by Amy Alexander, former admissions officer at Yale University

It’s the time of year that most seniors are starting to complete their Common Application, and if you’ve signed up for an account, you’re probably already aware that you must submit an essay of 250 to 650 words in response to one of seven prompts. In addition to the personal statement, many colleges also require you to write responses to supplemental essays or questions. While these writing assignments are relatively clear and straightforward, there is also an Additional Information section offered on the bottom of the app’s writing page that creates confusion and uncertainty among many college applicants. What exactly do you use this space for?

Students often wonder if their involvements outside of the classroom are impressive enough to help them get into a highly selective college. Is the boy who spends his weekends at yo-yo competitions more striking to the admissions committee than the girl who sits by a tree and writes poetry on Sunday afternoons? It’s all about the ways in which these students choose to present themselves. So, let’s think about the question this way: What do the Ivies and other highly selective colleges want to learn from a student’s extracurricular activities? What kind of people do these colleges seek?

Who is the protagonist in the novel Beloved, by Toni Morrison? Oh wait, that’s a question for an AP Literature class, not a college admissions interview question. Though many students do fret unnecessarily over the interview at Ivy League schools and other selective colleges and believe they need to prepare for it similarly to an AP exam. Like Sethe, the protagonist of Beloved, who is proud, independent, and devoted, all you truly need to do for a college interview is show up and be yourself. You already have all of the answers within you.

You’ve gotten into college. You have checked one limited, however laudable, goal off of your life list. Now, as you head off to college, you may be wondering how you can ensure that you will get the most out of your college years. How do you know that your choices in college will help you realize your full potential and find an engaging career and life path? There are many factors that help students thrive once they get to college. We hope the following suggestions, though not comprehensive, will serve as a starting point to guide you toward flourishing in college and beyond.

For those recruited athletes working out hard this summer or attending summer training camps or programs, don’t forget there are still things to do over the summer to help ease your college application process. So, what is it that should you be doing this summer to ensure the athletic recruiting process goes smoothly and has a positive result?  The following is a check list to make sure it goes as planned:

After participating in your sport for a number of years and achieving a high level of play, you may decide you want to continue in college. You may very well end up being one of the fortunate high school athletes recruited by coaches. So how do you navigate the athletic recruitment process? The following are some general tips and resources to guide you through the college admissions process.

Every Thursday this summer, we are introducing students and families to a different member of the College Coach admissions team. Drop in to see what we’re reading, where we went to school, and our strategies for beginning the college essay. As you work with us to find an educational consultant that best fits your needs or the needs of your child, we will help you consider the personality and working styles that will bring out the best in you or your student. Today we introduce Amy Alexander, who works with students both remotely and in our Manhattan office.

Where are you from?
Amy: Grew up in Hamden, CT. Lived in Washington, DC, San Francisco, New Haven, CT, Madrid, Spain, and Montclair, NJ.

Where did you go to school?
Amy: Yale University, BA; Golden Gate University, MS in Human Resources/Organizational Behavior.