Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 14:13     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I learned a few things about the actual Common App after the fact - and was surprised by:

- Additional Information. Most CCO don't recommend filling out the Additional Info section in the common app. But that appears to run counter to other private college counselors - and might also need to calibrate your entry with what others at your school are doing (See TJ podcast from another thread where AO questioned why Addtl Info section wasn't full).
- so maybe its HS dependent?
- interestingly, my kid did include a ton of content in the Addtl Info section for Michigan OOS (and got it), but we removed it for RD apps (things like Coursera and Edx and other online enrichment/education classes; additional ECs and sports awards)

- Career Plans. The Future Plans section of the Common App has now been mentioned hundreds of times here. Prior to this fall, I had no idea counselors use this section to "frame" an application (it was mentioned on that podcast as well as others in the past here - it's how I first learned about it)

- First Choice Major. Major matters a lot. Seeing OOS admissions come in from USC, UT, and Michigan already from our HS has shown how a kid below the top of the class (3.9+uw and 1550+) can get in: you must apply to very small or undersubscribed liberal arts majors. Have seen it in action in our HS. Those kids have been successful while those with higher stats in more popular majors have not been.

- Awards. Learned that many kids put non-academic individual state, regional or national level sports rankings or awards there and have done well with flagships. Didn't realize you can put non-academic stuff there.


DD just admitted to UMich OOS LSA for Cognitive Science, agree engineering and business seem like tough admits. she is 4.0/4.7/1530. she listed research projects and published papers in AI section but did not fill out future plans section. she also listed both academic and national sports awards in the awards section. i think you can try and game the system to a degree but still need to stay true to yourself, otherwise will drive yourself crazy.


This is the wisest thing I have seen on this thread and I even wrote a different post. :p I actually love that your DD left the future plans section blank (I didn't realize you could do that) b/c it was the advice to use the "other" option to write more that finally made me realize there really is no right or wrong way as long as you are showing your true self. My DD was also admitted to UMich. Go Blue!
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 14:10     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Anonymous wrote:USC, Umich, and UT aren't that hard to get in...


They actually are. you must have a really smart kid. congrats
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 14:08     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
USC, Umich, and UT aren't that hard to get in...
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 14:06     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Being from Texas, where fitness for your major is key at UT-Austin, I would have though taking a heavy STEM load (if a STEM kid) and doing things that fit to your major was heavily valued at all schools. The verdict is still out on all schools, and he has had success outside UT Austin. However, still waiting to hear from UVA, but it is a shock to me how much Dean J talks about excelling at all 5 core subjects. She is not looking at fitness for major. She is looking for well rounded-ness. This was kind of a shock to me. But I think the point is...finally getting to the point...is that when you are going through high school, it sure does help knowing what your goal is. If it is UVA, do what they say, if it UT-Austin, do what they say. In many cases, it will work for all colleges, but there are variances and knowing where you are going is very helpful in schedule planning. And then get As in everything.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 13:55     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Anonymous wrote:I learned a few things about the actual Common App after the fact - and was surprised by:

- Additional Information. Most CCO don't recommend filling out the Additional Info section in the common app. But that appears to run counter to other private college counselors - and might also need to calibrate your entry with what others at your school are doing (See TJ podcast from another thread where AO questioned why Addtl Info section wasn't full).
- so maybe its HS dependent?
- interestingly, my kid did include a ton of content in the Addtl Info section for Michigan OOS (and got it), but we removed it for RD apps (things like Coursera and Edx and other online enrichment/education classes; additional ECs and sports awards)

- Career Plans. The Future Plans section of the Common App has now been mentioned hundreds of times here. Prior to this fall, I had no idea counselors use this section to "frame" an application (it was mentioned on that podcast as well as others in the past here - it's how I first learned about it)

- First Choice Major. Major matters a lot. Seeing OOS admissions come in from USC, UT, and Michigan already from our HS has shown how a kid below the top of the class (3.9+uw and 1550+) can get in: you must apply to very small or undersubscribed liberal arts majors. Have seen it in action in our HS. Those kids have been successful while those with higher stats in more popular majors have not been.

