The Art and Science of Getting In

When it comes to college admissions, students and their parents often feel like they have little control over the process. In reality, they have more than they realize. The key is to stay calm and trust the process.  

There’s a well-known secret in the world of college admissions that many know but few will discuss: admission decisions are not always fair. You may know someone who was denied acceptance despite meeting or exceeding the college’s average GPA, test scores, and academic rigor for incoming freshmen. You might also know someone who was accepted despite having a GPA and test score far below the average.

The truth is, college admissions is a highly subjective endeavor. At the root of it are admissions officers whose directive is to admit students who advance the university’s institutional priorities—which change frequently. Applicants have no idea what the priority is for any given year, or their likelihood of aligning with it. 

While it may seem as if they have no agency in whether or not a college accepts them, applicants do in fact have a fair amount of control over the system. Yes—grades, test scores, and extracurriculars matter when it comes to college admissions. But so do the personal statement, the essay and, perhaps most important of all, the schools to which the applicant applies. There are any number of strategies to employ and choices to make that can help to maximize a student’s chance of getting that coveted acceptance letter.

And that’s where USM’s College Guidance counselors comes in. While they can’t guarantee outcomes, they can provide individualized support and advice for students and their families. They can help students choose courses that will give them the greatest advantage, within reason, on an application. They can help families navigate difficult questions about college costs, applications, early decision vs. early action, and more. 

USM's robust team of three full-time counselors means students get individual attention starting in 9th grade. Students are known, valued, and celebrated in the College Guidance office just like they are in their classrooms. The team’s work to facilitate the deep soul searching and growth that happens in Upper School not only makes for a more compelling application, it gives students a launchpad to success after college.

As a college preparatory independent school, USM prepares students for admission to, and success in, colleges and universities. But it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed as the admissions landscape grows more complex and tuition more expensive. Keep reading for an inside look at college admissions in 2025, and how USM’s College Guidance office helps students find their best-fit school. 

Students have more leverage than they think, and it starts with a good list.

When it comes to college admissions, many things are beyond a student’s direct control—except for where they choose to apply. That’s where their college list comes into play. Taking the time to build a well-crafted, well-researched college list puts the student in the driver’s seat. Ideally, a good list results in a range of options to choose from, all of which align with a student’s academic profile, preferences, and financial considerations. 

Students have a wealth of data at their fingertips through resources like Naviance, YouTube, college websites, and the robust Common Data Set website. Through research, prospective students can learn their likelihood of being admitted, their likely aid (financial or merit) package, and which factors the admissions committee values most on an application. Before they even apply, students should know their likelihood of being admitted and a close approximation of cost. Taking the time to research and build a solid list will pay dividends well beyond the first acceptance letter! 

A Good College List Is:

• Balanced: Having a variety of “reach,” “target,” and “likely” schools increases the likelihood of having multiple acceptances to choose from, allowing you to select the best fit and increasing your chances of receiving financial aid or scholarships.
• Not too big, not too small: Typically, a good list has eight to 12 schools. Students are encouraged to apply to more than five schools but less than 15. Remember, each application requires thought and intention, and schools typically charge an application fee.
• Well-researched: What appeals to you about the schools on your list? Size? Location? Academic programs? Cost? Student life? The more research you do, the better feel you will have for a school and its potential fit, and the more detailed and specific you can be on your application. 
• Evolved: At USM, students begin building their lists the second half of sophomore year, with guidance from their counselor. By the fall of senior year, their list has likely evolved and changed, which is an indication of more effective research and clarified goals.
• Vetted: USM’s College Guidance counselors know these schools almost as well as they know the students who apply to them. The team visits 15 to 20 colleges per year, and are in constant communication with college admissions officers—many of whom they know on a first-name basis. They are a wealth of knowledge and can point students in the right direction. 

She Got Rejected by Her Dream School. (And it was the best thing.)

The minute Izze Keller ’25 stepped onto Wake Forest University’s campus, she knew it was the one. “It was perfect,” she said. “I felt like I was meant to be there.” The private university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina accepts only 22% of applicants, but Keller felt confident. She applied early decision after spending weeks on her application with input from Brian Hendricks, one of three full-time college guidance counselors at USM, to make sure she was highlighting her strengths.

