In addition, living on a college campus can support the transition to greater independence give students an idea of the elements of a campus environment that are most/least appealing. An experience like a summer program gives students stronger insight and concrete experience to make a strong case when it comes time to apply to college. Summer pre-college programs can provide a wonderful way for students to gain exposure to academic subjects they don’t have access to at their high school, or to deepen their interest in one or more academic subjects. High schools vary in their ability to expose students to majors and careers-for example, some high schools have engineering or business offerings while others do not. politics, projects, philosophies, artistic pursuits) spark my interest every time they are mentioned? You’re better off conducting academic research, starting a business, or launching a new club.Ĭontrast this with most students, who play it safe – they show up weekly to numerous club meetings, attend a couple of conferences, and don’t come out with much life experience.ĭiving deeply into 1-2 activities will give you concrete and measurable ways to make an impact and provide you with opportunities to succeed (and sometimes to fail – which believe it or not, looks good on your application). The best way to make an impact is to go deep in 1-2 endeavors as opposed to gathering a laundry list of extracurricular activities. What is the best way to do more of this activity in order to expand on my interests?Įlite and Ivy League colleges are looking for students who have deeply impacted their school, community, or surroundings.MBA Crystal Ball : What questions should applicants ask themselves before starting the college application process to ensure they are embarking on the right path? Aviva Legatt | Founder – VivED Consulting As a college admissions consultant, she has helped many international applicants with their college and graduate applications.Īll about undergrad college admissions Interview with Dr. She is a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania in Organizational Dynamics.

Aviva Legatt, Founder of VivED Consulting, completed her doctoral degree at Penn in higher education.

Get Real and Get In by Aviva Legatt