University of Pennsylvania(UPenn) Early Decision

University of Pennsylvania(Upenn)  Early Decision

 UPenn  is another school  I strongly recommend for Early Decision applicants.
While binding,  Penn is  such a good  option , its easy to  commit to.  Great academics, a wide range of  activities with an active socially involved campus community. Also Philadelphia is a  fun vibrant town.
\Some students may find UPenn's specialized degree programs  particularly interesting.  Penn offer several  interdisciplinary  programs that draw on resources from different departments.

 The most popular option is the Jerome  Fisher program in Management and Technology.
 This  unique  dual degree program involves both Engineering and science coursework along with business studies.

 Other specialised programs include  

• DMD Digital Media Design
• The Vagelos program in Life Sciences and Management

 Keep in mind  that applying to a specialised program will require an extra supplementary essay



 It is worth noting that  Penn also seems to prefer  ED applicants as admission rates are almost twice as  favorable.

 You can access the Penn admissions website  at this link

 UPenn also uses the common ap.

 The supplementary essay prompt is :

How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying. (400-650 words) *For students applying to the coordinated dual-degree programs, please answer this question in regards to your single-degree school choice. Interest in coordinated dual-degree programs will be addressed through those program-specific essays.

This essay is not as easy as it seems at first.   Make sure you answer both parts of the prompt individually.  You need to research    the undergraduate colleges carefully. Penn has four Undergraduate  colleges 

1. Arts and Sciences
2. Engineering and applied Science
3.  Nursing
4. Wharton

 The Wharton school is  a very popular choice withmany students.  It is worth noting that Wharton is not just a  business college. There are 20 concentrations ( majors) with Wharton including  environmental policy, e-commerce and Statistics. . 

 To avail of clear sky education services for your UPenn application - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

Columbia University Application

Columbia  University  Early Decision Application

I  had identified  Columbia as one of the  best Early Decision  choices.  Columbia offers  excellent education opportunities across a range of majors.  Being located in New York City  gives students access to an unparalleled range of  cultural  activities.  Students interested in business and economics  are in the heart of the US economy .

 Saying yes is an Easy answer if accepted ED at Columbia.

Columbia has a interesting webpage on What Columbia looks for in a student. Do read this to make sure you  fit the profile they are looking for. At Columbia you will have a class of highly motivated  achievers  surrounding you.

 Columbia also uses the common ap and has  a comprehensive supplement.
 The supplementary essays are:
 1. In 150 words or fewer, please briefly describe which single activity listed in the Activity section of your application are you most proud of and why.

The key to this prompt is selecting a   activity.  Try to select an activity that  is unique and shows the diversity of your interests.  Be proud of your accomplishments but don't boast or exaggerate.

2. Please list the following (150 words or fewer for each question):

• the titles of the required readings from courses during the school year or summer that you enjoyed most in the past year;
• the titles of books read for pleasure that you enjoyed most in the past year;
• the titles of print or electronic publications you read regularly;

and the titles of the films, concerts, shows, exhibits, lectures and other entertainments you enjoyed most in the past year.
 Outside of your  schoolwork try to select a set of books  that shows a  clear interest in a  field. However make sure your list   indicate a diversity of eclectic interests  and influences.
Adding a Columbia author to the list can't hurt. Jeffrey  Sachs  End of Poverty   is a thought provoking read

3.

• Tell us what you find most appealing about Columbia and why.
• If you are applying to Columbia College, tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section. If you are currently undecided, please write about any field or fields in which you may have an interest at this time.
• If you are applying to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, please tell us what from your current and past experiences (either academic or personal) attracts you specifically to the field or fields of study that you noted in the Member Questions section.

 Columbia also encourages students to submit  extra  informatiom about their academic accomplishments suc as research papers.

To avail of clear sky education services for your Columbiaapplication - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

Selecting Early Decision Universities

 Selecting  Early Decision Universities

  I had discussed selecting ED and EA schools briefly in a previous post  but as the deadline approaches  lets take a closer look at picking an Early Decision school.


