I am not a tuba player. And I'm OK with that.

When we go to college admissions conferences, we'll always attend any session in which Bruce Poch, Dean of Admissions from Pomona College, is participating.  He's outspoken, honest, and refreshingly forthright.  With so much mystery surrounding the admissions process, it's nice to hear from a decision maker who's comfortable discussing what admissions officers look for--and what drives them crazy--when reading applications. 

His article in Newsweek this week makes the process seem so complex, and with good reason--it is.  A lot of parents and students make themselves crazy trying to decipher exactly what combination of grades and test scores and activities will guarantee admission.  But that magic combination doesn't exist.  Poch reminds students that while there are no guarantees, you're always better off just being yourself.