<p>On a long drive home this afternoon I found myself thinking about all the brilliant, accomplished applicants who are rejected from their dream schools and what piece of advice I would give them to make their application stronger. My hypothesis is that applicants who are comfortable and confident talking to adults have higher acceptance rates than do students who might have higher scores yet who lack the ability to engage in conversation with an adult.</p>
<p>My suggestion is to use this Thanksgiving holiday as a time to practice talking to grownups, even ones in your family. Listen to them, learn to ask questions that will prolong the conversation, and practice being comfortable answering questions with a complete, articulate response.</p>
<p>I believe that schools value students who will be able to engage with their teachers, their advisers, and other adults in the school community. This doesn't mean that you have to be an extrovert, but you do need to interact with those around you. Your school visit is the time to show that you possess these qualities. Please talk to your tour guide, don't let your parents do the talking for you. If the admissions office receptionist talks to you, don't be afraid to engage in a conversation. Admission reps are usually very friendly people who enjoy meeting and getting to know applicants. Help them out by holding up your end of the interview. You might be surprised that your interview was actually an enjoyable conversation!</p>