Packaging an applicant with disparate ECs/interests

NiceUnparticularMan
Sun, 16 Jun 2024 13:42:52 +0000

That reminded me of one of the really insightful comments I once saw about essays, and the idea of applying to a lot of colleges with similar supplemental essays and then just tweaking the same core essay on that subject for each application.

I think almost every kid who applies to a lot of colleges ends up doing some of that, and I am not inherently against it. But the insight was one of the risks of this approach is that a kid may fail to do exactly what you noted, convince a college for which they are arguably overqualified that they would really want to go there if they also get admitted to somewhere they are within the normal range.

Like, if the AO at College Plan C can imagine this being basically the same essay you would have written for the sorts of colleges that usually win cross-admit battles with College Plan C (because in fact they are many applicants’ Colleges Plan A or B), is that essay tipping them off?

And of course sometimes colleges try to combat this with unique supplementals. But still.

I think this is one example of a general cautionary note for the OP. I think in some circles, there is a concept of some one ideal packaging you are aiming for, on the implicit assumption every college of interest will love the same package. In the real world, different colleges of interest might have all sorts of different complex considerations in mind, and sometimes it will pay to actually study the college’s admissions page, carefully consider their application prompts, and actually make a point of packaging yourself appropriately for that specific college.