Posts by Bentham Team
What Is Most Important to College Admissions?
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As the world evolves, so too does the definition of an ideal university student. The entire landscape of the college admissions process has changed dramatically in the past decade, and many of the ideas that students and their parents bring to the college admissions process are now outdated, incomplete, or just incorrect. In this day…
Read MoreDepth is More Important than Breadth
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Students hoping to get into elite universities often make the mistake of having a grab bag of extracurricular and summer activities, rather than focusing on a particular interest or talent and developing it throughout high school. Whether it is because they are still under the misconception that colleges want “well-rounded” applicants who play sports, practice…
Read MoreLessons from this year’s admissions results
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It’s fair to say that 2024 was a brutal year for highly qualified students applying to elite colleges. Everyone knows a story of someone with perfect test scores, straight As, and impressive extracurriculars who was flat-out rejected from the college of their choice, or endured the purgatory and dismal odds of being waitlisted. Students are…
Read MoreSpring Checklist for College Applicants
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Here are the actions you should be taking this spring to make sure you’re ready for college application season. By the end of the summer you should be finished drafting and revising your Common App Personal Statement, so you will have time in the fall for the supplemental essay questions each school will throw at…
Read MoreHow to use the Additional Information Section
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You’ve revised your essay a hundred and ten times until it is a glittering gem. You’ve chased down recommenders, arranged and rearranged your activities list, and just when you think you’re done, you are confronted by the optional Additional Information section. You are perplexed. Do you need to write something here? And if so… what?…
Read MoreHow to prepare for your college interview
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When you fill out your applications, you will encounter this question: do you want to have an interview? The interview is one more chance for you to make an impression on the admissions committee, so you should definitely check the yes box. Once you’ve submitted the application, you will probably be contacted for an interview. …
Read MoreHow much does GPA Matter?
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As you monitor your child’s academic progress, you know that the future applicant’s grades must be high, preferably a 4.0, a GPA that grows more elusive as classes get more difficult, and the students’ commitments and social opportunities increase. You might also know that it is not just the GPA that matters, but also the…
Read MoreThe Glitch Myth
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One persistent myth about the college admissions process is the infamous “glitch” that might affect the computerized filing of your application if you wait until the last minute or the last day. There is no evidence that an applicant in the United States ever was denied admission because of a late application caused by a…
Read MoreMake sure your UC PIQs stand out
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The UC system takes fewer than 1 in 5 applicants, and for schools like Berkeley, and UCLA, it’s more like 1 in 20, so how do you make your PIQs stand out? It isn’t enough to answer the question; you have to dazzle them. Show four different aspects of yourself The UC system application used…
Read MoreSome Good and Bad News About Your Application
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As deadlines approach, many students find themselves stressing over perfecting their common app personal statement. However, here’s some good news: the quality of your essay doesn’t really matter. Why Your Essay Doesn’t Matter College admissions officers are not solely focused on admitting students with the best essays, highest GPAs, or most impressive achievements. Instead, they…
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