ic S/general/checkmark circled Thanks for subscribing! Be on the lookout for our next newsletter.
ic S/general/checkmark circled
Saved to My Favorites. View My Favorites
Articles / Applying to College / Selling Yourself to Admissions Committees

Selling Yourself to Admissions Committees

Dave Berry
Written by Dave Berry | Aug. 15, 2013

This is the time of the year when so-called “rising” seniors start to wonder what their college futures will hold. Most well-prepared rising seniors use the summer before their senior year to square away their thoughts about which colleges they will pursue and what details are involved in doing that. Of course, the Common Application is the starting line for most college applications these days, although there are some (even notable) exceptions.

For you about-to-be seniors (or current seniors, in case you’re reading this after your senior year has started), perhaps one of the most important aspects of the art of college admissions protocol is revealing to the admissions committees who you are and how you think. Probably the best way to do this is through your essays. Of course the Common Application requires you to write a significant essay in response to one of a number of different prompts. You’ll also have to write your answers to some so-called “short responses.”

The Common App supplements required by many colleges, especially the most competitive ones, further tax your ability to present your best personal qualities. There may be an additional essay or two (or three or four!) plus little questions about the more subtle aspects of who you are. The purpose of my advice here is to give you some guidelines to help you reveal qualities about yourself that you may not have thought of before.


 

So, what follows is a series of questions that will help you pull those formerly little known features about your personality, humor, and other qualities out of the dark and into the light of your applications. Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll be able to use the information in a number of places in those applications.

I suggest that you copy this questionnaire and paste it into your word processor. Then, print it out and work on your responses. Keep them handy because they’ll be a strong advocate for you come application time. Here we go …

Take your time with this and be as expansive as possible. Let your writing flow. Even though there are some obvious questions here (name, email address, etc.), fill out all information. Keep in mind that you’re presenting who you are to people who have never met you.

***

FIRST and LAST NAME:

E-mail address:

– I am a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.  (“X” your answer.)    Yes _____ No _____

– What is your first language: _____________________

– What other languages, if any, do you speak fluently? __________________________

– What is your high school’s track record for sending its graduates to the Ivies and other elite colleges?  Can you cite some specific outcomes from recent graduating classes?

– Does your school’s college counselor have a lot of experience with elite college admissions?  Do you have a good relationship with your counselor?  His/her recommendation will be crucial.  Will your rec from him/her be top notch?

The following “Hodge-Podge” questions will help us get to know you a bit better. Don’t obsess over your answers.  Write what first comes to mind, and don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or sentence structure.  Have fun with these.

– What single achievement are you most proud of?  (It could be something “public” like being a student-government officer or something far more personal, like teaching yourself how to do a back dive or learning to get along with a stepparent.)

– What’s the most difficult thing you’ve had to do in your life?

– What do you do better than almost anyone else?  (Again, it could be a highly visible achievement like leading the basketball team in scoring, or perhaps you’re the only one in your family who can get your little brother to eat broccoli.)

– What’s the nicest thing you’ve ever done for anyone?  (Name a few, if several come to mind.)

– What do you think your teachers say about you when you’re not around?

– What do you think your friends say about you when you’re not around?

– What do you worry about most (besides college admissions)?

– What really makes you laugh?

– What’s your all-time favorite book and why?

– What are your favorite foods? What foods do you avoid (or even spit out)?

– Where do you think you will be and what will you be doing 10 years from now?

– If you could do one thing over in your life, what would it be and why?

– If a highly selective college had to pick between you and one other applicant, why should they pick you?  (Elaborate on this one a bit.  Don’t make it too short.  Be both serious and funny, if you can.  Feel free to make a list of 5 or 10 reasons why they should take you and not the other candidate.)

***

So there you have it. If you take the time to answer all these questions carefully and in depth, you’ll have a solid arsenal of material to use in your applications, especially in those sometimes challenging Common App supplemental essays and short responses.

Once again for emphasis: Your goal for your applications is to tell those admissions committees who you are and how you think. This questionnaire will help you do that.

Don’t waste time. Do it now. You’ll be glad that you did.

**********

Be sure to check out all my college-related articles at College Confidential.

Written by

Dave Berry

Dave Berry

Dave is co-founder of College Confidential and College Karma Consulting, co-author of America's Elite Colleges: The Smart Buyer's Guide to the Ivy League and Other Top Schools, and has over 30 years of experience helping high schoolers gain admission to Ivy League and other ultra-selective schools. He is an expert in the areas application strategies, stats evaluation, college matching, student profile marketing, essays, personality and temperament assessments and web-based admissions counseling. Dave is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and has won national awards for his writing on higher education issues, marketing campaigns and communications programs. He brings this expertise to the discipline of college admissions and his role as a student advocate. His College Quest newspaper page won the Newspaper Association of America's Program Excellence Award, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publisher's Association Newspapers in Education Award, the Thomson Newspapers President's Award for Marketing Excellence and the Inland Press Association-University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Mass Communications Inland Innovation Award for the Best New Page. His pioneering journalism program for teenagers, PRO-TEENS, also received national media attention. In addition, Dave won the Newspaper Association of America's Program Excellence Award for Celebrate Diversity!, a program teaching junior high school students about issues of tolerance. His College Knowledge question-and-answer columns have been published in newspapers throughout the United States. Dave loves Corvettes, classical music, computers, and miniature dachshunds. He and his wife Sharon have a daughter, son and four grandchildren.

More on Applying to College

See all
typing at computer- karolina-grabowska-6958506-resized

Authentic Voice in College Essays

That’s why you want to use your authentic voice when writing any college essay.

So what’s the problem? A student has shared an ess…

college-interview

College Interview Prep Tips: Brainstorm, Research, Analyze, Generalize

I recently visited Washington University in Saint Louis and was lucky enough to set up an interview. By speaking with peers of mi…

campus gates

Academic Index Scores: Why They Matter and How They're Calculated

Note: Click here for 10 Summer Programs You Can Still Apply For or keep reading to learn more about academic index scores.

8 Podcasts for Students Going Through the Admissions Process

7 Podcasts for Students Going Through the Admissions Process

Podcasts can offer a wealth of information to busy students, particularly when it comes to the college admissions process. We…

pexels-yan-krukau-8197544

Avoid College Application Regrets: Tips For Getting It Right the First Time

Decision Day occurs each year on May 1st and is the deadline for students to inform the college of their choice of their intent t…

Get a student loan that goes beyond tuition.

Ascent offers cosigned and non-cosigned student loans with exclusive benefits that set students up for success.

Explore Now!
Find Your Scholarship

Want to find money for school that doesn’t need to be paid back? Access insights and advice on how to search and apply for scholarships!

Search for Scholarship