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So You Want To Transfer Colleges

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:33:27 GMT

Thinking about transferring colleges?

Evan Forster Has Some Thoughts...click here

This Halloween, Don’t Let Artificial Intelligence Suck the Soul From Your Applications!

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 18:53:53 GMT

Over the last couple of years, I have, like the rest of us, seen AI creep into college and graduate admissions, and before I go any further, be aware that I am going to tell you a scary story.

AI is both the monster and the bed that you can hide under. Need AI to help you organize your thoughts? It can do that, at least with the thoughts you give it. Need AI to help you understand the differences among top schools? It can do that too, though you should verify its findings. But this year, as the world becomes more acquainted with Claude and Chat GPT-5 among others, I have seen something else happening—candidates thinking that AI can be a proxy for their soul.

Now for that scary story: about one candidate I have been working with, whom we will call Tyler.

Tyler was everything that top business schools want: super smart, insightful, introspective, self-aware, and funny. Most important, he had the kind of high EQ that top schools love. When Tyler sent me his first essays this season, my first reaction was, “Who is this flat, soulless guy described in these essays?”

His writing, while targeting topics and ideas commensurate with a strong candidacy, had no soul—unlike our phone conversations. The essays weren’t thoughtful or funny. Unlike Tyler, they lacked self-awareness. They sounded like they had been pulled straight from the schools’ websites.

I knew the answer to my next question before I asked, but I asked him still. And yes, he had used AI to draft his work.

I was honest. I told him that the essays lacked all the qualities that made him such a competitive candidate. And although his planning might be a good place leverage AI, he had no prompt to get AI to find or express what was really in Tyler’s heart or the unique way that he connects the dots to arrive at conclusions.

AI is like that person you start dating who is the most beautiful person you’ve ever seen. And you think this is the greatest thing ever. But somewhere in that first date, or maybe the second or third, you start to think, “Is this it? Is this all there is?” The perfection becomes boring and there is no identifying quirk or perspective that helps us latch onto, or fall in love, with someone.

In general, about 70% of candidates applying to a top MBA program are completely qualified to go there. But if that program is only going to accept, let’s say, 10%, how do you beat out the remaining qualified applicant pool? You do that by baring your soul—the soul that AI is so good at sucking away. What makes you stand out is by revealing your heart, your unique perspective, your quirks, the things that make you so uniquely YOU. And that is how you make a school fall in love with you.

So, beware the siren song of AI. It’s a shortcut that will catch up with you, for when you hit submit, you will find that you left your soul behind.

Happy Halloween!

Tom Locke

Senior Consultant

DIVERSITY ESSAYS ARE ABOUT WHAT YOU BRING TO A UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY—AND YOUR CHOICES OF TOPIC ARE VAST!

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:05:52 GMT

The word “diversity” is not being used much by colleges anymore, but the “diversity essay” still exists—it’s about what you bring to a community, in tiny or large moments.

When one of my students wanted to apply to a variety of colleges, she looked at the prompts and just saw black holes with no idea how she would fill them. In particular, prompts about diversity, contributing to the college community, and personal growth intimidated her—particularly in this difficult political climate.

I began working with Meera from across the pond in Portugal over Zoom. According to her parents, Meera had a sleep problem. I would get texts from her at 10am—which meant she was sending them at 4am Milwaukee time. So, I took her quick “how r ya?” text to find an opening to connect. But her texts quickly morphed into things like “ya,” “Kk” and eventually, at 7am Meera’s time, she finally said something about how she was playing Fortnite, often referred to as a “Battle Royale” game. In every battle, the aim is to be the last one standing out of 100 players.

Meera had begun ranking in the top 50 players across the world. This is a monumental “athletic” accomplishment, that Meera was monetizing into a national brand and sponsorships. ��‍♂️

Yet, when it came to essays, Meera thought she had nothing to write about—that computer game accomplishments should not be mentioned in applications.

In particular, Meera thought she had nothing she could contribute to her college community, as many colleges ask about in essays about “diversity” or “contributing to its community.”

Here are two example prompts:

Because we know that diversity benefits the educational experience of all students, the University of Maryland values diversity in all of its many forms. This includes (but is not limited to) racial, socio-economic, gender, geographical, and sexual orientation. We are interested in hearing about your own individual life experiences. In a few sentences, will you please describe how you have learned, grown, been inspired or developed skills through one or more components of diversity.

We seek an Amherst made stronger because it includes those whose experiences can enhance our understanding of our nation and our world. We do so in the faith that our humanity is an identity forged from diversity, and that our different perspectives enrich our inquiry, deepen our knowledge, strengthen our community, and prepare students to engage with an ever-changing world." — from the Trustee Statement on Diversity and Community Quote 2 Question: In what ways could your unique experiences enhance our understanding of our nation and our world?

Meera, a Hindu teenager, said she did not want to write about her religion or culture in her supplemental or University of California PIQ essays.

Fine. But Meera was fighting to compete in the Fortnite Global Championship Tournament online in the host country, France. This struggle—which required that she commit, persevere, and work on skills over and over until she got them right—created incredible traits she could contribute, anywhere ! The “diversity” prompts of any type often mention family, faith, culture, ethnicity, gender, religion, which is why so many people think that’s what they are supposed to write about. But they also include topics about significant personal insight or experience.

What they are about, at their core, is what gives you empathy to contribute to a functional team dynamic.

So, I suggested Meera write about this in her diversity prompts. Fighting to become a national Fortnite champion, Meera experienced sadness, anger, s elf-doubt. To eventually get new Fortnite skills and talents, she had to meet new people with new and unusual thinking. One Catholic Fortnite player, from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, knew how to write clearly about when he text-chats with friends and teammates in his Epic Friends list. One Jewish girl from Paris’s Left Bank understood and explained driving emotions to others when she was run over by a legendary super spider from Casablanca in Fortnite.

Meera had taken all of these lessons and applied them to her studies and research in Artificial Intelligence. She learned how to program the AI to consider different viewpoints and ways of thinking.

And all of this applies to how she will contribute to her college community. She has empathy when she meets new people. She knows how to fit into diverse new friend groups, debate in college classes where people don’t agree, consider how different markets look at the same product, and how AI needs to be unbiased in its analysis of large language models and data collection.

Meera has so much to contribute to her college community. And so do you.

You can be very special in your diversity in ways that perhaps you don’t understand…yet! Authentic connection and contributions to communities—even nontraditional ones with Fortnite—are where you will find the strength in your voice and stand out.

Write about how you contribute to groups that are different from you, in moments large or small!

Auntie Evan

Why Was I Waitlisted At XYZ College?

Tue, 27 May 2025 13:41:58 GMT

And What Can I Do About It?

You might be thinking, “I’m surprised I was waitlisted at XYZ College.” And honestly? You’re not alone. Every year, strong students with solid GPAs, impressive test scores, and well-rounded applications are puzzled when they get placed on a college’s waitlist—especially at schools where they seemingly exceed the average admitted student profile.

So, what gives?

Welcome to Yield Protection

In the world of college admissions, this phenomenon often comes down to a strategy called yield protection. Colleges want to admit students who are likely to accept their offers. It’s a numbers game, and managing that yield—the percentage of admitted students who say “yes”—matters for rankings, budget planning, and reputation. When admissions officers see an application from a high-achieving student, they might assume that student is likely to get into and accept an offer from a more competitive school. As a result, instead of offering admission outright, they waitlist the student. It’s not because they don’t want you—it’s because they’re not sure you want them.

Demonstrated Interest: It Matters

Here’s how the internal conversation might begin in the admissions office: “This is a strong student, but will they really come here if we admit them?”

That’s where demonstrated interest plays a huge role. Colleges are more confident in admitting a high-performing student if they’ve shown clear signs of commitment—like writing a thoughtful supplemental essay that addresses why the school is a great fit, visiting campus, attending webinars, and/or introducing yourself in the admissions office while visiting. If two students have similar academic profiles, the one who has taken the time to show interest and connection with the school will often win the spot. Why? Because they’re seen as more likely to say “yes” to an offer.

