The College Application
Make it Stand Out
You're ready to apply to your top schools. It's been four years in the making. You've completed the challenging coursework, visited campuses, aced the college entrance exams, and now it's time to complete your application. But with thousands of accomplished high school graduates applying to colleges and competing for the attention of the same college admissions officers, how do you get admitted?
Tips to make your application stand out
- Be prepared. Take adequate time to think of an essay topic if the topic is not assigned. Brainstorm what you can write about, make an outline, write a good draft as your starting point, and edit the draft numerous times.
- Be personal. Don't be afraid to be original by adding your personal style and voice to your application essay. Instead of making broad statements of what you want or plan to do, provide examples from specific experiences during high school or extracurricular activities that back up your claims. Don't try to write an essay that includes information that you think an admission officer wants to hear. Be yourself. Don't try to force an eight-syllable word into your essay because they will see right through that. They want to know more about you, so be honest and let them into your world.
- Be direct. You only have a couple of paragraphs to tell the admissions officer that you are not only qualified to attending college, but that you're ready for the challenge. Choose your words wisely.
- Be focused. The college has a copy of your transcript and application, so it's not required for you to repeat that information. Stay focused on explaining how those credentials and qualifications will lead to a successful future at their college.
- Be professional. After you've written, edited, and proofread your essay, ask your counselor, English teacher, and/or parent to look it over. They should look for any errors as well as give suggestions to improve the essay. Keep an open mind about their comments but remember that this is your admission essay, so if you don't agree with their suggestions then feel free to exercise your executive right to not change it. You have the final say. Submitting a sloppy-looking essay with spelling errors and glaring mistakes sends the admissions officer the message that you're not serious about their college, which is not what you want him or her to think.