College application

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In the United States, a college application is a customary part of the competitive college admissions system. The primary resource for admissions departments in determining the worthiness of prospective candidates, as of 2006 a typical college application consists of personal essays the applicant is required to write, recommendations from teachers, a report of standardized test scores and extra-curriculars with which the applicant is involved, and other information which the college or university can use to directly compare students to one another.

"Gaming" the college application process

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Acing the College Application, a book on how to maximize an applicant's chances of admission.

In 2006, the Boston Globe reported that business schools were concerned about a growing problem with applications prepared with the help of consultants. The consultants, for fees of $50 to $3000, promise to increase an applicant's chances of acceptance by coaching or assisting with the writing of applications. One consultant was quoted as saying "The schools refuse to admit [it] but the fact is, if you know the schools, there's a real formula..." The consultant went on to say that admissions officers at Harvard look for applicants' leadership experience and ability to work through others, Stanford is keen on personal revelations, family dynamics, and identity politics, while Wharton rewards applicants who tell admissions committees in personal terms why Wharton—and not the other schools—is the perfect fit for them.

The Globe characterized admissions officials as "rankled" by such statements, and director of MBA admissions at Wharton indicate that coaching can work against an applicant: "Sometimes you read an essay and you lose a sense of who the individual is because the essay is overpolished." Harvard has responded by requiring all applicants to sign a pledge attesting that their application is "my own, honest statement," and requiring applicants to giving permission to Harvard to contact all persons named in the application for verification purposes. The article says that the three business schools recently began using private investigators to verify the work experience listed in all their candidates' applications.

References

• Weisman, Robert (2006) "Wrangling over applications" The Boston Globe, [1], Feb. 6, 2006
• "A Pledge of Integrity", The Boston Globe [2], Feb. 6, 2006

External links

• A typical college application.
• Director of Admissions - Popular blog for college admissions advice; compiles and analyzes admissions news.
• Fastweb - Scholarship search to be completed while applying.
• The Common Application- Application form accepted by over 200 colleges and universities in the United States. Free to use, can submit applications online.
• AutoAdmit - Often off-topic law and college admissions advice forum; geared towards elite applicants.