84. Beyond Grades: What Colleges Want to See in Your College Application That Does NOT Include AI

In this episode, Coach Sonia discusses what colleges and universities seek beyond GPA and class rank in college applications. She reflects on her experience at the QuestBridge College Launch event with admission representatives from top colleges such as Bowdin, Dartmouth, Pomona College, and Rice University. 

She emphasizes the importance of authenticity in the college admissions process, advising students to highlight their struggles, personal growth, and unique stories in their application essays. 

This episode aims to provide practical tips and encouragement for students and parents navigating the college admissions journey.

We will discuss:

• Understanding college admissions
• Why AI is not the answer
• The importance of authenticity in your personal statement
• Why you should embrace your individuality
• Sharing your personal struggles
• Exploring your career path and connections

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"Stay well, be present, and enjoy the journey"

Transcript

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Aside from academics, GPA and class rank. What are colleges and universities looking for in your college application? I Find out in today's episode. If you're not yet, part of my community think get started today for free by joining the discover you connections club. The connections club is the name of my email list, where I send out college and career connection tips to help you prepare not just for college, but ultimately for your future career goals. These practical tips will help you stress less and enjoy the college and career journey much more as you discover, connect, and enjoy. I'm sharing up to date strategies and tips along with an honest portrayal of what I'm doing to explore college and career readiness in today's job market. And it is communicated via email because I don't feel like putting it out all out for public consumption. So, if that is something you're interested in by hearing firsthand, what I am finding and exploring about colleges and careers. Then I would encourage you to go to www.collegecareerready.org forward slash join. And now let's get started with today's episode. First and foremost, welcome to any new listener. If this is your first time listening in, I wants to give you a warm welcome. You are in the right place. If you are wanting to learn and explore all topics related to college connections. Uh, career path and personal growth. I'm your personal coach, Sonya Today I will be talking directly to all of our students, whether you are a sophomore, junior, or senior in high school. I will hope you understand the importance of discovering and clearly knowing and articulating who you truly are. Because news alert, knowing that can impact your college admissions process. So parents. Listen to this episode together with your teen or young adolescent or listen to it firsthand and then send them the link directly to them. After they listen, you can have a discussion about what you each heard and discovered. The college admissions process can be a daunting journey filled with excitement, anxiety, hope, and let's be very honest. Sometimes even disappointment. But my goal today is to ease the stress and anxiety while also doing our part together to avoid this appointment. One of the stressful parts of the college admissions process is the college admissions essay or personal statement. Many colleges and universities require a college admissions essay as part of the application process. These personal statements, allow students to discover their academic achievements, their strings, and other personal aspects that didn't help. officers see them as unique individuals. Students, please do not jump to chat GBT or AI for this process. That would be the first big mistake because pretty soon colleges will start seeing a pattern in writing structure format, and sometimes even the meat of the essay. And that is not how you want to start your journey into college. Trust me. Colleges wants to hear about you. A few weeks ago, I attended QuestBridge college launch in person. It was an in-person event here at rice university in Houston, Texas, where educators along with rising juniors and guests enjoyed a half day of programming, including an informative live panel discussion with admission representatives from Bowden, Dartmouth, Pomona college and rice university. This allowed all of us present to explore colleges from various states. In this case, we had Maine New Hampshire. California and Texas in the house. Hold all these colleges represented different regions. They had something in common. That part of their admissions process, aside from academics was that they wanted to know who you are. Your own story. Now let's go back. Notice, I did not say that they wanted to know that you weren't top 2% or top 5% in your class. Quite honestly, I think that will be a given where you send out academically, when you complete your college admissions process. When you upload your transcript in that they see your academic. However, this is not what I'm talking about today. Let's say you are not in that top percent yet you still meet their academic entry requirements. Now we move on to the next step. And in my opinion, the most important step. What makes you, you. What do you have to offer the university? Do you think they want to hear the story that you don't even have to study for exams? And that even the hardest classes were easy for you? Well, let me tell you the answer is no, my friend. They want to hear about your struggles and even sometimes failures that have cleared and paved the way to your resilience. Determination and ability to seek mentors and resources to help you along the way. Today, I want to emphasize the importance of sharing your authentic self, including your struggles and your journey. Colleges. Aren't just looking for perfect students with flawless records. They are looking for real people with unique stories, diverse backgrounds, and a genuine passion for learning and growth. Your authenticity is your most powerful tool. It sets you apart from thousands of other applicants and gives admission officers a true sense of who you are. When I say, share who you are. I mean, and brace your individuality. What makes you, you. Is it your love for robotics? You new passion for painting your dedication to community service. Or perhaps your resilience in the face of challenges. Don't shy away from the qualities and experiences that defined you. Celebrate them. They are the heart of your application. Now let's dive into the importance of sharing your struggles. This might seem