Yesterday, the Supreme Court delivered its long-anticipated decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, in which it ruled that affirmative action in the college admissions process violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Colleges and universities will no longer be permitted to consider race in the admissions process.

What Does This Mean?

I have spent the last few months visiting with admissions officers at a variety of colleges, public and private, in anticipation of today鈥檚 Supreme Court ruling. While every admissions officer with whom I have spoken has communicated that their institution will follow the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision, I have not heard a single opinion that disagrees with Lawrence S. Bacow, President of Harvard University, who wrote to alumni, 鈥溾�o affirm the fundamental principle that deep and transformative teaching, learning, and research depend upon a community comprising people of many backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences.鈥� Although historically rival institutions, on this decision, Yale and Harvard remain united; Yale President, Peter Salovey, upholds Yale鈥檚 belief that, 鈥淎 student body that is diverse across every dimension, including race, improves academic outcomes for all students, enhances the range of scholarship and teaching on campus, improves critical thinking, and advances the understanding and study of complex topics.鈥�

So, while the question of race may be removed from the college application, I do not personally believe that the decision process will be significantly altered. When I visited Tufts a few weeks ago, the admissions officer plainly stated that their team is not interested in rank ordering applicants by grades and test scores and filling their freshman spots with the top of the list. She explained that, once they know the student can thrive in their academic environment and has the ability to successfully graduate, they will turn their attention to the other ways students will contribute to the school鈥檚 community: talents, skills, curiosities, community impact, and personal experiences. In my opinion, these are influenced by a variety of factors, including geography, socio-economic status, gender identity, religious and political beliefs and, yes, ethnicity and race.

What will change?

Access: With a focus on 鈥渉igher quality鈥� students, meaning those with higher GPAs, tests scores and more competitive extra-curricular activities, colleges are more likely to admit a greater proportion of students who come from affluent families because they are the students who typically have access to better high schools, academic tutors, test prep partners, impressive internships, and costly extra-curricular opportunities. This growing chasm of access will be especially true of colleges and universities that practice 鈥渘eed-blind鈥� admissions decisions. Without knowledge of a student鈥檚 race or financial need, schools like Harvard and Yale are more likely to admit classes of homogeneous students, breaching the core educational philosophies and institutional values that Presidents Bacow and Salovey are committed to uphold for the benefit of all students, regardless of race or socio-economic status. For schools that practice 鈥渘eed-aware鈥� admissions decisions, the students who are not wealthy enough to pay the full sticker price of $300K across 4 years at a private college, but are also not poor enough to require full need, will likely be disproportionately disadvantaged as many admissions officers will begin to rely on financial need as a proxy for racial diversity. This 鈥渟quished in the middle鈥� scenario applies to the majority of students who are already feeling the burden of 鈥渢oo rich to be helped but not rich enough to feel no pain.鈥� Now, in addition to the financial burden of being squished will be the added challenge of the admissions squish.

Transparency: Without the ability to ask demographic questions in the application, transparency into the status of racial diversity will suffer. Although colleges may be able to ask and report demographic statistics after a student is admitted, they are prohibited from asking this question to applicants and therefore, will be unable to determine how effective DEI efforts are or whether or not to continue investing in them.

Applications: Although higher education is not typically known for its agility and ability to pivot in the face of changing environments, I do anticipate there will be a flurry of activity among admissions offices across the nation as they decide how to approach the 2023-2024 application season. With the removal of the race boxes from page one of the application, I expect we will see the addition or modification of supplemental short answer and essay questions that will attempt to uncover the diverse perspectives and experiences that colleges are still committed to embracing in their student body. And, coupled with the advent of ChatGPT, this may result in decreased reliance on college essays entirely. Instead, I predict we may see an increased importance of non-written submissions, such as timed video questions and interviews, where the admissions officer can see the applicant without the need to ask the student鈥檚 race and hear the student鈥檚 thoughts without interference from artificial intelligence that may 鈥渆nhance鈥� a student鈥檚 application.

How We Will Support Students?

At 黑料大事, we believe every student brings a rich set of experiences, talents and viewpoints that will inevitably add to the learning and growth of their future classmates and will enrich the elaborate tapestry of their future school communities. Simply put, nothing has changed in how we will approach the college application. We will continue to do what we have always done. We will find opportunities throughout the college application process to illuminate what makes each student unique, special, and different from every other talented student who is applying to their target schools and will communicate 鈥� emphatically — why any college would be lucky to have them join their incoming class and community for life.

