Explain Fully on a Separate Sheet: The Special Circumstances Essay Hanna Stotland, Admissions Consultant HECA Fall Conference, Portland June 17, 2013
Hanna Stotland
Hanna Stotland • Flunked out of Francis Parker; G.E.D.
Hanna Stotland • Flunked out of Francis Parker; G.E.D. • Harvard College Class of 1999 • Harvard Law School Class of 2002
Hanna Stotland • Flunked out of Francis Parker; G.E.D. • Harvard College Class of 1999 • Harvard Law School Class of 2002 • Counseling since 1998
Hanna Stotland • Flunked out of Francis Parker; G.E.D. • Harvard College Class of 1999 • Harvard Law School Class of 2002 • Counseling since 1998 • Specialize in working with kids who have lost their way or ruined their records
Who is in the room? • Counseling for how many years? • Supported a student writing this kind of essay? • Admissions officers who have evaluated them?
What needs explaining? • Psychiatric issues • Eating disorders, depression, anxiety • School discipline • Criminal record • Substance use/abuse • Family crisis • Prolonged absence
Should I refer? • This is not Consulting 101 • Trust your gut • What is your knowledge level about their particular problem? • These clients are not a good fit for less experienced consultants • Who else is on the team?
Initial Considerations • Is this student ready for college?
Initial Considerations • Is this student ready for college? • Would I want my child to be his/ her roommate?
Initial Considerations • Is this student ready for college? • Would I want my child to be his/ her roommate? • Think 5-10 years down the road
Initial Considerations • Is this student ready for college? • Would I want my child to be his/ her roommate? • Think 5-10 years down the road • Is the record rehabilitated?
Initial Considerations • Is this student ready for college? • Would I want my child to be his/ her roommate? • Think 5-10 years down the road • Is the record rehabilitated? • YOUR integrity/reputation
Criminal Questions • Think like a lawyer.
Criminal Questions • Think like a lawyer. • Advocate, not judge.
Criminal Questions • Think like a lawyer. • Advocate, not judge. • Guilty people need help, too.
Criminal Questions • Think like a lawyer. • Advocate, not judge. • Guilty people need help, too. • Tell our side of the story honestly.
Criminal Questions • Think like a lawyer. • Advocate, not judge. • Guilty people need help, too. • Tell our side of the story honestly. • If your client has a lawyer, talk to the lawyer.
Criminal Questions • Think like a lawyer. • Advocate, not judge. • Guilty people need help, too. • Tell our side of the story honestly. • If your client has a lawyer, talk to the lawyer. • If it’s too tough, refer.
Should you include the supplement? • Will this be disclosed elsewhere? • Missing pieces • Schools’ liability • Ethical considerations • Student’s true story
Getting started • Trust with student and family • Start with a lengthy confession/memoir and find the essay
Rule 1 • It’s about the recovery, not the problem.
Rule 2 • Everything was completely your fault, even if it wasn’t.* *Except where criminal liability is in doubt
Rule 3 • Come clean completely .
Rule 4 • Pity can be given, but not requested.
Rule 5 • Remember your audience.
Rule 6 • Your application should not repeat itself, but it should rhyme.
Rule 7 • It’s still an essay. Make it good. • Go small • Form over content • Write what you know • Omit needless words • Structure • Etc.
Success Stories • Eating disorder, voluntary disclosure, Wellesley • Rebellion, emancipation, Hampshire, Yale Law • Cheating, G.E.D., transfer, Cornell
You CAN start over
You CAN start over • No asterisk on my degree
You CAN start over • No asterisk on my degree • Imagine your tenth reunion
You CAN start over • No asterisk on my degree • Imagine your tenth reunion • America gets this right.
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