UlTImATE SUccESS GUIdEyour saxophone-playing student, but be aware that sometimes it’s enough
of an advantage to help them get in at competing, equally attractive insti-
tutions. Having more than one school choice gives your student an edge
because the other school just may need another saxophone player.
Underrepresented minorities, sexes, and students from underrepresent-
ed states receive tags. Based on federal funding requirements your stu-
dent may receive a tag if they are from a certain state, female, male, etc.
Once an application is tagged, the individual is removed from the com-
mon pool of applicants and moved to an entirely new level for special
consideration. An applicant that normally may not have been looked at
twice may find that being tagged opens many doors. It’s vitally important
to know in advance which colleges give extra attention to specific tags.
Packaging
Imagine looking out over a cornfield. There are thousands of stalks of
corn all planted in neat, evenly-spaced rows. Now imagine that several
of these stalks are three feet taller than the rest. Help your student stand
out like those taller stalks amid all of the remaining freshman applicants
and you make it easier for the admissions officer to find them.
College is big business loaded with rules and procedures geared to help
fill their classrooms with students that have a high probability of suc-
cess. The key to making your student one of the desirable ones is by
promoting their value to each school. Make it obvious to the school that
your child is the one that they have been looking for.
You must “Package & Position” your student based on the College Ac-
ceptance Profile (CAP) that is unique to each school. The students with
the highest CAP scores are most attractive to colleges and are eligible
for the best financial aid packages. These students receive more grants
and free money versus them having to obtain student loans and partici-
pate in work-study programs.
The CAP criteria used by selective and elite institutions includes:
- Awards – National, Regional, State, County, and School
- Academics – Standard Test Scores
- Activities – School and Outside (Leadership is important)
- Community Service – Volunteerism, Helping Others