Question: My son submitted his college applications early, but accidentally sent three before they were ready. Some answers are wrong and some don’t present him in the best light. What do you recommend we do to fix the situation? I’m concerned that calling the colleges will start him off with them on a bad note.

Answer: I am sure this is causing you extreme stress, so let’s first assess the situation. You and your son first will want to decide how minor or major the errors were. Think through these questions:

• Are there blatant mistruths on the applications?

• Are the errors minor grammatical ones?

• Did he omit relevant and important information?

• Can the errors be reversed by a school counselor or teacher’s letter of recommendation?

• Is it worth drawing attention to the errors?

• Will the errors damage his chance of admission?

If the errors are minor, it is best to leave the applications as they are. Admissions officers realize that simple errors happen and that the applicants are 17-year-olds. They don’t tend to judge these mishaps too harshly. Make sure your son makes the appropriate corrections for future applications.

If the errors are major, then he should take some steps to make corrections. Since he cannot submit two applications to the same school, he will need to contact the admissions office by sending an email or letter. In the letter, he should include his name, application ID or birthdate, state that there were errors on the application and indicate the corrections he would like to make. If an essay needs to be modified, attach a corrected essay. Request that this information is reviewed rather than the content originally submitted and give a brief and apologetic statement about what caused the errors to happen in the first place.

He should also talk to his school counselor and let him or her know what happened. The counselor, if willing, can also send in a letter or call the admissions office on his behalf. It would also be a great opportunity for the counselor to really play up your son’s strengths and explain that his haste in submitting the application was simply because he is so excited about the college. Admissions officers do value any information that counselors can provide, so reach out to him or her.

It is important that your son be the one to take charge and contact the admissions office, though you certainly should feel free to be in the background guiding him through. Mistakes do happen and many students are sometimes trigger-happy when it comes to applications. While admissions officers do try to always look at the newest information, there is always a possibility that the original information will be read. How much it will impact an admissions officer really depends on the admissions officer and the gravity of the errors. That is something you will not have the privilege of knowing. So the best thing is to send in the corrections and hope that the right information and the explanation will portray your son in the best light possible.

At the same time, do make sure he applies to additional colleges just in case. Rather than getting surprised down the road with bad news, get prepared now. And you never know, he might find some schools that are an even better fit for him.

Most importantly, after you have done what’s needed, it is important to relax. No good will come from stressing about these errors for the next several months. If he gets accepted, celebrate. If he does not get in, do not assume that the errors were the sole or specific reason why he was denied. And be sure not to mention these errors then — it will only make him feel worse. Rather, focus on the acceptances and the decision at hand, which is picking the best college for him.

All the best,

Team Insight 

Demonstrated Interest – what is it, and how do you use it! 

In short, Demonstrated interest is something colleges use to see if you are genuinely interested in enrolling in and attending their university. Consider how many colleges you yourself are applying to. Then, consider if everyone in your class at school is applying to roughly the same amount of colleges. Finally, consider the fact that UCLA received 113,000 applications for Fall 2018 Freshman Admission! That is a lot of students indicating to UCLA that their school is one they are at least interested in.

If you can do something, as small as it may seem, to help show an admissions reader that you really want to attend their college out of all that you are applying to – this is a good thing! 

Here are (just some!) of the ways you can demonstrate your interest: 

•  Join a college mailing list 

Seems obvious, right? Jump on the college website and scroll down to the bottom, 9 times out of 10 you will find a “Join our Mailing List” button right there. Enter in an email that you actually use and check! Consider using an email that is NOT your school email, as you want to make sure you have access to it after school ends. 

But wait! Don’t just leave it at that. Colleges will assign you a unique barcode or number that helps them track where, when and how you contact and interact with them. Receiving an email from them is great, but even better is opening the email and reading it! There may be a link inside the email to an article on the college website that sounds interesting to you – click that too. Not only does this add to your demonstrated interest profile, but you will also likely find that you’re learning more about the college through these interactions. Win-Win! 

