Is it me or does it feel like college admissions has undergone some massive shifts over the past few years?

Nope, it’s not just you. Things are different. The pandemic threw a massive wrench into the routine systems and projections universities typically use to determine numbers. Throw in optional SAT/ACT tests, the reverberations of America’s social justice movement, and massive pushes for diversity on college campuses, and you have some serious upheaval. 

Yes, there’s greater uncertainty. But there are also some clear opportunities. 

For starters, many colleges, including Johns Hopkins and Amherst, have pledged to eliminate legacy preference in admissions. This is good news for most students.

There also seems to be serious pushback on signals or ties to privilege. People have begun to wonder if getting a Letter of Recommendation from a family friend who’s an executive or celebrity might hurt instead of help a student’s application. They’ve also perhaps heard that volunteering to help the poor in remote parts of the world could raise a red-flag instead of demonstrating service and good-will.

If there’s one hallmark that stands out more than ever, it’s that a student’s college application benefits from sincerity and… STORY. 

In other words, Letters of Recommendation should be written by people who can speak to a student’s true character, passions, struggles and triumphs. Very often this sentiment will come from teachers who can speak to a student’s specific talents, quirks and perseverance. (Note: There are simple and effective ways to ensure that students get the most out of these letters!)

It’s important to note that volunteer work on behalf of the poor in a remote country may in fact offer the best purview into the life and passions of a particular student. But for many students, it is the essay about a first job working in a restaurant or ice cream shop that offers simple yet profound insights into not only what that student thinks but how he or she thinks. 

Indeed, “the myth of the superhero student” hinders thousands of college applications each year. That said, it’s important not to confuse “simplicity” with “ease.” While the work or volunteering itself may sound ordinary, the stories about these experiences (your personal statements and essays) should be personal, insightful, and…thrilling. That’s the “trick.”

This seemingly newfound emphasis on genuineness in admissions is not only obvious but also fundamental to our mission here at Dream College Consulting. Since our founding, we have encouraged our students to focus on…YOU. After all, you are the narrator, the protagonist, and the HERO of this journey. We are simply here to help you find your voice so that you can showcase YOUR. UNIQUE. STORY.