Sometimes it’s difficult to explain to applicants exactly what the college admissions process is at Ivy League and other selective liberal arts schools in the US.  Sometimes it’s just easier to explain what it’s not.

Last week NPR ran a story on South Korea’s national college entrance exam.  Specifically, the impact that the exam’s administration has on the entire country.  Roads close, airplanes are re-routed and the work day starts an hour later.  Why?  Because so much depends upon this one test date; each student’s college plans may rest on the results of this 9 hour test.

Obvious differences aside, the selective college admissions process at Ivies and other selective schools in the US follow a more holistic approach than relying on test results to render admission decisions.  According to the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (otherwise known as “NACAC”), the most important factors in college admission include: grades in college preparatory courses, strength of curriculum, standardized test scores, overall grades, essay/writing sample, rank, recommendation (counselor), demonstrated interest, recommendation (teacher), interview and extracurricular activities.  Note that test scores are only part of the equation.

If you are applying to a selective college in the United States, there is reason to take seriously your standardized test preparation.  Here’s a good article about the SAT scores you’ll need to be considered for admission to top colleges and universities in the US; for ACT scores read this.  Applicants with average test scores have the ability to re-test and they also have control over whether to send SAT scores to certain schools using an option called Score Choice.  You can read my take on Score Choice here.

Since test scores are only one part of the application, understanding how to use the rest of your application to showcase your strengths is your best bet–whether you have scored a 2400 or not.  While admitted students tend to achieve statistically similar grades and test scores, it’s your story that will set you apart.  Use your essay and short answers to communicate your passions, commitments and character.  While your grades and test scores help to put you on the radar, it is your story that will compel the admissions office to offer you a place in next year’s class.

This morning, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) released “2009 State of College Admission.” According to today’s New York Times article, this report reveals an increase in the number of students applying to college and a decrease in the acceptance rate at 4-year schools.  The silver lining: after this year, the number of students graduating from high school is expected to decrease— from a high of 3.33 million, that is.

Perhaps the most staggering statistics are the ones describing the situation in guidance offices across the country.  Student-to-counselor ratios are averaging 800, 900—even close to a thousand—per counselor in some states.  One student who commented on this report called the application process “strenuous and exhausting.”  I wonder if this is because she is one of the many students struggling to find adequate help.

I’d like to invite my readers to read my comment to The Choice blog post about this report.  I’d also like to invite readers to share their own experiences with their guidance counseling offices.  What does it do well?  What could be done better?

Finally, if you have a question about the application process that you’d like answered by a former admissions officer, as always, place it in our comment box and we’ll get back to you!