• Attend a local information session  

If possible, attend a local information session hosted by the school you are interested in. Before you go, think of some questions you want to ask the representative from the school. When you’re there, introduce yourself and ask those questions! This is another win-win because while you’re getting some great info from the rep, they’re learning a little more about you and what you’re interested in. 

Bonus points – see if you can get a business card or email for the rep. Send them a brief emailing thanking them for their time and for answering your questions. Don’t forget to send your thank you email from the same email address you used to join the mailing list! Keep in contact with them organically (AKA, don’t spam them!). 

• Go on a college tour 

This is another great way to really learn a lot about the school while also showing to their admissions team how much you want to be there. Sign up for the official tour and most importantly, attend it! We have heard from a college in the past that they saw a student signed up for an official tour and then didn’t attend. This was unfortunately seen as a negative against that student. Of course, if something happens and you can no longer make it to the tour, make sure you call the office running the tour to cancel and then send a follow-up email. 

Check out our blog on how to make the most of college visits for our tops tips! 

• Follow the college on their social media accounts

This one is the easiest and probably the one you are already doing! Don’t forget about social media sites like LinkedIn and YouTube. Colleges post very interesting content across these platforms. Also, keep in mind the age-old rule “If you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t type it online”. There are many examples of students writing things in the comments section of a college post or mentioning a college online and saying something not-so-great. Don’t let yourself make a silly mistake like that! 

• If you can, interview

Not all colleges will offer an interview during their admissions process, but if the college you are interested in does, then 100% take this opportunity! If you are nervous about interviewing, remember that practice can be a very helpful way to get more comfortable. Check out our blog from Insight Counselor Amy Brennen on how to answer some of the most common interview questions! 

There are many more ways that you can let a college know “Hey, I really want to be here in the Fall!” so our best piece of advice is to stay involved. Keep up with what the college is doing, especially in the departments you are interested in. To make it manageable, allocate maybe 20 or so minutes a week to check in on the college social media pages, website and emails. 

All the best,

Team Insight 

What are the most important things you should think about when writing your college applications?

It may be a little intimidating to hear, but some schools these days are spending as few as 8 minutes on each application. That’s 8 minutes to convey all the hard work and energy you’ve put into the last NEARLY 4 YEARS of your life. So here are 3 tips that I give my students to help them stand out:

– The most important thing is to BE YOU, be AUTHENTIC. The surest way to write cliché essays and have a “cookie cutter” application that doesn’t stand out is to write what you THINK they want to hear. Focus on the events and experiences in your life that shaped your values and shaped your vision for your future. And please, spend the necessary time to dig deep and come up with unique essays and short answers.

– Don’t worry about listing every activity you’ve ever done. In fact, ONLY activities you did in high school should be on your application. Focus on depth over breadth. Make sure your activity resume highlights the most important things you’ve accomplished and the impact you’ve made in your school and your community. Lead with your strongest activities, don’t let them get buried farther down on the page.

– If you need to explain extenuating circumstances in your life, DO. Some students are afraid that talking about an illness or a family tragedy will convey weakness. Without that information, colleges can’t compare the apples to the oranges, and adversity often makes us stronger and teaches us important life lessons. On many applications, there is an “additional information” section intended exactly for this purpose.

So with that, the three quick ways you can stand out on your application: 

Be brave. Be original and start early!

You got this! 

Q: So many of my friends have started their college essays, but I seem to have a block and don’t know where to begin. Help!

A: Ah — the elusive college essay. It can cause even the most confident student to feel doubt.

The intent of the essay is not to induce undue stress or test your inner Twain. It is an opportunity for you to tell colleges more about the thing you know most about — you! This is the place where you can talk about what makes you unique, what your passions are, and what you hope to accomplish. If you start early (and it is still early) and really put thought into these pieces of the application, you can truly make your applications stand out.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. The essay is about you and the content and voice should reflect a 17-year-old. Don’t try to pull in complex “SAT” words or pull up Thesaurus.com to improve the essay in a way that does not show you natural writing style. The voice you hear when you write is the voice the admissions officer should hear when they read your essay.