- Awards. Learned that many kids put non-academic individual state, regional or national level sports rankings or awards there and have done well with flagships. Didn't realize you can put non-academic stuff there.


DD just admitted to UMich OOS LSA for Cognitive Science, agree engineering and business seem like tough admits. she is 4.0/4.7/1530. she listed research projects and published papers in AI section but did not fill out future plans section. she also listed both academic and national sports awards in the awards section. i think you can try and game the system to a degree but still need to stay true to yourself, otherwise will drive yourself crazy.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 13:50     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Anonymous wrote:I learned a few things about the actual Common App after the fact - and was surprised by:

- Additional Information. Most CCO don't recommend filling out the Additional Info section in the common app. But that appears to run counter to other private college counselors - and might also need to calibrate your entry with what others at your school are doing (See TJ podcast from another thread where AO questioned why Addtl Info section wasn't full).
- so maybe its HS dependent?
- interestingly, my kid did include a ton of content in the Addtl Info section for Michigan OOS (and got it), but we removed it for RD apps (things like Coursera and Edx and other online enrichment/education classes; additional ECs and sports awards)

- Career Plans. The Future Plans section of the Common App has now been mentioned hundreds of times here. Prior to this fall, I had no idea counselors use this section to "frame" an application (it was mentioned on that podcast as well as others in the past here - it's how I first learned about it)

- First Choice Major. Major matters a lot. Seeing OOS admissions come in from USC, UT, and Michigan already from our HS has shown how a kid below the top of the class (3.9+uw and 1550+) can get in: you must apply to very small or undersubscribed liberal arts majors. Have seen it in action in our HS. Those kids have been successful while those with higher stats in more popular majors have not been.

- Awards. Learned that many kids put non-academic individual state, regional or national level sports rankings or awards there and have done well with flagships. Didn't realize you can put non-academic stuff there.


This is interesting - question specifically about awards/other information: are you supposed to put ONLY things that you have done starting the summer before 9th grade?
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 13:47     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Anonymous wrote:Sara H in AN says never to fill out Additional Info with that kind of information. Sounds like she may not have the most up to date info, if these other former AOs say every kid from TJ has a stacked AI section in the common app.

She also says not to ever include sports awards (even if individual) in the awards section.


I think the use of "other info" for TJ students was very specific to knowing that TJ students do a required research project. The research project was not mentioned anywhere in the app and should have been in other info. It's a big omission for reps familiar with TJ.

One of my kids didn't use that section. The other used it to further explain an EC that was uncommon and could not be conveyed in the limited activity list space. And, she listed the topics of her science fair projects throughout HS (all related to her planned major).
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 12:28     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Anonymous wrote:I learned a few things about the actual Common App after the fact - and was surprised by:

- Additional Information. Most CCO don't recommend filling out the Additional Info section in the common app. But that appears to run counter to other private college counselors - and might also need to calibrate your entry with what others at your school are doing (See TJ podcast from another thread where AO questioned why Addtl Info section wasn't full).
- so maybe its HS dependent?
- interestingly, my kid did include a ton of content in the Addtl Info section for Michigan OOS (and got it), but we removed it for RD apps (things like Coursera and Edx and other online enrichment/education classes; additional ECs and sports awards)

- Career Plans. The Future Plans section of the Common App has now been mentioned hundreds of times here. Prior to this fall, I had no idea counselors use this section to "frame" an application (it was mentioned on that podcast as well as others in the past here - it's how I first learned about it)

- First Choice Major. Major matters a lot. Seeing OOS admissions come in from USC, UT, and Michigan already from our HS has shown how a kid below the top of the class (3.9+uw and 1550+) can get in: you must apply to very small or undersubscribed liberal arts majors. Have seen it in action in our HS. Those kids have been successful while those with higher stats in more popular majors have not been.

- Awards. Learned that many kids put non-academic individual state, regional or national level sports rankings or awards there and have done well with flagships. Didn't realize you can put non-academic stuff there.