Stef Mauler

President, 黑料大事

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Demonstrated Interest

Demonstrated interest includes all the ways students show they like a school. Why do colleges care if you like them? They are the ones making the decision, right?听 Well, not exactly.

A college鈥檚 reputation is determined by many things: winning football team, cool location, or famous alumni. But, one of the top drivers of a school鈥檚 popularity is its ranking; and, one of the top drivers of a school鈥檚 ranking is yield. 听Simply put, yield is the percent of students who accept a school鈥檚 offer of admission. The higher the yield, the higher the rank, and the more popular the school becomes. A student who takes the time to invest in learning about the school demonstrates interest and gives admissions the confidence that, should the student be offered a place in the incoming class, he or she is more likely to accept which increases yield, rankings, and popularity. It creates a virtuous cycle of selectivity (and tuition dollars).

According to The National Association of College Admissions Counselors , 40% of colleges considered demonstrated interest to be of considerable or moderate importance in making admissions decisions. However, the advent of COVID in 2020 and the resulting surge in applications, made yields much less predictable. In this post-COVID world, colleges are struggling to accurately forecast the size of their class and, therefore, seem to be putting more and more emphasis on demonstrated interest.

You are likely familiar with the idea that many highly selective schools calculate an 鈥�academic index鈥� to easily compare students鈥� academic performance and competitiveness, but did you know that schools like Wake Forest have long calculated an 鈥淟TA鈥� or 鈥渓ikelihood to attend鈥� score for each applicant, as well? In these cases, a student is given a point value for each possible activity that demonstrates interest. The points are tallied and create an LTA score which, like the Academic Index, is written on the front of the student鈥檚 admission folder for easy reference. When it comes to choosing between 2 students who may look very similar, the student with the higher LTA wins.

Here are some ways you can demonstrate interest at your target schools:

• Register with the admissions mailing list
• Participate in webinars and virtual events
• Open emails AND click on the links, answer the surveys, and show them you read it
• Attend admissions visits to your school
• Visit the campus, register for (and attend) the information session and tour
• Follow them on social media
• Email admissions officers (but don鈥檛 be annoying)
• Write a strong supplemental 鈥淲hy鈥� essay that shows your understanding of the school鈥檚 culture, educational philosophy, mission, academic and extra-curricular offerings
• Apply early
• Recognize that nothing is optional (interview, video, supplemental essays, etc.)

The ultimate demonstration of interest is to apply under the school鈥檚 binding early decision deadline if they offer it. But, if you aren鈥檛 able to do that, take the time to invest in the checklist above.

Stef Mauler

College Coach

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• Do I or don鈥檛 I wear a mask?
• Do I or don鈥檛 I get a vaccine?
• Do I or don鈥檛 I visit my aging grandmother in the senior living center?
• Do I or don鈥檛 I party in South Beach for Spring Break?
• Do I or don鈥檛 I take standardized tests?

Well, we are not here to debate politics or COVID policies; we leave you to do that at your Thanksgiving dinner. And, we have already answered the last question, Do I or don鈥檛 I take standardized tests? (spoiler: the answer is yes). But, now the question is, 鈥渘ow that you have taken standardized tests, should you submit the scores?鈥�

The answer is not so simple and may vary depending on the schools to which you are applying. So, to simplify your choice on a school-by-school basis, follow the pictogram below:

Infomatic modified from Chamberlain College Consulting

Stef Mauler

President, 黑料大事

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Why would students put in countless hours of studying, practice tests and anxiety that standardized tests require and why would parents invest money in test prep and time in nagging their kids to study if it won鈥檛 make much of a difference?

Well, not so fast. Maybe it still does.

In speaking with admissions officers at many highly selective universities, the overarching sentiment is that this period of 3-4 years is a 鈥渢est,鈥� a 鈥渨ait and see鈥� to determine how test-optional admissions policies will impact overall outcomes. While it is likely that many schools, like the University of California system, will end SATs and ACTs indefinitely, the jury is still out on the rest of the higher education landscape.

The question is, 鈥淎re test-optional schools truly test-optional?鈥�

Upon examining the data from the 2020-2021 admissions cycle collected by Compass Prep, it appears that submitting test scores is advantageous for both public and private institutions, both small liberal arts colleges and large research universities.

