• Pre-College Plan
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    • The Common App
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    • Early Decision & Early Action
  • Your Application
    • Your Transcript
    • Test Scores
    • Extracurriculars
    • Recommendations
    • Essay/Personal Statement
  • Choosing
    • What to Consider
  • The Visit
    • Preparations
    • What to Ask
    • The Ideal Visit
  • Financial Aid
  • Checklists
    • 8th Grade
    • 9th Grade
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  • Resources

Your Application

In the fall of 2019, 19.9 million students enrolled in an American college or university. Even more students applied to college but did not get in or chose not to go. No matter how you slice it: that’s a lot of college applications flowing into admissions offices every fall. How, then, do you make sure your application stands out from the rest?

It’s All About You

In general, admissions officers, especially at selective schools, take a holistic approach to evaluating applications. That means that, despite what you’ve probably heard, getting a certain score on the SAT or a perfect 4.0 doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be admitted. Instead, colleges are looking at your application to get a sense of who you are—what interests you, what drives you, what you’re good at—to see if you’d be a good fit for the school, and if the school would be a good fit for you. Selective schools in particular are looking to bring in a diverse student body that will generate the kind of community that allows all students to flourish, and that means more than just a certain score.

Self-reflection helped me in every step and transition. Take time every once and a while to look back on the choices you’ve made, experiences you’ve had, and the people in your life. -Elizabeth M., Duke TIP alum

Student TIPs

When preparing your application, you should ensure that all of your materials combine to paint a picture of who you are, illustrate how you are unique, and work together to show off your best assets.

Parent TIPs

As much as you may want your child to go through the admissions process a specific way, it is very important that they take responsibility for their own college applications. They need to be invested in where and how they apply: they must feel a sense of ownership about where they go so that they are motivated to prove they made the right decision by using good judgment once they get to college. Fortunately, as a gifted student, your child will likely be deeply invested in the admissions process and highly incentivized to apply and follow through, thanks to support and inspiration from their peers.

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