Hi friends,
Greetings from Princeton!
The Savvy Applicant weekly email series is where we share important news and actionable guidance on the selective college admissions process. Throughout the year, if you have a question you'd like answered, let us know by replying to this e-mail. If you'd like to share this series with a friend, send them this link.
This week we've been working with our students to plan their future courses. It is certainly true that selective colleges appreciate students who challenge themselves with a rigorous schedule, but (and we wish we didn't have to say this) don't believe anyone who says squeezing that extra AP course in during lunch is going to help you stand out.
When you go see your school counselor, be ready to have a thoughtful conversation about how your interests, goals and other commitments are influencing your curricular choices. He or she may not have much time for you, but the most successful students
learn to nurture this relationship.
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✍️The New Common App Essay Prompt
The common app officially released the personal statement prompts for the 2021-22 application cycle and, as we predicted, they are almost all the same as last year. The only exception is swapping out the "problem" prompt for one specifically focused on the character strength—highly prized by colleges—gratitude. It reads:
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
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Here's what else we want to share with you:
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To Test or Not to Test: As the pandemic continues, almost all colleges that have traditionally required an SAT or ACT are extending test-optional policies through 2022 (current list). Even so, having a high score in your pocket will be advantageous for many schools. Our students start with a diagnostic from Arborbridge Tutoring. Here's why it works.
- The Psychology of Success: At its core the admissions process is a character-based evaluation where colleges are looking for students who aspire to become the best versions of themselves. One of the most foundational ways students set themselves up for success is to develop what Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck refers to as a "growth mindset." A teacher pointing yours out in a letter of recommendation can be quite powerful. To learn more, watch her excellent TED Talk.
- The Rich Get Richer: This weekend, the New York Times published the latest story of the disparity in applications received between the more selective and less selective colleges this year. Universities (like Cornell, NYU, and UCLA) that were already receiving record numbers of applications have received even more, while many other schools are struggling to find enough students to remain financially viable.
Last week, several of our readers wrote to us with an epiphany regarding their personal brand statement. It is one of the techniques that nobody really talks about, but has lots of potential to help students stand out. As Jeff Bezos has remarked, "Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room." Savvy applicants take this to heart.
