1. Keys to Getting Into a Top College
Speaker: Jordan Tung
Education Expo

2. Overview Introduction Key #1: Being aware of the deadlines
Key #2: Acing the Essays
Key #3: Distinguishing Yourself from the Pack
Q&A

3. Introductions
Speaker Jordan Tung graduated from Harvard University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Economics and a minor in Computer Science. Jordan is co-founder of his own education technology company.
Jordan was a 2009 recipient of the Greater NY Chinese Dollars for Scholars scholarship

4. Key #1: Timeline

5. Junior Fall Junior Winter
College search process
Research colleges
Think about which teachers to get your recommendations from
Look into applying for summer enrichment programs

6. Junior Spring Junior Summer
Register for SAT/ACTs
Visit colleges
Schedule meetings with admission officers to learn more about the schools
Summer enrichment programs
Construct a list of colleges: balance of Safety, Target, Reach
Check for important dates
Brainstorm essay topics

7. Senior September Senior October
Finalize college list (7-9)
Start your online applications
Read through essay prompts and formats
Create Master Calendar
First draft of application essays
Register for Nov SAT/ACT (if needed for ED/EA)
Request for rec (if needed for ED/EA)
Work on essays
Create variations of essays for different prompts and supplemental essays
Complete your resume
Complete application for ED/EA
Research financial aid and scholarships
Request for rec for regular admissions
Keep track: application, test scores, letters of rec, financial aid

8. Senior Nov Senior Dec-Jan
Early Decision/Early Action deadline
Final touches on essays
Do not let grades slide
Complete applications for regular deadlines
Make sure test scores are sent out to colleges that require them
Submit FAFSA (financial aid application) – can complete as early as October under new FAFSA
Have mid year grades sent to colleges

9. Senior Feb-Mar Senior Apr
If submitted FAFSA, you should receive Student Aid Report
Continue to apply for scholarships
Moment of truth: letters of acceptances or rejections
Keep up the grades

10. Key #2: Acing the Essays- Mistakes to Avoid

11. Telling instead of showing
Original: I believe that my innovative personality makes me a strong candidate for Brown University.
Edited: Creator of an automatic program that opens all of the most used apps on the iPhone and President of the Robotics club, I...
Power of stories
Passive vs Assertive
Saying vs Doing

12. No Overall Theme Too many things at once
Assertive, hard working, ambitious, change the world, fast learning, creative…and other buzz words
Jumbled vs Focused
The 5 minute takeaway test

13. Not showing the college what you can contribute
Original: I believe that my innovative personality makes me a strong candidate for Brown University.
Edited: Creator of an automatic program that opens all of the most used apps on the iPhone and President of the Robotics club, I believe I can contribute meaningfully to the research in the Astrophysics department at Brown University. 
Look at it from the college’s perspective
How you can fit in
How you can contribute

14. Key #3: Distinguishing Yourself from the Pack

15. Case Studies Melissa Jeff Above average test scores and GPA
Good leadership experiences
Good extracurricular activities
Wants to become a chemist
High average test scores and GPA
Good leadership experiences
Good extracurricular activities
Wants to major in physics
Based on the above, Jeff looks like the better candidate since the only difference is his high scores versus Melissa’s above average scores but…

16. 1. Personal Voices Melissa Jeff
Displaying her voices through stories and things she learned from Science Camp
Essay on hard work from school work

17. 2. Passion
Melissa
Jeff
Supplemental essays about her desire to work in the chemistry department of the schools
Supplemental essays about playing soccer for two years in high school- which he doesn’t plan on continuing in college

18. 3. Holistic, Polarizing Application
Melissa
Jeff
Everything ties together, a clear identity
Fragmented pictures of himself, unfocused application
Through demonstrating her personal voice and passion, Melissa presents a clear identity which boosts her to become the stronger candidate.

19. For More Information & Questions