How effective is your college prep strategy?

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Quiz Questions

1.
What’s most important in order to get into a selective college?
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- A.
  Be the most impressive person possible– impress the admissions officers!
- B.
  Life is short, have fun while I can before college starts and the stress really begins
- C.
  Demonstrate my work ethic by taking extra AP classes or leading multiple school clubs
- D.
  Finding something truly meaningful to me, and exploring it deeply
2.
How involved is at least one of your parents in your community?
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- A.
  Not at all
- B.
  I don’t really know
- C.
  A little bit
- D.
  A lot!
3.
Did someone close to you attend a similarly selective college in the United States?
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- A.
  No
- B.
  Yes
- C.
  One or both parents attended a rigorous college outside the United States
- D.
  Kind of–a friend of my cousin’s friend knew someone who got in
4.
How have you shown initiative in your community?
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- A.
  I know different initiatives exist, but I’ve never joined or participated
- B.
  I’ve joined one or more, but only as a participant
- C.
  I regularly participate, and sometimes lead
- D.
  I used to participate, but now I organize these events myself!
5.
Colleges are academic institutions. What is the best strategy to show you fit in?
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- A.
  Become valedictorian (#1 overall student)-- after all, the competition is fierce
- B.
  Take as many AP/IB or other advanced classes as the school offers
- C.
  Get near-perfect ACT or SAT test scores
- D.
  Make sure my performance is among the top 10% of my high school class, then focus my energy elsewhere
- E.
  All of the above
6.
How often do you actively engage in self-reflection and strive for personal growth and self-improvement?
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- A.
  Not at all
- B.
  I have before, but it is rare
- C.
  I am too busy with classes and other activities to be reflective like that
- D.
  Regularly
7.
Which of the following statements best describes how you prioritize your activities?
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- A.
  I participate in a wide range of activities, more activities is more impressive than less.
- B.
  I focus on a few activities that align with my passions and show dedication and growth.
- C.
  I haven't participated in many extracurricular activities or taken on leadership positions.
- D.
  I participate in any activities I can that impress colleges. The more impressive, the better!
8.
How comfortable are you communicating with adults?
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- A.
  VERY uncomfortable
- B.
  A little bit awkward, but I can speak up if I need to
- C.
  I am mostly comfortable communicating with adults
- D.
  I am very comfortable communicating with adults– I prefer adults over younger people
9.
Can you name your core values (what matters most to you)?
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- A.
  Um, if I think about it… Maybe… I… don’t really know.
- B.
  I have a few ideas, but I can’t clearly define my values
- C.
  I can name some of them, but I’m not sure I can name them clearly
- D.
  Yes, I can. I’ve put enough thought into this that I can list my core values.
10.
Can a stranger who observes you find evidence of your core values?
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- A.
  I don’t even know for sure what my core values are, I’m not sure what a stranger would see
- B.
  Maybe. I haven't really thought of this before
- C.
  A little bit. Some of my daily activities clearly reflect what matters most to me.
- D.
  Yes. A stranger would quickly find clear evidence about what matters most to me, and would be able to describe my core values.
11.
Have you presented yourself as an expert in some field (through a written article or a presentation at a conference)
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- A.
  Of course not–I don’t even know who the experts are. I’m a student, I’ve never been to a conference, and I wouldn’t know who the experts are–unless they are in my textbooks.
- B.
  I am not an expert in any field, but I’m really interested in something, and I read articles about that thing, and I know who the experts are in that field.
- C.
  I really love something, and I read everything about it, including academic research. I know who the thought leaders are in this field, and I would love to work with one of them. I hope I can do that when I’m in college or graduate school...
- D.
  Yes! I have begun collaborating with an expert in my field, and I’ve published (or am close to publishing) some of our results. I’ve spoken at a conference, or I’ve presented my findings/results to experts.
12.
How would others in your community describe your community involvement?
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- A.
  Others wouldn’t know my name or what I look like– I’m a student, how would they know who I am?
- B.
  Some community members might recognize me because I have participated in community activities.
- C.
  Some community members would describe me as someone who is actively involved in one or more specific areas of my community and would say I am making a difference.
- D.
  Some community members would say I make a big difference in my community, or that I regularly show curiosity about how to solve a specific issue or challenge in the community.
13.
How is your community a better place because you are there?
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- A.
  I like to think it is better with me here, but maybe not in noticeable, obvious ways.
- B.
  I have participated before in efforts to solve an issue or issues in my community.
- C.
  I can easily point to the positive impact I have made on my community. It is something I’m very proud of.
- D.
  I’m a student. I haven't started yet, but I’ll worry about that stuff after college when I’m better qualified.

Quiz Outcomes

1.
RESULTS:
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Your approach would improve considerably with a more complete picture of how admissions officers read applications It looks like you've done a lot of things right, but are still being held back by some of the most common myths in college prep. This guide will help you avoid these pitfalls and successfully pursue admittance to a great college. It is tailored to your situation using the answers you gave.
2.
RESULTS:
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You have some room for a better strategyIt looks like you've done a lot of things right, and now it is important to avoid the common pitfalls most people face, and also to ensure that your remaining time preparing for college applications is as productive as possible.This guide will help you avoid these pitfalls and successfully pursue admittance to a great college. It is tailored to your situation using the answers you gave.

How effective is your college prep strategy?

Dreaming of attending a great college? Take this interactive quiz to assess your readiness and learn how to steer clear of common mistakes that can hinder your chances of admission. Let's get started!

Quiz Questions

Quiz Outcomes