   First things first, ED is BINDING. If accepted you are requited to enroll. If   you have any hesitation regarding this , do not think of ED as an option.  Consider an Early Action option instead.
Refer to the  above link for EA schools I recommended.

 If  you have a clear  dream university in mind and its not one of the Restrictive Early Action Schools ( Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford). These four   have an ED  application termed Restrictive Early Action.

 Apart from these   ED is  good option for those with a clear top choice  institute.

 The Universities I recommend  as ED options are

•  Columbia
• Brown
• Northwestern
• Duke
• University of Pennsylvania
• Dartmouth
• Carnegie Mellon( for Engineering or CS students)
• Johns  Hopkins
• Rice
• Vanderbilt

Early Decision acceptance rates are more favorable than Regular Decision. While fewer students apply, chances are these are all very well prepared and confident people - much like your self.

  Most of these use the Common Ap. I will be  going through the supplementary essays for  several of these in the coming  days.
If thwee is a university you are interested in and would like me to look at - please send email  
clearskyeducation@gmail.com or leave a comment on the blog

ClearSky Education services

ClearSky Education services

 Hi I am Ravi Desai, an independent  college counselor based in Mumbai(Bombay) , India. I have  assembled a small team and am ready to offer professional college counselling services. I have been doing this informally for the past few years and my students have been accepted at  various top universities  including:

• Harvard
• Michigan
• UCLA
• Georgia Tech
• CMU
• Georgetown
• Swarthmore
• USC
• Texas- Austin

 My services will be offered as both a complete package and stand alone services

•  I have  blogged about various aspects of university applications  including the  the common ap essays and supplementary essays for various universities. I am happy to provide this level of basic guidance for anyone who  take the time to read through ,y blog.   If you want to work on a  personal basis and gt individualized feedbavk  and advice for your application - please  contact me.

•  A customized college list. I will learn your profile, interests, abilities and help identify 6-12  universities to apply to.
• Completing the application.  Providing assistance on selecting references and the mechanics of  completing the application
• Essays. This is  the aspect of the application that gives most students  lot of trouble. Essentially you are writing about a subject you  know  very well- YOURSELF. I will get to know your story and help you tell it in a  direct , concise and meaningful manner.
•  Note: I do not write your essays for you- that would be unethical, I help you  identify  the aspect of your individual story to write about and how  to frame your personal story  to a particular essay topic. Also I will help you edit, rewrite  and polish  your essay so you have a  memorable,  well thought out  and professional  essay to submit.
• Selecting which college to attend. This is by far my favorite part of the process.  Will help you identify the place that best suits you and which you will be proud to call home for the next 4 years.
• 
  

There is a month or so for EA/E aps and 3 months for Regular Decision. Contact me at clearskyeducation@gmail.com to get started.

Get your Essay ready

Get your Essay ready

End September  is a good time to complete your main common ap essay.
 I have covered the essay
each essay option individually  in previous posts, you can see them here

• Option #1
• Option #2
• Option #3
• Option #4
• Option #5

 By now you should have a well thought   outline of your essay. 

 Do show your essay to   people for feedback, Your teachers, counselor,  family, friends- basically people who know you well.  Listen to all the feedback but you need not incorporate it all.  Make sure your essay never your  your sense of identity.  Retain your individual voice.

 Her are some final tips for the essay:

1, Be memorable -    tell an interesting story. Ideally when the admissions team  is  welcoming you to campus next fall,   they should remember  you as the student who  had that crazy story.

2. Be direct  -  stick to the word limit, use your words carefully

3. Be yourself -   Be honest  and tak about your world in your voice. Dont try to be  the "ideal" candidate" and swrite in a tone that is not yours. If you are a natural cynic- its better to write an open honest essay celebrating   your  viewpoint rather trying to fake being an optimist

4. Be focused - Don't repeat information already included elsewhere in your application.

5. And most important - Be  professional.  Proofread , edit,  Repeat this process -  a sloppy error  filed essay is  the clearest way to show  that you are not serious. If this is a weakness for you seek help.