Boston University: 42% of applicants submitted scores; 25% of those who submitted scores were admitted; 14% of those who did not submit were admitted

Emory University: 50% of applicants submitted scores; 28% of those who submitted scores were admitted; 13% of those who did not submit were admitted

Georgia Tech: 63% of applicants submitted scores; 23% of those who submitted scores were admitted; 10% of those who did not submit were admitted

Notre Dame: 51% of applicants submitted scores; 19% of those who submitted scores were admitted; 10% of those who did not submit were admitted

University of Virginia: 58% of applicants submitted scores; 26% of those who submitted scores were admitted; 14% of those who did not submit were admitted

Source: Compass Prep

Across the board, we see an overall advantage for students who submitted scores over those who didn鈥檛. Now, that might be because the students who submitted scores were those who had scores within the range of admitted students and were stronger candidates, overall. But, in a process that depends on so few pieces of information 鈥� some numbers, some letters, and a few short writing pieces 鈥� I would posit that having more information is better than less. And, once admitted, standardized test scores can have big implications on important factors such as merit aid and course placements.

So, for the time being, I am encouraging all students to prepare for standardized tests as they always have. The good news is that they can approach them with less anxiety since, we are still living in a 鈥渢est-optional鈥� world and they still have the power to decide whether they should submit those scores or not.

Stef Mauler

President, 黑料大事

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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems we wake up every morning, holding our breath, to see what changes are occurring around us. That is nowhere truer than in the state of college admissions. This morning, I attended a web conference with admissions officers from American University, George Washington University and University of Maryland and they tried to help us navigate this unprecedented time. While many admit they are currently focused on the class of 2024 (current high school seniors) and don’t yet have the answers for our current high school juniors, the one big take away was to remember that admissions officers are staffed by human beings who have hearts and are empathetic to your plights. They are doing their best to serve your needs, along with the needs of their respective institutions. Right now, we are in a mode of “wait and see.” While that may not offer too much comfort to understandably anxious students and their understandably anxious parents, I hope you will take some solace in the number of institutions who have announced a test-optional policy for the 2020-2021 application cycle. As of April 14, 2020, here is the current list (please check with individual schools for the most up to date information):

2020 New Test-Major Optional Colleges or Other Major Testing Changes as of April 2020-in alphabetical order.

• 础尘丑别谤蝉迟听is now test optional for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle.They are no longer considering SAT subject tests or taking admissions deposits. They no longer require SAT or ACT scores for transfer applicants.
• Babson College听goes test optional for one year. It will review its policy next spring.听
• Boston University听is now test optional for next year, and will reconsider its decision next year.听
• Case Western听becomes test-optional for 2020-2021. “We are test-optional for students entering in the fall of 2021. We will determine policies for future classes in winter 2020/21. Students who want to submit their scores may self-report by completing the form on their applicant portals.听
• Center College听releases three year test optional policy.听
• Chapman听is now tested optional for 2020-2021. Those who were home-schooled or attended a high school that provided a narrative transcript will be required to submit a standardized test score with their application.听/ In addition, all applicants听who are non-native English speakers must submit proof of English proficiency. Students who score at least a 600 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section, or a 24 on both the ACT English and Reading sections, will automatically have this requirement waived. For more information, visit our听.
• Colgate College听goes test optional for one year听
• College of Wooster听goes test optional permanently.听
• Davidson College听announces its own 3 year test optional policy.听
• Haverford College听launches three year test optional policy.听
• Indiana University-January 22, 2020-Indiana University goes test-optional for Fall 2021.听.听See Indiana University listing for details.
• Lawerence University听goes test optional.听
• Middlebury College听announces three year test optional policy.听
• Northeastern University听announces one year test optional policy. The new policy does not apply to admissions requirements for the Northeastern University School of Law juris doctor program.
• Northern Illinois University听becomes test-optional.听All applicants with a 3.0 GPA or higher in a college preparatory program will be guaranteed admission with no need to submit standardized test scores. The exception: applicants to the Nursing program must submit scores.
• Oregon State University听is going test-optional. More details to follow on their site.听
• Rhodes College听announces it will go test optional for the next three application cycles.听
• St. Mary’s of Maryland听becomes test-optional.听听All applicants except (1) who have been home-schooled; (2) who were taught in a non-traditional academic setting (i.e. without course-specific grades, pass/fail only grading scales, or narrative transcripts); and/or (3) who must demonstrate English language proficiency (i.e., are required to take an English language proficiency examination). All applicants will submit scores after admissions for institutional research purposes.听
• Santa Clara听goes test optional for the next two years.听
• Scripps College听is now test optional.听
• TCU听goes test optional for next year: a temporary decision. Read more.
• Tufts University听pilots 3 year test optional policy.听
• Vassar听goes test optional for the next application cycle and then will re-evaluate.听
• The听University of Washington听announces one year test optional policy听. International students are required to submit English proficiency exam scores that meet the听. In recognition of the COVID-19 pandemic鈥檚 global impacts, the UW will also accept the听听for any summer/autumn 2021 applicants.
• Williams College听launches one year test optional policy.听

The best advice I can offer to you now is to focus on the things you can control – your grades, your activities, your families – and leave the rest to the college experts. I have no doubt they will figure it out before the next application cycle begins.

