Huffpost College The Blog   Patrick O'Connor Headshot  Applying
to College: The Myth of Grit  Posted: Updated:  "Excuse me, Dr.
O'Connor? It's Meredith's mother, Mrs. Hart?"  "Of course. How
are you?"  "I'm fine. I had just a quick question about our
college plans."  "OK, I can set up a meeting with you and
Meredith. How does tomorrow at 1 sound?"  "Actually, I'm hoping
I can ask this now. It's kind of urgent."  "I see. OK."  "Well,
when we met with you in August, we reviewed our college list,
and you mentioned we couldn't get in to East Coast U."
"Actually, Mrs. Hart, I believe I said that, given Meredith's
profile of grades, strength of schedule, extra curricular
participation, achievements, and test scores, students with
similar profiles would have a very modest chance of being
admitted--"  "--unless she had some significant additional
factor."  "It seems you remember exactly what I said."  "Yes I
do, and I'm here to tell you she has one."  "One what?"
"Significant additional factor."  "I see. Is this so