Do super selective schools really read your essays etc?

TopTier
Wed, 26 Nov 2014 23:04:46 +0000

@ArachnoMe‌:

Q1: Do super selective schools really read your essays, etc.?
A1: Yes, every word (presuming one is not “automatically” denied due to an unacceptably low GPA or standardized test score, a system which a few most selective institutions employ).

Q2: Does that make up for a few points off the GPA?"
A2: One or two points possibly (and I’m quite skeptical of even that). However, the fundamental, governing fact for the most distinguished and competitive institutions is “the essentials” – GPA, standardized test results, and curricular rigor – are MANDATORY thresholds. Once an applicant exceeds each of these minimums, essays (etc.) can be important to determine who is admitted and who is not. But first, in almost all cases, the minimums must be surpassed.