December 22, 2025
Lake Forest College
Ask an expert: A peek behind Lake Forest College's admissions process
When it comes to applying for college, it helps to have the power of expert knowledge at your back. Here are some commonly asked questions about our college application process, answered by someone on the inside.
We sat down with Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Mike Cohen and asked the questions every student should be considering when they apply for college. Here’s what he shared.
What does Lake Forest College look for in an applicant?
Lake Forest College seeks applicants who take ownership of their education in an environment that is focused on relationships and being active in a strong community. We want students who want to be challenged and see their education as a partnership between themselves and the College. The ideal Forester takes advantage of opportunities and is excited about their ability to explore and be entrepreneurial while being heavily involved in the broader community.
What are some of the most common misconceptions about the application process?
Misconception #1: You have to write the “perfect essay” to be admitted. The goal of the essay is that we get to know you. If it’s the same essay that anyone else could have written or if it looks like it was written for “what we want to hear,” then it’s not true to you, and we miss out on an important opportunity to learn more about you as an applicant.
Misconception #2: The most impressive title should write the letter of recommendation. Again – the process is about getting to know you. We look less at who wrote the letter and more at what they wrote about you to help us understand who you are in the classroom and community.
Misconception #3: You have to take as many AP, IB, or Dual Credit courses as possible. We never compare students across high schools (every school is different), and we look at students in the context of their learning and school environment. We’re focused on how you are challenging yourself and preparing for the next step in your education.
Misconception #4: You have to wait to hear from us to connect with us. We want to connect with you throughout your application process. Schedule a chat with us. Let’s talk through your application and interest in the College. We want to get to know you better, and interviews or conversations go a long way in helping us understand why Lake Forest may be a great place for you to continue your education.
What should I expect if I choose to do an interview?
Expect questions about what makes you who you are. We want to connect and learn more about you. Although we’ll ask questions about your coursework, activities, and goals, we really want to take the time to get to know you as a person.
We’ll always provide at least 30 minutes, and we’re excited if it takes more time. We conduct the interview on-campus, online, or in your community if we’re in the area. We want to give you the time you deserve to help us understand why you see Lake Forest as a fit and to identify the resources the campus has to offer that will allow you to be successful as a student and after college.
How can I make my college application stand out?
Make it personal. The more your application is a true reflection of you and less about what you think colleges want to hear, the more it will stand out. This is where a personal essay, letters from recommenders who know you, and identifying activities, leadership opportunities, and family responsibilities that are specific to you help us get to know who you are.
Most importantly, talk to us. We really do want to have the opportunity to connect with you and learn what makes you unique. Applications are read on computers. Lake Forest is an in-person campus. Let’s make this an in-person process together.
How do I know I'll fit in?
The best way to understand if you will fit on a college campus is to be honest with yourself about your needs, the type of environment you will succeed in, and the type of place that will allow you to take advantage of resources and opportunities to maximize your experience.
At Lake Forest, we know all of our students by name. We know their stories. We are intentional about how we advise, help get them connected, and focus on building community. If this resonates with you, we know you’ll make a great Forester.
Ask a lot of questions. Don’t assume you will know everything from the website or reviews you see online or on social media. Talk to students. Talk to faculty and staff. See if you can speak with alumni. Go beyond the marketing and engage with the community.
How do I make the most of a campus visit?
- Talk with current students. Most tours will be led by a current student, but this is just one perspective. You will likely be surrounded by students during your visit. Ask them their thoughts.
- Sit in on a class. If the goal of the visit is to get a sense of the experience on campus, take advantage of opportunities to “be a student for a day” and see what it is like to be in the classroom. Do you enjoy the environment? Does it fit your learning style?
- Explore the campus. The tour will always take you to certain areas of campus to showcase key areas, but what about other parts of campus? What about the town? Always go beyond the tour to get a full sense of the environment.
- Talk with your admissions counselor. What questions have yet to be answered? What are you trying to discern as you look at a variety of institutions? What haven’t you asked that you should be asking? Your admissions counselor can provide a lot of this information in a chat on campus.
- Take as much time as you need to get your questions answered. Our goal is always that a student leaves Lake Forest with the answers to their questions. Don’t hold back. This is your experience. Tell us what you want to know and what you want to experience, and we’ll see if we can make it happen!
How can I get to know a college without visiting?
We offer a number of resources to get to know Lake Forest College if you are unable to visit campus before enrolling. You can “see” the campus through our virtual tour to get a sense of the campus layout, buildings, and general information. You can also connect with admissions and financial aid to learn more about the campus, culture, and have general questions answered that are tailored to your needs. Most importantly, you can connect with student ambassadors to get a sense of the student experience. The best way to get to know an institution is to connect with others currently having the experience. Throughout the admission process, engage with digital resources like the website, social media, ZeeMee, and virtual offerings if you are unable to make the visit to campus.
How is Lake Forest College’s admissions process different from other schools’?
Our admissions process is an extremely tailored process. We attempt to connect with all of our interested students, and our admissions counselors work with each student based on their needs to provide an admissions pathway that is specific to the student and their goals for college. We seek to connect with students at each phase of their journey to ensure that we can help them explore their future experience at the College. It’s certainly not uncommon for admissions staff to be congratulating the students they admitted 4 years ago at graduation!
If I am admitted, what are my next steps?
Expect us to reach out about your admission and to discuss next steps! This will include financial aid, visiting campus for an admitted student program or setting up a personal day on campus, connecting with current students, and potentially connecting with staff, faculty, and alumni. We will be connecting with you throughout the admitted student process to ensure that all your questions are answered and that we can meet you based on where you’re at in your search. For students seeking to make decisions earlier in the admissions cycle, we want to be able to work through this at the time you wish to make your decision. For students seeking to make decisions later in the admissions timeline, we want to provide the time and space to work through your process and be able to provide all the resources you need when you’re ready to have those conversations.