 

 Early Applications are due in  40 days.  You have one last shot at the  standardized tests.  Yu will need to write several supplementary essays for  each university.

Hidden Gems

Hidden Gems

 When it comes to selecting colleges too apply to, far too many students do not look beyond the top 20 ranked  schools. However the admission rates are very low (often even often in single digits) There are several excellent universities that provide a great education and the acceptance rate is above 30%. Lets look for these "hidden gems". There are many great colleges which   have higher acceptance rates they  get a smaller volume of applications.

 Thee are schools where the students are looking for  an intellectually demanding experience.  The students  are not there for the weather,football or the parties but because  the were attracted by the academics.

 Often some programs are perceived as  undesirable because the location  is seen as dull or  the lack of a hyperactive  party culture

• Case Western Reserve University is an excellent school for students interested in Engineering, science and pre-med  programs. It has a "learn by doing ethic" and looks for students who like to get there hands dirt. It is located   in the heart of Cleveland which has an unfair reputation of being a dull city.  As students tend to be academic and career focused there is less interest in  parties but nonetheless  a tight sense of community. Admission rates at case  are about 40%. It is  a program I strongly recommend.

 Some other schools that are "flying under the radar" are:

•  Miami  University
• College of Wooster
• University of Delaware
• Allegheny College
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Trinity College
• Sewanee College of the South
• Reed College
• 
  

University of California application.

University of California application.

 The University of California(UC) system comprises several of the best public universities in the world  including

•  Berkeley
• UCLA
• UC San Diego
•  UC Irvine
•  UC Santa Barbara
• UC Davis

 The University of California does not use the common app but its own UC application.  A student can apply to  multiple  UC campuses  with this application. The official website is at this link

   Most of the application  is similar to the common app but the UC application has 2 essay prompts  to be written.
PROMPT #1: Describe the world you come from—for example, your family, community or school—and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
PROMPT #2: Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are


 You have a 1000 word  limit   for 2 essays.



 The application period for UC  is Nov 1 to 30.

To avail of clear sky education services for your Berkeley, UCLA or any other  University of California application - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

UIUC Early Action

UIUC   Early Action

 Continuing with the list of good  universities  that have  an Early Action  admission option , lets take a closer look at  the University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign(UIUC).
 Illinois is one  of the premier public research  universities  in the USA.  Along with a strong core college of liberal arts and sciences Illinois has  particularly strong programs in the sciences and engineering along with professional  disciplines such as  library  and information sciences,  the college of media studies and  highky rated pre-law and pre-med   programs.

 The UIUC admissions page can be seen at this link

 UIUC uses the common app and has a single  supplementary essay:
 Explain your interest in the major you selected. Describe an experience related to this area of study, what first introduced you to this field, and/or your future career goals. If you're applying to the Division of General Studies, explain your academic interests and strengths or your future career goals. You may include any majors or areas of study you're currently considering. Limit your response to 300 to 400 words.

 This "talk about your major" is a fairly standard  topic so its important to tie it in to the university.  Illinois is a very research oriented school, so  do look up the  university web pages and try to identify  if there is a   research project that is working on your interests.
 Science and  Engineering majors should  look up the  Beckman Institute  for advanced Science and technology.  Be open and honest about your ambitions and influences, if possible tell  weave them into an interesting story  such as ho your interest in environmental science was developed through several childhood and school  camping trips.


 Ther are  now 50 days remaining to  Nov 1.   Time to  get  grt started on your  early action/early decision essays!

To avail of clear sky education services for your Illinois application - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

Georgia Tech Early Action

Georgia Tech Early Action

  Georgia tech is an excellent Early Action  option for STEM students Located in the city of Atlanta, Tech is a vibrant  urban campus  which retains a tight knit collegiate community within an urban setting.

