What it takes to gain admission to Temple

I think that at the end of it all, what really matters in college admissions — even at a large school — is authenticity, humility and a deep-down drive to be at a particular college.

Above all, this is what seems to get to even the most hardened admissions officer.

Large colleges can get as many as 20,000 applications; without requiring personal interviews, how can a student stand out?

I hope this won’t be a depressing bit of news for eager high school students, but in more than seven years at Temple, I have only lobbied hard for admission for a handful of students.

So what was it about these students? I can tell you that it wasn’t the plaintive pleas from parents, nor the entreaties of teachers, nor (in one memorable case) the lengthy personality profile of the candidate from the best friend. It was the way an applicant presented their true selves as they are — not what they think admissions committees will want to see.

In truth, most students present with the usual host of activities, clubs and civic involvement.

All well and good, but a borderline candidate has a better chance at admission if they write a genuine essay that outlines precisely why they want and need to be admitted. No doubt writing is one of the most difficult challenges a student faces, but an essay with personality goes a long way with an admissions committee. Also significant is a call from a college counselor with additional information about a student that is not in the application.

It is true what you read about colleges closely reading an application for obstacles overcome. It is the true American dream in each of us; we cheer the underdog and applaud those who have lifted themselves up over what seems an impossibly rocky terrain.

I remember one Chinese student who had been born a third child. In his mountain village, this student was without country. His low verbal SAT score might have denied his admission, but his counselor lobbied for him and in turn, I did as well.

After a telephone interview to assess his English language skills, the committee overturned his admission denial and he finished his first year at Temple with a 3.4 G.P.A.

Of course, not every student has such a profoundly affecting personal history. Some of us are lucky enough to have been born into privilege, never knowing struggle, tragedy or despair. You don’t need to have overcome great obstacles to impress an admissions committee.

If you are blessed with abundance, describe how it has helped you in life. Consider how your life would have been without the luck you were born into. A critical thinker jumps off the application and screams to the committee: “Here I am! I can’t wait to get into your classrooms and make a difference.”

Please don’t misunderstand; even the most earnest young person will not be admitted to a selective college if their academic profile is substantially under that school’s criteria, but even schools with huge applicant pools still look at each applicant as an individual. And this is where we all can shine.

- By Mary Beth Kurilko

Editor’s note: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently asked Mary Beth Kurilko, associate director of undergraduate admissions, to submit an essay on the admission process. This essay is reprinted with the permission of the author.

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