PSA - focus on developing a comprehensive narrative

[Anonymous]

ask yourself if the AO is meeting the same person in each parts of your application. that's a good theme that flows from one to the other. Or soundbite or narrative or whatever you want to call it.

I think theme is easier.

[Anonymous]

From reddit:

It’s a bottom up process. List your ECs and then think about your experiences (topics which may turn into essays) and look for ones that connect, directly or indirectly.

For example, perhaps you played a lot of games and puzzles when you were young (potential essay) and now you are in a math club and tutor math (ECs). The connection between them could be how you think about math - that you see math problems as puzzles to be solved. So the theme could be problem solver.

This is a very generic example, but the idea is the same. It needs to start with you - your personal topics and ECs. Then categorize the ones that go together based on “connections” that you decide. There’s no right or wrong here as long as it makes sense to you.

See how many topics and ECs you can connect together - this becomes your theme. And you may have more than one theme too, which makes you “spiky.” You may even be able to come up with a super theme that encompasses all your themes together.

Perhaps your spikes are all examples of how you engage with others. And then finally, tie it all to the major you want to pursue. (It’s ok if you’re undecided - just say so and then what your interests are.)

This is one way to make your application cohesive. You want an AO to read your EC descriptions and your essays and when done they know who you are - a goal-oriented problem solver who plans to use their education in Electrical Engineering to battle climate change through designing electric vehicles to be more environmentally efficient and cheaper for all.

Bottom Up Cohesive Theming:

Puzzles/Math—>Problem solver —>EE

Artist/Car Enthusiast/Robotics Team Leader—>Designing for efficiency —>EVs

Competitive Swimmer/Angler/Activist —>Goal-oriented—>Climate change, environmentally efficient

Engages with all—>maybe potential leadership/social skills to inform EV environmental policy could be added too

[Anonymous]

I think hook is the wrong word. Help your kid figure out their elevator speech—a short version of their story. Good resumes and cover letters tell a story. This is the same thing. What makes them unique, what drives them, what do they want to accomplish. There’s a great book that explains the process well: How to Prepare a Standout College Application: Expert Advice that Takes You from Like many Others to Admit. It’s useful all through high school to help your student present themselves well.

[Anonymous]

Boy, I need a new college counselor; mine doesn’t do sh*t..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From reddit:

It’s a bottom up process. List your ECs and then think about your experiences (topics which may turn into essays) and look for ones that connect, directly or indirectly.

For example, perhaps you played a lot of games and puzzles when you were young (potential essay) and now you are in a math club and tutor math (ECs). The connection between them could be how you think about math - that you see math problems as puzzles to be solved. So the theme could be problem solver.

This is a very generic example, but the idea is the same. It needs to start with you - your personal topics and ECs. Then categorize the ones that go together based on “connections” that you decide. There’s no right or wrong here as long as it makes sense to you.

See how many topics and ECs you can connect together - this becomes your theme. And you may have more than one theme too, which makes you “spiky.” You may even be able to come up with a super theme that encompasses all your themes together.

Perhaps your spikes are all examples of how you engage with others. And then finally, tie it all to the major you want to pursue. (It’s ok if you’re undecided - just say so and then what your interests are.)

This is one way to make your application cohesive. You want an AO to read your EC descriptions and your essays and when done they know who you are - a goal-oriented problem solver who plans to use their education in Electrical Engineering to battle climate change through designing electric vehicles to be more environmentally efficient and cheaper for all.

Bottom Up Cohesive Theming:

Puzzles/Math—>Problem solver —>EE

Artist/Car Enthusiast/Robotics Team Leader—>Designing for efficiency —>EVs

Competitive Swimmer/Angler/Activist —>Goal-oriented—>Climate change, environmentally efficient

Engages with all—>maybe potential leadership/social skills to inform EV environmental policy could be added too

Pointy - or spikey as you say- is when you have a profile that shows the applicant is largely focused on one area of interest. It’s not multiple themes.

[Anonymous]

Basically, start early. Why did we need 3 pages of responses for this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with this EXCEPT for a real hook, you need to start earlier. Beginning of sophomore year. Ideally aim for national recognition in something niche, or at least clear, serious, dedication to something clear and specific. I interviewed one private counselor in spring junior year and she basically told me it was too late to help my kid.

Geez it’s never too late to help your kid. What a bunch of BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From reddit:

It’s a bottom up process. List your ECs and then think about your experiences (topics which may turn into essays) and look for ones that connect, directly or indirectly.

