Best last minute common app review/tricks?

[Anonymous]

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

That reflects the current reality of college admissions. Agree it's beyond stupid but not much we can do unless the game itself changes (unlikely to happen).

[Anonymous]

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

Don’t worry, once every one starts doing this Admission Officers will gag and switch to some other way to sort students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Um, just a thought: Maybe suggest to your kid that they do so? You shouldn't be doing your kid's applications.

[Anonymous]

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

This is truly normal in selective college admissions now.

What rock have you been hiding under?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Um, just a thought: Maybe suggest to your kid that they do so? You shouldn't be doing your kid's applications.

I don't know why I am choosing to engage in this, but....

There is no problem with parents helping with college applications, the same way there is no problem with school counselors or paid consultants helping.

Or, at least, such is the world we live in, and while you may wish it wasn't like this, you telling individuals on a message board how to behave is not going to have any impact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Um, just a thought: Maybe suggest to your kid that they do so? You shouldn't be doing your kid's applications.

I don't know why I am choosing to engage in this, but....

There is no problem with parents helping with college applications, the same way there is no problem with school counselors or paid consultants helping.

Or, at least, such is the world we live in, and while you may wish it wasn't like this, you telling individuals on a message board how to behave is not going to have any impact.

I agree. I reviewed what my kid did this week across the entire Common App, took a red pen to the ECs (and essays) and made many suggestions. Kid took them all. I’ll reread again tomorrow before submitting.

Frankly, there’s great advice here that people would pay thousands for.

We don’t have a private consultant….

[Anonymous]

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

Agree. Looks so silly and obviously made by an expensive consultant. Don’t fall for the hype.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Um, just a thought: Maybe suggest to your kid that they do so? You shouldn't be doing your kid's applications.

I don't know why I am choosing to engage in this, but....

There is no problem with parents helping with college applications, the same way there is no problem with school counselors or paid consultants helping.

Or, at least, such is the world we live in, and while you may wish it wasn't like this, you telling individuals on a message board how to behave is not going to have any impact.

I agree. I reviewed what my kid did this week across the entire Common App, took a red pen to the ECs (and essays) and made many suggestions. Kid took them all. I’ll reread again tomorrow before submitting.

Frankly, there’s great advice here that people would pay thousands for.

We don’t have a private consultant….

Ditto! (Np- also no paid counselor but I support my kid with edits, brainstorming, and proofreading.

[Anonymous]

One of the SLAC’s mine is applying to does not have any supplementals. Would it be inappropriate to add a one sentence to additional information (currently blank) about something they love about this school that is unique to them and why they applied? Nowhere else to do without the usual why essays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the SLAC’s mine is applying to does not have any supplementals. Would it be inappropriate to add a one sentence to additional information (currently blank) about something they love about this school that is unique to them and why they applied? Nowhere else to do without the usual why essays.

Which school? Applying ED?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Yes it is creepy and overreaching

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the SLAC’s mine is applying to does not have any supplementals. Would it be inappropriate to add a one sentence to additional information (currently blank) about something they love about this school that is unique to them and why they applied? Nowhere else to do without the usual why essays.

Which school? Applying ED?

I don’t mean this in a rude way which is prevalent here, but prefer not to name school. Potentially ED but not sure how that factors in, what am I not seeing? Appreciate help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the SLAC’s mine is applying to does not have any supplementals. Would it be inappropriate to add a one sentence to additional information (currently blank) about something they love about this school that is unique to them and why they applied? Nowhere else to do without the usual why essays.

Which school? Applying ED?

I don’t mean this in a rude way which is prevalent here, but prefer not to name school. Potentially ED but not sure how that factors in, what am I not seeing? Appreciate help.

Some SLACs have a preferred way to get additional info.

Google?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Um, just a thought: Maybe suggest to your kid that they do so? You shouldn't be doing your kid's applications.

I don't know why I am choosing to engage in this, but....

There is no problem with parents helping with college applications, the same way there is no problem with school counselors or paid consultants helping.

Or, at least, such is the world we live in, and while you may wish it wasn't like this, you telling individuals on a message board how to behave is not going to have any impact.

I agree. I reviewed what my kid did this week across the entire Common App, took a red pen to the ECs (and essays) and made many suggestions. Kid took them all. I’ll reread again tomorrow before submitting.

Frankly, there’s great advice here that people would pay thousands for.

We don’t have a private consultant….

Ditto! (Np- also no paid counselor but I support my kid with edits, brainstorming, and proofreading.

I helped my kid brainstorm ideas and gave him feedback on his Common App essay and supplements. His narrative is organic - he’s a creative interested in writing and film. His ECs, classes and essay all reflect this interest.

[Anonymous]

Where to purchase an application review?

Or I listened to College Essay Guy's part 4 today - how to know when you are done - and it appeared to focus on a "Values Review". How do I get a list of these values to see if the application hits them?