Before becoming a consultant, I spent 5 years on an admissions committee at a top-20 university. Here's what we actually discussed behind closed doors.

Academic Excellence is the Baseline, Not the Differentiator

Yes, you need strong grades and scores. But among our applicant pool, most candidates met our academic threshold. What separated them was everything else.

We Looked For:

1. Intellectual Vitality — Did the student pursue learning beyond the classroom? Independent research, passion projects, and intellectual curiosity stood out.


2. Impact and Initiative — We didn't care about titles. We cared about what you actually did. "Founded a club" means nothing if the club had 3 members and met twice.


3. Authenticity — We could tell when essays were over-coached. The most memorable essays were honest, sometimes vulnerable, and always specific.


4. Community Contribution — How did you make your school, neighborhood, or community better? This doesn't have to be grand — tutoring younger students counts.


5. Growth Trajectory — An upward trend in grades or increasing responsibility in activities showed us maturity and resilience.

The Biggest Red Flag:

Inconsistency. If your essay talks about your passion for environmental science but your activities are all business-related, we noticed. Your application should tell a coherent story.