For example, perhaps you played a lot of games and puzzles when you were young (potential essay) and now you are in a math club and tutor math (ECs). The connection between them could be how you think about math - that you see math problems as puzzles to be solved. So the theme could be problem solver.

This is a very generic example, but the idea is the same. It needs to start with you - your personal topics and ECs. Then categorize the ones that go together based on “connections” that you decide. There’s no right or wrong here as long as it makes sense to you.

See how many topics and ECs you can connect together - this becomes your theme. And you may have more than one theme too, which makes you “spiky.” You may even be able to come up with a super theme that encompasses all your themes together.

Perhaps your spikes are all examples of how you engage with others. And then finally, tie it all to the major you want to pursue. (It’s ok if you’re undecided - just say so and then what your interests are.)

This is one way to make your application cohesive. You want an AO to read your EC descriptions and your essays and when done they know who you are - a goal-oriented problem solver who plans to use their education in Electrical Engineering to battle climate change through designing electric vehicles to be more environmentally efficient and cheaper for all.

Bottom Up Cohesive Theming:

Puzzles/Math—>Problem solver —>EE

Artist/Car Enthusiast/Robotics Team Leader—>Designing for efficiency —>EVs

Competitive Swimmer/Angler/Activist —>Goal-oriented—>Climate change, environmentally efficient

Engages with all—>maybe potential leadership/social skills to inform EV environmental policy could be added too

Pointy - or spikey as you say- is when you have a profile that shows the applicant is largely focused on one area of interest. It’s not multiple themes.

No one is focused on semantics. In this example, the applicant is focused on engineering, but also climate change in the environment in the intersection of these issues and it flows through their extracurriculars and how they identify themselves.

It’s quite good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with this EXCEPT for a real hook, you need to start earlier. Beginning of sophomore year. Ideally aim for national recognition in something niche, or at least clear, serious, dedication to something clear and specific. I interviewed one private counselor in spring junior year and she basically told me it was too late to help my kid.

Geez it’s never too late to help your kid. What a bunch of BS.

Agree. You just need to know your kid.

And yes, sometimes you may need to aim lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ask yourself if the AO is meeting the same person in each parts of your application. that's a good theme that flows from one to the other. Or soundbite or narrative or whatever you want to call it.

I think theme is easier.

This is actually a pretty good way to think of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about get a life and stop manufacturing everything. Your poor kid.

Play the game, or don't. In-state school is an option.

Yep. There’s always UVa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ask yourself if the AO is meeting the same person in each parts of your application. that's a good theme that flows from one to the other. Or soundbite or narrative or whatever you want to call it.

I think theme is easier.

This is actually a pretty good way to think of it.

Theme = narrative = Soundbite

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about get a life and stop manufacturing everything. Your poor kid.

No, your kid will be poor, their kid will not.
The world is getting flatter.
You are no longer just competing with the mediocre kids on your block, you are competing with kids from everywhere in the world and they are hungry.
The middle will become more hollowed out and the disparity between the top and bottom will accelerate.

Top 20 isn't necessary for success but being ready for the world they will live in will be necessary.

The days when an American high school drop out can live better than an Indian PhD are over and it won't be long before that american high school dropout will be competing with a robot unless they develop some skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with this EXCEPT for a real hook, you need to start earlier. Beginning of sophomore year. Ideally aim for national recognition in something niche, or at least clear, serious, dedication to something clear and specific. I interviewed one private counselor in spring junior year and she basically told me it was too late to help my kid.

I’m the OP.

I let the hook naturally develop from middle school and for the first two years of high school. It was a natural evolution of a deep personal interest - that has both academic and non-academic angles, and not something contrived. And it was clear by junior year how that hook fit in to the larger story. But yes, if you were trying to manufacture it or your kid has no drive/ unique interests independently, you need to start earlier.

“Hook” does not mean what you think it means.

I misspoke - its not hook in the ALDC context...its your narrative/profile/soundbite....its just a really focused personal passion, identity or strength.

You mean your sharp pointy bit. The crown jewel of your extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about get a life and stop manufacturing everything. Your poor kid.

No, your kid will be poor, their kid will not.
The world is getting flatter.
You are no longer just competing with the mediocre kids on your block, you are competing with kids from everywhere in the world and they are hungry.
The middle will become more hollowed out and the disparity between the top and bottom will accelerate.

Top 20 isn't necessary for success but being ready for the world they will live in will be necessary.

The days when an American high school drop out can live better than an Indian PhD are over and it won't be long before that american high school dropout will be competing with a robot unless they develop some skills.

It's only over if we keep the borders open.