Best advice you got from a private college admissions counselor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She sounds like a great student. NHS is indeed a significant honor (that my kid didn't have). I agree with the poster who said "fit matters more than ranking." Getting in to Harvard may be out of the question without extracurricular activities, but many great schools will be matches for her. Just figure out what she wants to study, and start looking at good schools. I wish my kids were straight A students.

A private admissions counselor said NHS is not an honor given that there is no set standard of acceptance. She said 50% of some school could be members and could entail going to a few meetings and doing 10 hours of community service.

Correct. NHS doesn't mean academic excellence because there is no set standard.

My daughter's in NHS and Spanish HS. THey have a few meetings, have to do some community service in and out of school. FOr Spanish HS, she has to go to two culture events.
It's not an activity to brag about usually.

Yes, but at my child's school, MANY kids met the GPA standard they set (more than they could let in)...after which they factor in citizenship and teacher's recommendations. So, I disagree that the invitation means nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about middle class kids who work, but aren't doing so to help support the family? Do they view paid employment in the same way as being involved in debate or playing volleyball?

My understanding from a former local Harvard admissions interviewer is that work, even for the middle class kid, is definitely looked at positively. Responsibility, not afraid to get their hands dirty, etc. Plus there is no teacher quite like experience.

+1 I certainly hope it counts and I don't think I'd want my kids going to a college that didn't think work experience is valuable. My DS doesn't really like to do much w/ EC's at school, does one thing that doesn't take a lot of time. But he's worked, first as volunteer and now as paid counselor at the same summer camp since 6th grade. It's the one thing he can really point to as sustained dedication and growth in leadership. It takes up most of his summer and he cares a lot about it. I expect it will likely be part of his college app essays.

[Anonymous]

Following up on the National Honor Society. Yes, it may be a dime a dozen kind of honor and not all that prestigious compared to other honors that are harder to achieve, but it's still important to get and list it (even if it's at the bottom of the awards list), and here's why -- if you're eligible and *don't* have it, it may raise eyebrows. NHS chapters can decline to extend invitations to kids based on character, so not having it when all the other applicants from your school have it may raise a red flag. It's better not to raise that potential red flag in the first place, particularly as it's such an easy lift for a kid with good grades.

[Anonymous]

Washington College gives an AUTOMATIC scholarship of 18K per year for NHS members!

https://talbotspy.org/wc-increases-first-in-the-nation-automatic-scholarship-for-national-honor-society-students/

[Anonymous]

In addition to the books and Facebook groups mentioned, I've found some podcasts to be really informative --

"Getting In: A College Coach Conversation" - large archive of episodes

"Getting In: Your College Admissions Companion" - this was a limited run series by the author of "How To Raise an Adult". She followed a small group of HS seniors as they applied to college and included discussions with a variety of college counselors, admissions people, etc.

[Anonymous]

If you are going to visit a college do it if at all possible while school is on session. Email the admissions person for your child's high school before the visit to see if you can stop by. If they offer the option to sit in on a class do so. Take pictures during visits to help remember. Get those essays done early, before senior year starts. Leave time for multiple drafts of essays. That's what I learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Following up on the National Honor Society. Yes, it may be a dime a dozen kind of honor and not all that prestigious compared to other honors that are harder to achieve, but it's still important to get and list it (even if it's at the bottom of the awards list), and here's why -- if you're eligible and *don't* have it, it may raise eyebrows. NHS chapters can decline to extend invitations to kids based on character, so not having it when all the other applicants from your school have it may raise a red flag. It's better not to raise that potential red flag in the first place, particularly as it's such an easy lift for a kid with good grades.

What absolute nonsense. No one cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fit matters more than ranking.

As the parent of a high school junior, I need to put this on my refrigerator! I think it's excellent advice and I hope I can follow it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following up on the National Honor Society. Yes, it may be a dime a dozen kind of honor and not all that prestigious compared to other honors that are harder to achieve, but it's still important to get and list it (even if it's at the bottom of the awards list), and here's why -- if you're eligible and *don't* have it, it may raise eyebrows. NHS chapters can decline to extend invitations to kids based on character, so not having it when all the other applicants from your school have it may raise a red flag. It's better not to raise that potential red flag in the first place, particularly as it's such an easy lift for a kid with good grades.

What absolute nonsense. No one cares.

I have to agree. It will not raise eyebrows in the context of the entire application and recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following up on the National Honor Society. Yes, it may be a dime a dozen kind of honor and not all that prestigious compared to other honors that are harder to achieve, but it's still important to get and list it (even if it's at the bottom of the awards list), and here's why -- if you're eligible and *don't* have it, it may raise eyebrows. NHS chapters can decline to extend invitations to kids based on character, so not having it when all the other applicants from your school have it may raise a red flag. It's better not to raise that potential red flag in the first place, particularly as it's such an easy lift for a kid with good grades.

What absolute nonsense. No one cares.

I have to agree. It will not raise eyebrows in the context of the entire application and recommendations.

DP. I have a feeling it may depend on the high school in terms of how much it's valued by the students as well. As our DC area high school, they make you jump through so many hoops to apply that most kids don't for that reason - and because they don't see the payoff from the colleges for doing so. I think we just had about 8 kids in NHS this year, and they didn't even really represent the top students at our high school (Class of about 600).

[Anonymous]

My kid refused to apply to NHS because he thought it was stupid. He is now at a top 10 school. I really don’t think colleges care about it

[Anonymous]

It factors in qualities like character. So hotshot kids may "think it is stupid." That does not make them superior to kids who earn it or are willing to "jump through those hoops."

It is an honor obviously, which does not mean you cannot get into a good school without it. Jeez

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following up on the National Honor Society. Yes, it may be a dime a dozen kind of honor and not all that prestigious compared to other honors that are harder to achieve, but it's still important to get and list it (even if it's at the bottom of the awards list), and here's why -- if you're eligible and *don't* have it, it may raise eyebrows. NHS chapters can decline to extend invitations to kids based on character, so not having it when all the other applicants from your school have it may raise a red flag. It's better not to raise that potential red flag in the first place, particularly as it's such an easy lift for a kid with good grades.

What absolute nonsense. No one cares.

I have to agree. It will not raise eyebrows in the context of the entire application and recommendations.

You do you, but the thread asked for advice from professional college advisors, and this came from a professional college advisor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following up on the National Honor Society. Yes, it may be a dime a dozen kind of honor and not all that prestigious compared to other honors that are harder to achieve, but it's still important to get and list it (even if it's at the bottom of the awards list), and here's why -- if you're eligible and *don't* have it, it may raise eyebrows. NHS chapters can decline to extend invitations to kids based on character, so not having it when all the other applicants from your school have it may raise a red flag. It's better not to raise that potential red flag in the first place, particularly as it's such an easy lift for a kid with good grades.

What absolute nonsense. No one cares.

I have to agree. It will not raise eyebrows in the context of the entire application and recommendations.

You do you, but the thread asked for advice from professional college advisors, and this came from a professional college advisor.

If he said NHS was important, then he is a bad professional college advisor.

[Anonymous]

I found the book The College Application Essay by McGinty very helpful for outlining the whole application process, including parents' role, and choosing what to write about. I suggest you encourage your DD to join clubs that interest her and engage in some interesting volunteer activities to fulfill the service hour requirement. Students can write about those (some applications ask about volunteering too).