College Connection Conejo

Writing your personal statement for college admissions is hard. We get it!

But, there is one mistake we see students make every year that can be detrimental to their application…

Many students think they need to have a sob story or a personal challenge to write about when they write their personal statement. And, while many teens legitimately do have something to share, they do it wrong.

A personal statement is not a diary entry. Yes, you want to open up and be honest. But, you do not want to complain, overshare, or cause worry.

For example: we see so many students wanting to write about mental health. They want to share about depression or anxiety, and instead of showcasing positive personality traits or character, they leave the reader worried about them.

Many students deal with mental health issues. Heck, many adults do too! But, if you have 650 words to showcase who you are and how you’d fit into a college community, you don’t want to want to focus on the negative.

Can you talk about mental health successfully in a personal statement? Yes! But, it’s a fine line to walk. It’s more about the growth, the self-realization, and positive outcome than the disorder or challenge itself.

We also see kids write about issues in their family. Maybe a parent or sibling has a health issue, and you want to discuss that. And, you can! But again, it’s a fine line to walk.

Your essay needs to be about YOU. Not your relative. And it’s needs to showcase your positive character and your growth and impact.

So, don’t get it wrong. Write the right kind of essay! And we’ll show you how.

Comment “Help me!” below to learn what admissions officers want to see in a personal statement.

Follow us to keep learning!

We specialize in working with motivated students in the top 20% of their class with dreams of attending a selective school.

If you’re the parent of a college-bound teen, this is for you!

So many students come to me stressed about college admissions. They’ve seen the statistics, and they’re freaking out!

For my CA kiddos, it can be even more daunting. 6 of the 9 UC’s are considered highly selective. 5 CSU campuses are impacted. Yikes!

What can they do to get in?

They started volunteering as many hours as they can. They join a few clubs their friends told them to join, because “Susie from class of 2025 did that and she got into UCLA! So, it just work.”

Wrong.

Then they start scouring the internet doing deep dives on Reddit threads to find insider information. But, they only leave more confused, as posts conflict with one another.

I’m here to tell you a secret…

Being well rounded or following what all your friends are doing will not help you in admissions. In fact, it will hurt you.

Colleges want students who are passionate about their interests. They want kids who know who they are and go after what excited them. If you play the, “I’m a little bit of everything,” then they won’t know who you are at all!

Plus, college applications limit how many activities you can report. That means 2 hours volunteering here or 20 random clubs will not be meaningful and may not even make your application. In many cases all those extra things are just lost time and extra stress.

What you need is a theme that aligns with YOU.

Want help identifying that theme? Comment “Help!” below!

We specialize in working with students in the top 20% of their class with dreams of attending a UC. (or similarly selective school).

Follow along for more helpful tips!

We have BIG news! The easiest thing you can do to simplify the admissions process is here. College Connection Conejo is now on Substack!

We will post on a new hot topic in admissions or financial aid once per week.

For now our content will be FREE and informative.

If you find you’d like more personalized advice or having burning questions, you can schedule a meeting with us!

Subscribe to follow along!

https://collegeconnectionconejo.substack.com/p/hello-world

If you’re the mom of a college-bound teen, this is for you!

Stop drinking the Kool-Aid. What Kool-Aid you ask?

The “we’re only applying to in-state public schools because of our budget” Kool-Aid.

So many students miss out on great opportunities because they incorrectly assume certain colleges are too expensive. But, here’s the thing.

Many colleges have high sticker prices to showcase themselves as a luxury item. But, then they turn around and give “discounts” in the way of need-based, merit-based, and institutional-based aid.

Sticker price isn’t what you pay.

Not every colleges is as generous as the next though, but we know which ones are and can match you with great options.

Don’t limit yourself to state schools. Stop drinking the Kool-Aid.

Want to learn more? Comment “Save me money!” below, and we’ll send you some info…

If you’re the mom of a college-bound teen, there is one big thing you can do to help.

Start scheduling college tours now. Do not wait until senior year.

Why?

Senior year is hectic. Your student is applying to college. They’re taking classes, staying involved in activities, and enjoying their senior year. You also want to tour BEFORE you apply. Why waste time and money applying to a college if you realize later you don’t like it?

We tell our students to begin college tours EARLY. We’re talking 8th grade or 9th grade.

Why?

Seeing a campus helps you understand fit. You want to imagine yourself as a student there.

If your child gets on a campus and doesn’t connect with it, move on! In fact, dive deep. What was wrong with it? That way you can eliminate similar schools from your prospective list.

If your student loves a campus, understand why. Find similar schools!

If there is one thing you can do right now to help your college-bound tour, this is it. But… there are more!

We specialize in working with motivated students in the top 20% of their class. We have over 15 years of experience in higher ed and insider knowledge to share with you.

Want to know more? Click the link in our bio to schedule a free meeting.

Stressing about AP’s? We get it! Hopefully this helps shed some light on scoring and college admissions.

Follow to keep getting more tips and insights!

This is a must read!

I just read this article from May 11th in the Chronicle of Higher Education, and it was enlightening. Things we tell parents all the time are emphasized in here.

Colleges are businesses. They need money to operate. They need systems in place to meet their budget.

An admissions office is all about “sales” and “marketing.” They are recruiting students and encouraging you to apply, even when they know you won’t get in.

Students and parents often follow what their friends say or move ahead with their emotional connection to a school without heeding to expert guidance, and it hurts them.

You need someone in YOUR team who will advocate for YOU.

This is why hiring an expert, like me, is important. We understand the complexities of college admissions and can make this overwhelming process easier.

College consultants have inside knowledge about admissions that only comes from experience, and we have over 15 years in this industry.

If your student is in the top 20% of his or her class and wants to get into a selective school, GPA and test scores are NOT enough.

Comment “more information” below, and we’ll fill you in on all the factors colleges are considering when reviewing your application.

Are you in the top 20% of your class with dreams of attending a University of California school? This is for you.

Stop trying to be well rounded.

Well roundedness actually hurts your chances of admission.

This is one of the biggest mistakes we see students make when planning for colleges. When you try to do it all, you lack direction. You lack an application theme.

It’s not about “looking good for college.” It’s about being authentically you.

Comment “learn more!” to get more admissions insights from us.

You read that right! One of the biggest mistakes I see students make when planning for colleges is creating an unbalanced list of schools.

Most families discuss college lists in terms of GPA and SAT/ ACT scores, but that’s just a tiny part of the process. They often end up creating a list of unrealistic schools.

The biggest factor to consider when creating a college list— acceptance rates.

If a college accepts fewer than 25% of applicants, it’s a reach. Period. 3 out of 4 applicants are rejected. Most students applying have the same grades and test scores as your child.

Creating a balanced list involved a few factors: acceptance rates, average GPA/ SAT/ ACT scores, rigor of transcript, and strength of resume, to name a few.

Want support building your child’s college list? Comment “help!” and we’ll schedule a chat.