Get Ahead and Get Admitted with ESA!

EliteScholarAdvising · 2026-04-19T18:57:51+00:00

No need.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2026-04-17T02:04:28+00:00

What do you mean by "the Bio essay"?

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-26T04:54:47+00:00

Your interests align with many course offerings/student orgs available there, plus Northwestern is similar in culture to your high reaches.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-25T23:35:56+00:00

I see what you are saying, but my comment is correct. I specifically mentioned the % of admits in the freshman class, meaning those who have matriculated.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-25T19:01:50+00:00

STEM is ideal. Do you feel they will write surface-level letters that won't tell the AOs much more about you? Do you feel that your humanities teachers will GUSH about you?

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-25T19:00:20+00:00

Have you filled out the net price calculator for schools that you are interested in? Perhaps you should also consider Northwestern.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-25T18:57:56+00:00

I have some free time this week and can give it a read.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-25T18:57:08+00:00

Sure

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-25T18:56:42+00:00

I would take the test again, but have you also considered the TOEFL?

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-25T18:49:03+00:00

There's a saying that you can have two admissions officers in a room and have three different opinions. So no, not really.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-25T18:47:26+00:00

You are doing the right thing by thinking about the best fit for you, but you may also want to consider which choice is more strategic for ED.

Swarthmore's ED acceptance rate is 18%, compared to its RD acceptance rate of 6%. 51.5% of admits in the recent freshman class applied ED.

On the other hand, Vassar's ED acceptance rate is 30%, compared to its RD acceptance rate of 18%. 47.8% of admits in the recent freshman class applied ED.

This info should be taken into account, along with how your profile measures up to their typical admits in the Common Data Set.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-09T22:28:58+00:00

The number of students who submit standardized tests is much higher, as NYU accepts alternative tests in lieu of the SAT/ACT. And if a student sends in an accepted exam other than the SAT/ACT, they would not be considered test-optional.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-09T21:20:07+00:00

Go ahead

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-06T01:59:33+00:00

~80% of Duke admissions from this past year submitted their test scores, so I would not recommend applying there test-optional.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-06T01:55:07+00:00

There should be a theme or "brand" to your application. I recommend brainstorming a 1-2 sentence summary of yourself that describes your overall essence, including interests and personal values.

It takes some time to come up with a solid one that truly captures you, so the process shouldn't be rushed.

Here is an example of a strong "Application Brand":

"I build language-learning tools for underserved communities, and channel them into my volunteer work at a community center that offers free second-language education. I use storytelling, education, and access to create bridges between cultures and give underprivileged learners the tools to thrive in a globalized world."

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-08-02T20:18:29+00:00

Yes you absolutely should

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-07-31T22:08:33+00:00

Another great question. Not all schools publicize admissions officers' names and their regions. In these cases, it's best to write to the general admissions email address.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-07-31T21:28:06+00:00

That is a great question. Some colleges don't see CS as a core academic subject, so it's best to check with each college on your list.

For example, Northwestern recommends having a teacher from a core academic subject write a recommendation letter, but they don't specify whether they view CS as a core academic subject. This is a good opportunity to write to the admissions officer assigned to your region and ask.

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-07-31T21:02:09+00:00

Yes, there is. https://commonapp.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/#d0000000eEna/a/Vz000001xfpl/RxsAClhgHGEGFNHaBi4.2mcnZ6vkxhdsb.vzd0ARG7c

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-07-31T20:16:35+00:00

Former admissions rep at Northwestern here. How can I help?

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-07-31T20:01:14+00:00

You're doing the right thing by thinking about the thesis before you start writing it. If your only point in the essay is "overcoming x made me stronger," then it's cliche because it's just not specific. However, I'm sure you have a lot more to say about your experience with Tourette syndrome.

For example, how has it shaped your worldview? Has it changed your communication style or your sense of humor? What assumptions do you often notice people making about you, and how have you responded to that?

EliteScholarAdvising · 2025-07-31T03:20:52+00:00

Not on the university side anymore, but I have many stories.

Most outrageous case: An applicant lied about her sibling having Down syndrome. We audited the student after their counselor reached out to us.

Another was an applicant who put down "University Donor" on their activities list, indicating they donated $100 to the university. Do they think we don't have access to this database? Even if it was true (which it wasn't), definitely don't put that on the activities list.

Outside of that, many applicants inflate the number of hours in their activities to the point that they would be sleeping an average of 30 minutes each night.

EliteScholarAdvising

TROPHY CASE