List courtesy of All College Application Essays听

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Without the opportunity to attend an Admitted Student鈥檚 Day or, even, make one last trip to campus, what鈥檚 a high school senior to do? While there is nothing that can truly replicate an in-person college visit, there are many resources students and families can leverage to evaluate colleges remotely. Here are a few suggestions:

1. College Websites: So, this is obvious, but college websites offer a lot of great information. Go beyond the data you have already researched like the majors they offer and the nuts and bolts of the admissions process to learn more about what life on campus will really be like. Dig into the curriculum requirements and extra-curricular opportunities for your desired major. See what type of learning support services they offer, such as quant labs or free essay editing workshops. Learn about academic advising resources – both those that will help you graduate-听 and those that will help you prepare for graduate school and/or a specific career track. Look into student life by reading about school traditions, popular sports teams and on campus clubs and activities. Visualize your life on campus, the activities in which you will participate and the social network of which you will be a part. If you can’t see your life there now, perhaps you should move to the next school on your list.
2. Virtual Tours: Many colleges offer virtual tours for students who aren鈥檛 able to visit campus. For those that don鈥檛, here are a few private companies that offer virtual campus tours, as well:
   • Campus Reel:
   • E Campus Tours:
   • You Visit:
   • YouTube:
3. Campus Newspaper: Get your hands on a copy of the campus newspaper – either a paper or online version. Since the newspaper is run entirely by students for students, it will give you unfiltered access to the hot topics that are enveloping campus (and scandals), a sense of the campus political climate and opinions of students (see the editorial section).
4. Fiske Guide: Review legitimate third-party reviews of colleges like The Fiske Guide to get an unbiased account of the campus experience. Unlike blogs or sources like College Confidential (which is often biased based on the student鈥檚 experience 鈥� positive or negative), Fiske takes a measured approach to visit campuses, interview students and faculty and assess campus culture and social life to reveal the good, the bad and the ugly.
5. College Admissions Offices: The impacts of COVID-19 are changing daily. As a result, many college admissions offices are still figuring out how to navigate this new world. Stay connected to your college admissions offices by following them on social media, reviewing their websites for announcements and remaining in touch with your regional admissions officers. Once a college has admitted you, they want you to attend. They will surely develop a plan to showcase what makes them special and help you decide whether they are the right school for you.
6. Alumni: Contact your college local alumni chapters to see if you can meet with former students who have had first-hand experience with the colleges in question. This will tell you two things: (1) the level of responsiveness and willingness of alumni to meet with you will indicate how strong the sense of community is and (2) you will gain some insight about what it鈥檚 really like to be a student 鈥� even if some of the information may be a bit dated.
7. Your Application: Review your application, particularly your 鈥淲hy Essay.鈥� Are the attributes that initially appealed to you about this school still valid or has your thinking evolved through your college application process? If you were to restart your college list now, what qualities would dominate your list and which of your college options embodies them most strongly?

The reality is that there are many schools where you will get a great education and will be happy for the next four years. Take the time to do your research and make a sound decision. But rest assured that, whatever decision you make, it will probably be a great one. Happy hunting!

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So, how can you distinguish an independent educational consultant who is an ethical professional, working with your student鈥檚 best interest as their primary goal from the few who are sub-optimally educated, or worse?

Even for those IECs who are on the up and up, it鈥檚 important to understand that not every IEC is a good match for every family. In addition to professional expertise, personality type, communication style, support levels and working processes are all factors that will impact how successful your relationship is with your IEC and how likely you are to achieve your college admission goals, as a result.

