What Do Colleges Really Look for in a Successful Applicant?
What Do Colleges Really Look for in a Successful Applicant?
You’ve probably been told hundreds of times that good grades and strong test scores are important when applying to college. And they are. But there are tons of students with good grades and scores who still compete for a very limited number of spots at colleges and universities. What colleges look for when selecting their incoming class goes beyond academic excellence and mastery of standardized tests. And while you should always strive to do your very best in the classroom, there are other traits you’ll need to develop to truly set yourself apart from your peers. Let’s take a closer look.
Consistency
Colleges want to see that you commit to things for the long haul.It’s good if you handed out clothing at a homeless shelter last Christmas. But it’s much more compelling if you have consistently volunteered at that shelter every week for the past four years. It's good if you went to a tennis camp last summer. But it’s great if you have been playing tennis since you were six years old and have continued to play competitively throughout high school. Trying new things comes with many benefits. Especially for 9th and 10th grade students, high school presents a wonderful opportunity to explore potential interests. But having a long list of short-term commitments won’t show admissions teams that you stick to pursuing your passions long enough to make a difference for yourself or for others. Next steps: think about activities that you have done for a longer period of time. Which ones are the most important to you, and how can you ensure you continue to participate in them moving forward?
Dedication
Colleges want to see that you really care about what you do with your time. Take the homeless shelter example from above. What if you not only volunteer there regularly, but you also coordinate fundraising events in the community whose proceeds get donated to the shelter? It’s great if you take private cello lessons. But it will show admissions teams that you are much more dedicated if you can also share that you practice 20 hours every week, play in your school’s symphony, are part of the local community orchestra, and have written your own cello compositions. The amount of time you spend and the varied ways you participate in an activity show a lot about how seriously you take your commitments. This is especially important if your activities don’t appear that unique on the surface. You can tailor your love of music, service, sports, or anything else into something highly personal and meaningful. Next steps: Is there an activity you already enjoy doing that you might be able to get involved with at a deeper level? Perhaps you can find additional opportunities to engage with that activity in your school or community. Show admissions officers the depths of your dedication to a passion by exploring it through multiple contexts.
Initiative
Colleges also want to see that you make things happen. What if you created a club at your school to fundraise for that homeless shelter you volunteer at, and you recruited peers to join you in your work? Or what if you noticed the local beach is incredibly polluted every time you visit? You can organize a community cleanup day and advertise it at school, the library, and other common areas. If you demonstrate initiative, admissions officers will see you as the kind of student capable of creating change and making an impact on their campus, rather than as someone who relies on the existent opportunities to meet their needs. Don’t wait for others to give you opportunities to shine. Be your own catalyst! Next steps: Are there opportunities for you to present new programs that interest you and could benefit others in your community? Plan a project for this summer that will create meaningful and positive change.
Leadership
Colleges like to admit students that show clear evidence of going above and beyond, assuming leadership positions. The more you can show that you’ve gone the extra mile in your high school or community, the more a college will see you as likely to do the same to enhance their campus. Rather than being an Eagle Scout (which is great), you can also challenge yourself to run for Senior Patrol Leader and take on new leadership responsibilities in addition to your personal scouting requirements. If you’ve enjoyed your time on student council, take a risk and try for ASB president this year! Don’t limit yourself to established positions of leadership, however. Not everyone can be president of their favorite club. But you can carve out a space within your activities to take ownership of. Leadership opportunities are endless if you’re willing to look for them or even create them (see, putting that initiative to use already)! Next steps: What activities are you already involved in that offer leadership opportunities? Think about which areas you feel confident you can make a significant impact and lead others in the process. Start making a game plan over the summer for how you’ll approach those opportunities next school year.
Individuality
Colleges aim to admit diverse, interesting students who will create a rich and varied community. It’s up to you to show them what makes you a unique individual and to articulate your strengths and experiences that will add to the diversity on campus. Do you illustrate and write your own graphic novels? Are you a closet gourmet chef who bakes elaborate pastries on the weekends? Have you spent your free time building a robotic device to start the coffee pot every morning before you wake up? What makes you stand out and shine? The truth is, until you can answer this question effectively, it will be nearly impossible for an admissions officer who doesn’t know you to get excited about your candidacy. A good application will tell a strong story of your passions and how you have gone out of your way to pursue them over time and through multiple avenues. Next steps: Think about what makes you different. What random facts would a college never know about you? What obscure talents have you been hiding? Ask your friends, family members, teachers, and/or mentors why you stand out to them. This will give you great information you can use to bring those positive traits even more to the forefront. How can you take those personal interests further in the activities you do between now and when you submit your application?
Know What Colleges Look for and Give It to Them
Now that you have a better sense of what admissions officers value when reading college applications, you can make a plan to develop and highlight those skills. Beyond what you write and how you perform in class, it’s important to cultivate your passions until they become exceptional strengths. This will result not only in helping you successfully apply to college but also in having a meaningful high school career.It takes time and thought to ensure your activities and essays demonstrate the best parts of your interests and abilities. What you share in your applications should be a true and deep reflection of who you are.
The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.
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