Even with excellent test scores and high-class rankings, many prospective college students still have a lot of work to do when it comes to college essays, resumes, and interviews, according to Dr. Carie King, clinical professor at The Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, & Technology at UT Dallas.
This summer, Dr. King will host a college preparation camp to address the need for better student communication skills in the admissions process.
“Students think it’s all about test scores, but it’s not,” Dr. King said.
The 2024 Summer College-Prep covers the most stressful parts of the college application process — the essay and the interview — while providing other important information for students hoping to be accepted into their targeted universities. Developed for rising high school juniors and seniors, the camp will be held the week of July 22, running every day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The organizers are accepting 20 participants, ages 15 through 18.
University admission requirements vary widely across the country. UT Dallas, for instance, does not require essays or interviews for admissions, but they may be required for scholarship applications. Other universities may also require interviews and essays for scholarships or admissions.
In addition to essay and interview preparation, the summer camp will look at other factors that could influence admissions counselors, such as social media and life balance.
Dr. King said colleges want to know about student activities and motivations.
“They want to know how you’re going to be able to balance the challenges of the academic world with being healthy, taking care of yourself, socializing, and creating lasting relationships — part of the whole college experience,” she said.
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