Why You Might Have Been Waitlisted

You might have been placed on the waitlist for a few possible reasons:

The school already has multiple applicants with similar qualifications—but those applicants went the extra mile to show they belong. One often-overlooked strategy is to include community ties in an essay about why you want to attend that college. A common mistake is to write a generic “why school” essay, then change only change the names of professors, classes, or resources when repurposing the generic essay for a specific college. It’s always best to write a “why school” essay from scratch for each school. Admissions teams can see through all the usual “mad lib” style of “why school” essays.
You didn’t apply Early Decision (ED), so the college can’t gauge your level of commitment. If you get deferred to Regular Decision from ED, and even waitlisted from there, the school still knows that you were once willing to completely commit to a college. That will be considered. The same is true for Early Action or Restrictive Early Action. For example, Tulane University and Case Western Reserve University take very few students Early Action, but our students who applied Early Action and were then deferred to Regular Decision usually perform better than average in the Regular Decision round. So always apply Early Action if given the option!
The admissions team believes you may have “bigger fish to fry” and won’t enroll if accepted. Admissions teams are very good at predicting this, though not always. We have had many students who get into, say, Harvard or Princeton but who are rejected from, say, University of Southern California or Georgetown. Those schools made a calculated bet that the applicant would not attend if given a slot. That school then waitlists the student instead of admitting them. And guess what—that was almost always the right choice. However, if you feel you’re the “victim” of such a call, there is something you can do!

So… What Now?

Regardless of the reason you’re on a waitlist, you can write a Letter of Intent (LOI) explaining that if you’re taken off the waitlist, you will absolutely attend. Be sincere, specific, and highlight why you’re a great fit for XYZ. Reaffirm your interest and reference any new accomplishments or updates since you submitted your application.

Being waitlisted isn’t a rejection—it’s an opportunity. But it’s also a nudge from the admissions team asking, “Are you serious about us?” If the answer is yes, speak up. Your voice, your interest, and your commitment can make all the difference!

The 2025-2026 UC Personal Insight Questions or PIQ's

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 21:27:19 GMT

UC California Schools - Personal Insight Questions (PIQ's)

Select 4 out of the 8 questions. Maximum 350 words each.

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Additional section : use it to add something you have not discussed anywhere else on your application

The 2025-2026 Common Application College Essay Prompts and Strategies

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 21:53:05 GMT

The 2025-2026 Common Application questions for college have been released!

First, a few ground rules. Your word count should be between 250 and 650 words for each question. Don't feel obligated to use every word -- but don't go over, either. Double and triple-check your spelling and grammar -- don't get dinged on a technicality! Read all of the topics and consider each of them before choosing which one you will answer. Don't choose based on what story about yourself you feel like telling, or what you think the committee 'ought to know' about you -- instead, select a story where you grew, changed or evolved as a person.

THE QUESTIONS

1. Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Read this prompt carefully. This is a standard 'diversity' prompt -- which means it asks students to share some distinctive element of their background or upbringing -- BUT the wording is very strong. Only choose this prompt if your background is so integral to your life that you really can't imagine writing about anything else. Note that this prompt also invites you to tell a story that is central to your identity -- that could be (for instance) a narrative about personal growth, or about an unexpected friendship or chance encounter -- again, so long as it is central to who you now are as a person, it's fair game.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Colleges LOVE this one because most students are afraid to answer it. Good news: Over time, the Common App has softened this prompt, so now you can write about a challenge, failure, or setback. First, let’s make sure you understand what a setback is. A setback is simply an event, an attempt to create something, or a moment that did not go as planned. If you feel you don’t have a strong setback to write about, pick another prompt. You certainly have plenty to choose from.

Alternatively, if you're applying to a reach school, or if you're concerned about other areas of your application, this prompt is your chance to stand out from the crowd and make an impression. Nothing grabs admissions officers' attention as quickly as a well-thought-out failure or setback essay, particularly because most candidates run screaming from this kind of prompt.

So what makes a great failure/setback essay? We cover this at length in our book, The MBA Reality Check, but the fundamentals are this: You need a singular, powerful failure narrative where you failed not just yourself, but others you cared about. The failure or setback must be absolute—no saving the day at the last minute. It must point to some underlying aspect of your character which you then identify (stubbornness, overcaution, arrogance). You finish up this essay by telling a brief (50-100 word) anecdote about how you have changed as a result. Use concrete examples here!

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking ? What was the outcome ?

The flipside of the failure essay, the challenge (or as we call it, the leadership) essay is one of the most commonly seen essays on the common application. This, too, has been weasel-worded down to a softer “questioned or challenged”, but your story about that time you asked the teacher if you really had to sit at the front of the class all year is NOT good essay material, trust us.

If you have accomplished something that was exceptionally challenging for you and really shaped who you are as a person, this is your prompt. If you are just looking to brag about your killer grade in that AP History class or your five goals in the championship bocce match, this is NOT your prompt. Move along.

When thinking about challenges, students always want to focus on the external -- what happened and why it's impressive. This is the wrong approach. The question-writers are giving you a very big clue when they ask you to describe what prompted your thinking – they want to understand how your mind works. The important story to tell is how you GOT to the impressive result -- and what you thought about, did and said that led to that result.

Finally, remember that these types of stories work best and are most impressive when you're motivating other kids (or adults!) to excel -- contrary to what your lovin' mother told you, it ain't all about you.

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Tell a story of a time when someone went out of their way to help you with something or surprised you with something without question. What did you learn? Perhaps that it's better to give to receive. The most essential part of the question is what you learned from their actions.

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Rites of passage can be fascinating topics for essays -- if they're handled well. No one wants to hear about how grandpa cried at your confirmation -- snoozefest! Becoming an adult is about accepting the responsibilities, limitations and joys of being human, and so should your essay.

The focus on a particular event is important. It's very easy when writing an essay to drift from one subject to another, but great essays have a singular focus -- they're about one thing and one thing only. In this case, the event or accomplishment in question and why it became a period of maturation.

It’s also worth noting the emphasis on understanding others. Surprising or difficult events often deepen our ability to empathize with others’ struggles – if you have a story that involves learning to see the world in a new way, this could well be your prompt.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

This prompt is for those of you who are just 100 percent uncomfortable talking about yourselves in any way, shape or form. Now, before you breathe a sigh of relief and rush off to write yet another tribute to microbiomes or Ruth Bader Ginsburg, let us insert a caveat. This is usually the wrong kind of prompt to choose. For most people, most of the time, you’re going to get an essay that’s dry, technical, and reveals nothing about the candidate – in other words, a waste of word count.

In order to write a good essay about an idea or concept, you have to loop in … feelings! Yours and others. Talk about the people who share your passion, or the ones who inspired it. Talk about the key moments in the development of your favorite obsession – how did it all begin, where do you see it going? Relate it back to larger themes in your life. How has this experience helped you to grow and mature?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

This is what we call an open-ended prompt. You can do whatever you want with it, which most folks find utterly terrifying. Not to worry – this should really be a last resort prompt if you have a fantastic essay already written that just doesn’t seem to fit any of the other prompts.

***

So there you have it! Not so scary after all, huh? Still, you probably have a lot of questions as yet unanswered. Or maybe you have a draft all written up and you want some seasoned eyes to take a look? If so, drop us a line -- we'd be happy to help!

Celebrating Black History

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:08:30 GMT

Celebrating Black History With Our Colleague Brandon Mack

Brandon Mack--founder of B.Mack Strategies, and formerly with the International Association of College Admissions Counselors and Rice University's Associate Director of Admission and Coordinator of Transfer Admission--shares what happens when we learn about each other. Black history is essential history, and not elective.

What to Do After Getting Deferred or Waitlisted?

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:58:36 GMT

Write an Amazing Letter of Continued Interest. Here’s How in 6 Steps.

The coal in so many students’ holiday stocking every year is a big fat DEFERRAL notice from the universities they applied to Early Decision. What does this mean? What do you do? Is there a chance? The good news is, this is not the end of the road!

