What Admissions Officers See (That You Don’t)
Admissions Autopsy
So you got rejected from your dream school…rough luck. But have no fear, this isn’t the end, just the start of a new chapter. Here’s where you turn it around. “How am I supposed to know what I did wrong?” you might ask yourself - that’s where we come in.
Most students receive their rejections, feel the sting, and then make the same mistakes all over again because no one ever told them what actually went wrong. The rejection letter doesn't come with feedback. It doesn't explain why your activities list didn't tell a cohesive story, or why your personal statement missed the mark entirely.
Sigma makes sure our students don't receive that letter again.
Admissions Autopsy is designed to give you the harsh, but necessary truth. The kind of honest, unfiltered feedback that admissions offices will never provide. And who's more qualified to deliver that insight than someone who's actually sat on the other side of the table?
Dr. Samir Soneji, our Head of Post-Application Reviews, is here to give you the insider perspective you can't get anywhere else. He's not guessing what admissions officers think; he was one. He's read thousands of applications, made admission decisions at elite institutions, and knows exactly what separates an acceptance from a rejection.
With over 10 years of experience evaluating applications at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, including Princeton, the University of Chicago, and Duke, Dr. Soneji's perspective is unlike any consultant, counselor, or advisor you've worked with before. He knows what these schools are looking for because he's seen it from the inside.
This Sigma-exclusive service allows you to see your application the way admissions officers saw it: objectively, critically, and in comparison to thousands of other applicants. Dr. Soneji breaks down what worked, what didn't, and most importantly…why.
The reality is, lots of talented students get it wrong the first time. You're not alone in facing rejection. But here's the question that matters: How do you make yourself stand out this time? How do you turn a setback into a comeback?
Don't settle for failure. Get the advice from the person who knows best. Let Admissions Autopsy turn your rejection into the roadmap for your acceptance.
This service helps you:
Remove unnecessary padding.
Holistically analyze your profile; do your essays compliment or contradict each other?
Provide guidance on factors that may have slipped your mind: what are the red flag signals within your profile that only an AO could pick up on?
Review and edit your profile to not only remove complications, but add stand-out features to help your application to truly reflect who you are.
Who is Admissions Autopsy For?
Students preparing for Regular Decision.
Early Application and Early Decisions students.
Anyone, parents, teachers, students, who feels they need an experienced, specialist perspective.
Single Application Review
Designed for the application that defines your future. What our students call 'The Game-Changer', this service elevates your submission beyond competent into compelling, ensuring admissions officers take notice.
Our consulting team brings deep expertise across disciplines, from English literature and the humanities to advanced STEM fields. Each consultant has successfully attained admissions to institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Columbia, and understands what distinguishes accepted applications from the rest.
This service is built on a fundamental principle: your application should reflect who you actually are. While other firms focus on creating polished but generic candidates, we work to ensure your application is holistically representative of your experiences, perspective, and potential. Generic applications land in the "maybe" pile. Authentic, strategically crafted ones demand serious consideration.
Alongside our consulting team, Dr. Soneji reviews your complete application with the evaluative lens of a former admissions officer, identifying both structural weaknesses and untapped opportunities to strengthen your narrative. His assessment reveals how your application will be read, what resonates, and where the story falls short.
Our expert consultants then work with you to refine your essays, sharpen your activities, and ensure every component works together to communicate a clear, cohesive message. The result is an application that meets institutional standards while remaining unapologetically yours.
Submit your application with confidence, knowing your dream school is receiving the most compelling and authentic version of your story.
This service helps you:
Develop a critically refined and authentic application.
Stand out to your dream school.
Get an AO’s insider perspective.
Who is Admissions Autopsy For?
Students preparing for Regular Decision.
Early Application and Early Decisions students.
