The Admission Odyssey Navigating the Private College Admission Process and the Common Application Everett Nelor Occidental College adapted from “The Admission Odyssey” by Dr. Erika Yamasaki

A few tips to get you started…

Types of Applications College’s own application Common Application (www.commonapp.org) Common Application + Supplement Types of Applications

Application Deadlines Early Action Early Decision (I and II) Regular Decision

What are colleges considering? Holistic admission process will consider multiple factors beyond GPA & test scores. Academic preparation Rigor of your curriculum Grades Trends Intellectual curiosity Letters of recommendation Personal statement & supplement

The Personal Statement This is the part of the application you have control over. Use it to distinguish yourself. It is not a traditional academic essay. Colleges will evaluate writing mechanics but more importantly, how you communicate your personality and passion(s). Be authentic and personal.

Supplement Questions These are shorter responses in addition to the Personal Statement. Questions will vary from college to college. Many supplements are looking for more specific information than what’s in the Personal Statement Have fun!

What else do colleges consider? Extracurricular talents & passions Supplemental letters of recommendation Auditions, portfolios, etc. Recruited athlete? Overall “fit” Interview Campus visit Knowledge of institution Demonstrated interest

Don’t forget! PROOFREAD the entire application before submitting. Don’t rely on spell check alone. It can miss typos and embarrassing mistakes. Are you torturing or tutoring? Y do i c this more often? IDK. Please use complete sentences and proper writing conventions.

“It depends…” The most common (and accurate) answer to most admission questions. So don’t hesitate to ask.