You hear it all the time. When it comes to getting into the college of your choice, put it in caps and punctuate it with a bunch of exclamation points: PLAN AHEAD!!!

“Students who may find their choices limited fall into two categories: lack of college preparatory courses or lack of preparation for college level work in high school,” said Penny Bundy, admissions director at Western Michigan University. “Or, not doing well in college preparatory courses; not having a good academic record in which rigorous courses were attempted and passed.”

With entrance into college continually becoming more competitive, wise college hopefuls begin to lay the foundation for admissions before they take their first high school class.

“They should be in contact with the college of their choice as they begin to narrow those choices, contacting those admissions offices as early as the sophomore year to see what to do,” Bundy said. “Ask, ‘What will weigh most critically in (the) decision to admit me?’”

For Jodi Chycinski, director of admissions at Grand Valley State University, balance is important. Like most institutions of higher learning, GVSU is looking for students who have tackled rigorous academic courses but are well-rounded and have participated in activities outside the classroom.

“We like to believe that students who are admitted to the university will be active in our community,” she said.

Understand admissions requirements

According to Chycinski, planning ahead includes students researching the colleges in which they have an interest.

“They should understand the admissions requirements and they should understand if that school meets their own individual needs.”

Checking on the average ACT and grade point average of admitted freshmen gives students an idea of how their academics stack up. It is important to understand how an institution weighs Advanced Placement or honors courses and how much of an advantage is given to students who tackle a rigorous high school curriculum.

The Michigan Merit Curriculum ensures that all high school graduates in the state will now meet minimum college admissions standards for required coursework. But college hopefuls also should consider what really is needed if they are interested in particularly competitive programs.

Students who haven’t taken the right courses in high school may not be able to get into the college program they desire.

“Any of our colleges (at Western) that have a separate application process into their programs are looking more closely at experiences and course selection,” Bundy said.

For example, fine arts hopefuls should be involved in theater, speech, art classes or music. Those looking at math or science-based majors should choose the most rigorous courses available to show the necessary aptitudes.

The importance of great essays

Admissions committees make decisions across a broad and diverse applicant pool. A terrific essay explaining extenuating circumstances may overcome a less-than-stellar academic record.

“We have to look at what the (high) schools offer, family experience — taking all those things into consideration,” Bundy said. “We look for those indicators that the student has persisted and achieved.”

More often than not, the thing that really gets an admissions committee’s blood pumping is a great essay, so don’t blow off those English classes — no matter what major you hope to pursue.

Make essays personal and experiential, advised Hope College’s Vice President for Admissions Bill Vanderbilt.

“The students sharing with us things that have impacted their lives, shaped them and made them the young adults that they are, an experience that they’ve had or an influential person that’s encouraged them … those essays get circulated around. We know that every student has stories that they can share,” he said.

Make them laugh or make them cry, but make them care.

Students who come late to the college admissions game need not despair, thanks to the excellent community colleges in Michigan. Most community colleges accept all comers as long as they have a diploma or GED, fill out an application and submit ACT scores or take a placement exam.

“The bottom line,” Chycinsk saidi, “is there is a place for every student who wants to continue their education.”

By Deborah J. Cook