1) A “well-rounded” student
One of the biggest misconceptions about what top US colleges are looking for is a well-rounded student; in reality, they are looking for a well-rounded student body. What that means is that schools are seeking individual students who are very good at certain things and who come together to form a community that is good at everything.
To put simply, university admission officers are looking for a student’s depth of knowledge in what they say they are interested in rather than the breadth of knowledge they may have over many things. Understanding busy student schedules, admission officers are well aware that students cannot realistically do everything! As consultants, we help students locate and pinpoint distinct areas of interest both in their academics and extracurricular activities to show universities what they are good at and what they want to pursue in university.

2) Ignoring “fit”
Even amongst just the Ivy Leagues, each one of the eight schools focuses on and emphasizes different things. Did you know all students at Columbia (including engineers!) have to read a number of classics like the Iliad and the Odyssey and close to a quarter of the Bible to graduate?
Many strong students fall into the trap of applying to most, if not all, of the top 10 schools without doing sufficient research on them. Through the admission-officer-designed supplemental essays, they can usually immediately tell whether or not a student will be a good fit for their school. Over the last few years, supplemental essays for top competitive schools have gotten more and more specific to gauge fit. It is crucial to do proper research and to have specific insights into the schools you are applying to in order to write compelling and effective essays that will increase your chances of getting into the school!
3) Overly bloated applications
Unlike UK and HK college applications, US applications require a more holistic approach, including elements like a personality and character-driven personal statement, a list of extracurricular activities, supplement essays, multiple letters of recommendation, and much more. Additionally, the option to submit “additional information” or an “additional letter of recommendation” often gives students the illusion that the more information you include, the better. On average, admission officers spend less than ten minutes reading an application; don’t make them read more than they have to!
There are, however, times when it is necessary to include additional information, such as if there were any extenuating circumstances that impacted a student’s school or personal life. As consultants, part of what we do is to guide students into effectively informing schools, whether it be having the student write about it or guiding our recommenders to include an explanation in their letters.
Instead of admission consultants, we sometimes refer to ourselves as rejection preventionists. A large part of how we work with students is making sure we don’t fall into any avoidable traps in the college application process to boost your chances of getting into your dream university!
Quantum Prep is an education consultancy that focuses on placing their students at the best colleges or universities. We boast of diverse results. In addition to the traditional rap sheet of prestigious university acceptances, our consultants like to highlight the different paths they have sent students on. All of our students are different; we are proud of our one-on-one tailored approach towards university counselling. Contact us for a complimentary 30-minute initial meeting, where you can get tailored individualized advice on how to put your best foot forward. Read our reviews to see what our clients think of us.
By Sabrina Ma, Admissions Consulting Partner
Published 17-10-2024