Perspectives on secondary school preparation and college admissions, and specifically admissions to selective colleges, are provided. According to a 1977 Stanford University document (which is briefly summarized but not appended), there is considerable variation in the number of solid academic courses taken by high school students, and capable…

In the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in student stress associated with the college admission process. It is the responsibility of admissions professionals, with support from school counselors and administrators, to inform students and parents, reduce the obsession with selectivity, and concentrate on providing students with…

Twenty highly selective colleges were surveyed to discover the effect on admissibility of a hypothetical high school senior taking a vocational course during the senior year instead of a second advanced placement course. While none would admit the vocational course participant, most would admit his dual-AP-course counterpart. (MSE)