This is my powerpoint for my keynote address at Arcadia High School in Aprl 2010 about competitive college readiness It focuses on non-academic readiness to help students distinguish themselves as powerful members of the community, including major activities and powerful college applications.

1. “Get Me In”:
Keynote Speech
Arcadia High School College Night,
April 2010
“Get Me In”:
Keynote Speech
Arcadia High School College Night,
April 2010
What Else Colleges Look For:
Essays, Applications,
Recommendations, and more.
Dr. Rebecca Joseph
getmetocollege@gmail.com
rjoseph@calstatela.edu

2. TO LEARN MORE
 Email
 rjoseph@calstatela.edu
 getmetocollege@gmail.com
 Phone
 323-646-5759
 Facebook
 Getmetocollege Freeadvice
 Twitter
 @getmetocollege
 Website
 getmetocollege.org (focus on first generation
and under-represented students)

3.  Colleges are more expensive than ever…
 There is still the big bubble of high school students…
 More affordable public universities are
 receiving more and more applications
 raising tuition,
 using waitlists for the first time, and
 cutting back on freshman admissions.…
 The economy is hurting families and colleges…
 Family savings and incomes are decreasing
 Colleges are struggling as their endowments and
budgets have fallen and reducing services and
raising costs.
A Perfect Storm …A Perfect Storm …

4. Most competitive
year ever for UCs
 Email
 rjoseph@calstatela.edu
 getmetocollege@gmail.com
 Phone
 323-646-5759
 Facebook
 Getmetocollege Freeadvice
 Twitter
Total applicants-82,056, 71.6% admitted to at least one
campus. Down from 72.5% in 2009, and 75.4% in 2008.
More out of state and international students admitted,
especially at UC Berkeley.

5.  Grades
 Academic Rigor
 Standardized Test Scores
 Strong applications
 Great essays
 Counselor Reports
 Extracurricular Activities
 Teacher Letters of
Recommendation
 Other Unique Features
MOST COMPETITIVE YEAR FOR
PRIVATE COLLEGES

6.  College is still worth the investment and the
effort
 But families may have to make some difficult
decisions
 Key is making sure your student can be
competitive on campuses that value more than
just academics.
 Essential is finding the right match between the
strengths of your child and colleges that
 Provide unique learning communities
 Value what your child has to offer
 Want to accept your child
 Offer enough financial support
Yet…

7.  Grades
 Academic Rigor
 Standardized Test Scores
 Strong applications
 Great essays
 Counselor Reports
 Extracurricular Activities
 Teacher Letters of
Recommendation
 Other Unique Features
WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR IN MATCH
STUDENTS

8. HOW DO WE BEGIN TO PREPARE?:
Non Academic Factor That Affect Admissions

9. Grades and Test Scores Are Not
Enough Even For
Those Not in Top 4%
 There is increasing pressure on campuses
to diversity campuses.
 That means they want to focus on areas
that are not just academic.
 They want students who will add their
leadership, social skills, experiences in
activities, talents, and initiative.
 They want students who have played an
active role in their highs schools and
communities because these students will
do the same at colleges.

10.  The application itself really matters.
 Most are now online.
 Public colleges have their own applications.
 Fortunately, most private colleges use the
Common Application.
 Sigh, not USC or most state universities.
 Fortunately, all have overlapping features.
 Develop a plan for organizing application
requirements.
 Make sure you fill in every component and
leave nothing to the imagination.
 Many students neglect to fill out the
activities section to reveal their consistency,
development, and leadership
 TO DO: Develop a detailed resume!!!
The actual COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

11. OTHER KEY FACTORS:
APPLICATION ESSAYS
 Application essays are often the top non-
academic component colleges use in
admissions.
 Essays must have a sizzle, a message, a unique
story.
 Essays can tip student in or break ties.
 Essays must have details and reveal unique
features that your child has to offer the college.
 I created a course that helps students write
powerful essays that UCLA Summer Extension
offers….this summer August 9-12.
 "Writing my personal statement with Dr.
Joseph not only helped me get into college, but
also helped me discover my true potential and
inner self. She really taught me how to add
that special personal touch to my essays."

12. COUNSELORS-Key Allies
• Counselors letters are a required component of most private
college and some public college applications.
• The more your counselor knows your child the better a letter
the counselor can write. Counselors often call schools on your
behalf.
• Yet counselors have large caseloads. Students/ Families need to
be proactive (not pushy).
• ATTEND every workshop/meeting your school counselors
offer!
• Listen to the bulletin.
• Read all the literature sent home (mailings, flyers, and
CollegeBLASTER)
• Check NAVIANCE – often!
• Fill out the brag sheet (AHS Student Data Sheet) with as many
details as possible.
• Use NAVIANCE Family Connection and all of its wonderful
resources.
 TO DO: Spend significant time on student and parent brag
sheets.

