1.   Family Background

• provides a lens by which to view the application

• special circumstances (like first-generation college student, parents divorced/deceased/same sex)

2.   Extracurricular Activities

• there is no preference for the activities students pursue

• looking at how students dedicate their time (years of commitment)

• list the activities in order of importance

3.   Summer Activities

• the worst thing a student can do, is doing nothing during the summer

• the best thing is, doing something (like summer job, internship, research, community service)

• admissions officers are most compelled by experiences the student creates, as opposed to paid experience, like pre-college summer "enrichment" programs)

4.   College Essay

• admissions officers want the story of the applicant

• most compelling essays read like a story ("show, don't tell")

• quality of writing is important (like grammar and spelling), but it is not the focus

• for "Why Us?" essay, go to the school's website, find 5 things you like academically and 5 things that are fun socially