09 Nov Takeaways from NACAC – The Plight of the Standard Strong Applicant

The Plight of the Standard Strong Applicant: Why “Strong” Isn’t Always “Compelling” — and How Students Can Redefine Success in College Admission

Every fall, college counselors and admission professionals gather at the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) conference to share ideas about the evolving landscape of college admission. One of the most resonant sessions this year was“The Plight of the Standard Strong Applicant.” The panel—featuring Tahirah Jordan Crawford (Columbia University) and Bruce Hunter and Susan Tree (veteran college counselors)—focused on a familiar type of student: the one who has done everything right.

These students are high achievers with excellent grades, rigorous courses, leadership roles, and meaningful activities. They are bright, motivated, and conscientious. A decade or two ago, they would have been comfortably admitted to many of the colleges they now find beyond reach. Today, they represent as much as 80–85% of the applicant pools of selective colleges—and yet, despite their accomplishments, many find themselves waitlisted or denied at schools where they once would have been strong contenders.

As one presenter put it: being “strong” is no longer enough to be “compelling.”

The Changing Landscape

This shift isn’t due to any failure on the part of these students. The challenge lies in the extraordinary competitiveness of today’s applicant pools. As the number of applications soars, many students—particularly those applying to the most selective institutions—find themselves indistinguishable on paper.

The differentiator, the panelists emphasized, is no longer what a student has done but how they have reflected on those experiences and communicated their growth. Admission officers are seeking more than excellence; they are seeking authenticity, perspective, and depth.

As one speaker reminded the audience, “Don’t kill the spirit in an application.” The most powerful applications are not the most polished—they are the most human.

From “Resume” to “Representation”

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the need for students to shift from a “resume mindset” to a “representation mindset.”

A résumé lists accomplishments. A college application represents a person.

Too often, students focus on compiling achievements rather than conveying who they are and what they value. But colleges don’t admit résumés—they admit people. The most compelling applications tell a story of curiosity, resilience, and self-awareness.

This idea was echoed in Brené Brown’s keynote address at NACAC, where she spoke about the power of vulnerability. “Vulnerability is the birthplace of joy,” she said. It is also, I believe, the birthplace of an authentic college essay. When students allow themselves to write with honesty and reflection—to reveal not only their accomplishments but also their questions, challenges, or moments of growth—they connect with admission officers on a human level.

What I See in My Practice

The “standard strong” student is one I work with often. These students are thoughtful and driven, but they can feel overwhelmed by a process that seems to reward extremes—students with unique hooks, major awards, or extraordinary circumstances. They worry that being “just strong” isn’t enough.

Part of my role is to help these students slow down and reflect on their experiences. Before they write essays or finalize lists, we explore who they are, what they value, and how their experiences have shaped them. That work of reflection—the willingness to be curious about oneself—is where genuine insight begins.

Equally important is helping students adopt an expansive mindset about what constitutes a “good” college. I remind them that fit, not prestige, determines satisfaction and success. Some of the happiest and most intellectually engaged students I’ve worked with are at institutions that rarely appear on national rankings lists but that match their personalities, learning styles, and goals perfectly.

Rethinking “Dream School”

During NACAC, I also attended the book launch for Jeff Selingo’s new book, Dream School. Like his earlier work (Who Gets In and Why), Dream School challenges the myth that there is a single, ideal college destined to fulfill every dream. Selingo invites families to think differently about the concept of a “dream school”—to see it not as a prize, but as a place that fosters growth, purpose, and belonging.

That message aligns closely with what emerged from The Plight of the Standard Strong Applicant. The students who fare best in this process are those who define success on their own terms, not by the prestige of the institution but by the opportunities it provides for intellectual challenge and personal development.

A Hopeful Shift

For many families, it can be disheartening to see highly qualified students receive denials from schools where they seemed like “perfect fits.” But as the NACAC session—and Selingo’s work—make clear, strong students still have an abundance of options.

The key is to approach the process with openness and courage:

• Encourage self-awareness. What matters to you? What brings you satisfaction or meaning?
• Highlight impact. How have you contributed to your community—or how has it shaped you?
• Be authentic. Vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s what allows your true voice to shine through.
• Think expansively. A great college is not defined by selectivity—it’s defined by how well it fits you.

The most successful applications come from students who view college as the next step in a lifelong journey of curiosity, growth, and contribution.

In a year of record applications and historic competition, the “standard strong” student deserves recognition—not just for their achievements, but for their perseverance and integrity. Their challenge is not to be more perfect, but to be more reflective. Their task is not to chase prestige, but to find purpose. When students embrace vulnerability, reflection, and self-awareness, they do more than stand out—they connect. And connection, in the end, is what college is all about.