When looking for an IEC, do your research. We are talking about your time, money and your child鈥檚 college prospects so spending some time up front to find the right person to join your student鈥檚 college admissions team is critical. Don鈥檛 be shy about meeting with a few different professionals to determine who the right partner for your family is.听 And, when you do, here are some questions you should ask:

1. What is your college admissions philosophy?
2. How does your approach differ from others in your industry? What makes you distinctive? What are your areas of specialty?
3. What services are included in your offering? What services are outside of your offering?
4. Do you have expertise in [athletic recruiting/LD/performing arts/service academies/financial aid/scholarships]?听Be wary if you find someone who claims to have expertise in everything.
5. How long have you been working as an IEC? What was your background previously?
6. How many clients do you work with?
7. What steps do you take to help my student determine the best fit schools?
8. How many schools do you visit each year? How do you keep up with trends in the industry?
9. Do you belong to any professional associations, such as IECA, HECA, AICEP or NACAC?
10. Do you accept any compensation or incentives for referrals to schools, test prep partners or other partners you might recommend?
11. What can I expect in terms of frequency or type of meetings? Do you work on evenings/weekends/etc.?
12. Will my student meet with you or with someone else on your team?
13. What type of pricing do you offer? Hourly or package?听 Why is that your policy?
14. If I have a quick question, what is the best way to get it answered? Will you take a 5 minute phone call or answer a text or do I need to schedule an appointment?
15. What do you expect from my student/my family for this to be a successful partnership?

Finding the right IEC to partner with your child can be a tremendous asset in helping you navigate the college application process effectively and with minimal stress. With a little bit of research 鈥� and the right interview questions 鈥� you are well on your way to finding the right person to add to your college admissions team.

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With college deadlines just around the corner, it is time to kick it into high gear! Don鈥檛 tire out on turkey. Use the Thanksgiving holiday to finish up your college applications. 听Even if you haven鈥檛 started your applications, there is still time.听 I have made an easy to follow schedule that鈥檒l help you navigate the college admissions puzzle and it even sets aside time to enjoy family and watch football.

So, what exactly should you be doing over Thanksgiving to perfect your applications? Although it may be tempting to jump right into those essays to cross this big item off of your to do list, take a step back.听 The most important part of your college application is your admissions strategy.听 So, begin by working on your Unique Value Proposition. What do you want colleges to know about you?听 Think about what you have to offer your dream college and what differentiates you from other candidates. Don鈥檛 be vague and don鈥檛 be boring! Do you have a passion for marine biology? Are you passionate about a favorite charity or are you a competitive flutist?听 Do you want to study international relations and work for the UN? Focus on your unique talents and interests.

If you have yet to start your essay, don鈥檛 panic. Think about what every other part of your application says about you first.听 Your transcript and test scores will tell schools what type of a student you are and what your academic interests might be.听 Do you challenge yourself with more advanced classes and, if so, how do you perform in them?听 Next, your activity list and resume will show colleges how you spend your time outside of class and how you might contribute to your college community.听 Will you star in the school play or lead the school newspaper?听 If your colleges require recommendations, those should validate what鈥檚 been said thus far and add more color about your character and personal qualities. 听Hopefully, you have already requested them but, if not, be sure to help your recommenders get them in on time by giving them an information packet which includes your resume, GPA, and a summary of how you distinguished yourself in that class or community.

Only now should you get to your essays.听 What鈥檚 missing from the picture you want to present? Focus on what sets you apart. For example, think about an experience that has challenged you and discuss what you learned from that experience. 听In my experience, a solid college essay takes five drafts before it is ready to submit, regardless of how strong a writer you are. So, brainstorm your essay topic and work on a draft daily. 听听By the end of the weekend, you should be prepared to submit a great college applications.

When I was writing听, I included specific examples, details, and guidelines and downloadable templates so that students have all the resources to submit effective college applications with minimum stress.听It鈥檚 a step-by-step college听听that I wished I had as a college-bound senior and I know that this straight forward Thanksgiving Timeline will soothe your fears. 听For a limited time, you can purchase听听for $150 off the original value. But just like your college application has a deadline, the offer does too.听 The promotion will end on Cyber Monday, while quantities last.

Yes, the deadline is almost here鈥ut don鈥檛 give up just yet. If you dedicate the time to your application this coming week, you will be stress free by Winter Break. So, stop stressing and follow my work plan one exercise at a time.

For a detailed timeline on how you can finish your college applications over Thanksgiving, click the link below:

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So, read the marketing materials and check out the websites to get an idea of what the college thinks is important you know, but go a step beyond to read unbiased third-party research like that offered by The Complete Candidate college admissions system.听 But, the best way to find out about a school is: GO, SEE, And DO.听 GO to campus, SEE how students interact with each other and with faculty and staff, DO your homework.听 You can start visiting colleges as early as middle school.听 At most schools, tours and information sessions are free and easy to schedule online.听 So, start at home.听 I鈥檓 amazed how many students have never visited campuses in their own hometown?!

