2: You can’t get into a selective college because you are not among the smartest applicants from your high school

 


While university applicants at all levels worry about how they will fare in competitive admissions processes, high school students experience chronic periods of what I call ‘comparisonitis’. Most are not aware that because academic achievement is the most important factor in the admissions process, it is not novel for applicants to present stellar academic credentials.




The candidate who then stands out among academically sound peers is the one who presents other evidence that they can add unique value to campus.




I love and encourage academic excellence. However, incoming college classes are composed of students who excel in diverse and multiple areas. Deciding that you won’t get into a certain college because your classmate with higher scores is applying, especially if you have scores within the range that your dream school requires, can cost you possible acceptances.
 




3: You will get into your top choice school because you have an excellent academic profile

 


In the same way that you might not be denied admission to your dream school because other applicants have grades higher than your own, you are not guaranteed admission because you have a stellar academic profile.




No matter how perfect your scores, figure out what other value you can add to a college community and communicate it. Pay close attention to other components that are weighed heavily, such as your essay and the interest you have shown in a school—blowing off these other components are a sign of arrogance and a proven way to get rejected.

 




4: You apply to college during your last two years of high school 
 


Your college application journey has seasons in which you are intensely focused on it. For many students, most of their college application work is done during their final two years of high school. However, don’t be misled, you start applying to college from before you get to high school. You should strive to attend an excellent high school.




The quality of your high school curriculum and the calibre of its teachers will impact which colleges will even take your application seriously. So, too, will your track record and the robustness of your counselor and teacher recommendations. Every day of your high school career is when you are applying to college.

 




5: The name of the college you attend will determine your success in life

 


I attended a college and a university that gave me tools I needed to thrive after graduation. These schools, Bates College and Columbia University, also happen to be considered selective. Because of this, I am cautious when telling students “the name of your school does not matter.”




Of course, I have seen (and experienced) how the name of your alma mater influences people’s perception of your abilities. However, I have met scores of people who attended colleges and universities that are not known for being selective, and they are high achievers in their personal and professional lives.




Strive to attend a college with a track record of providing students a high quality education and unwavering support, but don’t obsess over the name of your school. Ultimately, your ability to advocate for yourself, leverage the help of others, and establish a track record of delivering results will impact your future far more.

To get into a college where you thrive:

1. Start by getting to know yourself
2. Be able to articulate what unique value you bring
3. Don’t rely solely on strong grades to get you in
4. Act on the knowledge that you are applying to college every day
5. Understand that the success you experience after college is not dependent on the name of the college that you eventually choose; it depends on you.

 
For a complete guide on what you should be doing every year in high school in order to increase your chances of getting into college, download The High School Student’s College Application Checklist.

The post 5 Beliefs That Will Prevent You From Getting Into College appeared first on Memorable Essay.

• How do I condense years of accomplishments into a few hundred words?
• How do I explain a motivation that is emotional and personal while remaining professional?
• How do I write something that the selection committee has not heard before?

You condense many years into a few hundred words by first coming up with a single message that your statement will explore—I call this process clarifying your main message. Among other things, your main message addresses why what you have accomplished in the past shows that you are poised for future academic and professional success. You remain professional by sharing information that paints you in a positive light and positions you as a mature individual. And you write something unique by focusing on what you, and only you, can bring to your dream school and create using the education you receive there.

Once you quiet some of the questions in your mind, you are in a position to acknowledge that the personal statement is a golden opportunity. It is a chance to speak directly with the admissions committee about why you are among the most deserving applicants. Better yet, it is a chance to show that you are exactly who the selection committee is looking for.

While a memorable personal statement cannot “make up” for deficiencies in your application, it can make a strong case for your admission, grant you a chance to interview, and win you merit scholarships. This opportunity to set yourself apart must not be squandered. Here are three tips to help you write a personal statement that makes you memorable.

1. Discuss something you feel strongly about

Authenticity is one of the keys to writing a memorable personal statement. Write about something in which you truly believe or about which you are genuinely concerned. The issues that bother or motivate people deeply are ones that they tend to speak easily and convincingly about. These are also the topics people are normally able to discuss from various angles. In order to convey the passion you have for using what you gain at your dream school to a worthwhile end, focus on something dear to your heart in your personal statement.

