College application: Difference between revisions
→"Gaming" the college application process: {{merge-section|College admissions in the United States#Consultants}} |
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'''College application''' is the process by which individuals apply to gain entry into a [[college]] or [[university]]. Although specific details vary by country and institution, applications generally require basic background information of the applicant, such as family background, and academic or qualifying exam details such as [[Grading (education)|grade point average]] in [[secondary school]] and [[standardized test]]ing scores. |
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A '''college application''' is part of the competitive [[College admissions in the United States|college admissions]] system. Admissions departments usually require students to complete an application for admission that generally consists of [[Transcript (education)|academic records]], personal essays (as well as samples of high school work), [[Letter of recommendation|letters of recommendation]], and a list of extracurricular activities such as club membership and volunteer work. Some schools require the [[standardized tests|SAT or ACT]], [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States#SAT optional movement|while others make it optional]]. Deadlines for admission applications are established and published by each college or university. |
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Many college-bound students receive application assistance and advice from their high school guidance counselors. Students who are transferring from a community college to a four-year college can obtain guidance from their college counselors. |
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==United Kingdom== |
==United Kingdom== |
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Additional forms are required for application to [[Oxbridge]]. One can only apply to a particular college at [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] or [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] in a single year. |
Additional forms are required for application to [[Oxbridge]]. One can only apply to a particular college at [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] or [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] in a single year. |
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Many Oxbridge applicants are assessed through academic interviews and sometimes further testing. |
Many Oxbridge applicants are assessed through academic interviews and sometimes further testing.<ref name="Weston, 2021">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.pragma.2021.02.002|title=Gatekeeping and linguistic capital: A case study of the Cambridge university undergraduate admissions interview|year=2021 |last1=Weston |first1=Daniel |journal=Journal of Pragmatics |volume=176 |pages=137–149 }}</ref> |
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=="Gaming" the college application process== |
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===Undergraduate programs=== |
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{{merge-section|College admissions in the United States#Consultants}} |
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In 2006, the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' reported that business schools were concerned about a growing problem with applications prepared with the help of [[consultant]]s. The consultants, for fees of $50 to $3000, promise to increase an applicant's chances of acceptance by coaching or assisting with the writing of applications. One consultant was quoted as saying "The schools refuse to admit [it] but the fact is, if you know the schools, there's a real formula..." The consultant went on to say that admissions officers at [[Harvard University|Harvard]] look for applicants' leadership experience and ability to work through others, [[Stanford University|Stanford]] is keen on personal revelations, family dynamics, and [[identity politics]], while [[Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania|Wharton]] rewards applicants who tell admissions committees in personal terms why Wharton—and not the other schools—is the perfect fit for them. |
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[[File:Application for Admission form, back cover of Carlisle Military Academy Annual Announcement (10013169).jpg|thumb|Application for Admission form from [[Carlisle Military Academy]], circa 1904-1905]] |
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Most colleges and universities in the U.S. have their own set of requirements for the information that is necessary for a college application. A common requirement on a college application is the applicant's standardized test scores, most commonly the [[ACT (test)|ACT]] or [[SAT]], and a high school [[Transcript (education)|transcript]]. Some colleges also require applications to include a [[Recommendation letter|Letter of Recommendation]] and a personal essay. A commonly accepted application used by many universities is the "[[Common Application]]" which is an online application that is used by over 500 undergraduate colleges and universities. (See more about "graduate" degree programs below.) Deadlines for admission applications are established and published by each college or university.<ref>{{Cite web |last=letter |date=2021-10-23 |title=AMCAS Application Form Check Requirements, Status Etc) |url=https://kingapplication.com/amcas-application/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Kingapplication.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Many college-bound students receive application assistance and advice from their high school guidance counselors. Students who are transferring from a community college to a four-year college can obtain guidance from their college counselors. |
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The Globe characterized admissions officials as "rankled" by such statements, and director of [[MBA]] admissions at Wharton indicate that coaching can work against an applicant: "Sometimes you read an essay and you lose a sense of who the individual is because the essay is overpolished." Harvard has responded by requiring all applicants to sign a pledge attesting that their application is "my own, honest statement," and requiring applicants to give permission to Harvard to contact all persons named in the application for verification purposes. The article says that the three business schools recently began using private investigators to verify the work experience listed in all their candidates' applications. |
