세쿼이아 학생 상담과 지원 샘플: AICEP 제출 보고서 (3-1)

다음은 American Institute of Certified Educational Planner (https://www.aicep.org/)에 제출한 필자의 학생 상담 리포트입니다.

 

 

Case Study: Peter Shinn

 

Vignette

 

Peter Shinn, 17, is graduating from a competitive and well-respected, large public high school in the US. Peter has a 3.75 grade point average and a rank of 21 out of 725. His junior year classes are junior English (regular track), Pre-Calculus, AP Chemistry, Spanish 4, AP European History, and Business. He is planning on the following schedule during his first semester in 12th grade: College Prep Writing, AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP Spanish, Western Thought, and Business. His ERW score on the SAT is 650, and math 770. His SAT subject tests are: literature 600, math level 2 800, and chemistry 640.

 

In terms of activities, he has been an active participant in the distributive education (business) program and qualified to attend the district competitions (although, as it turned out, he did not win awards at districts.) He is also involved as treasurer of the school's community service organization, secretary of the National Honor Society and president of the Spanish Honor Society. He won a science contest at his school for a project concerning germs in hospitals. Two summers during high school he worked as an intern doing research with a local immunologist. 

 

Peter is a very enthusiastic person and speaks with energy about his involvements and his love of school. He told you that he works hard, and you sense that, while perhaps not a scholar, he will be thorough and devoted to his college studies.

 

The draft essays he has given you are impressive, but not superlative. Peter and his parents are open to a wide variety of factors in choosing a college. As a diplomatic family, they are used to travel and Peter and his parents are open to college options anywhere in the world. He thinks he wants to be a physician, but is not sure about his ultimate career. He wants a very good liberal arts and sciences school—and does not require a focus on pre-medical studies. He is open as to size of the school. He would like the college to be very active with lots of clubs and activities to participate in. You see him at a college with many academic and extracurricular options and a place with lots of energy. He loves big cities.

1. What general characteristics would you be looking for in colleges for Peter?

 

Answer 1

Peter had better select “Liberal Arts & Science College”, with a small class setting that provides excellent education, engaged communities, and superb preparation for the future. The liberal arts colleges usually have fewer student organizations and activities than larger universities, but participation and solidarity tend to be more intense. There are more opportunities for leadership positions because there are fewer students. Peter can maintain an amicable relationship with professors and peers. The college can encourage Peter, whose idea of being a medical doctor is still vague, to explore a variety of interests both inside and outside the classroom.

 

We can assume that Peter has an aptitude for natural science than humanities because he didn’t take an advanced English class at his junior year, Literature SAT test score is lower than math and science, and he didn’t win awards at the distributive program (Business). Thus, he would rather choose natural science as his major such as Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, and Biomedical Science so that he can take a medical doctor into consideration for a future career. Yet, Biological science majors don’t always lead to high acceptance to a medical school.

 

For Peter’s future career, the college curriculum should emphasize writing, critical thinking, problem-solving, and a cross-disciplinary perspective as well as a Pre-med study program or science program. If the college offers graduate of professional school admission counseling and advice, it will be advantageous for Peter.

 

Peter’s academic abilities are excellent, but not superlative as he doesn’t show top grades and highest test scores. Still, he has a bit lower SAT scores compared to competitive candidates. Besides, he doesn’t have any AP test scores yet. The AP would be meaningful if he can get 4 or 5 points at least 3 points. We can make a college list based on the SAT score of 1420, SAT subject tests, GPA of 3.75 and a rank of 21/725. My rough idea about test scores is that the median or the 50% is for the class of admits. But the average the two numbers (25-75%) is Peter should have an estimate of the 50th percentile score. If he decides Biology or Science major, we should also perceive that the SAT average scores of Biology major students at a liberal arts college would be higher than any other accepted student in general, of course, it depends, though.

 

Peter has been an active participant in high school internal activities and club activities, as well. Peter can open his eyes to the world around him if he spends more time on volunteer work and interships, which focus on responsibility and opportunities for community engagement and sense of real field. We can expect it will facilitate him to get into a prestigious college. Thus, he should find the college which offer lots of volunteer works, internships, research projects, club activities and information about extra-activities as well.

 

I respect his opinion that he loves big cities because there are many benefits from studying in a big city: increased access to internships, networking opportunities, career development, more entertainment, and cultural events, a more diverse student body, and an adventure of life in a big city. However, as a matter of fact, there are not many universities, especially liberal arts colleges in the city center, so Peter should consider universities located in suburban or rural areas as well.

 

Peter might think a prestigious undergraduate degree such as Ivy League means he will get in for a professional school or graduate school automatically, but admissions panels look for key metrics. Therefore, he still needs to get better grades, superb GRE/MCAT scores, and to prove himself outstanding during his college years. He should not just take a big brand name school, but the school where he can excel. If his undergraduate record is strong and he has good relationships with faculty who are willing to support him, he can be successful in the further educational institution’s admission.

 

Williams College

Swarthmore College

Amherst College