2. Begin with words that grab the reader’s attention

You cannot keep attention that you have not grabbed. However, you want the admissions officers to read your entire personal statement with rapt attention. Start strong. You don’t have to use a quote from a famous person to do so; in fact, that approach is hackneyed. Open with an original thought or philosophy. You can also use a single detail from a story you later tell in full, or write a line that is surprising. Dedicate time to nailing down an arresting opening that also sets the stage for the rest of the essay. If you can keep you reader’s attention, you can make them remember you.

3. Revise your personal statement so that it flows

Think of your personal statement as an experience you are inviting someone to partake in, whereas people they know and love are inviting them to nap, eat, talk, or attend a concert. Your writing must entice them away from these familiar activities they would genuinely like to do; to do this, it must flow smoothly. Within paragraphs and between paragraphs, the transitions from sentence to sentence should be seamless.

Don’t fill your writing with words you don’t use in everyday conversation. Don’t try to be creative to the point where your essay becomes overly descriptive and performative. Your reader should not remember that they are reading. Your personal statement, therefore, should feel like relaxed but professional chitchat with you.

With these three tips you should be on your way to a stronger personal statement.

Which tactics are you using to make your personal statement stand out? Share below.

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Here are three things you must do before you start writing your college essay, scholarship application essay, or graduate school personal statement.  By doing them, you’ll spend only as much time writing as you need to, and you’ll be poised to make your essay memorable.

1. Understand what is being asked of you.

To do this, you must be aware of the writing prompt. I have had several experiences where applicants with near-final essays had not properly read the given prompt. They thought the prompt was “open-ended,” but it asked a specific question.  Usually they (or I) reread the prompt, and they have to write a different essay, or overhaul their existing essay, in a short space of time.

It is also not uncommon for applicants to write an essay that is only a partial answer to what has been asked. Read and make note of all you have been explicitly asked to address in your essay.

A few weeks ago, the College Board tweeted some advice from the MIT dean of admissions and student financial services, Stu Schmill. His number one piece of advice? “Answer the question that’s asked.” To do this, you must understand what is being asked. It seems so simple, but it is so important. Don’t be that applicant who is denied admission because you did not follow instructions.

2. Understand what is implicitly being asked of you.

A friend who loves literature once taught me that in order to get the most out of a text, I must read what is written and also what is not written. Similarly, in order to write a memorable admissions essay, you must understand what is asked not just explicitly, but also implicitly. No admissions essay prompt ever asks “Why are you worth admitting to this program?” However, this is the question on the minds of every admissions committee member while reading your essay.

For instance, let’s say you are responding to the college essay prompt “Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

This is not an invitation to vent about a bad experience and how it affected you, then add a few lines at the end about what you learned. This question is also asking you how does your response to one particular incident of failure prove that you are a student who is worthy of a college education.

Within your response to this question, you must showcase that you deserve to be admitted to college— you can rebound from unfavorable circumstances (you might face some of those in college), you can creatively solve problems (there will be plenty of problem solving in college), and you use what you learn (don’t all professors dream of students who know how to apply knowledge?) to do better in the future than you have done in the past.

To ensure your essay stands out: Regardless of the prompt, you must show why you are worthy of admission.

3. Clarify your main message before you write.

If you are not clear about what you want to say, your reader will be just as confused as you are. Your main message is a concise, clear, and unique response to what has been asked of you directly and indirectly.

Boil down to one to five sentences what you intend to say in your essay. Write it down and read it aloud. Ask yourself: Is this the most important thing for admissions to know about me? Can I develop this message into an essay that says I am a prime pick?

For instance, you’re responding to “Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

You might write: In the first semester of 10^th grade I got low grades because, in addition to taking two advanced classes, I played football and tennis. I was sad at first, but I soon understood that I could do better in the following semesters if I managed my time better. I stopped playing tennis and devoted that time to studying, and I saw a great improvement in my GPA. I learned that doing what I can manage is essential to doing well.

Do you want admissions to know you as “the applicant who will do what he can manage?” Does this message scream “I am the best prospective student you can find?” No.

A main message that gives you a better shot at admission would explain that you learned that by giving sustained effort to fewer tasks, you could accomplish better results than the ones you see when giving limited attention to many activities. Of course, you can think of all sorts of ways that focused effort and good time management would help you do well in college. It is much better if admissions officers remember you as “the applicant who learned that focus is key to time management.”

Before you start writing your application essay, be clear about what is being asked explicitly as well as implicitly, and clarify the main message you will give in response.

