Stressing? How to Get Into the College of Your Choice!
Applying to college is exciting and can stress you out too. With so many choices to make and consider, not to mention the number of Colleges and Universities, daunting might be an understatement for all the important work, and deadlines to meet, that are needed ahead of your application. The competition is fierce among the many highly qualified applicants applying to all the elite schools.
With the right approach and an understanding of what makes a strong application, applying to college can be an empowering process — especially when the envelope arrives in the mail.
In the meantime, you have a lot to think about. I hope some of these stats and tips are useful and ultimately, help you enroll in, the college of your choice.
Starts with GPA!
Many schools have specific GPA or test score requirements; therefore, it’s important to maintain a strong GPA and passing exam scores in order to be accepted into a good school.
1. Do well on SAT. — an aptitude test that measures intellectual ability. SAT scores are reported on a scale from 200–800, with additional subscores reported for the essay (ranging from 2–12).
2. Do well on the ACT — an achievement test measuring what you have learned in school. The ACT is scored differently from the SAT. ACT takers receive a composite score and each test score (English, Mathematics, Reading, Science). These scores range from 1 (low) to 36 (high). The composite score is the average of your four test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.
3. Take both and submit the better score. Keep in mind that the SAT and ACT test have completely different scoring. If you took both, it helps to compare your scores.
4. Take either one again to improve your score. (You can take the ACT no more than 12 times total and the SAT as many times as you want.)
5. Get a SAT or ACT tutor if you need additional help. You can hire a local college student to help with studying or register for tutoring classes at a local test prep center. Get a SAT or ACT prep book and take practice tests. There are many different test prep guides out there, so borrow as many as you can from your local library, or check Amazon or other online book retailers for new, or even used books to help you study.
The mean score for the 2020 AP Exams was 3.03. More than 60% of all exams taken earned a score of 3 or higher. To learn more about individual exams, visit AP Score Distributions.
Colleges are all about well-rounded students, but what does well-rounded mean and how do you become one? A “well-rounded” student is one who is capable of excelling in his or her classes, while also remaining involved in extra-curricular activities such as a sport, a club, or an organization outside of school.
In other words, good grades are just not enough. So what can you do that will spark interest in your application? There are many students applying to college, so you need to set your application apart from the others by using every advantage you can get!
Whether you live in a small town or a metropolitan area, there are plenty of opportunities out there to give back while beefing up your college applications with volunteering that counts. Giving back will improve your self-confidence and your self-esteem, too. As a bonus, you just might make some pretty important connections in your community, and those connections might be the letter of recommendation that gets you into your dream college.
Source: www.judsonu.edu
The chart above shows the percentage of citizens like yourself that use to volunteer. (This chart is 10 Years Old.) Today’s numbers show half the percentages of ten years ago. So what does that tell you? It says that obviously volunteering is something that not all applicants will have written on their application. It may seem innocuous, but believe me, it catches the eye of the college admission officers. You still have time to do this fulfilling work!
National Volunteer Week: April 18–24, 2021
Check out what types of volunteering are going on in our Nation.
As if going to school and volunteering weren’t enough, colleges also look for students with real-world experience and a passion to expand learning outside the classroom. A part-time job, summer employment, volunteering, extracurricular activities, and other outside-of-the-classroom activities, demonstrate your ability to take initiative and adjust priorities. If you can handle all of the above while going to school and maintaining a high GPA, college, admins will take notice.
Get on the Campus Early
Do you have a few picked out? Then get on the campus early!
Why wait? Get plugged in to campus life as early as possible. You may meet your fellow potential colleagues and instructors. It helps to get your name and face out there. This visit can also serve as inspiration for your college essay!
Campus tours are often held throughout the school year as well as during the summer. These tours provide prospective students and their families an opportunity to meet with an admission advisor and give a glimpse into what college life is all about. In fact, a campus visit is a HUGE determining factor in the college selection below:
Source: www.artsci.com
So you are now starting to get the picture. Putting the pieces together, and getting prepared will help you get to the College or University of your choice. Dare I say your Dream Choice?
Source: www.dosomething.org
Writing the Killer Essay!!!
The admissions essay can be one of the most difficult parts of the application process. Some colleges require fairly lengthy essays with little to no guidance on the content. Each school has its own admissions essay guidelines, but regardless of the parameters, submitting a stellar piece of writing is a must. Striking the right balance between professionalism and personalization takes practice and as the chart below illustrates, writing the admission essay is the most difficult aspect of the college admissions process so you want to make sure you put in the time and effort necessary to write a good one:
Source: www.targetx.com
Get Glowing / Balanced Recommendations
Many colleges will require you to submit letters of recommendation, either from a prior or current instructor, an employer, a counselor, or all of the above. A letter of recommendation is another selection tool that helps the admissions board learn more about you and what you can bring to the school.
College admissions offices take these letters very seriously, so you should, too. Some colleges only require one letter while others request three or even four. It all depends on the school and its application guidelines. It is vital to be professional in your approach when asking for a letter of recommendation. Be prepared to explain yourself and why you are deserving of a letter. Make sure you ask in person, rather than through email or a phone call. Make it personal and professional. Here is an example of a letter of recommendation to give you a better idea of what these letters are all about:
Sample Letter of Recommendation!
Dear XYZ College Admissions Committee,
I have known Beth Crawley for the past two years, having served as both her English teacher and her supervisor on the ABC High School newspaper. I believe Beth would be an excellent addition to XYZ College.
While a student at ABC High School, Beth has always challenged herself academically. She is an active participant in class discussions and grasps material quickly. She has superb written and verbal skills that are a pleasure for any teacher to encounter. Beth even tutors incoming high school freshmen who are struggling with their English courses.
Beth also excels in extracurricular activities. She has served as the features editor of our high school paper for the past two years and has written a number of insightful, thought-provoking articles. Her ability to delegate work to her assistant editors also reflects her organizational skills and strong leadership abilities.
Beth would bring so much to your school, both inside and outside of the classroom. If you have any questions regarding Beth’s qualifications, please feel free to contact me at (555) 555–5555 or Kara.White@email.com.
Sincerely,
Kara White
English Teacher and Department Chair
ABC High School
One last, but not least thing to mention!
Review your social media presence. Delete any photos or content that might interfere with your application. Keep your Twitter and Facebook profiles clean (or set on private) to avoid potential embarrassments. And if you must have a public profile, use it to your advantage by posting only positive attributes and activities about yourself. In fact, social media is becoming a valuable selection tool for schools to find prospective students!
Never Give Up
Make ‘Never Give Up’ your college application process mission. You’re going to encounter delays and roadblocks and stress, but it’s important to remember that hard work makes you stronger and your dedication will pay off. If you didn’t get into the school of your choice, look at all the benefits of your second- and third-choice schools. And in the meantime…Never Give UP!
In conclusion…
Getting into your dream college will take effort and a lot of hard work on your part. But the hard work will ultimately pay off by following all the steps outlined above. The earlier you start preparing yourself for the college admissions process, the better your chances will be of getting into the school at the top of your list. In fact, you can start as early as your freshman year by joining clubs, sports teams, and of course, by studying hard and getting good grades! You’ll be happy you did when your letter of acceptance arrives in the mail.
Please…check out everything you wanted to know about any College or University in the U.S.A. here….>