How Do I Know If My College Application is Ready To Submit?

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Your application is just about ready to go. But you want to make sure that it’s going to have the right impact! That it’s going to be noticed! What do you do?

I often have my students channel their inner-artist when reviewing each application for admission — even the non-artsy types! What I mean by that is to think about each aspect of your application like a piece of art in a portfolio. Artists talk about cohesion in their work, so should you.

Most college admission officers spend about 10-minutes reviewing an application. That’s it! They rarely look at a piece of the application more than once; one read of the essay, one glance at a resume. One of the biggest mistakes that an applicant can make is to confuse your reader. It’s like putting a DaVinci next to a Warhol!

So, as you review your application (or have someone else take a look), ask yourself the following:

• Do all of my essays sound like they are written by the same person?

  • Often, in an attempt to be varied and engaging, students try to be something that they are not, and that shows in their writing style and their tone.

• Am I being consistent with my activities?

  • Did you list theatre as your top extracurricular activity but write an essay about football?

• Does the intended major that I listed make sense for your activities, transcript, etc.?

  • This can lead to a lot of confusion for an AO!

• Am I being repetitive?

  • You wouldn’t want to look at the same still life over and over again!!

• Does my application make sense for that college?

  • They’re not all the same!

• Is the real me expressed on the page?

The last is the most important one! Your point of view and how you see the world should jump off the page, whether you are a sculptor or a scientist!

Good luck!

The Best Advice for Selecting a College -- Do Something Scary

It was in early September that I received a panicked call from the mother of a college freshman. She was in desperate need of some advice. After two weeks at her “dream school,” Abigail was headed home.

During high school, Abigail had increasingly felt out of place. The risky behaviors of her peers had isolated her from them, and through a friend, she discovered a church community in which she felt at home. But in the classroom, among her peers, and even at the dinner table, Abigail was questioned and doubted and challenged to defend her beliefs. Her pledge to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and pre-marital sex, and her commitment to weekly Bible study, made her a unicorn in her liberal New England community.

When Abigail was ready to look at colleges, she went to the Princeton Review’s list of Stone-Cold Sober colleges, did her research, and applied to her top five. Armed with stellar grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities, she was admitted to them all.

Arriving on campus that next fall, however, something felt off. It took Abigail a short time to figure it out, for she knew that she was exactly where she wanted to be, among people who were just like her. Her classes were great, and her peers were accepting and warm. But there, Abigail wasn’t Abigail.

“I quickly came to realize that a huge part of my identity came from being challenged, from being questioned, from having to defend my worldview. I knew that I would be too comfortable there, and I knew that I would fail to grow as a person if I were too ensconced in my comfort zone.” I encouraged Abigail to tell that story in her subsequent applications, which she did.

One year later, Abigail reached out again. She was blissfully happy at her new college. She didn’t regret the journey she had taken, for she had learned a lot about herself. “I’m still in touch with my suite-mates from that first year, and they all have had an amazing experience. They’ve grown and changed in wonderful ways. It was a great school for them but not the right place for me.”

When asked what she might have done differently, she paused and then said, “My advice to students choosing a college is to do something scary. That means something different for each of us, but failing to step out of your comfort zone can become boring pretty quickly. My journey had a lot to do with faith, but doing something scary can mean lots of different things to different people.”

As college advisors, we often discuss the college admission process as a time of self-reflection. Making the final choice about where to attend is no different. We encourage our students to think long and hard about where they will feel comfortable and where they can be pushed. To us, Abigail’s advice makes a lot of sense. Think back on the times when you’ve grown, changed, and matured the most. Almost always, it has been when you were challenged and surmounted an obstacle.

As her advisor, Abigail’s wisdom was an a-ha moment for me and something that I share every year with students who are struggling to decide where to attend college in the fall. Do something (appropriately) scary!!

We have seniors looking forward to meeting new classmates with diverse perspectives or traveling abroad for their first semester (or all four years); some are selecting a school that their friends have never heard of or are embarking on academic journeys that will test them in all the best ways.

Congratulations Seniors!

How to Deal with a Deferral in Five Steps

You've been deferred -- and no matter what anyone says to try to lessen the disappointment, it still feels lousy! Your parents are vacillating between trying to be comforting and hitting the panic button. You're staying off of Facebook to avoid all of the "Class of 2028!!!!" posts, even though you are genuinely happy for your friends. Some call it limbo; others call it purgatory. Here are five things you can do to right the ship and get cruising along once again.

1. Take some time for yourself. Just like the bereavement process, you need some time to grieve. That's OK. Go for a hike, binge-watch a series on Netflix, sob with your best friend, devour a pint of Ben and Jerry's "Chocolate Therapy."

2. Reassess. Once your mind is clear, it's time to move forward. We recommend that students take the "you're dead to me" approach to that deferring college until all the rest of their regular decision applications are submitted. Make sure to meet with your college advisor to take a look at your college list one more time. Do you have enough safe options that you genuinely like? 

3. Know the numbers. Traditionally, Yale defers around 50% of those that apply early action, while Vanderbilt defers almost no one. Therefore, a Vanderbilt deferral has a much better shot at acceptance in the regular decision pool than the Yale deferral. Many colleges will post these numbers on their website or in an article in the college newspaper. If you can't find them, call the admission office and ask.

