Hanging Out Is 'Not an Option' for the College-Bound

Debbie Morgan, a local college admissions expert, painted a dreary picture Thursday for languid teens who envision four years of dorm-room living: In high school, "hanging out is not an option."

In a forum for San Juan Capistrano parents titled "Thriving and Surviving in High School," she divulged the "unwritten" mandates of college admissions. 

In a nutshell: "We’re looking to find people who have productive lives," she said.

Morgan is a Capistrano Beach resident who owns a guidance consulting business, Simply Success & Starting Out Successfully. From 1998 to 2007 she served as Capistrano Unified School District’s director of college guidance services.

Academically, Morgan suggested that high schoolers who aim to attend top universities take four years of world language (two years are required), four years of both English and math (three years are required), and three years of science (two years are required).

"World language is one of the biggest reasons kids are tipped into college, or tipped out," she said, explaining that proficiency in a language other than English shows colleges that students are "globally savvy and get in the shoes of people from all over the world."

Risk a 'B' in an advanced or honors class in place of an 'A' in standard curriculum. Use the University of California's list of approved courses like a bible, she said, and double-check information provided by your guidance counselor in case it's out-of-date.

As for those fields that can't be found on a transcript:

• Extracurriculars: Make long-lasting commitments to activities for which you are passionate. Whether it's horseback riding, playing a musical instrument or swimming, colleges are looking for students who posses "enough courage and confidence to do the things that are important to them."
• Volunteer: Students who volunteer tend be less self-centered. Although university admission counselors look for students with a good understanding of "self," they also look for those who see themselves as one small piece of the puzzle.
• Teacher Recommendations: High school teachers should be able to say that you never miss class, do every extra-credit problem, ask for help when you're confused about a subject and inspire "spicy debates" with your classmates. The only way a college is going to know about such attributes is if a teacher tells them, Morgan said.
• Essays: It's important "that you tell stories about yourself that only you can tell." If you want to be a teacher, explain why. If you've been a ballerina all your life, share what you've learned from your dancing experiences.