College Admissions
The Essay & Interview
The Application
• The high school transcript (course rigor and grades) accounts for
roughly 60 percent of the academic determination of the application.
• AP tests and SAT Subject Exam scores validate student’s course
grades (GPA).
• Students with very high standardized test scores (SAT & ACT) but C
grades are routinely turned down by most highly selective colleges –
student is not working up to potential.
• Teacher recommendations back up student’s transcript and what
s/he has said about him/her self.
Things to check for in your application
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Intellectual enthusiasm
Depth of commitment and leadership
Notable achievements, awards, or leadership
Extraordinary dedication to community service (a featured story in a
local paper)
• Incredible initiative or an unusual level of dedication
• The overcoming of a major disability by becoming a nationally
ranked debater, chess player, musician, etc…
Admission officers look for
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patterns
academic interest
leadership ability
in-depth involvement
dedication to one or more activities
***and above all***
• a real passion for something
Examples
• If you claim to be interested in a subject, back it up with an outside
class at the local college in that subject or volunteer in that field.
• If you are an editor of the school paper -attend a journalist camp in
the summer
• If you love a special area – work with a teacher independently on a
special research project or paper (Focus Project)
The Essay
• Selective colleges put a great deal of emphasis on the college essay
or personal statement since so many of their classes require a
significant amount of writing.
• A well-written essay can tip the admission decision in the applicant’s
favor; a poorly executed essay can do the reverse.
• For most seniors, the essay is truly the only part of the application
process where they still can affect the admission outcome.
Basic Tips for the Essay Portion
 Answer the whole question.
 Speak directly to the topic.
 Be sure to follow directions as to length and format.
Admissions officers want to find out
• What makes the writer tick
• What kind of person s/he is
• How much intellectual promise one has
• How well s/he thinks and writes
• What excites or motivates the applicant
Show Don’t Tell
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Instead of describing what you are like, let it come across in the
essay. The essay should reveal who you are.
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Rather than listing the accomplishments that appear elsewhere in
the application, let your character and personality shine through.
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Tell a story that only you (the writer) can tell.
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If you come from a troubled background that has shaped you or
have done something truly distinctive, write about it.
Slice-of-Life Essays
• Help the admissions officers understand your character better and
shed light on factors in your background that have influenced what
kind of person you are.
• Concentrate on one incident that sheds light on your personality.
• Take a small, seemingly insignificant incident and elaborate upon it
• Make it come alive
 Use language with which you’re comfortable. The reader should
clearly hear the student’s voice.
 Readers look for persuasive essays. An off beat or unique point of
view about the question posed will make for an interesting essay.
 They want to know that you light up a classroom & make significant
contributions to your classes and to scholarship
***Diligence alone is not enough…
Don’t fall into “Clichéd” categories
• Outward Bound - which usually starts with an enthralling description
of the elements and concludes with something incisive such as,
…and I learned that no matter how hard it is….
• Community Service or How I helped Mankind - which describes how
you went to El Salvador to build houses for Habitat for Humanity and
were shocked at the primitive conditions…
• Or the Eulogy Type - for dear old deceased granddad.
• And finally, remember that there is a big difference between traveling for pleasure verses traveling for personal enrichment
A Final Word about the Essay
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Give it the “So what?” test. Read your essay as if you are an admissions
officer trying to learn more about you. Would they finish your essay and say
“So what?” Be sure you have shown that you will make a unique and
valuable contribution to their school.
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Ask someone you trust to read your essay and determine if your intended
message/theme comes across. Consider a parent, teacher, counselor or
adult friend. Discuss improvements with them.
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Proof it again and again looking for spelling and grammar errors. Don’t rely
only on spell-checkers.
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Follow the college’s specific instructions for getting your essay to them, as it
won’t always be the same.
 When you cut and paste an essay into an online application, keep
suggested length in mind. Although you may be able to attach a
too-long essay, the finished product may be cut off when it reaches
the admissions office.
For example, the University of California’s 600-word essay will
be truncated at 630 words.
• If it is uploaded or sent via some other electronic method, try to
check to be sure it was successfully transmitted.
The College Interview
• Purpose: To help the college gather further information about your
suitability as a candidate and to help you determine if this college is
a good match.
• Before the Interview: Evaluate yourself: identify your strengths,
interests, weaknesses. Compose a list of questions about this
college and its admissions process. Dress comfortably but
appropriately.
• At the Beginning: Shake hands with the interviewer; look the
interviewer directly in the eye; know the interviewer’s name-ask him
or her to repeat it if you did not hear it the first time; introduce your
parents, if they are with you, and then invite them to leave.
An interview can last an hour and can be divided into six different parts:
• Personal Background: Where you have grown up, your parent’s
occupation/interests, information about siblings and colleges
attended by family members. The purpose is to put you at ease.
• Academic Background: Information about Indian Springs and your
curriculum. Why you have taken certain classes and any academic
awards.
• Extracurricular: What activities mean the most to you and why?
Have you had any specific roles within an activity?
• Academic Interest: What are you interested in studying and how
have these interests developed? What are you future career goals?
• College Choice: What are you looking for in a college/university?
What expectations do you have in a school?
• Why this school: What brings you to this particular school? How
does this school fit into your criteria?
Questions to expect:
• Tell me about your high school – what kind of environment does it
have?
• What has been the most difficult course you have taken during high
school?
• Is there a specific teacher or course that has really caught your
interest? Can you explain why?
• What has been the most exciting academic project you done in high
school? What has been your most significant academic
accomplishment?
• Tell me what you have read outside of school lately.
• How would you use your talents at our university
• What has been the most significant personal challenge you have
ever faced?
• If I were to visit your school and talk with some of your friends, how
would they describe you to me?
• What are your plans for after college?
• What specific questions can I help you with?
After the Interview: Thank the interviewer, shake hands, say good
bye. Write a thank you note to the person who interviewed you.
The information in this presentation
came from the following Sources:
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A is for Admissions
Get into College
College Board
Get in 2 college