College Applications

The Mission

The college application process, despite its challenges, is a singular opportunity for young people to identify and articulate who they are and what they want from their college experience. Students compile amazing resumes then fail to create a compelling narrative for the admissions officers. Test scores and grades only tell part of the story.

Learning to identify and tell our own stories--whether to a university or to an employer--is a critical life skill. As students move through college and into the job market, their story will evolve and change, but the ability to articulate who they are and what they want will endure. 

The application (Common, Coalition, or independent) is the student’s opportunity to package and market themselves. The distinct sections should be seen as a unit, not disparate parts. There are certainly limitations and boundaries, but we are in charge of the story we want to tell. 

Getting Started

The students who complete their applications over the summer enter senior year more confident and less anxious. While their classmates are wading through forms, scrambling for recommendation letters, and rushing to complete supplements, these students can focus on academics. That said, it’s never too late, and plenty of kids work well under pressure!

The Personal Statement

Almost every college, whether it takes the Common Application or not, requires a personal statement which has become increasingly critical to the admissions process. Students tend towards broad, generalized, or philosophical topics. However, the essays that work most effectively bring out something specific, unique, compelling, memorable and above all, personal. An MIT admissions officer says: 

People often ask me, "How do I stand out in an essay?" or something to that effect. As MIT admissions officers, our primary goal in reading these essays is to get to know you, the applicant. It's not to be wowed, or feel like we need to read the most unique piece of writing we've ever seen. Over my ten years of working in admissions, I've probably read over 100,000 essays; after a certain point, there's just no such thing as a truly *unique* essay. So worry less about coming up with something we've never read before (because we most likely have anyways), and focus more on making sure your essays authentically convey who you are (or some aspect of who you are). If I, the reader, am able to learn something new about you, then you've written a great response and the essay has served its purpose.

Therefore, our approach is personal and holistic. Through conversation, a specific memory or event emerges that becomes the vehicle to a deeper story.

Parents can often share observations, details, and vignettes that their child might overlook, so we offer optional parent sessions via phone or video chat. Transcripts, resumes, and “brag” sheets are helpful when available. 

Usually, students do most of the writing during our session. This assures that the writing gets done, allows us to edit in real time, and relieves a tremendous amount of stress at home.

I welcome input from teachers and parents; the best essays go through multiple drafts.

The Activities Section

Every written section of the application allows the student to showcase their personality. This critical portion requires some finesse since there are only ten slots with 150 characters each. This represents a constraint as well as an opportunity. I like the suggestions of this website

The Supplements

I cannot overstate the importance of this section. Colleges that require additional “supplemental” essays really want to know that the student has done their research. The students needs to articulate why this school is a good match and what they will bring to the school. If the student has not already done so, we take a deep dive into the school’s website, seeking to identify academic and extracurricular opportunities that complement and match the student’s interests and passions. This challenging but FUN part of the application should not be squandered!

Additional Information

The Common Application delivers up this little gem to be used at the applicant’s discretion. It is absolutely fine to leave it blank. It can be used for another essay, but I think the admissions teams prefers it to be short, sweet, and digestible. Some students use Additional Information to add activities that don’t fit in the Activities section. Others describe a personal situation, list prizes or awards, or go into more detail about a research project. The possibilities are endless. Often, this section needs to be tailored to a particular school; for example, if Suzi Q writes about how she was the first teenager to live on the International Space Station in her supplemental essay to Harvard, she doesn’t need to write about it in her Harvard Additional Information. However, if MIT doesn’t offer a supplement that allows her to discuss her space voyage, she might include a paragraph detailing her experience in her Yale Additional Information. 

Educational Gaps/Discipline

If the applicant has attended more than one secondary school, they need to explain the change in 250 words or less. They also have 400 words to explain any disciplinary infractions. These sections obviously do not apply to most students. 

The Interview

Once the student has completed the written portions of the common app, they should know their story. Nonetheless, one or two mock interview sessions are helpful since a botched interview can sink an application. The student’s research for that college’s supplements will allow them to speak fluently and convincingly about why they believe the school is a great fit. In our mock interview, we will review all the talking points as well as focus on basic interview skills, like eye contact and handshakes.

The Resume

It’s a great idea to have a solid resume at the ready since many schools offer the option to upload one. Admissions offices will do an online search, so some students create a LinkedIn profile and/or a website. I work with the student to focus and streamline the information.

Proofreading

I always work on Google Drive with students. Once everything is written, students input the pieces, save the application as a PDF, and we proofread! The more sets of eyes, the better. 

The Wait

Writing about oneself is hard but the process inevitably leads to greater self-knowledge and self-respect. Once the applications are turned in, we wait. Regardless of the outcome, students should feel really proud of the work they put in and the way they presented themselves. They will take this newfound understanding with them when they approach professors, apply for internships, and seek permanent employment.

I charge by the hour, so you can use me for as much or as little of this process as you like!