Before we address the action item, however, what’s the difference between “deferred” and “waitlisted”? Unfortunately, different colleges use the same word to mean different things—so it’s not possible to cover every possible case in this blog. But, on average, here’s the difference:

“Deferred” means the college hasn’t made a decision about the applicant. In fact, most likely, the college hasn’t even looked at the application. Colleges usually don’t have the bandwidth to read every Early Decision application that came in (whether they admit it or not), so they just push all the unread applications to Regular Decision. That’s “deferring” the application.

“Waitlisted” means the college has made a decision about the applicant. What most colleges mean when they say “you’re waitlisted” is this: “We examined your candidacy, and we don’t want to reject you. In fact, we think you’re good enough for admission. We just like someone else better than you and/or came to us earlier. Still, that someone else may not choose our school, and if they don’t, we may decide to accept you off the waitlist.”

Fortunately, how you handle a deferral and a waitlist is identical! You want to send in a “Letter of Continued Interest,” abbreviated to LOCI and sometimes called an “update letter.”

To explain this process, let’s get concrete. I had a student I’ll call “Blake” who applied to a school I’ll call “Boston University.” Blake applied EDI and received a deferral. She's not a tippy-top student, but a good one. Blake netted a 4.03 weighted GPA, took several online college classes at the University of Florida in Anthropology, has excellent extracurriculars in zoology and art near southern Florida, and APs including a 5, two 4s, and a 3. She’s from Iowa, so I thought she had a decent shot at standing out among her regional peers, as Iowa is not a huge feeder to BU.

Here's the advice to Blake:

Make sure the LOCI conveys some new “why” information about why the candidate wants to be specifically at Boston University; something that she now understands having done more research about a specific program.
Also, in a sentence or three, write something NEW about Blake, the candidate—a different, unmentioned way she grew inside and outside after applying. Something in her heart/head and something she has done in the forest, on rivers, or around the reefs (anywhere in the country, the ocean and/or on the planet that has transformed nature somehow or somewhere).
Make sure this LOCI is not long. I would suggest around 350 words or less.
And in a perfect world, visit Boston. While you're there, do something extraordinary as an excuse to “happen to be in town.” Visit and speak with her specific regional rep (the name and email address of the regional rep is usually fairly easy to find online).
This "something extraordinary" will make sure the regional rep wants to take the time to see and even meet this wonderful candidate.
She should not be afraid to mention practical reasons to be in town, like cousins or a brother who lives right near the campus or goes to another school in Boston.

These are just some possibilities of things to include in the LOCI. But the most important thing is writing a LOCI to begin with. People don’t reach out to a college they’re no longer interested in. What if you applied EA to your second-choice school and got in? Then you may not even bother going through the hassle of trying to get into your ED. So, the LOCI proves you’re still interested.

Finally, it’s worth saying that sometimes deferrals or waitlists are just a polite rejection, especially if the school doesn’t want to offend a faculty member, alumnus, or donor by a simple hard candidate rejection. In this case a deferral is merely a “polite rejection”.

Hope this helps.

Auntie Evan Forster

The Personal Statement For ALL applications

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 19:56:40 GMT

In this video, Evan Forster of Forster-Thomas Educational Consulting explains how to take on the PERSONAL STATEMENT.

Evan shows us how to dig deeper to find your true story and make your essay stand out for admissions officers.

Hint: It’s not about what’s in your head.

How to Create a Studio Art Portfolio for College or MFA Admissions

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:25:21 GMT

Expert Susan Clark speaks on how to create a studio art portfolio for college or MFA admissions. Susan Clark earned her MFA from Yale University in Painting and Printmaking in 1995. She added a K-12 teaching certification in 2000. In addition to exhibiting her work, she has taught art in some way--whether to preschoolers, to graduate level, or to senior citizens--including 15 years as drawing instructor at Hendrix College. She sees her 15 years at Forster-Thomas as an extension of her life goal of living a creative life and supporting the creativity of others. Here, she speaks for IECA's Arts & Sciences Roundtable and answers questions moderated by David Thomas, educational consultant and co-founder of Forster-Thomas Inc.

How to Apply to Architecture School - Bachelors and Masters degrees

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 16:11:43 GMT

Yale Associate Dean of Admissions Sunil Bald and portfolio expert Maxwell Miller, both graduates of Columbia's GSAPP, speak on how to apply to architecture programs, the different types of architecture degrees (including the difference between BS and BA) and what a compelling portfolio looks like and the story it tells.

Sunil Bald is the Associate Dean for Curriculum and Admissions at Yale School of Architecture and Professor Adjunct. He has previously taught design and theory at Cornell University, Columbia University, the University of Michigan, and Parsons. He is a partner in the New York-based Studio SUMO. He earned a BS in Biology from UC Santa Cruz and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University.

Maxwell Sterling Miller has worked with students to create and refine their architecture portfolios for 7 years, placing candidates in top architecture programs across the country. He currently works at Extell Development in New York City on a range of projects--including some of the largest, most complex buildings in the world. He is a graduate of Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Graduate Scholarships & Fellowships with Dr. Jay

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 16:41:37 GMT

All your questions about graduate school admissions scholarships and fellowships answered

IECA Graduate School Arts & Sciences Roundtable presents:

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS with DR. JAY, hosted by Forster-Thomas Educational Consulting

Dr. Jayashree Shivamoggi explains the What, Why, Who, When, and How of graduate scholarship applications. Dr. Jay, a 20-plus-year subject matter expert in Scholarships and Fellowships, explains the ins and outs of various opportunities--and lists the dos and don'ts for students and advisors.

How To Create A Portfolio For Film School

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:16:28 GMT

Building a Great MFA/BFA Film Portfolio

You're applying to a BFA or MFA in filmmaking--and you need to create a portfolio. What makes a great film portfolio? What are film faculty looking for in a film portfolio? Does production value matter? How do you tell a visual story in just a few minutes? Can I make a film on my iPhone or do I need expensive equipment?

Tom Locke, professor of film production at Columbia and Wesleyan universities and creative coach at Forster-Thomas Educational Consulting, speaks on these topics and more. If you'd like to talk to Forster-Thomas about helping with your BFA or MFA film portfolio, contact us at info@forsterthomas.com or 212-741-9090

I’m an “HSW”: Harvard-Stanford-Wharton MBA program ONLY applicant. Is that crazy?

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 14:01:42 GMT

We field many calls from potential candidates telling us, “The MBA investment is only worth it to me if I go to Harvard or Stanford.” They often include Wharton, too. And some are willing to expand that list to any M7 school (HSW + Columbia, Kellogg, Booth, and Sloan).

The short answer is…YES! That is okay. It is better than okay. It is fantastic to shoot for the top, and we would never tell you not to. We see candidates every year—though they are the exception, not the rule—who get into schools their numbers suggest they should never get into. We have seen a 630 GMAT get into Stanford. |We have seen a 660 GMAT get into Wharton with a $120,000 annual scholarship. It happens. Not every time, but it happens.

So, is it that simple? Not really. When a potential applicant calls and says they only want to apply only to Harvard and Stanford, we ask a number of questios. Most important: “Do you understand how different those schools are?” Harvard and Stanford are on opposite ends of the MBA-culture spectrum, and they take almost diametrically opposite approaches to how the education is structured and delivered. (The same is true of Kellogg and Booth.) The candidate who falls in love with Stanford, if they are being totally honest, might not actually love HBS quite so much. This works in reverse as well. Stanford knows when someone " feels" really Harvard and Harvard knows when someone "feels" really Stanford. And the last thing they want is to damage their yield—in other words, the school wants to know that if they say “yes” to you, you are going to say “yes” to them. If they feel like you don’t fit, you will likely not get in.

So, what does this all mean for the admissions game? It means this: getting into these schools is like finding your one true love . First of all, they have to be attracted to you (your stats). Second, they have to feel like you make sense on paper (your experience, both work and leadership). However, we all know that there are a lot of hot people out there who seem to make sense on paper, but you would NEVER want to marry them. That brings us to the most important part. They need to get to know you intimately (your story). And that is everything: how you see the world, how you see your place in the world, what you want out of life and why, how you understand those experiences that have shaped you, what drives you at your core. These are the deep, thoughtful, intimate things that make us fall in love with someone, and these are the things that can make a school fall in love with you and get you that coveted offer of admission.

