Improve your chances with university admissions

Photo by Geraldine Lewa on Unsplash

Everyone knows that college and university admissions are a big secret. No matter how amazing of a student you are, you could still get rejected from top universities. Yet, through my personal experience of applying to various universities, I believe I know what you could do to make sure you stand out when your application is being read. 

Essays

The core of an application is the essay. Some universities might require just one or more depending on if you are applying to an honors program, for example. Before you even begin jotting down ideas or drafting your own essay, you need to know what the school you are applying is looking for. Google the essays that were written by students who got accepted into your potential university/college. Of course, you do not want to steal their idea, but do try to find a common denominator between the essays. Are they mainly about overcoming a challenge? Or are they about cultural diversity? Regardless of what the topic that unites them is, try to search a moment in your life that might align with said topic. Also, check to see the non-creative aspects of the essays, such as their length. You want to make sure your essay is up to par with the standards of where you are planning on submitting it. 

Now that you are aware of what an accepted essay looks like, write a minimum of two essays per university. This will not only spur your creativity, but it will come in handy when choosing the very best essay to send off to the admissions office. It goes without saying that your essays should be clean of any grammatical errors; you could check this by using Grammarly or by having a friend, or family member read it. If you already shared your essay with a friend or family member, ask them what they think regarding the story or message of the essay. Does the theme come through? Is it professional? In case you think your friends and family members are giving you a biased opinion regarding the essay because they love you, try using CollgeVine. CollegeVine is a website that allows students to submit their essays with their corresponding prompts to their platform for it to be reviewed by other students. I personally did this and received some great feedback, sometimes a bit harsh but worth it. 

Extracurricular activities 

If you are starting your college applications now, you hopefully already have a few leadership positions in your resume. I think this is a big deal when applying. You do not want to seem as if all you do is study at school. College admissions offices want to see initiative from their applicants. To make the most significant impact with your officer positions, specifically, would be to initiate your own club. Not only does this demonstrate the universities your passion for something, but it also shows your leadership skills, and that you are a risk-taker. Trust me, starting your own club is no easy task; I started the Disney Club at my high school alongside some friends, because we are huge fanatics of their movies and songs. During college interviews, Disney Club would always strike the interviewer and spark a conversation. 

One crucial question is: How many officer positions should I have? Throughout high school, I had four officer positions, either President or VP, and each lasted a minimum of two years. I recommend that you have a least five positions. They don't all need to be high-positions. If you are a treasurer or historian, that is a great deal of responsibility too. The big idea is to show off your skills in a non-academic manner, so make sure you join societies and clubs throughout high school, and if you are senior, there is no reason to stop. You should always strive to be more active outside of school.

Your resume 

When applying to college and university, you will most likely use the CommonApp. In their application, when describing your job experiences, extracurriculars, achievements, etc. (basically your resume), you are required to give a short description for each point, around two sentences max. Utilize all possible characters! You only have one chance to show off all the things you have accomplished; explain them to the fullest and best of your abilities. To describe your activities, use elevated vocabulary. For example, don't just write: I tutored math after-school. Instead, write: I helped my fellow classmates earn high-grades in advanced mathematic courses by tutoring them during after-school hours. Show off your self in the best light possible throughout your entire application. 

To close...

Don't make applying to universities or colleges more stressful than it already is. By researching your potential schools and knowing their expectations, you are starting with your best foot forward. Remember, you only have one chance at making an impact during that application reading, so make yourself shine. 

If you have more questions regarding college applications, my personal experience, or you would like me to help you with your own essays, let me know! Best of luck in applying!!