Today, I want to share an important and insightful post about a crucial factor every student must consider before submitting a college application.

If I could offer one crucial piece of advice to 12th-grade students preparing to apply Early Decision, it would be to ensure that every part of their application conveys a unified and authentic narrative.

To make this concept clearer, I will share an example involving a student from our academy.

Student's Academic Profile and Activities

• Gender: Female

• High School Ranking: Below 5000th

• Unweighted GPA: 4.0

• Weighted GPA: 4.69

• SAT Score: 1560

This student attended a high school ranked below 5000th, indicating that earning high grades was not particularly challenging. For students from such schools who are applying to top-tier universities, maintaining this level of GPA is critical.

AP Courses and Scores:

• AP Calculus BC: 5

• AP Human Geography: 5

• AP Computer Science Principles: 5

• AP English Language and Composition: 4

• AP Chemistry: 4

• AP US History: 3

• AP Music Theory: (Score not reported)

Senior Year Classes:

• Advanced Multivariable Calculus

• AP Physics C

• AP English Literature and Composition

• Advanced String Orchestra

• AP Spanish

The student also enrolled in community college courses.

Activities (Listed in No Particular Order):

Please note that the order listed here differs from how it appears in the Common App and resume.

• Research & Science Fair

  • Conducted chemistry research and participated in regional science fairs:

    • "Carbon Nanotube-Based Thin-Film Sensors for CO2 Detection"

    • "Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cardiovascular Disease Treatment"

  • Participated in regional science fairs for two consecutive years but did not receive any awards.

• Internship

  • Interned at the National Science Foundation (NSF), contributing to research projects.

  • It is rare for high school students to secure an internship at the NSF.

• Orchestra & Music Awards

  • Played violin in both school and regional orchestras.

  • Earned awards at two regional competitions.

  • Engaged in community service through musical performances in collaboration with local community centers.

• Chemistry Club & Science Competitions

  • Served as President of the high school Chemistry Club.

  • Led the team to participate in the Science Bowl and Chemistry Olympiad.

  • The student earned a minor award at the Science Bowl but did not achieve notable results in the Olympiad.

• Community Tutoring & Volunteering

  • Taught math and science to students in Korean and Filipino communities.

  • Received two Presidential Volunteer Service Awards (Bronze).

• National Honor Society (NHS)

  • Actively participated in NHS activities, including efforts to donate scientific equipment to local organizations.

• Writing & Journalism

  • Contributed as a science writer for the school magazine, publishing articles on various scientific topics.

• Congressional App Challenge

  • Participated in the Congressional App Challenge twice, focusing on developing educational apps for math and science.

• Science Writing Award

  • Earned recognition in a science writing competition hosted by a local university, leading to a research opportunity with a professor.

Recommendations

The student obtained three recommendation letters:

• One from a counselor

• One from an AP Chemistry teacher

• One from an AP World History teacher

Many students assume that recommendation letters should come from one STEM and one non-STEM teacher. However, this is not a requirement. The key is to select recommenders who can emphasize important aspects of your personality and story, regardless of their subject area.

Main Essay

Initially, the student intended to write their main essay about the process of being selected as an editor for the school magazine. The essay detailed how the student, who expected to be chosen as the editor, gave up the position to a peer, leading to reflections on leadership.

While the essay was acceptable, I suggested revising it to align more closely with the concept of Psychological Coherence.

What is Psychological Coherence?

Psychological Coherence refers to how consistently your personality is represented throughout your application.

• Do your activities reflect your character?

• Do your recommendation letters support your traits?

• Does your essay complement both of these?

In this student’s case, although they participated in numerous activities and competitions, they did not achieve many significant awards. However, they demonstrated persistence and determination, as evidenced by their leadership roles, tutoring, and community service.

When revising the main essay, we decided to focus on the student’s passion for origami as a metaphor for their personality. The student explained how they viewed failures in origami not as setbacks but as an inherent part of the process.

Instead of presenting persistence as overcoming obstacles, the student portrayed it as a natural inclination to keep trying until success was achieved. This subtle adjustment highlighted a distinct personality trait that extended beyond resilience.

Final Result

This student, despite lacking standout awards or significant hooks, was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn).

Conclusion

Before submitting your application, make sure your activities, essays, and recommendation letters consistently reflect your personality. This alignment—Psychological Coherence—is essential for creating a compelling application.

I hope this advice helps you achieve excellent results!