The Foreign Service Journal, June 2016

66 JUNE 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT should not think that they will be able to do it all, nor do colleges expect them to.” Students can and do get caught padding their resumés, and no institution is look- ing to invest in a dishonest prospect. Your ideal college should be the school that wants you for what you can honestly offer their community. The strongest applications tell a consistent story about who you are as a student and a member of a community. Do’s Your options can be limited or may change depending on where your family is posted. But in Grappo’s experience, “most schools have a variety of extracur- ricular activities [that] include athletics, visual and performing arts and academic interests.” She suggests that you look at “depth, not breadth, when choosing how to spend [your] time.” Colleges want to know what you will bring to the campus in terms of passions and gifts. Grappo urges you to remember that being overseas provides you with other very special opportunities outside of school. “Think about getting involved in the bigger community and making a difference there, too.” If you must move during high school, Bracken reminds you, it’s important to line up your recommendations at the end of junior year. “If you are heading to or from post in your rising senior summer, make sure to have those recommen- dations in hand before you get on the plane.” Expressing Interest Don’ts Don’t try to demand special atten- tion or favors from the admissions office. Don’t ask about the status of your appli- cation before the announcement date, and do not expect someone to hold your hand through the process. Recognize that your waiting period is the busiest time of year for admissions offices; rather than conveying enthusi- asm, you are signaling a lack of inde- pendence and neediness with frequent queries. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t ask questions and raise legitimate concerns. But do your research before contacting the college directly. At the very least, thoroughly consult the college