As you look at the Common Application you may feel daunted by this massive application as well as the number of essays you need to complete. But, this is something you have control of. You are in the ‘driver’s seat’ here. Essentially, this is a contract of sorts. You fill it in with your personal information, grades, your activities and in some cases your test scores if appropriate. You complete the application appropriately, honestly and with integrity. And hopefully, you complete way before Thanksgiving and submit within the deadlines of Early Action/Early Decision and Regular Decision. As many who have worked with me, the best time to complete all applications is before Thanksgiving so you can have stress free holidays and focus on your exams and have more of a stress free senior year. You want to make sure your grades stay consistent (remember, your acceptance to university is contingent on your grades remaining solid, universities have the right to deny an acceptance if you get into trouble with the law, at school or your grades dip).
You can have the top grades, the perfect activities, the perfect test scores and be the perfect candidate. But yet… There is a why to all of this that knocks students off their feet when a denial or waitlist decision comes in. A college is building a class and students have to be reminded that while being a ‘perfect fit’ for a university a school might be looking for a female tuba player, or some unique ‘something’. It’s not that the student had a bad profile, or that something’s missing. We, as consultants, just cannot guarantee anything, nor can your school counselor.
I recall a student from many years ago from an incredible school who had almost perfect IB grades and an amazing profile. I thought in my head, this student will get into every school he applies to. It will be a ‘clean sweep’. He was perfect academically. Not only academically perfect, his extracurriculars were unique and forward thinking, he was kind, polite and everything anyone could ask for. Who wouldn’t want this student? When we met at coffee shops in person, he would pay for my coffee, not the other way around (I generally pay for treats if meeting at a coffee shop). He did everything right, but yet, he did not get accepted to the high profile schools he was hoping for. The bottom line for this student, he landed where he was supposed to at University of Chicago. He thrived academically and with internships that any student would drool over. In addition, he acquired an amazing friend group. Today, he is in medical school and I would trust him with my life.
The bottom line: Put your best foot forward, balance your list, take it from the student I worked with years ago, be happy with every school on your list, brace yourself and allow yourself to celebrate the accomplishments and acceptances and of course, there will be disappointments as our lives come with disappointments. But, don’t dwell on them. You will go to school where you are meant to go.