The Secret To Admissions Success

Bruce Poch, dean of admissions at Pomona College in California has spilled the beans about the secret to college admissions success: Stay true to yourself.

"Although it may seem mysterious, the admissions process is actually straightforward. It's about finding relationships that will work, just like dating and marriage," says Poch in an article in Newsweek's College Guide. When you're looking for a relationship, he adds, trying to be someone you're not will almost certainly lead to disappointment.

Poch urges students to avoid "doing the right things for the wrong reasons." Don't load up on activities just because you think colleges will like them; choose activities that truly interest you. As you put together your application, let your real personality shine through. "We've had to become personality detectives because so many students, like presidential candidates, seem to work under the management of handlers," writes Poch. "Packaging the application doesn't result in the success one might expect. The odds are small of guessing exactly right about what any individual admissions office wants."

This is very important advice that can't be emphasized enough, especially as rising seniors begin working on their applications. Your essay should sound like you, not a committee. Don't let parents, counselors, or, worst of all, strangers on an internet discussion forum, "correct" your essay by wiping it clean of your voice. Admissions officers read essays because they want to get a sense of your personality, your thought process, and your passions. But, don't think your "passion" have to fit into a particular box.

Poch also answered questions from students and parents in an online chat session yesterday. The transcript is worth reading because it is filled with insights and great advice about the admissions process and finding the right balance in your life so that you're living, not just prepping for college.

Poch also had some invaluable advice for parents about helping their children through the admissions process: "Parents should help their children remain organized, not lose sight of themselves in the process and not feel defeated or frustrated by what seems like a mountain of barriers. Help them just breathe!"