counterintuitive after all isn't the admissions process about showcasing your strengths and achievements. Yes, but it's also about demonstrating your character. Resilience and compacity for growth. When you shared your struggles, your admin. You're adversity. Maybe you face a tough family situation. Struggled with a learning disability. Or dealt with personal setbacks. These experiences, shape who you are. And how you approach. determination and your ability to persevere, which are qualities that colleges highly value. College admissions, no something you don't. That college is not like high school. It is a lot more challenging, rigorous. And guess what? It will also give you more freedom to showcase whether you are responsible. Dedicated determined and resilient against obstacles. If you portray a visual of just being smart. Where you don't even have to equip yourself with learning strategies, finding resources and develop self advocacy. Then in their eyes, you might not be a good fit. Share how you discovered your career path. Sharing your journey is equally vital. Your journey is to narrative of how you've grown and evolved over the years. It's the story of your academic interests, your extracurricular. Your extracurricular passions, aspirations. It's about connecting the dots between your past experiences and your future goals. For instance, if you've discovered a passion for environmental science, Don't say that you just woke up one day and found your passion. Because discovering a passion is an evolution. It starts with being curious, exploring interests. And through this process, you have identified your passion. In this case, let's use this as an example. Talk about how your interests developed. Maybe it started with a school project that grew through a community initiative that you joined and solidified with an internship at a local environment organization. This journey, showcases your commitment and provides a roadmap of your academic and personal growth. your story matters. Here is what the truth of the matter is. If you apply to colleges and meet their entry requirements, you have. You have good grades and solid test scores. Then you are just and you have checked the box. So what will set you apart? You can highlight and set yourself apart through your personal essay. If you write about your struggle with anxiety and how it affected your academic performance in high school and how you sought help learned coping strategies and eventually started a mental health awareness club at your school. At your school. This is what will set you apart. Your honesty. Vulnerability and inspiration. And this is something AI cannot do for you. This will come from within and your own journey. It shows the admissions committee, your resilience and commitment to helping yourself through this journey. It shows self-advocacy and a growth mindset. I have heard students with similar stories like this, get accepted to their top choice colleges. And where even the admissions officers have shared that applicant's essays were a deciding factor and that it wasn't students perfect grades that got them in. But rather it was their authentic story of struggle and growth. In your essay show or highlight your exploration journey and how you arrived to the finding your career path. Share your story from discovering, exploring to defining. They don't expect you to wake up one day and know all the answers. They know this was a journey and this is your journey to share not AIS, perfectly written essay. So, what can you do to start exploring who you truly are, what you have to offer in your own career path? Begin by knowing yourself, discover your interests, skills, abilities, and values to opportunities outside of the classroom. Summer and holiday breaks are a great opportunity to explore what is out there while bringing clarity to who you truly are and what drives you. Start building your college and career connections by exploring the world around you through internships, shadowing opportunities, info sessions, and so many other ways that you might not know that are at your fingertips. And. And you are in luck because another option is by joining my career that will launch July 1st. So just in a few weeks, And this course I will help you first find yourself. So you can clearly speak about your interests, values, and strengths in your college essays and personal statements. Knowing who you truly are, what you have encountered and overcome and what makes you, you. And that is just the beginning. While. While I help you rediscover your authentic self. I will also prepare you to opportunities in today's quickly evolving professional job market. While also teaching you how to create smart goals as you start exploring and making those college connections. If you don't want to miss knowing when open registration starts to this course. Which has just. our free newsletter community, our very own college and career connections club by going to www.collegecareerready.org forward slash join again. That's college career ready. All one word. Dot org forward slash join or click on the link in the show notes. So as you explore your college applications, remember. So as you explore your college application, remember your journey and your authentic self are powerful elements that can make your application stand out. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. Embrace your unique experiences and share them confidentially. Take the time to reflect on who you are and how you've grown. Think about the challenges you faced and what you've learned from them. And most importantly, be honest. And true to yourself. Your authenticity will resonate more than any polished perfect narrative ever. Could. I hope this episode has inspired you to embrace your journey and share it boldly in your college applications. Remember you are more than your grades and test scores. You are your experiences, your struggles, your passions, and your dreams. All right, my sweet friend. I hope you found this episode helpful. And if you did, please share it with a friend that you know, will benefit from it as well. Until next week, my friend stay well, be present and enjoy the journey. Until next week, my friend. Well Thank you for listening in. If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much to me if you share it with a friend, a colleague, or your own community. If you share it on social media and tag me, I'll make sure to personally thank you. My two favorite places to hang out are Instagram and LinkedIn. Check out our show notes for a direct link. I'm so thankful for each and every one of you. And as always stay well, be present and enjoy the journey. I'll talk to you next week. Adios.