How Does Admissions Really Work?
Whether for a boarding school, a college, a transfer application or a graduate school, admissions is about convincing someone to select you. Yes, indicators such as grades, test scores, championships and other objective mileposts can prove a candidate’s qualifications, but that’s only part of the equation. Subjective information – provided by essays, recommendation letters and interviews – is also part of the equation.
Admissions officers may tell you about their processes, their institutional priorities, their evaluative methodologies and other things that define what they do, but in the end, nobody can deny human nature. This is not randomness, and it’s not blind luck. Admissions results are reasonably predictable and will be influenced by the quality of work an applicant submits.
Here are the four most critical attributes of great writing:
First, provide the right message. “Personal Statement” means something different for U.S. colleges, UK universities, and graduate schools. A “why” essay is different than a personal statement. Be sure to send the best message based upon what they’re asking (not what you feel like telling them).
Second, use the right structure. How you organize a writing should be based upon its content, its length, and most importantly, the reader’s experience. It’s not about what you write; it’s about what they absorb.
Third, “detail wins.” Visualization – the ability of a reader (or listener) to see what you’re saying in their mind’s eye – helps them understand and embrace what you’re communicating. Especially when they’re tired or skimming, if they can visualize your story, it’s easier to understand your message.
Fourth, use your genuine voice. Not grammar. Not style. Not perfect punctuation. Voice! The unwritten-but-unwavering rule of admissions is “be real.” Try not to be sloppy, but don’t worry about eloquence. Don’t do it all perfectly. Just do it all you.