How I got into college: 5 students share their secrets: sometimes getting in takes more than just being a bright well-rounded kid - Achieving Your Goals

Careers and Colleges, Sept-Oct, 2003 by Nancy Fitzgerald

TALLENT: When Zach applied, he was lacking one of the admission requirements--an Algebra II course. So things weren't looking good for him. I'd read in his essay that he played the violin, but I had no idea of the caliber. It wasn't until I had a call from the director of instrumental music that I began to under stand. He said to me, "You wouldn't believe this kid--he's a world-class violinist." So we bent the rules a little and admitted Zach under the condition that he take Algebra II at a local community college during his first semester. I think that practically every school is looking our for students with special talents.

FAMILY MATTERS

NAME: MATT HOWELL

AGE: 19

APPLICATION HIGHLIGHT: FAMILY TIES

HOMETOWN: WINDHAM, NY

COLLEGE: INDIANA

LOCATION: BLOOMINGTON, IN

MAJOR: UNDECIDED

HIGH SCHOOL GPA: 3.76

SAT SCORE: 1090

ADMISSION COUNSELOR: LARRY GONZALEZ

Matt Howell grew up in a small town in New York's Catskill Mountains, the youngest of four boys. "We've always been a close-knit family," he says, "and when my brothers started going off to college, I really missed them. It was heartbreaking to see each one go, and the ride back home from Indiana was always kind of depressing."

Although Howell's older brothers had trekked halfway across the country to Indiana University, the phone calls and e-mails kept flying back and forth, and Howell liked what he heard. Howell's oldest brother, Zac, 24, got hooked on Indiana because he is a classical guitarist and the school has a great music program with a well-known guitar teacher. The university is huge, and each of Howell's brothers (including Tom, 21; and Dennis, 19) found his niche at the school. When it came time to apply to college himself, be was sure that he wanted to follow in the Family tradition.

HOWELL: I went out to Indiana a couple of times a year to drop off or pick up my brothers, and I really liked the campus. It was completely different from everything I'd ever seen at home. People seemed so happy and eager to please, and even random professors that we ran into talked about the school and encouraged me to apply. Tire summer before my senior year, I went to a reception for prospective students, and I got a warmer welcome because of my brothers. When I had my interview, that definitely came up. One of my brothers, Dennis, had a work-study job with the assistant director of admission and after I was accepted, he said they were proud to have another Howell as part of the Indiana family.

GONZALEZ: With Matt's excellent record, and his brothers' example, he was definitely a safe her for admission. We have a strong family tradition here, so if there's a family member related to IU, we give the student a second look. It's not a case of however terrible your record is, if you've got a family to connection to IU, you're automatically in. You still have to meet the requirements. But it really says something to us that a student has been on campus, and knows a lot about it from relatives. In Matthew's case, we knew that he'd have a nurturing foundation when he arrived--and a much better chance of success.