What Are The Components Of A College Application?

With the start of the new school year, many incoming seniors and their parents are getting more serious about the college application process. 

We know it’s complicated, and there are a lot of moving parts. In today’s post, we’ll break it down into the major components you should be prepared to tackle! 

Transcript:

Of course, your GPA matters in college admissions. We all know that! if you have your sights set on a selective school, you have to do well in your classes.

What you might not know, though, is that the  the rigor of your courses matters too!  

If your school doesn’t offer AP Chemistry, for example, then you won’t be penalized for skipping it. But if it does, and you chose an easier, less rigorous route, admissions committees at selective colleges will take note. A pattern of “easy way out” choices may be a red flag when others with similar GPAs achieved them with a more difficult course load. 

If you’re struggling in a course, get in touch so we can match you with one of our expert tutors. From computer science to renaissance poetry, we’ve seen it all and can handle it with ease. 

Test Scores 

Though many colleges have gone test-optional this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, strong test scores, if you have them, will still be a differentiator for admissions committees. SAT or ACT scores at the median or above for your target schools and AP scores over a 3 should be submitted!

If you’re a sophomore or junior reading this and planning for the future, consider investing in individual tutoring or a full length test prep program. 

Personal Statement 

The personal statement is the heart and soul of every college application. And, it’s the most significant factor that you can still control as we move into senior year. Your grades, test scores, extracurricular involvement, and leadership? Those are pretty much set. But your personal statement? You can use those 650 words to tell your most compelling story. 

Learn more about the Common App’s personal statement prompts and how to approach them, or get help brainstorming ideas for your personal statement! 

Supplemental Essays:

Some colleges require additional essays or short answer questions, called supplements. Common topics for these supplemental essays include why you want to attend X school, your intellectual interests and academic bent, extracurricular achievements, and communities that matter to you. This year, there’s a special COVID-19 supplement too! 

If you’re planning to apply to more than one school, these supplemental essays add up! Work with us to easily adapt your core supplements for each of your target schools.  

Extracurricular Involvement:

The Common App asks you to upload a resume, or activities list. You have ten slots and it’s best to fill each line with a different extracurricular or commitment. Though you only have a sentence or two to describe your involvement in each, it’s important to strategically craft each line to show yourself in the best possible light.  

Want support polishing your activities list? We can do that too! 

Recommendations:

You’ll need two strong recommendations from academic teachers. Often, it’s best to ask teachers in two different subject areas to show the breadth of your academic talents. It’s crucial to choose someone who knows you well and will be a cheerleader for you. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, a lackluster recommendation can be the difference between that coveted acceptance and a thin rejection envelope. 

Learn more about how to get strong recommendations from your teachers. 

Whew. That was a lot. If you have more questions about the application process, get in touch for a free call about your strategy. We provide college consulting services to a small number of students each application cycle, and spots fill quickly!