 The official admissions page is at this link . Georgia tech also uses the common app. As usual I will take a closer look at these:

• Beyond rankings, location, and athletics, why are you interested in attending Georgia Tech? (max 150 words)
•  Georgia tech takes it academics and research seriously - Do some homework and go through the website carefully to see what labs and projects exist within your   chosen major. Also look to see  if there are any themes the university seems to be promoting.  Energy is a current  trend. 
  Apart from academics,  Tech prides itself on a involved student life - look up the list of student clubs and identify a few that interest you. Dont stress if you dont find  your interests  directly represented. You can write that you did not see a club for your hobby so you intend to  start one yourself.
• A Georgia Tech experience and education provides you an unbound future. What will yours be? (max 150 words)

 Do  tie this in to your long term ambitions .  Entrepreneurship is a  good topic to raise here. You  have the advantage of a strong  technical education  and   a very supportive alumni network.  Atlanta is fast becoming a regional start up hub. More and more students are launching their own startups  straight out of college these days.

• Georgia Tech's motto is Progress & Service. In 25 words or less, what is your personal motto?

 Give this some thought, feel free to borrow a motto from pop culture. My  personal choice would be "Do the Right thing- Always do the  right thing"

• Some other things to keep in mind:
• At its heart GT is a geeky engineering school and the admissions committee would probably look favorably on someone who has demonstrated hands on STEM capability - maybe competed in a math or robotics competition, built something with their hands etc.
• Simultaneously , they have been trying to embrace the arts and soft sciences, so extracurricular activities/capabilities in these areas may have a positive impact

To avail of clear sky education services for your Georgia Tech application - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

University of Michigan application and Essays

University of  Michigan application and Essays

   Lets continue with the universities I  selected for Early Action applicants  The University of  Michigan is  one of the best public universities. Early Action Applications are due on November 1 and you will be informed of  your admission status by December 24.

The Official admissions website can be seen at this link.

  Michigan also uses the common app. As readers of the blog know, no university application  is simple.

 Michigan requires 2 supplementary essays ,Let's look at these more carefully:

Essay #1 (Required for all applicants. Approximately 250 words.)

Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.
 This is a very open ended question  which is meant to  give you the chance to write about your sense of identity.    The size of the community  is not  defined. This could be just your family your ethnic group or just your school.   Do note  that  the  term community can be defined by interest. Therefore  my personal answer would be  geek. You can  tie this into your academic and career interests by selecting entrepreneur or  scientist  as your  group.
 Try to select the  influences that are important to you. As mentioned earlier avoid the cliches of  citing your parents as your main influence.
 This essay  has a 250 word limit so  its best to keep it concise, don't forget to talk about your  place in the community.

Essay #2 (Required for all applicants. 500 words maximum.) 

Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?

 Use this essay to rite about your academic interests and intended major.  One of  Michigan's strengths is the vast array of majors and minors  one can choose from along wiyh  numerous double major programs.
 Michigan prides itself on  a real world educational experience  as opposed to  a purely academic  education. Students have several opportunities to  get involved in  research  and internships.
 A  good example is the  Michigan  consumer sentiment  index which is a internationally recognized index  of the US consumer sentiment.   The entire survey and index is conducted by students working with faculty at the  Michigan Ross school of business. You should mention how you  relate to the  Michigan curriculum




  I strogly recommend Apply Early Action, If any part of your applicatiom is incomplete , your application will be rolled over to the Regular Decision  cycle of February 01,2016. You have 42 days left to  Nov 01. Get to work.
To avail of clear sky education services for your Michigan    application - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

Caltech Application and Essays

Caltech Application and Essays

In an earlier post, I identified the  Caltech  as one of the best  universities with an Early Action option.

 The Caltech requirements are fairly straightforward.  A science oriented school cirriculum, the SAT, 2  SAT subject tests-  a science and  Math II
 See the official website for details

Caltech uses the common app but has a rather involved supplement that  requires a couple of short answer essays.

