<p>Because you are reading this thread, you must visit CC. If you visit CC, you are looking for advice on college admissions, and hopefully you have found some.</p>
<p>When constructing your college application, you will obviously try to make yourself as attractive to admissions officers as possible. To do that, you will probably arrange all the parts of your application to emphasize exactly what you want to emphasize.</p>
<p>Seems reasonable, right?</p>
<p>Well, unfortunately, colleges try to weed out applications that appear to be “packaged”–i.e, are as much the creation of college counselors as of the college applicant. If you’re like me, you can’t afford a college counselor, but still want to attend the school you dream of, and have joined CC/bought or borrowed a couple of books on the process. </p>
<p>So then, how do we avoid looking “packaged,” even when we blatantly try to package ourselves?</p>
<p>What do you mean “packaged”? Do you mean a student’s profile geared towards like certain types - the typical math/science guy who works in labs after school or artsy humanities girl who works in art history museum internship, etc? Haha Sorry, I’m just not understanding… I think it’s a really good question though! and Id like to know the answer tooo</p>
<p>Haha, I’m not sure myself what exactly “packaged” means (I was hoping for a more concrete definition to emerge on this thread myself!). </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s cliche or stereotypical, though. I think it’s artificial–like something designed to hit all the admissions officers’ pleasure spots.</p>
<p>How about packaged meaning that the application, grades, essays, ECs, scores exist in order to get you into college, not because of genuine interest? That’s what I think of when someone says “packaged.” </p>
<p>Oh, and notable parental/counselor involvement.</p>
<p>This is very interesting. I don’t really know. They say that adcoms are good at figuring out what’s real and what’s not, but I’ve never really understood how they do that.</p>
<p>Perhaps an essay will show passion for ECs beyond just “doing what you think will get you in”?
I know that having a focus is better than just doing everything. I think basically they are just looking for signs that you have goals beyond just getting into college, and are doing these things because you want to and not just to impress them. My guess is that as long as you’re not doing things JUST to get to college, you’re probably good.</p>
<p>I have not had any direct experience and I am a bit naive but … having been active on this site for a month or two, I think I am beginning to get a feeling for the less than truthful crowd. There is something about word choice, presentation etc. I would certainly be careful about looking too slick. Packaged to me means too slick, too consistent, too right. Show a bit of your humanity.</p>
<p>Everyone has quirks … I think it is important to show a few and let them see the real you. </p>
<p>One essay prep book described how one previous adcom from Dartmouth said her favorite essay was about a kid’s bus ride to school everyday. Not an earth shattering experience but what he took away from the experience really got her excited about the candidate. </p>
<p>Being real, being genuine, not playing to the audience … these will be my suggestions to my DD. Speak from the heart.</p>
<p>The cynics will laugh but this is the only way I can see approaching the challenge.</p>
<p>Why does everyone think that your essay has to show a passion for your extracurricular activities? And why does everyone think that you have to have a focus? You don’t! Sure, it’s better than “doing everything,” but nobody does everything. The point is that you pursue genuine interests. If you have lots of interests and pursue them all, that’s great!</p>
<p>I guess if someone was involved with two activities but did a lot in them and was really involved, they would want to explain it…where would they explain it? I mean if not in the essay…</p>
<p>Well, a lot of activities are pretty self-explanatory, like Math Team or Quiz Bowl. Or maybe the teachers who run the activity can comment on it. Your essay is not where you explain your activity.</p>