I think students need to look at the school moto and mission statements. This gives you a very good look at what the schools are looking for. Some schools it’s volunteering. Maybe the kid should do some of that? Some schools might be leadership… Doing that might make a good fit and so on. Now your fitting what the school wants. Still don’t know their needs but at least you got their wants. Put some of that into the essay.
Ie : sons at Michigan engineering. In their engineering mission statement they talk about being intellectually curious. Funny but those exact words were in my son’s essay. The types of kids he wants to go to school with were the kids they describe…
Just an idea.
@inthegarden. Not sure if I am getting your point but every school wants a mixture of kids and talents. If Lacs are your thing (daughters at Beloit College and loves it) then go for it. Forget about rank. As stated my sons at Michigan and daughter at Beloit. Each is the perfect school for each of them. Both are getting an amazing education. Both are “very” active in their schools programs and happy. Both will come out with good jobs and be able to support themselves (they better ?). Rank is a bragging right not a definition of who the person is or who they will become.