Getting into college isn’t easy. Besides having a high SAT score and winning trophies in sports, if you don’t have a stellar college application, you won’t stand out. Those who review college applications spend merely 15 minutes going through each one, and there are piles of applicants landing on the desk every year.
So, your best chance is to grab their attention and truly stand out. But how do you do that?
You can have an expert from your college admissions counseling department to help you with your application for one. Here are a few other tips that will help you stand out.
1. Take Up A Volunteering Course
A volunteering course will help you earn extra UCAS points during the summer season. Volunteering makes your application stand out since it shows how you’ve spent your time productively. Besides that, you’ve worked on a global cause, which makes you unique from the rest. ASDAN has a volunteering program that offers student college credits along with building up their portfolio of projects.
2. Add Value
Universities don’t just want a regular student. They want someone who brings prestige and value to their reputation. Research has shown that the top 100 colleges in the world have the lowest acceptance rates despite receiving hundreds of applications.
3. Get Feedback from A College Admissions Counselor
It’s true; a college admissions counseling professional is aware of what type of college applications get accepted. They have years of experience reviewing applicants’ submissions, and if you want to know what you’re missing, you can talk to one.
Parents don’t always have the time to give advice on a child’s interests. If a student wants to get into a college for pursuing his/her passion, getting the help of a college admissions counselor will make a difference.
4. Get Relevant Work Experience
Summer internships and working on freelance jobs or part-time positions are terrific ways to accrue relevant work experience. Make sure you showcase work experience in a field that’s tied to your college admissions applications. If you’re applying as a film major, then listing your demo reels or published work in your college resume will help. Likewise, if you’re applying for software engineering, you’d want to mention your web design and full-stack projects. You get the idea.
Getting relevant work experience also demonstrates that you understand how the world works. Workplace experience is different from a college setting, and there’s so much more that goes on beyond the classroom. It’s invaluable, and admissions counselors look for students who have this.
5. Win Award Programmes
Winning award programs indicates that you’re a top-tier talent. Young students who win awards like the ‘Duke of Edinburgh Award’ prove to universities that they see programs through completion. The hard and soft skills gained in these awards translate to better performance in university curriculums. It also proves that you’re able to solve challenging problems and adapt to changing environments.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to crafting the perfect college application. Although perfection doesn’t exist, your core focus should be on highlighting your strengths and matching your skills with the program. If you’re interested in crafting compelling college applications that help you bag a spot at your chosen universities, you can talk to a college admissions counselor for more details
