Christmas is coming and with it is college application finalizations. Most college applications are probably submitted by now, but then come of the post application requirements. The official transcripts need to be sent, letters of recommendation, scholarship applications, and a host of other documents that serve to give a college a clear understanding of who your child is. Laying aside the debates about college education and the institution, I wanted to share three observations that I have gathered from this process.
First, the college acts like they are the customer and we are the seller. This particular piece of college admissions really bothers me. When you are touring campuses or contemplating different universities they are all very hospitable, even friendly, but when you switch to the application process the verbiage changes from “hey come check out our amazing college!” To “are you good enough for us?” Don’t let it get you down, just take this shift as a reminder that you need to know who you are and what your foundation is built on long before you wrestle with the admissions department of any university.
Second, math is important. For years I have been telling students to focus on high school mathematics through pre calculus and then to dual enroll or CLEP out of calculus. For non STEM focused students, dual enrolling a college algebra class is a great way to show a college that you are ready for the next step. The college application process has shown me just how true this really is. Most colleges are going to require a mathematics entrance exam unless you can prove through some third party that you have reached a certain level of mathematics. Reviewing algebra 1 and 2 by taking college algebra at a local institution is all around a good use of time in your senior year.
Third, colleges are run by ordinary human beings. The computer system may give you errors, the paperwork may be hard to acquire, and the contacts may seem obscure, but at the end of the day, we’re all people. People make mistakes, people commit sins, and people can make a difference. I urge you to have patience and remember that a college acceptance and education are ultimately not the crux they’re made out to be.
As you navigate this application process I hope that you look up every once in a while to see the advent and Christmas season all around you. After all, what more can remind us that God is bigger than our frustrations than the celebration of the incarnate Christ.