Why Underrepresented Students Should Apply To Competitive Colleges
Reaches, red lights, “dream schools”--- there are a myriad of ways we classify those colleges on our list that perhaps feel unattainable to us based on our application materials and overall academic profile. While admissions officers have long advised students to include safety schools, targets, and reaches on their application lists, some students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, can feel discouraged from applying to competitive schools. This can be particularly true when their GPA’s or their high schools rank doesn’t measure up with that of the typical student body of said dream school. However, if after deep research and personal evaluation, a student feels that a particular college may be a good fit, they still should take the leap and apply. Read on to see why these schools can still be within reach and the potential benefits of throwing your hat into the ring even when the outcome feels unsure:
Holistic Admissions
College admissions have never quite looked the way they do now. With a reevaluation of the value and merit of standardized tests, to considerations around tuition cost and potential debt, admissions teams are rethinking what criteria is most important when shaping their incoming student body. While in the past, a student's GPA and SAT/ACT scores were defining factors for their admission, more and more colleges are now taking a holistic view of applicants. Certainly GPA and the level of rigor of one’s high school coursework remain important criteria, but admissions officers have taken up other considerations as well. For instance, it’s increasingly important to assess the level of interest an applicant has demonstrated in the school. This might be measured by whether they have visited the campus, their ability to articulate how they could fit into the school community via their application essay, and their willingness to apply to early decision/early admission.
The issue of “school fit” factors in especially well when students are applying to specialized colleges or specific programs within a college that focus on careers in certain industries. Students applying for nursing programs for instance should know that their science grades will be weighted more heavily than math or english. Thus, students who may have a lower composite GPA but high marks in classes related to their field of study could still have a solid chance at admission. Further, extracurricular activities that also may be salient to the type of coursework that they intend to do in college are important aspects of a student's life that they should highlight in admissions materials and within interviews.
Finally, students should remember that admissions officers typically focus on junior and senior year grades but look for steady improvement over the years. If your GPA is lower than average for a competitive school of interest but your grades did rise over the latter half of your high school career, it may exhibit to admission officers that your commitment to your studies will only continue to improve throughout college.
For students with lingering doubts about their admissions prospects at competitive schools, there still remain some key ways to bolster your application. Your application essay will be a powerful opportunity for you to paint a picture of how you’ll fit into the student body: what values do you have that align with the campus culture? What groups do you see yourself joining and eventually leading? What future do you see for yourself beyond college and what specific programs and opportunities does this school provide that can help you realize that vision? Be clear, be specific, and get detailed.
Imposter syndrome and undermatching
What if your reach isn't actually a reach at all? It’s important to keep in mind that there’s always a possibility that a student may be underestimating the strength of their application, especially if those from an underrepresented background.
In a 2017 article from Teen Vogue, Dr. Rhoan Garnett discussed the phenomenon of “undermatch,” where high-achieving students-- particularly women, students of color, and those from lower income backgrounds-- don't apply to the colleges that actually best align with their academic profiles and capacities. In letting their identity markers create ideas of imposter syndrome, these students (and perhaps those around them) are selling themselves short and denying them the opportunity to apply for, and potentially attend, a school that would be a perfect fit.
Additionally, students only know a sliver of what admissions officers might be looking for at any given time. Perhaps one year they are looking to expand the student body’s creative community and choose to prioritize accepting talented musicians or performing artists. Here, a student with a lower GPA but extensive theater experience and a passion for continuing to explore the arts may have a greater edge than the straight A applicant interested in pursuing science.
While it may be easier said than done, it’s always important to not tie your value or self esteem to any of your admissions outcomes. If you’re able to distance your sense of worth from an acceptance or rejection, there can be immense value in reaching for something you want but may not feel as confident about. Regardless of the ultimate decision, putting yourself out there demonstrates a willingness to take risks and try scary tasks and that willingness will prove beneficial in your college career and beyond. Perhaps worse than a rejection is not trying at all.