I am not denying that this could be an effective strategy but I don't get why? I strongly feel that spending your energy on gaming the system is going to backfire in the long run. If it's the kind of place that doesn't hold you to the major or school, it's unlikely to have much of an effect unless your kid really did study Latin and Greek for six years and runs the Classics club. If it's a school that holds you to your declared major, then your kid will be unhappy in an unsubscribed major that's not a first choice. Also the Ivy or bust mentality is really tired.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 12:25     Subject: Re:Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
First kid: Did everything 100% by himself. I had no idea what the Common App looked like.

Second kid: Did most of it by herself, but wanted an extra pair of eyes. I didn't know about how they're supposed to describe their activities and quantify their involvement. Not that this is bad ... it's just funny to me that I didn't know. With that knowledge, it's been easier to convince my younger kids that they should get deeply involved in their ECs, not just do a few token hours.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 12:20     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
- First Choice Major. Major matters a lot. Seeing OOS admissions come in from USC, UT, and Michigan already from our HS has shown how a kid below the top of the class (3.9+uw and 1550+) can get in: you must apply to very small or undersubscribed liberal arts majors. Have seen it in action in our HS. Those kids have been successful while those with higher stats in more popular majors have not been.


I know a top kid who did get into Michigan without picking an obscure major. These examples don't prove anything.


+1 admits at our DMV high school were actually very popular majors
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 12:03     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Anonymous wrote:
- First Choice Major. Major matters a lot. Seeing OOS admissions come in from USC, UT, and Michigan already from our HS has shown how a kid below the top of the class (3.9+uw and 1550+) can get in: you must apply to very small or undersubscribed liberal arts majors. Have seen it in action in our HS. Those kids have been successful while those with higher stats in more popular majors have not been.


I know a top kid who did get into Michigan without picking an obscure major. These examples don't prove anything.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 12:01     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Anonymous wrote:Sara H in AN says never to fill out Additional Info with that kind of information. Sounds like she may not have the most up to date info, if these other former AOs say every kid from TJ has a stacked AI section in the common app.

She also says not to ever include sports awards (even if individual) in the awards section.


Our private says not to as well. Also not to provide additional recs. It frustrates AOs—if it’s just another teacher , coach, etc. only give what they want
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 12:00     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
My kid did not include athletic awards in the honors/awards section. Those awards are included in the EC description.

My kid did use the AI section to explain a choice in senior class schedule that was to follow an academic passion, but precluded them from taking a 2-period course that others may have on their schedules. This was at the advice of an AO with whom we spoke.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 11:52     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
Sara H in AN says never to fill out Additional Info with that kind of information. Sounds like she may not have the most up to date info, if these other former AOs say every kid from TJ has a stacked AI section in the common app.

She also says not to ever include sports awards (even if individual) in the awards section.
Anonymous
Post 01/29/2025 11:28     Subject: Senior parents: what has surprised you the most?
I learned a few things about the actual Common App after the fact - and was surprised by:

- Additional Information. Most CCO don't recommend filling out the Additional Info section in the common app. But that appears to run counter to other private college counselors - and might also need to calibrate your entry with what others at your school are doing (See TJ podcast from another thread where AO questioned why Addtl Info section wasn't full).
- so maybe its HS dependent?
- interestingly, my kid did include a ton of content in the Addtl Info section for Michigan OOS (and got it), but we removed it for RD apps (things like Coursera and Edx and other online enrichment/education classes; additional ECs and sports awards)

- Career Plans. The Future Plans section of the Common App has now been mentioned hundreds of times here. Prior to this fall, I had no idea counselors use this section to "frame" an application (it was mentioned on that podcast as well as others in the past here - it's how I first learned about it)

- First Choice Major. Major matters a lot. Seeing OOS admissions come in from USC, UT, and Michigan already from our HS has shown how a kid below the top of the class (3.9+uw and 1550+) can get in: you must apply to very small or undersubscribed liberal arts majors. Have seen it in action in our HS. Those kids have been successful while those with higher stats in more popular majors have not been.

- Awards. Learned that many kids put non-academic individual state, regional or national level sports rankings or awards there and have done well with flagships. Didn't realize you can put non-academic stuff there.