Signs of an overcoached application

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If ECs only marginally have something to do with the intended major, that is an obvious sign of coaching.

Disagree for my own kid. She didn't know what she wanted to do/major in until summer before her senior year. Her ECs reflected her personal interests, which didn't have a direct tie to her major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overly coached students will have:
Manufactured passion
Strategic essays
Carefully planned extracurriculars all tied around their niche interest
Extracurriculars will be loaded with numbers —xxx dollars, xxx hours. Everything will be impact impact impact.

This seems to work according to the Game podcast.

The thing is, something may work until it doesn’t work anymore, as top schools begin to be flooded with too many who have followed the same recipe!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If ECs only marginally have something to do with the intended major, that is an obvious sign of coaching.

Disagree for my own kid. She didn't know what she wanted to do/major in until summer before her senior year. Her ECs reflected her personal interests, which didn't have a direct tie to her major.

Curious what major? What schools did she get into?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overly coached students will have:
Manufactured passion
Strategic essays
Carefully planned extracurriculars all tied around their niche interest
Extracurriculars will be loaded with numbers —xxx dollars, xxx hours. Everything will be impact impact impact.

This seems to work according to the Game podcast.

The thing is, something may work until it doesn’t work anymore, as top schools begin to be flooded with too many who have followed the same recipe!

That’s a different birdwatching and soon nonprofits issue. Right now, the formula works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overly coached students will have:
Manufactured passion
Strategic essays
Carefully planned extracurriculars all tied around their niche interest
Extracurriculars will be loaded with numbers —xxx dollars, xxx hours. Everything will be impact impact impact.

This seems to work according to the Game podcast.

The thing is, something may work until it doesn’t work anymore, as top schools begin to be flooded with too many who have followed the same recipe!

That’s a different birdwatching and soon nonprofits issue. Right now, the formula works.

Blacksmith forges in the backyard have been big the last few years, birdwatching, & becoming a certified “master gardener” is one I have heard a lot of this year!

[Anonymous]

I would say it's the kids who seem to magically check every box. Like, of course they have great grades and played a varsity sport and have a couple of leadership roles. But then you're reading the supplemental essays, and OMG, they had a magical encounter with a homeless man while doing their weekly volunteer time. And then WOW, they created an app to put an end to food waste. And WHOA, they taught themselves Creole to connect better with the lunch lady?

I know a few of these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say it's the kids who seem to magically check every box. Like, of course they have great grades and played a varsity sport and have a couple of leadership roles. But then you're reading the supplemental essays, and OMG, they had a magical encounter with a homeless man while doing their weekly volunteer time. And then WOW, they created an app to put an end to food waste. And WHOA, they taught themselves Creole to connect better with the lunch lady?

I know a few of these.

How about grandma cooking?

If memory serves, the Yale podcasts (I listened to a couple of those) mentioned they’ve seen too many essays with stories about chatting with Uber drivers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say it's the kids who seem to magically check every box. Like, of course they have great grades and played a varsity sport and have a couple of leadership roles. But then you're reading the supplemental essays, and OMG, they had a magical encounter with a homeless man while doing their weekly volunteer time. And then WOW, they created an app to put an end to food waste. And WHOA, they taught themselves Creole to connect better with the lunch lady?

I know a few of these.

How about grandma cooking?

If memory serves, the Yale podcasts (I listened to a couple of those) mentioned they’ve seen too many essays with stories about chatting with Uber drivers!

Ahhhh, yes, definitely Grandma cooking!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say it's the kids who seem to magically check every box. Like, of course they have great grades and played a varsity sport and have a couple of leadership roles. But then you're reading the supplemental essays, and OMG, they had a magical encounter with a homeless man while doing their weekly volunteer time. And then WOW, they created an app to put an end to food waste. And WHOA, they taught themselves Creole to connect better with the lunch lady?

I know a few of these.

and sometimes it is true. My kids do weekly volunteering at homeless shelter/food bank 2X/weekly since 9th grade consistently and they get to know the regulars.

[Anonymous]

These essay topics suck.
Same with the activities, though I have YET to meet a blacksmith. Not common at all.

Watchmaking is VERY common. And blowing glass.

[Anonymous]

EMT still works if you can do that at 16 in your state

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These essay topics suck.
Same with the activities, though I have YET to meet a blacksmith. Not common at all.

Watchmaking is VERY common. And blowing glass.

I know 2 kids with blacksmith hobby. Live in NOVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:EMT still works if you can do that at 16 in your state

Works for what? T10? I'd imagine you have to do a LOT more than just that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say it's the kids who seem to magically check every box. Like, of course they have great grades and played a varsity sport and have a couple of leadership roles. But then you're reading the supplemental essays, and OMG, they had a magical encounter with a homeless man while doing their weekly volunteer time. And then WOW, they created an app to put an end to food waste. And WHOA, they taught themselves Creole to connect better with the lunch lady?

I know a few of these.

And… did they get in? You are rolling your eyes at this but unless their admissions officers called you up and said they rejected these… friends’ kids? because they seemed overly coached, then… what is your point?

I remain frustrated and irritated at this process. Do a lot! Don’t do too much. Be authentic. But amazing. Sigh. This whole process sucks for students today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say it's the kids who seem to magically check every box. Like, of course they have great grades and played a varsity sport and have a couple of leadership roles. But then you're reading the supplemental essays, and OMG, they had a magical encounter with a homeless man while doing their weekly volunteer time. And then WOW, they created an app to put an end to food waste. And WHOA, they taught themselves Creole to connect better with the lunch lady?

I know a few of these.

And… did they get in? You are rolling your eyes at this but unless their admissions officers called you up and said they rejected these… friends’ kids? because they seemed overly coached, then… what is your point?

I remain frustrated and irritated at this process. Do a lot! Don’t do too much. Be authentic. But amazing. Sigh. This whole process sucks for students today.

Agreed!!