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Today, we have a guest blogger. We are proud to present information from IAdmissions. I am sure you will find this information timely and valuable.

Five Traits That Matter in College Admissions

By Jon Reider, former Senior Associate Director of Admission for Stanford University,

and curriculum developer for iAdmissions.com, a unique network of former admissions

officers providing affordable, one-on-one college counseling.

Students have one shot to personally impress admissions officers - the essays. A strong essay that harnesses your voice and shows the ‘true you’ often can make a difference in your evaluation. When writing your application essay, consider five traits that admissions officers usually look for:

•Vulnerability

Don’t pretend you are a superhero! Through your essay, you need to address the admissions officer who reads it- an adult with their own life experiences, who

does not know you but wants to get to know you better. Colleges want students who know they are human and who have developed through challenging themselves.

•Reflectiveness/Insight

Have you grown with your experiences? Do you look inward and learn from both your successes and failures? Admissions officers look for students who take every opportunity to mature. It is one thing to simply write about what has happened to you, and another to show how you have changed because of these events.

•Brevity

Admissions officers have long days. They might be reading your application at 9am over a cup of coffee or at 11PM before going to sleep. The phones might be ringing in the background. It should not take 110% of their focus to get through your essays. Be succinct and clear. Is that string of 10-letter adjectives really necessary to express yourself, or are you just trying to show off your vocabulary?

•Likeability

A college is a community, and admissions officers want to know how you interact with others. When writing an essay, try to work in an example of a time in which you brought people together. Perhaps its was with humor, or good-will, or sincerity. The person reading your essay should want to be your friend and not just on facebook.

•Intellectuality

If your transcript shows you know how to take a test, you may be tempted to think you don’t need to write about academics. More than grades, however, admissions officers want to know how ideas move you. Will you go to class because you have to, or will you go because you truly love learning? Try to illustrate a time when you were motivated by learning itself, and not just by a high grade.

More tipsheets and on-demand webinars by Jon are available at

www.iadmissions.com.

iAdmissions.com is a unique network of former college admissions officers that uses on- line technology to provide personalized and affordable guidance on the college admissions process. With programs ranging from just $49-$299, plan your admissions strategy with a former Top Ranked College Admissions Officer today by calling (800) 957-9620 or visiting www.iAdmissions.com