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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This sounds light years beyond what went on in my day. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<h1><b><font size=6 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:24.0pt'>Seniors
feeling the stress of competition for college</span></font></b></h1>
<h2><b><font size=5 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Many
applicants, few slots for elite tier of universities</span></font></b></h2>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By
MEREDITH BAKER<br>
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle</span></font></b></h3>
<h4><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Oct.
17, 2008</span></font></b>, 9:23PM</h4>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>As an
incoming senior, I have heard and read nothing for the past few years but
reports about how my graduating class will have the toughest time yet getting
into college. The graduating class of 2009 is the peak of the "baby
boom," with roughly 4.1 million kids born in the years 1990 and 1991. So
with more students applying, and in general, no more spots in most colleges,
the competition is rising and the admission rates are falling.</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Take for
instance Stanford's class of 2012. Only 2,400 students out of 25,298 were
accepted, meaning the acceptance rate was 9.5 percent. Two years ago Stanford
had about 6,000 fewer applicants and an acceptance rate of 13 percent. For
students interested in attending more competitive schools, the pressure
continues to mount.</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I have
witnessed and experienced firsthand the stress the college application process
has on kids and parents alike. Some of my friends focus all their high school
activities around those that they think college admission boards want to see.
One of my friends, also a senior in high school, has a college consultant, an
ACT entrance-exam tutor, belongs to four school clubs, and is captain of a
sports team. </span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>While she
enjoys some of these activities, she admits they are mainly to pad her resume.
"With so many smart kids that have so much going for them at my school, I feel
pressured to take on a full plate so I too look like I haven't been slacking. I
participate in some of these activities only to help me to get into the college
of my choice."</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>She isn't
alone in thinking colleges are looking for a long list of achievements and
activities. Jennifer Dejarlais, Dean of Admission at </span></font>Wellesley College,
insists this isn't the case. "We don't want to see a laundry list of
things that the student dabbled in. We try to figure out who the student is and
what they are interested in based on the choices they make."</p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dejarlais
says she always asks herself "why?" "Why did the student make
that choice, why did the student pursue music instead of volleyball? When
students focus in on a particular interest and give explanations for their
choices, their application tells me more about them than a student who did
something for the sake of listing it off on their application."</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Vu Tran,
Director of Admissions at UCLA, agrees. He tells students, "Be a leader;
be passionate; engage in activities in a way that demonstrates your commitment
and leadership; make it show in your personal statement."</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>While we
know that colleges are looking for students who are involved and passionate, it
is difficult to maintain perspective and hard not to get caught up in this
application frenzy. I find myself comparing my transcript, my extracurricular
activities and my SAT scores to those of other students. How will I measure up?
What if we apply to the same school? </span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Should I
have joined Model UN to show my interest in international affairs? Should I
have taken a different mix of courses?</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This
stiff competition has left my friends and me on edge — wondering if we
are "worthy" enough for admission to the colleges of our choice.
Ideally, parents should be the even keel in this process, providing positive
reinforcement and support. But I'm afraid that parents can get caught up in
this mindset as well and can add to the stress of the process. Many have been
reminding their kids for years that if they don't do well and don't excel, they
won't get into a "good" college.</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I don't
really know how to slow down this avalanche and introduce reasonableness into
this process. There are so many outstanding students and the top schools have
their pick of the best. We've all heard horror stories about the kid with
perfect SATs who won the National Science Fair, published a book and started a
charity but didn't get into any of his schools. Maybe it is high school lore,
maybe it is true.</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
admission representatives at all the colleges I've visited so far (NYU,
Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford) do stress the importance of
pursuing something you love, in depth, rather than having a long list of
activities to fill in all the lines, but the message just isn't sinking in. And
while it is great if you have found your passion in high school, isn't high
school a time to try lots of different things? I know many smart kids who are
good at many things but have not yet found the one activity or sport or cause
that really resonates with them, which will, unfortunately, put them at a
disadvantage.</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>So with
my transcript and GPA set, all I can do is remind myself that there is a life
before, during, and after college admissions. While I am intently focused on
finishing and tweaking my application, this too will pass and life will go on.
Getting into the "best" college has not been the be-all and end-all
of my high school career but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the stress
right now is a bit more than I'd like. I recognize that a college education is
what I make it. A college experience is what I make it. So I tell myself that
whatever happens in April, I know I'll find a college that I like and likes me
in return.</span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I have
worked hard and have done well through high school, while pursuing my passions
of writing and broadcast journalism. I know that my interests outside of school
will shine through on my application and I can only hope it will be enough for
those colleges I apply to, to look at me on paper and say "I can see
Meredith Baker at our university."</span></font></p>
<p><em><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Baker
is the teen correspondent for Great Day Houston on Channel 11, the teen blogger
for KHOU.com, the teen columnist for the </span></font></i></em><em><i><font
face="Times New Roman">Queens</font></i></em><em><i><font
face="Times New Roman"> Courier Newspaper in </font></i></em><em><i><font
face="Times New Roman">New York</font></i></em><em><i><font
face="Times New Roman"> and a contributor to the </font></i></em><em><i><font
face="Times New Roman">Houston</font></i></em><em><i><font
face="Times New Roman"> Chronicle. Baker is a senior at </font></i></em><em><i><font
face="Times New Roman">Clear</font></i></em><em><i><font
face="Times New Roman"> </font></i></em><em><i><font face="Times New Roman">Lake</font></i></em><em><i><font
face="Times New Roman"> </font></i></em><em><i><font face="Times New Roman">High
School</font></i></em><em><i><font face="Times New Roman"> and can be
contacted at meredithbaker07@gmail.com</font></i></em></p>
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