5 Ways to Ace the College Application Essay

What you've accomplished in high school is an important factor in college admissions decisions, but even more important is how you present yourself.

By the time you're putting the applications together, you may not have much control over your test scores, grades, and teacher recommendations. However, the essay is your blank slate to show the admissions officers why they should want you at their school.

Here are some pointers I've developed over the years to help students shine on this part of the application:

1. Remember that this is an essay about you.

Whether the application asks about a defining moment in your life, or for page 237 of your autobiography, or for a nutritional analysis of your favorite breakfast cereal, the goal is the same. They want to learn about you as a person. What would you like to tell them besides your grades and test scores? What may your teachers not have thought (or known) to include in their recommendation letters? Use this as a chance to show -- not tell -- them who you are and what you have to offer.


2. Be conscious of your reader.

All writing is addressed to an audience and written for a purpose. You just thought about your purpose as you read #1 above. Who is your audience? You're writing to one or more college admissions officers who will spend many long days and nights reading application after application. At the most competitive schools, the vast majority of applicants are turned away. Therefore, you don't want to blend into the crowd. You want to stand out. Hit your reader with an attention-grabbing first sentence, one which will make her want to keep reading.


3. Capture a moment; paint a picture.

Since you need to show, and not just tell, the admissions officer something about you, it helps to put her in your shoes. Let your reader see herself at that point in your life, or between the lines of your autobiography, or there at the breakfast table eating Corn Flakes with you. Then, use these images to support the points you'd like to make. How did this experience help to shape the person you are -- and the person you'd like to become by attending your dream school?


4. Don't be afraid to get personal.

When it comes to college admissions, few topics are off-limits. Admissions officers read many essays every year about how sitting in the front row in biology class and paying close attention enabled a student to get the most out of his education. Delve deeper. Write about your emotions, your innermost thoughts, things most people don't know about you. Be honest and authentic; let your reader see the real you.


5. Leave an impression.

Essays that the admissions officer is still thinking about while he's cooking dinner are the ones that beat the competition. Keep this in mind throughout the essay, but pay particular attention to your last few sentences. After sifting through dozens of applications, they start to all look the same. Give the reader something by which to remember you at the end of the day.

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Extracurriculars Increase College Admissions Chances

“All parents are rather stressed about the college admissions process,” says Susan Macaluso, the parent of a child who graduated from NYC Lab School in 2007 and who is now a sophomore at Brown University. Indeed, the process does become more competitive every year, largely due to the fact that increasing numbers of students are applying to college, while the number of spots at colleges is not increasing. The result is that while top grades are necessary for admission to first-tier colleges, grades alone no longer guarantee admission. One must also possess high SAT or ACT scores, compelling essays and outstanding extracurriculars.

In fact, many students believe that their grade-point average is given more emphasis in the admissions process than it actually is. While most applicants to selective universities are academically qualified, there are simply not enough spots available. Accordingly, students seek to distinguish themselves through their extracurricular activities. These activities provide another set of criteria by which admissions committees make their decisions. An ability to demonstrate lasting dedication to a few meaningful extracurriculars, rather than mere membership in many, can make a significant difference. Students should aim to show a meaningful contribution to their school or community and how that participation or leadership has influenced them.

Arsean Maqami, who grew up on Washington St. in the Village, agrees. This recent graduate of NYC Lab School, on W. 17th St., will attend Swarthmore College in the fall. Maqami’s high school passion was soccer, so he ultimately chose Swarthmore over the University of Chicago, where he was accepted early action, because he preferred the soccer coach at the former. Maqami feels that students really need to promote themselves.

“College admissions is a pretty strenuous process for most people, and sports were only a little bump for me,” he says. “It’s all about why are you better than anybody else? I played soccer and a lot of people don’t do anything.”

Randy Subramany recently graduated from Xavier High School, on W. 16th St., and will be starting this fall at Columbia University. Subramany believes that in his admission, “Test scores by far were most important thing, but...demonstrating the ability to balance everything was also important. I was on cross-country and track. I was also a tutor for three years and a Big Brother, and I was in the math club and the medical science club. Colleges saw my ability to challenge myself. I didn’t just do one different activity per year. I always kept that level of challenge on my plate and never really backed down from it, while I made sure that my work didn’t slip at all.”

Subramany’s appetite for maximizing the opportunities available to him was not limited to his high school activities.

“I applied to 16 colleges, and my list was originally 10,” he says. “This was my one chance to apply to my dream schools, so I was very aggressive. I would say, ‘Don’t be scared to apply to your reach schools.’ I didn’t think I’d get into Columbia, so don’t let the statistics scare you. Believe in yourself. The only thing it’ll cost you is maybe the $60 application fee.”

While being elected to an important-sounding club position is a goal of many ambitious high school students, it is a misguided one. An explanation of why the student was involved in a club, and of the contributions that he or she made, will impress admissions committees more than simply obtaining a fancy title. At top high schools, it can be difficult to gain leadership positions in school clubs where there are many other qualified candidates.

Meanwhile, an abundance of opportunities exist in the “adult world” through community organizations, nonprofits and internships. Many students launch fundraising campaigns for worthy causes or mobilize peers to tackle a problem head on. Teachers, parents, friends and college counselors can help to plan and advise these endeavors.

Joining several clubs is a great way to learn where one’s interests lie and ascertain which groups will allow the student to accept meaningful responsibility. Yet, one should not list every club on the college application. If the student wants to write about extracurriculars, pick one that was meaningful and explain its impact. In the college essay, discuss a specific experience or activity, and concentrate on the details that draw a picture of the experience.

As Maqami puts it, “You basically have to be full of yourself in your college essay. There are so many colleges out there for you, especially if you do something with yourself. You need to accentuate what’s better about you than anybody else. Also, use spell check. There was one word I spelled wrong in my opening paragraph. I freaked out and called the college to ask if I could resend my application, but they said not to worry about it.”

