It’s almost December, which means that you have about a month to finish both your common app essay and your supplements. We’re often asked about strategies for early decision and regular decision, and the truth is that our approach doesn’t change depending upon when you apply. We work with our clients to brainstorm, write, and edit essays (common app and supplements) that stand out, no matter what time of year. The rest of this blog post will provide three tips for getting through the rest of the year:
Bad College Essay Examples
One of the best ways to figure out what you are going to write about is to cross things off of your list that simply won’t work. TKG clients often come to us with essays that they want to rework and refine, but when the topic itself is problematic, we have no choice but to start over. Let’s go over a few common topics that you should avoid.
Best College Essay of All Time
If you’re familiar with our blog, you know that we’ve written tons of guides about writing your college essay. You should also know that the best college essays of all time are about the person who wrote them. They’re about you, and they shed light on an aspect of your personality that can’t be discerned from the rest of your application. Everyone has grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. We even like to pretend that you’re applying alongside of a very large group of students who have the same exact academic profiles as you do. So, what’s left? Everyone also has different personality traits, and colleges are looking to admit students with all different kinds of soft skills, traits, and quirks. The best college essays explain those traits in the form of a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
Deferred Early Action – Help
It’s just about that time of year when our phones ring off the hook and people start calling us in search of help after being deferred from a dream school. We are here to remind you that yes, even if you got deferred, it’s going to be okay. A lot of students get deferred. It might even be fair to say that most students get deferred. And despite this unfortunate reality, and the feelings that accompany it, you have no choice but to get your life together. It’s time to make a plan, stick to it, and power through the rest of the year. Here’s how:
Is it Better to be Deferred or Waitlisted?
We all know that colleges want a lot of students to apply. They also love low acceptance rates that boost their rankings. What some people don’t understand is that when colleges accept students, they’re doing a bit of gambling. This is why we stress the importance of writing specific, well-researched and thorough supplements. Before you can be admitted, colleges want to know that you’re going to attend the school, go back year after year, and graduate within four years. This pertains to this blog post because whether you’re deferred or waitlisted, you’re put in a sort of holding tank. They’re essentially waiting to see if A) your application will hold up against the rest of the applicants during regular decision, or B) who else says “yes” before they reach out to you.
How to Write the Notre Dame Supplement 2020-2021
Known for its iconic football team, the Fighting Irish, the University of Notre Dame is a Catholic research university located just outside of South Bend, Indiana. Four out of five of the university’s 8,700 undergrads live on campus. As a somewhat progressive school with a rich tradition, the website says, “It is dedicated to religious belief no less than to scientific knowledge.” The acceptance rate is 16 percent.
Can You Apply to the Same College After Being Rejected Early Decision?
In keeping with our miniseries on forging ahead after deferrals and rejections, we’re here to answer a question that we get frequently. In short, no, unfortunately you can’t reapply to the same college during regular decision if you were rejected early decision. This is a harsh reality, and one of the reasons why we always suggest being realistic when it comes to choosing early decision schools. With that being said, the road does not end here.
Best College Essays Ever Written
If you’ve come to us for a singular topic, you’re out of luck! But stick with us, as we do have tips and tricks. Unfortunately, no one topic is the best topic. We’ve told you what to avoid, the do’s and don’t’s, and how to approach our favorite common app essay prompt. This blog post is about how to hone in on a topic that only you can broach.
Does Deferred from College Mean Rejected?
How to Write A Memorable College Essay
Tips for Revising College Essays
The time has come to ask a terrifying question: “is my common app essay good enough?” This question, of course, is impossible to answer. But in our experience, almost every piece of writing can be improved. We’ve put together a few tips on how to edit your common app essay, and most of these tips can also be used for your supplements:
What To Do If You’re Rejected Early Decision
Getting rejected early decision is undeniably difficult. We suggest that you take a day or two to be upset! It’s not an easy situation to be in, but it does provide true clarity – and you have no choice but to move forward. Setting those wheels in motion, and ASAP, is the best way to figure out more realistic next steps that will result in acceptances at other colleges.
Tips for Early Decision 2 to NYU
How to Write the Mount Holyoke Supplement 2020-2021
Mount Holyoke is a private liberal arts college located in South Hadley, MA. Mount Holyoke is a women’s college—the oldest of the famed Seven Sisters—but it also describes itself as being “…a women’s college that is gender diverse.” The school is also part of the Five College Consortium, meaning students can take classes at four other nearby universities. The student population is just over 2,000 and the student-faculty ratio is 9:1. The acceptance rate is 38%.
College Admission Interview Tips for Extroverts
Preparing for interviews can be anxiety-inducing. In addition to getting clear about what you’re looking for in a school and how you’ll be contributing to life on campus, you’ll also need to navigate your personality. We all have strengths and weaknesses, obviously, and we’ve found that most people who consider themselves to be extroverted are generally less nervous about the prospect of a college interview. Even still, it’s incredibly important to prepare! Keep reading for three tips for extroverts during the interview process:
Should I Apply EDII (Early Decision 2)?
Over the last few years, Early Decision II, or EDII, has risen from a rare option offered by few schools and known by a relative handful of students to a well-known route to admissions. Even until recently, students rarely came to us with EDII in mind. And yet, quite predictably, as more schools have added EDII to their roster of admissions options, more students have jumped at the opportunity.
College Admissions Interview Tips for Introverts
College interviews can be scary for anyone, especially if you struggle to put yourself out there. But we come to you with good news: Colleges aren’t just looking for diversity in terms of what students on campus are studying. They’re also looking for all different kinds of people with varying personality traits. It’s easy to trick yourself into thinking that colleges are looking for every kind of student besides yourself, but fear not! Your reserved nature is not a bad thing. And while we’re on the topic of good news, let’s discuss the college interview. Attending one will show that you’re dedicated and interested in the school. But it’s just as much for you as it is for the school. We totally understand that it feels like you’re sitting in the hot seat, and in some ways, you are, but it’s also a great opportunity for you to learn more about the school and decide if you want to attend. If you consider yourself an introvert, keep reading for three tips on how to prepare:
How to Write the University of Richmond 2020-2021 Supplement Essays
The University of Richmond is located in Richmond, VA with a little more than 3,000 undergraduates. It’s a relatively challenging school to get into and is definitely academically rigorous. With an academic emphasis in the liberal arts, Richmond students rave about small class sizes, a gorgeous campus, and a diverse array of courses and extracurricular available to them. We’re going to walk you through how to tackle their supplement.
What To Do When You Are Deferred Early Decision: Action Items
Getting deferred Early Decision is a uniquely frustrating experience. You’re not accepted, but you’re also not rejected. You still have a chance, but should you keep your hopes up? You can’t re-do your application, but guidance on what you can do is hard to find. Before we get into what you need to do after being deferred, let’s look at why it happened in the first place.
Early Decision 2 School List 2020
Early Decision II is an option that only some schools offer. While we suggest that you do your own research, we’ve put together the below ~non-exhaustive~ list of schools with an Early Decision II application option. In most cases, it’s binding and falls in January. It’s a good option for those students who weren’t quite ready to commit in October / November, but are now ready to decide on an early decision school. We’ve included links to the websites of the colleges so that you can look into the deadlines and necessary supplemental materials.