609: Admission Nutrients (Part 3 of 6: Leadership): Important Ingredients for a Well-Balanced College Admission Process—And Life

2025-06-24

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In Episode 3 of our series on Admission Nutrients, Ethan is joined by Deanna Dixon, the Dean of Admission at Smith College, to dive into leadership and initiative. In their conversation, they get into: What are a few of the qualities Smith College looks for? How does their supplemental essay point to their institutional priorities and what they’re looking for in an applicant? Why are leadership and initiative important from Smith’s perspective? What does she think about ChatGPT? When it comes to equity and leveling the pl...

What are a few of the qualities Smith College looks for?
How does their supplemental essay point to their institutional priorities and what they’re looking for in an applicant?
Why are leadership and initiative important from Smith’s perspective?
What does she think about ChatGPT?
When it comes to equity and leveling the playing field, how does she believe the profession is doing?
Advice for students and families going through this process
And more!

Deanna Dixon has worked in college admission since 2006 and currently serves as Dean of Admission at Smith College. As a graduate of a women’s college, she has maintained a deep commitment to women's education and college attainment for marginalized students in general. A parent of a college senior, Deanna appreciates the dedication of college counselors and the shared partnership of matching students to the best school for them. Deanna has a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a master’s degree in business administration from The Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis.

We hope you enjoy our conversation.

Play-by-Play:

2:09 – Welcome and introductions
2:37 – What are some roles that Deanna plays as Dean of Admission at Smith?
4:59 – What does life look like behind the scenes at Smith?
8:10 – What is yield and why is it important to colleges?
10:01 – What are some of the “positive character attributes” that Smith is looking for?
14:05 – Where do these attributes show up in an application?
17:07 – How does Smith’s supplemental essay point to their institutional priorities?
22:54 – Why are leadership and initiative important from Smith’s perspective?
24:30 – What are some interesting or unconventional examples of students taking initiative or leadership at the high school level?
27:46 – Where does leadership show up on campus at Smith?
31:06 – How have personal statement topics shifted over the years?
36:39 – What’s one of Deanna’s favorite essays she has read?
38:50 – What does Deanna think about ChatGPT?
44:13 – When it comes to equity and leveling the playing field, how does Deanna believe the profession is doing?
49:09 – Advice for students and families going through this process
51:45 – Closing thoughts