Maqami was lucky in this instance, but as the admissions process becomes increasingly competitive, students in future years may not be so lucky. The application is the student’s only chance to show colleges who he or she truly is. A college essay about the student’s most fulfilling extracurricular activity will provide the admissions committee with a snapshot of his or her personality and with the lasting impression that the student is a focused, responsible and well-rounded individual who will be a valuable part of the college community.

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5 Reasons to Enjoy the College Admissions Process

1. You have the chance to set yourself apart from your peers.

Every college application is unique, which is why college admissions officers enjoy the work that they do. After four years of trying to fit in at high school, you now have the opportunity to express what makes you unique. What interests have you discovered over the past few years? What are you passionate about? What makes you tick? Regardless of the creatively worded questions on your application, this is what admissions officers want to know. You may not have had a choice of what high school to attend, or even which classes to take, but now you can examine -- and show -- what's special about you and why a particular college is the right fit.

2. You get to put your best foot forward, in whatever way works for you.

Maybe you didn't score a 2400 on the SATs, or get straight A's, or make the cheerleading squad -- and that's okay. The college application is a package with many components, and it's up to you to present yourself in the best light even if your record isn't 100% perfect. You can emphasize your strengths and not worry about finding excuses for your weaknesses. Perhaps you didn't do so well in chemistry, but you wrote some outstanding short stories and poetry for your English class that your teacher loved. The English teacher may be a good person to ask for a recommendation letter. Besides the one grade on your transcript, admissions officers never have to know what the chemistry teacher thought of your abilities.


3. You learn so much about yourself in the process.

Thinking about how to present yourself in the best light is a great way to start examining not only what you do well but what you love doing. Many students start to decide on careers around this time (no pressure!). As you think about how to convince admissions officers that you're the right fit for their school, you're forced to think about the settings in which you thrive and the type of people you enjoy being around. What motivates you, and what do you hope to accomplish in college and beyond?


4. People want to help you.

Getting into the college of your dreams in a big deal, and there are probably a lot of people in your life who want to play some role in making that happen. Admissions officers at the schools to which your applying, your guidance counselor, professional college counselors, friends, and family members are all great people to talk to as you start thinking about college applications. Seeking advice from those who have been through the process will help you to do your best.


5. There's a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Soon enough, you'll be moving into your new dorm room, eating dinner in the dining hall, hanging out on the quad...and, yes, going to class and spending time in the library. College can be the best four years of your life. All of your hard work now will pay off.

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Factors in Choosing a College or University

Last week, I covered some important considerations in college selection and promised you more this week. Here they are!

Cost
How much is the tuition, room, and board? Public colleges and universities often offer significantly cheaper tuition for in-state students.

Can you get merit aid or financial aid? If so, how much?

To what extent can you negotiate with the financial aid office?

Also, don't forget to factor in the fact that if your school is far from home, plane / train fares add up quickly.

Any student can have a multitude of expenses to take care of. With a full class load you may not be able to spare the time for a job. A cheap cash advance could help you decorate your dorm room, buy a new wardrobe, or help purchase text books.


Academics
What kind of degrees does the college offer?

How strong is the college in your areas of interest? For example, if you want to major in medicine, how reputable is the pre-med program?

Are there any combined undergraduate and graduate degree programs?

How competitive is the student body?

What's the ratio of students to faculty?

What's the average class size?

How accessible are faculty to students (email, office hours, etc.)?


Career
What kind of assistance does the career services office offer?

What's their success rate with placing students in jobs and internships?

What kind of employers typically come to campus to give workshops?

What kind of employers have special relationships with the college for internship programs?


Extracurriculars and Social Life
What kind of student organizations are there?

How prominent is the Greek life (fraternities/sororities)?

How strong are the school's sports teams? How strong is school spirit?

What percentage of students live on/off campus (dorms vs. apartments vs. living at home)?


Student Body
How diverse is the student body (race/ethnicity/religion/national origin/gender etc...)?

What's the average age of an entering freshman?

What percentage of students transfer in (and out) of the college?


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College Selection Tips | Picking the Right College

Many students just want to go to the best college possible. However, how should you define "best"? "Best" isn't simply what the rankings say. It's the school that fits your needs and preferences.

This post will help you figure out how to choose the right one.

Some of the most important factors to consider when choosing the right college for you:
1. How large is the student body? Do you want a large community with a ton of opportunities, or do you want a "small town feel" where everyone knows each other? This will affect the faculty/student ratio as well.

2. How prestigious is the college? The more respected it is, the more opportunities you'll have after graduation.

3. Where is the school located? How close is it to your family? Do you want an urban, suburban, or rural environment?

4. Will the college environment expose you to new experiences? Do you want to challenge yourself in an unfamiliar environment and learn to live independently?


How to find out the answers to these questions:
1. Visit the college's website. Look at how the college presents itself.

2. Visit the college yourself. If you might spend four years there, it's worth taking the college for a test drive. Take a tour of the campus, and don't be afraid to speak with the tour guide one-on-one to answer your individual questions.

Of course, these are not unbiased sources. Any information you get from the website or tour guide is likely to present the college in the best possible light. Would a student who disliked the college be volunteering or working as a tour guide? Of course not.

For this reason:

3. Speak with current students besides the tour guide. Where do you find them? They're all over campus! Take some initiative and speak with random students you see outside or in the student center.

4. Speak with recent alumni of that college. They might be the older siblings of your friends, or they might be random people you contact through Facebook. Most likely, they'll be happy to help you. After all, they were in your position only a few years ago.

The above list of considerations is not complete by any means. Next week, I'll cover several more factors in choosing the right college.

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