It’s hard to write about yourself. We’re used to it, but you don’t have a lot of practice doing it so it’s probably really hard for you. So, what’s the best way to approach writing an important essay about yourself? Outsource and get help. We’re kidding. Sort of.
How to Write the Swarthmore Supplement
While we’d never suggest not applying to a school solely based on their acceptance rate, we have to address the elephant in the room. Swarthmore had a 10% acceptance rate, meaning you will get rejected 9 times out of 10. Swarthmore does a great job of outlining their admissions process here and we offer a more detailed explanation of the overall admissions process here. It’s important that you understand the statistics--not to scare you, but so that you understand why your Swarthmore supplement is so important.
How to Write an Interesting, Funny, and Unique College Essay
We’re not going to lie to you. College essays are scary. For most of our clients, writing their college essay is the most intimidating part of the application process. We get it, and we’ve been there, but we’re here to tell you that, while they might be scary, they’re also an amazing opportunity. So much of the college process is about covering everything in gold leaf and making yourself look as perfect as possible. Contrary to what so many (incorrectly) say, the college essay isn’t about pitching yourself as a perfect person; it’s about being yourself.
How do you Write the Conclusion for a College Essay?
The conclusion to your college essay should not be grand, nor should it wow the audience. It’s the end of your story, and it should make sense in the context of the story. The goal is not to leave them hanging or in suspense, nor is it to tie it all back to your “thesis” in a neat, lovely bow. Your conclusion ends your story and speaks to the reason why you decided to tell this specific story. It brings it all together in such a way that leaves the reader feeling like they know an unexpected anecdote about you. In turn, your story speaks to a part of you that wasn’t obvious after at first glance of your application. The conclusion is the last part of this specific story.
What Books Should I Read for my College Supplements?
Over the last few years, more and more schools have been adding one question to their supplement. Wake Forest, Columbia, Stanford, and MIT, among others, all ask their applicants to detail books that they are reading, have read, or just a list of a student’s favorite books. We’re noticing this as a growing trend, so we thought it best to connect with you on it. So how do you create a good reading list for these colleges’ supplements? The key is to keep it focused, as per usual, and keep it relevant. The more specific that you are in your choices, the better, and it’s an opportunity to highlight a specific or unique interest.
Advice for Parents Starting the College Process
If you’re a parent of a rising senior you might feel like the walls are closing in on you and your child. There is no right way to feel at this time, but feelings of helplessness and stress are pretty common as you enter college application season. That’s why many parents decide to get help in addition to what some schools may offer, in the form of a college advisor. We understand that not everyone has access to this kind of help, so we are making some of our wisdom and knowledge available to you here. We may not be parents ourselves, but since all of us at The Koppelman Group have gone through the college admissions process ourselves within the last ten years, we are closer to the process, which gives us added perspective. We have also been helping kids get into college for years now, so we have a better sense of what parents are going through as well. We remember what our junior year in high school was like, with all the stress and pressure, not just from our parents, but from our peers as well. It was awful, and this is why we can empathize so well with our student clients, and help them avoid the pitfalls that we experienced.
How Do I Arrange a Tour of a College?
College visits are a big part of the college application process. It’s necessary to go to a college campus and experience it for yourself. Of course, it’s important to remember that college visits are an orchestrated marketing of the college, put on by the college, but it’s important to experience the school firsthand nonetheless.
What Tests Do I Need to Take for Undergraduate Admission to a Top School?
Testing is a big part of your high school academic experience the college application process. From figuring out which standardized tests to take to determining AP testing, regional state required exams, as well as your midterms and finals, there’s a lot to balance. It’s not just you; it can be overwhelming for everyone. Let us break it down for you:
What is ZeeMee?
When you apply to college, you have to deal with a number of programs and websites. You sign up for the Common App, you might have to create a Slideroom account, all the while you’re handling updating your Instagram and not getting behind on your Snapchat streak. Then, all of a sudden you hear about “ZeeMee.” So... What exactly is it?
How To Write the Vassar Supplement
The Vassar College supplement, on first glance, seems relatively easy to tackle and somewhat straight-forward. What we’ve learned from years of advising students on this supplement is that a) it’s a bit more complex than it seems but also b) it’s more work than you think. There are three optional components. We implore you to explore at least two of those three, and not just because many students will overlook them (though that fact will help you). The first two responses are limited to 350 words. We assure you, 350 words is longer than you think. Keep that in mind when brainstorming. Additionally, we encourage students to keep Vassar’s culture and community in mind while they write this. Vassar is a free-spirited, very liberal place with a diverse community. This should be in the back of your mind while you’re writing. Let’s get going.
