This article is published in the 2017 I’m First Guide to College
By Bruce Poch
College applications are evaluated in most places not by formula but by close readers. The more selective the college, the more likely it is that grades and scores are not where the decision may turn, but rather those numbers may simply open a door to the real conversation that decides your acceptance.
No one single factor can determine whether or not an admissions team will accept you (unless your transcript is riddled with problems). You are more than just your GPA, more than just your test scores, more than just your personal statement or what your teachers have to say about you. You want to show readers who you are, and at the same time, aim to leave the admission officer wanting to know the next chapter in your story.
But mostly, you must be you. College admissions officers understand that. They also know that when they put all these elements together, your individual identity should shine through. That’s why it is so important that students are genuine and authentic in their applications.
In a strong application, all your materials will come together to tell a cohesive and compelling story of who you are and give admissions officers a glimpse at what kind of student you’ll be on their campuses.
This is extremely important, especially at residential colleges, where admissions teams are considering your merits not just as a student but as a community member: Will this student be a considerate roommate? Will she be an enthusiastic and supportive teammate? Will he engage in classroom discussion or as a lab partner? Does she have the leadership and responsibility it takes to be a student government representative? How will this student represent my institution after he graduates?
Admissions officers are searching for a union between their college and the students they accept. In answering the “why this college?” question in interviews or supplemental essays, students often generalize too much (“I want a small college,” or “I want a big sports atmosphere”) rather than directly addressing the individual college’s mission, teaching style, or curriculum requirements (or the absence of them). These days, supplements can be at least and sometimes more important than the main Common Application essays.
Admission committees evaluate candidates for learning styles, academic interests and talent. And, in selecting colleges, you should do the exact same for the schools to which you apply. That’s why doing your research and carefully examining view books, websites and college guides is so important.
Searching for the right college is like searching for a soul mate: you shouldn’t pick one based only on its reputation, ranking or its convenient location; it should fit the way you work, think and play. Finding a student who fits in all those ways becomes compelling for admission officers. Properly thought out, an application can lead admission officers to that conclusion.
If you have to stretch reality and package your application to make yourself seem like a suitable candidate for admissions for a certain college, maybe it isn’t the right place for you. You should be looking for a school that you believe will appreciate and support your authentic character and value the unique priorities and passions that make you who you are and that offers an environment, faculty and peers who will help you bring out your best.
You’ve spent the better part of two decades working hard to become who you are, so being disingenuous on your college applications is doing yourself a disservice. Be confident in who you are and what you have achieved. Know you have more to learn and show an eagerness to engage the college, ideas and those around you to move forward. The rest is up to the admissions team.