Myths and Realities About College Choice

Myth #1: Only the most prestigious and/or well-known colleges are worth attending.

Reality: How students engage in college is far more important than selectivity. According to a 2018 report by the Stanford Graduate School of Education, College Selectivity is not a Reliable Predictor of Student Learning, Job Satisfaction, or Well-Being 

Myth #2: Good colleges are SO hard to get into!

Reality: A handful of colleges are really hard to get into; most are not.

The average acceptance rate among all ranked colleges is about 68%; 90% of colleges accept 80% of applicants; schools such as Stanford (4%) and Duke (<8%) truly are outliers

Myth #3: Graduate schools and employers favor applicants from prestigious universities. 

Reality: Students drive their own successes by attending institutions where they can earn high grades and take advantage of internship and co-op opportunities. 

Myth #4: SAT/ACT scores are the most important factor in a college application.  

Reality: Most institutions use a holistic approach to admissions and more than half of U.S. college and universities are test-optional for the Fall, 2022 admissions cycle. Evidence suggests that more and more colleges will adopt a permanent test-optional policy. 

Myth #5: Only state universities are affordable. 

Reality: State university sticker prices are lower, but merit and needs-based aid may offset the higher sticker-prices of private institutions. 

Myth #6: Higher Cost=Higher Quality

Reality: Price is a reflection of factors such as state funding and endowment size. Price reflects little about quality and NOTHING about potential fit. 

Myth #7: Students who attend community college and transfer are losers

Reality: Attending community college is a great way to save money (up to 50% of the cost of attendance) and to access good-fit colleges that may have been out of reach during high school.

Tune in next time to learn how to define good-fit.

For more information on myths and realities of college admissions, feel free to reach out at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com.