[quote=Hobie]Personal essays can make a difference. You hear lots of story’s about admissions. Who know’s how true they ar. Here is one based on a formula: sat+gpa+random multplier= floor to making the min base cut. This number changes each year. Then they look at your writing.

If demographic’s wasn’t a factor in admissions like they say, then why collect it during this phase? Collect it after acceptance.

One AdCom ( admissions counselor ) at a different school told me they could fill the freshman class with all valedictorians. But they want a diverse and ‘interesting’ class.

They have a good point and it would seem you get that data from the extra curriculars and creative writing.

I would suggest having you kid get good at writing 500 word essays. That is a paragraph. They are not taught how to get right to the point in a few words.[/quote]

maybe times have changed but when I applied for UC schools they didn’t really look at the essay unless you were borderline before the criteria of entrance all else being equal.

I think it’s pretty stupid to put that much emphasis on an essay especially for a lot of programs that are more STEM focused because what matters more is technical writing, not necessarily the fluffy writing one would need to do as expected for college admissions.

I guess this is why some parents spend an a lot of money for a college admissions coach? Once again, just feels like an arms race.