Many applicants to the most selective university programs share high grades, high test scores, solid recommendations and generous doses of community service and volunteer activities. Yet, if they want to set themselves apart from the pool of exceptional students, a significant research experience in STEM or the social sciences helps.
A number of colleges don’t like the current admissions process.
What ignited their angst and reform desires was the launch of the new Common Application (called CA4) in 2013, which was so buggy that early application deadlines had to be extended, and worse, many colleges were exclusively tied to the Common Application: they had no alternatives.
Portions of the college admissions process should be performed each year in high school. Steady, cumulative completion of set tasks is vastly more effective than cramming everything into the waning moments of senior year. Take control of your admissions process and it will entice you to take control of your future—that is a skill rarely learned in any institution and will serve you well throughout your life.
College acceptances generate ineffable joy, while rejections melancholy. A good way to come to grips with the inevitable vicissitudes of the admissions process is to take note of this year’s admissions messages: what they say, and most importantly, how they say it. This should remove some of the apprehension and hurt, while keeping in perspective some of the joy of the admissions cycle. Though, in all honesty, rejection is always difficult, no matter what.
Many admissions officers become upset when told of students' positioning their applications to highlight specific strengths. Somehow, such an enterprise is perceived as commercializing the admissions process. Yet, turn to politics, business, sports, art...and you'll note everyone must compete hard to sell their unique strengths to a very demanding public. The admissions process is no different. Actually, it just might be a bit more competitive than these other areas, if the targets of your desire are the most selective colleges.