Are Specific Courses Required to get Into an Ivy League School?
So much of high school is about the time that you spend in the classroom. After all, one of the most important parts of your college application is your GPA (or so we’d argue). We’re discussing one of the questions that we get the most frequently from our students on class choice and chances of being accepted to your top choice school:
How Does Taking College Courses (or extra classes) Affect Admissions?
A large number of college courses are available for high school students to take both online and in-person. Some students take them just to challenge themselves further or learn about one topic that isn’t offered at their high school.
College courses alone won’t get you into college. Taking 20 college courses won’t reverse your mediocre GPA or average ACT scores. That’s just not how it works. It can, however, add depth to a specific part of your application.
How To Write the Dickinson College Supplement
Dickinson College is a liberal arts school of about 2,400 students in Carlisle, PA. The campus itself encourages students to take a seat and observe the world around them—there are literally red Adirondack chairs scattered all around campus for students to take advantage of and do work in, sit with friends, or meditate. Students live on campus all four years and swear by their mascots: a red and a green devil. The green devil is regarded as the red devil’s environmentally conscious cousin. We break down this college’s supplement below:
How To Write a Thank You Note After Your Alumni Interview
Once you submit your application, many colleges will pair you with an alumnus or alumna for an “Alumni Interview.” These interviews occur in coffee shops in person, sometimes they happen in college and university clubhouses in your town, or they might even happen over Skype. For help preparing for your Alumni Interview, refer here. This post is all about the follow-up--namely, the thank you note that you will send to your alum interviewer explaining how appreciative you are and how great it was to speak with them. We’ve outlined a general thank you note below, but it will be crucial to insert some specifics.
Expert Advice for your Common App Personal Statement Essay
Now that essay season is upon us (yes, indeed it is), it’s time to start thinking about your Common App personal statement. Junior year is coming to a close, your summer is beginning, and now it’s time to brainstorm and ideate. You might have some idea of a topic, experience, or incident that you want to write about. Or, you might not. That’s okay, too.
How To Write the Bowdoin College Supplement
Bowdoin College is a small liberal arts school in Brunswick, ME of about 1,800 undergraduate students. In addition to its location (truly in the middle of nowhere of gorgeous [albeit cold] Maine), Bowdoin has a number of unique offerings including the main pillars of the college, which are addressed in question 2. Their supplement contains three parts, all of which we break down for you below.
What is a “Likely Letter”?
Not all schools issue likely letters, but those who apply to schools that do send likely letters also send us the following question. If you don’t know what a likely letter is, read on. If you know what it is but want a bit more info about it, read on. If you don’t think this article applies to you, read on. Are we being consistent?
How To Write the Barnard College Supplement
Barnard College is an all-women’s college in uptown New York City. 2,500 undergraduates attend Barnard, which has a unique relationship with Columbia University, just across the street. Barnard students are able to take advantage of the resources that Columbia has to offer paired with the smaller, more intimate community culture that is cultivated at Barnard. As such, Barnard is one of our favorite colleges. Its supplement has 4 questions, all of which are incredibly different. Our breakdown of the supplement follows:
Are My Chances of Getting into College Better if I Apply Early Decision?
We get a lot of questions about applying early vs. regular decision and the merits of applying to schools for each round. One point that we always drive home is that applying somewhere early is not a small decision, and it should be intentional. This is not the time to throw all caution to the wind and apply to your dream school despite the fact that your test scores are well below their average and you sat around by the beach this past summer with nothing to show for it. That’s just silly, and that’s not how we operate. You need to know the why behind applying somewhere early, and you should have the profile as well as demonstrated interest to back it up. Sometimes applying early can help your chances of getting in and sometimes it can hurt them. Read on to find out the why and how.
What Is Super Scoring?
Your test scores are a significant and important component of your college application. Whether you take the ACT, SAT, and regardless of which SAT IIs you choose to take, you will more likely than not take your exams more than once in an effort to improve your score. Oftentimes the sections that improve during one sitting aren’t the same as the sections that improve during your next sitting. Wouldn’t it be great if you could take one section that you scored super well in from one sitting and pair it with another strong section from a different sitting? That, our friends, is called supers coring, and some colleges are fine with it.