A constant theme throughout my work with students is the pressure that they feel to “stand out” in the admissions process. This is often especially true for those applying to selective and highly selective institutions. It can seem impossible to feel seen, and truly shine, in processes that deny far more students than they admit.
With this pressure comes an urge to find a definitive trait or difference that permeates throughout the application. Students might consider pursuing a niche major, spending their time on a passion project, or choosing an eccentric essay topic.
Although none of these choices are inherently bad, they can often be read as being forced or inauthentic when they’re done solely for college admissions. When a student starts their college application, or approaches their entire high school experience, with the sole intention of “standing out,” they typically fail to nurture the interests and parts of their identity that might feel more typical.
For schools that utilize holistic or whole-person review processes, there is never any singular trait, activity, or aspect of a student’s application that results in an immediate admissions decision. Instead, the admissions committee seeks to identify students who have maximized the opportunities available to them. The most competitive students will consider how these opportunities have been transformative, and sought to enrich the lives of those around them. Obviously, these opportunities and reflections can vary significantly and, ultimately, there is no “formula” to guarantee admission.
In the absence of strict quantitative criteria, the admissions committee is tasked with evaluating the student’s qualifications, personal qualities, and interests while considering their individual fit for the college’s community.
For many students and families, this subjectivity can be frustrating; however, it reaffirms the value in students simply being themselves. There’s no way to know who exactly might sit on the admissions committee or what might specifically be discussed. Though our team of former admissions officers at Infinite Futures is quite good at making these predictions based on a student’s profile.
At the end of the day, there’s no reason to reframe your narrative to fit who you think an individual school or admissions officer might want you to be.
The reality is that most admitted students will share many of the same academic achievements and extracurricular activities. That is fine. The most compelling students will be able to share their experiences with enough emotion, detail, and depth for the admissions committee to understand how they see the world and interact with their communities.
It is more important to be relatable than unique. Your application should share a willingness to be collaborative, explore academic and extracurricular interests, and consider the world we all share.
Infinite Futures’ College Advisors and Former Admissions Officers work with students to consider each and every part of their identities, opportunities, and experiences. From high school advising to essay review, our team knows where to lean in so that students have both the most compelling applications and sustainable high school experiences. Schedule a time to connect with us today.
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