Here is the first exclusive interview from our Admissions Spotlight Series. We will be bringing you transcribed interviews from Deans of Admission from across the country as part of our Admissions Spotlight Series.
Thank you to Dean Brian O'Rourke for participating in the Admissions Spotlight Series. Dean O'Rourke is the Dean of Admissions and Recruitment at Holy Names University and he personally oversees freshman applications from Silicon Valley and San Mateo County, as well as all international undergraduate applications.
As the Dean of Admissions and Recruitment, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?
Ultimately my job is to bring in a class of students each semester that will excel academically, be engaged on campus and make us proud to call them alumni of our university. This means working with our faculty to establish and enforce the admission criteria for graduate and undergraduate applicants as well as working with our enrollment counselors to seek out the students who are the best fit for HNU. I also have a small territory of freshman applicants I work with as their enrollment counselor and this is my favorite part my job.
What do you consider the most significant parts of an application, the parts which applicants should prepare the most carefully?
The most significant part of the application is the high school record. While we look at many factors in the application process, first and foremost we want to see that the student has challenged themself in high school by taking a college prep curriculum that includes AP and honors courses and that his or her grades reflect an ability to do college level work and be successful on our campus. However beyond the high school work, we take a very strong look at extra-curricular activities, the personal statement, and letters of recommendation. A well rounded applicant who has been involved, has a strong articulate voice in their application, and can demonstrate engagement with teachers and mentors through strong recommendations has the potential to overcome some blemishes on the academic record. Finally we do look at SAT or ACT scores in the context of the rest of the application.
Is there anything you frequently see on an application that you hope to never see again?
That’s a great question and easy to answer. Typos. No matter how much we plead with students to proofread everything before submission we invariably have applications each year with typos and errors. All campus representatives have different components and factors which we emphasize in the admissions process based on our own backgrounds and perspective, but universally we hate silly or simple errors. It calls into question the students attention to detail, academic focus, even their desire to attend our university in terms of effort on the application. I become so frustrated when I see an application from an otherwise strong candidate and there are typos and misspellings in their application.
What common pitfalls should applicants be careful to avoid?
The most common pitfall is inconsistency or omission on an application. For example, a student will have a personal statement or letter of recommendation that discusses a particular passion or area of involvement and the student has failed to include that activity on their extra-curricular resume. We then start to wonder if the student truly is committed to this activity or, worse yet, if the letter of recommendation is referring to the correct student. The college application is perhaps the first time ever where it’s appropriate for the student to “brag” about himself so they want to make sure everything is included and that each component of the application is woven together to tell the complete story of the applicant.
Are there any myths about the application process which you would like to dispel?
There are two which seem to arise every year: that there is some magical way to guarantee admission to every school and that the universities are deliberately vague in our criteria of admission. The truth is that almost every college and university receives far more applications than we have spaces in our incoming class. Our job is to create a class that is academically strong, well rounded and an appropriate fit for our university and we don’t know until we begin reviewing applications what the pool for our particular school will look like. Ultimately there is no substitute for hard work. If students do the academic work in high school, challenge themselves and explore interests beyond academics, they will find many wonderful universities anxious to have them on campus. But there are so many factors and voices with the admissions’ decisions it can make the process difficult to predict and I think sometimes students and families mistake that uncertainty for some sort of deliberately calculated or personal slight.
What advice would you give to an applicant with below-average test scores but significant work experience?
Play to your strengths in the application. We see the transcripts and the test scores and unless there is some extenuating circumstances that need to be explained they will speak for themselves. Students should focus on the areas they can control on the application, namely the personal statement and activities list. Make sure everything is listed and understandable, don’t sell yourself short on anything and consider what strengths or experience might make a compelling personal statement. I’m a big fan of work experience on a college application, provided your academics haven’t suffered.
Do you frequently have to turn away applicants whom you wish you could admit?
If so, what could those applicants do to be admitted?Absolutely and it’s the worst part of my job. Emotionally I wish every student would have the option to attend their first choice school. Unfortunately if I operated an office of admissions under that guide it would create a whole new set of problems for the students and the university. The decision process comes down to the most qualified applicants and their ability to succeed and graduate from HNU and each case is different so it’s impossible for me to provide universal guidance on what students who were denied could have done differently. Other than of course the advice I’ve already provided about hard work in high school. Ultimately with the students who are determined to earn their degree from HNU, we put them on a transfer plan to allow them to re-apply after a year of college coursework and many of the students we deny as freshman end up enrolling as transfer students.
How much faith do you have in the ability of the SAT or ACT to predict success in college?
I think the standardized tests have their place. They certainly are helpful when examining an application from a student who attended a high school with which we are less familiar or where we have concerns over grade inflation. But as part of the launch of our new Early Admit Program which seeks to provide college access to students from urban environments we recently conducted a review of the students who have enrolled at HNU over the past 5 years. What we discovered was that for the students we have enrolled, completion of college prep coursework in high school and students who succeeded academically with a more challenging curriculum were far more likely to be successful on our campus even with lower SAT or ACT scores. Students who were admitted in part because of high test scores but had demonstrated weaker high school performance were far less likely to do well here at HNU. With that information, we continue to review the test scores but are cautious not to place too much emphasis when making a final decision.
What do you look for in a recommendation letter?
Someone who knows the student well and can truly speak to what makes this student unique as well as the student’s ability to succeed on our campus. It’s important for the student to talk to the recommender about the type of university, why they are interested in attending that school and what the other components of the application will address. The strongest letters of recommendation are an honest assessment of the student’s ability and accomplishments while rounding out the application. The most important component is that the letter is from someone who really knows the student. We read thousands of letters each year and can tell the difference between a form letter and one that is truly advocating for a particular student.
Suppose an applicant has little or no experience relevant to your program, but has significant experience in other fields. What can that applicant do to distinguish himself or herself in your eyes as a good candidate for your program?
We don’t expect that a student at seventeen or eighteen years old will have already selected a major or a career and are working towards that end in high school. It’s wonderful when students are interested in a particular field because they have volunteered or worked in that arena and found it to be exciting and challenging as it can demonstrate a stronger understanding or connection to a particular major or program. However for the most part when we review an application it’s more important that there was a high level of involvement or engagement outside of the classroom then that the experience is linked to their major. I tell students to seek experiences about which they are passionate and genuinely want to pursue and that help make them a well-rounded individual and really commit to those activities. It can be tempting to always try to relate those experiences back to a program of interest but I tell students to resist that urge unless there’s a real connection as it can make for a weaker personal statement that feels forced. Embrace who you are and what you have accomplished and focus on making this information shine through in the application.
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Joseph F. conducted this interview as part of Parliament Tutors' Admissions Spotlight Series. Joseph is an SAT Tutor and New York Tutor.
