The Intersection of Novel and Familiar: Why It Makes for Memorable College Applicant Profiles

When it comes to memorability, we believe that there is a sweet spot that lies at the intersection of novelty and familiarity. This is true for many (if not most) successful products and services, but it’s also oddly enough applicable to college applicants.

People are attracted to things that are new and unique, but also familiar enough that they don’t feel overwhelmed or intimidated. A lot of research backs this up and sites like “Everything is a Remix” highlight that creativity and new stuff happens when artists, creators, or literally anyone, mixes the old with something new. The same is true for college applications. Admissions committees are looking for individuals who stand out from the crowd, but also possess qualities that align with their institutional values and goals and somehow ring ‘familiar’ as an applicant who will be successful on their campus. How you tell this story, and the best way to be remembered is to play into these psychological preferences. In the book

The D Word: Why Was I Deferred from a Likely School?

The D Word: Why Was I Deferred from a Likely School?

So, you were a strong student, with a profile that should have screamed "admit," yet you were deferred from your early action college that was intended to be a ‘more likely’ based on their admitted student profile. And now you're probably thinking, "What did I do wrong?"

When you apply to a college through early action, you're basically telling the college, "Hey, I'm interested in attending your school” but not it’s an emphatic, all caps, PLEASE ACCEPT ME. If the college is not 100% certain that you'll attend, or if you’re a really strong student and they suspect that they are your backup, and they think it’s actually very unlikely you will attend, they might defer your application, EVEN if you thought it would be an easy slam dunk.

So, what does a deferral mean in this case?

AP Scores and Their Role In College Admissions

As a student who has invested a considerable amount of time and energy into preparing for and taking AP tests, you may wonder about the impact of your AP scores on college admission. We'll dive into the relationship between AP scores and college admission, discussing the relative importance of these scores and how colleges consider them.

Do Colleges Look at AP Scores for Admission?

Colleges do not necessarily require you to submit official AP score reports, but some schools may provide space on their applications for self-reported AP scores. If you choose to report your scores, admissions committees will consider them. However, the weight of AP scores in the admissions process may vary. At selective colleges and universities, any positive data point can help

Analogies in College Essay Writing: Finding Your Voice

College admissions essays are an opportunity for applicants to showcase their unique personalities and stand out from the crowd. While there are many different approaches that students can take, one of the most powerful and relatable techniques that a student might try is the use of analogies. Analogies are comparisons between two things that are seemingly unrelated but share a commonality.

Analogies are particularly effective in college essays because they help to simplify complex ideas and make them more relatable to the reader. They can also bring a sense of humor and lightheartedness to an otherwise serious and formal piece of writing (remember, admissions officers can read hundreds of personal statements per week, you want yours to stand out!), and can help to add a touch of personality to an essay.

One great example of the power of analogies in college essays comes from