How To Be The Strongest Candidate I Can

Parent Cafe
1

<p>hi,
I'm posting this here as opposed to the transfer thread because I know a lot of the parents out there have a lot of experience with the college application process and have a unique view that is generally more inline with the adcom's and also because my own parents aren't very familiar with the american process nor have any desire to be (fair enough, they are canadian).</p>

<p>Anyway, I have a bit of unique situation and therefore I am hoping that there are some out of there who can help me be the best I can be. </p>

<p>My stats:
Female
20
Canadian (will not be applying for fin.aid)
Applying as a transfer to Georgetown to begin soph year
Previously at Queen's University in Canada (on par with McGill, U of T)
Major - political science, Minor - German
Left university with an average of 74.0 or a high B (in Canada, 80 and above constitutes an A and a 4.0 average)
Had 4.0 gpa all throughout highschool
Lots of EC's and awards in highschool
SAT's 1200/1600
ACT's 30
Uni EC's consist of International Affairs clubs, attending foreign policy conferences, tutoring, and model UN
Current EC's (while working 40+ hours a week) are all fashion related. Moderator of a highranking fashion messageboard, taken two evening courses from well respected english fashion/arts universities.</p>

<p>My first year of university was spent abroad in England as part of my canadian university (who happen to own a castle in England in which they have a study abroad program). I LOVED my first year of university and greatly enjoyed my professors. Upon my return to Queen's I became very disenfranchised with the instituiton, did not enjoy my profs that much (most of whom I felt had little to no student interaction), did not enjoy the campus or the people who attended (most of them were from Ontario and I felt led very ontario-centric lives. that is not to say all of them were like, just the onse I encountered). I was also dealing with depression and my parents divorce (which I have mentioned elsewhere but will not bring up any of my essays). I decided Queen's was not the place for me and to give myself some space and experience I moved to London, England right after I turned 19. I still live here and work here full time doing admin. work in the financial district. </p>

<p>Now I am in the process of getting recommendations. I am getting one from an old prof (who I enjoyed greatly but do not know that well), an asst. dean and my gc from higschool (these are all required) and hopefully also my employer. I may also get one from a highranking georgetown alumnus. I feel these, along with my university marks, will be the weakest part of my application.</p>

<p>I do think that Georgetown values international experience and I want to highlight this and show that I am a mature, dedicated student who has an international understanding and perspective. I know that my essays will be important. A parent talked about how people write admissions down to luck, but a lot of it is strategizing. I completely agree. Since Georgetown will be the only american university I am applying to (I am also applying to one or two canadian ones for transfer) I am working to get all my materials submitted as soon as possible to show how interested I am. I have already contacted </p>

<p>What else can I do? Is there any way I can structure my essays and my application to be the best I can? Do you have any words of advice? I want to show that I am unique and perfect for Georgetown.</p>

<p>thanks to all who have taken the time to read this LONG post.</p>

2

<p>"How to be the strongest candidate I can be" by curmudgeon</p>

<pre><code> Short List
</code></pre>

<p>1) Believe in yourself</p>

<pre><code> Long List
</code></pre>

<p>1) Believe in yourself
2) Believe that if they don't want you, you don't need them.</p>

<p>Everything good about this process flows from #1. Everything bad about this process flows from not believing #2. </p>

<p>Good luck. ;)</p>

3

<p>My advice to my son when he was approaching his 1st interview...</p>

<p>They want to know that you've researched the college and have clear and specific reasons as to why you want to go there.</p>

<p>They want to know that you're not going to get drunk and break windows on friday nights.</p>

<p>They want to form a clear impression of how you'll help the school, it's learning environment, it's social atmosphere, or it's reputation.</p>

<p>Seemed to help him focus and do quite well.</p>

4

<p>I think that your strategy, curmudgeon's philosophy and jasmom's advice (especially her first item - very important for a transfer, imo) are all that you need.</p>

<p>I do think you should consider whether a rec from a Georgetown alumnus is a good idea or not. If that person has known you as a prof, as an employer, in some professional capacity.... this type of recommendation could be a good idea. If it is a high-placed family friend, it could smack of trying to "pull strings" and could hurt rather than help.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

5

<p>hmm yes that was mentioned in another thread. I am just worried as that is one of the weaker areas of my app......not having good enough rec's</p>

6

<p>Well, the good recs do need to come from people who know you as a student, a worker, a volunteer. Something like that. Not a well-placed friend or relative. Aren't Georgetowns apps due in March? That gives you a lot of time to cultivate a relationship you do have with an employer, a mentor, a professor from the past. I would work on that, if it is possible.</p>

7

<p>lift weights.</p>

8

<p>Other than bulking up any more suggestions? Am I doing things in the right order? I find I become incredibly paranoid and really stressed out over the little things. Like the envelope I had didn't shut properly so I had to tape it shut and then spent 5 minutes trying to tape it in a way that wouldn't put the adcom off of me. Is this normal?</p>

<p>I'm sending out my deans report, prof's report and secondary school report to the respective people today....</p>