It's the stories, not the SAT.
It's the stories, stupid!
This is probably THE biggest secret that I share in my insider's guide to Ivy League college admissions.
Students are doing it COMPLETELY WRONG. They focus on the WRONG STUFF - stuff like an extra 40 points on the Math section of the SAT; 3 more AP tests; joining another language club at school.
It's ALL WRONG.
Here's why:
Students don't put themselves in the shoes of admissions officers and application readers.
Admissions committees review TENS OF THOUSANDS OF APPLICANTS. There are thousands of valedictorians and salutatorians. Hundreds of perfect 2400 SATs. Thousands of national award winners in every sport, subject, or hobby.
Regardless of how accomplished you are - there are people who are more accomplished.
What does this mean?
It means you need to stop focusing on the small things. You need to PUT YOURSELF INTO THE SHOES of people who ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS.
Here's the secret: Admissions Officers love stories. They love GETTING TO KNOW the candidates. They love understanding a candidate's passions, fears, hopes, and dreams. But almost no one does this well - they focus on successes, not on stories.
So focus on that! Focus on activities that develop your passions. Focus on essays that describe how your experiences have made you who you are.
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE WELL-ROUNDED. IT CAN HURT. It's the biggest lie people will tell you.
It's about depth over breadth. That's the best college admissions advice I can share with you.
In future posts, I will discuss details about how to build these compelling stories. But the secret is - stop worrying about your scores and numbers. Numbers don't get you into Harvard or Princeton.
It's the stories, stupid!
This is probably THE biggest secret that I share in my insider's guide to Ivy League college admissions.
Students are doing it COMPLETELY WRONG. They focus on the WRONG STUFF - stuff like an extra 40 points on the Math section of the SAT; 3 more AP tests; joining another language club at school.
It's ALL WRONG.
Here's why:
Students don't put themselves in the shoes of admissions officers and application readers.
Admissions committees review TENS OF THOUSANDS OF APPLICANTS. There are thousands of valedictorians and salutatorians. Hundreds of perfect 2400 SATs. Thousands of national award winners in every sport, subject, or hobby.
Regardless of how accomplished you are - there are people who are more accomplished.
What does this mean?
It means you need to stop focusing on the small things. You need to PUT YOURSELF INTO THE SHOES of people who ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS.
Here's the secret: Admissions Officers love stories. They love GETTING TO KNOW the candidates. They love understanding a candidate's passions, fears, hopes, and dreams. But almost no one does this well - they focus on successes, not on stories.
So focus on that! Focus on activities that develop your passions. Focus on essays that describe how your experiences have made you who you are.
YOU DON'T NEED TO BE WELL-ROUNDED. IT CAN HURT. It's the biggest lie people will tell you.
It's about depth over breadth. That's the best college admissions advice I can share with you.
In future posts, I will discuss details about how to build these compelling stories. But the secret is - stop worrying about your scores and numbers. Numbers don't get you into Harvard or Princeton.
About the Author:
Are you an average student who wants to go to Harvard? Hopeless To Harvard is the story of how a B+ student got into Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. Click here to learn his strategies for admissions success. Get into Harvard and Stanford now!
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