Dear applicants,

During the busy season, admissions officers at leading schools normally read
a few essays an hour, at times, 30 a day, in addition to their other duties of
interviewing students and attending admissions committee deliberations.
They are bleary-eyed and overworked, and have zero patience for nonsense.

Your application documents play a big hand in this game of cards. Colleges are on an active search to know who you are as a person, and why to choose you over other qualified applicants. Top scores in standardized tests may set you apart, but won't get you in alone. A list of social activities is only superficial. Your scores and activities are numbers and names, cold and impersonal. Your application documents, however, represent a body of words with a life of their own, and present you as a whole package to the admissions office. Indeed, the better the university, the more critical the admissions office reviews the essay. Even at large universities like the University of Michigan, where the admissions office receives about 25,000 applications a year, each document is read. Consequently, many students dread writing such documents, while they, in fact, represent the best opportunity to grab the attention of the admissions officer and refresh, engage, amuse, profound, or rejuvenate him.

"Just be yourself" is the short answer to applicants' most frequently asked question: "How can I make myself sound unique among thousands and thousands of students?" The answer is in you. Since no one is exactly like you, an essay written about you will be unique in itself. Nonetheless, for those who need assistance, we feel one of the most rewarding parts of our job is helping students discover what makes them special. With a staff of over 30 foreign professional, including former college officials and MBA graduates, we provide the services to help you study abroad and beyond.

Please take some time to review the contents of this brochure. I hope you find it helpful in your endeavors. You are invited to stop by our office to pick up more information or talk with us. After all, today marks the first day of the rest of your life. Your future begins now. Welcome and good luck!

Sincerely,

David A Barrutia
Senior Consultant
Future Consulting