What You Can Learn from the “SAT Score Essay”

     This is the follow up post to “What You Can Learn from the ‘Costco Essay.’”  While some applicants hit the mark with a brilliant essay that takes an ordinary instance and shines extraordinary perspective on it, others fall in the trap of rehashing their accomplishments in a way that adds little, if anything, to their application.  Take the example of the applicant who decided to write his personal statement about acing the SAT.  You can access it here.  The author of this article laments the fact that this applicant, with amazing SAT scores, was not admitted to his top choice colleges.   
     College admissions officers see an applicant's entrance exam scores as part of the application.  There is no need to write a personal statement about them, no matter how amazing they are.  The most selective colleges can fill their entire class with applicants who have perfect SAT/ACT scores many times over.  A great personal statement can help separate an applicant from other talented applicants.   
     Instead of using the personal statement to rehash an accomplishment that does not add to the application, encourage your child to focus on an instance that demonstrates perspective and candor.  Showing an admissions officer how your child thinks and what is important to her help separate her from the other talented applicants.