Several weeks later she got an email that her admissions portal had an update. She knew it meant the decision was ready. Her mom joined her, phone in hand, to record the moment. But it was not good news. “It wasn’t even a deferral; it was a flat-out rejection,” said Keller. “I started crying. I felt so defeated. I thought it was the end of the world.’”

When Keller shared the news with Hendricks at school the next day, he was sympathetic. But he told her not to lose hope. “He reminded me that there were other schools on my list. He helped me shift my thinking.”

Keller had applied to nine other schools, including one—Miami University of Ohio—on a whim because it waived the application fee and didn’t require a separate essay. Hendricks encouraged Keller to take a closer look at the school. He knew she would thrive in the close-knit community and enjoy the 23 miles of hiking trails on campus. He also knew it had a great pre-med kinesiology program—Keller’s intended major. 

The more she learned about the school, the more she liked it. By the time she got the decision—accepted—it was a serious contender. Miami pursued Keller aggressively, awarding her a scholarship that lowered the cost of tuition by nearly half. In addition, she was admitted into an accelerated program to earn her bachelor’s in kinesiology and master’s in athletic training in just five years—something not offered at Wake Forest. “To know that I could have a job after college working as an athletic trainer with my master’s degree is really exciting,” she said.

A few weeks later, she toured Miami with her parents and loved it. A conversation with the school’s equestrian coach about potentially joining the Division 1 team sealed the deal. “Even if I don’t end up joining the team, just having the option to pursue a pastime I love is so cool.” 
After the tour, she bought a sweatshirt from the campus bookstore. “I had that feeling again,” she said. “Like this is where I’m meant to be.” 

Her Choice: Best Fit or Most Selective?

Like many students at USM and beyond, Keller was tempted to enroll at whichever school had the lowest acceptance rate. There’s a widespread misconception that exclusivity equates to prestige. For Keller, that meant she needed to choose between Miami (a better overall fit) or UW-Madison (a lower acceptance rate). “The only thing really drawing me towards Madison was that acceptance rate,” she said. “It’s tough to get in there. Turning down something like that, when it’s an achievement to get in, is hard.” 

But her parents and college guidance counselor encouraged her to enroll where she would be happiest, knowing that happiness—more than an acceptance rate—would have the most impact on overall success. “I visited Madison but I just didn’t have that same feeling that I had at Miami. And that’s kind of what solidified my decision.”

Tuition is Expensive. Merit Scholarships Can Help. 

But here's the catch:

Not all colleges offer merit scholarships, and some offer more than others (see below). Supplied largely by the colleges themselves, merit scholarships are not dependent on income, do not need to be repaid, and can substantially lower the cost of tuition. 

Applicants are far more likely to receive a merit scholarship if they are above the average academic profile for admitted students (often the top third or half of the applicant pool). The more desirable the applicant, the more money a college may be inclined to offer. Some schools are under more pressure to enroll admitted students—they, too, might be inclined to offer more merit aid.

This is where research comes into play. Starting junior year, USM students gain access to college list creation software that provides information on which schools offer merit scholarships, and for how much. It also includes information on the total cost of attendance for thousands of colleges and universities, as well as the percentage of need a particular college can typically meet, the percentage of non-need students who receive scholarships, and the average amount of merit awards. Students are encouraged to look at this information and consider cost when building their lists of schools.

Show Me The Money: 2 Schools, 2 Scholarships

Private School A

• Annual tuition: $67,210
• Acceptance rate: 85.9%
• Merit scholarship amount: $21,000
• Percentage of admitted students offered merit scholarships: 89%

Private School B

• Annual tuition: $87,128
• Acceptance rate: 19%
• Merit scholarship amount: $10,500
• Percentage of admitted students offered merit scholarships: 21%

ACT, SAT, or Neither?

They can help an application, but students who are not great at taking tests have options.

Many colleges, including The Ohio State, Brown, Tennessee, and Dartmouth, have reinstated testing requirements after going test-optional during the pandemic. Despite their limitations, standardized tests—more than grades alone—can be a reliable predictor of college success. They also provide a common metric for comparing applicants from diverse educational backgrounds.

