College Admissions: Kindness & Character Matter in Life & On the Common App Essays 2022-23

Today  I discuss “Character” == essential to becoming a successful student, impactful community member and also relevant to  your college applications. Did you know the Common App 202-23 added a new prompt about “kindness” last year and it continues into this season?   Authenticity is essential to your college applications- so working your kindness muscles throughout high school in meaningful and impactful spaces is always encouraged. Where can you make a difference in your community?

As regular readers of my newsletter know, I emphasize the importance of leveraging the high school experience for ongoing discovery and exploration of potential academic interests. These experiences help each young adult discover more about their academic and personal path and connections with others.

 Are you ready for 2022-23 ? In my newsletters, I’ve been discussing important changes to college admissions planning including course planning, testing (AP, SAT/ACT), financial aid and campus visits.

There’s been a ton of changes to higher education and many more anticipated on the horizon as universities adapted the past two academic years.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of engaging in discovery through extracurricular experiences, included self-directed reading and projects. There’s plenty to do outside of your high school – and I actually encourage this path. Some of these readings and projects may become the basis for submissions to Competitions in STEM, Politics, Business & the Visual & Performing Arts. Some suggestions for competitive venues across these fields were suggested in newsletter link above. I’d welcome the opportunity to help you assess what venues may be appropriate for you. Competition not only builds confidence but increases your chances of college admissions acceptance.  Need suggestions? Need guidance on preparing an essay or project for submission?

Regular readers of my newsletters know that as part of my practice, I often write about trends in education and college admissions as well as highlighting issues impacting the emotional well-being of young adults. In fact, it’s actually one of the issues I dwell upon- students being joyful and curious about their learning should be a priority. No teen should see high school as overwhelming and overscheduled. Today I want to talk about a few recent research studies that echo my message of the importance of

DISCOVERY, PASSION & KINDNESS.

In particular, several of my recent newsletters continue to highlight the importance of high school students engaging in discovery of their emerging interests directed and inspired by personal interests. In my informative pieces on college essays, I I specifically ask: “WHO ARE YOU?” !

“…. I encourage everyone to begin implementing a student-led path of exploration of both personal and academic pursuits throughout middle and high school.

Experiences both within and outside the classroom are transformative and help to shape a young adult’s unique academic and personal identity. Experiences involve connections with family and members of “communities” that help our young adults become more introspective to learn how they will leverage their strength to find their place in the world. These same experiences are also the basis for the essay(s) students will write at the end of their junior year providing readers of the college application with information that reveals who each student has become -and, in particular– the potential impact each young adult may have on a college campus and as a potential alum!

But most important, pre-college experiences build confidence, motivation and better prepare each student for a seamless transition to the undergraduate experience – academic and personal success throughout high school and beyond.”

Congrats!!! A SAMPLE of our recent College Acceptances Include:

UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, Princeton, Cornell, U. Michigan, Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Barnard, Columbia, Smith, Stanford, University of North Carolina, Vassar, Brown, Bowdoin, Wellesley, USC, Emory, U.Illinois, Notre Dame, NYU, Rice, University of Chicago, Washington University (WUSTL), Drexel, Tulane, London School of Economics, Purdue, Swarthmore, SCAD, Ohio, Georgetown, Hamilton, Reed, Miami, Johns Hopkins, University of Florida, University of Arizona, Penn State, Villanova, Northeastern, SUNY-ESF, St. Johns, Embry-Riddle, Colgate, Fordham, Columbia, Barnard, Syracuse, Swarthmore, Pittsburgh, Dickinson, Colorado, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Howard, Fordham, SUNY Stonybrook, Duke, Case Western, Rochester Institute of Technology, Parsons, Virginia Tech, Boston U., Hobart & William Smith, Claremont Mckenna, Davidson, Westpoint, Gettysburg, Amherst, Temple, Denison, Howard, UT Austin, SUNY-Binghamton, Hamilton, George Washington, American, Indiana, SMU, James Madison, and many more!…

WRITE YOUR STORY!