Since the pandemic, most colleges and universities have dropped the SAT and ACT requirements. These standardized tests used to be the main indicator for college readiness, and admissions counselors could quickly draw a line and distinguish candidates based on their grades and scores alone. If you made the grade and passed the test, your application moved forward and then your essays got read in the final round. When schools began to go test blind, meaning they would not consider scores when evaluating your application, the weight of evaluation shifts to the applicant’s personal statement and essay responses. The bottom line: admissions officers want a diverse student body AND they want to know your story.
Today, after decades of pushing the need to prepare for college on our kids, almost every high school and transfer applicant has a batch of AP classes, excellent grades, extracurriculars and solid test scores. How, then, can they evaluate all these excellent applicants and insure a diverse pool of admitted students? By moving past the standardized test and uncovering an applicant’s story. They want to know who you are! Which prompts you choose to answer and how you answer them has never been more important.
At StoryMakers, we know you have a story to tell, and we’re experts at drawing it out of you. We can help you tackle your application and create focused, compelling, clear essays that capture your story and set you apart.