Kyra Tyler, Senior DirectorI truly loved my work as an Admission Officer in an Undergraduate Admissions office. My colleagues were very empathetic and patient people who were always rooting for the applicants. What inspired my shift to college admissions counseling, though, was a desire to help families understand the process and their options, instead of being a gatekeeper. I really grew tired of saying no to wonderful students simply because we didn’t think they would attend our university or their high school record was a little outside our norm.
Why I encourage families to look beyond prestigious colleges
I think it can be human nature to covet something you may not be able to obtain, even when presented with clear and direct evidence. I also can’t blame students, necessarily, because colleges often market broadly to prospective students, which can sometimes give families an overly optimistic sense of their admission chances.
I always acknowledge that this process still allows students to apply wherever they want. At the same time, I encourage families to build a balanced list of schools where a student is likely to thrive academically, socially and financially. My goal is to help students make informed decisions, keep the process manageable and focus their energy toward schools that are a strong fit for where they are and what they’re hoping to achieve.
What guides me in helping students present an authentic application
At the beginning of this process, I tell my students they will have a place to go after high school. I have every confidence that we will work together in such a way that makes sure they have options they are excited about and we’ve gone through a litany of Plan A, Plan B, etc.
I also let my students know that being their genuine selves is enough. Authenticity consistently creates the strongest applications. When they try to “over-strategize” or “be more unique,” it always falls flat and most admission professionals can see through it.
Finally, providing support to my students in an ethical way is the only path forward for us. That means I am honest with them while still honoring their humanity and when they don’t make progress or take my advice, I remind them that I am on their side, rooting for them, but I can’t do the work myself.
How I see AI reshaping the admissions process
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I let my students know that being their genuine selves is enough. When students try to over-strategize or become someone they think admissions officers want to see, it almost always falls flat. Authenticity is what makes an application compelling.
The biggest shift in the current admission cycle is that a number of very popular schools have decided to stop asking for a supplemental writing piece. I am concerned that this change will make the process even more selective. As more students will inevitably apply to these schools, it won’t serve them in the end as they imagined it would.
In terms of AI, I do think utilizing AI tools to research schools can be an ethical way to utilize the technology. I also understand students seeking AI support for organizational tools in the application process, which I view as very efficient and supportive.
However, I, along with most universities, do not endorse using AI for the idea generation of any writing for college applications. I don’t see that as an ethical way to fulfill the writing requirement. More importantly, though, I don’t believe AI does a better job at writing a personal statement than the applicant. It can’t capture the voice, the authenticity or the pace that is best conveyed by a student.
What separates memorable applicants from those with similar academic credentials
Hands down, students who are willing to be themselves. Those who aren’t obsessed with a “hook” or “standing out” or what other students are doing. They seek out opportunities for their own curiosity and are fine not trying to be someone they’re not in the writing process.
In the words of my students, they’re not “thirsty.” Students who are also honest about their achievements and know what they are looking for in a school also come across as confident, settled in who they are and not seeking college acceptances as trophies.
They feel good about all of their schools and know they don’t need to over-apply. They simply need to do the work ahead of time to make sure they will have choices they are proud of and feel good about.
What I tell students building an authentic college application
Your process is no one else’s business but your own, so don’t feel the need to talk about it with people you don’t want to. The minute a student reaches 11th grade, it seems like the college chatter is relentless.
I remind students that they are more than the name of a college on a sweatshirt. Their future won't be defined by a single admissions decision. The goal is to find opportunities where they can learn, grow and thrive and there are many paths to a successful future.
