“It Is Okay More Than Ever to Sound Like a 17-Year-Old”
The title of this post is a quote from an admissions rep who presented at the NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) Conference last month. These words resonated with me throughout the rest of the week, more than any other session (though the sessions were great this year, IMO). In the past, I have written about my reflections on the conference, usually a variety of sessions and themes, but as I reviewed my notes, this quote kept becoming more relevant and I realized that it was this singular theme that defined the conference for me.
Not all 17-year-olds sound the same
Let’s start with the obvious. Every person has their own voice, but there’s also a notable increase in cynicism from admission counselors who have been reading college applications for years. I’ve been in the field for over 22 years and applications sound different than they used to. Essays are more polished (AI enhanced?) and supplemental topics are well-researched. An admissions dean visited our school a few years ago and told our junior parents that she knew what a 40-year-old accountant sounded like. She said that for a reason. Even some emails coming from “students” were clearly written by someone else. I can only imagine what is presented in their applications. Admission counselors are aware of everything, so consider yourself warned.
Applicants speak through all parts of the application
Another difference I’ve noticed over the years is that applications have become well-curated, or let’s say strategically angular. If this is the Instagram/TikTok generation, then it’s extended into the college application process. Filters and effects are applied on activity lists. The UC PIQs might as well be a “reel” of high school highlights. Essays and supplements are overedited (or written) by well-meaning (or compensated) adults. Even transcripts are translated into a different voice, as colleges have put the burden on students to report their courses and grades so colleges can recalculate GPAs easier, thus eliminating some of the nuances of individual transcripts. Are grades really the only authentic voice left in the process? No wonder everyone is trying to accelerate and max out on AP and advanced courses.
Is the video intro the answer?
I don’t know if this is actually the case, but it sure feels like fewer colleges are offering interviews. However, the video introduction is growing in popularity, appealing to some students and colleges. Some colleges offer their own optional video component (e.g. Brown, UChicago, Bowdoin, Claremont McKenna, Swarthmore, Wake Forest, WashU in St. Louis). Most are similar in content, but others have their own interesting quirks. Bowdoin and Swarthmore, for example, will give you a question to answer on the spot. Glimpse is another option that a number of colleges will accept as your video intro. There is a one-time fee to use their platform. I have some mixed feelings about this, as it may cause additional stress, but it would help admissions counselors determine if the spoken voice matches the written one.
Why is it okay to sound like a 17-year-old?
Colleges are in the business of creating communities. They also understand that applicants are not finished products. The irony is that sounding like someone else may not actually help you. The cynicism is real, folks. In the midst of all the “Does this look good for college” questions, the reality is that you can do everything the right way and things may still not work out. So you might as well be yourself and attend the college that accepts the real you.
However, I’m also not naïve. I know families don’t send their kids to my school or ask me for help just so they can passively see how things play out in the college application process. There is very much a strategy and a process that students need to follow to maximize their chances of admission. I just think some students are receiving very bad advice out there. At the conference, I heard some shockingly basic questions from people who supposedly advise students for money. As resounding as the quote that inspired this post was, it was equally as jarring to hear other quotes. I even considered using one of those questions as the title of this post, but then I realized that it would’ve affected the tone and purpose of this blog. Instead, I decided to stay true to my theme of the conference and sound like myself. I hope that resonated with you in some way.