How can I be different from other college applicants?

1. Challenge Yourself Academically. The college admissions process evaluates applicants’ readiness for study and potential for academic excellence.
2. Choose the Right Standardized Test.
3. Go the Extra Mile.
4. Check Your Social Media.
5. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread.
6. Apply Early.
7. Reach Out.

Should my college application have a theme?

As college application rates skyrocket, an increasing number of students are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd. A strong application theme can immediately set applicants apart while offering a clear and compelling story to college admissions readers.

Can you lie about extracurricular activities on college applications?

Do not exaggerate your level of volunteer, work, or extracurricular experience or the number of weekly hours that you spent engaged in such activities.

What can I do to make my college application look better?

14 Summer Activities to Boost Your College Application

1. Participate in a specialized high school program.
2. Take a college class.
3. Find a summer program at a local school or community college.
4. Get involved with research.
5. Create your own project.
6. Take a free online class.
7. Get a job.
8. Be an entrepreneur.

What extracurriculars stand out?

Any or all of the following are among the best extracurricular activities for college applications.

• Leadership Activities.
• Internships.
• Athletic Participation.
• Work Experience.
• Academic Teams and Clubs.
• Creative Pursuits.
• Technological Skills.
• Political Activism.

How can I stand out in college class?

5 Ways to Stand Out in a Large Class

1. Introduce yourself to your professor. First and foremost, it’s important to make sure that your teacher knows who you are.
2. Always sit in the front.
3. Take notes.
4. Speak up.
5. Take advantage of office hours.

Should college essays have a theme?

Choose a theme When writing your college essay, avoid creating a list of your activities and accomplishments. Tell the reader something about yourself that isn’t evident in the rest of your application. Think about your best personal trait, your interests, values and goals.

What are the best college essay topics?

Tackling the Common App Essay Prompts

• Prompt #1: Share your story.
• Prompt #2: Learning from obstacles.
• Prompt #3: Challenging a belief.
• Prompt #4: Solving a problem.
• Prompt #5: Personal growth.
• Prompt #6: What captivates you?
• Prompt #7: Topic of your choice.
• Describe a person you admire.

Can colleges fact check extracurriculars?

The greater impact the claim has on your potential as an applicant, the more likely it is that schools will do some fact-checking. If you’re applying for a top school and the extracurricular is a spike (your most impressive activity on your application), they will almost certainly look into it.

What grades do colleges look at the most?

Generally colleges care most about the grades you got junior year. These grades are the most important because, when you apply in the fall of your senior year, they’re the most recent grades the college has access to, so they give them the best idea of your current abilities.

Is choosing a college overwhelming?

Choosing a college can be overwhelming, but these tips will help you narrow your search and figure out exactly where you want to go. When you start to think about all the places you could go to college, do the number of choices start to pile-up until it seems like a mountain in danger of an avalanche?

How do I know if my college will support me?

One way to assess if you’re likely to graduate or not is to look at the college’s graduation rate. Schools with a graduation rate within four and six years are usually more likely to support students and help them meet the requirements to graduate. Schools with low graduation rates may have less built-in support for students.

What are the different types of college options?

There are public, private, small, large, all-female, all-male, close to home, far from home, rural, urban, liberal arts, and so many more college options. Once you’ve crossed a few choices off that list, you’ll actually have a manageable number to work with.

How do you narrow the topic of a research paper?

Here are some strategies to help narrow your topic: Aspect — choose one lens through which to view the research problem, or look at just one facet of it [e.g., rather than… Components — determine if your initial variable or unit of analysis can be broken into smaller parts, which can then be…