• To test whether your main message will give you the best possible shot at admission, go here.

• I would love to hear from you. Which of these prewriting techniques are you looking forward to using? Comment below.

The post Do These 3 Things Before You Write Your Admissions Essay appeared first on Memorable Essay.

Recommendations function somewhat as testimonials; they are written by people who have had a chance to assess your work over some extended period. Your recommendations should advocate for you.

Here are four tips for getting a strong recommendation:

1. Choose recommenders you trust—people who will portray you in a strong and positive light, and take the time to write something unique, relevant and grammatically correct. The best recommenders are people who feel personally invested in the outcome of your application.

2. Make it easy for your recommenders to pen a stellar letter—give them plenty of time to write! High school teachers will be busy in September, so go ahead and approach them before you leave school in May. Your former college professors may be busy with research or travel, so reconnect with them at least six months before you need a letter and let them know of your intentions.

3. Guide your recommenders. As I once heard someone say, “Who is more suited to toot your own horn than you?” You should have thoroughly researched the opportunity you are interested in and understood why it is perfectly suited to your goals, and why you deserve to win it. Communicate your selling points to your recommender; the most convenient way to do this is by talking with them, and then giving them a ‘brag sheet’ with bullet points of your relevant accomplishments as well as a copy of your resume or CV.

4. When getting more than one recommendation, approach people who can speak to different strengths. For example, if applying to a liberal arts institution that values students with broad interests, secure a recommendation from teachers who can speak to your strengths in disparate disciplines, e.g., in the arts and sciences. If applying to graduate school, approach someone who can speak to your academic prowess and someone else who can speak to your impact in professional settings.

BONUS : Don’t forget to thank your recommenders! One, it is thoughtful. Two, you might find yourself asking them to write on your behalf again and again.

Which strategies have you used to secure stellar recommendations?

The post How To Get A Strong Recommendation Letter: 4 Tips appeared first on Memorable Essay.

1. Read all the information about the interview that is provided on the school’s website or in your congratulatory email — the duration, number of interviewers and style. Will you speak with five people at once for 60 minutes, or with one person for 30 minutes? If you are unsure about the dress code, ask; adhere to what you are told.

2. Despite what you are told about your interview format, be prepared to interview under any condition. For example, you should be able to chat in a one-on-one setting instead of in front of a panel, or for 90 minutes instead of for 30.

3. Prepare for your interview: review your entire application and be prepared to speak about any part of it, write out possible answers to expected questions, and practice articulating your responses with confidence. Also practice maintaining both an upright sitting posture and eye contact with your interviewer.

4. Expect to be asked why you wish to attend this particular institution. Thoroughly research the school and your program of interest, and be ready to share at least three reasons why you are a perfect fit.

5. If you are not explicitly asked why you want to attend this institution, find ways of sprinkling your reasons for wanting to attend in the responses you give to other questions.

6. Be prepared to discuss weaknesses or discrepancies in your academic records while maintaining your composure and displaying emotional control.

7. Always paint yourself in a positive light. Do not ever bring attention to an area in which you are deficient, e.g., by saying things like “I know my grades are not all that good.” If something negative about you comes up, acknowledge it and reposition it in a good light. For example, if the interviewer says “You don’t seem to have much experience leading teams,” don’t say “I know. I just haven’t really led anything.” You can say “I have not been a leader in the traditional sense of being the one in charge, but I have given my best effort and helped my teammates and our school get good results. I think this is what a leader does — plays their part with passion and takes the team in a positive direction.”

8. Show up prepared to discuss why you are qualified to excel in this particular program, what you would gain from the school, and what your teachers, peers and the wider community would gain from you being given the chance to attend.

9. Be prepared to discuss at least a few examples of how you have excelled, grown and changed, volunteered, completed teamwork, been a leader, and recovered from failure.

10. Go armed with intelligent, positively framed and well-researched questions. This interview is a two-way street, a conversation. Scour the school’s website and the news outlets that cover the community where the university is located. Talk with current students and alumni to prepare. You can ask your interviewers for more details on course offerings or current research, for example. You can also ask them about their experience attending (if it is a student interviewer) or working at the university; this might open a door to a robust discussion that you can refer to in your thank you note.

Bonus tip: Send a sincere thank you note to your interviewers within 24 hours of completing the interview.

Let us know if you found these tips helpful, and share them with your friends.

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