Recent college admission scandals highlight a misunderstanding of the admission process. Too often students and parents focus on test scores and GPA while ignoring the importance of the essays. While your stats count, the effect of a low test score or poor academic performance can be minimized with a strong essay. In fact, more and more colleges and universities have abandoned test scores altogether (www.fairtest.org), placing even greater emphasis on the application essay.

Here at application-to-offer, we have seen firsthand the power of the essay. Students who lack the scores and /or GPA to satisfy admission requirements at their top schools, still receive an offer because of the strength of their essay and overall application.

The bottomline: it’s worth investing the time and effort in your essay.