Posts by Bentham Team
At how many reach, target, and safety schools should a student apply?
Many applicants and their families wonder how many schools they should apply to, and what mix of reach, target, and safety school applications they should work on. We at Bentham recommend making an accurate assessment of your standing relative to other applicants to selective colleges (consulting Bentham Admissions would be very helpful here), and then…
Read MoreWriting the Why Us essay
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Before we talk about how to write the “Why Us” essay, let’s talk for a moment about what supplements are and how to budget your time to write them well. Many applicants make the mistake of devoting most of their time and energy to the personal statement, only to discover late in the game that…
Read MoreWhat is the Admissions Office Looking For?
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Your application to a selective college needs to be like a three-legged stool. Admissions officers rate you in three categories: academics, extracurricular activities, and something called intellectual vitality, which means having a genuine passion for a field of study that has driven you to learn about it on your own time, go to summer camps,…
Read MoreCollege Applications: Why You Should Start Early
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Your senior year of high school is going to be your busiest school year yet. You’ll be taking the most rigorous course load possible, you’ll be serving in leadership roles in your clubs and on your teams, and on top of that, you’ll have several college applications to complete, unless you are wise enough to…
Read MoreCollege Essay Assumptions and Realities
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Many young people get off on the wrong foot when it comes time to start writing their essays, based on false assumptions that they, their parents, or even their counselors might hold. The protean world of college admissions is always changing, and it’s important to stay up to date. Assumption: The admissions office is obliged…
Read MoreTricks for writing a great college essay: story, style, and tone
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When you write your personal statement you want to accomplish three things. You want to relate memorable anecdotes (or a single story) in order to forge a bond with your reader. A good anecdote creates an indelible impression and puts the reader in your corner. You also want to demonstrate maturity, focus, and resilience, using…
Read MoreHow to write the supplemental essays
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Many applicants make the mistake of devoting most of their time and energy to the personal statement, only to discover late in the game that each school to which they apply requires a variety of supplemental essays. The term “supplement” can mislead students into assuming these essays are of secondary importance. But supplements are just…
Read MoreHow to Prepare for a College Interview
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Many colleges give you the opportunity to interview, either with an admissions representative (unusual) or an alumnus near you. Sometimes these interviews are virtual, sometimes in person. Whatever the case, if you are given the opportunity to interview, accept it! Any opportunity to distinguish yourself as a distinctive and promising applicant is a chance you…
Read MoreWhat To Do When You Are Waitlisted At An Ivy League School
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Getting waitlisted at an Ivy League school may feel disheartening, especially when you’ve been hoping for admission for many months. Though nobody who is waitlisted should ever assume that they’ll get into their university of choice, there are ways through which students can increase their odds of admission from the waitlist. You can find information…
Read MoreGet Into An Ivy League School As An International Student
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Ivy League schools are among the most elite and popular colleges globally, conferring prestige and name recognition upon their graduates around the world. For international students, attending an Ivy offers a clear path to career success no matter where they end up working. The Ivies pride themselves on enrolling a significant portion of overseas students,…
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