The admission office is a special audience- with whom you may never have communicated before and with whom you may never communicate again.  Yet, you need to present the best possible picture of yourself and the admission committee must get to know you as well they can in a short period. How? Well to a large degree through your application file.

The big question always asked is how do you make yourself stand out in the pile of applications?  In a phrase, very carefully and with good judgment.  Take a look at Linda K Wertheimer’s “College Hopefuls Get Creative to a Fault: Admissions Gimmicks Rarely Work”  and keep these thoughts in mind when consider your application & any supporting docs:

“With application deadlines for many colleges drawing to a close, admissions officers advise restraint.”

“The ultimate question is, ‘Does this (chocolate chip cookies for the office) help the student get in?’ ” said Debra Shaver, Smith College director of admission. “And the answer is no. It certainly entertains the staff, but it doesn’t help the student get in.”

Our rule of thumb- avoid being too cute.  No baked goods or items that require refrigeration or make the admission committee work harder.  Anything that you present that increases admission office defeats the purpose.  Send nothing requiring special handling or maintenance and no writing that needs multiple readings or a degree in literary criticism to be understood.

Present anything that makes it easier for the admission to gain a more complete understanding of you and your efforts- a published short story, a juried painting, a concert recording.  Keep the items small and useful.    

A final note, even if the interview is optional, do it.  It’s a great chance to present yourself and build a personal relationship and this is where you can ask the question, “would you like to see my plastic canvas needlepoint collection?” Check out this article on boarding school interviews for more tips.