My 3 Tips: How to stand out in the college application process

Thousands of applications pass through the doors of college admissions every year. High School seniors all compete not only for admission, but also for the opportunity to stand out for top scholarships. The problem that I've come across in my three years working in admission is that many seniors don't know where to start or what to do. So, I've decided to share my three application tips. These are tips that will help you stand out for both admission and scholarship opportunities. In my job, my goal is to help guide students and families through the college admission process, and let's face it, scholarships are a very essential part of any student's final college decision. Here are my tips...

1. Think letters of recommendation. 1-3 are pretty standard - any more than this can be overwhelming and unnecessary (unless a school requires more). These can be from teachers, mentors, coaches, pastors, employers, etc. Think about your major and the school you are applying to - this will help you decide who the right people are to ask.

2. Focus on your admission essay/personal statement. This is your time to shine in your application. Tell the college/university who you are, why you want to go to college, why you want to pursue a certain major, etc. Your essay allows you to stand out beyond the fill-in-the-blanks of your application.

3. A resume/list of your accomplishments/extracurricular activities. This is your time to BRAG about yourself. Share everything that you've done - from camp counselor jobs, volunteer work, athletics, clubs, church work, etc. Explain your role or activity, how long you've been involved in each activity and if you've held any leadership roles. Steer clear of using acronyms for various clubs/organizations you've been involved in, because chances are, the person reading your application may not know what BPA stands for (for example).

*My bonus application tip: apply to schools EARLY. (Apply to Valpo by Nov 1st!). Often times schools will have early application dates that allow admitted students to be considered for top scholarships, such as full tuition scholarships. Be sure to ask the schools you are considering if they have an early action application deadline or early decision application deadline. Also note that if you apply to a school with an early decision deadline, it is most likely that you will be committing to that school if you are admitted. *See my article in Next Step Magazine for more information about this. http://www.nextstepmagazine.com/nextstep/articlePage1.aspx?artId=3236&categoryId=54




*Please note that my tips do not guarantee admission or scholarships, but I believe you will find them helpful in your college admission search/process.