There are several ingredients that help a college application shine. And luckily for you, we are here to offer some intel on the topic. Getting into your dream college involves a lot of steps you should pay attention to, each of them following a different timeline. Start early so you can tackle them successfully and on time.
Since more and more college applications get rejected lately, having a squeaky clean one will help you tremendously. Although the process can be stressful, the guide below will help you have a more pleasant time while doing so.
#1. Get systematic about the process
When thinking about college applications, you should always start working on the process early in your high school years. At the beginning, try to develop a system that will allow you to keep on track with all your deadlines and applications, as the specialists at immerse.education recommend. There are a series of steps and deadlines you will have to tackle for each application, so organizing the process is very important in this stage.
In this case, a checklist or a spreadsheet will help you most to keep track of all these tasks and documents. Make sure you put on your checklist the following:
- Letters of recommendations;
- Portfolios;
- High school transcripts;
- Standardized test scores;
- Required essays;
- College lists and visits;
- Any other supporting paperwork.
The sooner you start gathering all these, the better shape you will be in down the road. This will offer you enough time to gather every relevant detail and include it in your application.
#2. Focus on your high school activities
When thinking about your college application, you want to outline all your qualities and what will make you a valuable asset for your college. That being said, make sure you highlight all your high-school activities that may be of importance. Everything matters, including the following.
- Leadership skills – make sure to outline them through experiences you have had on similar positions during your high school years. Try not to just list clubs, but communicate how you showed leadership, initiative and made a difference in them.
- Community service – if you have any experience with similar activities, add this to your application. It will help your application stand out from the hundreds of others.
- List all your extracurricular activities. According to admission employees, these matter tremendously when trying to strengthen your chances. If these activities also have some leadership characteristics, they expect you are likely to be an active and engaged student at their university.
#3. Settle for an application model and perfect it
There are multiple college application models you can choose from, but according to specialists, more than 200 private colleges and universities in the US accept the standard Common Application.
Be aware that in addition to general essays submitted as part of the common app, schools may have more specific essay or short answer prompts for you to fill out after you have started your submission.
But before downloading or submitting your application online, make sure your application looks polished and professional.
When colleges don’t take Common Applications, work through their website. If there are essay prompts, look for essay topics that can work for more than one school or essays for the common app that can be repurposed. Each essay and the application in general should look thoughtful and personalized. Avoiding errors and grammatical mistakes on the application can help you emphasize your attention to detail.
#4. Your college essay matters more than you think
Maybe one of the most important parts of a successful college application is your college essay. Obviously, you should make sure the essay is well-written and error-free. But apart from this, it should also highlight your best personality traits and it should be written in a personal fashion.
What are the ingredients of a spotless college essay? Well, according to the experts, it should be personal, honest, and 100% original. Try to avoid copying other’s college essays, the admission officers have seen them all. If the school has a very specific essay prompt, what you wrote should not read like it was intended for another school. If you do try to submit a less-than-original essay, you significantly increase the chances that your application will be rejected.
And we can’t emphasize enough how important proofreading your essay is. If you’re not sure about your ability to proofread your essay and think of it objectively, you may consider using specialized services. You can also use online resources, but more on this, below.
#5. Use all online resources you can find
Since you already know how important an error-free application and essay is, make sure to make the most of the available online resources with a strong reputation. Editing tools and grammar checkers are amazing. But so are online proofreading services. Also, you may be tempted to use online writing services to ensure you have a spotless essay and application, but this may be quickly spotted by the admission officers in your college of choice and work against you.
Make use of friends, parents and especially teachers and guidance counselors if they are available to review your essay prior to submission.
#6. When in doubt, ask for help
When you encounter difficulties with your college application, don’t be afraid to ask for help. This can come from a parent, counsellor, teacher, or maybe even a friend who has already gone through the process themselves. But still, the best option you have is a college admission counselor. Get in touch with them and ask all the questions you might have about your application. From the style and tone of your essay to how to give your essay a more personal tone, the staff there will be more than willing to offer insights and advice.
If you already have the outline of your application, ask for their feedback. They have a lot of experience with college applications and their insights can help you tailor a better version.
Use this advice to get yourself into your dream college. Although the process itself is more lengthy and more complicated than you think, it’s all worth it, in the end. Getting admitted to your college of choice will help you have a better academic journey as well as give you more options to help find a college with the right vibe and culture.
