| There are 3 big reasons why you're on the waitlist at | | | | 4-year colleges, then your chances are lower. It's |
| an Ivy League school. They are: | | | | tougher to stand out. Even if you win nationally |
| 1. You're well-rounded, but no clear spikes | | | | recognized prizes, your academic record and |
| Do you have a high SAT score, are president of 2 | | | | transcript will still be suspect. Your leadership positions |
| clubs at school, and play on the varsity soccer team? | | | | in school clubs will be at a discount. Admissions |
| You're a well-rounded student, don't get me wrong. | | | | committees are unsure about the quality of your |
| But let's drop the false pretense that well-rounded | | | | achievements. It's a fact. |
| students get into Ivy League schools. It simply isn't | | | | 3. Your essays don't highlight your accomplishments |
| true. | | | | Essay topics are worth a whole series of posts, but |
| Colleges want well-rounded student bodies. But not | | | | let me say this: no one gets into top schools by |
| every accepted student has to be a | | | | writing about their cat, Woodrow Wilson, or when |
| scholar-scientist-athlete-leader. | | | | they got their first car. |
| I briefly touch upon this point in my post on | | | | Why? Because none of these topics, unless expertly |
| international students going to college as well. | | | | written, refer back to your accomplishments. Personal |
| What does this mean? It means that if you have a | | | | stories are great, and discussing how your cat made |
| clear spike - you've always loved biology, started | | | | you a more mature person is fine, but unless the |
| taking molecular biology classes at the local university | | | | story is shocking, it won't leave an impression on the |
| in 10th grade, won national Science Olympiad medals | | | | readers' mind. In addition, it won't help you advertise |
| in chemistry and international competitions in various | | | | your strengths - on the basis of which your |
| things like Science Bowl, Oceanography Bowl, and the | | | | admissions decisions are made. |
| like, then you'll get accepted over the well-rounded | | | | Always focus on personal stories that highlight your |
| person described above. | | | | strongest accomplishments, and tell these stories in a |
| 2. You come from an unknown high school | | | | way that puts your achievements - whether it's |
| Sad to say, colleges have feeder high schools. This | | | | sports, arts, or math - into context. How Woodrow |
| happens because admissions committees know the | | | | Wilson made you love politics and want to change |
| high school well, they're familiar with its academic | | | | the world is okay, but how Woodrow Wilson made |
| standards, they know how tough it is, the strength | | | | you love politics so much that you attended Boys |
| of extracurricular programs and athletic teams, and | | | | Nation and started the first ever high school political |
| so on. It's easier for application readers to judge | | | | magazine is much, much better. |
| exactly how strong a student you are. | | | | You have to advertise yourself if you want to |
| But if you go to Humble High School in Podunk, Illinois | | | | attend the best colleges. Now is not the time to be |
| - where no student has ever attended an Ivy | | | | modest. |
| League school and only 50% of students go to | | | | |