I have had several kids go through the college admissions process. I am a silent member of Application Nation. I don’t post or comment, but she does provide a lot of good advice. She has a couple strong opinions that many CCOs and private counselors disagree with. The two I can think of reporting only 5s on APs and NEVER listing a summer program in your activities list. What are her other deficiencies? I think she is pretty much aligned with a lot of podcasters, etc. nothing “shockingly misinformed.” |
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They don’t like resumes. Or extra rec letters.
We were told to pick the 10 best/most relevant activities in common app. My kid got into multiple T10s/20s RD and is at an Ivy unhooked. |
For someone who doesn't even know who this Sarah H. person is, can you recommend sources that do give good, current advice? |
This is also the advice of 90% of the actual current admissions officers interviewed on podcasts or speaking at information sessions when you tour. No extra rec letters, no resumes. Nothing “shockingly misinformed.” Yes, certain schools like a resume but it is a handful of schools. If you are theatre kid you may need an artistic resume, but beyond that you should fine without one. |
+1. Like kids from lower performing schools not reporting 1350-1450 scores because they’re not within range based on blanketed online advice. |
Your college bound kid podcast is pretty good. |
Only certain schools like resumes. You have to know which ones. Agree to pick the 10 best activities that relate to values and major. We did the same and T10 bound. |
I was also a silent member. And I agree that those are her two strong opinions - plus her other rule on "no resumes" (which I don't think is true - but only for certain schools). I learned a TON from her site - and am now part of the alumni group. I also think her essay "guidance" was really good - the way she "approves" topics. You can start to see patterns of which essays will really move the needle and be most impactful. |
There's a good thread on here on old resources: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1252106.page Books: Who Gets In and Why Soundbite Valedictorians at the Gate The Gatekeepers Inside Stanford Admissions The Exceptional Applicant The Years That Matter Most Podcasts: Ingenius Prep; Yale; The Game; YCBK; Admittedly; The College Admissions Process. Webinars: Crimson Education; CEG; Command Education; IvyWise |
She's this person: https://www.saraharberson.com/ |
| ^^ thanks for the references, folks! |
It’s not just that they don’t know what resources to use, they may not even know what questions to ask or how to find the answers to those questions. Knowing some mysterious group of schools like to see resumes feels like something I never knew until this thread and I’m an invested parent. |
| my unhooked kid was admitted to Princeton SCEA with an extra letter of recommendation, three summer programs (but somewhat selective and free), and additional info clarifying one of the activities in a couple of sentence. |
Yes. I agree. My kid was admitted to schools like Brown, Northwestern and Vanderbilt with an extra letter of recommendation, and a very lengthy additional information section (filled with details on summer programs, research and extra awards - all aligned - directly or indirectly - with major). A lot of conventional wisdom would’ve told you not to include all of that there. |
Told by whom? |