<p>I am applying for rolling admission at several schools because I got rejected at the only school I applied to. What makes an applicant special? Or what catches the admission office eyes? Thanks for your help! I am huge in lacrosse also. I have had college letters from lacrosse coaches and I also am huge in photography.</p>
<p>Bump!! I need advice</p>
<p>Before you go running off chasing rolling-admissions schools, sit back a moment and ask yourself if this is really what you need to be doing? Why the urgency to enroll in BS this fall?</p>
<p>I have put a lot of thought into it and it is what I need.</p>
<p>I asked about your seriousness, because the fact that you applied to only one school casts doubt on the sense of urgency to enroll this fall.</p>
<p>Plenty of people apply to only one school regardless if they are serious or not. I would not take the time to do anything if I wasnt serious.</p>
<p>I’m not making a decision. I’m doing rolling admission.</p>
<p>At this late date, unless you are a full pay, your chances are pretty low - and even then you’re not going to be looking at top schools anymore. They’re all full and closing their waiting lists.</p>
<p>The SSAT site posts schools that still have openings (again - almost all for full pays). But they aren’t likely going to be schools on your radar. Still - it might be what you need.</p>
<p>I concur with GMT. If you were serious about boarding schools you would have noticed that all the advice on this board for years has been to apply to more than one school. They’re all trying to choose a handful of students from thousands of applications. Applying to one has worse odds then picking the right number on a roulette wheel on the first spin.</p>
<p>I am full pay</p>
<p>Being full pay is not a slam-dunk for admission</p>
<p>I know that. I have more to me than money.</p>
<p>In light of another recent thread, one could say this is the 2 million dollar question.</p>
<p>In all seriousness, I don’t think anyone can actually tell you. It’s been said that the schools try to “build a class”…and I take that to mean different kids will be admitted for different reasons. There is no single secret formula that guarantees admission. If there was, I think we’d see everyone getting in everywhere they applied.</p>
<p>My own POV is that schools like to see kids who are truly engaged in their studies AND some ECs AND who have SSAT scores that indicate they will be able to handle the rigor of a particular school. I think a sense of modesty helps, as does a more positive “aw shucks, I’ll try anything” outlook…these last two are not necessarily common traits in today’s teen culture.</p>
<p>I know there is nothing anyone can tell me to make me get in but thank you for your help! I was just asking what makes an applicant stand out?</p>
<p>I would speak to your parents about hiring a consultant. You need someone who knows the schools, can get to know you and make some educated suggestions on how you should proceed.</p>
<p>What exactly is that And how would I go about that? Thanks for the advice</p>
<p>What makes an applicant stand out? Passion for something. Not following the same path as everyone else. Have good grades, good test scores and THEN on top of that, is unique among the student body (as opposed to one of many.)</p>
<p>Here’s the deal - and some of us have seen this happen. You can be a full pay applying at this late date and some school, somewhere, is going to take you. Because it’s four years of revenue. But do you want to be seen as a source of revenue? Or as someone who will be a good addition to the student body?</p>
<p>If that is the case, the first thing people are going to wonder is why you waited so late. </p>
<p>None of us knows the answer in your case. And honestly a WHOLE lot of full pay kids were declined in the most recent March 10th decisions. The best you can do is call an awful lot of schools and not get your heart set on the top-tiered schools because - trust me - they are full right now and many are closing their waitlists.</p>
<p>BTW - having done this for about 30 years - what makes a kid stand out one year might make them not stand out another year. There is no one “answer” or litmus test. Schools look at the total “package” and trying to guess what they want is as accurate as reading tea leaves.</p>
<p>Something that came up in another thread is that some of the more selective schools might be more inclined to admit “lop-sided” people (amazing in one aspect/dimension) vs. well-rounded people.</p>
<p>Well, for example, you say you’re very into lacrosse. Are you the leading scorer on your team, team captain, or one of the best kids in the state? You say you’re into photography…have you had any work published, won awards, or been part of a non-school show? Highlights like that might help you stand out.</p>
<p>But keep in mind that even with “highlights” like these, there are kids with similar “highlights” in the pool along with you. And maybe they had better interviews or recommendations.</p>
<p>Thank you for both of your inputs. I am going to apply to a lot of schools and really explain the person/student/athlete I am so they understand me more. Also send lacrosse videos and pictures and all the awards. I am captain of the jv team my school and was all state also send some of my photography and have several recommendations. I am very good at public speaking and talking to people so my interviews will be no problem. I got denied at the schools I applied to. That is why I am doing this so late. I didn’t fully think about what I wanted in a school which was foolish on my part but this experience means a lot to me.</p>
<p>Bump please:))</p>
<p>Is there something in your past that you aren’t mentioning ? Perhaps the school found out .</p>