So, find the best schools that are the best fit for you, understand how you connect with those schools on a deep level, and, just like dating, BE YOURSELF AND PUT YOUR MOST AUTHENTIC SELF OUT THERE. Do that and you will find the best fit among HSW, M7, or any other top program.

Want to hear more? Reach out to us for a free candidacy assessment at www.ForsterThomas.com

How To Write An MBA Goals Essay When You Don’t Yet Know Your Future Career Aspirations

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 14:07:10 GMT

Exploring possible career paths and business disciplines is a top motivator for pursuing an MBA—yet you should never state that in your future plans, professional objectives, or goals essay.

So you have made the decision to take the leap. You have told your family, your friends, and even your boss: “I’m getting an MBA!” And, like 40% of MBA applicants (according to a QS TopMBA survey), you want to change industry, job function, or location—you just don’t know exactly what you want to change to.

That is a very legitimate reason to get an MBA—but it’s not a reason MBA admissions committees want to hear. MBA programs want you to come with a plan, know how to lay out your vision for realizing it, and take coursework and electives that support that objective. They don’t see MBAs as a place to explore, but as a place to refine.

And they test that by asking you the dreaded “post-MBA goals question.” So what do you do?

First, recognize that no matter what you tell them now, you CAN change your mind later. However, you also need to understand that schools are in the gambling business (although they would never articulate it this way). They are placing bets on which candidates are going to leave their school, set the world on fire, and be kind of rousing success for which they can take a bow. So, you need to offer them a thoughtful and compelling plan.

In terms of your specific approach to the essays, it depends on the school and on the prompt. They each phrase the goals question a little differently, and their precise words and focus both matter. Big picture, though, you can work backwards from your long-term goal. What is the job you will be doing 20 years from now if everything were to break your way?

And one of the most important things, in Forster-Thomas’s experience: What do you want your work to mean, in terms of your personal fulfillment and your impact on others. Then, make sure your short-term goals are specific and logical steppingstones to the long-term.

That is at least half the battle. Want to hear more? Schedule a free candidacy assessment with Forster-Thomas Educational Consulting!

Five tips for film undergraduate and graduate admissions

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 04:39:44 GMT

You want to be the next Spielberg or create the next A24 hit. You’re looking at the top film schools in the game—all of which want to see your work. Undergraduate or graduate, you don’t need to have a cinematic universe of work to submit. If you’re building your film school portfolio, here are 5 key things to know as you get started.

1. A good portfolio doesn’t require high production value. Sure, you can rent fancy equipment, hire a crew, even get craft services, but none of that will make or break your film. It’s all about showing off what you can do and your innate creativity. The schools can teach you the fancy technology and tools when you’re in. Substance over style.

2. You don’t have to know everything . Technical skills are part of why you’re going to school: You don’t need them as an applicant. Especially as a post-graduate degree candidate, people with many different backgrounds go to film school. And they attend for many different reasons—to produce, to write, to teach—so there is no one-size-fits-all candidate for any of these top programs.

3. You may not know your voice yet, but you want to show that you have something to say. Since you’re not being assessed on technical experience, how are you being assessed? It boils down to the following: Are you someone with something to say? How does this portfolio articulate visual storytelling with a point of view? Know who you are and why you need to express it.

4. When it comes to a personal statement, don’t state the obvious. We know you love movies; tell us something else we can’t learn anywhere else in your application. Your admissions team with thank you.

5. Not all film programs are created equal. Sure, this means their fluctuating ranking, but it literally means that these film programs are all in different schools, with different resources, notable alumni, teaching styles, and campus lifestyles. Columbia Film School requires you to make films on your breaks, since you’ll also be focused on academics during the semester. Other schools, like USC, will have you making films during your semester alongside all your coursework. Remember to take in the culture of the school at large as well as the program you want to be a part of when there.

Ready to start working on your portfolio for film, interior design, fashion design, graphic design, and more? Reach out to Forster-Thomas for a consultation now! info@forsterthomas.com

Five Design Portfolio Tips for College and Graduate Admissions

Thu, 05 May 2022 04:19:45 GMT

Do you dream of graphic design? Are you a social media graphic snob? Or perhaps a fantastic interior designer? There are many programs and types of designers, but there are a few universal tips when it comes to putting your best foot forward. If you’re preparing your design portfolio, here are five things to keep in mind as you get started.

1. Show your process!

Show the admissions team that you understand the basics alongside a solid finished project. They want to see parts of your process — showing off sketches or renders along with final projects helps them see that.

2. Submit to competitions!

No matter how big or small the competition or placement, entering competitions is a great way to not only make your candidacy look impressive, but also keep your creative juices flowing. No matter where you place, taking part in competitions challenges you to work with an established theme or prompt and helps you continue to develop a body of work to showcase.

3. Brush up on your basics.

At the core of every good portfolio is an understanding of key design principles. You may be a master at challenging conventions, but you have to show that you know the rules in order to break them.

4. Limit yourself.

You may be inclined to send everything you’ve ever done in your portfolio. Some schools may not even have a limit to how many submissions you can include! That being said, don’t give everything away. Aim for around 15-20 slides if a school does not specify.

5. A lack of technical knowledge shouldn’t hold you back.

Tools can be taught; creativity cannot. If you’re gifted with a certain tool or medium, showcase that! You will gain all the tools you need when you are in school.

Ready to start working on your portfolio for interior design, fashion design, graphic design, and more? Reach out to Forster-Thomas for a consultation now!

When to Submit Your Medical School AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS Primary and Secondary Applications

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 02:38:20 GMT

Medical school timing is everything. So here’s a quick rundown on everything you need and when.

In order for your application to be reviewed, you need four things:

Verified primary AMCAS app (with both an official transcript and a self-reported transcript so they can compare the two).
MCAT score
Letters of recommendation
Submitted secondary application (which typically contain three to seven essays!)

The American Medical College Application Service (or, AMCAS) application opens on or around May 1 each year.

The AMCAS application then becomes submittable around May 28, or a few days later, at exactly 9:30am Eastern time.

But the only way you submit your application is if your transcript has already been received, so that has to be the FIRST THING to check off your to-do list. In order to guarantee that your transcript will process in time, you should submit your transcript in time to be processed by May 28 (or that year’s submission date)! Since many colleges release grades in late May, try to use an electronic transcript clearinghouse—it will post almost instantly if you do this.

The AMCAS application is then transmitted to selected medical schools around June 25. You can start getting secondary applications on the transmission date. Turn them around quickly!

While this is an oversimplification, think of medical school application review like a tub filling up with water. There is a small crack in the bottom of the tub. If the tap is barely producing water, water will escape through the crack at the same rate as it comes in. But as the tap gets stronger and stronger, the tub starts filling up even though it’s dripping water out of the bottom. It could take a LONG time for a full tub to empty losing just a drop of water at a time.

That’s like your secondaries. They are time-stamped when received by the med school, and they are read in the order the apps are completed. So just a few apps are coming in at first, and they’ll get read quickly. But apps coming in later will build up and not be read for a long time. At a certain point, all the remaining apps may just be thrown in the trash without even being considered! So submit both your primary and your secondary apps as soon as possible.

If you’re looking for a place to start, consult a Forster-Thomas admissions coach today to put your best foot forward.

By David Thomas

You got waitlisted by a college? Dry your tears! There’s still hope.

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 19:29:41 GMT

One reason that students are waitlisted is because the college is not convinced that you’ll accept the offer back. And in many cases, that college is right.

I just received a call from a top student with fantastic news: She was just accepted to the University of Chicago—a great school—but she was crying because she was waitlisted at her number-one choice, Harvey Mudd College, just days earlier.

She couldn’t make sense of the decision. After all, most people (and rankings) would say that the University of Chicago is more selective than Harvey Mudd. And that’s exactly why she was waitlisted. We told her, “While you were worried if Harvey Mudd would take you, Harvey Mudd was worried about whether you would take them.”

The percentage of students who accept a college’s offer of admission is called “yield.” In this climate, yield is everything. Yield carries bragging rights—Harvard’s yield is bigger than Haverford’s yield—and yield factors into college rankings.