 The first prompt is:
 Please list three books, along with their authors, that have been particularly meaningful to you. For each book, please include a sentence explaining their influence upon you. Please note that your response is not limited to math, science or school-assigned texts.

 It is best to avoid any school books when talking about books.
Stay truthful to the  topic and select those that have  personal meaning. The  books need not be science related.
 My  personal answer would definitely start with" The places You'll go by Dr. Seuss.  my explanation  is that  I love reading and  this is because  my childhood experiences reading Dr. Seuss were  very enjoyable and created a lifelong habit.
 The second prompt is:
 What three experiences or activities have helped you explore your desire to study and possibly pursue a career in STEM? (200 max)

 This is another  question where its best to present an honest  and well thought out answer. The  experiences need not be school related. You can talk about how watching fireworks made  you interested  in physics or how  playing an old computer game sparked a deep interest in computer science. If there is a mentor or teacher who influenced  you in this direction, this essay would be a good place to  mention that.

 The third essay is:

Members of the Caltech community live, learn, and work within an Honor System with one simple guideline; "No member shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community." While seemingly simple, questions of ethics, honesty and integrity are sometimes puzzling. Share a difficult decision that has challenged you. What was your response, and how did you arrive to a solution? (200 words max)

 This essay is  best addressed by describing of a moral/ethical dilemma  you may have faced in the past and how you responded.  Keep in mind that Caltech is an Engineering and Science university and scientists and Engineers are  more interested in the  process of solving a problem rather than the description of the problem.   Keep the focus of the essay  on your problem solving process. Don't just write about how   your solution process , describe the factors you considered and any options you rejected.

 The fourth essay is:
Caltech students have long been known for their quirky sense of humor and creative pranks. Please describe an unusual way in which you have fun. (200 words max)

 The keyto this brief essay is to be yourself. If describing a prank  , make sure  that its not   illegal or malicious in nature.   The emphasis is on the way you have fun - if you have a strange hobby or   play an unusual sport   like bicycle polo-  talk about it.   Keep it short and light and humorous in tone.

The final two essay prompts( sixth and seventh) are academic in nature:

6.In an increasingly global and interdependent society, there is a need for diversity in thought, background, and experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity of Caltech's community? (200 words max) 
7.Scientific exploration clearly excites you. Beyond our 3:1 student to faculty ratio and our intense focus on research opportunities, how do you believe Caltech will best fuel your intellectual curiosity and help you meet your goals? (500 words max)


 Use these topics to talk about your  interests and goals ( both academic and  professional). Be technical and specific, for example a prospective mathematician can talk about  aspiring to have a single digit Erdos number. Caltech has incredible resources, do your research and mention the relevant ones by name. Of course the greatest  resource  you will have access to is the faculty and alumni  network.

All these essays can look overwhelming but keep in mind that Caltech is one of the premier STEM institutions and should be on your list of  universities if you aspire to  study science or engineering.

  The essays are all  personal in nature  and fairly short  so  make sure  you spend enough time thinking of the topic  and content of your essays before  you begin. Do edit your essays carefully to keep within the word limits.

To avail of clear sky education services for your Caltech application - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

Supplementary Essays for Chicago

 Supplementary Essays for   Chicago 


 The last post discussed the university of Chicago application..
 The essays are a  your opportunity to  showcase  how you  fit the Chicago culture.
 The first topic is 

Question 1 (Required):

How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.

Question 1 (Required):

How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.

 One key  factor for many students is   that  you will  get a great education in any subject at Chicago but the focus is not on learning a professional skill but on learning how to think. Because of Chicago's strengths in  both social  and physical sciences   this is where you need to mention any intersrt in   any interdisciplinary subjects. Do mention and quote any particular research you may be aware of. For example - researchers are building computational models of how children  acquire new vocabulary - what implications are there for education in the way we  teach   children.

