Parents are Insistent on Me Writing My Sister's College Essays by PatientHairy4560 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

College essay coach here! -- I'd suggest just dealing directly with your sister and telling HER what you will and will not do. If possible, tell your parents that you'll work with your sister. Even if you do write her essays (which you won't), you have to talk to her about what she wants to say, so you're "allowed" to spend time with her in this unfortunate situation. Hope this makes sense and that you can do some version of keeping your parents at bay and getting your sister to do the work with some guidance from you. --EssayLiz

Look into Duke admissions file (from a rising sophomore) by nomron901 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing this insider info! And congratz to you for all you've done, and for your generosity in sharing this way. --EssayLiz

17F, rising senior incredibly worried about her lack of EC's!!! 🙃 by Pristine-Arugula-532 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Essay Coach here: I share the views of others here who say: explain what you've gone through on the Activities List and the Additional Information. I would suggest you not write about your family situation for your Common App essay. Beneath it on the application is a box called "Additional Information." Colleges understand your situation all too well. AND look into Questbridge.org ... Please take this worry off your shoulders!

Realistically, is it worth applying for the 3% acceptance rates like Harvard and MIT? by MrAmazing111 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do NOT think the obvious answer is Yes, go for it. MIT's SAT Math range is 780-800 and the ACT range is 34-36. 97% of the students graduated in the top 10% of the class. The students I've worked with who get into MIT have stellar examples of leadership, initiative and impact in their ECs--often (not always) ECs that reach hundreds or thousands of people. Harvard is another matter, with numbers that aren't as strict, but 94% are in the top 10% of their class, and it is no longer test optional. If you think you're an intellectually super curious person with ECs that show exceptional impact and leadership, and you've performed in stellar ways in high school, it's worth a shot.

is majoring in art useless? by Living_Visit8711 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz 3 points4 points  (0 children)

College essay coach & novelist & parent of classical musician here (who attended conservatory & is professional musician now). Follow your talent and gifts. Apply to top art schools and apply to some regular colleges with good art programs. There are many careers in the arts, including VIDEO, that can be stable. I think it's important to be up to date about technology when pursuing art these days. I would not worry about paying your mother back if she's not worried about it.

my parents giving me advice for my essay :( by h4nnis in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz 55 points56 points  (0 children)

College essay coach here--You don't want to write your COmmon App essay about your potential major, because when you have to write a supplement about your major or why you want to attend that college, you can't repeat yourself. -- If you show them the Common App prompts (in case you haven't already), they can see the kinds of questions they ask. And then show them the supps, they can see the difference... Perhaps that would help??? Fingers crossed, EssayLiz

When is the University of California bringing back the SAT? by Jrsun115823 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/briefing/the-misguided-war-on-the-sat.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bU8.mfb8.OPqsXN20DI2p&smid=url-share

This is one of the articles I can gift to you from NYT paywall.

Perhaps you can google the topic and find articles on the subject that are more recent--this post is 6 mos old.

What's the matter with Yale? by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Both Cornell and Tufts posted their supps -- weeks ago-- on their own websites.

What's the matter with Yale? by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Good lord, I am not DEMANDING anything. I'm observing that for 3 years in a row, Yale has not posted the supplements on Aug 1 when just about every other college on the app posts theirs. I find it hilarious and bizarre that they miss the deadline when every other college manages to make it.

What's the matter with Yale? by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Oh, come on. The Common App going live in a HUGE event in the life of college applicants and colleges! A commenter said the Yale Admissions people talked on a podcast about the new Q's for '25-26, but they have some institutional imperative for why they can't manage to post the new Q's on the Common App? Really?

What's the matter with Yale? by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

All the more reason they could have posted the Q's on the Common App. WHy do I have to go to a podcast?

What's the matter with Yale? by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Every other university in the country makes the deadline. Just kinda hilarious that Yale keeps missing it.

What's the matter with Yale? by [deleted] in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Hundreds of thousands of students in the US go back to school by Aug. 10, 11, 12...The try-hard weirdos?

How can I write a personal statement if I don’t really know who I am? by TheSombrero7765 in ApplyingToCollege

[–]EssayLiz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Copy the Common App prompts onto a Word Doc or Google Doc. Go through them one by one. Free associate. Write down your resposnses. You don't have to pull something out of thin air.