NYC College Admissions Recap 2023

Navigating the college admissions process is daunting. In this post, we will summarize the key components of the college application portfolio.

Quantitative Components

• TRANSCRIPT

  • GPA

  • Course Rigor

  • Academic Trends over Time

  • College Credits

• TESTING

  • ACT/SAT

  • AP Scores

  • IB Scores

QUALITATIVE Components

• HOLISTIC

  • Essay

  • Supplemental Essays

  • Letters of Recommendation

  • Art or Talent portfolio

  • Extracurriculars

• OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Legacy

  • Demonstrated Interest

  • Athletic Recruitment

  • Interview/Video

Now let’s look at some of these components in more detail.

TRANSCRIPT

Some schools provide a class rank; some do not. But it is very helpful information to have. Some colleges pride themselves in selecting students only from the top 10% of their graduating class, so it’s good to know as soon as possible what the transcript looks like at this stage, and how it compares to other students at their high school. 

The transcript is also useful to gauge the course rigor that students have undertaken. Transcripts that are heavy on challenging coursework are very impressive to colleges. Transcripts that are light on advanced coursework need to be supported by strong letters of recommendation and a list of academically focused extracurricular activities.

LETTERS OR RECOMMENDATION

Colleges are looking for two (not three, not four…) letters of recommendation, and we recommend that those letters come from junior year STEM or humanities teachers.

Students should begin thinking about who they will reach out to for letters of recommendation well in advance of the fall of senior year. The best instructors tend to get crushed with recommendation request in the days leading up to application deadlines. In that respect, it may be wise to request one at the end of junior year or at some point over the summer leading into senior year. Most of the students we work with have a sense of who they can reach out to for a recommendation by junior year. 

TESTING

Test scores are relative. A strong score at one school may be too low for another. In that respect, we ask students to think only in terms of a healthy increase from any assessment scores they may have (PSAT or PreACT).

Sometimes, the student’s high school can factor into the scores they need to achieve. At specialized high schools, students will need test strong scores to compete for seats at elite colleges. At more progressive high schools, high test scores tend to stand out, and they are helpful even for competitive schools that have lower test averages. The next gauge of scores is the colleges themselves. An art school will prioritize a portfolio over test scores. State schools will prioritize college-level coursework and academic consistency over test scores. 

So, should your child take the SAT or the ACT? The simplest answer is this: wherever you can get the most points. Both tests are given equal weight in admissions.

Students should not consider studying for both tests simultaneously. Mastery of one exam is crucial to maximizing scores. Students who study for both tend to be OK at both, but may not achieve elite scores on both. 

THE DIGITAL SAT

In March 2024 the SAT will be changing to a new digital format. The test has been radically redesigned, which means that a student who has been prepping for the paper test cannot easily transition to the digital one. 10th graders should consider taking a mock paper SAT, paper ACT, and digital SAT in the spring in order to determine which test is the best fit. If they plan to take the paper SAT, they should prep over the summer and target fall tests. If they plan to take the digital SAT, they can begin studying in the fall.

TEST OPTIONAL

Most colleges are now test optional, and some have even gone test blind.

At highly selective schools, this change has contributed to record applications and increased selectivity.

The SAT and ACT remain a valuable way for students to strengthen their application, and most students attempting to get into a “reach school” should still test. 

However test optional does open up additional paths for students who have exceptional strengths in other areas but who struggle with standardized tests.

Extracurriculars

Coursework and test scores do not reveal how your children interact with the community, follow their passions, and have fun. Students should strive to create a list of activities that give colleges a sense of who they are outside of the classroom. The Common Application provides space for only 10 activities. They do not need to have 10 extracurricular activities, but they should have at least one activity that answers each of the following questions: 

1. How does the student display a sense of responsibility?

2. How does the student pursue academics outside the classroom? 

3. How does the student involve themselves in their community? 

4. How does the student have fun?

ADMISSIONS WRITING

Depending on each student’s college list, they will be required to write:

1. A general statement, often called the “Common App Essay”

2. A number of supplementary essays for each school

College essays give students an opportunity to share their voice, showcase their intellect, and highlight the themes of their application. Effective essays help colleges “imagine the applicant” within their community.