Aolain
enthusiast
Posts: 1195
Reg: 11-13-06
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03-31-12 09:43 PM - Post#147416
Just FYI for all parents about their child's applying to university--based upon my experience and my experience only.
*If your student gets letters of recommendations (in general not a bad idea), there are some caveats:
Sometimes...sometimes...letters of recommendation from High School teachers etc. do NOT really help. They do not help if they seem to be "form" letters. In addition, sometimes...sometimes...they are poorly written. These do not help. If possible, review the letters for syntax/grammar. This seems elementary, but last week we reviewed LORs from high schools and, er, the ones with poor writing were given little creedence.
*If your student must write an essay, and especially if they may not meet all the standards of the school, please, please, please, do not have them push how great they are at athletics. The people on admissions committees are professors, not coaches. The person's ability to throw a ball really well does not factor into the equasion.
*If, for some unfortunate reason, the student has a disability, do NOT make the essay about this disability. We are forbidden by law to take disability into account when making admissions decisions.....during a discussion of a student last week, I said "this student's essay cannot be taken into account." Meaning, is was all about their disability. The student was denied admission...when they might have made the cut had their letter been about something academic and could have been taken into account.
*And, as I have said before in previous posts about like issues: avoid things like "from my earliest memories I have wanted to attend 'X' university." No one believes such stuff.
Anyway, good luck to all you parents who are going through the rats-maze of university applications with your kiddo!!
Edited by Aolain on 03-31-12 09:45 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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