Having worked in college admissions for 20 years, I can tell you that two of the most challenging university admissions applications I’ve seen students encounter are the Stanford and Harvard roommate essays. Seemingly informal… or perhaps even perceived as low-stakes, many students are unsure of how to go about answering them. I’ve seen many excellent candidates write too casual a response, and just as many overthink them to the point of paralysis.
This workshop will pull back the curtain on how admissions officers read these responses. We focus on what the prompt is really asking, what kinds of details tend to resonate, and what common approaches fall flat.
What you’ll learn:
how to brainstorm with intention
identify details that reveal something meaningful about you
clear to-dos and not-to-dos
…as you avoid the trap of trying too hard or too little in selecting details that help admissions officers imagine you as a thoughtful, self-aware member of their residential community.
We’ll review examples of thoughtfully executed responses that have earned acceptance into these highly selective universities.
You’ll leave with a clear, honest framework for brainstorming and a strong sense of direction before you start writing.
