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by Channaile Gordon '05
Applying to college can be tricky. With so much to keep in mind, the one thing that helps is staying ahead of the game. This means keeping up with deadlines. Missing deadlines can make affording and getting accepted to college virtually impossible.
Let's say that you are applying to Virginia Wesleyan College and you have the application packet ready to go, but the deadline date hasn’t approached yet. Do you send the packet in? The Admissions Office at Virginia Wesleyan says, "Yes!" Students who get their application packets to the Admissions Office as early as possible will have a better chance of receiving the most financial aid possible.
Rick Hinshaw, Dean of Admissions at Virginia Wesleyan, understands the importance of attending an affordable college. "Making college affordable is one of VWC’s biggest concerns for potential students," he says. With FASFA, Virginia Tuition Assistant Grants (VA TAG) and scholarships, students can receive the financial assistance needed to help with the cost of their education.
Virginia Wesleyan also gives students the benefit of a rolling admissions process, unlike the deadline process that most schools use. The non-traditional deadline means that Virginia Wesleyan allows and encourages students to retake SATs, ACTs and even improve their GPAs for increased scholarship opportunities. If you apply before the March 15 deadline, you can improve your test scores, which may help you to receive more money for your education.
In addition to applying early to a school, students should be aware of what a college or university looks for when considering a prospective student. For example, the Admissions Office at Virginia Wesleyan looks for students with a GPA of at least 3.07 and a combined SAT score of 1034 in Critical Reading and Math or an ACT score of 22; however, students that apply with at least a 2.5 GPA and a combined SAT score of 950 in Critical Reading and Math or an ACT score of 21 may also be considered.
"The successful student at VWC is a person that is multi-task oriented and in-depth," Hinshaw says. "Students at VWC come here well-rounded and leave with better personal and individual skills that are nurtured and developed."
In addition to good grades, Virginia Wesleyan looks for prospective students to have between three and five letters of recommendation from guidance counselors, teachers and leaders within their community, along with completed community service hours prior to applying.
Finally, Hinshaw reminds students of the importance of visiting a college or university before making a decision. "Would you buy a car without driving it? Or would you buy a house without going inside? No, you wouldn't," he says. When shopping around for schools, it is important that students feel comfortable at that college or university. Taking campus tours helps facilitate that comfort.
"When I came to Virginia Wesleyan College for a tour of the campus, everyone who I came in contact with was very helpful and friendly," says junior Terry Kenworthy. "I found it very important and comforting to know that the campus community cared."
Education is a financial and personal decision that should be taken seriously. By staying ahead of the game and meeting deadlines, students can avoid the stress of getting behind in the process of applying to the college or university of their choice.