When high school students apply for colleges or universities, they should aim to present the best version of yourself. As the competition will be fierce, standing out from the crowd is an essential goal to accomplish. This is the best chance to succeed during the application process.
In this post, three of the most effective tips will be presented to ensure you position yourself for success in the college admissions process.
- Start Early
Planning early can help to position yourself for a successful college application. This doesn’t mean beginning a few months before your classmates, you should begin preparation prior to starting high school. Although you might not know if you want to attend college at that stage, your potential path will benefit from participating in extracurricular activities.
Taking part in after-school activities can ensure students are well-rounded. There are skills that college admissions officers look for, and activities like volunteering, arts and sports involvement, etc. showcase these abilities and interests. Students must take care of their time to ensure all their extracurriculars are managed, another skill colleges and universities will be searching for.
As extracurricular accomplishments can boost your chances of a successful application, you should select activities you are interested in early on in your academic life. This will ensure your personal statement is full and colorful when the time comes to apply for college or university.
By starting early, you will also have more time to plan ahead. You can discuss your goals with parents, who might be able to hire professional help in the college admissions process. This would help students lessen the stress of applying and be better prepared when the applications begin.
- Do Your Research
There may not be a magic formula for succeeding in the college admissions process but to set yourself apart from the competition, you research the college before starting your application. Many students will comment on how prestigious the institution is, how in-demand it is, but this is information the admissions officers will have ready time and time again. Instead, you should put in the time and effort to form a unique perspective.
If you live near the campus, you can visit it and become familiar with the layout. Talking to students currently enrolled in the course you wish to study gives you the opportunity to ask questions and discuss their experiences. You could also research the program professors.
Using the information you have found, you can then describe why this specific course is the perfect fit for you in your personal statement. This will prevent you from using the same application for each college or university you apply to, and it will set you apart from the other applicants, too.
- Show You’ll Benefit the University
The research you have conducted will also help you understand the college’s aims. You can then provide how you align with these aims by reflecting on your experiences, interests, and strengths. This might include describing you are a team player who enjoys helping others succeed and flourish in a group setting.
You can highlight what you will contribute to the community. This can help show you which topics to avoid, too. For example, if the college you are applying to doesn’t have a swimming team, don’t discuss your strong swimming skills. Whatever answer you give, make sure you provide stories or examples as proof.
No matter what you write in a personal statement, avoid using weak and generic responses, such as “I’m a hard worker” or similar.
