Do admissions counselors read essays?

Yes, admissions officers do actually read essays, but they might have already screened candidates first in a preliminary round. Every admissions office has a different process and it's impossible to sum up the exact step-by-step process for each admission office in one blog post.

Do college admissions actually read essays?

Of course they are read! Essays give admission officers real insight into the applicant. You might wonder how a huge school would manage reading thousands of essays, but you can trust that they hire extra staff, if necessary, to make sure the entire application gets a close look.

Who reads your admissions essay?

Your essay will be read by the admission committee, which will include admission counselors and in some cases professors.

Does your admissions counselor read your application?

Did you know every admissions counselor has a unique approach to reviewing college applications? Admissions counselors also read every word of your application – including the essays.

What do admissions counselors look for in essays?

Colleges look for three things in your admission essay: a unique perspective, strong writing, and an authentic voice.

College Admissions: Inside the Decision Room

What not to write in a college admissions essay?

Writing about cultural heritage, bad grades or personal flaws, music, sports, drama, politics, or a family member's serious illness in college essays is tempting, but dangerous. We show why these topics can hurt students with admissions teams and how to handle them well.

Do essays play a big role in college admissions?

As you can tell, college essays are very important for applicants hoping to get accepted into prestigious institutions. And if you are planning to apply to any colleges that are test optional or test blind, then the essay probably becomes more important, since schools have fewer data points to work with.

How long do admissions officers read essays?

Once a student meets the school's academic standards, their admissions officer will review the rest of their application package, including their essays and extracurricular profile. On average, readers spend four to 10 minutes assessing these elements before assigning the application a score.

Can counselors see your common app essay?

No, counselors cannot see your Common App after you've submitted it. We only have access to the sections that require our input, such as the School Report, Counselor Recommendation, and any other documents we need to upload on your behalf.

How many admissions officers read your application?

At most selective colleges an application will be read by a minimum of two admissions professionals, and could be read by as many as four. Generally, the first reader is the regional admission officer–the person who knows the school and region, and may have met the student.

Do admissions officers see your name?

Will college admission officers see my full name on my application, even though I am not required to disclose my ethnicity? Short answer: yes. Longer answer: who sees it and at what pint in the admissions process may vary substantially.

How do admissions officers decide?

How do they evaluate applications? Admissions officers consider various factors like your academic performance, extracurricular involvement, leadership skills, and personal qualities. They may also consider factors like diversity, geographic location, and special talents to create a well-rounded class.

Can colleges see what time you submit your application?

Most colleges, though, will document when the student submitted the application - date and even the time. Be aware that they will know if you submitted the application at 11:59 pm on the deadline.

Can a bad essay ruin your college application?

After months or even years of working to achieve excellent test scores, strong grades, and relevant work/volunteering experiences, fatigue can get the best of people. However, a weak college application essay can severely hurt your chance of admission.

Can a college essay hurt your chances?

Curating and word-smithing a compelling essay is a key factor to getting accepted by your college of choice. If you are applying to top colleges, you do not get a pass for poor essays, you get a rejection.

Do colleges really care about your essay?

A large part of the applicant review process is envisioning how the student might fit into the campus community. Because written communication is present in college coursework, it makes sense that the admissions essay is considered an important admissions factor to pay attention to.

Does the Common App essay really matter?

The Common App college essay is required by most Common App schools. This personal essay plays a critical role in many institutions' admission decisions. Admissions experts' biggest tips include writing how you speak and focusing on details.

Do counselors submit transcripts on Common App?

The school Registrar or Guidance Counselor has to upload the transcript into Common App. This protects the security and integrity of the transcript. If the school official will not upload it, order an official sealed copy and mail it in.

Do counselors send transcripts through Common App?

Your counselor should send the transcript to the Common App. He will have to send it to each school through the Common App but if he does it there, it is relatively easy.

Do admissions officers remember you?

There is a considerable chance that they will not remember your name. They are more likely to remember a distinguishable piece of clothing or a question you ask. Your questions should be sharp. Ask about a specific academic program and how admissions consider applicants to that program.

How old is the average college admissions officer?

Chief admissions officers and heads of admissions are on average 45 and 40 years old, respectively.

How much do essays matter for college admissions?

At the top 250 schools, your essays generally account for 25% of your overall application. This is only slightly behind the 30% for extracurriculars. Essays are actually ahead of the 20% for grades and coursework, 15% for test scores, and 10% for recommendations and interviews.

Do college essays matter more than GPA?

College admissions officers and universities now use the admissions essays to differentiate similarly competitive students. This is the single best opportunity for an admissions officer to get to know you beyond your test scores, your GPA, and what other people have written on your behalf.

How many essays do most colleges require?

On average, students write at least 20 college essays!

Almost all colleges require one personal statement essay and several supplemental essays on unique topics (like why you want to attend our school). Most students apply to 10-15 schools. That's actually closer to 30 essays!

What do most people write about in college essays?

You can write about a specific experience, hobby, or personality quirk that illustrates your strengths, but also feel free to write about your weaknesses. Honesty about traits, situations, or a childhood background that you are working to improve may resonate with the reader more strongly than a glib victory speech.