Going to college can be one of the most important and life changing experiences in your life. You spend the majority of high school hearing how every decision you make, from your grades to your extracurricular activities, will impact your chances of getting into the school of your dreams. It can feel totally overwhelming - trying to figure out where to apply, when to apply, and what you can do to get accepted at a college that's just right for you. To help you get a handle on the anxiety, we've composed a few tips that show what admissions officers value most and how to make yourself stand out in the crowd.
Consider how you apply: There are a number of things to consider when strategizing your application process. You're going to want to think about…
How many schools you apply to – Most counselors recommend applying to 5 to 8 colleges. Any more than that puts a huge burden on you as applications can be time consuming, but any less than five and you may not be giving yourself enough options.
How many safety/reach/match schools you include – Try to choose an equal number of schools where your academic credentials fall within the schools average (match), above the schools average (safety) and below the schools average (reach). This covers all your bases. Safety schools are important as it’s good to have a plan B, and it’s worth applying to reach schools as you never know if something about you, besides your GPA and SAT scores, may make you an attractive prospect to a college otherwise out of your range.
When to apply - Every authority on the college admissions process agrees - apply as early as possible. As soon as you've gathered your references, test scores and written your essay, start getting those applications in.
What kind of application you submit (early decision, regular admissions) - Choosing to submit an application as "early decision" means that, if accepted, you will definitely enroll. While early decision can increase your chances as it shows that school is your number one choice, it's a serious commitment - make sure you absolutely love that school before you decide to apply. E.D.
Get an interview if you can: It makes a huge difference if a school has seen you in person. That means you cared enough to show up and indicates you're genuinely interested in attending. If they don't offer interviews outright, call the admissions office and ask if they do alumni interviews. Even if they say no, it'll go on record that you asked, which works in your favor. If you get an interview, make sure to put your best foot forward. Treat it like a job interview. Dress professionally, prepare questions about the school and remember you're interviewing them as much as they're interviewing you. After the interview, be sure to send a thank you note. This will absolutely make you more memorable and schools are more likely to admit prospective students who seem both committed and polite.
Start looking early, and in person: A lot of students don't realize that colleges keep track of who visits their school and how often. If you're really interested in a school, the best thing you can do is get a campus tour. Visit at least once, twice if you can. Admissions officers will keep track of the fact that you were there in person, and not just taking the "virtual tour" online.
Keep your grades in check: This doesn't just mean "get straight A's", as that's not always feasible. What college admissions officers notice the most on transcripts is a "C" - avoid these at all costs. This might mean staying in regular physics instead of going for the AP course, if you're not absolutely sure you can ace it. AP courses can be great, but if you know it's a reach for you, it might be best to stay away, rather than have a glaring "C" on your report.
Highlight what makes you unique: Having a good GPA and solid SAT or ACT scores is a great start, but it isn’t always enough to get you into the school of your dreams. Admissions counselors recommend you create a “hook” – something about you that separates you from the legions of other applicants. This might be volunteer work, an experience abroad, speaking a second language, excelling at a sport or starting a new club at your school. Anything that you’ve done that you feel not many other students have – and the best place to highlight this is in your essay.
Author: Emily Smalter
Emily is currently enrolled in a Master's of Social Work program at Kansas University. Outside of her schoolwork, Emily advocates for women to have a stronger voice in both the public and private realm, and spends her spare hours writing on how to make the seemingly smaller tasks in our lives more manageable.
Author: Emily Smalter Emily is currently enrolled in a Master's of Social Work program at Kansas University. Outside of her schoolwork, Emily advocates for women to have a stronger voice in both the public and private realm, and spends her spare hours writing on how to make the seemingly smaller tasks in our lives more manageable.