How To Stand Out On College Applications

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 11:30 AM

When it comes to admitting students, colleges often do a holistic review and look at everything before choosing to accept, deny, or defer an applicant.

The best way to help your son or daughter increase their chances of getting accepted into their top college(s) is to position them to stand out in the sea of applicants. Your student can benefit in the application process by showcasing how they are a well-rounded person and someone who is a proven leader, a problem solver, a critical thinker, and/or someone who likes to try new things. Colleges look for students who participate in and are leaders in clubs and sports, do volunteer work, and even have part-time jobs on the side. One of the main reasons competition has increased in college admissions is due to the number of students who are applying to more and more colleges every year. There are many high qualified applicants, and colleges are forced to use their ”secret” admissions formula to narrow down who they will admit as an incoming freshman.

To help your student stand out among the other qualified applicants, have them focus on one or two extracurricular activities and encourage them to seek out leadership roles whenever possible. Are they in 3 clubs, but not active in a leadership position in any of them? Leadership is one way for a student to catch the attention of an Admissions Representative. If your student plays a sport, encourage them to try out for a captain/co-captain position on the team. These leadership roles will get a college to take a second look at your student’s application because it shows that they have focused on certain interests and have taken the initiative to play a bigger role in these extracurricular activities.

Mom and dad, the rules of the admissions and college funding game have changed dramatically since you went to college. Don’t allow yourself or your son or daughter to become a casualty in the college admissions process. Schedule a FREE 15-minute Discovery Zoom Meeting with me TODAY so that I can learn more about your student and family and help you all successfully cross the admissions finish line together!