1. You've probably heard about IQ and EQ. Now, there is an emerging CQ, or contribution quotient. If you're struggling with an essay topic, I have one for you, "What is the next Q for the admissions office?"
2. Princeton asks, "What's your favorite book? What's your favorite movie?" But what they really want is "What the heck? Just tell me why."
3. Did you ever call an admission office only to be put on hold? The office was busy figuring out the grading system from a Montana school whereas, "1=best, 2=good, 3=ordinary, 4=worse, and 5=worst."
4. Harvard says, "AP Tests are not required for admission, but if you will take or have already taken one or more tests, please list them." As honest as Harvard is, they can be more straightforward, by simply saying, "Some under-priviledged schools do not have the resources to teach AP's. So for this group only, AP tests are not required."
5. At Stanford, one thing that unites all admitted students is their ability to spell "Stanford" correctly. This is a differential factor. Among the rejected, the most frequently asked question was, "To the University of California at Stanford: Could you let me know why I didn't get into Stamford?" followed by "USC (University of Stanford, California): You may have made a mistake on my application. Would you please read it again? Thank you, Mrs. Stan Ford."
6. MIT has an essay that is "optional" and another essay that is "completely optional." So you asked "What does it mean?" Well, remember MIT is a place that disregards the accepted definition of existing knowledge. It's a place of innovation. While "optional" means "elective" to most of us, it means "Write something original" to MIT.
7. Not everything works according to the specs on the admissions website.
8. Luck plays a role in admissions. Perhaps the school needs someone from Montana so can brag they have students from all 50 states. Remember, if you get in, you aren't "better" than the kids who don't; you're just luckier.
9. You visited the most selective universities and even spent big bucks on their summer programs; you thought you will be rewarded. But, at the very top, those things do not count.
10. Yale, Caltech, among other top colleges do not want you to apply because of their reputations. But would you consider MIT, if it stands for Missouri Tech?

All best wishes,

Wan Qiu Chen (And I certainly have a "Q" that others don't!)
College Admissions Consultant
Helping you get in!