 The second essay is optional  and should be used to  discuss  the cultural influences that have affected the way you think. Talk about your  favorite books, movies  and music and  try to  identify a common thread that runs through them. It is  a good idea to  link thes to your acdemic interests.  For example the novel Salmon Fishingin thed Yemen by Paul Torday  raies issues of Ethics in Environmental  Engineering and Chicago is one of the few schools where  you  could learn more about such issues from  an zengineering viewpoint, a public policy viewpoint sas well as a purely philosophical stance.

Question 2 (Optional):

Share with us a few of your favorite books, poems, authors, films, plays, pieces of music, musicians, performers, paintings, artists, blogs, magazines, or newspapers. Feel free to touch on one, some, or all of the categories listed, or add a category of your own.

Share with us a few of your favorite books, poems, authors, films, plays, pieces of music, musicians, performers, paintings, artists, blogs, magazines, or newspapers. Feel free to touch on one, some, or all of the categories listed, or add a category of your own

 The  extended essays are required  and    should be used to  talk about your interests and passions-outside of class This will  give the admissions committee a better idea of you as a person  and is a way to show that you take your hobbies as seriously s your academics.

 Lets look at the first option.

Essay Option 1.

Orange is the new black, fifty’s the new thirty, comedy is the new rock ‘n’ roll, ____ is the new ____. What’s in, what’s out, and why is it being replaced?
—Inspired by Payton Weidenbacher, Class of 2015

Here is my attempt  writing this  -
 I think  Germany is the new Brazil  at least from the viewpoint of a football(soccer) fan.    I have been a soccer fan since  childhood. As a child I lived in four different countries and changed over 10 schools before finishing high school. Football  was always a common l interest  through which I made some of my closest friends. Always a good team, Germany was known for being organised, efficient and methodical while  Brazil was the  creative and more exciting team. Germany is currently playing with the flair  and free flowing   creativity that has long been considered the hallmark of the   Brazilian team.  In my opinion this change has come  to pass as Germany has  incorporated more and more multicultural players in their team. The recent world cup winning team featured players of Arab, Turkish, Polish and even  Ghanaian origin. The 7-1 victory  over  Brazil in 2014 announced Germany  replacing Brazil  as the premier football team internationally.


To avail of clear sky education services for your University of Chicago  application - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

University of Chicago aplication

University of Chicago application



 In yesterdays post ,  I said that the University of Chicago  is one of the best universities that  one can apply to Early Action.
 See the official page for details on admission requirements.   The university of Chicago uses the common Application . you can see my previpus posts for  ideas on the common app essays.
enf
 Of course it should be apparent that  the application cannot  be just the common app. Chicago requires  a fairly challenging supplement with two required and one optional essay

2015-16 UChicago Supplement:

Question 1 (Required):

How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.

Question 2 (Optional):

Share with us a few of your favorite books, poems, authors, films, plays, pieces of music, musicians, performers, paintings, artists, blogs, magazines, or newspapers. Feel free to touch on one, some, or all of the categories listed, or add a category of your own.

:

Share with us a few of your favorite books, poems, authors, films, plays, pieces of music, musicians, performers, paintings, artists, blogs, magazines, or newspapers. Feel free to touch on one, some, or all of the categories listed, or add a category of your own.

Extended Essay Questions:

(Required; Choose one)

Essay Option 1.

Orange is the new black, fifty’s the new thirty, comedy is the new rock ‘n’ roll, ____ is the new ____. What’s in, what’s out, and why is it being replaced?
—Inspired by Payton Weidenbacher, Class of 2015

Essay Option 2.

“I learned to make my mind large, as the universe is large, so that there is room for paradoxes.” –Maxine Hong Kingston. What paradoxes do you live with?
—Inspired by Danna Shen, Class of 2019

Essay Option 3.

Joan of Arkansas. Queen Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Babe Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Mash up a historical figure with a new time period, environment, location, or occupation, and tell us their story.
—Inspired by Drew Donaldson, Class of 2016

Essay Option 4.

“Art is either plagiarism or revolution.” –Paul Gauguin. What is your “art”? Is it plagiarism or revolution?
—Inspired by Kaitlyn Shen, Class of 2018.

