College Admissions: 6 Steps to a Winning Application
Monday, October 03, 2011
Early admission deadlines begin in just a couple of weeks. Families often ask how to make an application stand out among thousands that an admission committee will review. Too many students treat applications as a necessary evil, but they DO make a difference. Last year when the National Association for College Admission Counseling did its annual survey of colleges, they found that what students were saying about themselves in applications was increasing in importance, and what teachers were saying in recommendations was decreasing. Here are 6 ways to present yourself in the best possible light on your app, and avoid the pitfalls that can sink your candidacy.
1. Start weeks ahead
Hastily written applications are easy to spot, and admissions officers see far too many of them. This is one of the most important documents you will ever author—treat it that way! The best apps and essays go through weeks of rewrites before they are powerful and polished. So, don’t procrastinate; start early and proof well.
2. Be a grammar guru
It sounds simple, but in the era of texting, I see students fail to capitalize and properly punctuate sentences, every day. And since most electronic application systems don’t have a spell check feature, you need to be vigilant in reviewing your work. Do your essays in a word processing program first, then cut and paste them in. It’s fine to have a parent or teacher review your application or essay; it’s just not ethical to have them do it for you.
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These parts of the application are key to making you stand out in the admissions process. Ensure that you have listed all your honors and awards since 9th grade, including honor roll, book awards, honor societies, language medals, etc. Then, put your activities where you have a leadership position up front (president, treasurer, founder, captain), followed by those where you have spent the most hours. Don’t try to go in chronological or alphabetical order; put the most impressive first and the least impressive last. Make a list and check it twice to be sure you included all your jobs, clubs, music lessons, summer programs, church work, sports, etc.
4. Passionate personal statements
Colleges want to see who you are in a 3-dimensional way in your Personal Statement. Use this opportunity to make yourself come alive for the reader. Don’t try to “boil the ocean” and reiterate what is on your application or boast about your accomplishments. Pick a point in time and tell a story that captures who you are as an individual. Write on an issue that your feel passionately about. Tell admissions about a work of art, literature or music that holds special significance for you. I have had students write captivating essays about things as simple as a walk in the woods or as complex as the science of sound. The topic can be on anything, as long as it conveys who you are as a person, showcases your intellect, and demonstrates that you have college-level writing skills. Remember that admissions officers will read hundreds of essays a week, so make yours engaging and genuine.
5. Detail hardships
There is a section in the Common Application which allows you to explain anything unusual about your high school grades. This is a great opportunity to detail if you were diagnosed with a Learning Disability, had Lyme Disease or Mono, experienced the loss of a parent, or any other circumstances which may have affected your grades or ability to participate in extra-curricular activities.
6. Supplements matter
Admissions Reps will often joke that they don’t appreciate getting a supplemental essay that starts out “the reason I want to go to Georgetown is…”, when they are at GW. It sounds silly, but too many students write generic essays when asked why they want to go to a particular college, and some even forget to change the name. This is a weeding opportunity for admissions; they want to see that you have done your homework. Reference buildings you saw on your tour, mention a course you want to take, elaborate on research opportunities you want to pursue and organizations you want to join on campus. Take time on your supplemental essays and make the college feel special!
Cristiana Quinn, M.Ed. is the founder of College Admission Advisors, LLC which provides strategic, college counseling and athletic recruiting services for students. www.collegeadvisorsonline.com.
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