Cracking the Code to Getting Into Top Schools, a segment from CBS LA, is making the rounds on social media. The story centers around advice from author Pria Chatterjee, college admissions consultant and author of the book : The Dirty Little Secrets of Getting Into a Top College.
In the story she highlights 8 factors that college admissions boards look at:
- Legacy
- Geography
- Race
- Citizenship
- Family Income Level
- Academics
- Athletics
- Extracurricular Activities
Prospective students can affect change in the last 3. Additional advice is that students should be working on their total package and play to their strengths. Don’t be a “Jack of all trades” and instead focus in on being focused in one area. Additionally, being in a niche sport (like fencing) is said to help the student stand out.
For students looking not just to get into a college, but also fence on their school’s NCAA fencing team, make sure to spend time contacting college coaches and learning more about the teams, and the school’s admissions process. Students also want to make sure sure that the campus life and demands of a varsity practice schedule are a fit.