Holistic Approaches Marketing often suggests that academic institutions value quantitative assessments such as GPA and standardized exam scores. These are considered predictors for success in students. But, applicants widely understand that holistic forms of evaluation are valid for candidates in applications. So, how can we account for these differences? What should universities consider when it comes to performance in school and how we can accept students? Essay Content Can Indicate SES In a Stanford study of 60,000 undergraduate applications to the University of Southern California, content written in the personal statements/ essays of applicants were better predictors of socioeconomic status and influence than SAT scores. That might seem obvious. The SAT has recently gone under fire for being a predictor of wealth, more so than a predictor of competence. The study further demonstrated that essays with more content on “human nature” and “seeking answers” tended to be written by applicants with higher reported SES statuses. In contrast, essays with more content about “time management” and family relationships tended to be written by students with lower SES statuses. This correlation shows that certain essay topics may be the framework for recruiting students from a range of backgrounds. Some colleges and universities have begun to account for this impact and consider it in assessing college applications. A Personal Approach to Success A metaanalysis of research papers studied the relationship between socioeconomic status and success in college. They summarized some remarkable learnings. For example, research suggests the importance of social support in success for Latino students such as believing in one’s ability to perform in college. More specifically, believing in one’s capacity as a learner, being excited about learning, and feeling cared about as a student and a person. Many papers suggest that historically underrepresented students, or those from low SES, encounter challenges when they get to college. These make it difficult for them to take advantage of their school’s resources for learning and personal development. This challenge begins when applying for colleges, as students self-select in and out of opportunities they may not feel adequate for, even though their holistic applications may suggest otherwise. How College Can Influence Your Future The topic of socioeconomic status and how it influences applications is very important. SES impacts beyond college itself. Over the course of an individual college graduate’s lifetime, some studies suggest, they will make 1 million dollars more than an individual who has not graduated from college.
Distilling your whole identity in one short statement is certainly a herculean task. How can you get to all the depths of who you are and what makes you worth admissions to a college or program in so many words? Writing a personal statement isn’t easy, but there are ways to break down the complexities of the process and of your own story to help you craft the best personal statement. In this blog, we will break down the process in several parts. Know Thyself Don’t be afraid to take some time to write in some diaries. Reflect on your achievements, and on your worst days. Reflect on the subjects you love, the people you love, and the experiences you love. A personal statement should be reflective of what the title suggests, PERSONAL. Being able to express a clear version of who you are into your writing means you can have the ability to make yourself irreplaceable to the admissions committee. How much can you share in your personal statements? As long as it feels relevant and honest, feel free to make your essay personal. Know About the School/ Program Don’t tell the admissions committee what you think they want to hear, because that can often come off as trite and cheesy. You want to make sure you’re as specific as possible when making applications. Ask yourself, how can I contribute to this school? Is there a particular program the school offers that your experiences would relate to? Use the language, the titles of professors, and all the specific details you know about the program and school in your statement. This helps admissions connect your story with theirs. Add Spunk Are you someone that likes to make jokes? Do you get teased for being grammar obsessed? Or do you like poetry? Rhyming? Arguing? This is what you want to sprinkle into your essay. Add elements of flavor and spunk, or even uniquely well-written language and grammar, into your writing, and you’ll add one more detail that makes you memorable. Draft While surely you will craft a spirited, engaging personal statement by following those tips above, the most useful tip will be to ensure you write not, not two, but multiple drafts. Have a select number of individuals that you love in your life read through the personal statement and address if they feel it’s the most reflective of who you are. Ask them to check for grammatical errors and flow. But, make sure you feel it’s most reflective of who you are and the story you want to tell. Multiple drafts will help you in this process.
