Ex-Stanford Admissions: Best College Essay Topics

[@shohjahonbaxromov9218]

Most underrated blog. You are doing a great job!

[@haneeshtummalapalli8189]

Hey, I love your videos! They provide a lot of insight. I was wondering if I should write more geared towards computer science since I want to major in comp sci? Thanks!

[@mahtahoseyni2137]

Hi thanks for these helpful information I want to know that if I have 1 or 2 compelling extracurricular activities but I have a powerfull essay about my future goals do I still have a chance for stanford as an international student?

[@rtheletter6337]

Hello Michael. I have been following your videos for a while, and they have definitely been helpful for me and others as well. In regards to Columbia's four listing prompts, the University states that "For the four list questions that follow... [n]o explanatory text or formatting is needed." How should we interpret this statement with respect to our responses?

[@Admitium]

Sounds like they're saying: 1. No need for a windup ("If I had to choose, I'd say my favorite reading assignment ..."); and 2. Don't worry about using bullets, sentences, numbering, etc. --MCS

[@rtheletter6337]

@@Admitium Thank you!

[@alliyaah9686]

hi how exactly can we develop an academic point of excellence and show colleges that we have an academic point of excellence? your videos are amazing!

[@cycle9068]

I’m interested in your MasterClass because your videos seem very helpful! I am a bit hesitant to buy considering how coronavirus has impacted applying to colleges including the steep price. What do you think colleges want from a student now that the sat subject test and essay are now eliminated? Will these videos apply to recent situation?

[@Admitium]

No SAT II's or SAT writing means your Common App activities, personal essay, and supplemental apps and essays matter even more. As does all the strategy that goes into how you present yourself in your apps, target schools, connect with your AO, etc. And that's all the material we cover in Masterclass. It's the most affordable, non-coaching option I know of. And it's less than many SAT prep classes. For 10+ hours, it's less than $50 a class. And, candidly, I wouldn't listen to anyone who hasn't worked as an admission officer--even then, I have students come to me After working with other ex-Stanford AOs. Not all college admission advice is equal. But it's pay what you can afford and money back. I haven't had a single person not find the course extremely helpful--and usually, they say it's far and away the best guidance they've gotten. (Even compared to their elite private college counselors.) --MCS

[@aadarshbattula900]

Hey Michael, your videos are really helpful. I'm currently a sophomore in high school and have only two activities that aren't very meaningful to me, but I have been doing for a long time. I'm interested in studying neuroscience at Stanford. I also want a research internship at a local university near me. What are some things you recommend in asking for an internship when sending an email to a professor? Also, what are some activities/competitions you recommend that relate to neuroscience that helps me stand out?

[@Admitium]

Working with a college prof. or PhD in neruro would be ideal. I'd keep it short and authentic.

[@harrisbush5425]

Hi Michael, I'm currently a participant in the USACO (USA Computing Olympiad) and USNCO (US Chemistry olympiad) Are these good activities for Stanford or would you recommend me do more research based activities?

[@abelv7052]

Hey Mike, do admissions at competitive schools like Stanford deny students only on the basis that a kid from the same school already got in, or is that just a myth?

[@Admitium]

Myth! I know how it looks to you guys. But schools take the applicants they find the most compelling. No quotas or anything like that. At top schools, they typically take none or one student from a high school every few years because of numbers: 2,000 spots and 40,000+ schools in the US alone. --MCS

[@abelv7052]

@@Admitium So was it rare to see two or three students being taken from the same high school, as if they were all compelling applicants would they all get in, or at that point would you begin comparing the students to see who’s the best? Thanks for the quick response!

[@Admitium]

@@abelv7052 Yes, it was rare--just because of the numbers I mentioned. But no, no explicit comparison to another student at their school at least when I was at Stanford. In my experience, a student from a public school has just as good a chance as a student from Exeter--you just see more admits from Exeter because they tend to have more compelling students. Others will disagree, but that was my candid experience. --MCS

[@igntrollington5519]

Hey, first off, thanks for your videos! They are extremely insightful. I was just wondering, how much of an edge does an international student not requesting financial aid receive at Stanford? How much of a disadvantage is it to request financial aid as an international?

[@Admitium]

When I was there: you needed to walk-on-water to get in as an international student asking for aid.

[@igntrollington5519]

@@Admitium Hahah that makes sense from what I've seen of international student profiles who got in with aid. What about an international student who does not request for aid? Will the advantage be greater this year due to COVID's economic impact or is it negligible considering the large endowments of schools like Stanford?