2. The essay is an opportunity to give more depth about specific activities and experiences. Go beyond the obvious of what was done and include what you gained from the experiences.

3. Remember that the essay is not a letter of recommendation for someone else. While it is easy to write about others more easily than writing about yourself, the essay needs to focus on what you have learned or experienced.

4. If you are uncomfortable sharing your writing with someone you trust (not necessarily just your parents), think about how comfortable you are having an admission officer read it. Talk to someone if you are unsure about the appropriateness of your topic.

5. Don’t write an essay that someone successfully wrote a previous year. An idea can be unique only once.

6. Have fun writing the essay — yes, fun! Colleges want real people on campus, and the essay should reveal your whole persona, not just your academic one.

7. The essay should complement the application. Remember that the essay is just one element of the application and must mesh well with the other pieces.

8. Make sure the essay flows well and scrub out grammar mistakes. Writing that is filled with errors is hard to read and takes away from the message you are trying to convey.

9. Do not share your essay with friends no matter how tempting it might be. Even the most well-intentioned person can pull ideas and style unconsciously. But do share your essays with a couple of people that objectively know you well and can tell you if your essay reflects you.

Start by brainstorming ideas and thinking about what you want to tell a college that is not already relevant elsewhere in the application. Starting early will allow you to experiment with different topics and find just the right words to share something important.

It is important to take pen to paper now. What eventually comes out will hopefully be a deeper insight into you — the very thing that admissions officers seek when they sit down to read the much-agonized-over personal statement.

A new academic year is upon us. Soon-to-be college students around the country, and the world are packing, ready to embark on new adventures. And while this is an exciting time in their lives, they can certainly benefit from the advice of people who have been there and done that. Over the past weeks, I have been collecting nuggets of wisdom from those around me. These advice givers range from fresh college grads close to the experience to seasoned professionals who have the advantage of perspective.

– Be prepared to be humbled. In college, you are going to meet some of the smartest young people in the world. They will be accomplished across multiple areas of life. This is a good thing. If you walk in thinking you will be the smartest person on campus, you are going to disappointed and may even retreat. Rather, take advantage of the opportunity to hang out with such a fantastic group of people. You will learn more from the people you meet than the books you read in class.

– The money you spend comes from somewhere. Whether you are on financial aid or have a trust fund, the money being spent to send you to college has value. Assume that you will have to pay back every penny. So spend wisely. Don’t take on credit card debt, and certainly don’t do it just so you can have more fun in school. Get a job if you need to cover your expenses. Assume that everyone around you has a trust fund. Don’t spend like them just because you can. College debt is a real thing and can limit your opportunities later in life.

–  Learn for the purpose of learning. No matter what you want to do in your career, expand beyond just the required courses. Explore new ideas and classes because you can. College is the place where you can study algorithms, Freud, derivatives, and classics all in one day. Content knowledge becomes obsolete quickly. But learning how to think and problem-solve and create — those are skills that never become dated.

– Don’t graduate early. You might be eager to get out into the real world and start making some money. Even if you go to grad school, there is nothing like your college experience. Absorb every ounce of it that you can. Take additional courses, perhaps even a minor in something that excites you. Study abroad. Get out of your comfort zone. Never again will you get to live in another country under the safety net of a university. While college is expensive, the opportunities are at your fingertips.

– Get to know your professors and alums. Their long list of accomplishments might make them a bit intimidating, but chances are they ventured into academia because they enjoy connecting with students. Treat them like real people Take them to lunch. Ask them for advice. Respect them always. It gets harder to network across hierarchies later in life, so learning this skill now will benefit you. Alums are often excited to talk to current students — sometimes more than talking to other alums. And you never know how their words of wisdom can change your perspective.

–  Don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Don’t join a group because everyone else is joining. Don’t feel pressure to do anything that violates your beliefs or values. Don’t make friends with annoying people. The people you meet in college might become your lifelong friends, perhaps even your life partner. Spend meaningful time with people who matter. Never again will you be surrounded by so many people your age with a shared experience. Savor it. Avoid the drama of spending time with people who want to turn you into something you are not.

