Anonymous
09/18/2012 16:42
Subject: How can introverts be successful in the college admission process?
Anonymous wrote:I think you're missing her point. It wasn't how precise the formulas are but whether there is a formula and, if so, whether it's the sort of formula that you can mold a child to fit.
The handful of schools that have the luxury ($$ for admissions staff, an overabundance of applications from qualified students, lots of money for financial aid) of choosing whomever they want are looking for kids who are special in some way (and often part of being special is not fitting a formula). I'm sure that there are kids who don't find a way to show such colleges how they're special, so the advice about practice talking to unfamiliar people (and maybe advice about talking about what you care about and what interests you rather than trying to sell yourself (or to avoid making a mistake)) is worthwhile. But beyond that, I'm really skeptical about how far packaging/choice of activities gets you these days and coming from this kind of environment.
If you want to use terms like "formula," I'm saying yes, there is a formula. It favors leaders and athletic types over introverted kids, even over the quiet-but-interesting kids.
Anonymous
09/18/2012 15:48
Subject: How can introverts be successful in the college admission process?
I think you're missing her point. It wasn't how precise the formulas are but whether there is a formula and, if so, whether it's the sort of formula that you can mold a child to fit.
The handful of schools that have the luxury ($$ for admissions staff, an overabundance of applications from qualified students, lots of money for financial aid) of choosing whomever they want are looking for kids who are special in some way (and often part of being special is not fitting a formula). I'm sure that there are kids who don't find a way to show such colleges how they're special, so the advice about practice talking to unfamiliar people (and maybe advice about talking about what you care about and what interests you rather than trying to sell yourself (or to avoid making a mistake)) is worthwhile. But beyond that, I'm really skeptical about how far packaging/choice of activities gets you these days and coming from this kind of environment.
The handful of schools that have the luxury ($$ for admissions staff, an overabundance of applications from qualified students, lots of money for financial aid) of choosing whomever they want are looking for kids who are special in some way (and often part of being special is not fitting a formula). I'm sure that there are kids who don't find a way to show such colleges how they're special, so the advice about practice talking to unfamiliar people (and maybe advice about talking about what you care about and what interests you rather than trying to sell yourself (or to avoid making a mistake)) is worthwhile. But beyond that, I'm really skeptical about how far packaging/choice of activities gets you these days and coming from this kind of environment.
Anonymous
09/18/2012 15:11
Subject: How can introverts be successful in the college admission process?
Anonymous wrote:@13:57. You truly can't know or ever game the system that well. Even the admissions office doesn't have such super-set formulas. Make sure your child applies to a mix of schools that appeal to their interests and sensibilities. If they're somewhat withdrawn, make sure they have had some practice talking to unfamiliar people. But don't push them too much.
I'm one of the PP Ivy League interviewers, and we often just smell it. Your kid who is interesting is going to be interesting whether they're all jumping up and down and perky or thoughtful and deliberate. Actually, I take that back. I hate perky. And I've heard the canned speech about "why model UN has helped me appreciate the needs of the underprivileged and I like helping people" a million times. I want to hear about something that captures your mind and your curiosity, and in many cases, it's the kids whose parents weren't around quite so much. I want to see your mind thinking when we're talking, not retrieving canned response #1244.
13:57 here. I didn't mean to imply that any admissions office takes 3 of one type of kid and 200 of another type of kid, that was just a (rather superficial) example. Rather, they take *a lot more* or *a lot less* of certain types of kids.
Anonymous
09/18/2012 14:01
Subject: How can introverts be successful in the college admission process?
I agree with the "your kid is either interesting (and thoughtful) or not" sentiment. Although that's probably an interviewer's POV and interviewers don't decide who gets admitted.
Depending on what grade your DC is, I'd be inclined just to ask him "what would you like to do to take your interest in --------- to the next level?" And be prepared to support him as best you can in doing that. But it should be about pursuing an interest (rather than getting into college) and it should be kid-driven (beyond the initial recognition of interest and encouragement/support to pursue it).
Depending on what grade your DC is, I'd be inclined just to ask him "what would you like to do to take your interest in --------- to the next level?" And be prepared to support him as best you can in doing that. But it should be about pursuing an interest (rather than getting into college) and it should be kid-driven (beyond the initial recognition of interest and encouragement/support to pursue it).
Anonymous
09/15/2012 14:25
Subject: How can introverts be successful in the college admission process?
@13:57. You truly can't know or ever game the system that well. Even the admissions office doesn't have such super-set formulas. Make sure your child applies to a mix of schools that appeal to their interests and sensibilities. If they're somewhat withdrawn, make sure they have had some practice talking to unfamiliar people. But don't push them too much.
I'm one of the PP Ivy League interviewers, and we often just smell it. Your kid who is interesting is going to be interesting whether they're all jumping up and down and perky or thoughtful and deliberate. Actually, I take that back. I hate perky. And I've heard the canned speech about "why model UN has helped me appreciate the needs of the underprivileged and I like helping people" a million times. I want to hear about something that captures your mind and your curiosity, and in many cases, it's the kids whose parents weren't around quite so much. I want to see your mind thinking when we're talking, not retrieving canned response #1244.
I'm one of the PP Ivy League interviewers, and we often just smell it. Your kid who is interesting is going to be interesting whether they're all jumping up and down and perky or thoughtful and deliberate. Actually, I take that back. I hate perky. And I've heard the canned speech about "why model UN has helped me appreciate the needs of the underprivileged and I like helping people" a million times. I want to hear about something that captures your mind and your curiosity, and in many cases, it's the kids whose parents weren't around quite so much. I want to see your mind thinking when we're talking, not retrieving canned response #1244.
Anonymous
09/15/2012 13:57
Subject: Re:How can introverts be successful in the college admission process?
Anonymous wrote:But an introvert can be intellectually curious and pursue his/her interests with zeal. As a former admissions officer, I saw many kids like this who were quite successful in college applications. In fact, they were often more successful than the kids described by some PPs as loaded up with extracurriculars for which they have no real passion (an overused term, I know -- my apologies, but I"m writing fast here). Selective colleges aren't looking for a class full of team captains and club presidents (and I say this as the parent of 3 kids who were exactly that and who did quite well in college admissions), they also need a few poets, a few history geeks and a few kids who will live in the lab until they get to the bottom of whatever they're chasing. The thing is, though, grades alone will not demonstrate that kind of commitment. Entering contests is a good idea, but even that doesn't nececessarily show a sustained pursuit of a goal. That's what distinguishes succesful applicants in a pool full of top GPAs and test scores.
This is helpful and interesting. My question, though, is whether a college wanting a "few" history geeks or lab rats to balance out a class of team captains, really constitutes "good odds" for the average introverted geek. Is it sort of like applying to a top 3 private, where everyone will tell you that the school takes "a few normal kids of government workers" but the reality is that they take 1/20 of every government worker offspring, but 1/3 of every administration official, 1/4 of every big donor, et cetera. If my kid were a history geek with just a few ECs, but maybe winning the MD history contest 2 years running, what would her chances really be of getting one of the 2-3 slots they give to introverted history geeks, compared to the 200 slots for athletes?