There are over 26,000 high schools in the United States which means there are 26,000 football teams, yearbook staffs, valedictorians and class presidents. When colleges read about these types of activates they begin to look like everyone else.

Colleges crave diversity and seek students who are differentiated from their peers. A college admissions counselor will overlook grades and test scores that are lower than average for his or her school if they find someone who is truly different.

Most students strive to be better than other students. Better grades, better test scores, better at sports, etc. Being different is not only much easier than being better, but much more important to the college admissions counselor.

With Mike’s help, students start companies, build electric cars, run for public office, establish their own charities and solicit sponsors for amateur athletic endeavors.

For more information about working with Mike please contact us at (773) 426-6353

I got very sick in 2009 now I’m a sophomore and am still sick. My Freshman year, I spent almost the entire second half of the year in the hospital. This year I had to go back into the hospital for a bit, due to my illness I don’t have a lot of energy to do any activities. I realize this may be a reach, but would being in the hospital so much and dealing with it fairly well, and still managing to have honor roll grades or better count as an NTA? I just don’t know what else would because it kind of has been my life of these past three years and will be for the rest of my life.

Illnesses are not NTAs because 1) other teenagers also get sick and 2) you don’t actively pursue illness as an activity.
What you are describing is known as a “hardship story” and it can be used to your advantage in the admissions process under certain conditions.
Most colleges have an essay option that is rather open-ended asking for additional information. You can write about the illness and point out how you overcame the setback and maintained your GPA.
You must tread very, very carefully, however. It will back fire if it looks like you intend to illicit sympathy from the reader- sympathy is a horrible admissions strategy.
You must also be careful that the college understands that you have conquered the illness and are ready for college. No college wants to accept a student that they suspect can’t handle a college workload.
A hardship story only works if you can show how you successfully overcame the hardship and treated it as a learning experience rather than a setback. If the college thinks you are trying to get them to feel sorry for you the hardship story will backfire (big time).

Schedule:

1:30 p.m. Seniors arrive at LFHS.
2:00 p.m. Guests Arrive. Unlimited seating on the front lawn.
2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class of 2012 Graduation Ceremony.
2:30 pm Graduation

More information can be found on the Lake Forest High School web site.

Graduation rehearsal is mandatory for students who wish to participate in graduation. Students will receive their cap & gown at graduation rehearsal.

Would a NTA be my trip to Peru which I am doing this summer with my church Youth Group?  We are going to be building houses for young boys who were abandoned by their parents which will then give them a place to live?  I am raising all the money for my trip ($2600) by working many different jobs, taking care of animals, training horses and walking dogs.  It’s really hard work with the heavy load I am taking in school but I really want to go to help these kids.  I read about NTA’s in your book but am having a hard time figuring out if I have any that might be interesting to the admissions counselors.

The test for determining if a project is an NTA is very simple. Do other teenagers do it? If the answer is “yes,” then it’s not an NTA.

NTA’s are not about difficulty level or kindness, although they can be both. NTA’s are about being different than your peer group. Different is the key. Working harder than your peer group is great, but it’s not an NTA. Being nicer than your peer group is great, but it’s not an NTA. Doing a better job than your peer group is great, but it’s not an NTA.

Just because a project or activity is not an NTA, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. The above project sounds like an incredible, life-changing experience and you should do it! Very admirable. You can write about it in your essays and be proud that you did it.

However, it’s the NTA that will really help you stand out from your peer group. So, go to Peru and do an NTA.

Camps, summer jobs, internships and volunteer activities can be a fine way to spend a summer– but those things aren’t going to give you an edge in the college admissions process.

Why not spend your summer doing something that will get colleges excited about you?

At the core of our college counseling process is helping students identify and engage in activities that will help them stand head and shoulders above the competition. Our students have spent their summers training for Ironman Triathlons, building their own businesses, or running for political office.

Mike Moyer will help you plan your summer in a way that will not only wow colleges, but also will motivate you to do something spectacular.

Should I build my own web site?

There is nothing like a little shameless self promotion to help round-out your college application. Colleges want students who are confident and proud, not arrogant and cocky. Building a tasteful website that promotes you and your special talents is a great way to establish yourself as a good college candidate. Of course, it can’t just be fluff, you actually have to have done something interesting to talk about.

Alexander Wolfgang Seibt provides a nice example of what a good student website can be click on the image to visit the site:

Download: Look, you can use me for highlighting some special parts in a post. I can make download links more highlighted.

Alert: Look, you can use me for highlighting some special parts in a post. I can be used to alert to some special points in a post.

Note: Look, you can use me for highlighting some special parts in a post. I can be used to display a note and thereby bringing attention.

Info: Look, you can use me for highlighting some special parts in a post. I can be used to provide any extra information.

About The Author

Use me for adding more information about the author. You can use me anywhere within a post or a page, i am just awesome. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Praesent aliquam, justo convallis luctus rutrum, erat nulla fermentum diam, at nonummy quam ante ac quam. Maecenas urna purus, fermentum id, molestie in, commodo porttitor, felis. Nam blandit quam ut lacus. Quisque ornare risus quis ligula. Phasellus tristique purus a augue condimentum adipiscing.

Button List

[ Small_Button class="red" ]

Icon list view

[ Icon List ]

Dropcaps Content

[ Dropcaps ]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Praesent aliquam, justo convallis luctus rutrum, erat nulla fermentum diam, at nonummy quam ante ac quam. Maecenas urna purus, fermentum id, molestie in, commodo porttitor, felis. Nam blandit quam ut lacus. Quisque ornare risus quis ligula. Phasellus tristique purus a augue condimentum adipiscing. Aenean sagittis. Etiam leo pede, rhoncus venenatis, tristique in, vulputate at, odio. Donec et ipsum et sapien vehicula nonummy. Quisque ornare risus quis ligula. Phasellus tristique purus a augue condimentum adipiscing. Aenean sagittis. Etiam leo pede, rhoncus venenatis, tristique in, vulputate at, odio. Donec et ipsum et sapien vehicula nonummy. Quisque ornare risus quis ligula. Phasellus tristique purus a augue condimentum adipiscing. Aenean sagittis. Etiam leo pede, rhoncus venenatis, tristique in, vulputate at, odio. Donec et ipsum et sapien vehicula nonummy.

Dropcaps can be so useful sometimes. Praesent aliquam, justo convallis luctus rutrum, erat nulla fermentum diam, at nonummy quam ante ac quam. Maecenas urna purus, fermentum id, molestie in, commodo porttitor, felis. Nam blandit quam ut lacus. Quisque ornare risus quis ligula. Phasellus tristique purus a augue condimentum adipiscing. Aenean sagittis. Etiam leo pede, rhoncus venenatis, tristique in, vulputate at, odio. Donec et ipsum et sapien vehicula nonummy. Quisque ornare risus quis ligula. Phasellus tristique purus a augue condimentum adipiscing. Aenean sagittis. Etiam leo pede, rhoncus venenatis, tristique in, vulputate at, odio. Donec et ipsum et sapien vehicula nonummy. Quisque ornare risus quis ligula. Phasellus tristique purus a augue condimentum adipiscing. Aenean sagittis. Etiam leo pede, rhoncus venenatis, tristique in, vulputate at, odio. Donec et ipsum et sapien vehicula nonummy.

Content boxes

We, the content boxes can be used to highlight special parts in the post. We can be used anywhere, just use the particular shortcode and we will be there.
[ Normal_Box ]

[ Warning_Box ]

[ Download_Box ]

[ About_Box ]

[ Info_Box ]

[ Alert_Box ]