We hate to be the bearer of this reality check, but colleges are scared and do not want to go down in the rankings. Like Malcolm Gladwell , we’re no fan of the rankings, but for now, it is what it is—not to mention the fact that with test optional being the darling of the day, the number of students applying to each college/university is skyrocketing. So, if you got on a waitlist, it might not be the worst thing. It just might be time to buckle down and fight for what you know is yours. Put a pin in that for a moment.

Another reason you may have been waitlisted is because there were other people just like you and their apps got read first. (Welcome to life.) And finally, there’s always the possibility that the college considers you an “alternate”—someone to admit after May 1, when deposits are all due (you’ll replace a student similar to you who ended up not depositing).

So, far from being the end of the road, being waitlisted does keep you in the game!

So, the question is: How hard are you going to lobby? Are you going to be persuasive when you tell the college or university that you will accept the offer if they take you off of the waitlist? That’s right. Don’t just sit there and use the “hope and prayer method”—and although we’re probably going to get slammed for saying this, while the college said in its waitlist letter, “After you sign up for the waitlist, don’t contact us. We’ll contact you,” you are now stepping into the real world. In the same way that you pushed to get that great internship or summer job, reach out and contact them.

So how do you get off the waitlist? First, nothing is going to happen until May 1. So, slow your roll and find out exactly who the college admissions rep for your high school is. It’s easy: Call the admissions office and ask. And don’t ask Mom to do it for you. Second, toward the end of April/early May, write a letter of continued interest (LOCI) of no more than 250 words. And make sure you let that college—where you are dying to get off the waitlist and into their community—know that you mean it. Explain your reasons. Make sure the school knows that you know why you are a fit. Talk about new accomplishments and what you are going to bring to particular courses and how those courses and professors will help you reach your long-term goals.

Create a brief academic action plan. And pull out your Pom-Poms and “BE SPECIFIC.” Don’t just tell them things that you can say about Any-College USA. (In fact, that may be another reason you were waitlisted: You didn’t take the “Why Our School” supplemental question seriously and you talked about “the hallowed halls of academia.”) If your reasons for attending a college could be applied to any college, then that’s a dead giveaway that you are not certain you will say “yes” if accepted.

And maybe even revisit—even if you already did—and go to the admissions office and put a face to your name if possible. That will prove you’re serious rather than a “trophy hunter” who just wants to say you got into X-many universities as bragging rights. No college wants to be a notch on your belt. The only way you’re going to get off that waitlist is to convince them you will attend.

--Evan Forster

info@forsterthomas.com

P.S. IF YOU ARE ON A WAITLIST FOR A SCHOOL YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT ATTEND, PULL YOURSELF OFF THE WAITLIST! Help someone else can get accepted. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do!

Now is the Time for Touring

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 23:03:29 GMT

As COVID-19 protocols ease nationwide, it is the perfect time to begin planning campus tours.

Campus tours are critical to the application process — whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student. This is where you will be spending a significant amount of time (and money!) for the next two to four years! There is no better way to get a ‘feel’ for the campus climate (socially and literally) than with an in-person visit. We have some tips and tricks for you to get the most out of your campus visits:

· If you’re about to apply, make sure to plan time to visit the admission’s office. It’s worth an email to your regional admission’s officer that you will be planning a visit and would like to briefly meet with them.

· Think geographically when you plan — you can often visit multiple schools in one weekend that are located close together. For example, you can visit Duke, Durham, Davidson, Elon, and Wake Forest all in one long weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina. Some other states to think about with many schools are Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

· Are there any professors or courses you are interested in? Reach out to see if you can sit in on a lecture. The same goes for extracurriculars — perhaps there is a show or a game to watch!

· Explore the surrounding area around campus, especially if students tend to live off-campus.

· Even if you think you know what type of school you want, visit a school that is completely different. Looking at mainly small, liberal arts schools? Visit a large university.

· Take notes on what you see, who you meet and what they say while you’re on any campus—Several months later, you are not going to remember the specifics, like the name of that cool café or interesting professor that your tour guide mentioned, several months later when you are actually applying.

Visits help you differentiate yourself as a candidate and help you write a truly unique “Why School” essay. These are often the most important essays that will help you show why you are a fit for your top choices—and why a school should believe that you’re not writing the same “Why School” essay to all of your colleges.

Again, you may never know what the right ‘fit’ will be until you see it, so plan your campus tours. If you’re looking for more advice on how to get the most out of your tours, contact Forster-Thomas today!

Portfolio Perfection: Crafting Your Visual Art Portfolio

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 21:31:45 GMT

It’s springtime and that means it’s time to start working on your portfolios. An artist’s work is never done, and one important and ongoing part of an artist’s undergraduate or graduate admissions applications is their portfolio.

A portfolio shows off your artistic vision. It serves two main purposes — to show off a body of related work and an artist’s development over time. It is a way to tell the story of you as an artist, to illustrate your artistic statement.

It can be helpful to have sketches and drafts of a finished piece that appears later in your portfolio. This helps the admissions team see the ways in which your ideas change and mature over time.

You want to show a range of materials and works — but don’t go overboard. Treat the presentation itself as you would a piece of art, utilizing white space and finding ways to highlight multiple things on one page.

Just beginning your portfolio journey? Create a mood board of your artistic inspirations and start from there. Look through your work from over the years, be it from art classes or your free time, and see if there are ideas you want to expand upon.

A school can teach you skills — but they can’t teach you creativity. Show off your ideas and give them a sense of your potential, and you’ve got yourself a winning portfolio. The best tricks to any admissions process, for art and beyond, start at the beginning of the process.

Ready to start working on your portfolio? Reach out to Forster-Thomas for a consultation now!

Why Lacrosse Players Make the Best MBA Candidates

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:22:25 GMT

The other day, our MBA gurus, David Thomas and Tom Locke, came to me, puzzled. “The differences between Michael and Scott are amazing," they said. David went on to say, "They’re both Econ majors from Bowdoin, both have great grades and GMAT scores, and both work for top consulting firms. Yet, when we tell Michael he needs to take on a leadership role in his extracurricular activity, he complains about how he doesn’t have enough time. Scott, on the other hand, with the exact same job, gets excited when we brainstorm ideas for him to take on leadership roles outside of work. Scott even delivers his Extracurricular Action Plan days before it was even due. Scott just naturally gets that there is a difference between being a ‘member’ and being a ‘leader.’"

For all Michael and Scott’s similarities, there is one big differentiating factor—and we realized that difference was at the heart of how these two candidates took on life. They were, by and large, competitive college lacrosse players (or very active in some other team sport). People who work in teams, especially athletic teams, don’t come up with reasons for what they can’t do, but instead figure out what they can do.

So we came up with five attributes that great team athletes all have in common, making them great MBA candidates (and frankly, law, medical, and graduate candidates of all types):

1. They are willing to be coached. Top college coaches are known for two things: They love their athletes, and they are not afraid to get right up in their athletes’ faces. Any lacrosse player who threw a tantrum when his coach yelled at him would get laughed off the team. They carry this willingness to be coached—and knowledge that coaching is an act of support, not criticism—into all things, including their MBA applications.

2. They don’t make excuses. When a lacrosse player misses the ball, he doesn’t point a finger at the guy next to him—or blame the weather, the stick, his hangover, or his dying grandmother. He takes responsibility. For MBA applicants, this means they study for their GMAT even when their brother is getting married, they know when their MBA programs are holding events in their town, they know when their recommenders are available and create talking points for them, and they don’t blame it on “pressing projects at work” when they don’t fill out their MBA applications until deadline week. And they certainly don’t complain about not having the same opportunity as their friend who works at a “better company” or has a supervisor who “likes him more.” Competitive MBA candidates create opportunities rather than waiting for them to come along.

3. They don’t take no for an answer. Just because a lacrosse player lost last week’s match—or even multiple matches—he doesn’t give up the stick. Likewise, when these guys score 40 points lower than they expected on the GMAT, they don’t throw their hands up, they schedule a new test. They hire a private tutor. They don’t go out for drinks the week of the test. On a campus visit, when the receptionist at admissions says, “No one can see you now,” they sit down with a magazine and wait.

