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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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