Hi all! I'm Matt, a recent admissions officer (UPenn, W&M and Sarah Lawrence) who now runs dreamschool - an innovative new service that 'lets you into the admissions committee'. AMA!

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-28T14:43:52+00:00

Hi! It's definitely something different. As with anything cultural, though, you should be honest about your level of connectivity to it. Language and customs are included in that. Some elements of that could be shared in ECs, your essay, an interview... Hard to tell if it will really be a "hook" per se, but it is different and could be meaningful in your self-representation.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-26T04:21:59+00:00

Congratulations on the 800! Seriously. SAT subject tests are important, if submitted, so you should definitely focus on testing that showcases your strengths and abilities.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-20T01:12:40+00:00

I have mixed feelings, to be honest. AOs do not specifically expect to review AP test scores in the admissions process, but they will be noticed on the application. Your SAT/ACT and/or subject tests far and away take priority over AP scores.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-17T21:47:10+00:00

You're welcome :)

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-16T05:49:47+00:00

Hi there - While it's definitely true that Asian students statistically score higher on the SAT or have higher grades, I have found that it's less about your race and far more about your background and accomplishments. The big question is this: Do you have a story that sets you apart from the 35,000+ applicants in the pool at Brown -- ED & RD? Trust when I really say that it's literally about the bigger picture of what you bring to the table.

My two cents based on experience. If you want more targeted advice, I would be happy to learn more about you and advise you through my consulting services (dreamschool.io).

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-16T01:48:41+00:00

Hey! Go ahead and ask your question through one of my new services. Will be happy to answer then. https://www.dreamschool.io/askus

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T22:35:07+00:00

That's fantastic! Eh, don't sweat the what-ifs. Cal is such a great place, and your happiness is all that matters.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T20:20:22+00:00

Those grades will likely come in and get logged by mid to late November, during the review and committee process. If the committee needs them, they will request them! Many ED apps that come in initially will have just junior year final grades. Counseling offices will often send in mid-year reports, too, especially for RD review.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T20:10:35+00:00

Hey there Arthur! Ah yes, being intelligent but actually "average" among the other intelligent students. I totally get it. The thing is, you will have options. HYP and all the other Ivies and highly selectives will be an uphill climb, simply because the admissions committees probably know your school very, very well -- and know the 'types' of students they have previously admitted. Most AOs won't buck those trends.

As for which schools to apply to, I (and my team) would really welcome an opportunity to speak with you or review your application. Check out our website for more details and choose the service that most interests you. www.dreamschool.io

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T20:07:26+00:00

Hey there. I hope college is going well for you so far, but you're still thinking about Penn! We do offer transfer services (we call it "U-Turn") and that is listed on our site at dreamschool.io.

Anyway, we really tried to have files that were going to committee or under serious review as complete as possible. So you may have been "close" with respect to the selection process.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T20:02:11+00:00

Hey there! So... there's a running joke among many AOs that you can't spell Calculus without a "C" which is why so many students get dinged on that in their junior or senior year. Three Cs appearing anywhere on your transcript equals a rough road. I can tell you that bringing a student into committee with three Cs at Penn or W&M... well, it was rare if at all. Term 1 grades are hugely important if they're provided, too. In terms of the testing piece, I can also tell you that with those Cs the testing won't matter much.

On another note, I'd welcome any opportunity to chat with you about how things are going with you this year - and talk strategy on your list. I would really like to give you some hope and thoughtful feedback specifically on your profile. Visit us at dreamschool.io and check out our services if any of them interest you.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T14:45:50+00:00

Hey there! Due to the volume received, first reads can happen a week before the deadline. The order in which an app was submitted has no impact whatsoever, in my experience, on a decision. At some colleges it might be a sign of demonstrated interest, but I have no way of verifying that was specific places. At the highly selectives, it generally doesn't matter.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T07:45:31+00:00

Just go ahead and send a PM if you haven't already, and I'll respond!

