College admissions 101 - book recs?

[Anonymous]

they were saying those teen tours didn't matter long before this book, which is why applicants leave the teen tour part out of the "achievement". I've found this still works - it's annoying. I think it's because readers are people who have been on the job for a year or two. there is no "they've seen it all" when the average length of employment in this profession is 3 years. dean level? okay, but not the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:they were saying those teen tours didn't matter long before this book, which is why applicants leave the teen tour part out of the "achievement". I've found this still works - it's annoying. I think it's because readers are people who have been on the job for a year or two. there is no "they've seen it all" when the average length of employment in this profession is 3 years. dean level? okay, but not the rest.

Yes, but the readers don't make the final decisions and in most cases, are not part of the review committee. So the application may make the first or second round, but at selective schools, the senior AOs and dean make the final decisions and shape the final class.

[Anonymous]

the dean of admissions at Denison (I think) was the one who really was impressed by that elephant whisperer.

[Anonymous]

Any recs for a college admissions 101 vs how to get into competitive schools?

[Anonymous]

What High Schools Don't Tell You (And Other Parents Don't Want You to Know)

[Anonymous]

Very good recs here. I would add “Soundbite” by Sara Harberson, which we successfully relied on this season.

As a longtime college forum lurker I would caution you, or anyone else, from relying on accelerated math courses at a school as evidence of STEM strength, depending on the selectivity of the college. The applicant pool these days is extremely STEM heavy, and acceleration is much more common than many realize. Achievement in math for the most selective colleges is demonstrated by national recognition in handful of well recognized programs. My kid isn’t STEM so I can’t remember all the acronyms.

[Anonymous]

Found this older post because I’m searching for books/resources to read this summer.

What a depressing thread about selingo’s elephant whisperer /mahout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listen the College Essay Guy’s podcasts. Very informative.

+1
As are his books. I paid for one writing workshop this summer for dd. It was a 4-week online live class for 4 Thursday evenings. Best money spent. Ethan is fabulous.

Did you do the class or your kid? Sorry it’s not clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:schools are still being wowed by bullshit ie the elephant whisperer ie the girl who went on the one-week paid trip to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

Keep on believing that.
https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/the-smell-of-privilege-in-admissions/

Gosh. So many innocuous things - like driving to school - can show this privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:schools are still being wowed by bullshit ie the elephant whisperer ie the girl who went on the one-week paid trip to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

Keep on believing that.
https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/the-smell-of-privilege-in-admissions/

it was just one example from sellingo's book. the ad com was wowed. the applicant obv didn't say this was a one week teen tour, she just said she was a licensed [whatever the word for elephant whisperer] and left it at that. same ad com was only suspect of the working class applicant who worked 25 hours a week. they weren't sure that was possible. wtf?

DP: Yes, I was also annoyed by that exchange in his book. However, the PP is correct that admissions have shifted and now the elephant whisper is considered an achievement solely based on privilege and therefore doesn't come from a place of caring/passion and has little impact.

Is there an example of other achievements that could be seen as privileged but also as an impactful/caring/passionate interest?

Examples:
Kids who have sailed their whole life and work for a non-profit or community organization teaching urban kids skills on sailboats, water and life?

Democratizing xyz expensive sport to increase access in your city?

Traveling to Haiti or Rwanda to volunteer in connection with a medical organization every spring break?


Thoughts? (Btw these are made up but my kid has something but don’t want to reveal)