Finding Perspective in the Admissions Process with UPenn Dean of Admissions Whitney Soule

In this episode, UPenn Vice Provost and Dean of Admission Whitney Soule discusses how to manage stress in the admissions process, stress, and busts some myths about how colleges read students' applications. Drawing on her three decades in higher education, Soule explains how selective admissions actually work and why the idea of “hyperachievement” as the only path to success is both false and harmful.

Whitney discusses how students can stand out by simply being themselves and shows why part-time jobs can be just as impressive to admissions officers as prestigious academic programs. She also gives pointers for students, parents, and counselors to reduce pressure along the way. She also offers a nuanced guide to determine whether to submit your test scores to test-optional schools, and debunks the idea of a 'perfect fit' school.