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| ⚫ | Aided by marketing firms, some colleges send out "fast-track" applications. These applications typically waive the application fee, do not require essays, and assure an admittance decision within a shortened amount of time. Critics warn that these types of applications are misleading, because they give the impression that the student is pre-approved to be admitted and may not explore other colleges because this easy option is provided to them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Jacques |date=2010-01-26 |title=Colleges Market Easy, No-Fee Sell to Applicants |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/education/26admit.html |access-date=2023-04-03 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |
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==History== |
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===Graduate programs=== |
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In the 1800s, college admissions requirements included subjects such as Greek and Latin, which were taught by very few public schools; the pool of applicants was effectively limited to students who had graduate from "preparatory schools" whose role was specifically to meet college entrance requirements. Around the end of the 1800s, the College Entrance Examination board was formed and colleges, notably Harvard under Eliot, began to use entrance examinations that evaluated an applicant's academic potential. In the 1920s, interviews and essays were added in order to shape the pool of entrants to fit the social and ethnic preferences of the schools and their alumni. Photographs were required on applications from about 19xx to 19yy, to assist admissions officials in determining the race and ethnicity of applicants; this requirement was dropped when advances in the civil rights moment made open racial discrimination unacceptable.... Nope, I guess I'm wrong about that, "optional" photographs are apparently still solicited by colleges... |
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A substantial number of graduate programs in the United States (5,500+) have centralized their applications for admission to masters and doctoral programs by program discipline. These are commonly referred to as Centralized Application Service(s) or CASs and function somewhat similar to the [[Common Application]] for undergraduate programs. Graduate school applicants are able to submit their credentials for consideration to several colleges, universities, schools and programs from a single application. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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*[http://www.commonapp.org The Common Application], a form accepted by over 200 colleges and universities in the United States. |
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*[http://www.universalcollegeapp.com Universal College Application], a new application made by the same people as the Common App, and accepted by over 40 colleges and universities in the US. |
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*[http://www.college.gov/ college.gov - U.S. Department of Education] |
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Latest revision as of 07:29, 11 May 2024
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College application is the process by which individuals apply to gain entry into a college or university. Although specific details vary by country and institution, applications generally require basic background information of the applicant, such as family background, and academic or qualifying exam details such as grade point average in secondary school and standardized testing scores.
United Kingdom
[edit]Almost all British universities are members of UCAS, a clearing house for undergraduate admissions. Applicants submit a single application for up to 5 courses at different universities. There is a maximum limit of 4 choices for medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses.
The application also includes current and expected qualifications, employment, criminal history, a personal statement, and a reference (which generally includes predicted grades if the applicant is still in education).
Additional forms are required for application to Oxbridge. One can only apply to a particular college at Oxford or Cambridge in a single year. Many Oxbridge applicants are assessed through academic interviews and sometimes further testing.[1]
United States
[edit]Undergraduate programs
[edit].jpg)
Most colleges and universities in the U.S. have their own set of requirements for the information that is necessary for a college application. A common requirement on a college application is the applicant's standardized test scores, most commonly the ACT or SAT, and a high school transcript. Some colleges also require applications to include a Letter of Recommendation and a personal essay. A commonly accepted application used by many universities is the "Common Application" which is an online application that is used by over 500 undergraduate colleges and universities. (See more about "graduate" degree programs below.) Deadlines for admission applications are established and published by each college or university.[2] Many college-bound students receive application assistance and advice from their high school guidance counselors. Students who are transferring from a community college to a four-year college can obtain guidance from their college counselors.
Aided by marketing firms, some colleges send out "fast-track" applications. These applications typically waive the application fee, do not require essays, and assure an admittance decision within a shortened amount of time. Critics warn that these types of applications are misleading, because they give the impression that the student is pre-approved to be admitted and may not explore other colleges because this easy option is provided to them.[3]
Graduate programs
[edit]A substantial number of graduate programs in the United States (5,500+) have centralized their applications for admission to masters and doctoral programs by program discipline. These are commonly referred to as Centralized Application Service(s) or CASs and function somewhat similar to the Common Application for undergraduate programs. Graduate school applicants are able to submit their credentials for consideration to several colleges, universities, schools and programs from a single application.
References
[edit]- ^ Weston, Daniel (2021). "Gatekeeping and linguistic capital: A case study of the Cambridge university undergraduate admissions interview". Journal of Pragmatics. 176: 137–149. doi:10.1016/j.pragma.2021.02.002.
- ^ letter (2021-10-23). "AMCAS Application Form Check Requirements, Status Etc)". Kingapplication.com. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
- ^ Steinberg, Jacques (2010-01-26). "Colleges Market Easy, No-Fee Sell to Applicants". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-03.