The TRUTH about getting in?

Applying to College
1

<p>From what I've garnered about the college admission process via campus visits, info sessions, etc., several questions/hypotheses have popped up.</p>

<p>The foremost of these is about getting in, especially into those top-ranked schools. I've been wondering if the statistics really have much to say about a person's qualities aside from reconfirming his or her dedication/prowess in a certain area. Since the top schools will be flooded with applicants with 2300+ SAT scores, 800s on SAT II's, and numerous awards in science, math, writing, and other categorical pursuits, it appears that the only things left to distinguish an applicant to a competitive university are the teacher recs and personal essays.</p>

<p>With these two, the teacher recs will mostly not be overtly helpful, other than revealing personal qualities of a student. All recs are undoubtedly laudatory and written to impress. </p>

<p>This leaves us with just the essays. So my question to you, dear college confidential surfer, is this: Can a well-written essay make or break your chances in getting in to a top college?</p>

2

<p>I believe the old quote concerning essays goes something like this: 'it can possibly heal the sick, but it can never bring back the dead.'</p>

3

<p>Well, for the top schools the good grades are almost like prerequisites, the great EC's are becoming more and more necessary, and the essays+recs are like icing on the cake...IMO.</p>

4

<p>also, on the essay, couldn't another write it?</p>

5

<p>i think at this point the essays can make up for SAT scores...not so much for grades because they are over a longer duration of time</p>

6

<p>OP: You're way off about teacher recs. While many are laudatory, few are compelling. THESE are the ones that make the readers of 1000s notice a particular file.</p>

<p>Unfortunately it's not an exact science. It's more an art than science.</p>

<p>joecollegedad: can someone else write it? Readers generally can spot when the essay isn't in a student's own voice. Of course it's not fool proof. But one tends to believe that a person who is hitting green lights on all areas, doesn't go out and then hire a ghost essayist.</p>

<p>An awesome essay may contrast with the teacher rec who may be laudatory, but may indicate character deficiencies. </p>

<p>Believe me, not 100% of recs are recommendations.</p>

7

<p>The essay can indeed be very important, especially at the high end schools. Because a good one does something that all the stats can't - it tells them a lot about you as a person. It's the main way they can distinguish you from all the other high stat/strong EC/glowing rec kids.</p>

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<p>it can tell the colleges if you bull*<strong><em>ed your way through high school, but you could also bull</em></strong>* the essays by having someone else write it for you..
WTH</p>