@Hanna “On CC, I mostly see “packaging” used as a slur.”
It depends. I think helping my student is “presenting.” Helping someone else’s student is “packaging.” lol
Regarding Googling, I do not think admissions committees are routinely Googling applicants unless they are given a specific reason to do so. They can barely spend 4 minutes on an application given the high volumes coming in the door. Of course you don’t want party pics coming up if someone Googles, but time is MUCH better spent fine tuning and proofreading the application you know they will read rather than worrying about web presence.
How do you package a kid with less than stellar stats and ECs. Our DD has low test scores (under 1200 and unlikely to get any better due to the refusal to do any prep) and decent grades (hoping to finish junior year with unweighted 3.5 but more likely 3.3-3.4). She has virtually no EC’s except for a couple part time jobs and working as a camp counselor during the summer. Her course load has not been very demanding (couple honors and 1 AP this year) and not registered for any APs next year.
@DCNatFan you tell her story. She’s more than her stats… What interests her?
That said, she should apply to schools where her stats are in the middle range, and you can afford.
Let me say what I am getting out of this discussion is to emphasize qualities that separates you from rest of student, so if some one knows how to reach out and get fruitful results show this quality in the essay. One has already achievements to prove it that she used this technique to advance her cateer. Am I right that this is what one need to emphasize a quality that is predominant trait of a student? thanks
Parents am I thinking correctly or missing it
“How do you package a kid with less than stellar stats and ECs. Our DD has low test scores (under 1200 and unlikely to get any better due to the refusal to do any prep) and decent grades (hoping to finish junior year with unweighted 3.5 but more likely 3.3-3.4). She has virtually no EC’s except for a couple part time jobs and working as a camp counselor during the summer. Her course load has not been very demanding (couple honors and 1 AP this year) and not registered for any APs next year.”
@DCNatFan , this probably belongs on another thread since it’s specifically related to your DD, but… after having read multiple posts from you about your DD, it might be reasonable to step back and think about who wants this more - you or her? She won’t do test prep, refuses to sign up for APs or challenging courses, isn’t a great student, yet is incredibly picky about what type of college atmosphere she demands. Maybe it’s time to let her develop the motivation to figure some of this out?
Regarding googling and internet presence, besides the fact that AOs generally don’t have time for this, there is the fact that what they see online may not actually be associated with the student who’s application they are reviewing.
If you google my son’s name and look under “images” the first one you see is a mug shot of a kid that was arrested for vandalism in Ohio. The second image you see is a photo of my son. The vandal is the same age, build, and race as my son, and he has the same hair and eye color. When you see these two images online, side by side, you could easily believe that the vandal and my son are the same person – they look that similar.
If I were an AO and somehow had time to google, I still wouldn’t do it because I wouldn’t be positive that what I saw online was truly related to the kid who’s application I was reviewing. The kid is those “party photos” that pop up in a search may be someone else entirely.
Regarding googling and the internet
D was at her interview at Brandeis, on campus, and was speaking of her acappella group and mentioned that she had put together a Facebook page for the group and a web page. Well as soon as she said that, the adcom pulled out his laptop and asked her to show it to him. He then proceeded to listen to videos of the group performing at a nursing home. Luckily everything worked properly and everything she had said was there for him to see. She was admitted and offered a top merit scholarship.
She later found out that another original member of the group was putting on his resume etc that he was the founder and co-director of the group. Which was not the case. I think he was treasurer or something. Not offering cause and effect, but he was not admitted to Brandeis.
@milee30 Thanks for the response. It’s a fine line that we are walking between pushing and letting her fall flat. Obviously, we want nothing but the best for her.
^^^ There are colleges for everyone. Your D is not unusual. I think we get caught up in the “achiever model” that is heavily represented on CC. The reality is, most people aren’t looking to get in to top schools and will do perfectly fine at their state U. A problem arises when either student or parent (or both) just aren’t realistic. Important to have realistic expectations. Can’t do regular work and expect outstanding outcome, you get regular outcome.
Regarding fit, there are tons of schools to explore (that she’s a realistic prospect). The same fit criteria applies (size, local, cost, etc.)
