The Increasingly Competitive College Application Process
While the school year is just starting, it is also time to start looking ahead. For high school seniors, this means beginning to prepare their college application and accompanying materials. This is what their entire academic studies have been building towards.
Every year, the college application process becomes more and more competitive. As such, it has become increasingly competitive to stand out among the masses. This article will review the college application process at large and the challenges that come with standing out.
Common Elements of a College Application
College can have moderate differences in their application requirements. However, there are some general elements that are consistent across the board. Many colleges and universities use the same website as an application portal: the Common App. Having a centralized application portal helps keep track of the various requirements of different school.
College applications require a lot of information. On top of that, they are often accompanied by an application fee. These are some of the most common elements of many college applications.
Personal Information
The most basic information all colleges require is the student’s personal information. This includes name, address, basic education history, and contact information. Sometimes, this can dig a little deeper and ask about parental history and specific demographic information. Colleges have to know who is applying to their institution when considering them for admission.
High School Transcript and Standardized Test Scores
Next, prospective college students should provide information about their academic performance. This often comes as a high school transcript and standardized test scores. The transcript, which high schools often provide directly to the colleges, outlines the student’s course load, grades, and attendance. Transcripts can also include any supplementary material a school needs to provide to explain anything.
Standardized test scores show the student’s performance directly relative to their peers. The most common standardized tests are the SAT and the ACT. They are similar tests with certain distinctions. Both cover similar material, but the SAT is more focused on problem solving while the ACT is more academic. Some colleges removed or limited the impact of standardized test scores. Still, submitting them can still paint a full portrait of the student.
Letters of Recommendation
Many colleges and universities require letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, or other professionals. This provides the school’s admission committee another perspective of the student’s character. Whether academically, professionally, or interpersonally, letters of recommendation fill in gaps in the student’s profile.
Different institutions ask for different numbers of letters, but try to diversify the recommenders. It might be repetitive for the admissions team to read nonstop letters from teachers. Having someone with extracurricular exposure to the student exposes new facets of the student’s life.
Personal Statement
A personal statement is an essay that a student writes to express what makes them who they are. Generally, all colleges require this or something extremely similar to a personal statement. So, one well-crafted essay of about 500 words can be used for most, if not all, applications.
There is not a one-size-fits-all template for writing a personal statement. It is just crucial that it reflects the individual student’s personality and/or individual accomplishments. This should not be an essay that is rushed and sloppy — it should be intentional, polished, and reviewed by others. It is also crucial to always tell the truth about one’s life; the admission committee will be able to tell.
Extracurricular Activities, Sports, Portfolios, Writing Samples, and Other Application Materials
Finally, college applications will ask for the student’s extracurricular activities and other relevant material. A list of extracurricular activities will showcase the clubs, sports, and activities that a student participated in. This shows a student’s dedication, consistency, and engagement in their school’s culture.
Sports are often their own section and represent a unique kind of commitment and tenacity. Whether in a team or solo sport, playing a sport requires dedication and physicality. Playing a sport is a common way to bolster one’s college prospects.
Other potential application materials include portfolios, writing samples, and supplemental essays. The other types of material to submit are often based on the type of institution the student is applying to. For example, portfolios are most common for art school, while writing samples could be asked for specific writing programs.
Supplemental essays can be about anything and based on what the school is looking for in their candidates. Some of these essays are purely creative or non-academic; they just seek to show the student’s personality. Others can be more directly focused on a specific area of student or academic interest. As with the personal statement, these essays should be polished and carefully considered.
Standing Out Among the Crowds
Ultimately, what colleges and universities are looking for are students who will make a great impact at their institution. Each of the elements of one’s application can be given different weight based on the school’s criteria. For example, some value academic performance over personality, others do not.
That being said, it can be difficult to know what to do to stand out among the pool of applicants. Many students can try to stand out in ways that many others also try. For example, playing a sport or joining various clubs is extremely common. At one time, this could have been enough to stand out. But, in today’s hypercompetitive age, that might not be enough. It has become more imperative than ever before to really stand out among the crowd. One option to stand out is to write a book. That is where Cloverly Collegiate enters the picture.
Here at Cloverly, we support students in their journey of becoming a published author, from idea to publication. Writing a book with Cloverly stirs the imagination of students to help give them an edge with their college applications. Our team provides a system that stirs the imagination of our clients to maximize their creative, academic, and professional potential.