Pls help in researching schools

Put it this way.

10 guys can have virtually identical resumes. 5 of them will blend in, but the other 5 will manage to reveal themselves as individuals - even if they are talking about similar sorts of things as the 5 who blended in.

It's not just about the "facts" of your resume, but about YOU as an individual. Whether it's b-school admissions, job interviews, running your own biz (branding), etc. *HOW* you communicate and convey who you are is what matters.

And how you do that practically speaking is through trial and error. For some folks it comes a bit easier than others, but it's something you're going to have to find a way through a lot of writing and re-writing in the application essays until you're able to strip away as much artifice and bullsh*t and find a way to tell your story YOUR way.

It's analogous to dating in many ways (applicant = man; adcom = woman). You're amongst a sea of guys who on the surface are very similar to you, and you're trying to get the gal's attention. Unless you outright lie about yourself or get plastic surgery and change a bunch of things - the only thing you can go on is your narrative. How you speak to her, how you're able to get her to see you as an individual who is intriguing (because chances are she will reject you not because she doesn't like you, but because she simply can't tell you apart from the billion other guys who look like you).

The challenge is finding a way to convey who you are in an intriguing and compelling way, without resorting to cheap gimmicks - whether in admission or dating haha And there is no systematic way. How you do it is as individual as you.

In many ways, it's no different than what separates one admissions consultant from another I suppose. There's tons of companies out there. Some (many?) provide generic advice that sounds like a corporate robot. Others come across as a bit insane. Some are way too polite. Others can be a bit harsh. A lot of us at the core talk about a lot of the same kinds of themes, but some of us are better at distinguishing ourselves than others (in good ways and bad). And others will just create fake usernames to post gushing feedback about themselves

Alex

thanks again...excellent metaphor and very practical piece of advice...but it is easier said than done...i will start working on my essays and see how I can win her heart

Yes, it is easier said than done. It's quite hard actually for any applicant -- and it's really a matter of trial-and-error, going through many rewrites, dead ends, and trying different ways to approach it until you discover what *feels* natural and effortless.