He really earned an A for his effort.
A Long Island principal is helping students find the school of their dreams with a new book offering the best tips and tricks for the admissions process, gleaned from interviews with officials at nearly 300 colleges. I am.
John Durante, who has worked at one of the nation's top Syosset high schools for 30 years, wondered how much help students needed to navigate the college admissions process when he and his daughters went through it. It was the first time I realized that.
His new book, Straight From The Admissions Office: Insider Strategies for College Applications, teaches you how to impress schools with your work history, take a leadership role in a few activities rather than joining every club, It offers insights such as how to ensure leadership in any club. In other words, use your individuality.
“I felt firsthand the stress that parents feel for their children,” Durante said.
This book is a compilation of Durante's audio series. “Podcast of the college admissions process” — compiles what he gathered from meetings with representatives from Notre Dame, Emory, Duke, Brown, and hundreds of other universities.
He also knows that Long Island is home to some of the most competitive schools in the nation.
In 2024, US News & World Report listed eight Nassau public schools in the top 50 in New York State.
Durante said he really became aware of the difficulty of such college competition during his daughter Juliana's effort to get into Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, where she is now a senior. .
“High school wasn't easy for her,” he says. “So I was one of those parents who reached out to the reps and asked pointed questions and helped her. They gave me great tips and insights. And I'm going to help other families. I thought he might be trying to do something for me.”
He emphasized that academic performance, as well as extracurricular participation and leadership, are key for children to stand out, as there are “so many opportunities” on offer.
“[Colleges] “We want to know what kind of community member you will be,” he said. “It’s important to follow your passion and show it.”
The principal said the school focuses less on what students do and more on why they do it.
“Try to explain your motives in as much detail as possible,” Durante writes.
Also, a long list of activities isn't necessarily perfect.
Standout applications take leadership roles in a few programs rather than broad involvement in many programs, he said.
Even if you're not the president of a club, “leadership comes in many forms,” Durante added. He suggests focusing on individual contributions, such as organizing clothing drives or tutoring.
But for teens who have to work in place of after-school activities, it's especially important to make it clear to colleges that they're getting a different kind of experience.
He explained that admissions offices often value working students because they demonstrate a sense of responsibility. Students who have to take care of family members should also note this for the same reason.
Additionally, in the age of test-optional applications, Durante recommends that teens ask their schools to see the percentage of admitted students who did not transfer SAT or ACT scores. Masu. After reading the data, decide whether to submit the test.
He also recommends taking either test up to three times. Most students do not see a significant improvement in their score after the third attempt.
Even the best performers should remember that admissions is a numbers game and that their influence is limited.
“If you only apply to schools with an acceptance rate of 15% or less, it doesn't matter how good you are academically. Those are schools that are within everyone's reach,” the educator said. Syosset is ranked 33rd within the Empire State and 259th nationally..
Durante added that there's no shame in pursuing more colleges with high acceptance rates that won't hold up your ideal candidate “because of things you can't control.”
However, there are ways to outperform similar applicants in close decisions. Tap into what a GPA or list of activities can't prove: your personality.
“You can't stand out in a competitive pool of applications if you sound like everyone else,” he said.
One way is to tell your desired school how you intend to spend your tenure.
Using the example of engineering applicants, Durante said strong applicants might say on the admissions exam that they also take industry-related business classes to gain a more global perspective.
“Show that you’ve done your homework…and don’t be shy to talk about how you plan to contribute to the school community.”
Letters of recommendation can also go a long way, but Durante argues that they shouldn't come from subjects in which the student excels.
“Your transcript shows you got an A-plus in English… but even if you had to ask for extra help three times a week in math, that teacher’s letter… It shows you never gave up.”
As a father, Durante also said it's essential to discuss the financial aspects beforehand. The same goes for visiting schools and finding things to do in your college town.
It will help you relieve stress and create healthy memories before the important send-off.
Above all, he preached that no matter what happened, “Everything will be okay.'' “
“If a school rejects you, that's their loss,” Durante said.
“Find a school that looks at your profile and appreciates who you are…Looking back, my kids were fine.”