4. They don’t get upset when you tell it like it is. When a teammate tells another teammate that his stroke is veering to the left, a top player says, “thank you” instead of “how dare you.” The best players will take that a step further by asking for help. As MBA applicants, they seek feedback on their essays, resumes, short answers…and practice interviewing.

5. They gather a great support network. Great lacrosse players don’t go to their football and basketball friends for feedback on their game. They go to other lacrosse players. And as MBA applicants, they don’t seek feedback from every Tom, Dick, and Daddy. They go to the right person with the right skills—one person whose opinion they respect. The person whom they know will tell the truth about the spinach in their teeth. Getting that person behind you is much more helpful than going to a friend who’s getting their MBA, or even a former admissions officer who may know how to recognize a strong application, but doesn’t necessarily know how to produce one from scratch.

Of course, lacrosse players don’t have a corner on this market. Girls, the same goes for field hockey, basketball, and even cheerleading; boys, this goes for football or ballet, too. The lesson here is not that you have to have been a lacrosse player. You just have to think like a college, professional, or Olympic athlete. They know how to be coached, they know how and when to listen, they know when they’re out of bounds. And most of all, instead of complaining or whining when things are difficult, they take to heart the immortal words of Nike, and they “Just Do It.”

All You Need to Know About Letters of Recommendation

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 21:49:55 GMT

You’ve spent all week worrying and the deadline is finally here—you can’t procrastinate any longer. You finally get all of your materials ready and start submitting only to see there’s one thing you still need: A Letter of Recommendation.

Letters of Recommendation are one of the things in your application process you cannot procrastinate on and you cannot control. Why? Because there is a whole process, separate from your own, and it relies on other people. The earlier you ask, the better it is depending on your deadline.

For undergraduates, the more “rejective” a school or program is, the more letters of recommendation you are most likely to need. But a good general rule of thumb is to get two from your teachers— one from a humanities teacher and another from a science or math teacher — in addition to one from your school advisor or guidance counselor.

For an MBA , one of your recommendations must be your direct supervisor. There’s no way around it. Even if you have a letter from the head of your company, that doesn’t matter as much as someone who is working with you on a day-to-day basis (unless the head of your company is working with you every day, then by all means, ask away!)

For undergraduates or graduates , don’t be afraid to reach out to recommenders. Especially when it comes to teachers and school faculty—this is a part of their job! (When it comes to your supervisor for an MBA, it's not a part of their job, it's a favor). While it is an honor to be asked—it can be a pain to do.

Make their work as easy as possible. Ask them early and provide them with support. If you haven’t been in their class for a while, remind them who you are and two or three accomplishments from your semester with them. They may also ask you to fill out a “brag sheet” or to write up accomplishments. Sometimes it helps to have them describe the same accomplishment, but from different perspectives. Perhaps one saw you as a leader on a team project, while the other saw you as a motivator.

Be sure to also have them include one point of weakness. You aren’t perfect and the admission’s team knows that! This makes your recommendation feel real and honest, as opposed to a one-page commercial.

So what are you waiting for? You better get to writing some emails now. (If you’re looking for more help on what to say, our admission’s coaches can help!)

-Forster-Thomas Educational Consulting

Say Goodbye to the (Physical) SAT

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 19:02:40 GMT

Put down your pencil and paper — the SAT exam will be completely digital by 2024.

Students will soon be taking the SAT from laptops and computer centers, instead of at a desk.

80% of students during the pilot phase said that they found the online version of the exam less stressful.

This digital test will also vary in content. The new exam will also be an hour shorter, clocking in at just two hours. Calculators will be allowed for the entire math portion, reading portions will be shorter, and questions will cover a broader range of topics.

This isn’t the first major change to the SAT in the past few years. In 2018, the SAT reverted to its 1600 score maximum. Before then, the test had a maximum score of 2400 and was around three hours and 45 minutes. It also included an essay portion that was made optional and then cut entirely in 2021. There used to also be specific subject tests, which the College Board also did away with last year.

But is the SAT even necessary anymore? Many schools have eliminated ACT and SAT testing requirements (Test-Blind) or made it your choice to summit your ACTs or SATs…or not (Test Optional) for admissions. The entire University of California system no longer considers standardized testing in their admission’s decisions. Even esteemed Harvard University will not require the exams for the next year. But even so, some schools still boast their average score of their incoming class when admission statistics are released.

Searching For Summer Programs: Simplified

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 23:13:12 GMT

Sophomores and Juniors, it’s time to start looking into your plans for next summer. January is not too early. This is not something you want to put off—especially if you are considering applying to a strong, top-level summer program. Many of the deadlines are in March or even earlier, and many of these applications have “rolling” admissions: essentially, first-come first-served.

There are basically three types of summer opportunities: Academic , Experiential , and Jobs/Internships .

An Academic Program is one in which you will take classes at a pre-college program, usually on an actual college campus. An Experiential Program is one in which you will travel to or participate in an unusual program where you are making a difference in the world, developing independence and leadership, and showing your interest in moving outside your comfort zone. A Job or Internship reveals your ability to be a responsible, committed individual who knows how to work in a team and are willing to do the grunt work necessary to get to take on the grind of life without objection or complaint; it’s also an opportunity to make a difference by adding value to a team.

Here are more details about each type of summer opportunity:

Academic or Pre-college Programs:

Just type “College Summer Programs for College-Bound teens” and you find an endless array of possibilities. Don’t limit yourself to nearby colleges or universities unless you need to live at home while you study. There are programs for every type of interest you want to explore. Some ideas: You might investigate applying for NYU’s Tisch Summer High School program if your interests are in the performing arts, gaming, or filmmaking. Other ideas are courses like Social Justice at Penn, AI Robotics: Machine Learning and Programming at YA LE , or the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute in Business and Entrepreneurship . If you are an artist, you could check out SCAD Rising Star or SCAD Summer Seminars . Or maybe you want to go academically global and apply to Oxbridge Summer Programs on college campuses around the world. Remember, some are college credit-bearing, others are non-credit immersive academic experiences. Make sure you check carefully. But don’t worry about whether you get college credit for the coursework: What really matters is that you’re exploring your academic interests in a college setting, not whether you get official college credit.

Experiential Programs:

An Experiential Program, like NOLS , Outward Bound , Overland , or Where There Be Dragons are summer programs that inspire and empower you to become a leader in your community. These are designed to help you break through the fears and anxieties you may have about taking on everything from challenging social and emotional matters you are currently facing as you take on rigorous activities in school or in your community. Essentially, they are designed to break you out of your shell and/or up your game when it comes to being a leader or a person who will truly give back to a college community—the things that colleges really love when making final admissions decisions.

Jobs/Internships:

These show your ability to be accountable, show up on time, be responsible, and work in a team for a specific goal—and they definitely reveal an important characteristic loved by colleges: HUMILITY! There are so many possibilities in this category. For example, you can search the internet for things like the Oxbow Summer internshi ps or simply search “summer internships in my area.” Another starting point is asking your parents and your friends’ parents: tap into your networks! And don’t feel like you need to reach for the stars: humility, with respect to jobs, is something you can learn through paid employment. In fact, one of the best jobs is being a waiter over the summer. There is nothing more effective in college admissions than showing responsibility, humility, and multitasking like being a server at a restaurant—even working at McDonald's . Yes, I said McDonald's. You laugh, scoff, or roll your eyes at the idea? One of my most high-achieving students who was accepted to many selective colleges spent the summer in the grime and grit behind a fast-food counter. The same goes for many of my average students over the years. Nothing says: “I work hard” like a summer where you learn to smile and say, “Would you like fries with that?”

Evan Forster

Founder

Forster-Thomas Educational Consulting

Deferred From Early Decision

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 15:26:48 GMT

So, you just got moved from Early Decision to Regular Decision. CONGRATULATIONS! Yes! That’s right. “CONGRATULATIONS!” Why? The alternative could’ve been much worse; You could have been rejected outright. Now, you are still in the running. And it’s likely that you are on the top of the RD list because your ED College knows you are serious about saying “Yes” if they accept you.