Both ACT and SAT tests are widely accepted, so which one should a student take? That depends. “We strongly encourage students to take a full practice test for both the ACT and SAT,” said Liz Jackson, USM’s director of College Guidance. “Colleges don’t have a preference and only want to see a score from one or the other, so we typically recommend that students commit to whichever test they scored highest on during the practice exam.” Students who don’t have a clear winner should speak with their counselor for personalized guidance. 

While it’s true that tests are an important factor in admissions, a student’s value as a college applicant—and human being—cannot be reduced to a number. College essays, course load, extracurricular activities, and where they apply are factors that can set their application apart, and that they can control. 

ACT

• Length of test: 2 hours, 55 minutes plus 40-minute essay (optional)
• Subjects covered: English, math, and reading (science is optional, although students are still encouraged to take it, especially if they are applying to a highly selective school)
• Average time per question: 40–60 seconds, depending on the section
• Math section: Covers more topics but not as in-depth
• Flexibility: Students can skip questions and return to them later 
• Format: Paper or digital

SAT

• Length of test: 2 hours, 14 minutes
• Subjects covered: Math and verbal, each comprising 50% of the score
• Average time per question: 71 seconds for verbal, 95 seconds for math
• Math section: Focuses heavily on algebra-related concepts
• Flexibility: Students cannot skip questions, but will be directed towards an “easy” or “hard” second half depending on their performance in the first half
• Format: Digital

ChatGPT Can’t Write Your College Essay.

Community service work has played a major role in Ezran Anastas’ ’25 life. For the past six years he’s worked for several nonprofits and held a variety of roles, including chair of the committee on governance, finance, and evaluation on the Milwaukee County Youth Commission. He’s even lobbied state legislators for youth mental health policies.

His experience with nonprofits allowed him to see when things worked well, and when they didn’t. An organization’s ability to deliver on its mission, he learned, is greatly impacted by proper financial management. He realized that a degree in accounting for a career in nonprofit management could combine his love of math with his desire to help others. He just needed the right business school to help him get there.

Ezran applied for direct admission to the Wisconsin School of Business at UW-Madison—a risky endeavor since it is the university’s most selective program. If he didn’t get in to the business school, he wouldn’t get in at all. But he had other business schools on his list and knew he would have options if Madison fell through.

As he began working on his Madison essay, Liz Jackson, director of College Guidance at USM and Anastas’ counselor, encouraged him to deeply research the school and its offerings. He found specific courses he’d like to take, as well as service opportunities that incorporated financial management. The Wisconsin Idea, or the belief that education should influence people’s lives beyond the classroom—a core value of the University of Wisconsin—deeply resonated with Anastas. The more he learned, the more excited he got. “It just felt like, this is who I am. This is why I want to go to Madison.”

 In his essay, Anastas was able to incorporate his research and clearly articulate how Madison’s specific program offerings, combined with his demonstrated passion for nonprofit work, made his acceptance into the business school a mutually beneficial partnership. His deep research cemented his desire to attend UW-Madison and also enhanced his essay, making him an attractive candidate for admissions. 

For Anastas, the time spent researching the school and working on his essay paid off. He gained admission, but more importantly, he knows it will be a good fit. “It’s not about how a school is ranked, or where your parents want you to go; it’s about you and where you want to go with your life. You’re going to be there for four years, and you want to make sure you’ll like it.”

What Separates a Good Essay from a Great One? 

In his essay for the Wisconsin School of Business, Anastas described his passion for community service (his past), connected it to specific courses offered at the school (his soon-to-be present), and illustrated how they could help him in his career goals (his future). From an admissions standpoint, it was a slam dunk. “The through line to his past, present, and future made his essay really amazing to me,” said Jackson.

But what if, like most teens, a student doesn’t have a specific passion or career in mind? “Being undecided is perfectly acceptable and even expected, but being uninterested is not,” said Jackson. “You need to be able to speak about things you want to learn more about.” For example, a student might describe how a unit on the civil rights movement during AP History sparked their desire to learn more about social justice—something the school to which they are applying is well known for. Or, if a student has no idea what major they want, perhaps the college has resources to help. “Students don’t need to have all the answers,” said Jackson. “But they need to articulate why they want to attend that particular school, and the more specific they can be, the better.”

What's Your Strategy?

