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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Tips after 3 kids:

1. Your kids have to write their own essays. Editing and suggesting changes, especially topic changes, is fine, especially if coming from an advisor with really good common sense about college admissions.  The student's voice must come through.  If it doesn't, throw it all out.

2. Do these essays in the summer.  Even your kid will thank you.

3.  It's fine to apply all over the map for the cost of a Score Send and the Application fee.  But in the end, those extra 10 schools he really didn't want to go to anyway cost you $700+.  Use that on a nice pair of shoes.  (jk)  But my point is, please don't apply anywhere he really doesn't want to go in the name of safety.  Just need one good one.

4. Carefully research which schools require interest.  CWRU and Tulane - I'm talking to you.  Don't bother if they didn't show any.  Waste of the fees.

5.  Do take as many APs as possible.  They do look at Senior year schedule - load up.  Dual credit and AP are not the same - AP looks more prestigious at 9/10 colleges.

6.  Get a job.  My unofficial research shows that kids who worked in fast food or really anything with a regular pay check do better in admissions.

7.  The most rigorous schedule means the most rigorous schedule. If you are in STEM and BC Calc is offered, take it.

8.  Review the various grade inputs that kids do.  Every college does it different - weighted grades ,classification as honors or AP or Pre-AP, number of AP, semester or yearly classes.  It is so easy to make a mistake if you aren't careful here.  Admissions will double check these, but will they catch an error before you've been put in a lower bucket because the computer didn't give you credit for a bunch of weighted courses?    So please double check.

9.  Triple check that all materials have been received.  We had a school (with a verified train wreck of a portal) call to say information was not received at the very last minute.  Thankfully, had a fabulous counselor who got it in. But don't assume anything. Have your kid send emails to admissions to confirm they are good. [/quote]

Ignore #1. No, your kid’s true voice need not come out- at all. [/quote]

Make sure whoever edits the personal statement also edit the supplementals. So everything is cohesive with the same polish and voice.

Biggest rookie mistake is having an overly edited personal statement and very basic supplementals.[/quote]

How do you know this had any impact?[/quote]

DP: I have heard AOs on multiple college admissions podcasts discuss this. They also talked about how students write sloppy or last minute supplementals compared to their main essay and that they care about the supplementals more in making a decision. [/quote]
Great tip! Thank you![/quote]

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