Every admissions season, I meet students who look perfect on paper. Excellent grades. Strong test scores. Impressive extracurriculars. Internships. Leadership positions. Competitions. Volunteering. Sometimes they have done almost everything a university admissions checklist asks for. And yet, some of these students are rejected by universities they seemed certain to get into. At the same time, another student with fewer awards, a less conventional profile or a much narrower list of activities receives an offer. This can be confusing for students and parents. It…