Much like a game of chess, there’s a strategy to college admissions. The courses you take in high school, essays you write, activities in which you participate, standardized test scores you submit (or don’t submit)—they all tell a story on your application. But when you submit your application is as much of a strategy as what to include on it. The options listed below are the most common deadlines, although it’s important to know each college’s specific options, due dates, and preferences.

Early Decision

For students who are absolutely, positively confident in the school they want to attend, applying Early Decision (ED) can be a great strategy. But, the decision is binding: If you are accepted, you’re expected to withdraw all other applications and submit your deposit. 

Benefits:

• Applicants receive a decision usually by December 
• Some colleges have higher acceptance rates for ED applicants
• Students can still apply early action or regular decision to other schools as a back up 

Drawbacks:

• Some schools offer little to no merit aid for ED applicants
• The decision is binding; the only way an applicant can be released from the commitment is if the financial aid award offer (released in spring) is insufficient
• Application materials (test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation) are due in early November
• Accepted students are not able to compare financial aid offers from other schools until spring, when offers are released
• Students can only apply to one school under ED. Doing otherwise could result in all acceptances being revoked

Early Action

Less restrictive than ED, Early Action (EA) is a great way to show a school you’re interested and receive a decision early in the process. 

Benefits:

• Students receive a decision by January or February
• Students can apply EA to more than one school
• Some colleges have higher acceptance rates for EA applicants
• The decision date of May 1 allows students to compare offers before committing

Drawback:

• Application materials (test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation) are due in early November

Regular Decision

The vast majority of students who apply to an institution will do so through Regular Decision (RD). Be sure to thoroughly research each school’s application options, and talk to your counselor. 

Benefits:

• Application materials are not due until early January, allowing more time for preparation and test retakes if needed
• Some schools offer more merit aid to RD applicants

Drawbacks:

• Decisions are not released until mid-March or early April
• Some colleges have lower acceptance rates for regular decision applicants
• Because RD is typically the largest pool of applicants, it’s often the most competitive

College Admissions Timeline

9th Grade: Build Your Foundation

• Get acclimated to Upper School: learn to advocate for help and develop organizational and time management skills
• Establish good homework routines
• Sign up for extracurriculars and start earning service hours
• Get matched with your College Guidance counselor
• Take the PreACT
• Register for next year’s classes with help from your counselor if needed
• Think about plans for summer—will you work? Volunteer? Take summer classes?

10th Grade: Narrow Your Focus

• Continue goal setting and reflection
• Receive training on college search software
• Take the PSAT
• Attend 1:1 meetings with your counselor; discuss testing options and potential career/major interests
• Start building your college list
• Register for next year’s classes with help from your counselor
• Consider transcript designations or other academic projects to enhance your resumé
• Attend resumé writing and job interview workshop (also offered to juniors and seniors)

Summer:

• Take practice SAT and ACT tests to identify strengths and areas of improvement
• Volunteer or find a job
• Consider visiting a college

11th Grade: Deepen Commitment to Interests

• Work with your counselor to decide which (if any) standardized test to take
• Request letters of recommendation
• Attend the Case Study 
• Night to learn how admissions committees evaluate applications
• Register for college mini-fairs and college rep visits at USM
• Register for next year’s classes with help from your counselor
• Attend financial aid workshops hosted by College Guidance
• Continue revising your college list
• Attend junior seminar in spring semester, where you will fill out the Common Application step-by-step
• Pursue leadership roles in extracurriculars
• Take AP tests
• Attend rising senior family night to prepare for the year ahead
• Conclude SAT or ACT testing by the summer

Summer:

• Start writing your application essays
• Finalize your college list
• Visit colleges
• Pursue volunteer, internship, or work opportunities

12th Grade: Home Stretch

• Work with your counselor to decide if you’ll apply early decision, early action, or regular decision
• Edit and finalize essays
• Finalize and submit applications (early decision due Nov. 1; regular decision due in early January)
• Complete the FAFSA (opens Oct. 1)
• Schedule and prepare for interviews (if needed)
• Consider and compare financial aid awards, working with your counselor if you have questions
• Celebrate your acceptances but don’t take rejections personally. 
• When you make your final decision, update your online portal and inform your counselor

After spring break:

• Complete next steps to finalize your acceptance
• Attend Commencement
• Thank everyone who helped you on your journey!