Anonymous wrote: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.

Told by whom?

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sara H. & Co. should not be your main source of information.

+1

She is still relying on her experience 10 years ago to inform current students. She is shockingly misinformed of current AO practices.

This just makes me so sad for kids who don’t have college educated kids, parents who aren’t prepared to make educating themselves in this way a full time job, or the ability to pay for a college counselor.

Say what you will, but this comment is a perfect example of why the rich will get richer.

Not sure why this comment makes you think this. This comment makes me think how rich people are probably wasting their money or not getting their monies worth, etc.

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.

^^ thanks for the references, folks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sara H. & Co. should not be your main source of information.

+1

She is still relying on her experience 10 years ago to inform current students. She is shockingly misinformed of current AO practices.

For someone who doesn't even know who this Sarah H. person is, can you recommend sources that do give good, current advice?

She's this person: https://www.saraharberson.com/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sara H. & Co. should not be your main source of information.

+1

She is still relying on her experience 10 years ago to inform current students. She is shockingly misinformed of current AO practices.

For someone who doesn't even know who this Sarah H. person is, can you recommend sources that do give good, current advice?

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sara H. & Co. should not be your main source of information.

+1

She is still relying on her experience 10 years ago to inform current students. She is shockingly misinformed of current AO practices.

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.”

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.

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sara H. & Co. should not be your main source of information.

+1

She is still relying on her experience 10 years ago to inform current students. She is shockingly misinformed of current AO practices.

For someone who doesn't even know who this Sarah H. person is, can you recommend sources that do give good, current advice?

Your college bound kid podcast is pretty good.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sara H. & Co. should not be your main source of information.

+1

She is still relying on her experience 10 years ago to inform current students. She is shockingly misinformed of current AO practices.

This just makes me so sad for kids who don’t have college educated kids, parents who aren’t prepared to make educating themselves in this way a full time job, or the ability to pay for a college counselor.

Say what you will, but this comment is a perfect example of why the rich will get richer.

+1. Like kids from lower performing schools not reporting 1350-1450 scores because they’re not within range based on blanketed online advice.

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sara H. & Co. should not be your main source of information.

+1

She is still relying on her experience 10 years ago to inform current students. She is shockingly misinformed of current AO practices.

For someone who doesn't even know who this Sarah H. person is, can you recommend sources that do give good, current advice?

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sara H. & Co. should not be your main source of information.

+1

She is still relying on her experience 10 years ago to inform current students. She is shockingly misinformed of current AO practices.

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.”