Applying to college is a process that high school students are bound to go through at some point in their academic journey? The process requires perseverance, determination, and the right knowledge.
The prerequisites for gaining admission into college are many. One must have taken standardized tests, amass high GPA, engaged in productive extracurricular activities, written a first-class college essay, to name a few.
However, gaining admission into a school that is in harmony with your educational objectives doesn’t have to be an uphill task. You want to know how you can boost your chances of gaining admission into your desired college, right. Do not worry!
In this article, you’ll see what you need to do to increase your college admission chances and how to go about it.
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Tips for College Admission
Prioritize high grades having excellent grades in high school is one way you can announce yourself. A high-grade point average, especially if accumulated by taking challenging courses, can significantly boost your chances of gaining admission into college. It tells admission officers how much effort you have put in, and how committed you’ve been throughout your high school days.
Scoring high in simple courses won’t convince or impress anyone, so if you choose as many tough courses as possible in high school, please do. Attempting courses like International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement, college prep, and scoring high in them can earn you college credits and make your college worthwhile.
However, if your school doesn’t offer advanced classes, then you might want to seek alternatives. You could take online Advanced Placement courses or local community courses to bolster your college admission chances.
1. Be an Early Bird
If you’re keen on attending a particular college or university, sending your application as soon as forms are out can increase your admission chances. In case you don’t know – colleges generally admit a significantly high number of students in their early decision and early action rounds. What do initial decision and first action mean?
Early decision and early action are two admission packages that colleges offer students — but it only works for students who have analyzed their college options and have a preference for one college.
Early decision plans are binding; that is, any student accepted as a first decision applicant must attend the Institution. Initial action plans are non-binding; that is, students get an early response to their college application but are not mandated to participate in the school.
Benefits of Applying Early
- You’ll Lessen stress by slashing the time spent waiting for a decision
- You save the time and cost of submitting multiple applications.
- You’d have enough time to source for housing and prepare for college.
- You’d have the chance to revisit your options and apply elsewhere if not accepted.
2. Apply to Different colleges strategically
It would help if you were strategic when applying to colleges. What does this mean? Before applying to any college, you must survey all the colleges where you meet all the necessary admission requirements. Compile a list of schools where you are qualified to apply for.
You should also apply to schools that are less likely to admit you. Don’t know how? You can ask your high school counselor for assistance. By collating a list of all the colleges where you are eligible to apply, and applying in this progression, you’re sure of securing at least one admission offer.
3. Demonstrate Interest
You can demonstrate your interest in a school in several ways. For a fact, colleges are most likely to admit students that are passionate and show a keen interest in them. Admission officers usually distinguish students that are enthusiastic by measuring the level of interest shown by applicants. So if you are interested in attending a particular college, you have to show your keen interest by;
- Visiting the college
- Going on a tour of the campus
- Applying to the college early
- Following the college’s social media handles
- Joining the school’s online forum for prospective students.
4. Write a Compelling College Essay
If you’ve ever underrated the power of sound college essays, then it’s time for you to rethink. College essays provide an opportunity for you to sell yourself, convey who you are, and put good grades and high test scores aside. Thus, it would be best if you spent plenty of time developing an outstanding essay that can single you out from the rest of the crowd.
Before picking up your pen to write, reflect on past experiences that are unique to your journey. Your motive should be to focus on telling a compelling story about yourself, which aligns with the essay’s theme. With a persuasive college essay, you could be ten steps ahead of others.
5. Let Your Social Media Handles Work for You
No doubt, everything has gone digital. Besides, admission officers can browse through your social media handles like Facebook and LinkedIn in a bid to know more about you. You don’t want them to see a red flag.
So, it is best to avoid uploading or keeping anything on your online accounts that can deter them from accepting you.
Instead, let it display how passionate you are about making a difference in your little community, the society and the world at large.
6. Get a Good Recommendation Letter
Recommendation Letters are essential when it comes to college admission because they uncover that part of you that grades and test scores cannot. When asking for a recommendation letter, make sure you ask people who can passionately describe your skills, achievements, and personality.
You can try asking your high school counsellors, teachers, or even last employers that you have an intimate relationship with.
Conclusion
Gaining admission into college shouldn’t be that much of a problem if you know what steps and techniques to apply. In this article, we looked at some of the ways through which students can increase their chances of gaining admission into college. They are simple and straightforward to comprehend. Once you can follow these instructions, you are one step closer to securing your dreams’ access to that university.
How to Create a Thesis Statement?