Why is that SO IMPORTANT? It’s all about yield. For the most part, all colleges and universities are very careful to make sure that a candidate will say “yes” to an acceptance offer. While Harvard began doing this in the 1950s, most schools followed suit in the 1980s and, by 1990, almost every college or university was playing the ED/EA game to be as high as possible on U.S. News Best Colleges list.

So now what?

You got pushed to Regular Decision. For now, there is absolutely NOTHING to do. Admissions Offices are either closed for the holidays and/or slammed with all of the new regular decision applications that are spilling into their inboxes in early January. For now, take a week to deal with the disappointment, sadness, and anger, then it’s time to snap out of it and get to work. Here’s what you do:

Send a SHORT update email to your college *regional admissions officer sometime in late January or early February that includes the following:

1) Reconfirm that XYZ College/University is still your number-one choice.

2) Give an update about a class or two that you are doing really well in and/or update the admissions officer on your higher GPA in that class overall.

a. If you don’t have the official GPA transcript yet, that’s ok. Estimate it, but make sure you’re telling them that this is your estimate.

3) Write a brief sentence or two about a new club or organization that you are involved in and/or a new accomplishment of yours that occurred since your original submission. This is the heart of this email.

a. If you’re not doing anything new, this is the time to get off your butt and get more involved.

4) As you come to the final paragraph, ask if you can do anything to bolster your candidacy.

5) If possible, meaning IF COVID ALLOWS and the campus is open to visits, we highly recommend that you visit campus (even if you have done so already).

a. Tell the admissions officer when you will be on campus and that you would love to pop in and say a “very quick” hello.

6) Finally, let the admissions officer know that you know how busy they are at this time of year and finish with, “Thank you for taking the time to read this email. Again, XYZ College/University remains my number-one choice — no matter what!”

*You can find your admissions officer and get their email by calling the admissions office and asking who handles your high school. It’s no big deal.

The Myth of The Well-Rounded Candidate!

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:49:58 GMT

If you’re college-bound, you may believe that colleges and universities are looking to populate their campuses with “well-rounded” people. That’s the word on the street.

INCORRECT!

The truth is that institutions of higher education look for a variety of candidates to fill their rosters and classrooms. This is where the “well-rounded” part comes into play. But the onus is on the admissions committee to determine how best to round out their respective schools. They need to create and maintain a student body made up of academic merit, athletic prowess, artistic skill, and strength in leadership while factoring in the need to represent a cross-section of cultures, religions, races, and so on.

It is impossible for any one person--like--you to be all of the things (or even most of the things) an admissions committee is seeking. So, what do you do? How do you cram as much of what they’re looking for into your life and, ultimately, your application?

You don’t.

Instead, the most important thing you can do to get into the best school possible for you is to be yourself. Again, for the people in the back, YOU DO YOU! Focus on excelling academically and dive deeply into signature activities where you reveal your passion and truly excel. Doing this helps colleges get to know the real you and imagine how you, with all of your quirks and rough edges, can be a fit for their well-rounded class.

So don’t go trying to scrap together some made-up, piecemeal version of yourself and expect to smoke and mirror your way into an Ivy. In addition to taking the most rigorous classes available to you, actively demonstrate your love of running cross-country. Join the track team. Launch an early-morning run club. Organize a fundraiser marathon. Train in the summer and volunteer with the Special Olympics track events. Again, dive deep into your “thing” and really go for it! In doing so you will have fun, become an expert in your field, and create a clear picture of who you are and all that you’re capable of.

And finally...Start now!

Proof Versus Promises: The Most Important College Admissions Essay

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 19:31:55 GMT

Or How to Write a College Supplement Essay About Why You’re Applying to That School

Many colleges ask, “Why us?” as in “Why do you want to come to our school and be part of our community?” The question usually goes something like this: Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate college or school to which you are applying at our university.

As essays go, this one is usually even more important than your personal statement. Why? Because colleges and universities want to make sure you know what their school or program is all about and why you are a good fit for their community, style, and mission. If you can’t “show” them why, then you’re probably not a good candidate for that school—even if you have strong grades, great standardized test scores, and an amazing personal statement.

You must take this question very seriously: Revealing real reasons why you are a good fit for this school’s or program’s community lets the college know that you know what you want in a school, and that you have what it wants in a student. And the only way to prove this is by writing about specific aspects of that school or program—such as specific professors you want to study under so you can learn about something you love and are curious about. Even better, write about the specific learning environment in that department. For example, if you truly want to study Economics, you should mention specific courses, the professors who are teaching them and perhaps the fact that these professors have differing points of view on the same subject. Or if your major of interest is robotics and graphics and Carnegie Melon is on your short list, your 300 words should include something about The Robotics Institute, professors like Nancy Pollard, and her interest in “the hand.” Many colleges teach robotics, but each one has different approaches, professors, and courses. You need to show a college or university that you know what makes it special and why you fit in with its approach and/or why you want to learn in the mix of that school’s particular environment. Otherwise, you run the risk of writing what we at Forster-Thomas call an “Any Essay for Any School USA.”

Note: If you are able to send the same essay to every school you are applying to and all you had to do was change the name of the school, you are heading down the wrong path.

Also, you need to prove to the school that your interest in your major is real. If you want to major in journalism at Northwestern, it stands to reason that you would have been active in your school paper or literary magazine. You don’t have to have tons of awards, but you need to have concrete examples of have examples of articles you’ve written for the school paper, sections you’ve edited for the yearbook, or a blog that you regularly write. A sudden interest in journalism during the summer before senior year just won’t cut it. The same is true of any major like graphic arts, economics, or English.

And here is the kiss of death: a promise that you are “going to get involved” once you’ve been accepted. No one wants to know what you’re going to do if you’ve never really participated in your high school’s clubs or local organizations. When you are writing about particular activities or classes you want to participate in once you get to college, it helps to include things you’re already involved in that are similar to clubs or organizations at the school you are writing about. That’s what we mean when we say “proof.”

This doesn’t mean that you cannot write about activities you’ve never done before, like ballroom dance, or taking a course in a subject you’ve always wanted to explore, and new things you’d like to try that may or may not have anything to do with your major.

What’s most important is that you show why you are a fit and why the school or program is a fit for you. Show that you know what the community and the environment are like and why it’s important to you given who you are—and how you will contribute to the school.

Again, the most important thing to remember is that you are writing about this particular school. If you read over your work and find that what you have written sounds like you could say it about any school, then it is time to go back in and prove with real specificity that you know why you and the school are a match.

COLUMBIA MBA ESSAY PROMPT 2021

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 16:45:00 GMT

The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a new co-curricular program designed to ensure that every CBS student develops the skills to become an ethical and inclusive leader. Through PPIL, students attend programming focused on five essential diversity, equity, and inclusion skills: Creating an Inclusive Environment, Mitigating Bias, Communicating Across Identities, Addressing Systemic Inequity, and Managing Difficult Conversations. Tell us about a time you were challenged around one of these five skills. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome. (250 Words)

If you are the diversity recruitment chair of your company or the one behind the scenes who encourages those who have been excluded, this essay is for you. Your answers can be about directly confronting social justice issues, or simply the everyday struggles of being a fair person in the workforce. Address the difficulty of confronting established mind sets, especially your own. Fundamental to a challenge essay is why it matters, including why it was important to you to step outside of your comfort one to ensure just treatment.

Here are some suggestions on how to address each skill.

Creating an Inclusive Environment: You use this skill every time you make sure every voice on your team is heard. How did you face the challenge of balancing competing voices?

Mitigating Bias: You took the time to get to know your new team member rather than be swayed by appearances or another's negative assessment. Tell Columbia how you supported them to establish their reputation.

Communicating Across Identities: Your coworker is not just Asian, but also queer. Tell Columbia how you learned to see and relate to both aspects of who they are. Another friend is not African-American, but Afro-Cuban. Tell Columbia how you learned to appreciate the difference.

Addressing Systemic Inequity: Reference this skill if you have had an impact on your organization as a whole. Talk about how you brought others on board to expand recruiting to state schools or create a policy to expand leadership roles for women.

