Best last minute common app review/tricks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could someone explain what that "contact" list is about? Have never heard about this.

It's just a question in the Common App, in the college's Questions section. Schools that track demonstrated interest might consider these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Crimson published a cheat sheet this week. Anyone have it?

Not sure about cheat sheet, but a lot of content online:

https://www.crimsoneducation.org/us/blog/how-to-make-your-college-application-stand-out-with-a-theme/

Hmmm, good little tweaks in that chart; can help a theme pop.
I am going to do that for 2 of my kids ECs to focus them more sharply on the theme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Helping kid finalize top EA app and ED1 app this weekend.

Looking for tips:

Contacts: if school asks for contacts list as many people as you can (students; alumni etc)

Activities: power verbs; quantify impact; reorder; end with an EC that makes them smile or tugs at heart (family responsibilities or something sweet)

Future plans: use “Other” to personalize and wrap description into overall application narrative/theme

Essays: read all essays out loud - if a word sounds too big, it is too big. End personal essay with a one line emotional “hook”.

Additional info: explains anything on transcript that isn’t clear or reinforces academic theme; only add extra awards that are high profile (outside school or local community); link to student material/website - always short and bulleted ; no essays.

Glimpse video - should say something about you not covered elsewhere in any part of the app.

Overall: read the application to make sure nothing is ever repeated. Make sure there is a clear concise application theme that develops about who the kid is and what the kid values .

Imagine being an admissions officer and reading that. Do you have something to take away about the kid. A few words. If so, that’s how they will describe kid in committee.

What am I missing?
Any tips?


Love it!! "Helping" kid finalize top EA app and ED1 app this weekend.

You are the problem that schools have no way of dealing with and other kids cannot compete with. That application is your work, not the applicant's. Your kid doesn't deserve acceptance in any school that you applied to on his behalf. It's called ethics and you, regardless of your excuses, have none.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Make sure the "voice" of the applicant is strong (hopefully not diluted by over-editing) - the essays MUST humanize the kid for T20 privates (biggest red flag = "flat" essays). What is the core or basis for your life story? That should be clear.

2. Make sure applicant's EC's and essays speak to: intellectual curiosity; grit; creativity; open-mindedness; kindness; cultural engagement and how applicant "pushes limits"

3. The best ECs tell a story, give you a good sense of the "whole package"

4. Don't add ANY ECs to the Additional Info. It should be for clarifying things that are not obvious. Expanding on research is fine - but short 1-2 bullets. Links are fine.

5. AO know the "quality" of essays coming out of a school. Your essay is compared to your peers (now and those admitted in the past). Same with your in-school ECs and leadership.

How do you know if an essay is flat?

Think of what a Chat GPT essay sounds like.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately my kid's writing sounds exactly like chatGPT, more technical/informational than conversational/personal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Helping kid finalize top EA app and ED1 app this weekend.

Looking for tips:

Contacts: if school asks for contacts list as many people as you can (students; alumni etc)

Activities: power verbs; quantify impact; reorder; end with an EC that makes them smile or tugs at heart (family responsibilities or something sweet)

Future plans: use “Other” to personalize and wrap description into overall application narrative/theme

Essays: read all essays out loud - if a word sounds too big, it is too big. End personal essay with a one line emotional “hook”.

Additional info: explains anything on transcript that isn’t clear or reinforces academic theme; only add extra awards that are high profile (outside school or local community); link to student material/website - always short and bulleted ; no essays.

Glimpse video - should say something about you not covered elsewhere in any part of the app.

Overall: read the application to make sure nothing is ever repeated. Make sure there is a clear concise application theme that develops about who the kid is and what the kid values .

Imagine being an admissions officer and reading that. Do you have something to take away about the kid. A few words. If so, that’s how they will describe kid in committee.

What am I missing?
Any tips?


Love it!! "Helping" kid finalize top EA app and ED1 app this weekend.

You are the problem that schools have no way of dealing with and other kids cannot compete with. That application is your work, not the applicant's. Your kid doesn't deserve acceptance in any school that you applied to on his behalf. It's called ethics and you, regardless of your excuses, have none.

Huh?
There’s no paid private college counselor. No essay “Coach”. Some ppl pay for this. I’m reviewing a final draft pdf of what my kid inputted using the “advice” from this place?
That’s a problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone explain what that "contact" list is about? Have never heard about this.

It's just a question in the Common App, in the college's Questions section. Schools that track demonstrated interest might consider these.

I still don't get it.

It is the kid's personal contact list? People that he knows from school, jobs, teachers? And what's the purpose of this list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone explain what that "contact" list is about? Have never heard about this.

It's just a question in the Common App, in the college's Questions section. Schools that track demonstrated interest might consider these.

I still don't get it.

It is the kid's personal contact list? People that he knows from school, jobs, teachers? And what's the purpose of this list?

Midd has this. You can list 10 ppl you “know” or other interactions with school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone explain what that "contact" list is about? Have never heard about this.

It's just a question in the Common App, in the college's Questions section. Schools that track demonstrated interest might consider these.

I still don't get it.

It is the kid's personal contact list? People that he knows from school, jobs, teachers? And what's the purpose of this list?

Midd has this. You can list 10 ppl you “know” or other interactions with school.

So, important/impressive people you know in your current life and people you have interacted with at the college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone explain what that "contact" list is about? Have never heard about this.

It's just a question in the Common App, in the college's Questions section. Schools that track demonstrated interest might consider these.

I still don't get it.

It is the kid's personal contact list? People that he knows from school, jobs, teachers? And what's the purpose of this list?

Midd has this. You can list 10 ppl you “know” or other interactions with school.

So, important/impressive people you know in your current life and people you have interacted with at the college?

Depends on school. It’s a contact list of ppl affiliated with school you’re applying to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could someone explain what that "contact" list is about? Have never heard about this.

It's just a question in the Common App, in the college's Questions section. Schools that track demonstrated interest might consider these.

I still don't get it.

It is the kid's personal contact list? People that he knows from school, jobs, teachers? And what's the purpose of this list?

Midd has this. You can list 10 ppl you “know” or other interactions with school.

So, important/impressive people you know in your current life and people you have interacted with at the college?

Depends on school. It’s a contact list of ppl affiliated with school you’re applying to.

Ok, thanks.

[Anonymous]

on activities list, can you combine tutoring? dd has done this for many years but always at different place, vaguely different structure (one on one, in a group from school, etc). No one would be big enough to list, but together it's a lot. an hour or two a week for 6 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:on activities list, can you combine tutoring? dd has done this for many years but always at different place, vaguely different structure (one on one, in a group from school, etc). No one would be big enough to list, but together it's a lot. an hour or two a week for 6 years

Absolutely

[Anonymous]

These are good but also don’t seem to move the needle.

What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

This is so sad. A "theme" for a 17 year old's life? What an absolute joke.