Starting your journey through the college application process can often feel overwhelming, leaving many wondering how to truly stand out. The challenge lies in setting yourself apart from the crowd amidst a sea of applicants competing for coveted spots in their dream schools.
It’s natural to feel uncertain, especially when comparing yourself to those who may have achieved remarkable feats like finding cures, conquering mountains, or earning prestigious awards.
Yet, it’s important to realize that your value isn’t solely determined by extraordinary achievements. Perhaps your strength lies in being a supportive older sibling or in your dedication to mastering a musical instrument, spending countless hours honing your skills. Sometimes, the excitement of making a crucial play on the softball field can bring a sense of accomplishment like no other.
No matter your experiences or achievements, the college application process provides an opportunity to authentically share your story with admission officers. Despite any concerns, rest assured that you have a unique narrative to share—one that can resonate with and leave a lasting impression on those reviewing your application.
Who stands out in the college application process?
So, what exactly does it mean to “stand out” in the realm of admissions? Contrary to common belief, it doesn’t require you to have achieved something extraordinary. Often, the most memorable candidates are those who have opted to be genuine, to share meaningful experiences that may even — gasp — reveal the reader’s vulnerability or humanity.
While every application should be free of grammar and spelling errors, the more relatable (i.e., warm, kind, funny, smart, honest, imperfect) the better. Simply listing your achievements won’t necessarily leave a favorable impression, but explaining why they matter to you will.
How will my application be evaluated?
During the busiest time for reading applications, Admission Officers review around 30-40 applications every day. Applications are looked at quickly, and the various achievements of many applicants can start to blend together. The overall college rating process emphasizes the idea that “more isn’t necessarily better.” Instead, focusing on the “what” and “why” parts of the application might help the candidate to stand out.
To help you find areas where you might stand out during the application process, I’ll explain each part of the Common and/or Coalition Applications and why each one is important.
1. Demographic Information
Why do universities want to know where you live, who is in your family, and what your background is? In order to produce a diverse incoming class, universities must learn more about you. Are you a first-generation college student? Have you got six brothers? Do you speak several languages at home? What were your resources and opportunities?
All of these questions (and responses) help the reader discover more about who you are, where you’re from, and what makes you unique. Provide accurate and complete information. The more the reader understands what molded your early years, the more likely you are to have an impact.
2. Grades and Testing
Yes, getting good grades and doing well on tests is really important. They show things like what you’re interested in, how curious you are, how good you are at certain subjects, and how hard you work. To stand out, you should show that you’ve taken hard classes and done extra academic stuff, like picking electives or joining special programs that you’re interested in.
But even if tests are important, they can’t make up for doing badly in school. Colleges want to see the best in each student. So, if something outside of school has affected your grades or opportunities, it’s important to let them know.
3. Activities and Awards
The college application process requires you to talk about what you do outside of class. Contrary to what some people think, you don’t have to do community service or be a leader in a club to impress colleges. What really matters is how much you care about the things you’re involved in and why they’re important to you.
It’s not true that only activities organized by the school count. You can make yourself stand out by talking about a job you have, taking care of your siblings, or pursuing a hobby like birdwatching. Whatever you do gives colleges a glimpse into your life and helps them understand who you are.
4. Letters of Recommendation
The most effective letters of recommendation will highlight your curiosity, hard work, participation in class, and eagerness to learn. Many teachers and counselors may ask students to complete a “brag sheet” to help them write these letters.
This could be because they teach many students and need a reminder of their experiences with you, or because they want to provide strong letters of support with important information. It might be tough to talk about yourself in such positive terms, but doing so can result in detailed and helpful letters of recommendation.
Remember, the goal is to stand out during the admissions process. Having someone else praise your strengths is an excellent way to do this.
5. Personal Statement
Creating a standout college application essay can be tough for many students. It’s not about trying to be perfect or completely original, but rather about making a lasting impression that shows who you really are. When picking a topic, focus on being genuine.
Keep asking yourself what message do I want to get across to the admissions committee? Will this topic help them understand me better? What parts of my values, experiences, beliefs, and personality does it highlight?
For your essay to truly resonate, it needs to authentically represent you. While it’s important to make sure your writing is well-crafted and free of errors, it’s also important to keep your own voice and personality intact. (Tip: Admission officers can tell if an essay doesn’t sound like it was written by the applicant.)
In the end, the specific topic you choose matters less than how well you tell your story and the depth of your narrative. Many people wonder about the essays that left a strong impression on me and what they were about.
The truth is, regardless of the topic, the most compelling essays made me feel like I was getting to know someone I’d want to get to know better and who could make a positive impact on our campus community. There’s no such thing as a perfect essay that works for everyone; what really matters is the story you decide to share, why you choose it, and how you express it.
6. School Specific Supplements
To effectively engage with the Admission Officer through school-specific supplements, it’s crucial to emphasize being “specific.” Avoid using generic descriptions and phrases that could easily be found in a guidebook. Instead, craft your responses in a way that allows the reader to form a personal connection with you and envision you as a part of their unique campus community.
When tackling each essay prompt, consider why you’re drawn to a particular college, and ensure that your responses reflect this motivation. (If you’re unsure about your reasons for applying to a specific college, don’t worry; we can assist you with that too!). Successful responses to school-specific prompts achieve two primary objectives: firstly, they reveal significant aspects of your personality, and secondly, they provide insight into how you’ll contribute to the academic and social environment of the institution.
During my time in admissions, I often reflected on the diverse array of individuals whose lives I had the privilege of learning about through their applications. While all applicants were undoubtedly impressive, those who truly stood out were the ones who managed to convey their authenticity, warmth, humor, passion, empathy, beliefs, and even their experiences of hardship and loss, through their application materials and narratives.
Making a lasting impression in the admissions process often hinges on establishing a genuine connection with your reader. To truly be memorable, you must embrace and express your authentic self.
