Eric Hoover's recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Colleges Seek 'Noncognitive' Gauges of Applicants: Admissions offices want to know about traits, like leadership, initiative, and grit, that the SAT doesn't test" (Jan 14, 2013) is a good reminder that while standardized testing – and other tangible measures of academic achievement and merit – loom large in the college admissions process, other traits matter. College admissions officers, psychologists, educators – even standardized testing companies – have been experimenting with ways of measuring "noncognitive" or "metacognitive" skills. (Hoover outlines several such efforts in his article.)
One of the most elusive, hard-to-wrap-your-head-around challenges of applying to highly selective colleges (or any college, summer program, or scholarship, really) is understanding how to share your intangible qualities, as well as the tangible measures of achievement. Some students, parents, and counselors feel stumped by this each year.
Here are seven suggestions to get students (and their various supporters) started:
1. Understand what intangible qualities and traits are valued in the admissions process.
Leadership, initiative, grit, intellectual risk-taking, willingness to step outside your comfort zone, your desire to know, humor – the list can be long. Ask admissions officers what kinds of traits and qualities they look for and value in the process. Think about the qualities you have that make you proud. Ask your friends, family, teachers, and counselor what qualities they appreciate about you.
2. Create a list of qualities you want to highlight in your application.
Really. Jot down a list of three, five, ten qualities that you want to highlight. (I'd stick with three to five; it's more manageable.)
3. Identify opportunities to share these qualities in the admissions process.
Admissions offices that use a "holistic" admissions process use a variety of sources when reviewing an application: grades, rigor of courses, essays, letters of recommendation, interviews, arts supplements. They evaluate your strengths as a candidate in a multifaceted way, using all of these sources. You can use every element in your application to share your intangible qualities. Your essays, an interview, what you do with your time outside of school in the evenings and summers, the courses you select – these are all opportunities that present choices. Your choices bring to light your various intangible qualities. Don't be afraid to put the spotlight on them in the admissions process.
4. Think about your application a whole, not just a checklist to be completed.
Admissions officers love reading applications. Yes, their eyesight might get a little worse, and there are surely moments when the volume of applications waiting to be read is daunting, but they are fascinated by the stories that emerge. Consider your application as a whole. Will the letter of recommendation that your math teacher writes build on an idea you introduce in your essay? How can you use your interview (if one is part of the process) to talk further about why you chose that crazy elective or AP course last semester? Are you seizing opportunities to pursue ideas, topics, and activities outside of school? (This could be joining a club, reading a book, subscribing to a blog, participating in a program, getting a part-time job – there are may possibilities.) Each component of your application is like a chapter in a book. When the admissions officer gets to the end of the story, she or he should have a clear idea of what some of the themes (strengths, qualities) are that run throughout.
5. Share the qualities you want to highlight.
Make sure to let your counselor, teachers, and any other recommendation-writers know what qualities you are highlighting. It might help them to fine-tune their letters of recommendation and expand on them.
6. Test it out.
Draft an essay and test it out with a friend, teacher, cousin, neighbor. Ideally, go with someone who knows you well enough that they'd be willing to help, but who doesn't know you so well that they already have lots of knowledge of you. Ask them what impressions they have of you after reading and how they would describe you to someone else. See if this matches up with your list of qualities and traits that you want to highlight. Feel free to use readers who know you well, too; but students often overlook other potential sources of feedback.
7. Thank those who support you in the process.
Thank your counselor and recommendation writers before and after they write on your behalf. Thank your family and friends for their help. Thank the admissions officer who takes time to answer your questions. Thank the alum who meets with you for an interview. Thank anyone who supports you in the process. They will appreciate any small act, note, or words of thanks; it doesn't have to be much, just sincere. Those supporters will also be there to celebrate and commiserate with you throughout the process.
One of the most elusive, hard-to-wrap-your-head-around challenges of applying to highly selective colleges (or any college, summer program, or scholarship, really) is understanding how to share your intangible qualities, as well as the tangible measures of achievement. Some students, parents, and counselors feel stumped by this each year.
Here are seven suggestions to get students (and their various supporters) started:
1. Understand what intangible qualities and traits are valued in the admissions process.
Leadership, initiative, grit, intellectual risk-taking, willingness to step outside your comfort zone, your desire to know, humor – the list can be long. Ask admissions officers what kinds of traits and qualities they look for and value in the process. Think about the qualities you have that make you proud. Ask your friends, family, teachers, and counselor what qualities they appreciate about you.
2. Create a list of qualities you want to highlight in your application.
Really. Jot down a list of three, five, ten qualities that you want to highlight. (I'd stick with three to five; it's more manageable.)
3. Identify opportunities to share these qualities in the admissions process.
Admissions offices that use a "holistic" admissions process use a variety of sources when reviewing an application: grades, rigor of courses, essays, letters of recommendation, interviews, arts supplements. They evaluate your strengths as a candidate in a multifaceted way, using all of these sources. You can use every element in your application to share your intangible qualities. Your essays, an interview, what you do with your time outside of school in the evenings and summers, the courses you select – these are all opportunities that present choices. Your choices bring to light your various intangible qualities. Don't be afraid to put the spotlight on them in the admissions process.
4. Think about your application a whole, not just a checklist to be completed.
Admissions officers love reading applications. Yes, their eyesight might get a little worse, and there are surely moments when the volume of applications waiting to be read is daunting, but they are fascinated by the stories that emerge. Consider your application as a whole. Will the letter of recommendation that your math teacher writes build on an idea you introduce in your essay? How can you use your interview (if one is part of the process) to talk further about why you chose that crazy elective or AP course last semester? Are you seizing opportunities to pursue ideas, topics, and activities outside of school? (This could be joining a club, reading a book, subscribing to a blog, participating in a program, getting a part-time job – there are may possibilities.) Each component of your application is like a chapter in a book. When the admissions officer gets to the end of the story, she or he should have a clear idea of what some of the themes (strengths, qualities) are that run throughout.
5. Share the qualities you want to highlight.
Make sure to let your counselor, teachers, and any other recommendation-writers know what qualities you are highlighting. It might help them to fine-tune their letters of recommendation and expand on them.
6. Test it out.
Draft an essay and test it out with a friend, teacher, cousin, neighbor. Ideally, go with someone who knows you well enough that they'd be willing to help, but who doesn't know you so well that they already have lots of knowledge of you. Ask them what impressions they have of you after reading and how they would describe you to someone else. See if this matches up with your list of qualities and traits that you want to highlight. Feel free to use readers who know you well, too; but students often overlook other potential sources of feedback.
7. Thank those who support you in the process.
Thank your counselor and recommendation writers before and after they write on your behalf. Thank your family and friends for their help. Thank the admissions officer who takes time to answer your questions. Thank the alum who meets with you for an interview. Thank anyone who supports you in the process. They will appreciate any small act, note, or words of thanks; it doesn't have to be much, just sincere. Those supporters will also be there to celebrate and commiserate with you throughout the process.
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