How do colleges look on an ESL student? Does the fact that the student has not taken advanced courses weigh against the student?

"If the student has not progressed into a demanding curriculum, without the inclusion of special ESL classes, it will present limitations in many colleges. Ask if the colleges would like to see both TOEFL and SAT/ACT. Consider sending graded writing samples."

- Mike Sexton, Dean of Admissions, Lewis & Clark College

"Students who are ESL students need to prepare slightly different credentials for a college application. Generally speaking, if English is not you first language, and definitely, for those who are currently enrolled in ESL classes, a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam is necessary for admission to most colleges. Apart from that, check particular requirements of each college for students in ESL programs. In terms of the quality of your courses, please take the most difficult courses you can. Probably English will not be your advanced course. Perhaps you will take science or mathematics on an advanced level. Colleges want students from different countries and cultures. If you have that to offer, it will be an advantage in your application."

- Ann Fleming Brown, Associate Dean of Admissions, Union College

Do you consider the foreign languages taken by the student to be a big part of the admissions process? If so, which languages do you look at most?

"I love foreign language. I count the number of years each student has taken foreign language. I love it when a student can present four or five years of language study. Even more wonderful would be the student who has explored another culture on a school, summer, or service trip. It is an important priority for me. Why, you ask? Because I am a former French teacher. I studied French as an undergraduate and a graduate student. This is to show you that each admissions person comes to his or her reading with a background of subjects that we loved and those we did not. If your reader loves languages, that portion of your folder will be more closely scrutinized. In most admissions offices, two or more readers review your folder. That should protect you from a reader with a single interest."

- Ann Fleming Brown, Associate Dean of Admissions, Union College

"At an institution like Lewis & Clark, where we require international study and foreign language competency as graduation requirements, we certainly consider language in high school as important. There is no bias toward one language over another. By the way, do not think that two years of a language in 9th and 10th grade is going to make you competent. ..."

- Mike Sexton, Dean of Admissions, Lewis & Clark College

"Just taking a language is most important and the more years the better --Randolph Macon College likes to see three years."

- Allen Pritchard, Assistant Director of Admissions, Randolph-Macon College

Do colleges look more favorably at applicants from competitive high schools (public or private) than from other schools?

"Students from competitive high schools may be at something of an advantage because many honors and AP courses are available to them right at their high schools. Students from high schools where there are fewer curricular opportunities should make the most of what they have. Take the best courses available. Consider taking courses at an area community college or summer courses at a four-year college. Use the resources in your areas for research opportunities and internships. Remember that almost without exception your school sends a profile with each application. The profile describes curricular offerings, community, and the post-secondary plans of most of the students. A serious admissions officer will take the time to see how your curriculum has taken advantage of what is actually offered at your school."

- Ann Fleming Brown, Associate Dean of Admissions, Union College

"We are interested in the more quantifiable information really, but if a school is known for being very tough and sends close to 100% of its students to college, that is considered in favor of the student sometimes."

- Allen Pritchard, Assistant Director of Admissions, Randolph-Macon College

Is there anything a high school freshman or sophomore can do to help gain an advantage?

"Set yourself up to take advanced classes in your junior and senior year. If you aspire to very selective schools, watch the number of courses you take in non-core areas. Sometimes, we see way too much journalisms, newspaper/yearbook, band/music, art, advanced P.E., teachers aid, etc. Amazingly, some schools give credit for all of these and calculate it into the GPA and rank. Yes, it is noticed. These are all legitimate interests. Just watch if you take them in addition to ... or instead of ... courses we want to see."

- Mike Sexton, Dean of Admissions, Lewis & Clark College

"Read, read, read, and then read some more. Reading prepares you for excellence in high school and college. Students who are regular readers tend to do well on the verbal SAT. Student who read are better writers, too. Read books that you enjoy and those that challenge your reading ability. Classics are fine. But if you love baseball, read baseball literature. Be sure to ask your English teachers for good books to read during the summer. No matter how busy you are, find ten minutes a day for reading."

- Ann Fleming Brown, Associate Dean of Admissions, Union College

"Work hard and study, participate in extracurriculars. For some, taking the SAT or ACT during the sophomore year when there is less pressure can be helpful just because it demystifies it some."

- Allen Pritchard, Assistant Director of Admissions, Randolph-Macon College

"The best thing would be to plan on taking the most challenging curriculum possible."

- Lynne M. Stack, Director of Recruitment, Wheaton College

Is it true that the junior year of high school is the most important?

"It is very important within the context of the entire high school career."

- Lynne M. Stack, Director of Recruitment, Wheaton College

"Not really. They are all important and most schools leave themselves room to reject someone who does not continue to do their academic work their senior year."

- Allen Pritchard, Assistant Director of Admissions, Randolph-Macon College

"The junior year is certainly very important. The senior year, especially the first semester, is just as important. Do not forget that most applications include the first-semester grades from senior year. If your grades are strong or have improved, it will work in your favor. If your grades have declined, your application could be in jeopardy."

- Ann Fleming Brown, Associate Dean of Admissions, Union College

Is there any difference in the way you handle, from start to finish, applications from kids in underrepresented groups?

"No."

- Allen Pritchard, Assistant Director of Admissions, Randolph-Macon College

"In the case of racial minorities, all applications will be also be reviewed by Ray Warren, our Associate Dean of Students/Director of Ethnic Student Services. (Ray was formerly our Associate Dean of Admissions and still does some travel and other file reading for us.)"

- Mike Sexton, Dean of Admissions, Lewis & Clark College

"We are very interested in enrolling more students from underrepresented groups -- whether from various demographic and/or socio-economic backgrounds -- and will take note of those applications when they are received. We are most interested in enrolling students who are prepared to do the work that the College will demand of them -- it is evidence of their academic capacities that will matter most in the deliberations of the Committee."

- Elena Ruocco Bachrach, Dean of Admissions and the First Year, Bennington College

"There are differences in the way in which we handle the applications of students from underrepresented groups and also students who are athletes, students who are sons or daughter of Union graduates, students who are superior students, and students who apply for special programs, like the combined BS/MD Program. Generally speaking, the folders slated for special attention go through the regular process of collecting data and assembling the folder. When the folder for the applicant is read, it is reviewed as any other folder in the applicant pool would be. At this point, all special interest folders are reviewed in secondary committees and given a second read and a close look. The admissions office tries its best to address institutional needs and wants, and the special admissions committees have that as their charge. At the end, all applicants are reviewed in the final committee process and the letters offering and not offering admission to the College are prepared."

- Ann Fleming Brown, Associate Dean of Admissions, Union College