The "Invisible" College Application Question
There's an "Invisible Question" on the Common Application. At least that's what I call it.
It's not written anywhere. You can search high and low, but you'll never find it.
But if you FAIL to answer it, you might as well kiss dreams of acceptance to your Dream College goodbye.
Although it's not spelled out in black and white on the Common Application, this question is in the hearts and minds of every admissions officer pouring over your and the other 999 applications they're tasked to review.
See, when you submit your application - which contains your transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, letters of recommendation, list of extracurricular activities, etc. -- the plain fact is that you will look substantially THE SAME as 20,000, 50,000, 90,000 or more competitor-applicants vying for the same spot you're trying to win for yourself.
That's why you must do some hard THINKING about how you'll answer the Invisible Question...
Why should we take YOU, instead of tens of thousands of other students who look the same?
How does one answer that?
"I'm in National Honor Society!"
Um, nope. (But welcome to the top 70% of your high school.)
"I do a lot of community service!"
Who doesn't?
"I play soccer."
Are you being recruited by an actual college coach? (Are you not only the best on your team, but one of the best athletes in the league?)
Look, there's nothing "wrong" with the above. But we're talking about a different issue: will these activities "pop" on your college applications?
Or are they the same old, same old stuff on every kid's college app.
My belief is that a college application should communicate a "Thread of Continuity" throughout, that telegraphs the VALUE that a student will bring to that college community.
That golden Thread runs though the above-mentioned components of the application and, most important, the essays.
Getting into college today is not based on merit. It's more about MARKETING.
Your child's task is to cite specific, PERSUASIVE reasons why he or she is an "Incomparable Applicant," not a commodity like a gallon of milk or a tube of toothpaste.
The sooner in your child's high school career that you put a strategy in place and implement it, the better.
Because most college applicants sit down to do their Common Application, stare at the blinking cursor on their screen and have no idea how to communicate their value to admissions officers.
2025 students: Our 10th annual summer Get College Ready Bootcamp is open for Early Action Registration. The price goes up May 1. Here's where to learn more:
You can attend the bootcamp live -- in our new office (yay) -- or virtually.
- Andy Lockwood
P.S. If you have a younger child and want information on our 1:1 college advisory programs, reply to this email and Christine will set up a call or Zoom meeting.
