Preparing for College - Page 8
cite weighted rank usually use ranking
guidelines adopted by the professional organiza-
tion of school principals, registrars, and
admissions officers. Where the school has its
own ranking system, it will describe it in its
profile.
There are schools that use modified ranking
systems. They do not provide a specific
rank; rather, students are placed into levels
based on parameters, such as, for example,
deciles, or divided into 10 groups of equal
size. Thus, a student in the second decile falls
in between the 10th and 20th percentile.
Similarly, a quintile (five-part) or quartile
(four-part) system can be used to define
rank.
Some academically highly competitive or small
high schools elect not to rank their
students. In such cases, admissions officers
will seek to compare grades with other
members of the class from the same
school.
Finally, it needs to be emphasized that rank
per se is but one item on the transcript.
It does not define the quality of your high
school academic accomplishments; it is
merely an indicator and not a decisive one at
that. It fails, for example, to identify the
direction of your progress, namely, if it was
consistent or erratic; if it is progressing or
faltering. These are important issues, where a
prolonged effort and strong determination
to succeed are vital, as is the case when
choosing medicine as a career.
THE ESSAY: YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT
_______________________
As part of the application procedure you will
be expected to write an essay. At the outset
it is desirable to recognize the significant
role the essay can play in the admission
process.
Importance of the Essay
It is obvious that in the screening of
applicants, priority is given to your high school
record and aptitude test scores. Nevertheless,
it needs to be emphasized that your essay
can have a pivotal influence on the admissions
process. This is especially important in
borderline situations, such as when an
applicant is on the threshold of being accepted,
wait-listed, or rejected. There is a consensus
that the essay in general has a critical role
that may not always be appreciated by students
because they may rely for success too
heavily on their academic achievement. While
grades and test scores can open up the
admission gates, the essay may serve to tilt
the balance in your favor. It is even possible,
in some situations, that by submitting a very
memorable essay, you can "write your
way" into a college.
Nature of the Essay
The essay you write may need to respond to a
specific topic proposed by the school to
which you are applying, or you may have the
option of writing on a topic of your own
choice.
Where a school requests a response to a
specific question, it naturally will vary from
one institution to another. Moreover, the same
school can change the topic periodically.
Therefore, reading an essay written for a prior
year may not always prove directly helpful.
When presented with one or a choice of essay
topics, these may be conventional or
they may be "offbeat." In the former category
are requests to write on (1) why you wish
to attend college; (2) more specifically, why
you are applying to this college; (3) how
you define success; (4) a story about yourself;
(5) who you are; (6) what life issues are
of importance to you. Most conventional
questions asked can serve as vehicles to bring-
ing your personal attributes to the reader's
attention.
Preparing Your Essay
At the outset, when you are preparing to write
your essay, the following considerations
need to be taken into account:
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