4. Move on. Many students find that the "you're dead to me" mindset endures. It is fine to say: if you didn't want to accept me early, I'd rather not go. For others, it's still "I can't get you out of my head." Colleges know this, and that is why we see very few regular decision acceptances after a deferral for students who do not reiterate their interest in attending. 

5. Plead your case. Pull out of the trashcan and uncrumple the deferral letter. Read what it says. Many colleges ask that you stay in touch and update them with new information to enhance your candidacy. These can include senior year grades (hopefully with more As), another teacher letter of recommendation, higher test scores, additional honors and awards, or enhanced extracurriculars. Other colleges ask that you not send anything else. You want to follow this request. If they give you the opportunity to add to your file, do so. Send a letter professing your love of the school and your desire to attend if admitted. Ask one of your senior year teachers to write you a new rec. Keep your grades up! Stay involved! 

Finally, don't let a deferral define you. Most seasoned admission officers are careful to say that they accept, reject, defer or waitlist a file, not an applicant. To them, you were just a stack of paper -- a stack that they likely reviewed in under ten minutes. So try not to take a deferral or rejection personally. They let a good one get away! 

HELP, Typo in my Common App!!

Q: I submitted my Common Application a few weeks ago. When I looked back at it again, I noticed a typo in my activities. What do I do?

A: A college representative was visiting our office a few weeks ago, and we asked the same question of her. "Students need to realize that we are human, too! We are far more understanding than they think!"

Mistakes happen all the time! 

So, what should you do if you discover an error in an application that has already been submitted? If it absolutely needs to be corrected, such as an incorrect essay version or a glaring typo, the student should call the school and ask what their policy is for correcting the mistake. Often, the college will have the student email the change to the general admission email -- an admission staff member can then make the adjustment on their end, sometimes even before the file has been reviewed. If the error is more of an oops than egregious, it can be a harder call. Sometimes, it is better just to let it go. Pointing out the error may draw more attention to it, which could be a bad thing.

"I totally get it! These kids are juggling so much," said the rep. "Even calling us the wrong name in a supplement, I'll let go if the rest of the application is strong."

Top Ten Things to Remember When Packing for College

1. Carrying case for toiletries.  You will probably have to share a shower, and it may be far down the hall.  You will need something to carry your shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. And make sure it has holes for drainage. 

2. Earplugs.  Even if your roommate says that they only snore “on occasion,” earplugs are a good idea to have on hand. 

3. Extension cords, flash drive and surge protector.  College dorm rooms are notorious for having only one outlet in the most inconvenient place possible.  

4. Over the door hangers, adhesive hooks and poster putty.  There never seem to be enough places to hang things, so be creative.  And don’t forget the poster putty to cover those cinder block walls.

5. Crates, under the bed boxes and other storage containers.  A well-organized dorm room can be the key to success – and to a happy roommate.  

6. Air fresheners.  Don’t be “The Stinky Room.”

7. Lamps.  One single ceiling light will not be enough.  Make sure you have a good desk lamp (but not halogen since most colleges now ban them) as well as a lamp for your bedside.

8. Foul weather gear.  The weather may be unpredictable – don’t forget an umbrella and a rain jacket; snow boots; and a fan! 

9. First aid kit.  Band-aids, cold medicine, tweezers, antiseptic, antibiotic ointment, aloe vera gel, etc. 

10. Coat hangers.  The most commonly forgotten item!!

The Best College Essay Advice You'll Get!

At this time of the year, we often get calls from rising seniors asking for a bit of advice on their essay. “My topic is great, but something is missing.” After an initial read, we concur. What is missing? Them!

The best college essays are rarely the ones with the most “impressive” or “catchy” topic because the topic of every single college essay should be the same: you!

Making that shift away from the life-changer or the dramatic event can make all the difference. When you see yourself as the topic of the essay, you have far more freedom with themes. What small story showcases who you are at your core? How do you think? What are your quirks? Your fears? Your dreams?

Use that story!

Don't Take a College Rejection Personally

In the admission process, you are just a file.

Imagine you’ve just interviewed for a summer job as an ice cream scooper. You arrive at your designated time, and another high school student is finishing up their interview. Then, when you are winding up your chat with the store manager, another applicant enters the store. Wow! This job is a popular one. You feel confident with your qualifications and interview, but a week later, you call to follow up and are told that the position has been filled.

How do you respond? Hopefully, you say, “I didn’t get the job,” not, “I was rejected.”

It’s an important subtlety and one that we share will all of our students stung by a “no” from one of their colleges. Rejection is personal; it implies dismissal, rebuff, and even revulsion. Denial is different.

It always helps to remember that in the college admissions process, you are a piece of paper, not a human being. The college didn’t reject you; they denied a file. Of course, it is hard not to take it personally! But by removing rejection from your vocabulary, hopefully, you can move on and focus on the other wonderful things to come at the college that liked what they saw and accepted your file!

