When you’re apply to a million colleges across the nation (or maybe the world), you’re asking yourself one question
What are colleges looking for?
It’s a very strange question and there isn’t one formula or one type of person each college is looking for.
First off, read this article and assess where you are. Then, contact your college admission advisor. Visit your dream college’s admission page and you’ll likely have a person who covers your area. Call them. You can email them, but sometimes a call shows you’re really into their school.
Here are some great ways to get yourself noticed and possibly accepted into college.
1. Grades
A big thing to remember is to keep your grades up all year round. So what if you do well your junior and senior fall semester of high school? If you slack off and blow your last semester in high school, some colleges can revoke your invitation. Keep your head in the game. Senioritis is a real struggle and just because you can see the light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t mean you should slow down. You should be in a full sprint and giving class your all. You deserve to make the last few years of hard work count for something. Be sure to look at all of your options when it comes to SATs and ACTs. If you have a horrible score, there are ways to make sure that one isn’t sent to your selected schools. Plus, if you only need to try the mathematics portion one more time to reach your goal, you can do that too! Research away!
2. Personality
Would you consider yourself a good person? Does your social media pages reflect the best you? Go back into your online past and make sure that your best personality is showing in every post. Plus, when you’re writing entrance essays and putting together your resume, include your personality. Are you naturally funny? Put in something that will make the person reading it smile. Are you more of the serious type? Make sure the person who is glancing at your work is impressed by your professionalism. Be you.
3. Extracurriculars
Of course, you need good grades to get in to your favorite college, but you need something extra. Do things that make you happy. Are you an animal lover? Volunteer at a local shelter. Are you a politics lover? Volunteer for a local campaign or polling station. Are athletics more your thing? Try hard and rack up some awards. It’s good to see that you’ve kept yourself busy and that you’ve tried to get out into the community.
Essentially, be a good person, try hard in school and add that extra spice to your life that makes any college beg for you.
In your mind, what are colleges looking for? Write your advice in the comments below.
