Why Stellar Grades and Test Scores Aren't Enough

Admissions officers at every top college in the country say exactly the same thing. They reject masses of students with stellar grades and SAT scores; they do not even have the space to accept all the high school valedictorians who apply. So what are college bound students to do

A former undergraduate admissions officer at Cornell University, one of the eight prestigious Ivy League institutions in the country, says students should have a “passion project.” He shares the story of an applicant to the atmospheric sciences program at Cornell who wrote an essay about his passion for understanding weather patterns. While this is a trait expected in an earth and atmospheric sciences student, the applicant gained his attention when he described the weather station he had built at home. The high school student collected his own weather-related data and provided it to a local cable news station that used it in their weather forecasts. The admissions officer was impressed by the applicant’s demonstrated intellectual interest in his chosen field of study.

Other admissions officers voice similar advice, noting that students admitted to high caliber colleges and universities typically have some sort of passion project that demonstrates their skill and interest in their potential major. The projects not only gain positive attention in the college admissions process, but also provide students with knowledge, skills, and the understanding that, even as teenagers, they can impact their community and the world in positive ways.

Jessica Yeager, a graduate of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is convinced that it was her work in the fields of social justice and STEM that gained her offers of admission, not only to Harvard and MIT, but also to Yale, Columbia, Cornell and Stanford universities. Yeager acknowledged that she had great grades and tests scores – but noticed that so too did many students who did not get accepted to these stellar schools. She believes that college bound students should focus on demonstrating leadership skills through an activity or experience that makes a positive impact and showcases their academic passions.

A passion project can be in any field: computer science, STEM, journalism, business, architecture, visual or performing arts. The more original, and the greater its potential impact, the better!

Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated instructors have prepared students for the PSAT/SAT/ACT exams with preparation courses and private tutoring throughout Central Jersey. SAT Smart also offers private tutoring for subject tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com, or call 908-369-5362.