Interview with a College Admissions Counselor!

Seniors!
I have some exciting news. I've been keeping this a secret to its finality, but here it is!
I emailed my admissions counselor Sam Duplessis from UChicago. He happens to be the Assistant Director of Admissions, and also a friendly person :]. Though I am not attending UChicago, he graciously agreed to an interview about applying to highly selective schools. I want to say that many selective schools are fantastic, and you would have the time of your life there. Just remember to apply for the right reasons. Pretty much, only apply if it's a fit for YOU. I am so pleased to present the results of this interview. This is a person IN the college process, the one reading the applications, so you are all really lucky!

1) What kinds of courses do you recommend they take their senior year?
Students looking for admission to a highly selective school should maintain a broad and rigorous curriculum throughout high school. For many this entails four years of core subjects, such as math, science, English and history. Students are also encouraged to pursue rigorous courses in the arts, language and additional subject material of personal interest. Students can help themselves get noticed by taking extra classes in their area of interest at school, local colleges, online and by studying other course material in their free time (right, I know, “free time”).

2) How important is "showing interest" (visits, responding to emails, etc.)?
Showing interest in a school can be valuable and comes in many forms. Many colleges and universities appreciate it when a student is knowledgeable about the institution. Asking good questions, staying informed about current developments and spending some time with the website are all easy ways to do this. Showing interest and knowledge can be helpful to the admissions staff in determining a student’s fit with the school, particularly in cases where the college has distinctive academic or structural aspects, such as those that exist at UChicago. We know that many of our applicants may not be able to afford the time or expense of visiting each school and for this reason a campus visit does not affect the admissions decision. In the same vein, we do not require an interview as a part of the application process, though we are happy to provide one if possible.
N.B. When responding to emails, remember that every interaction with the admissions office is an opportunity to make a good impression. Avoid informal language or emails with just one word. You also might want to think about which email address you use to contact the institution (you choose: PrincessPancake@glittermail.com or Jane.Doe@gmail.com) [Blogger Note: I have mentioned this in a previous blog, but I will point it out again. BE PROFESSIONAL].

3) What are the three most important factors to you in the application process(essays, test scores, etc.)?
At UChicago, we practice holistic admission. This means that all parts of the application are considered equally. Rather than list areas where seniors have little or no control, like grades from freshman year, I’ll focus on some areas where students can exert some control. We encourage you to work hard on your essays and always allow time for revision. Essays are a great opportunity to demonstrate fit, intellectual qualities, deeper understanding of larger issues and individual personality. Much valuable information about an applicant can be gleaned from the essays, which is why we offer engaging and challenging essay prompts as an opportunity for our applicants to display the above mentioned skills. We also value leadership and broad involvement in your community, so make sure your résumé reflects this. As mentioned above, evidence of success in a broad and rigorous high school curriculum is also important. Course-work at UChicago (and many other highly selective schools) is demanding and engaging, thus we want to ensure that our incoming students are well-prepared for the challenge.

4) How focused should students be on test scores?
The deal is that most of the students who are admitted to UChicago do quite well on standardized tests (SAT or ACT), but because we read applications holistically, we are able to accommodate lower testers who show their academic and intellectual potential in other ways. That being said, there are many free opportunities to prepare for these exams by taking practice tests and learning about the types of questions and answers expected in each format. Do remember that no matter how you score, this is not a measure of you as a person.

5)What advice would you give to someone who is scared to apply?
Just go for it! The worst thing that can happen is that you won’t end up at UChicago next year. This is particularly good advice for someone who really wants to attend but doesn’t feel secure about it. Demonstrated passion for UChicago is something for which we read carefully in the application. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our admissions staff with questions or concerns of any kind. It’s our job to help you through this process and make it as painless and stress-free as possible. Also, think about starting your application early. It will feel great to have it taken care of before you get into the stress of your senior year.

6) This might be more of a question for a financial aid counselor, but I'll ask it anyway: Applying to a school the expense of UChicago is reasonable for low income families (because of need based aid) and for very wealthy families, but what advice can you give for students of the middle class? Is UChicago even possible?
UChicago is absolutely a possibility for all kinds of families. One thing to remember is that UChicago is committed to meeting 100% of a family’s demonstrated financial need. We recognize that there are many aspects to a family’s financial situation that are difficult to explain, so we welcome additional supporting documents and information that might be relevant to our financial aid office. Every family is considered individually using a variety of criteria with an end goal of making UChicago a viable financial choice for each admitted student.

7) Which teachers should they be asking recommendations from?
Students should consider teachers from core classes, math, science, history and English. We also recommend, but don’t require, that you choose teachers from later in your academic career, as they are more likely to have recent, relevant information about your academic and intellectual qualities. Feel free to consider additional letters from coaches, elective teachers and other mentors, but remember that we read over 60,000 letters of recommendation a year, so make sure this person has something unique and relevant to say.

8) If you have any other pieces of advice/reassurances, feel free to add them
Remember to keep breathing and ask for help when you need it. You are lucky to be at a school with a wonderful college counselor and a multitude of resources available to you. Take advantage of the advice of teachers and mentors and know that each college to which you apply wants to help you through this process. The most important thing to keep in mind is that each and every one of you will end up at a wonderful college or university and have the time of your life, learning and living with distinguished faculty and wonderful new friends from around the world!


A large part of the advice here is universal, whether you are applying to Georgetown, UChicago, or Stanford. However, remember to talk to the admissions counselors at your particular school about admissions criteria, expectations, and the overall personality of the school. Not all highly selective schools are the same, so do your research, keep in touch, and stay informed.

-Celinda :]