Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Don Betterton
Betterton College Planning
dbett@princeton.edu
Types of Colleges ~(4200 total)
In the U.S. there is a higher education opportunity for every
level of student interest and ability. My categories:
Category # Description
Register & 190 Routine enrollment
attend 0 process
Specialty Admit on interest and
schools 300 talent
Meet Basic 165 Admit > 75% of
Std. 0 applicants
Competitive Admit 40% - 75% of
250 applicants
2000 4-yr 1650
Meet Basic Standards
C+/B Avg (7’s and below)
Some participation 75
250 Good HS Citizen A Avg
B +/A- Avg Top 5-10%
Strong
Some Honors, AP
Activities/Talent,
25 Personal
Good
Activities/Talent, A/A+ Avg Top of
Class
Personal
SAT Mid /High 700’s Most
All Hard Courses Selective
Unusually Strong (13’s, 14’s)
Activities, Talent,
Personal in
combination
No Negatives
© Betterton College Planning, LLC
Competitive and Selective
Although these colleges make up only
about 20% of the 4-yr schools, more than
½ of undergrads attend one of them.
Minority -- 170
Athlete -- 180
Legacy -- 140
Internat’l -- 60
Misc -- 50
600
Tagged Strategies
• Minority -- Find out if they give a preference
• Legacy -- Apply to college parents attended (check grad
school, grandparents, sibs)
• Athlete – Apply to colleges where you will be a recruit
• Apply early – Early Decision (Early Action)
• LI/Disadv/Obstacles – Ask admission rep
• Instit. need – Complete Arts Supplement or make contact,
demonstrate ability, request support
College List Making Advice
Tagged -
• Minority: 25th - 50th percentile
• Recruited athlete: The coach will tell you
what your chances are.
• Legacy and E.D.: 40th - 60th percentile
An Admission Exercise
• Colleges rate applicants on academic and personal
scales.
• Because colleges have to sort through so many
apps, they use a number system.
• This system is 1 (low) to 8 (high) on both academic
and personal.
• Academics are weighted more heavily then
personal
ACADEMIC RATING TABLE™
Average Rank Courses SAT ACT SAT Acad
GPA (UW) (5 solids) (M+CR/2) (Comp) Subject Awards
8 A+ 1-2% Most 750-800 35-36 Intern/
4.0 Demanding** 780-800 National
97-100
2 Very little Minimal/None Very Very little/None None to Speak Below Average
/None Little/None of
Non-Academic School related group activities such as government, newspaper, debate, theater,
Achievement: music, athletics
Talent: Individual achievement in areas such as music, art, theater, dance, creative writing,
athletics
Other Achievement: Outside of school) such as scouting, religious, club sports, employment
Services to Others: Volunteer work to disadvantaged, elderly, hospital, etc.
Leadership: Positions of responsibility such as elected or appointed positions
COMBINED ACADEMIC/PERSONAL
RATING TABLES
Personal 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Academic
8
Notes:
Prin (14) Penn (13) BC (12) NYU (11) TCNJ (10) BU (9) Rutgers
(8)
VA Tech
(7)
Ramapo
(6)
Notes:
Cassidy 7/4 3.6 top 20% 750 SAT 800’s SAT Subj 4AP
National Chem, Math, Physics awards routine activities
RPI (10) $8000 schp. Full schp Rutgers (8), Stevens (9)
No: MIT, Harv, Stan, Cal Tech, Col, Rice, Cornell, Prin
Wait List: Wash U, Carnegie Mellon
The Essay
First rule – Do No Harm
10% to15% Pulls you down
poorly written, too long, doesn’t answer question
Write with a conversational tone, avoid grand topics like hunger, peace, and
global warming
Answer the question, make it about you and something you care about. Show
attractive quality, endearing flaw better than bragging
Try to Avoid Speculation
My daughter won’t be admitted
because:
• Too many students from her high school are applying
• No one from her high school has ever applied
• She didn’t apply E.D.
• Only athletes and minorities get admitted there
• We applied for aid
• She didn’t take all AP courses
• She got a B
• She worked in the summer rather than take a language
immersion course in Spain
How To Improve Your Chances
Make a realistic list:
• Concentrate on CORE, other colleges on either side
• Be enthusiastic about Good Choice, Solid Chance schools
Take good courses. Plan test taking strategy
Add colleges where you might be Tagged
Look at personal side. Avoid resume fillers, try to
distinguish yourself.
• The “2 strong” profile is appealing
Pay attention to teacher recs, essay, evaluative interview
Below top-level demonstrated interest can be important
Conclusion
• Plan ahead to present the best version of
who you are, not a makeover. Look for
polish, not plastic surgery.