13. College Lists: A Mid Lecture Note
• Listen to your counselor. They know the context of your
school and its relationship to colleges the best. They
help you develop a list with “MATCH COLLEGES” on
it.
• Develop a college list which includes colleges that are a
good match:
• Reach
• Challenge
• 50-50, and
• Likely
• Remember, an unbalanced list is dangerous. Find
colleges that you are a good match and that you could
realistically be admitted to
• TO DO: Research colleges that respect your children
and remember, Ivy League Colleges are wish upon a
star colleges—not reach.

14. DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?

15. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
 Colleges want varied student
populations. They want students
who enhance their campuses and
take advantage of resources.
 They look for students who
participate actively in school and
community activities.
 They want students who show in
their activity choices and
participation
 Consistency
 Development
 Leadership
 Initiative.

16. CONSISTENCY
Consistency
1.Start with at least two to three activities during the
school year and use your summers.
2.Try to think outside the traditional activities of music
and research. Top colleges need to distinguish students .
3.They can be in or out of school.
4.Follow passions if possible.
5.Consider taking ROP classes at Arcadia as they have
links to work and can lead to internships and major
community service.
6.Top colleges want at least two to four major ongoing
activities.
7.If you plan to declare a major right away, you must
have some kind of experience in that field…over time.

17. Kinds of Activities
Community Service
Volunteer Work
Clubs
Athletics
The Arts
Student Government
Internships
Jobs
Church
Summer academic programs
Family business
Camp
ROP

18. DEVELOPMENT
•Each year do more and more within
those activities. Try new things.
Explore.
•If you drop, pick up something new.
•Colleges do not want students to
stop activities and do things for just a
short time. Never stop an activity 11th
grade.
•While academics are important,
development within activities is key.
•Use your summers to explore new
areas and fields and to gain
experience in your areas of interest.

19. Try to….
•Do more and more within your
activities.
•Plan an event.
•Recruit new members.
•Find different summer programs
that meet your academic,
extracurricular, and community
service interests.
•Volunteer each summer for an
organization.
•Go from camper to CIT to Camp
Counselor

20. LEADERSHIP
•Take on leadership roles
•Plan events within a big
organization
•Lead events or organizations into
new areas and possibilities.
•Go from secretary to vice-president
to president.
•Take on new roles.
•Start a new chapter.
•Do not do anything just once.

21. INITIATIVE
1. Start something new within a club or within
your community.
2. Show your creative and ingenuity.
3. Start showing initiative in 9th
and 10th
grade.
4. Think outside the box. Break beyond
stereotypes.
So try to..
Start a new club
Create a partnership with a non—profit
Take a group of musicians or singers to a senior
center several times
Use the internet to market an idea
Speak at an event
Raise money for a charity or cause
Translate for underprivileged people
Work for your parents oversees and develop new
products or ideas.

22. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY
TIMELINE
 Freshman-Sophomore Year; Participate
in activities in and out of school that
interest and motivate student.
 Junior Year- Continue with current
activities. Do not stop. Students can start
an activity, but must plan to continue it
through senior year.
 Junior and Senior Year: Take on
leadership responsibilities in current
activities. Use your initiative.
 Summer-Use each summer well---
 Get a job
 Get an internship
 Volunteer
 Take enrichment courses
 Juniors-take college courses
 Continue with camp, sports, and other
activities

23. TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
 Most private colleges and many
public colleges want one to two
letters of recommendations from
teachers.
 They want core academic letters—
English, SS, Math, Science, and
Foreign Language.
 They prefer junior and senior year
teachers or teachers that students
have had more than once
 They want teachers who know
student well.
 Extra letters are fine, especially for
scholarships and if you get deferred
or waitlisted.

24. TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS:
JUNIOR-SENIOR YEAR GRADE
TIMELINE
 Sophomore Year-Start saving core
graded assignments.
 Junior Year-If core teachers are
planning to leave school…get contact
info.
 Senior Year Fall-Ask one to two
teachers. Ask EARLY.
 Senior Year Fall-Give teachers copy
of AHS Student Data Packets with
appropriate forms and envelopes.
Remind them of all the wonderful
things you did in class-written, oral,
and more.

25. OTHER SPECIALTY
AREAS
 Sports
 NCAA regulations
 NCAA Clearinghouse
 Varsity, clubs, summer programs
 Arts
 Auditions
 Art Supplements
 NACAC Visual and Performing
Arts Fairs
 http://www.nacacnet.org/EventsTraining/CollegeFairs/p
va/Pages/default.aspx
 Particular areas of expertise
 Develop a strong, strong resume
and/or portfolio

26. This is true and false!!!

27. TO LEARN MORE
 Email
 rjoseph@calstatela.edu
 getmetocollege@gmail.com
 Phone
 323-646-5759
 Facebook
 Getmetocollege Freeadvice
 Twitter
 @getmetocollege
 Website
 getmetocollege.org/hs