Leadership is a Big Deal

Leadership is the most sought after student qualification. Let me repeat, Leadership is the most sought after student qualification.

For years I’ve advised college-bound students of the value of leadership for increasing their chance for admission to colleges of their choice – lead a team, be an officer in a club, start your own project, be on student council, run for class office, etc. College admission officers love students with leadership skills and determination; listing such activities on college applications is very impressive and will increase odds for admission to college and for receiving scholarships.

On March 26, 2010, Psychology Today published the article, Advice for College Applicants: Why Leadership is a Big Deal. This article explains the value of leadership beautifully; leadership helps college admission officers identify students who are motivated, socially engaged, and “good citizens.” Students with these traits are very desirable to college admission officers.

The author of the Psychology Today article, Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D., explains it skillfully in the following three paragraphs:

“In the College admissions officers can't accurately measure motivation, so instead they look at accomplishments that go beyond mere academics. An easy way to get some sense of that is to see how active (and motivated) students have been in extracurricular activities. In other words, have they held key positions - leadership positions - in clubs, sports teams, community groups, etc.?”

“Another reason why leadership is a big deal is that colleges and universities want students to be actively engaged in campus life. They invest in the students they admit, and they want them to succeed. Research on college student success shows that students need to be both academically engaged (i.e., do well in and enjoy classes), but also socially engaged (be active in and enjoy the college scene). Students who have been active in leadership positions in high school are socially engaged.”

“But why is it focused on leadership? Our definition of the term leadership has changed in the past few decades. It used to be reserved for only those in the highest-level positions of power and authority. But as organizations (and society) become "flatter," with less emphasis on authority, we look for leadership at all levels. Leadership is a term that is used as a substitute for "good citizenship" or to indicate people who are motivated, actively engaged in groups and organizations, and accomplishing things.”

College-bound students should take this advice to heart and strive for leadership positions in their activities. Ideally, students with long-term commitment to their activities will progress from simple participation to leadership. It doesn’t matter which activities students demonstrate leadership; colleges need leaders in every field of interest.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Most Campus Tours Are Booked For Spring Break – What To Do If You Don’t Have Reservations

Spring break for most high schools is next week and many students are planning college campus visits during this vacation period. If you haven’t made reservations for a guided campus tour and an information session during spring break, it’s probably too late. Most colleges are reporting that all available slots for next week’s tours and information sessions are already filled.

If you are one of the many high school juniors or sophomores who are being told there isn’t any available space for tours or information sessions during spring break, there are steps you can take to still have successful campus visits. You won’t be able to participate in the formal aspects of campus visits, but there are many “informal” things you can do.

1. Tour campuses on your own. Review the Campus Visit Checklist for the variety of places to see and things to do during campus visits.

2. Go into each college’s admissions office and fill out a brief student information card/form. Each college should know you visited their campus (visiting a campus demonstrates your interest in that college – an important factor for getting accepted for admission). Collect brochures and other information.

3. You may not be able to interview with an admissions officer, but you can call a professor in your intended major and visit with him or her. Call a professor of interest, or the department secretary, to set up an interview/visit with that professor.

Before calling, research the department of your major on the college’s website to find the most advantageous college professor with whom you can interview, ask questions, and develop as an advocate for your admission. This professor should teach classes in your intended major or be your major’s Department Chairperson.

4. Drive through areas surrounding each campus as you leave. Note your impressions of areas immediately adjacent to each campus.

5. Complete the Campus Visit Summary Sheet immediately after each campus visit. Talk over your impressions and feelings with your parents.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Plan to Visit Colleges and Universities Without Your Parents

College-bound high school seniors – You should plan one more visit to your top choice colleges and universities and schedule overnight stays in student residence halls (dorms). Overnight stays give the unique opportunity to check out all aspects of a campus, experience campus activities first-hand, observe the types of students attending that college or university, and to see the campus and social scene at night.

While on-campus, visit with college students and try to get a “feel” for the college. Ask yourself, “Will I fit in at this college next year?” and, “Will I be happy here as a student for the next four years?” Bring a notebook so you can write down your impressions.

At this late stage of the college selection process, campus visits should be conducted without your parents (if possible). Parents can help with planning campus visits and making travel arrangements, but you should be on your own when participating in on-campus activities and events. When you return home, talk over your experiences with parents, teachers, and friends to get their opinion on whether colleges you visited meet your needs and appear to be a good fit for you.

Overnight visits are very helpful when making the final decision between two or more colleges on your acceptance list. Many current college students regard their high school overnight stay experience as the deciding factor that pointed them toward which college to attend.

You should make overnight arrangements a couple of weeks (or more) ahead of time; contact each college’s admissions office and ask about spending the night in student residence halls. Some colleges designate specific weekends for overnight stays by accepted students; make arrangements soon so as not to miss any opportunities.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

College Campus Visits This Spring Semester

For high school sophomores and juniors, visiting colleges this spring is a great way to get a head start on the college admissions process. One of the best times to visit is during spring break; most colleges and universities will be in full session at this time so high school students and parents can see a “normal” day of campus activity with students and professors active in classrooms, students eating lunch in the dining hall, and the campus being “alive” with social events. Also, on a normal school day high school students may be able to sit in on a class of their choosing (upon request).

Touring college campuses allows students to get a “feel” for college life and to begin noting college campus likes and dislikes.

College and university campus visits are not optional for students. Students must tour their colleges of interest to experience first-hand each school’s atmosphere and culture and to observe unique characteristics before making the final decision on which college to attend.

To arrange for a campus visit, students or parents should call the college admissions office to ask about visiting and to reserve a spot on a guided campus tour. Ask if the campus will be in session and if there are any special activities available for visiting high school students. Have two or three possible dates in mind; the sooner you call, the more likely you will get the date you want.

MyCollegeCalendar.org provides all the campus visit information needed by students and parents for:

- Scheduling visits
- Preparing for visits
- Planning for activities and events (including an example campus visit itinerary)
- Activities to do during free time
- Asking the “right” questions (including a convenient “carry with you, fill out during the day” formatted questionnaire)
- Seeing important locations and doing important activities (a handy checklist of things to see and do is provided)
- Summarizing campus visits and noting observations and impressions using a Campus Visit Summary Sheet
- Wrapping up campus visits after arriving home

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.