–  Some academic basics: Go to class. Every class. Do your work on time, even if it is work that does not get turned in. Read ahead of the class. Get help when you need it. Go to office hours and ask appropriate questions. Sit in the front row even if your friends are in the back. Your top priority is to do well in school. It will open up more opportunities for you down the road. Your grades matter to future employers and/or graduate schools.

– Look for a summer job or internship in the fall. I know it can be scary to have to think about next summer when summer just passed, but it is important. Waiting too long will limit your opportunities. Find out when the recruiting happens on campus and get prepared early. Build your resume. Talk to career services. Talk to alums who work in the organizations you care about.

– Call your parents. They miss you. You may soon realize that they actually know you better than anyone else in this world and can give you the best advice.

College is an exciting time, but it should not just be flitted away. Walk in armed with your goals and your priorities. You will have a more meaningful four years if you do.

This past weekend, Insight hosted two community seminars in Fremont and Cupertino respectively. During those seminars, families wrote down their top college admissions questions. 

We’ve collated those questions and our team of College Admissions Counselors has put together the answers! 

Below, a snapshot of some of the questions! 

Q: Everyone in my school is extremely competitive and it feels like I may have no chance compared to them even if I have a good GPA… etc. ?

A: Colleges are looking to build a diverse class.  There is a college out there for you. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on what you can do and how you will contribute to your school and your community– and how that translates to the college you will attend.  Your essays will help you stand out among your peers, so that’s where you can talk about these experiences and how you will fit into the college. 

Q: We have friends who have had children accepted at Universities that we are interested in. Would it be helpful to ask for a copy of their child’s admissions paperwork/essay?

A: Each student essay is unique to that student.  You cannot replicate what a “good” essay looks like because a good essay is specific to you and your experiences, not your friend’s experiences.  Also, each year for admissions is different. Colleges are looking to build a campus community and diverse class, so writing your story and experiences and how you will contribute to the campus life is what will benefit you the most. 

Q: Is it better if AP courses are done online vs in school? 

A: Some AP courses are easier to take online rather than at school.  If you are planning to pursue a degree in a similar field and your school offers the AP course, you should take it at your school.  Also to take an AP course online requires self-motivation and self-study.  If this is something you excel at, online courses may be a good fit for you.  If not, then taking the course at school in the classroom may be a better choice for you. 

Q: If a student is fully occupied with busy schedules of sports activities etc. no time left for other activities – does it affect their application?

A: Sports is a way to show leadership and teamwork.  So if a student is doing well academically and involved in sports, it shows that they have time management skills and can balance a busy schedule.  However, if the student is not doing well academically, then maybe cutting sports and focusing more time on studying and joining other activities would be appropriate. Student-athletes tend to have less time for other activities and that is okay!

Q: If my GPA was low freshman year but significantly improved over the course of high school, do I still have a chance at UCLA or UCB? Will it bring down my cumulative GPA?

A: Yes, it will bring down your cumulative GPA because that includes your Freshman year grades.  However, showing colleges an upward trend in GPA is great and UCLA and UCB do look at that and the essays you write.  Being able to showcase your strengths and how you will contribute to the school will help you in the holistic and comprehensive review UCLA and UCB do on their applications.

Q: What if SAT subject test scores are not released when I’m applying to college? How do I make sure the college will see the score(s)? 

Sometimes students will apply to colleges before all test scores have been released. This is often the case if they are still testing in October or November of senior year. If you are applying early, please be sure to check the college website for deadlines for submitting test scores so that they are accessible when the admissions department is reviewing the application. Many colleges (though not all) will also accept rushed scores, meaning that for an added fee, scores will arrive at the specific colleges you request much faster. This can be a worthwhile option if you are concerned about the process taking three or four weeks.

Thank you to everyone for attending these seminars, we really enjoyed meeting with you!