If she is unrealistic about the mismatch of her results and a certain set of schools, you may just want to explain that to even have a chance of admission, you have to do these X things (whatever they are). If she’s not willing to do them, she clearly doesn’t want to attend that level of school, and most likely, wouldn’t thrive there.
Have two kids. S is a freshman at highly selective private. He is on that “track”. Has always been a top everything, but more importantly, he cares. Doing well in school has always been a priority for him. D is a different kid. She’s very smart but not academic (big difference). Her focus is musical theater and could care less about traditional classes. I’ve told her many times that you still have to get in to a school to get in to their BFA program. (Turns out some care a lot about regular admissions and others don’t). She does OK in HS . I’ve told her she’s limiting her options. So in reality, she’ll either audition in to a top BFA program (ridiculously competitive but her school does quite well with that) or she’ll go to state U - and save me a bunch of money. She knows attending a leading private for academics is not in the cards (and she doesn’t care).
I think this needs to be repeated loudly and often. There are so many different types of intelligence and different pathways to succeed in life. School and the highly competitive admission process tends to reward only one kind of intelligence.
I don’t think most people find packaging to be bad…any essay is in some way your child’s packaging. What is more offensive is when people say that the make a kid define their activities for the next X number of years based upon what a parent or hired gun thinks will get them into the right school. In my district you now have 11 year olds meeting with “career counselors” so that they can pick the right middle school focus to lead to HS (all public) that leads…well leads to HYPSM because everything else is failure.
Sigh.
Some things are put in motion early in a kids life, even in middle school. For example, 11-year old son wasn’t orginally put in an accelerated program for math and english for 6th grade even though he tested in and had a recommendation from his 5th grade elementary school teacher. Apparently his middle school had many qualified students this year and they only wanted to have 1 class in each accelerated subject. We had to fight hard and petition the principal to let my kid in to these classes. They finally agreed and he is getting A’s in both classes, clearly showing he could handle the course work. Sometimes you need to be an advocate for your kids and put them in an environment to challenge them.
@uskoolfish - Kind of off-topic on my part, but I know of a similar situation at an interview at Brandeis. An applicant mentioned he had loved history since he was young and had memorized all the presidents in order when he was in first grade. The interviewer said, “Let’s hear the list!” So the applicant trotted out the full list, and the two of them laughed together. It broke the ice and made the rest of the interview really fun. I guess they enjoy seeing the ‘proof’ at Brandeis!
Realistically, colleges that are realistic admits for such a student probably weight stats more, since stats vary enough between applicants. So packaging may not have as much effect as for students applying to super selective colleges where they are just another 3.9 or 4.0 student out of many.
However, paid work is a good EC at some colleges.
Can you please pm me? Thx
Two types of packaging, one genuine and one not so much.
- Genuine - crafting the application to tell a consistent narrative highlighting passions, impact and lessons learned. Student doesn't join clubs or do X because it "looks good" on the application. Actually is heavily involved in certain things because they truly enjoy the activity and contribute to the overall experience. Happy!
- Veneer - Plotting a course of action for the purpose of appearing attractive to the admissions officers of highly selective schools. Do this, then do that, then the next thing... opposed to what would be the kid's normal behavior, set of activities, etc. Like anything else, kids excel at things they love. So many of these contrived plans have the student spending time on things they are less interested in, cause burn out, etc. You see it all the time. Sad!
Great “packaging”, IMHO is simply presenting the story of the “natural you” in a compelling way.
The 4 years go by very fast. Before you know it… You are “packaging” again for the first job or grad school. I agree with rickle1.
@twogirls . Except for grad school and jobs they are packaging themselves without our help.
You can always get a large box but I heard oversized wrapping paper is good too. I’m more of the giant gift bag and tissue paper type; this way the kid has some breathing room. Haha in all seriousness for most people you should just present who you are naturally. Don’t pick ECs cause you think the school likes those things, admissions can see right through it. Passion is key. Do what you love, love what you do and everything falls into place. Also work hard in classes and prepare for exams. If you put forth the best most natural app you can then that’s the best you can do. For anyone interested in UCLA admissions just to let you know the readers really are looking at the entire person and can tell the difference between a resume stacker and someone who truly has a passion and love for what they are involved in.