From personal experience, let me inform you that college searching is no easy task. Every morning when I wake up the only thing I can think about is being one day closer to missing an essential deadline. I now have one day less to write an essay and one day less to get multiple letters of recommendation.

      Oh right – I also have to worry about homework…

     The advice you hear the most often is to make colleges notice your unique qualities. Colleges want to accept students who will add life to their school’s atmosphere and  who will get involved during their experience.

     But I’m sure admissions officers get tired of reading essays about this student’s mission trip to the mountains, and that student’s academic achievements. So in the end, what actually makes one student stand out over another?  Maybe it’s the student who questions the not so unique process of admissions.

     That student is me.

     Every piece of mail I receive from colleges across the county looks the exact same as the piece I received yesterday…and the day before that. Essentially, if the name of the college and address were covered, I would have no clue what college was sending me a recruiting letter. It’s the same letter sitting in my room – 300 times.

     I could tell you that I am President of the Executive Board at my school, and that I have been an editor for the Cry of the Hawk for two consecutive years. I could tell you that I dance  and I have been in a dance company for most of my life, competing regionally and nationally. But in the whole scheme of things – these are not the things that define me.

     What you don’t know is who Cassidy Miller actually is.

      How do colleges expect to get the feel for an applicant when every question they ask is dry and straightforward. Every college I apply to asks the same general questions as the other. If they want their students to be diverse, than the students deserve a diverse application process. Admit me into your college after you see me in person and have a face-to-face conversation with me.

Please grant applying students the opportunity to stand out by asking unique questions and personalizing the admission process so that your university stands out to those applying. If colleges want applicants to sell themselves in a unique way, college admissions offices have an obligation to advertise their universities in a unique way as well.

It shouldn’t just be me working excessively hard to impress you. Instead, make me want to come to your school. Work hard to ensure that your school will be fortunate enough to have my talents. Impress me, so when I’m making my final choices, I pick you.