certainly a good thing, as it means more students are interested in continuing their education, an increase in applications can cause a decrease in acceptance rates as well.
While students should be upfront with themselves about their college chances, acknowledging which schools are “reaches” based on their admissions credentials, they need not shy away from applying to schools that accept a small percentage of students. If seniors decide to apply only to schools where they feel confident about their chances, they may be missing out on attending colleges of their dreams that would have accepted them.
There is no shame in receiving rejection letters. If anything, such a response can mean that the student was brave enough to apply to colleges that were reaches for him or her. Applicants who only receive acceptance letters during the admissions process may not have applied to enough real reach schools.
For tips on how to make an application to a selective school more appealing to admissions officers, visit the Suite101.com article “How to Stand Out in a College Application.”
Applicants Should not Let Other Reasons Deter Them, Either
Students can provide many reasons for not applying to a school, such as its distance from home, its climate and its size. These can be legitimate reasons not to apply, and certainly better ones than the above two. Nevertheless, if a student has a genuine interest in a school, he or she should not allow secondary factors like this to dissuade him or her from applying.
For tips on finding the right college environment, which can have some say in which schools one chooses to apply to, read the Suite101.com article “Picking the Right College Environment.” The article “Universities Versus Liberal Arts Colleges” may also be of use.
It’s the Final Decision, not the Application, That Counts
In the end, a student can only matriculate to one college come April or May (or earlier, if he or she applies in a special manner, like early decision). If a certain school does not seem so appealing once that point comes around, there is no harm done; the student can simply attend another institution (unless they made a commitment to it by applying early decision). Students should apply to the schools that really interest them, regardless of their misgivings, so that they have more options once the admissions decisions come back.
Further Reading
Students looking for lots of information on colleges that interest them should visit Collegeboard.com’s College Search, a feature that lets them narrow down their college list based on many different factors. The college pages on the search page list important details about each school, though students should check college websites to confirm that the College Board has its facts right.
Students Should Apply to the Schools That Fit
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