College Applications, Essays, and the Holistic Review Process

Liberal Arts Colleges and the Holistic Review Process

What is a Liberal Arts Education?

• Socratic Method
• Smaller Class Sizes
• Well Rounded Subject Matter
• Experiential Learning
• How to Work With Others
• How to Lead
• How to Think vs What to Think

Why is a liberal arts education so important today?

The Holistic Review Process

ho·lis·tic

adjective /hōˈlistik/ 

Characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole

A consideration of the whole person

Questions to ask yourself before applying

• Why are you applying to this school?
• If you don't know the answer to that question, you might want to reconsider
• Are you admissible to this school?
• Do your research!
• IPEDS - Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
• Contact your admissions counselor
• Would you enroll if accepted?

Application Methods

• Individual School Application
• Common Application

The Common Application

• www.CommonApp.org
• Easy way for students to apply to multiple colleges without having to fill out the same information again and again
• Always send your best work
• Please don't apply to all nearly 500 member schools!

Essay or Personal Statement

• Often the most stressful part for you
• Often our favorite part!
• This is how we get to know you; evaluate your writing ability

Hey Sarah, what should I write my essay about?

• Good topics are wide ranging, but always personal OR personally meaningful
• Gives us a chance to get to know you in a different, more creative way
• Do you like me? Check 'Yes' or 'No'
• PROF PROFF PRUF!
• Please, don't overshare!

Supplement (Common App), Short Answer

• Some schools have them, some don't
• Often, schools just want to know why you are applying
• Make it easy on us - why DO you want to be here?
• Your application file is NOT complete until this is filled out
• Please follow the character limits!

• Optional - Fine Arts, Athletics

School Report or School Profile

• Your high school counselor will fill this out (if you ask them to!)
• This is how we evaluate how you took advantage of the opportunities at YOUR high school
• The application file is not complete until this is submitted

Test Scores

• This is one way we evaluate you in comparison to our entire applicant pool

• Is the college test score optional?

• Does the college super score?
• It is always to your benefit to take the test more than once
• We will always give you the highest composite
• Send in ALL your scores!

Letters of Recommendation

• This is how we evaluate you in comparison to your peers
• It's never too soon to inform recommenders that you will ask them for a letter
• Make it easy on them - remind them of why you're great!
• Most schools require one from school counselor, one from core teacher
• Possibly additional letters for arts or athletics
• Any more than three can make us wonder...

Special Circumstances

• Suspension
• Grade troubles
• Behavioral challenges
• Learning difference
• Health issues
• It's ALWAYS better to have a conversation than to omit the information. Don't be afraid of your admissions counselor!

Complete Application Files Include

• Application
• Essay or Personal Statement
• Supplement or Short Answer
• Transcript
• School Report
• Test Scores
• Teacher LOR
• Counselor LOR
• Special Circumstances

Remember:

• People (not computers) review your application
• No individual piece of an application will get you accepted, nor will a single piece result in a denial
• Honesty is always better than omission
• You don't have to submit your entire application at the same time - it's fine if pieces arrive at different times
• If you are applying to schools that are the right fit for you, you will have more acceptance letters than you know what do with!

Any Questions?

Q. Common App vs. School App; Which is better?

A. WE DON'T CARE!

A completed application of a qualified candidate is all we see!

Letters of Recommendation

Covered by someone else!

Special Circumstances

• Student was Expelled
• Student has LD or OHI
• If you do not feel comfortable writing something down, tell us to contact you!

Sarah Goldman, Assistant Director of Admission Cornell College