A helpful guide for knowing the ins and outs of applying to college. "The admissions secret that gets you into college and beyond.
As a mother of two, I can tell you that oftentimes I have no idea what I'm doing. This is especially true when my oldest applied to college. By the grace of God, she landed exactly in the perfect place for her. But, learning from that experience, I am here to share what I wish I had known earlier. A friend recommended this book, Soundbite by Sara Harberson and it has been such a guide as my youngest child enters into her senior year of high school and will begin the college application process.
I am an audio book kind of gal and this one I had to pause and take notes. I hope my notetaking will help you as you move forward in your journey with your child
💡 The author, Sara Harberson, also hosts an Instagram Live where she does a Q&A session as well as speaking on helpful college application topics.
Tip #1 - What is a Soundbite?
This is what makes you, YOU! Part 1 (Chapters 1-8) explains in detail what a soundbite is and its utmost significance in the process. Chapter 6 even walks you through an exercise to map out major areas of academic interest.
💡 Aha! Moment: Your child is unique and every single quality about them contributes to that. Use it to their benefit. This is what will make them stand out and shine!
Tip #2 - How to Write a Soundbite
Chapter 10 is the step-by-step guide. It gives "The Soundbite Rules". For example:
Write in first person
One space after each sentence
Use 5 nouns and/or verbs to describe yourself
Find an obvious connection between 2-3 of the words
Defining traits that influence you
Tie together 2-3 of your words together
List a major area of academic interest
"High school students coping with anxiety and insecurity over college applications will be relieved to know that they have a secret power that differentiates them from everyone else. Soundbite is an immensely readable and practical guide to discovering that secret." – Bill McGarvery, author of Freshman Survival Guide: Soulful Advice for Studying, Socializing and Everything In Between
Tip #3 - Making Your College List
Where to even start?? That's how I felt because how do you really know what college is right for your child? Harberson suggests a list of 9-12 schools spread out between the three categories of "Reach", "Target" and "Likely".
Step 1: What kind of student is your child? Reach, Target, Likely?
Step 2: What college will value your child's uniqueness and what they have to offer?
Step 3: Acceptance Rates - which colleges are your child's "reach", "target" and "likely"?
Tip #4 - Exploring Colleges Online
Now that you have a tentative list of 9-12 schools, it's time to get a feel for each one. When my daughter and I got deeper and deeper, she really felt like she knew the schools better and was able to make some adjustments.
What we did:
Expressed interest by signing up for more information
Major Exploration - got a great idea of what the actual majors have to offer and the school's special philosophy regarding that major.
Application process - common app?, supplemental essay, essay topics, etc.
Financials - cost and scholarship opportunities
Campus Life - location, dorms, activities, clubs and sports
💡 Aha! Moment: Rolling Admissions is a great way to find out where you stand. If you are easily getting into "Likely" schools, then perhaps the "Target" and "Reach" schools are more of a possibility. And conversely, if you are not getting into "Likely" schools during the rolling admissions process, then it's a great time to make adjustments to your college list. Click here to read more about "Rolling Admission"
Tip #5 - Getting Ready to Apply
Do you have your starting line up ready to go? When senior year starts, life will be busy for my daughter, so having as much done now as possible is key. Here's what she's prepared:
Brag Sheet - A list of accomplishments, achievements, awards, volunteer work, work experience, and qualities. This is given to teachers and counselors when asking for a letter of recommendation. This list also helped shape the soundbite.
Soundbite - following Sara Harberson's guidance and exercises, this was created. This will be my daughter's guiding light as she applies to each school.
Requests for Letters of Recommendation - having her list of faculty to ask and her draft email ready to go.
Essay Topics - visit the Common App website to see the list of essay topics. She started thinking about which topic "speaks" to her and is formulated an idea of what she might write.
Pace Yourself...You Got This!
I truly feel that this work ahead of time is important for any type of student. It gives your child their best shot at a school that is just right for them. In addition, applying to college is a marathon, so pacing yourself is a must. These steps help keep it all in check and not too overwhelming. Ultimately, everything happens how it is supposed to, so please remember to work hard, "Shoot for the Moon", stay positive and take it one day at a time. Good Luck!
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