Essay Option 5.

Rerhceseras say it’s siltl plisbsoe to raed txet wtih olny the frist and lsat ltteres in palce. This is beaucse the hamun mnid can fnid oderr in dorsdier. Give us your best example of finding order in disorder. (For your reader’s sake, please use full sentences with conventional spelling).
—Also inspired by Payton Weidenbacher, Class of 2015. Payton is extra-inspirational this year!

Essay Option 6.

In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose a question of your own. If your prompt is original and thoughtful, then you should have little trouble writing a great essay. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun.

Essay Option 7.

In the spirit of historically adventurous inquiry, to celebrate the University of Chicago’s 125th anniversary, please feel free to select from any of our past essay questions.

 I  will be discussing these options in detail over  the  next few days but its is a good time to start thinking on these lines if you want to apply by the  Nov 1 deadline.

To avail of clear sky education services for your Chicagoapplication - send me email at clearskyeducation@gmail.com

Selecting Early Action and Early Decision Schools

 Selecting  Early Action  and Early Decision Schools

As mentioned in my last post, this is the time  to start your early decision. early action applications.

 If  Harvard, Yale, Princeton or Stanford is your dream  university and your profile is in good shape,   talk to your counselor and teachers and  apply  through the Restrictive Early Action  option. The acceptance rares are low but marginally better than in January. Put any polishing touches on your resume and  submit your application by Nov 1. REA  prohibits  you from  applying ED or EA ro any other university


 If your dream college is  not in the above list of 4, consider an Early Decision application. Popular choices for ED are Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Duke, University  of Southern California, Amherst College, Swarthmore College  and Johns  Hopkins.
 Remember ED is binding,  If accepted  you are expected to enroll.  Its a good  way to improve your  chances at  your dream  college


 Early Action  is offered by fewer universities.  The early action options I recommend are as follows:

•  MIT
• University of Chicago
•  Caltech
• Boston College ( partially restrictive)
• University of  Michigan
• UIUC  University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign (  referred to as priority admission)
•  Georgia Tech
• Georgetown University ( partially restrictive - you can apply to other EA programs but not ED)

   These are all highly ranked universities( the first three are in most  top 10 lists) and  are very selective  in early action as well as regular decision.All of these are non binding and not restrictive.
 If accepted , you have until May 2016  to accept or decline the offer.
 Geo


 In the coming days , I will be looking into the supplementary essays required for  the ED/EA applications

Time to Start Early Applications.

Time to Start Early Applications

As discussed in a previous post Early Action and Early Decision applications can be good idea.

 The deadline for  most these is  October 31. This means the university has to teceive a fully complete applicationby  Nov 1.   Thankfully you have 2 months left to  plug any gaps  in your profile. There is one remaing SAT test date available on October 3 that you need to sign up for if you want to retake the SAT or the subject tests.

 By now , you need to approach  your school counselor and teachers for letters of Recommendation.
 Keep in mind that they will be  a little overwhelmed by such requests.

 Please check with th University you are interested in and make sure , you have the correct number of recommendations and the appropriate subject tests.

 Some terminology:

• Restrictive Early Action( REA) -  implied  you can only apply to that university in the November cycle. If accepted  this is binding. Only 4  universities use this namely, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Stanford. If you apply  REA ,  you cannot apply to any other ED or EA programs.
• Early Decision( ED) - Offered by most universities, if accepted  you have to  enroll.  You can only apply to one program ED but can apply to one ED and other EA programs.
• Early Action(EA) -    This is non binding.   You can apply to multiple  EA schools. If accepted  you have until May 2016 to  decide.

  Under  REA, ED or EA you will know by mid december and can then focus on finishing your remaining applications 

 Only thre four universities mentioned above use REA, while almost all  colleges have an ED option. EA is  not as common but there are several excellent EA options.    MIT, Caltech, Chicago, Georgetown and The University of  Michigan are 5 great  EA options.

Our recommendation is you select one ED option and a coupe of EA options.