Managing Difficult Conversations: This can be stepping in to resolve a conflict between colleagues, constructively confronting someone’s bias or the time you had to fire someone in a way that supported their growth.

STERNS NEW ESSAY PROMPT 2021

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 19:54:00 GMT

(350 Words Max)

In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it.

The 2021-2022 Common Application College Essay Prompts and Strategies

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT

The 2021-2022 Common Application questions for college have been released!

THE QUESTIONS

The common App has softened this prompt, perhaps after a bunch of complaints of being triggered by even thinking about past failures … �� So now, you can write about a challenge, setback or failure. But guess what – you should still write about a failure. If you don’t feel up to it, or don’t think you have a strong failure to discuss, then call us. But seriously, if you don’t have a strong failure, you should pick another prompt, you certainly have plenty to choose between.

OTOH, if you're applying to a reach school, or if you're concerned about other areas of your application, this prompt is your chance to stand out from the crowd and make an impression. Nothing grabs admissions officers' attention as quickly as a well-thought-out failure essay, particularly because most students run screaming from this kind of prompt.

So what makes a great failure essay? We cover this at length in our MBA admissions book , but the fundamentals are this -- you need a singular, powerful failure narrative where you failed not just yourself, but others you cared about. The failure must be absolute -- no saving the day at the last minute. It must point to some underlying aspect of your character which you then identify (stubbornness, overcaution, arrogance). You finish up the failure essay by telling a brief (50-100 word) anecdote about how you have changed as a result of this failure -- use concrete examples here!

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking ? What was the outcome ?

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

This prompt is for those of you who are just 100 percent not comfortable talking about yourselves in any way, shape or form. Now, before you breathe a sigh of relief and rush off to write yet another paean to microbiomes or Martin Luther King, let us insert a caveat. This is usually the wrong kind of prompt to choose. For most people, most of the time, you’re going to get an essay that’s dry, technical, and reveals nothing about the candidate – in other words, a waste of word count.

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The Covid-19 Question

Where can I explain how COVID-19 had an impact on me?

COVID-19 has affected students in dramatically different ways. If you need it, the COVID-19 and natural disaster question in the Additional Information section is a place for you to describe the impact of these events.

The question is not intended to be an extra essay. There’s also no need to describe how your school responded to these events. Your counselor will have an opportunity to discuss impacts like closures, online instruction, and grading policies. Instead, consider how these events may have impacted you, your family, and your learning environment. Examples might include:

PHOTO BY CLINT MASON

How to Get Off the College Waitlist—If That’s What You Really Want

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 18:58:00 GMT

One reason that students are waitlisted is because the university is not convinced you’ll accept the offer back. And in many cases, the colleges are right.

I just received a call from a student with fantastic news:She was just accepted to UC Berkeley. Cal was ranked much higher on her list than Notre Dame, where she had been waitlisted just a week earlier. “Next step:Pull yourself off of the waitlist at Notre Dame!” I said.

“No, no,” she responded. “I need to get off the Notre Dame waitlist. I need it in my back pocket, just in case.”

I might understand this attitude if she had a clear admit toNotre Dame. After all, because of Covid, this high school senior had nevervisited either campus, and each represented two very different kinds of studentlifestyle and learning environment. But she was waitlisted at NotreDame.

“So, Notre Dame got it right,” I said. “Notre Dame correctly assumed that you would get into a college that you preferred over them.”

At so many colleges and universities right now, the waitlist status is its way of saying, “We’d love to have you, but we aren’t certain that you’re really going to come here.” Waitlisting you puts the ball back in your court: How hard are you going to lobby? Are you going to be persuasive when you tell the college or university that you will accept the offer back?

Let’s be clearer: You have the task of convincing a school you want “in your back pocket” that you’ll accept the offer if it’s given to you. That’s not easy. I would argue that it’s not ethical, either. The sooner you withdraw from a school you won’t attend, the easier you’re making it for everyone else who actually wants that school as their first choice. This is even true if you are waitlisted. In this particular student’s case, I am sure Notre Dame would love to accept her if they were convinced she would attend. Pulling herself off the waitlist gives another waitlisted student a chance.

Why does my student want Notre Dame in her back pocket? Because she’s what I call a “trophy hunter”: a student interested in bragging rights of all the schools she got in. This is a metaphorical remix of the same song she had decried in an essay: boys who only date girls for the boast.

Universities know all about trophy hunters. Nobody wants to be the University of Maybe-I’ll-Go. No college wants to be a notch on your belt. The only way you’re going to get off that waitlist is to convince them you will attend.

But if you are absolutely determined to widen your options, you have to make up “a story.” A story is a work of fiction—like your desire to attend a certain university that you really just want in your back pocket. If you are creative enough to write such a compelling letter of intent, and you are willing to screw over all the people on the waitlist who really do want to attend…then maybe you want to go to that university more than you are currently willing to admit.

Or maybe you’re just not living your values. That’s the approach I took with this student. She believes deeply (or so she said) in equity and inclusion, in making the world a better place, in creating a planet where people don’t lead with self-interest but with social enhancement. I asked her to remember what she wrote about in her essays and talked about in her interviews.

Thank God a lightbulb went on over my student’s head and she returned back to being that bright, highly capable, honest and fair student I know her to be. She pulled herself from the Notre Dame waitlist.

Live your values and be honest with your intentions. It’s the right thing to do.

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?: Considering Graduate School in the Time of COVID

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT

The following was posted on 10/13/20 on the academic test prep site, Applerouth.com

by Evan Forster and David Thomas on October 13, 2020

I AM FREAKING OUT: WHAT DO I DO ABOUT THE FALL 2020-2021 ACT REGISTRATION?

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT

What follows is a transcript of an important conversation I had earlier today about registering for the ACT next week (week of July 27, 2020) with one of the most highly respected test-prep CEOs, Sean Quinn, of Onsen Education .

Sean : I totally understand the anxiety about registering for the ACT, especially this year , but relax. Everything’s going to be okay.

Auntie : Okay??? Are you joking? Nothing about testing under Covid-19 is OKAY!!!

Sean : The ACT has announced that it opens registration the last week of July (the week of July 27th), but they haven't confirmed an exact day/time on their website. So make sure you and your parents are signed up to get an email alert from this link: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html . When the ACT does open registration, you and your parents will receive an email notification (not a text, #Snowflakes!).

Auntie: Wow. Thanks, Sean. I think that—

Sean: Auntie, stop interrupting. There’s more.

Auntie : Ouch!

Sean: First , Auntie, students’ phones and their parents’ phones should be set up to receive email alerts . (You should do it too, Auntie.) Second , pay attention to any communication that lands in your Inbox with the word "ACT" or comes from www.act.org. Third : Even without receiving an email from the ACT — in the rare case that the email alert is delayed — continue to check the ACT website for registration twice a day, every day, starting Monday, July 27 —once in the morning around 9am, and once in the afternoon around 4 or 5pm.

Auntie : What do we do once we get the email alert?

Sean: Head directly to the ACT registration website and register as soon as you can for the dates that most interest you ! The dates are listed below. Onsen Education generally recommends that current applicants register for one in September and one in October. And by the way, students should ask themselves, “Do I really need to take the test now?” If you’re a rising junior, for example, you might get some really good karma if you step aside and let the rising seniors take first shot at registering. Rising sophomores, definitely step aside.

Auntie: What if the date I want is already booked?

Sean: Not to worry—the ACT has effectively added 5 test dates this year, for a total of 7 possibilities between September and October. Of course, you may have to try all week long! The server will be congested and likely to go down multiple times. Don't give up!

BELOW ARE THE CURRENT DATES AVAILABLE TO REGISTER FOR:

Auntie: Thanks, Sean. You are amazing, Thanks for taking the time today to answer my questions. I am sure there are many of my colleagues and students who have found your words very calming and your instructions easy to follow. Please send us more photos of your munchkin toddler, Cala.

Any have any other questions? Please feel free to contact Sean at sean@onseneducation.com or 443-631-3338, or contact Forster-Thomas info@forsterthomas.com or 212-741-9090.