Don't Believe Everything You Hear About Colleges

Rumors on college admissions run rampant. Don't let it affect your efforts.

One of the biggest frustrations college admissions officers face are the rumor mills that crank out stories about their universities and their admissions policies that are not based on fact but nevertheless are circulated as gospel:

X University hates students from a certain high school.
X University only accepts students with high test scores.
X University wants only athletes and student-government presidents.

The most dangerous elements in this rumor mill are Web sites and blogs (but not this one!) where people share their experiences and supposed “insider knowledge” about admissions. The truth is, no one knows how applications are evaluated except admissions officers, and no person who has simply been through the process knows how admissions officers think.

The advice on these Web sites can really lead you and your child astray. Make sure to separate fact from fiction by taking anything not relayed by official college admissions materials or by college professionals with a shaker of salt.