Spend two hours on a Saturday morning touring your local college, even if you have no intention of applying.听 The more college campuses you visit, the more you will get an idea of the things you like and, as importantly, the things you don鈥檛.听 And, don鈥檛 think of this as work or research; many tours offer entertaining historical facts, stories and traditions.听 So, when you are on a family holiday, make it a priority to briefly veer from your itinerary and make a short stop at a college campus or two.听 If someone offers you tickets to a college athletic event this fall 鈥� go!听 What a wonderful opportunity to observe a college campus, experience the school spirit and get a firsthand glimpse of what that school looks like from the inside. The same advice goes for theater productions, museum exhibits, academic programs 鈥� GO, SEE, DO!

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Some students enjoy writing and, therefore, look forward to their college essay.听 Others cringe at the very thought.听 Regardless of which camp you fall into, whether you are a strong or weak writer, you have probably never faced an essay like a college essay. But, don鈥檛 panic.听 As the famous saying goes: Keep Calm and Carry On!

A college essay is distinctly different from a typical school essay.听 Whereas school essays are about analysis and logic, a strong college essay demonstrates self-reflection and insight.听 School essays turn the lens outward; college essays turn the lens inward.听 This is the only chance in your application to tell your story听in your own words,听not in the words of your teachers鈥� recommendations or the numbers in your transcripts and test scores.

This is the piece of your application package that is most within your control, so run toward it, not away from it.

There are countless websites and books dedicated to the topic of college entrance essays. But, stop! Let me save you some money and time. The purpose of the college application essay is threefold:

1. To determine whether or not you can write.
2. To get a better understanding of who you are and what makes you tick.
3. To determine if you are capable of college-level insight.

Depending on your target college list, you will likely have many choices of essay topics.听 Your essay could address any number of things such as a passion of yours, an obstacle you overcame, or perhaps an issue that resonates deeply with you. When choosing your topic, first think about what you want the reader to know about you and then choose the question that best allows you to reveal that.

Remember that schools are looking for students who are intellectually curious, passionate, take initiative and who will make an impact. College admissions officers are looking for essays that give them information and insight into who you are.

Regardless of how unique you think your essay topic is, there is a very good chance that many other听听submissions will have an essay about a similar experience.听 Remember this: the experience will likely be commonplace but how it impacted you is unique.

Too many students base their essay on first order insight which is the obvious, everyday experiences and clich茅 learnings that most college applicants will write about. It鈥檚 the essay about the football team that was down 6 points with only 30 seconds to go and [you can guess what happens next] they all pull together to get the winning touchdown.听 Or, it鈥檚 the mission trip where the student works with a group of people who lack most of the amenities we think are pretty basic like shoes, soap, and electricity and yet she is struck by how happy these people are.听 The first order insight is?听 Money can鈥檛 buy happiness, be grateful for what you have.听 Boring.

To stand out, you need to push beyond the surface for a deeper meaning, a second order insight that makes your essay original, memorable and outstanding. What is second order insight? It is a unique essay direction I developed for听听. Follow my counsel and you will deliver an essay that provides college admissions officers with the information about who you really are.

Let me explain. This writing task will take lots of time, thought and, yes, multiple rounds of editing.听 Your essay must reveal what that incident, effort or activity has taught you about yourself or how it has contributed to your intellectual or character growth.听 If you are telling a story, relay the anecdote succinctly, and use the remaining essay to tell how the incident reveals something about you person

ally.

Most importantly, ask yourself probing questions:

• What were you thinking?
• How did you feel?
• What surprised you?
• Was the outcome what you expected?

People often ask what the biggest essay mistakes are.听 We can talk about the topics to avoid or what writing styles d

on鈥檛 work particularly well.听 But, the truth is, the biggest mistake students make is to skip the outline and go straight to the writing. I can hear the groans now!

I know the outline is not the most exciting part of the writing process but it is critical.听 Just like it鈥檚 hard to get into your car and reach your destination without first looking at a map or programming your GPS, it鈥檚 difficult to start writing your essay without knowing where you want to go and how you plan to get there.听 Most essays fall apart on the basic structure and level of insight.听 Both of these issues can be addressed much easier at the outline stage than at the writing stage.

Your essay joins together all the pieces to complete the college admissions application puzzle.听 Once it is assembled, your听听will stand out and place you on top of the stack!

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