Office Of Admissions

Office Of Admissions The number of reads and the process for reviewing application essays vary from college to college. Among the top 250, I know my colleagues review essays because some are moved to “check” authenticity or to contact the school source to verify veracity of the context as provided by the student. This is a tough question to answer as there is no way to know for sure. At a smaller school, it is more likely that the admissions officers will have the time to look at each essay, whereas at huge universities it would seem less likely. In terms of how many officers read each essay, that also varies from school to school. Some read regionally which means that one officer reads all the applications from all the high schools in a certain geographic region. It may sound like a chore, and it will certainly take a substantial amount of work. But it's also a unique opportunity that can make a difference at decision time. You should take the time to read and re-read the essay prompt, so you can answer it fully. Don’t be intimidated; unlike some college exams, the college application essay prompt is not designed to trick you. However, you must demonstrate that you can read and follow directions. The admissions officers are looking for a reason to disregard candidates. Don’t let them reject you because you hastily overlooked a sentence in the essay prompt. Admissions committees put the most weight on your high school grades and your test scores . However, selective colleges receive applications from many worthy students with similar scores and gradesâ€"too many to admit. So they use your essay, along with your letters of recommendation and extracurricular activities , to find out what sets you apart from the other talented candidates. The admissions officers are expecting you to celebrate yourself, to underline your strengths and personality, so they can make a quick, accurate judgment about you. At this stage in the college admissions essay writing process, you have considered the goals and psychology of the college admissions board. Often they are read in committee where several officers might look at one essay. If you want to know how you will be assessed at any given school, you should feel free to ask the admissions office. Based on my experience, we read every essay at the institutions were I served. Typically, applications received two reads and a third if the decisions were split. Most students want the college admissions board to view them as responsible, dependable, and academically ambitious. These are excellent essay goals, but you should also consider the essay in relation to your classwork. If your classwork already shows that you are studious and determined , then you may want to highlight another feature of your personality. When you have compiled all the pieces of your application and sent it to the college/university of your dreams, all of your hard work gets placed in a pile with hundreds of other applications. Then a small group of admissions officers will review each application, looking over the scores and coursework and reading the college application essays. On the other hand, during their tenures in college admissions, our specialists reviewed thousands of applications per year, each application containing four to six essays. Interested in understanding the origins of gang violence, he began studying the history of African Americans in Chicago. You have produced a list of ideas/attributes/details about yourself that colleges will find appealing. You have narrowed that list to the three or four most important ideas â€" the ones that will get you into your preferred college/university. Reading and answering the prompt may seem a bit obvious, but it’s often the obvious that people ignore. “I began to see a direct tie between the lack of opportunities facing black Americans due to institutional racism and the conditions that gave rise to gang violence,” Muhammad recalled. His research led him to the writings of African American legal theorist Derrick Bell. “I was very inspired by the depth of his analysis. I believe Derrick Bell’s legal education allowed him to offer the black community cogent insights on their political and social realities. Later in his book, Malcolm X expressed that one of his greatest regrets was his lack of formal academic education and that he believed he would have become a great lawyer but simply never had the opportunity. “I selected this career path due to my passion for defending the indigent,” said Muhammad, who also intends to raise awareness and organize against structural racism through scholarly articles and speeches. We need to change the culture around exams such as the SAT.