I'm a former director of admissions at Cornell. Here are my 4 tips for writing a successful application for a highly selective college.

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This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with John Morganelli Jr., a former Director of Admissions at Cornell University and the current Director of College Admissions for Ivy Tutors Network, about his experience with admission to elite colleges in the United States. The following has been edited for length and clarity.