More fodder for the ongoing discussion about whether students' social media profiles matter in college admissions decisions. The article says this: The adage, "You can't judge a book by its cover," has a new 21st century spin, "You can't judge a person by their online profile." Yet some colleges likely do. Possibly the one where your son or daughter is applying?
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Kids may want to tackle sensitive topics in their college admission essays, but beware the fine line between honest and inappropriate oversharing.
I thought this was interesting: "In two cases that have become notorious in wait-list circles, MIT and Stanford took zero students from their lists for the freshman class that entered last fall." Read the full story here.
The change to the exam comes "as the 88-year-old test in recent years has slipped behind the rival ACT — a shorter exam with an optional essay — in total student customers," according to The Washington Post.
Students’ grades and the academic rigor of their course loads weigh more heavily in decisions to admit than standardized test scores, high school class rank, or demonstrated interest in attending, according to a new report. Essays are so important, but they can only tip the scales that already were weighted in your favor.
As someone who has edited a lot of essays about leadership, I appreciate that someone is asking the question of why it's valued above so many other qualities. "The implicit message behind the rhetoric of leadership in the American college admissions is that intellectualism alone is not enough, even for an academic institution," the article states.
The New York Times blogged recently on the rise of the quirky essay topic and how the approach is meant to find the creative thinkers. Closer to home, I've found that Oklahoma State seems to be the school with the most offbeat essay selections. Apply Texas, which covers the majority of Texas schools, goes with fairly standard fare.
Some kids who feel pressured to commit early to a specific college or university later sense that they missed out on a school that would have been a better fit, Time magazine reports.
Beware: An array of Common App glitches is causing problems for seniors who are trying to submit their college applications. The folks at the Common App say they are aware of and are working on the problem.
I like this balanced look at what the Supreme Court decision in the UT affirmative action case means for state universities. “For supporters of affirmative action, I’d put it in the category of disaster averted rather than victory achieved,” said David A. Strauss, a law professor at the University of Chicago.
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AuthorLinda Leavell is The Write Coach, based in Plano, Texas. She reads a lot about college admissions and writing essays. And she shares the best stuff. Or you can follow her on Facebook. 
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