Jennifer Kott is a College Success Manager at Talbot Mentors and a consultant for 7Sage, an admissions consulting group specializing in college preparation and law school admissions. Jennifer’s focus is on advising applicants how to maximize their chances for admission to the college or university of their choice.
“These days, the college admissions process has completely changed from the way it was when we were applying,” stated Kott. “Technology platforms have become both good and bad. But, once you figure out who you are and what you want, when you find the right fit, you’ll know it. There’s a college out there for every student. It’s just a long, arduous process.”
In Kott’s experience, students from first-generation, low-income, and demographically diverse backgrounds, with the right planning, guidance, and support, can sometimes qualify for admission to a more competitive college than they think. In recent years, students enrolled in Talbot Scholars program have attended Dartmouth College, Washington College, Towson University, American University, and the University of Maryland-College Park.
Jennifer Kott,
One area where parents and advisors can help is in prioritizing what’s most important to the student. “The best advice I can give to families is, first and foremost, get your student to take ownership of the process,” said Kott. “The primary role of parents and college advisors is to be a sounding board, to provide support and encouragement. Students and parents are consumers. Are the colleges you’re interested in responsive to you?”
Factors such as location, culture and community, academic focus, class size, career opportunities and cost – including financial aid – are all important. Kott suggests that the process needs to begin as soon as the student enters high school. “GPA trends over all four years are important. SAT, ACT and AP scores, if required, are not as important as before, but an improving trend in scores, as well as grades, always helps,” she said.
Kott also recommends that “Every student needs to come up with a checklist of ‘What does my favorite college look like?’ “The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) website is a very good starting place. Additionally, numerous college fairs are attended by many colleges and universities. Here’s where parents need to let the student take the lead and get to know the colleges they’re interested in attending,” she explained.
Critical to a successful college admissions process is the student’s individual essay. “A clean, clear, persuasive, big-hearted story reflecting the best version of oneself is vital to setting yourself apart from others in a crowded applicant pool. This is where having a good mentor, advisor or consultant is so helpful,” stated Kott.
She also thinks that is where lower-income, first-generation applicants can gain an advantage. “This is what we do at Talbot Scholars as well as 7Sage. Developing a student’s ‘soft skills’, such as writing, researching, and volunteering – both at school and in the community – is essential.”
While these elements are important, what really matters to many colleges and universities is that the applicant demonstrates engagement in their community and school. “Showcasing initiative, leadership, adaptability, and accountability are all important factors,” said Kott. “For example, having a part-time job demonstrates your work ethic.”
Kott believes there’s a college out there for every person who chooses to apply. Every student should have at least one reach (a college that is hard to get into) and one safe (a college that is easy to get into) college on their preferred list. “Education is a process, not an end in itself,” she noted. “There are numerous quality colleges that offer unique majors, internships, work-study programs, as well as learning centres that offer writing, math or other specialized assistance.”
Finally, college applicants should not rely merely on brochures and other promotional material provided by college admissions offices to attract applicants; campus visits are essential. “Parents should make sure their student takes the lead in contacting the Admissions Office and arranging a tour. Once you’ve done that, you’ll know if it’s the right fit!”
For more specific information, you can visit the the Talbot Mentors website here
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