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Back to 69: Three Surprising Reasons Students Don't Get into Top Colleges.

What Is the Current Situation of Students Trying to Get Into Their Most Desired College

Parents and students don't know where to go for high-quality information or how to really stand out. Ultimately, students all start to follow the same advice and just look like one another on applications.

Transcript

69: Three Surprising Reasons Students Don't Get into Top Colleges ·

The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast

More from this episode

  1. Who Is Shirag ShemmassianHe helps high school students get into top colleges like Princeton, Stanford, MIT, etc. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell and his PhD from UCLA.
  2. What Is a Key Mistake Applicants Make That They Believe Will Help Them but Ultimately Does NotEnrolling in every difficult course their high school has to offer. Top schools are looking for students who challenge themselves academically.
  3. Do Admissions Officers Weigh a Student's Fit?Yes, definitely. There are many ways to demonstrate fit, which begins well before the application process.
  4. Should Students Do Whatever It Takes to Maximize ACT and SAT ScoresStudents feel pressure to make the highest scores possible. This is a mistake because colleges reject students with high scores every year.
  5. How Should Students Prepare for Standardized TestsStudents should study hard for a semester (3-6 months) and then take an exam 2-3 times.
  6. Should Students Join as Many Clubs and Teams as Possible and Pursue Leadership OpportunitiesNo, this is a mistake. Colleges are looking for applicants that will collectively create well-rounded student bodies.
  7. How Can Students Become Specialists in Their AreaIt starts very small with things that a student is interested in (art, sports, hiking, etc.).
  8. How Can Students Determine Which Activities Stand Out and Which Ones Don'tThe failed simulation effect states that accomplishments that are hard to explain can be much more impressive than accomplishments that are simply hard to do.

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