Admissions Hook, Activities, Service, Enrichment
Many students are surprised to learn that to be considered for freshman admission to a California public college you will need to meet your high school graduation requirements and the California colleges’ curriculum-based admission requirements. For UC schools, such as…
Standing out in a manner that is highly impressive and well-perceived can help move your college application into the admitted pile. Doing something really unique, inspiring, or notable can lead to an admissions boost. At Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, MIT, and…
Deferrals (also known as postponements) from the University of Michigan are a common source of frustration. Tens of thousands of students submit applications and supporting materials to UMichigan by the November 1 early action deadline expecting a decision in late…
Ever wonder about legacy preferences in college admissions? Richard D. Kahlenberg’s book “Affirmative Action for the Rich: Legacy Preferences in College Admissions" examines legacy admission practices at a number of institutions including Brown, Princeton, Harvard, Penn and Dartmouth. The Choice…
How much of a better chance does a student have by applying early decision? "Usually a lot better." Steve Cohen, in his Forbes.com blog, shares acceptance statistics for a number of selective colleges offering early decision programs. The blog discusses…
Looking for inspiration to help find a worthwhile community service project that is right for you? Check out the impressive community service achievements of some of the 2010 AXA Achievement Scholarship Winners. AXA, in association with U.S. News & World…
Case Study: Two similarly qualified students applied to a well-regarded college. Both applications were solid, but neither was extraordinary. Both candidates were "qualified." Now, check out the application essays. Candidate #1 took a self-confident approach and modestly boasted about this…
College Admissions officers try to build a diverse and balanced class of motivated, involved, and qualified students with genuine interests, impressive achievements, interesting talents & experiences, good character and real personalities – with the potential to “fit in” and be an asset to the school. Passion, intellectual curiosity, maturity, leadership, commitment and energy are particularly important.
The admissions committee looks for evidence of these qualities and achievements in the application, essays, interviews, recommendations, and extracurricular activities.
The most competitive schools have far more qualified applicants than places in the incoming freshman class. So, it’s critical for even the most qualified candidates to stand out in a positive way.
Here’s what Admissions Officers focus on:
Lynn is an independent educational consultant and the Founder of Admission By Design.
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