When Selecting a College, Do Something Scary

It was in early September that I received a panicked call from the mother of a college freshman. She was in desperate need of some advice. After two weeks at her “dream school,” Abigail was headed home.

During high school, Abigail had increasingly felt out of place. The risky behaviors of her peers had isolated her from them and, through a friend, she discovered a church community in which she felt at home. But in the classroom, among her peers, and even at the dinner table, Abigail was questioned and doubted and challenged to defend her beliefs. Her pledge to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and pre-marital sex, and her commitment to weekly Bible study, made her a unicorn in her liberal New England community.

When Abigail was ready to look at colleges, she went to the Princeton Review’s list of Stone-Cold Sober colleges, did her research, and applied to her top five. Armed with stellar grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities, she was admitted to them all.

Arriving on campus that next fall, however, something felt off. It took Abigail a short time to figure it out, for she knew that she was exactly where she wanted to be, among people that were just like her. Her classes were great, her peers accepting and warm. But there, Abigail wasn’t Abigail.

“I quickly came to realize that a huge part of my identity came from being challenged, from being questioned, from having to defend my worldview. I knew that I would be too comfortable there, and I knew that I would fail to grow as a person if I were too ensconced in my comfort zone.” I encouraged Abigail to tell that story in her subsequent applications, which she did.

One year later, Abigail reached out again. She was blissfully happy at her new college. She didn’t regret the journey she had taken, for she had learned a lot about herself. “I’m still in touch with my suite-mates from that first year, and they all have had an amazing experience. They’ve grown and changed in wonderful ways. It was a great school for them, but not the right place for me.”

When asked what she might have done differently, she paused and then said, “My advice to students choosing a college is to do something scary. That means something different for each of us, but failing to step out of your comfort zone can become boring pretty quickly. My journey had a lot to do with faith, but doing something scary can mean lots of different things to different people.”

As college advisors, we often talk about the college admission process as a time of self-reflection. Making the final choice about where to attend is no different. We encourage our students to think long and hard about where they will feel comfortable and where they can be pushed. To us, Abigail’s advice makes a lot of sense. Think back on the times when you’ve grown and changed and matured the most. Almost always, it has been when you were challenged and surmounted an obstacle.

As her advisor, Abigail’s wisdom was an a-ha moment for me, and something that I share every year with students that are struggling to decide where to attend college in the fall. Do something (appropriately) scary!!

We have seniors looking forward to meeting new classmates with diverse perspectives or traveling abroad for their first semester (or all four years); some are selecting a school that their friends have never heard of or are embarking on academic journeys that will test them in all the best ways.

Congratulations 2023!

Is It More Competitive to Gain Admission as a Computer Science Major?

Move over biology - computer science is the hot new major!

The numbers are staggering. From 2011 to 2021, The University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering saw a 400% increase in interest in studying computer science. At the University of Wisconsin — Madison? 800%!

Naturally, admission rates reflect this popularity. Last year, out-of-state students applying directly to CS at the University of Washington faced a 3% acceptance rate. At Carnegie Mellon, the admit rate to CS was 5%.

Once on campus, it’s still competitive. A recent article in the New York Times, “The Hard Part of Computer Science? Getting into Class,” highlights the issues many computer science majors have getting the classes they need to graduate. “It’s a cutthroat race to register for classes,” one comp sci student shared.

So what should you do if you want to pursue computer science in college?

• Diversify your list. We always tell computer science applicants to ensure that they have plenty of safety schools on their list. And dig deeper into the admission rates for computer science versus the overall admission rate to make sure that your “safety” school isn’t actually a reach.

• Consider alternative majors. Plenty of students land lucrative tech jobs with alternate majors such as Applied and Computational Mathematics, Data Science, or Digital Arts and Media. Others choose to minor in computer science, pairing it with majors such as economics, physics, or engineering.

• Work to develop your “CS Fingerprint.” Successful CS applicants tend to have robust resumes and diverse experiences outside of the classroom. Yes, they can code, but they have already begun to use their skills to make an impact: developing apps for local non-profits, assisting businesses with website maintenance or database development, and participating in hack-a-thons, robotics tournaments, and science fair competitions.

HELP, Typo in my Common App!!

Q: I submitted my Common Application a few weeks ago. When I looked back at it again, I noticed a typo in my activities. What do I do?

A: A college representative was visiting our office a few weeks ago, and we asked the same question of her. "Students need to realize that we are human too! We are far more understanding than they think!"

Mistakes happen all the time! 

So, what should you do if you discover an error in an application that has already been submitted? If it absolutely needs to be corrected, such as an incorrect essay version or a glaring typo, the student should call the school and ask what their policy is for correcting the mistake. Often, the college will have the student email the change to the general admission email -- an admission staff member can then make the adjustment on their end, sometimes even before the file has been reviewed. If the error is more of an oops than egregious, it can be a harder call. Sometimes, it is better just to let it go. Pointing out the error may draw more attention to it, which could be a bad thing.

"I totally get it! These kids are juggling so much," said the rep. "Even calling us the wrong name in a supplement, I'll let go if the rest of the application is strong."

Admission officers review an application in under ten minutes! So take a deep breath and relax! Most of the time, they won’t even notice!