<p>I interpreted Mollie’s point to be simply that it’s important to present your strengths fully and completely in an application. </p>
<p>Adcoms don’t see the person, they see the file. So if you are not admitted, that decision is not based on whether or not you are intrinsically a unique, interesting person who could add a great deal to the campus. It’s based on whether your paperwork presents you that way, or not. Part of your paperwork consists of your essays, but don’t forget, it also consists of letters of recommendation and (ideally) a report from an interviewer. A variety of people have the chance to weigh in on your strengths. I think that on CC, when everyone just looks at the stats, many people forget about this aspect.</p>
<p>In my daughter’s class a boy who’d been an Eagle Scout and on the robotics team was admitted. Why him? There were probably scores of male applicants with those two activities and with equally high standardized scores. What I remember about him, though, is that he was also a varsity ski jumper. Pretty unusual.</p>
<p>There was also a girl from a rural area who was very interested in science. I think perhaps she had done a research project. She had equally high standardized scores. Why her? She lived on a cattle ranch and had participated on many cattle drives over the years. Pretty unusual.</p>
<p>One of my daughter’s best friends had been interested in computers for years, and had tinkered around building stuff. She had equally high standardized scores. Why her? She also was a highly gifted varsity athlete in two sports: volleyball and baseball.</p>
<p>These are just three examples, but I could go on and on. Did you know that Piper on this board flew airplanes in high school? My daughter’s application included a lot of information about math, science, but she also wrote about art and submitted a portfolio. This year, and the previous two years, she designed the poster that went out in the tubes. The point I’d emphasize is that ALL OF THESE STUDENTS had great grades and test scores in math and science. When you read some people on this board claiming that kids get in who can’t handle the math and science, don’t believe it, because it’s not the case.</p>
<p>Here’s some advice for any student thinking of applying to college. Sit down and think about finishing this sentence: “I’m probably the only kid in my high school who has …” Think about what really makes you different and unique. You can convey this information in your essays, but think also about adults who know you and can fill out of the complete picture.</p>
<p>And you know what? If you do all of that, and you still don’t get in to MIT, you will land somewhere else where you can thrive.</p>