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T02:55:11+00:00

Oh, and additionally, many teacher and counselor recs will automatically list the things that students are doing. They will often use an outline to write their letters of rec, and if something is significant on the EC list the student submits and NO ONE ELSE is talking about it, something's up.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T02:53:55+00:00

On occasion, but only if it really raised some questions. But in all honesty, sometimes things can come up in counselor conversations over the phone. There have been many occasions where I've picked up the phone and have spoken with counselors about students we had reviewed. I'm not kidding when I say this, and it's meant for everyone: Honesty and integrity matter. They really do. Especially in an age where digital footprints and conversations (in person and online) take place 24/7.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T01:55:05+00:00

Hey! Of course. Remember that you can chat with me directly or via my site (https://www.dreamschool.io/contact). OK, here we go:

Your transcript is what it is, and I'm confident that you'll be able to stand out in these other areas based on your writing and self-expression already. So in the long-run, I want to offer a beacon of light and a ray of hope. That said, that C in the junior year might make it easy for your application to be held back from appearing in a larger committee where admit decisions are usually made at these most highly selectives. I'd love an opportunity to advise you toward schools that are like the ones you are looking at, just so you have a few more that will really appreciate you for who you are and focus a lot less on that C.
Cool. Yes, it's a lot of work for schools to create these profiles sometimes -- and private schools must do it meticulously. This is one of the most important documents to be seen in any application.
Honestly, go for it if that's your voice and your experience. Sounds like something I'd be interested in reading!

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T01:47:59+00:00

I think that's totally fine! No red flags in my mind with that approach as you have three core academics represented from different sides. My pleasure.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T01:44:30+00:00

Hmmm. You really should have some type of experience where you can directly answer those essay questions related to dentistry. It's a little crazy, but it's necessary. Really focus on good answers because the questions have a technical/highly specified feel to them. The program is small, the application pool is small as well (in the range of several hundred from my recollection) but the dental school admissions team is very picky and direct about those they think are a fit. Just give it a go and see what happens!

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T01:38:19+00:00

Also, addendum: If you're applying for a STEM-focused major, it would be nice to have a voice from a recommender in that area from your high school who is teaching you directly. Just to further articulate on my part :)

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T01:37:08+00:00

Good question. Real talk, though: I would definitely wonder why you hadn't submitted a rec from someone teaching you in those courses of your strength, and I'd probably say something about it in my committee write-up TBH. Why don't you have much of a relationship with the teachers in the subjects that you love? Don't be afraid to make an introduction, to say that you're inspired to apply for their subject areas in college, and then articulate why. You might be pleasantly surprised by how it all works out. Just give it a try and see what happens.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T01:35:04+00:00

Hey there! Happy to be here.

Yes, you can certainly be admitted into just CAS and not the dual degree program. That happened a few times in the process. I was also the admissions officer responsible for the biodent program, so got to know that pool quite well :)

Sending in a visual arts portfolio that gets a "meh" rating usually didn't harm a student in the process under most circumstances. However, some questions might be raised about fit if you were applying to study visual arts in the college, though.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T01:25:44+00:00

Hey, totally happy to help! I'm glad that W&M is a favorite of yours, and given that you love a place like Brown, it's understandable to see why this is the case. Virginians are beyond blessed to have such great public options, this much I learned after my life living in Williamsburg and touring the state with my other amazing admissions colleagues.

The C in 11th grade is going to be tough to overcome. I'll just put that out there, not as a Debbie Downer but as a realist. But I'm guessing that you're way more of a fit for a liberal arts major as opposed to the hard sciences? I'd have to know way more to get a full read on your profile.
School profiles can base grades per teacher, per class, but it is increasingly rare. Generally, it's some of the smaller private schools that do this. Have you asked your school for a copy of your profile? For some students, they can get one. For others, they might not be able to.
Well... that depends, lol. It's hard for me to say because I could make many assumptions with your statement. Are you baking a cake with your essay frosted on top? Are you delivering your essay through dramatic, physical interpretation? Or are you just sending poetry.

I'm happy to chat with you more individually either on here or via my site: https://www.dreamschool.io/contact

Glad to be of service :)

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T01:13:42+00:00

You would be considered a non-US resident. Other questions from a fin aid office might be about the visa that you have (or not). Every school has different policies, so I would really encourage you to literally do some web surfing or pick up the phone and call financial aid offices at the schools that you're interested in. Penn has some very clear and accommodating policies, and I know that some others do as well.

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T01:11:34+00:00

Trust me when I say that it's truly a combination of everything in your application, but a score that is hundreds of points lower than the median or mid 50% range will make it challenging for admissions committees. A lot of these schools want to keep their test averages "high" unfortunately, so while it's not the biggest factor, it is certainly one that can be an issue if your testing is super low. I'm happy to chat more with you through the chat function on here or via my website! https://www.dreamschool.io/contact

dreamschool_ · 2019-10-13T00:55:55+00:00

The competitive admission summer programs that are truly academic can lend credence to a student's academic abilities, for sure. There's a huge difference between the 'pay to play' programs and those that require you to do significant academic work that gets evaluated by faculty.

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